 From the heart of the jungle comes a savage cry of victory. This is Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle. From the black core of dark Africa, land of enchantment, mystery and violence comes one of the most colorful figures of all time, transcribed from the immortal pen of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan, the bronzed white son of the jungle. And now in the very words of Mr. Burroughs, the story of Lake of Blood. Natisa, the Punya messenger, had been to Tarzan's seacoast cabin. He had looked for the Lord of the Jungle in the ape country. He had searched the rolling hills where the elephants made their home. But nowhere was Tarzan to be found. Now, near exhaustion, he climbed the steep slopes of Mount Kayatenko, calling Tarzan's name, hoping that some miracle might carry his voice to the only man who could help in this time of great trouble and sorrow. What's going on in this part of the jungle? Natisa hunts Tarzan. All over he looks. Oh, what is wrong? Why do you search for me? Targo, Targo. Something is wrong with my small friend. He's sick? Not sick. He's lost. Lost? Two days ago, many cranes fly over Punya village. Yes. Targo asked Mamandaganya where they go. She not know. He asked she, warriors of tribe, their answers not clear enough for Targo. Go on, go on. Not sure what happened, but after second flock cranes pass over village, Targo gone. We look, not find anywhere. Oh, it's his everlasting curiosity. He followed the migration of the cranes. What kind were they? Kind? Gunny. Were they the common type, the waddled crane or the crown variety? Common. They went around the northern regions. Well, it's in that direction that we must travel. We find Targo. If the beasts of the jungle have not found him before us, Targo had already been away from home for two days. The chances of finding him alive were slim. But Tarzan would not rest until he had either found the native boy or learned his fate. Tarzan's first inclination was to leave the exhausted Natesa, take to the upper level and speed to the northern country as quickly as he could. But reason prevailed upon him to adjust his speed to that of Natesa. Once the winter home of the cranes was reached, two men could circle a district more easily than one. I think we're getting to the edge of the crane country, Natesa. Maybe Targo lose trail of Crane though. Maybe he not here. Yes, but you and the Punya warrior searched almost everywhere else. It's our only hope. It's call of Crane. Yes, and look, on the ground beneath that wild pineapple tree. It's small bow of Targo. He's been here, and not too long ago for no leaves covering. Targo! Targo! He not answer. Natesa will take an houry of a mile the first time. You circle to the west from here and I'll circle to the east. We'll meet back here. If we're not successful and then we'll mark out another circle. Don't forget just a mile. Go no further and then... Natesa! Why aren't you starting? Natesa, not go west from here. Is Mughilo. Taboo? I know of no taboos in this district. West here is Kiwanavisi. The lake of blood? Never heard of such a lake? Tarzan not know this land. All near here no Kiwanavisi. Natesa, not go west. All right, you circle east. I shall travel west. West is Kiwanavisi. It's home evil demons. Shore washed with dead butterflies. Fish not live in water. No man ever come back from water that is red. Kiwanavisi, much Mughilo. Oh, taboos and lakes of blood. Sometimes my native brothers make me angry. Targo's life is at stake. I shall waste no further time with your superstitions. Tarzan is not afraid of the lake of blood. In just a moment we shall return to our exciting story. Our followed hour, and although Tarzan and Natesa covered a wide area, in circles of ever increasing circumference, they found no further trace of the native boy Tarzan loved almost like a son. Now Tarzan and Natesa had met again, and they moved together through the tangled jungle, their hearts heavy with sorrow. There is no use. Targo not here. If only the wind would stir, I might catch his scent. Air still like death. I've called his name till my throat aches. If he were alive and had heard me, he would have answered. Maybe Tarzan should make cry of bully. Travels many miles. Yes, that's true. My call can be heard far beyond the reaches of my normal voice. Well, it's worth a try. He's no answer. I think I heard a faint voice. Natesa not hear anything. I did not hear much, Natesa, but I could swear I heard something. From where? From the district that you consider taboo. Are you coming with me, Natesa? Nadia, Natesa come partway with you, but no go near Lake of Blood. At least you're alive. Oh, he's caught in strong trap. I'll force the jaws of the trap open, Natesa, and you pull him out gently. You have a bad bruise on that leg. It is from a teagle. Leg hurt. The leg does need attention. There's a lot of food and water. Natesa, is there a native village near here? Village of Yaluma, people near here. It's maybe 10 miles. 