Tarzan’smindreturnedtotheaffairsofthemoment。
　　Heknewthathewasabouttodie，buttherewasnofearofdeathinhim。Toadenizenofthecrueljungledeathisacommonplace。Thefirstlawofnaturecompelsthemtoclingtenaciouslytolife——tofightforit;butitdoesnotteachthemtofeardeath。
　　D’ArnotandTarzanwerefirstuponthefieldofhonor。A
　　momentlaterDeCoude，MonsieurFlaubert，andathirdgentlemanarrived。ThelastwasintroducedtoD’ArnotandTarzan;hewasaphysician。
　　D’ArnotandMonsieurFlaubertspoketogetherinwhispersforabrieftime。TheCountdeCoudeandTarzanstoodapartatoppositesidesofthefield。Presentlythesecondssummonedthem。D’ArnotandMonsieurFlauberthadexaminedbothpistols。ThetwomenwhoweretofaceeachotheramomentlaterstoodsilentlywhileMonsieurFlaubertrecitedtheconditionstheyweretoobserve。
　　Theyweretostandbacktoback。AtasignalfromMonsieurFlauberttheyweretowalkinoppositedirections，theirpistolshangingbytheirsides。WheneachhadproceededtenpacesD’Arnotwastogivethefinalsignal——thentheyweretoturnandfireatwilluntilonefell，oreachhadexpendedthethreeshotsallowed。
　　WhileMonsieurFlaubertspokeTarzanselectedacigarettefromhiscase，andlightedit。DeCoudewasthepersonificationofcoolness——washenotthebestshotinFrance？
　　PresentlyMonsieurFlaubertnoddedtoD’Arnot，andeachmanplacedhisprincipalinposition。
　　"Areyouquiteready，gentlemen？"askedMonsieurFlaubert。
　　"Quite，"repliedDeCoude。
　　Tarzannodded。MonsieurFlaubertgavethesignal。HeandD’Arnotsteppedbackafewpacestobeoutofthelineoffireasthemenpacedslowlyapart。Six！Seven！Eight！
　　ThereweretearsinD’Arnot’seyes。HelovedTarzanverymuch。
　　Nine！Anotherpace，andthepoorlieutenantgavethesignalhesohatedtogive。Tohimitsoundedthedoomofhisbestfriend。
　　QuicklyDeCoudewheeledandfired。Tarzangavealittlestart。
　　Hispistolstilldangledathisside。DeCoudehesitated，asthoughwaitingtoseehisantagonistcrumpletotheground。
　　TheFrenchmanwastooexperiencedamarksmannottoknowthathehadscoredahit。StillTarzanmadenomovetoraisehispistol。
　　DeCoudefiredoncemore，buttheattitudeoftheape—man——theutterindifferencethatwassoapparentineverylineofthenonchalanteaseofhisgiantfigure，andtheevenunruffledpuffingofhiscigarette——haddisconcertedthebestmarksmaninFrance。ThistimeTarzandidnotstart，butagainDeCoudeknewthathehadhit。
　　Suddenlytheexplanationleapedtohismind——hisantagonistwascoollytakingtheseterriblechancesinthehopethathewouldreceivenostaggeringwoundfromanyofDeCoude’sthreeshots。ThenhewouldtakehisowntimeaboutshootingDeCoudedowndeliberately，coolly，andincoldblood。AlittleshiverranuptheFrenchman’sspine。
　　Itwasfiendish——diabolical。Whatmannerofcreaturewasthisthatcouldstandcomplacentlywithtwobulletsinhim，waitingforthethird？
　　AndsoDeCoudetookcarefulaimthistime，buthisnervewasgone，andhemadeacleanmiss。NotoncehadTarzanraisedhispistolhandfromwhereithungbesidehisleg。
　　Foramomentthetwostoodlookingstraightintoeachother’seyes。OnTarzan’sfacewasapatheticexpressionofdisappointment。OnDeCoude’sarapidlygrowingexpressionofhorror——yes，ofterror。
　　Hecouldendureitnolonger。
　　"MotherofGod！Monsieur——shoot！"hescreamed。
