the son of tarzan-第7部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


mother　that　he　had　decided　to　return　to　England　upon　the　next　steamer。　　He　was　endeavoring　to　make　it　plain　to　the　old　lady　that　she　might　remain　in　Africa　if　she　wished　but　that　for　his　part　his　conscience　demanded　that　he　return　to　his　father　and　mother；　who　doubtless　were　even　now　suffering　untold　sorrow　because　of　his　absence；　from　which　it　may　be　assumed　that　his　parents　had　not　been　acquainted　with　the　plans　that　he　and　the　old　lady　had　made　for　their　adventure　into　African　wilds。

Having　come　to　a　decision　the　lad　felt　a　sense　of　relief　from　the　worry　that　had　haunted　him　for　many　sleepless　nights。　　When　he　closed　his　eyes　in　sleep　it　was　to　dream　of　a　happy　reunion　with　those　at　home。　　And　as　he　dreamed；　Fate；　cruel　and　inexorable；　crept　stealthily　upon　him　through　the　dark　corridor　of　the　squalid　building　in　which　he　sleptFate　in　the　form　of　the　American　crook；　Condon。

Cautiously　the　man　approached　the　door　of　the　lad's　room。　There　he　crouched　listening　until　assured　by　the　regular　breathing　of　those　within　that　both　slept。　　Quietly　he　inserted　a　slim；　skeleton　key　in　the　lock　of　the　door。　　With　deft　fingers；　long　accustomed　to　the　silent　manipulation　of　the　bars　and　bolts　that　guarded　other　men's　property；　Condon　turned　the　key　and　the　knob　simultaneously。　　Gentle　pressure　upon　the　door　swung　it　slowly　inward　upon　its　hinges。　　The　man　entered　the　room；　closing　the　door　behind　him。　　The　moon　was　temporarily　overcast　by　heavy　clouds。　　The　interior　of　the　apartment　was　shrouded　in　gloom。　　Condon　groped　his　way　toward　the　bed。　　In　the　far　corner　of　the　room　something　movedmoved　with　a　silent　stealthiness　which　transcended　even　the　trained　silence　of　the　burglar。　　Condon　heard　nothing。　　His　attention　was　riveted　upon　the　bed　in　which　he　thought　to　find　a　young　boy　and　his　helpless；　invalid　grandmother。

The　American　sought　only　the　bank　roll。　　If　he　could　possess　himself　of　this　without　detection；　well　and　good；　but　were　he　to　meet　resistance　he　was　prepared　for　that　too。　　The　lad's　clothes　lay　across　a　chair　beside　the　bed。　　The　American's　fingers　felt　swiftly　through　themthe　pockets　contained　no　roll　of　crisp；　new　notes。　　Doubtless　they　were　beneath　the　pillows　of　the　bed。　He　stepped　closer　toward　the　sleeper；　his　hand　was　already　half　way　beneath　the　pillow　when　the　thick　cloud　that　had　obscured　the　moon　rolled　aside　and　the　room　was　flooded　with　light。　　At　the　same　instant　the　boy　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　straight　into　those　of　Condon。　　The　man　was　suddenly　conscious　that　the　boy　was　alone　in　the　bed。　　Then　he　clutched　for　his　victim's　throat。　　As　the　lad　rose　to　meet　him　Condon　heard　a　low　growl　at　his　back；　then　he　felt　his　wrists　seized　by　the　boy；　and　realized　that　beneath　those　tapering；　white　fingers　played　muscles　of　steel。

He　felt　other　hands　at　his　throat；　rough　hairy　hands　that　reached　over　his　shoulders　from　behind。　　He　cast　a　terrified　glance　backward；　and　the　hairs　of　his　head　stiffened　at　the　sight　his　eyes　revealed；　for　grasping　him　from　the　rear　was　a　huge；　man…like　ape。　　The　bared　fighting　fangs　of　the　anthropoid　were　close　to　his　throat。　　The　lad　pinioned　his　wrists。　　Neither　uttered　a　sound。　　Where　was　the　grandmother？　　Condon's　eyes　swept　the　room　in　a　single　all…inclusive　glance。　　His　eyes　bulged　in　horror　at　the　realization　of　the　truth　which　that　glance　revealed。　　In　the　power　of　what　creatures　of　hideous　mystery　had　he　placed　himself！　Frantically　he　fought　to　beat　off　the　lad　that　he　might　turn　upon　the　fearsome　thing　at　his　back。　　Freeing　one　hand　he　struck　a　savage　blow　at　the　lad's　face。　　His　act　seemed　to　unloose　a　thousand　devils　in　the　hairy　creature　clinging　to　his　throat。　　Condon　heard　a　low　and　savage　snarl。　　It　was　the　last　thing　that　the　American　ever　heard　in　this　life。　　Then　he　was　dragged　backward　upon　the　floor；　a　heavy　body　fell　upon　him；　powerful　teeth　fastened　themselves　in　his　jugular；　his　head　whirled　in　the　sudden　blackness　which　rims　eternitya　moment　later　the　ape　rose　from　his　prostrate　form；　but　Condon　did　not　knowhe　was　quite　dead。

