第10章

Hedeeplyregrettedthathehadbeenhasty，buthehadlovedherforsolongatime，andsodevotedly，thathethoughtthateveryonemustknowit。

"FromthefirsttimeIsawyou，Hazel，"hesaid，"Ihavelovedyou。Iamwillingtowait，forIamcertainthatsogreatandpurealoveasminewillberewarded。AllthatIcaretoknowisthatyoudonotloveanother。Willyoutellme？"

"Ihaveneverbeeninloveinmylife，"shereplied，andhewasquitesatisfied。Onthewayhomethatnighthepurchasedasteamyacht，andbuiltamillion—dollarvillaontheBlackSea。

ThenextdayHazelStrongenjoyedoneofthehappiestsurprisesofherlife——sheranfacetofaceuponJanePorterasshewascomingoutofajeweler’sshop。

"Why，JanePorter！"sheexclaimed。"Whereintheworlddidyoudropfrom？Why，Ican’tbelievemyowneyes。"

"Well，ofallthings！"criedtheequallyastonishedJane。

"AndhereIhavebeenwastingwholereamsofperfectlygoodimaginationpicturingyouinBaltimore——theveryidea！"Andshethrewherarmsaboutherfriendoncemore，andkissedheradozentimes。

BythetimemutualexplanationshadbeenmadeHazelknewthatLordTennington’syachthadputinatCapeTownforatleastaweek’sstay，andattheendofthattimewastocontinueonhervoyage——thistimeuptheWestCoast——andsobacktoEngland。"Where，"concludedJane，"Iamtobemarried。"

"Thenyouarenotmarriedyet？"askedHazel。

"Notyet，"repliedJane，andthen，quiteirrelevantly，"IwishEnglandwereamillionmilesfromhere。

VisitswereexchangedbetweentheyachtandHazel’srelatives。

Dinnerswerearranged，andtripsintothesurroundingcountrytoentertainthevisitors。MonsieurThuranwasawelcomeguestateveryfunction。Hegaveadinnerhimselftothemenoftheparty，andmanagedtoingratiatehimselfinthegoodwillofLordTenningtonbymanylittleactsofhospitality。

MonsieurThuranhadhearddroppedahintofsomethingwhichmightresultfromthisunexpectedvisitofLordTennington’syacht，andhewantedtobecountedinonit。

OncewhenhewasalonewiththeEnglishmanhetookoccasiontomakeitquiteplainthathisengagementtoMissStrongwastobeannouncedimmediatelyupontheirreturntoAmerica。

"Butnotawordofit，mydearTennington——notawordofit。"

"Certainly，Iquiteunderstand，mydearfellow，"Tenningtonhadreplied。"Butyouaretobecongratulated——rippinggirl，don’tyouknow——really。"

Thenextdayitcame。Mrs。Strong，Hazel，andMonsieurThuranwereLordTennington’sguestsaboardhisyacht。

Mrs。StronghadbeentellingthemhowmuchshehadenjoyedhervisitatCapeTown，andthatsheregrettedthataletterjustreceivedfromherattorneysinBaltimorehadnecessitatedhercuttinghervisitshorterthantheyhadintended。

"Whendoyousail？"askedTennington。

"Thefirstoftheweek，Ithink，"shereplied。

"Indeed？"exclaimedMonsieurThuran。"Iamveryfortunate。

I，too，havefoundthatImustreturnatonce，andnowIshallhavethehonorofaccompanyingandservingyou。"

"Thatisniceofyou，MonsieurThuran，"repliedMrs。Strong。

"Iamsurethatweshallbegladtoplaceourselvesunderyourprotection。"Butinthebottomofherheartwasthewishthattheymightescapehim。Why，shecouldnothavetold。

"ByJove！"ejaculatedLordTennington，amomentlater。

"Bullyidea，byJove！"

"Yes，Tennington，ofcourse，"venturedClayton;"itmustbeabullyideaifyouhadit，butwhatthedeuceisit？

Goin’tosteamtoChinaviathesouthpole？"

"Oh，Isaynow，Clayton，"returnedTennington，"youneedn’tbesoroughonafellowjustbecauseyoudidn’thappentosuggestthistripyourself——you’veactedaregularboundereversincewesailed。