　　ButTarzandidnotraisehispistol。Instead，headvancedtowardDeCoude，andwhenD’ArnotandMonsieurFlaubert，misinterpretinghisintention，wouldhaverushedbetweenthem，heraisedhislefthandinasignofremonstrance。
　　"Donotfear，"hesaidtothem，"Ishallnotharmhim。"
　　Itwasmostunusual，buttheyhalted。TarzanadvanceduntilhewasquiteclosetoDeCoude。
　　"Theremusthavebeensomethingwrongwithmonsieur’spistol，"hesaid。"Ormonsieurisunstrung。Takemine，monsieur，andtryagain，"andTarzanofferedhispistol，buttforemost，totheastonishedDeCoude。
　　"MONDIEU，monsieur！"criedthelatter。"Areyoumad？"
　　"No，myfriend，"repliedtheape—man;"butIdeservetodie。
　　ItistheonlywayinwhichImayatoneforthewrongIhavedoneaverygoodwoman。TakemypistolanddoasIbid。"
　　"Itwouldbemurder，"repliedDeCoude。"Butwhatwrongdidyoudomywife？Shesworetomethat——"
　　"Idonotmeanthat，"saidTarzanquickly。"Yousawallthewrongthatpassedbetweenus。Butthatwasenoughtocastashadowuponhername，andtoruinthehappinessofamanagainstwhomIhadnoenmity。Thefaultwasallmine，andsoIhopedtodieforitthismorning。IamdisappointedthatmonsieurisnotsowonderfulamarksmanasIhadbeenledtobelieve。"
　　"Yousaythatthefaultwasallyours？"askedDeCoudeeagerly。
　　"Allmine，monsieur。Yourwifeisaverypurewoman。
　　Shelovesonlyyou。Thefaultthatyousawwasallmine。
　　ThethingthatbroughtmetherewasnofaultofeithertheCountessdeCoudeormyself。Hereisapaperwhichwillquitepositivelydemonstratethat，"andTarzandrewfromhispocketthestatementRokoffhadwrittenandsigned。
　　DeCoudetookitandread。D’ArnotandMonsieurFlauberthaddrawnnear。Theywereinterestedspectatorsofthisstrangeendingofastrangeduel。NonespokeuntilDeCoudehadquitefinished，thenhelookedupatTarzan。
　　"Youareaverybraveandchivalrousgentleman，"hesaid。
　　"IthankGodthatIdidnotkillyou。"
　　DeCoudewasaFrenchman。Frenchmenareimpulsive。HethrewhisarmsaboutTarzanandembracedhim。MonsieurFlaubertembracedD’Arnot。Therewasnoonetoembracethedoctor。
　　Sopossiblyitwaspiquewhichpromptedhimtointerfere，anddemandthathebepermittedtodressTarzan’swounds。
　　"Thisgentlemanwashitonceatleast，"hesaid。"Possiblythrice。"
　　"Twice，"saidTarzan。"Onceintheleftshoulder，andagainintheleftside——bothfleshwounds，Ithink。"Butthedoctorinsisteduponstretchinghimuponthesward，andtinkeringwithhimuntilthewoundswerecleansedandtheflowofbloodchecked。
　　OneresultoftheduelwasthattheyallrodebacktoParistogetherinD’Arnot’scar，thebestoffriends。DeCoudewassorelievedtohavehadthisdoubleassuranceofhiswife’sloyaltythathefeltnorancoratalltowardTarzan。
　　Itistruethatthelatterhadassumedmuchmoreofthefaultthanwasrightlyhis，butifheliedalittlehemaybeexcused，forheliedintheserviceofawoman，andheliedlikeagentleman。
　　Theape—manwasconfinedtohisbedforseveraldays。Hefeltthatitwasfoolishandunnecessary，butthedoctorandD’Arnottookthemattersotoheartthathegaveintopleasethem，thoughitmadehimlaughtothinkofit。
　　"Itisdroll，"hesaidtoD’Arnot。"Tolieabedbecauseofapinprick！Why，whenBolgani，thekinggorilla，toremealmosttopieces，whileIwasstillbutalittleboy，didIhaveanicesoftbedtolieon？No，onlythedamp，rottingvegetationofthejungle。HiddenbeneathsomefriendlybushIlayfordaysandweekswithonlyKalatonurseme——poor，faithfulKala，whokepttheinsectsfrommywoundsandwarnedoffthebeastsofprey。
