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they broke into a mad run； thinking doubtless that they
would soon overhaul the burdened runner； but they both
underestimated the powers of the ape…man and overestimated
the possibilities of their own short； crooked legs。
By maintaining an easy trot； Tarzan kept the distance
between them always the same。 Occasionally he would glance
at the face so near his own。 Had it not been for the faint
beating of the heart pressed so close against his own； he
would not have known that she was alive； so white and drawn
was the poor； tired face。
And thus they came to the flat…topped mountain and the
barrier cliffs。 During the last mile Tarzan had let himself out；
running like a deer that he might have ample time to descend
the face of the cliffs before the Oparians could reach the
summit and hurl rocks down upon them。 And so it was that
he was half a mile down the mountainside ere the fierce little
men came panting to the edge。
With cries of rage and disappointment they ranged along
the cliff top shaking their cudgels； and dancing up and
down in a perfect passion of anger。 But this time they did
not pursue beyond the boundary of their own country。
Whether it was because they recalled the futility of their
former long and irksome search； or after witnessing the ease
with which the ape…man swung along before them； and the
last burst of speed； they realized the utter hopelessness of
further pursuit； it is difficult to say； but as Tarzan reached
the woods that began at the base of the foothills which
skirted the barrier cliffs they turned their faces once more
toward Opar。
Just within the forest's edge； where he could yet watch the
cliff tops； Tarzan laid his burden upon the grass； and going to
the near…by rivulet brought water with which he bathed
her face and hands； but even this did not revive her； and；
greatly worried； he gathered the girl into his strong arms once
more and hurried on toward the west。
Late in the afternoon Jane Porter regained consciousness。
She did not open her eyes at onceshe was trying to recall
the scenes that she had last witnessed。 Ah； she remembered now。
The altar； the terrible priestess； the descending knife。
She gave a little shudder； for she thought that either this was
death or that the knife had buried itself in her heart and
she was experiencing the brief delirium preceding death。
And when finally she mustered courage to open her eyes；
the sight that met them confirmed her fears； for she saw that
she was being borne through a leafy paradise in the arms
of her dead love。 〃If this be death；〃 she murmured； 〃thank
God that I am dead。〃
〃You spoke； Jane！〃 cried Tarzan。 〃You are regaining consciousness！〃
〃Yes； Tarzan of the Apes；〃 she replied； and for the first
time in months a smile of peace and happiness lighted her face。
〃Thank God！〃 cried the ape…man； coming to the ground in
a little grassy clearing beside the stream。 〃I was in time；
after all。〃
〃In time？ What do you mean？〃 she questioned。
〃In time to save you from death upon the altar； dear；〃
he replied。 〃Do you not remember？〃
〃Save me from death？〃 she asked； in a puzzled tone。
〃Are we not both dead； my Tarzan？〃
He had placed her upon the grass by now； her back resting
against the stem of a huge tree。 At her question he
stepped back where he could the better see her face。
〃Dead！〃 he repeated； and then he laughed。 〃You are not；
Jane； and if you will return to the city of Opar and ask
them who dwell there they will tell you that I was not dead
a few short hours ago。 No； dear； we are both very much alive。〃
〃But both Hazel and Monsieur Thuran told me that you
had fallen into the ocean many miles from land；〃 she urged；
as though trying to convince him that he must indeed
be dead。 〃They said that there was no question but that
it must have been you； and less that you could have survived
or been picked up。〃
〃How can I convince you that I am no spirit？〃 he asked；
with a laugh。 〃It was I whom the delightful Monsieur Thuran
pushed overboard； but I did not drownI will tell you all
about it after a whileand here I am very much the same
wild man you first knew； Jane Porter。〃
The girl rose slowly to her feet and came toward him。
〃I cannot even yet believe it；〃 she murmured。 〃It cannot
be that such happiness can be true after all the hideous
things that I have passed through these awful months since
the LADY ALICE went down。〃
She came close to him and laid a hand； soft and trembling；
upon his arm。
〃It must be that I am dreaming； and that I shall awaken
in a moment to see that awful knife descending toward my
heartkiss me； dear； just once before I lose my dream forever。〃
Tarzan of the Apes needed no second invitation。 He took
the girl he loved in his strong arms； and kissed her not once；
but a hundred times； until she lay there panting for breath；
yet when he stopped she put her arms about his neck and
drew his lips down to hers once more。
〃Am I alive and a reality； or am I but a dream？〃 he asked。
〃If you are not alive； my man；〃 she answered； 〃I pray
that I may die thus before I awaken to the terrible
realities of my last waking moments。〃
For a while both were silentgazing into each others'
eyes as though each still questioned the reality of the
wonderful happiness that had come to them。 The past； with all
its hideous disappointments and horrors； was forgottenthe
future did not belong to them； but the presentah； it was
theirs； none could take it from them。 It was the girl who
first broke the sweet silence。
〃Where are we going； dear？〃 she asked。 〃What are we
going to do？〃
〃Where would you like best to go？〃 he asked。 〃What would
you like best to do？〃
〃To go where you go； my man； to do whatever seems
best to you；〃 she answered。
〃But Clayton？〃 he asked。 For a moment he had forgotten
that there existed upon the earth other than they two。
〃We have forgotten your husband。〃
〃I am not married； Tarzan of the Apes；〃 she cried。
〃Nor am I longer promised in marriage。 The day before those
awful creatures captured me I spoke to Mr。 Clayton of my
love for you； and he understood then that I could not keep
the wicked promise that I had made。 It was after we had
been miraculously saved from an attacking lion。〃 She paused
suddenly and looked up at him； a questioning light in her eyes。
〃Tarzan of the Apes；〃 she cried； 〃it was you who did
that thing？ It could have been no other。〃
He dropped his eyes； for he was ashamed。
〃How could you have gone away and left me？〃 she cried reproachfully。
〃Don't； Jane！〃 he pleaded。 〃Please don't！ You cannot
know how I have suffered since for the cruelty of that act；
or how I suffered then； first in jealous rage； and then in
bitter resentment against the fate that I had not deserved。
I went back to the apes after that； Jane； intending never
again to s