The Return of Tarzan Read online

  Chapter 11

  John Caldwell, London

  As Numa EL ADREA launched himself with widespread paws and bared fangshe looked to find this puny man as easy prey as the score who had gonedown beneath him in the past. To him man was a clumsy, slow-moving,defenseless creature--he had little respect for him.

  But this time he found that he was pitted against a creature as agileand as quick as himself. When his mighty frame struck the spot wherethe man had been he was no longer there.

  The watching girl was transfixed by astonishment at the ease with whichthe crouching man eluded the great paws. And now, O Allah! He hadrushed in behind EL ADREA'S shoulder even before the beast could turn,and had grasped him by the mane. The lion reared upon his hind legslike a horse--Tarzan had known that he would do this, and he was ready.A giant arm encircled the black-maned throat, and once, twice, a dozentimes a sharp blade darted in and out of the bay-black side behind theleft shoulder.

  Frantic were the leaps of Numa--awful his roars of rage and pain; butthe giant upon his back could not be dislodged or brought within reachof fangs or talons in the brief interval of life that remained to thelord with the large head. He was quite dead when Tarzan of the Apesreleased his hold and arose. Then the daughter of the desert witnesseda thing that terrified her even more than had the presence of EL ADREA.The man placed a foot upon the carcass of his kill, and, with hishandsome face raised toward the full moon, gave voice to the mostfrightful cry that ever had smote upon her ears.

  With a little cry of fear she shrank away from him--she thought thatthe fearful strain of the encounter had driven him mad. As the lastnote of that fiendish challenge died out in the diminishing echoes ofthe distance the man dropped his eyes until they rested upon the girl.

  Instantly his face was lighted by the kindly smile that was ampleassurance of his sanity, and the girl breathed freely once again,smiling in response.

  "What manner of man are you?" she asked. "The thing you have done isunheard of. Even now I cannot believe that it is possible for a loneman armed only with a knife to have fought hand to hand with EL ADREAand conquered him, unscathed--to have conquered him at all. And thatcry--it was not human. Why did you do that?"

  Tarzan flushed. "It is because I forget," he said, "sometimes, that Iam a civilized man. When I kill it must be that I am anothercreature." He did not try to explain further, for it always seemed tohim that a woman must look with loathing upon one who was yet so nearlya beast.

  Together they continued their journey. The sun was an hour high whenthey came out into the desert again beyond the mountains. Beside alittle rivulet they found the girl's horses grazing. They had comethis far on their way home, and with the cause of their fear no longerpresent had stopped to feed.

  With little trouble Tarzan and the girl caught them, and, mounting,rode out into the desert toward the DOUAR of Sheik Kadour ben Saden.

  No sign of pursuit developed, and they came in safety about nineo'clock to their destination. The sheik had but just returned. He wasfrantic with grief at the absence of his daughter, whom he thought hadbeen again abducted by the marauders. With fifty men he was alreadymounted to go in search of her when the two rode into the DOUAR.

  His joy at the safe return of his daughter was only equaled by hisgratitude to Tarzan for bringing her safely to him through the dangersof the night, and his thankfulness that she had been in time to savethe man who had once saved her.

  No honor that Kadour ben Saden could heap upon the ape-man inacknowledgment of his esteem and friendship was neglected. When thegirl had recited the story of the slaying of EL ADREA Tarzan wassurrounded by a mob of worshiping Arabs--it was a sure road to theiradmiration and respect.

  The old sheik insisted that Tarzan remain indefinitely as his guest.He even wished to adopt him as a member of the tribe, and there was forsome time a half-formed resolution in the ape-man's mind to accept andremain forever with these wild people, whom he understood and whoseemed to understand him. His friendship and liking for the girl werepotent factors in urging him toward an affirmative decision.

  Had she been a man, he argued, he should not have hesitated, for itwould have meant a friend after his own heart, with whom he could rideand hunt at will; but as it was they would be hedged by theconventionalities that are even more strictly observed by the wildnomads of the desert than by their more civilized brothers and sisters.And in a little while she would be married to one of these swarthywarriors, and there would be an end to their friendship. So he decidedagainst the sheik's proposal, though he remained a week as his guest.

