the son of tarzan-第41部分

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the　jungle。　　The　ape…man；　lonely　and　sorrowing；　was　glad　of　the　companionship　of　his　huge　friend。　　Affectionately　the　sinuous　trunk　encircled　him；　and　he　was　swung　to　the　mighty　back　where　so　often　before　he　had　lolled　and　dreamed　the　long　afternoon　away。

Far　to　the　north　the　Big　Bwana　and　his　black　warriors　clung　tenaciously　to　the　trail　of　the　fleeing　safari　that　was　luring　them　further　and　further　from　the　girl　they　sought　to　save；　while　back　at　the　bungalow　the　woman　who　had　loved　Meriem　as　though　she　had　been　her　own　waited　impatiently　and　in　sorrow　for　the　return　of　the　rescuing　party　and　the　girl　she　was　positive　her　invincible　lord　and　master　would　bring　back　with　him。



Chapter　22

As　Meriem　struggled　with　Malbihn；　her　hands　pinioned　to　her　sides　by　his　brawny　grip；　hope　died　within　her。　　She　did　not　utter　a　sound　for　she　knew　that　there　was　none　to　come　to　her　assistance；　and；　too；　the　jungle　training　of　her　earlier　life　had　taught　her　the　futility　of　appeals　for　succor　in　the　savage　world　of　her　up…bringing。

But　as　she　fought　to　free　herself　one　hand　came　in　contact　with　the　butt　of　Malbihn's　revolver　where　it　rested　in　the　holster　at　his　hip。　　Slowly　he　was　dragging　her　toward　the　blankets；　and　slowly　her　fingers　encircled　the　coveted　prize　and　drew　it　from　its　resting　place。

Then；　as　Malbihn　stood　at　the　edge　of　the　disordered　pile　of　blankets；　Meriem　suddenly　ceased　to　draw　away　from　him；　and　as　quickly　hurled　her　weight　against　him　with　the　result　that　he　was　thrown　backward；　his　feet　stumbled　against　the　bedding　and　he　was　hurled　to　his　back。　　Instinctively　his　hands　flew　out　to　save　himself　and　at　the　same　instant　Meriem　leveled　the　revolver　at　his　breast　and　pulled　the　trigger。

But　the　hammer　fell　futilely　upon　an　empty　shell；　and　Malbihn　was　again　upon　his　feet　clutching　at　her。　　For　a　moment　she　eluded　him；　and　ran　toward　the　entrance　to　the　tent；　but　at　the　very　doorway　his　heavy　hand　fell　upon　her　shoulder　and　dragged　her　back。　　Wheeling　upon　him　with　the　fury　of　a　wounded　lioness　Meriem　grasped　the　long　revolver　by　the　barrel；　swung　it　high　above　her　head　and　crashed　it　down　full　in　Malbihn's　face。

With　an　oath　of　pain　and　rage　the　man　staggered　backward；　releasing　his　hold　upon　her　and　then　sank　unconscious　to　the　ground。　　Without　a　backward　look　Meriem　turned　and　fled　into　the　open。　　Several　of　the　blacks　saw　her　and　tried　to　intercept　her　flight；　but　the　menace　of　the　empty　weapon　kept　them　at　a　distance。　　And　so　she　won　beyond　the　encircling　boma　and　disappeared　into　the　jungle　to　the　south。

Straight　into　the　branches　of　a　tree　she　went；　true　to　the　arboreal　instincts　of　the　little　mangani　she　had　been；　and　here　she　stripped　off　her　riding　skirt；　her　shoes　and　her　stockings；　for　she　knew　that　she　had　before　her　a　journey　and　a　flight　which　would　not　brook　the　burden　of　these　garments。　　Her　riding　breeches　and　jacket　would　have　to　serve　as　protection　from　cold　and　thorns；　nor　would　they　hamper　her　over　much；　but　a　skirt　and　shoes　were　impossible　among　the　trees。

She　had　not　gone　far　before　she　commenced　to　realize　how　slight　were　her　chances　for　survival　without　means　of　defense　or　a　weapon　to　bring　down　meat。　　Why　had　she　not　thought　to　strip　the　cartridge　belt　from　Malbihn's　waist　before　she　had　left　his　tent！　　With　cartridges　for　the　revolver　she　might　hope　to　bag　small　game；　and　to　protect　herself　from　all　but　the　most　ferocious　of　the　enemies　that　would　beset　her　way　back　to　the　beloved　hearthstone　of　Bwana　and　My　Dear。

