tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第33节
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destruction。
Creeping silently toward the sentries； a white…burnoosed figure
approached the shadows at one end of the hut。 The meager intellect of the
creature denied it the advantage it might have taken of its disguise。 Where
it could have walked boldly to the very sides of the sentries； it chose rather
to sneak upon them； unseen； from the rear。
It came to the corner of the hut and peered around。 The sentries were
but a few paces away； but the ape did not dare expose himself； even for an
instant； to those feared and hated thunder…sticks which the Tarmangani
knew so well how to use； if there were another and safer method of attack。
Taglat wished that there was a tree nearby from the over…hanging
branches of which he might spring upon his unsuspecting prey； but；
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though there was no tree； the idea gave birth to a plan。 The eaves of the
hut were just above the heads of the sentriesfrom them he could leap
upon the Tarmangani； unseen。 A quick snap of those mighty jaws would
dispose of one of them before the other realized that they were attacked；
and the second would fall an easy prey to the strength； agility and ferocity
of a second quick charge。
Taglat withdrew a few paces to the rear of the hut； gathered himself for
the effort； ran quickly forward and leaped high into the air。 He struck the
roof directly above the rear wall of the hut； and the structure； reinforced by
the wall beneath； held his enormous weight for an instant； then he moved
forward a step； the roof sagged； the thatching parted and the great
anthropoid shot through into the interior。
The sentries； hearing the crashing of the roof poles； leaped to their feet
and rushed into the hut。 Jane Clayton tried to roll aside as the great form
lit upon the floor so close to her that one foot pinned her clothing to the
ground。
The ape； feeling the movement beside him； reached down and
gathered the girl in the hollow of one mighty arm。 The burnoose covered
the hairy body so that Jane Clayton believed that a human arm supported
her； and from the extremity of hopelessness a great hope sprang into her
breast that at last she was in the keeping of a rescuer。
The two sentries were now within the hut； but hesitating because of
doubt as to the nature of the cause of the disturbance。 Their eyes； not yet
accustomed to the darkness of the interior； told them nothing； nor did they
hear any sound； for the ape stood silently awaiting their attack。
Seeing that they stood without advancing； and realizing that；
handicapped as he was by the weight of the she； he could put up but a poor
battle； Taglat elected to risk a sudden break for liberty。 Lowering his
head； he charged straight for the two sentries who blocked the doorway。
The impact of his mighty shoulders bowled them over upon their backs；
and before they could scramble to their feet； the ape was gone； darting in
the shadows of the huts toward the palisade at the far end of the village。
The speed and strength of her rescuer filled Jane Clayton with wonder。
Could it be that Tarzan had survived the bullet of the Arab？ Who else in
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all the jungle could bear the weight of a grown woman as lightly as he
who held her？ She spoke his name； but there was no response。 Still she
did not give up hope。
At the palisade the beast did not even hesitate。 A single mighty leap
carried it to the top； where it poised but for an instant before dropping to
the ground upon the opposite side。 Now the girl was almost positive that
she was safe in the arms of her husband； and when the ape took to the
trees and bore her swiftly into the jungle； as Tarzan had done at other
times in the past； belief became conviction。
In a little moonlit glade； a mile or so from the camp of the raiders； her
rescuer halted and dropped her to the ground。 His roughness surprised
her； but still she had no doubts。 Again she called him by name； and at the
same instant the ape； fretting under the restraints of the unaccustomed
garments of the Tarmangani； tore the burnoose from him； revealing to the
eyes of the horror…struck woman the hideous face and hairy form of a giant
anthropoid。
With a piteous wail of terror； Jane Clayton swooned； while； from the
concealment of a nearby bush； Numa； the lion； eyed the pair hungrily and
licked his chops。
Tarzan； entering the tent of Achmet Zek； searched the interior
thoroughly。 He tore the bed to pieces and scattered the contents of box
and bag about the floor。 He investigated whatever his eyes discovered； nor
did those keen organs overlook a single article within the habitation of the
raider chief； but no pouch or pretty pebbles rewarded his thoroughness。
Satisfied at last that his belongings were not in the possession of
Achmet Zek； unless they were on the person of the chief himself； Tarzan
decided to secure the person of the she before further prosecuting his
search for the pouch。
Motioning for Chulk to follow him； he passed out of the tent by the
same way that he had entered it； and walking boldly through the village；
made directly for the hut where Jane Clayton had been imprisoned。
He noted with surprise the absence of Taglat； whom he had expected
to find awaiting him outside the tent of Achmet Zek； but； accustomed as
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he was to the unreliability of apes； he gave no serious attention to the
present defection of his surly companion。 So long as Taglat did not cause
interference with his plans； Tarzan was indifferent to his absence。
As he approached the hut； the ape…man noticed that a crowd had
collected about the entrance。 He could see that the men who composed it
were much excited； and fearing lest Chulk's disguise should prove
inadequate to the concealment of his true identity in the face of so many
observers； he commanded the ape to betake himself to the far end of the
village； and there await him。
As Chulk waddled off； keeping to the shadows； Tarzan advanced
boldly toward the excited group before the doorway of the hut。 He
mingled with the blacks and the Arabs in an endeavor to learn the cause of
the commotion； in his interest forgetting that he alone of the assemblage
carried a spear； a bow and arrows； and thus might become an object of
suspicious attention。
Shouldering his way through the crowd he approached the doorway；
and had almost reached it when one of the Arabs laid a hand upon his
shoulder； crying： 〃Who is this？〃 at the same time snatching back the hood
from the ape…man's face。
Tarzan of the Apes in all his savage life had never been accustomed to
pause in argument with an antagonist。 The primitive instinct of self…
preservation acknowledges many arts and wiles； but argument is not one
of them； nor did he now waste precious time in an attempt to convince the
raiders that he was not a wolf in sheep's clothing。 Instead he had his
unmasker by the throat ere the man's words had scarce quitted his lips； and
hurling him from side to side brushed away those who would have
swarmed upon him。
Using the Arab as a weapon； Tarzan forced his way quickly to the
doorway； and a moment later was within the hut。 A hasty examination
revealed the fact that it was empty； and his sense of smell discovered； too；
the scent spoor of Taglat； the ape。 Tarzan uttered a low； ominous growl。
Those who were pressing forward at the doorway to seize him； fell back as
the savage notes of the bestial challenge smote upon their ears。 They
looked at one another in surprise and conster
