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monsieur； fly； or he will surely kill you！〃 But instead of
flying Tarzan advanced to meet the fellow。 〃Do not make a
fool of yourself； monsieur；〃 he said。
Rokoff； who was in a perfect frenzy of rage at the humiliation
the stranger had put upon him； had at last succeeded in drawing
the revolver。 He had stopped； and now he deliberately raised
it to Tarzan's breast and pulled the trigger。 The hammer fell
with a futile click on an empty chamberthe ape…man's hand
shot out like the head of an angry python； there was a quick
wrench； and the revolver sailed far out across the ship's
rail； and dropped into the Atlantic。
For a moment the two men stood there facing one another。 Rokoff
had regained his self…possession。 He was the first to speak。
〃Twice now has monsieur seen fit to interfere in matters
which do not concern him。 Twice he has taken it upon himself
to humiliate Nikolas Rokoff。 The first offense was overlooked
on the assumption that monsieur acted through ignorance；
but this affair shall not be overlooked。 If monsieur
does not know who Nikolas Rokoff is； this last piece of
effrontery will insure that monsieur later has good reason
to remember him。〃
〃That you are a coward and a scoundrel； monsieur；〃 replied
Tarzan； 〃is all that I care to know of you；〃 and he
turned to ask the girl if the man had hurt her； but she had
disappeared。 Then； without even a glance toward Rokoff and
his companion； he continued his stroll along the deck。
Tarzan could not but wonder what manner of conspiracy
was on foot； or what the scheme of the two men might be。
There had been something rather familiar about the
appearance of the veiled woman to whose rescue he had just
come； but as he had not seen her face he could not be sure
that he had ever seen her before。 The only thing about her
that he had particularly noticed was a ring of peculiar
workmanship upon a finger of the hand that Rokoff had
seized； and he determined to note the fingers of the women
passengers he came upon thereafter； that he might discover
the identity of her whom Rokoff was persecuting； and learn
if the fellow had offered her further annoyance。
Tarzan had sought his deck chair； where he sat speculating
on the numerous instances of human cruelty； selfishness； and
spite that had fallen to his lot to witness since that day in
the jungle four years since that his eyes had first fallen
upon a human being other than himselfthe sleek； black
Kulonga； whose swift spear had that day found the vitals of
Kala； the great she…ape； and robbed the youth； Tarzan； of
the only mother he had ever known。
He recalled the murder of King by the rat…faced Snipes；
the abandonment of Professor Porter and his party by the
mutineers of the ARROW； the cruelty of the black warriors
and women of Mbonga to their captives； the petty jealousies of
the civil and military officers of the West Coast colony that
had afforded him his first introduction to the civilized world。
〃MON DIEU！〃 he soliloquized； 〃but they are all alike。
Cheating； murdering； lying； fighting； and all for things that
the beasts of the jungle would not deign to possessmoney
to purchase the effeminate pleasures of weaklings。 And yet
withal bound down by silly customs that make them slaves to
their unhappy lot while firm in the belief that they be the
lords of creation enjoying the only real pleasures of existence。
In the jungle one would scarcely stand supinely aside while
another took his mate。 It is a silly world； an idiotic world；
and Tarzan of the Apes was a fool to renounce the freedom and
the happiness of his jungle to come into it。〃
Presently； as he sat there； the sudden feeling came over
him that eyes were watching from behind； and the old
instinct of the wild beast broke through the thin veneer of
civilization； so that Tarzan wheeled about so quickly that the
eyes of the young woman who had been surreptitiously regarding
him had not even time to drop before the gray eyes
of the ape…man shot an inquiring look straight into them。
Then； as they fell； Tarzan saw a faint wave of crimson creep
swiftly over the now half…averted face。
He smiled to himself at the result of his very uncivilized and
ungallant action； for he had not lowered his own eyes when
they met those of the young woman。 She was very young；
and equally good to look upon。 Further； there was something
rather familiar about her that set Tarzan to wondering
where he had seen her before。 He resumed his former position；
and presently he was aware that she had arisen and was
leaving the deck。 As she passed； Tarzan turned to watch her；
in the hope that he might discover a clew to satisfy his mild
curiosity as to her identity。
Nor was he disappointed entirely； for as she walked away
she raised one hand to the black； waving mass at the nape
of her neckthe peculiarly feminine gesture that admits
cognizance of appraising eyes behind herand Tarzan saw
upon a finger of this hand the ring of strange workmanship
that he had seen upon the finger of the veiled woman a short
time before。
So it was this beautiful young woman Rokoff had been
persecuting。 Tarzan wondered in a lazy sort of way whom
she might be； and what relations one so lovely could have
with the surly； bearded Russian。
After dinner that evening Tarzan strolled forward； where
he remained until after dark； in conversation with the second
officer； and when that gentleman's duties called him elsewhere
Tarzan lolled lazily by the rail watching the play of
the moonlight upon the gently rolling waters。 He was
half hidden by a davit； so that two men who approached
along the deck did not see him； and as they passed Tarzan
caught enough of their conversation to cause him to fall in
behind them； to follow and learn what deviltry they were up
to。 He had recognized the voice as that of Rokoff； and had
seen that his companion was Paulvitch。
Tarzan had overheard but a few words： 〃And if she screams
you may choke her until〃 But those had been enough to
arouse the spirit of adventure within him； and so he kept the
two men in sight as they walked； briskly now； along the deck。
To the smoking…room he followed them； but they merely
halted at the doorway long enough； apparently； to assure
themselves that one whose whereabouts they wished to
establish was within。
Then they proceeded directly to the first…class cabins upon
the promenade deck。 Here Tarzan found greater difficulty
in escaping detection； but he managed to do so successfully。
As they halted before one of the polished hardwood doors；
Tarzan slipped into the shadow of a passageway not a dozen
feet from them。
To their knock a woman's voice asked in French： 〃Who is it？〃
〃It is I； OlgaNikolas；〃 was the answer； in Rokoff's now
familiar guttural。 〃May I come in？〃
〃Why do you not cease persecuting me； Nikolas？〃 came
the voice of the woman from beyond t