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strictly observed by the wild nomads of the desert than by
their more civilized brothers and sisters。 And in a little while
she would be married to one of these swarthy warriors； and
there would be an end to their friendship。 So he decided
against the sheik's proposal； though he remained a week as
his guest。
When he left； Kadour ben Saden and fifty white…robed
warriors rode with him to Bou Saada。 While they were
mounting in the DOUAR of Kadour ben Saden the morning
of their departure； the girl came to bid farewell to Tarzan。
〃I have prayed that you would remain with us；〃 she said
simply； as he leaned from his saddle to clasp her hand in
farewell； 〃and now I shall pray that you will return。〃
There was an expression of wistfulness in her beautiful
eyes； and a pathetic droop at the corners of her mouth。
Tarzan was touched。
〃Who knows？〃 and then he turned and rode after the
departing Arabs。
Outside Bou Saada he bade Kadour ben Saden and his men
good…by； for there were reasons which made him wish to
make his entry into the town as secret as possible； and when
he had explained them to the sheik the latter concurred in
his decision。 The Arabs were to enter Bou Saada ahead of
him； saying nothing as to his presence with them。
Later Tarzan would come in alone； and go directly to
an obscure native inn。
Thus； making his entrance after dark； as he did； he was not
seen by any one who knew him； and reached the inn unobserved。
After dining with Kadour ben Saden as his guest； he went to
his former hotel by a roundabout way； and； coming in by a
rear entrance； sought the proprietor； who seemed much
surprised to see him alive。
Yes； there was mail for monsieur； he would fetch it。
No； he would mention monsieur's return to no one。
Presently he returned with a packet of letters。 One was an
order from his superior to lay off on his present work；
and hasten to Cape Town by the first steamer he could get。
His further instructions would be awaiting him there in the
hands of another agent whose name and address were given。
That was allbrief but explicit。 Tarzan arranged to leave
Bou Saada early the next morning。 Then he started for the
garrison to see Captain Gerard； whom the hotel man had told
him had returned with his detachment the previous day。
He found the officer in his quarters。 He was filled with
surprise and pleasure at seeing Tarzan alive and well。
〃When Lieutenant Gernois returned and reported that he
had not found you at the spot that you had chosen to remain
while the detachment was scouting； I was filled with alarm。
We searched the mountain for days。 Then came word that
you had been killed and eaten by a lion。 As proof your
gun was brought to us。 Your horse had returned to camp
the second day after your disappearance。 We could not doubt。
Lieutenant Gernois was grief…strickenhe took all the
blame upon himself。 It was he who insisted on carrying on
the search himself。 It was he who found the Arab with your gun。
He will be delighted to know that you are safe。〃
〃Doubtless；〃 said Tarzan； with a grim smile。
〃He is down in the town now； or I should send for him；〃
continued Captain Gerard。 〃I shall tell him as soon
as he returns。〃
Tarzan let the officer think that he had been lost； wandering
finally into the DOUAR of Kadour ben Saden； who had
escorted him back to Bou Saada。 As soon as possible he bade
the good officer adieu； and hastened back into the town。
At the native inn he had learned through Kadour ben Saden a
piece of interesting information。 It told of a black…bearded
white man who went always disguised as an Arab。 For a time
he had nursed a broken wrist。 More recently he had been
away from Bou Saada； but now he was back； and Tarzan
knew his place of concealment。 It was for there he headed。
Through narrow； stinking alleys； black as Erebus； he groped；
and then up a rickety stairway； at the end of which was a
closed door and a tiny； unglazed window。 The window was
high under the low eaves of the mud building。 Tarzan could
just reach the sill。 He raised himself slowly until his
eyes topped it。 The room within was lighted； and at a table
sat Rokoff and Gernois。 Gernois was speaking。
〃Rokoff； you are a devil！〃 he was saying。 〃You have hounded
me until I have lost the last shred of my honor。 You have
driven me to murder； for the blood of that man Tarzan is on
my hands。 If it were not that that other devil's spawn；
Paulvitch； still knew my secret； I should kill you here tonight
with my bare hands。〃
Rokoff laughed。 〃You would not do that； my dear lieutenant；〃
he said。 〃The moment I am reported dead by assassination
that dear Alexis will forward to the minister of war full
proof of the affair you so ardently long to conceal； and；
further； will charge you with my murder。 Come； be sensible。
I am your best friend。 Have I not protected your honor as
though it were my own？〃
Gernois sneered； and spat out an oath。
〃Just one more little payment；〃 continued Rokoff； 〃and the
papers I wish； and you have my word of honor that I shall
never ask another cent from you； or further information。〃
〃And a good reason why；〃 growled Gernois。 〃What you
ask will take my last cent； and the only valuable military
secret I hold。 You ought to be paying me for the information；
instead of taking both it and money； too。〃
〃I am paying you by keeping a still tongue in my head；〃
retorted Rokoff。 〃But let's have done。 Will you； or will you not？
I give you three minutes to decide。 If you are not agreeable
I shall send a note to your commandant tonight that will end
in the degradation that Dreyfus sufferedthe only difference
being that he did not deserve it。〃
For a moment Gernois sat with bowed head。 At length he arose。
He drew two pieces of paper from his blouse。
〃Here；〃 he said hopelessly。 〃I had them ready； for I knew
that there could be but one outcome。〃 He held them toward
the Russian。
Rokoff's cruel face lighted in malignant gloating。 He seized
the bits of paper。
〃You have done well； Gernois；〃 he said。 〃I shall not trouble
you againunless you happen to accumulate some more money or
information；〃 and he grinned。
〃You never shall again； you dog！〃 hissed Gernois。 〃The
next time I shall kill you。 I came near doing it tonight。
For an hour I sat with these two pieces of paper on my table
before me ere I came herebeside them lay my loaded revolver。
I was trying to decide which I should bring。 Next time the
choice shall be easier； for I already have decided。 You had
a close call tonight； Rokoff； do not tempt fate a second time。〃
Then Gernois rose to leave。 Tarzan barely had time to drop
to the landing and shrink back into the shadows on the far
side of the door。 Even then he scarcely hoped to elude
detection。 The landing was very small； and though he flattened
himself against the