第6章

Alonehecouldhavesprungintothemidstofthatclose—

packedmob，and，layingabouthimafterthefashionofNuma，thelion，havestrucktheArabswithsuchconsternationthatescapewouldhavebeeneasy。Nowhemustthinkentirelyofthesetwofaithfulfriends。

Hecrossedtothewindowwhichoverlookedthestreet。Inaminutetherewouldbeenemiesbelow。Alreadyhecouldhearthemobclamberingthestairwaytothenextquarters——

theywouldbeatthedoorbesidehiminanotherinstant。

Heputafootuponthesillandleanedout，buthedidnotlookdown。Abovehim，withinarm’sreach，wasthelowroofofthebuilding。Hecalledtothegirl。Shecameandstoodbesidehim。Heputagreatarmaboutherandliftedheracrosshisshoulder。

"WaithereuntilIreachdownforyoufromabove，"hesaidtoAbdul。"Inthemeantimeshoveeverythingintheroomagainstthatdoor——itmaydelaythemlongenough。"

Thenhesteppedtothesillofthenarrowwindowwiththegirluponhisshoulders。"Holdtight，"hecautionedher。

Amomentlaterhehadclamberedtotheroofabovewiththeeaseanddexterityofanape。Settingthegirldown，heleanedfarovertheroof’sedge，callingsoftlytoAbdul。Theyouthrantothewindow。

"Yourhand，"whisperedTarzan。Themenintheroombeyondwerebatteringatthedoor。Withasuddencrashitfellsplinteringin，andatthesameinstantAbdulfelthimselfliftedlikeafeatherontotheroofabove。Theywerenotamomenttoosoon，forasthemenbrokeintotheroomwhichtheyhadjustquittedadozenmoreroundedthecornerinthestreetbelowandcamerunningtoaspotbeneaththegirl’swindow。

Chapter8

TheFightintheDesertAsthethreesquattedupontheroofabovethequartersoftheOuled—NailstheyheardtheangrycursingoftheArabsintheroombeneath。AbdultranslatedfromtimetotimetoTarzan。

"Theyareberatingthoseinthestreetbelownow，"saidAbdul，"forpermittingustoescapesoeasily。Thoseinthestreetsaythatwedidnotcomethatway——thatwearestillwithinthebuilding，andthatthoseabove，beingtoocowardlytoattackus，areattemptingtodeceivethemintobelievingthatwehaveescaped。Inamomenttheywillhavefightingoftheirowntoattendtoiftheycontinuetheirbrawling。"

Presentlythoseinthebuildinggaveupthesearch，andreturnedtothecafe。Afewremainedinthestreetbelow，smokingandtalking。

Tarzanspoketothegirl，thankingherforthesacrificeshehadmadeforhim，atotalstranger。

"Ilikedyou，"shesaidsimply。"Youwereunliketheotherswhocometothecafe。Youdidnotspeakcoarselytome——

themannerinwhichyougavememoneywasnotaninsult。"

"Whatshallyoudoaftertonight？"heasked。"Youcannotreturntothecafe。CanyouevenremainwithsafetyinSidiAissa？"

"Tomorrowitwillbeforgotten，"shereplied。"ButIshouldbegladifitmightbethatIneedneverreturntothisoranothercafe。IhavenotremainedbecauseIwishedto;

Ihavebeenaprisoner。"

"Aprisoner！"ejaculatedTarzanincredulously。

"Aslavewouldbethebetterword，"sheanswered。"Iwasstoleninthenightfrommyfather’sDOUARbyabandofmarauders。

TheybroughtmehereandsoldmetotheArabwhokeepsthiscafe。

IthasbeennearlytwoyearsnowsinceIsawthelastofmineownpeople。Theyareveryfartothesouth。TheynevercometoSidiAissa。"

"Youwouldliketoreturntoyourpeople？"askedTarzan。

"ThenIshallpromisetoseeyousafelysofarasBouSaadaatleast。Therewecandoubtlessarrangewiththecommandanttosendyoutherestoftheway。"

"Oh，m’sieur，"shecried，"howcanIeverrepayyou！YoucannotreallymeanthatyouwilldosomuchforapoorOuled—Nail。Butmyfathercanrewardyou，andhewill，forishenotagreatsheik？HeisKadourbenSaden。"