10 miles? Nearer is trading post of white man, old Juana Morgan. Morgan? Yes, yes, I've heard good things of him. His place close by. Well, then we'll go there. I would hunt for food, but I haven't seen a track or caught the scent of an animal for many hours. No animals here. Two days to go in trap. Not here or see any animals. No animals. Land Mughilo, even for animals, cause lake of blood. I want you to say no more about that, particularly in front of Togo. I won't have you filling his head with your superstitions. Natesa, right. Animals not here because Mughilo. It's too bad the land is not also taboo to the birds. Did you find the cranes you followed? The deal. Togo see cranes. Other large birds. But now Togo's sorry he followed them. Yes, you're sorry at the moment because you're hungry and sore. Togo, someday your curiosity is going to get you into real trouble. Your head is store of one of Morgan. A store? It's nothing more than an old fetched hut. His store and home of old man. He friend to Natesa. Yeah, Natesa, you carry Togo for a minute. Even with friends it's well to be on guard. Wait here. Not worry about old one of Morgan. A customer perhaps. I'm afraid we're not customers. We come seeking help. Well, if you need help, old Chris Morgan's your man. Forty years I've spent right in this same tiny patch of ground and I've never denied anyone help yet. People do speak well of you, Mr. Morgan. Old Chris Morgan's a friend to all. Black and white, rich and poor. Good, because that small boy over there has an injured leg and an empty stomach. Well, why didn't you say so right away? Bring the boy inside, put him on my cot. I'll go in the back and rustle some grub and find some bandages just to make yourselves at home. May I help you? No, no, I'm a fussy old bachelor. Who'll bet anyone in my kitchen? Natesa, bring Togo over here. Mr. Togo, will you carry him inside? Please. Mr. Morgan said to place him on his cot. Togo, hungry! You'll have some food in just a minute now. Want to Morgan make food? He's a good man, Tarson. No? He is most kind. Tell me, Natesa, how can he make a living in this deserted spot? Many tribes come here to trade hides, ivory, other things with Buona Morgan. He goes to the city once a year, sells hides, ivory. Bring back things that natives need. Sounds like a scant livelihood. He sells much salt. Togo, hungry! I think I hear your supper approaching now. Here you are, Satti. Some nice broth, some smoked meat and some tin biscuits. That ought to hold you for a bit. I think it will. Togo, where are your manners? Santa Buona Morgan. That's better. I'll see if I can dig up some antiseptic and bandages to fix up that leg and then I'll rush a little grub for the rest of us. Hold on, Natesa and I can fend for our own food. We would not deprive you of your stores. Nonsense. I'm glad to have company. Never did like eating alone. Oh, pardon me a minute. Oh, just a young native boy's been hurt in a couple of men who brought him. Come in, come in. I'm afraid I didn't ask your names. I am Tarzan. This is Natesa. The boy is Togo. They are of the Punya tribe. Oh, the Punyas, eh? Well, meet Kaluzoo. He is the chief of the Yalumas. And he and his brothers have come to do business with me. Not talk business front of strangers. Who are you? I have just told you our names. Why you come our country? I do not like your unfriendly attitude, Kaluzoo. And I feel no need to tell you why we've come here. Now, just a minute, folks. Just a minute. There's no sense in having hard feelings. Sit down, Kaluzoo. I'm just going to bring out a little smoked meat. Kaluzoo, not break bread with strangers. Me go now. Come back other time. No, we will leave. Mr. Morgan, you have been kind to us, and I will not remain here and spoil your chances of conducting business. Nonsense. Kaluzoo, these are my friends. If you can't be civil to them, be on your way. But they'd be sorry come to land of Qanavisi. Lake of blood not like strangers. And this land of Qanavisi. Despite the warning of Kaluzoo, the past few days have passed quite uneventfully. This is a peaceful land for the most part. And so far as the legend of the lake of blood goes, well, I don't know. The best thing to do is just steer clear of the district and let well enough alone. Natesa, steer clear. We go home now, Tarzan. Torgo's lake better. Has the herd all gone, Torgo? All gone. Torgo's strong now. Can hunt elephants and hippo... hippo... elephants and hippos. Good. Natesa, I'm sure I can trust you to deliver Torgo safely to Mama Nagama. Where you go? I've got to know more about this fabled lake of blood. No, no. Tarzan not going there to kill you on Qanavisi. I wouldn't advise mixing in that, Tarzan. Is land of demons? This is something strange about a land where animals will not travel and water where fish will not swim, but I do not believe