第5章

Tarzan’smindreturnedtotheaffairsofthemoment。

Heknewthathewasabouttodie，buttherewasnofearofdeathinhim。Toadenizenofthecrueljungledeathisacommonplace。Thefirstlawofnaturecompelsthemtoclingtenaciouslytolife——tofightforit;butitdoesnotteachthemtofeardeath。

D’ArnotandTarzanwerefirstuponthefieldofhonor。A

momentlaterDeCoude，MonsieurFlaubert，andathirdgentlemanarrived。ThelastwasintroducedtoD’ArnotandTarzan;hewasaphysician。

D’ArnotandMonsieurFlaubertspoketogetherinwhispersforabrieftime。TheCountdeCoudeandTarzanstoodapartatoppositesidesofthefield。Presentlythesecondssummonedthem。D’ArnotandMonsieurFlauberthadexaminedbothpistols。ThetwomenwhoweretofaceeachotheramomentlaterstoodsilentlywhileMonsieurFlaubertrecitedtheconditionstheyweretoobserve。

Theyweretostandbacktoback。AtasignalfromMonsieurFlauberttheyweretowalkinoppositedirections，theirpistolshangingbytheirsides。WheneachhadproceededtenpacesD’Arnotwastogivethefinalsignal——thentheyweretoturnandfireatwilluntilonefell，oreachhadexpendedthethreeshotsallowed。

WhileMonsieurFlaubertspokeTarzanselectedacigarettefromhiscase，andlightedit。DeCoudewasthepersonificationofcoolness——washenotthebestshotinFrance？

PresentlyMonsieurFlaubertnoddedtoD’Arnot，andeachmanplacedhisprincipalinposition。

"Areyouquiteready，gentlemen？"askedMonsieurFlaubert。

"Quite，"repliedDeCoude。

Tarzannodded。MonsieurFlaubertgavethesignal。HeandD’Arnotsteppedbackafewpacestobeoutofthelineoffireasthemenpacedslowlyapart。Six！Seven！Eight！

ThereweretearsinD’Arnot’seyes。HelovedTarzanverymuch。

Nine！Anotherpace，andthepoorlieutenantgavethesignalhesohatedtogive。Tohimitsoundedthedoomofhisbestfriend。

QuicklyDeCoudewheeledandfired。Tarzangavealittlestart。

Hispistolstilldangledathisside。DeCoudehesitated，asthoughwaitingtoseehisantagonistcrumpletotheground。

TheFrenchmanwastooexperiencedamarksmannottoknowthathehadscoredahit。StillTarzanmadenomovetoraisehispistol。

DeCoudefiredoncemore，buttheattitudeoftheape—man——theutterindifferencethatwassoapparentineverylineofthenonchalanteaseofhisgiantfigure，andtheevenunruffledpuffingofhiscigarette——haddisconcertedthebestmarksmaninFrance。ThistimeTarzandidnotstart，butagainDeCoudeknewthathehadhit。

Suddenlytheexplanationleapedtohismind——hisantagonistwascoollytakingtheseterriblechancesinthehopethathewouldreceivenostaggeringwoundfromanyofDeCoude’sthreeshots。ThenhewouldtakehisowntimeaboutshootingDeCoudedowndeliberately，coolly，andincoldblood。AlittleshiverranuptheFrenchman’sspine。

Itwasfiendish——diabolical。Whatmannerofcreaturewasthisthatcouldstandcomplacentlywithtwobulletsinhim，waitingforthethird？

AndsoDeCoudetookcarefulaimthistime，buthisnervewasgone，andhemadeacleanmiss。NotoncehadTarzanraisedhispistolhandfromwhereithungbesidehisleg。

Foramomentthetwostoodlookingstraightintoeachother’seyes。OnTarzan’sfacewasapatheticexpressionofdisappointment。OnDeCoude’sarapidlygrowingexpressionofhorror——yes，ofterror。

