Chapter 7
The Dancing Girl of Sidi Aissa
Tarzan's first mission did not bid fair to be either exciting or vastlyimportant. There was a certain lieutenant of SPAHIS whom thegovernment had reason to suspect of improper relations with a greatEuropean power. This Lieutenant Gernois, who was at present stationedat Sidi-bel-Abbes, had recently been attached to the general staff,where certain information of great military value had come into hispossession in the ordinary routine of his duties. It was thisinformation which the government suspected the great power wasbartering for with the officer.
It was at most but a vague hint dropped by a certain notoriousParisienne in a jealous mood that had caused suspicion to rest upon thelieutenant. But general staffs are jealous of their secrets, andtreason so serious a thing that even a hint of it may not be safelyneglected. And so it was that Tarzan had come to Algeria in the guiseof an American hunter and traveler to keep a close eye upon LieutenantGernois.
He had looked forward with keen delight to again seeing his belovedAfrica, but this northern aspect of it was so different from histropical jungle home that he might as well have been back in Paris forall the heart thrills of homecoming that he experienced. At Oran hespent a day wandering through the narrow, crooked alleys of the Arabquarter enjoying the strange, new sights. The next day found him atSidi-bel-Abbes, where he presented his letters of introduction to bothcivil and military authorities--letters which gave no clew to the realsignificance of his mission.
Tarzan possessed a sufficient command of English to enable him to passamong Arabs and Frenchmen as an American, and that was all that wasrequired of it. When he met an Englishman he spoke French in orderthat he might not betray himself, but occasionally talked in English toforeigners who understood that tongue, but could not note the slightimperfections of accent and pronunciation that were his.
Here he became acquainted with many of the French officers, and soonbecame a favorite among them. He met Gernois, whom he found to be ataciturn, dyspeptic-looking man of about forty, having little or nosocial intercourse with his fellows.
For a month nothing of moment occurred. Gernois apparently had novisitors, nor did he on his occasional visits to the town holdcommunication with any who might even by the wildest flight ofimagination be construed into secret agents of a foreign power. Tarzanwas beginning to hope that, after all, the rumor might have been false,when suddenly Gernois was ordered to Bou Saada in the Petit Sahara farto the south.
A company of SPAHIS and three officers were to relieve another companyalready stationed there. Fortunately one of the officers, CaptainGerard, had become an excellent friend of Tarzan's, and so when theape-man suggested that he should embrace the opportunity ofaccompanying him to Bou Saada, where he expected to find hunting, itcaused not the slightest suspicion.
At Bouira the detachment detrained, and the balance of the journey wasmade in the saddle. As Tarzan was dickering at Bouira for a mount hecaught a brief glimpse of a man in European clothes eying him from thedoorway of a native coffeehouse, but as Tarzan looked the man turnedand entered the little, low-ceilinged mud hut, and but for a hauntingimpression that there had been something familiar about the face orfigure of the fellow, Tarzan gave the matter no further thought.
The march to Aumale was fatiguing to Tarzan, whose equestrianexperiences hitherto had been confined to a course of riding lessons ina Parisian academy, and so it was that he quickly sought the comfortsof a bed in the Hotel Grossat, while the officers and troops took uptheir quarters at the military post.
Although Tarzan was called early the following morning, the company ofSPAHIS was on the march before he had finished his breakfast. He washurrying through his meal that the soldiers might not get too far inadvance of him when he glanced through the door connecting the diningroom with the bar.
To his surprise, he saw Gernois standing there in conversation with thevery stranger he had seen in the coffee-house at Bouira the dayprevious. He could not be mistaken, for there was the same strangelyfamiliar attitude and figure, though the man's back was toward him.
As his eyes lingered on the two, Gernois looked up and caught theintent expression on Tarzan's face. The stranger was talking in a lowwhisper at the time, but the French officer immediately interruptedhim, and the two at once turned away and passed out of the range ofTarzan's vision.
This was the first suspicious occurrence that Tarzan had ever witnessedin connection with Gernois' actions, but he was positive that the menhad left the barroom solely because Gernois had caught Tarzan's eyesupon them; then there was the persistent impression of familiarityabout the stranger to further augment the ape-man's belief that here atlength was something which would bear watching.
