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came forced the demoralized Manyuema to take up their
burdens of death and stagger on into the jungle。
For three days the withering column kept up its frightful march。
Each hour was marked by its deadly arrow or cruel spear。
The nights were made hideous by the barking of the invisible
gun that made sentry duty equivalent to a death sentence。
On the morning of the fourth day the Arabs were compelled
to shoot two of their blacks before they could compel
the balance to take up the hated ivory； and as they did so a
voice rang out； clear and strong； from the jungle： 〃Today
you die； oh； Manyuema； unless you lay down the ivory。
Fall upon your cruel masters and kill them！ You have guns；
why do you not use them？ Kill the Arabs； and we will not
harm you。 We will take you back to our village and feed
you； and lead you out of our country in safety and in peace。
Lay down the ivory； and fall upon your masterswe will
help you。 Else you die！〃
As the voice died down the raiders stood as though turned
to stone。 The Arabs eyed their Manyuema slaves； the slaves
looked first at one of their fellows； and then at anotherthey
were but waiting for some one to take the initiative。
There were some thirty Arabs left； and about one hundred
and fifty blacks。 All were armedeven those who were
acting as porters had their rifles slung across their backs。
The Arabs drew together。 The sheik ordered the Manyuema
to take up the march； and as he spoke he cocked his rifle
and raised it。 But at the same instant one of the blacks
threw down his load； and； snatching his rifle from his back；
fired point…black at the group of Arabs。 In an instant the
camp was a cursing； howling mass of demons； fighting with
guns and knives and pistols。 The Arabs stood together； and
defended their lives valiantly； but with the rain of lead
that poured upon them from their own slaves； and the shower
of arrows and spears which now leaped from the surrounding
jungle aimed solely at them； there was little question
from the first what the outcome would be。 In ten minutes
from the time the first porter had thrown down his load the
last of the Arabs lay dead。
When the firing had ceased Tarzan spoke again to the Manyuema：
〃Take up our ivory； and return it to our village； from
whence you stole it。 We shall not harm you。〃
For a moment the Manyuema hesitated。 They had no
stomach to retrace that difficult three days' trail。
They talked together in low whispers； and one turned
toward the jungle； calling aloud to the voice that had
spoken to them from out of the foliage。
〃How do we know that when you have us in your village you
will not kill us all？〃 he asked。
〃You do not know；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃other than that we
have promised not to harm you if you will return our
ivory to us。 But this you do know； that it lies within our
power to kill you all if you do not return as we direct；
and are we not more likely to do so if you anger us than
if you do as we bid？〃
〃Who are you that speaks the tongue of our Arab masters？〃
cried the Manyuema spokesman。 〃Let us see you； and then
we shall give you our answer。〃
Tarzan stepped out of the jungle a dozen paces from them。
〃Look！〃 he said。 When they saw that he was white they
were filled with awe； for never had they seen a white savage
before； and at his great muscles and giant frame they were
struck with wonder and admiration。
〃You may trust me；〃 said Tarzan。 〃So long as you do as
I tell you； and harm none of my people； we shall do you
no hurt。 Will you take up our ivory and return in peace to
our village； or shall we follow along your trail toward the
north as we have followed for the past three days？〃
The recollection of the horrid days that had just passed
was the thing that finally decided the Manyuema； and so；
after a short conference； they took up their burdens and set
off to retrace their steps toward the village of the Waziri。
At the end of the third day they marched into the village gate；
and were greeted by the survivors of the recent massacre；
to whom Tarzan had sent a messenger in their temporary camp
to the south on the day that the raiders had quitted the
village； telling them that they might return in safety。
It took all the mastery and persuasion that Tarzan possessed
to prevent the Waziri falling on the Manyuema tooth
and nail； and tearing them to pieces； but when he had
explained that he had given his word that they would not be
molested if they carried the ivory back to the spot from
which they had stolen it； and had further impressed upon
his people that they owed their entire victory to him； they
finally acceded to his demands； and allowed the cannibals
to rest in peace within their palisade。
That night the village warriors held a big palaver to
celebrate their victories； and to choose a new chief。
Since old Waziri's death Tarzan had been directing the
warriors in battle； and the temporary command had been
tacitly conceded to him。 There had been no time to choose
a new chief from among their own number； and； in fact；
so remarkably successful had they been under the ape…man's
generalship that they had had no wish to delegate the supreme
authority to another for fear that what they already had
gained might be lost。 They had so recently seen the results
of running counter to this savage white man's advice in the
disastrous charge ordered by Waziri； in which he himself
had died； that it had not been difficult for them to accept
Tarzan's authority as final。
The principal warriors sat in a circle about a small fire
to discuss the relative merits of whomever might be suggested
as old Waziri's successor。 It was Busuli who spoke first：
〃Since Waziri is dead； leaving no son； there is but one
among us whom we know from experience is fitted to make
us a good king。 There is only one who has proved that he
can successfully lead us against the guns of the white man；
and bring us easy victory without the loss of a single life。
There is only one； and that is the white man who has led
us for the past few days；〃 and Busuli sprang to his feet； and
with uplifted spear and half…bent； crouching body commenced
to dance slowly about Tarzan； chanting in time to his steps：
〃Waziri； king of the Waziri； Waziri； killer of Arabs；
Waziri； king of the Waziri。〃
One by one the other warriors signified their acceptance
of Tarzan as their king by joining in the solemn dance。
The women came and squatted about the rim of the circle；
beating upon tom…toms； clapping their hands in time to
the steps of the dancers； and joining in the chant of
the warriors。 In the center of the circle sat Tarzan
of the ApesWaziri； king of the Waziri； for； like his
predecessor； he was to take the name of his tribe as his own。
Faster and faster grew the pace of the dancers； louder and
louder their wild and savage shouts。 The women rose and
fell