Beforethemrosethegrimandsilentmountains。Tarzan’sbloodleapedinhisveins。Thiswaslife！Helookeddownuponthegirlbesidehim——adaughterofthedesertwalkingacrossthefaceofadeadworldwithasonofthejungle。Hesmiledatthethought。Hewishedthathehadhadasister，andthatshehadbeenlikethisgirl。Whatabullychumshewouldhavebeen！
Theyhadenteredthemountainsnow，andwereprogressingmoreslowly，forthetrailwassteeperandveryrocky。
Forafewminutestheyhadbeensilent。Thegirlwaswonderingiftheywouldreachherfather’sDOUARbeforethepursuithadovertakenthem。Tarzanwaswishingthattheymightwalkonthusforever。Ifthegirlwereonlyamantheymight。Helongedforafriendwholovedthesamewildlifethatheloved。Hehadlearnedtocravecompanionship，butitwashismisfortunethatmostofthemenheknewpreferredimmaculatelinenandtheirclubstonakednessandthejungle。Itwas，ofcourse，difficulttounderstand，yetitwasveryevidentthattheydid。
Thetwohadjustturnedaprojectingrockaroundwhichthetrailranwhentheywerebroughttoasuddenstop。
There，beforethem，directlyinthemiddleofthepath，stoodNuma，ELADREA，theblacklion。Hisgreeneyeslookedverywicked，andhebaredhisteeth，andlashedhisbay—blacksideswithhisangrytail。Thenheroared——thefearsome，terror—
inspiringroarofthehungrylionwhichisalsoangry。
"Yourknife，"saidTarzantothegirl，extendinghishand。
Sheslippedthehiltoftheweaponintohiswaitingpalm。
Ashisfingerscloseduponithedrewherbackandpushedherbehindhim。"Walkbacktothedesertasrapidlyasyoucan。
Ifyouhearmecallyouwillknowthatalliswell，andyoumayreturn。"
"Itisuseless，"shereplied，resignedly。"Thisistheend。"
"DoasItellyou，"hecommanded。"Quickly！Heisabouttocharge。"Thegirldroppedbackafewpaces，whereshestoodwatchingfortheterriblesightthatsheknewsheshouldsoonwitness。
ThelionwasadvancingslowlytowardTarzan，hisnosetotheground，likeachallengingbull，histailextendednowandquiveringasthoughwithintenseexcitement。
Theape—manstood，halfcrouching，thelongArabknifeglisteninginthemoonlight。Behindhimthetensefigureofthegirl，motionlessasacarvenstatue。Sheleanedslightlyforward，herlipsparted，hereyeswide。Heronlyconsciousthoughtwaswonderatthebraveryofthemanwhodaredfacewithapunyknifethelordwiththelargehead。Amanofherownbloodwouldhavekneltinprayerandgonedownbeneaththoseawfulfangswithoutresistance。Ineithercasetheresultwouldbethesame——itwasinevitable;butshecouldnotrepressathrillofadmirationashereyesrestedupontheheroicfigurebeforeher。Notatremorinthewholegiantframe——hisattitudeasmenacinganddefiantasthatofELADREAhimself。
Thelionwasquiteclosetohimnow——butafewpacesintervened——hecrouched，andthen，withadeafeningroar，hesprang。
Chapter11
JohnCaldwell，LondonAsNumaELADREAlaunchedhimselfwithwidespreadpawsandbaredfangshelookedtofindthispunymanaseasypreyasthescorewhohadgonedownbeneathhiminthepast。Tohimmanwasaclumsy，slow—moving，defenselesscreature——hehadlittlerespectforhim。
Butthistimehefoundthathewaspittedagainstacreatureasagileandasquickashimself。Whenhismightyframestruckthespotwherethemanhadbeenhewasnolongerthere。
Thewatchinggirlwastransfixedbyastonishmentattheeasewithwhichthecrouchingmaneludedthegreatpaws。
Andnow，OAllah！HehadrushedinbehindELADREA’S
