第8章

Beforethemrosethegrimandsilentmountains。Tarzan’sbloodleapedinhisveins。Thiswaslife！Helookeddownuponthegirlbesidehim——adaughterofthedesertwalkingacrossthefaceofadeadworldwithasonofthejungle。Hesmiledatthethought。Hewishedthathehadhadasister，andthatshehadbeenlikethisgirl。Whatabullychumshewouldhavebeen！

Theyhadenteredthemountainsnow，andwereprogressingmoreslowly，forthetrailwassteeperandveryrocky。

Forafewminutestheyhadbeensilent。Thegirlwaswonderingiftheywouldreachherfather’sDOUARbeforethepursuithadovertakenthem。Tarzanwaswishingthattheymightwalkonthusforever。Ifthegirlwereonlyamantheymight。Helongedforafriendwholovedthesamewildlifethatheloved。Hehadlearnedtocravecompanionship，butitwashismisfortunethatmostofthemenheknewpreferredimmaculatelinenandtheirclubstonakednessandthejungle。Itwas，ofcourse，difficulttounderstand，yetitwasveryevidentthattheydid。

Thetwohadjustturnedaprojectingrockaroundwhichthetrailranwhentheywerebroughttoasuddenstop。

There，beforethem，directlyinthemiddleofthepath，stoodNuma，ELADREA，theblacklion。Hisgreeneyeslookedverywicked，andhebaredhisteeth，andlashedhisbay—blacksideswithhisangrytail。Thenheroared——thefearsome，terror—

inspiringroarofthehungrylionwhichisalsoangry。

"Yourknife，"saidTarzantothegirl，extendinghishand。

Sheslippedthehiltoftheweaponintohiswaitingpalm。

Ashisfingerscloseduponithedrewherbackandpushedherbehindhim。"Walkbacktothedesertasrapidlyasyoucan。

Ifyouhearmecallyouwillknowthatalliswell，andyoumayreturn。"

"Itisuseless，"shereplied，resignedly。"Thisistheend。"

"DoasItellyou，"hecommanded。"Quickly！Heisabouttocharge。"Thegirldroppedbackafewpaces，whereshestoodwatchingfortheterriblesightthatsheknewsheshouldsoonwitness。

ThelionwasadvancingslowlytowardTarzan，hisnosetotheground，likeachallengingbull，histailextendednowandquiveringasthoughwithintenseexcitement。

Theape—manstood，halfcrouching，thelongArabknifeglisteninginthemoonlight。Behindhimthetensefigureofthegirl，motionlessasacarvenstatue。Sheleanedslightlyforward，herlipsparted，hereyeswide。Heronlyconsciousthoughtwaswonderatthebraveryofthemanwhodaredfacewithapunyknifethelordwiththelargehead。Amanofherownbloodwouldhavekneltinprayerandgonedownbeneaththoseawfulfangswithoutresistance。Ineithercasetheresultwouldbethesame——itwasinevitable;butshecouldnotrepressathrillofadmirationashereyesrestedupontheheroicfigurebeforeher。Notatremorinthewholegiantframe——hisattitudeasmenacinganddefiantasthatofELADREAhimself。

Thelionwasquiteclosetohimnow——butafewpacesintervened——hecrouched，andthen，withadeafeningroar，hesprang。

Chapter11

JohnCaldwell，LondonAsNumaELADREAlaunchedhimselfwithwidespreadpawsandbaredfangshelookedtofindthispunymanaseasypreyasthescorewhohadgonedownbeneathhiminthepast。Tohimmanwasaclumsy，slow—moving，defenselesscreature——hehadlittlerespectforhim。

Butthistimehefoundthathewaspittedagainstacreatureasagileandasquickashimself。Whenhismightyframestruckthespotwherethemanhadbeenhewasnolongerthere。

Thewatchinggirlwastransfixedbyastonishmentattheeasewithwhichthecrouchingmaneludedthegreatpaws。

Andnow，OAllah！HehadrushedinbehindELADREA’S

shoulderevenbeforethebeastcouldturn，andhadgraspedhimbythemane。Thelionreareduponhishindlegslikeahorse——Tarzanhadknownthathewoulddothis，andhewasready。

