the son of tarzan-第15部分

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moon　flooded　it　with　silvery　light。　Half…erect；　the　great　ape　shuffled　into　the　full　glare　of　the　moon。　At　his　side；　swinging　gracefully　along　in　marked　contrast　to　the　awkwardness　of　his　companion；　strode　the　boy；　the　dark；　shaggy　coat　of　the　one　brushing　against　the　smooth；　clear　hide　of　the　other。　　The　lad　was　humming　now；　a　music　hall　air　that　had　found　its　way　to　the　forms　of　the　great　English　public　school　that　was　to　see　him　no　more。　　He　was　happy　and　expectant。　　The　moment　he　had　looked　forward　to　for　so　long　was　about　to　be　realized。　　He　was　coming　into　his　own。　　He　was　coming　home。　　As　the　months　had　dragged　or　flown　along；　retarded　or　spurred　on　as　privation　or　adventure　predominated；　thoughts　of　his　own　home；　while　oft　recurring；　had　become　less　vivid。　　The　old　life　had　grown　to　seem　more　like　a　dream　than　a　reality；　and　the　balking　of　his　determination　to　reach　the　coast　and　return　to　London　had　finally　thrown　the　hope　of　realization　so　remotely　into　the　future　that　it　too　now　seemed　little　more　than　a　pleasant　but　hopeless　dream。

Now　all　thoughts　of　London　and　civilization　were　crowded　so　far　into　the　background　of　his　brain　that　they　might　as　well　have　been　non…existent。　　Except　for　form　and　mental　development　he　was　as　much　an　ape　as　the　great；　fierce　creature　at　his　side。

In　the　exuberance　of　his　joy　he　slapped　his　companion　roughly　on　the　side　of　the　head。　　Half　in　anger；　half　in　play　the　anthropoid　turned　upon　him；　his　fangs　bared　and　glistening。　　Long；　hairy　arms　reached　out　to　seize　him；　and；　as　they　had　done　a　thousand　times　before；　the　two　clinched　in　mimic　battle；　rolling　upon　the　sward；　striking；　growling　and　biting；　though　never　closing　their　teeth　in　more　than　a　rough　pinch。　　It　was　wondrous　practice　for　them　both。　　The　boy　brought　into　play　wrestling　tricks　that　he　had　learned　at　school；　and　many　of　these　Akut　learned　to　use　and　to　foil。　　And　from　the　ape　the　boy　learned　the　methods　that　had　been　handed　down　to　Akut　from　some　common　ancestor　of　them　both；　who　had　roamed　the　teeming　earth　when　ferns　were　trees　and　crocodiles　were　birds。

But　there　was　one　art　the　boy　possessed　which　Akut　could　not　master；　though　he　did　achieve　fair　proficiency　in　it　for　an　apeboxing。　　To　have　his　bull…like　charges　stopped　and　crumpled　with　a　suddenly　planted　fist　upon　the　end　of　his　snout；　or　a　painful　jolt　in　the　short　ribs；　always　surprised　Akut。　　It　angered　him　too；　and　at　such　times　his　mighty　jaws　came　nearer　to　closing　in　the　soft　flesh　of　his　friend　than　at　any　other；　for　he　was　still　an　ape；　with　an　ape's　short　temper　and　brutal　instincts；　but　the　difficulty　was　in　catching　his　tormentor　while　his　rage　lasted；　for　when　he　lost　his　head　and　rushed　madly　into　close　quarters　with　the　boy　he　discovered　that　the　stinging　hail　of　blows　released　upon　him　always　found　their　mark　and　effectually　stopped　himeffectually　and　painfully。　　Then　he　would　withdraw　growling　viciously；　backing　away　with　grinning　jaws　distended；　to　sulk　for　an　hour　or　so。

Tonight　they　did　not　box。　　Just　for　a　moment　or　two　they　wrestled　playfully；　until　the　scent　of　Sheeta；　the　panther；　brought　them　to　their　feet；　alert　and　wary。　　The　great　cat　was　passing　through　the　jungle　in　front　of　them。　　For　a　moment　it　paused；　listening。　　The　boy　and　the　ape　growled　menacingly　in　chorus　and　the　carnivore　moved　on。

