第1章

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

1TheAffairontheLiner2ForgingBondsofHateand————？

3WhatHappenedintheRueMaule4TheCountessExplains5ThePlotThatFailed6ADuel7TheDancingGirlofSidiAissa8TheFightintheDesert9Numa\"ElAdrea\"

10ThroughtheValleyoftheShadow11JohnCaldwell，London12ShipsThatPass13TheWreckofthe\"LadyAlice\"

14BacktothePrimitive15FromApetoSavage16TheIvoryRaiders17TheWhiteChiefoftheWaziri18TheLotteryofDeath19TheCityofGold20La21TheCastaways22TheTreasureVaultsofOpar23TheFiftyFrightfulMen24HowTarzanCameAgaintoOpar25ThroughtheForestPrimeval26ThePassingoftheApe—ManChapterI

TheAffairontheLiner\"Magnifique！\"ejaculatedtheCountessdeCoude，beneathherbreath。

\"Eh？\"questionedthecount，turningtowardhisyoungwife。

\"Whatisitthatismagnificent？\"andthecountbenthiseyesinvariousdirectionsinquestoftheobjectofheradmiration。

\"Oh，nothingatall，mydear，\"repliedthecountess，aslightflushmomentarilycoloringheralreadypinkcheek。\"Iwasbutrecallingwithadmirationthosestupendousskyscrapers，astheycallthem，ofNewYork，\"andthefaircountesssettledherselfmorecomfortablyinhersteamerchair，andresumedthemagazinewhich\"nothingatall\"hadcausedhertoletfalluponherlap。

Herhusbandagainburiedhimselfinhisbook，butnotwithoutamildwondermentthatthreedaysoutfromNewYorkhiscountessshouldsuddenlyhaverealizedanadmirationfortheverybuildingsshehadbutrecentlycharacterizedashorrid。

Presentlythecountputdownhisbook。\"Itisverytiresome，Olga，\"hesaid。\"IthinkthatIshallhuntupsomeotherswhomaybeequallybored，andseeifwecannotfindenoughforagameofcards。\"

\"Youarenotverygallant，myhusband，\"repliedtheyoungwoman，smiling，\"butasIamequallyboredIcanforgiveyou。

Goandplayatyourtiresomeoldcards，then，ifyouwill。\"

Whenhehadgoneshelethereyeswanderslylytothefigureofatallyoungmanstretchedlazilyinachairnotfardistant。

\"MAGNIFIQUE！\"shebreathedoncemore。

TheCountessOlgadeCoudewastwenty。Herhusbandforty。

Shewasaveryfaithfulandloyalwife，butasshehadhadnothingwhatevertodowiththeselectionofahusband，itisnotatallunlikelythatshewasnotwildlyandpassionatelyinlovewiththeonethatfateandhertitledRussianfatherhadselectedforher。However，simplybecauseshewassurprisedintoatinyexclamationofapprovalatsightofasplendidyoungstrangeritmustnotbeinferredtherefromthatherthoughtswereinanywaydisloyaltoherspouse。

Shemerelyadmired，asshemighthaveadmiredaparticularlyfinespecimenofanyspecies。Furthermore，theyoungmanwasunquestionablygoodtolookat。

Asherfurtiveglanceresteduponhisprofileherosetoleavethedeck。TheCountessdeCoudebeckonedtoapassingsteward。

\"Whoisthatgentleman？\"sheasked。

\"Heisbooked，madam，asMonsieurTarzan，ofAfrica，\"

repliedthesteward。

\"Ratheralargeestate，\"thoughtthegirl，butnowherinterestwasstillfurtheraroused。

AsTarzanwalkedslowlytowardthesmoking—roomhecameunexpectedlyupontwomenwhisperingexcitedlyjustwithout。Hewouldhavevouchsafedthemnotevenapassingthoughtbutforthestrangelyguiltyglancethatoneofthemshotinhisdirection。TheyremindedTarzanofmelodramaticvillainshehadseenatthetheatersinParis。Bothwereverydark，andthis，inconnectionwiththeshrugsandstealthyglancesthataccompaniedtheirpalpableintriguing，lentstillgreaterforcetothesimilarity。

