In spite of herself she began to entertain doubts and fears.
The reasonableness of the arguments of these disinterested
French officers commenced to convince her against her will.
That he was a cannibal she would not believe, but that he
was an adopted member of some savage tribe at length
seemed possible to her.
She would not admit that he could be dead. It was impossible
to believe that that perfect body, so filled with triumphant
life, could ever cease to harbor the vital spark--as soon
believe that immortality were dust.
As Jane permitted herself to harbor these thoughts, others
equally unwelcome forced themselves upon her.
If he belonged to some savage tribe he had a savage wife
--a dozen of them perhaps--and wild, half-caste children.
The girl shuddered, and when they told her that the cruiser
would sail on the morrow she was almost glad.
It was she, though, who suggested that arms, ammunition,
supplies and comforts be left behind in the cabin, ostensibly
for that intangible personality who had signed himself Tarzan
of the Apes, and for D'Arnot should he still be living, but
really, she hoped, for her forest god--even though his feet
should prove of clay.
And at the last minute she left a message for him, to be
transmitted by Tarzan of the Apes.
She was the last to leave the cabin, returning on some trivial
pretext after the others had started for the boat.
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