"Yes，"hesoliloquized，inrecallingtheoccurrence，"Olgahasindeedthrownawayhertwentythousandfrancs。"
　　ThatnighthewasCaptainGerard’sguestatalittledinner。
　　"Yourhuntinghasnotbeenveryfortunate？"questionedtheofficer。
　　"No，"repliedTarzan;"thegamehereaboutistimid，nordoIcareparticularlyabouthuntinggamebirdsorantelope。
　　IthinkIshallmoveonfarthersouth，andhaveatryatsomeofyourAlgerianlions。"
　　"Good！"exclaimedthecaptain。"WearemarchingtowardDjelfaonthemorrow。Youshallhavecompanythatfaratleast。
　　LieutenantGernoisandI，withahundredmen，areorderedsouthtopatroladistrictinwhichthemaraudersaregivingconsiderabletrouble。Possiblywemayhavethepleasureofhuntingtheliontogether——whatsayyou？"
　　Tarzanwasmorethanpleased，nordidhehesitatetosayso;
　　butthecaptainwouldhavebeenastonishedhadheknowntherealreasonofTarzan’spleasure。Gernoiswassittingoppositetheape—man。Hedidnotseemsopleasedwithhiscaptain’sinvitation。
　　"Youwillfindlionhuntingmoreexcitingthangazelleshooting，"remarkedCaptainGerard，"andmoredangerous。"
　　"Evengazelleshootinghasitsdangers，"repliedTarzan。
　　"Especiallywhenonegoesalone。Ifounditsotoday。
　　Ialsofoundthatwhilethegazelleisthemosttimidofanimals，itisnotthemostcowardly。"
　　HelethisglancerestonlycasuallyuponGernoisafterhehadspoken，forhedidnotwishthemantoknowthathewasundersuspicion，orsurveillance，nomatterwhathemightthink。Theeffectofhisremarkuponhim，however，mighttendtoprovehisconnectionwith，orknowledgeof，certainrecenthappenings。TarzansawadullredcreepupfrombeneathGernois’collar。Hewassatisfied，andquicklychangedthesubject。
　　WhenthecolumnrodesouthfromBouSaadathenextmorningtherewerehalfadozenArabsbringinguptherear。
　　"Theyarenotattachedtothecommand，"repliedGerardinresponsetoTarzan’squery。"Theymerelyaccompanyusontheroadforcompanionship。"
　　TarzanhadlearnedenoughaboutArabcharactersincehehadbeeninAlgeriatoknowthatthiswasnorealmotive，fortheArabisneveroverfondofthecompanionshipofstrangers，andespeciallyofFrenchsoldiers。Sohissuspicionswerearoused，andhedecidedtokeepasharpeyeonthelittlepartythattrailedbehindthecolumnatadistanceofaboutaquarterofamile。Buttheydidnotcomecloseenoughevenduringthehaltstoenablehimtoobtainaclosescrutinyofthem。
　　Hehadlongbeenconvincedthattherewerehiredassassinsonhistrail，norwasheingreatdoubtbutthatRokoffwasatthebottomoftheplot。WhetheritwastoberevengefortheseveraloccasionsinthepastthatTarzanhaddefeatedtheRussian’spurposesandhumiliatedhim，orwasinsomewayconnectedwithhismissionintheGernoisaffair，hecouldnotdetermine。Ifthelatter，anditseemedprobablesincetheevidencehehadhadthatGernoissuspectedhim，thenhehadtworatherpowerfulenemiestocontendwith，fortherewouldbemanyopportunitiesinthewildsofAlgeria，forwhichtheywerebound，todispatchasuspectedenemyquietlyandwithoutattractingsuspicion。
　　AftercampingatDjelfafortwodaysthecolumnmovedtothesouthwest，fromwhencewordhadcomethatthemarauderswereoperatingagainstthetribeswhoseDOUARSweresituatedatthefootofthemountains。