shoulderevenbeforethebeastcouldturn，andhadgraspedhimbythemane。Thelionreareduponhishindlegslikeahorse——Tarzanhadknownthathewoulddothis，andhewasready。
Agiantarmencircledtheblack—manedthroat，andonce，twice，adozentimesasharpbladedartedinandoutofthebay—blacksidebehindtheleftshoulder。
FranticweretheleapsofNuma——awfulhisroarsofrageandpain;butthegiantuponhisbackcouldnotbedislodgedorbroughtwithinreachoffangsortalonsinthebriefintervaloflifethatremainedtothelordwiththelargehead。
HewasquitedeadwhenTarzanoftheApesreleasedhisholdandarose。ThenthedaughterofthedesertwitnessedathingthatterrifiedherevenmorethanhadthepresenceofELADREA。
Themanplacedafootuponthecarcassofhiskill，and，withhishandsomefaceraisedtowardthefullmoon，gavevoicetothemostfrightfulcrythateverhadsmoteuponherears。
Withalittlecryoffearsheshrankawayfromhim——shethoughtthatthefearfulstrainoftheencounterhaddrivenhimmad。Asthelastnoteofthatfiendishchallengediedoutinthediminishingechoesofthedistancethemandroppedhiseyesuntiltheyresteduponthegirl。
Instantlyhisfacewaslightedbythekindlysmilethatwasampleassuranceofhissanity，andthegirlbreathedfreelyonceagain，smilinginresponse。
"Whatmannerofmanareyou？"sheasked。"Thethingyouhavedoneisunheardof。EvennowIcannotbelievethatitispossibleforalonemanarmedonlywithaknifetohavefoughthandtohandwithELADREAandconqueredhim，unscathed——tohaveconqueredhimatall。Andthatcry——itwasnothuman。Whydidyoudothat？"
Tarzanflushed。"ItisbecauseIforget，"hesaid，"sometimes，thatIamacivilizedman。WhenIkillitmustbethatIamanothercreature。"Hedidnottrytoexplainfurther，foritalwaysseemedtohimthatawomanmustlookwithloathingupononewhowasyetsonearlyabeast。
Togethertheycontinuedtheirjourney。Thesunwasanhourhighwhentheycameoutintothedesertagainbeyondthemountains。Besidealittlerivulettheyfoundthegirl’shorsesgrazing。Theyhadcomethisfarontheirwayhome，andwiththecauseoftheirfearnolongerpresenthadstoppedtofeed。
WithlittletroubleTarzanandthegirlcaughtthem，and，mounting，rodeoutintothedeserttowardtheDOUARofSheikKadourbenSaden。
Nosignofpursuitdeveloped，andtheycameinsafetyaboutnineo’clocktotheirdestination。Thesheikhadbutjustreturned。Hewasfranticwithgriefattheabsenceofhisdaughter，whomhethoughthadbeenagainabductedbythemarauders。WithfiftymenhewasalreadymountedtogoinsearchofherwhenthetworodeintotheDOUAR。
HisjoyatthesafereturnofhisdaughterwasonlyequaledbyhisgratitudetoTarzanforbringinghersafelytohimthroughthedangersofthenight，andhisthankfulnessthatshehadbeenintimetosavethemanwhohadoncesavedher。
NohonorthatKadourbenSadencouldheapupontheape—
maninacknowledgmentofhisesteemandfriendshipwasneglected。WhenthegirlhadrecitedthestoryoftheslayingofELADREATarzanwassurroundedbyamobofworshipingArabs——itwasasureroadtotheiradmirationandrespect。
TheoldsheikinsistedthatTarzanremainindefinitelyashisguest。Heevenwishedtoadopthimasamemberofthetribe，andtherewasforsometimeahalf—formedresolutionintheape—man’smindtoacceptandremainforeverwiththesewildpeople，whomheunderstoodandwhoseemedtounderstandhim。
Hisfriendshipandlikingforthegirlwerepotentfactorsinurginghimtowardanaffirmativedecision。