Hecouldendureitnolonger。

"MotherofGod！Monsieur——shoot！"hescreamed。

ButTarzandidnotraisehispistol。Instead，headvancedtowardDeCoude，andwhenD’ArnotandMonsieurFlaubert，misinterpretinghisintention，wouldhaverushedbetweenthem，heraisedhislefthandinasignofremonstrance。

"Donotfear，"hesaidtothem，"Ishallnotharmhim。"

Itwasmostunusual，buttheyhalted。TarzanadvanceduntilhewasquiteclosetoDeCoude。

"Theremusthavebeensomethingwrongwithmonsieur’spistol，"hesaid。"Ormonsieurisunstrung。Takemine，monsieur，andtryagain，"andTarzanofferedhispistol，buttforemost，totheastonishedDeCoude。

"MONDIEU，monsieur！"criedthelatter。"Areyoumad？"

"No，myfriend，"repliedtheape—man;"butIdeservetodie。

ItistheonlywayinwhichImayatoneforthewrongIhavedoneaverygoodwoman。TakemypistolanddoasIbid。"

"Itwouldbemurder，"repliedDeCoude。"Butwhatwrongdidyoudomywife？Shesworetomethat——"

"Idonotmeanthat，"saidTarzanquickly。"Yousawallthewrongthatpassedbetweenus。Butthatwasenoughtocastashadowuponhername，andtoruinthehappinessofamanagainstwhomIhadnoenmity。Thefaultwasallmine，andsoIhopedtodieforitthismorning。IamdisappointedthatmonsieurisnotsowonderfulamarksmanasIhadbeenledtobelieve。"

"Yousaythatthefaultwasallyours？"askedDeCoudeeagerly。

"Allmine，monsieur。Yourwifeisaverypurewoman。

Shelovesonlyyou。Thefaultthatyousawwasallmine。

ThethingthatbroughtmetherewasnofaultofeithertheCountessdeCoudeormyself。Hereisapaperwhichwillquitepositivelydemonstratethat，"andTarzandrewfromhispocketthestatementRokoffhadwrittenandsigned。

DeCoudetookitandread。D’ArnotandMonsieurFlauberthaddrawnnear。Theywereinterestedspectatorsofthisstrangeendingofastrangeduel。NonespokeuntilDeCoudehadquitefinished，thenhelookedupatTarzan。

"Youareaverybraveandchivalrousgentleman，"hesaid。

"IthankGodthatIdidnotkillyou。"

DeCoudewasaFrenchman。Frenchmenareimpulsive。HethrewhisarmsaboutTarzanandembracedhim。MonsieurFlaubertembracedD’Arnot。Therewasnoonetoembracethedoctor。

Sopossiblyitwaspiquewhichpromptedhimtointerfere，anddemandthathebepermittedtodressTarzan’swounds。

"Thisgentlemanwashitonceatleast，"hesaid。"Possiblythrice。"

"Twice，"saidTarzan。"Onceintheleftshoulder，andagainintheleftside——bothfleshwounds，Ithink。"Butthedoctorinsisteduponstretchinghimuponthesward，andtinkeringwithhimuntilthewoundswerecleansedandtheflowofbloodchecked。

OneresultoftheduelwasthattheyallrodebacktoParistogetherinD’Arnot’scar，thebestoffriends。DeCoudewassorelievedtohavehadthisdoubleassuranceofhiswife’sloyaltythathefeltnorancoratalltowardTarzan。

Itistruethatthelatterhadassumedmuchmoreofthefaultthanwasrightlyhis，butifheliedalittlehemaybeexcused，forheliedintheserviceofawoman，andheliedlikeagentleman。

Theape—manwasconfinedtohisbedforseveraldays。Hefeltthatitwasfoolishandunnecessary，butthedoctorandD’Arnottookthemattersotoheartthathegaveintopleasethem，thoughitmadehimlaughtothinkofit。

