the beasts of tarzan-第32章
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the two sailors lest they change their minds and attempt
to escape。 Schneider and Schmidt were virtually prisoners；
though they did not know it。
Presently Momulla returned with Kai Shang； to whom he
had briefly narrated the details of the stroke of good fortune
that had come to them。 The Chinaman spoke at length with
Schneider； until； notwithstanding his natural suspicion of
the sincerity of all men； he became quite convinced that
Schneider was quite as much a rogue as himself and that the
fellow was anxious to leave the island。
These two premises accepted there could be little doubt
that Schneider would prove trustworthy in so far as accepting
the command of the Cowrie was concerned； after that Kai
Shang knew that he could find means to coerce the man into
submission to his further wishes。
When Schneider and Schmidt left them and set out in the
direction of their own camp； it was with feelings of far
greater relief than they had experienced in many a day。
Now at last they saw a feasible plan for leaving the island
upon a seaworthy craft。 There would be no more hard labour
at ship…building； and no risking their lives upon a crudely
built makeshift that would be quite as likely to go to the
bottom as it would to reach the mainland。
Also； they were to have assistance in capturing the woman；
or rather women； for when Momulla had learned that there
was a black woman in the other camp he had insisted that
she be brought along as well as the white woman。
As Kai Shang and Momulla entered their camp； it was
with a realization that they no longer needed Gust。
They marched straight to the tent in which they might expect to
find him at that hour of the day； for though it would have
been more comfortable for the entire party to remain aboard
the ship； they had mutually decided that it would be safer for
all concerned were they to pitch their camp ashore。
Each knew that in the heart of the others was sufficient
treachery to make it unsafe for any member of the party to
go ashore leaving the others in possession of the Cowrie； so
not more than two or three men at a time were ever permitted
aboard the vessel unless all the balance of the company
was there too。
As the two crossed toward Gust's tent the Maori felt the
edge of his long knife with one grimy； calloused thumb。
The Swede would have felt far from comfortable could he have
seen this significant action； or read what was passing amid
the convolutions of the brown man's cruel brain。
Now it happened that Gust was at that moment in the tent
occupied by the cook； and this tent stood but a few feet
from his own。 So that he heard the approach of Kai Shang
and Momulla； though he did not； of course； dream that it
had any special significance for him。
Chance had it； though； that he glanced out of the doorway
of the cook's tent at the very moment that Kai Shang and
Momulla approached the entrance to his； and he thought that
he noted a stealthiness in their movements that comported
poorly with amicable or friendly intentions； and then； just as
they two slunk within the interior； Gust caught a glimpse of
the long knife which Momulla the Maori was then carrying
behind his back。
The Swede's eyes opened wide； and a funny little sensation
assailed the roots of his hairs。 Also he turned almost white
beneath his tan。 Quite precipitately he left the cook's tent。
He was not one who required a detailed exposition of intentions
that were quite all too obvious。
As surely as though he had heard them plotting； he knew
that Kai Shang and Momulla had come to take his life。
The knowledge that he alone could navigate the Cowrie had；
up to now； been sufficient assurance of his safety； but quite
evidently something had occurred of which he had no knowledge
that would make it quite worth the while of his co…conspirators
to eliminate him。
Without a pause Gust darted across the beach and into the jungle。
He was afraid of the jungle； uncanny noises that were
indeed frightful came forth from its recessesthe tangled
mazes of the mysterious country back of the beach。
But if Gust was afraid of the jungle he was far more afraid
of Kai Shang and Momulla。 The dangers of the jungle were
more or less problematical； while the danger that menaced
him at the hands of his companions was a perfectly well…
known quantity； which might be expressed in terms of a few
inches of cold steel； or the coil of a light rope。 He had seen
Kai Shang garrotte a man at Pai…sha in a dark alleyway back
of Loo Kotai's place。 He feared the rope； therefore； more
than he did the knife of the Maori； but he feared them both
too much to remain within reach of either。 Therefore he chose
the pitiless jungle。
Chapter 21
The Law of the Jungle
In Tarzan's camp； by dint of threats and promised rewards；
the ape…man had finally succeeded in getting the hull of a
large skiff almost completed。 Much of the work he and
Mugambi had done with their own hands in addition to
furnishing the camp with meat。
Schneider； the mate； had been doing considerable grumbling；
and had at last openly deserted the work and gone off
into the jungle with Schmidt to hunt。 He said that he wanted
a rest； and Tarzan； rather than add to the unpleasantness
which already made camp life almost unendurable； had permitted
