powers, realized also his limitations. He knew that he could not
successfully cope with great numbers in open battle. He must resort
to the stealth and trickery of the wild beast, if he were to succeed.

Sitting in the safety of his tree, munching upon the leg bone of
Horta, the boar, Tarzan waited a favorable opportunity to enter
the village. For awhile he gnawed at the bulging, round ends of
the large bone, splintering off small pieces between his strong
jaws, and sucking at the delicious marrow within; but all the time
he cast repeated glances into the village. He saw white-robed
figures, and half-naked blacks; but not once did he see one who
resembled the stealer of the gems.

Patiently he waited until the streets were deserted by all save
the sentries at the gates, then he dropped lightly to the ground,
circled to the opposite side of the village and approached the
palisade.

At his side hung a long, rawhide rope--a natural and more dependable
evolution from the grass rope of his childhood. Loosening this,
he spread the noose upon the ground behind him, and with a quick
movement of his wrist tossed the coils over one of the sharpened
projections of the summit of the palisade.

Drawing the noose taut, he tested the solidity of its hold. Satisfied,
the ape-man ran nimbly up the vertical wall, aided by the rope
which he clutched in both hands. Once at the top it required but
a moment to gather the dangling rope once more into its coils, make
it fast again at his waist, take a quick glance downward within
the palisade, and, assured that no one lurked directly beneath him,