"Itisdroll，"hesaidtoD’Arnot。"Tolieabedbecauseofapinprick！Why，whenBolgani，thekinggorilla，toremealmosttopieces，whileIwasstillbutalittleboy，didIhaveanicesoftbedtolieon？No，onlythedamp，rottingvegetationofthejungle。HiddenbeneathsomefriendlybushIlayfordaysandweekswithonlyKalatonurseme——poor，faithfulKala，whokepttheinsectsfrommywoundsandwarnedoffthebeastsofprey。

"WhenIcalledforwatershebroughtittomeinherownmouth——theonlywaysheknewtocarryit。Therewasnosterilizedgauze，therewasnoantisepticbandage——therewasnothingthatwouldnothavedrivenourdeardoctormadtohaveseen。YetIrecovered——recoveredtolieinbedbecauseofatinyscratchthatoneofthejunglefolkwouldscarcerealizeunlessitwereupontheendofhisnose。"

Butthetimewassoonover，andbeforeherealizeditTarzanfoundhimselfabroadagain。SeveraltimesDeCoudehadcalled，andwhenhefoundthatTarzanwasanxiousforemploymentofsomenaturehepromisedtoseewhatcouldbedonetofindaberthforhim。

ItwasthefirstdaythatTarzanwaspermittedtogooutthathereceivedamessagefromDeCouderequestinghimtocallatthecount’sofficethatafternoon。

HefoundDeCoudeawaitinghimwithaverypleasantwelcome，andasincerecongratulationthathewasoncemoreuponhisfeet。Neitherhadevermentionedtheduelorthecauseofitsincethatmorninguponthefieldofhonor。

"IthinkthatIhavefoundjustthethingforyou，MonsieurTarzan，"saidthecount。"Itisapositionofmuchtrustandresponsibility，whichalsorequiresconsiderablyphysicalcourageandprowess。Icannotimagineamanbetterfittedthanyou，mydearMonsieurTarzan，forthisveryposition。Itwillnecessitatetravel，andlateritmayleadtoaverymuchbetterpost——possiblyinthediplomaticservice。

"Atfirst，forashorttimeonly，youwillbeaspecialagentintheserviceoftheministryofwar。Come，Iwilltakeyoutothegentlemanwhowillbeyourchief。HecanexplainthedutiesbetterthanI，andthenyouwillbeinapositiontojudgeifyouwishtoacceptorno。"

DeCoudehimselfescortedTarzantotheofficeofGeneralRochere，thechiefofthebureautowhichTarzanwouldbeattachedifheacceptedtheposition。Therethecountlefthim，afteraglowingdescriptiontothegeneralofthemanyattributespossessedbytheape—manwhichshouldfithimfortheworkoftheservice。

AhalfhourlaterTarzanwalkedoutoftheofficethepossessorofthefirstpositionhehadeverheld。Onthemorrowhewastoreturnforfurtherinstructions，thoughGeneralRocherehadmadeitquiteplainthatTarzanmightpreparetoleaveParisforanalmostindefiniteperiod，possiblyonthemorrow。

ItwaswithfeelingsofthekeenestelationthathehastenedhometobearthegoodnewstoD’Arnot。Atlasthewastobeofsomevalueintheworld。Hewastoearnmoney，and，bestofall，totravelandseetheworld。

HecouldscarcelywaittogetwellinsideD’Arnot’ssittingroombeforeheburstoutwiththegladtidings。D’Arnotwasnotsopleased。

"ItseemstodelightyoutothinkthatyouaretoleaveParis，andthatweshallnotseeeachotherformonths，perhaps。

Tarzan，youareamostungratefulbeast！"andD’Arnotlaughed。

"No，Paul;Iamalittlechild。Ihaveanewtoy，andIamtickledtodeath。"

