battle for his life.

It must be near midnight, thought Tarzan. He had several hours
to live. Possibly he would yet find a way to take Rokoff with him
on the long journey. He could hear the savage lord of the desert
quite close by now. Possibly he sought his meat from among the
penned animals within the DOUAR.

For a long time silence reigned, then Tarzan's trained ears caught
the sound of a stealthily moving body. It came from the side of
the tent nearest the mountains--the back. Nearer and nearer it
came. He waited, listening intently, for it to pass. For a time
there was silence without, such a terrible silence that Tarzan was
surprised that he did not hear the breathing of the animal he felt
sure must be crouching close to the back wall of his tent.

There! It is moving again. Closer it creeps. Tarzan turns his
head in the direction of the sound. It is very dark within the
tent. Slowly the back rises from the ground, forced up by the head
and shoulders of a body that looks all black in the semi-darkness.
Beyond is a faint glimpse of the dimly starlit desert. A grim smile
plays about Tarzan's lips. At least Rokoff will be cheated. How
mad he will be! And death will be more merciful than he could have
hoped for at the hands of the Russian.

Now the back of the tent drops into place, and all is darkness
again--whatever it is is inside the tent with him. He hears it
creeping close to him--now it is beside him. He closes his eyes
and waits for the mighty paw. Upon his upturned face falls the
gentle touch of a soft hand groping in the dark, and then a girl's