第13章

Attheendofthethirddaytheymarchedintothevillagegate，andweregreetedbythesurvivorsoftherecentmassacre，towhomTarzanhadsentamessengerintheirtemporarycamptothesouthonthedaythattheraidershadquittedthevillage，tellingthemthattheymightreturninsafety。

IttookallthemasteryandpersuasionthatTarzanpossessedtopreventtheWazirifallingontheManyuematoothandnail，andtearingthemtopieces，butwhenhehadexplainedthathehadgivenhiswordthattheywouldnotbemolestediftheycarriedtheivorybacktothespotfromwhichtheyhadstolenit，andhadfurtherimpresseduponhispeoplethattheyowedtheirentirevictorytohim，theyfinallyaccededtohisdemands，andallowedthecannibalstorestinpeacewithintheirpalisade。

Thatnightthevillagewarriorsheldabigpalavertocelebratetheirvictories，andtochooseanewchief。

SinceoldWaziri’sdeathTarzanhadbeendirectingthewarriorsinbattle，andthetemporarycommandhadbeentacitlyconcededtohim。Therehadbeennotimetochooseanewchieffromamongtheirownnumber，and，infact，soremarkablysuccessfulhadtheybeenundertheape—man’sgeneralshipthattheyhadhadnowishtodelegatethesupremeauthoritytoanotherforfearthatwhattheyalreadyhadgainedmightbelost。Theyhadsorecentlyseentheresultsofrunningcountertothissavagewhiteman’sadviceinthedisastrouschargeorderedbyWaziri，inwhichhehimselfhaddied，thatithadnotbeendifficultforthemtoacceptTarzan’sauthorityasfinal。

TheprincipalwarriorssatinacircleaboutasmallfiretodiscusstherelativemeritsofwhomevermightbesuggestedasoldWaziri’ssuccessor。ItwasBusuliwhospokefirst:

"SinceWaziriisdead，leavingnoson，thereisbutoneamonguswhomweknowfromexperienceisfittedtomakeusagoodking。Thereisonlyonewhohasprovedthathecansuccessfullyleadusagainstthegunsofthewhiteman，andbringuseasyvictorywithoutthelossofasinglelife。

Thereisonlyone，andthatisthewhitemanwhohasledusforthepastfewdays，"andBusulisprangtohisfeet，andwithupliftedspearandhalf—bent，crouchingbodycommencedtodanceslowlyaboutTarzan，chantingintimetohissteps:

"Waziri，kingoftheWaziri;Waziri，killerofArabs;

Waziri，kingoftheWaziri。"

OnebyonetheotherwarriorssignifiedtheiracceptanceofTarzanastheirkingbyjoininginthesolemndance。

Thewomencameandsquattedabouttherimofthecircle，beatingupontom—toms，clappingtheirhandsintimetothestepsofthedancers，andjoininginthechantofthewarriors。InthecenterofthecirclesatTarzanoftheApes——Waziri，kingoftheWaziri，for，likehispredecessor，hewastotakethenameofhistribeashisown。

Fasterandfastergrewthepaceofthedancers，louderandloudertheirwildandsavageshouts。Thewomenroseandfellinunison，shriekingnowatthetopsoftheirvoices。

Thespearswerebrandishingfiercely，andasthedancersstoopeddownandbeattheirshieldsuponthehard—trampedearthofthevillagestreetthewholesightwasasterriblyprimevalandsavageasthoughitwerebeingstagedinthedimdawnofhumanity，countlessagesinthepast。

Astheexcitementwaxedtheape—mansprangtohisfeetandjoinedinthewildceremony。Inthecenterofthecircleofglitteringblackbodiesheleapedandroaredandshookhisheavyspearinthesamemadabandonthatenthralledhisfellowsavages。Thelastremnantofhiscivilizationwasforgotten——hewasaprimitivemantothefullestnow;revelinginthefreedomofthefierce，wildlifeheloved，gloatinginhiskingshipamongthesewildblacks。

Ah，ifOlgadeCoudehadbutseenhimthen——couldshehaverecognizedthewell—dressed，quietyoungmanwhosewell—bredfaceandirreproachablemannershadsocaptivatedherbutafewshortmonthsago？AndJanePorter！Wouldshehavestilllovedthissavagewarriorchieftain，dancingnakedamonghisnakedsavagesubjects？AndD’Arnot！