"KadourbenSaden！"ejaculatedTarzan。"Why，KadourbenSadenisinSidiAissathisverynight。Hedinedwithmebutafewhourssince。"

"MyfatherinSidiAissa？"criedtheamazedgirl。

"Allahbepraisedthen，forIamindeedsaved。"

"Hssh！"cautionedAbdul。"Listen。"

Frombelowcamethesoundofvoices，quitedistinguishableuponthestillnightair。Tarzancouldnotunderstandthewords，butAbdulandthegirltranslated。

"Theyhavegonenow，"saidthelatter。"Itisyoutheywant，m’sieur。

OneofthemsaidthatthestrangerwhohadofferedmoneyforyourslayinglayinthehouseofAkmeddinSoulefwithabrokenwrist，butthathehadofferedastillgreaterrewardifsomewouldlayinwaitforyouupontheroadtoBouSaadaandkillyou。"

"Itishewhofollowedm’sieuraboutthemarkettoday，"

exclaimedAbdul。"Isawhimagainwithinthecafe——himandanother;andthetwowentoutintotheinnercourtaftertalkingwiththisgirlhere。Itwastheywhoattackedandfireduponus，aswecameoutofthecafe。Whydotheywishtokillyou，m’sieur？"

"Idonotknow，"repliedTarzan，andthen，afterapause:

"Unless——"Buthedidnotfinish，forthethoughtthathadcometohismind，whileitseemedtheonlyreasonablesolutionofthemystery，appearedatthesametimequiteimprobable。

Presentlythemeninthestreetwentaway。Thecourtyardandthecafeweredeserted。CautiouslyTarzanloweredhimselftothesillofthegirl’swindow。Theroomwasempty。

HereturnedtotheroofandletAbduldown，thenheloweredthegirltothearmsofthewaitingArab。

FromthewindowAbduldroppedtheshortdistancetothestreetbelow，whileTarzantookthegirlinhisarmsandleapeddownashehaddoneonsomanyotheroccasionsinhisownforestwithaburdeninhisarms。Alittlecryofalarmwasstartledfromthegirl’slips，butTarzanlandedinthestreetwithbutanimperceptiblejar，andloweredherinsafetytoherfeet。

Sheclungtohimforamoment。

"Howstrongm’sieuris，andhowactive，"shecried。

"ELADREA，theblacklion，himselfisnotmoreso。"

"IshouldliketomeetthisELADREAofyours，"hesaid。

"Ihaveheardmuchabouthim。"

"AndyoucometotheDOUARofmyfatheryoushallseehim，"saidthegirl。"Helivesinaspurofthemountainsnorthofus，andcomesdownfromhislairatnighttorobmyfather’sDOUAR。Withasingleblowofhismightypawhecrushestheskullofabull，andwoebetidethebelatedwayfarerwhomeetsELADREAabroadatnight。"

Withoutfurthermishaptheyreachedthehotel。ThesleepylandlordobjectedstrenuouslytoinstitutingasearchforKadourbenSadenuntilthefollowingmorning，butapieceofgoldputadifferentaspectonthematter，sothatafewmomentslateraservanthadstartedtomaketheroundsofthelessernativehostelrieswhereitmightbeexpectedthatadesertsheikwouldfindcongenialassociations。Tarzanhadfeltitnecessarytofindthegirl’sfatherthatnight，forfearhemightstartonhishomewardjourneytooearlyinthemorningtobeintercepted。

TheyhadwaitedperhapshalfanhourwhenthemessengerreturnedwithKadourbenSaden。Theoldsheikenteredtheroomwithaquestioningexpressionuponhisproudface。

"Monsieurhasdonemethehonorto——"hecommenced，andthenhiseyesfelluponthegirl。Withoutstretchedarmshecrossedtheroomtomeether。"Mydaughter！"hecried。

"Allahismerciful！"andtearsdimmedthemartialeyesoftheoldwarrior。

WhenthestoryofherabductionandherfinalrescuehadbeentoldtoKadourbenSadenheextendedhishandtoTarzan。

"AllthatisKadourbenSaden’sisthine，myfriend，eventohislife，"hesaidverysimply，butTarzanknewthatthosewerenoidlewords。