  When he left, Kadour ben Saden and fifty white-robed warriors rode withhim to Bou Saada. While they were mounting in the DOUAR of Kadour benSaden the morning of their departure, the girl came to bid farewell toTarzan.

  "I have prayed that you would remain with us," she said simply, as heleaned from his saddle to clasp her hand in farewell, "and now I shallpray that you will return." There was an expression of wistfulness inher beautiful eyes, and a pathetic droop at the corners of her mouth.Tarzan was touched.

  "Who knows?" and then he turned and rode after the departing Arabs.

  Outside Bou Saada he bade Kadour ben Saden and his men good-by, forthere were reasons which made him wish to make his entry into the townas secret as possible, and when he had explained them to the sheik thelatter concurred in his decision. The Arabs were to enter Bou Saadaahead of him, saying nothing as to his presence with them. LaterTarzan would come in alone, and go directly to an obscure native inn.

  Thus, making his entrance after dark, as he did, he was not seen by anyone who knew him, and reached the inn unobserved. After dining withKadour ben Saden as his guest, he went to his former hotel by aroundabout way, and, coming in by a rear entrance, sought theproprietor, who seemed much surprised to see him alive.

  Yes, there was mail for monsieur; he would fetch it. No, he wouldmention monsieur's return to no one. Presently he returned with apacket of letters. One was an order from his superior to lay off onhis present work, and hasten to Cape Town by the first steamer he couldget. His further instructions would be awaiting him there in the handsof another agent whose name and address were given. That wasall--brief but explicit. Tarzan arranged to leave Bou Saada early thenext morning. Then he started for the garrison to see Captain Gerard,whom the hotel man had told him had returned with his detachment theprevious day.

  He found the officer in his quarters. He was filled with surprise andpleasure at seeing Tarzan alive and well.

  "When Lieutenant Gernois returned and reported that he had not foundyou at the spot that you had chosen to remain while the detachment wasscouting, I was filled with alarm. We searched the mountain for days.Then came word that you had been killed and eaten by a lion. As proofyour gun was brought to us. Your horse had returned to camp the secondday after your disappearance. We could not doubt. Lieutenant Gernoiswas grief-stricken--he took all the blame upon himself. It was he whoinsisted on carrying on the search himself. It was he who found theArab with your gun. He will be delighted to know that you are safe."

  "Doubtless," said Tarzan, with a grim smile.

  "He is down in the town now, or I should send for him," continuedCaptain Gerard. "I shall tell him as soon as he returns."

  Tarzan let the officer think that he had been lost, wandering finallyinto the DOUAR of Kadour ben Saden, who had escorted him back to BouSaada. As soon as possible he bade the good officer adieu, andhastened back into the town. At the native inn he had learned throughKadour ben Saden a piece of interesting information. It told of ablack-bearded white man who went always disguised as an Arab. For atime he had nursed a broken wrist. More recently he had been away fromBou Saada, but now he was back, and Tarzan knew his place ofconcealment. It was for there he headed.

  Through narrow, stinking alleys, black as Erebus, he groped, and thenup a rickety stairway, at the end of which was a closed door and atiny, unglazed window. The window was high un
der the low eaves of themud building. Tarzan could just reach the sill. He raised himselfslowly until his eyes topped it. The room within was lighted, and at atable sat Rokoff and Gernois. Gernois was speaking.

  "Rokoff, you are a devil!" he was saying. "You have hounded me until Ihave lost the last shred of my honor. You have driven me to murder,for the blood of that man Tarzan is on my hands. If it were not thatthat other devil's spawn, Paulvitch, still knew my secret, I shouldkill you here tonight with my bare hands."

  Rokoff laughed. "You would not do that, my dear lieutenant," he said."The moment I am reported dead by assassination that dear Alexis willforward to the minister of war full proof of the affair you so ardentlylong to conceal; and, further, will charge you with my murder. Come,be sensible. I am your best friend. Have I not protected your honoras though it were my own?"

