that it is possible for a lone
man armed only with a knife to have fought hand to hand with EL ADREA
and conquered him, unscathed--to have conquered him at all. And that
cry--it was not human. Why did you do that?"

Tarzan flushed. "It is because I forget," he said, "sometimes, that I
am a civilized man. When I kill it must be that I am another
creature." He did not try to explain further, for it always seemed to
him that a woman must look with loathing upon one who was yet so nearly
a beast.

Together they continued their journey. The sun was an hour high when
they came out into the desert again beyond the mountains. Beside a
little rivulet they found the girl's horses grazing. They had come
this far on their way home, and with the cause of their fear no longer
present had stopped to feed.

With little trouble Tarzan and the girl caught them, and, mounting,
rode out into the desert toward the DOUAR of Sheik Kadour ben Saden.

No sign of pursuit developed, and they came in safety about nine
o'clock to their destination. The sheik had but just returned. He was
frantic with grief at the absence of his daughter, whom he thought had
been again abducted by the marauders. With fifty men he was already
mounted to go in search of her when the two rode into the DOUAR.

His joy at the safe return of his daughter was only equaled by his
gratitude to Tarzan for bringing her safely to him through the dangers
of the night, and his thankfulness that she had been in time to save
the man who had once saved her.

No honor that Kadour ben Saden could heap upon the ape-man in
acknowledgment of his esteem and friendship was neglected. When the
girl had recited the story of the slaying of EL ADREA Tarzan was
surrounded by a mob of worshiping Arabs--it was a sure road to their
admiration and respect.

The old sheik insisted that Tarzan remain indefinitely as his guest.
He even wished to adopt him as a member of the tribe, and there was for
some time a half-formed resolution in the ape-man's mind to accept and
remain forever with these wild people, whom he understood and who
seemed to understand him. His friendship and liking for the girl were
potent factors in urging him toward an affirmative decision.

Had she been a man, he argued, he should not have hesitated, for it
would have meant a friend after his own heart, with whom he could ride
and hunt at will; but as it was they would be hedged by the
conventionalities th