CouldD’ArnothavebelievedthatthiswasthesamemanhehadintroducedintohalfadozenofthemostselectclubsofParis？WhatwouldhisfellowpeersintheHouseofLordshavesaidhadonepointedtothisdancinggiant，withhisbarbaricheaddressandhismetalornaments，andsaid:

"There，mylords，isJohnClayton，LordGreystoke。"

AndsoTarzanoftheApescameintoarealkingshipamongmen——slowlybutsurelywashefollowingtheevolutionofhisancestors，forhadhenotstartedattheverybottom？

Chapter18

TheLotteryofDeathJanePorterhadbeenthefirstofthoseinthelifeboattoawakenthemorningafterthewreckoftheLADYALICE。

Theothermembersofthepartywereasleepuponthethwartsorhuddledincrampedpositionsinthebottomoftheboat。

Whenthegirlrealizedthattheyhadbecomeseparatedfromtheotherboatsshewasfilledwithalarm。Thesenseofutterlonelinessandhelplessnesswhichthevastexpanseofdesertedoceanarousedinherwassodepressingthat，fromthefirst，contemplationofthefutureheldnottheslightestrayofpromiseforher。Shewasconfidentthattheywerelost——lostbeyondpossibilityofsuccor。

PresentlyClaytonawoke。Itwasseveralminutesbeforehecouldgatherhissensessufficientlytorealizewherehewas，orrecallthedisasterofthepreviousnight。Finallyhisbewilderedeyesfelluponthegirl。

"Jane！"hecried。"ThankGodthatwearetogether！"

"Look，"saidthegirldully，indicatingthehorizonwithanapatheticgesture。"Weareallalone。"

Claytonscannedthewaterineverydirection。

"Wherecantheybe？"hecried。"Theycannothavegonedown，fortherehasbeennosea，andtheywereafloataftertheyachtsank——Isawthemall。"

Heawoketheothermembersoftheparty，andexplainedtheirplight。

"Itisjustaswellthattheboatsarescattered，sir，"saidoneofthesailors。"Theyareallprovisioned，sothattheydonotneedeachotheronthatscore，andshouldastormblowuptheycouldbeofnoservicetooneanothereveniftheyweretogether，butscatteredabouttheoceanthereisamuchbetterchancethatoneatleastwillbepickedup，andthenasearchwillbeatoncestartedfortheothers。

Werewetogethertherewouldbebutonechanceofrescue，wherenowtheremaybefour。"

Theysawthewisdomofhisphilosophy，andwerecheeredbyit，buttheirjoywasshort—lived，forwhenitwasdecidedthattheyshouldrowsteadilytowardtheeastandthecontinent，itwasdiscoveredthatthesailorswhohadbeenattheonlytwooarswithwhichtheboathadbeenprovidedhadfallenasleepattheirwork，andallowedbothtoslipintothesea，norweretheyinsightanywhereuponthewater。

Duringtheangrywordsandrecriminationswhichfollowedthesailorsnearlycametoblows，butClaytonsucceededinquietingthem;thoughamomentlaterMonsieurThuranalmostprecipitatedanotherrowbymakinganastyremarkaboutthestupidityofallEnglishmen，andespeciallyEnglishsailors。

"Come，come，mates，"spokeuponeofthemen，Tompkins，whohadtakennopartinthealtercation，"shootin’

offourbloomin’mugswon’tgetusnothin’。AsSpider’eresaidafore，we’llallbloodywellbepickedup，anyway，sez’e，sowot’stheuseo’squabblin’？Let’seat，sezI。"

"That’snotabadidea，"saidMonsieurThuran，andthen，turningtothethirdsailor，Wilson，hesaid:"Passoneofthosetinsaft，mygoodman。"

"Fetchityerself，"retortedWilsonsullenly。"Iain’ta—takin’

noordersfromno——furriner——youain’tcaptaino’thisshipyet。"

TheresultwasthatClaytonhimselfhadtogetthetin，andthenanotherangryaltercationensuedwhenoneofthesailorsaccusedClaytonandMonsieurThuranofconspiringtocontroltheprovisionssothattheycouldhavethelion’sshare。

