As M’ganwazam unfolded his plan in whispers to the savages squatting about him the old, toothless hag, to whom Tarzan had saved her hut for the night, hovered about the conspirators ostensibly to replenish the supply of firewood for the blaze about which the men sat, but really to drink in as much of their conversation as possible. Tarzan had slept for perhaps an hour or two despite the savage din of the revellers when his keen senses came suddenly alert to a suspiciously stealthy movement in the hut in which he lay. The fire had died down to a little heap of glowing embers, which accentuated rather than relieved the darkness that shrouded the interior of the evil-smelling dwelling, yet the trained senses of the ape-man warned him of another presence creeping almost silently toward him through the gloom. He doubted that it was one of his hut mates returning from the festivities, for he still heard the wild cries of the dancers and the din of the tom-toms in the village street without. Who could it be that took such pains to conceal his approach? As the presence came within reach of him the ape-man bounded lightly to the opposite side of the hut, his spear poised ready at his side. “Who is it,” he asked, “that creeps upon Tarzan of the Apes, like a hungry lion out of the darkness?” “Silence, bwana!” replied an old cracked voice. “It is Tambudza—she whose hut you would not take, and thus drive an old woman out into the cold night.” “What does Tambudza want of Tarzan of the Apes?” asked the ape-man. “You were kind to me to whom none is now kind, and I have come to warn you in payment of your kindness,” answered the old hag. “Warn me of what?” “M’ganwazam has chosen the young men who are to sleep in the hut with you,” replied Tambudza. “I was near as he talked with them, and heard him issuing his instructions to them. When the dance is run well into the morning they are to come to the hut. “If you are awake they are to pretend that they have come to sleep, but if you sleep it is M’ganwazam’s command that you be killed. If you are not then asleep they will wait quietly beside you until you do sleep, and then they will all fall upon you together and slay you. M’ganwazam is determined to win the reward the white man has offered.” “I had forgotten the reward,” said Tarzan, half to himself, and then he added, “How may M’ganwazam hope to collect the reward now that the white men who are my enemies have left his country and gone he knows not where?” “Oh, they have not gone far,” replied Tambudza. “M’ganwazam knows where they camp. His runners could quickly overtake them—they move slowly.” “Where are they?” asked Tarzan. “Do you wish to come to them?” asked Tambudza in way of reply. Tarzan nodded. “I cannot tell you where they lie so that you could come to the place yourself, but I could lead you to them, bwana.”