A moment later Tarzan entered the barroom, but the men had left, nordid he see aught of them in the street beyond, though he found apretext to ride to various shops before he set out after the columnwhich had now considerable start of him. He did not overtake themuntil he reached Sidi Aissa shortly after noon, where the soldiers hadhalted for an hour's rest. Here he found Gernois with the column, butthere was no sign of the stranger.
It was market day at Sidi Aissa, and the numberless caravans of camelscoming in from the desert, and the crowds of bickering Arabs in themarket place, filled Tarzan with a consuming desire to remain for a daythat he might see more of these sons of the desert. Thus it was thatthe company of SPAHIS marched on that afternoon toward Bou Saadawithout him. He spent the hours until dark wandering about the marketin company with a youthful Arab, one Abdul, who had been recommended tohim by the innkeeper as a trustworthy servant and interpreter.
Here Tarzan purchased a better mount than the one he had selected atBouira, and, entering into conversation with the stately Arab to whomthe animal had belonged, learned that the seller was Kadour ben Saden,sheik of a desert tribe far south of Djelfa. Through Abdul, Tarzaninvited his new acquaintance to dine with him. As the three weremaking their way through the crowds of marketers, camels, donkeys, andhorses that filled the market place with a confusing babel of sounds,Abdul plucked at Tarzan's sleeve.
"Look, master, behind us," and he turned, pointing at a figure whichdisappeared behind a camel as Tarzan turned. "He has been following usabout all afternoon," continued Abdul.
"I caught only a glimpse of an Arab in a dark-blue burnoose and whiteturban," replied Tarzan. "Is it he you mean?"
"Yes. I suspected him because he seems a stranger here, without otherbusiness than following us, which is not the way of the Arab who ishonest, and also because he keeps the lower part of his face hidden,only his eyes showing. He must be a bad man, or he would have honestbusiness of his own to occupy his time."
"He is on the wrong scent then, Abdul," replied Tarzan, "for no onehere can have any grievance against me. This is my first visit to yourcountry, and none knows me. He will soon discover his error, and ceaseto follow us."
"Unless he be bent on robbery," returned Abdul.
"Then all we can do is wait until he is ready to try his hand upon us,"laughed Tarzan, "and I warrant that he will get his bellyful of robbingnow that we are prepared for him," and so he dismissed the subject fromhis mind, though he was destined to recall it before many hours througha most unlooked-for occurrence.
Kadour ben Saden, having dined well, prepared to take leave of hishost. With dignified protestations of friendship, he invited Tarzan tovisit him in his wild domain, where the antelope, the stag, the boar,the panther, and the lion might still be found in sufficient numbers totempt an ardent huntsman.
On his departure the ape-man, with Abdul, wandered again into thestreets of Sidi Aissa, where he was soon attracted by the wild din ofsound coming from the open doorway of one of the numerous CAFES MAURES.It was after eight, and the dancing was in full swing as Tarzanentered. The room was filled to repletion with Arabs. All weresmoking, and drinking their thick, hot coffee.
Tarzan and Abdul found seats near the center of the room, though theter
rific noise produced by the musicians upon their Arab drums andpipes would have rendered a seat farther from them more acceptable tothe quiet-loving ape-man. A rather good-looking Ouled-Nail wasdancing, and, perceiving Tarzan's European clothes, and scenting agenerous gratuity, she threw her silken handkerchief upon his shoulder,to be rewarded with a franc.
When her place upon the floor had been taken by another the bright-eyedAbdul saw her in conversation with two Arabs at the far side of theroom, near a side door that let upon an inner court, around the galleryof which were the rooms occupied by the girls who danced in this cafe.
At first he thought nothing of the matter, but presently he noticedfrom the corner of his eye one of the men nod in their direction, andthe girl turn and shoot a furtive glance at Tarzan. Then the Arabsmelted through the doorway into the darkness of the court.
When it came again the girl's turn to dance she hovered close toTarzan, and for the ape-man alone were her sweetest smiles. Many anugly scowl was cast upon the tall European by swarthy, dark-eyed sonsof the desert, but neither smiles nor scowls produced any outwardlyvisible effect upon him. Again the girl cast her handkerchief upon hisshoulder, and again was she rewarded with a franc piece. As she wassticking it upon her forehead, after the custom of her kind, she bentlow toward Tarzan, whispering a quick word in his ear.