　　ThelittlebandofArabswhohadaccompaniedthemfromBouSaadahaddisappearedsuddenlytheverynightthatordershadbeengiventoprepareforthemorrow’smarchfromDjelfa。Tarzanmadecasualinquiriesamongthemen，butnonecouldtellhimwhytheyhadleft，orinwhatdirectiontheyhadgone。Hedidnotlikethelooksofit，especiallyinviewofthefactthathehadseenGernoisinconversationwithoneofthemsomehalfhourafterCaptainGerardhadissuedhisinstructionsrelativetothenewmove。
　　OnlyGernoisandTarzanknewthedirectionoftheproposedmarch。
　　Allthesoldiersknewwasthattheyweretobepreparedtobreakcampearlythenextmorning。TarzanwonderedifGernoiscouldhaverevealedtheirdestinationtotheArabs。
　　LatethatafternoontheywentintocampatalittleoasisinwhichwastheDOUARofasheikwhoseflockswerebeingstolen，andwhoseherdsmenwerebeingkilled。TheArabscameoutoftheirgoatskintents，andsurroundedthesoldiers，askingmanyquestionsinthenativetongue，forthesoldierswerethemselvesnatives。Tarzan，who，bythistime，withtheassistanceofAbdul，hadpickedupquiteasmatteringofArab，questionedoneoftheyoungermenwhohadaccompaniedthesheikwhilethelatterpaidhisrespectstoCaptainGerard。
　　No，hehadseennopartyofsixhorsemenridingfromthedirectionofDjelfa。Therewereotheroasesscatteredabout——possiblytheyhadbeenjourneyingtooneofthese。
　　Thentherewerethemaraudersinthemountainsabove——theyoftenrodenorthtoBouSaadainsmallparties，andevenasfarasAumaleandBouira。Itmightindeedhavebeenafewmaraudersreturningtothebandfromapleasuretriptooneofthesecities。
　　EarlythenextmorningCaptainGerardsplithiscommandintwo，givingLieutenantGernoiscommandofoneparty，whileheheadedtheother。Theyweretoscourthemountainsuponoppositesidesoftheplain。
　　"AndwithwhichdetachmentwillMonsieurTarzanride？"
　　askedthecaptain。"Ormaybeitisthatmonsieurdoesnotcaretohuntmarauders？"
　　"Oh，Ishallbedelightedtogo，"Tarzanhastenedtoexplain。
　　HewaswonderingwhatexcusehecouldmaketoaccompanyGernois。
　　Hisembarrassmentwasshort—lived，andwasrelievedfromamostunexpectedsource。ItwasGernoishimselfwhospoke。
　　"IfmycaptainwillforegothepleasureofMonsieurTarzan’scompanyforthisonce，Ishallesteemitanhonorindeedtohavemonsieurridewithmetoday，"hesaid，norwashistonelackingincordiality。Infact，Tarzanimaginedthathehadoverdoneitatrifle，but，evenso，hewasbothastoundedandpleased，hasteningtoexpresshisdelightatthearrangement。
　　AndsoitwasthatLieutenantGernoisandTarzanrodeoffsidebysideattheheadofthelittledetachmentofSPAHIS。Gernois’cordialitywasshort—lived。NosoonehadtheyriddenoutofsightofCaptainGerardandhismenthanhelapsedoncemoreintohisaccustomedtaciturnity。
　　Astheyadvancedthegroundbecamerougher。Steadilyitascendedtowardthemountains，intowhichtheyfiledthroughanarrowcanonclosetonoon。BythesideofalittlerivuletGernoiscalledthemiddayhalt。Herethemenpreparedandatetheirfrugalmeal，andrefilledtheircanteens。
　　Afteranhour’sresttheyadvancedagainalongthecanon，untiltheypresentlycametoalittlevalley，fromwhichseveralrockygorgesdiverged。Heretheyhalted，whileGernoisminutelyexaminedthesurroundingheightsfromthecenterofthedepression。