"No，sir，"hecontinued，"it’sabullyidea，andyou’llallsayso。It’stotakeMrs。StrongandMissStrong，andThuran，too，ifhe’llcome，asfarasEnglandwithusontheyacht。

Now，isn’tthatacorker？"

"Forgiveme，Tenny，oldboy，"criedClayton。"ItcertainlyISacorkingidea——Inevershouldhavesuspectedyouofit。

You’requitesureit’soriginal，areyou？"

"Andwe’llsailthefirstoftheweek，oranyothertimethatsuitsyourconvenience，Mrs。Strong，"concludedthebig—heartedEnglishman，asthoughthethingwereallarrangedexceptthesailingdate。

"Mercy，LordTennington，youhaven’tevengivenusanopportunitytothankyou，muchlessdecidewhetherweshallbeabletoacceptyourgenerousinvitation，"saidMrs。Strong。

"Why，ofcourseyou’llcome，"respondedTennington。

"We’llmakeasgoodtimeasanypassengerboat，andyou’llbefullyascomfortable;and，anyway，weallwantyou，andwon’ttakenoforananswer。"

AndsoitwassettledthattheyshouldsailthefollowingMonday。

TwodaysoutthegirlsweresittinginHazel’scabin，lookingatsomeprintsshehadhadfinishedinCapeTown。

TheyrepresentedallthepicturesshehadtakensinceshehadleftAmerica，andthegirlswerebothengrossedinthem，Janeaskingmanyquestions，andHazelkeepingupaperfecttorrentofcommentandexplanationofthevariousscenesandpeople。

"Andhere，"shesaidsuddenly，"here’samanyouknow。

Poorfellow，Ihavesooftenintendedaskingyouabouthim，butIneverhavebeenabletothinkofitwhenweweretogether。"

ShewasholdingthelittleprintsothatJanedidnotseethefaceofthemanitportrayed。

"HisnamewasJohnCaldwell，"continuedHazel。"Doyourecallhim？

HesaidthathemetyouinAmerica。HeisanEnglishman。"

"Idonotrecollectthename，"repliedJane。"Letmeseethepicture。"

"Thepoorfellowwaslostoverboardonourtripdownthecoast，"shesaid，asshehandedtheprinttoJane。

"Lostover——Why，Hazel，Hazel——don’ttellmethatheisdead——drownedatsea！Hazel！Whydon’tyousaythatyouarejoking！"

AndbeforetheastonishedMissStrongcouldcatchherJanePorterhadslippedtothefloorinaswoon。

AfterHazelhadrestoredherchumtoconsciousnessshesatlookingatherforalongtimebeforeeitherspoke。

"Ididnotknow，Jane，"saidHazel，inaconstrainedvoice，"thatyouknewMr。Caldwellsointimatelythathisdeathcouldprovesuchashocktoyou。"

"JohnCaldwell？"questionedMissPorter。"Youdonotmeantotellmethatyoudonotknowwhothismanwas，Hazel？"

"Why，yes，Jane;Iknowperfectlywellwhohewas——hisnamewasJohnCaldwell;hewasfromLondon。"

"Oh，Hazel，IwishIcouldbelieveit，"moanedthegirl。

"IwishIcouldbelieveit，butthosefeaturesareburnedsodeepintomymemoryandmyheartthatIshouldrecognizethemanywhereintheworldfromamongathousandothers，whomightappearidenticaltoanyonebutme。"

"Whatdoyoumean，Jane？"criedHazel，nowthoroughlyalarmed。

"Whodoyouthinkitis？"

"Idon’tthink，Hazel。IknowthatthatisapictureofTarzanoftheApes。"

"Jane！"

"Icannotbemistaken。Oh，Hazel，areyousurethatheisdead？

Cantherebenomistake？"

"Iamafraidnot，dear，"answeredHazelsadly。"IwishI

couldthinkthatyouaremistaken，butnowahundredandonelittlepiecesofcorroborativeevidenceoccurtomethatmeantnothingtomewhileIthoughtthathewasJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。HesaidthathehadbeenborninAfrica，andeducatedinFrance。"

