Hedeeplyregrettedthathehadbeenhasty，buthehadlovedherforsolongatime，andsodevotedly，thathethoughtthateveryonemustknowit。
\"FromthefirsttimeIsawyou，Hazel，\"hesaid，\"Ihavelovedyou。Iamwillingtowait，forIamcertainthatsogreatandpurealoveasminewillberewarded。AllthatIcaretoknowisthatyoudonotloveanother。Willyoutellme？\"
\"Ihaveneverbeeninloveinmylife，\"shereplied，andhewasquitesatisfied。Onthewayhomethatnighthepurchasedasteamyacht，andbuiltamillion—dollarvillaontheBlackSea。
ThenextdayHazelStrongenjoyedoneofthehappiestsurprisesofherlife——sheranfacetofaceuponJanePorterasshewascomingoutofajeweler’sshop。
\"Why，JanePorter！\"sheexclaimed。\"Whereintheworlddidyoudropfrom？Why，Ican’tbelievemyowneyes。\"
\"Well，ofallthings！\"criedtheequallyastonishedJane。
\"AndhereIhavebeenwastingwholereamsofperfectlygoodimaginationpicturingyouinBaltimore——theveryidea！\"Andshethrewherarmsaboutherfriendoncemore，andkissedheradozentimes。
BythetimemutualexplanationshadbeenmadeHazelknewthatLordTennington’syachthadputinatCapeTownforatleastaweek’sstay，andattheendofthattimewastocontinueonhervoyage——thistimeuptheWestCoast——andsobacktoEngland。\"Where，\"concludedJane，\"Iamtobemarried。\"
\"Thenyouarenotmarriedyet？\"askedHazel。
\"Notyet，\"repliedJane，andthen，quiteirrelevantly，\"IwishEnglandwereamillionmilesfromhere。
VisitswereexchangedbetweentheyachtandHazel’srelatives。
Dinnerswerearranged，andtripsintothesurroundingcountrytoentertainthevisitors。MonsieurThuranwasawelcomeguestateveryfunction。Hegaveadinnerhimselftothemenoftheparty，andmanagedtoingratiatehimselfinthegoodwillofLordTenningtonbymanylittleactsofhospitality。
MonsieurThuranhadhearddroppedahintofsomethingwhichmightresultfromthisunexpectedvisitofLordTennington’syacht，andhewantedtobecountedinonit。
OncewhenhewasalonewiththeEnglishmanhetookoccasiontomakeitquiteplainthathisengagementtoMissStrongwastobeannouncedimmediatelyupontheirreturntoAmerica。
\"Butnotawordofit，mydearTennington——notawordofit。\"
\"Certainly，Iquiteunderstand，mydearfellow，\"Tenningtonhadreplied。\"Butyouaretobecongratulated——rippinggirl，don’tyouknow——really。\"
Thenextdayitcame。Mrs。Strong，Hazel，andMonsieurThuranwereLordTennington’sguestsaboardhisyacht。
Mrs。StronghadbeentellingthemhowmuchshehadenjoyedhervisitatCapeTown，andthatsheregrettedthataletterjustreceivedfromherattorneysinBaltimorehadnecessitatedhercuttinghervisitshorterthantheyhadintended。
\"Whendoyousail？\"askedTennington。
\"Thefirstoftheweek，Ithink，\"shereplied。
\"Indeed？\"exclaimedMonsieurThuran。\"Iamveryfortunate。
I，too，havefoundthatImustreturnatonce，andnowIshallhavethehonorofaccompanyingandservingyou。\"
\"Thatisniceofyou，MonsieurThuran，\"repliedMrs。Strong。
\"Iamsurethatweshallbegladtoplaceourselvesunderyourprotection。\"Butinthebottomofherheartwasthewishthattheymightescapehim。Why，shecouldnothavetold。
\"ByJove！\"ejaculatedLordTennington，amomentlater。
\"Bullyidea，byJove！\"
\"Yes，Tennington，ofcourse，\"venturedClayton;\"itmustbeabullyideaifyouhadit，butwhatthedeuceisit？
Goin’tosteamtoChinaviathesouthpole？\"
\"Oh，Isaynow，Clayton，\"returnedTennington，\"youneedn’tbesoroughonafellowjustbecauseyoudidn’thappentosuggestthistripyourself——you’veactedaregularboundereversincewesailed。
\"No，sir，\"hecontinued，\"it’sabullyidea，andyou’llallsayso。It’stotakeMrs。StrongandMissStrong，andThuran，too，ifhe’llcome，asfarasEnglandwithusontheyacht。
