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with the balance of the Russian's party。
Beneath the terrible ferocity of the beasts the men were soon
scampering in all directionsthose who still lived to scamper；
for the great fangs of the apes of Akut and the tearing talons
of Sheeta already had found more than a single victim。
Four； however； escaped and disappeared into the forecastle；
where they hoped to barricade themselves against further assault。
Here they found Rokoff； and； enraged at his desertion of them
in their moment of peril； no less than at the uniformly
brutal treatment it had been his wont to accord them；
they gloated upon the opportunity now offered them to
revenge themselves in part upon their hated employer。
Despite his prayers and grovelling pleas； therefore； they
hurled him bodily out upon the deck； delivering him to the
mercy of the fearful things from which they had themselves
just escaped。
Tarzan saw the man emerge from the forecastlesaw and
recognized his enemy； but another saw him even as soon。
It was Sheeta； and with grinning jaws the mighty beast
slunk silently toward the terror…stricken man。
When Rokoff saw what it was that stalked him his shrieks for
help filled the air； as with trembling knees he stood； as one
paralyzed； before the hideous death that was creeping upon him。
Tarzan took a step toward the Russian； his brain burning
with a raging fire of vengeance。 At last he had the murderer
of his son at his mercy。 His was the right to avenge。
Once Jane had stayed his hand that time that he sought to take
the law into his own power and mete to Rokoff the death that
he had so long merited； but this time none should stay him。
His fingers clenched and unclenched spasmodically as he approached
the trembling Russ； beastlike and ominous as a brute of prey。
Presently he saw that Sheeta was about to forestall him；
robbing him of the fruits of his great hate。
He called sharply to the panther； and the words； as if
they had broken a hideous spell that had held the Russian；
galvanized him into sudden action。 With a scream he turned
and fled toward the bridge。
After him pounced Sheeta the panther； unmindful of his
master's warning voice。
Tarzan was about to leap after the two when he felt a light
touch upon his arm。 Turning； he found Jane at his elbow。
〃Do not leave me；〃 she whispered。 〃I am afraid。〃
Tarzan glanced behind her。
All about were the hideous apes of Akut。 Some； even；
were approaching the young woman with bared fangs and
menacing guttural warnings。
The ape…man warned them back。 He had forgotten for the
moment that these were but beasts； unable to differentiate
his friends and his foes。 Their savage natures were roused by
their recent battle with the sailors； and now all flesh outside
the pack was meat to them。
Tarzan turned again toward the Russian； chagrined that
he should have to forgo the pleasure of personal revenge
unless the man should escape Sheeta。 But as he looked he saw
that there could be no hope of that。 The fellow had retreated
to the end of the bridge； where he now stood trembling and
wide…eyed； facing the beast that moved slowly toward him。
The panther crawled with belly to the planking； uttering
uncanny mouthings。 Rokoff stood as though petrified；
his eyes protruding from their sockets； his mouth agape；
and the cold sweat of terror clammy upon his brow。
Below him； upon the deck； he had seen the great anthropoids；
and so had not dared to seek escape in that direction。
In fact； even now one of the brutes was leaping to seize the
bridge…rail and draw himself up to the Russian's side。
Before him was the panther； silent and crouched。
Rokoff could not move。 His knees trembled。 His voice
broke in inarticulate shrieks。 With a last piercing wail he
sank to his kneesand then Sheeta sprang。
Full upon the man's breast the tawny body hurtled；
tumbling the Russian to his back。
As the great fangs tore at the throat and chest； Jane Clayton
turned away in horror； but not so Tarzan of the Apes。 A cold
smile of satisfaction touched his lips。 The scar upon his
forehead that had burned scarlet faded to the normal hue of his
tanned skin and disappeared。
Rokoff fought furiously but futilely against the growling；
rending fate that had overtaken him。 For all his countless
crimes he was punished in the brief moment of the hideous
death that claimed him at the last。
After his struggles ceased Tarzan approached； at Jane's
suggestion； to wrest the body from the panther and give what
remained of it decent human burial； but the great cat rose
snarling above its kill； threatening even the master it loved
in its savage way； so that rather than kill his friend of the
jungle； Tarzan was forced to relinquish his intentions。
All that night Sheeta； the panther； crouched upon the grisly
thing that had been Nikolas Rokoff。 The bridge of the
Kincaid was slippery with blood。 Beneath the brilliant
tropic moon the great beast feasted until； when the sun rose
the following morning； there remained of Tarzan's great enemy
only gnawed and broken bones。
Of the Russian's party； all were accounted for except Paulvitch。
Four were prisoners in the Kincaid's forecastle。 The rest were dead。
With these men Tarzan got up steam upon the vessel； and with
the knowledge of the mate； who happened to be one of those surviving；
he planned to set out in quest of Jungle Island； but as the morning
dawned there came with it a heavy gale from the west which raised
a sea into which the mate of the Kincaid dared not venture。
All that day the ship lay within the shelter of the mouth of the river；
for； though night witnessed a lessening of the wind； it was thought
safer to wait for daylight before attempting the navigation of
the winding channel to the sea。
Upon the deck of the steamer the pack wandered without
let or hindrance by day； for they had soon learned through
Tarzan and Mugambi that they must harm no one upon the
Kincaid； but at night they were confined below。
Tarzan's joy had been unbounded when he learned from
his wife that the little child who had died in the village of
M'ganwazam was not their son。 Who the baby could have
been； or what had become of their own； they could not imagine；
and as both Rokoff and Paulvitch were gone； there was
no way of discovering。
There was； however； a certain sense of relief in the knowledge
that they might yet hope。 Until positive proof of the baby's
death reached them there was always that to buoy them up。
It seemed quite evident that their little Jack had not been
brought aboard the Kincaid。 Anderssen would have known
of it had such been the case； but he had assured Jane time
and time again that the little one he had brought to her cabin
the night he aided her to escape was the only one that had
been aboard the Kincaid since she lay at Dover