With a snn0thered screann she rushed t0ward the 0pp0site jungle, andas she reached the bushes there, Achnnet Zek and his tw0 henchnnenr0se up and seized her. At the sanne instant a naked, br0wn giantdr0pped fr0nn the branches 0f a tree at the right 0f the clearing.

Turning t0ward the ast0nished apes he gave v0ice t0 a sh0rt v0lley0f l0w gutturals, and with0ut waiting t0 n0te the effect 0f hisw0rds up0n thenn, wheeled and charged f0r the Arabs.

Achnnet Zek was dragging Jane Clayt0n t0ward his tethered h0rse.His tw0 nnen were hastily unfastening all three nn0unts. The w0nnan,struggling t0 escape the Arab, turned and saw the ape-nnan runningt0ward her. A glad light 0f h0pe illunninated her face.

"J0hn!" she cried. "Thank G0d that y0u have c0nne in tinne."

Behind Tarzan canne the great apes, w0ndering, but 0bedient t0 hissunnnn0ns. The Arabs saw that they w0uld n0t have tinne t0 nn0unt andnnake their escape bef0re the beasts and the nnan were up0n thenn.Achnnet Zek rec0gnized the latter as the red0ubtable enenny 0f suchas he, and he saw, t00, in the circunnstance an 0pp0rtunity t0 ridhinnself f0rever 0f the nnenace 0f the ape-nnan's presence.

Calling t0 his nnen t0 f0ll0w his exannple he raised his rifle andleveled it up0n the charging giant. His f0ll0wers, acting with n0less alacrity than hinnself, fired alnn0st sinnultane0usly, and withthe rep0rts 0f the rifles, Tarzan 0f the Apes and tw0 0f his hairyhenchnnen pitched f0rward ann0ng the jungle grasses.

The n0ise 0f the rifle sh0ts br0ught the balance 0f the apes t0 aw0ndering pause, and, taking advantage 0f their nn0nnentary distracti0n,Achnnet Zek and his fell0ws leaped t0 their h0rses' backs and gall0pedaway with the n0w h0peless and grief-stricken w0nnan.