Now，isn’tthatacorker？\"
\"Forgiveme，Tenny，oldboy，\"criedClayton。\"ItcertainlyISacorkingidea——Inevershouldhavesuspectedyouofit。
You’requitesureit’soriginal，areyou？\"
\"Andwe’llsailthefirstoftheweek，oranyothertimethatsuitsyourconvenience，Mrs。Strong，\"concludedthebig—heartedEnglishman，asthoughthethingwereallarrangedexceptthesailingdate。
\"Mercy，LordTennington，youhaven’tevengivenusanopportunitytothankyou，muchlessdecidewhetherweshallbeabletoacceptyourgenerousinvitation，\"saidMrs。Strong。
\"Why，ofcourseyou’llcome，\"respondedTennington。
\"We’llmakeasgoodtimeasanypassengerboat，andyou’llbefullyascomfortable;and，anyway，weallwantyou，andwon’ttakenoforananswer。\"
AndsoitwassettledthattheyshouldsailthefollowingMonday。
TwodaysoutthegirlsweresittinginHazel’scabin，lookingatsomeprintsshehadhadfinishedinCapeTown。
TheyrepresentedallthepicturesshehadtakensinceshehadleftAmerica，andthegirlswerebothengrossedinthem，Janeaskingmanyquestions，andHazelkeepingupaperfecttorrentofcommentandexplanationofthevariousscenesandpeople。
\"Andhere，\"shesaidsuddenly，\"here’samanyouknow。
Poorfellow，Ihavesooftenintendedaskingyouabouthim，butIneverhavebeenabletothinkofitwhenweweretogether。\"
ShewasholdingthelittleprintsothatJanedidnotseethefaceofthemanitportrayed。
\"HisnamewasJohnCaldwell，\"continuedHazel。\"Doyourecallhim？
HesaidthathemetyouinAmerica。HeisanEnglishman。\"
\"Idonotrecollectthename，\"repliedJane。\"Letmeseethepicture。\"
\"Thepoorfellowwaslostoverboardonourtripdownthecoast，\"shesaid，asshehandedtheprinttoJane。
\"Lostover——Why，Hazel，Hazel——don’ttellmethatheisdead——drownedatsea！Hazel！Whydon’tyousaythatyouarejoking！\"
AndbeforetheastonishedMissStrongcouldcatchherJanePorterhadslippedtothefloorinaswoon。
AfterHazelhadrestoredherchumtoconsciousnessshesatlookingatherforalongtimebeforeeitherspoke。
\"Ididnotknow，Jane，\"saidHazel，inaconstrainedvoice，\"thatyouknewMr。Caldwellsointimatelythathisdeathcouldprovesuchashocktoyou。\"
\"JohnCaldwell？\"questionedMissPorter。\"Youdonotmeantotellmethatyoudonotknowwhothismanwas，Hazel？\"
\"Why，yes，Jane;Iknowperfectlywellwhohewas——hisnamewasJohnCaldwell;hewasfromLondon。\"
\"Oh，Hazel，IwishIcouldbelieveit，\"moanedthegirl。
\"IwishIcouldbelieveit，butthosefeaturesareburnedsodeepintomymemoryandmyheartthatIshouldrecognizethemanywhereintheworldfromamongathousandothers，whomightappearidenticaltoanyonebutme。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean，Jane？\"criedHazel，nowthoroughlyalarmed。
\"Whodoyouthinkitis？\"
\"Idon’tthink，Hazel。IknowthatthatisapictureofTarzanoftheApes。\"
\"Jane！\"
\"Icannotbemistaken。Oh，Hazel，areyousurethatheisdead？
Cantherebenomistake？\"
\"Iamafraidnot，dear，\"answeredHazelsadly。\"IwishI
couldthinkthatyouaremistaken，butnowahundredandonelittlepiecesofcorroborativeevidenceoccurtomethatmeantnothingtomewhileIthoughtthathewasJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。HesaidthathehadbeenborninAfrica，andeducatedinFrance。\"
\"Yes，thatwouldbetrue，\"murmuredJanePorterdully。
\"Thefirstofficer，whosearchedhisluggage，foundnothingtoidentifyJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。Practicallyallhisbelongingshadbeenmade，orpurchased，inParis。Everythingthatboreaninitialwasmarkedeitherwitha`T’alone，orwith`J。C。T。’Wethoughtthathewastravelingincognitounderhisfirsttwonames——theJ。C。standingforJohnCaldwell。\"
