So it was that now, as he cautiously approached the village of

Mbonga, he was quite prepared either to kill or be killed should

he be discovered. He proceeded with unwonted stealth, for Kulonga

had taught him great respect for the little sharp splinters of

wood which dealt death so swiftly and unerringly.

At length he came to a great tree, heavy laden with thick

foliage and loaded with pendant loops of giant creepers.

From this almost impenetrable bower above the village he

crouched, looking down upon the scene below him, wondering

over every feature of this new, strange life.

There were naked children running and playing in the village

street. There were women grinding dried plantain in

crude stone mortars, while others were fashioning cakes from

the powdered flour. Out in the fields he could see still other

women hoeing, weeding, or gathering.

All wore strange protruding girdles of dried grass about

their hips and many were loaded with brass and copper

anklets, armlets and bracelets. Around many a dusky neck hung

curiously coiled strands of wire, while several were further

ornamented by huge nose rings.

Tarzan of the Apes looked with growing wonder at these

strange creatures. Dozing in the shade he saw several men,

while at the extreme outskirts of the clearing he occasionally

caught glimpses of armed warriors apparently guarding the

village against surprise from an attacking enemy.

He noticed that the women alone worked. Nowhere was

there evidence of a man tilling the fields or performing

any of the homely duties of the village.

Finally his eyes rested upon a woman directly beneath him.

Before her was a small cauldron standing over a low fire

and in it bubbled a thick, reddish, tarry mass. On one side of

her lay a quantity of wooden arrows the points of which she

dipped into the seething substance, then laying them upon a

narrow rack of boughs which stood upon her other side.

Tarzan of the Apes was fascinated. Here was the secret of

the terrible destructiveness of The Archer's tiny missiles.