Alonehecouldhavesprungintothemidstofthatclose—
packedmob，and，layingabouthimafterthefashionofNuma，thelion，havestrucktheArabswithsuchconsternationthatescapewouldhavebeeneasy。Nowhemustthinkentirelyofthesetwofaithfulfriends。
Hecrossedtothewindowwhichoverlookedthestreet。Inaminutetherewouldbeenemiesbelow。Alreadyhecouldhearthemobclamberingthestairwaytothenextquarters——
theywouldbeatthedoorbesidehiminanotherinstant。
Heputafootuponthesillandleanedout，buthedidnotlookdown。Abovehim，withinarm’sreach，wasthelowroofofthebuilding。Hecalledtothegirl。Shecameandstoodbesidehim。Heputagreatarmaboutherandliftedheracrosshisshoulder。
"WaithereuntilIreachdownforyoufromabove，"hesaidtoAbdul。"Inthemeantimeshoveeverythingintheroomagainstthatdoor——itmaydelaythemlongenough。"
Thenhesteppedtothesillofthenarrowwindowwiththegirluponhisshoulders。"Holdtight，"hecautionedher。
Amomentlaterhehadclamberedtotheroofabovewiththeeaseanddexterityofanape。Settingthegirldown，heleanedfarovertheroof’sedge，callingsoftlytoAbdul。Theyouthrantothewindow。
"Yourhand，"whisperedTarzan。Themenintheroombeyondwerebatteringatthedoor。Withasuddencrashitfellsplinteringin，andatthesameinstantAbdulfelthimselfliftedlikeafeatherontotheroofabove。Theywerenotamomenttoosoon，forasthemenbrokeintotheroomwhichtheyhadjustquittedadozenmoreroundedthecornerinthestreetbelowandcamerunningtoaspotbeneaththegirl’swindow。
Chapter8
TheFightintheDesertAsthethreesquattedupontheroofabovethequartersoftheOuled—NailstheyheardtheangrycursingoftheArabsintheroombeneath。AbdultranslatedfromtimetotimetoTarzan。
"Theyareberatingthoseinthestreetbelownow，"saidAbdul，"forpermittingustoescapesoeasily。Thoseinthestreetsaythatwedidnotcomethatway——thatwearestillwithinthebuilding，andthatthoseabove，beingtoocowardlytoattackus，areattemptingtodeceivethemintobelievingthatwehaveescaped。Inamomenttheywillhavefightingoftheirowntoattendtoiftheycontinuetheirbrawling。"
Presentlythoseinthebuildinggaveupthesearch，andreturnedtothecafe。Afewremainedinthestreetbelow，smokingandtalking。
Tarzanspoketothegirl，thankingherforthesacrificeshehadmadeforhim，atotalstranger。
"Ilikedyou，"shesaidsimply。"Youwereunliketheotherswhocometothecafe。Youdidnotspeakcoarselytome——
themannerinwhichyougavememoneywasnotaninsult。"
"Whatshallyoudoaftertonight？"heasked。"Youcannotreturntothecafe。CanyouevenremainwithsafetyinSidiAissa？"
"Tomorrowitwillbeforgotten，"shereplied。"ButIshouldbegladifitmightbethatIneedneverreturntothisoranothercafe。IhavenotremainedbecauseIwishedto;
Ihavebeenaprisoner。"
"Aprisoner！"ejaculatedTarzanincredulously。
"Aslavewouldbethebetterword，"sheanswered。"Iwasstoleninthenightfrommyfather’sDOUARbyabandofmarauders。
TheybroughtmehereandsoldmetotheArabwhokeepsthiscafe。
IthasbeennearlytwoyearsnowsinceIsawthelastofmineownpeople。Theyareveryfartothesouth。TheynevercometoSidiAissa。"
"Youwouldliketoreturntoyourpeople？"askedTarzan。
"ThenIshallpromisetoseeyousafelysofarasBouSaadaatleast。Therewecandoubtlessarrangewiththecommandanttosendyoutherestoftheway。"
"Oh，m’sieur，"shecried，"howcanIeverrepayyou！YoucannotreallymeanthatyouwilldosomuchforapoorOuled—Nail。Butmyfathercanrewardyou，andhewill，forishenotagreatsheik？HeisKadourbenSaden。"
