the beasts of tarzan-第21章

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rising　to　arch　above　it　and　shut　out　the　moon；　the　girl　could

hear　the　stealthy；　muffled　footfalls　of　great　beasts；　and　ever

round　about　them　rose　the　deafening　roars　of　hunting　lions；

until　the　earth　trembled　to　the　mighty　sound。



The　porters　lighted　torches　now　and　waved　them　upon　either

hand　to　frighten　off　the　beasts　of　prey。　　Rokoff　urged

them　to　greater　speed；　and　from　the　quavering　note　in　his

voice　Jane　Clayton　knew　that　he　was　weak　from　terror。



The　sounds　of　the　jungle　night　recalled　most　vividly　the

days　and　nights　that　she　had　spent　in　a　similar　jungle　with

her　forest　godwith　the　fearless　and　unconquerable　Tarzan

of　the　Apes。　　Then　there　had　been　no　thoughts　of　terror；

though　the　jungle　noises　were　new　to　her；　and　the　roar　of　a

lion　had　seemed　the　most　awe…inspiring　sound　upon　the　great　earth。



How　different　would　it　be　now　if　she　knew　that　he　was

somewhere　there　in　the　wilderness；　seeking　her！　　Then；　indeed；

would　there　be　that　for　which　to　live；　and　every　reason

to　believe　that　succour　was　close　at　handbut　he　was　dead！　

It　was　incredible　that　it　should　be　so。



There　seemed　no　place　in　death　for　that　great　body　and

those　mighty　thews。　　Had　Rokoff　been　the　one　to　tell　her　of

her　lord's　passing　she　would　have　known　that　he　lied。　　

There　could　be　no　reason；　she　thought；　why　M'ganwazam　should

have　deceived　her。　　She　did　not　know　that　the　Russian　had

talked　with　the　savage　a　few　minutes　before　the　chief　had

come　to　her　with　his　tale。



At　last　they　reached　the　rude　boma　that　Rokoff's　porters

had　thrown　up　round　the　Russian's　camp。　　Here　they　found

all　in　turmoil。　　She　did　not　know　what　it　was　all　about；

but　she　saw　that　Rokoff　was　very　angry；　and　from　bits　of

conversation　which　she　could　translate　she　gleaned　that　there

had　been　further　desertions　while　he　had　been　absent；　and　that

the　deserters　had　taken　the　bulk　of　his　food　and　ammunition。



When　he　had　done　venting　his　rage　upon　those　who　remained

he　returned　to　where　Jane　stood　under　guard　of　a　couple

of　his　white　sailors。　　He　grasped　her　roughly　by　the　arm

and　started　to　drag　her　toward　his　tent。　　The　girl　struggled

and　fought　to　free　herself；　while　the　two　sailors　stood　by；

laughing　at　the　rare　treat。



Rokoff　did　not　hesitate　to　use　rough　methods　when　he　found

that　he　was　to　have　difficulty　in　carrying　out　his　designs。　　

Repeatedly　he　struck　Jane　Clayton　in　the　face；　until　at

last；　half…conscious；　she　was　dragged　within　his　tent。



Rokoff's　boy　had　lighted　the　Russian's　lamp；　and　now　at

a　word　from　his　master　he　made　himself　scarce。　　Jane　had

sunk　to　the　floor　in　the　middle　of　the　enclosure。　　Slowly　her

numbed　senses　were　returning　to　her　and　she　was　commencing

to　think　very　fast　indeed。　　Quickly　her　eyes　ran　round　the

interior　of　the　tent；　taking　in　every　detail　of　its　equipment

and　contents。



Now　the　Russian　was　lifting　her　to　her　feet　and　attempting

to　drag　her　to　the　camp　cot　that　stood　at　one　side　of　the　tent。　　

At　his　belt　hung　a　heavy　revolver。　　Jane　Clayton's　eyes　riveted

themselves　upon　it。　　Her　palm　itched　to　grasp　the　huge　butt。　　

She　feigned　again　to　swoon；　but　through　her　half…closed　lids

she　waited　her　opportunity。



It　came　just　as　Rokoff　was　lifting　her　upon　the　cot。　　A　noise

at　the　tent　door　behind　him　brought　his　head　quickly　about

and　away　from　the　girl。　　The　butt　of　the　gun　was　not　an　inch

from　her　hand。　　With　a　single；　lightning…like　move　she

snatched　the　weapon　from　its　holster；　and　at　the　same　instant

Rokoff　turned　back　toward　her；　realizing　his　peril。



She　did　not　dare　fire　for　fear　the　shot　would　bring　his

people　about　him；　and　with　Rokoff　dead　she　would　fall　into

hands　no　better　than　his　and　to　a　fate　probably　even　worse

than　he　alone　could　have　imagined。　　The　memory　of　the　two　brutes

