tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第46节
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was the metal？ From whence had it come？ What was that tantalizing
half…conviction which seemed to demand the recognition of his memory
that the yellow pile for which these men had fought and died had been
intimately connected with his pastthat it had been his？
What had been his past？ He shook his head。 Vaguely the memory
of his apish childhood passed slowly in review then came a strangely
tangled mass of faces； figures and events which seemed to have no
relation to Tarzan of the Apes； and yet which were； even in their
fragmentary form； familiar。
Slowly and painfully； recollection was attempting to reassert itself； the
hurt brain was mending； as the cause of its recent failure to function was
being slowly absorbed or removed by the healing processes of perfect
circulation。
The people who now passed before his mind's eye for the first time in
weeks wore familiar faces； but yet he could neither place them in the
niches they had once filled in his past life； nor call them by name。 One
was a fair she； and it was her face which most often moved through the
tangled recollections of his convalescing brain。 Who was she？ What
had she been to Tarzan of the Apes？ He seemed to see her about the very
spot upon which the pile of gold had been unearthed by the Abyssinians；
but the surroundings were vastly different from those which now obtained。
There was a buildingthere were many buildingsand there were
hedges； fences； and flowers。 Tarzan puckered his brow in puzzled study
of the wonderful problem。 For an instant he seemed to grasp the whole
of a true explanation； and then； just as success was within his grasp； the
picture faded into a jungle scene where a naked； white youth danced in
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company with a band of hairy； primordial ape…things。
Tarzan shook his head and sighed。 Why was it that he could not
recollect？ At least he was sure that in some way the pile of gold； the
place where it lay； the subtle aroma of the elusive she he had been
pursuing； the memory figure of the white woman； and he himself； were
inextricably connected by the ties of a forgotten past。
If the woman belonged there； what better place to search or await her
than the very spot which his broken recollections seemed to assign to her？
It was worth trying。 Tarzan slipped the thong of the empty pouch over
his shoulder and started off through the trees in the direction of the plain。
At the outskirts of the forest he met the Arabs returning in search of
Achmet Zek。 Hiding； he let them pass； and then resumed his way toward
the charred ruins of the home he had been almost upon the point of
recalling to his memory。
His journey across the plain was interrupted by the discovery of a
small herd of antelope in a little swale； where the cover and the wind were
well combined to make stalking easy。 A fat yearling rewarded a half hour
of stealthy creeping and a sudden； savage rush； and it was late in the
afternoon when the ape…man settled himself upon his haunches beside his
kill to enjoy the fruits of his skill； his cunning； and his prowess。
His hunger satisfied； thirst next claimed his attention。 The river lured
him by the shortest path toward its refreshing waters； and when he had
drunk； night already had fallen and he was some half mile or more down
stream from the point where he had seen the pile of yellow ingots； and
where he hoped to meet the memory woman； or find some clew to her
whereabouts or her identity。
To the jungle bred； time is usually a matter of small moment； and haste；
except when engendered by terror； by rage； or by hunger； is distasteful。
Today was gone。 Therefore tomorrow； of which there was an infinite
procession； would answer admirably for Tarzan's further quest。 And；
besides； the ape…man was tired and would sleep。
A tree afforded him the safety； seclusion and comforts of a well…
appointed bedchamber； and to the chorus of the hunters and the hunted of
the wild river bank he soon dropped off into deep slumber。
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Morning found him both hungry and thirsty again； and dropping from
his tree he made his way to the drinking place at the river's edge。 There
he found Numa； the lion； ahead of him。 The big fellow was lapping the
water greedily； and at the approach of Tarzan along the trail in his rear； he
raised his head； and turning his gaze backward across his maned shoulders
glared at the intruder。 A low growl of warning rumbled from his throat；
but Tarzan； guessing that the beast had but just quitted his kill and was
well filled； merely made a slight detour and continued to the river； where
he stopped a few yards above the tawny cat； and dropping upon his hands
and knees plunged his face into the cool water。 For a moment the lion
continued to eye the man； then he resumed his drinking； and man and
beast quenched their thirst side by side each apparently oblivious of the
other's presence。
Numa was the first to finish。 Raising his head； he gazed across the
river for a few minutes with that stony fixity of attention which is a
characteristic of his kind。 But for the ruffling of his black mane to the
touch of the passing breeze he might have been wrought from golden
bronze； so motionless； so statuesque his pose。
A deep sigh from the cavernous lungs dispelled the illusion。 The
mighty head swung slowly around until the yellow eyes rested upon the
man。 The bristled lip curved upward； exposing yellow fangs。 Another
warning growl vibrated the heavy jowls； and the king of beasts turned
majestically about and paced slowly up the trail into the dense reeds。
Tarzan of the Apes drank on； but from the corners of his gray eyes he
watched the great brute's every move until he had disappeared from view；
and； after； his keen ears marked the movements of the carnivore。
A plunge in the river was followed by a scant breakfast of eggs which
chance discovered to him； and then he set off up river toward the ruins of
the bungalow where the golden ingots had marked the center of
yesterday's battle。
And when he came upon the spot； great was his surprise and
consternation； for the yellow metal had disappeared。 The earth； trampled
by the feet of horses and men； gave no clew。 It was as though the ingots
had evaporated into thin air。
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The ape…man was at a loss to know where to turn or what next to do。
There was no sign of any spoor which might denote that the she had been
here。 The metal was gone； and if there was any connection between the
she and the metal it seemed useless to wait for her now that the latter had
been removed elsewhere。
Everything seemed to elude himthe pretty pebbles； the yellow metal；
the she； his memory。 Tarzan was disgusted。 He would go back into the
jungle and look for Chulk； and so he turned his steps once more toward
the forest。 He moved rapidly； swinging across the plain in a long； easy
trot； and at the edge of the forest； taking to the trees with the agility and
speed of a small monkey。
His direction was aimlesshe merely raced on and on through the
jungle； the joy of unfettered action his principal urge； with the hope of
stumbling upon some clew to Chulk or the she； a secondary incentive。
For two days he roamed about； killing； eating； drinking and sleeping
wherever inclination and the means to indulge it
