 CHAPTER VI. A DUAL. Darno was asleep when Tarzan entered their apartments after leaving Rockoffs. Tarzan did not disturb him, but the following morning he narrated the happenings of the previous evening, omitting not a single detail. What a fool I have been, he concluded. Deku-de and his wife were both my friends. How have I returned their friendship? Barely did I escape murdering the Count. I have cast a stigma on the name of a good woman. It is very probable that I have broken up a happy home. Do you love Volga, Deku-de? asked Darno. Were I not positive that she does not love me, I could not answer your question, Paul, but without disloyalty to her I tell you that I do not love her, nor does she love me. For an instant we were the victims of a sudden madness. It was not love, and it would have left us unharmed as suddenly as it had come upon us even though Deku-de had not returned. As you know I have had little experience of women. Olga Deku-de is very beautiful. That and the dim light and the seductive surroundings and the appeal of the defenseless for protection might have been resisted by a more civilized man, but my civilization is not even skin deep. It does not go deeper than my clothes. Paris is no place for me. I will but continue to stumble into more and more serious pitfalls. The man-made restrictions are irksome. I feel always that I am a prisoner. I cannot endure it, my friend, and so I think that I shall go back to my own jungle and lead the life that God intended that I should lead when He put me there. Do not take it so to heart, Jean, responded Darno. You have acquitted yourself much better than most civilized men would have under similar circumstances, as to leaving Paris at this time. I rather think that Raoul Deku-de may be expected to have something to say on that subject before long. Nor was Darno mistaken. A week later one mature flower-bear was announced about eleven in the morning, as Darno and Tarzan were breakfasting. Monsieur Flaubert was an impressively polite gentleman. With many low bows he delivered Monsieur Le Count Deku-de's challenge to Monsieur Tarzan. Would Monsieur be so very kind as to arrange to have a friend meet Monsieur Flaubert at as early an hour as convenient that the details might be arranged to the mutual satisfaction of all concerned? Certainly Monsieur Tarzan would be delighted to place his interest unreservedly in the hands of his friend Lieutenant Darno. And so it was arranged that Darno was to call on Monsieur Flaubert at two that afternoon, and the polite Monsieur Flaubert with many bows left them. When they were again alone Darno looked quizzically at Tarzan. Well, he said, now to my sins I must add murder, or else myself be killed, said Tarzan. I am progressing rapidly in the ways of my civilised brothers. What weapons shall you select, Astarno? Deku-de is accredited with being a master with the sword, and a splendid shot. I might then choose poisoned arrows at twenty paces or spheres at the same distance, laughed Tarzan. Make it pistols, Paul. He will kill you, Jean. I have no doubt of it, replied Tarzan. I must die some day. We had better make it swords, said Darno. He will be satisfied with wounding you, and there is less danger of a mortal wound. Pistols, said Darno, with finality. Darno tried to argue him out of it, but without a veil. So pistols it was. Paul returned from his conference with Monsieur Flaubert shortly after four. It is all arranged, he said. Everything is satisfactory. Tomorrow morning at daylight there is a secluded spot on the road not far from E. Tamps. For some personal reason Monsieur Flaubert preferred it. I did not demure. Good, was Tarzan's only comment. He did not refer to the matter again, even indirectly. That night he wrote several letters before he retired. After sealing and addressing them he placed them all in an envelope addressed to Darno. As he undressed Darno heard him humming a music called Ditty. The Frenchman swore under his breath he was very unhappy, for he was positive that when the sun rose the next morning it would look down upon a dead Tarzan. It grated upon him to see Tarzan so unconcerned. This is a most uncivilized hour for people to kill each other, remarked the ape man when he had been routed out of a comfortable bed in the blackness of the early morning hours. He had slept well, and so it seemed that his head scarcely touched the pillow ere his man deferentially aroused him. His remark was addressed to Darno, who stood fully dressed in the doorway of Tarzan's bedroom. Darno had scarcely slept at all during the night. He was nervous, and therefore inclined to be irritable. I presume you slept like a baby all night, he said. Tarzan laughed. From your tone, Paul, I infer that you rather harbour the fact against me. I could not help it, really. No genre. He's not that," replied Darno, himself smiling. But you take the entire matter with such infernal indifference. It is exasperating. One would think that you were going out to shoot at a target, rather than to face one of the best shots in France. Tarzan shrugged his shoulders. I am going out to expiate a great wrong, Paul. A very necessary feature of the expiation is the marksmanship of my opponent. Wherefore, then, should I be dissatisfied? Have you not yourself told me that Count Deku Day is a splendid marksman? You mean that you hope to be killed," exclaimed Darno, in horror. I cannot say that I hope to be, but you must admit that there is little reason to believe that I shall not be killed. Had Darno known the thing that was in the eight-man's mind, that had been in his mind almost from the first intimation that Deku Day would call him to account on the field of honour, he would have been even more horrified than he was. In silence they entered Darno's great car, and in similar silence they sped over the dim road that leads to E.Tamps. Each man was occupied with his own thoughts. Those were very mournful, for he was genuinely fond of Tarzan. The great friendship which had sprung up between these two men whose lives and training had been so widely different had but been strengthened by association, for they were both men to whom the same high ideals of manhood, of personal courage and of honour appealed with equal force. They could understand one another, and each could be proud of the friendship of the other. Tarzan of the apes was wrapped in thoughts of the past, pleasant memories of the happier occasions of his lost, jungle life. He recalled the countless boyhood hours that he had spent cross-legged upon the table in his dead father's cabin. His little brown body bent over one of the fascinating picture-books, from which, unaided, he had gleaned the secret of the printed language long before the sounds of human speech fell upon his ears. A smile of contentment softened his strong face as he thought of that day of days that he had had alone with Jane Porter in the heart of his primeval forest. Presently his reminiscences were broken in upon by the stopping of the car. They were at their destination. Tarzan's mind returned to the affairs of the moment. He knew that he was about to die, but there was no fear of death in him. To a denizen of the cruel jungle, death is a common place. The first law of nature compels them to cling tenaciously to life, to fight for it, but it does not teach them to fear death. Darno and Tarzan were first upon the field of honour. A moment later Deku Day, M. Flaubert, and a third gentleman arrived. The last was introduced to Darno and Tarzan. He was a physician. Darno and M. Flaubert spoke together in whispers for a brief time. The Count Deku Day and Tarzan stood apart at opposite sides of the field. Presently the seconds summoned them. Darno and M. Flaubert had examined both pistols. The two men who were to face each other a moment later stood silently, while M. Flaubert recited the conditions they were to observe. They were to stand back to back. At a signal from M. Flaubert they were to walk in opposite directions, their pistols hanging by their sides. When each had proceeded ten paces, Darno was to give the final signal. Then they were to turn and fire at will until one fell, or each had expended the three shots aloud. While M. Flaubert spoke, Tarzan selected a cigarette from his case and lighted it. Deku Day was the personification of coolness. Was he not the best shot in France? Presently M. Flaubert nodded to Darno, and each man placed his principle in position. Are you quite ready, gentlemen? asked M. Flaubert. Quite, replied Deku Day, Tarzan nodded. M. Flaubert gave the signal. He and Darno stepped back a few paces to be out of the line of fire as the men paced slowly apart. Six, seven, eight. There were tears in Darno's eyes. He loved Tarzan very much. Nine, another pace and the poor lieutenant gave the signal he so hated to give. To him it sounded the doom of his best friend. Quickly Deku Day wheeled and fired. Tarzan gave a little stark. His pistol still dangled at his side. Deku Day hesitated as though waiting to see his antagonist crumple to the ground. The Frenchman was too experienced a marksman not to know that he had scored a hit. Still Tarzan made no move to raise his pistol. Deku Day fired once more, but the attitude of the ape-man, the utter indifference that was so apparent in every line of the nonchalant ease of his giant figure, and the even unruffled puffing of his cigarette, had disconcerted the best marksman in France. This time Tarzan did not start, but again Deku Day knew that he had hit. Suddenly the explanation leaped to his mind. His antagonist was coolly taking these terrible chances in the hope that he would receive no staggering wound from any of Deku Day's three shots. Then he would take his own time about shooting Deku Day down deliberately, coolly, and in cold blood. A little shiver ran up the Frenchman's spine. It was fiendish, diabolical. What manner of creature was this that could stand complacently with two bullets in him waiting for the third? And so Deku Day took careful aim this time. But his nerve was gone and he made a clean miss. Not once had Tarzan raised his pistol hand from where it hung beside his leg. For a moment the two stood looking straight into each other's eyes. On Tarzan's face was a pathetic expression of disappointment. On Deku Day's, a rapidly growing expression of horror, yes, of terror, he could endure it no longer. Mother of God, monsieur, choutis screamed, but Tarzan did not raise his pistol. Instead he advanced toward Deku Day, and when Darno and monsieur Flabert, misinterpreting his intention, would have rushed between them, he raised his left hand in a sign of remonstrance. Do not fear, he said to them, I shall not harm him. It was most unusual, but they halted. Tarzan advanced until he was quite close to Deku Day. There must have been something wrong with monsieur's pistol, he said, or monsieur is unstrung. Take mine, monsieur, and try again, and Tarzan offered his pistol, but foremost to the astonished Deku Day. Maudu, monsieur, cried the latter, are you mad? No, my friend, replied the eight man, but I deserve to die. It is the only way in which I may atone for the wrong I have done a very good woman. Take my pistol and do as I bid. It would be murder, replied Deku Day, but what wrong did you do, my wife? She swore to me that I do not mean that, said Tarzan quickly. You saw all the wrong that passed between us, but that was enough to cast a shadow upon her name, and to ruin the happiness