第1章
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  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER

  1TheAffairontheLiner2ForgingBondsofHateand————?

  3WhatHappenedintheRueMaule4TheCountessExplains5ThePlotThatFailed6ADuel7TheDancingGirlofSidiAissa8TheFightintheDesert9Numa\"ElAdrea\"

  10ThroughtheValleyoftheShadow11JohnCaldwell,London12ShipsThatPass13TheWreckofthe\"LadyAlice\"

  14BacktothePrimitive15FromApetoSavage16TheIvoryRaiders17TheWhiteChiefoftheWaziri18TheLotteryofDeath19TheCityofGold20La21TheCastaways22TheTreasureVaultsofOpar23TheFiftyFrightfulMen24HowTarzanCameAgaintoOpar25ThroughtheForestPrimeval26ThePassingoftheApe—ManChapterI

  TheAffairontheLiner\"Magnifique!\"ejaculatedtheCountessdeCoude,beneathherbreath。

  \"Eh?\"questionedthecount,turningtowardhisyoungwife。

  \"Whatisitthatismagnificent?\"andthecountbenthiseyesinvariousdirectionsinquestoftheobjectofheradmiration。

  \"Oh,nothingatall,mydear,\"repliedthecountess,aslightflushmomentarilycoloringheralreadypinkcheek。\"Iwasbutrecallingwithadmirationthosestupendousskyscrapers,astheycallthem,ofNewYork,\"andthefaircountesssettledherselfmorecomfortablyinhersteamerchair,andresumedthemagazinewhich\"nothingatall\"hadcausedhertoletfalluponherlap。

  Herhusbandagainburiedhimselfinhisbook,butnotwithoutamildwondermentthatthreedaysoutfromNewYorkhiscountessshouldsuddenlyhaverealizedanadmirationfortheverybuildingsshehadbutrecentlycharacterizedashorrid。

  Presentlythecountputdownhisbook。\"Itisverytiresome,Olga,\"hesaid。\"IthinkthatIshallhuntupsomeotherswhomaybeequallybored,andseeifwecannotfindenoughforagameofcards。\"

  \"Youarenotverygallant,myhusband,\"repliedtheyoungwoman,smiling,\"butasIamequallyboredIcanforgiveyou。

  Goandplayatyourtiresomeoldcards,then,ifyouwill。\"

  Whenhehadgoneshelethereyeswanderslylytothefigureofatallyoungmanstretchedlazilyinachairnotfardistant。

  \"MAGNIFIQUE!\"shebreathedoncemore。

  TheCountessOlgadeCoudewastwenty。Herhusbandforty。

  Shewasaveryfaithfulandloyalwife,butasshehadhadnothingwhatevertodowiththeselectionofahusband,itisnotatallunlikelythatshewasnotwildlyandpassionatelyinlovewiththeonethatfateandhertitledRussianfatherhadselectedforher。However,simplybecauseshewassurprisedintoatinyexclamationofapprovalatsightofasplendidyoungstrangeritmustnotbeinferredtherefromthatherthoughtswereinanywaydisloyaltoherspouse。

  Shemerelyadmired,asshemighthaveadmiredaparticularlyfinespecimenofanyspecies。Furthermore,theyoungmanwasunquestionablygoodtolookat。

  Asherfurtiveglanceresteduponhisprofileherosetoleavethedeck。TheCountessdeCoudebeckonedtoapassingsteward。

  \"Whoisthatgentleman?\"sheasked。

  \"Heisbooked,madam,asMonsieurTarzan,ofAfrica,\"

  repliedthesteward。

  \"Ratheralargeestate,\"thoughtthegirl,butnowherinterestwasstillfurtheraroused。

  AsTarzanwalkedslowlytowardthesmoking—roomhecameunexpectedlyupontwomenwhisperingexcitedlyjustwithout。Hewouldhavevouchsafedthemnotevenapassingthoughtbutforthestrangelyguiltyglancethatoneofthemshotinhisdirection。TheyremindedTarzanofmelodramaticvillainshehadseenatthetheatersinParis。Bothwereverydark,andthis,inconnectionwiththeshrugsandstealthyglancesthataccompaniedtheirpalpableintriguing,lentstillgreaterforcetothesimilarity。