Hadshebeenaman，heargued，heshouldnothavehesitated，foritwouldhavemeantafriendafterhisownheart，withwhomhecouldrideandhuntatwill;butasitwastheywouldbehedgedbytheconventionalitiesthatareevenmorestrictlyobservedbythewildnomadsofthedesertthanbytheirmorecivilizedbrothersandsisters。Andinalittlewhileshewouldbemarriedtooneoftheseswarthywarriors，andtherewouldbeanendtotheirfriendship。Sohedecidedagainstthesheik’sproposal，thoughheremainedaweekashisguest。
Whenheleft，KadourbenSadenandfiftywhite—robedwarriorsrodewithhimtoBouSaada。WhiletheyweremountingintheDOUARofKadourbenSadenthemorningoftheirdeparture，thegirlcametobidfarewelltoTarzan。
"Ihaveprayedthatyouwouldremainwithus，"shesaidsimply，asheleanedfromhissaddletoclaspherhandinfarewell，"andnowIshallpraythatyouwillreturn。"
Therewasanexpressionofwistfulnessinherbeautifuleyes，andapatheticdroopatthecornersofhermouth。
Tarzanwastouched。
"Whoknows？"andthenheturnedandrodeafterthedepartingArabs。
OutsideBouSaadahebadeKadourbenSadenandhismengood—by，fortherewerereasonswhichmadehimwishtomakehisentryintothetownassecretaspossible，andwhenhehadexplainedthemtothesheikthelatterconcurredinhisdecision。TheArabsweretoenterBouSaadaaheadofhim，sayingnothingastohispresencewiththem。
LaterTarzanwouldcomeinalone，andgodirectlytoanobscurenativeinn。
Thus，makinghisentranceafterdark，ashedid，hewasnotseenbyanyonewhoknewhim，andreachedtheinnunobserved。
AfterdiningwithKadourbenSadenashisguest，hewenttohisformerhotelbyaroundaboutway，and，cominginbyarearentrance，soughttheproprietor，whoseemedmuchsurprisedtoseehimalive。
Yes，therewasmailformonsieur;hewouldfetchit。
No，hewouldmentionmonsieur’sreturntonoone。
Presentlyhereturnedwithapacketofletters。Onewasanorderfromhissuperiortolayoffonhispresentwork，andhastentoCapeTownbythefirststeamerhecouldget。
Hisfurtherinstructionswouldbeawaitinghimthereinthehandsofanotheragentwhosenameandaddressweregiven。
Thatwasall——briefbutexplicit。TarzanarrangedtoleaveBouSaadaearlythenextmorning。ThenhestartedforthegarrisontoseeCaptainGerard，whomthehotelmanhadtoldhimhadreturnedwithhisdetachmentthepreviousday。
Hefoundtheofficerinhisquarters。HewasfilledwithsurpriseandpleasureatseeingTarzanaliveandwell。
"WhenLieutenantGernoisreturnedandreportedthathehadnotfoundyouatthespotthatyouhadchosentoremainwhilethedetachmentwasscouting，Iwasfilledwithalarm。
Wesearchedthemountainfordays。Thencamewordthatyouhadbeenkilledandeatenbyalion。Asproofyourgunwasbroughttous。Yourhorsehadreturnedtocamptheseconddayafteryourdisappearance。Wecouldnotdoubt。
LieutenantGernoiswasgrief—stricken——hetookalltheblameuponhimself。Itwashewhoinsistedoncarryingonthesearchhimself。ItwashewhofoundtheArabwithyourgun。
Hewillbedelightedtoknowthatyouaresafe。"
"Doubtless，"saidTarzan，withagrimsmile。
"Heisdowninthetownnow，orIshouldsendforhim，"
continuedCaptainGerard。"Ishalltellhimassoonashereturns。"
Tarzanlettheofficerthinkthathehadbeenlost，wanderingfinallyintotheDOUARofKadourbenSaden，whohadescortedhimbacktoBouSaada。Assoonaspossiblehebadethegoodofficeradieu，andhastenedbackintothetown。