　　"Weshallseparatehere，"hesaid，"severalridingintoeachofthesegorges，"andthenhecommencedtodetailhisvarioussquadsandissueinstructionstothenon—commissionedofficerswhoweretocommandthem。WhenhehaddoneheturnedtoTarzan。
　　"Monsieurwillbesogoodastoremainhereuntilwereturn。"
　　Tarzandemurred，buttheofficercuthimshort。"Theremaybefightingforoneofthesesections，"hesaid，"andtroopscannotbeembarrassedbyciviliannoncombatantsduringaction。"
　　"But，mydearlieutenant，"expostulatedTarzan，"Iammostreadyandwillingtoplacemyselfundercommandofyourselforanyofyoursergeantsorcorporals，andtofightintheranksastheydirect。ItiswhatIcamefor。"
　　"Ishouldbegladtothinkso，"retortedGernois，withasneerhemadenoattempttodisguise。Thenshortly:
　　"Youareundermyorders，andtheyarethatyouremainhereuntilwereturn。Letthatendthematter，"andheturnedandspurredawayattheheadofhismen。AmomentlaterTarzanfoundhimselfaloneinthemidstofadesolatemountainfastness。
　　Thesunwashot，sohesoughttheshelterofanearbytree，wherehetetheredhishorse，andsatdownuponthegroundtosmoke。InwardlyhesworeatGernoisforthetrickhehadplayeduponhim。Ameanlittlerevenge，thoughtTarzan，andthensuddenlyitoccurredtohimthatthemanwouldnotbesuchafoolastoantagonizehimthroughatrivialannoyanceofsopettyadescription。Theremustbesomethingdeeperthanthisbehindit。Withthethoughthearoseandremovedhisriflefromitsboot。Helookedtoitsloadsandsawthatthemagazinewasfull。Thenheinspectedhisrevolver。Afterthispreliminaryprecautionhescannedthesurroundingheightsandthemouthsoftheseveralgorges——hewasdeterminedthatheshouldnotbecaughtnapping。
　　Thesunsanklowerandlower，yettherewasnosignofreturningSPAHIS。AtlastthevalleywassubmergedinshadowTarzanwastooproudtogobacktocampuntilhehadgiventhedetachmentampletimetoreturntothevalley，whichhethoughtwastohavebeentheirrendezvous。
　　Withtheclosinginofnighthefeltsaferfromattack，forhewasathomeinthedark。Heknewthatnonemightapproachhimsocautiouslyastoeludethosealertandsensitiveearsofhis;thentherewerehiseyes，too，forhecouldseewellatnight;andhisnose，iftheycametowardhimfromup—wind，wouldapprisehimoftheapproachofanenemywhiletheywerestillagreatwayoff。
　　Sohefeltthathewasinlittledanger，andthuslulledtoasenseofsecurityhefellasleep，withhisbackagainstthetree。
　　Hemusthavesleptforseveralhours，forwhenhewassuddenlyawakenedbythefrightenedsnortingandplungingofhishorsethemoonwasshiningfulluponthelittlevalley，andthere，nottenpacesbeforehim，stoodthegrimcauseoftheterrorofhismount。
　　Superb，majestic，hisgracefultailextendedandquivering，andhistwoeyesoffirerivetedfulluponhisprey，stoodNumaELADREA，theblacklion。AlittlethrillofjoytingledthroughTarzan’snerves。Itwaslikemeetinganoldfriendafteryearsofseparation。Foramomenthesatrigidtoenjoythemagnificentspectacleofthislordofthewilderness。
　　ButnowNumawascrouchingforthespring。VeryslowlyTarzanraisedhisguntohisshoulder。Hehadneverkilledalargeanimalwithaguninallhislife——heretoforehehaddependeduponhisspear，hispoisonedarrows，hisrope，hisknife，orhisbarehands。Instinctivelyhewishedthathehadhisarrowsandhisknife——hewouldhavefeltsurerwiththem。
