e rifles, Tarzan of the Apes and two of his hairy henchmen
pitched forward among the jungle grasses.
The noise of the rifle shots brought the balance of the apes to a
wondering pause, and, taking advantage of their momentary distraction,
Achmet Zek and his fellows leaped to their horses' backs and galloped
away with the now hopeless and grief-stricken woman.
Back to the village they rode, and once again Lady Greystoke found
herself incarcerated in the filthy, little hut from which she had
thought to have escaped for good. But this time she was not only
guarded by an additional sentry, but bound as well.
Singly and in twos the searchers who had ridden out with Achmet Zek
upon the trail of the Belgian, returned empty handed. With the report
of each the raider's rage and chagrin increased, until he was in such a
transport of ferocious anger that none dared approach him. Threatening
and cursing, Achmet Zek paced up and down the floor of his silken tent;
but his temper served him naught--Werper was gone and with him the
fortune in scintillating gems which had aroused the cupidity of his
chief and placed the sentence of death upon the head of the lieutenant.
With the escape of the Arabs the great apes had turned their attention
to their fallen comrades. One was dead, but another and the great
white ape still breathed. The hairy monsters gathered about these two,
grumbling and muttering after the fashion of their kind.
Tarzan was the first to regain consciousness. Sitting up, he looked
about him. Blood was flowing from a wound in his shoulder. The shock
had thrown him down and dazed him; but he was far from dead. Rising
slowly to his feet he let his eyes wander toward the spot where last he
had seen the she, who had aroused within his savage breast such strange
emotions.
"Where is she?" he asked.
"The Tarmangani took her away," replied one of the apes. "Who are you
who speak the language of the Mangani?"
"I am Tarzan," replied the ape-man; "mighty hunter, greatest of
fighters. When I roar, the jungle is silent and trembles with terror.
I am Tarzan of the Apes. I have been away; but now I have come back to
my people."
"Yes," spoke up an old ape, "he is Tarzan. I know him. It is well
that he has come back. Now we shall have good hunting."
The other apes came closer and sniffed at the ape-man. Tarzan stood
very still, his fangs half bared, and his muscles tense and ready for
action; but there
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