AtthenativeinnhehadlearnedthroughKadourbenSadenapieceofinterestinginformation。Ittoldofablack—beardedwhitemanwhowentalwaysdisguisedasanArab。Foratimehehadnursedabrokenwrist。MorerecentlyhehadbeenawayfromBouSaada，butnowhewasback，andTarzanknewhisplaceofconcealment。Itwasforthereheheaded。
Throughnarrow，stinkingalleys，blackasErebus，hegroped，andthenuparicketystairway，attheendofwhichwasacloseddoorandatiny，unglazedwindow。Thewindowwashighundertheloweavesofthemudbuilding。Tarzancouldjustreachthesill。Heraisedhimselfslowlyuntilhiseyestoppedit。Theroomwithinwaslighted，andatatablesatRokoffandGernois。Gernoiswasspeaking。
"Rokoff，youareadevil！"hewassaying。"YouhavehoundedmeuntilIhavelostthelastshredofmyhonor。Youhavedrivenmetomurder，forthebloodofthatmanTarzanisonmyhands。Ifitwerenotthatthatotherdevil’sspawn，Paulvitch，stillknewmysecret，Ishouldkillyouheretonightwithmybarehands。"
Rokofflaughed。"Youwouldnotdothat，mydearlieutenant，"
hesaid。"ThemomentIamreporteddeadbyassassinationthatdearAlexiswillforwardtotheministerofwarfullproofoftheaffairyousoardentlylongtoconceal;and，further，willchargeyouwithmymurder。Come，besensible。
Iamyourbestfriend。HaveInotprotectedyourhonorasthoughitweremyown？"
Gernoissneered，andspatoutanoath。
"Justonemorelittlepayment，"continuedRokoff，"andthepapersIwish，andyouhavemywordofhonorthatIshallneveraskanothercentfromyou，orfurtherinformation。"
"Andagoodreasonwhy，"growledGernois。"Whatyouaskwilltakemylastcent，andtheonlyvaluablemilitarysecretIhold。Yououghttobepayingmefortheinformation，insteadoftakingbothitandmoney，too。"
"Iampayingyoubykeepingastilltongueinmyhead，"
retortedRokoff。"Butlet’shavedone。Willyou，orwillyounot？
Igiveyouthreeminutestodecide。IfyouarenotagreeableIshallsendanotetoyourcommandanttonightthatwillendinthedegradationthatDreyfussuffered——theonlydifferencebeingthathedidnotdeserveit。"
ForamomentGernoissatwithbowedhead。Atlengthhearose。
Hedrewtwopiecesofpaperfromhisblouse。
"Here，"hesaidhopelessly。"Ihadthemready，forIknewthattherecouldbebutoneoutcome。"HeheldthemtowardtheRussian。
Rokoff’scruelfacelightedinmalignantgloating。Heseizedthebitsofpaper。
"Youhavedonewell，Gernois，"hesaid。"Ishallnottroubleyouagain——unlessyouhappentoaccumulatesomemoremoneyorinformation，"andhegrinned。
"Younevershallagain，youdog！"hissedGernois。"ThenexttimeIshallkillyou。Icameneardoingittonight。
ForanhourIsatwiththesetwopiecesofpaperonmytablebeforemeereIcamehere——besidethemlaymyloadedrevolver。
IwastryingtodecidewhichIshouldbring。Nexttimethechoiceshallbeeasier，forIalreadyhavedecided。Youhadaclosecalltonight，Rokoff;donottemptfateasecondtime。"
ThenGernoisrosetoleave。Tarzanbarelyhadtimetodroptothelandingandshrinkbackintotheshadowsonthefarsideofthedoor。Eventhenhescarcelyhopedtoeludedetection。Thelandingwasverysmall，andthoughheflattenedhimselfagainstthewallatitsfaredgehewasscarcelymorethanafootfromthedoorway。Almostimmediatelyitopened，andGernoissteppedout。Rokoffwasbehindhim。
Neitherspoke。Gernoishadtakenperhapsthreestepsdownthestairwaywhenhehaltedandhalfturned，asthoughtoretracehissteps。
Tarzanknewthatdiscoverywouldbeinevitable。Rokoffstillstoodonthethresholdafootfromhim，buthewaslookingintheoppositedirection，towardGernois。Thentheofficerevidentlyreconsideredhisdecision，andresumedhisdownwardcourse。
