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What were they to do? Tarzan's broad chest rose and fell to the force of his pent
emotions. The last blow seemed to have fallen, and if ever in all his life Tarzan of
the Apes had had occasion to abandon hope it was now that he saw the ship
bearing his wife to some frightful fate moving gracefully over the rippling water,
so very near and yet so hideously far away.
In silence he stood watching the vessel. He saw it turn toward the east and
finally disappear around a headland on its way he knew not whither. Then he
dropped upon his haunches and buried his face in his hands.
It was after dark that the five men returned to the camp on the east shore. The
night was hot and sultry. No slightest breeze ruffled the foliage of the trees or
rippled the mirror-like surface of the ocean. Only a gentle swell rolled softly in
upon the beach.
Never had Tarzan seen the great Atlantic so ominously at peace. He was standing
at the edge of the beach gazing out to sea in the direction of the mainland, his
mind filled with sorrow and hopelessness, when from the jungle close behind the
camp came the uncanny wail of a panther.
There was a familiar note in the weird cry, and almost mechanically Tarzan
turned his head and answered. A moment later the tawny figure of Sheeta slunk
out into the half-light of the beach. There was no moon, but the sky was brilliant
with stars. Silently the savage brute came to the side of the man. It had been
long since Tarzan had seen his old fighting companion, but the soft purr was
sufficient to assure him that the animal still recalled the bonds which had united
them in the past.
The ape-man let his fingers fall upon the beast's coat, and as Sheeta pressed
close against his leg he caressed and fondled the wicked head while his eyes
continued to search the blackness of the waters.
Presently he started. What was that? He strained his eyes into the night. Then
he turned and called aloud to the men smoking upon their blankets in the camp.
They came running to his side; but Gust hesitated when he saw the nature of
Tarzan's companion.
"Look!" cried Tarzan. "A light! A ship's light! It must be the Cowrie. They are
becalmed." And then with an exclamation of renewed hope, "We can reach them!
The skiff will carry us easily."
Gust demurred. "They are well armed," he warned. "We could not take the ship--
just five of us."
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