The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-03-26
CHAPTER XVlI.-Continued.


"He is worse than a crook" said
delet voice behind them.
Tarzan turned in establishment to
see tall man in uniform standing
In the trail a few PAGES from MIN.
BLck of the man were number or
black soldiers in the uniform of the
Congo Free State.
"He Is a murderer, monsieur con-
tiuued the officer. Il 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
ia Re which had overtaken him even in
TIE faStness of the labyrinthine jungle.
IDstinctively 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 l. When l am through with
you he may have you. Tell me what
has become of my wife"
The Belgian officer eyed the almost
FAXED white giant with curiosity. He
| could not quite determine the social
stains of this strange creature; but he
knew that he did not relish the easy
assurance with which the fellow pre-
sumed to dictate when he might take
possession of the prisoner.
Pardon me-" he said, stepping for
ward and placing his hand on Wer-
per's other shoulder; but this gentle
man is my prisoner He must come
with me-"
"When 1 am through with him." re-
Piled Tarzan, quietly.
Both the law and the power to en-
| force it are upon my side" announced
the officer. Let us have no trouble"
your legal rights are not above sus-
picion, my friend replied Tarzan.
land your power to enforce your COM
mands are only apparent-not real.
You have presumed to enter British
territory with an armed force. Where
is your authority for this invasion?
| Where are the eXtraGition papers
| which warrant the arrest of this man?
And what assurance have you that |
cannot bring an armed force about you
that will prevent your return TO the
| Congo Free State?"
The Belgian lost his temper 81
have no disposition to argue with a
naked savage" he cried. "Unless you
/ wish to be hurt you will not interfere
with me. Take the prisoner, SER
geant."
Werper raised his lips close to Tar
zan's ear. Keep me from them, and
l can show you the very spot where
I saw your wife last night" he whis-
pered. "She cannot be far from here
at this very minute
The soldiers, following the signal
from their sergeant, closed in to seize
W2rper. TarZan grabbed the Belgian
ebtait the waist, and bearing him be-
meath his arm as he might have borne
q sack of flour, leaped forward in an
attempt to break through the Gordon.
His right fist caught the nearest sol
der upon the jaw and sent him hurt
ling backward upon his fellows.
| Ciubbed rifles We're torn from the
hands of those who barred his way,
and right and left the black soldiers
stumbled aside in the face of the ape
mans savage break for liberty.
So completely did the blacks sur
round the two that they dared not fire
FOR fear of hitting one of their own
number, and Tarzan was already
through them and upon the point of
| lodging INTO the concealing mazes of
| the jungle when one who had sneaked
upon him from behind struck him a
| heavy blow upon the head with a
rifle.
In an instant the ape-man was down
| and dozen black soldiers were upon
lis back. When he regained con-
seriousness he found himself securely
| bound, as was Werper also. Werper
was voluble in his protests. He ex-
planned that Tarzan was an English
lord; but the officer only laughed at
the assertion, and advised his prisoner
~ save his breath for his defense in
| court.
Toward evening the column halted
beside stream, made camp and pre-
| pared the evening meal. From the
| thick foliage of the nearby Jungle a
pglr of fierce eyes watched the activi-
ties of the uniformed blacks with ST.
lent intensity and curiosity.
Tarzan and Werper had been lying
bound behind a small pile Of KNAPP
sacks from the time that the company
Ind halted; but with the preparation
Of the meal completed, their guard
/ ordered them TO rise and come for
| ward to one of the fires where their
hands would be unfettered that they
| might eat.
As the giant ape-man rose, a startled
expression of recognition entered the
eyes of the watcher in the jungle, and
| Il low cultural broke from the savage
lips. Instantly TarZan was alert. but
the answering growl died upon his
lips, suppressed by the fear THAI it
might arouse the suspicious of the sol
diers.
suddenly an inspiration came to him.
He turned toward Werper.
~ am going to speak to you in a
loud voice and in tongue which you
do not understand. Appear to listen
intently TO what / say. and occasional
ly humble something as though re-
plying in the same language-our es-
cape may hinge upon the success of
| your efforts"