"Someoneshouldtakecommandofthisboat，"spokeupJanePorter，thoroughlydisgustedwiththedisgracefulwranglingthathadmarkedtheveryopeningofaforcedcompanionshipthatmightlastformanydays。"ItisterribleenoughtobealoneinafrailboatontheAtlantic，withouthavingtheaddedmiseryanddangerofconstantbickeringandbrawlingamongthemembersofourparty。Youmenshouldelectaleader，andthenabidebyhisdecisionsinallmatters。Thereisgreaterneedforstrictdisciplineherethanthereisuponawell—orderedship。"

Shehadhopedbeforeshevoicedhersentimentsthatitwouldnotbenecessaryforhertoenterintothetransactionatall，forshebelievedthatClaytonwasamplyabletocopewitheveryemergency，butshehadtoadmitthatsofaratleasthehadshownnogreaterpromiseofsuccessfullyhandlingthesituationthananyoftheothers，thoughhehadatleastrefrainedfromaddinginanywaytotheunpleasantness，evengoingsofarastogiveupthetintothesailorswhentheyobjectedtoitsbeingopenedbyhim。

Thegirl’swordstemporarilyquietedthemen，andfinallyitwasdecidedthatthetwokegsofwaterandthefourtinsoffoodshouldbedividedintotwoparts，one—halfgoingforwardtothethreesailorstodowithastheysawbest，andthebalanceafttothethreepassengers。

Thuswasthelittlecompanydividedintotwocamps，andwhentheprovisionshadbeenapportionedeachimmediatelysettoworktoopenanddistributefoodandwater。Thesailorswerethefirsttogetoneofthetinsof"food"open，andtheircursesofrageanddisappointmentcausedClaytontoaskwhatthetroublemightbe。

"Trouble！"shriekedSpider。"Trouble！It’sworsethantrouble——it’sdeath！This———tinisfullofcoaloil！"

HastilynowClaytonandMonsieurThurantoreopenoneoftheirs，onlytolearnthehideoustruththatitalsocontained，notfood，butcoaloil。Oneafteranotherthefourtinsonboardwereopened。Andasthecontentsofeachbecameknownhowlsofangerannouncedthegrimtruth——therewasnotanounceoffoodupontheboat。

"Well，thankGawditwasn’tthewater，"criedThompkins。

"It’seasiertogetalongwithoutfoodthanitiswithoutwater。

Wecaneatourshoesifworsecomestoworst，butwecouldn’tdrink’em。"

AshespokeWilsonhadbeenboringaholeinoneofthewaterkegs，andasSpiderheldatincuphetiltedthekegtopouradraftofthepreciousfluid。Athinstreamofblackish，dryparticlesfilteredslowlythroughthetinyapertureintothebottomofthecup。WithagroanWilsondroppedthekeg，andsatstaringatthedrystuffinthecup，speechlesswithhorror。

"Thekegsarefilledwithgunpowder，"saidSpider，inalowtone，turningtothoseaft。Andsoitprovedwhenthelasthadbeenopened。

"Coaloilandgunpowder！"criedMonsieurThuran。

"SAPRISTI！Whatadietforshipwreckedmariners！"

Withthefullknowledgethattherewasneitherfoodnorwateronboard，thepangsofhungerandthirstbecameimmediatelyaggravated，andsoonthefirstdayoftheirtragicadventurerealsufferingcommencedingrimearnest，andthefullhorrorsofshipwreckwereuponthem。

Asthedayspassedconditionsbecamehorrible。Achingeyesscannedthehorizondayandnightuntiltheweakandwearywatcherswouldsinkexhaustedtothebottomoftheboat，andtherewrestindream—disturbedslumberamoment’srespitefromthehorrorsofthewakingreality。

Thesailors，goadedbytheremorselesspangsofhunger，hadeatentheirleatherbelts，theirshoes，thesweatbandsfromtheircaps，althoughbothClaytonandMonsieurThuranhaddonetheirbesttoconvincethemthatthesewouldonlyaddtothesufferingtheywereenduring。

