Very softly he tiptoed up the stairs and along the gallery to
the door of his wife's boudoir. In his hand was a heavy walking
stick--in his heart, murder.

Olga was the first to see him. With a horrified shriek she tore
herself from Tarzan's arms, and the ape-man turned just in time to
ward with his arm a terrific blow that De Coude had aimed at his
head. Once, twice, three times the heavy stick fell with lightning
rapidity, and each blow aided in the transition of the ape-man back
to the primordial.

With the low, guttural snarl of the bull ape he sprang for the
Frenchman. The great stick was torn from his grasp and broken in
two as though it had been matchwood, to be flung aside as the now
infuriated beast charged for his adversary's throat. Olga de Coude
stood a horrified spectator of the terrible scene which ensued
during the next brief moment, then she sprang to where Tarzan was
murdering her husband--choking the life from him--shaking him as
a terrier might shake a rat.

Frantically she tore at his great hands. "Mother of God!" she
cried. "You are killing him, you are killing him! Oh, Jean, you
are killing my husband!"

Tarzan was deaf with rage. Suddenly he hurled the body to the floor,
and, placing his foot upon the upturned breast, raised his head.
Then through the palace of the Count de Coude rang the awesome
challenge of the bull ape that has made a kill. From cellar to
attic the horrid sound searched out the servants, and left them