Infiveminuteshehadwormedhiswaytothegreattreethatoverhungthepalisadeatoneendofthevillage，andfromhispointofvantagelookeddownuponthesavagehordebeneath。HecountedfiftyArabsandestimatedthattherewerefivetimesasmanyManyuema。Thelatterweregorgingthemselvesuponfoodand，undertheverynosesoftheirwhitemasters，preparingthegruesomefeastwhichisthePIECEDERESISTANCEthatfollowsavictoryinwhichthebodiesoftheirslainenemiesfallintotheirhorridhands。
　　Theape—mansawthattochargethatwildhorde，armedastheywerewithguns，andbarricadedbehindthelockedgatesofthevillage，wouldbeafutiletask，andsohereturnedtoWaziriandadvisedhimtowait;thathe，Tarzan，hadabetterplan。
　　ButamomentbeforeoneofthefugitiveshadrelatedtoWazirithestoryoftheatrociousmurderoftheoldchief’swife，andsocrazedwithragewastheoldmanthathecastdiscretiontothewinds。Callinghiswarriorsabouthim，hecommandedthemtocharge，and，withbrandishingspearsandsavageyells，thelittleforceofscarcelymorethanahundreddashedmadlytowardthevillagegates。BeforetheclearinghadbeenhalfcrossedtheArabsopenedupawitheringfirefrombehindthepalisade。
　　WiththefirstvolleyWazirifell。Thespeedofthechargersslackened。Anothervolleybroughtdownahalfdozenmore。Afewreachedthebarredgates，onlytobeshotintheirtracks，withouttheghostofachancetogaintheinsideofthepalisade，andthenthewholeattackcrumpled，andtheremainingwarriorsscamperedbackintotheforest。
　　Astheyrantheraidersopenedthegates，rushingafterthem，tocompletetheday’sworkwiththeutterexterminationofthetribe。Tarzanhadbeenamongthelasttoturnbacktowardtheforest，andnow，asheranslowly，heturnedfromtimetotimetospeedawell—aimedarrowintothebodyofapursuer。
　　Oncewithinthejungle，hefoundalittleknotofdeterminedblackswaitingtogivebattletotheoncominghorde，butTarzancriedtothemtoscatter，keepingoutofharm’swayuntiltheycouldgatherinforceafterdark。
　　"DoasItellyou，"heurged，"andIwillleadyoutovictoryovertheseenemiesofyours。Scatterthroughtheforest，pickingupasmanystragglersasyoucanfind，andatnight，ifyouthinkthatyouhavebeenfollowed，comebyroundaboutwaystothespotwherewekilledtheelephantstoday。
　　ThenIwillexplainmyplan，andyouwillfindthatitisgood。
　　YoucannothopetopityourpunystrengthandsimpleweaponsagainstthenumbersandthegunsoftheArabsandtheManyuema。"
　　Theyfinallyassented。"Whenyouscatter，"explainedTarzan，inconclusion，"yourfoeswillhavetoscattertofollowyou，andsoitmayhappenthatifyouarewatchfulyoucandropmanyaManyuemawithyourarrowsfrombehindsomegreattrees。"
　　Theyhadbarelytimetohastenawayfartherintotheforestbeforethefirstoftheraidershadcrossedtheclearingandentereditinpursuitofthem。
　　Tarzanranashortdistancealongthegroundbeforehetooktothetrees。Thenheracedquicklytotheupperterrace，theredoublingonhistracksandmakinghiswayrapidlybacktowardthevillage。HerehefoundthateveryArabandManyuemahadjoinedinthepursuit，leavingthevillagedesertedexceptforthechainedprisonersandasingleguard。
　　Thesentrystoodattheopengate，lookinginthedirectionoftheforest，sothathedidnotseetheagilegiantthatdroppedtothegroundatthefarendofthevillagestreet。
