# The Snake Strikes explained — Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle

> Chapter companion for Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_lord_of_the_jungle_se/chapters/viii-the-snake-strikes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_lord_of_the_jungle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tarzan_lord_of_the_jungle_se/chapters