TARZAN AND THE LOST EMPIRE
“Why, the citizens of Rome who live in Castrum Mare, of course, as one from Castra Sangiunarius well knows.”
“But I am not from Castra Sangiunarius,” insisted von Harben.
“You may tell that to the officers of Validus Augustus,” replied the headman. “Perhaps they will believe you, but it is certain that I do not.”
“Are these people who dwell in Castrum Mare black men?” asked von Harben.
“Take them away,” ordered the headman, “and confine them safely in a hut. There they may ask one another foolish questions. I do not care to listen to them further.”
Von Harben and Gabula were led away by a group of warriors and conducted into one of the small huts of the village. Here they were brought a supper of fish and snails and a dish concocted of the cooked pith of papyrus.
When morning dawned the prisoners were again served with food similar to that which had been given them the previous evening and shortly thereafter they were ordered from the hut.
Upon the water-lane before the village floated half a dozen dugouts filled with warriors. Their faces and bodies were painted as for war and they appeared to have donned all the finery of barbaric necklaces, anklets, bracelets, armbands, and feathers that each could command; even the prows of the canoes bore odd designs in fresh colors.
There were many more warriors than could have been accommodated in the few huts within the small clearing, but, as von Harben learned later, these came from other clearings, several of which comprised the village. Von Harben and Gabula were ordered into the chiefs canoe and a moment later the little fleet-pushed off into the water-lane. Strong paddlers propelled the dugouts along the winding waterway in a northeasterly direction.
During the first half hour they passed several small clearings in each of which stood a few huts from which the women and children came to the water’s edge to watch them as they passed, but for the most part the water-lane ran between
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