tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第15章
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Werper shuddered in contemplation of the disastrous consequences to
himself。 Awakened； and even with a few moments of life remaining； the
giant could literally tear his assailant to pieces should he choose； and the
Belgian had no doubt but that Tarzan would so choose。
Again came the soft sound of padded footsteps in the reedscloser this
time。 Werper abandoned his design。 Before him stretched the wide plain
and escape。 The jewels were in his possession。 To remain longer was to
risk death at the hands of Tarzan； or the jaws of the hunter creeping ever
nearer。 Turning； he slunk away through the night； toward the distant
forest。
Tarzan slept on。 Where were those uncanny； guardian powers that
had formerly rendered him immune from the dangers of surprise？ Could
this dull sleeper be the alert； sensitive Tarzan of old？
Perhaps the blow upon his head had numbed his senses； temporarily
who may say？ Closer crept the stealthy creature through the reeds。 The
rustling curtain of vegetation parted a few paces from where the sleeper
lay； and the massive head of a lion appeared。 The beast surveyed the
ape…man intently for a moment； then he crouched； his hind feet drawn well
beneath him； his tail lashing from side to side。
It was the beating of the beast's tail against the reeds which awakened
Tarzan。 Jungle folk do not awaken slowlyinstantly； full consciousness
and full command of their every faculty returns to them from the depth of
profound slumber。
Even as Tarzan opened his eyes he was upon his feet； his spear grasped
firmly in his hand and ready for attack。 Again was he Tarzan of the Apes；
sentient； vigilant； ready。
No two lions have identical characteristics； nor does the same lion
invariably act similarly under like circumstances。 Whether it was
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surprise； fear or caution which prompted the lion crouching ready to
spring upon the man； is immaterialthe fact remains that he did not carry
out his original design； he did not spring at the man at all； but； instead；
wheeled and sprang back into the reeds as Tarzan arose and confronted
him。
The ape…man shrugged his broad shoulders and looked about for his
companion。 Werper was nowhere to be seen。 At first Tarzan suspected
that the man had been seized and dragged off by another lion； but upon
examination of the ground he soon discovered that the Belgian had gone
away alone out into the plain。
For a moment he was puzzled； but presently came to the conclusion
that Werper had been frightened by the approach of the lion； and had
sneaked off in terror。 A sneer touched Tarzan's lips as he pondered the
man's actthe desertion of a comrade in time of danger； and without
warning。 Well； if that was the sort of creature Werper was； Tarzan
wished nothing more of him。 He had gone； and for all the ape…man cared；
he might remain awayTarzan would not search for him。
A hundred yards from where he stood grew a large tree； alone upon the
edge of the reedy jungle。 Tarzan made his way to it； clambered into it；
and finding a comfortable crotch among its branches； reposed himself for
uninterrupted sleep until morning。
And when morning came Tarzan slept on long after the sun had risen。
His mind； reverted to the primitive； was untroubled by any more serious
obligations than those of providing sustenance； and safeguarding his life。
Therefore； there was nothing to awaken for until danger threatened； or the
pangs of hunger assailed。 It was the latter which eventually aroused him。
Opening his eyes； he stretched his giant thews； yawned； rose and
gazed about him through the leafy foliage of his retreat。 Across the
wasted meadowlands and fields of John Clayton； Lord Greystoke； Tarzan
of the Apes looked； as a stranger； upon the moving figures of Basuli and
his braves as they prepared their morning meal and made ready to set out
upon the expedition which Basuli had planned after discovering the havoc
and disaster which had befallen the estate of his dead master。
The ape…man eyed the blacks with curiosity。 In the back of his brain
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loitered a fleeting sense of familiarity with all that he saw； yet he could not
connect any of the various forms of life； animate and inanimate； which had
fallen within the range of his vision since he had emerged from the
darkness of the pits of Opar； with any particular event of the past。
Hazily he recalled a grim and hideous form； hairy； ferocious。 A
vague tenderness dominated his savage sentiments as this phantom
