waiting until they have led us into the innermost recesses of their
stronghold, and then they will fall upon us and tear us to pieces
with their teeth. That is the way with spirits. My mother's uncle,
who is a great witch doctor, has told me all about it many times."

Tarzan laughed. "Run back into the sunlight, my children," he
said. "I will join you when I have searched this old ruin from
top to bottom, and found the gold, or found that there is none. At
least we may take the tablets from the walls, though the pillars
are too heavy for us to handle; but there should be great storerooms
filled with gold--gold that we can carry away upon our backs with
ease. Run on now, out into the fresh air where you may breathe
easier."

Some of the warriors started to obey their chief with alacrity,
but Busuli and several others hesitated to leave him--hesitated
between love and loyalty for their king, and superstitious fear
of the unknown. And then, quite unexpectedly, that occurred which
decided the question without the necessity for further discussion.
Out of the silence of the ruined temple there rang, close to their
ears, the same hideous shriek they had heard the previous night,
and with horrified cries the black warriors turned and fled through
the empty halls of the age-old edifice.

Behind them stood Tarzan of the Apes where they had left him, a
grim smile upon his lips--waiting for the enemy he fully expected
was about to pounce upon him. But again silence reigned, except for
the faint suggestion of the sound of naked feet moving stealthily
in near-by places.