第7章

"Yes，"hesoliloquized，inrecallingtheoccurrence，"Olgahasindeedthrownawayhertwentythousandfrancs。"

ThatnighthewasCaptainGerard’sguestatalittledinner。

"Yourhuntinghasnotbeenveryfortunate？"questionedtheofficer。

"No，"repliedTarzan;"thegamehereaboutistimid，nordoIcareparticularlyabouthuntinggamebirdsorantelope。

IthinkIshallmoveonfarthersouth，andhaveatryatsomeofyourAlgerianlions。"

"Good！"exclaimedthecaptain。"WearemarchingtowardDjelfaonthemorrow。Youshallhavecompanythatfaratleast。

LieutenantGernoisandI，withahundredmen，areorderedsouthtopatroladistrictinwhichthemaraudersaregivingconsiderabletrouble。Possiblywemayhavethepleasureofhuntingtheliontogether——whatsayyou？"

Tarzanwasmorethanpleased，nordidhehesitatetosayso;

butthecaptainwouldhavebeenastonishedhadheknowntherealreasonofTarzan’spleasure。Gernoiswassittingoppositetheape—man。Hedidnotseemsopleasedwithhiscaptain’sinvitation。

"Youwillfindlionhuntingmoreexcitingthangazelleshooting，"remarkedCaptainGerard，"andmoredangerous。"

"Evengazelleshootinghasitsdangers，"repliedTarzan。

"Especiallywhenonegoesalone。Ifounditsotoday。

Ialsofoundthatwhilethegazelleisthemosttimidofanimals，itisnotthemostcowardly。"

HelethisglancerestonlycasuallyuponGernoisafterhehadspoken，forhedidnotwishthemantoknowthathewasundersuspicion，orsurveillance，nomatterwhathemightthink。Theeffectofhisremarkuponhim，however，mighttendtoprovehisconnectionwith，orknowledgeof，certainrecenthappenings。TarzansawadullredcreepupfrombeneathGernois’collar。Hewassatisfied，andquicklychangedthesubject。

WhenthecolumnrodesouthfromBouSaadathenextmorningtherewerehalfadozenArabsbringinguptherear。

"Theyarenotattachedtothecommand，"repliedGerardinresponsetoTarzan’squery。"Theymerelyaccompanyusontheroadforcompanionship。"

TarzanhadlearnedenoughaboutArabcharactersincehehadbeeninAlgeriatoknowthatthiswasnorealmotive，fortheArabisneveroverfondofthecompanionshipofstrangers，andespeciallyofFrenchsoldiers。Sohissuspicionswerearoused，andhedecidedtokeepasharpeyeonthelittlepartythattrailedbehindthecolumnatadistanceofaboutaquarterofamile。Buttheydidnotcomecloseenoughevenduringthehaltstoenablehimtoobtainaclosescrutinyofthem。

Hehadlongbeenconvincedthattherewerehiredassassinsonhistrail，norwasheingreatdoubtbutthatRokoffwasatthebottomoftheplot。WhetheritwastoberevengefortheseveraloccasionsinthepastthatTarzanhaddefeatedtheRussian’spurposesandhumiliatedhim，orwasinsomewayconnectedwithhismissionintheGernoisaffair，hecouldnotdetermine。Ifthelatter，anditseemedprobablesincetheevidencehehadhadthatGernoissuspectedhim，thenhehadtworatherpowerfulenemiestocontendwith，fortherewouldbemanyopportunitiesinthewildsofAlgeria，forwhichtheywerebound，todispatchasuspectedenemyquietlyandwithoutattractingsuspicion。

AftercampingatDjelfafortwodaysthecolumnmovedtothesouthwest，fromwhencewordhadcomethatthemarauderswereoperatingagainstthetribeswhoseDOUARSweresituatedatthefootofthemountains。

ThelittlebandofArabswhohadaccompaniedthemfromBouSaadahaddisappearedsuddenlytheverynightthatordershadbeengiventoprepareforthemorrow’smarchfromDjelfa。Tarzanmadecasualinquiriesamongthemen，butnonecouldtellhimwhytheyhadleft，orinwhatdirectiontheyhadgone。Hedidnotlikethelooksofit，especiallyinviewofthefactthathehadseenGernoisinconversationwithoneofthemsomehalfhourafterCaptainGerardhadissuedhisinstructionsrelativetothenewmove。

