Tarzan the Untamed · Chapter
The Flight from Xuja explained
Tarzan, Smith-Oldwick, Bertha Kircher, and Otobu fight their way out of the mad city of Xuja, overcoming guards and lions with the help of Numa.
What happens
Tarzan, Smith-Oldwick, Bertha Kircher, and Otobu fight their way out of the mad city of Xuja, overcoming guards and lions with the help of Numa. They escape through the gate into the forest, where Tarzan calls to Numa and leads the group through the dark, dangerous wilderness, carrying the exhausted aviator when necessary.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
The group must adapt to the dangers of Xuja and the forest, using combat skills, teamwork, and Numa's protection to survive.
Madness and Rationality
The city of Xuja is populated by maniacs, and the epileptic fit of the officer highlights the theme of madness versus rational action.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Otobu remains loyal to Tarzan despite his fear, while the Xujans' loyalty to their mad rulers is shown through their violent defense.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Leads the escape from Xuja, fights guards with a saber, calls Numa, and carries Smith-Oldwick through the forest.
- Lieutenant Harold Percy Smith-Oldwick
Fights alongside Tarzan, uses his pistol until it runs out of ammunition, and is carried by Tarzan when exhausted.
- Fräulein Bertha Kircher
Dragged to the gate by Otobu, moves silently with the group, and feels an involuntary attraction to Tarzan.
- Otobu
Leads the party through side streets to the gate, explains the dangers of the black lions, and guides them out of the city.
- Numa
The black lion attacks the guards, saves Smith-Oldwick, and later responds to Tarzan's call to rejoin the group.
Key passages
“With a scream the fellow raised his saber for the final cut that would terminate the earthly career of Tarzan of the Apes when, to the astonishment of both the ape-man and Smith-Oldwick, the fellow stiffened rigidly, his weapon dropped from the nerveless fingers of his upraised hand, his mad eyes rolled upward and foam flecked his bared lip.”
Just as the Xujan officer was about to kill Tarzan with his saber, he suddenly had an epileptic seizure, dropping his weapon and falling to the ground.
The officer's epilepsy saves Tarzan's life at a critical moment.
“From the open gate of the city of maniacs came the answering cry of a lion. The little group waited where they stood until presently they saw the majestic proportions of the black lion as he approached them along the trail.”
Tarzan called out like a lion, and Numa answered from the city, then came to join them on the trail.
Tarzan uses his ability to mimic animal calls to summon Numa.