\"TarzanoftheApestookthenameJeanC。Tarzan，\"saidJane，inthesamelifelessmonotone。\"Andheisdead！Oh！
Hazel，itishorrible！Hediedallaloneinthisterribleocean！
Itisunbelievablethatthatbraveheartshouldhaveceasedtobeat——thatthosemightymusclesarequietandcoldforever！
Thathewhowasthepersonificationoflifeandhealthandmanlystrengthshouldbethepreyofslimy，crawlingthings，that——\"Butshecouldgonofurther，andwithalittlemoansheburiedherheadinherarms，andsanksobbingtothefloor。
FordaysMissPorterwasill，andwouldseenooneexceptHazelandthefaithfulEsmeralda。Whenatlastshecameondeckallwerestruckbythesadchangethathadtakenplaceinher。Shewasnolongerthealert，vivaciousAmericanbeautywhohadcharmedanddelightedallwhocameincontactwithher。Insteadshewasaveryquietandsadlittlegirl——withanexpressionofhopelesswistfulnessthatnonebutHazelStrongcouldinterpret。
Theentirepartystrovetheirutmosttocheerandamuseher，butalltonoavail。OccasionallythejollyLordTenningtonwouldwringawansmilefromher，butforthemostpartshesatwithwideeyeslookingoutacrossthesea。
WithJanePorter’sillnessonemisfortuneafteranotherseemedtoattacktheyacht。Firstanenginebrokedown，andtheydriftedfortwodayswhiletemporaryrepairswerebeingmade。
Thenasquallstruckthemunaware，thatcarriedoverboardnearlyeverythingabovedeckthatwasportable。Latertwooftheseamenfelltofightingintheforecastle，withtheresultthatoneofthemwasbadlywoundedwithaknife，andtheotherhadtobeputinirons。Then，tocaptheclimax，thematefelloverboardatnight，andwasdrownedbeforehelpcouldreachhim。Theyachtcruisedaboutthespotfortenhours，butnosignofthemanwasseenafterhedisappearedfromthedeckintothesea。
Everymemberofthecrewandguestswasgloomyanddepressedaftertheseseriesofmisfortunes。Allwereapprehensiveofworsetocome，andthiswasespeciallytrueoftheseamenwhorecalledallsortsofterribleomensandwarningsthathadoccurredduringtheearlypartofthevoyage，andwhichtheycouldnowclearlytranslateintotheprecursorsofsomegrimandterribletragedytocome。
Nordidthecroakershavelongtowait。Thesecondnightafterthedrowningofthematethelittleyachtwassuddenlywrackedfromstemtostern。Aboutoneo’clockinthemorningtherewasaterrificimpactthatthrewtheslumberingguestsandcrewfromberthandbunk。Amightyshudderranthroughthefrailcraft;shelayfarovertostarboard;theenginesstopped。Foramomentshehungtherewithherdecksatanangleofforty—fivedegrees——then，withasullen，rendingsound，sheslippedbackintotheseaandrighted。
Instantlythemenrushedupondeck，followedcloselybythewomen。Thoughthenightwascloudy，therewaslittlewindorsea，norwasitsodarkbutthatjustofftheportbowablackmasscouldbediscernedfloatinglowinthewater。
\"Aderelict，\"wastheterseexplanationoftheofficerofthewatch。
Presentlytheengineerhurriedondeckinsearchofthecaptain。
\"Thatpatchweputonthecylinderhead’sblownout，sir，\"hereported，\"andshe’smakin’waterfastfor’ardontheportbow。\"
Aninstantlateraseamanrushedupfrombelow。
\"MyGawd！\"hecried。\"Herwholebleedin’bottom’srippedout。Shecan’tfloattwentyminutes。\"
\"Shutup！\"roaredTennington。\"Ladies，gobelowandgetsomeofyourthingstogether。Itmaynotbesobadasthat，butwemayhavetotaketotheboats。Itwillbesafertobeprepared。Goatonce，please。And，CaptainJerrold，sendsomecompetentmanbelow，please，toascertaintheexactextentofthedamage。InthemeantimeImightsuggestthatyouhavetheboatsprovisioned。\"