OnlyGernoisandTarzanknewthedirectionoftheproposedmarch。

Allthesoldiersknewwasthattheyweretobepreparedtobreakcampearlythenextmorning。TarzanwonderedifGernoiscouldhaverevealedtheirdestinationtotheArabs。

LatethatafternoontheywentintocampatalittleoasisinwhichwastheDOUARofasheikwhoseflockswerebeingstolen，andwhoseherdsmenwerebeingkilled。TheArabscameoutoftheirgoatskintents，andsurroundedthesoldiers，askingmanyquestionsinthenativetongue，forthesoldierswerethemselvesnatives。Tarzan，who，bythistime，withtheassistanceofAbdul，hadpickedupquiteasmatteringofArab，questionedoneoftheyoungermenwhohadaccompaniedthesheikwhilethelatterpaidhisrespectstoCaptainGerard。

No，hehadseennopartyofsixhorsemenridingfromthedirectionofDjelfa。Therewereotheroasesscatteredabout——possiblytheyhadbeenjourneyingtooneofthese。

Thentherewerethemaraudersinthemountainsabove——theyoftenrodenorthtoBouSaadainsmallparties，andevenasfarasAumaleandBouira。Itmightindeedhavebeenafewmaraudersreturningtothebandfromapleasuretriptooneofthesecities。

EarlythenextmorningCaptainGerardsplithiscommandintwo，givingLieutenantGernoiscommandofoneparty，whileheheadedtheother。Theyweretoscourthemountainsuponoppositesidesoftheplain。

"AndwithwhichdetachmentwillMonsieurTarzanride？"

askedthecaptain。"Ormaybeitisthatmonsieurdoesnotcaretohuntmarauders？"

"Oh，Ishallbedelightedtogo，"Tarzanhastenedtoexplain。

HewaswonderingwhatexcusehecouldmaketoaccompanyGernois。

Hisembarrassmentwasshort—lived，andwasrelievedfromamostunexpectedsource。ItwasGernoishimselfwhospoke。

"IfmycaptainwillforegothepleasureofMonsieurTarzan’scompanyforthisonce，Ishallesteemitanhonorindeedtohavemonsieurridewithmetoday，"hesaid，norwashistonelackingincordiality。Infact，Tarzanimaginedthathehadoverdoneitatrifle，but，evenso，hewasbothastoundedandpleased，hasteningtoexpresshisdelightatthearrangement。

AndsoitwasthatLieutenantGernoisandTarzanrodeoffsidebysideattheheadofthelittledetachmentofSPAHIS。Gernois’cordialitywasshort—lived。NosoonehadtheyriddenoutofsightofCaptainGerardandhismenthanhelapsedoncemoreintohisaccustomedtaciturnity。

Astheyadvancedthegroundbecamerougher。Steadilyitascendedtowardthemountains，intowhichtheyfiledthroughanarrowcanonclosetonoon。BythesideofalittlerivuletGernoiscalledthemiddayhalt。Herethemenpreparedandatetheirfrugalmeal，andrefilledtheircanteens。

Afteranhour’sresttheyadvancedagainalongthecanon，untiltheypresentlycametoalittlevalley，fromwhichseveralrockygorgesdiverged。Heretheyhalted，whileGernoisminutelyexaminedthesurroundingheightsfromthecenterofthedepression。

"Weshallseparatehere，"hesaid，"severalridingintoeachofthesegorges，"andthenhecommencedtodetailhisvarioussquadsandissueinstructionstothenon—commissionedofficerswhoweretocommandthem。WhenhehaddoneheturnedtoTarzan。

"Monsieurwillbesogoodastoremainhereuntilwereturn。"

Tarzandemurred，buttheofficercuthimshort。"Theremaybefightingforoneofthesesections，"hesaid，"andtroopscannotbeembarrassedbyciviliannoncombatantsduringaction。"

"But，mydearlieutenant，"expostulatedTarzan，"Iammostreadyandwillingtoplacemyselfundercommandofyourselforanyofyoursergeantsorcorporals，andtofightintheranksastheydirect。ItiswhatIcamefor。"

"Ishouldbegladtothinkso，"retortedGernois，withasneerhemadenoattempttodisguise。Thenshortly:

"Youareundermyorders，andtheyarethatyouremainhereuntilwereturn。Letthatendthematter，"andheturnedandspurredawayattheheadofhismen。AmomentlaterTarzanfoundhimselfaloneinthemidstofadesolatemountainfastness。