　　Numawaslyingquiteflatuponthegroundnow，presentingonlyhishead。Tarzanwouldhavepreferredtofirealittlefromoneside，forheknewwhatterrificdamagethelioncoulddoifhelivedtwominutes，orevenaminuteafterhewashit。ThehorsestoodtremblinginterroratTarzan’sback。
　　Theape—mantookacautioussteptooneside——Numabutfollowedhimwithhiseyes。Anotherstephetook，andthenanother。
　　Numahadnotmoved。Nowhecouldaimatapointbetweentheeyeandtheear。
　　Hisfingertighteneduponthetrigger，andashefiredNumasprang。Atthesameinstanttheterrifiedhorsemadealastfranticefforttoescape——thetetherparted，andhewentcareeningdownthecanontowardthedesert。
　　NoordinarymancouldhaveescapedthosefrightfulclawswhenNumasprangfromsoshortadistance，butTarzanwasnoordinaryman。Fromearliestchildhoodhismuscleshadbeentrainedbythefierceexigenciesofhisexistencetoactwiththerapidityofthought。AsquickaswasELADREA，TarzanoftheApeswasquicker，andsothegreatbeastcrashedagainstatreewherehehadexpectedtofeelthesoftfleshofman，whileTarzan，acoupleofpacestotheright，pumpedanotherbulletintohimthatbroughthimclawingandroaringtohisside。
　　TwicemoreTarzanfiredinquicksuccession，andthenELADREAlaystillandroarednomore。ItwasnolongerMonsieurJeanTarzan;itwasTarzanoftheApesthatputasavagefootuponthebodyofhissavagekill，and，raisinghisfacetothefullmoon，liftedhismightyvoiceintheweirdandterriblechallengeofhiskind——abullapehadmadehiskill。
　　Andthewildthingsinthewildmountainsstoppedintheirhunting，andtrembledatthisnewandawfulvoice，whiledowninthedesertthechildrenofthewildernesscameoutoftheirgoatskintentsandlookedtowardthemountains，wonderingwhatnewandsavagescourgehadcometodevastatetheirflocks。
　　AhalfmilefromthevalleyinwhichTarzanstood，ascoreofwhite—robedfigures，bearinglong，wicked—lookingguns，haltedatthesound，andlookedatoneanotherwithquestioningeyes。Butpresently，asitwasnotrepeated，theytookuptheirsilent，stealthywaytowardthevalley。
　　TarzanwasnowconfidentthatGernoishadnointentionofreturningforhim，buthecouldnotfathomtheobjectthathadpromptedtheofficertodeserthim，yetleavehimfreetoreturntocamp。Hishorsegone，hedecidedthatitwouldbefoolishtoremainlongerinthemountains，sohesetouttowardthedesert。
　　Hehadscarcelyenteredtheconfinesofthecanonwhenthefirstofthewhite—robedfiguresemergedintothevalleyupontheoppositeside。Foramomenttheyscannedthelittledepressionfrombehindshelteringbowlders，butwhentheyhadsatisfiedthemselvesthatitwasemptytheyadvancedacrossit。BeneaththetreeatonesidetheycameuponthebodyofELADREA。Withmutteredexclamationstheycrowdedaboutit。Then，amomentlater，theyhurrieddownthecanonwhichTarzanwasthreadingabriefdistanceinadvanceofthem。
　　Theymovedcautiouslyandinsilence，takingadvantageofshelter，asmendowhoarestalkingman。
　　Chapter10
　　ThroughtheValleyoftheShadowAsTarzanwalkeddownthewildcanonbeneaththebrilliantAfricanmoonthecallofthejunglewasstronguponhim。