of a man against whom I had no enmity. The fault was all mine, and so I hoped to die for it this morning. I am disappointed that monsieur is not so wonderful a marksman as I had been led to believe. You say that the fault was all yours, as Deku Day eagerly? All mine, monsieur, your wife is a very pure woman. She loves only you. The fault that you saw was all mine. The thing that brought me there was no fault of either the Countess Deku Day or myself. Here is a paper which will quite positively demonstrate that, and Tarzan drew from his pocket the statement Rockoff had written and signed. Deku Day took it and read. Darno and monsieur Flabert had drawn near. They were interested spectators of this strange ending of a strange duel. None spoke until Deku Day had quite finished. Then he looked up at Tarzan. You are a very brave and chivalrous gentleman, he said. I thank God that I did not kill you. Deku Day was a Frenchman. Frenchmen are impulsive. He threw his arms about Tarzan and embraced him. Monsieur Flabert embraced Darno. There was no one to embrace the doctor, so possibly it was Peake which prompted him to interfere and demand that he be permitted to dress Tarzan's wounds. This gentleman was hit once at least, he said, possibly thrice. Twice, said Tarzan, once in the left shoulder and again in the left side, both flesh wounds, I think. But the doctor insisted upon stretching him upon the sword and tinkering with him until the wounds were cleansed and the flow of blood checked. One result of the duel was that they all rode back to Paris together in Darno's car, the best of friends. Deku Day was so relieved to have had his double assurance of his wife's loyalty that he felt no rancor at all toward Tarzan. It is true that the latter had assumed much more of the fault than was rightly his, but if he lied a little he may be excused, for he lied in the service of a woman, and he lied like a gentleman. The eight-man was confined to his bed for several days. He felt that it was foolish and unnecessary, but the doctor and Darno took the matter so to heart that he gave in to please them, though it made him laugh to think of it. It is draw, he said to Darno, till I have bed because of a pin-prick. Why, when Balgany, the king gorilla, tore me almost to pieces while I was still but a little boy, did I have a nice soft bed to lie on? No, only the damp rotting vegetation of the jungle. Hidden beneath some friendly bush I lay for days and weeks with only Kayla to nurse me. Poor faithful Kayla, who kept the insects from my wounds and warned off the beasts of prey. When I called for water she brought it to me in her own mouth, the only way she knew to carry it. There was no sterilized gauze, there was no antiseptic bandage, there was nothing that would not have driven our dear doctor mad to have seen. Yet I recovered, recovered to lie in bed because of a tiny scratch that one of the jungle folk would scarce realize, unless it were upon the end of his nose. But the time was soon over, and before he realized it Tarzan found himself abroad again. Several times Deku Day had called, and when he found that Tarzan was anxious for employment of some nature he promised to see what could be done to find a birth for him. It was the first day that Tarzan was permitted to go out that he received a message from Deku Day requesting him to call at the Count's office that afternoon. He found Deku Day awaiting him with a very pleasant welcome and a sincere congratulation that he was once more upon his feet. Neither had ever mentioned the duel or the cause of it since that morning upon the field of honor. I think that I have found just the thing for you, M. Tarzan, said the Count. It is a position of much trust and responsibility which also requires considerable physical courage and prowess. I cannot imagine a man better fitted than you, my dear M. Tarzan, for this very position. It will necessitate travel, and later it may lead to a very much better post, possibly in the diplomatic service. At first, for a short time only, you will be a special agent in the service of the Ministry of War. Come, I will take you to the gentleman who will be your chief. He can explain the duties better than I, and then you will be in a position to judge if you wish to accept or know. Deku Day himself escorted Tarzan to the office of General Rochet, the chief of the Bureau to which Tarzan would be attached if he accepted the position. There the Count left him after a glowing description to the general of the many attributes possessed by the Eight-Man, which should fit him for the work of the service. A half hour later, Tarzan walked out of the office, the possessor of the first position he had ever held. On the morrow he was to return for further instructions, though General Rochet made it quite clear that Tarzan might prepare to leave Paris for an almost indefinite period, possibly on the morrow. It was with feelings of the keenest elation that he hastened home to bear the good news to Darno. At last he was to be of some value in the world. He was to earn money, and best of all to travel and see the world. He could scarcely wait to get well inside Darno's sitting-room before he burst out with the glad tidings. Darno was not so pleased. It seems to delight you to think that you are to leave Paris and that we shall not see each other for months, perhaps. Tarzan, you are a most ungrateful beast, and Darno laughed. No, Paul, I am a little child, and I have a new toy, and I am tickled to death. And so it came that on the following day Tarzan left Paris en route for Marseille and Oran. End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of The Return of Tarzan This Librivox recording is in the public domain. The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Chapter 7. The Dancing Girl of City, Issa Tarzan's first mission did not bid fair to be either exciting or vastly important. There was a certain lieutenant of Spahy whom the government had reason to suspect of improper relations with a great European power. This lieutenant-journois, who was at present stationed at Citabelle Abbey, had recently been attached to the general staff where certain information of great military value had come into his possession in the ordinary routine of his duties. It was this information which the government suspected the great power was bartering for with the officer. It was at most but a vague hint dropped by a certain notorious Parisian in a jealous mood that had caused suspicion to rest upon the lieutenant, but general staffs are jealous of their secrets, and treason so serious a thing that even a hint of it may not be safely neglected. And so it was that Tarzan had come to Algeria in the guise of an American hunter and traveler to keep a close eye upon lieutenant-journois. He had looked forward with keen delight to again seeing his beloved Africa, but this northern aspect of it was so different from his tropical jungle home that he might as well have been back in Paris for all the heart-thrills of homecoming that he experienced. At Oran he spent a day wandering through the narrow, crooked alleys of the Arab quarter enjoying the strange new sights. The next day found him at Citabelle Abbey, where he presented his letters of introduction to both civil and military authorities, letters which gave no clue to the real significance of his mission. Tarzan possessed a sufficient command of English to enable him to pass among Arabs and Frenchmen as an American, and that was all that was required of it. When he met an Englishman he spoke French in order that he might not betray himself, but occasionally talked in English to foreigners who understood that tongue but could not note the slight imperfections of accent and pronunciation that were his. Here he became acquainted with many of the French officers and soon became a favorite among them. He met Genois, whom he found to be a taciturn, dispeptic-looking man of about forty, having little or no social intercourse with his fellows. For a month nothing of moment occurred. Genois apparently had no visitors, nor did he, on his occasional visit to the town, hold communication with any who might even by the wildest flight of imagination be construed into secret agents of a foreign power. Tarzan was beginning to hope that after all the rumor might have been false when suddenly Genois was ordered to boo Sa'eda in the Pedi Sahara far to the south. A company of Spahi and three officers were to relieve another company already stationed there. Fortunately one of the officers, Captain Girard, had become an excellent friend of Tarzan's, and so when the eight men suggested that he should embrace the opportunity of accompanying him to boo Sa'eda, where he expected upon hunting it caused not the slightest suspicion. At Buira the detachment detrained, and the balance of the journey was made in the saddle. As Tarzan was dickering at Buira for a mount he caught a brief glimpse of a man in European clothes, eyeing him from the doorway of a native coffee-house. But as Tarzan looked the man turned and entered the little, low-ceiling mud hut, and but for a haunting impression that there had been something familiar about the face or figure of the fellow, Tarzan gave the matter no further thought. The march to Omalé was fatiguing to Tarzan, whose equestrian experiences hitherto had been confined to a course of riding lessons in a Parisian academy, and so it was that he quickly sought the comforts of a bed in the hotel grosso, while the officers and troops took up their quarters at the military post. Although Tarzan was called early the following morning, the company of Spahi was on the march before he had finished his breakfast. He was hurrying through his meal that the soldiers might not get too far in advance of him when he glanced through the door connecting the dining-room with the bar. To his surprise he saw Jernois standing there in conversation with the very stranger he had seen in the coffee-house at Buera the day previous. He could not be mistaken, for there was the same strangely familiar attitude and figure, though the man's back was toward him. As his eyes lingered on the two, Jernois looked up and caught the intent expression on Tarzan's face. The stranger was talking in a low whisper at the time, but the French officer immediately interrupted him, and the two at once turned away and passed out of the range of Tarzan's vision. This was the first suspicious occurrence that Tarzan had ever witnessed in connection with Jernois's actions, but he was positive that the men had left the bar-room solely because Jernois had caught Tarzan's eyes upon them. Then there was the persistent impression of familiarity about the stranger to further augment the eight-man's belief that here at length was something which would bear watching. A moment later Tarzan entered the bar-room, but the men had left, nor did he see ought of them in the street beyond, though he found a pretext to ride to various shops before he set out after the column which had now considerable start of him. He did not overtake them until he reached City Issa shortly after noon, where the soldiers had halted for an hour's rest. Here he found Jernois with the column, but there was no sign of the stranger. It was market-day at City Issa and the numberless caravans of camels coming in from the desert and the crowds of bickering A-Rabs in the marketplace filled Tarzan with a consuming desire to remain for a day that he might