Thesunwashot，sohesoughttheshelterofanearbytree，wherehetetheredhishorse，andsatdownuponthegroundtosmoke。InwardlyhesworeatGernoisforthetrickhehadplayeduponhim。Ameanlittlerevenge，thoughtTarzan，andthensuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatthemanwouldnotbesuchafoolastoantagonizehimthroughatrivialannoyanceofsopettyadescription。Theremustbesomethingdeeperthanthisbehindit。Withthethoughthearoseandremovedhisriflefromitsboot。Helookedtoitsloadsandsawthatthemagazinewasfull。Thenheinspectedhisrevolver。Afterthispreliminaryprecautionhescannedthesurroundingheightsandthemouthsoftheseveralgorges——hewasdeterminedthatheshouldnotbecaughtnapping。

Thesunsanklowerandlower，yettherewasnosignofreturningSPAHIS。AtlastthevalleywassubmergedinshadowTarzanwastooproudtogobacktocampuntilhehadgiventhedetachmentampletimetoreturntothevalley，whichhethoughtwastohavebeentheirrendezvous。

Withtheclosinginofnighthefeltsaferfromattack，forhewasathomeinthedark。Heknewthatnonemightapproachhimsocautiouslyastoeludethosealertandsensitiveearsofhis;thentherewerehiseyes，too，forhecouldseewellatnight;andhisnose，iftheycametowardhimfromup—wind，wouldapprisehimoftheapproachofanenemywhiletheywerestillagreatwayoff。

Sohefeltthathewasinlittledanger，andthuslulledtoasenseofsecurityhefellasleep，withhisbackagainstthetree。

Hemusthavesleptforseveralhours，forwhenhewassuddenlyawakenedbythefrightenedsnortingandplungingofhishorsethemoonwasshiningfulluponthelittlevalley，andthere，nottenpacesbeforehim，stoodthegrimcauseoftheterrorofhismount。

Superb，majestic，hisgracefultailextendedandquivering，andhistwoeyesoffirerivetedfulluponhisprey，stoodNumaELADREA，theblacklion。AlittlethrillofjoytingledthroughTarzan’snerves。Itwaslikemeetinganoldfriendafteryearsofseparation。Foramomenthesatrigidtoenjoythemagnificentspectacleofthislordofthewilderness。

ButnowNumawascrouchingforthespring。VeryslowlyTarzanraisedhisguntohisshoulder。Hehadneverkilledalargeanimalwithaguninallhislife——heretoforehehaddependeduponhisspear，hispoisonedarrows，hisrope，hisknife，orhisbarehands。Instinctivelyhewishedthathehadhisarrowsandhisknife——hewouldhavefeltsurerwiththem。

Numawaslyingquiteflatuponthegroundnow，presentingonlyhishead。Tarzanwouldhavepreferredtofirealittlefromoneside，forheknewwhatterrificdamagethelioncoulddoifhelivedtwominutes，orevenaminuteafterhewashit。ThehorsestoodtremblinginterroratTarzan’sback。

Theape—mantookacautioussteptooneside——Numabutfollowedhimwithhiseyes。Anotherstephetook，andthenanother。

Numahadnotmoved。Nowhecouldaimatapointbetweentheeyeandtheear。

Hisfingertighteneduponthetrigger，andashefiredNumasprang。Atthesameinstanttheterrifiedhorsemadealastfranticefforttoescape——thetetherparted，andhewentcareeningdownthecanontowardthedesert。

NoordinarymancouldhaveescapedthosefrightfulclawswhenNumasprangfromsoshortadistance，butTarzanwasnoordinaryman。Fromearliestchildhoodhismuscleshadbeentrainedbythefierceexigenciesofhisexistencetoactwiththerapidityofthought。AsquickaswasELADREA，TarzanoftheApeswasquicker，andsothegreatbeastcrashedagainstatreewherehehadexpectedtofeelthesoftfleshofman，whileTarzan，acoupleofpacestotheright，pumpedanotherbulletintohimthatbroughthimclawingandroaringtohisside。

TwicemoreTarzanfiredinquicksuccession，andthenELADREAlaystillandroarednomore。ItwasnolongerMonsieurJeanTarzan;itwasTarzanoftheApesthatputasavagefootuponthebodyofhissavagekill，and，raisinghisfacetothefullmoon，liftedhismightyvoiceintheweirdandterriblechallengeofhiskind——abullapehadmadehiskill。

