Now　at　last　they　saw　a　feasible　plan　for　leaving　the　island
  upon　a　seaworthy　craft。　　There　would　be　no　more　hard　labour
  at　ship…building；　and　no　risking　their　lives　upon　a　crudely
  built　makeshift　that　would　be　quite　as　likely　to　go　to　the
  bottom　as　it　would　to　reach　the　mainland。
  Also；　they　were　to　have　assistance　in　capturing　the　woman；
  or　rather　women；　for　when　Momulla　had　learned　that　there
  was　a　black　woman　in　the　other　camp　he　had　insisted　that
  she　be　brought　along　as　well　as　the　white　woman。
  As　Kai　Shang　and　Momulla　entered　their　camp；　it　was
  with　a　realization　that　they　no　longer　needed　Gust。
  They　marched　straight　to　the　tent　in　which　they　might　expect　to
  find　him　at　that　hour　of　the　day；　for　though　it　would　have
  been　more　comfortable　for　the　entire　party　to　remain　aboard
  the　ship；　they　had　mutually　decided　that　it　would　be　safer　for
  all　concerned　were　they　to　pitch　their　camp　ashore。
  Each　knew　that　in　the　heart　of　the　others　was　sufficient
  treachery　to　make　it　unsafe　for　any　member　of　the　party　to
  go　ashore　leaving　the　others　in　possession　of　the　Cowrie；　so
  not　more　than　two　or　three　men　at　a　time　were　ever　permitted
  aboard　the　vessel　unless　all　the　balance　of　the　company
  was　there　too。
  As　the　two　crossed　toward　Gust's　tent　the　Maori　felt　the
  edge　of　his　long　knife　with　one　grimy；　calloused　thumb。
  The　Swede　would　have　felt　far　from　comfortable　could　he　have
  seen　this　significant　action；　or　read　what　was　passing　amid
  the　convolutions　of　the　brown　man's　cruel　brain。
  Now　it　happened　that　Gust　was　at　that　moment　in　the　tent
  occupied　by　the　cook；　and　this　tent　stood　but　a　few　feet
  from　his　own。　　So　that　he　heard　the　approach　of　Kai　Shang
  and　Momulla；　though　he　did　not；　of　course；　dream　that　it
  had　any　special　significance　for　him。
  Chance　had　it；　though；　that　he　glanced　out　of　the　doorway
  of　the　cook's　tent　at　the　very　moment　that　Kai　Shang　and
  Momulla　approached　the　entrance　to　his；　and　he　thought　that
  he　noted　a　stealthiness　in　their　movements　that　comported
  poorly　with　amicable　or　friendly　intentions；　and　then；　just　as
  they　two　slunk　within　the　interior；　Gust　caught　a　glimpse　of
  the　long　knife　which　Momulla　the　Maori　was　then　carrying
  behind　his　back。
  The　Swede's　eyes　opened　wide；　and　a　funny　little　sensation
  assailed　the　roots　of　his　hairs。　　Also　he　turned　almost　white
  beneath　his　tan。　　Quite　precipitately　he　left　the　cook's　tent。
  He　was　not　one　who　required　a　detailed　exposition　of　intentions
  that　were　quite　all　too　obvious。
  As　surely　as　though　he　had　heard　them　plotting；　he　knew
  that　Kai　Shang　and　Momulla　had　come　to　take　his　life。
  The　knowledge　that　he　alone　could　navigate　the　Cowrie　had；
  up　to　now；　been　sufficient　assurance　of　his　safety；　but　quite
  evidently　something　had　occurred　of　which　he　had　no　knowledge
  that　would　make　it　quite　worth　the　while　of　his　co…conspirators
  to　eliminate　him。
  Without　a　pause　Gust　darted　across　the　beach　and　into　the　jungle。
  He　was　afraid　of　the　jungle；　uncanny　noises　that　were
  indeed　frightful　came　forth　from　its　recessesthe　tangled
  mazes　of　the　mysterious　country　back　of　the　beach。
  But　if　Gust　was　afraid　of　the　jungle　he　was　far　more　afraid
  of　Kai　Shang　and　Momulla。　　The　dangers　of　the　jungle　were
  more　or　less　problematical；　while　the　danger　that　menaced
  him　at　the　hands　of　his　companions　was　a　perfectly　well…
  known　quantity；　which　might　be　expressed　in　terms　of　a　few
  inches　of　cold　steel；　or　the　coil　of　a　light　rope。　　He　had　seen
  Kai　Shang　garrotte　a　man　at　Pai…sha　in　a　dark　alleyway　back
  of　Loo　Kotai's　place。　　He　feared　the　rope；　therefore；　more
  than　he　did　the　knife　of　the　Maori；　but　he　feared　them　both
  too　much　to　remain　within　reach　of　either。　　Therefore　he　chose
  the　pitiless　jungle。
  Chapter　21
  The　Law　of　the　Jungle
  In　Tarzan's　camp；　by　dint　of　threats　and　promised　rewards；
  the　ape…man　had　finally　succeeded　in　getting　the　hull　of　a
  large　skiff　almost　completed。　　Much　of　the　work　he　and
  Mugambi　had　done　with　their　own　hands　in　addition　to
  furnishing　the　camp　with　meat。
  Schneider；　the　mate；　had　been　doing　considerable　grumbling；
  and　had　at　last　openly　deserted　the　work　and　gone　off
  into　the　jungle　with　Schmidt　to　hunt。　　He　said　that　he　wanted
  a　rest；　and　Tarzan；　rather　than　add　to　the　unpleasantness
  which　already　made　camp　life　almost　unendurable；　had　permitted
  the　two　men　to　depart　without　a　remonstrance。
