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Beside them, in the impenetrable thickets that fringed the path, rising to arch

above it and shut out the moon, the girl could hear the stealthy, muffled footfalls

of great beasts, and ever round about them rose the deafening roars of hunting

lions, until the earth trembled to the mighty sound.

The porters lighted torches now and waved them upon either hand to frighten off

the beasts of prey. Rokoff urged them to greater speed, and from the quavering

note in his voice Jane Clayton knew that he was weak from terror.

The sounds of the jungle night recalled most vividly the days and nights that she

had spent in a similar jungle with her forest god--with the fearless and

unconquerable Tarzan of the Apes. Then there had been no thoughts of terror,

though the jungle noises were new to her, and the roar of a lion had seemed the

most awe-inspiring sound upon the great earth.

How different would it be now if she knew that he was somewhere there in the

wilderness, seeking her! Then, indeed, would there be that for which to live, and

every reason to believe that succour was close at hand--but he was dead! It was

incredible that it should be so.

There seemed no place in death for that great body and those mighty thews. Had

Rokoff been the one to tell her of her lord's passing she would have known that

he lied. There could be no reason, she thought, why M'ganwazam should have

deceived her. She did not know that the Russian had talked with the savage a

few minutes before the chief had come to her with his tale.

At last they reached the rude boma that Rokoff's porters had thrown up round

the Russian's camp. Here they found all in turmoil. She did not know what it

was all about, but she saw that Rokoff was very angry, and from bits of

conversation which she could translate she gleaned that there had been further

desertions while he had been absent, and that the deserters had taken the bulk

of his food and ammunition.

When he had done venting his rage upon those who remained he returned to

where Jane stood under guard of a couple of his white sailors. He grasped her

roughly by the arm and started to drag her toward his tent. The girl struggled and

fought to free herself, while the two sailors stood by, laughing at the rare treat.

Rokoff did not hesitate to use rough methods when he found that he was to have

difficulty in carrying out his designs. Repeatedly he struck Jane Clayton in the

face, until at last, half-conscious, she was dragged within his tent.

Rokoff's boy had lighted the Russian's lamp, and now at a word from his master

he made himself scarce. Jane had sunk to the floor in the middle of the

The Beasts of Tarzan