Thecalm，lowvoiceoftheownerdidmuchtoreassuretheentireparty，andamomentlaterallwereoccupiedwiththedutieshehadsuggested。Bythetimetheladieshadreturnedtothedecktherapidprovisioningoftheboatshadbeenaboutcompleted，andamomentlatertheofficerwhohadgonebelowhadreturnedtoreport。ButhisopinionwasscarcelyneededtoassurethehuddledgroupofmenandwomenthattheendoftheLADYALICEwasathand。
\"Well，sir？\"saidthecaptain，ashisofficerhesitated。
\"Idisliketofrightentheladies，sir，\"hesaid，\"butshecan’tfloatadozenminutes，inmyopinion。There’saholeinheryoucoulddriveaballycowthrough，sir。\"
ForfiveminutestheLADYALICEhadbeensettlingrapidlybythebow。Alreadyhersternloomedhighintheair，andfootholdonthedeckwasofthemostprecariousnature。
Shecarriedfourboats，andthesewereallfilledandloweredawayinsafety。AstheypulledrapidlyfromthestrickenlittlevesselJanePorterturnedtohaveonelastlookather。
Justthentherecamealoudcrashandanominousrumblingandpoundingfromtheheartoftheship——hermachineryhadbrokenloose，andwasdashingitswaytowardthebow，tearingoutpartitionsandbulkheadsasitwent——thesternroserapidlyhighabovethem;foramomentsheseemedtopausethere——averticalshaftprotrudingfromthebosomoftheocean，andthenswiftlyshedoveheadforemostbeneaththewaves。
InoneoftheboatsthebraveLordTenningtonwipedatearfromhiseye——hehadnotseenafortuneinmoneygodownforeverintothesea，butadear，beautifulfriendwhomhehadloved。
Atlastthelongnightbroke，andatropicalsunsmotedownupontherollingwater。JanePorterhaddroppedintoafitfulslumber——thefiercelightofthesunuponherupturnedfaceawokeher。Shelookedabouther。Intheboatwithherwerethreesailors，Clayton，andMonsieurThuran。Thenshelookedfortheotherboats，butasfarastheeyecouldreachtherewasnothingtobreakthefearfulmonotonyofthatwasteofwaters——theywerealoneinasmallboatuponthebroadAtlantic。
Chapter14
BacktothePrimitiveAsTarzanstruckthewater，hisfirstimpulsewastoswimclearoftheshipandpossibledangerfromherpropellers。Heknewwhomtothankforhispresentpredicament，andashelayinthesea，justsupportinghimselfbyagentlemovementofhishands，hischiefemotionwasoneofchagrinthathehadbeensoeasilybestedbyRokoff。
Helaythusforsometime，watchingtherecedingandrapidlydiminishinglightsofthesteamerwithoutiteveronceoccurringtohimtocallforhelp。Heneverhadcalledforhelpinhislife，andsoitisnotstrangethathedidnotthinkofitnow。Alwayshadhedependeduponhisownprowessandresourcefulness，norhadthereeverbeensincethedaysofKalaanytoansweranappealforsuccor。Whenitdidoccurtohimitwastoolate。
Therewas，thoughtTarzan，apossibleonechanceinahundredthousandthathemightbepickedup，andanevensmallerchancethathewouldreachland，sohedeterminedthattocombinewhatslightchancestherewere，hewouldswimslowlyinthedirectionofthecoast——theshipmighthavebeencloserinthanhehadknown。
Hisstrokeswerelongandeasy——itwouldbemanyhoursbeforethosegiantmuscleswouldcommencetofeelfatigue。
Asheswam，guidedtowardtheeastbythestars，henoticedthathefelttheweightofhisshoes，andsoheremovedthem。
Histrouserswentnext，andhewouldhaveremovedhiscoatatthesametimebutforthepreciouspapersinitspocket。
Toassurehimselfthathestillhadthemheslippedhishandintofeel，buttohisconsternationtheyweregone。