Agiantarmencircledtheblack—manedthroat，andonce，twice，adozentimesasharpbladedartedinandoutofthebay—blacksidebehindtheleftshoulder。

FranticweretheleapsofNuma——awfulhisroarsofrageandpain;butthegiantuponhisbackcouldnotbedislodgedorbroughtwithinreachoffangsortalonsinthebriefintervaloflifethatremainedtothelordwiththelargehead。

HewasquitedeadwhenTarzanoftheApesreleasedhisholdandarose。ThenthedaughterofthedesertwitnessedathingthatterrifiedherevenmorethanhadthepresenceofELADREA。

Themanplacedafootuponthecarcassofhiskill，and，withhishandsomefaceraisedtowardthefullmoon，gavevoicetothemostfrightfulcrythateverhadsmoteuponherears。

Withalittlecryoffearsheshrankawayfromhim——shethoughtthatthefearfulstrainoftheencounterhaddrivenhimmad。Asthelastnoteofthatfiendishchallengediedoutinthediminishingechoesofthedistancethemandroppedhiseyesuntiltheyresteduponthegirl。

Instantlyhisfacewaslightedbythekindlysmilethatwasampleassuranceofhissanity，andthegirlbreathedfreelyonceagain，smilinginresponse。

"Whatmannerofmanareyou？"sheasked。"Thethingyouhavedoneisunheardof。EvennowIcannotbelievethatitispossibleforalonemanarmedonlywithaknifetohavefoughthandtohandwithELADREAandconqueredhim，unscathed——tohaveconqueredhimatall。Andthatcry——itwasnothuman。Whydidyoudothat？"

Tarzanflushed。"ItisbecauseIforget，"hesaid，"sometimes，thatIamacivilizedman。WhenIkillitmustbethatIamanothercreature。"Hedidnottrytoexplainfurther，foritalwaysseemedtohimthatawomanmustlookwithloathingupononewhowasyetsonearlyabeast。

Togethertheycontinuedtheirjourney。Thesunwasanhourhighwhentheycameoutintothedesertagainbeyondthemountains。Besidealittlerivulettheyfoundthegirl’shorsesgrazing。Theyhadcomethisfarontheirwayhome，andwiththecauseoftheirfearnolongerpresenthadstoppedtofeed。

WithlittletroubleTarzanandthegirlcaughtthem，and，mounting，rodeoutintothedeserttowardtheDOUARofSheikKadourbenSaden。

Nosignofpursuitdeveloped，andtheycameinsafetyaboutnineo’clocktotheirdestination。Thesheikhadbutjustreturned。Hewasfranticwithgriefattheabsenceofhisdaughter，whomhethoughthadbeenagainabductedbythemarauders。WithfiftymenhewasalreadymountedtogoinsearchofherwhenthetworodeintotheDOUAR。

HisjoyatthesafereturnofhisdaughterwasonlyequaledbyhisgratitudetoTarzanforbringinghersafelytohimthroughthedangersofthenight，andhisthankfulnessthatshehadbeenintimetosavethemanwhohadoncesavedher。

NohonorthatKadourbenSadencouldheapupontheape—

maninacknowledgmentofhisesteemandfriendshipwasneglected。WhenthegirlhadrecitedthestoryoftheslayingofELADREATarzanwassurroundedbyamobofworshipingArabs——itwasasureroadtotheiradmirationandrespect。

TheoldsheikinsistedthatTarzanremainindefinitelyashisguest。Heevenwishedtoadopthimasamemberofthetribe，andtherewasforsometimeahalf—formedresolutionintheape—man’smindtoacceptandremainforeverwiththesewildpeople，whomheunderstoodandwhoseemedtounderstandhim。

Hisfriendshipandlikingforthegirlwerepotentfactorsinurginghimtowardanaffirmativedecision。

