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that trembled between him and the great anthropoid。 To Mugambi's
astonishment he saw that it was a native woman。 With difficulty
he kept the ape from her throat； and after a time succeeded
in quelling her fears。
It seemed that she had been fleeing from marriage with an
old man she loathed and had taken refuge for the night in the
canoe she had found upon the river's edge。
Mugambi did not wish her presence； but there she was；
and rather than lose time by returning her to the shore
the black permitted her to remain on board the canoe。
As quickly as his awkward companions could paddle the
dugout down…stream toward the Ugambi and the Kincaid they
moved through the darkness。 It was with difficulty that
Mugambi could make out the shadowy form of the steamer； but
as he had it between himself and the ocean it was much more
apparent than to one upon either shore of the river。
As he approached it he was amazed to note that it seemed
to be receding from him； and finally he was convinced that
the vessel was moving down…stream。 Just as he was about to
urge his creatures to renewed efforts to overtake the steamer
the outline of another canoe burst suddenly into view not
three yards from the bow of his own craft。
At the same instant the occupants of the stranger discovered
the proximity of Mugambi's horde； but they did not at first
recognize the nature of the fearful crew。 A man in the
bow of the oncoming boat challenged them just as the two
dugouts were about to touch。
For answer came the menacing growl of a panther； and the
fellow found himself gazing into the flaming eyes of Sheeta；
who had raised himself with his forepaws upon the bow of the
boat； ready to leap in upon the occupants of the other craft。
Instantly Rokoff realized the peril that confronted him and
his fellows。 He gave a quick command to fire upon the occupants
of the other canoe； and it was this volley and the scream of the
terrified native woman in the canoe with Mugambi that both
Tarzan and Jane had heard。
Before the slower and less skilled paddlers in Mugambi's
canoe could press their advantage and effect a boarding of
the enemy the latter had turned swiftly down…stream and were
paddling for their lives in the direction of the Kincaid；
which was now visible to them。
The vessel after striking upon the bar had swung loose again
into a slow…moving eddy； which returns up…stream close to the
southern shore of the Ugambi only to circle out once more and
join the downward flow a hundred yards or so farther up。
Thus the Kincaid was returning Jane Clayton directly into
the hands of her enemies。
It so happened that as Tarzan sprang into the river the
vessel was not visible to him； and as he swam out into the
night he had no idea that a ship drifted so close at hand。
He was guided by the sounds which he could hear coming from
the two canoes。
As he swam he had vivid recollections of the last occasion
upon which he had swum in the waters of the Ugambi； and
with them a sudden shudder shook the frame of the giant。
But； though he twice felt something brush his legs from
the slimy depths below him； nothing seized him； and of a
sudden he quite forgot about crocodiles in the astonishment
of seeing a dark mass loom suddenly before him where he
had still expected to find the open river。
So close was it that a few strokes brought him up to the
thing； when to his amazement his outstretched hand came in
contact with a ship's side。
As the agile ape…man clambered over the vessel's rail there
came to his sensitive ears the sound of a struggle at the
opposite side of the deck。
Noiselessly he sped across the intervening space。
The moon had risen now； and； though the sky was still
banked with clouds； a lesser darkness enveloped the scene
than that which had blotted out all sight earlier in
the night。 His keen eyes； therefore； saw the figures
of two men grappling with a woman。
That it was the woman who had accompanied Anderssen
toward the interior he did not know； though he suspected as
much； as he was now quite certain that this was the deck of
the Kincaid upon which chance had led him。
But he wasted little time in idle speculation。 There was a
woman in danger of harm from two ruffians； which was enough
excuse for the ape…man to project his giant thews into the
conflict without further investigation。
The first that either of the sailors knew that there was a
new force at work upon the ship was the falling of a mighty
hand upon a shoulder of each。 As if they had been in the grip
of a fly…wheel； they were jerked suddenly from their prey。
〃What means this？〃 asked a low voice in their ears。
They were given no time to reply； however； for at the sound
of that voice the young woman had sprung to her feet and
with a little cry of joy leaped toward their assailant。
〃Tarzan！〃 she cried。
The ape…man hurled the two sailors across the deck； where
they rolled； stunned and terrified； into the scuppers upon the
opposite side； and with an exclamation of incredulity gathered
the girl into his arms。
Brief； however； were the moments for their greeting。
Scarcely had they recognized one another than the clouds
above them parted to show the figures of a half…dozen men
clambering over the side of the Kincaid to the steamer's deck。
Foremost among them was the Russian。 As the brilliant
rays of the equatorial moon lighted the deck； and he realized
that the man before him was Lord Greystoke； he screamed
hysterical commands to his followers to fire upon the two。
Tarzan pushed Jane behind the cabin near which they had
been standing； and with a quick bound started for Rokoff。
The men behind the Russian； at least two of them； raised
their rifles and fired at the charging ape…man； but those
behind them were otherwise engagedfor up the monkey…
ladder in their rear was thronging a hideous horde。
First came five snarling apes； huge； manlike beasts；
with bared fangs and slavering jaws； and after them a
giant black warrior； his long spear gleaming in the moonlight。
Behind him again scrambled another creature； and of all the
horrid horde it was this they most fearedSheeta； the panther；
with gleaming jaws agape and fiery eyes blazing at them
in the mightiness of his hate and of his blood lust。
The shots that had been fired at Tarzan missed him； and he
would have been upon Rokoff in another instant had not the
great coward dodged backward between his two henchmen； and；
screaming in hysterical terror； bolted forward toward
the forecastle。
For the moment Tarzan's attention was distracted by the
two men before him； so that he could not at the time pursue
the Russian。 About him the apes and Mugambi were battling
with the balance of the Russian's party。
Beneath the terrible ferocity of the beasts the men were soon
scampering in all directions