Lieutenant Paul D'Arnot of the French navy had been recognized as one of the cleverest swordsmen in the service and to his friend Greystoke he had imparted a great measure of his skill during the many hours that the two had whiled away with the foils, and today Tarzan of the Apes breathed a prayer of gratitude to the far-distant friend whose careful training was, after many long years, to serve the ape-man in such good stead, for he soon realized that, though his antagonist was a master at the art of fence, he was not wholly outclassed, and to his skill was added his great strength and his agility. They had fought for but a minute or two when the Veltopismakusian realized that he was facing no mean antagonist and that he was laboring at a disadvantage in being unable to fall back when Tarzan rushed him, while his foeman had at his back the whole length of the tunnel. He tried then to force Tarzan back, but in this he failed, receiving a thrust in the shoulder for his pains, and then he commenced to call for help and the ape-man realized that he must silence him and that quickly. Awaiting the opportunity that was presently afforded by a feint that evoked a wild lunge, Tarzan stepped quickly in and passed his sword through the heart of the Veltopismakusian and as he withdrew his blade from the body of his antagonist he released the bolts that held the door and swung it open. Beyond it, white of face, crouched Komodoflorensal, but as his eyes fell upon Tarzan and the body of the guard behind him, a smile curved his lips and an instant later he was in the corridor beside his friend. "How did it happen?" he demanded. "He recognized us; but what of Talaskar? Is she not coming?" "She is not here. Kalfastoban took her away. He has purchased her from Zoanthrohago." Tarzan wheeled. "Rebolt the door and let us get out of here," he said. Komodoflorensal closed and fastened the door. "Where now?" he asked. "To find Kalfastoban's quarters," replied the ape-man. Komodoflorensal shrugged his shoulders and followed on behind his friend. They retraced their steps toward the surface without incident until they were opposite the sixteenth level, when a face was suddenly turned toward them from a column of slaves crossing the runway from one lateral to another. Just for an instant did the eyes of the slave meet those of Tarzan, and then the fellow had passed into the mouth of the lateral and disappeared. "We must hurry," whispered Tarzan to his companion. "Why now more than before?" demanded Komodoflorensal. "Did you not see the fellow who just passed us and turned to look a second time at me?" "No; who was it?" "Garaftap," replied Tarzan. "Did he recognize you?" "As to that I cannot say; but he evidently found something familiar in my appearance. Let us hope that he did not place me, though I fear that he did." "Then we must lose no time in getting out of here, and out of Veltopismakus, as well."