NowheknewthatsomethingmorethanrevengehadpromptedRokofftopitchhimoverboard——theRussianhadmanagedtoobtainpossessionofthepapersTarzanhadwrestedfromhimatBouSaada。Theape—mansworesoftly，andlethiscoatandshirtsinkintotheAtlantic。Beforemanyhourshehaddivestedhimselfofhisremaininggarments，andwasswimmingeasilyandunencumberedtowardtheeast。
Thefirstfaintevidenceofdawnwaspalingthestarsaheadofhimwhenthedimoutlinesofalow—lyingblackmassloomedupdirectlyinhistrack。Afewstrongstrokesbroughthimtoitsside——itwasthebottomofawave—washedderelict。
Tarzanclambereduponit——hewouldrestthereuntildaylightatleast。Hehadnointentiontoremainthereinactive——apreytohungerandthirst。Ifhemustdiehepreferreddyinginactionwhilemakingsomesemblanceofanattempttosavehimself。
Theseawasquiet，sothatthewreckhadonlyagentlyundulatingmotion，thatwasnothingtotheswimmerwhohadhadnosleepfortwentyhours。TarzanoftheApescurledupupontheslimytimbers，andwassoonasleep。
Theheatofthesunawokehimearlyintheforenoon。
Hisfirstconscioussensationwasofthirst，whichgrewalmosttotheproportionsofsufferingwithfullreturningconsciousness;butamomentlateritwasforgotteninthejoyoftwoalmostsimultaneousdiscoveries。Thefirstwasamassofwreckagefloatingbesidethederelictinthemidstofwhich，bottomup，roseandfellanoverturnedlifeboat;
theotherwasthefaint，dimlineofafar—distantshoreshowingonthehorizonintheeast。
Tarzandoveintothewater，andswamaroundthewrecktothelifeboat。Thecooloceanrefreshedhimalmostasmuchaswouldadraftofwater，sothatitwaswithrenewedvigorthathebroughtthesmallerboatalongsidethederelict，and，aftermanyherculeanefforts，succeededindraggingitontotheslimyship’sbottom。Thereherightedandexaminedit——theboatwasquitesound，andamomentlaterfloateduprightalongsidethewreck。ThenTarzanselectedseveralpiecesofwreckagethatmightanswerhimaspaddles，andpresentlywasmakinggoodheadwaytowardthefar—offshore。
Itwaslateintheafternoonbythetimehecamecloseenoughtodistinguishobjectsonland，ortomakeoutthecontouroftheshoreline。Beforehimlaywhatappearedtobetheentrancetoalittle，landlockedharbor。Thewoodedpointtothenorthwasstrangelyfamiliar。Coulditbepossiblethatfatehadthrownhimupattheverythresholdofhisownbelovedjungle！Butasthebowofhisboatenteredthemouthoftheharborthelastshredofdoubtwasclearedaway，fortherebeforehimuponthefarthershore，undertheshadowsofhisprimevalforest，stoodhisowncabin——builtbeforehisbirthbythehandofhislong—deadfather，JohnClayton，LordGreystoke。
WithlongsweepsofhisgiantmusclesTarzansentthelittlecraftspeedingtowardthebeach。Itsprowhadscarcelytouchedwhentheape—manleapedtoshore——hisheartbeatfastinjoyandexultationaseachlong—familiarobjectcamebeneathhisrovingeyes——thecabin，thebeach，thelittlebrook，thedensejungle，theblack，impenetrableforest。
Themyriadbirdsintheirbrilliantplumage——thegorgeoustropicalbloomsuponthefestoonedcreepersfallingingreatloopsfromthegianttrees。
TarzanoftheApeshadcomeintohisownagain，andthatalltheworldmightknowithethrewbackhisyounghead，andgavevoicetothefierce，wildchallengeofhistribe。
Foramomentsilencereigneduponthejungle，andthen，lowandweird，cameanansweringchallenge——itwasthedeeproarofNuma，thelion;andfromagreatdistance，faintly，thefearsomeansweringbellowofabullape。
Tarzanwenttothebrookfirst，andslakedhisthirst。
Thenheapproachedhiscabin。ThedoorwasstillclosedandlatchedasheandD’Arnothadleftit。Heraisedthelatchandentered。Nothinghadbeendisturbed;therewerethetable，thebed，andthelittlecribbuiltbyhisfather——theshelvesandcupboardsjustastheyhadstoodforevertwenty—threeyears——justashehadleftthemnearlytwoyearsbefore。
