the son of tarzan-第39部分

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But　though　they　traveled　part　of　the　night　and　all　the　following　day　no　sign　of　the　safari　appeared　ahead　of　them。　　Meriem；　an　adept　in　jungle　craft；　knew　that　none　had　passed　ahead　of　them　for　many　days。　　Occasionally　she　saw　indications　of　an　old　spoor；　a　very　old　spoor；　of　many　men。　　For　the　most　part　they　followed　this　well…marked　trail　along　elephant　paths　and　through　park…　like　groves。　　It　was　an　ideal　trail　for　rapid　traveling。

Meriem　at　last　became　suspicious。　　Gradually　the　attitude　of　the　man　at　her　side　had　begun　to　change。　　Often　she　surprised　him　devouring　her　with　his　eyes。　　Steadily　the　former　sensation　of　previous　acquaintanceship　urged　itself　upon　her。　　Somewhere；　sometime　before　she　had　known　this　man。　　It　was　evident　that　he　had　not　shaved　for　several　days。　　A　blonde　stubble　had　commenced　to　cover　his　neck　and　cheeks　and　chin；　and　with　it　the　assurance　that　he　was　no　stranger　continued　to　grow　upon　the　girl。

It　was　not　until　the　second　day；　however；　that　Meriem　rebelled。　　She　drew　in　her　pony　at　last　and　voiced　her　doubts。　Hanson　assured　her　that　the　camp　was　but　a　few　miles　further　on。

〃We　should　have　overtaken　them　yesterday；〃　he　said。　　〃They　must　have　marched　much　faster　than　I　had　believed　possible。〃

〃They　have　not　marched　here　at　all；〃　said　Meriem。　　〃The　spoor　that　we　have　been　following　is　weeks　old。〃

Hanson　laughed。

〃Oh；　that's　it；　is　it？〃　he　cried。　　〃Why　didn't　you　say　so　before？　I　could　have　easily　explained。　　We　are　not　coming　by　the　same　route；　but　we'll　pick　up　their　trail　sometime　today；　even　if　we　don't　overtake　them。〃

Now；　at　last；　Meriem　knew　the　man　was　lying　to　her。　　What　a　fool　he　must　be　to　think　that　anyone　could　believe　such　a　ridiculous　explanation？　　Who　was　so　stupid　as　to　believe　that　they　could　have　expected　to　overtake　another　party；　and　he　had　certainly　assured　her　that　momentarily　he　expected　to　do　so；　when　that　party's　route　was　not　to　meet　theirs　for　several　miles　yet？

She　kept　her　own　counsel　however；　planning　to　escape　at　the　first　opportunity　when　she　might　have　a　sufficient　start　of　her　captor；　as　she　now　considered　him；　to　give　her　some　assurance　of　outdistancing　him。　　She　watched　his　face　continually　when　she　could　without　being　observed。　　Tantalizingly　the　placing　of　his　familiar　features　persisted　in　eluding　her。　　Where　had　she　known　him？　　Under　what　conditions　had　they　met　before　she　had　seen　him　about　the　farm　of　Bwana？　　She　ran　over　in　her　mind　all　the　few　white　men　she　ever　had　known。　　There　were　some　who　had　come　to　her　father's　douar　in　the　jungle。　　Few　it　is　true；　but　there　had　been　some。　　Ah；　now　she　had　it！　　She　had　seen　him　there！　　She　almost　seized　upon　his　identity　and　then　in　an　instant；　it　had　slipped　from　her　again。

It　was　mid　afternoon　when　they　suddenly　broke　out　of　the　jungle　upon　the　banks　of　a　broad　and　placid　river。　　Beyond；　upon　the　opposite　shore；　Meriem　described　a　camp　surrounded　by　a　high；　thorn　boma。

〃Here　we　are　at　last；〃　said　Hanson。　　He　drew　his　revolver　and　fired　in　the　air。　　Instantly　the　camp　across　the　river　was　astir。　　Black　men　ran　down　the　river's　bank。　　Hanson　hailed　them。　　But　there　was　no　sign　of　the　Hon。　Morison　Baynes。

In　accordance　with　their　master's　instructions　the　blacks　manned　a　canoe　and　rowed　across。　　Hanson　placed　Meriem　in　the　little　craft　and　entered　it　himself；　leaving　two　boys　to　watch　the　horses；　which　the　canoe　was　to　return　for　and　swim　across　to　the　camp　side　of　the　river。

