 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 D for Diamonds and Death. In the village of the Anga tribe, the flames of the council firely tie. Frenzied dancers, their minds clouded from too much strong kangala, whirled about the ceremonial circle. From time to time they stopped to scream insults, and shake their fists at the hema of their chief. The Anga tribe was in revolt against their leader. And it was plain that violence would occur before Kuda the sun rose in the heaven. Suddenly the dancing stopped. The drums were stilled. The savage cries of the natives were left in their throats. It's Tarzan. He's Lord of Jungle. Tarzan, come. Tarzan. Yes, it is Tarzan. Why, you come Tarzan. I come because word has reached me that you are in revolt against your leader. That business of Anga tribe, not business of Tarzan. I am the Lord of the Jungle, and I make it my business to see that the law of the jungle is upheld. Your chief has served you and your fathers for many years. Why do you seek to go against his commands? Always before people of Anga make village in place where there good water, rich land, many animals for meat. Yes. When soil not good, water dry up, animals leave jungle near village. Anga tribe move, new place. Yes, that is the custom of all jungle tribes. Now this land grow poor, but chiefs say not move. People of Anga take vote, decide, kill, or chief. Make new chief, then go new land. I cannot understand the refusal of your mawanangwa. But certainly you must have some good reason. Where is he? He come council far now. It's time to kill. Wait. There will be no execution until I learn the reason behind all of this. Jumbo mawanangwa. Jumbo Tarzan. Your people tell me that you refuse to move the village, although this district is no longer fertile. Not move. But why? Not move. Unless you can give some good reason, your subjects are well within their rights to elect a new chief. You must give an answer. Me chiefonga many years, father chief before me, before him his father. But my son not be chief if we move. Your son? Oh, over one who left the tribe to become rich in the diamond mines at Jagerstown. Yafu, good son, come back some day. We move. Yafu, not find us. Please Tarzan, not let tribe move. Yafu, not find us. I understand your sorrow mawanangwa, but you can't expect your tribe to remain on this poor land until Yafu decides that life among the Tamanganis is not good. Yafu, come back, then we move. When he come back? Oh, there is but one solution. I shall go to the diamond mines and find Yafu. He must return with me or renounce his rights as the future chief of the tribe. You look for Yafu. You bring back. Men of Anga, you must give me sufficient time to find the son of your chief before you move or before you go ahead with the plans that you had made for tonight. We decide. Tarzan, look for Yafu. Bring back my next full moon. Oh, but that gives me little time. It's a long, dangerous trip. I may have difficulty finding him. By next full moon, if not back, we kill our chief. Make new chief, move village. Tomorrow men of Anga look for new place. You intend looking for a new site before you learn whether I shall succeed or fail in my mission? We know Yafu not come back. Tarzan not come back. Tarzan go land of diamond and death. In just a moment we shall return to our story. The great diamond mines of Africa are located in the Kimberley district at Dutitzpan and bordering the Orange and the Val rivers. These are large underground mines with modern tunnels thousands of feet below the surface. But in distant Yeagerstown, antiquated open pit mining is still practiced. And the office of the Vincent mining company to which Tarzan made his way was a shabby affair housed in a sun-baked hut of mud. Martin Vincent, despite his wealth, employed no clerks or secretaries. Dressed in solid whites, he sat behind a massive desk that faced the door. Yes, I am Tarzan. I have come from the village of the Anga tribe to seek a native by the name of Yafu. I believe he works for your company? Work. None of these ladies' work. You know where I can find Yafu? No. But surely you have records in your office giving the names of your employees? I am inspected when they check in to make sure they're not too sick or too drunk to do a day's work. I am searched at night to make sure they haven't stolen a diamond. Aside from that I pay no attention to where or how they live. I see. And you can give me no information about Yafu? I can tell you he hasn't showed up here for these three days. Just when I need labor is the worst. If you dig him up, you better tell him to get back here by tomorrow or he won't have a job. If