the son of tarzan-第48部分

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Then　he　commenced　his　stealthy　search　of　the　village。　　First　toward　the　Arab　tents　he　made　his　way；　sniffing　and　listening。　　He　passed　behind　them　searching　for　some　sign　of　Meriem。　　Not　even　the　wild　Arab　curs　heard　his　passage；　so　silently　he　wenta　shadow　passing　through　shadows。　　The　odor　of　tobacco　told　him　that　the　Arabs　were　smoking　before　their　tents。　　The　sound　of　laughter　fell　upon　his　ears；　and　then　from　the　opposite　side　of　the　village　came　the　notes　of　a　once　familiar　tune：　God　Save　the　King。　　Korak　halted　in　perplexity。　　Who　might　it　bethe　tones　were　those　of　a　man。　　He　recalled　the　young　Englishman　he　had　left　on　the　river　trail　and　who　had　disappeared　before　he　returned。　　A　moment　later　there　came　to　him　a　woman's　voice　in　replyit　was　Meriem's；　and　The　Killer；　quickened　into　action；　slunk　rapidly　in　the　direction　of　these　two　voices。

The　evening　meal　over　Meriem　had　gone　to　her　pallet　in　the　women's　quarters　of　The　Sheik's　tent；　a　little　corner　screened　off　in　the　rear　by　a　couple　of　priceless　Persian　rugs　to　form　a　partition。　　In　these　quarters　she　had　dwelt　with　Mabunu　alone；　for　The　Sheik　had　no　wives。　　Nor　were　conditions　altered　now　after　the　years　of　her　absenceshe　and　Mabunu　were　alone　in　the　women's　quarters。

Presently　The　Sheik　came　and　parted　the　rugs。　　He　glared　through　the　dim　light　of　the　interior。

〃Meriem！〃　he　called。　　〃Come　hither。〃

The　girl　arose　and　came　into　the　front　of　the　tent。　　There　the　light　of　a　fire　illuminated　the　interior。　　She　saw　Ali　ben　Kadin；　The　Sheik's　half　brother；　squatted　upon　a　rug；　smoking。　　The　Sheik　was　standing。　　The　Sheik　and　Ali　ben　Kadin　had　had　the　same　father；　but　Ali　ben　Kadin's　mother　had　been　a　slavea　West　Coast　Negress。　　Ali　ben　Kadin　was　old　and　hideous　and　almost　black。　　His　nose　and　part　of　one　cheek　were　eaten　away　by　disease。　　He　looked　up　and　grinned　as　Meriem　entered。

The　Sheik　jerked　his　thumb　toward　Ali　ben　Kadin　and　addressed　Meriem。

〃I　am　getting　old；〃　he　said；　〃I　shall　not　live　much　longer。　Therefore　I　have　given　you　to　Ali　ben　Kadin；　my　brother。〃

That　was　all。　　Ali　ben　Kadin　rose　and　came　toward　her。　　Meriem　shrank　back；　horrified。　　The　man　seized　her　wrist。

〃Come！〃　he　commanded；　and　dragged　her　from　The　Sheik's　tent　and　to　his　own。

After　they　had　gone　The　Sheik　chuckled。　　〃When　I　send　her　north　in　a　few　months；〃　he　soliloquized；　〃they　will　know　the　reward　for　slaying　the　son　of　the　sister　of　Amor　ben　Khatour。〃

And　in　Ali　ben　Kadin's　tent　Meriem　pleaded　and　threatened；　but　all　to　no　avail。　　The　hideous　old　halfcaste　spoke　soft　words　at　first；　but　when　Meriem　loosed　upon　him　the　vials　of　her　horror　and　loathing　he　became　enraged；　and　rushing　upon　her　seized　her　in　his　arms。　　Twice　she　tore　away　from　him；　and　in　one　of　the　intervals　during　which　she　managed　to　elude　him　she　heard　Baynes'　voice　humming　the　tune　that　she　knew　was　meant　for　her　ears。　　At　her　reply　Ali　ben　Kadin　rushed　upon　her　once　again。　This　time　he　dragged　her　back　into　the　rear　apartment　of　his　tent　where　three　Negresses　looked　up　in　stolid　indifference　to　the　tragedy　being　enacted　before　them。

As　the　Hon。　Morison　saw　his　way　blocked　by　the　huge　frame　of　the　giant　black　his　disappointment　and　rage　filled　him　with　a　bestial　fury　that　transformed　him　into　a　savage　beast。　　With　an　oath　he　leaped　upon　the　man　before　him；　the　momentum　of　his　body　hurling　the　black　to　the　ground。　　There　they　fought；　the　black　to　draw　his　knife；　the　white　to　choke　the　life　from　the　black。