Then　the　two　took　up　their　journey　toward　the　sound　of　the　Dum…Dum。　　Louder　and　louder　came　the　beating　of　the　drum。　　Now；　at　last；　they　could　hear　the　growling　of　the　dancing　apes；　and　strong　to　their　nostrils　came　the　scent　of　their　kind。　　The　lad　trembled　with　excitement。　　The　hair　down　Akut's　spine　stiffenedthe　symptoms　of　happiness　and　anger　are　often　similar。

Silently　they　crept　through　the　jungle　as　they　neared　the　meeting　place　of　the　apes。　　Now　they　were　in　the　trees；　worming　their　way　forward；　alert　for　sentinels。　　Presently　through　a　break　in　the　foliage　the　scene　burst　upon　the　eager　eyes　of　the　boy。　　To　Akut　it　was　a　familiar　one；　but　to　Korak　it　was　all　new。　　His　nerves　tingled　at　the　savage　sight。　　The　great　bulls　were　dancing　in　the　moonlight；　leaping　in　an　irregular　circle　about　the　flat…topped　earthen　drum　about　which　three　old　females　sat　beating　its　resounding　top　with　sticks　worn　smooth　by　long　years　of　use。

Akut；　knowing　the　temper　and　customs　of　his　kind；　was　too　wise　to　make　their　presence　known　until　the　frenzy　of　the　dance　had　passed。　　After　the　drum　was　quiet　and　the　bellies　of　the　tribe　well…filled　he　would　hail　them。　　Then　would　come　a　parley；　after　which　he　and　Korak　would　be　accepted　into　membership　by　the　community。　　There　might　be　those　who　would　object；　but　such　could　be　overcome　by　brute　force；　of　which　he　and　the　lad　had　an　ample　surplus。　　For　weeks；　possibly　months；　their　presence　might　cause　ever　decreasing　suspicion　among　others　of　the　tribe；　but　eventually　they　would　become　as　born　brothers　to　these　strange　apes。

He　hoped　that　they　had　been　among　those　who　had　known　Tarzan；　for　that　would　help　in　the　introduction　of　the　lad　and　in　the　consummation　of　Akut's　dearest　wish；　that　Korak　should　become　king　of　the　apes。　　It　was　with　difficulty；　however；　that　Akut　kept　the　boy　from　rushing　into　the　midst　of　the　dancing　anthropoidsan　act　that　would　have　meant　the　instant　extermination　of　them　both；　since　the　hysterical　frenzy　into　which　the　great　apes　work　themselves　during　the　performance　of　their　strange　rites　is　of　such　a　nature　that　even　the　most　ferocious　of　the　carnivora　give　them　a　wide　berth　at　such　times。

As　the　moon　declined　slowly　toward　the　lofty；　foliaged　horizon　of　the　amphitheater　the　booming　of　the　drum　decreased　and　lessened　were　the　exertions　of　the　dancers；　until；　at　last；　the　final　note　was　struck　and　the　huge　beasts　turned　to　fall　upon　the　feast　they　had　dragged　hither　for　the　orgy。

From　what　he　had　seen　and　heard　Akut　was　able　to　explain　to　Korak　that　the　rites　proclaimed　the　choosing　of　a　new　king；　and　he　pointed　out　to　the　boy　the　massive　figure　of　the　shaggy　monarch；　come　into　his　kingship；　no　doubt；　as　many　human　rulers　have　come　into　theirsby　the　murder　of　his　predecessor。

When　the　apes　had　filled　their　bellies　and　many　of　them　had　sought　the　bases　of　the　trees　to　curl　up　in　sleep　Akut　plucked　Korak　by　the　arm。

〃Come；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Come　slowly。　　Follow　me。　　Do　as　Akut　does。〃

Then　he　advanced　slowly　through　the　trees　until　he　stood　upon　a　bough　overhanging　one　side　of　the　amphitheater。　　Here　he　stood　in　silence　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　uttered　a　low　growl。　Instantly　a　score　of　apes　leaped　to　their　feet。　　There　savage　little　eyes　sped　quickly　around　the　periphery　of　the　clearing。　　The　king　ape　was　the　first　to　see　the　two　figures　upon　the　branch。　　He　gave　voice　to　an　ominous　growl。　　Then　he　took　a　few　lumbering　steps　in　the　direction　of　the　intruders。　　His　hair　was　bristling。　　His　legs　were　stiff；　imparting　a　halting；　jerky　motion　to　his　gait。　　Behind　him　pressed　a　number　of　bulls。

