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all three mounts。 The woman； struggling to escape the
Arab； turned and saw the ape…man running toward her。
A glad light of hope illuminated her face。
〃John！〃 she cried。 〃Thank God that you have come in time。〃
Behind Tarzan came the great apes； wondering； but
obedient to his summons。 The Arabs saw that they would
not have time to mount and make their escape before the
beasts and the man were upon them。 Achmet Zek
recognized the latter as the redoubtable enemy of such
as he； and he saw； too； in the circumstance an
opportunity to rid himself forever of the menace of the
ape…man's presence。
Calling to his men to follow his example he raised his
rifle and leveled it upon the charging giant。 His
followers； acting with no less alacrity than himself；
fired almost simultaneously； and with the reports of
the rifles； Tarzan of the Apes and two of his hairy
henchmen pitched forward among the jungle grasses。
The noise of the rifle shots brought the balance of the
apes to a wondering pause； and； taking advantage of
their momentary distraction； Achmet Zek and his fellows
leaped to their horses' backs and galloped away with
the now hopeless and grief…stricken woman。
Back to the village they rode； and once again Lady
Greystoke found herself incarcerated in the filthy；
little hut from which she had thought to have escaped
for good。 But this time she was not only guarded by an
additional sentry； but bound as well。
Singly and in twos the searchers who had ridden out
with Achmet Zek upon the trail of the Belgian； returned
empty handed。 With the report of each the raider's
rage and chagrin increased； until he was in such a
transport of ferocious anger that none dared approach
him。 Threatening and cursing； Achmet Zek paced up and
down the floor of his silken tent； but his temper
served him naughtWerper was gone and with him the
fortune in scintillating gems which had aroused the
cupidity of his chief and placed the sentence of death
upon the head of the lieutenant。
With the escape of the Arabs the great apes had turned
their attention to their fallen comrades。 One was
dead； but another and the great white ape still
breathed。 The hairy monsters gathered about these two；
grumbling and muttering after the fashion of their kind。
Tarzan was the first to regain consciousness。 Sitting
up； he looked about him。 Blood was flowing from a
wound in his shoulder。 The shock had thrown him down
and dazed him； but he was far from dead。 Rising slowly
to his feet he let his eyes wander toward the spot
where last he had seen the she； who had aroused within
his savage breast such strange emotions。
〃Where is she？〃 he asked。
〃The Tarmangani took her away；〃 replied one of the apes。
〃Who are you who speak the language of the Mangani？〃
〃I am Tarzan；〃 replied the ape…man； 〃mighty hunter；
greatest of fighters。 When I roar； the jungle is
silent and trembles with terror。 I am Tarzan of the
Apes。 I have been away； but now I have come back to my
people。〃
〃Yes；〃 spoke up an old ape； 〃he is Tarzan。 I know him。
It is well that he has come back。 Now we shall have
good hunting。〃
The other apes came closer and sniffed at the ape…man。
Tarzan stood very still； his fangs half bared； and his
muscles tense and ready for action； but there was none
there to question his right to be with them； and
presently； the inspection satisfactorily concluded； the
apes again returned their attention to the other survivor。
He too was but slightly wounded； a bullet； grazing his
skull； having stunned him； so that when he regained
consciousness he was apparently as fit as ever。
The apes told Tarzan that they had been traveling
toward the east when the scent spoor of the she had
attracted them and they had stalked her。 Now they
wished to continue upon their interrupted march； but
Tarzan preferred to follow the Arabs and take the woman
from them。 After a considerable argument it was
decided that they should first hunt toward the east for
a few days and then return and search for the Arabs；
and as time is of little moment to the ape folk； Tarzan
acceded to their demands； he； himself； having reverted
to a mental state but little superior to their own。
Another circumstance which decided him to postpone
pursuit of the Arabs was the painfulness of his wound。
It would be better to wait until that had healed before
he pitted himself again against the guns of the
Tarmangani。
And so； as Jane Clayton was pushed into her prison hut
and her hands and feet securely bound； her natural
protector roamed off toward the east in company with a
score of hairy monsters； with whom he rubbed shoulders
as familiarly as a few months before he had mingled
with his immaculate fellow…members of one of London's
most select and exclusive clubs。
But all the time there lurked in the back of his
injured brain a troublesome conviction that he had no
business where he wasthat he should be； for some
unaccountable reason； elsewhere and among another sort
of creature。 Also； there was the compelling urge to be
upon the scent of the Arabs； undertaking the rescue of
the woman who had appealed so strongly to his savage
sentiments； though the thought…word which naturally
occurred to him in the contemplation of the venture；
was 〃capture；〃 rather than 〃rescue。〃
To him she was as any other jungle she； and he had set
his heart upon her as his mate。 For an instant； as he
had approached closer to her in the clearing where the
Arabs had seized her； the subtle aroma which had first
aroused his desires in the hut that had imprisoned her
had fallen upon his nostrils； and told him that he had
found the creature for whom he had developed so sudden
and inexplicable a passion。
The matter of the pouch of jewels also occupied his
thoughts to some extent； so that he found a double urge
for his return to the camp of the raiders。 He would
obtain possession of both his pretty pebbles and the
she。 Then he would return to the great apes with his
new mate and his baubles； and leading his hairy
companions into a far wilderness beyond the ken of man；
live out his life； hunting and battling among the lower
orders after the only manner which he now recollected。
He spoke to his fellow…apes upon the matter； in an
attempt to persuade them to accompany him； but all
except Taglat and Chulk refused。 The latter was young
and strong； endowed with a greater intelligence than
his fellows； and therefore the possessor of better
developed powers of imagination。 To him the expedition
savored of adventure； and so appealed； strongly。 With
Taglat there was another incentivea secret and
sinister incentive； which； had Tarzan of the Apes had
knowledge of it； would have sent him at the other's
throat in jealous rage。
Taglat was no longer young； but he was still a
formidable beast； mightily muscled； cruel； and；
because of his greater experience； crafty and cunning。
Too； he was of giant proportions； the very weight of his
huge bulk serving ofttimes to discount in his favor the
superior agility of a younger antagonist。
He was of a morose and sullen disposition that marked
him even among his frowning fellows； where such
characteristics are the rule rather than the exception；
and； though Tarzan did not guess it； he hated the ape…man
with a ferocity that he was able to hide only
because the dominant spirit of the nobler creature had
inspired within him a species of dread which was as
powerful as it was inexplicable to him。
These two； then； were to be Tarzan's companions upon
his return to the village of Achmet Zek。 As they set
off； the balance of the tribe vouchsafed them but a
parting stare； and then resumed the serious business of
feeding。
Tarzan found difficulty in keeping the minds of his
fellows set upon the purpose of their adventure；