　　"WhenIcalledforwatershebroughtittomeinherownmouth——theonlywaysheknewtocarryit。Therewasnosterilizedgauze，therewasnoantisepticbandage——therewasnothingthatwouldnothavedrivenourdeardoctormadtohaveseen。YetIrecovered——recoveredtolieinbedbecauseofatinyscratchthatoneofthejunglefolkwouldscarcerealizeunlessitwereupontheendofhisnose。"
　　Butthetimewassoonover，andbeforeherealizeditTarzanfoundhimselfabroadagain。SeveraltimesDeCoudehadcalled，andwhenhefoundthatTarzanwasanxiousforemploymentofsomenaturehepromisedtoseewhatcouldbedonetofindaberthforhim。
　　ItwasthefirstdaythatTarzanwaspermittedtogooutthathereceivedamessagefromDeCouderequestinghimtocallatthecount’sofficethatafternoon。
　　HefoundDeCoudeawaitinghimwithaverypleasantwelcome，andasincerecongratulationthathewasoncemoreuponhisfeet。Neitherhadevermentionedtheduelorthecauseofitsincethatmorninguponthefieldofhonor。
　　"IthinkthatIhavefoundjustthethingforyou，MonsieurTarzan，"saidthecount。"Itisapositionofmuchtrustandresponsibility，whichalsorequiresconsiderablyphysicalcourageandprowess。Icannotimagineamanbetterfittedthanyou，mydearMonsieurTarzan，forthisveryposition。Itwillnecessitatetravel，andlateritmayleadtoaverymuchbetterpost——possiblyinthediplomaticservice。
　　"Atfirst，forashorttimeonly，youwillbeaspecialagentintheserviceoftheministryofwar。Come，Iwilltakeyoutothegentlemanwhowillbeyourchief。HecanexplainthedutiesbetterthanI，andthenyouwillbeinapositiontojudgeifyouwishtoacceptorno。"
　　DeCoudehimselfescortedTarzantotheofficeofGeneralRochere，thechiefofthebureautowhichTarzanwouldbeattachedifheacceptedtheposition。Therethecountlefthim，afteraglowingdescriptiontothegeneralofthemanyattributespossessedbytheape—manwhichshouldfithimfortheworkoftheservice。
　　AhalfhourlaterTarzanwalkedoutoftheofficethepossessorofthefirstpositionhehadeverheld。Onthemorrowhewastoreturnforfurtherinstructions，thoughGeneralRocherehadmadeitquiteplainthatTarzanmightpreparetoleaveParisforanalmostindefiniteperiod，possiblyonthemorrow。
　　ItwaswithfeelingsofthekeenestelationthathehastenedhometobearthegoodnewstoD’Arnot。Atlasthewastobeofsomevalueintheworld。Hewastoearnmoney，and，bestofall，totravelandseetheworld。
　　HecouldscarcelywaittogetwellinsideD’Arnot’ssittingroombeforeheburstoutwiththegladtidings。D’Arnotwasnotsopleased。
　　"ItseemstodelightyoutothinkthatyouaretoleaveParis，andthatweshallnotseeeachotherformonths，perhaps。
　　Tarzan，youareamostungratefulbeast！"andD’Arnotlaughed。
　　"No，Paul;Iamalittlechild。Ihaveanewtoy，andIamtickledtodeath。"
　　AndsoitcamethatonthefollowingdayTarzanleftParisenrouteforMarseillesandOran。
　　Chapter7
　　TheDancingGirlofSidiAissaTarzan’sfirstmissiondidnotbidfairtobeeitherexcitingorvastlyimportant。TherewasacertainlieutenantofSPAHISwhomthegovernmenthadreasontosuspectofimproperrelationswithagreatEuropeanpower。
