was
asked or given by either the ferocious Abyssinians or the murderous
cut-throats of Achmet Zek.

From the concealment of the shrubbery Tarzan watched the sanguinary
conflict which so effectually surrounded him that he found no loop-hole
through which he might escape to follow Werper and the Arab chief.

The Abyssinians were formed in a circle which included Tarzan's
position, and around and into them galloped the yelling raiders, now
darting away, now charging in to deliver thrusts and cuts with their
curved swords.

Numerically the men of Achmet Zek were superior, and slowly but surely
the soldiers of Menelek were being exterminated. To Tarzan the result
was immaterial. He watched with but a single purpose--to escape the
ring of blood-mad fighters and be away after the Belgian and his pouch.

When he had first discovered Werper upon the trail where he had slain
Bara, he had thought that his eyes must be playing him false, so
certain had he been that the thief had been slain and devoured by Numa;
but after following the detachment for two days, with his keen eyes
always upon the Belgian, he no longer doubted the identity of the man,
though he was put to it to explain the identity of the mutilated corpse
he had supposed was the man he sought.

As he crouched in hiding among the unkempt shrubbery which so short a
while since had been the delight and pride of the wife he no longer
recalled, an Arab and an Abyssinian wheeled their mounts close to his
position as they slashed at each other with their swords.

Step by step the Arab beat back his adversary until the latter's horse
all but trod upon the ape-man, and then a vicious cut clove the black
warrior's skull, and the corpse toppled backward almost upon Tarzan.

As the Abyssinian tumbled from his saddle the possibility of escape
which was represented by the riderless horse electrified the ape-man to
instant action. Before the frightened beast could gather himself for
flight a naked giant was astride his back. A strong hand had grasped
his bridle rein, and the surprised Arab discovered a new foe in the
saddle of him, whom he had slain.

But this enemy wielded no sword, and his spear and bow remained upon
his back. The Arab, recovered from his first surprise, dashed in with
raised sword to annihilate this presumptuous stranger. He aimed a
mighty blow at the ape-man's head, a blow which swung harmlessly
through thin air as Tarzan ducked from its path, and