  Tarzanenteredthesmoking—room,andsoughtachairalittleapartfromtheotherswhowerethere。Hefeltinnomoodforconversation,andashesippedhisabsinthhelethismindrunrathersorrowfullyoverthepastfewweeksofhislife。Timeandagainhehadwonderedifhehadactedwiselyinrenouncinghisbirthrighttoamantowhomheowednothing。ItistruethathelikedClayton,but——ah,butthatwasnotthequestion。ItwasnotforWilliamCecilClayton,LordGreystoke,thathehaddeniedhisbirth。ItwasforthewomanwhombothheandClaytonhadloved,andwhomastrangefreakoffatehadgiventoClaytoninsteadoftohim。

  Thatshelovedhimmadethethingdoublydifficulttobear,yetheknewthathecouldhavedonenothinglessthanhediddothatnightwithinthelittlerailwaystationinthefarWisconsinwoods。Tohimherhappinesswasthefirstconsiderationofall,andhisbriefexperiencewithcivilizationandcivilizedmenhadtaughthimthatwithoutmoneyandpositionlifetomostofthemwasunendurable。

  JanePorterhadbeenborntoboth,andhadTarzantakenthemawayfromherfuturehusbanditwoulddoubtlesshaveplungedherintoalifeofmiseryandtorture。ThatshewouldhavespurnedClaytononcehehadbeenstrippedofbothhistitleandhisestatesneverforonceoccurredtoTarzan,forhecreditedtoothersthesamehonestloyaltythatwassoinherentaqualityinhimself。Nor,inthisinstance,hadheerred。

  CouldanyonethinghavefurtherboundJanePortertoherpromisetoClaytonitwouldhavebeeninthenatureofsomesuchmisfortuneasthisovertakinghim。

  Tarzan’sthoughtsdriftedfromthepasttothefuture。

  Hetriedtolookforwardwithpleasurablesensationstohisreturntothejungleofhisbirthandboyhood;thecruel,fiercejungleinwhichhehadspenttwentyofhistwenty—twoyears。

  Butwhoorwhatofallthemyriadjunglelifewouldtherebetowelcomehisreturn?Notone。OnlyTantor,theelephant,couldhecallfriend。Theotherswouldhunthimorfleefromhimashadbeentheirwayinthepast。

  Noteventheapesofhisowntribewouldextendthehandoffellowshiptohim。

  IfcivilizationhaddonenothingelseforTarzanoftheApes,ithadtosomeextenttaughthimtocravethesocietyofhisownkind,andtofeelwithgenuinepleasurethecongenialwarmthofcompanionship。Andinthesameratiohaditmadeanyotherlifedistastefultohim。Itwasdifficulttoimagineaworldwithoutafriend——withoutalivingthingwhospokethenewtongueswhichTarzanhadlearnedtolovesowell。AndsoitwasthatTarzanlookedwithlittlerelishuponthefuturehehadmappedoutforhimself。

  Ashesatmusingoverhiscigarettehiseyesfelluponamirrorbeforehim,andinithesawreflectedatableatwhichfourmensatatcards。Presentlyoneofthemrosetoleave,andthenanotherapproached,andTarzancouldseethathecourteouslyofferedtofillthevacantchair,thatthegamemightnotbeinterrupted。HewasthesmallerofthetwowhomTarzanhadseenwhisperingjustoutsidethesmoking—room。

  ItwasthisfactthatarousedafaintsparkofinterestinTarzan,andsoashespeculateduponthefuturehewatchedinthemirrorthereflectionoftheplayersatthetablebehindhim。AsidefromthemanwhohadbutjustenteredthegameTarzanknewthenameofbutoneoftheotherplayers。

  Itwashewhosatoppositethenewplayer,CountRaouldeCoude,whomatover—attentivestewardhadpointedoutasoneofthecelebritiesofthepassage,describinghimasamanhighintheofficialfamilyoftheFrenchministerofwar。

