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illusion。 The mighty head swung slowly around until
the yellow eyes rested upon the man。 The bristled lip
curved upward； exposing yellow fangs。 Another warning
growl vibrated the heavy jowls； and the king of beasts
turned majestically about and paced slowly up the trail
into the dense reeds。
Tarzan of the Apes drank on； but from the corners of
his gray eyes he watched the great brute's every move
until he had disappeared from view； and； after； his
keen ears marked the movements of the carnivore。
A plunge in the river was followed by a scant breakfast
of eggs which chance discovered to him； and then he set
off up river toward the ruins of the bungalow where the
golden ingots had marked the center of yesterday's
battle。
And when he came upon the spot； great was his surprise
and consternation； for the yellow metal had
disappeared。 The earth； trampled by the feet of horses
and men； gave no clew。 It was as though the ingots had
evaporated into thin air。
The ape…man was at a loss to know where to turn or what
next to do。 There was no sign of any spoor which might
denote that the she had been here。 The metal was gone；
and if there was any connection between the she and the
metal it seemed useless to wait for her now that the
latter had been removed elsewhere。
Everything seemed to elude himthe pretty pebbles； the
yellow metal； the she； his memory。 Tarzan was
disgusted。 He would go back into the jungle and look
for Chulk； and so he turned his steps once more toward
the forest。 He moved rapidly； swinging across the
plain in a long； easy trot； and at the edge of the
forest； taking to the trees with the agility and speed
of a small monkey。
His direction was aimlesshe merely raced on and on
through the jungle； the joy of unfettered action his
principal urge； with the hope of stumbling upon some
clew to Chulk or the she； a secondary incentive。
For two days he roamed about； killing； eating； drinking
and sleeping wherever inclination and the means to
indulge it occurred simultaneously。 It was upon the
morning of the third day that the scent spoor of horse
and man were wafted faintly to his nostrils。 Instantly
he altered his course to glide silently through the
branches in the direction from which the scent came。
It was not long before he came upon a solitary horseman
riding toward the east。 Instantly his eyes confirmed
what his nose had previously suspectedthe rider was
he who had stolen his pretty pebbles。 The light of
rage flared suddenly in the gray eyes as the ape…man
dropped lower among the branches until he moved almost
directly above the unconscious Werper。
There was a quick leap； and the Belgian felt a heavy
body hurtle onto the rump of his terror…stricken mount。
The horse； snorting； leaped forward。 Giant arms
encircled the rider； and in the twinkling of an eye he
was dragged from his saddle to find himself lying in
the narrow trail with a naked； white giant kneeling
upon his breast。
Recognition came to Werper with the first glance at his
captor's face； and a pallor of fear overspread his
features。 Strong fingers were at his throat； fingers
of steel。 He tried to cry out； to plead for his life；
but the cruel fingers denied him speech； as they were
as surely denying him life。
〃The pretty pebbles？〃 cried the man upon his breast。
〃What did you with the pretty pebbleswith Tarzan's
pretty pebbles？〃
The fingers relaxed to permit a reply。 For some time
Werper could only choke and coughat last he regained
the powers of speech。
〃Achmet Zek； the Arab； stole them from me；〃 he cried；
〃he made me give up the pouch and the pebbles。〃
〃I saw all that；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃but the pebbles in
the pouch were not the pebbles of Tarzanthey were
only such pebbles as fill the bottoms of the rivers；
and the shelving banks beside them。 Even the Arab
would not have them； for he threw them away in anger
when he had looked upon them。 It is my pretty pebbles
that I wantwhere are they？〃
〃I do not know； I do not know；〃 cried Werper。 〃I gave
them to Achmet Zek or he would have killed me。 A few
minutes later he followed me along the trail to slay
me； although he had promised to molest me no further；
and I shot and killed him； but the pouch was not upon
his person and though I searched about the jungle for
some time I could not find it。〃
〃I found it； I tell you；〃 growled Tarzan； 〃and I also
found the pebbles which Achmet Zek had thrown away in
disgust。 They were not Tarzan's pebbles。 You have
hidden them！ Tell me where they are or I will kill
you；〃 and the brown fingers of the ape…man closed a
little tighter upon the throat of his victim。
Werper struggled to free himself。 〃My God； Lord
Greystoke；〃 he managed to scream； 〃would you commit
murder for a handful of stones？〃
The fingers at his throat relaxed； a puzzled； far…away
expression softened the gray eyes。
〃Lord Greystoke！〃 repeated the ape…man。 〃Lord
Greystoke！ Who is Lord Greystoke？ Where have I heard
that name before？〃
〃Why man； you are Lord Greystoke；〃 cried the Belgian。
〃You were injured by a falling rock when the earthquake
shattered the passage to the underground chamber to
which you and your black Waziri had come to fetch
golden ingots back to your bungalow。 The blow
shattered your memory。 You are John Clayton； Lord
Greystokedon't you remember？〃
〃John Clayton； Lord Greystoke！〃 repeated Tarzan。 Then
for a moment he was silent。 Presently his hand went
falteringly to his forehead； an expression of
wonderment filled his eyesof wonderment and sudden
understanding。 The forgotten name had reawakened the
returning memory that had been struggling to reassert
itself。 The ape…man relinquished his grasp upon the
throat of the Belgian； and leaped to his feet。
〃God！〃 he cried； and then； 〃Jane！〃 Suddenly he turned
toward Werper。 〃My wife？〃 he asked。 〃What has become
of her？ The farm is in ruins。 You know。 You have had
something to do with all this。 You followed me to
Opar； you stole the jewels which I thought but pretty
pebbles。 You are a crook！ Do not try to tell me that
you are not。〃
〃He is worse than a crook；〃 said a quiet voice close
behind them。
Tarzan turned in astonishment to see a tall man in
uniform standing in the trail a few paces from him。
Back of the man were a number of black soldiers in the
uniform of the Congo Free State。
〃He is a murderer； Monsieur；〃 continued the officer。
〃I have followed him for a long time to take him back
to stand trial for the killing of his superior
officer。〃
Werper was upon his feet now； gazing； white and
trembling； at the fate which had overtaken him even in
the fastness of the labyrinthine jungle。 Instinctively
he turned to flee； but Tarzan of the Apes reached out a
strong hand and grasped him by the shoulder。
〃Wait！〃 said the ape…man to his captive。 〃This
gentleman wishes you； and so do I。 When I am through
with you； he may have you。 Tell me what has become of
my wife。〃
The Belgian officer eyed the almost naked； white giant
with curiosity。 He noted the strange contrast of
primitive weapons and apparel； and the easy； fluent
French which the man spoke。 The former denoted the
lowest； the latter the highest type of culture。 He
could not quite determine the social status of this
strange creature； but he knew that he did not relish
the easy assurance with which the fellow presumed to
dictate when he might take possession of the prisoner。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； stepping forward and placing his
hand on Werper's other shoulder； 〃but this gentleman is
my prisoner。 He must come with me。〃
〃When I am through with him；〃 replied Tarzan； quietly。
The officer turned and beckoned to the soldiers
standing in the trail behind him。 A company of
uniformed blacks stepped quickly f