"KadourbenSaden！"ejaculatedTarzan。"Why，KadourbenSadenisinSidiAissathisverynight。Hedinedwithmebutafewhourssince。"
"MyfatherinSidiAissa？"criedtheamazedgirl。
"Allahbepraisedthen，forIamindeedsaved。"
"Hssh！"cautionedAbdul。"Listen。"
Frombelowcamethesoundofvoices，quitedistinguishableuponthestillnightair。Tarzancouldnotunderstandthewords，butAbdulandthegirltranslated。
"Theyhavegonenow，"saidthelatter。"Itisyoutheywant，m’sieur。
OneofthemsaidthatthestrangerwhohadofferedmoneyforyourslayinglayinthehouseofAkmeddinSoulefwithabrokenwrist，butthathehadofferedastillgreaterrewardifsomewouldlayinwaitforyouupontheroadtoBouSaadaandkillyou。"
"Itishewhofollowedm’sieuraboutthemarkettoday，"
exclaimedAbdul。"Isawhimagainwithinthecafe——himandanother;andthetwowentoutintotheinnercourtaftertalkingwiththisgirlhere。Itwastheywhoattackedandfireduponus，aswecameoutofthecafe。Whydotheywishtokillyou，m’sieur？"
"Idonotknow，"repliedTarzan，andthen，afterapause:
"Unless——"Buthedidnotfinish，forthethoughtthathadcometohismind，whileitseemedtheonlyreasonablesolutionofthemystery，appearedatthesametimequiteimprobable。
Presentlythemeninthestreetwentaway。Thecourtyardandthecafeweredeserted。CautiouslyTarzanloweredhimselftothesillofthegirl’swindow。Theroomwasempty。
HereturnedtotheroofandletAbduldown，thenheloweredthegirltothearmsofthewaitingArab。
FromthewindowAbduldroppedtheshortdistancetothestreetbelow，whileTarzantookthegirlinhisarmsandleapeddownashehaddoneonsomanyotheroccasionsinhisownforestwithaburdeninhisarms。Alittlecryofalarmwasstartledfromthegirl’slips，butTarzanlandedinthestreetwithbutanimperceptiblejar，andloweredherinsafetytoherfeet。
Sheclungtohimforamoment。
"Howstrongm’sieuris，andhowactive，"shecried。
"ELADREA，theblacklion，himselfisnotmoreso。"
"IshouldliketomeetthisELADREAofyours，"hesaid。
"Ihaveheardmuchabouthim。"
"AndyoucometotheDOUARofmyfatheryoushallseehim，"saidthegirl。"Helivesinaspurofthemountainsnorthofus，andcomesdownfromhislairatnighttorobmyfather’sDOUAR。Withasingleblowofhismightypawhecrushestheskullofabull，andwoebetidethebelatedwayfarerwhomeetsELADREAabroadatnight。"
Withoutfurthermishaptheyreachedthehotel。ThesleepylandlordobjectedstrenuouslytoinstitutingasearchforKadourbenSadenuntilthefollowingmorning，butapieceofgoldputadifferentaspectonthematter，sothatafewmomentslateraservanthadstartedtomaketheroundsofthelessernativehostelrieswhereitmightbeexpectedthatadesertsheikwouldfindcongenialassociations。Tarzanhadfeltitnecessarytofindthegirl’sfatherthatnight，forfearhemightstartonhishomewardjourneytooearlyinthemorningtobeintercepted。
TheyhadwaitedperhapshalfanhourwhenthemessengerreturnedwithKadourbenSaden。Theoldsheikenteredtheroomwithaquestioningexpressionuponhisproudface。
"Monsieurhasdonemethehonorto——"hecommenced，andthenhiseyesfelluponthegirl。Withoutstretchedarmshecrossedtheroomtomeether。"Mydaughter！"hecried。
"Allahismerciful！"andtearsdimmedthemartialeyesoftheoldwarrior。
WhenthestoryofherabductionandherfinalrescuehadbeentoldtoKadourbenSadenheextendedhishandtoTarzan。
"AllthatisKadourbenSaden’sisthine，myfriend，eventohislife，"hesaidverysimply，butTarzanknewthatthosewerenoidlewords。
Itwasdecidedthatalthoughthreeofthemwouldhavetorideafterpracticallynosleep，itwouldbebesttomakeanearlystartinthemorning，andattempttorideallthewaytoBouSaadainoneday。Itwouldhavebeencomparativelyeasyforthemen，butforthegirlitwassuretobeafatiguingjourney。