　　Withdrawnbowtheape—mancreptstealthilytowardhisunsuspectingvictim。Theprisonershadalreadydiscoveredhim，andwithwideeyesfilledwithwonderandwithhopetheywatchedtheirwould—berescuer。NowhehaltednottenpacesfromtheunconsciousManyuema。Theshaftwasdrawnbackitsfulllengthattheheightofthekeengrayeyethatsightedalongitspolishedsurface。Therewasasuddentwangasthebrownfingersreleasedtheirhold，andwithoutasoundtheraidersankforwarduponhisface，awoodenshafttransfixinghisheartandprotrudingafootfromhisblackchest。
　　ThenTarzanturnedhisattentiontothefiftywomenandyouthschainednecktoneckonthelongslavechain。
　　Therewasnoreleasingoftheancientpadlocksinthetimethatwaslefthim，sotheape—mancalledtothemtofollowhimastheywere，and，snatchingthegunandcartridgebeltfromthedeadsentry，heledthenowhappybandoutthroughthevillagegateandintotheforestuponthefarsideoftheclearing。
　　Itwasaslowandarduousmarch，fortheslavechainwasnewtothesepeople，andthereweremanydelaysasoneoftheirnumberwouldstumbleandfall，draggingothersdownwithher。
　　Then，too，Tarzanhadbeenforcedtomakeawidedetourtoavoidanypossibilityofmeetingwithreturningraiders。
　　HewaspartiallyguidedbyoccasionalshotswhichindicatedthattheArabhordewasstillintouchwiththevillagers;butheknewthatiftheywouldbutfollowhisadvicetherewouldbebutfewcasualtiesotherthanonthesideofthemarauders。
　　Towardduskthefiringceasedentirely，andTarzanknewthattheArabshadallreturnedtothevillage。Hecouldscarcerepressasmileoftriumphashethoughtoftheirrageondiscoveringthattheirguardhadbeenkilledandtheirprisonerstakenaway。Tarzanhadwishedthathemighthavetakensomeofthegreatstoreofivorythevillagecontained，solelyforthepurposeofstillfurtheraugmentingthewrathofhisenemies;butheknewthatthatwasnotnecessaryforitssalvation，sincehealreadyhadaplanmappedoutwhichwouldeffectuallypreventtheArabsleavingthecountrywithasingletusk。Anditwouldhavebeencrueltohaveneedlesslyburdenedthesepoor，overwroughtwomenwiththeextraweightoftheheavyivory。
　　ItwasaftermidnightwhenTarzan，withhisslow—movingcaravan，approachedthespotwheretheelephantslay。
　　LongbeforetheyreachedittheyhadbeenguidedbythehugefirethenativeshadbuiltinthecenterofahastilyimprovisedBOMA，partiallyforwarmthandpartiallytokeepoffchancelions。
　　WhentheyhadcomeclosetotheencampmentTarzancalledaloudtoletthemknowthatfriendswerecoming。
　　ItwasajoyousreceptionthelittlepartyreceivedwhentheblackswithintheBOMAsawthelongfileoffetteredfriendsandrelativesenterthefirelight。Thesehadallbeengivenupaslostforever，ashadTarzanaswell，sothatthehappyblackswouldhaveremainedawakeallnighttofeastonelephantmeatandcelebratethereturnoftheirfellows，hadnotTarzaninsistedthattheytakewhatsleeptheycould，againsttheworkofthecomingday。
　　Atthat，sleepwasnoeasymatter，forthewomenwhohadlosttheirmenortheirchildrenintheday’smassacreandbattlemadenighthideouswiththeircontinuedwailingandhowling。Finally，however，Tarzansucceededinsilencingthem，onthepleathattheirnoisewouldattracttheArabstotheirhiding—place，whenallwouldbeslaughtered。
　　WhendawncameTarzanexplainedhisplanofbattletothewarriors，andwithoutdemuroneandallagreedthatitwasthesafestandsurestwayinwhichtoridthemselvesoftheirunwelcomevisitorsandberevengedforthemurderoftheirfellows。
　　Firstthewomenandchildren，withaguardofsometwentyoldwarriorsandyouths，werestartedsouthward，tobeentirelyoutofthezoneofdanger。TheyhadinstructionstoerecttemporaryshelterandconstructaprotectingBOMA
