Tarzan spoke to the girl, thanking her for the sacrifice she had
made for him, a total stranger.

"I liked you," she said simply. "You were unlike the others who
come to the cafe. You did not speak coarsely to me--the manner in
which you gave me money was not an insult."

"What shall you do after tonight?" he asked. "You cannot return
to the cafe. Can you even remain with safety in Sidi Aissa?"

"Tomorrow it will be forgotten," she replied. "But I should be glad
if it might be that I need never return to this or another cafe.
I have not remained because I wished to; I have been a prisoner."

"A prisoner!" ejaculated Tarzan incredulously.

"A slave would be the better word," she answered. "I was stolen
in the night from my father's DOUAR by a band of marauders. They
brought me here and sold me to the Arab who keeps this cafe. It
has been nearly two years now since I saw the last of mine own
people. They are very far to the south. They never come to Sidi
Aissa."

"You would like to return to your people?" asked Tarzan. "Then I
shall promise to see you safely so far as Bou Saada at least. There
we can doubtless arrange with the commandant to send you the rest
of the way."

"Oh, m'sieur," she cried, "how can I ever repay you! You cannot
really mean that you will do so much for a poor Ouled-Nail. But