Weakandhopeless，theentirepartylaybeneaththepitilesstropicsun，withparchedlipsandswollentongues，waitingforthedeaththeywerebeginningtocrave。Theintensesufferingofthefirstfewdayshadbecomedeadenedforthethreepassengerswhohadeatennothing，buttheagonyofthesailorswaspitiful，astheirweakandimpoverishedstomachsattemptedtocopewiththebitsofleatherwithwhichtheyhadfilledthem。Tompkinswasthefirsttosuccumb。JustaweekfromthedaytheLADYALICEwentdownthesailordiedhorriblyinfrightfulconvulsions。

Forhourshiscontortedandhideousfeatureslaygrinningbackatthoseinthesternofthelittleboat，untilJanePortercouldendurethesightnolonger。

"Canyounotdrophisbodyoverboard，William？"sheasked。

Claytonroseandstaggeredtowardthecorpse。Thetworemainingsailorseyedhimwithastrange，balefullightintheirsunkenorbs。FutilelytheEnglishmantriedtoliftthecorpseoverthesideoftheboat，buthisstrengthwasnotequaltothetask。

"Lendmeahandhere，please，"hesaidtoWilson，wholaynearesthim。

"Wotdoyouwanttothrow’imoverfor？"questionedthesailor，inaquerulousvoice。

"We’vegottobeforewe’retooweaktodoit，"repliedClayton。

"He’dbeawfulbytomorrow，afteradayunderthatbroilingsun。"

"Betterleavewellenoughalone，"grumbledWilson。

"Wemayneedhimbeforetomorrow。"

Slowlythemeaningoftheman’swordspercolatedintoClayton’sunderstanding。Atlastherealizedthefellow’sreasonforobjectingtothedisposalofthedeadman。

"God！"whisperedClayton，inahorrifiedtone。"Youdon’tmean——"

"W’ynot？"growledWilson。"Ain’twegottalive？He’sdead，"

headded，jerkinghisthumbinthedirectionofthecorpse。

"Hewon’tcare。"

"Comehere，Thuran，"saidClayton，turningtowardtheRussian。

"We’llhavesomethingworsethandeathaboardusifwedon’tgetridofthisbodybeforedark。"

Wilsonstaggeredupmenacinglytopreventthecontemplatedact，butwhenhiscomrade，Spider，tooksideswithClaytonandMonsieurThuranhegaveup，andsateyingthecorpsehungrilyasthethreemen，bycombiningtheirefforts，succeededinrollingitoverboard。

AllthebalanceofthedayWilsonsatglaringatClayton，inhiseyesthegleamofinsanity。Towardevening，asthesunwassinkingintothesea，hecommencedtochuckleandmumbletohimself，buthiseyesneverleftClayton。

AfteritbecamequitedarkClaytoncouldstillfeelthoseterribleeyesuponhim。Hedarednotsleep，andyetsoexhaustedwashethatitwasaconstantfighttoretainconsciousness。

Afterwhatseemedaneternityofsufferinghisheaddroppeduponathwart，andheslept。Howlonghewasunconscioushedidnotknow——hewasawakenedbyashufflingnoisequiteclosetohim。Themoonhadrisen，andasheopenedhisstartledeyeshesawWilsoncreepingstealthilytowardhim，hismouthopenandhisswollentonguehangingout。

TheslightnoisehadawakenedJanePorteratthesametime，andasshesawthehideoustableaushegaveashrillcryofalarm，andatthesameinstantthesailorlurchedforwardandfelluponClayton。Likeawildbeasthisteethsoughtthethroatofhisintendedprey，butClayton，weakthoughhewas，stillfoundsufficientstrengthtoholdthemaniac’smouthfromhim。

AtJanePorter’sscreamMonsieurThuranandSpiderawoke。

Onseeingthecauseofheralarm，bothmencrawledtoClayton’srescue，andbetweenthethreeofthemwereabletosubdueWilsonandhurlhimtothebottomoftheboat。

Forafewminuteshelaytherechatteringandlaughing，andthen，withanawfulscream，andbeforeanyofhiscompanionscouldprevent，hestaggeredtohisfeetandleapedoverboard。

Thereactionfromtheterrificstrainofexcitementlefttheweaksurvivorstremblingandprostrated。Spiderbrokedownandwept;JanePorterprayed;Claytonsworesoftlytohimself;

MonsieurThuransatwithhisheadinhishands，thinking。

TheresultofhiscogitationdevelopedthefollowingmorninginapropositionhemadetoSpiderandClayton。

