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lain concealed； and hurled their heavy war spears at the two
marked beasts。 There was not a single miss； twenty…five
spears were embedded in the sides of each of the giant animals。
One never moved from the spot where it stood when the
avalanche of spears struck it； for two； perfectly aimed；
had penetrated its heart； and it lunged forward upon
its knees； rolling to the ground without a struggle。
The other； standing nearly head…on toward the hunters；
had not proved so good a mark； and though every spear
struck not one entered the great heart。 For a moment the
huge bull stood trumpeting in rage and pain； casting about
with its little eyes for the author of its hurt。 The blacks
had faded into the jungle before the weak eyes of the monster
had fallen upon any of them； but now he caught the sound of
their retreat； and； amid a terrific crashing of underbrush
and branches； he charged in the direction of the noise。
It so happened that chance sent him in the direction of
Busuli； whom he was overtaking so rapidly that it was as
though the black were standing still instead of racing at full
speed to escape the certain death which pursued him。
Tarzan had witnessed the entire performance from the branches
of a nearby tree； and now that he saw his friend's peril he
raced toward the infuriated beast with loud cries； hoping to
distract him。
But it had been as well had he saved his breath； for the
brute was deaf and blind to all else save the particular
object of his rage that raced futilely before him。
And now Tarzan saw that only a miracle could save Busuli；
and with the same unconcern with which he had once hunted
this very man he hurled himself into the path of the elephant
to save the black warrior's life。
He still grasped his spear； and while Tantor was yet six
or eight paces behind his prey； a sinewy white warrior
dropped as from the heavens； almost directly in his path。
With a vicious lunge the elephant swerved to the right to
dispose of this temerarious foeman who dared intervene
between himself and his intended victim； but he had not
reckoned on the lightning quickness that could galvanize
those steel muscles into action so marvelously swift as to
baffle even a keener eyesight than Tantor's。
And so it happened that before the elephant realized that
his new enemy had leaped from his path Tarzan had driven
his iron…shod spear from behind the massive shoulder straight
into the fierce heart； and the colossal pachyderm had toppled
to his death at the feet of the ape…man。
Busuli had not beheld the manner of his deliverance； but
Waziri； the old chief； had seen； and several of the other
warriors； and they hailed Tarzan with delight as they swarmed
about him and his great kill。 When he leaped upon the mighty
carcass； and gave voice to the weird challenge with which he
announced a great victory； the blacks shrank back in fear；
for to them it marked the brutal Bolgani； whom they feared
fully as much as they feared Numa； the lion； but with a fear
with which was mixed a certain uncanny awe of the manlike
thing to which they attributed supernatural powers。
But when Tarzan lowered his raised head and smiled upon
them they were reassured； though they did not understand。
Nor did they ever fully understand this strange creature
who ran through the trees as quickly as Manu； yet was even
more at home upon the ground than themselves； who was
except as to color like unto themselves； yet as powerful
as ten of them； and singlehanded a match for the fiercest
denizens of the fierce jungle。
When the remainder of the warriors had gathered； the
hunt was again taken up and the stalking of the retreating
herd once more begun； but they had covered a bare hundred
yards when from behind them； at a great distance；
sounded faintly a strange popping。
For an instant they stood like a group of statuary；
intently listening。 Then Tarzan spoke。
〃Guns！〃 he said。 〃The village is being attacked。〃
〃Come！〃 cried Waziri。 〃The Arab raiders have returned
with their cannibal slaves for our ivory and our women！〃
Chapter 16
The Ivory Raiders
Waziri's warriors marched at a rapid trot through the
jungle in the direction of the village。 For a few minutes；
the sharp cracking of guns ahead warned them to haste；
but finally the reports dwindled to an occasional shot；
presently ceasing altogether。 Nor was this less ominous
than the rattle of musketry； for it suggested but a single
solution to the little band of rescuersthat the illy
garrisoned village had already succumbed to the onslaught
of a superior force。
The returning hunters had covered a little more than
three miles of the five that had separated them from the
village when they met the first of the fugitives who had
escaped the bullets and clutches of the foe。 There were a
dozen women； youths； and girls in the party； and so excited
were they that they could scarce make themselves understood
as they tried to relate to Waziri the calamity that had
befallen his people。
〃They are as many as the leaves of the forest；〃 cried one
of the women； in attempting to explain the enemy's force。
〃There are many Arabs and countless Manyuema； and they
all have guns。 They crept close to the village before we
knew that they were about； and then； with many shouts；
they rushed in upon us； shooting down men； and women；
and children。 Those of us who could fled in all directions
into the jungle； but more were killed。 I do not know whether
they took any prisoners or notthey seemed only bent
upon killing us all。 The Manyuema called us many names；
saying that they would eat us all before they left our
countrythat this was our punishment for killing their
friends last year。 I did not hear much； for I ran away quickly。〃
The march toward the village was now resumed； more
slowly and with greater stealth； for Waziri knew that it was
too late to rescuetheir only mission could be one of revenge。
Inside the next mile a hundred more fugitives were met。
There were many men among these； and so the fighting
strength of the party was augmented。
Now a dozen warriors were sent creeping ahead to reconnoiter。
Waziri remained with the main body； which advanced in a thin
line that spread in a great crescent through the forest。
By the chief's side walked Tarzan。
Presently one of the scouts returned。 He had come within
sight of the village。
〃They are all within the palisade；〃 he whispered。
〃Good！〃 said Waziri。 〃We shall rush in upon them and
slay them all；〃 and he made ready to send word along the
line that they were to halt at the edge of the clearing until
they saw him rush toward the villagethen all were to follow。
〃Wait！〃 cautioned Tarzan。 〃If there are even fifty guns
within the palisade we shall be repulsed and slaughtered。
Let me go alone through the trees； so that I may look down
upon them fr