the return of tarzan-第39章

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Clayton　and　Monsieur　Thuran　were　almost　naked；　so　torn

had　their　clothes　been　by　the　thorn　bushes　and　tangled

vegetation　of　the　matted　jungle　through　which　they　had　been

compelled　to　force　their　way　in　search　of　their　ever　more

difficult　food　supply。



Jane　Porter　had　of　course　not　been　subjected　to　these

strenuous　expeditions；　but　her　apparel　was；　nevertheless；

in　a　sad　state　of　disrepair。



Clayton；　for　lack　of　any　better　occupation；　had　carefully

saved　the　skin　of　every　animal　they　had　killed。　　By　stretching

them　upon　the　stems　of　trees；　and　diligently　scraping　them；

he　had　managed　to　save　them　in　a　fair　condition；　and　now

that　his　clothes　were　threatening　to　cover　his　nakedness　no

longer；　he　commenced　to　fashion　a　rude　garment　of　them；

using　a　sharp　thorn　for　a　needle；　and　bits　of　tough　grass　and

animal　tendons　in　lieu　of　thread。



The　result　when　completed　was　a　sleeveless　garment　which

fell　nearly　to　his　knees。　　As　it　was　made　up　of　numerous

small　pelts　of　different　species　of　rodents；　it　presented　a

rather　strange　and　wonderful　appearance；　which；　together

with　the　vile　stench　which　permeated　it；　rendered　it　anything

other　than　a　desirable　addition　to　a　wardrobe。　　But　the　time

came　when　for　the　sake　of　decency　he　was　compelled　to　don

it；　and　even　the　misery　of　their　condition　could　not　prevent

Jane　Porter　from　laughing　heartily　at　sight　of　him。



Later；　Thuran　also　found　it　necessary　to　construct　a　similar

primitive　garment；　so　that；　with　their　bare　legs　and　heavily

bearded　faces；　they　looked　not　unlike　reincarnations　of　two

prehistoric　progenitors　of　the　human　race。　　Thuran　acted　like　one。



Nearly　two　months　of　this　existence　had　passed　when　the

first　great　calamity　befell　them。　　It　was　prefaced　by　an

adventure　which　came　near　terminating　abruptly　the　sufferings

of　two　of　themterminating　them　in　the　grim　and　horrible

manner　of　the　jungle；　forever。



Thuran；　down　with　an　attack　of　jungle　fever；　lay　in　the

shelter　among　the　branches　of　their　tree　of　refuge。

Clayton　had　been　into　the　jungle　a　few　hundred　yards

in　search　of　food。　　As　he　returned　Jane　Porter　walked

to　meet　him。　　Behind　the　man；　cunning　and　crafty；

crept　an　old　and　mangy　lion。　　For　three　days　his　ancient

thews　and　sinews　had　proved　insufficient　for　the　task　of

providing　his　cavernous　belly　with　meat。　　For　months　he

had　eaten　less　and　less　frequently；　and　farther　and　farther

had　he　roamed　from　his　accustomed　haunts　in　search　of

easier　prey。　　At　last　he　had　found　nature's　weakest　and

most　defenseless　creaturein　a　moment　more　Numa　would　dine。



Clayton；　all　unconscious　of　the　lurking　death　behind　him；

strode　out　into　the　open　toward　Jane。　　He　had　reached　her

side；　a　hundred　feet　from　the　tangled　edge　of　jungle　when

past　his　shoulder　the　girl　saw　the　tawny　head　and　the

wicked　yellow　eyes　as　the　grasses　parted；　and　the　huge

beast；　nose　to　ground；　stepped　softly　into　view。



So　frozen　with　horror　was　she　that　she　could　utter　no

sound；　but　the　fixed　and　terrified　gaze　of　her　fear…widened

eyes　spoke　as　plainly　to　Clayton　as　words。　　A　quick　glance

