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made directly for the hut where Jane Clayton had been imprisoned。
He noted with surprise the absence of Taglat； whom he had expected
to find awaiting him outside the tent of Achmet Zek； but； accustomed as
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he was to the unreliability of apes； he gave no serious attention to the
present defection of his surly companion。 So long as Taglat did not cause
interference with his plans； Tarzan was indifferent to his absence。
As he approached the hut； the ape…man noticed that a crowd had
collected about the entrance。 He could see that the men who composed it
were much excited； and fearing lest Chulk's disguise should prove
inadequate to the concealment of his true identity in the face of so many
observers； he commanded the ape to betake himself to the far end of the
village； and there await him。
As Chulk waddled off； keeping to the shadows； Tarzan advanced
boldly toward the excited group before the doorway of the hut。 He
mingled with the blacks and the Arabs in an endeavor to learn the cause of
the commotion； in his interest forgetting that he alone of the assemblage
carried a spear； a bow and arrows； and thus might become an object of
suspicious attention。
Shouldering his way through the crowd he approached the doorway；
and had almost reached it when one of the Arabs laid a hand upon his
shoulder； crying： 〃Who is this？〃 at the same time snatching back the hood
from the ape…man's face。
Tarzan of the Apes in all his savage life had never been accustomed to
pause in argument with an antagonist。 The primitive instinct of self…
preservation acknowledges many arts and wiles； but argument is not one
of them； nor did he now waste precious time in an attempt to convince the
raiders that he was not a wolf in sheep's clothing。 Instead he had his
unmasker by the throat ere the man's words had scarce quitted his lips； and
hurling him from side to side brushed away those who would have
swarmed upon him。
Using the Arab as a weapon； Tarzan forced his way quickly to the
doorway； and a moment later was within the hut。 A hasty examination
revealed the fact that it was empty； and his sense of smell discovered； too；
the scent spoor of Taglat； the ape。 Tarzan uttered a low； ominous growl。
Those who were pressing forward at the doorway to seize him； fell back as
the savage notes of the bestial challenge smote upon their ears。 They
looked at one another in surprise and consternation。 A man had entered the
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hut alone； and yet with their own ears they had heard the voice of a wild
beast within。 What could it mean？ Had a lion or a leopard sought
sanctuary in the interior； unbeknown to the sentries？
Tarzan's quick eyes discovered the opening in the roof； through which
Taglat had fallen。 He guessed that the ape had either come or gone by
way of the break； and while the Arabs hesitated without； he sprang； catlike；
for the opening； grasped the top of the wall and clambered out upon the
roof； dropping instantly to the ground at the rear of the hut。
When the Arabs finally mustered courage to enter the hut； after firing
several volleys through the walls； they found the interior deserted。 At the
same time Tarzan； at the far end of the village； sought for Chulk； but the
ape was nowhere to be found。
Robbed of his she； deserted by his companions； and as much in
ignorance as ever as to the whereabouts of his pouch and pebbles； it was
an angry Tarzan who climbed the palisade and vanished into the darkness
of the jungle。 For the present he must give up the search for his pouch；
since it would be paramount to self…destruction to enter the Arab camp
now while all its inhabitants were aroused and upon the alert。
In his escape from the village； the ape…man had lost the spoor of the
fleeing Taglat； and now he circled widely through the forest in an
endeavor to again pick it up。
Chulk had remained at his post until the cries and shots of the Arabs
had filled his simple soul with terror； for above all things the ape folk fear
the thunder…sticks of the Tarmangani； then he had clambered nimbly over
the palisade； tearing his burnoose in the effort； and fled into the depths of
the jungle； grumbling and scolding as he went。
Tarzan； roaming the jungle in search of the trail of Taglat and the she；
traveled swiftly。 In a little moonlit glade ahead of him the great ape was
bending over the prostrate form of the woman Tarzan sought。 The beast
was tearing at the bonds that confined her ankles and wrists； pulling and
gnawing upon the cords。
The course the ape…man was taking would carry him but a short
distance to the right of them； and though he could not have seen them the
wind was bearing down from them to him； carrying their scent spoor
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strongly toward him。
A moment more and Jane Clayton's safety might have been assured；
even though Numa； the lion； was already gathering himself in preparation
for a charge； but Fate； already all too cruel； now outdid herselfthe wind
veered suddenly for a few moments； the scent spoor that would have led
the ape…man to the girl's side was wafted in the opposite direction； Tarzan
passed within fifty yards of the tragedy that was being enacted in the glade；
and the opportunity was gone beyond recall。
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18
The Fight For the Treasure
It was morning before Tarzan could bring himself to a realization of
the possibility of failure of his quest； and even then he would only admit
that success was but delayed。 He would eat and sleep； and then set forth
again。 The jungle was wide； but wide too were the experience and
cunning of Tarzan。 Taglat might travel far； but Tarzan would find h