the son of tarzan-第50部分

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〃What　sort　of　appearing　man　is　he？〃　continued　Bwana。　〃About　how　old；　should　you　say？〃

〃I　should　say　he　was　an　Englishman；　about　my　own　age；〃　replied　Baynes；　〃though　he　might　be　older。　　He　is　remarkably　muscled；　and　exceedingly　tanned。〃

〃His　eyes　and　hair；　did　you　notice　them？〃　　Bwana　spoke　rapidly；　almost　excitedly。　　It　was　Meriem　who　answered　him。

〃Korak's　hair　is　black　and　his　eyes　are　gray；〃　she　said。

Bwana　turned　to　his　headman。

〃Take　Miss　Meriem　and　Mr。　Baynes　home；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　going　into　the　jungle。〃

〃Let　me　go　with　you；　Bwana；〃　cried　Meriem。　　〃You　are　going　to　search　for　Korak。　　Let　me　go；　too。〃

Bwana　turned　sadly　but　firmly　upon　the　girl。

〃Your　place；〃　he　said；　〃is　beside　the　man　you　love。〃

Then　he　motioned　to　his　head…man　to　take　his　horse　and　commence　the　return　journey　to　the　farm。　　Meriem　slowly　mounted　the　tired　Arab　that　had　brought　her　from　the　village　of　The　Sheik。　　A　litter　was　rigged　for　the　now　feverish　Baynes；　and　the　little　cavalcade　was　soon　slowly　winding　off　along　the　river　trail。

Bwana　stood　watching　them　until　they　were　out　of　sight。　　Not　once　had　Meriem　turned　her　eyes　backward。　　She　rode　with　bowed　head　and　drooping　shoulders。　　Bwana　sighed。　　He　loved　the　little　Arab　girl　as　he　might　have　loved　an　own　daughter。　　He　realized　that　Baynes　had　redeemed　himself；　and　so　he　could　interpose　no　objections　now　if　Meriem　really　loved　the　man；　but；　somehow；　some　way；　Bwana　could　not　convince　himself　that　the　Hon。　Morison　was　worthy　of　his　little　Meriem。　　Slowly　he　turned　toward　a　nearby　tree。　　Leaping　upward　he　caught　a　lower　branch　and　drew　himself　up　among　the　branches。　　His　movements　were　cat…like　and　agile。　　High　into　the　trees　he　made　his　way　and　there　commenced　to　divest　himself　of　his　clothing。　From　the　game　bag　slung　across　one　shoulder　he　drew　a　long　strip　of　doe…skin；　a　neatly　coiled　rope；　and　a　wicked　looking　knife。　　The　doe…skin；　he　fashioned　into　a　loin　cloth；　the　rope　he　looped　over　one　shoulder；　and　the　knife　he　thrust　into　the　belt　formed　by　his　gee　string。

When　he　stood　erect；　his　head　thrown　back　and　his　great　chest　expanded　a　grim　smile　touched　his　lips　for　a　moment。　　His　nostrils　dilated　as　he　sniffed　the　jungle　odors。　　His　gray　eyes　narrowed。　　He　crouched　and　leaped　to　a　lower　limb　and　was　away　through　the　trees　toward　the　southeast；　bearing　away　from　the　river。　　He　moved　swiftly；　stopping　only　occasionally　to　raise　his　voice　in　a　weird　and　piercing　scream；　and　to　listen　for　a　moment　after　for　a　reply。

He　had　traveled　thus　for　several　hours　when；　ahead　of　him　and　a　little　to　his　left；　he　heard；　far　off　in　the　jungle；　a　faint　responsethe　cry　of　a　bull　ape　answering　his　cry。　　His　nerves　tingled　and　his　eyes　lighted　as　the　sound　fell　upon　his　ears。　Again　he　voiced　his　hideous　call；　and　sped　forward　in　the　new　direction。

Korak；　finally　becoming　convinced　that　he　must　die　if　he　remained　where　he　was；　waiting　for　the　succor　that　could　not　come；　spoke　to　Tantor　in　the　strange　tongue　that　the　great　beast　understood。　　He　commanded　the　elephant　to　lift　him　and　carry　him　toward　the　northeast。　　There；　recently；　Korak　had　seen　both　white　men　and　black。　　If　he　could　come　upon　one　of　the　latter　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　to　command　Tantor　to　capture　the　fellow；　and　then　Korak　could　get　him　to　release　him　from　the　stake。　It　was　worth　trying　at　leastbetter　than　lying　there　in　the　jungle　until　he　died。　　As　Tantor　bore　him　along　through　the　forest　Korak　called　aloud　now　and　then　in　the　hope　of　attracting　Akut's　band　of　anthropoids；　whose　wanderings　often　brought　them　into　their　neighborhood。　　Akut；　he　thought；　might　possibly　be　able　to　negotiate　the　knotshe　had　done　so　upon　that　other　occasion　when　the　Russian　had　bound　Korak　years　before；　and　Akut；　to　the　south　of　him；　heard　his　calls　faintly；　and　came。　　There　was　another　who　heard　them；　too。