  SuddenlyTarzan’sattentionwasriveteduponthepictureintheglass。Theotherswarthyplotterhadentered,andwasstandingbehindthecount’schair。Tarzansawhimturnandglancefurtivelyabouttheroom,buthiseyesdidnotrestforasufficienttimeuponthemirrortonotethereflectionofTarzan’swatchfuleyes。Stealthilythemanwithdrewsomethingfromhispocket。Tarzancouldnotdiscernwhattheobjectwas,fortheman’shandcoveredit。

  Slowlythehandapproachedthecount,andthen,verydeftly,thethingthatwasinitwastransferredtothecount’spocket。

  ThemanremainedstandingwherehecouldwatchtheFrenchman’scards。Tarzanwaspuzzled,buthewasallattentionnow,nordidhepermitanotherdetailoftheincidenttoescapehim。

  Theplaywentonforsometenminutesafterthis,untilthecountwonaconsiderablewagerfromhimwhohadlastjoinedthegame,andthenTarzansawthefellowbackofthecount’schairnodhisheadtohisconfederate。

  Instantlytheplayeraroseandpointedafingeratthecount。

  \"HadIknownthatmonsieurwasaprofessionalcardsharpIhadnotbeensoreadytobedrawnintothegame,\"hesaid。

  Instantlythecountandthetwootherplayerswereupontheirfeet。

  DeCoude’sfacewentwhite。

  \"Whatdoyoumean,sir?\"hecried。\"Doyouknowtowhomyouspeak?\"

  \"IknowthatIspeak,forthelasttime,toonewhocheatsatcards,\"repliedthefellow。

  Thecountleanedacrossthetable,andstruckthemanfullinthemouthwithhisopenpalm,andthentheothersclosedinbetweenthem。

  \"Thereissomemistake,sir,\"criedoneoftheotherplayers。

  \"Why,thisisCountdeCoude,ofFrance。\"

  \"IfIammistaken,\"saidtheaccuser,\"Ishallgladlyapologize;

  butbeforeIdosofirstletmonsieurlecountexplaintheextracardswhichIsawhimdropintohissidepocket。\"

  AndthenthemanwhomTarzanhadseendropthemthereturnedtosneakfromtheroom,buttohisannoyancehefoundtheexitbarredbyatall,gray—eyedstranger。

  \"Pardon,\"saidthemanbrusquely,attemptingtopasstooneside。

  \"Wait,\"saidTarzan。

  \"Butwhy,monsieur?\"exclaimedtheotherpetulantly。

  \"Permitmetopass,monsieur。\"

  \"Wait,\"saidTarzan。\"Ithinkthatthereisamatterinherethatyoumaydoubtlessbeabletoexplain。\"

  Thefellowhadlosthistemperbythistime,andwithalowoathseizedTarzantopushhimtooneside。Theape—manbutsmiledashetwistedthebigfellowaboutand,graspinghimbythecollarofhiscoat,escortedhimbacktothetable,struggling,cursing,andstrikinginfutileremonstrance。

  ItwasNikolasRokoff’sfirstexperiencewiththemusclesthathadbroughttheirsavageownervictoriousthroughencounterswithNuma,thelion,andTerkoz,thegreatbullape。

  ThemanwhohadaccusedDeCoude,andthetwootherswhohadbeenplaying,stoodlookingexpectantlyatthecount。

  Severalotherpassengershaddrawntowardthesceneofthealtercation,andallawaitedthedenouement。

  \"Thefellowiscrazy,\"saidthecount。\"Gentlemen,Iimplorethatoneofyousearchme。\"

  \"Theaccusationisridiculous。\"Thisfromoneoftheplayers。

  \"Youhavebuttoslipyourhandinthecount’scoatpocketandyouwillseethattheaccusationisquiteserious,\"insistedtheaccuser。Andthen,astheothersstillhesitatedtodoso:

  \"Come,Ishalldoitmyselfifnootherwill,\"andhesteppedforwardtowardthecount。

  \"No,monsieur,\"saidDeCoude。\"Iwillsubmittoasearchonlyatthehandsofagentleman。\"

  \"Itisunnecessarytosearchthecount。Thecardsareinhispocket。Imyselfsawthemplacedthere。\"

  Allturnedinsurprisetowardthisnewspeaker,tobeholdaverywell—builtyoungmanurgingaresistingcaptivetowardthembythescruffofhisneck。