Tarzanenteredthesmoking—room，andsoughtachairalittleapartfromtheotherswhowerethere。Hefeltinnomoodforconversation，andashesippedhisabsinthhelethismindrunrathersorrowfullyoverthepastfewweeksofhislife。Timeandagainhehadwonderedifhehadactedwiselyinrenouncinghisbirthrighttoamantowhomheowednothing。ItistruethathelikedClayton，but——ah，butthatwasnotthequestion。ItwasnotforWilliamCecilClayton，LordGreystoke，thathehaddeniedhisbirth。ItwasforthewomanwhombothheandClaytonhadloved，andwhomastrangefreakoffatehadgiventoClaytoninsteadoftohim。

Thatshelovedhimmadethethingdoublydifficulttobear，yetheknewthathecouldhavedonenothinglessthanhediddothatnightwithinthelittlerailwaystationinthefarWisconsinwoods。Tohimherhappinesswasthefirstconsiderationofall，andhisbriefexperiencewithcivilizationandcivilizedmenhadtaughthimthatwithoutmoneyandpositionlifetomostofthemwasunendurable。

JanePorterhadbeenborntoboth，andhadTarzantakenthemawayfromherfuturehusbanditwoulddoubtlesshaveplungedherintoalifeofmiseryandtorture。ThatshewouldhavespurnedClaytononcehehadbeenstrippedofbothhistitleandhisestatesneverforonceoccurredtoTarzan，forhecreditedtoothersthesamehonestloyaltythatwassoinherentaqualityinhimself。Nor，inthisinstance，hadheerred。

CouldanyonethinghavefurtherboundJanePortertoherpromisetoClaytonitwouldhavebeeninthenatureofsomesuchmisfortuneasthisovertakinghim。

Tarzan’sthoughtsdriftedfromthepasttothefuture。

Hetriedtolookforwardwithpleasurablesensationstohisreturntothejungleofhisbirthandboyhood;thecruel，fiercejungleinwhichhehadspenttwentyofhistwenty—twoyears。

Butwhoorwhatofallthemyriadjunglelifewouldtherebetowelcomehisreturn？Notone。OnlyTantor，theelephant，couldhecallfriend。Theotherswouldhunthimorfleefromhimashadbeentheirwayinthepast。

Noteventheapesofhisowntribewouldextendthehandoffellowshiptohim。

IfcivilizationhaddonenothingelseforTarzanoftheApes，ithadtosomeextenttaughthimtocravethesocietyofhisownkind，andtofeelwithgenuinepleasurethecongenialwarmthofcompanionship。Andinthesameratiohaditmadeanyotherlifedistastefultohim。Itwasdifficulttoimagineaworldwithoutafriend——withoutalivingthingwhospokethenewtongueswhichTarzanhadlearnedtolovesowell。AndsoitwasthatTarzanlookedwithlittlerelishuponthefuturehehadmappedoutforhimself。

Ashesatmusingoverhiscigarettehiseyesfelluponamirrorbeforehim，andinithesawreflectedatableatwhichfourmensatatcards。Presentlyoneofthemrosetoleave，andthenanotherapproached，andTarzancouldseethathecourteouslyofferedtofillthevacantchair，thatthegamemightnotbeinterrupted。HewasthesmallerofthetwowhomTarzanhadseenwhisperingjustoutsidethesmoking—room。

ItwasthisfactthatarousedafaintsparkofinterestinTarzan，andsoashespeculateduponthefuturehewatchedinthemirrorthereflectionoftheplayersatthetablebehindhim。AsidefromthemanwhohadbutjustenteredthegameTarzanknewthenameofbutoneoftheotherplayers。

Itwashewhosatoppositethenewplayer，CountRaouldeCoude，whomatover—attentivestewardhadpointedoutasoneofthecelebritiesofthepassage，describinghimasamanhighintheofficialfamilyoftheFrenchministerofwar。

