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before he could realize the cunning trick that the Arab
had played upon him the sight of the weapon was
adroitly hooked into the rawhide thong which formed the
carrying strap of the pouch； and the latter was drawn
quickly from his view into the dense foliage at the
trail's side。
Not for an instant had the raider exposed a square inch
of his body； and Werper dared not fire his one
remaining shot unless every chance of a successful hit
was in his favor。
Chuckling to himself； Achmet Zek withdrew a few paces
farther into the jungle； for he was as positive that
Werper was waiting nearby for a chance to pot him as
though his eyes had penetrated the jungle trees to the
figure of the hiding Belgian； fingering his rifle
behind the bole of the buttressed giant。
Werper did not dare advancehis cupidity would not
permit him to depart； and so he stood there； his rifle
ready in his hands； his eyes watching the trail before
him with catlike intensity。
But there was another who had seen the pouch and
recognized it； who did advance with Achmet Zek；
hovering above him； as silent and as sure as death
itself； and as the Arab； finding a little spot less
overgrown with bushes than he had yet encountered；
prepared to gloat his eyes upon the contents of the
pouch； Tarzan paused directly above him； intent upon
the same object。
Wetting his thin lips with his tongue； Achmet Zek
loosened the tie strings which closed the mouth of the
pouch； and cupping one claw…like hand poured forth a
portion of the contents into his palm。
A single look he took at the stones lying in his hand。
His eyes narrowed； a curse broke from his lips； and he
hurled the small objects upon the ground； disdainfully。
Quickly he emptied the balance of the contents until he
had scanned each separate stone； and as he dumped them
all upon the ground and stamped upon them his rage grew
until the muscles of his face worked in demon…like
fury； and his fingers clenched until his nails bit into
the flesh。
Above； Tarzan watched in wonderment。 He had been
curious to discover what all the pow…wow about his
pouch had meant。 He wanted to see what the Arab would
do after the other had gone away； leaving the pouch
behind him； and； having satisfied his curiosity； he
would then have pounced upon Achmet Zek and taken the
pouch and his pretty pebbles away from him； for did
they not belong to Tarzan？
He saw the Arab now throw aside the empty pouch； and
grasping his long gun by the barrel； clublike； sneak
stealthily through the jungle beside the trail along
which Werper had gone。
As the man disappeared from his view； Tarzan dropped to
the ground and commenced gathering up the spilled
contents of the pouch； and the moment that he obtained
his first near view of the scattered pebbles he
understood the rage of the Arab； for instead of the
glittering and scintillating gems which had first
caught and held the attention of the ape…man； the pouch
now contained but a collection of ordinary river
pebbles。
19
Jane Clayton and the Beasts of the Jungle
Mugambi； after his successful break for liberty；
had fallen upon hard times。 His way had led him through
a country with which he was unfamiliar； a jungle country
in which he could find no water； and but little food；
so that after several days of wandering he found
himself so reduced in strength that he could barely
drag himself along。
It was with growing difficulty that he found the
strength necessary to construct a shelter by night
wherein he might be reasonably safe from the large
carnivora； and by day he still further exhausted his
strength in digging for edible roots； and searching for
water。
A few stagnant pools at considerable distances apart
saved him from death by thirst； but his was a pitiable
state when finally he stumbled by accident upon a large
river in a country where fruit was abundant； and small
game which he might bag by means of a combination of
stealth； cunning； and a crude knob…stick which he had
fashioned from a fallen limb。
Realizing that he still had a long march ahead of him
before he could reach even the outskirts of the Waziri
country； Mugambi wisely decided to remain where he was
until he had recuperated his strength and health。 A
few days' rest would accomplish wonders for him； he
knew； and he could ill afford to sacrifice his chances
for a safe return by setting forth handicapped by
weakness。
And so it was that he constructed a substantial thorn
boma； and rigged a thatched shelter within it； where he
might sleep by night in security； and from which he
sallied forth by day to hunt the flesh which alone
could return to his giant thews their normal prowess。
One day； as he hunted； a pair of savage eyes discovered
him from the concealment of the branches of a great
tree beneath which the black warrior passed。
Bloodshot； wicked eyes they were； set in a fierce and
hairy face。
They watched Mugambi make his little kill of a small
rodent； and they followed him as he returned to his
hut； their owner moving quietly through the trees upon
the trail of the Negro。
The creature was Chulk； and he looked down upon the
unconscious man more in curiosity than in hate。 The
wearing of the Arab burnoose which Tarzan had placed
upon his person had aroused in the mind of the
anthropoid a desire for similar mimicry of the
Tarmangani。 The burnoose； though； had obstructed his
movements and proven such a nuisance that the ape had
long since torn it from him and thrown it away。
Now； however； he saw a Gomangani arrayed in less
cumbersome apparela loin cloth； a few copper
ornaments and a feather headdress。 These were more in
line with Chulk's desires than a flowing robe which was
constantly getting between one's legs； and catching
upon every limb and bush along the leafy trail。
Chulk eyed the pouch； which； suspended over Mugambi's
shoulder； swung beside his black hip。 This took his
fancy； for it was ornamented with feathers and a
fringe； and so the ape hung about Mugambi's boma；
waiting an opportunity to seize either by stealth or
might some object of the black's apparel。
Nor was it long before the opportunity came。 Feeling
safe within his thorny enclosure； Mugambi was wont to
stretch himself in the shade of his shelter during the
heat of the day； and sleep in peaceful security until
the declining sun carried with it the enervating
temperature of midday。
Watching from above； Chulk saw the black warrior
stretched thus in the unconsciousness of sleep one
sultry afternoon。 Creeping out upon an overhanging
branch the anthropoid dropped to the ground within the
boma。 He approached the sleeper upon padded feet which
gave forth no sound； and with an uncanny woodcraft that
rustled not a leaf or a grass blade。
Pausing beside the man； the ape bent over and examined
his belongings。 Great as was the strength of Chulk
there lay in the back of his little brain a something
which deterred him from arousing the man to combata
sense that is inherent in all the lower orders； a
strange fear of man； that rules even the most powerful
of the jungle creatures at times。
To remove Mugambi's loin cloth without awakening him
would be impossible； and the only detachable things
were the knob…stick and the pouch； which had fallen
from the black's shoulder as he rolled in sleep。
Seizing these two articles； as better than nothing at
all； Chulk retreated with haste； and every indication
of nervous terror； to the safety of the tree from which
he had dropped； and； still haunted by that indefinable
terror which the close proximity of man awakened in his
breast； fled precipitately through the jungle。 Aroused
by attack； or supported by the presence of another of
his kind； Chulk could have braved the presence of a
score of human