Andthewildthingsinthewildmountainsstoppedintheirhunting，andtrembledatthisnewandawfulvoice，whiledowninthedesertthechildrenofthewildernesscameoutoftheirgoatskintentsandlookedtowardthemountains，wonderingwhatnewandsavagescourgehadcometodevastatetheirflocks。

AhalfmilefromthevalleyinwhichTarzanstood，ascoreofwhite—robedfigures，bearinglong，wicked—lookingguns，haltedatthesound，andlookedatoneanotherwithquestioningeyes。Butpresently，asitwasnotrepeated，theytookuptheirsilent，stealthywaytowardthevalley。

TarzanwasnowconfidentthatGernoishadnointentionofreturningforhim，buthecouldnotfathomtheobjectthathadpromptedtheofficertodeserthim，yetleavehimfreetoreturntocamp。Hishorsegone，hedecidedthatitwouldbefoolishtoremainlongerinthemountains，sohesetouttowardthedesert。

Hehadscarcelyenteredtheconfinesofthecanonwhenthefirstofthewhite—robedfiguresemergedintothevalleyupontheoppositeside。Foramomenttheyscannedthelittledepressionfrombehindshelteringbowlders，butwhentheyhadsatisfiedthemselvesthatitwasemptytheyadvancedacrossit。BeneaththetreeatonesidetheycameuponthebodyofELADREA。Withmutteredexclamationstheycrowdedaboutit。Then，amomentlater，theyhurrieddownthecanonwhichTarzanwasthreadingabriefdistanceinadvanceofthem。

Theymovedcautiouslyandinsilence，takingadvantageofshelter，asmendowhoarestalkingman。

Chapter10

ThroughtheValleyoftheShadowAsTarzanwalkeddownthewildcanonbeneaththebrilliantAfricanmoonthecallofthejunglewasstronguponhim。

Thesolitudeandthesavagefreedomfilledhisheartwithlifeandbuoyancy。AgainhewasTarzanoftheApes——everysensealertagainstthechanceofsurprisebysomejungleenemy——yettreadinglightlyandwithheaderect，inproudconsciousnessofhismight。

Thenocturnalsoundsofthemountainswerenewtohim，yettheyfelluponhisearslikethesoftvoiceofahalf—

forgottenlove。Manyheintuitivelysensed——ah，therewasonethatwasfamiliarindeed;thedistantcoughingofSheeta，theleopard;buttherewasastrangenoteinthefinalwailwhichmadehimdoubt。Itwasapantherheheard。

Presentlyanewsound——asoft，stealthysound——obtrudeditselfamongtheothers。Nohumanearsotherthantheape—

man’swouldhavedetectedit。Atfirsthedidnottranslateit，butfinallyherealizedthatitcamefromthebarefeetofanumberofhumanbeings。Theywerebehindhim，andtheywerecomingtowardhimquietly。Hewasbeingstalked。

InaflashheknewwhyhehadbeenleftinthatlittlevalleybyGernois;buttherehadbeenahitchinthearrangements——themenhadcometoolate。Closerandclosercamethefootsteps。Tarzanhaltedandfacedthem，hisriflereadyinhishand。Nowhecaughtafleetingglimpseofawhiteburnoose。

HecalledaloudinFrench，askingwhattheywouldofhim。

Hisreplywastheflashofalonggun，andwiththesoundoftheshotTarzanoftheApesplungedforwarduponhisface。

TheArabsdidnotrushoutimmediately;instead，theywaitedtobesurethattheirvictimdidnotrise。Thentheycamerapidlyfromtheirconcealment，andbentoverhim。

Itwassoonapparentthathewasnotdead。OneofthemenputthemuzzleofhisguntothebackofTarzan’sheadtofinishhim，butanotherwavedhimaside。"Ifwebringhimalivetherewardistobegreater，"explainedthelatter。

Sotheyboundhishandsandfeet，and，pickinghimup，placedhimontheshouldersoffouroftheirnumber。

Thenthemarchwasresumedtowardthedesert。Whentheyhadcomeoutofthemountainstheyturnedtowardthesouth，andaboutdaylightcametothespotwheretheirhorsesstoodincareoftwooftheirnumber。