　　Thesolitudeandthesavagefreedomfilledhisheartwithlifeandbuoyancy。AgainhewasTarzanoftheApes——everysensealertagainstthechanceofsurprisebysomejungleenemy——yettreadinglightlyandwithheaderect，inproudconsciousnessofhismight。
　　Thenocturnalsoundsofthemountainswerenewtohim，yettheyfelluponhisearslikethesoftvoiceofahalf—
　　forgottenlove。Manyheintuitivelysensed——ah，therewasonethatwasfamiliarindeed;thedistantcoughingofSheeta，theleopard;buttherewasastrangenoteinthefinalwailwhichmadehimdoubt。Itwasapantherheheard。
　　Presentlyanewsound——asoft，stealthysound——obtrudeditselfamongtheothers。Nohumanearsotherthantheape—
　　man’swouldhavedetectedit。Atfirsthedidnottranslateit，butfinallyherealizedthatitcamefromthebarefeetofanumberofhumanbeings。Theywerebehindhim，andtheywerecomingtowardhimquietly。Hewasbeingstalked。
　　InaflashheknewwhyhehadbeenleftinthatlittlevalleybyGernois;buttherehadbeenahitchinthearrangements——themenhadcometoolate。Closerandclosercamethefootsteps。Tarzanhaltedandfacedthem，hisriflereadyinhishand。Nowhecaughtafleetingglimpseofawhiteburnoose。
　　HecalledaloudinFrench，askingwhattheywouldofhim。
　　Hisreplywastheflashofalonggun，andwiththesoundoftheshotTarzanoftheApesplungedforwarduponhisface。
　　TheArabsdidnotrushoutimmediately;instead，theywaitedtobesurethattheirvictimdidnotrise。Thentheycamerapidlyfromtheirconcealment，andbentoverhim。
　　Itwassoonapparentthathewasnotdead。OneofthemenputthemuzzleofhisguntothebackofTarzan’sheadtofinishhim，butanotherwavedhimaside。"Ifwebringhimalivetherewardistobegreater，"explainedthelatter。
　　Sotheyboundhishandsandfeet，and，pickinghimup，placedhimontheshouldersoffouroftheirnumber。
　　Thenthemarchwasresumedtowardthedesert。Whentheyhadcomeoutofthemountainstheyturnedtowardthesouth，andaboutdaylightcametothespotwheretheirhorsesstoodincareoftwooftheirnumber。
　　Fromhereontheirprogresswasmorerapid。Tarzan，whohadregainedconsciousness，wastiedtoasparehorse，whichtheyevidentlyhadbroughtforthepurpose。Hiswoundwasbutaslightscratch，whichhadfurrowedthefleshacrosshistemple。
　　Ithadstoppedbleeding，butthedriedandclottedbloodsmearedhisfaceandclothing。HehadsaidnowordsincehehadfallenintothehandsoftheseArabs，norhadtheyaddressedhimotherthantoissueafewbriefcommandstohimwhenthehorseshadbeenreached。
　　Forsixhourstheyroderapidlyacrosstheburningdesert，avoidingtheoasesnearwhichtheirwayled。AboutnoontheycametoaDOUARofabouttwentytents。Heretheyhalted，andasoneoftheArabswasreleasingthealfa—grassropeswhichboundhimtohismounttheyweresurroundedbyamobofmen，women，andchildren。Manyofthetribe，andmoreespeciallythewomen，appearedtotakedelightinheapinginsultsupontheprisoner，andsomehadevengonesofarastothrowstonesathimandstrikehimwithsticks，whenanoldsheikappearedanddrovethemaway。
　　"Ali—ben—Ahmedtellsme，"hesaid，"thatthismansataloneinthemountainsandslewELADREA。Whatthebusinessofthestrangerwhosentusafterhimmaybe，Iknownot，andwhathemaydowiththismanwhenweturnhimovertohim，I
　　carenot;buttheprisonerisabraveman，andwhileheisinourhandsheshallbetreatedwiththerespectthatbedueonewhohuntsTHELORDWITHTHELARGEHEADaloneandbynight——andslayshim。"
