Hedeeplyregrettedthathehadbeenhasty，buthehadlovedherforsolongatime，andsodevotedly，thathethoughtthateveryonemustknowit。
　　"FromthefirsttimeIsawyou，Hazel，"hesaid，"Ihavelovedyou。Iamwillingtowait，forIamcertainthatsogreatandpurealoveasminewillberewarded。AllthatIcaretoknowisthatyoudonotloveanother。Willyoutellme？"
　　"Ihaveneverbeeninloveinmylife，"shereplied，andhewasquitesatisfied。Onthewayhomethatnighthepurchasedasteamyacht，andbuiltamillion—dollarvillaontheBlackSea。
　　ThenextdayHazelStrongenjoyedoneofthehappiestsurprisesofherlife——sheranfacetofaceuponJanePorterasshewascomingoutofajeweler’sshop。
　　"Why，JanePorter！"sheexclaimed。"Whereintheworlddidyoudropfrom？Why，Ican’tbelievemyowneyes。"
　　"Well，ofallthings！"criedtheequallyastonishedJane。
　　"AndhereIhavebeenwastingwholereamsofperfectlygoodimaginationpicturingyouinBaltimore——theveryidea！"Andshethrewherarmsaboutherfriendoncemore，andkissedheradozentimes。
　　BythetimemutualexplanationshadbeenmadeHazelknewthatLordTennington’syachthadputinatCapeTownforatleastaweek’sstay，andattheendofthattimewastocontinueonhervoyage——thistimeuptheWestCoast——andsobacktoEngland。"Where，"concludedJane，"Iamtobemarried。"
　　"Thenyouarenotmarriedyet？"askedHazel。
　　"Notyet，"repliedJane，andthen，quiteirrelevantly，"IwishEnglandwereamillionmilesfromhere。
　　VisitswereexchangedbetweentheyachtandHazel’srelatives。
　　Dinnerswerearranged，andtripsintothesurroundingcountrytoentertainthevisitors。MonsieurThuranwasawelcomeguestateveryfunction。Hegaveadinnerhimselftothemenoftheparty，andmanagedtoingratiatehimselfinthegoodwillofLordTenningtonbymanylittleactsofhospitality。
　　MonsieurThuranhadhearddroppedahintofsomethingwhichmightresultfromthisunexpectedvisitofLordTennington’syacht，andhewantedtobecountedinonit。
　　OncewhenhewasalonewiththeEnglishmanhetookoccasiontomakeitquiteplainthathisengagementtoMissStrongwastobeannouncedimmediatelyupontheirreturntoAmerica。
　　"Butnotawordofit，mydearTennington——notawordofit。"
　　"Certainly，Iquiteunderstand，mydearfellow，"Tenningtonhadreplied。"Butyouaretobecongratulated——rippinggirl，don’tyouknow——really。"
　　Thenextdayitcame。Mrs。Strong，Hazel，andMonsieurThuranwereLordTennington’sguestsaboardhisyacht。
　　Mrs。StronghadbeentellingthemhowmuchshehadenjoyedhervisitatCapeTown，andthatsheregrettedthataletterjustreceivedfromherattorneysinBaltimorehadnecessitatedhercuttinghervisitshorterthantheyhadintended。
　　"Whendoyousail？"askedTennington。
　　"Thefirstoftheweek，Ithink，"shereplied。
　　"Indeed？"exclaimedMonsieurThuran。"Iamveryfortunate。
　　I，too，havefoundthatImustreturnatonce，andnowIshallhavethehonorofaccompanyingandservingyou。"
　　"Thatisniceofyou，MonsieurThuran，"repliedMrs。Strong。
　　"Iamsurethatweshallbegladtoplaceourselvesunderyourprotection。"Butinthebottomofherheartwasthewishthattheymightescapehim。Why，shecouldnothavetold。
　　"ByJove！"ejaculatedLordTennington，amomentlater。
　　"Bullyidea，byJove！"
　　"Yes，Tennington，ofcourse，"venturedClayton;"itmustbeabullyideaifyouhadit，butwhatthedeuceisit？
　　Goin’tosteamtoChinaviathesouthpole？"
　　"Oh，Isaynow，Clayton，"returnedTennington，"youneedn’tbesoroughonafellowjustbecauseyoudidn’thappentosuggestthistripyourself——you’veactedaregularboundereversincewesailed。
　　"No，sir，"hecontinued，"it’sabullyidea，andyou’llallsayso。It’stotakeMrs。StrongandMissStrong，andThuran，too，ifhe’llcome，asfarasEnglandwithusontheyacht。