　　ofthornbush;fortheplanofcampaignwhichTarzanhadchosenwasonewhichmightstretchoutovermanydays，orevenweeks，duringwhichtimethewarriorswouldnotreturntothenewcamp。
　　Twohoursafterdaylightathincircleofblackwarriorssurroundedthevillage。Atintervalsonewasperchedhighinthebranchesofatreewhichcouldoverlookthepalisade。
　　PresentlyaManyuemawithinthevillagefell，piercedbyasinglearrow。Therehadbeennosoundofattack——noneofthehideouswar—criesorvaingloriouswavingofmenacingspearsthatordinarilymarkstheattackofsavages——justasilentmessengerofdeathfromoutofthesilentforest。
　　TheArabsandtheirfollowerswerethrownintoafinerageatthisunprecedentedoccurrence。Theyranforthegates，towreakdirevengeanceuponthefoolhardyperpetratoroftheoutrage;buttheysuddenlyrealizedthattheydidnotknowwhichwaytoturntofindthefoe。Astheystooddebatingwithmanyangryshoutsandmuchgesticulating，oneoftheArabssanksilentlytothegroundintheirverymidst——athinarrowprotrudingfromhisheart。
　　Tarzanhadplacedthefinestmarksmenofthetribeinthesurroundingtrees，withdirectionsnevertorevealthemselveswhiletheenemywasfacedintheirdirection。Asablackreleasedhismessengerofdeathhewouldslinkbehindtheshelteringstemofthetreehehadselected，norwouldheagainaimuntilawatchfuleyetoldhimthatnonewaslookingtowardhistree。
　　ThreetimestheArabsstartedacrosstheclearinginthedirectionfromwhichtheythoughtthearrowscame，buteachtimeanotherarrowwouldcomefrombehindtotakeitstollfromamongtheirnumber。Thentheywouldturnandchargeinanewdirection。Finallytheysetoutuponadeterminedsearchoftheforest，buttheblacksmeltedbeforethem，sothattheysawnosignofanenemy。
　　Butabovethemlurkedagrimfigureinthedensefoliageofthemightytrees——itwasTarzanoftheApes，hoveringoverthemasifhehadbeentheshadowofdeath。PresentlyaManyuemaforgedaheadofhiscompanions;therewasnonetoseefromwhatdirectiondeathcame，andsoitcamequickly，andamomentlaterthosebehindstumbledoverthedeadbodyoftheircomrade——theinevitablearrowpiercingthestillheart。
　　Itdoesnottakeagreatdealofthismannerofwarfaretogetuponthenervesofwhitemen，andsoitislittletobewonderedatthattheManyuemaweresoonpanic—stricken。
　　Didoneforgeaheadanarrowfoundhisheart;didonelagbehindheneveragainwasseenalive;didonestumbletooneside，evenforabaremomentfromthesightofhisfellows，hedidnotreturn——andalwayswhentheycameuponthebodiesoftheirdeadtheyfoundthoseterriblearrowsdrivenwiththeaccuracyofsuperhumanpowerstraightthroughthevictim’sheart。Butworsethanallelsewasthehideousfactthatnotonceduringthemorninghadtheyseenorheardtheslightestsignofanenemyotherthanthepitilessarrows。
　　Whenfinallytheyreturnedtothevillageitwasnobetter。
　　Everynowandthen，atvaryingintervalsthatweremaddeningintheterriblesuspensetheycaused，amanwouldplungeforwarddead。Theblacksbesoughttheirmasterstoleavethisterribleplace，buttheArabsfearedtotakeupthemarchthroughthegrimandhostileforestbesetbythisnewandterribleenemywhileladenwiththegreatstoreofivorytheyhadfoundwithinthevillage;but，worseyet，theyhatedtoleavetheivorybehind。
　　Finallytheentireexpeditiontookrefugewithinthethatchedhuts——here，atleast，theywouldbefreefromthearrows。