Once　in　the　camp　Meriem　asked　for　Baynes。　　For　the　moment　her　fears　had　been　allayed　by　the　sight　of　the　camp；　which　she　had　come　to　look　upon　as　more　or　less　a　myth。　　Hanson　pointed　toward　the　single　tent　that　stood　in　the　center　of　the　enclosure。

〃There；〃　he　said；　and　preceded　her　toward　it。　　At　the　entrance　he　held　the　flap　aside　and　motioned　her　within。　　Meriem　entered　and　looked　about。　　The　tent　was　empty。　　She　turned　toward　Hanson。　　There　was　a　broad　grin　on　his　face。

〃Where　is　Mr。　Baynes？〃　she　demanded。

〃He　ain't　here；〃　replied　Hanson。　　〃Leastwise　I　don't　see　him；　do　you？　　But　I'm　here；　and　I'm　a　damned　sight　better　man　than　that　thing　ever　was。　　You　don't　need　him　no　moreyou　got　me；〃　and　he　laughed　uproariously　and　reached　for　her。

Meriem　struggled　to　free　herself。　　Hanson　encircled　her　arms　and　body　in　his　powerful　grip　and　bore　her　slowly　backward　toward　the　pile　of　blankets　at　the　far　end　of　the　tent。　　His　face　was　bent　close　to　hers。　　His　eyes　were　narrowed　to　two　slits　of　heat　and　passion　and　desire。　　Meriem　was　looking　full　into　his　face　as　she　fought　for　freedom　when　there　came　over　her　a　sudden　recollection　of　a　similar　scene　in　which　she　had　been　a　participant　and　with　it　full　recognition　of　her　assailant。　　He　was　the　Swede　Malbihn　who　had　attacked　her　once　before；　who　had　shot　his　companion　who　would　have　saved　her；　and　from　whom　she　had　been　rescued　by　Bwana。　　His　smooth　face　had　deceived　her；　but　now　with　the　growing　beard　and　the　similarity　of　conditions　recognition　came　swift　and　sure。

But　today　there　would　be　no　Bwana　to　save　her。



Chapter　21

The　black　boy　whom　Malbihn　had　left　awaiting　him　in　the　clearing　with　instructions　to　remain　until　he　returned　sat　crouched　at　the　foot　of　a　tree　for　an　hour　when　he　was　suddenly　startled　by　the　coughing　grunt　of　a　lion　behind　him。　　With　celerity　born　of　the　fear　of　death　the　boy　clambered　into　the　branches　of　the　tree；　and　a　moment　later　the　king　of　beasts　entered　the　clearing　and　approached　the　carcass　of　an　antelope　which；　until　now；　the　boy　had　not　seen。

Until　daylight　the　beast　fed；　while　the　black　clung；　sleepless；　to　his　perch；　wondering　what　had　become　of　his　master　and　the　two　ponies。　　He　had　been　with　Malbihn　for　a　year；　and　so　was　fairly　conversant　with　the　character　of　the　white。　　His　knowledge　presently　led　him　to　believe　that　he　had　been　purposely　abandoned。　　Like　the　balance　of　Malbihn's　followers；　this　boy　hated　his　master　cordiallyfear　being　the　only　bond　that　held　him　to　the　white　man。　　His　present　uncomfortable　predicament　but　added　fuel　to　the　fires　of　his　hatred。

As　the　sun　rose　the　lion　withdrew　into　the　jungle　and　the　black　descended　from　his　tree　and　started　upon　his　long　journey　back　to　camp。　　In　his　primitive　brain　revolved　various　fiendish　plans　for　a　revenge　that　he　would　not　have　the　courage　to　put　into　effect　when　the　test　came　and　he　stood　face　to　face　with　one　of　the　dominant　race。

A　mile　from　the　clearing　he　came　upon　the　spoor　of　two　ponies　crossing　his　path　at　right　angles。　　A　cunning　look　entered　the　black's　eyes。　　He　laughed　uproariously　and　slapped　his　thighs。

Negroes　are　tireless　gossipers；　which；　of　course；　is　but　a　roundabout　way　of　saying　that　they　are　human。　　Malbihn's　boys　had　been　no　exception　to　the　rule　and　as　many　of　them　had　been　with　him　at　various　times　during　the　past　ten　years　there　was　little　about　his　acts　and　life　in　the　African　wilds　that　was　not　known　directly　or　by　hearsay　to　them　all。

