tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第34节
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looked at one another in surprise and consternation。 A man had entered the
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hut alone； and yet with their own ears they had heard the voice of a wild
beast within。 What could it mean？ Had a lion or a leopard sought
sanctuary in the interior； unbeknown to the sentries？
Tarzan's quick eyes discovered the opening in the roof； through which
Taglat had fallen。 He guessed that the ape had either come or gone by
way of the break； and while the Arabs hesitated without； he sprang； catlike；
for the opening； grasped the top of the wall and clambered out upon the
roof； dropping instantly to the ground at the rear of the hut。
When the Arabs finally mustered courage to enter the hut； after firing
several volleys through the walls； they found the interior deserted。 At the
same time Tarzan； at the far end of the village； sought for Chulk； but the
ape was nowhere to be found。
Robbed of his she； deserted by his companions； and as much in
ignorance as ever as to the whereabouts of his pouch and pebbles； it was
an angry Tarzan who climbed the palisade and vanished into the darkness
of the jungle。 For the present he must give up the search for his pouch；
since it would be paramount to self…destruction to enter the Arab camp
now while all its inhabitants were aroused and upon the alert。
In his escape from the village； the ape…man had lost the spoor of the
fleeing Taglat； and now he circled widely through the forest in an
endeavor to again pick it up。
Chulk had remained at his post until the cries and shots of the Arabs
had filled his simple soul with terror； for above all things the ape folk fear
the thunder…sticks of the Tarmangani； then he had clambered nimbly over
the palisade； tearing his burnoose in the effort； and fled into the depths of
the jungle； grumbling and scolding as he went。
Tarzan； roaming the jungle in search of the trail of Taglat and the she；
traveled swiftly。 In a little moonlit glade ahead of him the great ape was
bending over the prostrate form of the woman Tarzan sought。 The beast
was tearing at the bonds that confined her ankles and wrists； pulling and
gnawing upon the cords。
The course the ape…man was taking would carry him but a short
distance to the right of them； and though he could not have seen them the
wind was bearing down from them to him； carrying their scent spoor
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strongly toward him。
A moment more and Jane Clayton's safety might have been assured；
even though Numa； the lion； was already gathering himself in preparation
for a charge； but Fate； already all too cruel； now outdid herselfthe wind
veered suddenly for a few moments； the scent spoor that would have led
the ape…man to the girl's side was wafted in the opposite direction； Tarzan
passed within fifty yards of the tragedy that was being enacted in the glade；
and the opportunity was gone beyond recall。
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18
The Fight For the Treasure
It was morning before Tarzan could bring himself to a realization of
the possibility of failure of his quest； and even then he would only admit
that success was but delayed。 He would eat and sleep； and then set forth
again。 The jungle was wide； but wide too were the experience and
cunning of Tarzan。 Taglat might travel far； but Tarzan would find him in
the end； though he had to search every tree in the mighty forest。
Soliloquizing thus； the ape…man followed the spoor of Bara； the deer；
the unfortunate upon which he had decided to satisfy his hunger。 For half
an hour the trail led the ape…man toward the east along a well…marked
game path； when suddenly； to the stalker's astonishment； the quarry broke
into sight； racing madly back along the narrow way straight toward the
hunter。
Tarzan； who had been following along the trail； leaped so quickly to
the concealing verdure at the side that the deer was still unaware of the
presence of an enemy in this direction； and while the animal was still some
distance away； the ape…man swung into the lower branches of the tree
which overhung the trail。 There he crouched； a savage beast of prey；
awaiting the coming of its victim。
What had frightened the deer into so frantic a retreat； Tarzan did not
knowNuma； the lion； perhaps； or Sheeta； the panther； but whatsoever it
was mattered little to Tarzan of the Apeshe was ready and willing to
defend his kill against any other denizen of the jungle。 If he were unable
to do it by means of physical prowess； he had at his command another and
a greater powerhis shrewd intelligence。
And so； on came the running deer； straight into the jaws of death。
The ape…man turned so that his back was toward the approaching animal。
He poised with bent knees upon the gently swaying limb above the trail；
timing with keen ears the nearing hoof beats of frightened Bara。
In a moment the victim flashed beneath the limb and at the same
instant the ape…man above sprang out and down upon its back。 The
weight of the man's body carried the deer to the ground。 It stumbled
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forward once in a futile effort to rise； and then mighty muscles dragged its
head far back； gave the neck a vicious wrench； and Bara was dead。
Quick had been the killing； and equally quick were the ape…man's
subsequent actions； for who might know what manner of killer pursued
Bara； or how close at hand he might be？ Scarce had the neck of the
victim snapped than the carcass was hanging over one of Tarzan's broad
shoulders； and an instant later the ape…man was perched once more among
the lower branches of a tree above the trail； his keen； gray eyes scanning
the pathway down which the deer had fled。
Nor was it long before the cause of Bara's fright became evident to
Tarzan； for presently came the unmistakable sounds of approaching
horsemen。 Dragging his kill after him the ape…man ascended to the
middle terrace； and settling himself comfortably in the crotch of a tree
where he could still view the trail beneath； cut a juicy steak from the deer's
loin； and burying his strong； white teeth in the hot flesh proceeded to
enjoy the fruits of his prowess and his cunning。
Nor did he neglect the trail beneath while he satisfied his hunger。 His
sharp eyes saw the muzzle of the leading horse as it came into view
around a bend in the tortuous trail； and one by one they scrutinized the
riders as they passed beneath him in single file。
Among them came one whom Tarzan recognized； but so schooled was
the ape…man in the control of his emotions that no slightest change of
expression； much less any hysterical demonstration that might have
revealed his presence； betrayed the fact of his inward excitement。
Beneath him； as unconscious of his presence as were the Abyssinians
before and behind him； rode Albert Werper； while the ape…man scrutinized
the Belgian for some sign of the pouch which he had stolen。
As the Abyssinians rode toward the south； a giant figure hovered ever
upon their traila huge； almost naked white man； who carried the bloody
carcass of a deer upon his shoulders； for Tarzan knew that he might not
have another opportunity to hunt for some time if he were to follow the
Belgian。
To endeavor to snatch him from the midst of the armed horsemen； not
even Tarzan would attempt other than in the last extremity； for the way of
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