the two men to depart without a remonstrance。
Upon the following day； however； Schneider affected a feeling
of remorse for his action； and set to work with a will upon
the skiff。 Schmidt also worked good…naturedly； and Lord
Greystoke congratulated himself that at last the men had
awakened to the necessity for the labour which was being asked of
them and to their obligations to the balance of the party。
It was with a feeling of greater relief than he had experienced
for many a day that he set out that noon to hunt deep in the
jungle for a herd of small deer which Schneider reported
that he and Schmidt had seen there the day before。
The direction in which Schneider had reported seeing the
deer was toward the south…west； and to that point the ape…man
swung easily through the tangled verdure of the forest。
And as he went there approached from the north a half…dozen
ill…featured men who went stealthily through the jungle
as go men bent upon the commission of a wicked act。
They thought that they travelled unseen； but behind them；
almost from the moment they quitted their own camp； a tall
man crept upon their trail。 In the man's eyes were hate and
fear； and a great curiosity。 Why went Kai Shang and Momulla
and the others thus stealthily toward the south？ What did
they expect to find there？ Gust shook his low…browed
head in perplexity。 But he would know。 He would follow
them and learn their plans； and then if he could thwart them
he wouldthat went without question。
At first he had thought that they searched for him； but
finally his better judgment assured him that such could not
be the case； since they had accomplished all they really
desired by chasing him out of camp。 Never would Kai Shang
or Momulla go to such pains to slay him or another unless it
would put money into their pockets； and as Gust had no
money it was evident that they were searching for someone else。
Presently the party he trailed came to a halt。 Its members
concealed themselves in the foliage bordering the game trail
along which they had come。 Gust； that he might the better
observe； clambered into the branches of a tree to the rear of
them； being careful that the leafy fronds hid him from the
view of his erstwhile mates。
He had not long to wait before he saw a strange white man
approach carefully along the trail from the south。
At sight of the newcomer Momulla and Kai Shang arose
from their places of concealment and greeted him。 Gust could
not overhear what passed between them。 Then the man returned
in the direction from which he had come。
He was Schneider。 Nearing his camp he circled to the
opposite side of it； and presently came running in breathlessly。
Excitedly he hastened to Mugambi。
〃Quick！〃 he cried。 〃Those apes of yours have caught Schmidt
and will kill him if we do not hasten to his aid。 You alone
can call them off。 Take Jones and Sullivanyou may need
helpand get to him as quick as you can。 Follow the game
trail south for about a mile。 I will remain here。 I am
too spent with running to go back with you；〃 and the mate
of the Kincaid threw himself upon the ground； panting as
though he was almost done for。
Mugambi hesitated。 He had been left to guard the two women。
He did not know what to do； and then Jane Clayton；
who had heard Schneider's story； added her pleas to
those of the mate。
〃Do not delay；〃 she urged。 〃We shall be all right here。
Mr。 Schneider will remain with us。 Go； Mugambi。 The poor
fellow must be saved。〃
Schmidt； who lay hidden in a bush at the edge of the camp； grinned。
Mugambi； heeding the commands of his mistress； though still doubtful
of the wisdom of his action； started off toward the south； with Jones
and Sullivan at his heels。
No sooner had he disappeared than Schmidt rose and darted north
into the jungle； and a few minutes later the face of Kai Shang
of Fachan appeared at the edge of the clearing。 Schneider saw
the Chinaman； and motioned to him that the coast was clear。
Jane Clayton and the Mosula woman were sitting at the
opening of the former's tent； their backs toward the
approaching ruffians。 The first intimation that either
had of the presence of strangers in camp was the sudden
appearance of a half…dozen ragged villains about them。
〃Come！〃 said Kai Shang； motioning that the two arise
and follow him。
Jane Clayton sprang to her feet and looked about for Schneider；
only to see him standing behind the newcomers； a grin upon his face。
At his side stood Schmidt。 Instantly she saw that she had been made
the victim of a plot。
〃What is the meaning of this？〃 she asked； addressing the mate。
〃It means that we have found a ship and that we can now
escape from Jungle Island；〃 replied the man。
〃Why did you send Mugambi and the others into the jungle？〃 she inquired。
〃They are not coming with usonly you and I； and the Mosula woman。〃
〃Come！〃 repeated Kai Shang； and seized Jane Clayton's wrist。
One of the Maoris grasped the black woman by the arm；
and when she would have screamed struck her across the mouth。
Mugambi raced through the jungle toward the south。 Jones and
Sullivan trailed far behind。 For a mile he continued upon
his way to the relief of Schmidt； but no signs saw he of the
missing man or of any of the apes of Akut。
At last he halted and called aloud the summons which he and
Tarzan had used to hail the
