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。