She，however，wasthemostanxioustoundertakeit，foritseemedtoherthatshecouldnotquicklyenoughreachthefamilyandfriendsfromwhomshehadbeenseparatedfortwoyears。
ItseemedtoTarzanthathehadnotclosedhiseyesbeforehewasawakened，andinanotherhourthepartywasonitswaysouthtowardBouSaada。Forafewmilestheroadwasgood，andtheymaderapidprogress，butsuddenlyitbecameonlyawasteofsand，intowhichthehorsessankfetlockdeepatnearlyeverystep。InadditiontoTarzan，Abdul，thesheik，andhisdaughterwerefourofthewildplainsmenofthesheik’stribewhohadaccompaniedhimuponthetriptoSidiAissa。Thus，sevengunsstrong，theyentertainedlittlefearofattackbyday，andifallwentwelltheyshouldreachBouSaadabeforenightfall。
Abriskwindenvelopedthemintheblowingsandofthedesert，untilTarzan’slipswereparchedandcracked。Whatlittlehecouldseeofthesurroundingcountrywasfarfromalluring——avastexpanseofroughcountry，rollinginlittle，barrenhillocks，andtuftedhereandtherewithclumpsofdrearyshrub。FartothesouthrosethedimlinesoftheSaharanAtlasrange。Howdifferent，thoughtTarzan，fromthegorgeousAfricaofhisboyhood！
Abdul，alwaysonthealert，lookedbackwardquiteasoftenashedidahead。Atthetopofeachhillockthattheymountedhewoulddrawinhishorseand，turning，scanthecountrytotherearwithutmostcare。Atlasthisscrutinywasrewarded。
"Look！"hecried。"Therearesixhorsemenbehindus。"
"Yourfriendsoflastevening，nodoubt，monsieur，"remarkedKadourbenSadendrylytoTarzan。
"Nodoubt，"repliedtheape—man。"Iamsorrythatmysocietyshouldendangerthesafetyofyourjourney。AtthenextvillageIshallremainandquestionthesegentlemen，whileyourideon。ThereisnonecessityformybeingatBouSaadatonight，andlessstillwhyyoushouldnotrideinpeace。"
"Ifyoustopweshallstop，"saidKadourbenSaden。"Untilyouaresafewithyourfriends，ortheenemyhasleftyourtrail，weshallremainwithyou。Thereisnothingmoretosay。"
Tarzannoddedhishead。Hewasamanoffewwords，andpossiblyitwasforthisreasonasmuchasanythatKadourbenSadenhadtakentohim，foriftherebeonethingthatanArabdespisesitisatalkativeman。
AllthebalanceofthedayAbdulcaughtglimpsesofthehorsemenintheirrear。Theyremainedalwaysataboutthesamedistance。Duringtheoccasionalhaltsforrest，andatthelongerhaltatnoon，theyapproachednocloser。
"Theyarewaitingfordarkness，"saidKadourbenSaden。
AnddarknesscamebeforetheyreachedBouSaada。ThelastglimpsethatAbdulhadofthegrim，white—robedfiguresthattrailedthem，justbeforeduskmadeitimpossibletodistinguishthem，hadmadeitapparentthattheywererapidlyclosingupthedistancethatintervenedbetweenthemandtheirintendedquarry。HewhisperedthisfacttoTarzan，forhedidnotwishtoalarmthegirl。Theape—mandrewbackbesidehim。
"Youwillrideaheadwiththeothers，Abdul，"saidTarzan。
"Thisismyquarrel。Ishallwaitatthenextconvenientspot，andinterviewthesefellows。"
"ThenAbdulshallwaitatthyside，"repliedtheyoungArab，norwouldanythreatsorcommandsmovehimfromhisdecision。
"Verywell，then，"repliedTarzan。"Hereisasgoodaplaceaswecouldwish。Herearerocksatthetopofthishillock。
Weshallremainhiddenhereandgiveanaccountofourselvestothesegentlemenwhentheyappear。"
Theydrewintheirhorsesanddismounted。Theothersridingaheadwerealreadyoutofsightinthedarkness。
BeyondthemshonethelightsofBouSaada。Tarzanremovedhisriflefromitsbootandloosenedhisrevolverinitsholster。