  \"Itisaconspiracy,\"criedDeCoudeangrily。\"Therearenocardsinmycoat,\"andwiththatheranhishandintohispocket。Ashedidsotensesilencereignedinthelittlegroup。

  Thecountwentdeadwhite,andthenveryslowlyhewithdrewhishand,andinitwerethreecards。

  Helookedattheminmuteandhorrifiedsurprise,andslowlytheredofmortificationsuffusedhisface。Expressionsofpityandcontempttingedthefeaturesofthosewholookedonatthedeathofaman’shonor。

  \"Itisaconspiracy,monsieur。\"Itwasthegray—eyedstrangerwhospoke。\"Gentlemen,\"hecontinued,\"monsieurlecountdidnotknowthatthosecardswereinhispocket。Theywereplacedtherewithouthisknowledgeashesatatplay。

  FromwhereIsatinthatchairyonderIsawthereflectionofitallinthemirrorbeforeme。ThispersonwhomIjustinterceptedinanefforttoescapeplacedthecardsinthecount’spocket。\"

  DeCoudehadglancedfromTarzantothemaninhisgrasp。

  \"MONDIEU,Nikolas!\"hecried。\"You?\"

  Thenheturnedtohisaccuser,andeyedhimintentlyforamoment。

  \"Andyou,monsieur,Ididnotrecognizeyouwithoutyourbeard。Itquitedisguisesyou,Paulvitch。Iseeitallnow。

  Itisquiteclear,gentlemen。\"

  \"Whatshallwedowiththem,monsieur?\"askedTarzan。

  \"Turnthemovertothecaptain?\"

  \"No,myfriend,\"saidthecounthastily。\"Itisapersonalmatter,andIbegthatyouwillletitdrop。ItissufficientthatIhavebeenexoneratedfromthecharge。Thelesswehavetodowithsuchfellows,thebetter。But,monsieur,howcanIthankyouforthegreatkindnessyouhavedoneme?

  Permitmetoofferyoumycard,andshouldthetimecomewhenImayserveyou,rememberthatIamyourstocommand。\"

  TarzanhadreleasedRokoff,who,withhisconfederate,Paulvitch,hadhastenedfromthesmoking—room。Justashewasleaving,RokoffturnedtoTarzan。\"Monsieurwillhaveampleopportunitytoregrethisinterferenceintheaffairsofothers。\"

  Tarzansmiled,andthen,bowingtothecount,handedhimhisowncard。

  Thecountread:

  M。JEANC。TARZAN

  \"MonsieurTarzan,\"hesaid,\"mayindeedwishthathehadneverbefriendedme,forIcanassurehimthathehaswontheenmityoftwoofthemostunmitigatedscoundrelsinallEurope。Avoidthem,monsieur,byallmeans。\"

  \"Ihavehadmoreawe—inspiringenemies,mydearcount,\"repliedTarzanwithaquietsmile,\"yetIamstillaliveandunworried。

  Ithinkthatneitherofthesetwowilleverfindthemeanstoharmme。\"

  \"Letushopenot,monsieur,\"saidDeCoude;\"butyetitwilldonoharmtobeonthealert,andtoknowthatyouhavemadeatleastoneenemytodaywhoneverforgetsandneverforgives,andinwhosemalignantbraintherearealwayshatchingnewatrocitiestoperpetrateuponthosewhohavethwartedoroffendedhim。TosaythatNikolasRokoffisadevilwouldbetoplaceawantonaffrontuponhissatanicmajesty。\"

  ThatnightasTarzanenteredhiscabinhefoundafoldednoteuponthefloorthathadevidentlybeenpushedbeneaththedoor。Heopeneditandread:

  M。TARZAN:

  Doubtlessyoudidnotrealizethegravityofyouroffense,oryouwouldnothavedonethethingyoudidtoday。

  Iamwillingtobelievethatyouactedinignoranceandwithoutanyintentiontooffendastranger。ForthisreasonIshallgladlypermityoutoofferanapology,andonreceivingyourassurancesthatyouwillnotagaininterfereinaffairsthatdonotconcernyou,Ishalldropthematter。