　　ThisLieutenantGernois，whowasatpresentstationedatSidibel—Abbes，hadrecentlybeenattachedtothegeneralstaff，wherecertaininformationofgreatmilitaryvaluehadcomeintohispossessionintheordinaryroutineofhisduties。
　　Itwasthisinformationwhichthegovernmentsuspectedthegreatpowerwasbarteringforwiththeofficer。
　　ItwasatmostbutavaguehintdroppedbyacertainnotoriousParisienneinajealousmoodthathadcausedsuspiciontorestuponthelieutenant。Butgeneralstaffsarejealousoftheirsecrets，andtreasonsoseriousathingthatevenahintofitmaynotbesafelyneglected。AndsoitwasthatTarzanhadcometoAlgeriaintheguiseofanAmericanhunterandtravelertokeepacloseeyeuponLieutenantGernois。
　　HehadlookedforwardwithkeendelighttoagainseeinghisbelovedAfrica，butthisnorthernaspectofitwassodifferentfromhistropicaljunglehomethathemightaswellhavebeenbackinParisforalltheheartthrillsofhomecomingthatheexperienced。AtOranhespentadaywanderingthroughthenarrow，crookedalleysoftheArabquarterenjoyingthestrange，newsights。ThenextdayfoundhimatSidi—bel—Abbes，wherehepresentedhislettersofintroductiontobothcivilandmilitaryauthorities——letterswhichgavenoclewtotherealsignificanceofhismission。
　　TarzanpossessedasufficientcommandofEnglishtoenablehimtopassamongArabsandFrenchmenasanAmerican，andthatwasallthatwasrequiredofit。WhenhemetanEnglishmanhespokeFrenchinorderthathemightnotbetrayhimself，butoccasionallytalkedinEnglishtoforeignerswhounderstoodthattongue，butcouldnotnotetheslightimperfectionsofaccentandpronunciationthatwerehis。
　　HerehebecameacquaintedwithmanyoftheFrenchofficers，andsoonbecameafavoriteamongthem。HemetGernois，whomhefoundtobeataciturn，dyspeptic—lookingmanofaboutforty，havinglittleornosocialintercoursewithhisfellows。
　　Foramonthnothingofmomentoccurred。Gernoisapparentlyhadnovisitors，nordidheonhisoccasionalvisitstothetownholdcommunicationwithanywhomightevenbythewildestflightofimaginationbeconstruedintosecretagentsofaforeignpower。Tarzanwasbeginningtohopethat，afterall，therumormighthavebeenfalse，whensuddenlyGernoiswasorderedtoBouSaadainthePetitSaharafartothesouth。
　　AcompanyofSPAHISandthreeofficersweretorelieveanothercompanyalreadystationedthere。Fortunatelyoneoftheofficers，CaptainGerard，hadbecomeanexcellentfriendofTarzan’s，andsowhentheape—mansuggestedthatheshouldembracetheopportunityofaccompanyinghimtoBouSaada，whereheexpectedtofindhunting，itcausednottheslightestsuspicion。
　　AtBouirathedetachmentdetrained，andthebalanceofthejourneywasmadeinthesaddle。AsTarzanwasdickeringatBouiraforamounthecaughtabriefglimpseofamaninEuropeanclotheseyinghimfromthedoorwayofanativecoffeehouse，butasTarzanlookedthemanturnedandenteredthelittle，low—ceilingedmudhut，andbutforahauntingimpressionthattherehadbeensomethingfamiliaraboutthefaceorfigureofthefellow，Tarzangavethematternofurtherthought。
　　ThemarchtoAumalewasfatiguingtoTarzan，whoseequestrianexperienceshithertohadbeenconfinedtoacourseofridinglessonsinaParisianacademy，andsoitwasthathequicklysoughtthecomfortsofabedintheHotelGrossat，whiletheofficersandtroopstookuptheirquartersatthemilitarypost。