  Gernois sneered, and spat out an oath.

  "Just one more little payment," continued Rokoff, "and the papers Iwish, and you have my word of honor that I shall never ask another centfrom you, or further information."

  "And a good reason why," growled Gernois. "What you ask will take mylast cent, and the only valuable military secret I hold. You ought tobe paying me for the information, instead of taking both it and money,too."

  "I am paying you by keeping a still tongue in my head," retortedRokoff. "But let's have done. Will you, or will you not? I give youthree minutes to decide. If you are not agreeable I shall send a noteto your commandant tonight that will end in the degradation thatDreyfus suffered--the only difference being that he did not deserve it."

  For a moment Gernois sat with bowed head. At length he arose. He drewtwo pieces of paper from his blouse.

  "Here," he said hopelessly. "I had them ready, for I knew that therecould be but one outcome." He held them toward the Russian.

  Rokoff's cruel face lighted in malignant gloating. He seized the bitsof paper.

  "You have done well, Gernois," he said. "I shall not trouble youagain--unless you happen to accumulate some more money or information,"and he grinned.

  "You never shall again, you dog!" hissed Gernois. "The next time Ishall kill you. I came near doing it tonight. For an hour I sat withthese two pieces of paper on my table before me ere I came here--besidethem lay my loaded revolver. I was trying to decide which I shouldbring. Next time the choice shall be easier, for I already havedecided. You had a close call tonight, Rokoff; do not tempt fate asecond time."

  Then Gernois rose to leave. Tarzan barely had time to drop to thelanding and shrink back into the shadows on the far side of the door.Even then he scarcely hoped to elude detection. The landing was verysmall, and though he flattened himself against the wall at its far edgehe was scarcely more than a foot from the doorway. Almost immediatelyit opened, and Gernois stepped out. Rokoff was behind him. Neitherspoke. Gernois had taken perhaps three steps down the stairway when hehalted and half turned, as though to retrace his steps.

  Tarzan knew that discovery would be inevitable. Rokoff still stood onthe threshold a foot from him, but he was looking in the oppositedirection, toward Gernois. Then the officer evidently reconsidered hisdecision, and resumed his downward course. Tarzan could hear Rokoff'ssigh of relief. A moment later the Russian went back into the room andclosed the door.

  Tarzan waited until Gernois had had time to get well out of hearing,then he pushed open the door and stepped into the room. He was on topof Rokoff before the man could rise from the chair where he satscanning the paper Gernois had given him. As his eyes turned and fellupon the ape-man's face his own went livid.

  "You!" he gasped.

  "I," replied Tarzan.

  "What do you want?" whispered Rokoff, for the look in the ape-man'seyes frightened him. "Have you come to kill me? You do not dare.They would guillotine you. You do not dare kill me."

  "I dare kill you, Rokoff," replied Tarzan, "for no one knows that youare here or that I am here, and Paulvitch would tell them that it wasGernois. I heard you tell Gernois so. But that would not influenceme, Rokoff. I would not care who knew that I had killed you; thepleasure of killing you would more than compensate for any punishmentthey might inflict upon me. You are the most despicable cur of acoward, Rokoff, I have ever heard of. You should be killed. I shouldlove to kill you," and Tarzan approached closer to the man.

  Rokoff's nerves were keyed to the breaking point. With a shriek hesprang toward an adjoining room, but the ape-man was upon his backwhile his leap was yet but half completed. Iron fingers sought histhroat--the great coward squealed like a stuck pig, until Tarzan hadshut off his wind. Then the ape-man dragged him to his feet, stillchoking him. The Russian struggled futilely--he was like a babe in themighty grasp of Tarzan of the Apes.

  Tarzan sat him in a chair, and long before there was danger of theman's dying he released his hold upon his throat. When the Russian'scoughing spell had abated Tarzan spoke to him again.

