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。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读