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behind him came the huge Chulk； but Taglat did not
follow them。 Instead he turned and slunk through the
darkness toward the hut where the she who had arrested
his brutish interest lay securely bound。 Before the
doorway the sentries sat upon their haunches；
conversing in monotones。 Within； the young woman lay
upon a filthy sleeping mat； resigned； through utter
hopelessness to whatever fate lay in store for her
until the opportunity arrived which would permit her to
free herself by the only means which now seemed even
remotely possiblethe hitherto detested act of
self…destruction。
Creeping silently toward the sentries； a white…burnoosed
figure approached the shadows at one end of the hut。
The meager intellect of the creature denied
it the advantage it might have taken of its disguise。
Where it could have walked boldly to the very sides of
the sentries； it chose rather to sneak upon them；
unseen； from the rear。
It came to the corner of the hut and peered around。
The sentries were but a few paces away； but the ape did
not dare expose himself； even for an instant； to those
feared and hated thunder…sticks which the Tarmangani
knew so well how to use； if there were another and
safer method of attack。
Taglat wished that there was a tree nearby from the
over…hanging branches of which he might spring upon his
unsuspecting prey； but； though there was no tree； the
idea gave birth to a plan。 The eaves of the hut were
just above the heads of the sentriesfrom them he
could leap upon the Tarmangani； unseen。 A quick snap
of those mighty jaws would dispose of one of them
before the other realized that they were attacked；
and the second would fall an easy prey to the strength；
agility and ferocity of a second quick charge。
Taglat withdrew a few paces to the rear of the hut；
gathered himself for the effort； ran quickly forward
and leaped high into the air。 He struck the roof
directly above the rear wall of the hut； and the
structure； reinforced by the wall beneath； held his
enormous weight for an instant； then he moved forward a
step； the roof sagged； the thatching parted and the
great anthropoid shot through into the interior。
The sentries； hearing the crashing of the roof poles；
leaped to their feet and rushed into the hut。 Jane
Clayton tried to roll aside as the great form lit upon
the floor so close to her that one foot pinned her
clothing to the ground。
The ape； feeling the movement beside him； reached down
and gathered the girl in the hollow of one mighty arm。
The burnoose covered the hairy body so that Jane
Clayton believed that a human arm supported her； and
from the extremity of hopelessness a great hope sprang
into her breast that at last she was in the keeping of
a rescuer。
The two sentries were now within the hut； but
hesitating because of doubt as to the nature of the
cause of the disturbance。 Their eyes； not yet
accustomed to the darkness of the interior； told them
nothing； nor did they hear any sound； for the ape stood
silently awaiting their attack。
Seeing that they stood without advancing； and realizing
that； handicapped as he was by the weight of the she；
he could put up but a poor battle； Taglat elected to
risk a sudden break for liberty。 Lowering his head； he
charged straight for the two sentries who blocked the
doorway。 The impact of his mighty shoulders bowled
them over upon their backs； and before they could
scramble to their feet； the ape was gone； darting in
the shadows of the huts toward the palisade at the far
end of the village。
The speed and strength of her rescuer filled Jane
Clayton with wonder。 Could it be that Tarzan had
survived the bullet of the Arab？ Who else in all the
jungle could bear the weight of a grown woman as
lightly as he who held her？ She spoke his name； but
there was no response。 Still she did not give up hope。
At the palisade the beast did not even hesitate。
A single mighty leap carried it to the top； where it
poised but for an instant before dropping to the ground
upon the opposite side。 Now the girl was almost
positive that she was safe in the arms of her husband；
and when the ape took to the trees and bore her swiftly
into the jungle； as Tarzan had done at other times in
the past； belief became conviction。
In a little moonlit glade； a mile or so from the camp
of the raiders； her rescuer halted and dropped her to
the ground。 His roughness surprised her； but still she
had no doubts。 Again she called him by name； and at
the same instant the ape； fretting under the restraints
of the unaccustomed garments of the Tarmangani； tore
the burnoose from him； revealing to the eyes of the
horror…struck woman the hideous face and hairy form of
a giant anthropoid。
With a piteous wail of terror； Jane Clayton swooned；
while； from the concealment of a nearby bush； Numa；
the lion； eyed the pair hungrily and licked his chops。
Tarzan； entering the tent of Achmet Zek； searched the
interior thoroughly。 He tore the bed to pieces and
scattered the contents of box and bag about the floor。
He investigated whatever his eyes discovered； nor did
those keen organs overlook a single article within the
habitation of the raider chief； but no pouch or pretty
pebbles rewarded his thoroughness。
Satisfied at last that his belongings were not in the
possession of Achmet Zek； unless they were on the
person of the chief himself； Tarzan decided to secure
the person of the she before further prosecuting his
search for the pouch。
Motioning for Chulk to follow him； he passed out of the
tent by the same way that he had entered it； and
walking boldly through the village； made directly for
the hut where Jane Clayton had been imprisoned。
He noted with surprise the absence of Taglat； whom he
had expected to find awaiting him outside the tent of
Achmet Zek； but； accustomed as he was to the
unreliability of apes； he gave no serious attention to
the present defection of his surly companion。 So long
as Taglat did not cause interference with his plans；
Tarzan was indifferent to his absence。
As he approached the hut； the ape…man noticed that a
crowd had collected about the entrance。 He could see
that the men who composed it were much excited； and
fearing lest Chulk's disguise should prove inadequate
to the concealment of his true identity in the face of
so many observers； he commanded the ape to betake
himself to the far end of the village； and there await him。
As Chulk waddled off； keeping to the shadows； Tarzan
advanced boldly toward the excited group before the
doorway of the hut。 He mingled with the blacks and the
Arabs in an endeavor to learn the cause of the
commotion； in his interest forgetting that he alone of
the assemblage carried a spear； a bow and arrows； and
thus might become an object of suspicious attention。
Shouldering his way through the crowd he approached the
doorway； and had almost reached it when one of the
Arabs laid a hand upon his shoulder； crying： 〃Who is
this？〃 at the same time snatching back the hood from
the ape…man's face。
Tarzan of the Apes in all his savage life had never
been accustomed to pause in argument with an
antagonist。 The primitive instinct of self…preservation
acknowledges many arts and wiles； but
argument is not one of them； nor did he now waste
precious time in an attempt to convince the raiders
that he was not a wolf in sheep's clothing。 Instead he
had his unmasker by the throat ere the man's words had
scarce quitted his lips； and hurling him from side to
side brushed away those who would have swarmed upon him。
Using the Arab as a weapon； Tarzan forced his way
quickly to the doorway； and a moment later was within
the hut。 A hasty examination revealed the fact that it
was empty； and his sense of smell discovered； too； the
scent spoor of Taglat； the a