The Waz-don, however,
gathered around excitedly jabbering questions in a language which
the stranger discovered his guide understood though it was entirely
unintelligible to the former. They made no attempt to molest him
and he was now sure that he had fallen among a peaceful and friendly
people.
It was but a short distance now to the caves and when they reached
these Ta-den led the way aloft upon the wooden pegs, assured that
this creature whom he had discovered would have no more difficulty
in following him than had Tarzan the Terrible. Nor was he mistaken
for the other mounted with ease until presently the two stood within
the recess before the cave of Om-at, the chief.
The latter was not there and it was mid-afternoon before he
returned, but in the meantime many warriors came to look upon the
visitor and in each instance the latter was more thoroughly impressed
with the friendly and peaceable spirit of his hosts, little guessing
that he was being entertained by a ferocious and warlike tribe who
never before the coming of Ta-den and Tarzan had suffered a stranger
among them.
At last Om-at returned and the guest sensed intuitively that he
was in the presence of a great man among these people, possibly
a chief or king, for not only did the attitude of the other black
warriors indicate this but it was written also in the mien and
bearing of the splendid creature who stood looking at him while
Ta-den explained the circumstances of their meeting.
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