the beasts of tarzan-第12章
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gloomy mazes that would have baffled us entirely。
At dawn he stopped to feed； and then he slept for several
hours； taking up the pursuit again toward noon。
Twice he came upon natives； and； though he had considerable
difficulty in approaching them； he succeeded in each
instance in quieting both their fears and bellicose intentions
toward him； and learned from them that he was upon the trail
of the Russian。
Two days later； still following up the Ugambi； he came
upon a large village。 The chief； a wicked…looking fellow with
the sharp…filed teeth that often denote the cannibal； received
him with apparent friendliness。
The ape…man was now thoroughly fatigued； and had determined
to rest for eight or ten hours that he might be fresh
and strong when he caught up with Rokoff； as he was sure
he must do within a very short time。
The chief told him that the bearded white man had left his
village only the morning before； and that doubtless he would
be able to overtake him in a short time。 The other party the
chief had not seen or heard of； so he said。
Tarzan did not like the appearance or manner of the fellow；
who seemed； though friendly enough； to harbour a certain
contempt for this half…naked white man who came with no
followers and offered no presents； but he needed the rest and
food that the village would afford him with less effort than
the jungle； and so； as he knew no fear of man； beast； or
devil； he curled himself up in the shadow of a hut and was
soon asleep。
Scarcely had he left the chief than the latter called two of
his warriors； to whom he whispered a few instructions。
A moment later the sleek； black bodies were racing along the
river path； up…stream； toward the east。
In the village the chief maintained perfect quiet。 He would
permit no one to approach the sleeping visitor； nor any
singing； nor loud talking。 He was remarkably solicitous
lest his guest be disturbed。
Three hours later several canoes came silently into view
from up the Ugambi。 They were being pushed ahead rapidly
by the brawny muscles of their black crews。 Upon the bank
before the river stood the chief； his spear raised in a
horizontal position above his head； as though in some
manner of predetermined signal to those within the boats。
And such indeed was the purpose of his attitudewhich
meant that the white stranger within his village still
slept peacefully。
In the bows of two of the canoes were the runners that the
chief had sent forth three hours earlier。 It was evident that
they had been dispatched to follow and bring back this party；
and that the signal from the bank was one that had been
determined upon before they left the village。
In a few moments the dugouts drew up to the verdure…clad bank。
The native warriors filed out； and with them a half…dozen
white men。 Sullen； ugly…looking customers they were；
and none more so than the evil…faced； black…bearded man
who commanded them。
〃Where is the white man your messengers report to be
with you？〃 he asked of the chief。
〃This way； bwana；〃 replied the native。 〃Carefully have
I kept silence in the village that he might be still asleep when
you returned。 I do not know that he is one who seeks you to
do you harm； but he questioned me closely about your coming
and your going； and his appearance is as that of the one
you described； but whom you believed safe in the country
which you called Jungle Island。
〃Had you not told me this tale I should not have recognized
him； and then he might have gone after and slain you。
If he is a friend and no enemy； then no harm has been done；
bwana； but if he proves to be an enemy； I should like very
much to have a rifle and some ammunition。〃
〃You have done well；〃 replied the white man； 〃and you
shall have the rifle and ammunition whether he be a friend
or enemy； provided that you stand with me。〃
〃I shall stand with you； bwana；〃 said the chief；
〃and now come and look upon the stranger； who sleeps
within my village。〃
So saying； he turned and led the way toward the hut； in the
shadow of which the unconscious Tarzan slept peacefully。
Behind the two men came the remaining whites and a score
of warriors； but the raised forefingers of the chief and
his companion held them all to perfect silence。
As they turned the corner of the hut； cautiously and upon
tiptoe； an ugly smile touched the lips of the white as his eyes
fell upon the giant figure of the sleeping ape…man。
The chief looked at the other inquiringly。 The latter nodded
his head； to signify that the chief had made no mistake
in his suspicions。 Then he turned to those behind him and；
pointing to the sleeping man； motioned for them to seize
and bind him。
A moment later a dozen brutes had leaped upon the surprised
Tarzan； and so quickly did they work that he was securely
bound before he could make half an effort to escape。
Then they threw him down upon his back； and as his eyes
turned toward the crowd that stood near； they fell upon the
malign face of Nikolas Rokoff。
A sneer curled the Russian's lips。 He stepped quite close
to Tarzan。
〃Pig！〃 he cried。 〃Have you not learned sufficient
wisdom to keep away from Nikolas Rokoff？〃
Then he kicked the prostrate man full in the face。
〃That for your welcome；〃 he said。
〃Tonight； before my Ethiop friends eat you； I shall tell
