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their quarry。
As they galloped from the open gates； Mugambi； hiding
in a nearby bush； slipped； unseen； within the palisade。
A score of blacks crowded about the entrance to watch
the searchers depart； and as the last of them passed
out of the village the blacks seized the portals and
drew them to； and Mugambi lent a hand in the work as
though the best of his life had been spent among the
raiders。
In the darkness he passed； unchallenged； as one of
their number； and as they returned from the gates to
their respective tents and huts； Mugambi melted into
the shadows and disappeared。
For an hour he crept about in the rear of the various
huts and tents in an effort to locate that in which his
master's mate was imprisoned。 One there was which he
was reasonably assured contained her； for it was the
only hut before the door of which a sentry had been
posted。 Mugambi was crouching in the shadow of this
structure； just around the corner from the unsuspecting
guard； when another approached to relieve his comrade。
〃The prisoner is safe within？〃 asked the newcomer。
〃She is；〃 replied the other； 〃for none has passed this
doorway since I came。〃
The new sentry squatted beside the door； while he whom
he had relieved made his way to his own hut。 Mugambi
slunk closer to the corner of the building。 In one
powerful hand he gripped a heavy knob…stick。 No sign
of elation disturbed his phlegmatic calm； yet inwardly
he was aroused to joy by the proof he had just heard
that 〃Lady〃 really was within。
The sentry's back was toward the corner of the hut
which hid the giant black。 The fellow did not see the
huge form which silently loomed behind him。 The
knob…stick swung upward in a curve； and downward again。
There was the sound of a dull thud； the crushing of
heavy bone； and the sentry slumped into a silent；
inanimate lump of clay。
A moment later Mugambi was searching the interior of
the hut。 At first slowly； calling； 〃Lady！〃 in a low
whisper； and finally with almost frantic haste； until
the truth presently dawned upon himthe hut was empty！
11
Tarzan Becomes a Beast Again
For a moment Werper had stood above the sleeping ape…man；
his murderous knife poised for the fatal thrust；
but fear stayed his hand。 What if the first blow
should fail to drive the point to his victim's heart？
Werper shuddered in contemplation of the disastrous
consequences to himself。 Awakened； and even with a few
moments of life remaining； the giant could literally
tear his assailant to pieces should he choose； and the
Belgian had no doubt but that Tarzan would so choose。
Again came the soft sound of padded footsteps in the
reedscloser this time。 Werper abandoned his design。
Before him stretched the wide plain and escape。
The jewels were in his possession。 To remain longer was to
risk death at the hands of Tarzan； or the jaws of the
hunter creeping ever nearer。 Turning； he slunk away
through the night； toward the distant forest。
Tarzan slept on。 Where were those uncanny； guardian
powers that had formerly rendered him immune from the
dangers of surprise？ Could this dull sleeper be the
alert； sensitive Tarzan of old？
Perhaps the blow upon his head had numbed his senses；
temporarilywho may say？ Closer crept the stealthy
creature through the reeds。 The rustling curtain of
vegetation parted a few paces from where the sleeper
lay； and the massive head of a lion appeared。 The
beast surveyed the ape…man intently for a moment； then
he crouched； his hind feet drawn well beneath him； his
tail lashing from side to side。
It was the beating of the beast's tail against the
reeds which awakened Tarzan。 Jungle folk do not awaken
slowlyinstantly； full consciousness and full command
of their every faculty returns to them from the depth
of profound slumber。
Even as Tarzan opened his eyes he was upon his feet；
his spear grasped firmly in his hand and ready for
attack。 Again was he Tarzan of the Apes； sentient；
vigilant； ready。
No two lions have identical characteristics； nor does
the same lion invariably act similarly under like
circumstances。 Whether it was surprise； fear or
caution which prompted the lion crouching ready to
spring upon the man； is immaterialthe fact remains
that he did not carry out his original design； he did
not spring at the man at all； but； instead； wheeled and
sprang back into the reeds as Tarzan arose and
confronted him。
The ape…man shrugged his broad shoulders and looked
about for his companion。 Werper was nowhere to be
seen。 At first Tarzan suspected that the man had been
seized and dragged off by another lion； but upon
examination of the ground he soon discovered that the
Belgian had gone away alone out into the plain。
For a moment he was puzzled； but presently came to the
conclusion that Werper had been frightened by the
approach of the lion； and had sneaked off in terror。
A sneer touched Tarzan's lips as he pondered the man's
actthe desertion of a comrade in time of danger； and
without warning。 Well； if that was the sort of
creature Werper was； Tarzan wished nothing more of him。
He had gone； and for all the ape…man cared； he might
remain awayTarzan would not search for him。
A hundred yards from where he stood grew a large tree；
alone upon the edge of the reedy jungle。 Tarzan made
his way to it； clambered into it； and finding a
comfortable crotch among its branches； reposed himself
for uninterrupted sleep until morning。
And when morning came Tarzan slept on long after the
sun had risen。 His mind； reverted to the primitive；
was untroubled by any more serious obligations than
those of providing sustenance； and safeguarding his life。
Therefore； there was nothing to awaken for until
danger threatened； or the pangs of hunger assailed。
It was the latter which eventually aroused him。
Opening his eyes； he stretched his giant thews； yawned；
rose and gazed about him through the leafy foliage of
his retreat。 Across the wasted meadowlands and fields
of John Clayton； Lord Greystoke； Tarzan of the Apes
looked； as a stranger； upon the moving figures of
Basuli and his braves as they prepared their morning
meal and made ready to set out upon the expedition
which Basuli had planned after discovering the havoc and
disaster which had befallen the estate of his dead master。
The ape…man eyed the blacks with curiosity。
In the back of his brain loitered a fleeting sense of
familiarity with all that he saw； yet he could not
connect any of the various forms of life； animate and
inanimate； which had fallen within the range of his
vision since he had emerged from the darkness of the
pits of Opar； with any particular event of the past。
Hazily he recalled a grim and hideous form； hairy；
ferocious。 A vague tenderness dominated his savage
sentiments as this phantom memory struggled fo