in demons. Is many demons, bad demons come at night, kill those who see not believe in demons? Targo, I'm ashamed of you. After all the time I've spent teaching you the ways of the jungle and the ways of civilization. My words have been wasted. You might just as well be as stupid as a savage without one speck of schooling. But Tarzan, everyone knows demons. I say there are no demons. They live only in the superstition of your people. They bring fear, and fear leads a people to unhappiness and destruction. Makes them a prey to all those who wave a big stick. It's fear that permits bullies to rule countries. Targo, I will not have you believe in demons. Targo cannot help. He knows our demons. Netisa, you will return to the land of the Punyas so that Mama Nagama will know that Targo is all right, that he's with Tarzan. Targo and I are going to disprove the demons that rule Qanavisi. We shall go to the lake. You mean you would take the boy into that district from which no one has returned? No, Tarzan, not go. Not take Targo. We shall return. Will you go by my side, Targo? Targo, go anywhere Tarzan's saying. Tarzan, I understand your motive, but I think you're making a bad mistake. Perhaps a fatal one. In just a moment, the exciting conclusion of our story. That night, Netisa left for the Punya country. Mama Nagama would be told that Targo was safe for the moment. And the next morning Tarzan, the small native boy, headed for the land of the blood-red lake, the small body of water where no living thing could subsist. And yet the bright rays of the sun filtering down through the overhead jungle growth seem to be lie the sinister legend of the district. You see, Targo, this land is no different from your own. We near lake? I've never been to it, so I'm not sure, but I... Why we stop? I heard the snapping of a twig far off. Is animal or man? I've caught no scent yet. Oh, we should see. We grab vine, swing to upper level? Perhaps. Let's be still just a moment. The sound was caused by men, several of them, and they follow us. All right, Targo, jump onto my back and hold tightly. They swing up into the trees. They're holding tight. Much tight. Targo's strong. There! Tracks of white jungle man and boy end here. Where they go? Kalusu not know, but we find. Kalusu tell them leave land of Kewanawisi. Must find. They use trick so not leave trail. We find. They not grow wings and fly. That sound like boy. His laugh of boy came from tree. Yes, it came from the tree. Throw your weapon from your hands. If one of you makes a move, I shall run my knife through you. We not move. You can come down from the tree now, Targo. Fight any bad men? Yes, only these are not ordinary men, Targo. These are the demons of the lake. No, no, we not demons. We men of Yaluma try. Yes, I know, and you are its chief. A chief who guards his lands so jealously, he tries to scare strangers away. When they refused to be frightened, he stalks them as though they were animals to furnish food. Now the mystery of your lake is quite clear. It contains gold, and you have built up this legend to protect it. No, no, no. Let me tell. Tarzan, believe Kalusu. We follow you to stop before you reach Kiwanavisi. Already too many die at hand evil spirit. Is black mark on people of Yaluma? List their land, not land of death, until time of Kalusu's father. Now is land of demons. Only want warn you so you leave with life. Perhaps I have misjudged you. I shall withhold judgment until I've seen this lake for myself. Where is it? Beyond big rock you see from here, north from there to trail white rocks, then over small ridge. But please, Tarzan, not go. You need have no worry on my account, Kalusu. Torgo and I shall return. We shall meet you and tell you what we have found at the trading post of old Chris Morgan. We will be there before cuter the sun climbs in the heaven again. Now Tarzan knew the exact location of the lake. Torgo and he pressed on through the lush foliage that sheltered not even a single animal. Along the trail it was marked by the white rocks, up the side of the small ridge that the native chieftain had described. And when they had reached the top of the ridge, they stopped abruptly, and their jaws hung loose in wonderment. It is red. The lake is the color of blood. And like they say has many dead butterflies, insects floating at edge. Come, let's go down to the edge of the lake and find out more about it. Oh, watch out for the loose rocks. They're big rocks, all painted white. They're not painted white, and yet it's hard to explain their white coating. It's a funny place. It's the strangest place in the entire jungle, I think. Like a giant ink well hallowed out of the rocks and the well filled with red ink. Is ink? No, it's not ink, Torgo, but we'll see what it is now. Tarzan, you go in too late. I'm just waiting in a steppe or two. Look at this, Torgo. You see the water I've scooped up in my hands? It's not