A man (Hauser) seeking vengeance on Tarzan for the death of his brother, uses a native witch to place a voodoo curse on the King of the Apes. After Tarzan falls into a death-like trance, Hauser has only 24 hours to cremate the body or Tarzan will awaken. Hauser enters the camp, posing as a reporter who wants to interview Tarzan. When Jane and Roger discover Tarzan is "dead," Hauser convinces them to burn the body on a float on the river. Both Jane and Roger prepare to leave the jungle. Without Tarzan, the jungle will never be the same. Only Cheetah thinks something is wrong. When the body is sent down the river in flames, Cheetah calls the animals to save Tarzan. Water creatures push the float towards shore, and elephants blow water on the fire. Shortly after the fire goes out, Tarzan awakens and goes after Hauser. Tarzan disarms Hauser and turns him in to the authorities.