behind　him　revealed　the　hopelessness　of　their　situation。

The　lion　was　scarce　thirty　paces　from　them；　and　they　were

equally　as　far　from　the　shelter。　　The　man　was　armed　with

a　stout　stickas　efficacious　against　a　hungry　lion；

he　realized；　as　a　toy　pop…gun　charged　with　a　tethered　cork。



Numa；　ravenous　with　hunger；　had　long　since　learned　the

futility　of　roaring　and　moaning　as　he　searched　for　prey；

but　now　that　it　was　as　surely　his　as　though　already　he　had

felt　the　soft　flesh　beneath　his　still　mighty　paw；　he　opened　his

huge　jaws；　and　gave　vent　to　his　long…pent　rage　in　a　series　of

deafening　roars　that　made　the　air　tremble。



〃Run；　Jane！〃　cried　Clayton。　　〃Quick！　　Run　for　the　shelter！〃

But　her　paralyzed　muscles　refused　to　respond；　and　she　stood

mute　and　rigid；　staring　with　ghastly　countenance　at　the

living　death　creeping　toward　them。



Thuran；　at　the　sound　of　that　awful　roar；　had　come　to

the　opening　of　the　shelter；　and　as　he　saw　the　tableau　below

him　he　hopped　up　and　down；　shrieking　to　them　in　Russian。



〃Run！　　Run！〃　he　cried。　　〃Run；　or　I　shall　be　left　all　alone　in

this　horrible　place；〃　and　then　he　broke　down　and　commenced　to　weep。

For　a　moment　this　new　voice　distracted　the　attention　of　the

lion；　who　halted　to　cast　an　inquiring　glance　in　the　direction

of　the　tree。　　Clayton　could　endure　the　strain　no　longer。

Turning　his　back　upon　the　beast；　he　buried　his　head　in

his　arms　and　waited。



The　girl　looked　at　him　in　horror。　　Why　did　he　not　do

something？　　If　he　must　die；　why　not　die　like　a　manbravely；

beating　at　that　terrible　face　with　his　puny　stick；　no　matter　how

futile　it　might　be。　　Would　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　have　done　thus？

Would　he　not　at　least　have　gone　down　to　his　death　fighting

heroically　to　the　last？



Now　the　lion　was　crouching　for　the　spring　that　would　end

their　young　lives　beneath　cruel；　rending；　yellow　fangs。

Jane　Porter　sank　to　her　knees　in　prayer；　closing　her　eyes

to　shut　out　the　last　hideous　instant。　　Thuran；　weak

from　fever；　fainted。



Seconds　dragged　into　minutes；　long　minutes　into　an　eternity；

and　yet　the　beast　did　not　spring。　　Clayton　was　almost

unconscious　from　the　prolonged　agony　of　frighthis

knees　trembleda　moment　more　and　he　would　collapse。



Jane　Porter　could　endure　it　no　longer。　　She　opened　her　eyes。

Could　she　be　dreaming？



〃William；〃　she　whispered；　〃look！〃



Clayton　mastered　himself　sufficiently　to　raise　his　head　and

turn　toward　the　lion。　　An　ejaculation　of　surprise　burst　from

his　lips。　　At　their　very　feet　the　beast　lay　crumpled　in　death。

A　heavy　war　spear　protruded　from　the　tawny　hide。　　It　had

entered　the　great　back　above　the　right　shoulder；　and；　passing

entirely　through　the　body；　had　pierced　the　savage　heart。



Jane　Porter　had　risen　to　her　feet；　as　Clayton　turned　back

to　her　she　staggered　in　weakness。　　He　put　out　his　arms　to

save　her　from　falling；　and　then　drew　her　close　to

himpressing　her　head　against　his　shoulder；　he　stooped

to　kiss　her　in　thanksgiving。



Gently　the　girl　pushed　him　away。



〃Please　do　not　do　that；　William；〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　lived　a

