ane!" Suddenly he turned toward Werper.
"My wife?" he asked. "What has become of her? The farm is in ruins.
You know. You have had something to do with all this. You followed me
to Opar, you stole the jewels which I thought but pretty pebbles. You
are a crook! Do not try to tell me that you are not."

"He is worse than a crook," said a quiet voice close behind them.

Tarzan turned in astonishment to see a tall man in uniform standing in
the trail a few paces from him. Back of the man were a number of black
soldiers in the uniform of the Congo Free State.

"He is a murderer, Monsieur," continued the officer. "I have followed
him for a long time to take him back to stand trial for the killing of
his superior officer."

Werper was upon his feet now, gazing, white and trembling, at the fate
which had overtaken him even in the fastness of the labyrinthine
jungle. Instinctively he turned to flee; but Tarzan of the Apes
reached out a strong hand and grasped him by the shoulder.

"Wait!" said the ape-man to his captive. "This gentleman wishes you,
and so do I. When I am through with you, he may have you. Tell me what
has become of my wife."

The Belgian officer eyed the almost naked, white giant with curiosity.
He noted the strange contrast of primitive weapons and apparel, and the
easy, fluent French which the man spoke. The former denoted the
lowest, the latter the highest type of culture. He could not quite
determine the social status of this strange creature; but he knew that
he did not relish the easy assurance with which the fellow presumed to
dictate when he might take possession of the prisoner.

"Pardon me," he said, stepping forward and placing his hand on Werper's
other shoulder; "but this gentleman is my prisoner. He must come with
me."

"When I am through with him," replied Tarzan, quietly.

The officer turned and beckoned to the soldiers standing in the trail
behind him. A company of uniformed blacks stepped quickly forward and
pushing past the three, surrounded the ape-man and his captive.

"Both the law and the power to enforce it are upon my side," announced
the officer. "Let us have no trouble. If you have a grievance against
this man you may return with me and enter your charge regularly before
an authorized tribunal."

"Your legal rights are not above suspicion, my friend," replied Tarzan,
"and your power to enforce your commands are only apparent--not real.
You have presumed to