Part 16 (1/2)

His joy at the safe return of his daughter was only equaled by his gratitude to Tarzan for bringing her safely to hiht, and his thankfulness that she had been in time to save the man who had once saved her

No honor that Kadour ben Saden could heap upon the ape-lected When the girl had recited the story of the slaying of EL ADREA Tarzan was surrounded by aArabs--it was a sure road to their admiration and respect

The old sheik insisted that Tarzan reuest

He even wished to adopt him as a member of the tribe, and there was for some time a half-formed resolution in the ape-man's mind to accept and remain forever with these wild people, whom he understood and who seeirl were potent factors in urging him toward an affirued, he should not have hesitated, for it would have meant a friend after his own heart, hom he could ride and hunt at will; but as it was they would be hedged by the conventionalities that are even more strictly observed by the wild nomads of the desert than by their more civilized brothers and sisters

And in a little while she would be married to one of these swarthy warriors, and there would be an end to their friendshi+p So he decided against the sheik's proposal, though he reuest

When he left, Kadour ben Saden and fifty white-robed warriors rode with hi in the DOUAR of Kadour ben Saden the irl came to bid farewell to Tarzan

”I have prayed that you would remain with us,” she said simply, as he leaned from his saddle to clasp her hand in farewell, ”and now I shall pray that you will return” There was an expression of wistfulness in her 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 ood-by, for there were reasons which made him wish to make his entry into the town as secret as possible, and when he had explained them to the sheik the latter concurred in his decision The Arabs were to enter Bou Saada ahead of hi as to his presence with theo directly to an obscure native inn

Thus,his entrance after dark, as he did, he was not seen by any one who knew hi with Kadour ben Saden as his guest, he went to his for in by a rear entrance, sought the proprietor, who seemed much surprised to see him alive

Yes, there was mail for monsieur; he would fetch it No, he would mention monsieur's return to no one Presently he returned with a packet of letters One was an order from his superior to lay off on his present work, and hasten to Cape Town by the first stea hient whose naiven That was all--brief but explicit Tarzan arranged to leave Bou Saada early the next arrison to see Captain Gerard, whom the hotel man had told him had returned with his detachment the previous day

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

”When Lieutenant Gernois returned and reported that he had not found you at the spot that you had chosen to re, 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 proof your gun was brought to us Your horse had returned to camp the second day after your disappearance We could not doubt Lieutenant Gernois was grief-stricken--he took all the bla on the search hiun He will be delighted to know that you are safe”

”Doubtless,” said Tarzan, with a grim smile

”He is down in the to, or I should send for him,” continued Captain Gerard ”I shall tell him as soon as he returns”

Tarzan let the officer think that he had been lost, wandering finally into the DOUAR of Kadour ben Saden, who had escorted hiood officer adieu, and hastened back into the town At the native inn he had learned through Kadour ben Saden a piece of interesting information It told of a black-bearded white uised as an Arab For a time he had nursed a broken wrist More recently he had been away from Bou Saada, but noas back, and Tarzan knew his place of concealh narrow, stinking alleys, black as Erebus, he groped, and then up a rickety stairway, at the end of which was a closed door and a tiny, unglazedThe as high under the low eaves of theTarzan could just reach the sill He raised hihted, and at a table sat Rokoff and Gernois Gernois was speaking

”Rokoff, you are a devil!” he was saying ”You have hounded me until I have 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 that that other devil's spawn, Paulvitch, still knew ht with hed ”You would not do that, my dear lieutenant,” he said

”The moment I am reported dead by assassination that dear Alexis will forward to theto conceal; and, further, will charge you with my murder Come, be sensible I ah it were my own?”

Gernois sneered, and spat out an oath