you what has already befallen your wife and child； and what
further plans I have for their futures。〃
Chapter 8
The Dance of Death
Through the luxuriant； tangled vegetation of the Stygian
jungle night a great lithe body made its way sinuously
and in utter silence upon its soft padded feet。 Only two
blazing points of yellow…green flame shone occasionally with
the reflected light of the equatorial moon that now and again
pierced the softly sighing roof rustling in the night wind。
Occasionally the beast would stop with high…held nose；
sniffing searchingly。 At other times a quick； brief incursion
into the branches above delayed it momentarily in its steady
journey toward the east。 To its sensitive nostrils came the
subtle unseen spoor of many a tender four…footed creature；
bringing the slaver of hunger to the cruel； drooping jowl。
But steadfastly it kept on its way； strangely ignoring the
cravings of appetite that at another time would have sent
the rolling； fur…clad muscles flying at some soft throat。
All that night the creature pursued its lonely way； and the
next day it halted only to make a single kill； which it tore
to fragments and devoured with sullen； grumbling rumbles as
though half famished for lack of food。
It was dusk when it approached the palisade that surrounded
a large native village。 Like the shadow of a swift and silent
death it circled the village； nose to ground； halting at last
close to the palisade； where it almost touched the backs
of several huts。 Here the beast sniffed for a moment； and then；
turning its head upon one side； listened with up…pricked ears。
What it heard was no sound by the standards of human ears；
yet to the highly attuned and delicate organs of the beast
a message seemed to be borne to the savage brain。 A wondrous
transformation was wrought in the motionless mass of
statuesque bone and muscle that had an instant before stood
as though carved out of the living bronze。
As if it had been poised upon steel springs； suddenly released；
it rose quickly and silently to the top of the palisade；
disappearing； stealthily and catlike； into the dark space
between the wall and the back of an adjacent hut。
In the village street beyond women were preparing many little
fires and fetching cooking…pots filled with water； for a great
feast was to be celebrated ere the night was many hours older。
About a stout stake near the centre of the circling fires
a little knot of black warriors stood conversing； their bodies
smeared with white and blue and ochre in broad and grotesque bands。
Great circles of colour were drawn about their eyes and lips；
their breasts and abdomens； and from their clay…plastered
coiffures rose gay feathers and bits of long； straight wire。
The village was preparing for the feast； while in a hut at
one side of the scene of the coming orgy the bound victim of
their bestial appetites lay waiting for the end。 And such an end！
Tarzan of the Apes； tensing his mighty muscles； strained
at the bonds that pinioned him； but they had been re…enforced
many times at the instigation of the Russian； so that not even
the ape…man's giant brawn could budge them。
Death！
Tarzan had looked the Hideous Hunter in the face many a time；
and smiled。 And he would smile again tonight when he knew
the end was coming quickly； but now his thoughts were not
of himself； but of those othersthe dear ones who must
suffer most because of his passing。
Jane would never know the manner of it。 For that he thanked Heaven；
and he was thankful also that she at least was safe in the heart of
the world's greatest city。 Safe among kind and loving friends who
would do their best to lighten her misery。
But the boy！
Tarzan writhed at the thought of him。 His son！ And now
hethe mighty Lord of the Junglehe； Tarzan； King of the
Apes； the only one in all the world fitted to find and save the
child from the horrors that Rokoff's evil mind had planned
had been trapped like a silly； dumb creature。 He was to die
in a few hours； and with him would go the child's last chance
of succour。
Rokoff had been in to see and revile and abuse him several
times during the afternoon； but he had been able to wring no
word of remonstrance or murmur of pain from the lips of the
giant captive。
So at last he had given up； reserving his particular bit of
exquisite mental torture for the last moment； when； just
before the savage spears of the cannibals should for ever make
the object of his hatred immune to further suffering； the
Russian planned to reveal to his enemy the true whereabouts of
his wife whom he thought safe in England。
Dusk had fallen upon the village； and the ape…men could hear
the preparations going forward for the torture and the feast。
The dance of death he could picture in his mind's eyefor
he had seen the thing many times in the past。 Now he was
to be the central figure； bound to the stake。
The torture of the slow death as the circling warriors cut
him to bits with the fiendish skill； that mutilated without
bringing unconsciousness； had no terrors for him。 He was
inured to suffering and to the sight of blood and to cruel
death； but the desire to live was no less strong within him；
and until the last spark of life should flicker and go out； his
whole being would remain quick with hope and determinatio