Itwasdecidedthatalthoughthreeofthemwouldhavetorideafterpracticallynosleep，itwouldbebesttomakeanearlystartinthemorning，andattempttorideallthewaytoBouSaadainoneday。Itwouldhavebeencomparativelyeasyforthemen，butforthegirlitwassuretobeafatiguingjourney。

She，however，wasthemostanxioustoundertakeit，foritseemedtoherthatshecouldnotquicklyenoughreachthefamilyandfriendsfromwhomshehadbeenseparatedfortwoyears。

ItseemedtoTarzanthathehadnotclosedhiseyesbeforehewasawakened，andinanotherhourthepartywasonitswaysouthtowardBouSaada。Forafewmilestheroadwasgood，andtheymaderapidprogress，butsuddenlyitbecameonlyawasteofsand，intowhichthehorsessankfetlockdeepatnearlyeverystep。InadditiontoTarzan，Abdul，thesheik，andhisdaughterwerefourofthewildplainsmenofthesheik’stribewhohadaccompaniedhimuponthetriptoSidiAissa。Thus，sevengunsstrong，theyentertainedlittlefearofattackbyday，andifallwentwelltheyshouldreachBouSaadabeforenightfall。

Abriskwindenvelopedthemintheblowingsandofthedesert，untilTarzan’slipswereparchedandcracked。Whatlittlehecouldseeofthesurroundingcountrywasfarfromalluring——avastexpanseofroughcountry，rollinginlittle，barrenhillocks，andtuftedhereandtherewithclumpsofdrearyshrub。FartothesouthrosethedimlinesoftheSaharanAtlasrange。Howdifferent，thoughtTarzan，fromthegorgeousAfricaofhisboyhood！

Abdul，alwaysonthealert，lookedbackwardquiteasoftenashedidahead。Atthetopofeachhillockthattheymountedhewoulddrawinhishorseand，turning，scanthecountrytotherearwithutmostcare。Atlasthisscrutinywasrewarded。

"Look！"hecried。"Therearesixhorsemenbehindus。"

"Yourfriendsoflastevening，nodoubt，monsieur，"remarkedKadourbenSadendrylytoTarzan。

"Nodoubt，"repliedtheape—man。"Iamsorrythatmysocietyshouldendangerthesafetyofyourjourney。AtthenextvillageIshallremainandquestionthesegentlemen，whileyourideon。ThereisnonecessityformybeingatBouSaadatonight，andlessstillwhyyoushouldnotrideinpeace。"

"Ifyoustopweshallstop，"saidKadourbenSaden。"Untilyouaresafewithyourfriends，ortheenemyhasleftyourtrail，weshallremainwithyou。Thereisnothingmoretosay。"

Tarzannoddedhishead。Hewasamanoffewwords，andpossiblyitwasforthisreasonasmuchasanythatKadourbenSadenhadtakentohim，foriftherebeonethingthatanArabdespisesitisatalkativeman。

AllthebalanceofthedayAbdulcaughtglimpsesofthehorsemenintheirrear。Theyremainedalwaysataboutthesamedistance。Duringtheoccasionalhaltsforrest，andatthelongerhaltatnoon，theyapproachednocloser。

"Theyarewaitingfordarkness，"saidKadourbenSaden。

AnddarknesscamebeforetheyreachedBouSaada。ThelastglimpsethatAbdulhadofthegrim，white—robedfiguresthattrailedthem，justbeforeduskmadeitimpossibletodistinguishthem，hadmadeitapparentthattheywererapidlyclosingupthedistancethatintervenedbetweenthemandtheirintendedquarry。HewhisperedthisfacttoTarzan，forhedidnotwishtoalarmthegirl。Theape—mandrewbackbesidehim。

"Youwillrideaheadwiththeothers，Abdul，"saidTarzan。

"Thisismyquarrel。Ishallwaitatthenextconvenientspot，andinterviewthesefellows。"

"ThenAbdulshallwaitatthyside，"repliedtheyoungArab，norwouldanythreatsorcommandsmovehimfromhisdecision。

"Verywell，then，"repliedTarzan。"Hereisasgoodaplaceaswecouldwish。Herearerocksatthetopofthishillock。

Weshallremainhiddenhereandgiveanaccountofourselvestothesegentlemenwhentheyappear。"