"Yes，thatwouldbetrue，"murmuredJanePorterdully。

"Thefirstofficer，whosearchedhisluggage，foundnothingtoidentifyJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。Practicallyallhisbelongingshadbeenmade，orpurchased，inParis。Everythingthatboreaninitialwasmarkedeitherwitha`T’alone，orwith`J。C。T。’Wethoughtthathewastravelingincognitounderhisfirsttwonames——theJ。C。standingforJohnCaldwell。"

"TarzanoftheApestookthenameJeanC。Tarzan，"saidJane，inthesamelifelessmonotone。"Andheisdead！Oh！

Hazel，itishorrible！Hediedallaloneinthisterribleocean！

Itisunbelievablethatthatbraveheartshouldhaveceasedtobeat——thatthosemightymusclesarequietandcoldforever！

Thathewhowasthepersonificationoflifeandhealthandmanlystrengthshouldbethepreyofslimy，crawlingthings，that——"Butshecouldgonofurther，andwithalittlemoansheburiedherheadinherarms，andsanksobbingtothefloor。

FordaysMissPorterwasill，andwouldseenooneexceptHazelandthefaithfulEsmeralda。Whenatlastshecameondeckallwerestruckbythesadchangethathadtakenplaceinher。Shewasnolongerthealert，vivaciousAmericanbeautywhohadcharmedanddelightedallwhocameincontactwithher。Insteadshewasaveryquietandsadlittlegirl——withanexpressionofhopelesswistfulnessthatnonebutHazelStrongcouldinterpret。

Theentirepartystrovetheirutmosttocheerandamuseher，butalltonoavail。OccasionallythejollyLordTenningtonwouldwringawansmilefromher，butforthemostpartshesatwithwideeyeslookingoutacrossthesea。

WithJanePorter’sillnessonemisfortuneafteranotherseemedtoattacktheyacht。Firstanenginebrokedown，andtheydriftedfortwodayswhiletemporaryrepairswerebeingmade。

Thenasquallstruckthemunaware，thatcarriedoverboardnearlyeverythingabovedeckthatwasportable。Latertwooftheseamenfelltofightingintheforecastle，withtheresultthatoneofthemwasbadlywoundedwithaknife，andtheotherhadtobeputinirons。Then，tocaptheclimax，thematefelloverboardatnight，andwasdrownedbeforehelpcouldreachhim。Theyachtcruisedaboutthespotfortenhours，butnosignofthemanwasseenafterhedisappearedfromthedeckintothesea。

Everymemberofthecrewandguestswasgloomyanddepressedaftertheseseriesofmisfortunes。Allwereapprehensiveofworsetocome，andthiswasespeciallytrueoftheseamenwhorecalledallsortsofterribleomensandwarningsthathadoccurredduringtheearlypartofthevoyage，andwhichtheycouldnowclearlytranslateintotheprecursorsofsomegrimandterribletragedytocome。

Nordidthecroakershavelongtowait。Thesecondnightafterthedrowningofthematethelittleyachtwassuddenlywrackedfromstemtostern。Aboutoneo’clockinthemorningtherewasaterrificimpactthatthrewtheslumberingguestsandcrewfromberthandbunk。Amightyshudderranthroughthefrailcraft;shelayfarovertostarboard;theenginesstopped。Foramomentshehungtherewithherdecksatanangleofforty—fivedegrees——then，withasullen，rendingsound，sheslippedbackintotheseaandrighted。

Instantlythemenrushedupondeck，followedcloselybythewomen。Thoughthenightwascloudy，therewaslittlewindorsea，norwasitsodarkbutthatjustofftheportbowablackmasscouldbediscernedfloatinglowinthewater。

"Aderelict，"wastheterseexplanationoftheofficerofthewatch。

Presentlytheengineerhurriedondeckinsearchofthecaptain。

"Thatpatchweputonthecylinderhead’sblownout，sir，"hereported，"andshe’smakin’waterfastfor’ardontheportbow。"

Aninstantlateraseamanrushedupfrombelow。

"MyGawd！"hecried。"Herwholebleedin’bottom’srippedout。Shecan’tfloattwentyminutes。"

"Shutup！"roaredTennington。"Ladies，gobelowandgetsomeofyourthingstogether。Itmaynotbesobadasthat，butwemayhavetotaketotheboats。Itwillbesafertobeprepared。Goatonce，please。And，CaptainJerrold，sendsomecompetentmanbelow，please，toascertaintheexactextentofthedamage。InthemeantimeImightsuggestthatyouhavetheboatsprovisioned。"