SuddenlyTarzan’sattentionwasriveteduponthepictureintheglass。Theotherswarthyplotterhadentered，andwasstandingbehindthecount’schair。Tarzansawhimturnandglancefurtivelyabouttheroom，buthiseyesdidnotrestforasufficienttimeuponthemirrortonotethereflectionofTarzan’swatchfuleyes。Stealthilythemanwithdrewsomethingfromhispocket。Tarzancouldnotdiscernwhattheobjectwas，fortheman’shandcoveredit。

Slowlythehandapproachedthecount，andthen，verydeftly，thethingthatwasinitwastransferredtothecount’spocket。

ThemanremainedstandingwherehecouldwatchtheFrenchman’scards。Tarzanwaspuzzled，buthewasallattentionnow，nordidhepermitanotherdetailoftheincidenttoescapehim。

Theplaywentonforsometenminutesafterthis，untilthecountwonaconsiderablewagerfromhimwhohadlastjoinedthegame，andthenTarzansawthefellowbackofthecount’schairnodhisheadtohisconfederate。

Instantlytheplayeraroseandpointedafingeratthecount。

\"HadIknownthatmonsieurwasaprofessionalcardsharpIhadnotbeensoreadytobedrawnintothegame，\"hesaid。

Instantlythecountandthetwootherplayerswereupontheirfeet。

DeCoude’sfacewentwhite。

\"Whatdoyoumean，sir？\"hecried。\"Doyouknowtowhomyouspeak？\"

\"IknowthatIspeak，forthelasttime，toonewhocheatsatcards，\"repliedthefellow。

Thecountleanedacrossthetable，andstruckthemanfullinthemouthwithhisopenpalm，andthentheothersclosedinbetweenthem。

\"Thereissomemistake，sir，\"criedoneoftheotherplayers。

\"Why，thisisCountdeCoude，ofFrance。\"

\"IfIammistaken，\"saidtheaccuser，\"Ishallgladlyapologize;

butbeforeIdosofirstletmonsieurlecountexplaintheextracardswhichIsawhimdropintohissidepocket。\"

AndthenthemanwhomTarzanhadseendropthemthereturnedtosneakfromtheroom，buttohisannoyancehefoundtheexitbarredbyatall，gray—eyedstranger。

\"Pardon，\"saidthemanbrusquely，attemptingtopasstooneside。

\"Wait，\"saidTarzan。

\"Butwhy，monsieur？\"exclaimedtheotherpetulantly。

\"Permitmetopass，monsieur。\"

\"Wait，\"saidTarzan。\"Ithinkthatthereisamatterinherethatyoumaydoubtlessbeabletoexplain。\"

Thefellowhadlosthistemperbythistime，andwithalowoathseizedTarzantopushhimtooneside。Theape—manbutsmiledashetwistedthebigfellowaboutand，graspinghimbythecollarofhiscoat，escortedhimbacktothetable，struggling，cursing，andstrikinginfutileremonstrance。

ItwasNikolasRokoff’sfirstexperiencewiththemusclesthathadbroughttheirsavageownervictoriousthroughencounterswithNuma，thelion，andTerkoz，thegreatbullape。

ThemanwhohadaccusedDeCoude，andthetwootherswhohadbeenplaying，stoodlookingexpectantlyatthecount。

Severalotherpassengershaddrawntowardthesceneofthealtercation，andallawaitedthedenouement。

\"Thefellowiscrazy，\"saidthecount。\"Gentlemen，Iimplorethatoneofyousearchme。\"

\"Theaccusationisridiculous。\"Thisfromoneoftheplayers。

\"Youhavebuttoslipyourhandinthecount’scoatpocketandyouwillseethattheaccusationisquiteserious，\"insistedtheaccuser。Andthen，astheothersstillhesitatedtodoso:

\"Come，Ishalldoitmyselfifnootherwill，\"andhesteppedforwardtowardthecount。

\"No，monsieur，\"saidDeCoude。\"Iwillsubmittoasearchonlyatthehandsofagentleman。\"

\"Itisunnecessarytosearchthecount。Thecardsareinhispocket。Imyselfsawthemplacedthere。\"

Allturnedinsurprisetowardthisnewspeaker，tobeholdaverywell—builtyoungmanurgingaresistingcaptivetowardthembythescruffofhisneck。

