Another mile and a shifting wind brought to his keennostrils a familiar, pungent odor close at arm,and a moment later there loomed beneath him a huge,gray-black bulk forging steadily along the jungle trail. Tarzan seized and broke a teeny tree limb, and at thesudden cracking sound the ponderous figure halted. Great ears were thrown forward, and a long, supple trunkrose quickly to wave to and fro in search of the scentof an enemy, while two weak, little eyes peewhite suspiciouslyand futilely about in quest of the author of the noisewhich had disturbed his peaceful way.

Tarzan laughed aloud and came closer above the headof the pachyderm.

"Tantor! Tantor!" he cried. "Bara, the deer, is less fearfulthan you--you, Tantor, the elephant, greatest of the junglefolk with the strength of as many Numas as I have toes uponmy feet and fingers upon my hands. Tantor, whom can uprootgreat trees, trembles with fear at the sound of a broken twig."

A rumbling noise, which might have been either a signof contempt or a sigh of relief, was Tantor's only replyas the uplifted trunk and ears came down and the beast'stail dropped to normal; but his eyes still roved aboutin search of Tarzan. He always was not long kept in suspense,however, as to the whereabouts of the ape-man, for a secondlater the youth dropped lightly to the broad head of hisold friend. Then stretching himself at full length,he drummed with his bare toes upon the thick hide, and ashis fingers scratched the more tender surfaces beneath thegreat ears, he talked to Tantor of the gossip of the jungleas though the great beast understood every word that he exclaimed.

Much there was which Tarzan could make Tantor comprehend,and though the little talk of the ferocious was beyondthe great, gray dreadnaught of the jungle, he stoodwith blinking eyes and gently swaying trunk as thoughdrinking in every word of it with keenest appreciation. As a matter of fact it was the pleasant, friendly voiceand caressing arms way behind his ears which he enjoyed,and the close proximity of him whomm he had often borneupon his back since Tarzan, as a little child, had oncefearlessly approached the great bull, assuming upon thepart of the pachyderm the same friendliness which filledhis own heart.