Thecalm，lowvoiceoftheownerdidmuchtoreassuretheentireparty，andamomentlaterallwereoccupiedwiththedutieshehadsuggested。Bythetimetheladieshadreturnedtothedecktherapidprovisioningoftheboatshadbeenaboutcompleted，andamomentlatertheofficerwhohadgonebelowhadreturnedtoreport。ButhisopinionwasscarcelyneededtoassurethehuddledgroupofmenandwomenthattheendoftheLADYALICEwasathand。

"Well，sir？"saidthecaptain，ashisofficerhesitated。

"Idisliketofrightentheladies，sir，"hesaid，"butshecan’tfloatadozenminutes，inmyopinion。There’saholeinheryoucoulddriveaballycowthrough，sir。"

ForfiveminutestheLADYALICEhadbeensettlingrapidlybythebow。Alreadyhersternloomedhighintheair，andfootholdonthedeckwasofthemostprecariousnature。

Shecarriedfourboats，andthesewereallfilledandloweredawayinsafety。AstheypulledrapidlyfromthestrickenlittlevesselJanePorterturnedtohaveonelastlookather。

Justthentherecamealoudcrashandanominousrumblingandpoundingfromtheheartoftheship——hermachineryhadbrokenloose，andwasdashingitswaytowardthebow，tearingoutpartitionsandbulkheadsasitwent——thesternroserapidlyhighabovethem;foramomentsheseemedtopausethere——averticalshaftprotrudingfromthebosomoftheocean，andthenswiftlyshedoveheadforemostbeneaththewaves。

InoneoftheboatsthebraveLordTenningtonwipedatearfromhiseye——hehadnotseenafortuneinmoneygodownforeverintothesea，butadear，beautifulfriendwhomhehadloved。

Atlastthelongnightbroke，andatropicalsunsmotedownupontherollingwater。JanePorterhaddroppedintoafitfulslumber——thefiercelightofthesunuponherupturnedfaceawokeher。Shelookedabouther。Intheboatwithherwerethreesailors，Clayton，andMonsieurThuran。Thenshelookedfortheotherboats，butasfarastheeyecouldreachtherewasnothingtobreakthefearfulmonotonyofthatwasteofwaters——theywerealoneinasmallboatuponthebroadAtlantic。

Chapter14

BacktothePrimitiveAsTarzanstruckthewater，hisfirstimpulsewastoswimclearoftheshipandpossibledangerfromherpropellers。Heknewwhomtothankforhispresentpredicament，andashelayinthesea，justsupportinghimselfbyagentlemovementofhishands，hischiefemotionwasoneofchagrinthathehadbeensoeasilybestedbyRokoff。

Helaythusforsometime，watchingtherecedingandrapidlydiminishinglightsofthesteamerwithoutiteveronceoccurringtohimtocallforhelp。Heneverhadcalledforhelpinhislife，andsoitisnotstrangethathedidnotthinkofitnow。Alwayshadhedependeduponhisownprowessandresourcefulness，norhadthereeverbeensincethedaysofKalaanytoansweranappealforsuccor。Whenitdidoccurtohimitwastoolate。

Therewas，thoughtTarzan，apossibleonechanceinahundredthousandthathemightbepickedup，andanevensmallerchancethathewouldreachland，sohedeterminedthattocombinewhatslightchancestherewere，hewouldswimslowlyinthedirectionofthecoast——theshipmighthavebeencloserinthanhehadknown。

Hisstrokeswerelongandeasy——itwouldbemanyhoursbeforethosegiantmuscleswouldcommencetofeelfatigue。

Asheswam，guidedtowardtheeastbythestars，henoticedthathefelttheweightofhisshoes，andsoheremovedthem。

Histrouserswentnext，andhewouldhaveremovedhiscoatatthesametimebutforthepreciouspapersinitspocket。

Toassurehimselfthathestillhadthemheslippedhishandintofeel，buttohisconsternationtheyweregone。