Hadshebeenaman，heargued，heshouldnothavehesitated，foritwouldhavemeantafriendafterhisownheart，withwhomhecouldrideandhuntatwill;butasitwastheywouldbehedgedbytheconventionalitiesthatareevenmorestrictlyobservedbythewildnomadsofthedesertthanbytheirmorecivilizedbrothersandsisters。Andinalittlewhileshewouldbemarriedtooneoftheseswarthywarriors，andtherewouldbeanendtotheirfriendship。Sohedecidedagainstthesheik’sproposal，thoughheremainedaweekashisguest。

Whenheleft，KadourbenSadenandfiftywhite—robedwarriorsrodewithhimtoBouSaada。WhiletheyweremountingintheDOUARofKadourbenSadenthemorningoftheirdeparture，thegirlcametobidfarewelltoTarzan。

"Ihaveprayedthatyouwouldremainwithus，"shesaidsimply，asheleanedfromhissaddletoclaspherhandinfarewell，"andnowIshallpraythatyouwillreturn。"

Therewasanexpressionofwistfulnessinherbeautifuleyes，andapatheticdroopatthecornersofhermouth。

Tarzanwastouched。

"Whoknows？"andthenheturnedandrodeafterthedepartingArabs。

OutsideBouSaadahebadeKadourbenSadenandhismengood—by，fortherewerereasonswhichmadehimwishtomakehisentryintothetownassecretaspossible，andwhenhehadexplainedthemtothesheikthelatterconcurredinhisdecision。TheArabsweretoenterBouSaadaaheadofhim，sayingnothingastohispresencewiththem。

LaterTarzanwouldcomeinalone，andgodirectlytoanobscurenativeinn。

Thus，makinghisentranceafterdark，ashedid，hewasnotseenbyanyonewhoknewhim，andreachedtheinnunobserved。

AfterdiningwithKadourbenSadenashisguest，hewenttohisformerhotelbyaroundaboutway，and，cominginbyarearentrance，soughttheproprietor，whoseemedmuchsurprisedtoseehimalive。

Yes，therewasmailformonsieur;hewouldfetchit。

No，hewouldmentionmonsieur’sreturntonoone。

Presentlyhereturnedwithapacketofletters。Onewasanorderfromhissuperiortolayoffonhispresentwork，andhastentoCapeTownbythefirststeamerhecouldget。

Hisfurtherinstructionswouldbeawaitinghimthereinthehandsofanotheragentwhosenameandaddressweregiven。

Thatwasall——briefbutexplicit。TarzanarrangedtoleaveBouSaadaearlythenextmorning。ThenhestartedforthegarrisontoseeCaptainGerard，whomthehotelmanhadtoldhimhadreturnedwithhisdetachmentthepreviousday。

Hefoundtheofficerinhisquarters。HewasfilledwithsurpriseandpleasureatseeingTarzanaliveandwell。

"WhenLieutenantGernoisreturnedandreportedthathehadnotfoundyouatthespotthatyouhadchosentoremainwhilethedetachmentwasscouting，Iwasfilledwithalarm。

Wesearchedthemountainfordays。Thencamewordthatyouhadbeenkilledandeatenbyalion。Asproofyourgunwasbroughttous。Yourhorsehadreturnedtocamptheseconddayafteryourdisappearance。Wecouldnotdoubt。

LieutenantGernoiswasgrief—stricken——hetookalltheblameuponhimself。Itwashewhoinsistedoncarryingonthesearchhimself。ItwashewhofoundtheArabwithyourgun。

Hewillbedelightedtoknowthatyouaresafe。"

"Doubtless，"saidTarzan，withagrimsmile。

"Heisdowninthetownnow，orIshouldsendforhim，"

continuedCaptainGerard。"Ishalltellhimassoonashereturns。"

Tarzanlettheofficerthinkthathehadbeenlost，wanderingfinallyintotheDOUARofKadourbenSaden，whohadescortedhimbacktoBouSaada。Assoonaspossiblehebadethegoodofficeradieu，andhastenedbackintothetown。

AtthenativeinnhehadlearnedthroughKadourbenSadenapieceofinterestinginformation。Ittoldofablack—beardedwhitemanwhowentalwaysdisguisedasanArab。Foratimehehadnursedabrokenwrist。MorerecentlyhehadbeenawayfromBouSaada，butnowhewasback，andTarzanknewhisplaceofconcealment。Itwasforthereheheaded。

