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hurled him； as though from a catapult； full in the faces of
his on…pressing fellows。
Then Tarzan and Abdul stepped into the semidarkness of
the court。 The frightened Ouled…Nails were crouching at the
tops of the stairs which led to their respective rooms； the
only light in the courtyard coming from the sickly candles
which each girl had stuck with its own grease to the woodwork
of her door…frame； the better to display her charms
to those who might happen to traverse the dark inclosure。
Scarcely had Tarzan and Abdul emerged from the room ere
a revolver spoke close at their backs from the shadows
beneath one of the stairways； and as they turned to meet this
new antagonist； two muffled figures sprang toward them；
firing as they came。 Tarzan leaped to meet these two new
assailants。 The foremost lay； a second later； in the trampled
dirt of the court； disarmed and groaning from a broken wrist。
Abdul's knife found the vitals of the second in the instant
that the fellow's revolver missed fire as he held it to the
faithful Arab's forehead。
The maddened horde within the cafe were now rushing out in
pursuit of their quarry。 The Ouled…Nails had extinguished
their candles at a cry from one of their number； and the
only light within the yard came feebly from the open and
half…blocked door of the cafe。 Tarzan had seized a sword
from the man who had fallen before Abdul's knife； and now
he stood waiting for the rush of men that was coming in
search of them through the darkness。
Suddenly he felt a light hand upon his shoulder from behind；
and a woman's voice whispering； 〃Quick； m'sieur； this way。 Follow me。〃
〃Come； Abdul；〃 said Tarzan； in a low tone； to the youth；
〃we can be no worse off elsewhere than we are here。〃
The woman turned and led them up the narrow stairway
that ended at the door of her quarters。 Tarzan was close
beside her。 He saw the gold and silver bracelets upon her
bare arms； the strings of gold coin that depended from her hair
ornaments； and the gorgeous colors of her dress。 He saw that
she was a Ouled…Nail； and instinctively he knew that she
was the same who had whispered the warning in his ear
earlier in the evening。
As they reached the top of the stairs they could hear the
angry crowd searching the yard beneath。
〃Soon they will search here；〃 whispered the girl。
〃They must not find you； for； though you fight with the
strength of many men； they will kill you in the end。
Hasten； you can drop from the farther window of my room to the
street beyond。 Before they discover that you are no longer in
the court of the buildings you will be safe within the hotel。〃
But even as she spoke； several men had started up the
stairway at the head of which they stood。 There was a sudden
cry from one of the searchers。 They had been discovered。
Quickly the crowd rushed for the stairway。 The foremost
assailant leaped quickly upward； but at the top he met the
sudden sword that he had not expectedthe quarry had been
unarmed before。
With a cry； the man toppled back upon those behind him。
Like tenpins they rolled down the stairs。 The ancient and
rickety structure could not withstand the strain of this
unwonted weight and jarring。 With a creaking and rending
of breaking wood it collapsed beneath the Arabs； leaving
Tarzan； Abdul； and the girl alone upon the frail platform
at the top。
〃Come！〃 cried the Ouled…Nail。 〃They will reach us from
another stairway through the room next to mine。 We have
not a moment to spare。〃
Just as they were entering the room Abdul heard and
translated a cry from the yard below for several to hasten
to the street and cut off escape from that side。
〃We are lost now；〃 said the girl simply。
〃We？〃 questioned Tarzan。
〃Yes； m'sieur；〃 she responded； 〃they will kill me as well。
Have I not aided you？〃
This put a different aspect on the matter。 Tarzan had rather
been enjoying the excitement and danger of the encounter。
He had not for an instant supposed that either Abdul or the
girl could suffer except through accident； and he had only
retreated just enough to keep from being killed himself。
He had had no intention of running away until he saw that
he was hopelessly lost were he to remain。
Alone he could have sprung into the midst of that close…
packed mob； and； laying about him after the fashion of
Numa； the lion； have struck the Arabs with such consternation
that escape would have been easy。 Now he must think
entirely of these two faithful friends。
He crossed to the window which overlooked the street。 In
a minute there would be enemies below。 Already he could
hear the mob clambering the stairway to the next quarters
they would be at the door beside him in another instant。
He put a foot upon the sill and leaned out； but he did not
look down。 Above him； within arm's reach； was the low roof
of the building。 He called to the girl。 She came and stood
beside him。 He put a great arm about her and lifted her across
his shoulder。
〃Wait here until I reach down for you from above；〃 he
said to Abdul。 〃In the meantime shove everything in the
room against that doorit may delay them long enough。〃
Then he stepped to the sill of the narrow window with the
girl upon his shoulders。 〃Hold tight；〃 he cautioned her。
A moment later he had clambered to the roof above with the
ease and dexterity of an ape。 Setting the girl down； he leaned
far over the roof's edge； calling softly to Abdul。 The youth
ran to the window。
〃Your hand；〃 whispered Tarzan。 The men in the room beyond
were battering at the door。 With a sudden crash it fell
splintering in； and at the same instant Abdul felt himself
lifted like a feather onto the roof above。 They were not a
moment too soon； for as the men broke into the room which
they had just quitted a dozen more rounded the corner in the
street below and came running to a spot beneath the girl's window。
Chapter 8
The Fight in the Desert
As the three squatted upon the roof above the quarters of
the Ouled…Nails they heard the angry cursing of the
Arabs in the room beneath。 Abdul translated from time
to time to Tarzan。
〃They are berating those in the street below now；〃 said
Abdul； 〃for permitting us to escape so easily。 Those in the
street say that we did not come that waythat we are still
within the building； and that those above； being too cowardly
to attack us； are attempting to deceive them into believing
that we have escaped。 In a moment they will have fighting
of their own to attend to if they continue their brawling。〃
Presently those in the building gave up the search； and
returned to the cafe。 A few remained in the street below；
smoking and talking。
Tarzan spoke to the girl； thanking her for the sacrifice she
had made for him； a total stranger。
〃I liked you；〃 she said simply。 〃You were unlike the others