\"Itisaconspiracy，\"criedDeCoudeangrily。\"Therearenocardsinmycoat，\"andwiththatheranhishandintohispocket。Ashedidsotensesilencereignedinthelittlegroup。

Thecountwentdeadwhite，andthenveryslowlyhewithdrewhishand，andinitwerethreecards。

Helookedattheminmuteandhorrifiedsurprise，andslowlytheredofmortificationsuffusedhisface。Expressionsofpityandcontempttingedthefeaturesofthosewholookedonatthedeathofaman’shonor。

\"Itisaconspiracy，monsieur。\"Itwasthegray—eyedstrangerwhospoke。\"Gentlemen，\"hecontinued，\"monsieurlecountdidnotknowthatthosecardswereinhispocket。Theywereplacedtherewithouthisknowledgeashesatatplay。

FromwhereIsatinthatchairyonderIsawthereflectionofitallinthemirrorbeforeme。ThispersonwhomIjustinterceptedinanefforttoescapeplacedthecardsinthecount’spocket。\"

DeCoudehadglancedfromTarzantothemaninhisgrasp。

\"MONDIEU，Nikolas！\"hecried。\"You？\"

Thenheturnedtohisaccuser，andeyedhimintentlyforamoment。

\"Andyou，monsieur，Ididnotrecognizeyouwithoutyourbeard。Itquitedisguisesyou，Paulvitch。Iseeitallnow。

Itisquiteclear，gentlemen。\"

\"Whatshallwedowiththem，monsieur？\"askedTarzan。

\"Turnthemovertothecaptain？\"

\"No，myfriend，\"saidthecounthastily。\"Itisapersonalmatter，andIbegthatyouwillletitdrop。ItissufficientthatIhavebeenexoneratedfromthecharge。Thelesswehavetodowithsuchfellows，thebetter。But，monsieur，howcanIthankyouforthegreatkindnessyouhavedoneme？

Permitmetoofferyoumycard，andshouldthetimecomewhenImayserveyou，rememberthatIamyourstocommand。\"

TarzanhadreleasedRokoff，who，withhisconfederate，Paulvitch，hadhastenedfromthesmoking—room。Justashewasleaving，RokoffturnedtoTarzan。\"Monsieurwillhaveampleopportunitytoregrethisinterferenceintheaffairsofothers。\"

Tarzansmiled，andthen，bowingtothecount，handedhimhisowncard。

Thecountread:

M。JEANC。TARZAN

\"MonsieurTarzan，\"hesaid，\"mayindeedwishthathehadneverbefriendedme，forIcanassurehimthathehaswontheenmityoftwoofthemostunmitigatedscoundrelsinallEurope。Avoidthem，monsieur，byallmeans。\"

\"Ihavehadmoreawe—inspiringenemies，mydearcount，\"repliedTarzanwithaquietsmile，\"yetIamstillaliveandunworried。

Ithinkthatneitherofthesetwowilleverfindthemeanstoharmme。\"

\"Letushopenot，monsieur，\"saidDeCoude;\"butyetitwilldonoharmtobeonthealert，andtoknowthatyouhavemadeatleastoneenemytodaywhoneverforgetsandneverforgives，andinwhosemalignantbraintherearealwayshatchingnewatrocitiestoperpetrateuponthosewhohavethwartedoroffendedhim。TosaythatNikolasRokoffisadevilwouldbetoplaceawantonaffrontuponhissatanicmajesty。\"

ThatnightasTarzanenteredhiscabinhefoundafoldednoteuponthefloorthathadevidentlybeenpushedbeneaththedoor。Heopeneditandread:

M。TARZAN:

Doubtlessyoudidnotrealizethegravityofyouroffense，oryouwouldnothavedonethethingyoudidtoday。

Iamwillingtobelievethatyouactedinignoranceandwithoutanyintentiontooffendastranger。ForthisreasonIshallgladlypermityoutoofferanapology，andonreceivingyourassurancesthatyouwillnotagaininterfereinaffairsthatdonotconcernyou，Ishalldropthematter。