Theydrewintheirhorsesanddismounted。Theothersridingaheadwerealreadyoutofsightinthedarkness。

BeyondthemshonethelightsofBouSaada。Tarzanremovedhisriflefromitsbootandloosenedhisrevolverinitsholster。

HeorderedAbdultowithdrawbehindtherockswiththehorses，sothattheyshouldbeshieldedfromtheenemies’

bulletsshouldtheyfire。TheyoungArabpretendedtodoashewasbid，butwhenhehadfastenedthetwoanimalssecurelytoalowshrubhecreptbacktolieonhisbellyafewpacesbehindTarzan。

Theape—manstooderectinthemiddleoftheroad，waiting。

Nordidhehavelongtowait。Thesoundofgallopinghorsescamesuddenlyoutofthedarknessbelowhim，andamomentlaterhediscernedthemovingblotchesoflightercoloragainstthesolidbackgroundofthenight。

"Halt，"hecried，"orwefire！"

Thewhitefigurescametoasuddenstop，andforamomenttherewassilence。Thencamethesoundofawhisperedcouncil，andlikeghoststhephantomridersdispersedinalldirections。

Againthedesertlaystillabouthim，yetitwasanominousstillnessthatforebodedevil。

Abdulraisedhimselftooneknee。Tarzancockedhisjungle—trainedears，andpresentlytherecametohimthesoundofhorseswalkingquietlythroughthesandtotheeastofhim，tothewest，tothenorth，andtothesouth。

Theyhadbeensurrounded。Thenashotcamefromthedirectioninwhichhewaslooking，abulletwhirredthroughtheairabovehishead，andhefiredattheflashoftheenemy’sgun。

Instantlythesoundlesswastewastornwiththequickstaccatoofgunsuponeveryhand。AbdulandTarzanfiredonlyattheflashes——theycouldnotyetseetheirfoemen。

Presentlyitbecameevidentthattheattackerswerecirclingtheirposition，drawingcloserandcloserinastheybegantorealizethepaltrynumbersofthepartywhichopposedthem。

Butonecametooclose，forTarzanwasaccustomedtousinghiseyesinthedarknessofthejunglenight，thanwhichthereisnomoreutterdarknessthissidethegrave，andwithacryofpainasaddlewasemptied。

"Theoddsareevening，Abdul，"saidTarzan，withalowlaugh。

Buttheywerestillfartooone—sided，andwhenthefiveremaininghorsemenwhirledatasignalandchargedfulluponthemitlookedasiftherewouldbeasuddenendingofthebattle。BothTarzanandAbdulsprangtotheshelteroftherocks，thattheymightkeeptheenemyinfrontofthem。

Therewasamadclatterofgallopinghoofs，avolleyofshotsfrombothsides，andtheArabswithdrewtorepeatthemaneuver;buttherewerenowonlyfouragainstthetwo。

Forafewmomentstherecamenosoundfromoutofthesurroundingblackness。TarzancouldnottellwhethertheArabs，satisfiedwiththeirlosses，hadgivenupthefight，orwerewaitingfartheralongtheroadtowaylaythemastheyproceededontowardBouSaada。Buthewasnotleftlongindoubt，fornowallfromonedirectioncamethesoundofanewcharge。ButscarcelyhadthefirstgunspokenereadozenshotsrangoutbehindtheArabs。Therecamethewildshoutsofanewpartytothecontroversy，andthepoundingofthefeetofmanyhorsesfromdowntheroadtoBouSaada。

TheArabsdidnotwaittolearntheidentityoftheoncomers。

WithapartingvolleyastheydashedbythepositionwhichTarzanandAbdulwereholding，theyplungedoffalongtheroadtowardSidiAissa。AmomentlaterKadourbenSadenandhismendashedup。

TheoldsheikwasmuchrelievedtofindthatneitherTarzannorAbdulhadreceivedascratch。Notevenhadtheirhorsesbeenwounded。TheysoughtoutthetwomenwhohadfallenbeforeTarzan’sshots，and，findingthatbothweredead，leftthemwheretheylay。

"Whydidyounottellmethatyoucontemplatedambushingthosefellows？"askedthesheikinahurttone。"Wemighthavehadthemallifthesevenofushadstoppedtomeetthem。"

