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The more Tarzan thought of it； the more keenly his
conscience pricked him。
Finally he came to loathe himself for permitting his own selfish
sorrow and jealousy to stand between Jane Porter and safety。
As the days passed the thing preyed more and more upon
his mind； and he had about determined to return to the
coast and place himself on guard over Jane Porter and
Clayton； when news reached him that altered all his plans
and sent him dashing madly toward the east in reckless
disregard of accident and death。
Before Tarzan had returned to the tribe； a certain young
bull； not being able to secure a mate from among his own
people； had； according to custom； fared forth through the
wild jungle； like some knight…errant of old； to win a fair
lady from some neighboring community。
He had but just returned with his bride； and was narrating his
adventures quickly before he should forget them。 Among other
things he told of seeing a great tribe of strange…looking apes。
〃They were all hairy…faced bulls but one；〃 he said； 〃and
that one was a she； lighter in color even than this stranger；〃
and he chucked a thumb at Tarzan。
The ape…man was all attention in an instant。 He asked
questions as rapidly as the slow…witted anthropoid could
answer them。
〃Were the bulls short； with crooked legs？〃
〃They were。〃
〃Did they wear the skins of Numa and Sheeta about their
loins； and carry sticks and knives？〃
〃They did。〃
〃And were there many yellow rings about their arms and legs？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And the she onewas she small and slender； and very white？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Did she seem to be one of the tribe； or was she a prisoner？〃
〃They dragged her alongsometimes by an armsometimes
by the long hair that grew upon her head； and always they
kicked and beat her。 Oh； but it was great fun to watch them。〃
〃God！〃 muttered Tarzan。
〃Where were they when you saw them； and which way
were they going？〃 continued the ape…man。
〃They were beside the second water back there；〃 and he
pointed to the south。 〃When they passed me they were going
toward the morning； upward along the edge of the water。〃
〃When was this？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃Half a moon since。〃
Without another word the ape…man sprang into the trees
and fled like a disembodied spirit eastward in the direction
of the forgotten city of Opar。
Chapter 24
How Tarzan Came Again to Opar
When Clayton returned to the shelter and found Jane Porter
was missing； he became frantic with fear and grief。
He found Monsieur Thuran quite rational； the fever having
left him with the surprising suddenness which is one
of its peculiarities。 The Russian； weak and exhausted；
still lay upon his bed of grasses within the shelter。
When Clayton asked him about the girl he seemed surprised
to know that she was not there。
〃I have heard nothing unusual；〃 he said。 〃But then I have
been unconscious much of the time。〃
Had it not been for the man's very evident weakness；
Clayton should have suspected him of having sinister
knowledge of the girl's whereabouts； but he could see that
Thuran lacked sufficient vitality even to descend； unaided；
from the shelter。 He could not； in his present physical
condition； have harmed the girl； nor could he have climbed
the rude ladder back to the shelter。
Until dark the Englishman searched the nearby jungle for a
trace of the missing one or a sign of the trail of her abductor。
But though the spoor left by the fifty frightful men；
unversed in woodcraft as they were； would have been
as plain to the densest denizen of the jungle as a city street
to the Englishman； yet he crossed and recrossed it twenty
times without observing the slightest indication that many
men had passed that way but a few short hours since。
As he searched； Clayton continued to call the girl's name
aloud； but the only result of this was to attract Numa；
the lion。 Fortunately the man saw the shadowy form worming
its way toward him in time to climb into the branches of a tree
before the beast was close enough to reach him。 This put an
end to his search for the balance of the afternoon； as the
lion paced back and forth beneath him until dark。
Even after the beast had left； Clayton dared not descend
into the awful blackness beneath him； and so he spent a
terrifying and hideous night in the tree。 The next morning
he returned to the beach； relinquishing the last hope of
succoring Jane Porter。
During the week that followed； Monsieur Thuran rapidly
regained his strength； lying in the shelter while Clayton
hunted food for both。 The men never spoke except as
necessity demanded。 Clayton now occupied the section of
the shelter which had been reserved for Jane Porter； and
only saw the Russian when he took food or water to him； or
performed the other kindly offices which common humanity required。
When Thuran was again able to descend in search of food；
Clayton was stricken with fever。 For days he lay tossing
in delirium and suffering； but not once did the Russian
come near him。 Food the Englishman could not have eaten；
but his craving for water amounted practically to torture。
Between the recurrent attacks of delirium； weak though he
was； he managed to reach the brook once a day and fill a tiny
can that had been among the few appointments of the lifeboat。
Thuran watched him on these occasions with an expression
of malignant pleasurehe seemed really to enjoy the
suffering of the man who； despite the just contempt in which
he held him； had ministered to him to the best of his
ability while he lay suffering the same agonies。
At last Clayton became so weak that he was no longer
able to descend from the shelter。 For a day he suffered for
water without appealing to the Russian； but finally； unable
to endure it longer； he asked Thuran to fetch him a drink。
The Russian came to the entrance to Clayton's room； a
dish of water in his hand。 A nasty grin contorted his features。
〃Here is water；〃 he said。 〃But first let me remind you that
you maligned me before the girlthat you kept her to
yourself； and would not share her with me〃
Clayton interrupted him。 〃Stop！〃 he cried。 Stop！
What manner of cur are you that you traduce the character
of a good woman whom we believe dead！ God！ I was a fool
ever to let you liveyou are not fit to live even in
this vile land。〃
〃Here is your water；〃 said the Russian。 〃All you will
get；〃 and he raised the basin to his lips and drank； what
was left he threw out upon the ground below。 Then he turned
and left the sick man。
Clayton rolled over； and； burying his face in his arms； gave
up the battle。
The next day Thuran determined to set out toward the
north along the coast； for he knew that eventually he must
come to the habitations of civilized menat least he could
be no worse off than he was here； and； furtherm