Hiseyessatisfied，Tarzan’sstomachbegantocallaloudforattention——thepangsofhungersuggestedasearchforfood。
Therewasnothinginthecabin，norhadheanyweapons;
butuponawallhungoneofhisoldgrassropes。Ithadbeenmanytimesbrokenandspliced，sothathehaddiscardeditforabetteronelongbefore。Tarzanwishedthathehadaknife。
Well，unlesshewasmistakenheshouldhavethatandaspearandbowsandarrowsbeforeanothersunhadset——theropewouldtakecareofthat，andinthemeantimeitmustbemadetoprocurefoodforhim。Hecoileditcarefully，and，throwingitabouthisshoulder，wentout，closingthedoorbehindhim。
Closetothecabinthejunglecommenced，andintoitTarzanoftheApesplunged，waryandnoiseless——oncemoreasavagebeasthuntingitsfood。Foratimehekepttotheground，butfinally，discoveringnospoorindicativeofnearbymeat，hetooktothetrees。Withthefirstdizzyswingfromtreetotreealltheoldjoyoflivingsweptoverhim。
Vainregretsanddullheartachewereforgotten。Nowwasheliving。
Now，indeed，wasthetruehappinessofperfectfreedomhis。
Whowouldgobacktothestifling，wickedcitiesofcivilizedmanwhenthemightyreachesofthegreatjungleofferedpeaceandliberty？Nothe。
WhileitwasyetlightTarzancametoadrinkingplacebythesideofajungleriver。Therewasafordthere，andforcountlessagesthebeastsoftheforesthadcomedowntodrinkatthisspot。HereofanightmightalwaysbefoundeitherSabororNumacrouchinginthedensefoliageofthesurroundingjungleawaitinganantelopeorawaterbuckfortheirmeal。HerecameHorta，theboar，towater，andherecameTarzanoftheApestomakeakill，forhewasveryempty。
Onalowbranchhesquattedabovethetrail。Foranhourhewaited。Itwasgrowingdark。Alittletoonesideofthefordinthedensestthicketheheardthefaintsoundofpaddedfeet，andthebrushingofahugebodyagainsttallgrassesandtangledcreepers。NoneotherthanTarzanmighthaveheardit，buttheape—manheardandtranslated——itwasNuma，thelion，onthesameerrandashimself。Tarzansmiled。
Presentlyheheardananimalapproachingwarilyalongthetrailtowardthedrinkingplace。Amomentmoreanditcameinview——itwasHorta，theboar。Herewasdeliciousmeat——andTarzan’smouthwatered。ThegrasseswhereNumalaywereverystillnow——ominouslystill。HortapassedbeneathTarzan——afewmorestepsandhewouldbewithintheradiusofNuma’sspring。TarzancouldimaginehowoldNuma’seyeswereshining——howhewasalreadysuckinginhisbreathfortheawfulroarwhichwouldfreezehispreyforthebriefinstantbetweenthemomentofthespringandthesinkingofterriblefangsintosplinteringbones。
ButasNumagatheredhimself，aslenderropeflewthroughtheairfromthelowbranchesofanear—bytree。AnoosesettledaboutHorta’sneck。Therewasafrightenedgrunt，asqueal，andthenNumasawhisquarrydraggedbackwardupthetrail，and，ashesprang，Horta，theboar，soaredupwardbeyondhisclutchesintothetreeabove，andamockingfacelookeddownandlaughedintohisown。
ThenindeeddidNumaroar。Angry，threatening，hungry，hepacedbackandforthbeneaththetauntingape—man。
Nowhestopped，and，risingonhishindlegsagainstthestemofthetreethatheldhisenemy，sharpenedhishugeclawsuponthebark，tearingoutgreatpiecesthatlaidbarethewhitewoodbeneath。
AndinthemeantimeTarzanhaddraggedthestrugglingHortatothelimbbesidehim。Sinewyfingerscompletedtheworkthechokingnoosehadcommenced。Theape—manhadnoknife，butnaturehadequippedhimwiththemeansoftearinghisfoodfromthequiveringflankofhisprey，andgleamingteethsankintothesucculentfleshwhiletheraginglionlookedonfrombelowasanotherenjoyedthedinnerthathehadthoughtalreadyhis。
