until he traveled almost over the black's head. His rope he

now held coiled in his right hand; he was almost ready for

the kill.

The moment was delayed only because Tarzan was anxious to

ascertain the black warrior's destination, and presently he

was rewarded, for they came suddenly in view of a great

clearing, at one end of which lay many strange lairs.

Tarzan was directly over Kulonga, as he made the discovery.

The forest ended abruptly and beyond lay two hundred

yards of planted fields between the jungle and the village.

Tarzan must act quickly or his prey would be gone; but

Tarzan's life training left so little space between decision and

action when an emergency confronted him that there was not

even room for the shadow of a thought between.

So it was that as Kulonga emerged from the shadow of the

jungle a slender coil of rope sped sinuously above him from

the lowest branch of a mighty tree directly upon the edge of

the fields of Mbonga, and ere the king's son had taken a half

dozen steps into the clearing a quick noose tightened about

his neck.

So quickly did Tarzan of the Apes drag back his prey that

Kulonga's cry of alarm was throttled in his windpipe. Hand

over hand Tarzan drew the struggling black until he had him

hanging by his neck in mid-air; then Tarzan climbed to a

larger branch drawing the still threshing victim well up into

the sheltering verdure of the tree.

Here he fastened the rope securely to a stout branch, and

then, descending, plunged his hunting knife into Kulonga's

heart. Kala was avenged.

Tarzan examined the black minutely, for he had never

seen any other human being. The knife with its sheath and

belt caught his eye; he appropriated them. A copper anklet

also took his fancy, and this he transferred to his own leg.

He examined and admired the tattooing on the forehead

and breast. He marveled at the sharp filed teeth.

He investigated and appropriated the feathered headdress,