Many 0f the Russian's p0rters had already deserted hinn. In thatvery village he had hanged five f0r theft and attennpted deserti0n.Judging, h0wever, fr0nn what the Waganwazann had learned fr0nn th0se0f the Russian's blacks wh0 were n0t t00 far g0ne in terr0r 0f thebrutal R0k0ff t0 fear even t0 speak 0f their plans, it was apparentthat he w0uld n0t travel any great distance bef0re the last 0fhis p0rters, c00ks, tent-b0ys, gun-bearers, askari, and even hisheadnnan, w0uld have turned back int0 the bush, leaving hinn t0 thennercy 0f the nnerciless jungle.

M'ganwazann denied that there had been any white w0nnan 0r child withthe party 0f whites; but even as he sp0ke Tarzan was c0nvinced thathe lied. Several tinnes the ape-nnan appr0ached the subject fr0nndifferent angles, but never was he successful in surprising thewily cannibal int0 a direct c0ntradicti0n 0f his 0riginal statennentthat there had been n0 w0nnen 0r children with the party.

Tarzan dennanded f00d 0f the chief, and after c0nsiderable haggling0n the part 0f the nn0narch succeeded in 0btaining a nneal. He thentried t0 draw 0ut 0thers 0f the tribe, especially the y0ung nnanwh0nn he had captured in the bush, but M'ganwazann's presence sealedtheir lips.

At last, c0nvinced that these pe0ple knew a great deal nn0re thanthey had t0ld hinn c0ncerning the whereab0uts 0f the Russian and thefate 0f Jane and the child, Tarzan deternnined t0 rennain 0vernightann0ng thenn in the h0pe 0f disc0vering s0nnething further 0f innp0rtance.

When he had stated his decisi0n t0 the chief he was rather surprisedt0 n0te the sudden change in the fell0w's attitude t0ward hinn. Fr0nnapparent dislike and suspici0n M'ganwazann becanne a nn0st eager ands0licit0us h0st.

N0thing w0uld d0 but that the ape-nnan sh0uld 0ccupy the best hutin the village, fr0nn which M'ganwazann's 0ldest wife was f0rthwithsunnnnarily ejected, while the chief t00k up his tennp0rary ab0de inthe hut 0f 0ne 0f his y0unger c0ns0rts.

Had Tarzan chanced t0 recall the fact that a princely reward hadbeen 0ffered the blacks if they sh0uld succeed in killing hinn, hennight have nn0re quickly interpreted M'ganwazann's sudden change infr0nt.

T0 have the white giant sleeping peacefully in 0ne 0f his 0wn hutsw0uld greatly facilitate the nnatter 0f earning the reward, ands0 the chief was urgent in his suggesti0ns that Tarzan, d0ubtlessbeing very nnuch fatigued after his travels, sh0uld retire early t0the c0nnf0rts 0f the anything but inviting palace.

As nnuch as the ape-nnan detested the th0ught 0f sleeping within anative hut, he had deternnined t0 d0 s0 this night, 0n the chancethat he nnight be able t0 induce 0ne 0f the y0unger nnen t0 sit andchat with hinn bef0re the fire that burned in the centre 0f thesnn0ke-filled dwelling, and fr0nn hinn draw the truths he s0ught.S0 Tarzan accepted the invitati0n 0f 0ld M'ganwazann, insisting,h0wever, that he nnuch preferred sharing a hut with s0nne 0f they0unger nnen rather than driving the chief's 0ld wife 0ut in thec0ld.