　　Now，isn’tthatacorker？"
　　"Forgiveme，Tenny，oldboy，"criedClayton。"ItcertainlyISacorkingidea——Inevershouldhavesuspectedyouofit。
　　You’requitesureit’soriginal，areyou？"
　　"Andwe’llsailthefirstoftheweek，oranyothertimethatsuitsyourconvenience，Mrs。Strong，"concludedthebig—heartedEnglishman，asthoughthethingwereallarrangedexceptthesailingdate。
　　"Mercy，LordTennington，youhaven’tevengivenusanopportunitytothankyou，muchlessdecidewhetherweshallbeabletoacceptyourgenerousinvitation，"saidMrs。Strong。
　　"Why，ofcourseyou’llcome，"respondedTennington。
　　"We’llmakeasgoodtimeasanypassengerboat，andyou’llbefullyascomfortable;and，anyway，weallwantyou，andwon’ttakenoforananswer。"
　　AndsoitwassettledthattheyshouldsailthefollowingMonday。
　　TwodaysoutthegirlsweresittinginHazel’scabin，lookingatsomeprintsshehadhadfinishedinCapeTown。
　　TheyrepresentedallthepicturesshehadtakensinceshehadleftAmerica，andthegirlswerebothengrossedinthem，Janeaskingmanyquestions，andHazelkeepingupaperfecttorrentofcommentandexplanationofthevariousscenesandpeople。
　　"Andhere，"shesaidsuddenly，"here’samanyouknow。
　　Poorfellow，Ihavesooftenintendedaskingyouabouthim，butIneverhavebeenabletothinkofitwhenweweretogether。"
　　ShewasholdingthelittleprintsothatJanedidnotseethefaceofthemanitportrayed。
　　"HisnamewasJohnCaldwell，"continuedHazel。"Doyourecallhim？
　　HesaidthathemetyouinAmerica。HeisanEnglishman。"
　　"Idonotrecollectthename，"repliedJane。"Letmeseethepicture。"
　　"Thepoorfellowwaslostoverboardonourtripdownthecoast，"shesaid，asshehandedtheprinttoJane。
　　"Lostover——Why，Hazel，Hazel——don’ttellmethatheisdead——drownedatsea！Hazel！Whydon’tyousaythatyouarejoking！"
　　AndbeforetheastonishedMissStrongcouldcatchherJanePorterhadslippedtothefloorinaswoon。
　　AfterHazelhadrestoredherchumtoconsciousnessshesatlookingatherforalongtimebeforeeitherspoke。
　　"Ididnotknow，Jane，"saidHazel，inaconstrainedvoice，"thatyouknewMr。Caldwellsointimatelythathisdeathcouldprovesuchashocktoyou。"
　　"JohnCaldwell？"questionedMissPorter。"Youdonotmeantotellmethatyoudonotknowwhothismanwas，Hazel？"
　　"Why，yes，Jane;Iknowperfectlywellwhohewas——hisnamewasJohnCaldwell;hewasfromLondon。"
　　"Oh，Hazel，IwishIcouldbelieveit，"moanedthegirl。
　　"IwishIcouldbelieveit，butthosefeaturesareburnedsodeepintomymemoryandmyheartthatIshouldrecognizethemanywhereintheworldfromamongathousandothers，whomightappearidenticaltoanyonebutme。"
　　"Whatdoyoumean，Jane？"criedHazel，nowthoroughlyalarmed。
　　"Whodoyouthinkitis？"
　　"Idon’tthink，Hazel。IknowthatthatisapictureofTarzanoftheApes。"
　　"Jane！"
　　"Icannotbemistaken。Oh，Hazel，areyousurethatheisdead？
　　Cantherebenomistake？"
　　"Iamafraidnot，dear，"answeredHazelsadly。"IwishI
　　couldthinkthatyouaremistaken，butnowahundredandonelittlepiecesofcorroborativeevidenceoccurtomethatmeantnothingtomewhileIthoughtthathewasJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。HesaidthathehadbeenborninAfrica，andeducatedinFrance。"
　　"Yes，thatwouldbetrue，"murmuredJanePorterdully。
　　"Thefirstofficer，whosearchedhisluggage，foundnothingtoidentifyJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。Practicallyallhisbelongingshadbeenmade，orpurchased，inParis。Everythingthatboreaninitialwasmarkedeitherwitha`T’alone，orwith`J。C。T。’Wethoughtthathewastravelingincognitounderhisfirsttwonames——theJ。C。standingforJohnCaldwell。"
