It was market day at Sidi Aissa, and the numberless caravans of camels coming in from the desert, and the crowds of bickering Arabs in the market place, filled Tarzan with a consuming desire to remain for a day that he might see more of these sons of the desert.Thus it was that the company of SPAHIS marched on that afternoon toward Bou Saada without him.He spent the hours until dark wandering about the market in company with a youthful Arab, one Abdul, who had been recommended to him by the innkeeper as a trustworthy servant and interpreter.
Here Tarzan purchased a better mount than the one he had selected at Bouira, and, entering into conversation with the stately Arab to whom the animal had belonged, learned that the seller was Kadour ben Saden, sheik of a desert tribe far south of Djelfa.Through Abdul, Tarzan invited his new acquaintance to dine with him.As the three were making their way through the crowds of marketers, camels, donkeys, and horses 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 which disappeared behind a camel as Tarzan turned.
"He has been following us about all afternoon," continued Abdul.
"I caught only a glimpse of an Arab in a dark-blue burnoose and white turban," replied Tarzan."Is it he you mean?""Yes.I suspected him because he seems a stranger here, without other business than following us, which is not the way of the Arab who is honest, 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 honest business of his own to occupy his time.""He is on the wrong scent then, Abdul," replied Tarzan, "for no one here can have any grievance against me.
This is my first visit to your country, and none knows me.
He will soon discover his error, and cease to 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 robbing now that we are prepared for him," and so he dismissed the subject from his mind, though he was destined to recall it before many hours through a most unlooked-for occurrence.
Kadour ben Saden, having dined well, prepared to take leave of his host.With dignified protestations of friendship, he invited Tarzan to visit him in his wild domain, where the antelope, the stag, the boar, the panther, and the lion might still be found in sufficient numbers to tempt an ardent huntsman.
On his departure the ape-man, with Abdul, wandered again into the streets of Sidi Aissa, where he was soon attracted by the wild din of sound coming from the open doorway of one of the numerous CAFES MAURES.It was after eight, and the dancing was in full swing as Tarzan entered.The room was filled to repletion with Arabs.All were smoking, and drinking their thick, hot coffee.
Tarzan and Abdul found seats near the center of the room, though the terrific noise produced by the musicians upon their Arab drums and pipes would have rendered a seat farther from them more acceptable to the quiet-loving ape-man.
A rather good-looking Ouled-Nail was dancing, and, perceiving Tarzan's European clothes, and scenting a generous 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-eyed Abdul saw her in conversation with two Arabs at the far side of the room, near a side door that let upon an inner court, around the gallery of which were the rooms occupied by the girls who danced in this cafe.
At first he thought nothing of the matter, but presently he noticed from the corner of his eye one of the men nod in their direction, and the girl turn and shoot a furtive glance at Tarzan.Then the Arabs melted through the doorway into the darkness of the court.
When it came again the girl's turn to dance she hovered close to Tarzan, and for the ape-man alone were her sweetest smiles.Many an ugly scowl was cast upon the tall European by swarthy, dark-eyed sons of the desert, but neither smiles nor scowls produced any outwardly visible effect upon him.
Again the girl cast her handkerchief upon his shoulder, and again was she rewarded with a franc piece.As she was sticking it upon her forehead, after the custom of her kind, she bent low toward Tarzan, whispering a quick word in his ear.
"There are two without in the court," she said quickly, in broken French, "who would harm m'sieur.At first I promised to lure you to them, but you have been kind, and I cannot do it.Go quickly, before they 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 went out into the court.But Tarzan did not leave the cafe as she had urged.
For another half hour nothing unusual occurred, then a surly-looking Arab entered the cafe from the street.He stood near Tarzan, where he deliberately made insulting remarks about the European, but as they were in his native tongue Tarzan was entirely innocent of their purport until 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 be against 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, who belongs to him.He means trouble, m'sieur.""Tell him that I did not insult his or any other Ouled-Nail, that I wish him to go away and leave me alone.
That I have no quarrel with him, 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, and that your grandmother was a hyena.
Incidentally you are a liar."
