the son of tarzan-第23部分

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scent　of　man。

〃Peace；　Tantor；〃　called　The　Killer。　　〃It　is　I；　Korak；　Tarmangani。〃

The　bull　lowered　his　trunk　and　the　herd　resumed　their　interrupted　meditations。　　Korak　passed　within　a　foot　of　the　great　bull。　A　sinuous　trunk　undulated　toward　him；　touching　his　brown　hide　in　a　half　caress。　　Korak　slapped　the　great　shoulder　affectionately　as　he　went　by。　　For　years　he　had　been　upon　good　terms　with　Tantor　and　his　people。　　Of　all　the　jungle　folk　he　loved　best　the　mighty　pachydermthe　most　peaceful　and　at　the　same　time　the　most　terrible　of　them　all。　　The　gentle　gazelle　feared　him　not；　yet　Numa；　lord　of　the　jungle；　gave　him　a　wide　berth。　　Among　the　younger　bulls；　the　cows　and　the　calves　Korak　wound　his　way。　　Now　and　then　another　trunk　would　run　out　to　touch　him；　and　once　a　playful　calf　grasped　his　legs　and　upset　him。

The　afternoon　was　almost　spent　when　Korak　arrived　at　the　village　of　Kovudoo。　　There　were　many　natives　lolling　in　shady　spots　beside　the　conical　huts　or　beneath　the　branches　of　the　several　trees　which　had　been　left　standing　within　the　enclosure。　Warriors　were　in　evidence　upon　hand。　　It　was　not　a　good　time　for　a　lone　enemy　to　prosecute　a　search　through　the　village。　　Korak　determined　to　await　the　coming　of　darkness。　　He　was　a　match　for　many　warriors；　but　he　could　not；　unaided；　overcome　an　entire　tribenot　even　for　his　beloved　Meriem。　　While　he　waited　among　the　branches　and　foliage　of　a　near…by　tree　he　searched　the　village　constantly　with　his　keen　eyes；　and　twice　he　circled　it；　sniffing　the　vagrant　breezes　which　puffed　erratically　from　first　one　point　of　the　compass　and　then　another。　　Among　the　various　stenches　peculiar　to　a　native　village　the　ape…man's　sensitive　nostrils　were　finally　rewarded　by　cognizance　of　the　delicate　aroma　which　marked　the　presence　of　her　he　sought。　　Meriem　was　there　in　one　of　those　huts！　　But　which　one　he　could　not　know　without　closer　investigation；　and　so　he　waited；　with　the　dogged　patience　of　a　beast　of　prey；　until　night　had　fallen。

The　camp　fires　of　the　blacks　dotted　the　gloom　with　little　points　of　light；　casting　their　feeble　rays　in　tiny　circles　of　luminosity　that　brought　into　glistening　relief　the　naked　bodies　of　those　who　lay　or　squatted　about　them。　　It　was　then　that　Korak　slid　silently　from　the　tree　that　had　hidden　him　and　dropped　lightly　to　the　ground　within　the　enclosure。

Keeping　well　in　the　shadows　of　the　huts　he　commenced　a　systematic　search　of　the　villageears；　eyes　and　nose　constantly　upon　the　alert　for　the　first　intimation　of　the　near　presence　of　Meriem。　　His　progress　must　of　necessity　be　slow　since　not　even　the　keen…eared　curs　of　the　savages　must　guess　the　presence　of　a　stranger　within　the　gates。　　How　close　he　came　to　a　detection　on　several　occasions　The　Killer　well　knew　from　the　restless　whining　of　several　of　them。

It　was　not　until　he　reached　the　back　of　a　hut　at　the　head　of　the　wide　village　street　that　Korak　caught　again；　plainly；　the　scent　of　Meriem。　　With　nose　close　to　the　thatched　wall　Korak　sniffed　eagerly　about　the　structuretense　and　palpitant　as　a　hunting　hound。　　Toward　the　front　and　the　door　he　made　his　way　when　once　his　nose　had　assured　him　that　Meriem　lay　within；　but　as　he　rounded　the　side　and　came　within　view　of　the　entrance　he　saw　a　burly　Negro　armed　with　a　long　spear　squatting　at　the　portal　of　the　girl's　prison。　　The　fellow's　back　was　toward　him；　his　figure　outlined　against　the　glow　of　cooking　fires　further　down　the　street。　　He　was　alone。　　The　nearest　of　his　fellows　were　beside　a　fire　sixty　or　seventy　feet　beyond。　　To　enter　the　hut　Korak　must　either　silence　the　sentry　or　pass　him　unnoticed。　　The　danger　in　the　accomplishment　of　the　former　alternative　lay　in　the　practical　certainty　of　alarming　the　warriors　near　by　and　bringing　them　and　the　balance　of　the　village　down　upon　him。　　To　achieve　the　latter　appeared　practically　impossible。　　To　you　or　me　it　would　have　been　impossible；　but　Korak；　The　Killer；　was　not　as　you　or　I。