　　AlthoughTarzanwascalledearlythefollowingmorning，thecompanyofSPAHISwasonthemarchbeforehehadfinishedhisbreakfast。Hewashurryingthroughhismealthatthesoldiersmightnotgettoofarinadvanceofhimwhenheglancedthroughthedoorconnectingthediningroomwiththebar。
　　Tohissurprise，hesawGernoisstandingthereinconversationwiththeverystrangerhehadseeninthecoffee—
　　houseatBouirathedayprevious。Hecouldnotbemistaken，fortherewasthesamestrangelyfamiliarattitudeandfigure，thoughtheman’sbackwastowardhim。
　　Ashiseyeslingeredonthetwo，GernoislookedupandcaughttheintentexpressiononTarzan’sface。Thestrangerwastalkinginalowwhisperatthetime，buttheFrenchofficerimmediatelyinterruptedhim，andthetwoatonceturnedawayandpassedoutoftherangeofTarzan’svision。
　　ThiswasthefirstsuspiciousoccurrencethatTarzanhadeverwitnessedinconnectionwithGernois’actions，buthewaspositivethatthemenhadleftthebarroomsolelybecauseGernoishadcaughtTarzan’seyesuponthem;thentherewasthepersistentimpressionoffamiliarityaboutthestrangertofurtheraugmenttheape—man’sbeliefthathereatlengthwassomethingwhichwouldbearwatching。
　　AmomentlaterTarzanenteredthebarroom，butthemenhadleft，nordidheseeaughtoftheminthestreetbeyond，thoughhefoundapretexttoridetovariousshopsbeforehesetoutafterthecolumnwhichhadnowconsiderablestartofhim。
　　HedidnotovertakethemuntilhereachedSidiAissashortlyafternoon，wherethesoldiershadhaltedforanhour’srest。
　　HerehefoundGernoiswiththecolumn，buttherewasnosignofthestranger。
　　ItwasmarketdayatSidiAissa，andthenumberlesscaravansofcamelscominginfromthedesert，andthecrowdsofbickeringArabsinthemarketplace，filledTarzanwithaconsumingdesiretoremainforadaythathemightseemoreofthesesonsofthedesert。ThusitwasthatthecompanyofSPAHISmarchedonthatafternoontowardBouSaadawithouthim。HespentthehoursuntildarkwanderingaboutthemarketincompanywithayouthfulArab，oneAbdul，whohadbeenrecommendedtohimbytheinnkeeperasatrustworthyservantandinterpreter。
　　HereTarzanpurchasedabettermountthantheonehehadselectedatBouira，and，enteringintoconversationwiththestatelyArabtowhomtheanimalhadbelonged，learnedthatthesellerwasKadourbenSaden，sheikofadeserttribefarsouthofDjelfa。ThroughAbdul，Tarzaninvitedhisnewacquaintancetodinewithhim。Asthethreeweremakingtheirwaythroughthecrowdsofmarketers，camels，donkeys，andhorsesthatfilledthemarketplacewithaconfusingbabelofsounds，AbdulpluckedatTarzan’ssleeve。
　　"Look，master，behindus，"andheturned，pointingatafigurewhichdisappearedbehindacamelasTarzanturned。
　　"Hehasbeenfollowingusaboutallafternoon，"continuedAbdul。
　　"IcaughtonlyaglimpseofanArabinadark—blueburnooseandwhiteturban，"repliedTarzan。"Isitheyoumean？"
　　"Yes。Isuspectedhimbecauseheseemsastrangerhere，withoutotherbusinessthanfollowingus，whichisnotthewayoftheArabwhoishonest，andalsobecausehekeepsthelowerpartofhisfacehidden，onlyhiseyesshowing。
　　Hemustbeabadman，orhewouldhavehonestbusinessofhisowntooccupyhistime。"
　　"Heisonthewrongscentthen，Abdul，"repliedTarzan，"fornooneherecanhaveanygrievanceagainstme。