　　TarzanhadheardoftherespectinwhichArabsheldalion—killer，andhewasnotsorrythatchancehadplayedintohishandsthusfavorablytorelievehimofthepettytorturesofthetribe。Shortlyafterthishewastakentoagoat—
　　skintentupontheuppersideoftheDOUAR。Therehewasfed，andthen，securelybound，wasleftlyingonapieceofnativecarpet，aloneinthetent。
　　Hecouldseeaguardsittingbeforethedoorofhisfrailprison，butwhenheattemptedtoforcethestoutbondsthatheldhimherealizedthatanyextraprecautiononthepartofhiscaptorswasquiteunnecessary;notevenhisgiantmusclescouldpartthosenumerousstrands。
　　Justbeforeduskseveralmenapproachedthetentwherehelay，andenteredit。AllwereinArabdress，butpresentlyoneofthenumberadvancedtoTarzan’sside，andasheletthefoldsofcloththathadhiddenthelowerhalfofhisfacefallawaytheape—mansawthemalevolentfeaturesofNikolasRokoff。Therewasanastysmileonthebeardedlips。
　　"Ah，MonsieurTarzan，"hesaid，"thisisindeedapleasure。
　　Butwhydoyounotriseandgreetyourguest？"Then，withanuglyoath，"Getup，youdog！"and，drawingbackhisbootedfoot，hekickedTarzanheavilyintheside。"Andhereisanother，andanother，andanother，"hecontinued，ashekickedTarzanaboutthefaceandside。"Oneforeachoftheinjuriesyouhavedoneme。"
　　Theape—manmadenoreply——hedidnotevendeigntolookupontheRussianagainafterthefirstglanceofrecognition。
　　Finallythesheik，whohadbeenstandingamuteandfrowningwitnessofthecowardlyattack，intervened。
　　"Stop！"hecommanded。"Killhimifyouwill，butIwillseenobravemansubjectedtosuchindignitiesinmypresence。
　　Ihavehalfamindtoturnhimloose，thatImayseehowlongyouwouldkickhimthen。"
　　ThisthreatputasuddenendtoRokoff’sbrutality，forhehadnocravingtoseeTarzanloosedfromhisbondswhilehewaswithinreachofthosepowerfulhands。
　　"Verywell，"herepliedtotheArab;"Ishallkillhimpresently。"
　　"NotwithintheprecinctsofmyDOUAR，"returnedthesheik。"Whenheleaveshereheleavesalive。Whatyoudowithhiminthedesertisnoneofmyconcern，butIshallnothavethebloodofaFrenchmanonthehandsofmytribeonaccountofanotherman’squarrel——theywouldsendsoldiershereandkillmanyofmypeople，andburnourtentsanddriveawayourflocks。"
　　"Asyousay，"growledRokoff。"I’lltakehimoutintothedesertbelowtheDOUAR，anddispatchhim。"
　　"Youwilltakehimaday’sridefrommycountry，"saidthesheik，firmly，"andsomeofmychildrenshallfollowyoutoseethatyoudonotdisobeyme——otherwisetheremaybetwodeadFrenchmeninthedesert。"
　　Rokoffshrugged。"ThenIshallhavetowaituntilthemorrow——itisalreadydark。"
　　"Asyouwill，"saidthesheik。"ButbyanhourafterdawnyoumustbegonefrommyDOUAR。Ihavelittlelikingforunbelievers，andnoneatallforacoward。"
　　Rokoffwouldhavemadesomekindofretort，buthecheckedhimself，forherealizedthatitwouldrequirebutlittleexcusefortheoldmantoturnuponhim。
　　Togethertheyleftthetent。AtthedoorRokoffcouldnotresistthetemptationtoturnandflingapartingtauntatTarzan。
　　"Sleepwell，monsieur，"hesaid，"anddonotforgettopraywell，forwhenyoudietomorrowitwillbeinsuchagonythatyouwillbeunabletoprayforblaspheming。"