see more of these sons of the desert. Thus it was that the company of Spahi marched on that afternoon toward Bousaeda without him. He spent the hours until dark wandering about the market in company with a youthful A-Rab, one Abdul, who had been recommended to him by the innkeeper as a trustworthy servant and interpreter. Here Tarzan purchased a better mount than the one he had selected at Buera, and entering into conversation with this stately A-Rab to whom the animal had belonged, learned that the seller was Kedur Ben-Saden, shake of a desert tribe far south of Jalfa. Through Abdul Tarzan invited his new acquaintance to dine with him. As the three were making their way through the crowds of marketers, camels, donkeys, and horses that filled the marketplace with a confusing babble of sounds, Abdul plucked at Tarzan's sleeve, "'Look, master, behind us!' and he turned, pointing at a figure which disappeared behind a camel as Tarzan turned. "'He has been following us about all afternoon,' continued Abdul. "'I caught only a glimpse of an A-Rab in a dark blue Bernouse and white turban,' replied Tarzan. "'Is it he, you mean?' "'Yes. I suspected him because he seems a stranger here, without other business than following us, which is not the way of the A-Rab who is honest, and also because he keeps the lower part of his face hidden, only his eyes showing. He must be a bad man, or he would have honest business of his own to occupy his time. "'He is on the wrong scent, then, Abdul,' replied Tarzan, "'for no one here can have any grievance against me. "'This is my first visit to your country, and none knows me. "'He will soon discover his error and cease to follow us. "'And lest he be bent on robbery,' returned Abdul. "'Then all we can do is wait until he is ready to try his hand upon us,' laughed Tarzan. "'And I warrant that he will get his belly full of robbing now that we are prepared for him.' "'And so he dismissed the subject from his mind, though he was destined to recall it before many hours through a most unlooked for occurrence. "'Kadur Ben-Saden, having dined well, prepared to take leave of his host, with dignified protestations of friendship, "'he invited Tarzan to visit him in his wild domain, where the antelope, the stag, the boar, the panther, and the lion might still be found in sufficient numbers to tempt an ardent huntsman. "'On his departure, the eight-man, with Abdul, wandered again into the streets of city Issa, where he was soon attracted by the wild din of sound coming from the open doorway of one of the numerous Café Moret. "'It was after eight, and the dancing was in full swing,' as Tarzan entered. The room was filled to repletion with A-Rabs. All were smoking and drinking their thick hot coffee. Tarzan and Abdul found seats near the center of the room, though the terrific noise produced by the musicians upon their A-Rab drums and pipes would have rendered a seat farther from them more acceptable to the quiet loving eight-man. A rather good-looking, oo-led nile was dancing, and perceiving Tarzan's European clothes and sending a generous gratuity, she threw her silk and handkerchief upon his shoulder to be rewarded with a frank. When her place upon the floor had been taken by another, the bright-eyed Abdul saw her in conversation with two A-Rabs at the far side of the room, near a side door that led upon an inner court, around the gallery of which were the rooms occupied by the girls who danced in this café. At first he thought nothing of the matter, but presently he noticed from the corner of his eye one of the men nod in their direction, and the girls turn and shoot a furtive glance at Tarzan. Then the A-Rabs melted through the doorway into the darkness of the court. When it came again the girls' turn to dance, she hovered close to Tarzan, and for the eight-man alone were her sweetest smiles. Many an ugly scowl was cast upon the tall European by swarthy, dark-eyed sons of the desert, but neither smiles nor scowls produced any outwardly visible effect upon him. Again the girl cast her handkerchief upon his shoulder, and again was she rewarded with a frank piece. As she was sticking it upon her forehead, after the custom of her kind, she bent low toward Tarzan, whispering a quick word in his ear. There are two without in the court, she said quickly in broken French, who would harm mature. At first I promised to lure you to them, but you have been kind, and I cannot do it. Go quickly before they find that I have failed them. I think that they are very bad men. Tarzan thanked the girl, assuring her that he would be careful, and, having finished her dance, she crossed to the little doorway and went out into the court, but Tarzan did not leave the café as she had urged. For another half-hour nothing unusual occurred. Then a surly-looking Arab entered the café from the street. He stood near Tarzan, where he deliberately made insulting remarks about the European, but, as they were in his native tongue, Tarzan was entirely innocent of their purport, until Abdul took it upon himself to enlighten him. This fellow is looking for trouble, warned Abdul. He is not alone. In fact, in case of a disturbance, nearly every man here would be against you. It would be better to leave quietly, master. Ask the fellow what he wants, commanded Tarzan. He says that the dog of a Christian insulted the uled Nile, who belongs to him. He means trouble, monsieur. Tell him that I did not insult his or any other uled Nile, that I wish him to go away and leave me alone, that I have no quarrel with him, or has he any with me. He says, replied Abdul, after delivering this message to the Arab, that besides being a dog yourself that you are the son of one, and that your grandmother was a hyena, incidentally you are a liar. The attention of those nearby had now been attracted by the altercation, and the sneering laughs that followed this torrent of invective easily indicated the trend of the sympathies of the majority of the audience. Tarzan did not like being laughed at, neither did he relish the terms applied to him by the Arab, but he showed no sign of anger as he arose from his seat upon the bench, a half smile played about his lips. But of a sudden a mighty fist shot into the face of the scowling Arab, and back of it were the terrible muscles of the eight man. At the instant that the man fell, a half-dozen fierce planesmen sprang into the room from where they had apparently been waiting for their cue in the street before the cafe, with cries of kill the unbeliever, and down with the dog of a Christian, they made straight for Tarzan, and number of the younger Arabs in the audience sprang to their feet to join in the assault upon the unarmed white man. Tarzan and Abdul were rushed back toward the end of the room by the very force of numbers opposing them. The young Arab remained loyal to his master, and with draw knife fought at his side, with tremendous blows the eight man felled all who came within reach of his powerful hands. He fought quietly and without a word. Upon his lips the same half-smile they had worn as he rose to strike down the man who had insulted him. It seemed impossible that either he or Abdul could survive the sea of wicked-looking swords and knives that surrounded them, but the very numbers of their assailants proved the best bulwark of their safety. So closely packed was the howling cursing mob that no weapon could be wielded to advantage and none of the Arabs dared use a firearm for fear of wounding one of his compatriots. Finally Tarzan succeeded in seizing one of the most persistent of his attackers. With a quick wrench he disarmed the fellow, and then holding him before them as a shield he backed slowly beside Abdul toward the little door which led into the inner courtyard. At the threshold he paused for an instant, and lifting the struggling Arab above his head hurled him as though from a catapult full in the faces of his on-pressing fellows. Then Tarzan and Abdul stepped into the semi-darkness of the court. The frightened Ooled Niles were crouching at the tops of the stairs which led to their respective rooms, the only light in the courtyard coming from the sickly candles which each girl had stuck with its own grease to the woodwork of her door frame, the better to display her charms to those who might happen to traverse the dark enclosure. Scarcely had Tarzan and Abdul emerge from the room, ere a revolver spoke close at their backs from the shadows beneath one of the stairways, and as they turned to meet this new antagonist, two muffled figures sprang toward them, firing as they came. Tarzan leaped to meet these two new assailants, the foremost lay, a second later in the trampled dirt of the court, disarmed and groaning from a broken wrist. Abdul's knife found the vitals of the second in the instant that the fellow's revolver misfired as he held it to the faithful Arab's forehead. The madden horde within the cafe were now rushing out in pursuit of their quarry. The Ooled Niles had extinguished their candles at a cry from one of their number, and the only light within the yard came feebly from the open and half-blocked door of the cafe. Tarzan had seized a sword from the man who had fallen before Abdul's knife, and now he stood waiting for the rush of men that was coming in search of them through the darkness. Suddenly he fell a light hand upon his shoulder from behind, and a woman's voice whispering, Quick me sure, this way, follow me. Come, Abdul, said Tarzan in a low tone to the youth, we can be no worse off elsewhere than we are here. The woman turned and led them up the narrow stairway that ended at the door of her quarters. Tarzan was close beside her. He saw the gold and silver bracelets upon her bare arms, the strings of gold coin that depended from her hair ornaments, and the gorgeous colors of her dress. He saw that she was an Ooled Nile, and instinctively he knew that she was the same who had whispered the warning in his ear earlier in the evening. As they reached the top of the stairs they could hear the angry crowd searching the yard beneath. Soon they will be here, whispered the girl. They must not find you, for though you fight with the strength of many men, they will kill you in the end. Hayson, you can drop from the farther window of my room to the street beyond, before they discover that you are no longer in the court of the buildings, you will be safe within the hotel. But even as she spoke several men had started up the stairway at the head of which they stood. There was a sudden cry from one of the searchers. They had been discovered. Quickly the crowd rushed for the stairway. The foremost assailant leaped quickly upward, but at the top he met the sudden sword that he had not expected. The quarry had been unarmed before. With a cry the man toppled back upon those behind him. Like ten pins they rolled down the stairs. The ancient and rickety structure could not withstand the strain of this unwanted weight and jarring. With a creaking and rending of breaking wood it collapsed beneath the air-abs, leaving Tarzan, Abdul, and the girl, alone upon the frail platform at the top. Come, cried the ooled Nile, they will reach us from another stairway through the room next to mine. We have not a moment to spare. Just as they were entering the room, Abdul heard and translated a cry from the yard below for several to hasten to the street and cut off escape from that side. We are lost now, said the girl simply. We, questioned