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man…thing who had dared interpose its puny strength between Numa and
his prey； the heavy stock whirred through the air and splintered upon the
broad forehead。
Not as an ordinary mortal might strike a blow did Tarzan of the Apes
strike； but with the maddened frenzy of a wild beast backed by the steel
thews which his wild； arboreal boyhood had bequeathed him。 When the
blow ended the splintered stock was driven through the splintered skull
into the savage brain； and the heavy iron barrel was bent into a rude V。
In the instant that the lion sank； lifeless； to the ground； Jane Clayton
threw herself into the eager arms of her husband。 For a brief instant he
strained her dear form to his breast； and then a glance about him awakened
the ape…man to the dangers which still surrounded them。
Upon every hand the lions were still leaping upon new victims。 Fear…
maddened horses still menaced them with their erratic bolting from one
side of the enclosure to the other。 Bullets from the guns of the defenders
who remained alive but added to the perils of their situation。
To remain was to court death。 Tarzan seized Jane Clayton and lifted
her to a broad shoulder。 The blacks who had witnessed his advent looked
on in amazement as they saw the naked giant leap easily into the branches
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of the tree from whence he had dropped so uncannily upon the scene； and
vanish as he had come； bearing away their prisoner with him。
They were too well occupied in self…defense to attempt to halt him； nor
could they have done so other than by the wasting of a precious bullet
which might be needed the next instant to turn the charge of a savage foe。
And so； unmolested； Tarzan passed from the camp of the Abyssinians；
from which the din of conflict followed him deep into the jungle until
distance gradually obliterated it entirely。
Back to the spot where he had left Werper went the ape…man； joy in his
heart now； where fear and sorrow had so recently reigned； and in his mind
a determination to forgive the Belgian and aid him in making good his
escape。 But when he came to the place； Werper was gone； and though
Tarzan called aloud many times he received no reply。 Convinced that the
man had purposely eluded him for reasons of his own； John Clayton felt
that he was under no obligations to expose his wife to further danger and
discomfort in the prosecution of a more thorough search for the missing
Belgian。
〃He has acknowledged his guilt by his flight； Jane；〃 he said。 〃We
will let him go to lie in the bed that he has made for himself。〃
Straight as homing pigeons； the two made their way toward the ruin
and desolation that had once been the center of their happy lives； and
which was soon to be restored by the willing black hands of laughing
laborers； made happy again by the return of the master and mistress whom
they had mourned as dead。
Past the village of Achmet Zek their way led them； and there they
found but the charred remains of the palisade and the native huts； still
smoking； as mute evidence of the wrath and vengeance of a powerful
enemy。
〃The Waziri；〃 commented Tarzan with a grim smile。
〃God bless them！〃 cried Jane Clayton。
〃They cannot be far ahead of us；〃 said Tarzan； 〃Basuli and the others。
The gold is gone and the jewels of Opar； Jane； but we have each other and
the Waziriand we have love and loyalty and friendship。 And what are
gold and jewels to these？〃
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〃If only poor Mugambi lived；〃 she replied； 〃and those other brave
fellows who sacrificed their lives in vain endeavor to protect me！〃
In the silence of mingled joy and sorrow they passed along through the
familiar jungle； and as the afternoon was waning there came faintly to the
ears of the ape…man the murmuring cadence of distant voices。
〃We are nearing the Waziri； Jane；〃 he said。 〃I can hear them ahead of
us。 They are going into camp for the night； I imagine。〃
A half hour later the two came upon a horde of ebon warriors which
Basuli had collected for his war of vengeance upon the raiders。 With
them were the captured women of the tribe whom they had found in the
village of Achmet Zek； and tall； even among the giant Waziri； loomed a
familiar black form at the side of Basuli。 It was Mugambi； whom Jane
had thought dead amidst the charred ruins of the bungalow。
Ah； such a reunion！ Long into the night the dancing and the singing
and the laughter awoke the echoes of the somber wood。 Again and again
were the stories of their various adventures retold。 Again and once again
they fought their battles with savage beast and savage man； and dawn was
already breaking when Basuli； for the fortieth time； narrated how he and a
handful of his warriors had watched the battle for the golden ingots which
the Abyssinians of Abdul Mourak had waged against the Arab raiders of
Achmet Zek； and how； when the victors had ridden away they had sneaked
out of the river reeds and stolen away with the precious ingots to hide
them where no robber eye ever could discover them。
Pieced out from the fragments of their various experiences with the
Belgian the truth concerning the malign activities of Albert Werper
became apparent。 Only Lady Greystoke found aught to praise in the
conduct of the man； and it was difficult even for her to reconcile his many
heinous acts with this one evidence of chivalry and honor。
〃Deep in the soul of every man；〃 said Tarzan； 〃must lurk the germ of
righteousness。 It was your own virtue； Jane； rather even than your
helplessness which awakened for an instant the latent decency of this
degraded man。 In that one act he retrieved himself； and when he is called
to face his Maker may it outweigh in the balance； all the sins he has
committed。〃
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And Jane Clayton breathed a fervent； 〃Amen！〃