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。