"Gentlemen，"saidMonsieurThuran，"youseethefatethatawaitsusallunlesswearepickedupwithinadayortwo。

Thatthereislittlehopeofthatisevidencedbythefactthatduringallthedayswehavedriftedwehaveseennosail，northefaintestsmudgeofsmokeuponthehorizon。

"Theremightbeachanceifwehadfood，butwithoutfoodthereisnone。Thereremainsforus，then，butoneoftwoalternatives，andwemustchooseatonce。Eitherwemustalldietogetherwithinafewdays，oronemustbesacrificedthattheothersmaylive。Doyouquiteclearlygraspmymeaning？"

JanePorter，whohadoverheard，washorrified。Ifthepropositionhadcomefromthepoor，ignorantsailor，shemightpossiblyhavenotbeensosurprised;butthatitshouldcomefromonewhoposedasamanofcultureandrefinement，fromagentleman，shecouldscarcelycredit。

"Itisbetterthatwedietogether，then，"saidClayton。

"Thatisforthemajoritytodecide，"repliedMonsieurThuran。

"Asonlyoneofusthreewillbetheobjectofsacrifice，weshalldecide。MissPorterisnotinterested，sinceshewillbeinnodanger。"

"Howshallweknowwhoistobefirst？"askedSpider。

"Itmaybefairlyfixedbylot，"repliedMonsieurThuran。

"Ihaveanumberoffrancpiecesinmypocket。Wecanchooseacertaindatefromamongthem——theonetodrawthisdatefirstfrombeneathapieceofclothwillbethefirst。"

"Ishallhavenothingtodowithanysuchdiabolicalplan，"

mutteredClayton;"evenyetlandmaybesightedorashipappear——intime。"

"Youwilldoasthemajoritydecide，oryouwillbe`thefirst’withouttheformalityofdrawinglots，"saidMonsieurThuranthreateningly。"Come，letusvoteontheplan;I

foroneaminfavorofit。Howaboutyou，Spider？"

"AndI，"repliedthesailor。

"Itisthewillofthemajority，"announcedMonsieurThuran，"andnowletuslosenotimeindrawinglots。

Itisasfairforoneasforanother。Thatthreemaylive，oneofusmustdieperhapsafewhourssoonerthanotherwise。"

Thenhebeganhispreparationforthelotteryofdeath，whileJanePortersatwide—eyedandhorrifiedatthoughtofthethingthatshewasabouttowitness。MonsieurThuranspreadhiscoatuponthebottomoftheboat，andthenfromahandfulofmoneyheselectedsixfrancpieces。Theothertwomenbentcloseabovehimasheinspectedthem。FinallyhehandedthemalltoClayton。

"Lookatthemcarefully，"hesaid。"Theoldestdateiseighteen—seventy—five，andthereisonlyoneofthatyear。"

Claytonandthesailorinspectedeachcoin。Tothemthereseemednottheslightestdifferencethatcouldbedetectedotherthanthedates。Theywerequitesatisfied。HadtheyknownthatMonsieurThuran’spastexperienceasacardsharphadtrainedhissenseoftouchtosofineapointthathecouldalmostdifferentiatebetweencardsbythemerefeelofthem，theywouldscarcelyhavefeltthattheplanwassoentirelyfair。The1875piecewasahairthinnerthantheothercoins，butneitherClaytonnorSpidercouldhavedetecteditwithouttheaidofamicrometer。

"Inwhatordershallwedraw？"askedMonsieurThuran，knowingfrompastexperiencethatthemajorityofmenalwayspreferlastchanceinalotterywherethesingleprizeissomedistastefulthing——thereisalwaysthechanceandthehopethatanotherwilldrawitfirst。MonsieurThuran，forreasonsofhisown，preferredtodrawfirstifthedrawingshouldhappentorequireasecondadventurebeneaththecoat。

AndsowhenSpiderelectedtodrawlasthegraciouslyofferedtotakethefirstchancehimself。Hishandwasunderthecoatforbutamoment，yetthosequick，deftfingershadfeltofeachcoin，andfoundanddiscardedthefatalpiece。