Baynes'　fingers　shut　off　the　cry　for　help　that　the　other　would　have　been　glad　to　voice；　but　presently　the　Negro　succeeded　in　drawing　his　weapon　and　an　instant　later　Baynes　felt　the　sharp　steel　in　his　shoulder。　　Again　and　again　the　weapon　fell。　　The　white　man　removed　one　hand　from　its　choking　grip　upon　the　black　throat。　　He　felt　around　upon　the　ground　beside　him　searching　for　some　missile；　and　at　last　his　fingers　touched　a　stone　and　closed　upon　it。　　Raising　it　above　his　antagonist's　head　the　Hon。　Morison　drove　home　a　terrific　blow。　　Instantly　the　black　relaxedstunned。　Twice　more　Baynes　struck　him。　　Then　he　leaped　to　his　feet　and　ran　for　the　goat　skin　tent　from　which　he　had　heard　the　voice　of　Meriem　in　distress。

But　before　him　was　another。　　Naked　but　for　his　leopard　skin　and　his　loin　cloth；　Korak；　The　Killer；　slunk　into　the　shadows　at　the　back　of　Ali　ben　Kadin's　tent。　　The　half…caste　had　just　dragged　Meriem　into　the　rear　chamber　as　Korak's　sharp　knife　slit　a　six　foot　opening　in　the　tent　wall；　and　Korak；　tall　and　mighty；　sprang　through　upon　the　astonished　visions　of　the　inmates。

Meriem　saw　and　recognized　him　the　instant　that　he　entered　the　apartment。　　Her　heart　leaped　in　pride　and　joy　at　the　sight　of　the　noble　figure　for　which　it　had　hungered　for　so　long。

〃Korak！〃　she　cried。

〃Meriem！〃　　He　uttered　the　single　word　as　he　hurled　himself　upon　the　astonished　Ali　ben　Kadin。　　The　three　Negresses　leaped　from　their　sleeping　mats；　screaming。　　Meriem　tried　to　prevent　them　from　escaping；　but　before　she　could　succeed　the　terrified　blacks　had　darted　through　the　hole　in　the　tent　wall　made　by　Korak's　knife；　and　were　gone　screaming　through　the　village。

The　Killer's　fingers　closed　once　upon　the　throat　of　the　hideous　Ali。　　Once　his　knife　plunged　into　the　putrid　heartand　Ali　ben　Kadin　lay　dead　upon　the　floor　of　his　tent。　　Korak　turned　toward　Meriem　and　at　the　same　moment　a　bloody　and　disheveled　apparition　leaped　into　the　apartment。

〃Morison！〃　cried　the　girl。

Korak　turned　and　looked　at　the　new　comer。　　He　had　been　about　to　take　Meriem　in　his　arms；　forgetful　of　all　that　might　have　transpired　since　last　he　had　seen　her。　　Then　the　coming　of　the　young　Englishman　recalled　the　scene　he　had　witnessed　in　the　little　clearing；　and　a　wave　of　misery　swept　over　the　ape　man。

Already　from　without　came　the　sounds　of　the　alarm　that　the　three　Negresses　had　started。　　Men　were　running　toward　the　tent　of　Ali　ben　Kadin。　　There　was　no　time　to　be　lost。

〃Quick！〃　cried　Korak；　turning　toward　Baynes；　who　had　scarce　yet　realized　whether　he　was　facing　a　friend　or　foe。　　〃Take　her　to　the　palisade；　following　the　rear　of　the　tents。　　Here　is　my　rope。　　With　it　you　can　scale　the　wall　and　make　your　escape。〃

〃But　you；　Korak？〃　cried　Meriem。

〃I　will　remain；〃　replied　the　ape…man。　　〃I　have　business　with　The　Sheik。〃

Meriem　would　have　demurred；　but　The　Killer　seized　them　both　by　the　shoulders　and　hustled　them　through　the　slit　wall　and　out　into　the　shadows　beyond。

〃Now　run　for　it；〃　he　admonished；　and　turned　to　meet　and　hold　those　who　were　pouring　into　the　tent　from　the　front。

The　ape…man　fought　wellfought　as　he　had　never　fought　before；　but　the　odds　were　too　great　for　victory；　though　he　won　that　which　he　most　cravedtime　for　the　Englishman　to　escape　with　Meriem。　　Then　he　was　overwhelmed　by　numbers；　and　a　few　minutes　later；　bound　and　guarded；　he　was　carried　to　The　Sheik's　tent。

