Part 18 (2/2)

”If you don't I shall pitch you overboard,” continued Tarzan ”Do not forget that I a for some excuse” Then he turned on his heel, and left Rokoff standing there treain for days, but Rokoff was not idle In his stateroo the es

”I would throw hiht,” he cried, ”were I sure that those papers were not on his person I cannot chance pitching them into the ocean with him If you were not such a stupid coward, Alexis, you would find a way to enter his stateroom and search for the documents”

Paulvitch smiled ”You are supposed to be the brains of this partnershi+p, my dear Nikolas,” he replied ”Why do you not find the means to search Monsieur Caldwell's stateroom--eh?”

Two hours later fate was kind to them, for Paulvitch, as ever on the watch, saw Tarzan leave his roo the door Five ive the alar the contents of the ape-ive up in despair when he saw a coat which Tarzan had just rerasped an official envelope in his hand A quick glance at its contents brought a broad smile to the Russian's face

When he left the stateroom Tarzan himself could not have told that an article in it had been touched since he left it--Paulvitch was a past master in his chosen field When he handed the packet to Rokoff in the seclusion of their stateroo for a steward, and ordered a pint of chane

”We must celebrate, my dear Alexis,” he said

”It was luck, Nikolas,” explained Paulvitch ”It is evident that he carries these papers always upon his person--just by chance he neglected to transfer theed coats a few minutes since

But there will be the deuce to pay when he discovers his loss I am afraid that he will immediately connect you with it Now that he knows that you are on board he will suspect you at once”

”It will ht,” said Rokoff, with a nasty grin

After Miss Strong had gone below that night Tarzan stood leaning over the rail looking far out to sea Every night he had done this since he had come on board--sometimes he stood thus for an hour And the eyes that had been watching his every iers knew that this was his habit

Even as he stood there this night those eyes were on hiler had left the deck It was a clear night, but there was no moon--objects on deck were barely discernible

Froures crept stealthily upon the ape-ainst the shi+p's sides, the whirring of the propeller, the throbbing of the engines, drowned the almost soundless approach of the two

They were quite close to hiridiron One of the off seconds--one--two--three! As one , and before Tarzan of the Apes, lightning though he was, could turn to save hi into the Atlantic

Hazel Strong was looking from her darkened port across the dark sea

Suddenly a body shot past her eyes from the deck above It dropped so quickly into the dark waters below that she could not be sure of what it was--it ht have been a man, she could not say She listened for some outcry from above--for the always-fearsome call, ”Man overboard!”

but it did not come All was silence on the shi+p above--all was silence in the sea below

The girl decided that she had but seen a bundle of refuse thrown overboard by one of the shi+p's crew, and a ht her berth

Chapter 13

The Wreck of the ”Lady Alice”

The nextwas mildly curious, for Mr Caldwell had always ht breakfast with her and heron deck later Monsieur Thuran paused to exchange a half dozen pleasant words with her He seemed in most excellent spirits--his manner was the extreht what a very delightful ed heavily She missed the quiet companionshi+p of Mr

Caldwell--there had been soirl like hily of the places he had seen--the peoples and their customs--the wild beasts; and he had always had a droll way of drawing striking coe anie of the forh somewhat cynical, estiain to chat with her in the afternoon she welcoun to become seriously concerned in Mr Caldwell's continued absence; somehow she constantly associated it with the start she had had the night before, when the dark object fell past her port into the sea