Tarzan. Yes, Monsieur, she responded. They will kill me as well. Have I not aided you? This put a different aspect on the matter. Tarzan had rather been enjoying the excitement and danger of the encounter. He had not for an instant supposed that either Abdul or the girl could suffer except through accident, and he had only retreated just enough to keep from being killed himself. He had had no intention of running away until he saw that he was hopelessly lost were he to remain. Alone he could have sprung into the midst of that close-packed mob and laying about him after the fashion of Numa the Lion have struck the air-rabed with such consternation that escape would have been easy. Now he must think entirely of these two faithful friends. He crossed the window which overlooked the street. In a minute there would be enemies below. Already he could hear the mob clamoring the stairway to the next quarters. They would be at the door beside him in another instant. He put a foot upon the sail and leaned out, but he did not look down. Above him, within arm's reach, was the low roof of the building. He called to the girl. She came and stood beside him. He put a great arm about her and lifted her across his shoulder. Wait here until I reach down for you from above, he said to Abdul. In the meantime shove everything in the room against that door. It may delay them long enough. Then he stepped to the cell of the narrow window with the girl upon his shoulders. Hold tight, he cautioned her. A moment later he had clamored to the roof above with the ease and dexterity of an ape. Setting the girl down he leaned far over the roof's edge, calling softly to Abdul. The youth ran to the window. Your hand, Mr. Tarzan, the men in the room beyond were battering at the door. With a sudden crash it fell splintering in and at the same instant Abdul felt himself lifted like a feather onto the roof above. They were not a moment too soon, for as the men broke into the room which they had just quitted, a dozen more rounded the corner in the street below and came running to a spot beneath the girl's window. As the three squatted upon the roof above the quarters of the Ooled Niles they heard the angry cursing of the Arabs in the room beneath. Abdul translated from time to time to Tarzan. They are berating those in the street below now, said Abdul, for permitting us to escape so easily. Those in the street say that we did not come that way, that we are all still within the building, and that those above, being too cowardly to attack us, are attempting to deceive them into believing that we have escaped. In a moment they will have fighting of their own to attempt to, if they continue their brawling. Presently those in the building gave up the search and returned to the cafe. A few remained in the street below, smoking and talking. Tarzan spoke to the girl, thanking her for the sacrifice she had made for him, a total stranger. I liked you, she said simply. You were unlike the others who come to the cafe. You did not speak coarsely to me. The manner in which you gave me money was not an insult. What shall you do after to-night? he asked. You cannot return to the cafe. Can you even remain with safety and sidi-aisa? Tomorrow it will be forgotten, she replied. But I should be glad if it might be that I need never return to this or another cafe. I have not remained because I wished to. I have been a prisoner. A prisoner, ejaculated Tarzan incredulously. A slave would be the better word, she answered. I was stolen in the night from my father's door by a band of marauders. They brought me here and sold me to the Arab who keeps this cafe. It has been nearly two years now since I saw the last of my own people. They are very far to the south. They never come to sidi-aisa. You would like to return to your people? asked Tarzan. Then I shall promise to see you safely so far as Bousaida, at least. There we can doubtless arrange with the commandant to send you the rest of the way. Oh, monsieur, she cried, how can I ever repay you? You cannot really mean that you will do so much for a poor uled Nile. But my father can reward you, and he will, for is he not a great shake? He is Kador Ben-Saden. Kador Ben-Saden, ejaculated Tarzan, why Kador Ben-Saden is in sidi-aisa this very night. He dined with me but a few hours since. My father in sidi-aisa, cried the amazed girl, I'll be praised then, for I am indeed saved. Gosh and Abdul, listen! From below came the sound of voices quite distinguishable upon the still night air. Tarzan could not understand the words, but Abdul and the girl translated. They have gone now, said the latter. It is you they want, monsieur. One of them said that the stranger who had offered money for your slaying lay in the house of At-Med-Din-Sulef with a broken rest, but that he had offered a still greater reward if some would lay and wait for you upon the road to Bous-Eda and kill you. It is he who followed, monsieur, about the market today, exclaimed Abdul. I saw him again within the café, him and another, and the two went out into the inner court after talking with this girl here. It was they who attacked and fired upon us as we came out of the café. Why do they wish to kill you, monsieur? I do not know, replied Tarzan, and then, after a pause, and less. But he did not finish, for the thought that had come to his mind while it seemed the only reasonable solution of the mystery appeared at the same time quite improbable. Presently the men in the street went away. The courtyard and the café were deserted. Cautiously Tarzan lured himself to the sill of the girl's window. The room was empty. He returned to the roof and let Abdul down. Then he lured the girl to the arms of the waiting Arab. From the window Abdul dropped the short distance to the street below, while Tarzan took the girl in his arms and leaped down as he had done on so many other occasions in his own forest with a burden in his arms. A little cry of alarm was startled from the girl's lips, but Tarzan landed in the street with but an imperceptible jar and lured her in safety to her feet. She clung to him for a moment. How strong, monsieur is, and how active, she cried. El-Andreel, the black lion, himself is not more so. I should like to meet this El-Andreel of yours, he said. I have heard much about him. And you come to the duar of my father, you shall see him, said the girl. He lives in a spare of the mountains north of us and comes down from his lair at night to rob my father's duar. With a single blow of his mighty paw he crushes the skull of a bull, and woe betide the belated wayfarer who meets El-Andreel abroad at night. Without further mishap they reach the hotel. The sleepy landlord objected strenuously to instituting a search for Kadur, Ben, Satan, until the following morning. But a piece of gold put a different aspect on the matter, so that a few moments later a servant had started to make the rounds of the lesser native hostelries, where it might be expected that a desert shake would find congenial associations. Tarzan had felt it necessary to find the girl's father that night, for fear he might start on his homeward journey too early in the morning to be intercepted. They had waited, perhaps, half an hour when the messenger returned with Kadur, Ben, Satan. The old shake entered the room with a questioning expression upon his proud face. Mishir hastun me the honour, too. He commenced, and then his eyes fell upon the girl. Without stretched arms he crossed the room to meet her. My daughter, he cried, all love, ease, merciful, and tears dimmed the marshal eyes of the old warrior. When the story of her abduction and her final rescue had been told to Kadur Ben, Satan, he extended his hand to Tarzan. My friend, even to his life, he said very simply. But Tarzan knew that those were no idle words. It was decided that although three of them would have to ride, after practically no sleep, it would be best to make an early start in the morning, and attempt to ride all the way to Buseida in one day. It would have been comparatively easy for the men, but for the girl it was sure to be a fatiguing journey. She, however, was the most anxious to undertake it, for it seemed to her that she could not quickly enough reach the family and friends from whom she had been separated for two years. It seemed to Tarzan that he had not closed his eyes before he was awakened, and in another hour the party was on its way south toward Buseida. For a few miles the road was good, and they made rapid progress, but suddenly it became only a waste of sand into which the horses sank fetlocked deep at nearly every step. In addition to Tarzan, Abdul, the sheikh, and his daughter, were four of the wild plainsmen of the sheikh's tribe who had accompanied him upon the trip to Sidi Isa. Thus, seven guns strong, they entertained little fear of attack by day, and if all went well they should reach Buseida before nightfall. A brisk wind enveloped them in the blowing sand of the desert until Tarzan's lips were parched and cracked. What little he could see of the surrounding country was far from alluring, a vast expanse of rough country, rolling in little barren hillocks, and tufted here and there with clumps of dreary shrub. Far to the south rose the dim lines of the Saran Atlas Range. How different thought Tarzan from the gorgeous Africa of his boyhood. Abdul, always on the alert, looked backward quite as often as he did ahead. At the top of each hillock that they mounted he would draw in his horse and turning scan the country to the rear with utmost care. At last his scrutiny was rewarded. Look! he cried, there are six horsemen behind us. Your friends have last evening, no doubt, M. C. remarked C. Ben Satan, dryly to Tarzan. No doubt, replied the eight man, I am sorry that my society should endanger the safety of your journey. At the next village I shall remain and question these gentlemen while you ride on. There is no necessity for my being at Buseida to-night, unless still why you should not ride in peace. If you stop, we shall stop, said C. Ben Satan, until you are safe with your friends or the enemy has left your trail, we shall remain with you. There is nothing more to say. Tarzan nodded his head. He was a man of few words and possibly it was for this reason as much as any that C. Ben Satan had taken to him, for if there be one thing that an Arab despises it is a talkative man. All the balance of the day Abdul caught glimpses of the horsemen in their rear. They remained always at about the same distance. During the occasional halts for rest and at the longer halt at noon they approached no closer. They are waiting for darkness, said C. Ben Satan, and darkness came before they reached Buseida. The last glimpse that Abdul had of the grim white-robed figures that trailed them, just before dusk, made it impossible to distinguish them. Had made it apparent that they were rapidly closing upon the distance that intervened between them and their intended query. He whispered this fact to Tarzan, for he did not wish to alarm the girl. The eight men drew back beside him. You will ride ahead with the others, Abdul, said Tarzan. This is my quarrel. I shall wait at the next convenient spot and interview these fellows. Then Abdul shall wait at thy side, replied the young Arab, nor would any threats or commands move him from his decision. Very well, then, said Tarzan, here is as good a place as we could wish. Here are rocks at the top of this hillock. We shall