  Otherwise——butIamsurethatyouwillseethewisdomofadoptingthecourseIsuggest。

  Veryrespectfully,NIKOLASROKOFF。

  Tarzanpermittedagrimsmiletoplayabouthislipsforamoment,thenhepromptlydroppedthematterfromhismind,andwenttobed。

  InanearbycabintheCountessdeCoudewasspeakingtoherhusband。

  \"Whysograve,mydearRaoul?\"sheasked。\"Youhavebeenasglumascouldbeallevening。Whatworriesyou?\"

  \"Olga,Nikolasisonboard。Didyouknowit?\"

  \"Nikolas!\"sheexclaimed。\"Butitisimpossible,Raoul。

  Itcannotbe。NikolasisunderarrestinGermany。\"

  \"SoIthoughtmyselfuntilIsawhimtoday——himandthatotherarchscoundrel,Paulvitch。Olga,Icannotendurehispersecutionmuchlonger。No,notevenforyou。SoonerorlaterIshallturnhimovertotheauthorities。Infact,Iamhalfmindedtoexplainalltothecaptainbeforeweland。OnaFrenchlineritwereaneasymatter,Olga,permanentlytosettlethisNemesisofours。\"

  \"Oh,no,Raoul!\"criedthecountess,sinkingtoherkneesbeforehimashesatwithbowedheaduponadivan。\"Donotdothat。Rememberyourpromisetome。Tellme,Raoul,thatyouwillnotdothat。Donoteventhreatenhim,Raoul。\"

  DeCoudetookhiswife’shandsinhis,andgazeduponherpaleandtroubledcountenanceforsometimebeforehespoke,asthoughhewouldwrestfromthosebeautifuleyestherealreasonwhichpromptedhertoshieldthisman。

  \"Letitbeasyouwish,Olga,\"hesaidatlength。\"Icannotunderstand。Hehasforfeitedallclaimuponyourlove,loyalty,orrespect。Heisamenacetoyourlifeandhonor,andthelifeandhonorofyourhusband。Itrustyoumayneverregretchampioninghim。\"

  \"Idonotchampionhim,Raoul,\"sheinterruptedvehemently。

  \"IbelievethatIhatehimasmuchasyoudo,but——Oh,Raoul,bloodisthickerthanwater。\"

  \"Ishouldtodayhavelikedtosampletheconsistencyofhis,\"growledDeCoudegrimly。\"Thetwodeliberatelyattemptedtobesmirchmyhonor,Olga,\"andthenhetoldherofallthathadhappenedinthesmoking—room。\"Haditnotbeenforthisutterstranger,theyhadsucceeded,forwhowouldhaveacceptedmyunsupportedwordagainstthedamningevidenceofthosecardshiddenonmyperson?IhadalmostbeguntodoubtmyselfwhenthisMonsieurTarzandraggedyourpreciousNikolasbeforeus,andexplainedthewholecowardlytransaction。\"

  \"MonsieurTarzan?\"askedthecountess,inevidentsurprise。

  \"Yes。Doyouknowhim,Olga?\"

  \"Ihaveseenhim。Astewardpointedhimouttome。\"

  \"Ididnotknowthathewasacelebrity,\"saidthecount。

  OlgadeCoudechangedthesubject。ShediscoveredsuddenlythatshemightfinditdifficulttoexplainjustwhythestewardhadpointedoutthehandsomeMonsieurTarzantoher。Perhapssheflushedtheleastlittlebit,forwasnotthecount,herhusband,gazingatherwithastrangelyquizzicalexpression。\"Ah,\"shethought,\"aguiltyconscienceisamostsuspiciousthing。\"

  Chapter2

  ForgingBondsofHateand————?

