hing from behind, and the old instinct of the wild beast broke
through the thin veneer of civilization, so that Tarzan wheeled about
so quickly that the eyes of the young woman who had been
surreptitiously regarding him had not even time to drop before the gray
eyes of the ape-man shot an inquiring look straight into them. Then,
as they fell, Tarzan saw a faint wave of crimson creep swiftly over the
now half-averted face.

He smiled to himself at the result of his very uncivilized and
ungallant action, for he had not lowered his own eyes when they met
those of the young woman. She was very young, and equally good to look
upon. Further, there was something rather familiar about her that set
Tarzan to wondering where he had seen her before. He resumed his
former position, and presently he was aware that she had arisen and was
leaving the deck. As she passed, Tarzan turned to watch her, in the
hope that he might discover a clew to satisfy his mild curiosity as to
her identity.

Nor was he disappointed entirely, for as she walked away she raised one
hand to the black, waving mass at the nape of her neck--the peculiarly
feminine gesture that admits cognizance of appraising eyes behind
her--and Tarzan saw upon a finger of this hand the ring of strange
workmanship that he had seen upon the finger of the veiled woman a
short time before.

So it was this beautiful young woman Rokoff had been persecuting.
Tarzan wondered in a lazy sort of way whom she might be, and what
relations one so lovely could have with the surly, bearded Russian.

After dinner that evening Tarzan strolled forward, where he remained
until after dark, in conversation with the second officer, and when
that gentleman's duties called him elsewhere Tarzan lolled lazily by
the rail watching the play of the moonlight upon the gently rolling
waters. He was half hidden by a davit, so that two men who approached
along the deck did not see him, and as they passed Tarzan caught enough
of their conversation to cause him to fall in behind them, to follow
and learn what deviltry they were up to. He had recognized the voice
as that of Rokoff, and had seen that his companion was Paulvitch.

Tarzan had overheard but a few words: "And if she screams you may
choke her until--" But those had been enough to arouse the spirit of
adventure within him, and so he kept the two men in sight as they
walked, briskly now, along the deck. To the smoking-room he followed
th