　　NoonehadbotheredtobringTarzaneitherfoodorwatersincenoon，andconsequentlyhesufferedconsiderablyfromthirst。
　　Hewonderedifitwouldbeworthwhiletoaskhisguardforwater，butaftermakingtwoorthreerequestswithoutreceivinganyresponse，hedecidedthatitwouldnot。
　　Farupinthemountainsheheardalionroar。Howmuchsaferonewas，hesoliloquized，inthehauntsofwildbeaststhaninthehauntsofmen。Neverinallhisjunglelifehadhebeenmorerelentlesslytrackeddownthaninthepastfewmonthsofhisexperienceamongcivilizedmen。Neverhadhebeenanynearerdeath。
　　Againthelionroared。Itsoundedalittlenearer。Tarzanfelttheold，wildimpulsetoreplywiththechallengeofhiskind。
　　Hiskind？Hehadalmostforgottenthathewasamanandnotanape。
　　Hetuggedathisbonds。God，ifhecouldbutgetthemnearthosestrongteethofhis。Hefeltawildwaveofmadnesssweepoverhimashiseffortstoregainhislibertymetwithfailure。
　　Numawasroaringalmostcontinuallynow。Itwasquiteevidentthathewascomingdownintothedeserttohunt。
　　Itwastheroarofahungrylion。Tarzanenviedhim，forhewasfree。Noonewouldtiehimwithropesandslaughterhimlikeasheep。Itwasthatwhichgalledtheape—man。
　　Hedidnotfeartodie，no——itwasthehumiliationofdefeatbeforedeath，withoutevenachancetobattleforhislife。
　　Itmustbenearmidnight，thoughtTarzan。Hehadseveralhourstolive。PossiblyhewouldyetfindawaytotakeRokoffwithhimonthelongjourney。Hecouldhearthesavagelordofthedesertquiteclosebynow。PossiblyhesoughthismeatfromamongthepennedanimalswithintheDOUAR。
　　Foralongtimesilencereigned，thenTarzan’strainedearscaughtthesoundofastealthilymovingbody。Itcamefromthesideofthetentnearestthemountains——theback。
　　Nearerandneareritcame。Hewaited，listeningintently，forittopass。Foratimetherewassilencewithout，suchaterriblesilencethatTarzanwassurprisedthathedidnothearthebreathingoftheanimalhefeltsuremustbecrouchingclosetothebackwallofhistent。
　　There！Itismovingagain。Closeritcreeps。Tarzanturnshisheadinthedirectionofthesound。Itisverydarkwithinthetent。
　　Slowlythebackrisesfromtheground，forcedupbytheheadandshouldersofabodythatlooksallblackinthesemi—darkness。
　　Beyondisafaintglimpseofthedimlystarlitdesert。
　　AgrimsmileplaysaboutTarzan’slips。AtleastRokoffwillbecheated。Howmadhewillbe！AnddeathwillbemoremercifulthanhecouldhavehopedforatthehandsoftheRussian。
　　Nowthebackofthetentdropsintoplace，andallisdarknessagain——whateveritisisinsidethetentwithhim。Hehearsitcreepingclosetohim——nowitisbesidehim。Hecloseshiseyesandwaitsforthemightypaw。Uponhisupturnedfacefallsthegentletouchofasofthandgropinginthedark，andthenagirl’svoiceinascarcelyaudiblewhisperpronounceshisname。
　　"Yes，itisI，"hewhispersinreply。"ButinthenameofHeavenwhoareyou？"
　　"TheOuled—NailofSisiAissa，"cametheanswer。WhileshespokeTarzancouldfeelherworkingabouthisbonds。
　　Occasionallythecoldsteelofaknifetouchedhisflesh。
　　Amomentlaterhewasfree。
　　"Come！"shewhispered。
　　Onhandsandkneeshefollowedheroutofthetentbythewayshehadcome。Shecontinuedcrawlingthusflattothegrounduntilshereachedalittlepatchofshrub。Thereshehalteduntilhegainedherside。Foramomenthelookedatherbeforehespoke。