  "I have given you a taste of the suffering of death," he said. "But Ishall not kill--this time. I am sparing you solely for the sake of avery good woman whose great misfortune it was to have been born of thesame woman who gave birth to you. But I shall spare you only this onceon her account. Should I ever learn that you have again annoyed her orher husband--should you ever annoy me again--should I hear that youhave returned to France or to any French possession, I shall make it mysole business to hunt you down and complete the choking I commencedtonight." Then he turned to the table, on which the two pieces ofpaper still lay. As he picked them up Rokoff gasped in horror.

  Tarzan examined both the check and the other. He was amazed at theinformation the latter contained. Rokoff had partially read it, butTarzan knew that no one could remember the salient facts and figures itheld which made it of real value to an enemy of France.

  "These will interest the chief of staff," he said, as he slipped theminto his pocket. Rokoff groaned. He did not dare curse aloud.

  The next morning Tarzan rode north on his way to Bouira and Algiers.As he had ridden past the hotel Lieutenant Gernois was standing on theveranda. As his eyes discovered Tarzan he went white as chalk. Theape-man would have been glad had the meeting not occurred, but he couldnot avoid it. He saluted the officer as he rode past. MechanicallyGernois returned the salute, but those terrible, wide eyes followed thehorseman, expressionless except for horror. It was as though a deadman looked upon a ghost.

  At Sidi Aissa Tarzan met a French officer with whom he had becomeacquainted on the occasion of his recent sojourn in the town.

  "You left Bou Saada early?" questioned the officer. "Then you have notheard about poor Gernois."

  "He was the last man I saw as I rode away," replied Tarzan. "Whatabout him?"

  "He is dead. He shot himself about eight o'clock this morning."

  Two days later Tarzan reached Algiers. There he found that he wouldhave a two days' wait before he could catch a ship bound for Cape Town.He occupied his time in writing out a full report of his mission. Thesecret papers he had taken from Rokoff he did not inclose, for he didnot dare trust them out of his own possession until he had beenauthorized to turn them over to another agent, or himself return toParis with them.

  As Tarzan boarded his ship after what seemed a most tedious wait tohim, two men watched him from an upper deck. Both were fashionablydressed and smooth shaven. The taller of the two had sandy hair, buthis eyebrows were very black. Later in the day they chanced to meetTarzan on deck, but as one hurriedly called his companion's attentionto something at sea their faces were turned from Tarzan as he passed,so that he did not notice their features. In fact, he had paid noattention to them at all.

  Following the instructions of his chief, Tarzan had booked his passageunder an assumed name--John Caldwell, London. He did not understandthe necessity of this, and it caused him considerable speculation. Hewondered what role he was to play in Cape Town.

  "Well," he thought, "thank Heaven that I am rid of Rokoff. He wascommencing
to annoy me. I wonder if I am really becoming so civilizedthat presently I shall develop a set of nerves. He would give them tome if any one could, for he does not fight fair. One never knowsthrough what new agency he is going to strike. It is as though Numa,the lion, had induced Tantor, the elephant, and Histah, the snake, tojoin him in attempting to kill me. I would then never have known whatminute, or by whom, I was to be attacked next. But the brutes are morechivalrous than man--they do not stoop to cowardly intrigue."

  At dinner that night Tarzan sat next to a young woman whose place wasat the captain's left. The officer introduced them.

  Miss Strong! Where had he heard the name before? It was veryfamiliar. And then the girl's mother gave him the clew, for when sheaddressed her daughter she called her Hazel.

  Hazel Strong! What memories the name inspired. It had been a letterto this girl, penned by the fair hand of Jane Porter, that had carriedto him the first message from the woman he loved. How vividly herecalled the night he had stolen it from the desk in the cabin of hislong-dead father, where Jane Porter had sat writing it late into thenight, while he crouched in the darkness without. How terror-strickenshe would have been that night had she known that the wild jungle beastsquatted outside her window, watching her every move.

  And this was Hazel Strong--Jane Porter's best friend!