After　Bwana　had　left　his　party；　sending　them　back　toward　the　farm；　Meriem　had　ridden　for　a　short　distance　with　bowed　head。　What　thoughts　passed　through　that　active　brain　who　may　say？　Presently　she　seemed　to　come　to　a　decision。　　She　called　the　headman　to　her　side。

〃I　am　going　back　with　Bwana；〃　she　announced。

The　black　shook　his　head。　　〃No！〃　he　announced。　　〃Bwana　says　I　take　you　home。　　So　I　take　you　home。〃

〃You　refuse　to　let　me　go？〃　asked　the　girl。

The　black　nodded；　and　fell　to　the　rear　where　he　might　better　watch　her。　　Meriem　half　smiled。　　Presently　her　horse　passed　beneath　a　low…hanging　branch；　and　the　black　headman　found　himself　gazing　at　the　girl's　empty　saddle。　　He　ran　forward　to　the　tree　into　which　she　had　disappeared。　　He　could　see　nothing　of　her。　　He　called；　but　there　was　no　response；　unless　it　might　have　been　a　low；　taunting　laugh　far　to　the　right。　　He　sent　his　men　into　the　jungle　to　search　for　her；　but　they　came　back　empty　handed。　　After　a　while　he　resumed　his　march　toward　the　farm；　for　Baynes；　by　this　time；　was　delirious　with　fever。

Meriem　raced　straight　back　toward　the　point　she　imagined　Tantor　would　make　fora　point　where　she　knew　the　elephants　often　gathered　deep　in　the　forest　due　east　of　The　Sheik's　village。　She　moved　silently　and　swiftly。　　From　her　mind　she　had　expunged　all　thoughts　other　than　that　she　must　reach　Korak　and　bring　him　back　with　her。　　It　was　her　place　to　do　that。　　Then；　too；　had　come　the　tantalizing　fear　that　all　might　not　be　well　with　him。　　She　upbraided　herself　for　not　thinking　of　that　beforeof　letting　her　desire　to　get　the　wounded　Morison　back　to　the　bungalow　blind　her　to　the　possibilities　of　Korak's　need　for　her。　　She　had　been　traveling　rapidly　for　several　hours　without　rest　when　she　heard　ahead　of　her　the　familiar　cry　of　a　great　ape　calling　to　his　kind。

She　did　not　reply；　only　increased　her　speed　until　she　almost　flew。　　Now　there　came　to　her　sensitive　nostrils　the　scent　of　Tantor　and　she　knew　that　she　was　on　the　right　trail　and　close　to　him　she　sought。　　She　did　not　call　out　because　she　wished　to　surprise　him；　and　presently　she　did；　breaking　into　sight　of　them　as　the　great　elephant　shuffled　ahead　balancing　the　man　and　the　heavy　stake　upon　his　head；　holding　them　there　with　his　upcurled　trunk。

〃Korak！〃　cried　Meriem　from　the　foliage　above　him。

Instantly　the　bull　swung　about；　lowered　his　burden　to　the　ground　and；　trumpeting　savagely；　prepared　to　defend　his　comrade。　　The　ape…man；　recognizing　the　girl's　voice；　felt　a　sudden　lump　in　his　throat。

〃Meriem！〃　he　called　back　to　her。

Happily　the　girl　clambered　to　the　ground　and　ran　forward　to　release　Korak；　but　Tantor　lowered　his　head　ominously　and　trumpeted　a　warning。

