the beasts of tarzan-第9章
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a revolting fact； but had we learned in childhood to
eat these things； and had we seen all those about us eat them；
they would seem no more sickening to us now than do many
of our greatest dainties； at which a savage African cannibal
would look with repugnance and turn up his nose。
For instance； there is a tribe in the vicinity of Lake Rudolph
that will eat no sheep or cattle； though its next neighbors
do so。 Near by is another tribe that eats donkey…meata
custom most revolting to the surrounding tribes that do not
eat donkey。 So who may say that it is nice to eat snails and
frogs' legs and oysters； but disgusting to feed upon grubs
and beetles； or that a raw oyster； hoof； horns； and tail； is less
revolting than the sweet； clean meat of a fresh…killed buck？
The next few days Tarzan devoted to the weaving of a barkcloth
sail with which to equip the canoe； for he despaired of being able
to teach the apes to wield the paddles； though he did manage to get
several of them to embark in the frail craft which he and Mugambi
paddled about inside the reef where the water was quite smooth。
During these trips he had placed paddles in their hands；
when they attempted to imitate the movements of him and
Mugambi； but so difficult is it for them long to concentrate
upon a thing that he soon saw that it would require weeks of
patient training before they would be able to make any
effective use of these new implements； if； in fact；
they should ever do so。
There was one exception； however； and he was Akut。 Almost from
the first he showed an interest in this new sport that
revealed a much higher plane of intelligence than that
attained by any of his tribe。 He seemed to grasp the purpose
of the paddles； and when Tarzan saw that this was so he took
much pains to explain in the meagre language of the anthropoid
how they might be used to the best advantage。
From Mugambi Tarzan learned that the mainland lay but
a short distance from the island。 It seemed that the Wagambi
warriors had ventured too far out in their frail craft；
and when caught by a heavy tide and a high wind from offshore
they had been driven out of sight of land。 After paddling
for a whole night； thinking that they were headed for home；
they had seen this land at sunrise； and； still taking it for
the mainland； had hailed it with joy； nor had Mugambi been
aware that it was an island until Tarzan had told him that
this was the fact。
The Wagambi chief was quite dubious as to the sail； for
he had never seen such a contrivance used。 His country lay
far up the broad Ugambi River； and this was the first occasion
that any of his people had found their way to the ocean。
Tarzan； however； was confident that with a good west wind he
could navigate the little craft to the mainland。 At any rate；
he decided； it would be preferable to perish on the way than to
remain indefinitely upon this evidently uncharted island to
which no ships might ever be expected to come。
And so it was that when the first fair wind rose he embarked
upon his cruise； and with him he took as strange and
fearsome a crew as ever sailed under a savage master。
Mugambi and Akut went with him； and Sheeta； the panther；
and a dozen great males of the tribe of Akut。
Chapter 6
A Hideous Crew
The war…canoe with its savage load moved slowly toward the
break in the reef through which it must pass to gain the
open sea。 Tarzan； Mugambi； and Akut wielded the paddles；
for the shore kept the west wind from the little sail。
Sheeta crouched in the bow at the ape…man's feet； for it
had seemed best to Tarzan always to keep the wicked beast
as far from the other members of the party as possible；
since it would require little or no provocation to send him
at the throat of any than the white man； whom he evidently
now looked upon as his master。
In the stern was Mugambi； and just in front of him squatted
Akut； while between Akut and Tarzan the twelve hairy apes
sat upon their haunches； blinking dubiously this way and that；
and now and then turning their eyes longingly back toward shore。
All went well until the canoe had passed beyond the reef。
Here the breeze struck the sail； sending the rude craft
lunging among the waves that ran higher and higher as
they drew away from the shore。
With the tossing of the boat the apes became panic…stricken。
They first moved uneasily about； and then commenced grumbling
and whining。 With difficulty Akut kept them in hand for a time；
but when a particularly large wave struck the dugout
simultaneously with a little squall of wind their terror
broke all bounds； and； leaping to their feet； they
all but overturned the boat before Akut and Tarzan together
could quiet them。 At last calm was restored； and eventually
the apes became accustomed to the strange antics of their craft；
after which no more trouble was experienced with them。
The trip was uneventful； the wind held； and after ten hours'
steady sailing the black shadows of the coast loomed close
before the straining eyes of the ape…man in the bow。 It was
far too dark to distinguish whether they had approached close
to the mouth of the Ugambi or not； so Tarzan ran in through
the surf at the closest point to await the dawn。
The dugout turned broadside the instant that its nose
touched the sand； and immediately it rolled over； with all its