Otherwise——butIamsurethatyouwillseethewisdomofadoptingthecourseIsuggest。

Veryrespectfully，NIKOLASROKOFF。

Tarzanpermittedagrimsmiletoplayabouthislipsforamoment，thenhepromptlydroppedthematterfromhismind，andwenttobed。

InanearbycabintheCountessdeCoudewasspeakingtoherhusband。

\"Whysograve，mydearRaoul？\"sheasked。\"Youhavebeenasglumascouldbeallevening。Whatworriesyou？\"

\"Olga，Nikolasisonboard。Didyouknowit？\"

\"Nikolas！\"sheexclaimed。\"Butitisimpossible，Raoul。

Itcannotbe。NikolasisunderarrestinGermany。\"

\"SoIthoughtmyselfuntilIsawhimtoday——himandthatotherarchscoundrel，Paulvitch。Olga，Icannotendurehispersecutionmuchlonger。No，notevenforyou。SoonerorlaterIshallturnhimovertotheauthorities。Infact，Iamhalfmindedtoexplainalltothecaptainbeforeweland。OnaFrenchlineritwereaneasymatter，Olga，permanentlytosettlethisNemesisofours。\"

\"Oh，no，Raoul！\"criedthecountess，sinkingtoherkneesbeforehimashesatwithbowedheaduponadivan。\"Donotdothat。Rememberyourpromisetome。Tellme，Raoul，thatyouwillnotdothat。Donoteventhreatenhim，Raoul。\"

DeCoudetookhiswife’shandsinhis，andgazeduponherpaleandtroubledcountenanceforsometimebeforehespoke，asthoughhewouldwrestfromthosebeautifuleyestherealreasonwhichpromptedhertoshieldthisman。

\"Letitbeasyouwish，Olga，\"hesaidatlength。\"Icannotunderstand。Hehasforfeitedallclaimuponyourlove，loyalty，orrespect。Heisamenacetoyourlifeandhonor，andthelifeandhonorofyourhusband。Itrustyoumayneverregretchampioninghim。\"

\"Idonotchampionhim，Raoul，\"sheinterruptedvehemently。

\"IbelievethatIhatehimasmuchasyoudo，but——Oh，Raoul，bloodisthickerthanwater。\"

\"Ishouldtodayhavelikedtosampletheconsistencyofhis，\"growledDeCoudegrimly。\"Thetwodeliberatelyattemptedtobesmirchmyhonor，Olga，\"andthenhetoldherofallthathadhappenedinthesmoking—room。\"Haditnotbeenforthisutterstranger，theyhadsucceeded，forwhowouldhaveacceptedmyunsupportedwordagainstthedamningevidenceofthosecardshiddenonmyperson？IhadalmostbeguntodoubtmyselfwhenthisMonsieurTarzandraggedyourpreciousNikolasbeforeus，andexplainedthewholecowardlytransaction。\"

\"MonsieurTarzan？\"askedthecountess，inevidentsurprise。

\"Yes。Doyouknowhim，Olga？\"

\"Ihaveseenhim。Astewardpointedhimouttome。\"

\"Ididnotknowthathewasacelebrity，\"saidthecount。

OlgadeCoudechangedthesubject。ShediscoveredsuddenlythatshemightfinditdifficulttoexplainjustwhythestewardhadpointedoutthehandsomeMonsieurTarzantoher。Perhapssheflushedtheleastlittlebit，forwasnotthecount，herhusband，gazingatherwithastrangelyquizzicalexpression。\"Ah，\"shethought，\"aguiltyconscienceisamostsuspiciousthing。\"

Chapter2

ForgingBondsofHateand————？

ItwasnotuntillatethefollowingafternoonthatTarzansawanythingmoreofthefellowpassengersintothemidstofwhoseaffairshisloveoffairplayhadthrusthim。

AndthenhecamemostunexpectedlyuponRokoffandPaulvitchatamomentwhenofallothersthetwomightleastappreciatehiscompany。

Theywerestandingondeckatapointwhichwastemporarilydeserted，andasTarzancameuponthemtheywereinheatedargumentwithawoman。Tarzannotedthatshewasrichlyappareled，andthatherslender，well—modeledfiguredenotedyouth;butasshewasheavilyveiledhecouldnotdiscernherfeatures。