　　Tarzan，fromthetreeabovethevillage，hadmarkedthehutintowhichthechiefArabshadgone，and，balancinghimselfuponanoverhanginglimb，hedrovehisheavyspearwithalltheforceofhisgiantmusclesthroughthethatchedroof。
　　Ahowlofpaintoldhimthatithadfoundamark。
　　Withthispartingsalutetoconvincethemthattherewasnosafetyforthemanywherewithinthecountry，Tarzanreturnedtotheforest，collectedhiswarriors，andwithdrewamiletothesouthtorestandeat。Hekeptsentriesinseveraltreesthatcommandedaviewofthetrailtowardthevillage，buttherewasnopursuit。
　　Aninspectionofhisforceshowednotasinglecasualty——notevenaminorwound;whileroughestimatesoftheenemies’
　　lossconvincedtheblacksthatnofewerthantwentyhadfallenbeforetheirarrows。Theywerewildwithelation，andwereforfinishingthedayinonegloriousrushuponthevillage，duringwhichtheywouldslaughterthelastoftheirfoemen。Theywereevenpicturingthevarioustorturestheywouldinflict，andgloatingoverthesufferingoftheManyuema，forwhomtheyentertainedapeculiarhatred，whenTarzanputhisfootdownflatlyupontheplan。
　　"Youarecrazy！"hecried。"Ihaveshownyoutheonlywaytofightthesepeople。Alreadyyouhavekilledtwentyofthemwithoutthelossofasinglewarrior，whereas，yesterday，followingyourowntactics，whichyouwouldnowrenew，youlostatleastadozen，andkillednotasingleAraborManyuema。YouwillfightjustasItellyoutofight，orIshallleaveyouandgobacktomyowncountry。"
　　Theywerefrightenedwhenhethreatenedthis，andpromisedtoobeyhimscrupulouslyifhewouldbutpromisenottodesertthem。
　　"Verywell，"hesaid。"WeshallreturntotheelephantBOMAforthenight。IhaveaplantogivetheArabsalittletasteofwhattheymayexpectiftheyremaininourcountry，butIshallneednohelp。Come！Iftheysuffernomoreforthebalanceofthedaytheywillfeelreassured，andtherelapseintofearwillbeevenmorenerve—rackingthanasthoughwecontinuedtofrightenthemallafternoon。"
　　Sotheymarchedbacktotheircampofthepreviousnight，and，lightinggreatfires，ateandrecountedtheadventuresofthedayuntillongafterdark。Tarzansleptuntilmidnight，thenhearoseandcreptintotheCimmerianblacknessoftheforest。
　　Anhourlaterhecametotheedgeoftheclearingbeforethevillage。Therewasacamp—fireburningwithinthepalisade。
　　Theape—mancreptacrosstheclearinguntilhestoodbeforethebarredgates。Throughtheintersticeshesawalonesentrysittingbeforethefire。
　　QuietlyTarzanwenttothetreeattheendofthevillagestreet。
　　Heclimbedsoftlytohisplace，andfittedanarrowtohisbow。
　　Forseveralminuteshetriedtosightfairlyuponthesentry，butthewavingbranchesandflickeringfirelightconvincedhimthatthedangerofamisswastoogreat——hemusttouchtheheartfullinthecentertobringthequietandsuddendeathhisplanrequired。
　　Hehadbrought，besides，hisbow，arrows，andrope，thegunhehadtakenthepreviousdayfromtheothersentryhehadkilled。Cachingalltheseinaconvenientcrotchofthetree，hedroppedlightlytothegroundwithinthepalisade，armedonlywithhislongknife。Thesentry’sbackwastowardhim。
　　LikeacatTarzancreptuponthedozingman。Hewaswithintwopacesofhimnow——anotherinstantandtheknifewouldslidesilentlyintothefellow’sheart。
　　Tarzancrouchedforaspring，forthatiseverthequickestandsurestattackofthejunglebeast——whentheman，warned，bysomesubtlesense，sprangtohisfeetandfacedtheape—man。
　　Chapter17