remain hidden here and give an account of ourselves to these gentlemen when they appear. They drew in their horses and dismounted. The others, riding ahead, were already out of sight in the darkness. Beyond them shone the lights of Buseida. Tarzan removed his rifle from its boot and loosened his revolver in its holster. He ordered Abdul to withdraw behind the rocks with the horses so that they should be shielded from the enemy's bullets should they fire. The young Arab pretended to do as he was bid, but when he had fastened the two animals securely to a low shrub he crept back to lie on his belly a few paces behind Tarzan. The eight men stood erect in the middle of the road, waiting. Nor did he have longed wait. The sound of galloping horses came suddenly out of the darkness below him, and a moment later he discerned the moving blotches of lighter color against the solid background of the night. Halt! he cried, or we fire! The white figures came to a sudden stop, and for a moment there was silence. Then came the sound of a whispered counsel, and like ghosts the phantom riders dispersed in all directions. Again the desert lay still about him, yet it was an ominous stillness that foreboded evil. Abdul raised himself to one knee. Tarzan cocked his jungle-trained ears, and presently there came to him the sound of horses walking quietly through the sand to the east of him, to the west, to the north and to the south. They had been surrounded. Then a shot came from the direction in which he was looking, a bullet whirred through the air above his head, and he fired at the flash of the enemy's gun. Instantly the soundless waist was torn with the quick staccato of guns upon every hand. Abdul and Tarzan fired only at the flashes. They could not yet see their foreman. Presently it became evident that the attackers were circling their position, drawing closer and closer in as they began to realize the paltry numbers of the party which opposed them. But one came too close, for Tarzan was accustomed to using his eyes in the darkness of the jungle night, than which there is no more utter darkness this side of the grave, and with a cry of pain a saddle was emptied. The odds are evening, Abdul, said Tarzan with a low laugh, but they were still far too one-sided, and when the five remaining horsemen whirled at a signal and charged full upon them it looked as if there would be a sudden ending of the battle. Both Tarzan and Abdul sprang to the shelter of the rocks that they might keep the enemy in front of them. There was a mad clatter of galloping hooves, a volley of shots from both sides, and the A-Rabs withdrew to repeat the maneuver. But there were now only four against the two. For a few moments there came no sound from out of the surrounding blackness. Tarzan could not tell whether the A-Rabs satisfied with their losses, had given up the fight, or were waiting farther along the road to waylay them as they proceeded on toward Bous-Aida. But he was not left long in doubt. For now all from one direction came the sound of a new charge. But scarcely had the first gun spoken, or a dozen shots rang out behind the A-Rabs. There came the wild shouts of a new party to the controversy, and the pounding of the feet of many horses from down the road to Bous-Aida. The A-Rabs did not wait to learn the identity of the on-comers. With a parting volley as they dashed by the position which Tarzan and Abdul were holding, they plunged off along the road towards Sidi Aisa. A moment later Kadur Ben-Saden and his men dashed up. The old shake was much relieved to find that neither Tarzan nor Abdul had received a scratch. Not even had their horses been wounded. They sought out the two men who had fallen before Tarzan's shots, and finding that both were dead left them where they lay. Why did you not tell me that you contemplated ambushing those fellows? asked the shake in a hurt tone. We might have had them all if the seven of us had stopped to meet them. Then it would have been useless to stop it all, replied Tarzan, for had we simply ridden on toward Bous-Aida they would have been upon us presently and all could have been engaged. It was to prevent the transfer of my own quarrel to another's shoulders that Abdul and I stopped off to question them. Then there is your daughter. I could not be the cause of exposing her needlessly to the marksmanship of six men. Kadur Ben-Saden shrugged his shoulders. He did not relish having been cheated out of a fight. The little battles so close to Bous-Aida had drawn out a company of soldiers. Tarzan and his party met them just outside the town. The officer in charge halted them to learn the significance of the shots. A handful of marauders, replied Kadur Ben-Saden. They attacked two of our number who had dropped behind, but when we returned to them the fellow soon dispersed. They left two dead. None of my party was injured. This seemed to satisfy the officer, and after taking the names of the party he marched his men on toward the scene of the skirmish to bring back the dead men for purposes of identification if possible. Two days later Kadur Ben-Saden, with his daughter and followers, rode south through the pass below Bous-Aida bound for their home in the far wilderness. The sheikh had urged Tarzan to accompany him, and the girl had added her in-treaties to those of her father. But though he could not explain it to them, Tarzan's duties loomed particularly large after the happenings of the past few days, so that he could not think of leaving his post for an instant. But he promised to come later if it lay within his power to do so, and they had to content themselves with that assurance. During these two days Tarzan had spent practically all his time with Kadur Ben-Saden and his daughter. He was keenly interested in this race of stern and dignified warriors, and embraced the opportunity which their friendship offered to learn what he could of their lives and customs. He even commenced to acquire the rudiments of their language under the pleasant tutorage of the brown-eyed girl. It was with real regret that he saw them depart, and he sat upon his horse at the opening to the pass, as far as which he had accompanied them, gazing after the little party as long as he could catch a glimpse of them. Here were people after his own heart. Their wild, rough lives, filled with danger and hardship, appealed to this half-savage man, as nothing had appealed to him in the midst of the effeminate civilization of the great cities he had visited. Here was a life that excelled even that of the jungle, for here he might have the society of man, real man, whom he could honor and respect, and yet be near to the wild nature that he loved. In his head revolved an idea that when he had completed his mission he would resign and return to live for the remainder of each life with the tribe of Qador Ben-Satan. Then he turned his horse's head and rode slowly back to Bousa'eda. The front of the hotel, Dupati-e Sahara, where Tarzan stopped in Bousa'eda, is taken up with the bar, two dining rooms and the kitchens. Both of the dining rooms opened directly off the bar, and one of them is reserved for the use of the officers of the garrison. As you stand in the bar room you may look into either of the dining rooms, if you wish. It was to the bar that Tarzan repaired after speeding Qador Ben-Satan and his party on their way. It was yet early in the morning, for Qador Ben-Satan had elected to ride far that day, so that it happened that when Tarzan returned there were guests still at breakfast. As his casual glance wandered into the officer's dining room Tarzan saw something which brought a look of interest to his eyes. Lieutenant Gernois was sitting there, and as Tarzan looked a white-robed A-Rab approach and bending whispered a few words into the lieutenant's ear. Then he passed on out of the building through another door. In itself the thing was nothing, but as the man had stooped to speak to the officer Tarzan had caught sight of something which the accidental parting of the man's bernouse had revealed. He carried his left arm in a sling. On the same day that Qador Ben-Satan rode south the diligence from the north brought Tarzan a letter from Darno, which had been forwarded from C. D. Balabase. It opened the old wound that Tarzan would have been glad to have forgotten. Yet he was not sorry that Darno had written, for one at least of his subjects could never cease to interest the eight-man. Here is the letter. My dear Jean, since last I wrote you I have been across to London on a matter of business. I was there but three days. The very first day I came upon an old friend of yours, quite unexpectedly, in Henrietta Street. Now you never in the world would guess whom. None other than Mr. Samuel T. Philander. But it is true. I can see your look of incredulity. Nor is this all. He insisted that I return to the hotel with him, and there I found the others, Professor Archimedes Q. Porter, Miss Porter, and that enormous black woman Miss Porter's made, as Maralda you will recall. While I was there Clayton came in. They are to be married soon, or rather sooner, for I rather suspect that we shall receive announcements almost any day. On account of his father's death it is to be a very quiet affair, only blood relatives. While I was alone with Mr. Philander the old fellow became rather confidential. Said Miss Porter had already postponed the wedding on three different occasions. He confided that it appeared to him that she was not particularly anxious to marry Clayton at all. But this time it seems that it is quite likely to go through. Of course they all asked after you, but I respected your wishes in the matter of your true origin, and only spoke to them of your present affairs. Miss Porter was especially interested in everything I had to say about you, and asked many questions. I am afraid I took rather unshiverless delight in picturing your desire and resolve to go back eventually to your native jungle. I was sorry afterward, for it did seem to cause her real anguish to contemplate the awful dangers to which you wish to return. And yet, she said, I do not know. There are more unhappy fates than the grim and terrible jungle presents to Mr. Tarzan. At least his conscience will be free from remorse. And there are moments of quiet and restfulness by day and vistas of exquisite beauty. You may find it strange that I should say it, who experience such terrifying experiences in that frightful forest, yet at times I long to return, for I cannot but feel that the happiest moments of my life were spent there. There was an expression of ineffable sadness on her face, as she spoke, and I could not but feel that she knew that I knew her secret, and that this was her way of transmitting to you a last tender message from a heart that might still enshrine your memory, though its possessor belonged to another. Clayton appeared nervous and ill at ease while you were the subject of conversation. He wore a worried and harassed expression, yet he was very kindly in his expressions of interest in you. I wonder if he suspects the truth about you. Tennington came in with Clayton. They are great friends, you know. He is about to set out upon one of his interminable cruises in that yacht of his, and was urging the entire party to accompany him, tried to unveil me unto it, too, his thinking of circumnavigating Africa this time. I told him that his precious toy would take him and some of his friends to the bottom of the