Whenhebroughtforthhishanditcontainedan1888francpiece。

ThenClaytondrew。JanePorterleanedforwardwithatenseandhorrifiedexpressiononherfaceasthehandofthemanshewastomarrygropedaboutbeneaththecoat。Presentlyhewithdrewit，afrancpiecelyinginthepalm。Foraninstanthedarednotlook，butMonsieurThuran，whohadleanednearertoseethedate，exclaimedthathewassafe。

JanePortersankweakandtremblingagainstthesideoftheboat。Shefeltsickanddizzy。Andnow，ifSpidershouldnotdrawthe1875pieceshemustendurethewholehorridthingagain。

Thesailoralreadyhadhishandbeneaththecoat。Greatbeadsofsweatwerestandinguponhisbrow。Hetrembledasthoughwithafitofague。Aloudhecursedhimselfforhavingtakenthelastdraw，fornowhischancesforescapewerebutthreetoone，whereasMonsieurThuran’shadbeenfivetoone，andClayton’sfourtoone。

TheRussianwasverypatient，anddidnothurrytheman，forheknewthathehimselfwasquitesafewhetherthe1875

piececameoutthistimeornot。Whenthesailorwithdrewhishandandlookedatthepieceofmoneywithin，hedroppedfaintingtothebottomoftheboat。BothClaytonandMonsieurThuranhastenedweaklytoexaminethecoin，whichhadrolledfromtheman’shandandlaybesidehim。

Itwasnotdated1875。ThereactionfromthestateoffearhehadbeeninhadovercomeSpiderquiteaseffectuallyasthoughhehaddrawnthefatedpiece。

Butnowthewholeproceedingmustbegonethroughagain。

OncemoretheRussiandrewforthaharmlesscoin。JanePorterclosedhereyesasClaytonreachedbeneaththecoat。

Spiderbent，wide—eyed，towardthehandthatwastodecidehisfate，forwhateverluckwasClayton’sonthislastdraw，theoppositewouldbeSpider’s。

ThenWilliamCecilClayton，LordGreystoke，removedhishandfrombeneaththecoat，andwithacointightpressedwithinhispalmwherenonemightseeit，helookedatJanePorter。

Hedidnotdareopenhishand。

"Quick！"hissedSpider。"MyGawd，let’sseeit。"

Claytonopenedhisfingers。Spiderwasthefirsttoseethedate，andereanyknewwhathisintentionwasheraisedhimselftohisfeet，andlungedoverthesideoftheboat，todisappearforeverintothegreendepthsbeneath——thecoinhadnotbeenthe1875piece。

Thestrainhadexhaustedthosewhoremainedtosuchanextentthattheylayhalfunconsciousforthebalanceoftheday，norwasthesubjectreferredtoagainforseveraldays。

Horribledaysofincreasingweaknessandhopelessness。

AtlengthMonsieurThurancrawledtowhereClaytonlay。

"Wemustdrawoncemorebeforewearetooweakeventoeat，"

hewhispered。

Claytonwasinsuchastatethathewasscarcelymasterofhisownwill。JanePorterhadnotspokenforthreedays。

Heknewthatshewasdying。Horribleasthethoughtwas，hehopedthatthesacrificeofeitherThuranorhimselfmightbethemeansofgivingherrenewedstrength，andsoheimmediatelyagreedtotheRussian’sproposal。

Theydrewunderthesameplanasbefore，buttherecouldbebutoneresult——Claytondrewthe1875piece。

"Whenshallitbe？"heaskedThuran。

TheRussianhadalreadydrawnapocketknifefromhistrousers，andwasweaklyattemptingtoopenit。

"Now，"hemuttered，andhisgreedyeyesgloatedupontheEnglishman。

"Can’tyouwaituntildark？"askedClayton。"MissPortermustnotseethisthingdone。Weweretohavebeenmarried，youknow。"

AlookofdisappointmentcameoverMonsieurThuran’sface。

"Verywell，"herepliedhesitatingly。"Itwillnotbelonguntilnight。Ihavewaitedformanydays——Icanwaitafewhourslonger。"

"Thankyou，myfriend，"murmuredClayton。"NowIshallgotohersideandremainwithheruntilitistime。IwouldliketohaveanhourortwowithherbeforeIdie。"

