noon
The Russian realized that nothing could be accomplished beneath the light of day . Darkness must shroud his approach to the ship 's side , for should he be sighted by Tarzan or Lady Greystoke he would have no chance to board the vessel . The gale that was blowing was , he believed , the cause of the delay in getting the Kincaid under way , and if it continued to blow until night then the chances were all in his favour , for he knew that there was little likelihood of the ape-man attempting to navigate the tortuous channel of the Ugambi while darkness lay upon the surface of the water , hiding the many bars and the numerous small islands which are scattered over the expanse of the river 's mouth . It was well after noon when Paulvitch came to the Mosula village upon the bank of the tributary of the Ugambi . Here he was received with suspicion and unfriendliness by the native chief , who , like all those who came in contact with Rokoff or Paulvitch , had suffered in some manner from the greed , the cruelty , or the lust of the two Muscovites . When Paulvitch demanded the use of a canoe the chief grumbled a surly refusal and ordered the white man from the village . Surrounded by angry , muttering warriors who seemed to be but waiting some slight pretext to transfix him with their menacing spears the Russian could do naught else than withdraw .