ocean one of these days if he didn't get it out of his head that she was a liner or battleship. I returned to Paris day before yesterday, and yesterday I met the Count and Countess Dacudet at the races. They inquired after you. Dacudet really seemed quite fond of you. Doesn't appear to harbor the least ill will. Olga is as beautiful as ever, but a trifle subdued. I imagine that she learned a lesson through her acquaintance with you that will serve her in good stead during the balance of her life. It is fortunate for her and for Dacudet as well that it was you and not another man more sophisticated. Had you really paid court to Olga's heart, I am afraid that there would have been no hope for either of you. She asked me to tell you that Nicholas had left France. She paid him twenty thousand francs to go away and stay. She is congratulating herself that she got rid of him before he tried to carry out a threat. He recently made her that he should kill you at the first opportunity. She said that she should hate to think that her brother's blood was on your hands, for she is very fond of you and made no bones in saying so before the Count. It never for a moment seemed to occur to her that there might be any possibility of any other outcome of a meeting between you and Nicholas. The Count quite agreed with her in that. He added that it would take a regiment of rock-offs to kill you. He has a most healthy respect for your prowess. Have been ordered back to my ship. She sails from Havre in two days under sealed orders. If you will address me in her care, the letters will find me eventually. I shall write you soon as another opportunity presents. Your sincere friend, Paul Darnold. I fear, mused Tarzan half aloud, that Olga has thrown away her twenty thousand francs. He read over that part of Darnold's letter several times in which he had quoted from his conversation with Jane Porter. Tarzan derived a rather pathetic happiness from it, but it was better than no happiness at all. The following three weeks were quite uneventful. On several occasions Tarzan saw the mysterious A-Rab, and once again he had been exchanging words with Lieutenant Girnois. But no amount of espionage nor shadowing by Tarzan revealed the A-Rab's lodgings, the location of which Tarzan was anxious to ascertain. Girnois, never cordial, had kept more than ever aloof from Tarzan since the episode in the dining-room of the hotel at Olmalet. His attitude on the few occasions that they had been thrown together had been distinctly hostile. That he might keep up the appearance of the character he was playing, Tarzan spent considerable time hunting in the vicinity of Bousa Eda. He would spend entire days in the foothills, ostensibly searching for Giselle. But on the few occasions that he came close enough to any of the beautiful little animals to harm them, he invariably allowed them to escape without so much as taking his rifle from its boot. The ape-man could see no sport in slaughtering the most harmless and defenseless of God's creatures for the mere pleasure of killing. In fact, Tarzan had never killed for pleasure, nor to him was there pleasure in killing. It was the joy of righteous battle that he loved, the ecstasy of victory, and the keen and successful hunt for food in which he pitted his skill and craftiness against the skill and craftiness of another. But to come out of a town filled with food, to shoot down a soft-eyed pretty Giselle, ah, that was crueler than the deliberate and cold-blooded murder of a fellow man, Tarzan would have none of it. And so he hunted alone that none might discover the sham that he was practicing. And once, probably because of the fact that he rode alone, he was like to have lost his life. He was riding slowly through a little ravine when a shot sounded close behind him and a bullet passed through the cork helmet he wore. Although he turned at once and galloped rapidly to the top of the ravine, there was no sign of any enemy, nor did he see ought of another human being until he reached Bous Eida. Yes, he soliloquized in recalling the occurrence, Olga has indeed thrown away her twenty thousand francs. That night he was Captain Gerard's guest at a little dinner. Your hunting has not been very fortunate, questioned the officer. No, replied Tarzan. The game here about is timid. Nor do I care particularly about hunting gamebirds or antelope. I think I shall move on farther south and have a try at some of your Algerian lions. Good! exclaimed the Captain. We are marching toward Jelfa on the moral. You shall have company that far, at least. Lieutenant Gernois and I, with a hundred men, are ordered south to patrol a district in which the marauders are giving considerable trouble. Possibly we may have the pleasure of hunting the lion together. What say you? Tarzan was more than pleased, nor did he hesitate to say so. But the Captain would have been astonished had he known the real reason of Tarzan's pleasure. Gernois was sitting opposite the ape-man. He did not seem so pleased with his Captain's invitation. You will find lion hunting more exciting than gazelle shooting, remarked Captain Gerard, and more dangerous. Even gazelle shooting has its dangers, replied Tarzan, especially when one goes alone. I found it so to-day. I also found that while the gazelle is the most timid of animals, it is not the most cowardly. He let his glance rest only casually upon Gernois, after he had spoken, for he did not wish the man to know that he was under suspicion or surveillance, no matter what he might think. The effect of his remark upon him, however, might tend to prove his connection with, or knowledge of, certain recent happenings. Tarzan saw a dull red creep up from beneath Gernois's collar. He was satisfied, and quickly changed the subject. When the column rode south from Bus Aida the next morning, there were half a dozen A-Rabs bringing up the rear. They are not attached to the command, replied Gerard in response to Tarzan's query. They merely accompany us on the road for companionship. Tarzan had learned enough about A-Rabb characters since he had been in Algeria to know that this was no real motive, for the A-Rabb is never overfond of the companionship of strangers, and especially of French soldiers. So his suspicions were aroused, and he decided to keep a sharp eye on the little party that trailed behind the column at a distance of about a quarter of a mile. But they did not come close enough, even during the halts, to enable him to obtain close scrutiny of them. He had long been convinced that there were hired assassins on his trail, nor was he in great doubt, but that Rockoff was at the bottom of the plot. Whether it was to be re-venged for the several occasions in the past that Tarzan had defeated the Russians' purposes and humiliated him, or was in some way connected with his mission in the Genois Affair, he could not determine. If the latter, and it seemed probable since the evidence he had had that Genois suspected him, then he had two rather powerful enemies to contend with, for there would be many opportunities in the wilds of Algeria for which they were bound to dispatch a suspected enemy quietly and without attracting suspicion. After camping at Jelfa for two days the column moved to the southwest, from whence the word had come that the marauders were operating against the tribes whose duars were situated at the foot of the mountains. The little band of Arabs who had accompanied them from Bousa'eda had disappeared suddenly the very night that orders had been given to prepare for the marauders' march from Jelfa. Tarzan made casual inquiries among the men, but none could tell him why they had left or in what direction they had gone. He did not like the looks of it, especially in view of the fact that he had seen Genois in conversation with one of them some half hour after Captain Girard had issued his instructions relative to the new move. Only Genois and Tarzan knew the direction of the proposed march. All the soldiers knew was that they were to be prepared to break camp early the next morning. Tarzan wondered if Genois could have revealed their destination to the Arabs. Late that afternoon they went into camp by a little oasis in which was the duar of a sheikh whose flocks were being stolen and whose herdsmen were being killed. The Arabs came out of their goatskin tents and surrounded the soldiers, asking many questions in the native tongue, for the soldiers were themselves natives. Tarzan, who by this time with the assistance of Abdul, had picked up quite a smattering of Arab, questioned one of the younger men who had accompanied the sheikh while the latter paid his respect to Captain Girard. No, he had seen no party of six horsemen riding from the direction of the Jelfa. There were other oasis scattered about, possibly they had been journeying to one of these. Then there were the marauders in the mountains above. They often rode north to Busu'eda, in small parties, and even as far as Omalay and Buaira. It might indeed have been a few marauders returning to the band from a pleasure trip to one of these cities. Early the next morning Captain Girard split his command in two, giving Lieutenant Genois command of one party while he headed the other. They were to scour the mountains upon opposite sides of the plain, and with which detachment will Missour Tarzan ride, asked the Captain, or maybe it is that Missour does not care to hunt marauders. Oh, I shall be delighted to go, Tarzan hastened to explain. He was wondering what excuse he could make to accompany Girnois. His embarrassment was short-lived and was relieved from a most unexpected source. It was Genois himself who spoke. If my Captain will forego the pleasure of Missour Tarzan's company for this once, I shall esteem it in honour indeed to have Missour ride with me today, he said, nor was his tone lacking in cordiality. In fact, Tarzan imagined that he had overdone it at trifle, but even so he was both astounded and pleased, hastening to express his delight at the arrangement. And so it was that Lieutenant Genois and Tarzan rode off side by side, at the head of the little detachment of Spahy. Genois' cordiality was short-lived. No sooner had they ridden out of sight of Captain Girard and his men than elapsed once more into his accustomed taciturnity. As they advanced the ground became rougher. Steadily it ascended toward the mountains into which they filed through a narrow canyon close to noon. By the side of a little rivulet, Genois called the midday halt. Here the men prepared and ate their frugal meal and refilled their canteens. After an hour's rest they advanced again along the canyon until they presently came to a little valley from which several rocky gorges diverged. Here they halted, while Genois minutely examined the surrounding heights from the center of the Depression. We shall separate here, he said, several riding into each of these gorges. And then he commenced to detail his various squads and issue instructions to the non-commissioned officers who were to command them. When he had done he turned to Tarzan. Matured we'll be so good as to remain here until we return. Tarzan demurred, but the officer cut him short. There may be fighting for one of these sections, he said, and troops cannot be embarrassed by civilian non-combatants during action. But my dear Lieutenant, expostulated Tarzan, I am most ready and willing to place myself under command of yourself, or any of your sergeants or