There　was　a　good　twelve　inches　of　space　between　the　broad　back　of　the　black　and　the　frame　of　the　doorway。　　Could　Korak　pass　through　behind　the　savage　warrior　without　detection？　　The　light　that　fell　upon　the　glistening　ebony　of　the　sentry's　black　skin　fell　also　upon　the　light　brown　of　Korak's。　　Should　one　of　the　many　further　down　the　street　chance　to　look　long　in　this　direction　they　must　surely　note　the　tall；　light…colored；　moving　figure；　but　Korak　depended　upon　their　interest　in　their　own　gossip　to　hold　their　attention　fast　where　it　already　lay；　and　upon　the　firelight　near　them　to　prevent　them　seeing　too　plainly　at　a　distance　into　the　darkness　at　the　village　end　where　his　work　lay。

Flattened　against　the　side　of　the　hut；　yet　not　arousing　a　single　warning　rustle　from　its　dried　thatching；　The　Killer　came　closer　and　closer　to　the　watcher。　　Now　he　was　at　his　shoulder。　　Now　he　had　wormed　his　sinuous　way　behind　him。　　He　could　feel　the　heat　of　the　naked　body　against　his　knees。　　He　could　hear　the　man　breathe。　　He　marveled　that　the　dull…witted　creature　had　not　long　since　been　alarmed；　but　the　fellow　sat　there　as　ignorant　of　the　presence　of　another　as　though　that　other　had　not　existed。

Korak　moved　scarcely　more　than　an　inch　at　a　time；　then　he　would　stand　motionless　for　a　moment。　　Thus　was　he　worming　his　way　behind　the　guard　when　the　latter　straightened　up；　opened　his　cavernous　mouth　in　a　wide　yawn；　and　stretched　his　arms　above　his　head。　　Korak　stood　rigid　as　stone。　　Another　step　and　he　would　be　within　the　hut。　　The　black　lowered　his　arms　and　relaxed。　　Behind　him　was　the　frame　work　of　the　doorway。　　Often　before　had　it　supported　his　sleepy　head；　and　now　he　leaned　back　to　enjoy　the　forbidden　pleasure　of　a　cat　nap。

But　instead　of　the　door　frame　his　head　and　shoulders　came　in　contact　with　the　warm　flesh　of　a　pair　of　living　legs。　　The　exclamation　of　surprise　that　almost　burst　from　his　lips　was　throttled　in　his　throat　by　steel…thewed　fingers　that　closed　about　his　windpipe　with　the　suddenness　of　thought。　　The　black　struggled　to　ariseto　turn　upon　the　creature　that　had　seized　himto　wriggle　from　its　hold；　but　all　to　no　purpose。　　As　he　had　been　held　in　a　mighty　vise　of　iron　he　could　not　move。　　He　could　not　scream。　Those　awful　fingers　at　his　throat　but　closed　more　and　more　tightly。　　His　eyes　bulged　from　their　sockets。　　His　face　turned　an　ashy　blue。　　Presently　he　relaxed　once　morethis　time　in　the　final　dissolution　from　which　there　is　no　quickening。　　Korak　propped　the　dead　body　against　the　door　frame。　　There　it　sat；　lifelike　in　the　gloom。　　Then　the　ape…man　turned　and　glided　into　the　Stygian　darkness　of　the　hut's　interior。

〃Meriem！〃　he　whispered。

〃Korak！　　My　Korak！〃　came　an　answering　cry；　subdued　by　fear　of　alarming　her　captors；　and　half　stifled　by　a　sob　of　joyful　welcome。

