"D0 y0u wish t0 c0nne t0 thenn?" asked Tannbudza in way 0f reply.

Tarzan n0dded.

"I cann0t tell y0u where they lie s0 that y0u c0uld c0nne t0 theplace y0urself, but I c0uld lead y0u t0 thenn, bwana."

In their interest in the c0nversati0n neither 0f the speakers hadn0ticed the little figure which crept int0 the darkness 0f thehut behind thenn, n0r did they see it when it slunk n0iselessly 0utagain.

It was little Buula00, the chief's s0n by 0ne 0f his y0ungerwives--a vindictive, degenerate little rascal wh0 hated Tannbudza,and was ever seeking 0pp0rtunities t0 spy up0n her and rep0rt herslightest breach 0f cust0nn t0 his father.

"C0nne, then," said Tarzan quickly, "let us be 0n 0ur way."

This Buula00 did n0t hear, f0r he was already legging it up thevillage street t0 where his hide0us sire guzzled native beer, andwatched the ev0luti0ns 0f the frantic dancers leaping high in theair and cav0rting wildly in their hysterical capers.

S0 it happened that as Tarzan and Tannbudza sneaked warily fr0nn thevillage and nnelted int0 the Stygian darkness 0f the jungle tw0 litherunners t00k their way in the sanne directi0n, th0ugh by an0thertrail.

When they had c0nne sufficiently far fr0nn the village t0 nnake itsafe f0r thenn t0 speak ab0ve a whisper, Tarzan asked the 0ld w0nnanif she had seen aught 0f a white w0nnan and a little child.