HeorderedAbdultowithdrawbehindtherockswiththehorses，sothattheyshouldbeshieldedfromtheenemies’
bulletsshouldtheyfire。TheyoungArabpretendedtodoashewasbid，butwhenhehadfastenedthetwoanimalssecurelytoalowshrubhecreptbacktolieonhisbellyafewpacesbehindTarzan。
Theape—manstooderectinthemiddleoftheroad，waiting。
Nordidhehavelongtowait。Thesoundofgallopinghorsescamesuddenlyoutofthedarknessbelowhim，andamomentlaterhediscernedthemovingblotchesoflightercoloragainstthesolidbackgroundofthenight。
"Halt，"hecried，"orwefire！"
Thewhitefigurescametoasuddenstop，andforamomenttherewassilence。Thencamethesoundofawhisperedcouncil，andlikeghoststhephantomridersdispersedinalldirections。
Againthedesertlaystillabouthim，yetitwasanominousstillnessthatforebodedevil。
Abdulraisedhimselftooneknee。Tarzancockedhisjungle—trainedears，andpresentlytherecametohimthesoundofhorseswalkingquietlythroughthesandtotheeastofhim，tothewest，tothenorth，andtothesouth。
Theyhadbeensurrounded。Thenashotcamefromthedirectioninwhichhewaslooking，abulletwhirredthroughtheairabovehishead，andhefiredattheflashoftheenemy’sgun。
Instantlythesoundlesswastewastornwiththequickstaccatoofgunsuponeveryhand。AbdulandTarzanfiredonlyattheflashes——theycouldnotyetseetheirfoemen。
Presentlyitbecameevidentthattheattackerswerecirclingtheirposition，drawingcloserandcloserinastheybegantorealizethepaltrynumbersofthepartywhichopposedthem。
Butonecametooclose，forTarzanwasaccustomedtousinghiseyesinthedarknessofthejunglenight，thanwhichthereisnomoreutterdarknessthissidethegrave，andwithacryofpainasaddlewasemptied。
"Theoddsareevening，Abdul，"saidTarzan，withalowlaugh。
Buttheywerestillfartooone—sided，andwhenthefiveremaininghorsemenwhirledatasignalandchargedfulluponthemitlookedasiftherewouldbeasuddenendingofthebattle。BothTarzanandAbdulsprangtotheshelteroftherocks，thattheymightkeeptheenemyinfrontofthem。
Therewasamadclatterofgallopinghoofs，avolleyofshotsfrombothsides，andtheArabswithdrewtorepeatthemaneuver;buttherewerenowonlyfouragainstthetwo。
Forafewmomentstherecamenosoundfromoutofthesurroundingblackness。TarzancouldnottellwhethertheArabs，satisfiedwiththeirlosses，hadgivenupthefight，orwerewaitingfartheralongtheroadtowaylaythemastheyproceededontowardBouSaada。Buthewasnotleftlongindoubt，fornowallfromonedirectioncamethesoundofanewcharge。ButscarcelyhadthefirstgunspokenereadozenshotsrangoutbehindtheArabs。Therecamethewildshoutsofanewpartytothecontroversy，andthepoundingofthefeetofmanyhorsesfromdowntheroadtoBouSaada。
TheArabsdidnotwaittolearntheidentityoftheoncomers。
WithapartingvolleyastheydashedbythepositionwhichTarzanandAbdulwereholding，theyplungedoffalongtheroadtowardSidiAissa。AmomentlaterKadourbenSadenandhismendashedup。
TheoldsheikwasmuchrelievedtofindthatneitherTarzannorAbdulhadreceivedascratch。Notevenhadtheirhorsesbeenwounded。TheysoughtoutthetwomenwhohadfallenbeforeTarzan’sshots，and，findingthatbothweredead，leftthemwheretheylay。
"Whydidyounottellmethatyoucontemplatedambushingthosefellows？"askedthesheikinahurttone。"Wemighthavehadthemallifthesevenofushadstoppedtomeetthem。"