I find him, I shall tell him your words. Hey, you look pretty husky. You want a job? No, no, no. I am not cut out to be a diamond miner. I wouldn't hire a white man to dig. I thought maybe you'd like a job as foreman. Look as though you ought to be able to crack a whip or use a brandon iron. A branding iron? We find one of these rascals trying to make off with one of our diamonds. We burn a nice large D in his back. And anyone who seeks him knows him for a diamond thief. He'll never get a job anywhere else. Thank you for your information, Mr. Vinson. All of it. I shall leave now to search for Yafu. Well, don't forget what I said to tell that native. And if you ever change your mind about going to work for me, let me know. Yeagerstown sprawls for many miles, and Tarzan combed its endless rows of thatched huts, its squalid settlements of beaver-board shanties, its meandering streets of crumbling sandstone houses. But suspicious negroes and shifty whites gave him nothing but evasive answers in return to his queries concerning Yafu. For everywhere within the limits of Yeagerstown, a stranger was regarded as a possible spy for the Vincent mining company, and man could take no chances. No, I don't know any native of that name. But in the river settlement they said all the natives from Unger and the surrounding tribes patronized your company. Sure, they came in and load themselves with Pompey and Kangala, but I never get to know their names. They all look alike. They do not look alike, and I am sure you know the names and the whereabouts of your customers. Now, tell me. You're barking up the wrong tree, Mr. I'm not giving you any dope on Yafu. Now, you do know him, huh? All right, so I know him. He wants to hold up some place and not go to work at his business. And mine? I've traveled many hundreds of miles to find him and to take him back to his people. Give me that again? I have come to take him back to the jungle. Well, in that case, I'll tell you where he was living last, although he may have beat it since then. It'll be the best thing in the world for Yafu to leave Yeagerstown before they burn that D in his back. Good afternoon, Yafu. Me, not Yafu. I was told Yafu lived here. He lived two days ago, not come back. Sorry. Do not close the door. Sorry. Not no more. You leave now. I am Tarzan. Do you remember my name? I come from the Anga country. I not know your name. Me not come from Anga country. Come from Nuba. The tribal welts upon your forehead proclaim you to be a member of the Anga tribe. And those upon your wrists prove that you are the son of a chief. May I come inside and talk, Yafu? Yes. Come inside, Tarzan. Can't you understand, Yafu? Your father's life and the welfare of your tribe depend upon your speedy return. Cannot go back. Why? Yafu stay here. Make much money and die on mine. I see no evidence of wealth thus far. This room is miserable. Your sleeping mat is nothing more than rags. Work hard. Some day have much money. You have not worked for the past few days. How you know? Mr. Vincent told me. He said unless you come back at once, you won't even have a job. Afraid go back to work. Afraid go home. Where is the diamond? Diamond? Yes. The one you stole. Or was it more than one? One. One small diamond. Why did you steal it? Why I steal? You not know what is to sweat in diamond mine from morning to night. Swing mallet, crush blue rock till back, arms ache. Mud rushes come down, sweep workers away. Thieves fall, kill man next to me. Landslides kill others. But that does not answer my question. Why did you steal? You receive good wages? We pay much for room, much for food. Yes, and much for drinks of cangala. Yafu, your only hope is to return home. For your own sake as well as your father's and the people of your tribe. They follow me. They find I take diamond. They always find out. They follow me anywhere. They burn D in back. They say diamond thief. Can I go back to people as thief? Me, Yafu, son of great chief. Oh, no. You cannot let your people know that you're a thief, nor can you break your father's heart. But maybe Vincent's men not catch. Now the guilt would still be in your heart, burning their Yafu, keeping you from being a just ruler when you're a chief. Always coming between you and happiness. No, no, no, Yafu. You must take the stolen diamond back to the mine. How? You must go back to work. At least for a day. You must return it in the same manner in which you stole it. If they find Yafu with diamond, they think he's stealing it that day. Yafu afraid? I shall be with you. You need not be afraid. Tarzan cannot come into mine only for workers. Then I shall accept Mr. Vincent's offer