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〃Monsieur Thuran has been explaining some of the mysteries
of navigation to me；〃 explained the girl。
Tarzan paid little heed to the conversation that ensuedhe
was attempting to recall where he had met Monsieur Thuran before。
That it had been under peculiar circumstances he was positive。
Presently the sun reached them； and the girl asked Monsieur
Thuran to move her chair farther back into the shade。
Tarzan happened to be watching the man at the time；
and noticed the awkward manner in which he handled
the chairhis left wrist was stiff。 That clew was
sufficienta sudden train of associated ideas did the rest。
Monsieur Thuran had been trying to find an excuse to
make a graceful departure。 The lull in the conversation
following the moving of their position gave him an opportunity
to make his excuses。 Bowing low to Miss Strong； and inclining
his head to Tarzan； he turned to leave them。
〃Just a moment；〃 said Tarzan。 〃If Miss Strong will pardon me
I will accompany you。 I shall return in a moment； Miss Strong。〃
Monsieur Thuran looked uncomfortable。 When the two men had
passed out of the girl's sight； Tarzan stopped； laying a
heavy hand on the other's shoulder。
〃What is your game now； Rokoff？〃 he asked。
〃I am leaving France as I promised you；〃 replied the other；
in a surly voice。
〃I see you are；〃 said Tarzan； 〃but I know you so well
that I can scarcely believe that your being on the same boat
with me is purely a coincidence。 If I could believe it the
fact that you are in disguise would immediately disabuse
my mind of any such idea。〃
〃Well；〃 growled Rokoff； with a shrug； 〃I cannot see what you
are going to do about it。 This vessel flies the English flag。
I have as much right on board her as you； and from the
fact that you are booked under an assumed name I imagine
that I have more right。〃
〃We will not discuss it； Rokoff。 All I wanted to say to
you is that you must keep away from Miss Strongshe is a
decent woman。〃
Rokoff turned scarlet。
〃If you don't I shall pitch you overboard；〃 continued Tarzan。
〃Do not forget that I am just waiting for some excuse。〃
Then he turned on his heel； and left Rokoff standing
there trembling with suppressed rage。
He did not see the man again for days； but Rokoff was
not idle。 In his stateroom with Paulvitch he fumed and
swore； threatening the most terrible of revenges。
〃I would throw him overboard tonight；〃 he cried； 〃were I
sure that those papers were not on his person。 I cannot
chance pitching them into the ocean with him。 If you were
not such a stupid coward； Alexis； you would find a way to
enter his stateroom and search for the documents。〃
Paulvitch smiled。 〃You are supposed to be the brains of this
partnership； my dear Nikolas；〃 he replied。 〃Why do you not
find the means to search Monsieur Caldwell's stateroomeh？〃
Two hours later fate was kind to them； for Paulvitch； who
was ever on the watch； saw Tarzan leave his room without
locking the door。 Five minutes later Rokoff was stationed
where he could give the alarm in case Tarzan returned； and
Paulvitch was deftly searching the contents of the ape…
man's luggage。
He was about to give up in despair when he saw a coat
which Tarzan had just removed。 A moment later he grasped an
official envelope in his hand。 A quick glance at its contents
brought a broad smile to the Russian's face。
When he left the stateroom Tarzan himself could not have
told that an article in it had been touched since he left
itPaulvitch was a past master in his chosen field。
When he handed the packet to Rokoff in the seclusion of
their stateroom the larger man rang for a steward； and
ordered a pint of champagne。
〃We must celebrate； my dear Alexis；〃 he said。
〃It was luck； Nikolas；〃 explained Paulvitch。 〃It is evident
that he carries these papers always upon his personjust
by chance he neglected to transfer them when he changed
coats a few minutes since。 But there will be the deuce to
pay when he discovers his loss。 I am afraid that he will
immediately connect you with it。 Now that he knows that
you are on board he will suspect you at once。〃
〃It will make no difference whom he suspectsafter to…night；〃
said Rokoff； with a nasty grin。
After Miss Strong had gone below that night Tarzan stood
leaning over the rail looking far out to sea。 Every night he
had done this since he had come on boardsometimes he
stood thus for an hour。 And the eyes that had been watching
his every movement since he had boarded the ship at
Algiers knew that this was his habit。
Even as he stood there this night those eyes were on him。
Presently the last straggler had left the deck。 It was
a clear night； but there was no moonobjects on deck
were barely discernible。
From the shadows of the cabin two figures crept stealthily
upon the ape…man from behind。 The lapping of the waves
against the ship's sides； the whirring of the propeller；
the throbbing of the engines； drowned the almost soundless
approach of the two。
They were quite close to him now； and crouching low； like
tacklers on a gridiron。 One of them raised his hand and
lowered it； as though counting off secondsonetwothree！
As one man the two leaped for their victim。 Each grasped a
leg； and before Tarzan of the Apes； lightning though he was；
could turn to save himself he had been pitched over the low
rail and was falling into the Atlantic。
Hazel Strong was looking from her darkened port across
the dark sea。 Suddenly a body shot past her eyes from
the deck above。 It dropped so quickly into the dark waters
below that she could not be sure of what it wasit might
have been a man； she could not say。 She listened for some
outcry from abovefor the always…fearsome call； 〃Man overboard！〃
but it did not come。 All was silence on the ship aboveall
was silence in the sea below。
The girl decided that she had but seen a bundle of refuse
thrown overboard by one of the ship's crew； and a moment
later sought her berth。
Chapter 13
The Wreck of the 〃Lady Alice〃
The next morning at breakfast Tarzan's place was vacant。
Miss Strong was mildly curious； for Mr。 Caldwell had
always made it a point to wait that he might breakfast
with her and her mother。 As she was sitting on deck later
Monsieur Thuran paused to exchange a half dozen pleasant
words with her。 He seemed in most excellent spiritshis
manner was the extreme of affability。 As he passed on Miss
Strong thought what a very delightful man was Monsieur Thuran。
The day dragged heavily。 She missed the quiet companionship
of Mr。 Caldwellthere had been something about him
that had made the girl like him from the first； he had talked
so entertainingly of the places he had seenthe peoples
and their customsthe wild beasts； and he had always had a
droll way of drawing striking comparisons between savage