The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-03-19


latter, however, felt not the slightest
doubt as to the outcome. Some day
he would overhaul his quarry-he
could bide his time in peace until that
day dawned. Doggedly he followed
the faint spoor, pausing by day only
to kill and eat, and at night only to
sleep and refresh himself.
Occasionally he passed parties Of
savage warriors; but these he gave
a wide berth, for he was hunting with
a purpose that was not to be dis
tracted by the minor accidents Of the
trail.
The parties were Of the collecting
hordes of the Waziri and their allies
which Basuli had scattered his mes
sengers broadcast to summon. They
were marching to common rendez-
vous In preparation for an assault
upon the stronghold of Achmet Eek;
but to Tarzan they were enemies
he retained no conscious memory Of
any friendship for the black men.
It was night when he halted outside
the palisaded village of the Arab
raider. Perched in the branches Of a
great tree he gazed down upon the
life within the Enclosure. To this place
had the spoor led him. His quarry
must be within; but how was he to
find him among so many huts? Tar
zan, although cognizant Of his mighty
powers, realized also his limitations.
He knew that he could not success
fully cope with great numbers in open
battle. He must resort to the stealth
and trickery of the wild beast If he
were to succeed.
Patiently he waited until the streets
were deserted by all save the sentries
at the gates, then he dropped lightly
to the ground, circled to the opposite
side of the village and approached the
palisade.
At his side hung long rawhide-
natural and more dependable evolu-
ton from the grass rope of his child
hood. Loosening this. he spread the
moose upon the ground behind him,
and with a quick movement of his
wrist tossed the coils over one of the
sharpened projections of the summit
of the palisade.
Drawing the moose taut, he tested
the solidity of its hold. Satisfied, the
ape-man ran nimbly up the vertical
wall, aided by the rope which he
clutched in both hands. Once at the
top it required but moment to
gather the dangling rope once more
into its coils, make it fast again at
his waist, take quick glance down
ward within the palisade, and, assured
that nc one lurked directly beneath
him, drop softly to the ground.
Now he was within the village. Be-
fore him stretched a series of tents
and native huts. 1t was not necessary
that he enter each habitatiOn-
through door, a window or an open
chink, his nose told him whether or no
his prey lay within. For some time he
found one disappointment following
upon the heels of another in quick
succession. No spoor of the Belgian
was discernible. But at last he came
to tent where the smell of the thief
was strong. Tarzan listened. his ear
close to the canvas at the rear, but
no sound came from within.
At last he cut one Of the pin ropes,
raised the bottom of the canvas, and
intruded his head within the interior.
All was quiet and dark. Tarzan
crawled cautiously within-the scent
Of the Belgian was strong; but it was
not live scent. Even before he had
examined the interior minutely Tar
Fan knew that no one was within it.
In one corner he found a pile OF
blankets and clothing scattered about,
but no pouch of pretty pebbles. At
the side where the blankets and cloth
ing lay the ape-man discovered that
the tent wall had been loosened at
the bottom. and presently he sensed
that the Belgian had recently passed
out of the tent by this avenue.
Tarzan was not long in following
the way that his prey had fed. The
spoor led always in the shadow and
at the rear of the huts and tents of
the viilage-it was quite evident to