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She cast appealing eyes toward him. "You will go back into that terrible jungle?"

she asked. "We shall never see you again?"

He looked at her a moment in silence. "Never," he said, and without another word

turned and walked away.

In the morning Colonel Capell came from the base camp in one of the planes that

was to carry Smith-Oldwick and the girl to the east. Tarzan was standing some

distance away as the ship landed and the officer descended to the ground. He saw

the colonel greet his junior in command of the advance detachment, and then he

saw him turn toward Bertha Kircher who was standing a few paces behind the

captain. Tarzan wondered how the German spy felt in this situation, especially

when she must know that there was one there who knew her real status. He saw

Colonel Capell walk toward her with outstretched hands and smiling face and,

although he could not hear the words of his greeting, he saw that it was friendly

and cordial to a degree.

Tarzan turned away scowling, and if any had been close by they might have heard

a low growl rumble from his chest. He knew that his country was at war with

Germany and that not only his duty to the land of his fathers, but also his

personal grievance against the enemy people and his hatred of them, demanded

that he expose the girl's perfidy, and yet he hesitated, and because he hesitated

he growled--not at the German spy but at himself for his weakness.

He did not see her again before she entered a plane and was borne away toward

the east. He bid farewell to Smith-Oldwick and received again the oft-repeated

thanks of the young Englishman. And then he saw him too borne aloft in the high

circling plane and watched until the ship became a speck far above the eastern

horizon to disappear at last high in air.

The Tommies, their packs and accouterments slung, were waiting the summons

to continue their return march. Colonel Capell had, through a desire to

personally observe the stretch of country between the camp of the advance

detachment and the base, decided to march back his troops. Now that all was in

readiness for departure he turned to Tarzan. "I wish you would come back with

us, Greystoke," he said, "and if my appeal carries no inducement possibly that of

Smith-Oldwick 'and the young lady who just left us may. They asked me to urge

you to return to civilization."

"No;" said Tarzan, "I shall go my own way. Miss Kircher and Lieutenant Smith-

Oldwick were only prompted by a sense of gratitude in considering my welfare."

"Miss Kircher?" exclaimed Capell and then he laughed, "You know her then as

Bertha Kircher, the German spy?"

240

Tarzan the Untamed