With　the　thought　came　determination　to　return　and　obtain　the　coveted　ammunition。　　She　realized　that　she　was　taking　great　chances　of　recapture；　but　without　means　of　defense　and　of　obtaining　meat　she　felt　that　she　could　never　hope　to　reach　safety。　　And　so　she　turned　her　face　back　toward　the　camp　from　which　she　had　but　just　escaped。

She　thought　Malbihn　dead；　so　terrific　a　blow　had　she　dealt　him；　and　she　hoped　to　find　an　opportunity　after　dark　to　enter　the　camp　and　search　his　tent　for　the　cartridge　belt；　but　scarcely　had　she　found　a　hiding　place　in　a　great　tree　at　the　edge　of　the　boma　where　she　could　watch　without　danger　of　being　discovered；　when　she　saw　the　Swede　emerge　from　his　tent；　wiping　blood　from　his　face；　and　hurling　a　volley　of　oaths　and　questions　at　his　terrified　followers。

Shortly　after　the　entire　camp　set　forth　in　search　of　her　and　when　Meriem　was　positive　that　all　were　gone　she　descended　from　her　hiding　place　and　ran　quickly　across　the　clearing　to　Malbihn's　tent。　　A　hasty　survey　of　the　interior　revealed　no　ammunition；　but　in　one　corner　was　a　box　in　which　were　packed　the　Swede's　personal　belongings　that　he　had　sent　along　by　his　headman　to　this　westerly　camp。

Meriem　seized　the　receptacle　as　the　possible　container　of　extra　ammunition。　　Quickly　she　loosed　the　cords　that　held　the　canvas　covering　about　the　box；　and　a　moment　later　had　raised　the　lid　and　was　rummaging　through　the　heterogeneous　accumulation　of　odds　and　ends　within。　　There　were　letters　and　papers　and　cuttings　from　old　newspapers；　and　among　other　things　the　photograph　of　a　little　girl　upon　the　back　of　which　was　pasted　a　cutting　from　a　Paris　dailya　cutting　that　she　could　not　read；　yellowed　and　dimmed　by　age　and　handlingbut　something　about　the　photograph　of　the　little　girl　which　was　also　reproduced　in　the　newspaper　cutting　held　her　attention。　　Where　had　she　seen　that　picture　before？　　And　then；　quite　suddenly；　it　came　to　her　that　this　was　a　picture　of　herself　as　she　had　been　years　and　years　before。

Where　had　it　been　taken？　　How　had　it　come　into　the　possession　of　this　man？　　Why　had　it　been　reproduced　in　a　newspaper？　　What　was　the　story　that　the　faded　type　told　of　it？

Meriem　was　baffled　by　the　puzzle　that　her　search　for　ammunition　had　revealed。　　She　stood　gazing　at　the　faded　photograph　for　a　time　and　then　bethought　herself　of　the　ammunition　for　which　she　had　come。　　Turning　again　to　the　box　she　rummaged　to　the　bottom　and　there　in　a　corner　she　came　upon　a　little　box　of　cartridges。　　A　single　glance　assured　her　that　they　were　intended　for　the　weapon　she　had　thrust　inside　the　band　of　her　riding　breeches；　and　slipping　them　into　her　pocket　she　turned　once　more　for　an　examination　of　the　baffling　likeness　of　herself　that　she　held　in　her　hand。

As　she　stood　thus　in　vain　endeavor　to　fathom　this　inexplicable　mystery　the　sound　of　voices　broke　upon　her　ears。　　Instantly　she　was　all　alert。　　They　were　coming　closer！　　A　second　later　she　recognized　the　lurid　profanity　of　the　Swede。　　Malbihn；　her　persecutor；　was　returning！　　Meriem　ran　quickly　to　the　opening　of　the　tent　and　looked　out。　　It　was　too　late！　　She　was　fairly　cornered！　The　white　man　and　three　of　his　black　henchmen　were　coming　straight　across　the　clearing　toward　the　tent。　　What　was　she　to　do？　　She　slipped　the　photograph　into　her　waist。　　Quickly　she　slipped　a　cartridge　into　each　of　the　chambers　of　the　revolver。　　Then　she　backed　toward　the　end　of　the　tent；　keeping　the　entrance　covered　by　her　weapon。　　The　man　stopped　outside；　and　Meriem　could　hear　Malbihn　profanely　issuing　instructions。　　He　was　a　long　time　about　it；　and　while　he　talked　in　his　bellowing；　brutish　voice；　the　girl　sought　some　avenue　of　escape。　　Stooping；　she　raised　the　bottom　of　the　canvas　and　looked　beneath　and　beyond。　　There　was　no　one　in　sight　upon　that　side。　　Throwing　herself　upon　her　stomach　she　wormed　beneath　the　tent　wall　just　as　Malbihn；　with　a　final　word　to　his　men；　entered　the　tent。