TarzancouldhearRokoff’ssighofrelief。AmomentlatertheRussianwentbackintotheroomandclosedthedoor。
TarzanwaiteduntilGernoishadhadtimetogetwelloutofhearing，thenhepushedopenthedoorandsteppedintotheroom。HewasontopofRokoffbeforethemancouldrisefromthechairwherehesatscanningthepaperGernoishadgivenhim。Ashiseyesturnedandfellupontheape—man’sfacehisownwentlivid。
"You！"hegasped。
"I，"repliedTarzan。
"Whatdoyouwant？"whisperedRokoff，forthelookintheape—man’seyesfrightenedhim。"Haveyoucometokillme？
Youdonotdare。Theywouldguillotineyou。Youdonotdarekillme。"
"Idarekillyou，Rokoff，"repliedTarzan，"fornooneknowsthatyouarehereorthatIamhere，andPaulvitchwouldtellthemthatitwasGernois。IheardyoutellGernoisso。Butthatwouldnotinfluenceme，Rokoff。IwouldnotcarewhoknewthatIhadkilledyou;thepleasureofkillingyouwouldmorethancompensateforanypunishmenttheymightinflictuponme。
Youarethemostdespicablecurofacoward，Rokoff，Ihaveeverheardof。Youshouldbekilled。Ishouldlovetokillyou，"
andTarzanapproachedclosertotheman。
Rokoff’snerveswerekeyedtothebreakingpoint。Withashriekhesprangtowardanadjoiningroom，buttheape—manwasuponhisbackwhilehisleapwasyetbuthalfcompleted。Ironfingerssoughthisthroat——thegreatcowardsquealedlikeastuckpig，untilTarzanhadshutoffhiswind。Thentheape—mandraggedhimtohisfeet，stillchokinghim。TheRussianstruggledfutilely——hewaslikeababeinthemightygraspofTarzanoftheApes。
Tarzansathiminachair，andlongbeforetherewasdangeroftheman’sdyinghereleasedhisholduponhisthroat。
WhentheRussian’scoughingspellhadabatedTarzanspoketohimagain。
"Ihavegivenyouatasteofthesufferingofdeath，"hesaid。
"ButIshallnotkill——thistime。Iamsparingyousolelyforthesakeofaverygoodwomanwhosegreatmisfortuneitwastohavebeenbornofthesamewomanwhogavebirthtoyou。
ButIshallspareyouonlythisonceonheraccount。
ShouldIeverlearnthatyouhaveagainannoyedherorherhusband——shouldyoueverannoymeagain——shouldI
hearthatyouhavereturnedtoFranceortoanyFrenchposession，IshallmakeitmysolebusinesstohuntyoudownandcompletethechokingIcommencedtonight。"Thenheturnedtothetable，onwhichthetwopiecesofpaperstilllay。
AshepickedthemupRokoffgaspedinhorror。
Tarzanexaminedboththecheckandtheother。Hewasamazedattheinformationthelattercontained。Rokoffhadpartiallyreadit，butTarzanknewthatnoonecouldrememberthesalientfactsandfiguresitheldwhichmadeitofrealvaluetoanenemyofFrance。
"Thesewillinterestthechiefofstaff，"hesaid，asheslippedthemintohispocket。
Rokoffgroaned。Hedidnotdarecursealoud。
ThenextmorningTarzanrodenorthonhiswaytoBouiraandAlgiers。AshehadriddenpastthehotelLieutenantGernoiswasstandingontheveranda。AshiseyesdiscoveredTarzanhewentwhiteaschalk。Theape—manwouldhavebeengladhadthemeetingnotoccurred，buthecouldnotavoidit。
Hesalutedtheofficerasherodepast。MechanicallyGernoisreturnedthesalute，butthoseterrible，wideeyesfollowedthehorseman，expressionlessexceptforhorror。Itwasasthoughadeadmanlookeduponaghost。
AtSidiAissaTarzanmetaFrenchofficerwithwhomhehadbecomeacquaintedontheoccasionofhisrecentsojourninthetown。
"YouleftBouSaadaearly？"questionedtheofficer。
"ThenyouhavenotheardaboutpoorGernois。"