"Thenitwouldhavebeenuselesstostopatall，"repliedTarzan，"forhadwesimplyriddenontowardBouSaadatheywouldhavebeenuponuspresently，andallcouldhavebeenengaged。Itwastopreventthetransferofmyownquarreltoanother’sshouldersthatAbdulandIstoppedofftoquestionthem。Thenthereisyourdaughter——Icouldnotbethecauseofexposingherneedlesslytothemarksmanshipofsixmen。"

KadourbenSadenshruggedhisshoulders。Hedidnotrelishhavingbeencheatedoutofafight。

ThelittlebattlesoclosetoBouSaadahaddrawnoutacompanyofsoldiers。Tarzanandhispartymetthemjustoutsidethetown。Theofficerinchargehaltedthemtolearnthesignificanceoftheshots。

"Ahandfulofmarauders，"repliedKadourbenSaden。

"Theyattackedtwoofournumberwhohaddroppedbehind，butwhenwereturnedtothemthefellowssoondispersed。

Theylefttwodead。Noneofmypartywasinjured。"

Thisseemedtosatisfytheofficer，andaftertakingthenamesofthepartyhemarchedhismenontowardthesceneoftheskirmishtobringbackthedeadmenforpurposesofidentification，ifpossible。

Twodayslater，KadourbenSaden，withhisdaughterandfollowers，rodesouththroughthepassbelowBouSaada，boundfortheirhomeinthefarwilderness。ThesheikhadurgedTarzantoaccompanyhim，andthegirlhadaddedherentreatiestothoseofherfather;but，thoughhecouldnotexplainittothem，Tarzan’sdutiesloomedparticularlylargeafterthehappeningsofthepastfewdays，sothathecouldnotthinkofleavinghispostforaninstant。Buthepromisedtocomelaterifitlaywithinhispowertodoso，andtheyhadtocontentthemselveswiththatassurance。

DuringthesetwodaysTarzanhadspentpracticallyallhistimewithKadourbenSadenandhisdaughter。Hewaskeenlyinterestedinthisraceofsternanddignifiedwarriors，andembracedtheopportunitywhichtheirfriendshipofferedtolearnwhathecouldoftheirlivesandcustoms。Heevencommencedtoacquiretherudimentsoftheirlanguageunderthepleasanttutorageofthebrown—eyedgirl。Itwaswithrealregretthathesawthemdepart，andhesathishorseattheopeningtothepass，asfaraswhichhehadaccompaniedthem，gazingafterthelittlepartyaslongashecouldcatchaglimpseofthem。

Herewerepeopleafterhisownheart！Theirwild，roughlives，filledwithdangerandhardship，appealedtothishalf—

savagemanasnothinghadappealedtohiminthemidstoftheeffeminatecivilizationofthegreatcitieshehadvisited。Herewasalifethatexcelledeventhatofthejungle，forherehemighthavethesocietyofmen——realmenwhomhecouldhonorandrespect，andyetbeneartothewildnaturethatheloved。

InhisheadrevolvedanideathatwhenhehadcompletedhismissionhewouldresignandreturntolivefortheremainderofhislifewiththetribeofKadourbenSaden。

Thenheturnedhishorse’sheadandrodeslowlybacktoBouSaada。

ThefrontoftheHotelduPetitSahara，whereTarzanstoppedinBouSaada，istakenupwiththebar，twodining—

rooms，andthekitchens。Bothofthedining—roomsopendirectlyoffthebar，andoneofthemisreservedfortheuseoftheofficersofthegarrison。Asyoustandinthebarroomyoumaylookintoeitherofthedining—roomsifyouwish。

ItwastothebarthatTarzanrepairedafterspeedingKadourbenSadenandhispartyontheirway。Itwasyetearlyinthemorning，forKadourbenSadenhadelectedtoridefarthatday，sothatithappenedthatwhenTarzanreturnedtherewereguestsstillatbreakfast。

Ashiscasualglancewanderedintotheofficers’dining—

room，Tarzansawsomethingwhichbroughtalookofinteresttohiseyes。LieutenantGernoiswassittingthere，andasTarzanlookedawhite—robedArabapproachedand，bending，whisperedafewwordsintothelieutenant’sear。Thenhepassedonoutofthebuildingthroughanotherdoor。