　　TheWhiteChiefoftheWaziriWhentheeyesoftheblackManyuemasavagefelluponthestrangeapparitionthatconfrontedhimwithmenacingknifetheywentwideinhorror。Heforgotthegunwithinhishands;heevenforgottocryout——hisonethoughtwastoescapethisfearsome—lookingwhitesavage，thisgiantofamanuponwhosemassiverollingmusclesandmightychesttheflickeringfirelightplayed。
　　ButbeforehecouldturnTarzanwasuponhim，andthenthesentrythoughttoscreamforaid，butitwastoolate。
　　Agreathandwasuponhiswindpipe，andhewasbeingbornetotheearth。Hebattledfuriouslybutfutilely——withthegrimtenacityofabulldogthoseawfulfingerswereclingingtohisthroat。Swiftlyandsurelylifewasbeingchokedfromhim。
　　Hiseyesbulged，histongueprotruded，hisfaceturnedtoaghastlypurplishhue——therewasaconvulsivetremorofthestiffeningmuscles，andtheManyuemasentrylayquitestill。
　　Theape—manthrewthebodyacrossoneofhisbroadshouldersand，gatheringupthefellow’sgun，trottedsilentlyupthesleepingvillagestreettowardthetreethatgavehimsucheasyingresstothepalisadedvillage。Heborethedeadsentryintothemidstoftheleafymazeabove。
　　Firsthestrippedthebodyofcartridgebeltandsuchornamentsashecraved，wedgingitintoaconvenientcrotchwhilehisnimblefingersranoveritinsearchoftheloothecouldnotplainlyseeinthedark。Whenhehadfinishedhetookthegunthathadbelongedtotheman，andwalkedfaroutuponalimb，fromtheendofwhichhecouldobtainabetterviewofthehuts。DrawingacarefulbeadonthebeehivestructureinwhichheknewthechiefArabstobe，hepulledthetrigger。Almostinstantlytherewasanansweringgroan。Tarzansmiled。Hehadmadeanotherluckyhit。
　　Followingtheshottherewasamoment’ssilenceinthecamp，andthenManyuemaandArabcamepouringfromthehutslikeaswarmofangryhornets;butifthetruthwereknowntheywereevenmorefrightenedthantheywereangry。
　　Thestrainoftheprecedingdayhadwroughtuponthefearsofbothblackandwhite，andnowthissingleshotinthenightconjuredallmannerofterribleconjecturesintheirterrifiedminds。
　　Whentheydiscoveredthattheirsentryhaddisappeared，theirfearswereinnowayallayed，andasthoughtobolstertheircouragebywarlikeactions，theybegantofirerapidlyatthebarredgatesofthevillage，althoughnoenemywasinsight。Tarzantookadvantageofthedeafeningroarofthisfusilladetofireintothemobbeneathhim。
　　Nooneheardhisshotabovethedinofrattlingmusketryinthestreet，butsomewhowerestandingclosesawoneoftheirnumbercrumplesuddenlytotheearth。Whentheyleanedoverhimhewasdead。Theywerepanic—stricken，andittookallthebrutalauthorityoftheArabstokeeptheManyuemafromrushinghelter—skelterintothejungle——anywheretoescapefromthisterriblevillage。
　　Afteratimetheycommencedtoquietdown，andasnofurthermysteriousdeathsoccurredamongthemtheytookheartagain。Butitwasashort—livedrespite，forjustastheyhadconcludedthattheywouldnotbedisturbedagainTarzangavevoicetoaweirdmoan，andastheraiderslookedupinthedirectionfromwhichthesoundseemedtocome，theape—man，whostoodswingingthedeadbodyofthesentrygentlytoandfro，suddenlyshotthecorpsefaroutabovetheirheads。
　　Withhowlsofalarmthethrongbrokeinalldirectionstoescapethisnewandterriblecreaturewhoseemedtobespringinguponthem。Totheirfear—distortedimaginationsthebodyofthesentry，fallingwithwide—sprawledarmsandlegs，assumedthelikenessofagreatbeastofprey。Intheiranxietytoescape，manyoftheblacksscaledthepalisade，whileotherstoredownthebarsfromthegatesandrushedmadlyacrosstheclearingtowardthejungle。