Throughnarrow，stinkingalleys，blackasErebus，hegroped，andthenuparicketystairway，attheendofwhichwasacloseddoorandatiny，unglazedwindow。Thewindowwashighundertheloweavesofthemudbuilding。Tarzancouldjustreachthesill。Heraisedhimselfslowlyuntilhiseyestoppedit。Theroomwithinwaslighted，andatatablesatRokoffandGernois。Gernoiswasspeaking。

"Rokoff，youareadevil！"hewassaying。"YouhavehoundedmeuntilIhavelostthelastshredofmyhonor。Youhavedrivenmetomurder，forthebloodofthatmanTarzanisonmyhands。Ifitwerenotthatthatotherdevil’sspawn，Paulvitch，stillknewmysecret，Ishouldkillyouheretonightwithmybarehands。"

Rokofflaughed。"Youwouldnotdothat，mydearlieutenant，"

hesaid。"ThemomentIamreporteddeadbyassassinationthatdearAlexiswillforwardtotheministerofwarfullproofoftheaffairyousoardentlylongtoconceal;and，further，willchargeyouwithmymurder。Come，besensible。

Iamyourbestfriend。HaveInotprotectedyourhonorasthoughitweremyown？"

Gernoissneered，andspatoutanoath。

"Justonemorelittlepayment，"continuedRokoff，"andthepapersIwish，andyouhavemywordofhonorthatIshallneveraskanothercentfromyou，orfurtherinformation。"

"Andagoodreasonwhy，"growledGernois。"Whatyouaskwilltakemylastcent，andtheonlyvaluablemilitarysecretIhold。Yououghttobepayingmefortheinformation，insteadoftakingbothitandmoney，too。"

"Iampayingyoubykeepingastilltongueinmyhead，"

retortedRokoff。"Butlet’shavedone。Willyou，orwillyounot？

Igiveyouthreeminutestodecide。IfyouarenotagreeableIshallsendanotetoyourcommandanttonightthatwillendinthedegradationthatDreyfussuffered——theonlydifferencebeingthathedidnotdeserveit。"

ForamomentGernoissatwithbowedhead。Atlengthhearose。

Hedrewtwopiecesofpaperfromhisblouse。

"Here，"hesaidhopelessly。"Ihadthemready，forIknewthattherecouldbebutoneoutcome。"HeheldthemtowardtheRussian。

Rokoff’scruelfacelightedinmalignantgloating。Heseizedthebitsofpaper。

"Youhavedonewell，Gernois，"hesaid。"Ishallnottroubleyouagain——unlessyouhappentoaccumulatesomemoremoneyorinformation，"andhegrinned。

"Younevershallagain，youdog！"hissedGernois。"ThenexttimeIshallkillyou。Icameneardoingittonight。

ForanhourIsatwiththesetwopiecesofpaperonmytablebeforemeereIcamehere——besidethemlaymyloadedrevolver。

IwastryingtodecidewhichIshouldbring。Nexttimethechoiceshallbeeasier，forIalreadyhavedecided。Youhadaclosecalltonight，Rokoff;donottemptfateasecondtime。"

ThenGernoisrosetoleave。Tarzanbarelyhadtimetodroptothelandingandshrinkbackintotheshadowsonthefarsideofthedoor。Eventhenhescarcelyhopedtoeludedetection。Thelandingwasverysmall，andthoughheflattenedhimselfagainstthewallatitsfaredgehewasscarcelymorethanafootfromthedoorway。Almostimmediatelyitopened，andGernoissteppedout。Rokoffwasbehindhim。

Neitherspoke。Gernoishadtakenperhapsthreestepsdownthestairwaywhenhehaltedandhalfturned，asthoughtoretracehissteps。

Tarzanknewthatdiscoverywouldbeinevitable。Rokoffstillstoodonthethresholdafootfromhim，buthewaslookingintheoppositedirection，towardGernois。Thentheofficerevidentlyreconsideredhisdecision，andresumedhisdownwardcourse。