"Thenitwouldhavebeenuselesstostopatall，"repliedTarzan，"forhadwesimplyriddenontowardBouSaadatheywouldhavebeenuponuspresently，andallcouldhavebeenengaged。Itwastopreventthetransferofmyownquarreltoanother’sshouldersthatAbdulandIstoppedofftoquestionthem。Thenthereisyourdaughter——Icouldnotbethecauseofexposingherneedlesslytothemarksmanshipofsixmen。"
KadourbenSadenshruggedhisshoulders。Hedidnotrelishhavingbeencheatedoutofafight。
ThelittlebattlesoclosetoBouSaadahaddrawnoutacompanyofsoldiers。Tarzanandhispartymetthemjustoutsidethetown。Theofficerinchargehaltedthemtolearnthesignificanceoftheshots。
"Ahandfulofmarauders，"repliedKadourbenSaden。
"Theyattackedtwoofournumberwhohaddroppedbehind，butwhenwereturnedtothemthefellowssoondispersed。
Theylefttwodead。Noneofmypartywasinjured。"
Thisseemedtosatisfytheofficer，andaftertakingthenamesofthepartyhemarchedhismenontowardthesceneoftheskirmishtobringbackthedeadmenforpurposesofidentification，ifpossible。
Twodayslater，KadourbenSaden，withhisdaughterandfollowers，rodesouththroughthepassbelowBouSaada，boundfortheirhomeinthefarwilderness。ThesheikhadurgedTarzantoaccompanyhim，andthegirlhadaddedherentreatiestothoseofherfather;but，thoughhecouldnotexplainittothem，Tarzan’sdutiesloomedparticularlylargeafterthehappeningsofthepastfewdays，sothathecouldnotthinkofleavinghispostforaninstant。Buthepromisedtocomelaterifitlaywithinhispowertodoso，andtheyhadtocontentthemselveswiththatassurance。
DuringthesetwodaysTarzanhadspentpracticallyallhistimewithKadourbenSadenandhisdaughter。Hewaskeenlyinterestedinthisraceofsternanddignifiedwarriors，andembracedtheopportunitywhichtheirfriendshipofferedtolearnwhathecouldoftheirlivesandcustoms。Heevencommencedtoacquiretherudimentsoftheirlanguageunderthepleasanttutorageofthebrown—eyedgirl。Itwaswithrealregretthathesawthemdepart，andhesathishorseattheopeningtothepass，asfaraswhichhehadaccompaniedthem，gazingafterthelittlepartyaslongashecouldcatchaglimpseofthem。
Herewerepeopleafterhisownheart！Theirwild，roughlives，filledwithdangerandhardship，appealedtothishalf—
savagemanasnothinghadappealedtohiminthemidstoftheeffeminatecivilizationofthegreatcitieshehadvisited。Herewasalifethatexcelledeventhatofthejungle，forherehemighthavethesocietyofmen——realmenwhomhecouldhonorandrespect，andyetbeneartothewildnaturethatheloved。
InhisheadrevolvedanideathatwhenhehadcompletedhismissionhewouldresignandreturntolivefortheremainderofhislifewiththetribeofKadourbenSaden。
Thenheturnedhishorse’sheadandrodeslowlybacktoBouSaada。
ThefrontoftheHotelduPetitSahara，whereTarzanstoppedinBouSaada，istakenupwiththebar，twodining—
rooms，andthekitchens。Bothofthedining—roomsopendirectlyoffthebar，andoneofthemisreservedfortheuseoftheofficersofthegarrison。Asyoustandinthebarroomyoumaylookintoeitherofthedining—roomsifyouwish。
ItwastothebarthatTarzanrepairedafterspeedingKadourbenSadenandhispartyontheirway。Itwasyetearlyinthemorning，forKadourbenSadenhadelectedtoridefarthatday，sothatithappenedthatwhenTarzanreturnedtherewereguestsstillatbreakfast。
Ashiscasualglancewanderedintotheofficers’dining—
room，Tarzansawsomethingwhichbroughtalookofinteresttohiseyes。LieutenantGernoiswassittingthere，andasTarzanlookedawhite—robedArabapproachedand，bending，whisperedafewwordsintothelieutenant’sear。Thenhepassedonoutofthebuildingthroughanotherdoor。