Meriem　heard　him　cross　the　floor；　and　then　she　rose　and；　stooping　low；　ran　to　a　native　hut　directly　behind。　　Once　inside　this　she　turned　and　glanced　back。　　There　was　no　one　in　sight。　　She　had　not　been　seen。　　And　now　from　Malbihn's　tent　she　heard　a　great　cursing。　　The　Swede　had　discovered　the　rifling　of　his　box。　　He　was　shouting　to　his　men；　and　as　she　heard　them　reply　Meriem　darted　from　the　hut　and　ran　toward　the　edge　of　the　boma　furthest　from　Malbihn's　tent。　Overhanging　the　boma　at　this　point　was　a　tree　that　had　been　too　large；　in　the　eyes　of　the　rest…loving　blacks；　to　cut　down。　　So　they　had　terminated　the　boma　just　short　of　it。　　Meriem　was　thankful　for　whatever　circumstance　had　resulted　in　the　leaving　of　that　particular　tree　where　it　was；　since　it　gave　her　the　much…needed　avenue　of　escape　which　she　might　not　otherwise　have　had。

From　her　hiding　place　she　saw　Malbihn　again　enter　the　jungle；　this　time　leaving　a　guard　of　three　of　his　boys　in　the　camp。　　He　went　toward　the　south；　and　after　he　had　disappeared；　Meriem　skirted　the　outside　of　the　enclosure　and　made　her　way　to　the　river。　　Here　lay　the　canoes　that　had　been　used　in　bringing　the　party　from　the　opposite　shore。　　They　were　unwieldy　things　for　a　lone　girl　to　handle；　but　there　was　no　other　way　and　she　must　cross　the　river。

The　landing　place　was　in　full　view　of　the　guard　at　the　camp。　To　risk　the　crossing　under　their　eyes　would　have　meant　undoubted　capture。　　Her　only　hope　lay　in　waiting　until　darkness　had　fallen；　unless　some　fortuitous　circumstance　should　arise　before。　　For　an　hour　she　lay　watching　the　guard；　one　of　whom　seemed　always　in　a　position　where　he　would　immediately　discover　her　should　she　attempt　to　launch　one　of　the　canoes。

Presently　Malbihn　appeared；　coming　out　of　the　jungle；　hot　and　puffing。　　He　ran　immediately　to　the　river　where　the　canoes　lay　and　counted　them。　　It　was　evident　that　it　had　suddenly　occurred　to　him　that　the　girl　must　cross　here　if　she　wished　to　return　to　her　protectors。　　The　expression　of　relief　on　his　face　when　he　found　that　none　of　the　canoes　was　gone　was　ample　evidence　of　what　was　passing　in　his　mind。　　He　turned　and　spoke　hurriedly　to　the　head　man　who　had　followed　him　out　of　the　jungle　and　with　whom　were　several　other　blacks。

Following　Malbihn's　instructions　they　launched　all　the　canoes　but　one。　　Malbihn　called　to　the　guards　in　the　camp　and　a　moment　later　the　entire　party　had　entered　the　boats　and　were　paddling　up　stream。

Meriem　watched　them　until　a　bend　in　the　river　directly　above　the　camp　hid　them　from　her　sight。　　They　were　gone！　　She　was　alone；　and　they　had　left　a　canoe　in　which　lay　a　paddle！　　She　could　scarce　believe　the　good　fortune　that　had　come　to　her。　　To　delay　now　would　be　suicidal　to　her　hopes。　　Quickly　she　ran　from　her　hiding　place　and　dropped　to　the　ground。　　A　dozen　yards　lay　between　her　and　the