　　"Icannotunderstand，"hesaidatlast。"Whyareyouhere？
　　HowdidyouknowthatIwasaprisonerinthattent？
　　Howdoesithappenthatitisyouwhohavesavedme？"
　　Shesmiled。"Ihavecomealongwaytonight，"shesaid，"andwehavealongwaytogobeforeweshallbeoutofdanger。
　　Come;Ishalltellyouallaboutaswego。"
　　Togethertheyroseandsetoffacrossthedesertinthedirectionofthemountains。
　　"IwasnotquitesurethatIshouldeverreachyou，"shesaidatlast。"ELADREAisabroadtonight，andafterIleftthehorsesIthinkhewindedmeandwasfollowing——I
　　wasterriblyfrightened。"
　　"Whatabravegirl，"hesaid。"Andyouranallthatriskforastranger——analien——anunbeliever？"
　　Shedrewherselfupveryproudly。
　　"IamthedaughteroftheSheikKabourbenSaden，"sheanswered。
　　"IshouldbenofitdaughterofhisifIwouldnotriskmylifetosavethatofthemanwhosavedminewhileheyetthoughtthatIwasbutacommonOuled—Nail。"
　　"Nevertheless，"heinsisted，"youareaverybravegirl。
　　ButhowdidyouknowthatIwasaprisonerbackthere？"
　　"Achmet—din—Taieb，whoismycousinonmyfather’sside，wasvisitingsomefriendswhobelongtothetribethatcapturedyou。
　　HewasattheDOUARwhenyouwerebroughtin。WhenhereachedhomehewastellingusaboutthebigFrenchmanwhohadbeencapturedbyAli—ben—AhmedforanotherFrenchmanwhowishedtokillhim。FromthedescriptionIknewthatitmustbeyou。
　　Myfatherwasaway。Itriedtopersuadesomeofthementocomeandsaveyou，buttheywouldnotdoit，saying:`Lettheunbelieverskilloneanotheriftheywish。Itisnoneofouraffair，andifwegoandinterferewithAli—ben—Ahmed’splansweshallonlystirupafightwithourownpeople。’
　　"SowhenitwasdarkIcamealone，ridingonehorseandleadinganotherforyou。Theyaretetherednotfarfromhere。
　　Bymorningweshallbewithinmyfather’sDOUAR。
　　Heshouldbetherehimselfbynow——thenletthemcomeandtrytotakeKadourbenSaden’sfriend。"
　　Forafewmomentstheywalkedoninsilence。
　　"Weshouldbenearthehorses，"shesaid。"ItisstrangethatIdonotseethemhere。"
　　Thenamomentlatershestopped，withalittlecryofconsternation。
　　"Theyaregone！"sheexclaimed。"ItisherethatItetheredthem。"
　　Tarzanstoopedtoexaminetheground。Hefoundthatalargeshrubhadbeentornupbytheroots。Thenhefoundsomethingelse。Therewasawrysmileonhisfaceasheroseandturnedtowardthegirl。
　　"ELADREAhasbeenhere。Fromthesigns，though，Iratherthinkthathispreyescapedhim。Withalittlestarttheywouldbesafeenoughfromhimintheopen。"
　　Therewasnothingtodobutcontinueonfoot。Thewayledthemacrossalowspurofthemountains，butthegirlknewthetrailaswellasshedidhermother’sface。
　　Theywalkedineasy，swingingstrides，Tarzankeepingahand’sbreadthbehindthegirl’sshoulder，thatshemightsetthepace，andthusbelessfatigued。Astheywalkedtheytalked，occasionallystoppingtolistenforsoundsofpursuit。
　　Itwasnowabeautiful，moonlitnight。Theairwascrispandinvigorating。Behindthemlaytheinterminablevistaofthedesert，dottedhereandtherewithanoccasionaloasis。
　　Thedatepalmsofthelittlefertilespottheyhadjustleft，andthecircleofgoatskintents，stoodoutinsharpreliefagainsttheyellowsand——aphantomparadiseuponaphantomsea。