　　Foratimenooneturnedbacktowardthethingthathadfrightenedthem，butTarzanknewthattheywouldinamoment，andwhentheydiscoveredthatitwasbutthedeadbodyoftheirsentry，whiletheywoulddoubtlessbestillfurtherterrified，hehadaratherdefiniteideaastowhattheywoulddo，andsohefadedsilentlyawaytowardthesouth，takingthemoonlitupperterracebacktowardthecampoftheWaziri。
　　PresentlyoneoftheArabsturnedandsawthatthethingthathadleapedfromthetreeuponthemlaystillandquietwhereithadfalleninthecenterofthevillagestreet。
　　Cautiouslyhecreptbacktowardituntilhesawthatitwasbutaman。Amomentlaterhewasbesidethefigure，andinanotherhadrecognizeditasthecorpseoftheManyuemawhohadstoodonguardatthevillagegate。
　　Hiscompanionsrapidlygatheredaroundathiscall，andafteramoment’sexcitedconversationtheydidpreciselywhatTarzanhadreasonedtheywould。Raisingtheirgunstotheirshoulders，theypouredvolleyaftervolleyintothetreefromwhichthecorpsehadbeenthrown——hadTarzanremainedtherehewouldhavebeenriddledbyahundredbullets。
　　WhentheArabsandManyuemadiscoveredthattheonlymarksofviolenceuponthebodyoftheirdeadcomradeweregiantfingerprintsuponhisswollenthroattheywereagainthrownintodeeperapprehensionanddespair。
　　Thattheywerenotevensafewithinapalisadedvillageatnightcameasadistinctshocktothem。Thatanenemycouldenterintothemidstoftheircampandkilltheirsentrywithbarehandsseemedoutsidetheboundsofreason，andsothesuperstitiousManyuemacommencedtoattributetheirilllucktosupernaturalcauses;norweretheArabsabletoofferanybetterexplanation。
　　Withatleastfiftyoftheirnumberflyingthroughtheblackjungle，andwithouttheslightestknowledgeofwhentheiruncannyfoemenmightresumethecold—bloodedslaughtertheyhadcommenced，itwasadesperatebandofcut—throatsthatwaitedsleeplesslyforthedawn。OnlyonthepromiseoftheArabsthattheywouldleavethevillageatdaybreak，andhastenonwardtowardtheirownland，wouldtheremainingManyuemaconsenttostayatthevillageamomentlonger。Notevenfearoftheircruelmasterswassufficienttoovercomethisnewterror。
　　AndsoitwasthatwhenTarzanandhiswarriorsreturnedtotheattackthenextmorningtheyfoundtheraiderspreparedtomarchoutofthevillage。TheManyuemawereladenwithstolenivory。AsTarzansawithegrinned，forheknewthattheywouldnotcarryitfar。Thenhesawsomethingwhichcausedhimanxiety——anumberoftheManyuemawerelightingtorchesintheremnantofthecamp—fire。
　　Theywereabouttofirethevillage。
　　Tarzanwasperchedinatalltreesomehundredyardsfromthepalisade。Makingatrumpetofhishands，hecalledloudlyintheArabtongue:"Donotfirethehuts，orweshallkillyouall！Donotfirethehuts，orweshallkillyouall！"
　　Adozentimesherepeatedit。TheManyuemahesitated，thenoneofthemflunghistorchintothecampfire。
　　TheotherswereabouttodothesamewhenanArabsprunguponthemwithastick，beatingthemtowardthehuts。
　　Tarzancouldseethathewascommandingthemtofirethelittlethatcheddwellings。Thenhestooderectupontheswayingbranchahundredfeetabovetheground，and，raisingoneoftheArabgunstohisshoulder，tookcarefulaimandfired。WiththereporttheArabwhowasurgingonhismentoburnthevillagefellinhistracks，andtheManyuemathrewawaytheirtorchesandfledfromthevillage。
　　ThelastTarzansawofthemtheywereracingtowardthejungle，whiletheirformermasterskneltuponthegroundandfiredatthem。