who　stood　and　laughed　as　Rokoff　struck　her　was　still　vivid。



As　the　rage　and　fear…filled　countenance　of　the　Slav　turned

toward　her　Jane　Clayton　raised　the　heavy　revolver　high　above

the　pasty　face　and　with　all　her　strength　dealt　the　man　a　terrific

blow　between　the　eyes。



Without　a　sound　he　sank；　limp　and　unconscious；　to　the　ground。　　

A　moment　later　the　girl　stood　beside　himfor　a　moment　at

least　free　from　the　menace　of　his　lust。



Outside　the　tent　she　again　heard　the　noise　that　had　distracted

Rokoff's　attention。　　What　it　was　she　did　not　know；　but；　fearing

the　return　of　the　servant　and　the　discovery　of　her　deed；

she　stepped　quickly　to　the　camp　table　upon　which　burned　the

oil　lamp　and　extinguished　the　smudgy；　evil…smelling　flame。



In　the　total　darkness　of　the　interior　she　paused　for　a　moment　to

collect　her　wits　and　plan　for　the　next　step　in　her　venture　for　freedom。



About　her　was　a　camp　of　enemies。　　Beyond　these　foes　a　black

wilderness　of　savage　jungle　peopled　by　hideous　beasts　of　prey

and　still　more　hideous　human　beasts。



There　was　little　or　no　chance　that　she　could　survive　even　a　few

days　of　the　constant　dangers　that　would　confront　her　there；

but　the　knowledge　that　she　had　already　passed　through

so　many　perils　unscathed；　and　that　somewhere　out　in　the

faraway　world　a　little　child　was　doubtless　at　that　very　moment

crying　for　her；　filled　her　with　determination　to　make

the　effort　to　accomplish　the　seemingly　impossible　and　cross

that　awful　land　of　horror　in　search　of　the　sea　and　the　remote

chance　of　succour　she　might　find　there。



Rokoff's　tent　stood　almost　exactly　in　the　centre　of　the　boma。

Surrounding　it　were　the　tents　and　shelters　of　his　white

companions　and　the　natives　of　his　safari。　　To　pass　through

these　and　find　egress　through　the　boma　seemed　a　task　too

fraught　with　insurmountable　obstacles　to　warrant　even　the

slightest　consideration；　and　yet　there　was　no　other　way。



To　remain　in　the　tent　until　she　should　be　discovered　would

be　to　set　at　naught　all　that　she　had　risked　to　gain　her　freedom；

and　so　with　stealthy　step　and　every　sense　alert　she　approached

the　back　of　the　tent　to　set　out　upon　the　first　stage

of　her　adventure。



Groping　along　the　rear　of　the　canvas　wall；　she　found　that

there　was　no　opening　there。　　Quickly　she　returned　to　the　side

of　the　unconscious　Russian。　　In　his　belt　her　groping　fingers

came　upon　the　hilt　of　a　long　hunting…knife；　and　with　this　she

cut　a　hole　in　the　back　wall　of　the　tent。



Silently　she　stepped　without。　　To　her　immense　relief　she

saw　that　the　camp　was　apparently　asleep。　　In　the　dim　and

flickering　light　of　the　dying　fires　she　saw　but　a　single　sentry；

and　he　was　dozing　upon　his　haunches　at　the　opposite　side　of

the　enclosure。



Keeping　the　tent　between　him　and　herself；　she　crossed

between　the　small　shelters　of　the　native　porters　to　the

boma　wall　beyond。



Outside；　in　the　darkness　of　the　tangled　jungle；　she　could

hear　the　roaring　of　lions；　the　laughing　of　hyenas；　and　the

countless；　nameless　noises　of　the　midnight　jungle。



For　a　moment　she　hesitated；　trembling。　　The　thought　of　the

prowling　beasts　out　there　in　the　darkness　was　appalling。　　

Then；　with　a　sudden　brave　toss　of　her　head；　she　attacked　the

thorny　boma　wall　with　her　delicate　hands。　　Torn　and　bleeding

though　they　were；　she　worked　on　breathlessly　until　she　had

made　an　opening　through　which　she　could　worm　her　body；

and　at　last　she　stood　outside　the　enclosure。



Behind　her　lay　a　fate　worse　than　death；　at　the　hands　of

human　beings。



Before　her　lay　an　almost　certain　fatebut　it　was　only　death

sudden；　merciful；　and　honourable　death。



Without　a　tremor　and　without　regret　she　darted　away　from　the　camp；

and　a　moment　later　the　mysterious　jungle　had　closed　about　her。









Chapter　14





Alone　in　the　Jungle





Tambudza；　leading　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　toward　the　camp　of