Initselfthethingwasnothing，butasthemanhadstoopedtospeaktotheofficer，Tarzanhadcaughtsightofsomethingwhichtheaccidentalpartingoftheman’sburnoosehadrevealed——hecarriedhisleftarminasling。

Chapter9

Numa"ElAdrea"

OnthesamedaythatKadourbenSadenrodesouththediligencefromthenorthbroughtTarzanaletterfromD’ArnotwhichhadbeenforwardedfromSidi—bel—Abbes。

ItopenedtheoldwoundthatTarzanwouldhavebeengladtohaveforgotten;yethewasnotsorrythatD’Arnothadwritten，foroneatleastofhissubjectscouldneverceasetointeresttheape—man。Hereistheletter:

MYDEARJEAN:

SincelastIwroteyouIhavebeenacrosstoLondononamatterofbusiness。Iwastherebutthreedays。TheveryfirstdayIcameuponanoldfriendofyours——quiteunexpectedly——inHenriettaStreet。Nowyouneverintheworldwouldguesswhom。

NoneotherthanMr。SamuelT。Philander。Butitistrue。

Icanseeyourlookofincredulity。Noristhisall。

HeinsistedthatIreturntothehotelwithhim，andthereIfoundtheothers——ProfessorArchimedesQ。Porter，MissPorter，andthatenormousblackwoman，MissPorter’smaid——Esmeralda，youwillrecall。WhileIwasthereClaytoncamein。Theyaretobemarriedsoon，orrathersooner，forIrathersuspectthatweshallreceiveannouncementsalmostanyday。Onaccountofhisfather’sdeathitistobeaveryquietaffair——onlybloodrelatives。

WhileIwasalonewithMr。Philandertheoldfellowbecameratherconfidential。SaidMissPorterhadalreadypostponedtheweddingonthreedifferentoccasions。HeconfidedthatitappearedtohimthatshewasnotparticularlyanxioustomarryClaytonatall;butthistimeitseemsthatitisquitelikelytogothrough。

Ofcoursetheyallaskedafteryou，butIrespectedyourwishesinthematterofyourtrueorigin，andonlyspoketothemofyourpresentaffairs。

MissPorterwasespeciallyinterestedineverythingIhadtosayaboutyou，andaskedmanyquestions。IamafraidI

tookaratherunchivalrousdelightinpicturingyourdesireandresolvetogobackeventuallytoyournativejungle。

Iwassorryafterward，foritdidseemtocauseherrealanguishtocontemplatetheawfuldangerstowhichyouwishedtoreturn。"Andyet，"shesaid，"Idonotknow。TherearemoreunhappyfatesthanthegrimandterriblejunglepresentstoMonsieurTarzan。Atleasthisconsciencewillbefreefromremorse。Andtherearemomentsofquietandrestfulnessbyday，andvistasofexquisitebeauty。YoumayfinditstrangethatIshouldsayit，whoexperiencedsuchterrifyingexperiencesinthatfrightfulforest，yetattimesIlongtoreturn，forIcannotbutfeelthatthehappiestmomentsofmylifewerespentthere。"

Therewasanexpressionofineffablesadnessonherfaceasshespoke，andIcouldnotbutfeelthatsheknewthatI

knewhersecret，andthatthiswasherwayoftransmittingtoyoualasttendermessagefromaheartthatmightstillenshrineyourmemory，thoughitspossessorbelongedtoanother。

Claytonappearednervousandillateasewhileyouwerethesubjectofconversation。Heworeaworriedandharassedexpression。Yethewasverykindlyinhisexpressionsofinterestinyou。Iwonderifhesuspectsthetruthaboutyou？

TenningtoncameinwithClayton。Theyaregreatfriends，youknow。Heisabouttosetoutupononeofhisinterminablecruisesinthatyachtofhis，andwasurgingtheentirepartytoaccompanyhim。Triedtoinveiglemeintoit，too。

IsthinkingofcircumnavigatingAfricathistime。Itoldhimthathisprecioustoywouldtakehimandsomeofhisfriendstothebottomoftheoceanoneofthesedaysifhedidn’tgetitoutofhisheadthatshewasalinerorabattleship。