AndsoitcamethatonthefollowingdayTarzanleftParisenrouteforMarseillesandOran。

Chapter7

TheDancingGirlofSidiAissaTarzan’sfirstmissiondidnotbidfairtobeeitherexcitingorvastlyimportant。TherewasacertainlieutenantofSPAHISwhomthegovernmenthadreasontosuspectofimproperrelationswithagreatEuropeanpower。

ThisLieutenantGernois，whowasatpresentstationedatSidibel—Abbes，hadrecentlybeenattachedtothegeneralstaff，wherecertaininformationofgreatmilitaryvaluehadcomeintohispossessionintheordinaryroutineofhisduties。

Itwasthisinformationwhichthegovernmentsuspectedthegreatpowerwasbarteringforwiththeofficer。

ItwasatmostbutavaguehintdroppedbyacertainnotoriousParisienneinajealousmoodthathadcausedsuspiciontorestuponthelieutenant。Butgeneralstaffsarejealousoftheirsecrets，andtreasonsoseriousathingthatevenahintofitmaynotbesafelyneglected。AndsoitwasthatTarzanhadcometoAlgeriaintheguiseofanAmericanhunterandtravelertokeepacloseeyeuponLieutenantGernois。

HehadlookedforwardwithkeendelighttoagainseeinghisbelovedAfrica，butthisnorthernaspectofitwassodifferentfromhistropicaljunglehomethathemightaswellhavebeenbackinParisforalltheheartthrillsofhomecomingthatheexperienced。AtOranhespentadaywanderingthroughthenarrow，crookedalleysoftheArabquarterenjoyingthestrange，newsights。ThenextdayfoundhimatSidi—bel—Abbes，wherehepresentedhislettersofintroductiontobothcivilandmilitaryauthorities——letterswhichgavenoclewtotherealsignificanceofhismission。

TarzanpossessedasufficientcommandofEnglishtoenablehimtopassamongArabsandFrenchmenasanAmerican，andthatwasallthatwasrequiredofit。WhenhemetanEnglishmanhespokeFrenchinorderthathemightnotbetrayhimself，butoccasionallytalkedinEnglishtoforeignerswhounderstoodthattongue，butcouldnotnotetheslightimperfectionsofaccentandpronunciationthatwerehis。

HerehebecameacquaintedwithmanyoftheFrenchofficers，andsoonbecameafavoriteamongthem。HemetGernois，whomhefoundtobeataciturn，dyspeptic—lookingmanofaboutforty，havinglittleornosocialintercoursewithhisfellows。

Foramonthnothingofmomentoccurred。Gernoisapparentlyhadnovisitors，nordidheonhisoccasionalvisitstothetownholdcommunicationwithanywhomightevenbythewildestflightofimaginationbeconstruedintosecretagentsofaforeignpower。Tarzanwasbeginningtohopethat，afterall，therumormighthavebeenfalse，whensuddenlyGernoiswasorderedtoBouSaadainthePetitSaharafartothesouth。

AcompanyofSPAHISandthreeofficersweretorelieveanothercompanyalreadystationedthere。Fortunatelyoneoftheofficers，CaptainGerard，hadbecomeanexcellentfriendofTarzan’s，andsowhentheape—mansuggestedthatheshouldembracetheopportunityofaccompanyinghimtoBouSaada，whereheexpectedtofindhunting，itcausednottheslightestsuspicion。

AtBouirathedetachmentdetrained，andthebalanceofthejourneywasmadeinthesaddle。AsTarzanwasdickeringatBouiraforamounthecaughtabriefglimpseofamaninEuropeanclotheseyinghimfromthedoorwayofanativecoffeehouse，butasTarzanlookedthemanturnedandenteredthelittle，low—ceilingedmudhut，andbutforahauntingimpressionthattherehadbeensomethingfamiliaraboutthefaceorfigureofthefellow，Tarzangavethematternofurtherthought。