　　"TarzanoftheApestookthenameJeanC。Tarzan，"saidJane，inthesamelifelessmonotone。"Andheisdead！Oh！
　　Hazel，itishorrible！Hediedallaloneinthisterribleocean！
　　Itisunbelievablethatthatbraveheartshouldhaveceasedtobeat——thatthosemightymusclesarequietandcoldforever！
　　Thathewhowasthepersonificationoflifeandhealthandmanlystrengthshouldbethepreyofslimy，crawlingthings，that——"Butshecouldgonofurther，andwithalittlemoansheburiedherheadinherarms，andsanksobbingtothefloor。
　　FordaysMissPorterwasill，andwouldseenooneexceptHazelandthefaithfulEsmeralda。Whenatlastshecameondeckallwerestruckbythesadchangethathadtakenplaceinher。Shewasnolongerthealert，vivaciousAmericanbeautywhohadcharmedanddelightedallwhocameincontactwithher。Insteadshewasaveryquietandsadlittlegirl——withanexpressionofhopelesswistfulnessthatnonebutHazelStrongcouldinterpret。
　　Theentirepartystrovetheirutmosttocheerandamuseher，butalltonoavail。OccasionallythejollyLordTenningtonwouldwringawansmilefromher，butforthemostpartshesatwithwideeyeslookingoutacrossthesea。
　　WithJanePorter’sillnessonemisfortuneafteranotherseemedtoattacktheyacht。Firstanenginebrokedown，andtheydriftedfortwodayswhiletemporaryrepairswerebeingmade。
　　Thenasquallstruckthemunaware，thatcarriedoverboardnearlyeverythingabovedeckthatwasportable。Latertwooftheseamenfelltofightingintheforecastle，withtheresultthatoneofthemwasbadlywoundedwithaknife，andtheotherhadtobeputinirons。Then，tocaptheclimax，thematefelloverboardatnight，andwasdrownedbeforehelpcouldreachhim。Theyachtcruisedaboutthespotfortenhours，butnosignofthemanwasseenafterhedisappearedfromthedeckintothesea。
　　Everymemberofthecrewandguestswasgloomyanddepressedaftertheseseriesofmisfortunes。Allwereapprehensiveofworsetocome，andthiswasespeciallytrueoftheseamenwhorecalledallsortsofterribleomensandwarningsthathadoccurredduringtheearlypartofthevoyage，andwhichtheycouldnowclearlytranslateintotheprecursorsofsomegrimandterribletragedytocome。
　　Nordidthecroakershavelongtowait。Thesecondnightafterthedrowningofthematethelittleyachtwassuddenlywrackedfromstemtostern。Aboutoneo’clockinthemorningtherewasaterrificimpactthatthrewtheslumberingguestsandcrewfromberthandbunk。Amightyshudderranthroughthefrailcraft;shelayfarovertostarboard;theenginesstopped。Foramomentshehungtherewithherdecksatanangleofforty—fivedegrees——then，withasullen，rendingsound，sheslippedbackintotheseaandrighted。
　　Instantlythemenrushedupondeck，followedcloselybythewomen。Thoughthenightwascloudy，therewaslittlewindorsea，norwasitsodarkbutthatjustofftheportbowablackmasscouldbediscernedfloatinglowinthewater。
　　"Aderelict，"wastheterseexplanationoftheofficerofthewatch。
　　Presentlytheengineerhurriedondeckinsearchofthecaptain。
　　"Thatpatchweputonthecylinderhead’sblownout，sir，"hereported，"andshe’smakin’waterfastfor’ardontheportbow。"
　　Aninstantlateraseamanrushedupfrombelow。
　　"MyGawd！"hecried。"Herwholebleedin’bottom’srippedout。Shecan’tfloattwentyminutes。"
　　"Shutup！"roaredTennington。"Ladies，gobelowandgetsomeofyourthingstogether。Itmaynotbesobadasthat，butwemayhavetotaketotheboats。Itwillbesafertobeprepared。Goatonce，please。And，CaptainJerrold，sendsomecompetentmanbelow，please，toascertaintheexactextentofthedamage。InthemeantimeImightsuggestthatyouhavetheboatsprovisioned。"