"There are two without in the court," she said quickly, in brokenFrench, "who would harm m'sieur. At first I promised to lure you tothem, but you have been kind, and I cannot do it. Go quickly, beforethey find that I have failed them. I think that they are very bad men."
Tarzan thanked the girl, assuring her that he would be careful, and,having finished her dance, she crossed to the little doorway and wentout into the court. But Tarzan did not leave the cafe as she had urged.
For another half hour nothing unusual occurred, then a surly-lookingArab entered the cafe from the street. He stood near Tarzan, where hedeliberately made insulting remarks about the European, but as theywere in his native tongue Tarzan was entirely innocent of their purportuntil Abdul took it upon himself to enlighten him.
"This fellow is looking for trouble," warned Abdul. "He is not alone.In fact, in case of a disturbance, nearly every man here would beagainst you. It would be better to leave quietly, master."
"Ask the fellow what he wants," commanded Tarzan.
"He says that 'the dog of a Christian' insulted the Ouled-Nail, whobelongs to him. He means trouble, m'sieur."
"Tell him that I did not insult his or any other Ouled-Nail, that Iwish him to go away and leave me alone. That I have no quarrel withhim, nor has he any with me."
"He says," replied Abdul, after delivering this message to the Arab,"that besides being a dog yourself that you are the son of one, andthat your grandmother was a hyena. Incidentally you are a liar."
The attention of those near by had now been attracted by thealtercation, and the sneering laughs that followed this torrent ofinvective easily indicated the trend of the sympathies of the majorityof the audience.
Tarzan did not like being laughed at, neither did he relish the termsapplied to him by the Arab, but he showed no sign of anger as he arosefrom his seat upon the bench. A half smile played about his lips, butof a sudden a mighty fist shot into the face of the scowling Arab, andback of it were the terrible muscles of the ape-man.
At the instant that the man fell a half dozen fierce plainsmen spranginto the room from where they had apparently been waiting for their cuein the street before the cafe. With cries of "Kill the unbeliever!"and "Down with the dog of a Christian!" they made straight for Tarzan.A number of the younger Arabs in the audience sprang to their feet tojoin in the assault upon the unarmed white man. Tarzan and Abdul wererushed back toward the end of the room by the very force of numbersopposing them. The young Arab remained loyal to his master, and withdrawn knife fought at his side.
With tremendous blows the ape-man felled all who came within reach ofhis powerful hands. He fought quietly and without a word, upon hislips the same half smile they had worn as he rose to strike down theman who had insulted him. It seemed impossible that either he or Abdulcould survive the sea of wicked-looking swords and knives thatsurrounded them, but the very numbers of their assailants proved thebest bulwark of their safety. So closely packed was the howling,cursing mob that no weapon could be wielded to advantage, and none ofthe Arabs dared use a firearm for fear of wounding one of hiscompatriots.
Finally Tarzan succeeded in seizing one of the most persistent of hisattackers. With a quick wrench he disarmed the fellow, and then,holding him before them as a shield, he backed slowly beside Abdultoward the little door which led into the inner courtyard. At thethreshold he paused for an instant, and, lifting the struggling Arababove his head, hurled him, as though from a catapult, full in thefaces of his on-pressing fellows.
Then Tarzan and Abdul stepped into the semidarkness of the court. Thefrightened Ouled-Nails were crouching at the tops of the stairs whichled to their respective rooms, the only light in the courtyard comingfrom the sickly candles which each girl had stuck with its own greaseto the woodwork of her door-frame, the better to display her charms tothose who might happen to traverse the dark inclosure.
Scarcely had Tarzan and Abdul emerged from the room ere a revolverspoke close at their backs from the shadows beneath one of thestairways, and as they turned to meet this new antagonist, two muffledfigures sprang toward them, firing as they came. Tarzan leaped to meetthese two new assailants. The foremost lay, a second later, in thetrampled dirt of the court, disarmed and groaning from a broken wrist.Abdul's knife found the vitals of the second in the instant that thefellow's revolver missed fire as he held it to the faithful Arab'sforehead.
