tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第31节
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reach out a giant palm and slam it down upon the fugitive。 Again and
again he repeated this operation； until； tiring of the sport； he ended the
sufferings of his plaything by devouring it。
Such were the exasperating causes of delay which retarded Tarzan's
return journey toward the village of Achmet Zek； but the ape…man was
patient； for in his mind was a plan which necessitated the presence of
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Chulk and Taglat when he should have arrived at his destination。
It was not always an easy thing to maintain in the vacillating minds of
the anthropoids a sustained interest in their venture。 Chulk was wearying
of the continued marching and the infrequency and short duration of the
rests。 He would gladly have abandoned this search for adventure had not
Tarzan continually filled his mind with alluring pictures of the great stores
of food which were to be found in the village of Tarmangani。
Taglat nursed his secret purpose to better advantage than might have
been expected of an ape； yet there were times when he； too； would have
abandoned the adventure had not Tarzan cajoled him on。
It was mid…afternoon of a sultry； tropical day when the keen senses of
the three warned them of the proximity of the Arab camp。 Stealthily they
approached； keeping to the dense tangle of growing things which made
concealment easy to their uncanny jungle craft。
First came the giant ape…man； his smooth； brown skin glistening with
the sweat of exertion in the close； hot confines of the jungle。 Behind him
crept Chulk and Taglat； grotesque and shaggy caricatures of their godlike
leader。
Silently they made their way to the edge of the clearing which
surrounded the palisade； and here they clambered into the lower branches
of a large tree overlooking the village occupied by the enemy； the better to
spy upon his goings and comings。
A horseman； white burnoosed； rode out through the gateway of the
village。 Tarzan； whispering to Chulk and Taglat to remain where they
were； swung； monkey…like； through the trees in the direction of the trail
the Arab was riding。 From one jungle giant to the next he sped with the
rapidity of a squirrel and the silence of a ghost。
The Arab rode slowly onward； unconscious of the danger hovering in
the trees behind him。 The ape…man made a slight detour and increased
his speed until he had reached a point upon the trail in advance of the
horseman。 Here he halted upon a leafy bough which overhung the
narrow； jungle trail。 On came the victim； humming a wild air of the great
desert land of the north。 Above him poised the savage brute that was
today bent upon the destruction of a human lifethe same creature who a
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few months before； had occupied his seat in the House of Lords at London；
a respected and distinguished member of that august body。
The Arab passed beneath the overhanging bough； there was a slight
rustling of the leaves above； the horse snorted and plunged as a brown…
skinned creature dropped upon its rump。 A pair of mighty arms encircled
the Arab and he was dragged from his saddle to the trail。
Ten minutes later the ape…man； carrying the outer garments of an Arab
bundled beneath an arm； rejoined his companions。 He exhibited his
trophies to them； explaining in low gutturals the details of his exploit。
Chulk and Taglat fingered the fabrics； smelled of them； and； placing them
to their ears； tried to listen to them。
Then Tarzan led them back through the jungle to the trail； where the
three hid themselves and waited。 Nor had they long to wait before two of
Achmet Zek's blacks； clothed in habiliments similar to their master's； came
down the trail on foot； returning to the camp。
One moment they were laughing and talking togetherthe next they
lay stretched in death upon the trail； three mighty engines of destruction
bending over them。 Tarzan removed their outer garments as he had
removed those of his first victim； and again retired with Chulk and Taglat
to the greater seclusion of the tree they had first selected。
Here the ape…man arranged the garments upon his shaggy fellows and
himself； until； at a distance； it might have appeared that three white…robed
Arabs squatted silently among the branches of the forest。
Until dark they remained where they were； for from his point of
vantage； Tarzan could view the enclosure within the palisade。 He marked
the position of the hut in which he had first discovered the scent spoor of
the she he sought。 He saw the two sentries standing before its doorway；
and he located the habitation of Achmet Zek； where something told him he
would most likely find the missing pouch and pebbles。
Chulk and Taglat were； at first； greatly interested in their wonderful
raiment。 They fingered the fabric； smelled of it； and regarded each other
intently with every mark of satisfaction and pride。 Chulk； a humorist in
his way； stretched forth a long and hairy arm； and grasping the hood of
Taglat's burnoose pulled it down over the latter's eyes； extinguishing him；
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snuffer…like； as it were。
The older ape； pessimistic by nature； recognized no such thing as
humor。 Creatures laid their paws upon him for but two thingsto search
for fleas and to attack。 The pulling of the Tarmangani…scented thing
about his head and eyes could not be for the performance of the former act；
therefore it must be the latter。 He was attacked！ Chulk had attacked
him。
With a snarl he was at the other's throat； not even waiting to lift the
woolen veil which obscured his vision。 Tarzan leaped upon the two； and
swaying and toppling upon their insecure perch the three great beasts
tussled and snapped at one another until the ape…man finally succeeded in
separating the enraged anthropoids。
An apology is unknown to these savage progenitors of man； and
explanation a laborious and usually futile process； Tarzan bridged the
dangerous gulf by distracting their attention from their altercation to a
consideration of their plans for the immediate future。 Accustomed to
frequent arguments in which more hair than blood is wasted； the apes
speedily forget such trivial encounters； and presently Chulk and Taglat
were again squatting in close proximity to each other and peaceful repose；
awaiting the moment when the ape…man should lead them into the village
of the Tarmangani。
It was long after darkness had fallen； that Tarzan led his companions
from their hiding place in the tree to the ground and around the palisade to
the far side of the village。
Gathering the skirts of his burnoose； beneath one arm； that his legs
might have free action； the ape…man took a short running start； and
scrambled to the top of the barrier。 Fearing lest the apes should rend
their garments to shreds in a similar attempt； he had directed them to wait
below for him； and himself securely perched upon the summit of the
palisade he unslung his spear and lowered one end of it to Chulk。
The ape seized it； and while Tarzan held tightly to the upper end； the
anthropoid climbed quickly up the shaft until with one paw he grasped the
top of the wall。 To scramble then to Tarzan's side was the work of but an
instant。 In like manner Taglat was conducted to their sides； and a
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moment later the three dropped silently within the enclosure。
Tarzan led them first to the rear of the hut in
