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〃God！〃 he cried； and then； 〃Jane！〃 Suddenly he turned
toward Werper。 〃My wife？〃 he asked。 〃What has become
of her？ The farm is in ruins。 You know。 You have had
something to do with all this。 You followed me to
Opar； you stole the jewels which I thought but pretty
pebbles。 You are a crook！ Do not try to tell me that
you are not。〃
〃He is worse than a crook；〃 said a quiet voice close
behind them。
Tarzan turned in astonishment to see a tall man in
uniform standing in the trail a few paces from him。
Back of the man were a number of black soldiers in the
uniform of the Congo Free State。
〃He is a murderer； Monsieur；〃 continued the officer。
〃I have followed him for a long time to take him back
to stand trial for the killing of his superior
officer。〃
Werper was upon his feet now； gazing； white and
trembling； at the fate which had overtaken him even in
the fastness of the labyrinthine jungle。 Instinctively
he turned to flee； but Tarzan of the Apes reached out a
strong hand and grasped him by the shoulder。
〃Wait！〃 said the ape…man to his captive。 〃This
gentleman wishes you； and so do I。 When I am through
with you； he may have you。 Tell me what has become of
my wife。〃
The Belgian officer eyed the almost naked； white giant
with curiosity。 He noted the strange contrast of
primitive weapons and apparel； and the easy； fluent
French which the man spoke。 The former denoted the
lowest； the latter the highest type of culture。 He
could not quite determine the social status of this
strange creature； but he knew that he did not relish
the easy assurance with which the fellow presumed to
dictate when he might take possession of the prisoner。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； stepping forward and placing his
hand on Werper's other shoulder； 〃but this gentleman is
my prisoner。 He must come with me。〃
〃When I am through with him；〃 replied Tarzan； quietly。
The officer turned and beckoned to the soldiers
standing in the trail behind him。 A company of
uniformed blacks stepped quickly forward and pushing
past the three； surrounded the ape…man and his captive。
〃Both the law and the power to enforce it are upon my
side；〃 announced the officer。 〃Let us have no trouble。
If you have a grievance against this man you may return
with me and enter your charge regularly before an
authorized tribunal。〃
〃Your legal rights are not above suspicion； my friend；〃
replied Tarzan； 〃and your power to enforce your
commands are only apparentnot real。 You have
presumed to enter British territory with an armed
force。 Where is your authority for this invasion？
Where are the extradition papers which warrant the
arrest of this man？ And what assurance have you that I
cannot bring an armed force about you that will prevent
your return to the Congo Free State？〃
The Belgian lost his temper。 〃I have no disposition to
argue with a naked savage；〃 he cried。 〃Unless you wish
to be hurt you will not interfere with me。 Take the
prisoner； Sergeant！〃
Werper raised his lips close to Tarzan's ear。 〃Keep me
from them； and I can show you the very spot where I saw
your wife last night；〃 he whispered。 〃She cannot be
far from here at this very minute。〃
The soldiers； following the signal from their sergeant；
closed in to seize Werper。 Tarzan grabbed the Belgian
about the waist； and bearing him beneath his arm as he
might have borne a sack of flour； leaped forward in an
attempt to break through the cordon。 His right fist
caught the nearest soldier upon the jaw and sent him
hurtling backward upon his fellows。 Clubbed rifles
were torn from the hands of those who barred his way；
and right and left the black soldiers stumbled aside in
the face of the ape…man's savage break for liberty。
So completely did the blacks surround the two that they
dared not fire for fear of hitting one of their own
number； and Tarzan was already through them and upon
the point of dodging into the concealing mazes of the
jungle when one who had sneaked upon him from behind
struck him a heavy blow upon the head with a rifle。
In an instant the ape…man was down and a dozen black
soldiers were upon his back。 When he regained
consciousness he found himself securely bound； as was
Werper also。 The Belgian officer； success having
crowned his efforts； was in good humor； and inclined to
chaff his prisoners about the ease with which they had
been captured； but from Tarzan of the Apes he elicited
no response。 Werper； however； was voluble in his
protests。 He explained that Tarzan was an English
lord； but the officer only laughed at the assertion；
and advised his prisoner to save his breath for his
defense in court。
As soon as Tarzan regained his senses and it was found
that he was not seriously injured； the prisoners were
hastened into line and the return march toward the
Congo Free State boundary commenced。
Toward evening the column halted beside a stream； made
camp and prepared the evening meal。 From the thick
foliage of the nearby jungle a pair of fierce eyes
watched the activities of the uniformed blacks with
silent intensity and curiosity。 From beneath beetling
brows the creature saw the boma constructed； the fires
built； and the supper prepared。
Tarzan and Werper had been lying bound behind a small
pile of knapsacks from the time that the company had
halted； but with the preparation of the meal completed；
their guard ordered them to rise and come forward to
one of the fires where their hands would be unfettered
that they might eat。
As the giant ape…man rose； a startled expression of
recognition entered the eyes of the watcher in the
jungle； and a low guttural broke from the savage lips。
Instantly Tarzan was alert； but the answering growl
died upon his lips； suppressed by the fear that it
might arouse the suspicions of the soldiers。
Suddenly an inspiration came to him。 He turned toward
Werper。
〃I am going to speak to you in a loud voice and in a
tongue which you do not understand。 Appear to listen
intently to what I say； and occasionally mumble
something as though replying in the same languageour
escape may hinge upon the success of your efforts。〃
Werper nodded in assent and understanding； and
immediately there broke from the lips of his companion
a strange jargon which might have been compared with
equal propriety to the barking and growling of a dog
and the chattering of monkeys。
The nearer soldiers looked in surprise at the ape…man。
Some of them laughed； while others drew away in evident
superstitious fear。 The officer approached the
prisoners while Tarzan was still jabbering； and halted
behind them； listening in perplexed interest。 When
Werper mumbled some ridiculous jargon in reply his
curiosity broke bounds； and he stepped forward；
demanding to know what language it was that they spoke。
Tarzan had gauged the measur