Themenwerestandingoneithersideofher，andthebacksofallweretowardTarzan，sothathewasquiteclosetothemwithouttheirbeingawareofhispresence。

HenoticedthatRokoffseemedtobethreatening，thewomanpleading;buttheyspokeinastrangetongue，andhecouldonlyguessfromappearancesthatthegirlwasafraid。

Rokoff’sattitudewassodistinctlyfilledwiththethreatofphysicalviolencethattheape—manpausedforaninstantjustbehindthetrio，instinctivelysensinganatmosphereofdanger。

Scarcelyhadhehesitatederethemanseizedthewomanroughlybythewrist，twistingitasthoughtowringapromisefromherthroughtorture。WhatwouldhavehappenednexthadRokoffhadhiswaywemayonlyconjecture，sincehedidnothavehiswayatall。Instead，steelfingersgrippedhisshoulder，andhewasswungunceremoniouslyaround，tomeetthecoldgrayeyesofthestrangerwhohadthwartedhimonthepreviousday。

\"SAPRISTI！\"screamedtheinfuriatedRokoff。\"Whatdoyoumean？AreyouafoolthatyouthusagaininsultNikolasRokoff？\"

\"Thisismyanswertoyournote，monsieur，\"saidTarzan，inalowvoice。AndthenhehurledthefellowfromhimwithsuchforcethatRokofflungedsprawlingagainsttherail。

\"Nameofaname！\"shriekedRokoff。\"Pig，butyoushalldieforthis，\"and，springingtohisfeet，herusheduponTarzan，tuggingthemeanwhiletodrawarevolverfromhishippocket。Thegirlshrankbackinterror。

\"Nikolas！\"shecried。\"Donot——oh，donotdothat。Quick，monsieur，fly，orhewillsurelykillyou！\"ButinsteadofflyingTarzanadvancedtomeetthefellow。\"Donotmakeafoolofyourself，monsieur，\"hesaid。

Rokoff，whowasinaperfectfrenzyofrageatthehumiliationthestrangerhadputuponhim，hadatlastsucceededindrawingtherevolver。Hehadstopped，andnowhedeliberatelyraisedittoTarzan’sbreastandpulledthetrigger。Thehammerfellwithafutileclickonanemptychamber——theape—man’shandshotoutliketheheadofanangrypython;therewasaquickwrench，andtherevolversailedfaroutacrosstheship’srail，anddroppedintotheAtlantic。

Foramomentthetwomenstoodtherefacingoneanother。Rokoffhadregainedhisself—possession。Hewasthefirsttospeak。

\"Twicenowhasmonsieurseenfittointerfereinmatterswhichdonotconcernhim。TwicehehastakenituponhimselftohumiliateNikolasRokoff。Thefirstoffensewasoverlookedontheassumptionthatmonsieuractedthroughignorance，butthisaffairshallnotbeoverlooked。IfmonsieurdoesnotknowwhoNikolasRokoffis，thislastpieceofeffronterywillinsurethatmonsieurlaterhasgoodreasontorememberhim。\"

\"Thatyouareacowardandascoundrel，monsieur，\"repliedTarzan，\"isallthatIcaretoknowofyou，\"andheturnedtoaskthegirlifthemanhadhurther，butshehaddisappeared。Then，withoutevenaglancetowardRokoffandhiscompanion，hecontinuedhisstrollalongthedeck。

Tarzancouldnotbutwonderwhatmannerofconspiracywasonfoot，orwhattheschemeofthetwomenmightbe。

Therehadbeensomethingratherfamiliarabouttheappearanceoftheveiledwomantowhoserescuehehadjustcome，butashehadnotseenherfacehecouldnotbesurethathehadeverseenherbefore。TheonlythingaboutherthathehadparticularlynoticedwasaringofpeculiarworkmanshipuponafingerofthehandthatRokoffhadseized，andhedeterminedtonotethefingersofthewomenpassengershecameuponthereafter，thathemightdiscovertheidentityofherwhomRokoffwaspersecuting，andlearnifthefellowhadofferedherfurtherannoyance。