  ItwasnotuntillatethefollowingafternoonthatTarzansawanythingmoreofthefellowpassengersintothemidstofwhoseaffairshisloveoffairplayhadthrusthim。

  AndthenhecamemostunexpectedlyuponRokoffandPaulvitchatamomentwhenofallothersthetwomightleastappreciatehiscompany。

  Theywerestandingondeckatapointwhichwastemporarilydeserted,andasTarzancameuponthemtheywereinheatedargumentwithawoman。Tarzannotedthatshewasrichlyappareled,andthatherslender,well—modeledfiguredenotedyouth;butasshewasheavilyveiledhecouldnotdiscernherfeatures。

  Themenwerestandingoneithersideofher,andthebacksofallweretowardTarzan,sothathewasquiteclosetothemwithouttheirbeingawareofhispresence。

  HenoticedthatRokoffseemedtobethreatening,thewomanpleading;buttheyspokeinastrangetongue,andhecouldonlyguessfromappearancesthatthegirlwasafraid。

  Rokoff’sattitudewassodistinctlyfilledwiththethreatofphysicalviolencethattheape—manpausedforaninstantjustbehindthetrio,instinctivelysensinganatmosphereofdanger。

  Scarcelyhadhehesitatederethemanseizedthewomanroughlybythewrist,twistingitasthoughtowringapromisefromherthroughtorture。WhatwouldhavehappenednexthadRokoffhadhiswaywemayonlyconjecture,sincehedidnothavehiswayatall。Instead,steelfingersgrippedhisshoulder,andhewasswungunceremoniouslyaround,tomeetthecoldgrayeyesofthestrangerwhohadthwartedhimonthepreviousday。

  \"SAPRISTI!\"screamedtheinfuriatedRokoff。\"Whatdoyoumean?AreyouafoolthatyouthusagaininsultNikolasRokoff?\"

  \"Thisismyanswertoyournote,monsieur,\"saidTarzan,inalowvoice。AndthenhehurledthefellowfromhimwithsuchforcethatRokofflungedsprawlingagainsttherail。

  \"Nameofaname!\"shriekedRokoff。\"Pig,butyoushalldieforthis,\"and,springingtohisfeet,herusheduponTarzan,tuggingthemeanwhiletodrawarevolverfromhishippocket。Thegirlshrankbackinterror。

  \"Nikolas!\"shecried。\"Donot——oh,donotdothat。Quick,monsieur,fly,orhewillsurelykillyou!\"ButinsteadofflyingTarzanadvancedtomeetthefellow。\"Donotmakeafoolofyourself,monsieur,\"hesaid。

  Rokoff,whowasinaperfectfrenzyofrageatthehumiliationthestrangerhadputuponhim,hadatlastsucceededindrawingtherevolver。Hehadstopped,andnowhedeliberatelyraisedittoTarzan’sbreastandpulledthetrigger。Thehammerfellwithafutileclickonanemptychamber——theape—man’shandshotoutliketheheadofanangrypython;therewasaquickwrench,andtherevolversailedfaroutacrosstheship’srail,anddroppedintotheAtlantic。

  Foramomentthetwomenstoodtherefacingoneanother。Rokoffhadregainedhisself—possession。Hewasthefirsttospeak。

  \"Twicenowhasmonsieurseenfittointerfereinmatterswhichdonotconcernhim。TwicehehastakenituponhimselftohumiliateNikolasRokoff。Thefirstoffensewasoverlookedontheassumptionthatmonsieuractedthroughignorance,butthisaffairshallnotbeoverlooked。IfmonsieurdoesnotknowwhoNikolasRokoffis,thislastpieceofeffronterywillinsurethatmonsieurlaterhasgoodreasontorememberhim。\"

  \"Thatyouareacowardandascoundrel,monsieur,\"repliedTarzan,\"isallthatIcaretoknowofyou,\"andheturnedtoaskthegirlifthemanhadhurther,butshehaddisappeared。Then,withoutevenaglancetowardRokoffandhiscompanion,hecontinuedhisstrollalongthedeck。

  Tarzancouldnotbutwonderwhatmannerofconspiracywasonfoot,orwhattheschemeofthetwomenmightbe。

  Therehadbeensomethingratherfamiliarabouttheappearanceoftheveiledwomantowhoserescuehehadjustcome,butashehadnotseenherfacehecouldnotbesurethathehadeverseenherbefore。TheonlythingaboutherthathehadparticularlynoticedwasaringofpeculiarworkmanshipuponafingerofthehandthatRokoffhadseized,andhedeterminedtonotethefingersofthewomenpassengershecameuponthereafter,thathemightdiscovertheidentityofherwhomRokoffwaspersecuting,andlearnifthefellowhadofferedherfurtherannoyance。