ThemarchtoAumalewasfatiguingtoTarzan，whoseequestrianexperienceshithertohadbeenconfinedtoacourseofridinglessonsinaParisianacademy，andsoitwasthathequicklysoughtthecomfortsofabedintheHotelGrossat，whiletheofficersandtroopstookuptheirquartersatthemilitarypost。

AlthoughTarzanwascalledearlythefollowingmorning，thecompanyofSPAHISwasonthemarchbeforehehadfinishedhisbreakfast。Hewashurryingthroughhismealthatthesoldiersmightnotgettoofarinadvanceofhimwhenheglancedthroughthedoorconnectingthediningroomwiththebar。

Tohissurprise，hesawGernoisstandingthereinconversationwiththeverystrangerhehadseeninthecoffee—

houseatBouirathedayprevious。Hecouldnotbemistaken，fortherewasthesamestrangelyfamiliarattitudeandfigure，thoughtheman’sbackwastowardhim。

Ashiseyeslingeredonthetwo，GernoislookedupandcaughttheintentexpressiononTarzan’sface。Thestrangerwastalkinginalowwhisperatthetime，buttheFrenchofficerimmediatelyinterruptedhim，andthetwoatonceturnedawayandpassedoutoftherangeofTarzan’svision。

ThiswasthefirstsuspiciousoccurrencethatTarzanhadeverwitnessedinconnectionwithGernois’actions，buthewaspositivethatthemenhadleftthebarroomsolelybecauseGernoishadcaughtTarzan’seyesuponthem;thentherewasthepersistentimpressionoffamiliarityaboutthestrangertofurtheraugmenttheape—man’sbeliefthathereatlengthwassomethingwhichwouldbearwatching。

AmomentlaterTarzanenteredthebarroom，butthemenhadleft，nordidheseeaughtoftheminthestreetbeyond，thoughhefoundapretexttoridetovariousshopsbeforehesetoutafterthecolumnwhichhadnowconsiderablestartofhim。

HedidnotovertakethemuntilhereachedSidiAissashortlyafternoon，wherethesoldiershadhaltedforanhour’srest。

HerehefoundGernoiswiththecolumn，buttherewasnosignofthestranger。

ItwasmarketdayatSidiAissa，andthenumberlesscaravansofcamelscominginfromthedesert，andthecrowdsofbickeringArabsinthemarketplace，filledTarzanwithaconsumingdesiretoremainforadaythathemightseemoreofthesesonsofthedesert。ThusitwasthatthecompanyofSPAHISmarchedonthatafternoontowardBouSaadawithouthim。HespentthehoursuntildarkwanderingaboutthemarketincompanywithayouthfulArab，oneAbdul，whohadbeenrecommendedtohimbytheinnkeeperasatrustworthyservantandinterpreter。

HereTarzanpurchasedabettermountthantheonehehadselectedatBouira，and，enteringintoconversationwiththestatelyArabtowhomtheanimalhadbelonged，learnedthatthesellerwasKadourbenSaden，sheikofadeserttribefarsouthofDjelfa。ThroughAbdul，Tarzaninvitedhisnewacquaintancetodinewithhim。Asthethreeweremakingtheirwaythroughthecrowdsofmarketers，camels，donkeys，andhorsesthatfilledthemarketplacewithaconfusingbabelofsounds，AbdulpluckedatTarzan’ssleeve。

"Look，master，behindus，"andheturned，pointingatafigurewhichdisappearedbehindacamelasTarzanturned。

"Hehasbeenfollowingusaboutallafternoon，"continuedAbdul。

"IcaughtonlyaglimpseofanArabinadark—blueburnooseandwhiteturban，"repliedTarzan。"Isitheyoumean？"

"Yes。Isuspectedhimbecauseheseemsastrangerhere，withoutotherbusinessthanfollowingus，whichisnotthewayoftheArabwhoishonest，andalsobecausehekeepsthelowerpartofhisfacehidden，onlyhiseyesshowing。

Hemustbeabadman，orhewouldhavehonestbusinessofhisowntooccupyhistime。"