Fromhereontheirprogresswasmorerapid。Tarzan，whohadregainedconsciousness，wastiedtoasparehorse，whichtheyevidentlyhadbroughtforthepurpose。Hiswoundwasbutaslightscratch，whichhadfurrowedthefleshacrosshistemple。

Ithadstoppedbleeding，butthedriedandclottedbloodsmearedhisfaceandclothing。HehadsaidnowordsincehehadfallenintothehandsoftheseArabs，norhadtheyaddressedhimotherthantoissueafewbriefcommandstohimwhenthehorseshadbeenreached。

Forsixhourstheyroderapidlyacrosstheburningdesert，avoidingtheoasesnearwhichtheirwayled。AboutnoontheycametoaDOUARofabouttwentytents。Heretheyhalted，andasoneoftheArabswasreleasingthealfa—grassropeswhichboundhimtohismounttheyweresurroundedbyamobofmen，women，andchildren。Manyofthetribe，andmoreespeciallythewomen，appearedtotakedelightinheapinginsultsupontheprisoner，andsomehadevengonesofarastothrowstonesathimandstrikehimwithsticks，whenanoldsheikappearedanddrovethemaway。

"Ali—ben—Ahmedtellsme，"hesaid，"thatthismansataloneinthemountainsandslewELADREA。Whatthebusinessofthestrangerwhosentusafterhimmaybe，Iknownot，andwhathemaydowiththismanwhenweturnhimovertohim，I

carenot;buttheprisonerisabraveman，andwhileheisinourhandsheshallbetreatedwiththerespectthatbedueonewhohuntsTHELORDWITHTHELARGEHEADaloneandbynight——andslayshim。"

TarzanhadheardoftherespectinwhichArabsheldalion—killer，andhewasnotsorrythatchancehadplayedintohishandsthusfavorablytorelievehimofthepettytorturesofthetribe。Shortlyafterthishewastakentoagoat—

skintentupontheuppersideoftheDOUAR。Therehewasfed，andthen，securelybound，wasleftlyingonapieceofnativecarpet，aloneinthetent。

Hecouldseeaguardsittingbeforethedoorofhisfrailprison，butwhenheattemptedtoforcethestoutbondsthatheldhimherealizedthatanyextraprecautiononthepartofhiscaptorswasquiteunnecessary;notevenhisgiantmusclescouldpartthosenumerousstrands。

Justbeforeduskseveralmenapproachedthetentwherehelay，andenteredit。AllwereinArabdress，butpresentlyoneofthenumberadvancedtoTarzan’sside，andasheletthefoldsofcloththathadhiddenthelowerhalfofhisfacefallawaytheape—mansawthemalevolentfeaturesofNikolasRokoff。Therewasanastysmileonthebeardedlips。

"Ah，MonsieurTarzan，"hesaid，"thisisindeedapleasure。

Butwhydoyounotriseandgreetyourguest？"Then，withanuglyoath，"Getup，youdog！"and，drawingbackhisbootedfoot，hekickedTarzanheavilyintheside。"Andhereisanother，andanother，andanother，"hecontinued，ashekickedTarzanaboutthefaceandside。"Oneforeachoftheinjuriesyouhavedoneme。"

Theape—manmadenoreply——hedidnotevendeigntolookupontheRussianagainafterthefirstglanceofrecognition。

Finallythesheik，whohadbeenstandingamuteandfrowningwitnessofthecowardlyattack，intervened。

"Stop！"hecommanded。"Killhimifyouwill，butIwillseenobravemansubjectedtosuchindignitiesinmypresence。

Ihavehalfamindtoturnhimloose，thatImayseehowlongyouwouldkickhimthen。"

ThisthreatputasuddenendtoRokoff’sbrutality，forhehadnocravingtoseeTarzanloosedfromhisbondswhilehewaswithinreachofthosepowerfulhands。

"Verywell，"herepliedtotheArab;"Ishallkillhimpresently。"

"NotwithintheprecinctsofmyDOUAR，"returnedthesheik。"Whenheleaveshereheleavesalive。Whatyoudowithhiminthedesertisnoneofmyconcern，butIshallnothavethebloodofaFrenchmanonthehandsofmytribeonaccountofanotherman’squarrel——theywouldsendsoldiershereandkillmanyofmypeople，andburnourtentsanddriveawayourflocks。"

"Asyousay，"growledRokoff。"I’lltakehimoutintothedesertbelowtheDOUAR，anddispatchhim。"