memory struggled for recognition。 His mind had reverted to his
childhood daysit was the figure of the giant she…ape； Kala； that he saw；
but only half recognized。 He saw； too； other grotesque； manlike forms。
They were of Terkoz； Tublat； Kerchak； and a smaller； less ferocious figure；
that was Neeta； the little playmate of his boyhood。
Slowly； very slowly； as these visions of the past animated his lethargic
memory； he came to recognize them。 They took definite shape and form；
adjusting themselves nicely to the various incidents of his life with which
they had been intimately connected。 His boyhood among the apes spread
itself in a slow panorama before him； and as it unfolded it induced within
him a mighty longing for the companionship of the shaggy； low…browed
brutes of his past。
He watched the blacks scatter their cook fire and depart； but though
the face of each of them had but recently been as familiar to him as his
own； they awakened within him no recollections whatsoever。
When they had gone； he descended from the tree and sought food。
Out upon the plain grazed numerous herds of wild ruminants。 Toward a
sleek； fat bunch of zebra he wormed his stealthy way。 No intricate
process of reasoning caused him to circle widely until he was down wind
from his preyhe acted instinctively。 He took advantage of every form
of cover as he crawled upon all fours and often flat upon his stomach
toward them。
A plump young mare and a fat stallion grazed nearest to him as he
neared the herd。 Again it was instinct which selected the former for his
meat。 A low bush grew but a few yards from the unsuspecting two。
The ape…man reached its shelter。 He gathered his spear firmly in his
grasp。 Cautiously he drew his feet beneath him。 In a single swift move
he rose and cast his heavy weapon at the mare's side。 Nor did he wait to
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note the effect of his assault； but leaped cat…like after his spear； his hunting
knife in his hand。
For an instant the two animals stood motionless。 The tearing of the
cruel barb into her side brought a sudden scream of pain and fright from
the mare； and then they both wheeled and broke for safety； but Tarzan of
the Apes； for a distance of a few yards； could equal the speed of even these；
and the first stride of the mare found her overhauled； with a savage beast
at her shoulder。 She turned； biting and kicking at her foe。 Her mate
hesitated for an instant； as though about to rush to her assistance； but a
backward glance revealed to him the flying heels of the balance of the
herd； and with a snort and a shake of his head he wheeled and dashed
away。
Clinging with one hand to the short mane of his quarry； Tarzan struck
again and again with his knife at the unprotected heart。 The result had；
from the first； been inevitable。 The mare fought bravely； but hopelessly；
and presently sank to the earth； her heart pierced。 The ape…man placed a
foot upon her carcass and raised his voice in the victory call of the
Mangani。 In the distance； Basuli halted as the faint notes of the hideous
scream broke upon his ears。
〃The great apes；〃 he said to his companion。 〃It has been long since I
have heard them in the country of the Waziri。 What could have brought
them back？〃
Tarzan grasped his kill and dragged it to the partial seclusion of the
bush which had hidden his own near approach； and there he squatted upon
it； cut a huge hunk of flesh from the loin and proceeded to satisfy his
hunger with the warm and dripping meat。
Attracted by the shrill screams of the mare； a pair of hyenas slunk
presently into view。 They trotted to a point a few yards from the gorging
ape…man； and halted。 Tarzan looked up； bared his fighting fangs and
growled。 The hyenas returned the compliment； and withdrew a couple of
paces。 They made no move to attack； but continued to sit at a respectful
distance until Tarzan had concluded his meal。 After the ape…man had cut
a few strips from the carcass to carry with him； he walked slowly off in the
direction of the river to quench his thirst。 His way lay directly toward the
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hyenas； nor did he alter his course because of them。
With all the lordly majesty of Numa； the lion； he strode straight toward
the growling beasts。 For a moment they held their ground； bristling and
defiant； but only for a moment； and then slunk away to one side while the
indifferent ape…man passed them on his lordly way。 A moment later they
were tearing at the remains of the zebra。
Back to the reeds went Tarzan； and through them tow