the　Russian；　moved　very　slowly　along　the　winding　jungle

path；　for　she　was　old　and　her　legs　stiff　with　rheumatism。



So　it　was　that　the　runners　dispatched　by　M'ganwazam　to　warn

Rokoff　that　the　white　giant　was　in　his　village　and　that　he

would　be　slain　that　night　reached　the　Russian's　camp　before

Tarzan　and　his　ancient　guide　had　covered　half　the　distance。



The　guides　found　the　white　man's　camp　in　a　turmoil。　　

Rokoff　had　that　morning　been　discovered　stunned　and　bleeding

within　his　tent。　　When　he　had　recovered　his　senses　and　realized

that　Jane　Clayton　had　escaped；　his　rage　was　boundless。



Rushing　about　the　camp　with　his　rifle；　he　had　sought　to

shoot　down　the　native　sentries　who　had　allowed　the　young

woman　to　elude　their　vigilance；　but　several　of　the　other

whites；　realizing　that　they　were　already　in　a　precarious

position　owing　to　the　numerous　desertions　that　Rokoff's

cruelty　had　brought　about；　seized　and　disarmed　him。



Then　came　the　messengers　from　M'ganwazam；　but　scarce

had　they　told　their　story　and　Rokoff　was　preparing　to　depart

with　them　for　their　village　when　other　runners；　panting　from

the　exertions　of　their　swift　flight　through　the　jungle；　rushed

breathless　into　the　firelight；　crying　that　the　great　white　giant

had　escaped　from　M'ganwazam　and　was　already　on　his　way

to　wreak　vengeance　against　his　enemies。



Instantly　confusion　reigned　within　the　encircling　boma。

The　blacks　belonging　to　Rokoff's　safari　were　terror…stricken　at　the

thought　of　the　proximity　of　the　white　giant　who　hunted　through

the　jungle　with　a　fierce　pack　of　apes　and　panthers　at　his　heels。



Before　the　whites　realized　what　had　happened　the　superstitious

fears　of　the　natives　had　sent　them　scurrying　into　the　bush

their　own　carriers　as　well　as　the　messengers　from　M'ganwazam

but　even　in　their　haste　they　had　not　neglected　to　take　with　them

every　article　of　value　upon　which　they　could　lay　their　hands。



Thus　Rokoff　and　the　seven　white　sailors　found　themselves

deserted　and　robbed　in　the　midst　of　a　wilderness。



The　Russian；　following　his　usual　custom；　berated　his　companions；

laying　all　the　blame　upon　their　shoulders　for　the　events　which

had　led　up　to　the　almost　hopeless　condition　in　which　they　now

found　themselves；　but　the　sailors　were　in　no　mood　to　brook

his　insults　and　his　cursing。



In　the　midst　of　this　tirade　one　of　them　drew　a　revolver　and　fired

point…blank　at　the　Russian。　　The　fellow's　aim　was　poor；　but

his　act　so　terrified　Rokoff　that　he　turned　and　fled　for　his　tent。



As　he　ran　his　eyes　chanced　to　pass　beyond　the　boma　to　the

edge　of　the　forest；　and　there　he　caught　a　glimpse　of　that

which　sent　his　craven　heart　cold　with　a　fear　that　almost

expunged　his　terror　of　the　seven　men　at　his　back；　who　by　this

time　were　all　firing　in　hate　and　revenge　at　his　retreating　figure。



What　he　saw　was　the　giant　figure　of　an　almost　naked　white

man　emerging　from　the　bush。



Darting　into　his　tent；　the　Russian　did　not　halt　in　his　flight；

but　kept　right　on　through　the　rear　wall；　taking　advantage　of

the　long　slit　that　Jane　Clayton　had　made　the　night　before。



The　terror…stricken　Muscovite　scurried　like　a　hunted　rabbit

through　the　hole　t