"Youwilltakehimaday’sridefrommycountry，"saidthesheik，firmly，"andsomeofmychildrenshallfollowyoutoseethatyoudonotdisobeyme——otherwisetheremaybetwodeadFrenchmeninthedesert。"

Rokoffshrugged。"ThenIshallhavetowaituntilthemorrow——itisalreadydark。"

"Asyouwill，"saidthesheik。"ButbyanhourafterdawnyoumustbegonefrommyDOUAR。Ihavelittlelikingforunbelievers，andnoneatallforacoward。"

Rokoffwouldhavemadesomekindofretort，buthecheckedhimself，forherealizedthatitwouldrequirebutlittleexcusefortheoldmantoturnuponhim。

Togethertheyleftthetent。AtthedoorRokoffcouldnotresistthetemptationtoturnandflingapartingtauntatTarzan。

"Sleepwell，monsieur，"hesaid，"anddonotforgettopraywell，forwhenyoudietomorrowitwillbeinsuchagonythatyouwillbeunabletoprayforblaspheming。"

NoonehadbotheredtobringTarzaneitherfoodorwatersincenoon，andconsequentlyhesufferedconsiderablyfromthirst。

Hewonderedifitwouldbeworthwhiletoaskhisguardforwater，butaftermakingtwoorthreerequestswithoutreceivinganyresponse，hedecidedthatitwouldnot。

Farupinthemountainsheheardalionroar。Howmuchsaferonewas，hesoliloquized，inthehauntsofwildbeaststhaninthehauntsofmen。Neverinallhisjunglelifehadhebeenmorerelentlesslytrackeddownthaninthepastfewmonthsofhisexperienceamongcivilizedmen。Neverhadhebeenanynearerdeath。

Againthelionroared。Itsoundedalittlenearer。Tarzanfelttheold，wildimpulsetoreplywiththechallengeofhiskind。

Hiskind？Hehadalmostforgottenthathewasamanandnotanape。

Hetuggedathisbonds。God，ifhecouldbutgetthemnearthosestrongteethofhis。Hefeltawildwaveofmadnesssweepoverhimashiseffortstoregainhislibertymetwithfailure。

Numawasroaringalmostcontinuallynow。Itwasquiteevidentthathewascomingdownintothedeserttohunt。

Itwastheroarofahungrylion。Tarzanenviedhim，forhewasfree。Noonewouldtiehimwithropesandslaughterhimlikeasheep。Itwasthatwhichgalledtheape—man。

Hedidnotfeartodie，no——itwasthehumiliationofdefeatbeforedeath，withoutevenachancetobattleforhislife。

Itmustbenearmidnight，thoughtTarzan。Hehadseveralhourstolive。PossiblyhewouldyetfindawaytotakeRokoffwithhimonthelongjourney。Hecouldhearthesavagelordofthedesertquiteclosebynow。PossiblyhesoughthismeatfromamongthepennedanimalswithintheDOUAR。

Foralongtimesilencereigned，thenTarzan’strainedearscaughtthesoundofastealthilymovingbody。Itcamefromthesideofthetentnearestthemountains——theback。

Nearerandneareritcame。Hewaited，listeningintently，forittopass。Foratimetherewassilencewithout，suchaterriblesilencethatTarzanwassurprisedthathedidnothearthebreathingoftheanimalhefeltsuremustbecrouchingclosetothebackwallofhistent。

There！Itismovingagain。Closeritcreeps。Tarzanturnshisheadinthedirectionofthesound。Itisverydarkwithinthetent。

Slowlythebackrisesfromtheground，forcedupbytheheadandshouldersofabodythatlooksallblackinthesemi—darkness。

Beyondisafaintglimpseofthedimlystarlitdesert。

AgrimsmileplaysaboutTarzan’slips。AtleastRokoffwillbecheated。Howmadhewillbe！AnddeathwillbemoremercifulthanhecouldhavehopedforatthehandsoftheRussian。

Nowthebackofthetentdropsintoplace，andallisdarknessagain——whateveritisisinsidethetentwithhim。Hehearsitcreepingclosetohim——nowitisbesidehim。Hecloseshiseyesandwaitsforthemightypaw。Uponhisupturnedfacefallsthegentletouchofasofthandgropinginthedark，andthenagirl’svoiceinascarcelyaudiblewhisperpronounceshisname。

"Yes，itisI，"hewhispersinreply。"ButinthenameofHeavenwhoareyou？"