The　lad；　horrified；　sprang　from　the　bed　to　lean　over　the　body　of　the　man。　　He　knew　that　Akut　had　killed　in　his　defense；　as　he　had　killed　Michael　Sabrov；　but　here；　in　savage　Africa；　far　from　home　and　friends　what　would　they　do　to　him　and　his　faithful　ape？　　The　lad　knew　that　the　penalty　of　murder　was　death。　　He　even　knew　that　an　accomplice　might　suffer　the　death　penalty　with　the　principal。　　Who　was　there　who　would　plead　for　them？　　All　would　be　against　them。　　It　was　little　more　than　a　half…civilized　community；　and　the　chances　were　that　they　would　drag　Akut　and　him　forth　in　the　morning　and　hang　them　both　to　the　nearest　treehe　had　read　of　such　things　being　done　in　America；　and　Africa　was　worse　even　and　wilder　than　the　great　West　of　his　mother's　native　land。　　Yes；　they　would　both　be　hanged　in　the　morning！

Was　there　no　escape？　　He　thought　in　silence　for　a　few　moments；　and　then；　with　an　exclamation　of　relief；　he　struck　his　palms　together　and　turned　toward　his　clothing　upon　the　chair。　Money　would　do　anything！　　Money　would　save　him　and　Akut！　He　felt　for　the　bank　roll　in　the　pocket　in　which　he　had　been　accustomed　to　carry　it。　　It　was　not　there！　　Slowly　at　first　and　at　last　frantically　he　searched　through　the　remaining　pockets　of　his　clothing。　　Then　he　dropped　upon　his　hands　and　knees　and　examined　the　floor。　　Lighting　the　lamp　he　moved　the　bed　to　one　side　and；　inch　by　inch；　he　felt　over　the　entire　floor。　　Beside　the　body　of　Condon　he　hesitated；　but　at　last　he　nerved　himself　to　touch　it。　　Rolling　it　over　he　sought　beneath　it　for　the　money。　　Nor　was　it　there。　　He　guessed　that　Condon　had　entered　their　room　to　rob；　but　he　did　not　believe　that　the　man　had　had　time　to　possess　himself　of　the　money；　however；　as　it　was　nowhere　else；　it　must　be　upon　the　body　of　the　dead　man。　　Again　and　again　he　went　over　the　room；　only　to　return　each　time　to　the　corpse；　but　no　where　could　he　find　the　money。

He　was　half…frantic　with　despair。　　What　were　they　to　do？　　In　the　morning　they　would　be　discovered　and　killed。　　For　all　his　inherited　size　and　strength　he　was；　after　all；　only　a　little　boy　a　frightened；　homesick　little　boyreasoning　faultily　from　the　meager　experience　of　childhood。　　He　could　think　of　but　a　single　glaring　factthey　had　killed　a　fellow　man；　and　they　were　among　savage　strangers；　thirsting　for　the　blood　of　the　first　victim　whom　fate　cast　into　their　clutches。　　This　much　he　had　gleaned　from　penny…dreadfuls。

And　they　must　have　money！

Again　he　approached　the　corpse。　　This　time　resolutely。　　The　ape　squatted　in　a　corner　watching　his　young　companion。　　The　youth　commenced　to　remove　the　American's　clothing　piece　by　piece；　and；　piece　by　piece；　he　examined　each　garment　minutely。　　Even　to　the　shoes　he　searched　with　painstaking　care；　and　when　the　last　article　had　been　removed　and　scrutinized　he　dropped　back　upon　the　bed　with　dilated　eyes　that　saw　nothing　in　the　present　only　a　grim　tableau　of　the　future　in　which　two　forms　swung　silently　from　the　limb　of　a　great　tree。

