The Beasts Of Tarzan

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Edgar Rice Burroughs

“The whole affair is a mystery,” said D’Arnot. “I have it from good sources. Neither the police nor the secret agents know how it happened. All anyone knows is that Nikolas Rokoff has escaped.”

John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, was once “Tarzan of the Apes.” He sat in silence in the flat of his friend, Lieutenant Paul D’Arnot, in Paris. He looked thoughtfully at the toe of his clean boot.

He thought about many old memories. Rokoff had escaped from the French military prison. He had been sent there for life because of the ape-man’s testimony.

He remembered how far Rokoff had once gone to kill him. He knew that the man’s past crimes were small compared with what he would now plan, now that he was free.

Tarzan had recently brought his wife and baby son to London. They wanted to escape the rain and danger of the rainy season on their large estate in Uziri. Uziri is the land of the fierce Waziri warriors. Tarzan had once ruled over their wide African lands.

He had crossed the Channel for a short visit with his old friend. But the news of the Russian’s escape had already spoiled his trip. He had just arrived, but he was already thinking of going back to London at once.

“It is not that I fear for myself, Paul,” he said at last. “Many times in the past I have stopped Rokoff’s plans against my life. But now there are others to think about. If I know the man, he will strike at me through my wife or son. That is the best way to cause me great pain. I must go back to them at once. I must stay with them until Rokoff is caught, or dead.”