He made no
noise. The shadow of a falling leaf, floating gently to earth upon
a still day, could have been no more soundless. He moved to the
side of the sleeping man and bent low over him. He could not know,
of course, whether it was Schneider or another, as he had never seen
Schneider; but he meant to know and to know even more. Gently he
shook the man by the shoulder. The fellow turned heavily and grunted
in a thick guttural.
"Silence!" admonished the ape-man in a low whisper. "Silence--I
kill."
The Hun opened his eyes. In the dim light he saw a giant figure
bending over him. Now a mighty hand grasped his shoulder and another
closed lightly about his throat.
"Make no outcry," commanded Tarzan; "but answer in a whisper my
questions. What is your name?"
"Luberg," replied the officer. He was trembling. The weird presence
of this naked giant filled him with dread. He, too, recalled the
men mysteriously murdered in the still watches of the night camps.
"What do you want?"
"Where is Hauptmann Fritz Schneider?" asked Tarzan, "Which is his
tent?"
"He is not here," replied Luberg. "He was sent to Wilhelmstal
yesterday."
"I shall not kill you--now," said the ape-man. "First I shall go
and learn if you have lied to me and if you have your death shall
be the more terrible. Do you know how Major Schneider died?"
Luberg shook his head negatively.
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