"HewasthelastmanIsawasIrodeaway，"repliedTarzan。
"Whatabouthim？"
"Heisdead。Heshothimselfabouteighto’clockthismorning。"
TwodayslaterTarzanreachedAlgiers。Therehefoundthathewouldhaveatwodays’waitbeforehecouldcatchashipboundforCapeTown。Heoccupiedhistimeinwritingoutafullreportofhismission。ThesecretpapershehadtakenfromRokoffhedidnotinclose，forhedidnotdaretrustthemoutofhisownpossessionuntilhehadbeenauthorizedtoturnthemovertoanotheragent，orhimselfreturntoPariswiththem。
AsTarzanboardedhisshipafterwhatseemedamosttediouswaittohim，twomenwatchedhimfromanupperdeck。
Bothwerefashionablydressedandsmoothshaven。Thetallerofthetwohadsandyhair，buthiseyebrowswereveryblack。
LaterinthedaytheychancedtomeetTarzanondeck，butasonehurriedlycalledhiscompanion’sattentiontosomethingatseatheirfaceswereturnedfromTarzanashepassed，sothathedidnotnoticetheirfeatures。Infact，hehadpaidnoattentiontothematall。
Followingtheinstructionsofhischief，Tarzanhadbookedhispassageunderanassumedname——JohnCaldwell，London。
Hedidnotunderstandthenecessityofthis，anditcausedhimconsiderablespeculation。HewonderedwhatrolehewastoplayinCapeTown。
"Well，"hethought，"thankHeaventhatIamridofRokoff。
Hewascommencingtoannoyme。IwonderifIamreallybecomingsocivilizedthatpresentlyIshalldevelopasetofnerves。Hewouldgivethemtomeifanyonecould，forhedoesnotfightfair。Oneneverknowsthroughwhatnewagencyheisgoingtostrike。ItisasthoughNuma，thelion，hadinducedTantor，theelephant，andHistah，thesnake，tojoinhiminattemptingtokillme。Iwouldthenneverhaveknownwhatminute，orbywhom，Iwastobeattackednext。
Butthebrutesaremorechivalrousthanman——theydonotstooptocowardlyintrigue。"
AtdinnerthatnightTarzansatnexttoayoungwomanwhoseplacewasatthecaptain’sleft。Theofficerintroducedthem。
MissStrong！Wherehadheheardthenamebefore？Itwasveryfamiliar。Andthenthegirl’smothergavehimtheclew，forwhensheaddressedherdaughtershecalledherHazel。
HazelStrong！Whatmemoriesthenameinspired。Ithadbeenalettertothisgirl，pennedbythefairhandofJanePorter，thathadcarriedtohimthefirstmessagefromthewomanheloved。Howvividlyherecalledthenighthehadstolenitfromthedeskinthecabinofhislong—deadfather，whereJanePorterhadsatwritingitlateintothenight，whilehecrouchedinthedarknesswithout。Howterror—
strickenshewouldhavebeenthatnighthadsheknownthatthewildjunglebeastsquattedoutsideherwindow，watchinghereverymove。
AndthiswasHazelStrong——JanePorter’sbestfriend！
Chapter12
ShipsThatPassLetusgobackafewmonthstothelittle，windsweptplatformofarailwaystationinnorthernWisconsin。
Thesmokeofforestfireshangslowoverthesurroundinglandscape，itsacridfumessmartingtheeyesofalittlepartyofsixwhostandwaitingthecomingofthetrainthatistobearthemawaytowardthesouth。
ProfessorArchimedesQ。Porter，hishandsclaspedbeneaththetailsofhislongcoat，pacesbackandforthundertheever—watchfuleyeofhisfaithfulsecretary，Mr。SamuelT。Philander。
Twicewithinthepastfewminuteshehasstartedabsent—mindedlyacrossthetracksinthedirectionofanear—byswamp，onlytoberescuedanddraggedbackbythetirelessMr。Philander。