　　ButhoweverangrytheArabsmighthavebeenattheinsubordinationoftheirslaves，theywereatleastconvincedthatitwouldbethebetterpartofwisdomtoforegothepleasureoffiringthevillagethathadgiventhemtwosuchnastyreceptions。Intheirhearts，however，theysworetoreturnagainwithsuchforceaswouldenablethemtosweeptheentirecountryformilesaround，untilnovestigeofhumanliferemained。
　　Theyhadlookedinvainfortheownerofthevoicewhichhadfrightenedoffthemenwhohadbeendetailedtoputthetorchtothehuts，butnoteventhekeenesteyeamongthemhadbeenabletolocatehim。TheyhadseenthepuffofsmokefromthetreefollowingtheshotthatbroughtdowntheArab，but，thoughavolleyhadimmediatelybeenloosedintoitsfoliage，therehadbeennoindicationthatithadbeeneffective。
　　Tarzanwastoointelligenttobecaughtinanysuchtrap，andsothereportofhisshothadscarcelydiedawaybeforetheape—manwasonthegroundandracingforanothertreeahundredyardsaway。Hereheagainfoundasuitableperchfromwhichhecouldwatchthepreparationsoftheraiders。
　　Itoccurredtohimthathemighthaveconsiderablemorefunwiththem，soagainhecalledtothemthroughhisimprovisedtrumpet。
　　"Leavetheivory！"hecried。"Leavetheivory！Deadmenhavenouseforivory！"
　　SomeoftheManyuemastartedtolaydowntheirloads，butthiswasaltogethertoomuchfortheavariciousArabs。
　　Withloudshoutsandcursestheyaimedtheirgunsfulluponthebearers，threateninginstantdeathtoanywhomightlaydownhisload。Theycouldgiveupfiringthevillage，butthethoughtofabandoningthisenormousfortuneinivorywasquitebeyondtheirconception——betterdeaththanthat。
　　AndsotheymarchedoutofthevillageoftheWaziri，andontheshouldersoftheirslaveswastheivoryransomofascoreofkings。Towardthenorththeymarched，backtowardtheirsavagesettlementinthewildandunknowncountrywhichliesbackfromtheKongointheuttermostdepthsofTheGreatForest，andoneithersideofthemtraveledaninvisibleandrelentlessfoe。
　　UnderTarzan’sguidancetheblackWaziriwarriorsstationedthemselvesalongthetrailoneithersideinthedensestunderbrush。
　　Theystoodatfarintervals，and，asthecolumnpassed，asinglearroworaheavyspear，wellaimed，wouldpierceaManyuemaoranArab。ThentheWaziriwouldmeltintothedistanceandrunaheadtotakehisstandfartheron。
　　Theydidnotstrikeunlesssuccessweresureandthedangerofdetectionalmostnothing，andsothearrowsandthespearswerefewandfarbetween，butsopersistentandinevitablethattheslow—movingcolumnofheavy—ladenraiderswasinaconstantstateofpanic——panicattheuncertaintyofwhothenextwouldbetofall，andwhen。
　　ItwaswiththegreatestdifficultythattheArabspreventedtheirmenadozentimesfromthrowingawaytheirburdensandfleeinglikefrightenedrabbitsupthetrailtowardthenorth。
　　Andsothedayworeon——afrightfulnightmareofadayfortheraiders——adayofwearybutwell—repaidworkfortheWaziri。
　　AtnighttheArabsconstructedarudeBOMAinalittleclearingbyariver，andwentintocamp。
　　Atintervalsduringthenightariflewouldbarkcloseabovetheirheads，andoneofthedozensentrieswhichtheynowhadpostedwouldtumbletotheground。Suchaconditionwasinsupportable，fortheysawthatbymeansofthesehideoustacticstheywouldbecompletelywipedout，onebyone，withoutinflictingasingledeathupontheirenemy。
　　Butyet，withthepersistentavariciousnessofthewhiteman，theArabsclungtotheirloot，andwhenmorningcameforcedthedemoralizedManyuematotakeuptheirburdensofdeathandstaggeronintothejungle。
