tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第4章
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Tarzan's retreat was no indication that he felt fear。 Jungle life is
ordered along different lines than ours and different standards prevail。
Had Tarzan been famished he would； doubtless； have stood his ground and
met the lion's charge。 He had done the thing before upon more than one
occasion； just as in the past he had charged lions himself； but tonight he
was far from famished and in the hind quarter he had carried off with him
was more raw flesh than he could eat； yet it was with no equanimity that
he looked down upon Numa rending the flesh of Tarzan's kill。 The
presumption of this strange Numa must be punished！ And forthwith
Tarzan set out to make life miserable for the big cat。 Close by were many
trees bearing large； hard fruits and to one of these the ape…man swung with
the agility of a squirrel。 Then commenced a bombardment which
brought forth earthshaking roars from Numa。 One after another as
rapidly as he could gather and hurl them； Tarzan pelted the hard fruit down
upon the lion。 It was impossible for the tawny cat to eat under that hail
of missileshe could but roar and growl and dodge and eventually he was
driven away entirely from the carcass of Bara； the deer。 He went roaring
and resentful； but in the very center of the clearing his voice was suddenly
hushed and Tarzan saw the great head lower and flatten out； the body
crouch and the long tail quiver； as the beast slunk cautiously toward the
trees upon the opposite side。
Immediately Tarzan was alert。 He lifted his head and sniffed the slow；
jungle breeze。 What was it that had attracted Numa's attention and taken
him soft…footed and silent away from the scene of his discomfiture？ Just as
the lion disappeared among the trees beyond the clearing Tarzan caught
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upon the down…coming wind the explanation of his new interestthe scent
spoor of man was wafted strongly to the sensitive nostrils。 Caching the
remainder of the deer's hind quarter in the crotch of a tree the ape…man
wiped his greasy palms upon his naked thighs and swung off in pursuit of
Numa。 A broad； well…beaten elephant path led into the forest from the
clearing。 Parallel to this slunk Numa； while above him Tarzan moved
through the trees； the shadow of a wraith。 The savage cat and the savage
man saw Numa's quarry almost simultaneously； though both had known
before it came within the vision of their eyes that it was a black man。
Their sensitive nostrils had told them this much and Tarzan's had told him
that the scent spoor was that of a strangerold and a male； for race and sex
and age each has its own distinctive scent。 It was an old man that made his
way alone through the gloomy jungle； a wrinkled； dried up； little old man
hideously scarred and tattooed and strangely garbed； with the skin of a
hyena about his shoulders and the dried head mounted upon his grey pate。
Tarzan recognized the ear…marks of the witch…doctor and awaited Numa's
charge with a feeling of pleasurable anticipation； for the ape…man had no
love for witch…doctors； but in the instant that Numa did charge； the white
man suddenly recalled that the lion had stolen his kill a few minutes
before and that revenge is sweet。
The first intimation the black man had that he was in danger was the
crash of twigs as Numa charged through the bushes into the game trail not
twenty yards behind him。 Then he turned to see a huge； black…maned
lion racing toward him and even as he turned； Numa seized him。 At the
same instant the ape…man dropped from an overhanging limb full upon the
lion's back and as he alighted he plunged his knife into the tawny side
behind the left shoulder； tangled the fingers of his right hand in the long
mane； buried his teeth in Numa's neck and wound his powerful legs about
the beast's torso。 With a roar of pain and rage； Numa reared up and fell
backward upon the ape…man； but still the mighty man…thing clung to his
hold and repeatedly the long knife plunged rapidly into his side。 Over
and over rolled Numa； the lion； clawing and biting at the air； roaring and
growling horribly in savage attempt to reach the thing upon its back。
More than once was Tarzan almost brushed from his hold。 He was
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battered and bruised and covered with blood from Numa and dirt from the
trail； yet not for an instant did he lessen the ferocity of his mad attack nor
his grim hold upon the back of his antagonist。 To have loosened for an
