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Long before they reached it they had been guided by the
huge fire the natives had built in the center of a hastily
improvised BOMA； partially for warmth and partially to
keep off chance lions。
When they had come close to the encampment Tarzan
called aloud to let them know that friends were coming。
It was a joyous reception the little party received when the
blacks within the BOMA saw the long file of fettered friends
and relatives enter the firelight。 These had all been given up
as lost forever； as had Tarzan as well； so that the happy blacks
would have remained awake all night to feast on elephant
meat and celebrate the return of their fellows； had not
Tarzan insisted that they take what sleep they could； against
the work of the coming day。
At that； sleep was no easy matter； for the women who
had lost their men or their children in the day's massacre
and battle made night hideous with their continued wailing
and howling。 Finally； however； Tarzan succeeded in silencing
them； on the plea that their noise would attract the Arabs to
their hiding…place； when all would be slaughtered。
When dawn came Tarzan explained his plan of battle to
the warriors； and without demur one and all agreed that it
was the safest and surest way in which to rid themselves of
their unwelcome visitors and be revenged for the murder of
their fellows。
First the women and children； with a guard of some
twenty old warriors and youths； were started southward； to
be entirely out of the zone of danger。 They had instructions
to erect temporary shelter and construct a protecting BOMA
of thorn bush； for the plan of campaign which Tarzan had
chosen was one which might stretch out over many days；
or even weeks； during which time the warriors would not
return to the new camp。
Two hours after daylight a thin circle of black warriors
surrounded the village。 At intervals one was perched high
in the branches of a tree which could overlook the palisade。
Presently a Manyuema within the village fell； pierced by a
single arrow。 There had been no sound of attacknone of
the hideous war…cries or vainglorious waving of menacing
spears that ordinarily marks the attack of savagesjust a
silent messenger of death from out of the silent forest。
The Arabs and their followers were thrown into a fine
rage at this unprecedented occurrence。 They ran for the
gates； to wreak dire vengeance upon the foolhardy perpetrator
of the outrage； but they suddenly realized that they did
not know which way to turn to find the foe。 As they stood
debating with many angry shouts and much gesticulating；
one of the Arabs sank silently to the ground in their very
midsta thin arrow protruding from his heart。
Tarzan had placed the finest marksmen of the tribe in the
surrounding trees； with directions never to reveal themselves
while the enemy was faced in their direction。 As a black
released his messenger of death he would slink behind
the sheltering stem of the tree he had selected； nor would
he again aim until a watchful eye told him that none was
looking toward his tree。
Three times the Arabs started across the clearing in the
direction from which they thought the arrows came； but
each time another arrow would come from behind to take
its toll from among their number。 Then they would turn and
charge in a new direction。 Finally they set out upon a
determined search of the forest； but the blacks melted
before them； so that they saw no sign of an enemy。
But above them lurked a grim figure in the dense foliage
of the mighty treesit was Tarzan of the Apes； hovering over
them as if he had been the shadow of death。 Presently a
Manyuema forged ahead of his companions； there was none
to see from what direction death came； and so it came
quickly； and a moment later those behind stumbled over
the dead body of their comradethe inevitable arrow piercing
the still heart。
It does not take a great deal of this manner of warfare to
get upon the nerves of white men； and so it is little to be
wondered at that the Manyuema were soon panic…stricken。
Did one forge ahead an arrow found his heart； did one lag
behind he never again was seen alive； did one stumble to
one side； even for a bare moment from the sight of his fellows；
he did not returnand always when they came upon
the bodies of their dead they found those terrible arrows
driven with the accuracy of superhuman power straight
through the victim's heart。 But worse than all else was the
hideous fact that not once during the morning had they seen
or heard the slightest sign of an enemy other than the
pitiless arrows。
When finally they returned to the village it was no better。
Every now and then； at varying intervals that were maddening
in the terrible suspense they caused； a man would plunge
forward dead。 The blacks besought their masters to leave
this terrible place； but the Arabs feared to take up the march
through the grim and hostile forest beset by this new and
terrible enemy while laden with the great store of ivory they
had found within the village； but； worse yet； they hated to
leave the ivory behind。
Finally the entire expedition took refuge within the thatched
hutshere； at least； they would be free from the arrows。
Tarzan； from the tree above the village； had marked the hut
into which the chief Arabs had gone； and； balancing himself
upon an overhanging limb； he drove his heavy spear with
all the force of his giant muscles through the thatched roof。
A howl of pain told him that it had found a mark。
With this parting salute to convince them that there was no
safety for them anywhere within the country； Tarzan returned
to the forest； collected his warriors； and withdrew a mile
to the south to rest and eat。 He kept sentries in several
trees that commanded a view of the trail toward the
village； but there was no pursuit。
An inspection of his force showed not a single casualtynot
even a minor wound； while rough estimates of the enemies'
loss convinced the blacks that no fewer than twenty
had fallen before their arrows。 They were wild with elation；
and were for finishing the day in one glorious rush upon the
village； during which they would slaughter the last of
their foemen。 They were even picturing the various tortures
they would inflict； and gloating over the suffering of the
Manyuema； for whom they entertained a peculiar hatred；
when Tarzan put his foot down flatly upon the plan。
〃You are crazy！〃 he cried。 〃I have shown you the only
way to fight these people。 Already you have killed twenty
of them without the loss of a single warrior； whereas；
yesterday； following your own tactics； which you would now
renew； you lost at least a dozen； and killed not a single
Arab or Manyuema。 You will fight just as I tell you to fight；
or I shall leave you and go back to my own country。〃
They were frightened when he threatened this； and
promise