TarzancouldhearRokoff’ssighofrelief。AmomentlatertheRussianwentbackintotheroomandclosedthedoor。

TarzanwaiteduntilGernoishadhadtimetogetwelloutofhearing，thenhepushedopenthedoorandsteppedintotheroom。HewasontopofRokoffbeforethemancouldrisefromthechairwherehesatscanningthepaperGernoishadgivenhim。Ashiseyesturnedandfellupontheape—man’sfacehisownwentlivid。

"You！"hegasped。

"I，"repliedTarzan。

"Whatdoyouwant？"whisperedRokoff，forthelookintheape—man’seyesfrightenedhim。"Haveyoucometokillme？

Youdonotdare。Theywouldguillotineyou。Youdonotdarekillme。"

"Idarekillyou，Rokoff，"repliedTarzan，"fornooneknowsthatyouarehereorthatIamhere，andPaulvitchwouldtellthemthatitwasGernois。IheardyoutellGernoisso。Butthatwouldnotinfluenceme，Rokoff。IwouldnotcarewhoknewthatIhadkilledyou;thepleasureofkillingyouwouldmorethancompensateforanypunishmenttheymightinflictuponme。

Youarethemostdespicablecurofacoward，Rokoff，Ihaveeverheardof。Youshouldbekilled。Ishouldlovetokillyou，"

andTarzanapproachedclosertotheman。

Rokoff’snerveswerekeyedtothebreakingpoint。Withashriekhesprangtowardanadjoiningroom，buttheape—manwasuponhisbackwhilehisleapwasyetbuthalfcompleted。Ironfingerssoughthisthroat——thegreatcowardsquealedlikeastuckpig，untilTarzanhadshutoffhiswind。Thentheape—mandraggedhimtohisfeet，stillchokinghim。TheRussianstruggledfutilely——hewaslikeababeinthemightygraspofTarzanoftheApes。

Tarzansathiminachair，andlongbeforetherewasdangeroftheman’sdyinghereleasedhisholduponhisthroat。

WhentheRussian’scoughingspellhadabatedTarzanspoketohimagain。

"Ihavegivenyouatasteofthesufferingofdeath，"hesaid。

"ButIshallnotkill——thistime。Iamsparingyousolelyforthesakeofaverygoodwomanwhosegreatmisfortuneitwastohavebeenbornofthesamewomanwhogavebirthtoyou。

ButIshallspareyouonlythisonceonheraccount。

ShouldIeverlearnthatyouhaveagainannoyedherorherhusband——shouldyoueverannoymeagain——shouldI

hearthatyouhavereturnedtoFranceortoanyFrenchposession，IshallmakeitmysolebusinesstohuntyoudownandcompletethechokingIcommencedtonight。"Thenheturnedtothetable，onwhichthetwopiecesofpaperstilllay。

AshepickedthemupRokoffgaspedinhorror。

Tarzanexaminedboththecheckandtheother。Hewasamazedattheinformationthelattercontained。Rokoffhadpartiallyreadit，butTarzanknewthatnoonecouldrememberthesalientfactsandfiguresitheldwhichmadeitofrealvaluetoanenemyofFrance。

"Thesewillinterestthechiefofstaff，"hesaid，asheslippedthemintohispocket。

Rokoffgroaned。Hedidnotdarecursealoud。

ThenextmorningTarzanrodenorthonhiswaytoBouiraandAlgiers。AshehadriddenpastthehotelLieutenantGernoiswasstandingontheveranda。AshiseyesdiscoveredTarzanhewentwhiteaschalk。Theape—manwouldhavebeengladhadthemeetingnotoccurred，buthecouldnotavoidit。

Hesalutedtheofficerasherodepast。MechanicallyGernoisreturnedthesalute，butthoseterrible，wideeyesfollowedthehorseman，expressionlessexceptforhorror。Itwasasthoughadeadmanlookeduponaghost。

AtSidiAissaTarzanmetaFrenchofficerwithwhomhehadbecomeacquaintedontheoccasionofhisrecentsojourninthetown。

"YouleftBouSaadaearly？"questionedtheofficer。

"ThenyouhavenotheardaboutpoorGernois。"

