Gernois and Tarzan knew
the direction of the proposed march. All the soldiers knew was that
they were to be prepared to break camp early the next morning. Tarzan
wondered if Gernois could have revealed their destination to the Arabs.

Late that afternoon they went into camp at a little oasis in which was
the DOUAR of a sheik whose flocks were being stolen, and whose herdsmen
were being killed. The Arabs came out of their goatskin tents, and
surrounded the soldiers, asking many questions in the native tongue,
for the soldiers were themselves natives. Tarzan, who, by this time,
with the assistance of Abdul, had picked up quite a smattering of Arab,
questioned one of the younger men who had accompanied the sheik while
the latter paid his respects to Captain Gerard.

No, he had seen no party of six horsemen riding from the direction of
Djelfa. There were other oases scattered about--possibly they had been
journeying to one of these. Then there were the marauders in the
mountains above--they often rode north to Bou Saada in small parties,
and even as far as Aumale and Bouira. It might indeed have been a few
marauders returning to the band from a pleasure trip to one of these
cities.

Early the next morning Captain Gerard split his command in two, giving
Lieutenant Gernois command of one party, while he headed the other.
They were to scour the mountains upon opposite sides of the plain.

"And with which detachment will Monsieur Tarzan ride?" asked the
captain. "Or maybe it is that monsieur does not care to hunt
marauders?"

"Oh, I shall be delighted to go," Tarzan hastened to explain. He was
wondering what excuse he could make to accompany Gernois. His
embarrassment was short-lived, and was relieved from a most unexpected
source. It was Gernois himself who spoke.

"If my captain will forego the pleasure of Monsieur Tarzan's company
for this once, I shall esteem it an honor indeed to have monsieur ride
with me today," he said, nor was his tone lacking in cordiality. In
fact, Tarzan imagined that he had overdone it a trifle, but, even so,
he was both astounded and pleased, hastening to express his delight at
the arrangement.

And so it was that Lieutenant Gernois and Tarzan rode off side by side
at the head of the little detachment of SPAHIS. Gernois' cordiality
was short-lived. No sooner had they ridden out of sight of Captain
Gerard and his men than he lapsed once more into his accustomed
taciturnity.