"Who knows?" and then he turned and rode after the departing Arabs.

Outside Bou Saada he bade Kadour ben Saden and his men good-by,
for there were reasons which made him wish to make his entry into
the town as secret as possible, and when he had explained them to
the sheik the latter concurred in his decision. The Arabs were
to enter Bou Saada ahead of him, saying nothing as to his presence
with them. Later Tarzan would come in alone, and go directly to
an obscure native inn.

Thus, making his entrance after dark, as he did, he was not seen
by any one who knew him, and reached the inn unobserved. After
dining with Kadour ben Saden as his guest, he went to his former
hotel by a roundabout way, and, coming in by a rear entrance, sought
the proprietor, who seemed much surprised to see him alive.

Yes, there was mail for monsieur; he would fetch it. No, he would
mention monsieur's return to no one. Presently he returned with a
packet of letters. One was an order from his superior to lay off
on his present work, and hasten to Cape Town by the first steamer
he could get. His further instructions would be awaiting him there
in the hands of another agent whose name and address were given.
That was all--brief but explicit. Tarzan arranged to leave Bou
Saada early the next morning. Then he started for the garrison to
see Captain Gerard, whom the hotel man had told him had returned
with his detachment the previous day.

He found the officer in his quarters. He was filled with surprise
and pleasure at seeing Tarzan alive and well.