NowheknewthatsomethingmorethanrevengehadpromptedRokofftopitchhimoverboard——theRussianhadmanagedtoobtainpossessionofthepapersTarzanhadwrestedfromhimatBouSaada。Theape—mansworesoftly，andlethiscoatandshirtsinkintotheAtlantic。Beforemanyhourshehaddivestedhimselfofhisremaininggarments，andwasswimmingeasilyandunencumberedtowardtheeast。

Thefirstfaintevidenceofdawnwaspalingthestarsaheadofhimwhenthedimoutlinesofalow—lyingblackmassloomedupdirectlyinhistrack。Afewstrongstrokesbroughthimtoitsside——itwasthebottomofawave—washedderelict。

Tarzanclambereduponit——hewouldrestthereuntildaylightatleast。Hehadnointentiontoremainthereinactive——apreytohungerandthirst。Ifhemustdiehepreferreddyinginactionwhilemakingsomesemblanceofanattempttosavehimself。

Theseawasquiet，sothatthewreckhadonlyagentlyundulatingmotion，thatwasnothingtotheswimmerwhohadhadnosleepfortwentyhours。TarzanoftheApescurledupupontheslimytimbers，andwassoonasleep。

Theheatofthesunawokehimearlyintheforenoon。

Hisfirstconscioussensationwasofthirst，whichgrewalmosttotheproportionsofsufferingwithfullreturningconsciousness;butamomentlateritwasforgotteninthejoyoftwoalmostsimultaneousdiscoveries。Thefirstwasamassofwreckagefloatingbesidethederelictinthemidstofwhich，bottomup，roseandfellanoverturnedlifeboat;

theotherwasthefaint，dimlineofafar—distantshoreshowingonthehorizonintheeast。

Tarzandoveintothewater，andswamaroundthewrecktothelifeboat。Thecooloceanrefreshedhimalmostasmuchaswouldadraftofwater，sothatitwaswithrenewedvigorthathebroughtthesmallerboatalongsidethederelict，and，aftermanyherculeanefforts，succeededindraggingitontotheslimyship’sbottom。Thereherightedandexaminedit——theboatwasquitesound，andamomentlaterfloateduprightalongsidethewreck。ThenTarzanselectedseveralpiecesofwreckagethatmightanswerhimaspaddles，andpresentlywasmakinggoodheadwaytowardthefar—offshore。

Itwaslateintheafternoonbythetimehecamecloseenoughtodistinguishobjectsonland，ortomakeoutthecontouroftheshoreline。Beforehimlaywhatappearedtobetheentrancetoalittle，landlockedharbor。Thewoodedpointtothenorthwasstrangelyfamiliar。Coulditbepossiblethatfatehadthrownhimupattheverythresholdofhisownbelovedjungle！Butasthebowofhisboatenteredthemouthoftheharborthelastshredofdoubtwasclearedaway，fortherebeforehimuponthefarthershore，undertheshadowsofhisprimevalforest，stoodhisowncabin——builtbeforehisbirthbythehandofhislong—deadfather，JohnClayton，LordGreystoke。

WithlongsweepsofhisgiantmusclesTarzansentthelittlecraftspeedingtowardthebeach。Itsprowhadscarcelytouchedwhentheape—manleapedtoshore——hisheartbeatfastinjoyandexultationaseachlong—familiarobjectcamebeneathhisrovingeyes——thecabin，thebeach，thelittlebrook，thedensejungle，theblack，impenetrableforest。

Themyriadbirdsintheirbrilliantplumage——thegorgeoustropicalbloomsuponthefestoonedcreepersfallingingreatloopsfromthegianttrees。

TarzanoftheApeshadcomeintohisownagain，andthatalltheworldmightknowithethrewbackhisyounghead，andgavevoicetothefierce，wildchallengeofhistribe。

Foramomentsilencereigneduponthejungle，andthen，lowandweird，cameanansweringchallenge——itwasthedeeproarofNuma，thelion;andfromagreatdistance，faintly，thefearsomeansweringbellowofabullape。

Tarzanwenttothebrookfirst，andslakedhisthirst。

Thenheapproachedhiscabin。ThedoorwasstillclosedandlatchedasheandD’Arnothadleftit。Heraisedthelatchandentered。Nothinghadbeendisturbed;therewerethetable，thebed，andthelittlecribbuiltbyhisfather——theshelvesandcupboardsjustastheyhadstoodforevertwenty—threeyears——justashehadleftthemnearlytwoyearsbefore。