The　old　men　eyed　him　in　silence　for　a　long　time。　　He　was　trying　to　fix　in　his　own　mind　some　form　of　torture　that　would　gratify　his　rage　and　hatred　toward　this　creature　who　twice　had　been　the　means　of　his　losing　possession　of　Meriem。　　The　killing　of　Ali　ben　Kadin　caused　him　little　angeralways　had　he　hated　the　hideous　son　of　his　father's　hideous　slave。　　The　blow　that　this　naked　white　warrior　had　once　struck　him　added　fuel　to　his　rage。　He　could　think　of　nothing　adequate　to　the　creature's　offense。

And　as　he　sat　there　looking　upon　Korak　the　silence　was　broken　by　the　trumpeting　of　an　elephant　in　the　jungle　beyond　the　palisade。　　A　half　smile　touched　Korak's　lips。　　He　turned　his　head　a　trifle　in　the　direction　from　which　the　sound　had　come　and　then　there　broke　from　his　lips；　a　low；　weird　call。　　One　of　the　blacks　guarding　him　struck　him　across　the　mouth　with　the　haft　of　his　spear；　but　none　there　knew　the　significance　of　his　cry。

In　the　jungle　Tantor　cocked　his　ears　as　the　sound　of　Korak's　voice　fell　upon　them。　　He　approached　the　palisade　and　lifting　his　trunk　above　it；　sniffed。　　Then　he　placed　his　head　against　the　wooden　logs　and　pushed；　but　the　palisade　was　strong　and　only　gave　a　little　to　the　pressure。

In　The　Sheik's　tent　The　Sheik　rose　at　last；　and；　pointing　toward　the　bound　captive；　turned　to　one　of　his　lieutenants。

〃Burn　him；〃　he　commanded。　　〃At　once。　　The　stake　is　set。〃

The　guard　pushed　Korak　from　The　Sheik's　presence。　　They　dragged　him　to　the　open　space　in　the　center　of　the　village；　where　a　high　stake　was　set　in　the　ground。　　It　had　not　been　intended　for　burnings；　but　offered　a　convenient　place　to　tie　up　refractory　slaves　that　they　might　be　beatenofttimes　until　death　relieved　their　agonies。

To　this　stake　they　bound　Korak。　　Then　they　brought　brush　and　piled　about　him；　and　The　Sheik　came　and　stood　by　that　he　might　watch　the　agonies　of　his　victim。　　But　Korak　did　not　wince　even　after　they　had　fetched　a　brand　and　the　flames　had　shot　up　among　the　dry　tinder。

Once；　then；　he　raised　his　voice　in　the　low　call　that　he　had　given　in　The　Sheik's　tent；　and　now；　from　beyond　the　palisade；　came　again　the　trumpeting　of　an　elephant。

Old　Tantor　had　been　pushing　at　the　palisade　in　vain。　　The　sound　of　Korak's　voice　calling　him；　and　the　scent　of　man；　his　enemy；　filled　the　great　beast　with　rage　and　resentment　against　the　dumb　barrier　that　held　him　back。　　He　wheeled　and　shuffled　back　a　dozen　paces；　then　he　turned；　lifted　his　trunk　and　gave　voice　to　a　mighty　roaring；　trumpet…call　of　anger；　lowered　his　head　and　charged　like　a　huge　battering　ram　of　flesh　and　bone　and　muscle　straight　for　the　mighty　barrier。

The　palisade　sagged　and　splintered　to　the　impact；　and　through　the　breach　rushed　the　infuriated　bull。　　Korak　heard　the　sounds　that　the　others　heard；　and　he　interpreted　them　as　the　others　did　not。　　The　flames　were　creeping　closer　to　him　when　one　of　the　blacks；　hearing　a　noise　behind　him　turned　to　see　the　enormous　bulk　of　Tantor　lumbering　toward　them。　　The　man　screamed　and　fled；　and　then　the　bull　elephant　was　among　them　tossing　Negroes　and　Arabs　to　right　and　left　as　he　tore　through　the　flames　he　feared　to　the　side　of　the　comrade　he　loved。

The　Sheik；　calling　orders　to　his　followers；　ran　to　his　tent　to　get　his　rifle。　　Tantor　wrapped　his　trunk　about　the　body　of　Korak　and　the　stake　to　which　it　was　bound；　and　tore　it　from　the　ground。　The　flames　were　searing　his　sens