Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle · Chapter
The Snake Strikes explained
Wilbur Stimbol, lost and starving in the jungle, stumbles into the camp of Sheik Ibn Jad.
What happens
Wilbur Stimbol, lost and starving in the jungle, stumbles into the camp of Sheik Ibn Jad. Fahd Ibn Jad saves him from execution and cultivates him for ransom. Meanwhile, Fahd's jealousy of Zeyd's courtship of Ateja leads him to frame Zeyd for an attempted assassination of the sheik. Zeyd is condemned to death, but Ateja frees him in the night, providing food and his musket.
Themes in this chapter
Loyalty and Betrayal
Fahd betrays Zeyd by framing him for attempted murder; Ateja's loyalty to Zeyd leads her to free him.
Greed and Treasure
Fahd covets Stimbol's promised wealth and schemes to eliminate rivals for control.
Justice and Vengeance
Zeyd is unjustly condemned; Ateja's rescue subverts the sheik's verdict.
Characters to notice
- Wilbur Stimbol
Lost and starving, stumbles into Ibn Jad's camp; saved by Fahd; boasts of wealth.
- Fahd Ibn Jad
Saves Stimbol from execution; schemes to frame Zeyd; fires the matchlock to implicate Zeyd.
- Zeyd Ibn Jad
Courts Ateja; framed by Fahd for attempted murder; condemned but freed by Ateja.
- Ateja Ibn Jad
Daughter of Ibn Jad; lover of Zeyd; frees Zeyd after his condemnation.
- Sheykh Ibn Jad
Sheik of the Beduin; nearly assassinated; condemns Zeyd to death.
- Tollog
Brother of Ibn Jad; finds the matchlock and presents it as evidence against Zeyd.
Key passages
“Unversed in jungle craft, overwhelmed by the enormity of the catastrophe that had engulfed him, his reasoning faculties numbed by terror, Wilbur Stimbol slunk through the jungle, the fleeing quarry of every terror that imagination could conjure.”
Wilbur Stimbol, completely lost and terrified, crept through the jungle as if hunted by every fear he could imagine.
Describes Stimbol's panic and disorientation.
“Fahd, standing behind Zeyd, raised the ancient matchlock to his shoulder and aimed—very carefully he aimed, but not at Zeyd. No, for the cunning of Fahd was as the cunning of the fox.”
Fahd aimed the musket carefully, but not at Zeyd, showing his cunning.
Fahd's plan to frame Zeyd without killing him.
“Ateja crept to his side. 'Beloved!' he murmured. Deftly the girl cut the bonds that held his wrists and ankles. 'I have brought thee food and thy musket,' she told him.”
Ateja freed Zeyd, giving him food and his weapon.
Ateja's rescue of Zeyd.