"HewasthelastmanIsawasIrodeaway，"repliedTarzan。

"Whatabouthim？"

"Heisdead。Heshothimselfabouteighto’clockthismorning。"

TwodayslaterTarzanreachedAlgiers。Therehefoundthathewouldhaveatwodays’waitbeforehecouldcatchashipboundforCapeTown。Heoccupiedhistimeinwritingoutafullreportofhismission。ThesecretpapershehadtakenfromRokoffhedidnotinclose，forhedidnotdaretrustthemoutofhisownpossessionuntilhehadbeenauthorizedtoturnthemovertoanotheragent，orhimselfreturntoPariswiththem。

AsTarzanboardedhisshipafterwhatseemedamosttediouswaittohim，twomenwatchedhimfromanupperdeck。

Bothwerefashionablydressedandsmoothshaven。Thetallerofthetwohadsandyhair，buthiseyebrowswereveryblack。

LaterinthedaytheychancedtomeetTarzanondeck，butasonehurriedlycalledhiscompanion’sattentiontosomethingatseatheirfaceswereturnedfromTarzanashepassed，sothathedidnotnoticetheirfeatures。Infact，hehadpaidnoattentiontothematall。

Followingtheinstructionsofhischief，Tarzanhadbookedhispassageunderanassumedname——JohnCaldwell，London。

Hedidnotunderstandthenecessityofthis，anditcausedhimconsiderablespeculation。HewonderedwhatrolehewastoplayinCapeTown。

"Well，"hethought，"thankHeaventhatIamridofRokoff。

Hewascommencingtoannoyme。IwonderifIamreallybecomingsocivilizedthatpresentlyIshalldevelopasetofnerves。Hewouldgivethemtomeifanyonecould，forhedoesnotfightfair。Oneneverknowsthroughwhatnewagencyheisgoingtostrike。ItisasthoughNuma，thelion，hadinducedTantor，theelephant，andHistah，thesnake，tojoinhiminattemptingtokillme。Iwouldthenneverhaveknownwhatminute，orbywhom，Iwastobeattackednext。

Butthebrutesaremorechivalrousthanman——theydonotstooptocowardlyintrigue。"

AtdinnerthatnightTarzansatnexttoayoungwomanwhoseplacewasatthecaptain’sleft。Theofficerintroducedthem。

MissStrong！Wherehadheheardthenamebefore？Itwasveryfamiliar。Andthenthegirl’smothergavehimtheclew，forwhensheaddressedherdaughtershecalledherHazel。

HazelStrong！Whatmemoriesthenameinspired。Ithadbeenalettertothisgirl，pennedbythefairhandofJanePorter，thathadcarriedtohimthefirstmessagefromthewomanheloved。Howvividlyherecalledthenighthehadstolenitfromthedeskinthecabinofhislong—deadfather，whereJanePorterhadsatwritingitlateintothenight，whilehecrouchedinthedarknesswithout。Howterror—

strickenshewouldhavebeenthatnighthadsheknownthatthewildjunglebeastsquattedoutsideherwindow，watchinghereverymove。

AndthiswasHazelStrong——JanePorter’sbestfriend！

Chapter12

ShipsThatPassLetusgobackafewmonthstothelittle，windsweptplatformofarailwaystationinnorthernWisconsin。

Thesmokeofforestfireshangslowoverthesurroundinglandscape，itsacridfumessmartingtheeyesofalittlepartyofsixwhostandwaitingthecomingofthetrainthatistobearthemawaytowardthesouth。

ProfessorArchimedesQ。Porter，hishandsclaspedbeneaththetailsofhislongcoat，pacesbackandforthundertheever—watchfuleyeofhisfaithfulsecretary，Mr。SamuelT。Philander。

Twicewithinthepastfewminuteshehasstartedabsent—mindedlyacrossthetracksinthedirectionofanear—byswamp，onlytoberescuedanddraggedbackbythetirelessMr。Philander。

