Page:Tarzan and the Lost Empire.pdf/104

Thus the days passed, while far off in another world a frightened little monkey scampered through the upper terraces of a distant forest

A penchant for boasting is not the prerogative of any time, or race, or individual, but is more or less common to all. So it is not strange that Mpingu, filled with the importance of the secret that he alone shared with his mistress and the household of Maximus Praeclarus, should have occasionally dropped a word here and there that might impress his listeners with his importance.

Mpingu meant no harm. He was loyal to the house of Dion Splendidus and he would not willingly have brought harm to his master or his master’s friend, but so it is often with people who talk too much, and Mpingu certainly had done that. The result was that upon a certain day, as he was bartering in the market-place for provisions for the kitchen of Dion Splendidus, he felt a heavy hand laid upon his shoulder and, turning, he was astonished to find himself looking into the face of a centurion of the palace guard, behind whom stood a file of legionaries.

“You are Mpingu, the slave of Dion Splendidus?” demanded the centurion.

“I am,” replied the black.

“Come with us,” commanded the centurion

Mpingu drew back, afraid, as all men feared the soldiers of Caesar. “What do you want of me?” he demanded “I have done nothing.”

“Come, barbarian,” ordered the soldier. “I was not sent to confer with you, but to get you!” And he jerked Mpingu roughly toward him and pushed him back among the soldiers.

A crowd had gathered, as crowds gather always when a