\"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。