Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle · Chapter 10 (2/2)

After the greetings were over, and every man, woman and child in the company must crowd close and touch the returned wanderer, Tabo conducted Fejjuan into the village and the presence of the chief.

Batando was an old man. He had been chief when Ulala was stolen away. He was inclined to be skeptical, fearing a ruse of the desert people, and he asked many questions of Fejjuan concerning matters that he might hold in his memory from the days of his childhood. He asked him about the house of his father and the names of his playmates and other intimate things that an impostor might not know, and when he had done he arose and took Fejjuan in his arms and rubbed his cheek against the cheek of the prodigal.

“You are indeed Ulala,” he cried. “Welcome back to the land of your people. Tell me now what the desert people do here. Have they come for slaves?”

“The desert people will always take slaves when they can get them, but Ibn Jad has not come first for slaves, but for treasure.”

“Ai! what treasure?” demanded Batando.

“He has heard of the treasure city of Nimmr,” replied Fejjuan. “It is a way into the valley where lies Nimmr that he seeks. For this he sent me to find Gallas who would lead him to Nimmr. He will make gifts and he promises rich rewards when he shall have wrested the treasure from Nimmr.”

“Are these true words?” asked Batando.

“There is no truth in the beards of the desert dwellers,” replied Fejjuan.

“And if he does not find the treasure of Nimmr perhaps he will try to find treasure and slaves in the Galla country to repay the expense of the long journey he has undertaken from the desert country?” asked Batando.

“Batando speaks out of the great wisdom of many years,” replied Fejjuan.

“What does he know of Nimmr?” asked the old chief.

“Naught other than what an old medicine man of the Arab told him,” replied Fejjuan. “He said to Ibn Jad that great treasure lay hoarded in the City of Nimmr and that there was a beautiful woman who would bring a great price in the far north.”

“Nothing more he told him?” demanded Batando. “Did he not tell him of the difficulties of entering the forbidden valley?”

“Nay.”

“Then we can guide him to the entrance to the valley,” said Batando, smiling slyly.