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。