of a job. We will return the diamond together. If caught, D burned into Yafu's back and into Tarzan's back. D stands for diamond thief. I know. D for diamonds and for death. We must risk both, Yafu. With Vincent a reasonable man, I would go to him with the diamond and the complete story, but I know his kind. However great the danger, we must return the stolen diamond. In just a moment, we shall learn of Tarzan's fate in the diamond mines. Night fell, but although Tarzan was tired, he found himself unable to sleep in the oppressive closeness of Yafu's room. The jungle was close to the edge of the city, however. Tarzan finally rested in the friendly arms of a great tree. But by dawn, he had returned to the city. Yafu and he joined the swarm of workers who headed for the Vincent mines. And as they walked along past the beggars and the flower vendors and the stalls of the open-air bobbers, they spoke of their problem. Sometimes yet orders carry something to sorting room. Well, that's where you took the diamond? No deal. But maybe they not send Yafu there today. How did you get it past your evening inspection? Diamond was in Yafu's nose. He stained cloth with red berries, grown near office hut. Yes. When Yafu walked past inspector, he hold cloth to nose. Say it bleed. For once they not put flashlight in Yafu's nose and ears. I see. But you could hardly be expected to get away with a trick like that twice. No. Must put diamond back today. Must get to sorting room. You'd best keep the stone on your person since they do not search you on your way in. If they hire me, I shall see if I can get into the sorting room. Then you can slip the gem to me and I'll put it back. It sound easy when Tarzan talk, but Yafu work here long time. He know is not easy to fool Vincent as he spies. Careful, Tarzan. Careful. I guess I better be careful with my talk. This is the workers' entrance here. Nadio. What have we here? Two new recruits. Me, Yafu, work here long time. Not new one of Vincent. You've been absent four days now. You're new. You'll go back to beginner's rate. Well, any objection? No. It's all right. Beginner's rates. You. You decided to take a job. Yes, sir. All right. Come with me. Dexter. Check the rest of these birds in. Come on, yo. Better check my charts here. See where to put you. See now. Section A, Gardner, section B, Van Hooten, section C. I guess the field jobs are all a sign for the day. You mean you have no job for me? Don't worry. We wouldn't pass up a chance to get a man of your size and strength. I tell you what, we'll start you in the sorting room. Back work now. Lunch over. I'm too hot for work. He's hot for noon. Yaffu. Yaffu. Tarzan? Tarzan, you be? There will be time to wait later when we're on our way home. Careful. Spies everywhere. I know, I know, I know. Yaffu, I'm working in the sorting room as a watcher. If one of the sorter's leaves is trough for a minute, I can return the jewel. Now, when we go through this archway, brush against me and drop the gem in my knife sheath. Nadi. Well, I, I think I like it here, Yaffu. Did you, uh, did you work hard this morning? It break much blue-brown. Sorry I bumped into you. I didn't realize that passageway was so narrow. He's all right, Tarzan. He's all right. Back to the mines, you. Tarzan, I don't like to have the foreman mixing with the man at mail times. Better get back to the sorting room. Yes, Mr. Vincent. And keep your eyes open. The auditor's in my office now. And it looks as though there's one diamond missing. Check table one. All OK, huh? Check table two. Right. Just a minute, Mr. Vincent. Something's wrong here on these figures on table three. Tarzan. Yes, Mr. Vincent. Any of the sorter's of table three leave their troughs any time today? The tables have been fully manned every minute. Except at lunchtime, of course. The missing stone wouldn't necessarily have had to be taken today, Mr. Vincent. These figures are for the full week. I gotta hunch it's today. Attention. Everyone line up to far into the room, facing the wall. Controller and I'll search all of you. Shall I help line the men up? Help line the men up. You get in line two. I said everyone. I refuse to be searched. You refuse. It's funny, isn't it, Dexter? I see nothing funny about a man upholding his dignity. Tell him how funny it is, Dexter. I'll show him. You see this small cord here? Yes. I give it only a slight tug. When I picked you for strength, still you were no match for eight of my guards. They are strong men. He put up a good fight, though. He did. Now let's see why he put up such a good fight. I'll relieve him of his knife and sheath and you can search him. Now then. You