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side of the almost unexplored Ugambi。 Three of the twelve
warriors deserted during that time； but as several of the apes
had finally learned the secret of the paddles； Tarzan felt no
dismay because of the loss。
As a matter of fact； he could have travelled much more
rapidly on shore； but he believed that he could hold his own
wild crew together to better advantage by keeping them to
the boat as much as possible。 Twice a day they landed to hunt
and feed； and at night they slept upon the bank of the mainland
or on one of the numerous little islands that dotted the river。
Before them the natives fled in alarm； so that they found
only deserted villages in their path as they proceeded。
Tarzan was anxious to get in touch with some of the savages
who dwelt upon the river's banks； but so far he had been unable
to do so。
Finally he decided to take to the land himself； leaving his
company to follow after him by boat。 He explained to Mugambi
the thing that he had in mind； and told Akut to follow
the directions of the black。
〃I will join you again in a few days；〃 he said。 〃Now I go
ahead to learn what has become of the very bad white man
whom I seek。〃
At the next halt Tarzan took to the shore； and was soon
lost to the view of his people。
The first few villages he came to were deserted； showing
that news of the coming of his pack had travelled rapidly；
but toward evening he came upon a distant cluster of thatched
huts surrounded by a rude palisade； within which were a
couple of hundred natives。
The women were preparing the evening meal as Tarzan of
the Apes poised above them in the branches of a giant tree
which overhung the palisade at one point。
The ape…man was at a loss as to how he might enter into
communication with these people without either frightening
them or arousing their savage love of battle。 He had no desire
to fight now； for he was upon a much more important mission
than that of battling with every chance tribe that he
should happen to meet with。
At last he hit upon a plan； and after seeing that he was
concealed from the view of those below； he gave a few hoarse
grunts in imitation of a panther。 All eyes immediately turned
upward toward the foliage above。
It was growing dark； and they could not penetrate the leafy
screen which shielded the ape…man from their view。 The moment
that he had won their attention he raised his voice to
the shriller and more hideous scream of the beast he personated；
and then； scarce stirring a leaf in his descent； dropped
to the ground once again outside the palisade； and； with the
speed of a deer； ran quickly round to the village gate。
Here he beat upon the fibre…bound saplings of which the
barrier was constructed； shouting to the natives in their own
tongue that he was a friend who wished food and shelter for
the night。
Tarzan knew well the nature of the black man。 He was
aware that the grunting and screaming of Sheeta in the tree
above them would set their nerves on edge； and that his
pounding upon their gate after dark would still further add
to their terror。
That they did not reply to his hail was no surprise； for
natives are fearful of any voice that comes out of the night
from beyond their palisades； attributing it always to some
demon or other ghostly visitor； but still he continued to call。
〃Let me in； my friends！〃 he cried。 〃I am a white man
pursuing the very bad white man who passed this way a few
days ago。 I follow to punish him for the sins he has committed
against you and me。
〃If you doubt my friendship； I will prove it to you by going
into the tree above your village and driving Sheeta back into
the jungle before he leaps among you。 If you will not promise
to take me in and treat me as a friend I shall let Sheeta stay
and devour you。〃
For a moment there was silence。 Then the voice of an old
man came out of the quiet of the village street。
〃If you are indeed a white man and a friend； we will let
you come in； but first you must drive Sheeta away。〃
〃Very well；〃 replied Tarzan。 〃Listen； and you shall hear
Sheeta fleeing before me。〃
The ape…man returned quickly to the tree； and this time he
made a great noise as he entered the branches； at the same
time growling ominously after the manner of the panther； so that
those below would believe that the great beast was still there。
When he reached a point well above the village street he
made a great commotion； shaking the tree violently； crying
aloud to the panther to flee or be killed； and punctuating his
own voice with the screams and mouthings of an angry beast。
Presently he raced toward the opposite side of the tree and
off into the jungle； pounding loudly against the boles of trees
as he went； and voicing the panther's diminishing growls as
he drew farther and farther away from the village。
A few minutes later he returned to the village gate； calling
to the natives within。
〃I have driven Sheeta away；〃 he said。 〃Now come and
admit me as you promised。〃
For a time there was the sound of excited discussion within
the palisade； but at length a half…dozen warriors came and
opened the gates； peering anxiously out in evident trepidation
as to the nature of the creature which they should find
waiting there。 They were not much relieved at sight of an
almost naked white man； but when Tarzan had reassured
them in quiet tones； protesting his friendship for them；
they opened the barrier a trifle farther and admitted him。
When the gates had been once more secured the self…confidence
of the savages returned； and as Tarzan walked up the village street
toward the chief's hut he was surrounded by a host of curious men；
women； and children。
From the chief he learned that Rokoff had passed up the
river a week previous； and that he had horns growing from
his forehead； and was accompanied by a thousand devils。
Later the chief said that the very bad white man had remained
a month in his village。
Though none of these statements agreed with Kaviri's； that
the Russian was but three days gone from the chieftain's
village and that his following was much smaller than now stated；
Tarzan was in no manner surprised at the discrepancies； for
he was quite familiar with the savage mind's strange manner
of functioning。
What he was most interested in knowing was that he was upon
the right trail； and that it led toward the interior。 In this
circumstance he knew that Rokoff could never escape him。
After several hours of questioning and cross…questioning
the ape…man learned that another party had preceded the
Russian by several daysthree whitesa man； a woman；
and a little man…child； with several Mosulas。
Tarzan explained to the chief that his people would follow
him in a canoe； probably the next day； and that though he
might go on ahead of them the chief was to receive them