Hiseyessatisfied，Tarzan’sstomachbegantocallaloudforattention——thepangsofhungersuggestedasearchforfood。

Therewasnothinginthecabin，norhadheanyweapons;

butuponawallhungoneofhisoldgrassropes。Ithadbeenmanytimesbrokenandspliced，sothathehaddiscardeditforabetteronelongbefore。Tarzanwishedthathehadaknife。

Well，unlesshewasmistakenheshouldhavethatandaspearandbowsandarrowsbeforeanothersunhadset——theropewouldtakecareofthat，andinthemeantimeitmustbemadetoprocurefoodforhim。Hecoileditcarefully，and，throwingitabouthisshoulder，wentout，closingthedoorbehindhim。

Closetothecabinthejunglecommenced，andintoitTarzanoftheApesplunged，waryandnoiseless——oncemoreasavagebeasthuntingitsfood。Foratimehekepttotheground，butfinally，discoveringnospoorindicativeofnearbymeat，hetooktothetrees。Withthefirstdizzyswingfromtreetotreealltheoldjoyoflivingsweptoverhim。

Vainregretsanddullheartachewereforgotten。Nowwasheliving。

Now，indeed，wasthetruehappinessofperfectfreedomhis。

Whowouldgobacktothestifling，wickedcitiesofcivilizedmanwhenthemightyreachesofthegreatjungleofferedpeaceandliberty？Nothe。

WhileitwasyetlightTarzancametoadrinkingplacebythesideofajungleriver。Therewasafordthere，andforcountlessagesthebeastsoftheforesthadcomedowntodrinkatthisspot。HereofanightmightalwaysbefoundeitherSabororNumacrouchinginthedensefoliageofthesurroundingjungleawaitinganantelopeorawaterbuckfortheirmeal。HerecameHorta，theboar，towater，andherecameTarzanoftheApestomakeakill，forhewasveryempty。

Onalowbranchhesquattedabovethetrail。Foranhourhewaited。Itwasgrowingdark。Alittletoonesideofthefordinthedensestthicketheheardthefaintsoundofpaddedfeet，andthebrushingofahugebodyagainsttallgrassesandtangledcreepers。NoneotherthanTarzanmighthaveheardit，buttheape—manheardandtranslated——itwasNuma，thelion，onthesameerrandashimself。Tarzansmiled。

Presentlyheheardananimalapproachingwarilyalongthetrailtowardthedrinkingplace。Amomentmoreanditcameinview——itwasHorta，theboar。Herewasdeliciousmeat——andTarzan’smouthwatered。ThegrasseswhereNumalaywereverystillnow——ominouslystill。HortapassedbeneathTarzan——afewmorestepsandhewouldbewithintheradiusofNuma’sspring。TarzancouldimaginehowoldNuma’seyeswereshining——howhewasalreadysuckinginhisbreathfortheawfulroarwhichwouldfreezehispreyforthebriefinstantbetweenthemomentofthespringandthesinkingofterriblefangsintosplinteringbones。

ButasNumagatheredhimself，aslenderropeflewthroughtheairfromthelowbranchesofanear—bytree。AnoosesettledaboutHorta’sneck。Therewasafrightenedgrunt，asqueal，andthenNumasawhisquarrydraggedbackwardupthetrail，and，ashesprang，Horta，theboar，soaredupwardbeyondhisclutchesintothetreeabove，andamockingfacelookeddownandlaughedintohisown。

ThenindeeddidNumaroar。Angry，threatening，hungry，hepacedbackandforthbeneaththetauntingape—man。

Nowhestopped，and，risingonhishindlegsagainstthestemofthetreethatheldhisenemy，sharpenedhishugeclawsuponthebark，tearingoutgreatpiecesthatlaidbarethewhitewoodbeneath。

AndinthemeantimeTarzanhaddraggedthestrugglingHortatothelimbbesidehim。Sinewyfingerscompletedtheworkthechokingnoosehadcommenced。Theape—manhadnoknife，butnaturehadequippedhimwiththemeansoftearinghisfoodfromthequiveringflankofhisprey，andgleamingteethsankintothesucculentfleshwhiletheraginglionlookedonfrombelowasanotherenjoyedthedinnerthathehadthoughtalreadyhis。

