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as he did so raised his eyes to the point in the wall from which the ape-man's

voice had come to him, as much as to say, "Master, I am ready."

Without more delay Tarzan threw aside the hangings and stepped into the room.

As he did so the young man rose from the table to be instantly seized from behind

by the black slave. The girl, whose back was toward the ape-man and his

companion, was not at first aware of their presence but saw only the attack of the

slave upon her lover, and with a loud scream she leaped forward to assist the

latter. Tarzan sprang to her side and laid a heavy hand upon her arm before she

could interfere with Otobu's attentions to the young man. At first, as she turned

toward the ape-man, her face reflected only mad rage, but almost instantly this

changed into the vapid smile with which Smith-Oldwick was already familiar and

her slim fingers commenced their soft appraisement of the newcomer.

Almost immediately she discovered Smith-Oldwick but there was neither surprise

nor anger upon her countenance. Evidently the poor mad creature knew but two

principal moods, from one to the other of which she changed with lightning-like

rapidity.

Watch her a moment," said Tarzan to the Englishman, "while I disarm that

fellow," and stepping to the side of the young man whom Otobu was having

difficulty in subduing Tarzan relieved him of his saber. "Tell them," he said to the

Negro, "if you speak their language, that we will not harm them if they leave us

alone and let us depart in peace."

The black had been looking at Tarzan with wide eyes, evidently not

comprehending how this god could appear in so material a form, and with the

voice of a white bwana and the uniform of a warrior of this city to which he quite

evidently did not belong. But nevertheless his first confidence in the voice that

offered him freedom was not lessened and he did as Tarzan bid him.

"They want to know what you want," said Otobu, after he had spoken to the man

and the girl.

Tell them that we want food for one thing," said Tarzan, "and something else that

we know where to find in this room. Take the man's spear, Otobu; I see it leaning

against the wall in the corner of the room. And you, Lieutenant, take his saber,"

and then again to Otobu, "I will watch the man while you go and bring forth that

which is beneath the couch over against this wall," and Tarzan indicated the

location of the piece of furniture.

Otobu, trained to obey, did as he was bid. The eyes of the man and the girl

followed him, and as he drew back the hangings and dragged forth the corpse of

the man Smith-Oldwick had slain, the girl's lover voiced a loud scream and

221

Tarzan the Untamed