　　Thecalm，lowvoiceoftheownerdidmuchtoreassuretheentireparty，andamomentlaterallwereoccupiedwiththedutieshehadsuggested。Bythetimetheladieshadreturnedtothedecktherapidprovisioningoftheboatshadbeenaboutcompleted，andamomentlatertheofficerwhohadgonebelowhadreturnedtoreport。ButhisopinionwasscarcelyneededtoassurethehuddledgroupofmenandwomenthattheendoftheLADYALICEwasathand。
　　"Well，sir？"saidthecaptain，ashisofficerhesitated。
　　"Idisliketofrightentheladies，sir，"hesaid，"butshecan’tfloatadozenminutes，inmyopinion。There’saholeinheryoucoulddriveaballycowthrough，sir。"
　　ForfiveminutestheLADYALICEhadbeensettlingrapidlybythebow。Alreadyhersternloomedhighintheair，andfootholdonthedeckwasofthemostprecariousnature。
　　Shecarriedfourboats，andthesewereallfilledandloweredawayinsafety。AstheypulledrapidlyfromthestrickenlittlevesselJanePorterturnedtohaveonelastlookather。
　　Justthentherecamealoudcrashandanominousrumblingandpoundingfromtheheartoftheship——hermachineryhadbrokenloose，andwasdashingitswaytowardthebow，tearingoutpartitionsandbulkheadsasitwent——thesternroserapidlyhighabovethem;foramomentsheseemedtopausethere——averticalshaftprotrudingfromthebosomoftheocean，andthenswiftlyshedoveheadforemostbeneaththewaves。
　　InoneoftheboatsthebraveLordTenningtonwipedatearfromhiseye——hehadnotseenafortuneinmoneygodownforeverintothesea，butadear，beautifulfriendwhomhehadloved。
　　Atlastthelongnightbroke，andatropicalsunsmotedownupontherollingwater。JanePorterhaddroppedintoafitfulslumber——thefiercelightofthesunuponherupturnedfaceawokeher。Shelookedabouther。Intheboatwithherwerethreesailors，Clayton，andMonsieurThuran。Thenshelookedfortheotherboats，butasfarastheeyecouldreachtherewasnothingtobreakthefearfulmonotonyofthatwasteofwaters——theywerealoneinasmallboatuponthebroadAtlantic。
　　Chapter14
　　BacktothePrimitiveAsTarzanstruckthewater，hisfirstimpulsewastoswimclearoftheshipandpossibledangerfromherpropellers。Heknewwhomtothankforhispresentpredicament，andashelayinthesea，justsupportinghimselfbyagentlemovementofhishands，hischiefemotionwasoneofchagrinthathehadbeensoeasilybestedbyRokoff。
　　Helaythusforsometime，watchingtherecedingandrapidlydiminishinglightsofthesteamerwithoutiteveronceoccurringtohimtocallforhelp。Heneverhadcalledforhelpinhislife，andsoitisnotstrangethathedidnotthinkofitnow。Alwayshadhedependeduponhisownprowessandresourcefulness，norhadthereeverbeensincethedaysofKalaanytoansweranappealforsuccor。Whenitdidoccurtohimitwastoolate。
　　Therewas，thoughtTarzan，apossibleonechanceinahundredthousandthathemightbepickedup，andanevensmallerchancethathewouldreachland，sohedeterminedthattocombinewhatslightchancestherewere，hewouldswimslowlyinthedirectionofthecoast——theshipmighthavebeencloserinthanhehadknown。
　　Hisstrokeswerelongandeasy——itwouldbemanyhoursbeforethosegiantmuscleswouldcommencetofeelfatigue。
　　Asheswam，guidedtowardtheeastbythestars，henoticedthathefelttheweightofhisshoes，andsoheremovedthem。
　　Histrouserswentnext，andhewouldhaveremovedhiscoatatthesametimebutforthepreciouspapersinitspocket。
　　Toassurehimselfthathestillhadthemheslippedhishandintofeel，buttohisconsternationtheyweregone。
　　NowheknewthatsomethingmorethanrevengehadpromptedRokofftopitchhimoverboard——theRussianhadmanagedtoobtainpossessionofthepapersTarzanhadwrestedfromhimatBouSaada。Theape—mansworesoftly，andlethiscoatandshirtsinkintotheAtlantic。Beforemanyhourshehaddivestedhimselfofhisremaininggarments，andwasswimmingeasilyandunencumberedtowardtheeast。
