tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第25章
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that had healed before he pitted himself again against the guns of the
Tarmangani。
And so； as Jane Clayton was pushed into her prison hut and her hands
and feet securely bound； her natural protector roamed off toward the east
in company with a score of hairy monsters； with whom he rubbed
shoulders as familiarly as a few months before he had mingled with his
immaculate fellow…members of one of London's most select and exclusive
clubs。
But all the time there lurked in the back of his injured brain a
troublesome conviction that he had no business where he wasthat he
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should be； for some unaccountable reason； elsewhere and among another
sort of creature。 Also； there was the compelling urge to be upon the scent
of the Arabs； undertaking the rescue of the woman who had appealed so
strongly to his savage sentiments； though the thought…word which
naturally occurred to him in the contemplation of the venture； was
〃capture；〃 rather than 〃rescue。〃
To him she was as any other jungle she； and he had set his heart upon
her as his mate。 For an instant； as he had approached closer to her in the
clearing where the Arabs had seized her； the subtle aroma which had first
aroused his desires in the hut that had imprisoned her had fallen upon his
nostrils； and told him that he had found the creature for whom he had
developed so sudden and inexplicable a passion。
The matter of the pouch of jewels also occupied his thoughts to some
extent； so that he found a double urge for his return to the camp of the
raiders。 He would obtain possession of both his pretty pebbles and the
she。 Then he would return to the great apes with his new mate and his
baubles； and leading his hairy companions into a far wilderness beyond
the ken of man； live out his life； hunting and battling among the lower
orders after the only manner which he now recollected。
He spoke to his fellow…apes upon the matter； in an attempt to persuade
them to accompany him； but all except Taglat and Chulk refused。 The
latter was young and strong； endowed with a greater intelligence than his
fellows； and therefore the possessor of better developed powers of
imagination。 To him the expedition savored of adventure； and so
appealed； strongly。 With Taglat there was another incentivea secret and
sinister incentive； which； had Tarzan of the Apes had knowledge of it；
would have sent him at the other's throat in jealous rage。
Taglat was no longer young； but he was still a formidable beast；
mightily muscled； cruel； and； because of his greater experience； crafty and
cunning。 Too； he was of giant proportions； the very weight of his huge
bulk serving ofttimes to discount in his favor the superior agility of a
younger antagonist。
He was of a morose and sullen disposition that marked him even
among his frowning fellows； where such characteristics are the rule rather
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than the exception； and； though Tarzan did not guess it； he hated the ape…
man with a ferocity that he was able to hide only because the dominant
spirit of the nobler creature had inspired within him a species of dread
which was as powerful as it was inexplicable to him。
These two； then； were to be Tarzan's companions upon his return to the
village of Achmet Zek。 As they set off； the balance of the tribe
vouchsafed them but a parting stare； and then resumed the serious business
of feeding。
Tarzan found difficulty in keeping the minds of his fellows set upon
the purpose of their adventure； for the mind of an ape lacks the power of
long…sustained concentration。 To set out upon a long journey； with a
definite destination in view； is one thing； to remember that purpose and
keep it uppermost in one's mind continually is quite another。 There are
so many things to distract one's attention along the way。
Chulk was； at first； for rushing rapidly ahead as though the village of
the raiders lay but an hour's march before them instead of several days； but
within a few minutes a fallen tree attracted his attention with its suggestion
of rich and succulent forage beneath； and when Tarzan； missing him；
returned in search； he found Chulk squatting beside the rotting bole； from
beneath which he was assiduously engaged in digging out the grubs and
beetles； whose kind form a considerable proportion of the diet of the apes。
Unless Tarzan desired to fight there was nothing to do but wait until
Chulk had exhausted the storehouse； and this he did； only to discover that
Taglat was now missing。 After a considerable search； he found that
worthy gentleman contemplating the sufferings of an injured rodent he had
pounced upon。 He would sit in apparent indifference； gazing in another
direction； while the crippled creature； wriggled slowly and painfully away
from him； and then； just as his victim felt assured of escape； he would
reach out a giant palm and slam it down upon the fugitive。 Again and
again he repeated this operation； until； tiring of the sport； he ended the
sufferings of his plaything by devouring it。
Such were the exasperating causes of delay which retarded Tarzan's
return journey toward the village of Achmet Zek； but the ape…man was
patient； for in his mind was a plan which necessitated the presence of
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Chulk and Taglat when he should have arrived at his destination。
It was not always an easy thing to maintain in the vacillating minds of
the anthropoids a sustained interest in their venture。 Chulk was wearying
of the continued marching and the infrequency and short duration of the
rests。 He would gladly have abandoned this search for adventure had not
Tarzan continually filled his mind with alluring pictures of the great stores
of food which were to be found in the village of Tarmangani。
Taglat nursed his secret purpose to better advantage than might have
been expected of an ape； yet there were times when he； too； would have
abandoned the adventure had not Tarzan cajoled him on。
It was mid…afternoon of a sultry； tropical day when the keen senses of
the three warned them of the proximity of the Arab camp。 Stealthily they
approached； keeping to the dense tangle of growing things which made
concealment easy to their uncanny jungle craft。
First came the giant ape…man； his smooth； brown skin glistening with
the sweat of exertion in the close； hot confines of the jungle。 Behind him
crept Chulk and Taglat； grotesque and shaggy caricatures of their godlike
leader。
Silently they made their way to the edge of the clearing which
surrounded the palisade； and here they clambered into the lower branches
of a large tree overlooking the village occupied by the enemy； the better to
spy upon his goings and comings。
A horseman； white burnoosed； rode out through the gateway of the
village。 Tarzan； whispering to Chulk and Taglat to remain where they
were； swung； monkey…like； through the trees in the direction of the trail
the Arab was riding。 From one jungle giant to the next he sped with the
rapidity of a squirrel and the silence of a ghost。
The Arab rode slowly onward； unconscious of the danger hovering in
the trees behind him。 The ape…man made a slight detour and increased
his speed until he had reached a point upon the trail in advance of the
horseman。 Here he halted upon a leafy bough which overhung the
narrow； jungle trail。 On came the victim； humming a wild air of the great
desert land of the north。 Above him poised the savage brute that was
today bent upon the destruction of a human lifethe same creature who a
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few months before； had occupied his seat in the House of Lords at London；
a respected and distinguished member of that august body。
The Arab passed beneath the overhanging bough； there was a slight
rustling of the leaves above； the horse snorted and plunged as a brown…
skinned creature dropped upon its rump。 A pair of mighty arms encircled
the Arab and he was dragged from his saddle to the trail。
Ten minutes later the ape…man； carrying the outer garments of an Arab
bundled beneath an arm； rejoined his companions。 He exhibited his
trophies to them； explaining in low gutturals the details of his exploit。
Chulk and Taglat fingered the fabrics； smelled of them； and； placing them
to their ears； tried to listen to them。
Then Tarzan led them back through the jungle to the trail； where the
three hid themselves and waited。 Nor had they long to wait before two of
Achmet Zek's blacks； clothed in habiliments similar to their master's； came
down the trail on foot； returning to the camp。
One moment they were laughing and talking togetherthe next they
lay stretched in death upon the trail； three mighty engines of destruction
bending over them。 Tarzan removed their outer garments as he had
removed those of his first victim； and again retired with Chulk and Taglat
to the greater seclusion of the tree they had first selected。
Here the ape…man arranged the garments upon his shaggy fellows and
himself； until； at a distance； it might have appeared that three white…robed
Arabs squatted silentl