IreturnedtoParisdaybeforeyesterday，andyesterdayI

mettheCountandCountessdeCoudeattheraces。Theyinquiredafteryou。DeCoudereallyseemsquitefondofyou。

Doesn’tappeartoharbortheleastillwill。Olgaisasbeautifulasever，butatriflesubdued。Iimaginethatshelearnedalessonthroughheracquaintancewithyouthatwillserveheringoodsteadduringthebalanceofherlife。Itisfortunateforher，andforDeCoudeaswell，thatitwasyouandnotanothermanmoresophisticated。

HadyoureallypaidcourttoOlga’sheartIamafraidthattherewouldhavebeennohopeforeitherofyou。

SheaskedmetotellyouthatNikolashadleftFrance。

Shepaidhimtwentythousandfrancstogoaway，andstay。

Sheiscongratulatingherselfthatshegotridofhimbeforehetriedtocarryoutathreatherecentlymadeherthatheshouldkillyouatthefirstopportunity。Shesaidthatsheshouldhatetothinkthatherbrother’sbloodwasonyourhands，forsheisveryfondofyou，andmadenobonesinsayingsobeforethecount。ItneverforamomentseemedtooccurtoherthattheremightbeanypossibilityofanyotheroutcomeofameetingbetweenyouandNikolas。Thecountquiteagreedwithherinthat。HeaddedthatitwouldtakearegimentofRokoffstokillyou。Hehasamosthealthyrespectforyourprowess。

Havebeenorderedbacktomyship。ShesailsfromHavreintwodaysundersealedorders。Ifyouwilladdressmeinhercare，theletterswillfindmeeventually。Ishallwriteyouassoonasanotheropportunitypresents。

Yoursincerefriend，PAULD’ARNOT。

"Ifear，"musedTarzan，halfaloud，"thatOlgahasthrownawayhertwentythousandfrancs。"

HereadoverthatpartofD’Arnot’sletterseveraltimesinwhichhehadquotedfromhisconversationwithJanePorter。Tarzanderivedaratherpathetichappinessfromit，butitwasbetterthannohappinessatall。

Thefollowingthreeweekswerequiteuneventful。OnseveraloccasionsTarzansawthemysteriousArab，andonceagainhehadbeenexchangingwordswithLieutenantGernois;

butnoamountofespionageorshadowingbyTarzanrevealedtheArab’slodgings，thelocationofwhichTarzanwasanxioustoascertain。

Gernois，nevercordial，hadkeptmorethaneveralooffromTarzansincetheepisodeinthedining—roomofthehotelatAumale。Hisattitudeonthefewoccasionsthattheyhadbeenthrowntogetherhadbeendistinctlyhostile。

Thathemightkeepuptheappearanceofthecharacterhewasplaying，TarzanspentconsiderabletimehuntinginthevicinityofBouSaada。Hewouldspendentiredaysinthefoothills，ostensiblysearchingforgazelle，butonthefewoccasionsthathecamecloseenoughtoanyofthebeautifullittleanimalstoharmthemheinvariablyallowedthemtoescapewithoutsomuchastakinghisriflefromitsboot。Theape—mancouldseenosportinslaughteringthemostharmlessanddefenselessofGod’screaturesforthemerepleasureofkilling。

Infact，Tarzanhadneverkilledfor"pleasure，"nortohimwastherepleasureinkilling。Itwasthejoyofrighteousbattlethatheloved——theecstasyofvictory。Andthekeenandsuccessfulhuntforfoodinwhichhepittedhisskillandcraftinessagainsttheskillandcraftinessofanother;

buttocomeoutofatownfilledwithfoodtoshootdownasoft—eyed，prettygazelle——ah，thatwascruellerthanthedeliberateandcold—bloodedmurderofafellowman。

Tarzanwouldhavenoneofit，andsohehuntedalonethatnonemightdiscovertheshamthathewaspracticing。

Andonce，probablybecauseofthefactthatherodealone，hewasliketohavelosthislife。Hewasridingslowlythroughalittleravinewhenashotsoundedclosebehindhim，andabulletpassedthroughthecorkhelmethewore。

Althoughheturnedatonceandgallopedrapidlytothetopoftheravine，therewasnosignofanyenemy，nordidheseeaughtofanotherhumanbeinguntilhereachedBouSaada。