He　stopped　just　a　little　before　he　came　beneath　the　twojust　far　enough　to　be　beyond　their　spring。　　Wary　king！　　Here　he　stood　rocking　himself　to　and　fro　upon　his　short　legs；　baring　his　fangs　in　hideous　grinnings；　rumbling　out　an　ever　increasing　volume　of　growls；　which　were　slowly　but　steadily　increasing　to　the　proportions　of　roars。　　Akut　knew　that　he　was　planning　an　attack　upon　them。　The　old　ape　did　not　wish　to　fight。　　He　had　come　with　the　boy　to　cast　his　lot　with　the　tribe。

〃I　am　Akut；〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　Korak。　　Korak　is　the　son　of　Tarzan　who　was　king　of　the　apes。　　I；　too；　was　king　of　the　apes　who　dwelt　in　the　midst　of　the　great　waters。　　We　have　come　to　hunt　with　you；　to　fight　with　you。　　We　are　great　hunters。　　We　are　mighty　fighters。　　Let　us　come　in　peace。〃

The　king　ceased　his　rocking。　　He　eyed　the　pair　from　beneath　his　beetling　brows。　　His　bloodshot　eyes　were　savage　and　crafty。　His　kingship　was　very　new　and　he　was　jealous　of　it。　　He　feared　the　encroachments　of　two　strange　apes。　　The　sleek；　brown；　hairless　body　of　the　lad　spelled　〃man；〃　and　man　he　feared　and　hated。

〃Go　away！〃　he　growled。　　〃Go　away；　or　I　will　kill　you。〃

The　eager　lad；　standing　behind　the　great　Akut；　had　been　pulsing　with　anticipation　and　happiness。　　He　wanted　to　leap　down　among　these　hairy　monsters　and　show　them　that　he　was　their　friend；　that　he　was　one　of　them。　　He　had　expected　that　they　would　receive　him　with　open　arms；　and　now　the　words　of　the　king　ape　filled　him　with　indignation　and　sorrow。　　The　blacks　had　set　upon　him　and　driven　him　away。　　Then　he　had　turned　to　the　white　mento　those　of　his　own　kindonly　to　hear　the　ping　of　bullets　where　he　had　expected　words　of　cordial　welcome。　　The　great　apes　had　remained　his　final　hope。　　To　them　he　looked　for　the　companionship　man　had　denied　him。　　Suddenly　rage　overwhelmed　him。

The　king　ape　was　almost　directly　beneath　him。　　The　others　were　formed　in　a　half　circle　several　yards　behind　the　king。　　They　were　watching　events　interestedly。　　Before　Akut　could　guess　his　intention；　or　prevent；　the　boy　leaped　to　the　ground　directly　in　the　path　of　the　king；　who　had　now　succeeded　in　stimulating　himself　to　a　frenzy　of　fury。

〃I　am　Korak！〃　shouted　the　boy。　　〃I　am　the　Killer。　　I　came　to　live　among　you　as　a　friend。　　You　want　to　drive　me　away。　　Very　well；　then；　I　shall　go；　but　before　I　go　I　shall　show　you　that　the　son　of　Tarzan　is　your　master；　as　his　father　was　before　himthat　he　is　not　afraid　of　your　king　or　you。〃

For　an　instant　the　king　ape　had　stood　motionless　with　surprise。　　He　had　expected　no　such　rash　action　upon　the　part　of　either　of　the　intruders。　　Akut　was　equally　surprised。　　Now　he　shouted　excitedly　for　Korak　to　come　back；　for　he　knew　that　in　the　sacred　arena　the　other　bulls　might　be　expected　to　come　to　the　assistance　of　their　king　against　an　outsider；　though　there　was　small　likelihood　that　the　king　would　need　assistance。　　Once　those　mighty　jaws　closed　upon　the　boy's　soft　neck　the　end　would　come　quickly。　　To　leap　to　his　rescue　would　mean　death　for　Akut；　too；　but　the　brave　old　ape　never　hesitated。　　Bristling　and　growling；　he　dropped　to　the　sward　just　as　the　king　ape　charged。

The　beast's　hands　clutched　for　their　hold　as　the　animal　sprang　upon　the　lad。　　The　fierce　jaws　were　wide　distended　to　bury　the　yellow　fangs　deeply　in　the　brown　hide。　　Korak；　too；　leaped　forward　to