JanePorter，theprofessor’sdaughter，isinstrainedandlifelessconversationwithWilliamCecilClaytonandTarzanoftheApes。Withinthelittlewaitingroom，butabaremomentbefore，aconfessionofloveandarenunciationhadtakenplacethathadblightedthelivesandhappinessoftwooftheparty，butWilliamCecilClayton，LordGreystoke，wasnotoneofthem。
BehindMissPorterhoveredthemotherlyEsmeralda。She，too，washappy，forwasshenotreturningtoherbelovedMaryland？
Alreadyshecouldseedimlythroughthefogofsmokethemurkyheadlightoftheoncomingengine。Themenbegantogatherupthehandbaggage。SuddenlyClaytonexclaimed。
"ByJove！I’veleftmyulsterinthewaiting—room，"andhastenedofftofetchit。
"Good—bye，Jane，"saidTarzan，extendinghishand。
"Godblessyou！"
"Good—bye，"repliedthegirlfaintly。"Trytoforgetme——no，notthat——Icouldnotbeartothinkthatyouhadforgottenme。"
"Thereisnodangerofthat，dear，"heanswered。"IwishtoHeaventhatImightforget。Itwouldbesomucheasierthantogothroughlifealwaysrememberingwhatmighthavebeen。
Youwillbehappy，though;Iamsureyoushall——youmustbe。
YoumaytelltheothersofmydecisiontodrivemycarontoNewYork——Idon’tfeelequaltobiddingClaytongood—bye。
Iwantalwaystorememberhimkindly，butIfearthatIamtoomuchofawildbeastyettobetrustedtoolongwiththemanwhostandsbetweenmeandtheonepersoninalltheworldIwant。"
AsClaytonstoopedtopickuphiscoatinthewaitingroomhiseyesfellonatelegraphblanklyingfacedownuponthefloor。Hestoopedtopickitup，thinkingitmightbeamessageofimportancewhichsomeonehaddropped。
Heglancedatithastily，andthensuddenlyheforgothiscoat，theapproachingtrain——everythingbutthatterriblelittlepieceofyellowpaperinhishand。Hereadittwicebeforehecouldfullygrasptheterrificweightofmeaningthatitboretohim。
WhenhehadpickedituphehadbeenanEnglishnobleman，theproudandwealthypossessorofvastestates——amomentlaterhehadreadit，andheknewthathewasanuntitledandpennilessbeggar。ItwasD’Arnot’scablegramtoTarzan，anditread:
FingerprintsproveyouGreystoke。Congratulations。
D’ARNOT。
Hestaggeredasthoughhehadreceivedamortalblow。
Justthenheheardtheotherscallingtohimtohurry——thetrainwascomingtoastopatthelittleplatform。
Likeamandazedhegathereduphisulster。Hewouldtellthemaboutthecablegramwhentheywereallonboardthetrain。
Thenheranoutupontheplatformjustastheenginewhistledtwiceinthefinalwarningthatprecedesthefirstrumblingjerkofcouplingpins。Theotherswereonboard，leaningoutfromtheplatformofaPullman，cryingtohimtohurry。
Quitefiveminuteselapsedbeforetheyweresettledintheirseats，norwasituntilthenthatClaytondiscoveredthatTarzanwasnotwiththem。
"WhereisTarzan？"heaskedJanePorter。"Inanothercar？"
"No，"shereplied;"atthelastminutehedeterminedtodrivehismachinebacktoNewYork。HeisanxioustoseemoreofAmericathanispossiblefromacarwindow。HeisreturningtoFrance，youknow。"
Claytondidnotreply。HewastryingtofindtherightwordstoexplaintoJanePorterthecalamitythathadbefallenhim——andher。Hewonderedjustwhattheeffectofhisknowledgewouldbeonher。Wouldshestillwishtomarryhim——tobeplainMrs。Clayton？Suddenlytheawfulsacrificewhichoneofthemmustmakeloomedlargebeforehisimagination。
Thencamethequestion:WillTarzanclaimhisown？Theape—manhadknownthecontentsofthemessagebeforehecalmlydeniedknowledgeofhisparentage！HehadadmittedthatKala，theape，washismother！CouldithavebeenforloveofJanePorter？
Therewasnootherexplanationwhichseemedreasonable。