red. It's not even slightly pink. Watch now. Tarzan holds slimy mud. It's red. Very red and very slimy. Some of it you'll see floating on top of the water and the rest of it floats just under the surface. What is? Well, it's a little hard to explain. Scientists call it viscous manner, although it looks like congealed blood. It's not. It's quite harmless. But that answers only the question of the lake's color. Wait. Tarzan, what make lakes smell like sea? Look at this. It's almost pure crystallized salt. And the lake itself is a strong salt brine so strong that even fish cannot live in it nor butterflies and insects hover over its surface. What of animals? They like salt. Yes, they do. So we have other questions to answer yet. Torgo, watch out. Use rock. We be killed. Our only hope is in the lake. Hold your breath, Torgo. That was a narrow escape. Torgo, wet and sticky. Swallow some strong salt water. What hurt you any? Those rocks might have... What make rocks fall? I saw no one. The strong motor of the brine prevented me from catching a scent, but I think we're getting closer to the solution of our mystery, Torgo. Climb on my back. We must move quickly now. A smaller geocooler. Yes, I see the path. I think I know where it leads. Is Numa the lion? Is dead? Very dead, yet there are no signs of a bullet wound or the mark of an arrow. Look, Ant's dead, too. They came to feed on the carcass of Numa and the poison that killed him also killed them. No creature has been too small or too unimportant to escape the villainy of him who controls the lake of blood. First door, old Chris Morgan. Yes, Torgo, I'm proud of you. You're becoming very observant. As you know by now, this... this can mean the difference between life and death in the jungle. Torgo, observe something else. Can Thirinia in clearing? Yes, a large kettle, far too large for ordinary cooking. Torgo, we're within earshot of the trading post now, and although I hardly think we're expected, it would be wise to hold our tongues and move quietly. Torgo, quiet as land of the mosquito. Good. We'll walk over to the window of the trading post. And Chris Morgan wouldn't take advantage of you, Kalusu. We bring many hides this time. All right, Kalusu. I'll throw in an extra sack of salt. Good. Old Chris Morgan, fine friend, black man. I try to be. The rest of you are happy with the way I've treated you? Good treat. Well, that's good. I'll help you pack up the bags of salt, and then I'll... I will not conclude your business arrangements, Mr. Morgan, yet, Kalusu. Kalusu. Tarzan. I thought... You thought Torgo and I had been killed by the avalanche. You started... Tarzan wrong. Old Chris Morgan, good man. He not try to kill Tarzan and small boy. Why, of course not. It's ridiculous. Tell me one thing, Kalusu. Where does Mr. Morgan get all the salt he trades to you for the valuable skins of animals? Me not know. Bring from city. Would he transport hundreds and hundreds of pounds of salt on his yearly trip? No. The salt is distilled in the large kettle he keeps in the clearing behind his store. The brine comes from the lake of blood. What are you talking about? From lake? For over 40 years he has preyed on your superstition. That's a lot of nonsense. The natural color of the lake helped. The ghostly effect of the salt-whitened rocks about it. The fact that the strong brine killed fish and butterflies... Don't believe in me. It's a lie. He... He helped make you think the place was taboo by poisoning all living things who entered the district. So, many things clear now. Unfortunately, none of you will live to spread this story. Look out! We hold Chris Morgan Tarzan. No, it's just a surface scratch, Targo, but it had been a fraction of an inch closer. For over 40 years I've gotten away with this, Tarzan. If you hadn't come along... If I hadn't come along, you would have continued to kill all who trespassed upon your land. But now the natives will have the salt they need, and the nature has provided them. Uh, Morgan, we kill you. No, no, no, don't kill me. Stop! You will not take the law into your own hands. I will take him to the authorities. Tarzan, bleed bad. Don't worry about me, Targo. I'm quite all right. And I'm happy that we have solved the riddle of Kiwanavizi. Tarzan, someday curiosity gets you in real trouble. In just a moment, the preview of our next exciting episode of Tarzan. Missionaries have tried to bring light to the Dark Continent. But just when we begin to believe the jungle people have changed, we hear the voodoo drums and the incantations of the witch men. We see a pin stuck through a voodoo figure, and we recognize it as the sign of death. For pagan savagery still exists, and Kongo magic still casts its spell. Tarzan, the creation of the famous Edgar Rice Burroughs, is produced and transcribed by Walter White Jr., prepared for radio by Bud Lesser, with original music by Albert Lesser. This is a Commodore production.