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toward her Jane Clayton raised the heavy revolver high above
the pasty face and with all her strength dealt the man a terrific
blow between the eyes。
Without a sound he sank； limp and unconscious； to the ground。
A moment later the girl stood beside himfor a moment at
least free from the menace of his lust。
Outside the tent she again heard the noise that had distracted
Rokoff's attention。 What it was she did not know； but； fearing
the return of the servant and the discovery of her deed；
she stepped quickly to the camp table upon which burned the
oil lamp and extinguished the smudgy； evil…smelling flame。
In the total darkness of the interior she paused for a moment to
collect her wits and plan for the next step in her venture for freedom。
About her was a camp of enemies。 Beyond these foes a black
wilderness of savage jungle peopled by hideous beasts of prey
and still more hideous human beasts。
There was little or no chance that she could survive even a few
days of the constant dangers that would confront her there；
but the knowledge that she had already passed through
so many perils unscathed； and that somewhere out in the
faraway world a little child was doubtless at that very moment
crying for her； filled her with determination to make
the effort to accomplish the seemingly impossible and cross
that awful land of horror in search of the sea and the remote
chance of succour she might find there。
Rokoff's tent stood almost exactly in the centre of the boma。
Surrounding it were the tents and shelters of his white
companions and the natives of his safari。 To pass through
these and find egress through the boma seemed a task too
fraught with insurmountable obstacles to warrant even the
slightest consideration； and yet there was no other way。
To remain in the tent until she should be discovered would
be to set at naught all that she had risked to gain her freedom；
and so with stealthy step and every sense alert she approached
the back of the tent to set out upon the first stage
of her adventure。
Groping along the rear of the canvas wall； she found that
there was no opening there。 Quickly she returned to the side
of the unconscious Russian。 In his belt her groping fingers
came upon the hilt of a long hunting…knife； and with this she
cut a hole in the back wall of the tent。
Silently she stepped without。 To her immense relief she
saw that the camp was apparently asleep。 In the dim and
flickering light of the dying fires she saw but a single sentry；
and he was dozing upon his haunches at the opposite side of
the enclosure。
Keeping the tent between him and herself； she crossed
between the small shelters of the native porters to the
boma wall beyond。
Outside； in the darkness of the tangled jungle； she could
hear the roaring of lions； the laughing of hyenas； and the
countless； nameless noises of the midnight jungle。
For a moment she hesitated； trembling。 The thought of the
prowling beasts out there in the darkness was appalling。
Then； with a sudden brave toss of her head； she attacked the
thorny boma wall with her delicate hands。 Torn and bleeding
though they were； she worked on breathlessly until she had
made an opening through which she could worm her body；
and at last she stood outside the enclosure。
Behind her lay a fate worse than death； at the hands of
human beings。
Before her lay an almost certain fatebut it was only death
sudden； merciful； and honourable death。
Without a tremor and without regret she darted away from the camp；
and a moment later the mysterious jungle had closed about her。
Chapter 14
Alone in the Jungle
Tambudza； leading Tarzan of the Apes toward the camp of
the Russian； moved very slowly along the winding jungle
path； for she was old and her legs stiff with rheumatism。
So it was that the runners dispatched by M'ganwazam to warn
Rokoff that the white giant was in his village and that he
would be slain that night reached the Russian's camp before
Tarzan and his ancient guide had covered half the distance。
The guides found the white man's camp in a turmoil。
Rokoff had that morning been discovered stunned and bleeding
within his tent。 When he had recovered his senses and realized
that Jane Clayton had escaped； his rage was boundless。
Rushing about the camp with his rifle； he had sought to
shoot down the native sentries who had allowed the young
woman to elude their vigilance； but several of the other
whites； realizing that they were already in a precarious
position owing to the numerous desertions that Rokoff's
cruelty had brought about； seized and disarmed him。
Then came the messengers from M'ganwazam； but scarce
had they told their story and Rokoff was preparing to depart
with them for their village when other runners； panting from
the exertions of their swift flight through the jungle； rushed
breathless into the firelight； crying that the great white giant
had escaped from M'ganwazam and was already on his way
to wreak vengeance against his enemies。
Instantly confusion reigned within the encircling boma。
The blacks belonging to Rokoff's safari were terror…stricken at the
thought of the proximity of the white giant who hunted through
the jungle with a fierce pack of apes and panthers at his heels。
Before the whites realized what had happened the superstitious
fears of the natives had sent them scurrying into the bush
their own carriers as well as the messengers from M'ganwazam
but even in their haste they had not neglected to take with them
every article of value upon which they could lay their hands。
Thus Rokoff and the seven white sailors found themselves
deserted and robbed in the midst of a wilderness。
The Russian； following his usual custom； berated his companions；
laying all the blame upon their shoulders for the events which
had led up to the almost hopeless condition in which they now
found themselves； but the sailors were in no mood to brook
his insults and his cursing。
In the midst of this tirade one of them drew a revolver and fired
point…blank at the Russian。 The fellow's aim was poor； but
his act so terrified Rokoff that he turned and fled for his tent。
As he ran his eyes chanced to pass beyond the boma to the
edge of the forest； and there he caught a glimpse of that
which sent his craven heart cold with a fear that almost
expunged his terror of the seven men at his back； who by this
time were all firing in hate and revenge at his retreating figure。
What he saw was the giant figure of an almost naked white
man emerging from the bush。
Darting into his tent； the Russian did not halt in his flight；
but kept right on through the rear wall； taking advantage of
the long slit that Jane Clayton had made the night before。
The terror…stricken Muscovite scurried like a hunted rabbit
through the hole that