# A Barbed Shaft Kills explained — Tarzan and the Golden Lion

> Chapter companion for Tarzan and the Golden Lion by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> “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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_golden_lion_se/chapters/xix-a-barbed-shaft-kills
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_golden_lion_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_and_the_golden_lion_se/chapters