　　Thefirstfaintevidenceofdawnwaspalingthestarsaheadofhimwhenthedimoutlinesofalow—lyingblackmassloomedupdirectlyinhistrack。Afewstrongstrokesbroughthimtoitsside——itwasthebottomofawave—washedderelict。
　　Tarzanclambereduponit——hewouldrestthereuntildaylightatleast。Hehadnointentiontoremainthereinactive——apreytohungerandthirst。Ifhemustdiehepreferreddyinginactionwhilemakingsomesemblanceofanattempttosavehimself。
　　Theseawasquiet，sothatthewreckhadonlyagentlyundulatingmotion，thatwasnothingtotheswimmerwhohadhadnosleepfortwentyhours。TarzanoftheApescurledupupontheslimytimbers，andwassoonasleep。
　　Theheatofthesunawokehimearlyintheforenoon。
　　Hisfirstconscioussensationwasofthirst，whichgrewalmosttotheproportionsofsufferingwithfullreturningconsciousness;butamomentlateritwasforgotteninthejoyoftwoalmostsimultaneousdiscoveries。Thefirstwasamassofwreckagefloatingbesidethederelictinthemidstofwhich，bottomup，roseandfellanoverturnedlifeboat;
　　theotherwasthefaint，dimlineofafar—distantshoreshowingonthehorizonintheeast。
　　Tarzandoveintothewater，andswamaroundthewrecktothelifeboat。Thecooloceanrefreshedhimalmostasmuchaswouldadraftofwater，sothatitwaswithrenewedvigorthathebroughtthesmallerboatalongsidethederelict，and，aftermanyherculeanefforts，succeededindraggingitontotheslimyship’sbottom。Thereherightedandexaminedit——theboatwasquitesound，andamomentlaterfloateduprightalongsidethewreck。ThenTarzanselectedseveralpiecesofwreckagethatmightanswerhimaspaddles，andpresentlywasmakinggoodheadwaytowardthefar—offshore。
　　Itwaslateintheafternoonbythetimehecamecloseenoughtodistinguishobjectsonland，ortomakeoutthecontouroftheshoreline。Beforehimlaywhatappearedtobetheentrancetoalittle，landlockedharbor。Thewoodedpointtothenorthwasstrangelyfamiliar。Coulditbepossiblethatfatehadthrownhimupattheverythresholdofhisownbelovedjungle！Butasthebowofhisboatenteredthemouthoftheharborthelastshredofdoubtwasclearedaway，fortherebeforehimuponthefarthershore，undertheshadowsofhisprimevalforest，stoodhisowncabin——builtbeforehisbirthbythehandofhislong—deadfather，JohnClayton，LordGreystoke。
　　WithlongsweepsofhisgiantmusclesTarzansentthelittlecraftspeedingtowardthebeach。Itsprowhadscarcelytouchedwhentheape—manleapedtoshore——hisheartbeatfastinjoyandexultationaseachlong—familiarobjectcamebeneathhisrovingeyes——thecabin，thebeach，thelittlebrook，thedensejungle，theblack，impenetrableforest。
　　Themyriadbirdsintheirbrilliantplumage——thegorgeoustropicalbloomsuponthefestoonedcreepersfallingingreatloopsfromthegianttrees。
　　TarzanoftheApeshadcomeintohisownagain，andthatalltheworldmightknowithethrewbackhisyounghead，andgavevoicetothefierce，wildchallengeofhistribe。
　　Foramomentsilencereigneduponthejungle，andthen，lowandweird，cameanansweringchallenge——itwasthedeeproarofNuma，thelion;andfromagreatdistance，faintly，thefearsomeansweringbellowofabullape。
　　Tarzanwenttothebrookfirst，andslakedhisthirst。
　　Thenheapproachedhiscabin。ThedoorwasstillclosedandlatchedasheandD’Arnothadleftit。Heraisedthelatchandentered。Nothinghadbeendisturbed;therewerethetable，thebed，andthelittlecribbuiltbyhisfather——theshelvesandcupboardsjustastheyhadstoodforevertwenty—threeyears——justashehadleftthemnearlytwoyearsbefore。