  Upon　the　following　day；　however；　Schneider　affected　a　feeling
  of　remorse　for　his　action；　and　set　to　work　with　a　will　upon
  the　skiff。　　Schmidt　also　worked　good…naturedly；　and　Lord
  Greystoke　congratulated　himself　that　at　last　the　men　had
  awakened　to　the　necessity　for　the　labour　which　was　being　asked　of
  them　and　to　their　obligations　to　the　balance　of　the　party。
  It　was　with　a　feeling　of　greater　relief　than　he　had　experienced
  for　many　a　day　that　he　set　out　that　noon　to　hunt　deep　in　the
  jungle　for　a　herd　of　small　deer　which　Schneider　reported
  that　he　and　Schmidt　had　seen　there　the　day　before。
  The　direction　in　which　Schneider　had　reported　seeing　the
  deer　was　toward　the　south…west；　and　to　that　point　the　ape…man
  swung　easily　through　the　tangled　verdure　of　the　forest。
  And　as　he　went　there　approached　from　the　north　a　half…dozen
  ill…featured　men　who　went　stealthily　through　the　jungle
  as　go　men　bent　upon　the　commission　of　a　wicked　act。
  They　thought　that　they　travelled　unseen；　but　behind　them；
  almost　from　the　moment　they　quitted　their　own　camp；　a　tall
  man　crept　upon　their　trail。　　In　the　man's　eyes　were　hate　and
  fear；　and　a　great　curiosity。　　Why　went　Kai　Shang　and　Momulla
  and　the　others　thus　stealthily　toward　the　south？　　What　did
  they　expect　to　find　there？　　Gust　shook　his　low…browed
  head　in　perplexity。　　But　he　would　know。　　He　would　follow
  them　and　learn　their　plans；　and　then　if　he　could　thwart　them
  he　wouldthat　went　without　question。
  At　first　he　had　thought　that　they　searched　for　him；　but
  finally　his　better　judgment　assured　him　that　such　could　not
  be　the　case；　since　they　had　accomplished　all　they　really
  desired　by　chasing　him　out　of　camp。　　Never　would　Kai　Shang
  or　Momulla　go　to　such　pains　to　slay　him　or　another　unless　it
  would　put　money　into　their　pockets；　and　as　Gust　had　no
  money　it　was　evident　that　they　were　searching　for　someone　else。
  Presently　the　party　he　trailed　came　to　a　halt。　　Its　members
  concealed　themselves　in　the　foliage　bordering　the　game　trail
  along　which　they　had　come。　　Gust；　that　he　might　the　better
  observe；　clambered　into　the　branches　of　a　tree　to　the　rear　of
  them；　being　careful　that　the　leafy　fronds　hid　him　from　the
  view　of　his　erstwhile　mates。
  He　had　not　long　to　wait　before　he　saw　a　strange　white　man
  approach　carefully　along　the　trail　from　the　south。
  At　sight　of　the　newcomer　Momulla　and　Kai　Shang　arose
  from　their　places　of　concealment　and　greeted　him。　　Gust　could
  not　overhear　what　passed　between　them。　　Then　the　man　returned
  in　the　direction　from　which　he　had　come。
  He　was　Schneider。　　Nearing　his　camp　he　circled　to　the
  opposite　side　of　it；　and　presently　came　running　in　breathlessly。
  Excitedly　he　hastened　to　Mugambi。
  〃Quick！〃　he　cried。　　〃Those　apes　of　yours　have　caught　Schmidt
  and　will　kill　him　if　we　do　not　hasten　to　his　aid。　　You　alone
  can　call　them　off。　　Take　Jones　and　Sullivanyou　may　need
  helpand　get　to　him　as　quick　as　you　can。　　Follow　the　game
  trail　south　for　about　a　mile。　　I　will　remain　here。　　I　am
  too　spent　with　running　to　go　back　with　you；〃　and　the　mate
  of　the　Kincaid　threw　himself　upon　the　ground；　panting　as
  though　he　was　almost　done　for。
  Mugambi　hesitated。　　He　had　been　left　to　guard　the　two　women。
  He　did　not　know　what　to　do；　and　then　Jane　Clayton；
  who　had　heard　Schneider's　story；　added　her　pleas　to
  those　of　the　mate。
  〃Do　not　delay；〃　she　urged。　　〃We　shall　be　all　right　here。
  Mr。　Schneider　will　remain　with　us。　　Go；　Mugambi。　　The　poor
  fellow　must　be　saved。〃
  Schmidt；　who　lay　hidden　in　a　bush　at　the　edge　of　the　camp；　grinned。
  Mugambi；　heeding　the　commands　of　his　mistress；　though　still　doubtful
  of　the　wisdom　of　his　action；　started　off　toward　the　south；　with　Jones
  and　Sullivan　at　his　heels。
  No　sooner　had　he　disappeared　than　Schmidt　rose　and　darted　north
  into　the　jungle；　and　a　few　minutes　later　the　face　of　Kai　Shang
  of　Fachan　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the　clearing。　　Schneider　saw
  the　Chinaman；　and　motioned　to　him　that　the　coast　was　clear。
  Jane　Clayton　and　the　Mosula　woman　were　sitting　at　the
  opening　of　the　former's　tent；　their　backs　toward　the
  approaching　ruffians。　　The　first　intimation　that　either
  had　of　the　presence　of　strangers　in　camp　was　the　sudden
  appearance　of　a　half…dozen　ragged　villains　about　them。
  〃Come！〃　said　Kai　Shang；　motioning　that　the　two　arise
  and　follow　him。
  Jane　Clayton　sprang　to　her　feet　and　looked　about　for　Schneider；
  only　to　see　him　standing　be