太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > tarzan and the jewels of opar >

第32节

tarzan and the jewels of opar-第32节

小说: tarzan and the jewels of opar 字数: 每页4000字

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!




rustled not a leaf or a grass blade。



Pausing beside the man; the ape bent over and examined

his belongings。  Great as was the strength of Chulk

there lay in the back of his little brain a something

which deterred him from arousing the man to combata

sense that is inherent in all the lower orders; a

strange fear of man; that rules even the most powerful

of the jungle creatures at times。



To remove Mugambi's loin cloth without awakening him

would be impossible; and the only detachable things

were the knob…stick and the pouch; which had fallen

from the black's shoulder as he rolled in sleep。



Seizing these two articles; as better than nothing at

all; Chulk retreated with haste; and every indication

of nervous terror; to the safety of the tree from which

he had dropped; and; still haunted by that indefinable

terror which the close proximity of man awakened in his

breast; fled precipitately through the jungle。  Aroused

by attack; or supported by the presence of another of

his kind; Chulk could have braved the presence of a

score of human beings; but aloneah; that was a

different matteralone; and unenraged。



It was some time after Mugambi awoke that he missed the

pouch。  Instantly he was all excitement。  What could

have become of it?  It had been at his side when he lay

down to sleepof that he was certain; for had he not

pushed it from beneath him when its bulging bulk;

pressing against his ribs; caused him discomfort?  Yes;

it had been there when he lay down to sleep。  How then

had it vanished?



Mugambi's savage imagination was filled with visions of

the spirits of departed friends and enemies; for only

to the machinations of such as these could he attribute

the disappearance of his pouch and knob…stick in the

first excitement of the discovery of their loss; but

later and more careful investigation; such as his

woodcraft made possible; revealed indisputable evidence

of a more material explanation than his excited fancy

and superstition had at first led him to accept。



In the trampled turf beside him was the faint impress

of huge; manlike feet。  Mugambi raised his brows as the

truth dawned upon him。  Hastily leaving the boma he

searched in all directions about the enclosure for some

farther sign of the tell…tale spoor。  He climbed trees

and sought for evidence of the direction of the thief's

flight; but the faint signs left by a wary ape who

elects to travel through the trees eluded the woodcraft

of Mugambi。  Tarzan might have followed them; but no

ordinary mortal could perceive them; or perceiving;

translate。



The black; now strengthened and refreshed by his rest;

felt ready to set out again for Waziri; and finding

himself another knob…stick; turned his back upon the

river and plunged into the mazes of the jungle。



As Taglat struggled with the bonds which secured the

ankles and wrists of his captive; the great lion that

eyed the two from behind a nearby clump of bushes

wormed closer to his intended prey。



The ape's back was toward the lion。  He did not see the

broad head; fringed by its rough mane; protruding

through the leafy wall。  He could not know that the

powerful hind paws were gathering close beneath the

tawny belly preparatory to a sudden spring; and his

first intimation of impending danger was the thunderous

and triumphant roar which the charging lion could no

longer suppress。



Scarce pausing for a backward glance; Taglat abandoned

the unconscious woman and fled in the opposite

direction from the horrid sound which had broken in so

unexpected and terrifying a manner upon his startled

ears; but the warning had come too late to save him;

and the lion; in his second bound; alighted full upon

the broad shoulders of the anthropoid。



As the great bull went down there was awakened in him

to the full all the cunning; all the ferocity; all the

physical prowess which obey the mightiest of the

fundamental laws of nature; the law of self…preservation;

and turning upon his back he closed with

the carnivore in a death struggle so fearless and

abandoned; that for a moment the great Numa himself may

have trembled for the outcome。



Seizing the lion by the mane; Taglat buried his

yellowed fangs deep in the monster's throat; growling

hideously through the muffled gag of blood and hair。

Mixed with the ape's voice the lion's roars of rage and

pain reverberated through the jungle; till the lesser

creatures of the wild; startled from their peaceful

pursuits; scurried fearfully away。



Rolling over and over upon the turf the two battled

with demoniac fury; until the colossal cat; by doubling

his hind paws far up beneath his belly sank his talons

deep into Taglat's chest; then; ripping downward with

all his strength; Numa accomplished his design; and the

disemboweled anthropoid; with a last spasmodic

struggle; relaxed in limp and bloody dissolution

beneath his titanic adversary。



Scrambling to his feet; Numa looked about quickly in

all directions; as though seeking to detect the

possible presence of other foes; but only the still and

unconscious form of the girl; lying a few paces from

him met his gaze; and with an angry growl he placed a

forepaw upon the body of his kill and raising his head

gave voice to his savage victory cry。



For another moment he stood with fierce eyes roving to

and fro about the clearing。  At last they halted for a

second time upon the girl。  A low growl rumbled from

the lion's throat。  His lower jaw rose and fell; and

the slaver drooled and dripped upon the dead face of

Taglat。



Like two yellow…green augurs; wide and unblinking; the

terrible eyes remained fixed upon Jane Clayton。  The

erect and majestic pose of the great frame shrank

suddenly into a sinister crouch as; slowly and gently

as one who treads on eggs; the devil…faced cat crept

forward toward the girl。



Beneficent Fate maintained her in happy unconsciousness

of the dread presence sneaking stealthily upon her。

She did not know when the lion paused at her side。

She did not hear the sniffing of his nostrils as he smelled

about her。  She did not feel the heat of the fetid

breath upon her face; nor the dripping of the saliva

from the frightful jaws half opened so close above her。



Finally the lion lifted a forepaw and turned the body

of the girl half over; then he stood again eyeing her

as though still undetermined whether life was extinct

or not。  Some noise or odor from the nearby jungle

attracted his attention for a moment。  His eyes did not

again return to Jane Clayton; and presently he left

her; walked over to the remains of Taglat; and

crouching down upon his kill with his back toward the

girl; proceeded to devour the ape。



It was upon this scene that Jane Clayton at last opened

her eyes。  Inured to danger; she maintained her

self…possession in the face of the startling surprise

which her new…found consciousness revealed to her。  She

neither cried out nor moved a muscle; until she had

taken in every detail of the scene which lay within the

range of her vision。



She saw that the lion had killed the ape; and that he

was devouring his prey less than fifty feet from where

she lay; but what could she do?  Her hands and feet were

bound。  She must wait then; in what patience she could

command; until Numa had eaten and digested the ape;

when; without doubt; he would return to feast upon her;

unless; in the meantime; the dread hyenas should

discover her; or some other of the numerous prowling

carnivora of the jungle。



As she lay tormented by these frightful thoughts; she

suddenly became conscious that the bonds at her wrists

and ankles no longer hurt her; and then of the fact

that her hands were separated; one lying upon either

side of her; instead of both being confined at her back。



Wonderingly she moved a hand。  What miracle had been

performed?  It was not bound!  Stealthily and noiselessly

she moved her other limbs; only to discover that she

was free。  She could not know how the thing had

happened; that Taglat; gnawing upon them for sinister

purposes of his own; had cut them through but an

instant before Numa had frightened him from his victim。



For a moment Jane Clayton was overwhelmed with joy and

thanksgiving; but only for a moment。  What good was her

new…found liberty in the face of the frightful beast

crouching so close beside her?  If she could have had

this chance under different conditions; how happily she

would have taken advantage of it; but now it was given

to her when escape was practically impossible。



The nearest tree was a hundred feet away; the lion less

than fifty。  To rise and attempt to reach the safety of

those tantalizing branches would be but to invite

instant destruction; for Numa would doubtless be too

jealous of this future meal to permit it to escape with

ease。  And yet; too; 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 1 0

你可能喜欢的