WhenClaytonreachedthegirl’ssideshewasunconscious——heknewthatshewasdying，andhewasgladthatsheshouldnothavetoseeorknowtheawfultragedythatwasshortlytobeenacted。Hetookherhandandraisedittohiscrackedandswollenlips。Foralongtimehelaycaressingtheemaciated，clawlikethingthathadoncebeenthebeautiful，shapelywhitehandoftheyoungBaltimorebelle。

Itwasquitedarkbeforeheknewit，buthewasrecalledtohimselfbyavoiceoutofthenight。ItwastheRussiancallinghimtohisdoom。

"Iamcoming，MonsieurThuran，"hehastenedtoreply。

Thriceheattemptedtoturnhimselfuponhishandsandknees，thathemightcrawlbacktohisdeath，butinthefewhoursthathehadlaintherehehadbecometooweaktoreturntoThuran’sside。

"Youwillhavetocometome，monsieur，"hecalledweakly。

"Ihavenotsufficientstrengthtogainmyhandsandknees。"

"SAPRISTI！"mutteredMonsieurThuran。"Youareattemptingtocheatmeoutofmywinnings。"

Claytonheardthemanshufflingaboutinthebottomoftheboat。Finallytherewasadespairinggroan。"Icannotcrawl，"heheardtheRussianwail。"Itistoolate。Youhavetrickedme，youdirtyEnglishdog。"

"Ihavenottrickedyou，monsieur，"repliedClayton。

"Ihavedonemybesttorise，butIshalltryagain，andifyouwilltrypossiblyeachofuscancrawlhalfway，andthenyoushallhaveyour`winnings。’"

AgainClaytonexertedhisremainingstrengthtotheutmost，andheheardThuranapparentlydoingthesame。NearlyanhourlatertheEnglishmansucceededinraisinghimselftohishandsandknees，butatthefirstforwardmovementhepitcheduponhisface。

AmomentlaterheheardanexclamationofrelieffromMonsieurThuran。

"Iamcoming，"whisperedtheRussian。

AgainClaytonessayedtostaggerontomeethisfate，butoncemorehepitchedheadlongtotheboat’sbottom，nor，tryashewould，couldheagainrise。Hislasteffortcausedhimtorolloveronhisback，andtherehelaylookingupatthestars，whilebehindhim，comingevernearerandnearer，hecouldhearthelaboriousshuffling，andthestertorousbreathingoftheRussian。

Itseemedthathemusthavelainthusanhourwaitingforthethingtocrawloutofthedarkandendhismisery。Itwasquiteclosenow，buttherewerelongerandlongerpausesbetweenitseffortstoadvance，andeachforwardmovementseemedtothewaitingEnglishmantobealmostimperceptible。

FinallyheknewthatThuranwasquiteclosebesidehim。

Heheardacacklinglaugh，somethingtouchedhisface，andhelostconsciousness。

Chapter19

TheCityofGoldTheverynightthatTarzanoftheApesbecamechiefoftheWazirithewomanhelovedlaydyinginatinyboattwohundredmileswestofhimupontheAtlantic。

Ashedancedamonghisnakedfellowsavages，thefirelightgleamingagainsthisgreat，rollingmuscles，thepersonificationofphysicalperfectionandstrength，thewomanwholovedhimlaythinandemaciatedinthelastcomathatprecedesdeathbythirstandstarvation。

TheweekfollowingtheinductionofTarzanintothekingshipoftheWaziriwasoccupiedinescortingtheManyuemaoftheArabraiderstothenorthernboundaryofWaziriinaccordancewiththepromisewhichTarzanhadmadethem。

BeforeheleftthemheexactedapledgefromthemthattheywouldnotleadanyexpeditionsagainsttheWaziriinthefuture，norwasitadifficultpromisetoobtain。TheyhadhadsufficientexperiencewiththefightingtacticsofthenewWazirichiefnottohavetheslightestdesiretoaccompanyanotherpredatoryforcewithintheboundariesofhisdomain。

AlmostimmediatelyuponhisreturntothevillageTarzancommencedmakingpreparationsforleadinganexpeditioninsearchoftheruinedcityofgoldwhicholdWazirihaddescribedtohim。Heselectedfiftyofthesturdiestwarriorsofhistribe，choosingonlymenwhoseemedanxioustoaccompanyhimonthearduousmarch，andsharethedangersofanewandhostilecountry。