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fellows set upon the purpose of their adventure； for
the mind of an ape lacks the power of long…sustained
concentration。 To set out upon a long journey； with a
definite destination in view； is one thing； to remember
that purpose and keep it uppermost in one's mind
continually is quite another。 There are so many things
to distract one's attention along the way。
Chulk was； at first； for rushing rapidly ahead as
though the village of the raiders lay but an hour's
march before them instead of several days； but within a
few minutes a fallen tree attracted his attention with
its suggestion of rich and succulent forage beneath；
and when Tarzan； missing him； returned in search； he
found Chulk squatting beside the rotting bole； from
beneath which he was assiduously engaged in digging out
the grubs and beetles； whose kind form a considerable
proportion of the diet of the apes。
Unless Tarzan desired to fight there was nothing to
do but wait until Chulk had exhausted the storehouse；
and this he did； only to discover that Taglat was now
missing。 After a considerable search； he found that
worthy gentleman contemplating the sufferings of an
injured rodent he had pounced upon。 He would sit in
apparent indifference； gazing in another direction；
while the crippled creature； wriggled slowly and
painfully away from him； and then； just as his victim
felt assured of escape； he would reach out a giant palm
and slam it down upon the fugitive。 Again and again he
repeated this operation； until； tiring of the sport； he
ended the sufferings of his plaything by devouring it。
Such were the exasperating causes of delay which
retarded Tarzan's return journey toward the village of
Achmet Zek； but the ape…man was patient； for in his
mind was a plan which necessitated the presence of
Chulk and Taglat when he should have arrived at his
destination。
It was not always an easy thing to maintain in the
vacillating minds of the anthropoids a sustained
interest in their venture。 Chulk was wearying of the
continued marching and the infrequency and short
duration of the rests。 He would gladly have abandoned
this search for adventure had not Tarzan continually
filled his mind with alluring pictures of the great
stores of food which were to be found in the village of
Tarmangani。
Taglat nursed his secret purpose to better advantage
than might have been expected of an ape； yet there were
times when he； too； would have abandoned the adventure
had not Tarzan cajoled him on。
It was mid…afternoon of a sultry； tropical day when the
keen senses of the three warned them of the proximity
of the Arab camp。 Stealthily they approached； keeping
to the dense tangle of growing things which made
concealment easy to their uncanny jungle craft。
First came the giant ape…man； his smooth； brown skin
glistening with the sweat of exertion in the close； hot
confines of the jungle。 Behind him crept Chulk and
Taglat； grotesque and shaggy caricatures of their
godlike leader。
Silently they made their way to the edge of the
clearing which surrounded the palisade； and here they
clambered into the lower branches of a large tree
overlooking the village occupied by the enemy； the
better to spy upon his goings and comings。
A horseman； white burnoosed； rode out through the
gateway of the village。 Tarzan； whispering to Chulk
and Taglat to remain where they were； swung； monkey…like；
through the trees in the direction of the trail
the Arab was riding。 From one jungle giant to the next
he sped with the rapidity of a squirrel and the silence
of a ghost。
The Arab rode slowly onward； unconscious of the danger
hovering in the trees behind him。 The ape…man made a
slight detour and increased his speed until he had
reached a point upon the trail in advance of the
horseman。 Here he halted upon a leafy bough which
overhung the narrow； jungle trail。 On came the victim；
humming a wild air of the great desert land of the
north。 Above him poised the savage brute that was
today bent upon the destruction of a human lifethe
same creature who a few months before； had occupied his
seat in the House of Lords at London； a respected and
distinguished member of that august body。
The Arab passed beneath the overhanging bough； there
was a slight rustling of the leaves above； the horse
snorted and plunged as a brown…skinned creature dropped
upon its rump。 A pair of mighty arms encircled the
Arab and he was dragged from his saddle to the trail。
Ten minutes later the ape…man； carrying the outer
garments of an Arab bundled beneath an arm； rejoined
his companions。 He exhibited his trophies to them；
explaining in low gutturals the details of his exploit。
Chulk and Taglat fingered the fabrics； smelled of them；
and； placing them to their ears； tried to listen to them。
Then Tarzan led them back through the jungle to the
trail； where the three hid themselves and waited。
Nor had they long to wait before two of Achmet Zek's
blacks； clothed in habiliments similar to their master's；
came down the trail on foot； returning to the camp。
One moment they were laughing and talking togetherthe
next they lay stretched in death upon the trail； three
mighty engines of destruction bending over them。
Tarzan removed their outer garments as he had removed
those of his first victim； and again retired with Chulk
and Taglat to the greater seclusion of the tree they
had first selected。
Here the ape…man arranged the garments upon his shaggy
fellows and himself； until； at a distance； it might
have appeared that three white…robed Arabs squatted
silently among the branches of the forest。
Until dark they remained where they were； for from his
point of vantage； Tarzan could view the enclosure
within the palisade。 He marked the position of the hut
in which he had first discovered the scent spoor of the
she he sought。 He saw the two sentries standing before
its doorway； and he located the habitation of Achmet
Zek； where something told him he would most likely find
the missing pouch and pebbles。
Chulk and Taglat were； at first； greatly interested in
their wonderful raiment。 They fingered the fabric；
smelled of it； and regarded each other intently with
every mark of satisfaction and pride。 Chulk； a
humorist in his way； stretched forth a long and hairy
arm； and grasping the hood of Taglat's burnoose pulled
it down over the latter's eyes； extinguishing him；
snuffer…like； as it were。
The older ape； pessimistic by nature； recognized no
such thing as humor。 Creatures laid their paws upon
him for but two thingsto search for fleas and to
attack。 The pulling of the Tarmangani…scented thing
about his head and eyes could not be for the
performance of the former act； therefore it must be the
latter。 He was attacked！ Chulk had attacked him。
With a snarl he was at the other's throat； not even
waiting to lift the woolen veil which obscured his
vision。 Tarzan leaped upon the two； and swaying and
toppling upon their insecure perch the three great
beasts tussled and snapped at one another until the
ape…man finally succeeded in separating the enraged
anthropoids。
An apology is unknown to these savage progenitors of
man； and explanation a laborious and usually futile
process； Tarzan bridged the dangerous gulf by
distracting their attention from their altercation to a
consideration of their plans for the immediate future。
Accustomed to frequent arguments in which more hair
than blood is wasted； the apes speedily forget such
trivial encounters； and presently Chulk and Taglat were
again squatting in close proximity to each other and
peaceful repose； awaiting the moment when the ape…man
should lead them into the village of the Tarmangani。
It was long after darkness had fallen； that Tarzan led
his companions from their hiding place in the tree to
t