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it could not be navigable even for canoes to any great
distance farther toward its source。 However； if Rokoff had
not returned to the river； in what direction had he proceeded？
From the direction of Anderssen's flight with Jane and the
child Tarzan was convinced that the man had purposed
attempting the tremendous feat of crossing the continent to
Zanzibar； but whether Rokoff would dare so dangerous a
journey or not was a question。
Fear might drive him to the attempt now that he knew the
manner of horrible pack that was upon his trail； and that
Tarzan of the Apes was following him to wreak upon him
the vengeance that he deserved。
At last the ape…man determined to continue toward the
northeast in the general direction of German East Africa until
he came upon natives from whom he might gain information
as to Rokoff's whereabouts。
The second day following the cessation of the rain Tarzan
came upon a native village the inhabitants of which fled into
the bush the instant their eyes fell upon him。 Tarzan； not to
be thwarted in any such manner as this； pursued them； and
after a brief chase caught up with a young warrior。 The fellow
was so badly frightened that he was unable to defend
himself； dropping his weapons and falling upon the ground；
wide…eyed and screaming as he gazed on his captor。
It was with considerable difficulty that the ape…man quieted
the fellow's fears sufficiently to obtain a coherent statement
from him as to the cause of his uncalled…for terror。
From him Tarzan learned； by dint of much coaxing； that
a party of whites had passed through the village several
days before。 These men had told them of a terrible white
devil that pursued them； warning the natives against it and
the frightful pack of demons that accompanied it。
The black had recognized Tarzan as the white devil from
the descriptions given by the whites and their black servants。
Behind him he had expected to see a horde of demons disguised
as apes and panthers。
In this Tarzan saw the cunning hand of Rokoff。 The Russian
was attempting to make travel as difficult as possible for
him by turning the natives against him in superstitious fear。
The native further told Tarzan that the white man who had
led the recent expedition had promised them a fabulous reward
if they would kill the white devil。 This they had fully
intended doing should the opportunity present itself； but the
moment they had seen Tarzan their blood had turned to water；
as the porters of the white men had told them would be the case。
Finding the ape…man made no attempt to harm him； the native
at last recovered his grasp upon his courage； and； at Tarzan's
suggestion； accompanied the white devil back to the village；
calling as he went for his fellows to return also； as 〃the
white devil has promised to do you no harm if you come back
right away and answer his questions。〃
One by one the blacks straggled into the village； but that
their fears were not entirely allayed was evident from the
amount of white that showed about the eyes of the majority
of them as they cast constant and apprehensive sidelong
glances at the ape…man。
The chief was among the first to return to the village； and
as it was he that Tarzan was most anxious to interview； he
lost no time in entering into a palaver with the black。
The fellow was short and stout； with an unusually low and
degraded countenance and apelike arms。 His whole expression
denoted deceitfulness。
Only the superstitious terror engendered in him by the
stories poured into his ears by the whites and blacks of the
Russian's party kept him from leaping upon Tarzan with his
warriors and slaying him forthwith； for he and his people
were inveterate maneaters。 But the fear that he might indeed
be a devil； and that out there in the jungle behind him his
fierce demons waited to do his bidding； kept M'ganwazam
from putting his desires into action。
Tarzan questioned the fellow closely； and by comparing
his statements with those of the young warrior he had first
talked with he learned that Rokoff and his safari were in
terror…stricken retreat in the direction of the far East Coast。
Many of the Russian's porters had already deserted him。
In that very village he had hanged five for theft and
attempted desertion。 Judging； however； from what the Waganwazam
had learned from those of the Russian's blacks who were not
too far gone in terror of the brutal Rokoff to fear even to
speak of their plans； it was apparent that he would not travel
any great distance before the last of his porters； cooks；
tent…boys； gun…bearers； askari； and even his headman；
would have turned back into the bush； leaving him to
the mercy of the merciless jungle。
M'ganwazam denied that there had been any white woman
or child with the party of whites； but even as he spoke Tarzan
was convinced that he lied。 Several times the ape…man approached
the subject from different angles； but never was he successful
in surprising the wily cannibal into a direct contradiction of
his original statement that there had been no women or children
with the party。
Tarzan demanded food of the chief； and after considerable haggling
on the part of the monarch succeeded in obtaining a meal。
He then tried to draw out others of the tribe； especially the
young man whom he had captured in the bush； but M'ganwazam's
presence sealed their lips。
At last； convinced that these people knew a great deal
more than they had told him concerning the whereabouts of
the Russian and the fate of Jane and the child； Tarzan
determined to remain overnight among them in the hope of
discovering something further of importance。
When he had stated his decision to the chief he was rather
surprised to note the sudden change in the fellow's attitude
toward him。 From apparent dislike and suspicion M'ganwazam
became a most eager and solicitous host。
Nothing would do but that the ape…man should occupy the
best hut in the village； from which M'ganwazam's oldest
wife was forthwith summarily ejected； while the chief took up
his temporary abode in the hut of one of his younger consorts。
Had Tarzan chanced to recall the fact that a princely reward had
been offered the blacks if they should succeed in killing him；
he might have more quickly interpreted M'ganwazam's sudden
change in front。
To have the white giant sleeping peacefully in one of his own
huts would greatly facilitate the matter of earning the reward；
and so the chief was urgent in his suggestions that Tarzan；
doubtless being very much fatigued after his travels；
should retire early to the comforts of the anything but
inviting palace。
As much as the ape…man detested the thought of sleeping
within a native hut； he had determined to do so this night；
on the chance that he might be able to induce one of the
younger men to sit and chat with him before