ItwasquitedarkbythetimeTarzanhadgorgedhimself。

Ah，butithadbeendelicious！Neverhadhequiteaccustomedhimselftotheruinedfleshthatcivilizedmenhadservedhim，andinthebottomofhissavagehearttherehadconstantlybeenthecravingforthewarmmeatofthefreshkill，andtherich，redblood。

Hewipedhisbloodyhandsuponabunchofleaves，slungtheremainsofhiskillacrosshisshoulder，andswungoffthroughthemiddleterraceoftheforesttowardhiscabin，andatthesameinstantJanePorterandWilliamCecilClaytonarosefromasumptuousdinnerupontheLADY

ALICE，thousandsofmilestotheeast，intheIndianOcean。

BeneathTarzanwalkedNuma，thelion，andwhentheape—mandeignedtoglancedownwardhecaughtoccasionalglimpsesofthebalefulgreeneyesfollowingthroughthedarkness。

Numadidnotroarnow——instead，hemovedstealthily，liketheshadowofagreatcat;butyethetooknostepthatdidnotreachthesensitiveearsoftheape—man。

Tarzanwonderedifhewouldstalkhimtohiscabindoor。

Hehopednot，forthatwouldmeananight’ssleepcurledinthecrotchofatree，andhemuchpreferredthebedofgrasseswithinhisownabode。Butheknewjustthetreeandthemostcomfortablecrotch，ifnecessitydemandedthathesleepout。Ahundredtimesinthepastsomegreatjunglecathadfollowedhimhome，andcompelledhimtoseekshelterinthissametree，untilanothermoodortherisingsunhadsenthisenemyaway。

ButpresentlyNumagaveupthechaseand，withaseriesofblood—curdlingmoansandroars，turnedangrilybackinsearchofanotherandaneasierdinner。SoTarzancametohiscabinunattended，andafewmomentslaterwascurledupinthemildewedremnantsofwhathadoncebeenabedofgrasses。

ThuseasilydidMonsieurJeanC。Tarzansloughthethinskinofhisartificialcivilization，andsinkhappyandcontentedintothedeepsleepofthewildbeastthathasfedtorepletion。

Yetawoman’s"yes"wouldhaveboundhimtothatotherlifeforever，andmadethethoughtofthissavageexistencerepulsive。

Tarzansleptlateintothefollowingforenoon，forhehadbeenverytiredfromthelaborsandexertionofthelongnightanddayupontheocean，andthejunglejauntthathadbroughtintoplaymusclesthathehadscarceusedfornearlytwoyears。Whenheawokeherantothebrookfirsttodrink。

Thenhetookaplungeintothesea，swimmingaboutforaquarterofanhour。Afterwardhereturnedtohiscabin，andbreakfastedoffthefleshofHorta。Thisdone，heburiedthebalanceofthecarcassinthesoftearthoutsidethecabin，forhiseveningmeal。

Oncemorehetookhisropeandvanishedintothejungle。

Thistimehehuntednoblerquarry——man;althoughhadyouaskedhimhisownopinionhecouldhavenamedadozenotherdenizensofthejunglewhichheconsideredfarthesuperiorsinnobilityofthemenhehunted。TodayTarzanwasinquestofweapons。HewonderedifthewomenandchildrenhadremainedinMbonga’svillageafterthepunitiveexpeditionfromtheFrenchcruiserhadmassacredallthewarriorsinrevengeforD’Arnot’ssupposeddeath。Hehopedthatheshouldfindwarriorsthere，forheknewnothowlongaquestheshouldhavetomakewerethevillagedeserted。

Theape—mantraveledswiftlythroughtheforest，andaboutnooncametothesiteofthevillage，buttohisdisappointmentfoundthatthejunglehadovergrowntheplantainfieldsandthatthethatchedhutshadfallenindecay。Therewasnosignofman。Heclamberedaboutamongtheruinsforhalfanhour，hopingthathemightdiscoversomeforgottenweapon，buthissearchwaswithoutfruit，andsohetookuphisquestoncemore，followingupthestream，whichflowedfromasoutheasterlydirection。Heknewthatnearfreshwaterhewouldbemostlikelytofindanothersettlement。