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toward the taxicab； into which Carl was now handing the
baby to the swarthy one within。
Just before she reached the vehicle； Carl leaped in beside
his confederate； slamming the door behind him。 At the same
time the chauffeur attempted to start his machine； but it was
evident that something had gone wrong； as though the gears
refused to mesh； and the delay caused by this； while he
pushed the lever into reverse and backed the car a few inches
before again attempting to go ahead； gave the nurse time to
reach the side of the taxicab。
Leaping to the running…board； she had attempted to snatch
the baby from the arms of the stranger； and here； screaming
and fighting； she had clung to her position even after the
taxicab had got under way； nor was it until the machine had
passed the Greystoke residence at good speed that Carl； with
a heavy blow to her face； had succeeded in knocking her to
the pavement。
Her screams had attracted servants and members of the
families from residences near by； as well as from the
Greystoke home。 Lady Greystoke had witnessed the girl's brave
battle； and had herself tried to reach the rapidly passing
vehicle； but had been too late。
That was all that anyone knew； nor did Lady Greystoke
dream of the possible identity of the man at the bottom of
the plot until her husband told her of the escape of Nikolas
Rokoff from the French prison where they had hoped he was
permanently confined。
As Tarzan and his wife stood planning the wisest course to pursue；
the telephone bell rang in the library at their right。 Tarzan quickly
answered the call in person。
〃Lord Greystoke？〃 asked a man's voice at the other end of the line。
〃Yes。〃
〃Your son has been stolen；〃 continued the voice； 〃and I alone
may help you to recover him。 I am conversant with the plot
of those who took him。 In fact； I was a party to it； and was
to share in the reward； but now they are trying to ditch me；
and to be quits with them I will aid you to recover him
on condition that you will not prosecute me for my part in
the crime。 What do you say？〃
〃If you lead me to where my son is hidden；〃 replied the
ape…man； 〃you need fear nothing from me。〃
〃Good；〃 replied the other。 〃But you must come alone to meet me；
for it is enough that I must trust you。 I cannot take the
chance of permitting others to learn my identity。〃
〃Where and when may I meet you？〃 asked Tarzan。
The other gave the name and location of a public…house
on the water…front at Dovera place frequented by sailors。
〃Come；〃 he concluded； 〃about ten o'clock tonight。 It would
do no good to arrive earlier。 Your son will be safe enough
in the meantime； and I can then lead you secretly to where
he is hidden。 But be sure to come alone； and under no
circumstances notify Scotland Yard； for I know you well and
shall be watching for you。
〃Should any other accompany you； or should I see suspicious
characters who might be agents of the police； I shall not meet you；
and your last chance of recovering your son will be gone。〃
Without more words the man rang off。
Tarzan repeated the gist of the conversation to his wife。
She begged to be allowed to accompany him； but he insisted
that it might result in the man's carrying out his threat of
refusing to aid them if Tarzan did not come alone； and so
they parted； he to hasten to Dover； and she； ostensibly to wait
at home until he should notify her of the outcome of his mission。
Little did either dream of what both were destined to pass
through before they should meet again； or the far…distant
but why anticipate？
For ten minutes after the ape…man had left her Jane Clayton walked
restlessly back and forth across the silken rugs of the library。
Her mother heart ached； bereft of its firstborn。 Her mind was
in an anguish of hopes and fears。
Though her judgment told her that all would be well were
her Tarzan to go alone in accordance with the mysterious
stranger's summons； her intuition would not permit her to
lay aside suspicion of the gravest dangers to both her husband
and her son。
The more she thought of the matter； the more convinced
she became that the recent telephone message might be but
a ruse to keep them inactive until the boy was safely hidden
away or spirited out of England。 Or it might be that it had
been simply a bait to lure Tarzan into the hands of the
implacable Rokoff。
With the lodgment of this thought she stopped in wide…
eyed terror。 Instantly it became a conviction。 She glanced at
the great clock ticking the minutes in the corner of the library。
It was too late to catch the Dover train that Tarzan was to take。
There was another； later； however； that would bring her to
the Channel port in time to reach the address the stranger
had given her husband before the appointed hour。
Summoning her maid and chauffeur； she issued instructions rapidly。
Ten minutes later she was being whisked through the crowded
streets toward the railway station。
It was nine…forty…five that night that Tarzan entered the
squalid 〃pub〃 on the water…front in Dover。 As he passed
into the evil…smelling room a muffled figure brushed past him
toward the street。
〃Come； my lord！〃 whispered the stranger。
The ape…man wheeled about and followed the other into the
ill…lit alley； which custom had dignified with the title
of thoroughfare。 Once outside； the fellow led the way into the
darkness； nearer a wharf； where high…piled bales； boxes； and
casks cast dense shadows。 Here he halted。
〃Where is the boy？〃 asked Greystoke。
〃On that small steamer whose lights you can just see yonder；〃
replied the other。
In the gloom Tarzan was trying to peer into the features of
his companion； but he did not recognize the man as one
whom he had ever before seen。 Had he guessed that his guide
was Alexis Paulvitch he would have realized that naught but
treachery lay in the man's heart； and that danger lurked in
the path of every move。
〃He is unguarded now；〃 continued the Russian。 〃Those who
took him feel perfectly safe from detection； and with
the exception of a couple of members of the crew； whom I
have furnished with enough gin to silence them effectually
for hours； there is none aboard the Kincaid。 We can go
aboard； get the child； and return without the slightest fear。〃
Tarzan nodded。
〃Let's be about it； then；〃 he said。
His guide led him to a small boat moored alongside the wharf。
The two men entered； and Paulvitch pulled rapidly toward
the steamer。 The black smoke issuing from her funnel did
not at the time make any suggestion to Tarzan's mind。 All his
thoughts were occupied with the hope that in a few moments
he would again have his little son in his arms。
At the steamer's side they found a monkey…ladder dangling
close above them； and up this the two men crept stealthily。
Once on deck t