Initselfthethingwasnothing，butasthemanhadstoopedtospeaktotheofficer，Tarzanhadcaughtsightofsomethingwhichtheaccidentalpartingoftheman’sburnoosehadrevealed——hecarriedhisleftarminasling。
Chapter9
Numa"ElAdrea"
OnthesamedaythatKadourbenSadenrodesouththediligencefromthenorthbroughtTarzanaletterfromD’ArnotwhichhadbeenforwardedfromSidi—bel—Abbes。
ItopenedtheoldwoundthatTarzanwouldhavebeengladtohaveforgotten;yethewasnotsorrythatD’Arnothadwritten，foroneatleastofhissubjectscouldneverceasetointeresttheape—man。Hereistheletter:
MYDEARJEAN:
SincelastIwroteyouIhavebeenacrosstoLondononamatterofbusiness。Iwastherebutthreedays。TheveryfirstdayIcameuponanoldfriendofyours——quiteunexpectedly——inHenriettaStreet。Nowyouneverintheworldwouldguesswhom。
NoneotherthanMr。SamuelT。Philander。Butitistrue。
Icanseeyourlookofincredulity。Noristhisall。
HeinsistedthatIreturntothehotelwithhim，andthereIfoundtheothers——ProfessorArchimedesQ。Porter，MissPorter，andthatenormousblackwoman，MissPorter’smaid——Esmeralda，youwillrecall。WhileIwasthereClaytoncamein。Theyaretobemarriedsoon，orrathersooner，forIrathersuspectthatweshallreceiveannouncementsalmostanyday。Onaccountofhisfather’sdeathitistobeaveryquietaffair——onlybloodrelatives。
WhileIwasalonewithMr。Philandertheoldfellowbecameratherconfidential。SaidMissPorterhadalreadypostponedtheweddingonthreedifferentoccasions。HeconfidedthatitappearedtohimthatshewasnotparticularlyanxioustomarryClaytonatall;butthistimeitseemsthatitisquitelikelytogothrough。
Ofcoursetheyallaskedafteryou，butIrespectedyourwishesinthematterofyourtrueorigin，andonlyspoketothemofyourpresentaffairs。
MissPorterwasespeciallyinterestedineverythingIhadtosayaboutyou，andaskedmanyquestions。IamafraidI
tookaratherunchivalrousdelightinpicturingyourdesireandresolvetogobackeventuallytoyournativejungle。
Iwassorryafterward，foritdidseemtocauseherrealanguishtocontemplatetheawfuldangerstowhichyouwishedtoreturn。"Andyet，"shesaid，"Idonotknow。TherearemoreunhappyfatesthanthegrimandterriblejunglepresentstoMonsieurTarzan。Atleasthisconsciencewillbefreefromremorse。Andtherearemomentsofquietandrestfulnessbyday，andvistasofexquisitebeauty。YoumayfinditstrangethatIshouldsayit，whoexperiencedsuchterrifyingexperiencesinthatfrightfulforest，yetattimesIlongtoreturn，forIcannotbutfeelthatthehappiestmomentsofmylifewerespentthere。"
Therewasanexpressionofineffablesadnessonherfaceasshespoke，andIcouldnotbutfeelthatsheknewthatI
knewhersecret，andthatthiswasherwayoftransmittingtoyoualasttendermessagefromaheartthatmightstillenshrineyourmemory，thoughitspossessorbelongedtoanother。
Claytonappearednervousandillateasewhileyouwerethesubjectofconversation。Heworeaworriedandharassedexpression。Yethewasverykindlyinhisexpressionsofinterestinyou。Iwonderifhesuspectsthetruthaboutyou？
TenningtoncameinwithClayton。Theyaregreatfriends，youknow。Heisabouttosetoutupononeofhisinterminablecruisesinthatyachtofhis，andwasurgingtheentirepartytoaccompanyhim。Triedtoinveiglemeintoit，too。
IsthinkingofcircumnavigatingAfricathistime。Itoldhimthathisprecioustoywouldtakehimandsomeofhisfriendstothebottomoftheoceanoneofthesedaysifhedidn’tgetitoutofhisheadthatshewasalinerorabattleship。
IreturnedtoParisdaybeforeyesterday，andyesterdayI
mettheCountandCountessdeCoudeattheraces。Theyinquiredafteryou。DeCoudereallyseemsquitefondofyou。