And　so；　knowing　his　master　and　many　of　his　past　deeds；　knowing；　too；　a　great　deal　about　the　plans　of　Malbihn　and　Baynes　that　had　been　overheard　by　himself；　or　other　servants；　and　knowing　well　from　the　gossip　of　the　head…men　that　half　of　Malbihn's　party　lay　in　camp　by　the　great　river　far　to　the　west；　it　was　not　difficult　for　the　boy　to　put　two　and　two　together　and　arrive　at　four　as　the　sumthe　four　being　represented　by　a　firm　conviction　that　his　master　had　deceived　the　other　white　man　and　taken　the　latter's　woman　to　his　western　camp；　leaving　the　other　to　suffer　capture　and　punishment　at　the　hands　of　the　Big　Bwana　whom　all　feared。　　Again　the　boy　bared　his　rows　of　big；　white　teeth　and　laughed　aloud。　　Then　he　resumed　his　northward　way；　traveling　at　a　dogged　trot　that　ate　up　the　miles　with　marvelous　rapidity。

In　the　Swede's　camp　the　Hon。　Morison　had　spent　an　almost　sleepless　night　of　nervous　apprehension　and　doubts　and　fears。　Toward　morning　he　had　slept；　utterly　exhausted。　　It　was　the　headman　who　awoke　him　shortly　after　sun　rise　to　remind　him　that　they　must　at　once　take　up　their　northward　journey。　　Baynes　hung　back。　　He　wanted　to　wait　for　〃Hanson〃　and　Meriem。　　The　headman　urged　upon　him　the　danger　that　lay　in　loitering。　　The　fellow　knew　his　master's　plans　sufficiently　well　to　understand　that　he　had　done　something　to　arouse　the　ire　of　the　Big　Bwana　and　that　it　would　fare　ill　with　them　all　if　they　were　overtaken　in　Big　Bwana's　country。　　At　the　suggestion　Baynes　took　alarm。

What　if　the　Big　Bwana；　as　the　head…man　called　him；　had　surprised　〃Hanson〃　in　his　nefarious　work。　　Would　he　not　guess　the　truth　and　possibly　be　already　on　the　march　to　overtake　and　punish　him？　　Baynes　had　heard　much　of　his　host's　summary　method　of　dealing　out　punishment　to　malefactors　great　and　small　who　transgressed　the　laws　or　customs　of　his　savage　little　world　which　lay　beyond　the　outer　ramparts　of　what　men　are　pleased　to　call　frontiers。　　In　this　savage　world　where　there　was　no　law　the　Big　Bwana　was　law　unto　himself　and　all　who　dwelt　about　him。　　It　was　even　rumored　that　he　had　extracted　the　death　penalty　from　a　white　man　who　had　maltreated　a　native　girl。

Baynes　shuddered　at　the　recollection　of　this　piece　of　gossip　as　he　wondered　what　his　host　would　exact　of　the　man　who　had　attempted　to　steal　his　young；　white　ward。　　The　thought　brought　him　to　his　feet。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　nervously；　〃we　must　get　away　from　here　at　once。　　Do　you　know　the　trail　to　the　north？〃

The　head…man　did；　and　he　lost　no　time　in　getting　the　safari　upon　the　march。

It　was　noon　when　a　tired　and　sweat…covered　runner　overtook　the　trudging　little　column。　　The　man　was　greeted　with　shouts　of　welcome　from　his　fellows；　to　whom　he　imparted　all　that　he　knew　and　guessed　of　the　actions　of　their　master；　so　that　the　entire　safari　was　aware　of　matters　before　Baynes；　who　marched　close　to　the　head　of　the　column；　was　reached　and　acquainted　with　the　facts　and　the　imaginings　of　the　black　boy　whom　Malbihn　had　deserted　in　the　clearing　the　night　before。

When　the　Hon。　Morison　had　listened　to　all　that　the　boy　had　to　say　and　realized　that　the　trader　had　used　him　as　a　tool　whereby　he　himself　might　get　Meriem　into　his　possession；　his　blood　ran　hot　with　rage　and　he　trembled　with　apprehension　for　the　girl's　safety。

That　another　contemplated　no　worse　a　deed　than　he