Tarzan and the Golden Lion · Chapter
A Barbed Shaft Kills explained
Tarzan, searching for Luvini and the missing diamonds, confronts Peebles, Throck, and Bluber, who blame Kraski for the theft.
What happens
Tarzan, searching for Luvini and the missing diamonds, confronts Peebles, Throck, and Bluber, who blame Kraski for the theft. After searching them and finding nothing, Tarzan tracks Kraski to a hut where he finds the Russian dead and the diamonds gone. He follows the spoor of a man and a woman, discovering that Esteban Miranda, now believing himself to be Tarzan, has the diamonds and has abandoned Flora Hawkes in the jungle.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Betrayal
The conspirators betray Tarzan by stealing the diamonds, and Esteban betrays Flora by abandoning her.
Identity and Deception
Esteban Miranda fully adopts the identity of Tarzan, believing himself to be the ape-man.
Revenge and Justice
Tarzan seeks justice for the theft of the diamonds and the death of Kraski.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Searches for Luvini and the missing diamonds, confronts the conspirators, and tracks Kraski's killer.
- Esteban Miranda
Kills Kraski, takes the diamonds, and abandons Flora Hawkes in the jungle, believing himself to be Tarzan.
- Carl Kraski
Found dead outside a hut, having been killed by Esteban; the diamonds he stole are taken by Esteban.
- Flora Hawkes
Accompanies Esteban after Kraski's death, but is abandoned in the jungle with sore feet.
- Jad-bal-ja
Accompanies Tarzan during his search.
- John Peebles
Confronted by Tarzan about the missing diamonds; blames Kraski.
- Dick Throck
Confronted by Tarzan about the missing diamonds; blames Kraski.
- Adolph Bluber
Confronted by Tarzan about the missing diamonds; blames Kraski.
Key passages
““I have come for the bag of stones you took from me,” said Tarzan simply.”
Tarzan demands the return of the diamonds he believes the men stole.
Tarzan confronts the conspirators about the missing diamonds.
““I am Tarzan of the Apes, and that dirty Russian dared to call me Esteban. I am Tarzan! I am Tarzan of the Apes!””
Esteban, in a fit of madness, insists he is Tarzan after killing Kraski.
Esteban's delusion of being Tarzan is fully realized.
““Do you think that with this fortune in my possession I am going to wait here forever in the middle of the jungle for someone to come and take it away from me? No, I am going on to the coast as fast as I can.””
Esteban refuses to wait for Flora, prioritizing his escape with the diamonds.
Esteban abandons Flora in the jungle.