　　Hiseyessatisfied，Tarzan’sstomachbegantocallaloudforattention——thepangsofhungersuggestedasearchforfood。
　　Therewasnothinginthecabin，norhadheanyweapons;
　　butuponawallhungoneofhisoldgrassropes。Ithadbeenmanytimesbrokenandspliced，sothathehaddiscardeditforabetteronelongbefore。Tarzanwishedthathehadaknife。
　　Well，unlesshewasmistakenheshouldhavethatandaspearandbowsandarrowsbeforeanothersunhadset——theropewouldtakecareofthat，andinthemeantimeitmustbemadetoprocurefoodforhim。Hecoileditcarefully，and，throwingitabouthisshoulder，wentout，closingthedoorbehindhim。
　　Closetothecabinthejunglecommenced，andintoitTarzanoftheApesplunged，waryandnoiseless——oncemoreasavagebeasthuntingitsfood。Foratimehekepttotheground，butfinally，discoveringnospoorindicativeofnearbymeat，hetooktothetrees。Withthefirstdizzyswingfromtreetotreealltheoldjoyoflivingsweptoverhim。
　　Vainregretsanddullheartachewereforgotten。Nowwasheliving。
　　Now，indeed，wasthetruehappinessofperfectfreedomhis。
　　Whowouldgobacktothestifling，wickedcitiesofcivilizedmanwhenthemightyreachesofthegreatjungleofferedpeaceandliberty？Nothe。
　　WhileitwasyetlightTarzancametoadrinkingplacebythesideofajungleriver。Therewasafordthere，andforcountlessagesthebeastsoftheforesthadcomedowntodrinkatthisspot。HereofanightmightalwaysbefoundeitherSabororNumacrouchinginthedensefoliageofthesurroundingjungleawaitinganantelopeorawaterbuckfortheirmeal。HerecameHorta，theboar，towater，andherecameTarzanoftheApestomakeakill，forhewasveryempty。
　　Onalowbranchhesquattedabovethetrail。Foranhourhewaited。Itwasgrowingdark。Alittletoonesideofthefordinthedensestthicketheheardthefaintsoundofpaddedfeet，andthebrushingofahugebodyagainsttallgrassesandtangledcreepers。NoneotherthanTarzanmighthaveheardit，buttheape—manheardandtranslated——itwasNuma，thelion，onthesameerrandashimself。Tarzansmiled。
　　Presentlyheheardananimalapproachingwarilyalongthetrailtowardthedrinkingplace。Amomentmoreanditcameinview——itwasHorta，theboar。Herewasdeliciousmeat——andTarzan’smouthwatered。ThegrasseswhereNumalaywereverystillnow——ominouslystill。HortapassedbeneathTarzan——afewmorestepsandhewouldbewithintheradiusofNuma’sspring。TarzancouldimaginehowoldNuma’seyeswereshining——howhewasalreadysuckinginhisbreathfortheawfulroarwhichwouldfreezehispreyforthebriefinstantbetweenthemomentofthespringandthesinkingofterriblefangsintosplinteringbones。
　　ButasNumagatheredhimself，aslenderropeflewthroughtheairfromthelowbranchesofanear—bytree。AnoosesettledaboutHorta’sneck。Therewasafrightenedgrunt，asqueal，andthenNumasawhisquarrydraggedbackwardupthetrail，and，ashesprang，Horta，theboar，soaredupwardbeyondhisclutchesintothetreeabove，andamockingfacelookeddownandlaughedintohisown。
　　ThenindeeddidNumaroar。Angry，threatening，hungry，hepacedbackandforthbeneaththetauntingape—man。
　　Nowhestopped，and，risingonhishindlegsagainstthestemofthetreethatheldhisenemy，sharpenedhishugeclawsuponthebark，tearingoutgreatpiecesthatlaidbarethewhitewoodbeneath。
　　AndinthemeantimeTarzanhaddraggedthestrugglingHortatothelimbbesidehim。Sinewyfingerscompletedtheworkthechokingnoosehadcommenced。Theape—manhadnoknife，butnaturehadequippedhimwiththemeansoftearinghisfoodfromthequiveringflankofhisprey，andgleamingteethsankintothesucculentfleshwhiletheraginglionlookedonfrombelowasanotherenjoyedthedinnerthathehadthoughtalreadyhis。