"Heisonthewrongscentthen，Abdul，"repliedTarzan，"fornooneherecanhaveanygrievanceagainstme。

Thisismyfirstvisittoyourcountry，andnoneknowsme。

Hewillsoondiscoverhiserror，andceasetofollowus。"

"Unlesshebebentonrobbery，"returnedAbdul。

"Thenallwecandoiswaituntilheisreadytotryhishanduponus，"laughedTarzan，"andIwarrantthathewillgethisbellyfulofrobbingnowthatwearepreparedforhim，"andsohedismissedthesubjectfromhismind，thoughhewasdestinedtorecallitbeforemanyhoursthroughamostunlooked—foroccurrence。

KadourbenSaden，havingdinedwell，preparedtotakeleaveofhishost。Withdignifiedprotestationsoffriendship，heinvitedTarzantovisithiminhiswilddomain，wheretheantelope，thestag，theboar，thepanther，andthelionmightstillbefoundinsufficientnumberstotemptanardenthuntsman。

Onhisdeparturetheape—man，withAbdul，wanderedagainintothestreetsofSidiAissa，wherehewassoonattractedbythewilddinofsoundcomingfromtheopendoorwayofoneofthenumerousCAFESMAURES。Itwasaftereight，andthedancingwasinfullswingasTarzanentered。TheroomwasfilledtorepletionwithArabs。Allweresmoking，anddrinkingtheirthick，hotcoffee。

TarzanandAbdulfoundseatsnearthecenteroftheroom，thoughtheterrificnoiseproducedbythemusiciansupontheirArabdrumsandpipeswouldhaverenderedaseatfartherfromthemmoreacceptabletothequiet—lovingape—man。

Arathergood—lookingOuled—Nailwasdancing，and，perceivingTarzan’sEuropeanclothes，andscentingagenerousgratuity，shethrewhersilkenhandkerchiefuponhisshoulder，toberewardedwithafranc。

Whenherplaceuponthefloorhadbeentakenbyanotherthebright—eyedAbdulsawherinconversationwithtwoArabsatthefarsideoftheroom，nearasidedoorthatletuponaninnercourt，aroundthegalleryofwhichweretheroomsoccupiedbythegirlswhodancedinthiscafe。

Atfirsthethoughtnothingofthematter，butpresentlyhenoticedfromthecornerofhiseyeoneofthemennodintheirdirection，andthegirlturnandshootafurtiveglanceatTarzan。ThentheArabsmeltedthroughthedoorwayintothedarknessofthecourt。

Whenitcameagainthegirl’sturntodanceshehoveredclosetoTarzan，andfortheape—manalonewerehersweetestsmiles。ManyanuglyscowlwascastuponthetallEuropeanbyswarthy，dark—eyedsonsofthedesert，butneithersmilesnorscowlsproducedanyoutwardlyvisibleeffectuponhim。

Againthegirlcastherhandkerchiefuponhisshoulder，andagainwassherewardedwithafrancpiece。Asshewasstickingituponherforehead，afterthecustomofherkind，shebentlowtowardTarzan，whisperingaquickwordinhisear。

"Therearetwowithoutinthecourt，"shesaidquickly，inbrokenFrench，"whowouldharmm’sieur。AtfirstIpromisedtolureyoutothem，butyouhavebeenkind，andIcannotdoit。Goquickly，beforetheyfindthatIhavefailedthem。

Ithinkthattheyareverybadmen。"

Tarzanthankedthegirl，assuringherthathewouldbecareful，and，havingfinishedherdance，shecrossedtothelittledoorwayandwentoutintothecourt。ButTarzandidnotleavethecafeasshehadurged。

Foranotherhalfhournothingunusualoccurred，thenasurly—lookingArabenteredthecafefromthestreet。HestoodnearTarzan，wherehedeliberatelymadeinsultingremarksabouttheEuropean，butastheywereinhisnativetongueTarzanwasentirelyinnocentoftheirpurportuntilAbdultookituponhimselftoenlightenhim。