　　Forthreedaysthewitheringcolumnkeptupitsfrightfulmarch。
　　Eachhourwasmarkedbyitsdeadlyarroworcruelspear。
　　Thenightsweremadehideousbythebarkingoftheinvisiblegunthatmadesentrydutyequivalenttoadeathsentence。
　　OnthemorningofthefourthdaytheArabswerecompelledtoshoottwooftheirblacksbeforetheycouldcompelthebalancetotakeupthehatedivory，andastheydidsoavoicerangout，clearandstrong，fromthejungle:"Todayyoudie，oh，Manyuema，unlessyoulaydowntheivory。
　　Falluponyourcruelmastersandkillthem！Youhaveguns，whydoyounotusethem？KilltheArabs，andwewillnotharmyou。Wewilltakeyoubacktoourvillageandfeedyou，andleadyououtofourcountryinsafetyandinpeace。
　　Laydowntheivory，andfalluponyourmasters——wewillhelpyou。Elseyoudie！"
　　Asthevoicedieddowntheraidersstoodasthoughturnedtostone。TheArabseyedtheirManyuemaslaves;theslaveslookedfirstatoneoftheirfellows，andthenatanother——theywerebutwaitingforsomeonetotaketheinitiative。
　　ThereweresomethirtyArabsleft，andaboutonehundredandfiftyblacks。Allwerearmed——eventhosewhowereactingasportershadtheirriflesslungacrosstheirbacks。
　　TheArabsdrewtogether。ThesheikorderedtheManyuematotakeupthemarch，andashespokehecockedhisrifleandraisedit。Butatthesameinstantoneoftheblacksthrewdownhisload，and，snatchinghisriflefromhisback，firedpoint—blackatthegroupofArabs。Inaninstantthecampwasacursing，howlingmassofdemons，fightingwithgunsandknivesandpistols。TheArabsstoodtogether，anddefendedtheirlivesvaliantly，butwiththerainofleadthatpoureduponthemfromtheirownslaves，andtheshowerofarrowsandspearswhichnowleapedfromthesurroundingjungleaimedsolelyatthem，therewaslittlequestionfromthefirstwhattheoutcomewouldbe。IntenminutesfromthetimethefirstporterhadthrowndownhisloadthelastoftheArabslaydead。
　　WhenthefiringhadceasedTarzanspokeagaintotheManyuema:
　　"Takeupourivory，andreturnittoourvillage，fromwhenceyoustoleit。Weshallnotharmyou。"
　　ForamomenttheManyuemahesitated。Theyhadnostomachtoretracethatdifficultthreedays’trail。
　　Theytalkedtogetherinlowwhispers，andoneturnedtowardthejungle，callingaloudtothevoicethathadspokentothemfromoutofthefoliage。
　　"Howdoweknowthatwhenyouhaveusinyourvillageyouwillnotkillusall？"heasked。
　　"Youdonotknow，"repliedTarzan，"otherthanthatwehavepromisednottoharmyouifyouwillreturnourivorytous。Butthisyoudoknow，thatitlieswithinourpowertokillyouallifyoudonotreturnaswedirect，andarewenotmorelikelytodosoifyouangerusthanifyoudoaswebid？"
　　"WhoareyouthatspeaksthetongueofourArabmasters？"
　　criedtheManyuemaspokesman。"Letusseeyou，andthenweshallgiveyououranswer。"
　　Tarzansteppedoutofthejungleadozenpacesfromthem。
　　"Look！"hesaid。Whentheysawthathewaswhitetheywerefilledwithawe，forneverhadtheyseenawhitesavagebefore，andathisgreatmusclesandgiantframetheywerestruckwithwonderandadmiration。
　　"Youmaytrustme，"saidTarzan。"SolongasyoudoasItellyou，andharmnoneofmypeople，weshalldoyounohurt。Willyoutakeupourivoryandreturninpeacetoourvillage，orshallwefollowalongyourtrailtowardthenorthaswehavefollowedforthepastthreedays？"
　　TherecollectionofthehorriddaysthathadjustpassedwasthethingthatfinallydecidedtheManyuema，andso，afterashortconference，theytookuptheirburdensandsetofftoretracetheirstepstowardthevillageoftheWaziri。