　　Thisismyfirstvisittoyourcountry，andnoneknowsme。
　　Hewillsoondiscoverhiserror，andceasetofollowus。"
　　"Unlesshebebentonrobbery，"returnedAbdul。
　　"Thenallwecandoiswaituntilheisreadytotryhishanduponus，"laughedTarzan，"andIwarrantthathewillgethisbellyfulofrobbingnowthatwearepreparedforhim，"andsohedismissedthesubjectfromhismind，thoughhewasdestinedtorecallitbeforemanyhoursthroughamostunlooked—foroccurrence。
　　KadourbenSaden，havingdinedwell，preparedtotakeleaveofhishost。Withdignifiedprotestationsoffriendship，heinvitedTarzantovisithiminhiswilddomain，wheretheantelope，thestag，theboar，thepanther，andthelionmightstillbefoundinsufficientnumberstotemptanardenthuntsman。
　　Onhisdeparturetheape—man，withAbdul，wanderedagainintothestreetsofSidiAissa，wherehewassoonattractedbythewilddinofsoundcomingfromtheopendoorwayofoneofthenumerousCAFESMAURES。Itwasaftereight，andthedancingwasinfullswingasTarzanentered。TheroomwasfilledtorepletionwithArabs。Allweresmoking，anddrinkingtheirthick，hotcoffee。
　　TarzanandAbdulfoundseatsnearthecenteroftheroom，thoughtheterrificnoiseproducedbythemusiciansupontheirArabdrumsandpipeswouldhaverenderedaseatfartherfromthemmoreacceptabletothequiet—lovingape—man。
　　Arathergood—lookingOuled—Nailwasdancing，and，perceivingTarzan’sEuropeanclothes，andscentingagenerousgratuity，shethrewhersilkenhandkerchiefuponhisshoulder，toberewardedwithafranc。
　　Whenherplaceuponthefloorhadbeentakenbyanotherthebright—eyedAbdulsawherinconversationwithtwoArabsatthefarsideoftheroom，nearasidedoorthatletuponaninnercourt，aroundthegalleryofwhichweretheroomsoccupiedbythegirlswhodancedinthiscafe。
　　Atfirsthethoughtnothingofthematter，butpresentlyhenoticedfromthecornerofhiseyeoneofthemennodintheirdirection，andthegirlturnandshootafurtiveglanceatTarzan。ThentheArabsmeltedthroughthedoorwayintothedarknessofthecourt。
　　Whenitcameagainthegirl’sturntodanceshehoveredclosetoTarzan，andfortheape—manalonewerehersweetestsmiles。ManyanuglyscowlwascastuponthetallEuropeanbyswarthy，dark—eyedsonsofthedesert，butneithersmilesnorscowlsproducedanyoutwardlyvisibleeffectuponhim。
　　Againthegirlcastherhandkerchiefuponhisshoulder，andagainwassherewardedwithafrancpiece。Asshewasstickingituponherforehead，afterthecustomofherkind，shebentlowtowardTarzan，whisperingaquickwordinhisear。
　　"Therearetwowithoutinthecourt，"shesaidquickly，inbrokenFrench，"whowouldharmm’sieur。AtfirstIpromisedtolureyoutothem，butyouhavebeenkind，andIcannotdoit。Goquickly，beforetheyfindthatIhavefailedthem。
　　Ithinkthattheyareverybadmen。"
　　Tarzanthankedthegirl，assuringherthathewouldbecareful，and，havingfinishedherdance，shecrossedtothelittledoorwayandwentoutintothecourt。ButTarzandidnotleavethecafeasshehadurged。
　　Foranotherhalfhournothingunusualoccurred，thenasurly—lookingArabenteredthecafefromthestreet。HestoodnearTarzan，wherehedeliberatelymadeinsultingremarksabouttheEuropean，butastheywereinhisnativetongueTarzanwasentirelyinnocentoftheirpurportuntilAbdultookituponhimselftoenlightenhim。