corporals, and to fight in the ranks as they direct. It is what I came for. I should be glad to think so, retorted Genois with a sneer he made no attempt to disguise. Then shortly you are under my orders, and they are that you remain here until we return. Let that end the matter. And he turned and spurred away at the head of his man. A moment later Tarzan found himself alone in the midst of a desolate mountain fastness. The sun was hot, so he sought the shelter of a nearby tree where he tethered his horse and sat down upon the ground to smoke. Inwardly he swore at Genois for the trick he had played upon him. A mean little revenge thought Tarzan, and then suddenly it occurred to him that the man would not be such a fool as to antagonize him through a trivial annoyance of so petty a description. There must be something deeper than this behind it. With the thought he arose and removed his rifle from its boot. He looked to its loads and saw that the magazine was full. Then he inspected his revolver. After this preliminary precaution he scanned the surrounding heights in the mouths of the several gorges. He was determined that he should not be caught napping. The sun sank lower and lower, yet there was no sign of returning spahee. At last the valley was submerged in shadow. Tarzan was too proud to go back to camp until he had given the detachment ample time to return to the valley, which he thought was to have been their rendezvous. With the closing end of night he felt safer from attack, for he was at home in the dark. He knew that none might approach him so cautiously as to allude those alert and sensitive ears of his. Then there were his eyes too, for he could see well at night. And his nose, if they came toward him from upwind, would apprise him of the approach of an enemy while they were still a great way off. So he felt that he was in little danger, and thus lulled to a sense of security he fell asleep with his back against the tree. He must have slept for several hours, for when he was suddenly awakened by the frightened snorting and plunging of his horse the moon was shining full upon the little valley, and there not ten paces before him stood the grim cause of the terror of his mount, superb, majestic, his graceful tail extended in quivering, and his two eyes of fire riveted full upon his prey stood Numa El Adria, the black lion. A little thrill of joy tingled through Tarzan's nerves. It was like meeting an old friend after years of separation. For a moment he sat rigid to enjoy the magnificent spectacle of this lord of the wilderness. But now Numa was crouching for the spring. Very slowly Tarzan raised his gun to his shoulder. He had never killed a large animal with a gun in all his life. Hereafter he had depended upon his spear, his poisoned arrows, his rope, his knife, or his bare hands. Instinctively he wished that he had his arrows and his knife. He would have felt sureer with them. Numa was lying quite flat upon the ground now, presenting only his head. Tarzan would have preferred to fire a little from one side, for he knew what terrific damage the lion could do if he lived two minutes or even a minute after he was hit. The horse stood trembling in terror at Tarzan's back. The eight men took a cautious step to one side. Numa but followed him with his eyes. Another step he took, and then another. Numa had not moved. Now he could aim at a point between the eye and the ear. His finger tightened upon the trigger, and as he fired Numa sprang, at the same instant the terrified horse made a last frantic effort to escape, the tether parted, and he went careening down the canyon toward the desert. No ordinary man could have escaped those frightful claws when Numa sprang from so short a distance, but Tarzan was no ordinary man. From earliest childhood his muscles had been trained by the fierce exigencies of his existence to act with the rapidity of thought. As quick as was El Adria Tarzan of the apes was quicker, and so the great beast crashed against a tree where he had expected to feel the soft flesh of man, while Tarzan, a couple of paces to the right, pumped another bullet into him that brought him clawing and roaring to his side. Twice more Tarzan fired in quick succession, and then El Adria lay still and roared no more. It was no longer Monsieur Tarzan. It was Tarzan of the apes that put a savage foot upon the body of his savage kill, and raising his face to the full moon lifted his mighty voice in the weird and terrible challenge of his kind. A bull ape had made his kill. And the wild things in the wild mountain stopped in their hunting and trembled at this new and awful voice. While down in the desert the children of the wilderness came out of their goat skin tents and looked toward the mountains, wondering what new and savage scourge had come to devastate their flocks. A half-mile from the valley in which Tarzan stood a score of white-robed figures bearing long wicked-looking guns halted at the sound and looked at one another with questioning eyes. But presently, as it was not repeated, they took up their silent, stealthy way toward the valley. Tarzan was now confident that Genois had no intention of returning for him, but he could not fathom the object that had prompted the officer to desert him yet leave him free to return to camp. His horse gone he decided that it would be foolish to remain longer in the mountains, so he set out toward the desert. He had scarcely entered the confines of the canyon when the first of the white-robed figures emerged into the valley upon the opposite side. For a moment they scanned the little depression from behind sheltering boulders, but when they had satisfied themselves that it was empty, they advanced across it. Beneath the tree, at one side, they came upon the body of Aladria, with muttered exclamations they crowded about it. Then a moment later they hurried down the canyon which Tarzan was threading a brief distance in advance of them. They moved cautiously and in silence, taking advantage of shelter as men do who are stalking man. As Tarzan walked down the wild canyon beneath the brilliant African moon, the call of the jungle was strong upon him. The solitude and savage freedom filled his heart with life and buoyancy. Again he was Tarzan of the apes. Every sense alert against the chance of surprise by some jungle enemy, yet treading lightly and with head erect in proud consciousness of his might. The nocturnal sounds of the mountains were new to him, yet they fell upon his ears like the soft voice of a half-forgotten love. Many he intuitively sensed. Ah, there was one that was familiar indeed, the distant coughing of Sheeta the Leopard. But there was a strange note in the final whale which made him doubt. It was a panther, he heard. Presently a new sound, a soft, stealthy sound, obtruded itself among the others. No human ears other than the ape-mans would have detected it. At first he did not translate it, but finally he realized that it came from the bare feet of a number of human beings. They were behind him and they were coming toward him quietly. He was being stalked. In a flash he knew why he had been left in that little valley by Genois. But there had been a hitch in the arrangements. The men had come too late. Closer and closer came the footsteps. Tarzan halted and faced them, his rifle ready in his hand. Now he caught a fleeting glimpse of a white bernouse. He called aloud in French, asking what they would of him. His reply was the flash of a long gun, and with the sound of the shot Tarzan of the Apes plunged forward upon his face. The A-Rabs did not rush out immediately. Instead they waited to be sure that their victim did not rise. Then they came rapidly from their concealment and bent over him. It was soon apparent that he was not dead. One of the men put the muzzle of his gun to the back of Tarzan's head to finish him, but another waved him aside. If we bring him alive, they reward us to be greater, explained the latter. So they bound his hands and feet and picking him up placed him on the shoulders of four of their number. Then the march was resumed toward the desert. When they had come out of the mountains they turned toward the south and about daylight came to the spot where their horses stood in care of two of their number. From here on their progress was more rapid. Tarzan, who had regained consciousness, was tied to a spare horse which they evidently had brought for the purpose. His wound was but a slight scratch which had furrowed the flesh across his temple. It had stopped bleeding, but the dried and clotted blood smeared his face and clothing. He had said no words since he had fallen into the hands of these Arabs, nor had they addressed him other than to issue a few brief commands to him when the horses had been reached. For six hours they rode rapidly across the burning desert, avoiding the Oasis near which their way led. About noon they came to a duar of about twenty-tenths. Here they halted, and as one of the Arabs was releasing the alfagrass ropes which bound him to his mount they were surrounded by a mob of men, women, and children. Many of the tribe and more especially the women appeared to take delight in heaping insults upon the prisoner, and some had even gone so far as to throw stones at him and strike him with sticks, when an old shake appeared and drove them away. Ali ben Ahmed tells me, he said, that these men settled on in the mountains and slew El Adria. What the besness of this stranger who sent us after him may be, I know not, and what he may do with these men when we turn him over to him, I care not, but the prisoner is a brave man, and while he is in our hands he shall be treated with the respect that be do one who hunts the Lord with the large head alone and by night, and slays him. Tarzan had heard of the respect in which Arabs held a lion-killer, and he was not sorry that chance had played into his hands thus favorably to relieve him of the petty tortures of the tribe. Shortly after this he was taken to a goat-skin tent upon the upper side of the duar, there he was fed, and then securely bound was left lying on a piece of native carpet alone in the tent. He could see a guard sitting before the door of his frail prison, but when he attempted to force the stout bonds that held him he realized that any extra precaution on the part of his captors was quite unnecessary. Not even his giant muscles could part those numerous strands. Just before dusk several men approached the tent where he lay and entered it. All were in a rabbed dress, but presently one of the number advanced to Tarzan's side, and as he let the folds of cloth that had hidden the lower half of his face fall away the eight men saw the malevolent features of Nicholas Rockoff. There was a nasty smile on the bearded lips. Ah, Mr. Tarzan, he said, this is indeed a pleasure, but why do you not rise and greet your guest? Then with an ugly oath, get up, you dog. And drawing back his booted foot he kicked Tarzan heavily in the side. And here is another, and another, and another. He continued as he kicked Tarzan about the face and side. One for each of the injuries you have done me. The eight men made no reply. He did not even deign to look upon the Russian again after the first glance of recognition. Finally the shake who had been standing amute and frowning witness of the cowardly attack intervened. Stop, he commanded. Kill him if you will, but I will see no brave man subjected to such indignities in my