〃Go　back！　　Go　back！〃　cried　Korak。　　〃He　will　kill　you。〃

Meriem　paused。　　〃Tantor！〃　she　called　to　the　huge　brute。　〃Don't　you　remember　me？　　I　am　little　Meriem。　　I　used　to　ride　on　your　broad　back；〃　but　the　bull　only　rumbled　in　his　throat　and　shook　his　tusks　in　angry　defiance。　　Then　Korak　tried　to　placate　him。　　Tried　to　order　him　away；　that　the　girl　might　approach　and　release　him；　but　Tantor　would　not　go。　　He　saw　in　every　human　being　other　than　Korak　an　enemy。　　He　thought　the　girl　bent　upon　harming　his　friend　and　he　would　take　no　chances。　For　an　hour　the　girl　and　the　man　tried　to　find　some　means　whereby　they　might　circumvent　the　beast's　ill　directed　guardianship；　but　all　to　no　avail；　Tantor　stood　his　ground　in　grim　determination　to　let　no　one　approach　Korak。

Presently　the　man　hit　upon　a　scheme。　　〃Pretend　to　go　away；〃　he　called　to　the　girl。　　〃Keep　down　wind　from　us　so　that　Tantor　won't　get　your　scent；　then　follow　us。　　After　a　while　I'll　have　him　put　me　down；　and　find　some　pretext　for　sending　him　away。　　While　he　is　gone　you　can　slip　up　and　cut　my　bondshave　you　a　knife？〃

〃Yes；　I　have　a　knife；〃　she　replied。　　〃I'll　go　nowI　think　we　may　be　able　to　fool　him；　but　don't　be　too　sureTantor　invented　cunning。〃

Korak　smiled；　for　he　knew　that　the　girl　was　right。　　Presently　she　had　disappeared。　　The　elephant　listened；　and　raised　his　trunk　to　catch　her　scent。　　Korak　commanded　him　to　raise　him　to　his　head　once　more　and　proceed　upon　their　way。　　After　a　moment's　hesitation　he　did　as　he　was　bid。　　It　was　then　that　Korak　heard　the　distant　call　of　an　ape。

〃Akut！〃　he　thought。　　〃Good！　　Tantor　knew　Akut　well。　　He　would　let　him　approach。〃　　Raising　his　voice　Korak　replied　to　the　call　of　the　ape；　but　he　let　Tantor　move　off　with　him　through　the　jungle；　it　would　do　no　harm　to　try　the　other　plan。　　They　had　come　to　a　clearing　and　plainly　Korak　smelled　water。　　Here　was　a　good　place　and　a　good　excuse。　　He　ordered　Tantor　to　lay　him　down；　and　go　and　fetch　him　water　in　his　trunk。　　The　big　beast　deposited　him　upon　the　grass　in　the　center　of　the　clearing；　then　he　stood　with　cocked　ears　and　attentive　trunk；　searching　for　the　slightest　indication　of　dangerthere　seemed　to　be　none　and　he　moved　away　in　the　direction　of　the　little　brook　that　Korak　knew　was　some　two　or　three　hundred　yards　away。　　The　ape…man　could　scarce　help　smiling　as　he　thought　how　cleverly　he　had　tricked　his　friend；　but　well　as　he　knew　Tantor　he　little　guessed　the　guile　of　his　cunning　brain。　　The　animal　ambled　off　across　the　clearing　and　disappeared　in　the　jungle　beyond　in　the　direction　of　the　stream；　but　scarce　had　his　great　bulk　been　screened　by　the　dense　foliage　than　he　wheeled　about　and　came　cautiously　back　to　the　edge　of　the　clearing　where　he　could　see　without　being　seen。　Tantor；　by　nature；　is　suspicious。　　Now　he　still　feared　the　return　of　the　she　Tarmangani　who　had　attempted　to　attack　his　Korak。　He　would　just　stand　there　for　a　moment　and　assure　himself　that　all　was　well　before　he　continued　on　toward　the　water。　　Ah！　　It　was　well　that　he　did！　　There　she　was　now　dropping　from　the　branches　of　a　tree　across　the　clearing　and　running　swiftly　toward　the　ape…man。　　Tantor　waited。　　He　would　let　her　reach　Korak　before　he　chargedthat　would　ensure　that　she　had　no　chance　of　escape。　　His　little　eyes　blazed　savagely。　　His　tail　was　elevated　stiffly。　　He　could　scarce　restrain　a　desire　to　trumpet　forth　his　rage　to　the　world。　　Meriem　was　almost　at　Korak's　side　when　Tantor　saw　the　long　knife　in　her　hand；　and　then　he　broke　forth　from　the　jungle；　bellowing　horribly；　and　charged　down　upon　the　frail　girl。



Chapter　27

Korak　screamed　commands　to　his　huge　protector；　in　an　effort　to　halt　him；　but　all　to　no　avail。　　Meriem　raced　toward　the　bordering　trees　wi