　　"Thisfellowislookingfortrouble，"warnedAbdul。"Heisnotalone。Infact，incaseofadisturbance，nearlyeverymanherewouldbeagainstyou。Itwouldbebettertoleavequietly，master。"
　　"Askthefellowwhathewants，"commandedTarzan。
　　"Hesaysthat`thedogofaChristian’insultedtheOuled—
　　Nail，whobelongstohim。Hemeanstrouble，m’sieur。"
　　"TellhimthatIdidnotinsulthisoranyotherOuled—
　　Nail，thatIwishhimtogoawayandleavemealone。
　　ThatIhavenoquarrelwithhim，norhasheanywithme。"
　　"Hesays，"repliedAbdul，afterdeliveringthismessagetotheArab，"thatbesidesbeingadogyourselfthatyouarethesonofone，andthatyourgrandmotherwasahyena。
　　Incidentallyyouarealiar。"
　　Theattentionofthosenearbyhadnowbeenattractedbythealtercation，andthesneeringlaughsthatfollowedthistorrentofinvectiveeasilyindicatedthetrendofthesympathiesofthemajorityoftheaudience。
　　Tarzandidnotlikebeinglaughedat，neitherdidherelishthetermsappliedtohimbytheArab，butheshowednosignofangerashearosefromhisseatuponthebench。
　　Ahalfsmileplayedabouthislips，butofasuddenamightyfistshotintothefaceofthescowlingArab，andbackofitweretheterriblemusclesoftheape—man。
　　Attheinstantthatthemanfellahalfdozenfierceplainsmensprangintotheroomfromwheretheyhadapparentlybeenwaitingfortheircueinthestreetbeforethecafe。
　　Withcriesof"Killtheunbeliever！"and"DownwiththedogofaChristian！"theymadestraightforTarzan。
　　AnumberoftheyoungerArabsintheaudiencesprangtotheirfeettojoinintheassaultupontheunarmedwhiteman。
　　TarzanandAbdulwererushedbacktowardtheendoftheroombytheveryforceofnumbersopposingthem。
　　TheyoungArabremainedloyaltohismaster，andwithdrawnknifefoughtathisside。
　　Withtremendousblowstheape—manfelledallwhocamewithinreachofhispowerfulhands。Hefoughtquietlyandwithoutaword，uponhislipsthesamehalfsmiletheyhadwornasherosetostrikedownthemanwhohadinsultedhim。
　　ItseemedimpossiblethateitherheorAbdulcouldsurvivetheseaofwicked—lookingswordsandknivesthatsurroundedthem，buttheverynumbersoftheirassailantsprovedthebestbulwarkoftheirsafety。Socloselypackedwasthehowling，cursingmobthatnoweaponcouldbewieldedtoadvantage，andnoneoftheArabsdareduseafirearmforfearofwoundingoneofhiscompatriots。
　　FinallyTarzansucceededinseizingoneofthemostpersistentofhisattackers。Withaquickwrenchhedisarmedthefellow，andthen，holdinghimbeforethemasashield，hebackedslowlybesideAbdultowardthelittledoorwhichledintotheinnercourtyard。Atthethresholdhepausedforaninstant，and，liftingthestrugglingArababovehishead，hurledhim，asthoughfromacatapult，fullinthefacesofhison—pressingfellows。
　　ThenTarzanandAbdulsteppedintothesemidarknessofthecourt。ThefrightenedOuled—Nailswerecrouchingatthetopsofthestairswhichledtotheirrespectiverooms，theonlylightinthecourtyardcomingfromthesicklycandleswhicheachgirlhadstuckwithitsowngreasetothewoodworkofherdoor—frame，thebettertodisplayhercharmstothosewhomighthappentotraversethedarkinclosure。