　　ItwasquitedarkbythetimeTarzanhadgorgedhimself。
　　Ah，butithadbeendelicious！Neverhadhequiteaccustomedhimselftotheruinedfleshthatcivilizedmenhadservedhim，andinthebottomofhissavagehearttherehadconstantlybeenthecravingforthewarmmeatofthefreshkill，andtherich，redblood。
　　Hewipedhisbloodyhandsuponabunchofleaves，slungtheremainsofhiskillacrosshisshoulder，andswungoffthroughthemiddleterraceoftheforesttowardhiscabin，andatthesameinstantJanePorterandWilliamCecilClaytonarosefromasumptuousdinnerupontheLADY
　　ALICE，thousandsofmilestotheeast，intheIndianOcean。
　　BeneathTarzanwalkedNuma，thelion，andwhentheape—mandeignedtoglancedownwardhecaughtoccasionalglimpsesofthebalefulgreeneyesfollowingthroughthedarkness。
　　Numadidnotroarnow——instead，hemovedstealthily，liketheshadowofagreatcat;butyethetooknostepthatdidnotreachthesensitiveearsoftheape—man。
　　Tarzanwonderedifhewouldstalkhimtohiscabindoor。
　　Hehopednot，forthatwouldmeananight’ssleepcurledinthecrotchofatree，andhemuchpreferredthebedofgrasseswithinhisownabode。Butheknewjustthetreeandthemostcomfortablecrotch，ifnecessitydemandedthathesleepout。Ahundredtimesinthepastsomegreatjunglecathadfollowedhimhome，andcompelledhimtoseekshelterinthissametree，untilanothermoodortherisingsunhadsenthisenemyaway。
　　ButpresentlyNumagaveupthechaseand，withaseriesofblood—curdlingmoansandroars，turnedangrilybackinsearchofanotherandaneasierdinner。SoTarzancametohiscabinunattended，andafewmomentslaterwascurledupinthemildewedremnantsofwhathadoncebeenabedofgrasses。
　　ThuseasilydidMonsieurJeanC。Tarzansloughthethinskinofhisartificialcivilization，andsinkhappyandcontentedintothedeepsleepofthewildbeastthathasfedtorepletion。
　　Yetawoman’s"yes"wouldhaveboundhimtothatotherlifeforever，andmadethethoughtofthissavageexistencerepulsive。
　　Tarzansleptlateintothefollowingforenoon，forhehadbeenverytiredfromthelaborsandexertionofthelongnightanddayupontheocean，andthejunglejauntthathadbroughtintoplaymusclesthathehadscarceusedfornearlytwoyears。Whenheawokeherantothebrookfirsttodrink。
　　Thenhetookaplungeintothesea，swimmingaboutforaquarterofanhour。Afterwardhereturnedtohiscabin，andbreakfastedoffthefleshofHorta。Thisdone，heburiedthebalanceofthecarcassinthesoftearthoutsidethecabin，forhiseveningmeal。
　　Oncemorehetookhisropeandvanishedintothejungle。
　　Thistimehehuntednoblerquarry——man;althoughhadyouaskedhimhisownopinionhecouldhavenamedadozenotherdenizensofthejunglewhichheconsideredfarthesuperiorsinnobilityofthemenhehunted。TodayTarzanwasinquestofweapons。HewonderedifthewomenandchildrenhadremainedinMbonga’svillageafterthepunitiveexpeditionfromtheFrenchcruiserhadmassacredallthewarriorsinrevengeforD’Arnot’ssupposeddeath。Hehopedthatheshouldfindwarriorsthere，forheknewnothowlongaquestheshouldhavetomakewerethevillagedeserted。
　　Theape—mantraveledswiftlythroughtheforest，andaboutnooncametothesiteofthevillage，buttohisdisappointmentfoundthatthejunglehadovergrowntheplantainfieldsandthatthethatchedhutshadfallenindecay。Therewasnosignofman。Heclamberedaboutamongtheruinsforhalfanhour，hopingthathemightdiscoversomeforgottenweapon，buthissearchwaswithoutfruit，andsohetookuphisquestoncemore，followingupthestream，whichflowedfromasoutheasterlydirection。Heknewthatnearfreshwaterhewouldbemostlikelytofindanothersettlement。