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him when Tarzan took up the pursuit； and each day he
gained upon the ape…man。 The latter； however； felt not
the slightest doubt as to the outcome。 Some day he
would overhaul his quarryhe could bide his time in
peace until that day dawned。 Doggedly he followed the
faint spoor； pausing by day only to kill and eat； and
at night only to sleep and refresh himself。
Occasionally he passed parties of savage warriors； but
these he gave a wide berth； for he was hunting with a
purpose that was not to be distracted by the minor
accidents of the trail。
These parties were of the collecting hordes of the
Waziri and their allies which Basuli had scattered his
messengers broadcast to summon。 They were marching to
a common rendezvous in preparation for an assault upon
the stronghold of Achmet Zek； but to Tarzan they were
enemieshe retained no conscious memory of any
friendship for the black men。
It was night when he halted outside the palisaded
village of the Arab raider。 Perched in the branches of
a great tree he gazed down upon the life within the
enclosure。 To this place had the spoor led him。 His
quarry must be within； but how was he to find him among
so many huts？ Tarzan； although cognizant of his mighty
powers； realized also his limitations。 He knew that he
could not successfully cope with great numbers in open
battle。 He must resort to the stealth and trickery of
the wild beast； if he were to succeed。
Sitting in the safety of his tree； munching upon the
leg bone of Horta； the boar； Tarzan waited a favorable
opportunity to enter the village。 For awhile he gnawed
at the bulging； round ends of the large bone；
splintering off small pieces between his strong jaws；
and sucking at the delicious marrow within； but all the
time he cast repeated glances into the village。 He saw
white…robed figures； and half…naked blacks； but not
once did he see one who resembled the stealer of the gems。
Patiently he waited until the streets were deserted by
all save the sentries at the gates； then he dropped
lightly to the ground； circled to the opposite side of
the village and approached the palisade。
At his side hung a long； rawhide ropea natural and
more dependable evolution from the grass rope of his
childhood。 Loosening this； he spread the noose upon the
ground behind him； and with a quick movement of his
wrist tossed the coils over one of the sharpened
projections of the summit of the palisade。
Drawing the noose taut； he tested the solidity of its
hold。 Satisfied； the ape…man ran nimbly up the vertical
wall； aided by the rope which he clutched in both
hands。 Once at the top it required but a moment to
gather the dangling rope once more into its coils； make
it fast again at his waist； take a quick glance
downward within the palisade； and； assured that no one
lurked directly beneath him； drop softly to the ground。
Now he was within the village。 Before him stretched a
series of tents and native huts。 The business of
exploring each of them would be fraught with danger；
but danger was only a natural factor of each day's
lifeit never appalled Tarzan。 The chances appealed
to himthe chances of life and death； with his prowess
and his faculties pitted against those of a worthy
antagonist。
It was not necessary that he enter each habitation
through a door； a window or an open chink； his nose
told him whether or not his prey lay within。 For some
time he found one disappointment following upon the
heels of another in quick succession。 No spoor of the
Belgian was discernible。 But at last he came to a tent
where the smell of the thief was strong。 Tarzan
listened； his ear close to the canvas at the rear； but
no sound came from within。
At last he cut one of the pin ropes； raised the bottom
of the canvas； and intruded his head within the
interior。 All was quiet and dark。 Tarzan crawled
cautiously withinthe scent of the Belgian was strong；
but it was not live scent。 Even before he had examined
the interior minutely； Tarzan knew that no one was
within it。
In one corner he found a pile of blankets and clothing
scattered about； but no pouch of pretty pebbles。
A careful examination of the balance of the tent revealed
nothing more； at least nothing to indicate the presence
of the jewels； but at the side where the blankets and
clothing lay； the ape…man discovered that the tent wall
had been loosened at the bottom； and presently he
sensed that the Belgian had recently passed out of the
tent by this avenue。
Tarzan was not long in following the way that his prey
had fled。 The spoor led always in the shadow and at
the rear of the huts and tents of the villageit was
quite evident to Tarzan that the Belgian had gone alone
and secretly upon his mission。 Evidently he feared the
inhabitants of the village； or at least his work had
been of such a nature that he dared not risk detection。
At the back of a native hut the spoor led through a
small hole recently cut in the brush wall and into the
dark interior beyond。 Fearlessly； Tarzan followed the
trail。 On hands and knees； he crawled through the
small aperture。 Within the hut his nostrils were
assailed by many odors； but clear and distinct among
them was one that half aroused a latent memory of the
pastit was the faint and delicate odor of a woman。
With the cognizance of it there rose in the breast of
the ape…man a strange uneasinessthe result of an
irresistible force which he was destined to become
acquainted with anewthe instinct which draws the male
to his mate。
In the same hut was the scent spoor of the Belgian；
too； and as both these assailed the nostrils of the
ape…man； mingling one with the other； a jealous rage
leaped and burned within him； though his memory held
before the mirror of recollection no image of the she
to which he had attached his desire。
Like the tent he had investigated； the hut； too； was
empty； and after satisfying himself that his stolen
pouch was secreted nowhere within； he left； as he had
entered； by the hole in the rear wall。
Here he took up the spoor of the Belgian； followed it
across the clearing； over the palisade； and out into
the dark jungle beyond。
15
The Flight of Werper
After Werper had arranged the dummy in his bed； and
sneaked out into the darkness of the village beneath
the rear wall of his tent； he had gone directly to the
hut in which Jane Clayton was held captive。
Before the doorway squatted a black sentry。 Werper
approached him boldly； spoke a few words in his ear；
handed him a package of tobacco； and passed into the
hut。 The black grinned and winked as the European
disappeared within the darkness of the interior。
The Belgian； being one of Achmet Zek's principal
lieutenants； might naturally go where he wished within
or without the village； and so the sentry had not
questioned his right to enter the hut with the white；
woman prisoner。
Within； Werper called in French and in a low whisper：
〃Lady Greystoke！ It is I； M。 Frecoult。 Where are you？〃
But there was no response。 Hastily the man felt around
the interior； groping blindly through the darkness with
outstretched hands。 There was no one within！
Werper's astonishment surpassed words。 He was on the
point of stepping without to question the sentry； when
his eyes； becoming accustomed to the dark； discovered a
blotch of lesser blackness near the base of the rear
wall of the hut。 Examination revealed the fact that the
blotch was an opening cut in the wall。 It was large
enough to permit the passage of his body； and assured
as he was that Lady Greystoke had passed out through
the aperture in an attempt to escape the village； he
lost no time in availing himself of the same avenue；
but neither did he lose time in a fruitless search for
Jane Clayton。
His own life depended upon