The maddened horde within the cafe were now rushing out in pursuit oftheir quarry. The Ouled-Nails had extinguished their candles at a cryfrom one of their number, and the only light within the yard camefeebly from the open and half-blocked door of the cafe. Tarzan hadseized a sword from the man who had fallen before Abdul's knife, andnow he stood waiting for the rush of men that was coming in search ofthem through the darkness.
Suddenly he felt a light hand upon his shoulder from behind, and awoman's voice whispering, "Quick, m'sieur; this way. Follow me."
"Come, Abdul," said Tarzan, in a low tone, to the youth; "we can be noworse off elsewhere than we are here."
The woman turned and led them up the narrow stairway that ended at thedoor of her quarters. Tarzan was close beside her. He saw the goldand silver bracelets upon her bare arms, the strings of gold coin thatdepended from her hair ornaments, and the gorgeous colors of her dress.He saw that she was a Ouled-Nail, and instinctively he knew that shewas the same who had whispered the warning in his ear earlier in theevening.
As they reached the top of the stairs they could hear the angry crowdsearching the yard beneath.
"Soon they will search here," whispered the girl. "They must not findyou, for, though you fight with the strength of many men, they willkill you in the end. Hasten; you can drop from the farther window ofmy room to the street beyond. Before they discover that you are nolonger in the court of the buildings you will be safe within the hotel."
But even as she spoke, several men had started up the stairway at thehead of which they stood. There was a sudden cry from one of thesearchers. They had been discovered. Quickly the crowd rushed for thestairway. The foremost assailant leaped quickly upward, but at the tophe met the sudden sword that he had not expected--the quarry had beenunarmed before.
With a cry, the man toppled back upon those behind him. Like tenpinsthey rolled down the stairs. The ancient and rickety structure couldnot withstand the strain of this unwonted weight and jarring. With acreaking and rending of breaking wood it collapsed beneath the Arabs,leaving Tarzan, Abdul, and the girl alone upon the frail platform atthe top.
"Come!" cried the Ouled-Nail. "They will reach us from anotherstairway through the room next to mine. We have not a moment to spar
e."
Just as they were entering the room Abdul heard and translated a cryfrom the yard below for several to hasten to the street and cut offescape from that side.
"We are lost now," said the girl simply.
"We?" questioned Tarzan.
"Yes, m'sieur," she responded; "they will kill me as well. Have I notaided you?"
This put a different aspect on the matter. Tarzan had rather beenenjoying the excitement and danger of the encounter. He had not for aninstant supposed that either Abdul or the girl could suffer exceptthrough accident, and he had only retreated just enough to keep frombeing killed himself. He had had no intention of running away until hesaw that he was hopelessly lost were he to remain.
Alone he could have sprung into the midst of that close-packed mob,and, laying about him after the fashion of Numa, the lion, have struckthe Arabs with such consternation that escape would have been easy.Now he must think entirely of these two faithful friends.
He crossed to the window which overlooked the street. In a minutethere would be enemies below. Already he could hear the mob clamberingthe stairway to the next quarters--they would be at the door beside himin another instant. He put a foot upon the sill and leaned out, but hedid not look down. Above him, within arm's reach, was the low roof ofthe building. He called to the girl. She came and stood beside him.He put a great arm about her and lifted her across his shoulder.
"Wait here until I reach down for you from above," he said to Abdul."In the meantime shove everything in the room against that door--it maydelay them long enough." Then he stepped to the sill of the narrowwindow with the girl upon his shoulders. "Hold tight," he cautionedher. A moment later he had clambered to the roof above with the easeand dexterity of an ape. Setting the girl down, he leaned far over theroof's edge, calling softly to Abdul. The youth ran to the window.
"Your hand," whispered Tarzan. The men in the room beyond werebattering at the door. With a sudden crash it fell splintering in, andat the same instant Abdul felt himself lifted like a feather onto theroof above. They were not a moment too soon, for as the men broke intothe room which they had just quitted a dozen more rounded the corner inthe street below and came running to a spot beneath the girl's window.