presence. I have half a mind to turn him loose that I may see how long you would kick him then. This threat put a sudden end to Rockoff's brutality, for he had no craving to see Tarzan loose from his bonds while he was within reach of those powerful hands. Very well, he replied to the Arab, I shall kill him presently. Not within the precincts of my duar, returned the shake. When he leaves here he leaves alive. What you do with him in the desert is none of my concern. But I shall not have the blood of a Frenchman on the hands of my tribe on account of another man's quarrel. They would send soldiers here and kill many of my people and burn our tents and drive away our flocks. As you say, growled Rockoff, I'll take him out into the desert below the duar and dispatch him. You will take him a day's ride from my country, said the shake firmly, and some of my children shall follow you to see that you do not disobey me, otherwise there may be two dead Frenchmen in the desert. Rockoff shrugged, then I shall have to wait until tomorrow, it is already dark. As you will, said the shake, but by an hour after dawn you must be gone from my duar. I have little liking for unbelievers and none at all for a coward. Rockoff would have made some kind of retort, but he checked himself, for he realized that it would require but little excuse for the old man to turn upon him. Together they left the tent. At the door Rockoff could not resist the temptation to turn and fling a parting taunt at Tarzan. Sleep well, monsieur, he said, and do not forget to pray well, for when you die to-morrow it will be in such agony that you will be unable to pray for blaspheming. No one had bothered to bring Tarzan either food or water since noon, and consequently he suffered considerably from thirst. He wondered if it would be worthwhile to ask his guard for water, but after making two or three requests without receiving any response he decided that it would not. Far up in the mountains he heard a lion roar, how much safer one was he soliloquized in the haunts of wild beasts than in the haunts of men. Never in all his jungle life had he been more relentlessly tracked down than in the past few months of his experience among civilized men. Never had he been any nearer death. Again the lion roared. It sounded a little nearer. Tarzan felt the old wild impulse to reply with the challenge of his kind. His kind? He had almost forgotten that he was a man and not an ape. He tugged at his bonds. If he could but get them near those strong teeth of his. He felt a wild wave of madness sweep over him as his efforts to regain his liberty met with failure. Numa was roaring almost continually now. It was quite evident that he was coming down into the desert to hunt. It was the roar of a hungry lion. Tarzan envied him, for he was free. No one would tie him with ropes and slaughter him like a sheep. It was that which galled the ape man. He did not fear to die, no. It was the humiliation of defeat before death without even a chance to battle for his life. It must be near midnight, thought Tarzan. He had several hours to live. Possibly he would yet find a way to take Rockoff with him on the long journey. He could hear the savage lord of the desert quite close by now. Possibly he sought his meat from among the penned animals within the Duar. For a long time silence reigned. Then Tarzan's trained ears caught the sound of a stealthily moving body. It came from the side of the tent nearest the mountains, the back. Nearer and nearer it came. He waited, listening intently, for it to pass. For a time there was silence without, such a terrible silence that Tarzan was surprised that he did not hear the breathing of the animal he felt sure must be crouching close to the back wall of his tent. There! It is moving again. Closer it creeps. Tarzan turns his head in the direction of the sound. It is very dark within the tent. Slowly the back of the tent rises from the ground, forced up by the head and shoulders of a body that looks all black in the semi-darkness. Beyond is a faint glimpse of the dimly starlit desert. A grim smile plays upon Tarzan's lips. At least Rockoff will be cheated. How mad he will be! And death will be more merciful than he could have hoped for at the hands of the Russian. Now the back of the tent drops into place, and all his darkness again, whatever it is, is inside the tent with him. He hears it creeping close to him. Now it is beside him. He closes his eyes and waits for the mighty paw. Upon his upturned face falls the gentle touch of a soft hand, groping in the dark, and then a girl's voice in a scarcely audible whisper pronounces his name. Yes, it is I, he whispers in reply, but in the name of heaven who were you? The ooled nail of C. C. Issa, came the answer. While she spoke Tarzan could feel her working about his bonds. Occasionally the cold steel of a knife touched his flesh. A moment later he was free. She whispered. On hands and knees he followed her out of the tent by the way she had come. She continued crawling thus flat to the ground until she reached a little patch of shrub. There she halted until he gained her side. For a moment he looked at her before he spoke. I cannot understand, he said at last. Why are you here? How did you know that I was a prisoner in that tent? How does it happen that it is you who has saved me? She smiled. I have come a long way to night, she said, and we have a long way to go before we shall be out of danger. Come, I shall tell you all about it as we go. Together they rose and set off across the desert in the direction of the mountains. I was not quite sure that I should ever reach you, she said at last. El Adria is abroad tonight, and after I left the horses I think he winded me and was following I was terribly frightened. What a brave girl, he said, and you ran all that brisk for a stranger, an alien, an unbeliever. She drew herself up very proudly. I am the daughter of the Sheikh Qibor Ben-Saden, she answered. I should be no fit daughter of his if I would not risk my life to save that of the man who saved mine while he yet thought that I was but a common Ooled Nile. Nevertheless, he insisted, you are a very brave girl, but how did you know that I was a prisoner back there? Ahmed Din Tayyub, who is my cousin on my father's side, was visiting some friends who belonged to the tribe that captured you. He was at the door when you were brought in. When he reached home he was telling us about the big Frenchman who had been captured by Ali Ben Ahmed for another Frenchman who wished to kid him. From the description I knew that it must be you. My father was away. I tried to persuade some of the men to come and save you, but they would not do it, saying, let the unbelievers kill one another if they wish. It is none of our affair, and if we go and interfere with Ali Ben Ahmed's plans we shall only stir up a fight with our own people. So when it was dark I came alone, riding one horse and leading another for you. They are tethered not far from here. By morning we shall be within my father's duar. He should be there himself by now. Then let them come and try to take Adour Ben Sadon's friend. For a few moments they walked on in silence. We should be near the horses, she said. It is strange that I do not see them here. Then a moment later she stopped with a little cry of consternation. They are gone, she exclaimed. It is here that I tethered them, Tarzan stooped to examine the ground. He found that a large shrub had been torn up by the roots. Then he found something else. There was a wry smile on his face as he rose and turned toward the girl. Eladria has been here. From the signs though I rather think that his prey escaped him. With a little start they would be safe enough from him in the open. There was nothing to do but continue on foot. The way led them across as low spur of the mountains, but the girl knew the trail as well as she did her mother's face. They walked in easy swinging strides. Tarzan keeping a hand's breath behind the girl's shoulder that she might set the pace and thus be less fatigued. As they walked they talked, occasionally stopping to listen for sounds of pursuit. It was now a beautiful moonlit night. The air was crisp and invigorating. Behind them lay the interminable vista of the desert dotted here and there with an occasional oasis. The date palms of the little fertile spot they had just left and the circle of goatskin tents stood out in sharp relief against the yellow sand, a phantom paradise upon a phantom sea. Before them rose the grim and silent mountains. Tarzan's blood leaped in his veins. This was life. He looked down upon the girl beside him, a daughter of the desert walking across the face of a dead world with a son of the jungle. He smiled at the thought. He wished that he had had a sister and that she had been like this girl. What a bully chums she would have been. They entered the mountains now and were progressing more slowly for the trail was steeper and very rocky. For a few minutes they had been silent. The girl was wondering if they would reach her father's duar before the pursuit had overtaken them. Tarzan was wishing that they might walk on thus forever. If the girl were only a man they might. He longed for a friend who loved the same wildlife that he loved. He had learned to crave companionship, but it was his misfortune that most of the men he knew preferred immaculate linen and their clubs to nakedness and the jungle. It was, of course, difficult to understand, yet it was very evident that they did. The two had just turned a projecting rock around which the trail ran when they were brought to a sudden stop. There before them directly in the middle of the path stood Numa, El Adria, the black lion. His green eyes looked very wicked and he buried his teeth and lashed his bay black sides with his angry tail. Then he roared the fearsome terror-inspiring roar of the hungry lion which is also angry. Your knife, said Tarzan to the girl, extending his hand. She slipped the hilt of the weapon into his waiting palm. As his fingers closed upon it he drew her back and pushed her behind him. Walk back to the desert as rapidly as you can. If you hear me call, you will know that all is well and you may return. It is useless, she replied resignedly. This is the end. Do as I tell you, he commanded. Quickly he is about to charge. The girl dropped back a few paces where she stood watching for the terrible sight that she knew she should soon witness. The lion was advancing slowly toward Tarzan, his nose to the ground, like a challenging bull. His tail extended now and quivering as though with intense excitement. The eight man stood half-crouching, the long Arab knife glistening in the moonlight, behind him the tense figure of the girl motionless as a carbon statue. She leaned slightly forward, her lips parted, her eyes wide. Her only conscious thought was wonder at the bravery of the man who dared face with a puny knife, the Lord with the large head. A man of her own blood would have knelt in prayer and gone down beneath those awful fangs without resistance. In either case the result would be the same. It was inevitable, but she could not repress a thrill of admiration as her eyes rested upon the heroic figure before her. Not a tremor in the whole giant frame, his attitude as menacing and defiant as that of El Adria himself. The lion was quite close to him now, but a few paces intervened, he crouched, and then with a deafening roar he sprang.