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him like a sheep。 It was that which galled the ape…man。
He did not fear to die； noit was the humiliation of defeat
before death； without even a chance to battle for his life。
It must be near midnight； thought Tarzan。 He had several
hours to live。 Possibly he would yet find a way to take
Rokoff with him on the long journey。 He could hear the savage
lord of the desert quite close by now。 Possibly he sought
his meat from among the penned animals within the DOUAR。
For a long time silence reigned； then Tarzan's trained ears
caught the sound of a stealthily moving body。 It came
from the side of the tent nearest the mountainsthe back。
Nearer and nearer it came。 He waited； listening intently； for
it to pass。 For a time there was silence without； such a terrible
silence that Tarzan was surprised that he did not hear the
breathing of the animal he felt sure must be crouching close
to the back wall of his tent。
There！ It is moving again。 Closer it creeps。 Tarzan turns his
head in the direction of the sound。 It is very dark within the tent。
Slowly the back rises from the ground； forced up by the head and
shoulders of a body that looks all black in the semi…darkness。
Beyond is a faint glimpse of the dimly starlit desert。
A grim smile plays about Tarzan's lips。 At least Rokoff will
be cheated。 How mad he will be！ And death will be more
merciful than he could have hoped for at the hands of the Russian。
Now the back of the tent drops into place； and all is darkness
againwhatever it is is inside the tent with him。 He hears
it creeping close to himnow it is beside him。 He closes
his eyes and waits for the mighty paw。 Upon his upturned
face falls the gentle touch of a soft hand groping in the dark；
and then a girl's voice in a scarcely audible whisper
pronounces his name。
〃Yes； it is I；〃 he whispers in reply。 〃But in the name of
Heaven who are you？〃
〃The Ouled…Nail of Sisi Aissa；〃 came the answer。 While she
spoke Tarzan could feel her working about his bonds。
Occasionally the cold steel of a knife touched his flesh。
A moment later he was free。
〃Come！〃 she whispered。
On hands and knees he followed her out of the tent by the way
she had come。 She continued crawling thus flat to the ground
until she reached a little patch of shrub。 There she halted
until he gained her side。 For a moment he looked at her
before he spoke。
〃I cannot understand；〃 he said at last。 〃Why are you here？
How did you know that I was a prisoner in that tent？
How does it happen that it is you who have saved me？〃
She smiled。 〃I have come a long way tonight；〃 she said；
〃and we have a long way to go before we shall be out of danger。
Come； I shall tell you all about as we go。〃
Together they rose and set off across the desert in the
direction of the mountains。
〃I was not quite sure that I should ever reach you；〃 she
said at last。 〃EL ADREA is abroad tonight； and after
I left the horses I think he winded me and was followingI
was terribly frightened。〃
〃What a brave girl；〃 he said。 〃And you ran all that risk
for a strangeran alienan unbeliever？〃
She drew herself up very proudly。
〃I am the daughter of the Sheik Kabour ben Saden；〃 she answered。
〃I should be no fit daughter of his if I would not risk my
life to save that of the man who saved mine while he yet
thought that I was but a common Ouled…Nail。〃
〃Nevertheless；〃 he insisted； 〃you are a very brave girl。
But how did you know that I was a prisoner back there？〃
〃Achmet…din…Taieb； who is my cousin on my father's side； was
visiting some friends who belong to the tribe that captured you。
He was at the DOUAR when you were brought in。 When he reached
home he was telling us about the big Frenchman who had been
captured by Ali…ben…Ahmed for another Frenchman who wished
to kill him。 From the description I knew that it must be you。
My father was away。 I tried to persuade some of the men to
come and save you； but they would not do it； saying： ‘Let the
unbelievers kill one another if they wish。 It is none of our
affair； and if we go and interfere with Ali…ben…Ahmed's plans
we shall only stir up a fight with our own people。'
〃So when it was dark I came alone； riding one horse and
leading another for you。 They are tethered not far from here。
By morning we shall be within my father's DOUAR。
He should be there himself by nowthen let them come and
try to take Kadour ben Saden's friend。〃
For a few moments they walked on in silence。
〃We should be near the horses；〃 she said。 〃It is strange
that I do not see them here。〃
Then a moment later she stopped； with a little cry of consternation。
〃They are gone！〃 she exclaimed。 〃It is here that I tethered them。〃
Tarzan stooped to examine the ground。 He found that a
large shrub had been torn up by the roots。 Then he found
something else。 There was a wry smile on his face as he rose
and turned toward the girl。
〃EL ADREA has been here。 From the signs； though； I rather
think that his prey escaped him。 With a little start they
would be safe enough from him in the open。〃
There was nothing to do but continue on foot。 The way
led them across a low spur of the mountains； but the girl
knew the trail as well as she did her mother's face。
They walked in easy； swinging strides； Tarzan keeping a hand's
breadth behind the girl's shoulder； that she might set the
pace； and thus be less fatigued。 As they walked they talked；
occasionally stopping to listen for sounds of pursuit。
It was now a beautiful； moonlit night。 The air was crisp
and invigorating。 Behind them lay the interminable vista of
the desert； dotted here and there with an occasional oasis。
The date palms of the little fertile spot they had just left；
and the circle of goatskin tents； stood out in sharp relief
against the yellow sanda phantom paradise upon a phantom sea。
Before them rose the grim and silent mountains。 Tarzan's blood
leaped in his veins。 This was life！ He looked down upon the
girl beside hima daughter of the desert walking across the
face of a dead world with a son of the jungle。 He smiled at
the thought。 He wished that he had had a sister； and that she
had been like this girl。 What a bully chum she would have been！
They had entered the mountains now； and were progressing
more slowly； for the trail was steeper and very rocky。
For a few minutes they had been silent。 The girl was
wondering if they would reach her father's DOUAR before the
pursuit had overtaken them。 Tarzan was wishing that they
might walk on thus forever。 If the girl were only a man
they might。 He longed for a friend who loved the same wild
life that he loved。 He had learned to crave companionship；
but it was his misfortune that most of the men he knew
preferred immaculate linen and their clubs to nakedness and
the jungle。 It was； of course； difficult to understand；
y