"Thisfellowislookingfortrouble，"warnedAbdul。"Heisnotalone。Infact，incaseofadisturbance，nearlyeverymanherewouldbeagainstyou。Itwouldbebettertoleavequietly，master。"

"Askthefellowwhathewants，"commandedTarzan。

"Hesaysthat`thedogofaChristian’insultedtheOuled—

Nail，whobelongstohim。Hemeanstrouble，m’sieur。"

"TellhimthatIdidnotinsulthisoranyotherOuled—

Nail，thatIwishhimtogoawayandleavemealone。

ThatIhavenoquarrelwithhim，norhasheanywithme。"

"Hesays，"repliedAbdul，afterdeliveringthismessagetotheArab，"thatbesidesbeingadogyourselfthatyouarethesonofone，andthatyourgrandmotherwasahyena。

Incidentallyyouarealiar。"

Theattentionofthosenearbyhadnowbeenattractedbythealtercation，andthesneeringlaughsthatfollowedthistorrentofinvectiveeasilyindicatedthetrendofthesympathiesofthemajorityoftheaudience。

Tarzandidnotlikebeinglaughedat，neitherdidherelishthetermsappliedtohimbytheArab，butheshowednosignofangerashearosefromhisseatuponthebench。

Ahalfsmileplayedabouthislips，butofasuddenamightyfistshotintothefaceofthescowlingArab，andbackofitweretheterriblemusclesoftheape—man。

Attheinstantthatthemanfellahalfdozenfierceplainsmensprangintotheroomfromwheretheyhadapparentlybeenwaitingfortheircueinthestreetbeforethecafe。

Withcriesof"Killtheunbeliever！"and"DownwiththedogofaChristian！"theymadestraightforTarzan。

AnumberoftheyoungerArabsintheaudiencesprangtotheirfeettojoinintheassaultupontheunarmedwhiteman。

TarzanandAbdulwererushedbacktowardtheendoftheroombytheveryforceofnumbersopposingthem。

TheyoungArabremainedloyaltohismaster，andwithdrawnknifefoughtathisside。

Withtremendousblowstheape—manfelledallwhocamewithinreachofhispowerfulhands。Hefoughtquietlyandwithoutaword，uponhislipsthesamehalfsmiletheyhadwornasherosetostrikedownthemanwhohadinsultedhim。

ItseemedimpossiblethateitherheorAbdulcouldsurvivetheseaofwicked—lookingswordsandknivesthatsurroundedthem，buttheverynumbersoftheirassailantsprovedthebestbulwarkoftheirsafety。Socloselypackedwasthehowling，cursingmobthatnoweaponcouldbewieldedtoadvantage，andnoneoftheArabsdareduseafirearmforfearofwoundingoneofhiscompatriots。

FinallyTarzansucceededinseizingoneofthemostpersistentofhisattackers。Withaquickwrenchhedisarmedthefellow，andthen，holdinghimbeforethemasashield，hebackedslowlybesideAbdultowardthelittledoorwhichledintotheinnercourtyard。Atthethresholdhepausedforaninstant，and，liftingthestrugglingArababovehishead，hurledhim，asthoughfromacatapult，fullinthefacesofhison—pressingfellows。

ThenTarzanandAbdulsteppedintothesemidarknessofthecourt。ThefrightenedOuled—Nailswerecrouchingatthetopsofthestairswhichledtotheirrespectiverooms，theonlylightinthecourtyardcomingfromthesicklycandleswhicheachgirlhadstuckwithitsowngreasetothewoodworkofherdoor—frame，thebettertodisplayhercharmstothosewhomighthappentotraversethedarkinclosure。