"TheOuled—NailofSisiAissa，"cametheanswer。WhileshespokeTarzancouldfeelherworkingabouthisbonds。

Occasionallythecoldsteelofaknifetouchedhisflesh。

Amomentlaterhewasfree。

"Come！"shewhispered。

Onhandsandkneeshefollowedheroutofthetentbythewayshehadcome。Shecontinuedcrawlingthusflattothegrounduntilshereachedalittlepatchofshrub。Thereshehalteduntilhegainedherside。Foramomenthelookedatherbeforehespoke。

"Icannotunderstand，"hesaidatlast。"Whyareyouhere？

HowdidyouknowthatIwasaprisonerinthattent？

Howdoesithappenthatitisyouwhohavesavedme？"

Shesmiled。"Ihavecomealongwaytonight，"shesaid，"andwehavealongwaytogobeforeweshallbeoutofdanger。

Come;Ishalltellyouallaboutaswego。"

Togethertheyroseandsetoffacrossthedesertinthedirectionofthemountains。

"IwasnotquitesurethatIshouldeverreachyou，"shesaidatlast。"ELADREAisabroadtonight，andafterIleftthehorsesIthinkhewindedmeandwasfollowing——I

wasterriblyfrightened。"

"Whatabravegirl，"hesaid。"Andyouranallthatriskforastranger——analien——anunbeliever？"

Shedrewherselfupveryproudly。

"IamthedaughteroftheSheikKabourbenSaden，"sheanswered。

"IshouldbenofitdaughterofhisifIwouldnotriskmylifetosavethatofthemanwhosavedminewhileheyetthoughtthatIwasbutacommonOuled—Nail。"

"Nevertheless，"heinsisted，"youareaverybravegirl。

ButhowdidyouknowthatIwasaprisonerbackthere？"

"Achmet—din—Taieb，whoismycousinonmyfather’sside，wasvisitingsomefriendswhobelongtothetribethatcapturedyou。

HewasattheDOUARwhenyouwerebroughtin。WhenhereachedhomehewastellingusaboutthebigFrenchmanwhohadbeencapturedbyAli—ben—AhmedforanotherFrenchmanwhowishedtokillhim。FromthedescriptionIknewthatitmustbeyou。

Myfatherwasaway。Itriedtopersuadesomeofthementocomeandsaveyou，buttheywouldnotdoit，saying:`Lettheunbelieverskilloneanotheriftheywish。Itisnoneofouraffair，andifwegoandinterferewithAli—ben—Ahmed’splansweshallonlystirupafightwithourownpeople。’

"SowhenitwasdarkIcamealone，ridingonehorseandleadinganotherforyou。Theyaretetherednotfarfromhere。

Bymorningweshallbewithinmyfather’sDOUAR。

Heshouldbetherehimselfbynow——thenletthemcomeandtrytotakeKadourbenSaden’sfriend。"

Forafewmomentstheywalkedoninsilence。

"Weshouldbenearthehorses，"shesaid。"ItisstrangethatIdonotseethemhere。"

Thenamomentlatershestopped，withalittlecryofconsternation。

"Theyaregone！"sheexclaimed。"ItisherethatItetheredthem。"

Tarzanstoopedtoexaminetheground。Hefoundthatalargeshrubhadbeentornupbytheroots。Thenhefoundsomethingelse。Therewasawrysmileonhisfaceasheroseandturnedtowardthegirl。

"ELADREAhasbeenhere。Fromthesigns，though，Iratherthinkthathispreyescapedhim。Withalittlestarttheywouldbesafeenoughfromhimintheopen。"

Therewasnothingtodobutcontinueonfoot。Thewayledthemacrossalowspurofthemountains，butthegirlknewthetrailaswellasshedidhermother’sface。

Theywalkedineasy，swingingstrides，Tarzankeepingahand’sbreadthbehindthegirl’sshoulder，thatshemightsetthepace，andthusbelessfatigued。Astheywalkedtheytalked，occasionallystoppingtolistenforsoundsofpursuit。

Itwasnowabeautiful，moonlitnight。Theairwascrispandinvigorating。Behindthemlaytheinterminablevistaofthedesert，dottedhereandtherewithanoccasionaloasis。

Thedatepalmsofthelittlefertilespottheyhadjustleft，andthecircleofgoatskintents，stoodoutinsharpreliefagainsttheyellowsand——aphantomparadiseuponaphantomsea。