"You will get over that," said Maral. "I felt the same way, but when I became acquainted I found that the people of Clovi are much like the people of Zoram. They have been kind to me; they will be kind to you, and you will be happy as I have been. When they have given you a mate you will look upon life very differently." "I shall not mate with one of them," cried the girl, stamping her sandaled foot. "I am Jana, The Red Flower of Zoram, and I choose my own mate." Maral shook her head sadly. "Thus spoke I once," she said; "but I have changed, and so will you." "Not I," said the girl. "I have seen but one man with whom I would mate and I shall never mate with another." "You are Jana," asked Tarzan, "the sister of Thoar?" The girl looked at him in surprise, and as though she had noticed him now for the first time her eyes quickly investigated him. "Ah," she said, "you are the stranger whom Carb would destroy." "Yes," replied the ape-man. "What do you know of Thoar, my brother?" "We hunted together. We were travelling back to Zoram when I became separated from him. We were following the tracks made by you and a man who was with you when a storm came and obliterated them. Your companion was the man whom I was seeking." "What do you know of the man who was with me?" demanded the girl. "He is my friend," replied Tarzan. "What has become of him?" "He was caught in a canyon during the storm and he must have been drowned," replied Jana sadly. "You are from his country?" "Yes." "How did you know he was with me?" she demanded. "I recognized his tracks and Thoar recognized yours." "He was a great warrior," she said, "and a very brave man." "Are you sure that he is dead?" asked Tarzan. "I am sure," replied The Red Flower of Zoram. For a time they were silent, both occupied with thoughts of Jason Gridley. "You were his friend," said Jana. She had moved close to him and had seated herself at his side. Now she leaned still closer. "They are going to kill you," she whispered. "I know the people of these tribes better than you and I know Carb. He will have his way. You were Jason's friend and so was I. If we can escape I can lead the way back to Zoram, and if you are Thoar's friend and mine the people of Zoram will have to accept you." "Why do you whisper?" asked a gruff voice behind them, and turning they saw Avan, the chief. Without waiting for a reply, he turned to Maral. "Take the woman to the cavern," he said. "She will remain there until the council has decided who shall have her as mate, and in the meantime I will place warriors at the entrance to the cavern to see that she does not escape."