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man struck out for the overhanging branches of a near…by tree。
Nor was he a moment too soon； for scarcely had he drawn
himself to the safety of the limb than two gaping mouths
snapped venomously below him。 For a few minutes Tarzan
rested in the tree that had proved the means of his salvation。
His eyes scanned the river as far down…stream as the tortuous
channel would permit； but there was no sign of the Russian
or his dugout。
When he had rested and bound up his wounded leg he started
on in pursuit of the drifting canoe。 He found himself
upon the opposite of the river to that at which he had
entered the stream； but as his quarry was upon the bosom
of the water it made little difference to the ape…man
upon which side he took up the pursuit。
To his intense chagrin he soon found that his leg was more
badly injured than he had thought； and that its condition
seriously impeded his progress。 It was only with the greatest
difficulty that he could proceed faster than a walk upon the
ground； and in the trees he discovered that it not only impeded
his progress； but rendered travelling distinctly dangerous。
From the old negress； Tambudza； Tarzan had gathered a suggestion
that now filled his mind with doubts and misgivings。 When the
old woman had told him of the child's death she had also added
that the white woman； though grief…stricken； had confided to her
that the baby was not hers。
Tarzan could see no reason for believing that Jane could
have found it advisable to deny her identity or that of the
child； the only explanation that he could put upon the matter
was that； after all； the white woman who had accompanied
his son and the Swede into the jungle fastness of the interior
had not been Jane at all。
The more he gave thought to the problem； the more firmly
convinced he became that his son was dead and his wife still
safe in London； and in ignorance of the terrible fate that had
overtaken her first…born。
After all； then； his interpretation of Rokoff's sinister taunt
had been erroneous； and he had been bearing the burden of a
double apprehension needlesslyat least so thought the ape…man。
From this belief he garnered some slight surcease from the
numbing grief that the death of his little son had thrust upon him。
And such a death！ Even the savage beast that was the real
Tarzan； inured to the sufferings and horrors of the grim jungle；
shuddered as he contemplated the hideous fate that had
overtaken the innocent child。
As he made his way painfully towards the coast； he let his
mind dwell so constantly upon the frightful crimes which the
Russian had perpetrated against his loved ones that the great
scar upon his forehead stood out almost continuously in the
vivid scarlet that marked the man's most relentless and bestial
moods of rage。 At times he startled even himself and sent the
lesser creatures of the wild jungle scampering to their hiding
places as involuntary roars and growls rumbled from his throat。
Could he but lay his hand upon the Russian！
Twice upon the way to the coast bellicose natives ran
threateningly from their villages to bar his further progress；
but when the awful cry of the bull…ape thundered upon their
affrighted ears； and the great white giant charged bellowing
upon them； they had turned and fled into the bush； nor ventured
thence until he had safely passed。
Though his progress seemed tantalizingly slow to the ape…man
whose idea of speed had been gained by such standards as the
lesser apes attain； he made； as a matter of fact； almost as
rapid progress as the drifting canoe that bore Rokoff on
ahead of him； so that he came to the bay and within sight of
the ocean just after darkness had fallen upon the same day that
Jane Clayton and the Russian ended their flights from the interior。
The darkness lowered so heavily upon the black river and
the encircling jungle that Tarzan； even with eyes accustomed
to much use after dark； could make out nothing a few yards
from him。 His idea was to search the shore that night for
signs of the Russian and the woman who he was certain must
have preceded Rokoff down the Ugambi。 That the Kincaid
or other ship lay at anchor but a hundred yards from him he
did not dream； for no light showed on board the steamer。
Even as he commenced his search his attention was suddenly
attracted by a noise that he had not at first perceived
the stealthy dip of paddles in the water some distance from
the shore； and about opposite the point at which he stood。
Motionless as a statue he stood listening to the faint sound。
Presently it ceased； to be followed by a shuffling noise that
the ape…man's trained ears could interpret as resulting from
but a single causethe scraping of leather…shod feet upon the
rounds of a ship's monkey…ladder。 And yet； as far as he could
see； there was no ship therenor might there be one within
a thousand miles。
As he stood thus； peering out into the darkness of the
cloud…enshrouded night； there came to him from across the
water； like a slap in the face； so sudden and unexpected was
it； the sharp staccato of an exchange of shots and then the
scream of a woman。
Wounded though he was； and with the memory of his recent
horrible experience still strong upon him； Tarzan of the Apes
did not hesitate as the notes of that frightened cry rose shrill
and piercing upon the still night air。 With a bound he cleared
the intervening bushthere was a splash as the water closed
about himand then； with powerful strokes； he swam out
into the impenetrable night with no guide save the memory
of an illusive cry； and for company the hideous denizens
of an equatorial river。
The boat that had attracted Jane's attention as she stood
guard upon the deck of the Kincaid had been perceived by
Rokoff upon one bank and Mugambi and the horde upon the other。
The cries of the Russian had brought the dugout first to him；
and then； after a conference； it had been turned toward the
Kincaid； but before ever it covered half the distance between
the shore and the steamer a rifle had spoken from the latter's
deck and one of the sailors in the bow of the canoe had crumpled
and fallen into the water。
After that they went more slowly； and presently； when Jane's rifle
had found another member of the party； the canoe withdrew to the shore；
where it lay as long as daylight lasted。
The savage； snarling pack upon the opposite shore had been
directed in their pursuit by the black warrior； Mugambi；
chief of the Wagambi。 Only he knew which might be foe and
which friend of their lost master。
Could they have reached either the canoe or the Kincaid
they would have made short work of any whom they found
there； but the gulf of black water intervening shut them off
from farther advance as effectually as though it had been the
broad ocean that separated them from their prey。
Mugambi knew