instant his grip there； would have been to bring him within reach of those
tearing talons or rending fangs； and have ended forever the grim career of
this jungle…bred English lord。 Where he had fallen beneath the spring of
the lion the witch…doctor lay； torn and bleeding； unable to drag himself
away and watched the terrific battle between these two lords of the jungle。
His sunken eyes glittered and his wrinkled lips moved over toothless gums
as he mumbled weird incantations to the demons of his cult。
For a time he felt no doubt as to the outcomethe strange white man
must certainly succumb to terrible Simbawhoever heard of a lone man
armed only with a knife slaying so mighty a beast！ Yet presently the old
black man's eyes went wider and he commenced to have his doubts and
misgivings。 What wonderful sort of creature was this that battled with
Simba and held his own despite the mighty muscles of the king of beasts
and slowly there dawned in those sunken eyes； gleaming so brightly from
the scarred and wrinkled face； the light of a dawning recollection。
Gropingly backward into the past reached the fingers of memory； until at
last they seized upon a faint picture； faded and yellow with the passing
years。 It was the picture of a lithe； white…skinned youth swinging
through the trees in company with a band of huge apes； and the old eyes
blinked and a great fear came into themthe superstitious fear of one who
believes in ghosts and spirits and demons。
And came the time once more when the witch…doctor no longer
doubted the outcome of the duel； yet his first judgment was reversed； for
now he knew that the jungle god would slay Simba and the old black was
even more terrified of his own impending fate at the hands of the victor
than he had been by the sure and sudden death which the triumphant lion
would have meted out to him。 He saw the lion weaken from loss of blood。
He saw the mighty limbs tremble and stagger and at last he saw the beast
sink down to rise no more。 He saw the forest god or demon rise from the
vanquished foe； and placing a foot upon the still quivering carcass； raise
his face to the moon and bay out a hideous cry that froze the ebbing blood
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in the veins of the witch…doctor。
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4
Prophecy and Fulfillment
Then Tarzan turned his attention to the man。 He had not slain Numa
to save the Negrohe had merely done it in revenge upon the lion； but
now that he saw the old man lying helpless and dying before him
something akin to pity touched his savage heart。 In his youth he would
have slain the witch…doctor without the slightest compunction； but
civilization had had its softening effect upon him even as it does upon the
nations and races which it touches； though it had not yet gone far enough
with Tarzan to render him either cowardly or effeminate。 He saw an old
man suffering and dying； and he stooped and felt of his wounds and
stanched the flow of blood。
〃Who are you？〃 asked the old man in a trembling voice。
〃I am TarzanTarzan of the Apes；〃 replied the ape…man and not
without a greater touch of pride than he would have said； 〃I am John
Clayton； Lord Greystoke。〃
The witch…doctor shook convulsively and closed his eyes。 When he
opened them again there was in them a resignation to whatever horrible
fate awaited him at the hands of this feared demon of the woods。 〃Why
do you not kill me？〃 he asked。
〃Why should I kill you？〃 inquired Tarzan。 〃You have not harmed me；
and anyway you are already dying。 Numa； the lion； has killed you。〃
〃You would not kill me？〃 Surprise and incredulity were in the tones of
the quavering old voice。
〃I would save you if I could；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃but that cannot be done。
Why did you think I would kill you？〃
For a moment the old man was silent。 When he spoke it was
evidently after some little effort to muster his courage。 〃I knew you of
old；〃 he said； 〃when you ranged the jungle in the country of Mbonga； the
chief。 I was already a witch…doctor when you slew Kulonga and the others；
and when you robbed our huts and our poison pot。 At first I did not
remember you； but at last I didthe white…skinned ape that lived with the
hairy apes and made life miserable in the village of Mbonga； the chiefthe
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forest godthe Munango…Keewati for whom we set food outside our gates
and who came and ate it。 Tell me before I dieare you man or devil？〃
Tarzan laughed。 〃I am a man；〃 he said。
The old fellow sighed and shook his head。 〃You have tried to save
me from Simba；〃