ItwasquitedarkbythetimeTarzanhadgorgedhimself。
Ah，butithadbeendelicious！Neverhadhequiteaccustomedhimselftotheruinedfleshthatcivilizedmenhadservedhim，andinthebottomofhissavagehearttherehadconstantlybeenthecravingforthewarmmeatofthefreshkill，andtherich，redblood。
Hewipedhisbloodyhandsuponabunchofleaves，slungtheremainsofhiskillacrosshisshoulder，andswungoffthroughthemiddleterraceoftheforesttowardhiscabin，andatthesameinstantJanePorterandWilliamCecilClaytonarosefromasumptuousdinnerupontheLADY
ALICE，thousandsofmilestotheeast，intheIndianOcean。
BeneathTarzanwalkedNuma，thelion，andwhentheape—mandeignedtoglancedownwardhecaughtoccasionalglimpsesofthebalefulgreeneyesfollowingthroughthedarkness。
Numadidnotroarnow——instead，hemovedstealthily，liketheshadowofagreatcat;butyethetooknostepthatdidnotreachthesensitiveearsoftheape—man。
Tarzanwonderedifhewouldstalkhimtohiscabindoor。
Hehopednot，forthatwouldmeananight’ssleepcurledinthecrotchofatree，andhemuchpreferredthebedofgrasseswithinhisownabode。Butheknewjustthetreeandthemostcomfortablecrotch，ifnecessitydemandedthathesleepout。Ahundredtimesinthepastsomegreatjunglecathadfollowedhimhome，andcompelledhimtoseekshelterinthissametree，untilanothermoodortherisingsunhadsenthisenemyaway。
ButpresentlyNumagaveupthechaseand，withaseriesofblood—curdlingmoansandroars，turnedangrilybackinsearchofanotherandaneasierdinner。SoTarzancametohiscabinunattended，andafewmomentslaterwascurledupinthemildewedremnantsofwhathadoncebeenabedofgrasses。
ThuseasilydidMonsieurJeanC。Tarzansloughthethinskinofhisartificialcivilization，andsinkhappyandcontentedintothedeepsleepofthewildbeastthathasfedtorepletion。
Yetawoman’s\"yes\"wouldhaveboundhimtothatotherlifeforever，andmadethethoughtofthissavageexistencerepulsive。
Tarzansleptlateintothefollowingforenoon，forhehadbeenverytiredfromthelaborsandexertionofthelongnightanddayupontheocean，andthejunglejauntthathadbroughtintoplaymusclesthathehadscarceusedfornearlytwoyears。Whenheawokeherantothebrookfirsttodrink。
Thenhetookaplungeintothesea，swimmingaboutforaquarterofanhour。Afterwardhereturnedtohiscabin，andbreakfastedoffthefleshofHorta。Thisdone，heburiedthebalanceofthecarcassinthesoftearthoutsidethecabin，forhiseveningmeal。
Oncemorehetookhisropeandvanishedintothejungle。
Thistimehehuntednoblerquarry——man;althoughhadyouaskedhimhisownopinionhecouldhavenamedadozenotherdenizensofthejunglewhichheconsideredfarthesuperiorsinnobilityofthemenhehunted。TodayTarzanwasinquestofweapons。HewonderedifthewomenandchildrenhadremainedinMbonga’svillageafterthepunitiveexpeditionfromtheFrenchcruiserhadmassacredallthewarriorsinrevengeforD’Arnot’ssupposeddeath。Hehopedthatheshouldfindwarriorsthere，forheknewnothowlongaquestheshouldhavetomakewerethevillagedeserted。
Theape—mantraveledswiftlythroughtheforest，andaboutnooncametothesiteofthevillage，buttohisdisappointmentfoundthatthejunglehadovergrowntheplantainfieldsandthatthethatchedhutshadfallenindecay。Therewasnosignofman。Heclamberedaboutamongtheruinsforhalfanhour，hopingthathemightdiscoversomeforgottenweapon，buthissearchwaswithoutfruit，andsohetookuphisquestoncemore，followingupthestream，whichflowedfromasoutheasterlydirection。Heknewthatnearfreshwaterhewouldbemostlikelytofindanothersettlement。