The　youth　knelt　and　cut　the　bonds　that　held　the　girl's　wrists　and　ankles。　　A　moment　later　he　had　lifted　her　to　her　feet；　and　grasping　her　by　the　hand　led　her　towards　the　entrance。　　Outside　the　grim　sentinel　of　death　kept　his　grisly　vigil。　　Sniffing　at　his　dead　feet　whined　a　mangy　native　cur。　　At　sight　of　the　two　emerging　from　the　hut　the　beast　gave　an　ugly　snarl　and　an　instant　later　as　it　caught　the　scent　of　the　strange　white　man　it　raised　a　series　of　excited　yelps。　　Instantly　the　warriors　at　the　near…by　fire　were　attracted。　　They　turned　their　heads　in　the　direction　of　the　commotion。　　It　was　impossible　that　they　should　fail　to　see　the　white　skins　of　the　fugitives。

Korak　slunk　quickly　into　the　shadows　at　the　hut's　side；　drawing　Meriem　with　him；　but　he　was　too　late。　　The　blacks　had　seen　enough　to　arouse　their　suspicions　and　a　dozen　of　them　were　now　running　to　investigate。　　The　yapping　cur　was　still　at　Korak's　heels　leading　the　searchers　unerringly　in　pursuit。　　The　youth　struck　viciously　at　the　brute　with　his　long　spear；　but；　long　accustomed　to　dodging　blows；　the　wily　creature　made　a　most　uncertain　target。

Other　blacks　had　been　alarmed　by　the　running　and　shouting　of　their　companions　and　now　the　entire　population　of　the　village　was　swarming　up　the　street　to　assist　in　the　search。　　Their　first　discovery　was　the　dead　body　of　the　sentry；　and　a　moment　later　one　of　the　bravest　of　them　had　entered　the　hut　and　discovered　the　absence　of　the　prisoner。　　These　startling　announcements　filled　the　blacks　with　a　combination　of　terror　and　rage；　but；　seeing　no　foe　in　evidence　they　were　enabled　to　permit　their　rage　to　get　the　better　of　their　terror；　and　so　the　leaders；　pushed　on　by　those　behind　them；　ran　rapidly　around　the　hut　in　the　direction　of　the　yapping　of　the　mangy　cur。　　Here　they　found　a　single　white　warrior　making　away　with　their　captive；　and　recognizing　him　as　the　author　of　numerous　raids　and　indignities　and　believing　that　they　had　him　cornered　and　at　a　disadvantage；　they　charged　savagely　upon　him。

Korak；　seeing　that　they　were　discovered；　lifted　Meriem　to　his　shoulders　and　ran　for　the　tree　which　would　give　them　egress　from　the　village。　　He　was　handicapped　in　his　flight　by　the　weight　of　the　girl　whose　legs　would　but　scarce　bear　her　weight；　to　say　nothing　of　maintaining　her　in　rapid　flight；　for　the　tightly　drawn　bonds　that　had　been　about　her　ankles　for　so　long　had　stopped　circulation　and　partially　paralyzed　her　extremities。

Had　this　not　been　the　case　the　escape　of　the　two　would　have　been　a　feat　of　little　moment；　since　Meriem　was　scarcely　a　whit　less　agile　than　Korak；　and　fully　as　much　at　home　in　the　trees　as　he。　　But　with　the　girl　on　his　shoulder　Korak　could　not　both　run　and　fight　to　advantage；　and　the　result　was　that　before　he　had　covered　half　the　distance　to　the　tree　a　score　of　native　curs　attracted　by　the　yelping　of　their　mate　and　the　yells　and　shouts　of　their　masters　had　closed　in　upon　the　fleeing　white　man；　snapping　at　his　legs　and　at　last　succeeding　in　tripping　him。　　As　he　went　down　the　hyena…like　brutes　were　upon　him；　and　as　he　struggled　to　his　feet　the　blacks　closed　in。

A　couple　of　them　seized　the　clawing；　biting　Meriem；　and　subdued　hera　blow　upon　the　head　was　sufficient。　　For　the　ape…　man　they　found　more　drastic　measures　would　be　necessary。

Weighted　down　as　he　was　by　dogs　and　warriors　he　still　managed　to　struggle　to　his　feet。　　To　right　and　left　he　swung　crushing　blows　to　the　faces　of　his　human　antagoniststo　the　dogs　he　paid　not　the　slightest　attention　other　than　to　seize　the　more　persistent