JanePorter，theprofessor’sdaughter，isinstrainedandlifelessconversationwithWilliamCecilClaytonandTarzanoftheApes。Withinthelittlewaitingroom，butabaremomentbefore，aconfessionofloveandarenunciationhadtakenplacethathadblightedthelivesandhappinessoftwooftheparty，butWilliamCecilClayton，LordGreystoke，wasnotoneofthem。

BehindMissPorterhoveredthemotherlyEsmeralda。She，too，washappy，forwasshenotreturningtoherbelovedMaryland？

Alreadyshecouldseedimlythroughthefogofsmokethemurkyheadlightoftheoncomingengine。Themenbegantogatherupthehandbaggage。SuddenlyClaytonexclaimed。

"ByJove！I’veleftmyulsterinthewaiting—room，"andhastenedofftofetchit。

"Good—bye，Jane，"saidTarzan，extendinghishand。

"Godblessyou！"

"Good—bye，"repliedthegirlfaintly。"Trytoforgetme——no，notthat——Icouldnotbeartothinkthatyouhadforgottenme。"

"Thereisnodangerofthat，dear，"heanswered。"IwishtoHeaventhatImightforget。Itwouldbesomucheasierthantogothroughlifealwaysrememberingwhatmighthavebeen。

Youwillbehappy，though;Iamsureyoushall——youmustbe。

YoumaytelltheothersofmydecisiontodrivemycarontoNewYork——Idon’tfeelequaltobiddingClaytongood—bye。

Iwantalwaystorememberhimkindly，butIfearthatIamtoomuchofawildbeastyettobetrustedtoolongwiththemanwhostandsbetweenmeandtheonepersoninalltheworldIwant。"

AsClaytonstoopedtopickuphiscoatinthewaitingroomhiseyesfellonatelegraphblanklyingfacedownuponthefloor。Hestoopedtopickitup，thinkingitmightbeamessageofimportancewhichsomeonehaddropped。

Heglancedatithastily，andthensuddenlyheforgothiscoat，theapproachingtrain——everythingbutthatterriblelittlepieceofyellowpaperinhishand。Hereadittwicebeforehecouldfullygrasptheterrificweightofmeaningthatitboretohim。

WhenhehadpickedituphehadbeenanEnglishnobleman，theproudandwealthypossessorofvastestates——amomentlaterhehadreadit，andheknewthathewasanuntitledandpennilessbeggar。ItwasD’Arnot’scablegramtoTarzan，anditread:

FingerprintsproveyouGreystoke。Congratulations。

D’ARNOT。

Hestaggeredasthoughhehadreceivedamortalblow。

Justthenheheardtheotherscallingtohimtohurry——thetrainwascomingtoastopatthelittleplatform。

Likeamandazedhegathereduphisulster。Hewouldtellthemaboutthecablegramwhentheywereallonboardthetrain。

Thenheranoutupontheplatformjustastheenginewhistledtwiceinthefinalwarningthatprecedesthefirstrumblingjerkofcouplingpins。Theotherswereonboard，leaningoutfromtheplatformofaPullman，cryingtohimtohurry。

Quitefiveminuteselapsedbeforetheyweresettledintheirseats，norwasituntilthenthatClaytondiscoveredthatTarzanwasnotwiththem。

"WhereisTarzan？"heaskedJanePorter。"Inanothercar？"

"No，"shereplied;"atthelastminutehedeterminedtodrivehismachinebacktoNewYork。HeisanxioustoseemoreofAmericathanispossiblefromacarwindow。HeisreturningtoFrance，youknow。"

Claytondidnotreply。HewastryingtofindtherightwordstoexplaintoJanePorterthecalamitythathadbefallenhim——andher。Hewonderedjustwhattheeffectofhisknowledgewouldbeonher。Wouldshestillwishtomarryhim——tobeplainMrs。Clayton？Suddenlytheawfulsacrificewhichoneofthemmustmakeloomedlargebeforehisimagination。

Thencamethequestion:WillTarzanclaimhisown？Theape—manhadknownthecontentsofthemessagebeforehecalmlydeniedknowledgeofhisparentage！HehadadmittedthatKala，theape，washismother！CouldithavebeenforloveofJanePorter？

Therewasnootherexplanationwhichseemedreasonable。