# X: Through the Valley of the Shadow explained — The Return of Tarzan

> Chapter companion for The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

## What happens

Tarzan is captured by Arabs after being shot and bound, then held in a douar. He is freed by the Ouled-Nail of Sisi Aissa, who reveals herself as the daughter of Sheik Kabour ben Saden and saves him from execution. Later, Tarzan faces a black lion (Numa) in a canyon, armed only with a knife, while the girl watches in admiration.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Physical Prowess

Tarzan's escape from bonds and his confrontation with the lion demonstrate his primal strength and resourcefulness.

### Honor and Chivalry

The sheik's respect for Tarzan as a lion-killer and the girl's bravery in saving him reflect codes of honor.

## Character check-ins

### Tarzan

Captured, bound, and freed; confronts a black lion with a knife.

### Nikolas Rokoff

Implied as the orchestrator of Tarzan's capture and intended death.

### Kadour ben Saden

Mentioned as the sheik whose daughter saves Tarzan.

### Lieutenant Gernois

Implied involvement in the ambush that led to Tarzan's capture.

## Key lines

> Never in all his jungle life had he been more relentlessly tracked down than in the past few months of his experience among civilized men.

Tarzan had never been hunted so persistently in the jungle as he had been among civilized people recently.

_Reflects Tarzan's disillusionment with civilization._

> I am the daughter of the Sheik Kabour ben Saden. I should be no fit daughter of his if I would not risk my life to save that of the man who saved mine while he yet thought that I was but a common Ouled-Nail.

She explains that her father's honor demands she repay Tarzan for saving her life, even though he thought she was merely a dancer.

_Highlights themes of honor and identity._

> Your knife. Walk back to the desert as rapidly as you can. If you hear me call you will know that all is well, and you may return.

Tarzan takes the girl's knife and tells her to retreat, promising to call if he survives the lion attack.

_Demonstrates Tarzan's courage and protective nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters/x-through-the-valley-of-the-shadow
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_return_of_tarzan_se/chapters