will find what you seek inside the knife case. He was right, Mr. Vincent. Here's the missing diamond. First day at work and he steals. I did not steal, but I would not expect you to believe the truth, even if I were free to tell it. You're quite right. I believe nothing you could say. Shall I have the guards take him to the branding room? No, I'm going to make a real example with this one. I'm going to show these thieving rascals in the fields and not even a man of Tarzan's strength and reputation can get away with anything here. What are you going to do? We'll build a fire right in the center of the blue ground. Right in the heart of the Vincent mine. He'll make the branding iron doubly hot and the brand burned doubly deep. As the workers assembled, Tarzan was led into the mine. He seemed subdued, but he was taking in each detail of the funnel-shaped mining pit. He noted the giant windlesses that dotted the upper edge of the crater and the steel ropes attached to the great winders which hauled the buckets of blue ground to the top. The tense cables formed a veritable cobweb of steel strands, a maze that resembled in many ways the tangled vines of the upper jungle growth in which Tarzan was so much at home. As the workers crowded in, Tarzan caught the eye of Yafu in the rear of the crowd, an unspoken message passed between them as the branding iron became white-hot. Have them shut down the machinery. I want everyone's attention here. Yo, Pete Occhio, shut off the winders. And in front of you, I want your attention. The iron is ready. Keep it hot. Right. I want you to look at this man. He thought I didn't know who he was when he came to Jagerstown. I knew. I know everything that goes on around here. He's Tarzan. Some call him the Lord of the Jungle. But around here, he's just another working stiff when he was found stealing a diamond. We're going to give him a very special treatment. I want you to watch. Remember, this is what will happen to you if you try to steal what don't belong to you. Ready? The iron. Hold it, man. We'll brand him. Can't rest until we're out of... A scurry, I hear. A police. On all sides, they have us surrounded. We surrender to a scurry. Maybe they... Mine owners control the police. No, Yaffa, we'll have to run until we get... Yaffa, down this alley. Yaffa, come. Hurry, Yaffa. Once they enter this alley, they'll think... Oh, we almost attend the valley now. A dead-end street. There's a blank wall. We surrender now? No, no. There's a bamboo pole in front of that shop there. Stand in the front of the wall, Yaffa. I can use this bamboo pole to help me fall to the top of the wall. Out, out. What's Yaffu do? The jungle is just ahead, Yaffu. Quickly, jump to the ground. Only a short rattle. And we'll be in my jungle, Yaffu. No, Yaffu not reached jungle. Everything cloudy. Everything black. Yaffu. No, you can't faint, Yaffu. You can't quit yet. All right. I'll carry over my shoulder. I'll swing myself to the upper level. And head for home. It was soon night, and the pursuers fell far behind as Tarzan with Yaffu still slung over his shoulder, scurried through the upper level. This was the jungle, and no man of the city could catch Tarzan in the primordial forest. By the time Yaffu had regained consciousness, they were near the Onga village. And the sound of the ceremonial drum suddenly made them realize that it was the night of the full moon. Well, here is your village. They're holding the shower rate. Look, father still leaves. It's time for death, the old chief. Boss! Boss! There you met me, chief. Me lead you new land. The old chief will live, and his son will lead you to your new home. Is Tarzan Tarzan returned? No, Tarzan. You bring Yaffu, my son, my son. You are tired, my father. Yaffu helped you to Hema. In morning we find new site for village. Then we begin everything new. Yaffu has learned lesson. He be good son, good chief when his time come. Tarzan, where you go? Back to my sea coast cabin. My mission for the people of Onga is finished. Together, Yaffu, we have won great victories over evil from within and from without. And our greatest victory is mirrored upon your father's face. In just a moment, a preview of our next exciting story of Tarzan. Perhaps when we mention pirates, we conjure thoughts of buried treasures and gold doubloons. But modern pirates do not wield cutlasses or make their victims walk the plank. Still, their diabolical crimes are sometimes crueler than those of the storybook pirates. We believe you'll enjoy Tarzan's adventure with these modern devils of the sea in Tarzan and the Pirates of Cape Bandera. 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.