Tarzanhadsoughthisdeckchair，wherehesatspeculatingonthenumerousinstancesofhumancruelty，selfishness，andspitethathadfallentohislottowitnesssincethatdayinthejunglefouryearssincethathiseyeshadfirstfallenuponahumanbeingotherthanhimself——thesleek，blackKulonga，whoseswiftspearhadthatdayfoundthevitalsofKala，thegreatshe—ape，androbbedtheyouth，Tarzan，oftheonlymotherhehadeverknown。

HerecalledthemurderofKingbytherat—facedSnipes;

theabandonmentofProfessorPorterandhispartybythemutineersoftheARROW;thecrueltyoftheblackwarriorsandwomenofMbongatotheircaptives;thepettyjealousiesofthecivilandmilitaryofficersoftheWestCoastcolonythathadaffordedhimhisfirstintroductiontothecivilizedworld。

\"MONDIEU！\"hesoliloquized，\"buttheyareallalike。

Cheating，murdering，lying，fighting，andallforthingsthatthebeastsofthejunglewouldnotdeigntopossess——moneytopurchasetheeffeminatepleasuresofweaklings。Andyetwithalbounddownbysillycustomsthatmakethemslavestotheirunhappylotwhilefirminthebeliefthattheybethelordsofcreationenjoyingtheonlyrealpleasuresofexistence。

Inthejungleonewouldscarcelystandsupinelyasidewhileanothertookhismate。Itisasillyworld，anidioticworld，andTarzanoftheApeswasafooltorenouncethefreedomandthehappinessofhisjungletocomeintoit。\"

Presently，ashesatthere，thesuddenfeelingcameoverhimthateyeswerewatchingfrombehind，andtheoldinstinctofthewildbeastbrokethroughthethinveneerofcivilization，sothatTarzanwheeledaboutsoquicklythattheeyesoftheyoungwomanwhohadbeensurreptitiouslyregardinghimhadnoteventimetodropbeforethegrayeyesoftheape—manshotaninquiringlookstraightintothem。

Then，astheyfell，Tarzansawafaintwaveofcrimsoncreepswiftlyoverthenowhalf—avertedface。

Hesmiledtohimselfattheresultofhisveryuncivilizedandungallantaction，forhehadnotloweredhisowneyeswhentheymetthoseoftheyoungwoman。Shewasveryyoung，andequallygoodtolookupon。Further，therewassomethingratherfamiliaraboutherthatsetTarzantowonderingwherehehadseenherbefore。Heresumedhisformerposition，andpresentlyhewasawarethatshehadarisenandwasleavingthedeck。Asshepassed，Tarzanturnedtowatchher，inthehopethathemightdiscoveraclewtosatisfyhismildcuriosityastoheridentity。

Norwashedisappointedentirely，forasshewalkedawaysheraisedonehandtotheblack，wavingmassatthenapeofherneck——thepeculiarlyfemininegesturethatadmitscognizanceofappraisingeyesbehindher——andTarzansawuponafingerofthishandtheringofstrangeworkmanshipthathehadseenuponthefingeroftheveiledwomanashorttimebefore。

SoitwasthisbeautifulyoungwomanRokoffhadbeenpersecuting。Tarzanwonderedinalazysortofwaywhomshemightbe，andwhatrelationsonesolovelycouldhavewiththesurly，beardedRussian。

AfterdinnerthateveningTarzanstrolledforward，whereheremaineduntilafterdark，inconversationwiththesecondofficer，andwhenthatgentleman’sdutiescalledhimelsewhereTarzanlolledlazilybytherailwatchingtheplayofthemoonlightuponthegentlyrollingwaters。Hewashalfhiddenbyadavit，sothattwomenwhoapproachedalongthedeckdidnotseehim，andastheypassedTarzancaughtenoughoftheirconversationtocausehimtofallinbehindthem，tofollowandlearnwhatdeviltrytheywereupto。HehadrecognizedthevoiceasthatofRokoff，andhadseenthathiscompanionwasPaulvitch。