The ape-man lay looking in the direction from which had come the sounds of the approaching anthropoids. He knew what was transpiring behind that dense wall of foliage. He knew that presently a pair of fierce eyes would be examining him, surveying the clearing, searching for an enemy, warily probing for a trick or a trap. He knew that the first sight of him might arouse distrust, fear, rage; for what reason had they to love or trust the cruel and merciless Tarmangani?
There lay great danger in the possibility that, seeing him, they might quietly withdraw without showing themselves. That, then, would be the end, for there were no others than the Mangani to whom he might look for rescue. With this in mind he spoke.
“I am a friend,” he called to them. “The Tarmangani caught me and bound my wrists and ankles. I cannot move. I cannot defend myself. I cannot get food nor water. Come and remove my bonds.”
From just behind the screen of foliage a voice replied. “You are a Tarmangani.”
“I am Tarzan of the Apes,” replied the ape-man.
“Yes,” screamed Manu, “he is Tarzan of the Apes. The Tarmangani and the Gomangani bound him and Tantor brought him here. Four times has Kudu hunted across the sky while Tarzan of the Apes lay bound.”
“I know Tarzan,” said another voice from behind the foliage and presently the leaves parted and a huge, shaggy ape lumbered into the clearing. Swinging along with knuckles to the ground the brute came close to Tarzan.
“M’walat!” exclaimed the ape-man.
“It is Tarzan of the Apes,” said the great ape, but the others did not understand.
“What?” they demanded.
“Whose band is this?” asked Tarzan.
“Toyat is king,” replied M’walat.
“Then do not tell them it is really I,” whispered Tarzan, “until you have cut these bonds. Toyat hates me. He will kill me if I am defenseless.”
“Yes,” agreed M’walat.
“Here,” said Tarzan, raising his bound wrists. “Bite these bonds in two.”
“You are Tarzan of the Apes, the friend of M’walat. M’walat will do as you ask,” replied the ape.
Of course, in the meager language of the apes, their conversation did not sound at all like a conversation between men, but was rather a mixture of growls and grunts and gestures which, however, served every purpose that could have been served by the most formal and correct of civilized speech since it carried its messages clearly to the minds of both the Mangani and the Tarmangani, the Great Ape and the Great White Ape.
As the other members of the band pressed forward into the clearing, seeing that M’walat was not harmed, the latter stooped and with powerful teeth severed the camel leather thongs that secured the wrists of the ape-man, and similarly he freed his ankles.
As Tarzan came to his feet the balance of the fierce and shaggy band swung into the clearing. In the lead was Toyat, king ape, and at his heels eight more full grown males with perhaps six or seven females and a number of young. The young and the shes hung back, but the bulls pressed forward to where Tarzan stood with M’walat at his side.
The king ape growled menacingly. “Tarmangani!” he cried. Wheeling in a circle he leaped into the air and came down on all fours; he struck the ground savagely with his clenched fists; he growled and foamed, and leaped again and again. Toyat was working himself to a pitch of rage that would nerve him to attack the Tarmangani, and by these maneuvers he hoped also to arouse the savage fighting spirit of his fellows.
“It is Tarzan of the Apes, friend of the Mangani,” said M’walat.
“It is a Tarmangani, enemy of the Mangani,” cried Toyat. “They come with great thunder sticks and kill us. They make our shes and our balus dead with a loud noise. Kill the Tarmangani.”
“It is Tarzan of the Apes,” growled Gayat. “When I was a little balu he saved me from Numa. Tarzan of the Apes is the friend of the Mangani.”
“Kill the Tarmangani!” shrieked Toyat, leaping high into the air.
Several of the other bulls were now circling and leaping into the air as Gayat placed himself at Tarzan’s side. The ape-man knew them well. He knew that sooner or later one of them would have excited himself to such a pitch of maniacal frenzy that he would leap suddenly upon him. M’walat and Gayat would attack in his defense; several more bulls would launch themselves into the battle and there would ensue a free for all fight from which not all of them would emerge alive, and none without more or less serious injuries; but Tarzan of the Apes did not wish to battle with his friends.
“Stop!” he commanded raising his opened palm to attract attention. “I am Tarzan of the Apes, mighty hunter, mighty fighter; long did I range with the tribe of Kerchak; when Kerchak died I became king ape; many of you know me; all know that I am first a Mangani; that I am friend to all Mangani. Toyat would have you kill me because Toyat hates Tarzan of the Apes. He hates him not because he is a Tarmangani but because Tarzan once kept Toyat from becoming king. That was many rains ago when some of you were still balus. If Toyat has been a good king Tarzan is glad, but now he is not acting like a good king for he is trying to turn you against your best friend.
“You, Zutho!” he exclaimed, suddenly pointing a finger at a huge bull.