How　long　he　sat　thus　he　did　not　know；　but　finally　he　was　aroused　by　a　noise　coming　from　the　floor　below。　　Springing　quickly　to　his　feet　he　blew　out　the　lamp；　and　crossing　the　floor　silently　locked　the　door。　　Then　he　turned　toward　the　ape；　his　mind　made　up。

Last　evening　he　had　been　determined　to　start　for　home　at　the　first　opportunity；　to　beg　the　forgiveness　of　his　parents　for　this　mad　adventure。　　Now　he　knew　that　he　might　never　return　to　them。　　The　blood　of　a　fellow　man　was　upon　his　handsin　his　morbid　reflections　he　had　long　since　ceased　to　attribute　the　death　of　Condon　to　the　ape。　　The　hysteria　of　panic　had　fastened　the　guilt　upon　himself。　　With　money　he　might　have　bought　justice；　but　penniless！ah；　what　hope　could　there　be　for　strangers　without　money　here？

But　what　had　become　of　the　money？　　He　tried　to　recall　when　last　he　had　seen　it。　　He　could　not；　nor；　could　he；　would　he　have　been　able　to　account　for　its　disappearance；　for　he　had　been　entirely　unconscious　of　the　falling　of　the　little　package　from　his　pocket　into　the　sea　as　he　clambered　over　the　ship's　side　into　the　waiting　canoe　that　bore　him　to　shore。

Now　he　turned　toward　Akut。　　〃Come！〃　he　said；　in　the　language　of　the　great　apes。　

Forgetful　of　the　fact　that　he　wore　only　a　thin　pajama　suit　he　led　the　way　to　the　open　window。　　Thrusting　his　head　out　he　listened　attentively。　　A　single　tree　grew　a　few　feet　from　the　window。　　Nimbly　the　lad　sprang　to　its　bole；　clinging　cat…like　for　an　instant　before　he　clambered　quietly　to　the　ground　below。　　Close　behind　him　came　the　great　ape。　　Two　hundred　yards　away　a　spur　of　the　jungle　ran　close　to　the　straggling　town。　　Toward　this　the　lad　led　the　way。　　None　saw　them；　and　a　moment　later　the　jungle　swallowed　them；　and　John　Clayton；　future　Lord　Greystoke；　passed　from　the　eyes　and　the　knowledge　of　men。

It　was　late　the　following　morning　that　a　native　houseman　knocked　upon　the　door　of　the　room　that　had　been　assigned　to　Mrs。　Billings　and　her　grandson。　　Receiving　no　response　he　inserted　his　pass　key　in　the　lock；　only　to　discover　that　another　key　was　already　there；　but　from　the　inside。　　He　reported　the　fact　to　Herr　Skopf；　the　proprietor；　who　at　once　made　his　way　to　the　second　floor　where　he；　too；　pounded　vigorously　upon　the　door。　　Receiving　no　reply　he　bent　to　the　key　hole　in　an　attempt　to　look　through　into　the　room　beyond。　　In　so　doing；　being　portly；　he　lost　his　balance；　which　necessitated　putting　a　palm　to　the　floor　to　maintain　his　equilibrium。　　As　he　did　so　he　felt　something　soft　and　thick　and　wet　beneath　his　fingers。　　He　raised　his　open　palm　before　his　eyes　in　the　dim　light　of　the　corridor　and　peered　at　it。　　Then　he　gave　a　little　shudder；　for　even　in　the　semi…darkness　he　saw　a　dark　red　stain　upon　his　hand。　　Leaping　to　his　feet　he　hurled　his　shoulder　against　the　door。　　Herr　Skopf　is　a　heavy　manor　at　least　he　was　thenI　have　not　seen　him　for　several　years。　　The　frail　door　collapsed　beneath　his　weight；　and　Herr　Skopf　stumbled　precipitately　into　the　room　beyond。

Before　him　lay　the　greatest　mystery　of　his　life。　　Upon　the　floor　at　his　feet　was　the　dead　body　of　a　strange　man。　　The　neck　was　broken　and　the　jugular　severed　as　by　the　fangs　of　a　wild　beast。　　The　body　was　entirely　naked；　the　clothing　being　strewn　about　th