crew scrambling madly for the shore。 The next breaker rolled
them over and over； but eventually they all succeeded in
crawling to safety； and in a moment more their ungainly craft
had been washed up beside them。
The balance of the night the apes sat huddled close to one
another for warmth； while Mugambi built a fire close to them
over which he crouched。 Tarzan and Sheeta； however； were
of a different mind； for neither of them feared the jungle
night； and the insistent craving of their hunger sent them off
into the Stygian blackness of the forest in search of prey。
Side by side they walked when there was room for two abreast。
At other times in single file； first one and then the
other in advance。 It was Tarzan who first caught the scent of
meata bull buffaloand presently the two came stealthily
upon the sleeping beast in the midst of a dense jungle of
reeds close to a river。
Closer and closer they crept toward the unsuspecting beast；
Sheeta upon his right side and Tarzan upon his left nearest
the great heart。 They had hunted together now for some time；
so that they worked in unison； with only low； purring sounds
as signals。
For a moment they lay quite silent near their prey； and
then at a sign from the ape…man Sheeta sprang upon the
great back； burying his strong teeth in the bull's neck。
Instantly the brute sprang to his feet with a bellow of
pain and rage； and at the same instant Tarzan rushed in
upon his left side with the stone knife； striking repeatedly
behind the shoulder。
One of the ape…man's hands clutched the thick mane； and
as the bull raced madly through the reeds the thing striking
at his life was dragged beside him。 Sheeta but clung
tenaciously to his hold upon the neck and back； biting deep in
an effort to reach the spine。
For several hundred yards the bellowing bull carried his two
savage antagonists； until at last the blade found his heart；
when with a final bellow that was half…scream he plunged headlong
to the earth。 Then Tarzan and Sheeta feasted to repletion。
After the meal the two curled up together in a thicket； the
man's black head pillowed upon the tawny side of the panther。
Shortly after dawn they awoke and ate again； and then
returned to the beach that Tarzan might lead the balance of
the pack to the kill。
When the meal was done the brutes were for curling up to sleep；
so Tarzan and Mugambi set off in search of the Ugambi River。
They had proceeded scarce a hundred yards when they came
suddenly upon a broad stream； which the Negro instantly
recognized as that down which he and his warriors
had paddled to the sea upon their ill…starred expedition。
The two now followed the stream down to the ocean； finding
that it emptied into a bay not over a mile from the point upon
the beach at which the canoe had been thrown the night before。
Tarzan was much elated by the discovery； as he knew that
in the vicinity of a large watercourse he should find natives；
and from some of these he had little doubt but that he should
obtain news of Rokoff and the child； for he felt reasonably
certain that the Russian would rid himself of the baby as
quickly as possible after having disposed of Tarzan。
He and Mugambi now righted and launched the dugout； though
it was a most difficult feat in the face of the surf which
rolled continuously in upon the beach； but at last they were
successful； and soon after were paddling up the coast toward
the mouth of the Ugambi。 Here they experienced considerable
difficulty in making an entrance against the combined
current and ebb tide； but by taking advantage of eddies close
in to shore they came about dusk to a point nearly opposite
the spot where they had left the pack asleep。
Making the craft fast to an overhanging bough； the two
made their way into the jungle； presently coming upon some
of the apes feeding upon fruit a little beyond the reeds where
the buffalo had fallen。 Sheeta was not anywhere to be seen；
nor did he return that night； so that Tarzan came to believe
that he had wandered away in search of his own kind。
Early the next morning the ape…man led his band down to the river；
and as he walked he gave vent to a series of shrill cries。
Presently from a great distance and faintly there came
an answering scream； and a half…hour later the lithe form of
Sheeta bounded into view where the others of the pack were
clambering gingerly into the canoe。
The great beast； with arched back and purring like a
contented tabby； rubbed his sides against the ape…man； and then
at a word from the latter sprang lightly to his former place in
the bow of the dugout。
When all were in place it was discovered that two of the
apes of Akut were missing； and though both the king ape
and Tarzan called to them for the better part of an hour； there
was no response； and finally the boat put off without them。
As it happened that the two missing ones were the very same
who had evinced the least desire to accompany the expedition
from the island； and had suffered the most from fright during
the voyage； Tarzan was quite sure that they had absented
themselves purposely rather than again enter the canoe。
As the party were putting in for the shore shortly after
noon to search for food a slender； naked savage watched
them for a moment from behind the dense screen of verdure
which lined the river's bank； then he melte
