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Achmet Zek recognized the latter as the redoubtable enemy of such as he；
and he saw； too； in the circumstance an opportunity to rid himself forever
of the menace of the ape…man's presence。
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Calling to his men to follow his example he raised his rifle and leveled
it upon the charging giant。 His followers； acting with no less alacrity
than himself； fired almost simultaneously； and with the reports of the rifles；
Tarzan of the Apes and two of his hairy henchmen pitched forward among
the jungle grasses。
The noise of the rifle shots brought the balance of the apes to a
wondering pause； and； taking advantage of their momentary distraction；
Achmet Zek and his fellows leaped to their horses' backs and galloped
away with the now hopeless and grief…stricken woman。
Back to the village they rode； and once again Lady Greystoke found
herself incarcerated in the filthy； little hut from which she had thought to
have escaped for good。 But this time she was not only guarded by an
additional sentry； but bound as well。
Singly and in twos the searchers who had ridden out with Achmet Zek
upon the trail of the Belgian； returned empty handed。 With the report of
each the raider's rage and chagrin increased； until he was in such a
transport of ferocious anger that none dared approach him。 Threatening
and cursing； Achmet Zek paced up and down the floor of his silken tent；
but his temper served him naughtWerper was gone and with him the
fortune in scintillating gems which had aroused the cupidity of his chief
and placed the sentence of death upon the head of the lieutenant。
With the escape of the Arabs the great apes had turned their attention
to their fallen comrades。 One was dead； but another and the great white
ape still breathed。 The hairy monsters gathered about these two；
grumbling and muttering after the fashion of their kind。
Tarzan was the first to regain consciousness。 Sitting up； he looked
about him。 Blood was flowing from a wound in his shoulder。 The
shock had thrown him down and dazed him； but he was far from dead。
Rising slowly to his feet he let his eyes wander toward the spot where last
he had seen the she； who had aroused within his savage breast such
strange emotions。
〃Where is she？〃 he asked。
〃The Tarmangani took her away；〃 replied one of the apes。 〃Who are
you who speak the language of the Mangani？〃 〃I am Tarzan；〃 replied the
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ape…man； 〃mighty hunter； greatest of fighters。 When I roar； the jungle is
silent and trembles with terror。 I am Tarzan of the Apes。 I have been
away； but now I have come back to my people。〃
〃Yes；〃 spoke up an old ape； 〃he is Tarzan。 I know him。 It is well that
he has come back。 Now we shall have good hunting。〃
The other apes came closer and sniffed at the ape…man。 Tarzan stood
very still； his fangs half bared； and his muscles tense and ready for action；
but there was none there to question his right to be with them； and
presently； the inspection satisfactorily concluded； the apes again returned
their attention to the other survivor。
He too was but slightly wounded； a bullet； grazing his skull； having
stunned him； so that when he regained consciousness he was apparently as
fit as ever。
The apes told Tarzan that they had been traveling toward the east when
the scent spoor of the she had attracted them and they had stalked her。
Now they wished to continue upon their interrupted march； but Tarzan
preferred to follow the Arabs and take the woman from them。 After a
considerable argument it was decided that they should first hunt toward
the east for a few days and then return and search for the Arabs； and as
time is of little moment to the ape folk； Tarzan acceded to their demands；
he； himself； having reverted to a mental state but little superior to their
own。
Another circumstance which decided him to postpone pursuit of the
Arabs was the painfulness of his wound。 It would be better to wait until
that had healed before he pitted himself again against the guns of the
Tarmangani。
And so； as Jane Clayton was pushed into her prison hut and her hands
and feet securely bound； her natural protector roamed off toward the east
in company with a score of hairy monsters； with whom he rubbed
shoulders as familiarly as a few months before he had mingled with his
immaculate fellow…members of one of London's most select and exclusive
clubs。
But all the time there lurked in the back of his injured brain a
troublesome conviction that he had no business where he wasthat he
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should be； for some unaccountable reason； elsewhere and among another
sort of creature。 Also； there was the compelling urge to be upon the scent
of the Arabs； undertaking the rescue of the woman who had appealed so
strongly to his savage sentiments； though the thought…word which
naturally occurred to him in the contemplation of the venture； was
〃capture；〃 rather than 〃rescue。〃
To him she was as any other jungle she； and he had set his heart upon
her as his mate。 For an instant； as he had approached closer to her in the
clearing where the Arabs had seized her； the subtle aroma which had first
aroused his desires in the hut that had imprisoned her had fallen upon his
nostrils； and told him that he had found the creature for whom he had
developed so sudden and inexplicable a passion。
The matter of the pouch of jewels also occupied his thoughts to some
extent； so that he found a double urge for his return to the camp of the
raiders。 He would obtain possession of both his pretty pebbles and the
she。 Then he would return to the great apes with his new mate and his
baubles； and