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demanding to know what language it was that they spoke。
Tarzan had gauged the measure of the man's culture from
the nature and quality of his conversation during the
march； and he rested the success of his reply upon the
estimate he had made。
〃Greek；〃 he explained。
〃Oh； I thought it was Greek；〃 replied the officer； 〃but
it has been so many years since I studied it that I was
not sure。 In future； however； I will thank you to
speak in a language which I am more familiar with。〃
Werper turned his head to hide a grin； whispering to
Tarzan： 〃It was Greek to him all rightand to me； too。〃
But one of the black soldiers mumbled in a low voice to
a companion： 〃I have heard those sounds beforeonce at
night when I was lost in the jungle； I heard the hairy
men of the trees talking among themselves； and their
words were like the words of this white man。 I wish
that we had not found him。 He is not a man at allhe
is a bad spirit； and we shall have bad luck if we do
not let him go；〃 and the fellow rolled his eyes
fearfully toward the jungle。
His companion laughed nervously； and moved away； to
repeat the conversation； with variations and
exaggerations； to others of the black soldiery； so that
it was not long before a frightful tale of black magic
and sudden death was woven about the giant prisoner；
and had gone the rounds of the camp。
And deep in the gloomy jungle amidst the darkening
shadows of the falling night a hairy； manlike creature
swung swiftly southward upon some secret mission of his
own。
23
A Night of Terror
To Jane Clayton； waiting in the tree where Werper had
placed her； it seemed that the long night would never
end； yet end it did at last； and within an hour of the
coming of dawn her spirits leaped with renewed hope at
sight of a solitary horseman approaching along the
trail。
The flowing burnoose； with its loose hood； hid both the
face and the figure of the rider； but that it was M。
Frecoult the girl well knew； since he had been garbed
as an Arab； and he alone might be expected to seek her
hiding place。
That which she saw relieved the strain of the long
night vigil； but there was much that she did not see。
She did not see the black face beneath the white hood；
nor the file of ebon horsemen beyond the trail's bend
riding slowly in the wake of their leader。 These
things she did not see at first； and so she leaned
downward toward the approaching rider； a cry of welcome
forming in her throat。
At the first word the man looked up； reining in in
surprise； and as she saw the black face of Abdul
Mourak； the Abyssinian； she shrank back in terror among
the branches； but it was too late。 The man had seen
her； and now he called to her to descend。 At first she
refused； but when a dozen black cavalrymen drew up
behind their leader； and at Abdul Mourak's command one
of them started to climb the tree after her she
realized that resistance was futile； and came slowly
down to stand upon the ground before this new captor
and plead her cause in the name of justice and humanity。
Angered by recent defeat； and by the loss of the gold；
the jewels； and his prisoners； Abdul Mourak was in no
mood to be influenced by any appeal to those softer
sentiments to which； as a matter of fact； he was almost
a stranger even under the most favourable conditions。
He looked for degradation and possible death in
punishment for his failures and his misfortunes when he
should have returned to his native land and made his
report to Menelek； but an acceptable gift might temper
the wrath of the emperor； and surely this fair flower
of another race should be gratefully received by the
black ruler！
When Jane Clayton had concluded her appeal； Abdul
Mourak replied briefly that he would promise her
protection； but that he must take her to his emperor。
The girl did not need ask him why； and once again hope
died within her breast。 Resignedly she permitted
herself to be lifted to a seat behind one of the
troopers； and again； under new masters； her journey was
resumed toward what she now began to believe was her
inevitable fate。
Abdul Mourak； bereft of his guides by the battle he had
waged against the raiders； and himself unfamiliar with
the country； had wandered far from the trail he should
have followed； and as a result had made but little
progress toward the north since the beginning of his
flight。 Today he was beating toward the west in the
hope of coming upon a village where he might obtain
guides； but night found him still as far from a
realization of his hopes as had the rising sun。
It was a dispirited company which went into camp；
waterless and hungry； in the dense jungle。 Attracted
by the horses； lions roared about the boma； and to
their hideous din was added the shrill neighs of the
terror…stricken beasts they hunted。 There was little
sleep for man or beast； and the sentries were doubled
that there might be enough on duty both to guard
against the sudden charge of an overbold； or overhungry
lion； and to keep the fire blazing which was an even
more effectual barrier against them than the thorny boma。
It was well past midnight； and as yet Jane Clayton；
notwithstanding that she had passed a sleepless night
the night before； had scarcely more than dozed。 A
sense of impending danger seemed to hang like a black
pall over the camp。 The veteran troopers of the black
emperor were nervous and ill at ease。 Abdul Mourak
left his blankets a dozen times to pace restlessly back
and forth between the tethered horses and the crackling
fire。 The girl could see his great frame silhouetted
against the lurid glare of the flames； and she guessed
from the quick； nervous movements of the man that he
was afraid。
The roaring of the lions rose in sudden fury until the
earth trembled to the hideous chorus。 The horses
shrilled their neighs of terror as they lay back upon
their halter ropes in their mad endeavors to break
loose。 A trooper； braver than his fellows； leaped
among the kicking； plunging； fear…maddened beasts in a
futile attempt to quiet them。 A lion； large； and
fierce； and courageous； leaped almost to the boma； full
in the bright light from the fire。 A sentry raised his
piece and fired； and the little leaden pellet
unstoppered the vials of hell upon the terror…stricken
camp。
The shot ploughed a deep and painful furrow in the
lion's side； arousing all the bestial fury of the
little brain； but abating not a whit the power and
vigor of the great body。
Unwounded； the boma and the flames might have turned
him back； but now the pain and the rage wiped caution
from his mind； and with a loud； and angry roar he
topped the barrier with an easy leap and was among the
horses。
What had been pandemonium before became now an
indescribable tumult of hideous sound。 The stricken
horse upon