Tarzan looked about for Rokoff, who he felt sure must be aboard,but there was no sign of him.

"Lord Greystoke," commenced the Russian, "by your continued andwanton interference with M. Rokoff and his plans you have at lastbrought yourself and your family to this unfortunate extremity.You have only yourself to thank. As you may imagine, it has costM. Rokoff a large amount of money to finance this expedition,and, as you are the sole cause of it, he naturally looks to youfor reimbursement.

"Further, I may say that only by meeting M. Rokoff's just demandsmay you avert the most unpleasant consequences to your wife andchild, and at the same time retain your own life and regain yourliberty."

"What is the amount?" asked Tarzan. "And what assurance have Ithat you will live up to your end of the agreement? I have littlereason to trust two such scoundrels as you and Rokoff, you know."

The Russian flushed.

"You are in no position to deliver insults," he exclaimed. "You haveno assurance that we will live up to our agreement other than myword, but you have before you the assurance that we can make shortwork of you if you do not write out the cheque we demand.

"Unless you are a greater fool than I imagine, you should knowthat there is nothing that would give us greater pleasure than toorder these men to fire. That we do not is because we have otherplans for punishing you that would be entirely upset by your death."

"Answer one question," exclaimed Tarzan. "Is my son on board this ship?"