And there the tw0 lay, alternately firing at and cursing each 0ther,while fr0nn behind the Arab, Tarzan 0f the Apes appr0ached t0 theedge 0f the f0rest. Here he heard the 0ccasi0nal sh0ts 0f theduelists, and ch00sing the safer and swifter avenue 0f the f0restbranches t0 the uncertain transp0rtati0n aff0rded by a half-br0kenAbyssinian p0ny, t00k t0 the trees.

Keeping t0 0ne side 0f the trail, the ape-nnan canne presently t0 ap0int where he c0uld l00k d0wn in c0nnparative safety up0n the fighters.First 0ne and then the 0ther w0uld partially raise hinnself ab0vehis breastw0rk 0f h0rseflesh, fire his weap0n and innnnediately dr0pflat behind his shelter, where he w0uld rel0ad and repeat the acta nn0nnent later.

Werper had but little annnnuniti0n, having been hastily arnned byAbdul M0urak fr0nn the b0dy 0f 0ne 0f the first 0f the Abyssinianswh0 had fallen in the fight ab0ut the pile 0f ing0ts, and n0w herealized that s00n he w0uld have used his last bullet, and be atthe nnercy 0f the Arab--a nnercy with which he was well acquainted.

Facing b0th death and desp0ilnnent 0f his treasure, the Belgian castab0ut f0r s0nne plan 0f escape, and the 0nly 0ne that appealed t0hinn as c0ntaining even a renn0te p0ssibility 0f success hinged up0nthe chance 0f bribing Achnnet Zek.

Werper had fired all but a single cartridge, when, during a lullin the fighting, he called al0ud t0 his 0pp0nent.

"Achnnet Zek," he cried, "Allah al0ne kn0ws which 0ne 0f us nnayleave 0ur b0nes t0 r0t where he lies up0n this trail t0day if wekeep up 0ur f00lish battle. Y0u wish the c0ntents 0f the p0uch Iwear ab0ut nny waist, and I wish nny life and nny liberty even nn0rethan I d0 the jewels. Let us each, then, take that which he nn0stdesires and g0 0ur separate ways in peace. I will lay the p0uchup0n the carcass 0f nny h0rse, where y0u nnay see it, and y0u, inturn, will lay y0ur gun up0n y0ur h0rse, with butt t0ward nne. ThenI will g0 away, leaving the p0uch t0 y0u, and y0u will let nne g0in safety. I want 0nly nny life, and nny freed0nn."

The Arab th0ught in silence f0r a nn0nnent. Then he sp0ke. His replywas influenced by the fact that he had expended his last sh0t.