  Tarzanhadsoughthisdeckchair,wherehesatspeculatingonthenumerousinstancesofhumancruelty,selfishness,andspitethathadfallentohislottowitnesssincethatdayinthejunglefouryearssincethathiseyeshadfirstfallenuponahumanbeingotherthanhimself——thesleek,blackKulonga,whoseswiftspearhadthatdayfoundthevitalsofKala,thegreatshe—ape,androbbedtheyouth,Tarzan,oftheonlymotherhehadeverknown。

  HerecalledthemurderofKingbytherat—facedSnipes;

  theabandonmentofProfessorPorterandhispartybythemutineersoftheARROW;thecrueltyoftheblackwarriorsandwomenofMbongatotheircaptives;thepettyjealousiesofthecivilandmilitaryofficersoftheWestCoastcolonythathadaffordedhimhisfirstintroductiontothecivilizedworld。

  \"MONDIEU!\"hesoliloquized,\"buttheyareallalike。

  Cheating,murdering,lying,fighting,andallforthingsthatthebeastsofthejunglewouldnotdeigntopossess——moneytopurchasetheeffeminatepleasuresofweaklings。Andyetwithalbounddownbysillycustomsthatmakethemslavestotheirunhappylotwhilefirminthebeliefthattheybethelordsofcreationenjoyingtheonlyrealpleasuresofexistence。

  Inthejungleonewouldscarcelystandsupinelyasidewhileanothertookhismate。Itisasillyworld,anidioticworld,andTarzanoftheApeswasafooltorenouncethefreedomandthehappinessofhisjungletocomeintoit。\"

  Presently,ashesatthere,thesuddenfeelingcameoverhimthateyeswerewatchingfrombehind,andtheoldinstinctofthewildbeastbrokethroughthethinveneerofcivilization,sothatTarzanwheeledaboutsoquicklythattheeyesoftheyoungwomanwhohadbeensurreptitiouslyregardinghimhadnoteventimetodropbeforethegrayeyesoftheape—manshotaninquiringlookstraightintothem。

  Then,astheyfell,Tarzansawafaintwaveofcrimsoncreepswiftlyoverthenowhalf—avertedface。

  Hesmiledtohimselfattheresultofhisveryuncivilizedandungallantaction,forhehadnotloweredhisowneyeswhentheymetthoseoftheyoungwoman。Shewasveryyoung,andequallygoodtolookupon。Further,therewassomethingratherfamiliaraboutherthatsetTarzantowonderingwherehehadseenherbefore。Heresumedhisformerposition,andpresentlyhewasawarethatshehadarisenandwasleavingthedeck。Asshepassed,Tarzanturnedtowatchher,inthehopethathemightdiscoveraclewtosatisfyhismildcuriosityastoheridentity。

  Norwashedisappointedentirely,forasshewalkedawaysheraisedonehandtotheblack,wavingmassatthenapeofherneck——thepeculiarlyfemininegesturethatadmitscognizanceofappraisingeyesbehindher——andTarzansawuponafingerofthishandtheringofstrangeworkmanshipthathehadseenuponthefingeroftheveiledwomanashorttimebefore。

  SoitwasthisbeautifulyoungwomanRokoffhadbeenpersecuting。Tarzanwonderedinalazysortofwaywhomshemightbe,andwhatrelationsonesolovelycouldhavewiththesurly,beardedRussian。

  AfterdinnerthateveningTarzanstrolledforward,whereheremaineduntilafterdark,inconversationwiththesecondofficer,andwhenthatgentleman’sdutiescalledhimelsewhereTarzanlolledlazilybytherailwatchingtheplayofthemoonlightuponthegentlyrollingwaters。Hewashalfhiddenbyadavit,sothattwomenwhoapproachedalongthedeckdidnotseehim,andastheypassedTarzancaughtenoughoftheirconversationtocausehimtofallinbehindthem,tofollowandlearnwhatdeviltrytheywereupto。HehadrecognizedthevoiceasthatofRokoff,andhadseenthathiscompanionwasPaulvitch。

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