　　ScarcelyhadTarzanandAbdulemergedfromtheroomerearevolverspokecloseattheirbacksfromtheshadowsbeneathoneofthestairways，andastheyturnedtomeetthisnewantagonist，twomuffledfiguressprangtowardthem，firingastheycame。Tarzanleapedtomeetthesetwonewassailants。Theforemostlay，asecondlater，inthetrampleddirtofthecourt，disarmedandgroaningfromabrokenwrist。
　　Abdul’sknifefoundthevitalsofthesecondintheinstantthatthefellow’srevolvermissedfireasheheldittothefaithfulArab’sforehead。
　　Themaddenedhordewithinthecafewerenowrushingoutinpursuitoftheirquarry。TheOuled—Nailshadextinguishedtheircandlesatacryfromoneoftheirnumber，andtheonlylightwithintheyardcamefeeblyfromtheopenandhalf—blockeddoorofthecafe。TarzanhadseizedaswordfromthemanwhohadfallenbeforeAbdul’sknife，andnowhestoodwaitingfortherushofmenthatwascominginsearchofthemthroughthedarkness。
　　Suddenlyhefeltalighthanduponhisshoulderfrombehind，andawoman’svoicewhispering，"Quick，m’sieur;thisway。Followme。"
　　"Come，Abdul，"saidTarzan，inalowtone，totheyouth;
　　"wecanbenoworseoffelsewherethanwearehere。"
　　Thewomanturnedandledthemupthenarrowstairwaythatendedatthedoorofherquarters。Tarzanwasclosebesideher。Hesawthegoldandsilverbraceletsuponherbarearms，thestringsofgoldcointhatdependedfromherhairornaments，andthegorgeouscolorsofherdress。HesawthatshewasaOuled—Nail，andinstinctivelyheknewthatshewasthesamewhohadwhisperedthewarninginhisearearlierintheevening。
　　Astheyreachedthetopofthestairstheycouldheartheangrycrowdsearchingtheyardbeneath。
　　"Soontheywillsearchhere，"whisperedthegirl。
　　"Theymustnotfindyou，for，thoughyoufightwiththestrengthofmanymen，theywillkillyouintheend。
　　Hasten;youcandropfromthefartherwindowofmyroomtothestreetbeyond。Beforetheydiscoverthatyouarenolongerinthecourtofthebuildingsyouwillbesafewithinthehotel。"
　　Butevenasshespoke，severalmenhadstartedupthestairwayattheheadofwhichtheystood。Therewasasuddencryfromoneofthesearchers。Theyhadbeendiscovered。
　　Quicklythecrowdrushedforthestairway。Theforemostassailantleapedquicklyupward，butatthetophemetthesuddenswordthathehadnotexpected——thequarryhadbeenunarmedbefore。
　　Withacry，themantoppledbackuponthosebehindhim。
　　Liketenpinstheyrolleddownthestairs。Theancientandricketystructurecouldnotwithstandthestrainofthisunwontedweightandjarring。WithacreakingandrendingofbreakingwooditcollapsedbeneaththeArabs，leavingTarzan，Abdul，andthegirlaloneuponthefrailplatformatthetop。
　　"Come！"criedtheOuled—Nail。"Theywillreachusfromanotherstairwaythroughtheroomnexttomine。Wehavenotamomenttospare。"
　　JustastheywereenteringtheroomAbdulheardandtranslatedacryfromtheyardbelowforseveraltohastentothestreetandcutoffescapefromthatside。
　　"Wearelostnow，"saidthegirlsimply。
　　"We？"questionedTarzan。
　　"Yes，m’sieur，"sheresponded;"theywillkillmeaswell。
　　HaveInotaidedyou？"
　　Thisputadifferentaspectonthematter。Tarzanhadratherbeenenjoyingtheexcitementanddangeroftheencounter。
　　HehadnotforaninstantsupposedthateitherAbdulorthegirlcouldsufferexceptthroughaccident，andhehadonlyretreatedjustenoughtokeepfrombeingkilledhimself。
　　Hehadhadnointentionofrunningawayuntilhesawthathewashopelesslylostwerehetoremain。