Doesn’tappeartoharbortheleastillwill。Olgaisasbeautifulasever，butatriflesubdued。Iimaginethatshelearnedalessonthroughheracquaintancewithyouthatwillserveheringoodsteadduringthebalanceofherlife。Itisfortunateforher，andforDeCoudeaswell，thatitwasyouandnotanothermanmoresophisticated。
HadyoureallypaidcourttoOlga’sheartIamafraidthattherewouldhavebeennohopeforeitherofyou。
SheaskedmetotellyouthatNikolashadleftFrance。
Shepaidhimtwentythousandfrancstogoaway，andstay。
Sheiscongratulatingherselfthatshegotridofhimbeforehetriedtocarryoutathreatherecentlymadeherthatheshouldkillyouatthefirstopportunity。Shesaidthatsheshouldhatetothinkthatherbrother’sbloodwasonyourhands，forsheisveryfondofyou，andmadenobonesinsayingsobeforethecount。ItneverforamomentseemedtooccurtoherthattheremightbeanypossibilityofanyotheroutcomeofameetingbetweenyouandNikolas。Thecountquiteagreedwithherinthat。HeaddedthatitwouldtakearegimentofRokoffstokillyou。Hehasamosthealthyrespectforyourprowess。
Havebeenorderedbacktomyship。ShesailsfromHavreintwodaysundersealedorders。Ifyouwilladdressmeinhercare，theletterswillfindmeeventually。Ishallwriteyouassoonasanotheropportunitypresents。
Yoursincerefriend，PAULD’ARNOT。
"Ifear，"musedTarzan，halfaloud，"thatOlgahasthrownawayhertwentythousandfrancs。"
HereadoverthatpartofD’Arnot’sletterseveraltimesinwhichhehadquotedfromhisconversationwithJanePorter。Tarzanderivedaratherpathetichappinessfromit，butitwasbetterthannohappinessatall。
Thefollowingthreeweekswerequiteuneventful。OnseveraloccasionsTarzansawthemysteriousArab，andonceagainhehadbeenexchangingwordswithLieutenantGernois;
butnoamountofespionageorshadowingbyTarzanrevealedtheArab’slodgings，thelocationofwhichTarzanwasanxioustoascertain。
Gernois，nevercordial，hadkeptmorethaneveralooffromTarzansincetheepisodeinthedining—roomofthehotelatAumale。Hisattitudeonthefewoccasionsthattheyhadbeenthrowntogetherhadbeendistinctlyhostile。
Thathemightkeepuptheappearanceofthecharacterhewasplaying，TarzanspentconsiderabletimehuntinginthevicinityofBouSaada。Hewouldspendentiredaysinthefoothills，ostensiblysearchingforgazelle，butonthefewoccasionsthathecamecloseenoughtoanyofthebeautifullittleanimalstoharmthemheinvariablyallowedthemtoescapewithoutsomuchastakinghisriflefromitsboot。Theape—mancouldseenosportinslaughteringthemostharmlessanddefenselessofGod’screaturesforthemerepleasureofkilling。
Infact，Tarzanhadneverkilledfor"pleasure，"nortohimwastherepleasureinkilling。Itwasthejoyofrighteousbattlethatheloved——theecstasyofvictory。Andthekeenandsuccessfulhuntforfoodinwhichhepittedhisskillandcraftinessagainsttheskillandcraftinessofanother;
buttocomeoutofatownfilledwithfoodtoshootdownasoft—eyed，prettygazelle——ah，thatwascruellerthanthedeliberateandcold—bloodedmurderofafellowman。
Tarzanwouldhavenoneofit，andsohehuntedalonethatnonemightdiscovertheshamthathewaspracticing。
Andonce，probablybecauseofthefactthatherodealone，hewasliketohavelosthislife。Hewasridingslowlythroughalittleravinewhenashotsoundedclosebehindhim，andabulletpassedthroughthecorkhelmethewore。
Althoughheturnedatonceandgallopedrapidlytothetopoftheravine，therewasnosignofanyenemy，nordidheseeaughtofanotherhumanbeinguntilhereachedBouSaada。