第43章

But he was soon given a respite, for the girl's mother joined them, and the talk became general.

The next few days passed uneventfully.The sea was quiet.

The sky was clear.The steamer plowed steadily on toward the south without pause.Tarzan spent quite a little time with Miss Strong and her mother.They whiled away their hours on deck reading, talking, or taking pictures with Miss Strong's camera.When the sun had set they walked.

One day Tarzan found Miss Strong in conversation with a stranger, a man he had not seen on board before.As he approached the couple the man bowed to the girl and turned to walk away.

"Wait, Monsieur Thuran," said Miss Strong; "you must meet Mr.Caldwell.We are all fellow passengers, and should be acquainted."The two men shook hands.As Tarzan looked into the eyes of Monsieur Thuran he was struck by the strange familiarity of their expression.

"I have had the honor of monsieur's acquaintance in the past, I am sure," said Tarzan, "though I cannot recall the circumstances."Monsieur Thuran appeared ill at ease.

"I cannot say, monsieur," he replied."It may be so.I have had that identical sensation myself when meeting a stranger.""Monsieur Thuran has been explaining some of the mysteries of navigation to me," explained the girl.

Tarzan paid little heed to the conversation that ensued--he was attempting to recall where he had met Monsieur Thuran before.

That it had been under peculiar circumstances he was positive.

Presently the sun reached them, and the girl asked Monsieur Thuran to move her chair farther back into the shade.

Tarzan happened to be watching the man at the time, and noticed the awkward manner in which he handled the chair--his left wrist was stiff.That clew was sufficient--a sudden train of associated ideas did the rest.

Monsieur Thuran had been trying to find an excuse to make a graceful departure.The lull in the conversation following the moving of their position gave him an opportunity to make his excuses.Bowing low to Miss Strong, and inclining his head to Tarzan, he turned to leave them.

"Just a moment," said Tarzan."If Miss Strong will pardon me I will accompany you.I shall return in a moment, Miss Strong."Monsieur Thuran looked uncomfortable.When the two men had passed out of the girl's sight, Tarzan stopped, laying a heavy hand on the other's shoulder.

"What is your game now, Rokoff?" he asked.

"I am leaving France as I promised you," replied the other, in a surly voice.

"I see you are," said Tarzan; "but I know you so well that I can scarcely believe that your being on the same boat with me is purely a coincidence.If I could believe it the fact that you are in disguise would immediately disabuse my mind of any such idea.""Well," growled Rokoff, with a shrug, "I cannot see what you are going to do about it.This vessel flies the English flag.

I have as much right on board her as you, and from the fact that you are booked under an assumed name I imagine that I have more right.""We will not discuss it, Rokoff.All I wanted to say to you is that you must keep away from Miss Strong--she is a decent woman."Rokoff turned scarlet.

"If you don't I shall pitch you overboard," continued Tarzan.

"Do not forget that I am just waiting for some excuse."Then he turned on his heel, and left Rokoff standing there trembling with suppressed rage.

He did not see the man again for days, but Rokoff was not idle.In his stateroom with Paulvitch he fumed and swore, threatening the most terrible of revenges.