ScarcelyhadTarzanandAbdulemergedfromtheroomerearevolverspokecloseattheirbacksfromtheshadowsbeneathoneofthestairways，andastheyturnedtomeetthisnewantagonist，twomuffledfiguressprangtowardthem，firingastheycame。Tarzanleapedtomeetthesetwonewassailants。Theforemostlay，asecondlater，inthetrampleddirtofthecourt，disarmedandgroaningfromabrokenwrist。

Abdul’sknifefoundthevitalsofthesecondintheinstantthatthefellow’srevolvermissedfireasheheldittothefaithfulArab’sforehead。

Themaddenedhordewithinthecafewerenowrushingoutinpursuitoftheirquarry。TheOuled—Nailshadextinguishedtheircandlesatacryfromoneoftheirnumber，andtheonlylightwithintheyardcamefeeblyfromtheopenandhalf—blockeddoorofthecafe。TarzanhadseizedaswordfromthemanwhohadfallenbeforeAbdul’sknife，andnowhestoodwaitingfortherushofmenthatwascominginsearchofthemthroughthedarkness。

Suddenlyhefeltalighthanduponhisshoulderfrombehind，andawoman’svoicewhispering，"Quick，m’sieur;thisway。Followme。"

"Come，Abdul，"saidTarzan，inalowtone，totheyouth;

"wecanbenoworseoffelsewherethanwearehere。"

Thewomanturnedandledthemupthenarrowstairwaythatendedatthedoorofherquarters。Tarzanwasclosebesideher。Hesawthegoldandsilverbraceletsuponherbarearms，thestringsofgoldcointhatdependedfromherhairornaments，andthegorgeouscolorsofherdress。HesawthatshewasaOuled—Nail，andinstinctivelyheknewthatshewasthesamewhohadwhisperedthewarninginhisearearlierintheevening。

Astheyreachedthetopofthestairstheycouldheartheangrycrowdsearchingtheyardbeneath。

"Soontheywillsearchhere，"whisperedthegirl。

"Theymustnotfindyou，for，thoughyoufightwiththestrengthofmanymen，theywillkillyouintheend。

Hasten;youcandropfromthefartherwindowofmyroomtothestreetbeyond。Beforetheydiscoverthatyouarenolongerinthecourtofthebuildingsyouwillbesafewithinthehotel。"

Butevenasshespoke，severalmenhadstartedupthestairwayattheheadofwhichtheystood。Therewasasuddencryfromoneofthesearchers。Theyhadbeendiscovered。

Quicklythecrowdrushedforthestairway。Theforemostassailantleapedquicklyupward，butatthetophemetthesuddenswordthathehadnotexpected——thequarryhadbeenunarmedbefore。

Withacry，themantoppledbackuponthosebehindhim。

Liketenpinstheyrolleddownthestairs。Theancientandricketystructurecouldnotwithstandthestrainofthisunwontedweightandjarring。WithacreakingandrendingofbreakingwooditcollapsedbeneaththeArabs，leavingTarzan，Abdul，andthegirlaloneuponthefrailplatformatthetop。

"Come！"criedtheOuled—Nail。"Theywillreachusfromanotherstairwaythroughtheroomnexttomine。Wehavenotamomenttospare。"

JustastheywereenteringtheroomAbdulheardandtranslatedacryfromtheyardbelowforseveraltohastentothestreetandcutoffescapefromthatside。

"Wearelostnow，"saidthegirlsimply。

"We？"questionedTarzan。

"Yes，m’sieur，"sheresponded;"theywillkillmeaswell。

HaveInotaidedyou？"

Thisputadifferentaspectonthematter。Tarzanhadratherbeenenjoyingtheexcitementanddangeroftheencounter。

HehadnotforaninstantsupposedthateitherAbdulorthegirlcouldsufferexceptthroughaccident，andhehadonlyretreatedjustenoughtokeepfrombeingkilledhimself。

Hehadhadnointentionofrunningawayuntilhesawthathewashopelesslylostwerehetoremain。