thousand　years　in　the　past　brief　moments。　　I　have　learned　in

the　face　of　death　how　to　live。　　I　do　not　wish　to　hurt　you　more

than　is　necessary；　but　I　can　no　longer　bear　to　live　out　the

impossible　position　I　have　attempted　because　of　a　false　sense

of　loyalty　to　an　impulsive　promise　I　made　you。



〃The　last　few　seconds　of　my　life　have　taught　me　that　it

would　be　hideous　to　attempt　further　to　deceive　myself　and

you；　or　to　entertain　for　an　instant　longer　the　possibility　of

ever　becoming　your　wife；　should　we　regain　civilization。〃



〃Why；　Jane；〃　he　cried；　〃what　do　you　mean？　　What　has　our

providential　rescue　to　do　with　altering　your　feelings　toward　me？

You　are　but　unstrungtomorrow　you　will　be　yourself　again。〃



〃I　am　more　nearly　myself　this　minute　than　I　have　been　for

over　a　year；〃　she　replied。　　〃The　thing　that　has　just　happened

has　again　forced　to　my　memory　the　fact　that　the　bravest　man

that　ever　lived　honored　me　with　his　love。　　Until　it　was　too

late　I　did　not　realize　that　I　returned　it；　and　so　I　sent　him　away。

He　is　dead　now；　and　I　shall　never　marry。　　I　certainly　could

not　wed　another　less　brave　than　he　without　harboring　constantly

a　feeling　of　contempt　for　the　relative　cowardice　of　my　husband。

Do　you　understand　me？〃



〃Yes；〃　he　answered；　with　bowed　head；　his　face　mantling

with　the　flush　of　shame。



And　it　was　the　next　day　that　the　great　calamity　befell。







Chapter　22





The　Treasure　Vaults　of　Opar





It　was　quite　dark　before　La；　the　high　priestess；　returned　to

the　Chamber　of　the　Dead　with　food　and　drink　for　Tarzan。

She　bore　no　light；　feeling　with　her　hands　along　the

crumbling　walls　until　she　gained　the　chamber。　　Through　the

stone　grating　above；　a　tropic　moon　served　dimly　to　illuminate

the　interior。



Tarzan；　crouching　in　the　shadows　at　the　far　side　of　the

room　as　the　first　sound　of　approaching　footsteps　reached　him；

came　forth　to　meet　the　girl　as　he　recognized　that　it　was　she。



〃They　are　furious；〃　were　her　first　words。　　〃Never　before

has　a　human　sacrifice　escaped　the　altar。　　Already　fifty　have

gone　forth　to　track　you　down。　　They　have　searched　the

templeall　save　this　single　room。〃



〃Why　do　they　fear　to　come　here？〃　he　asked。



〃It　is　the　Chamber　of　the　Dead。　　Here　the　dead　return　to　worship。

See　this　ancient　altar？　　It　is　here　that　the　dead　sacrifice　the

livingif　they　find　a　victim　here。　　That　is　the　reason

our　people　shun　this　chamber。　　Were　one　to　enter　he　knows

that　the　waiting　dead　would　seize　him　for　their　sacrifice。〃



〃But　you？〃　he　asked。



〃I　am　high　priestessI　alone　am　safe　from　the　dead。

It　is　I　who　at　rare　intervals　bring　them　a　human　sacrifice

from　the　world　above。　　I　alone　may　enter　here　in　safety。〃



〃Why　have　they　not　seized　me？〃　he　asked；　humoring　her

grotesque　belief。



She　looked　at　him　quizzically　for　a　moment。　　Then　she　replied：



〃It　is　the　duty　of　a　high　priestess　to　instruct；　to　interpret

according　to　the　creed　that　others；　wiser　than　herself；　have

laid　down；　but　there　is　nothing　in　the　creed　which　says　that

she　must　believe。　　The　more　one　knows　of　one's　religion　the

less　one　believesno　one　living　knows　more　of　mine　than　I。〃



〃Then　your　only　fear　in　aiding　me　to　escape　is　that　your

fellow　mortals　may　discover　your　duplicity？〃



〃That　is　allthe　dead　are　dead；　they　cannot　harmor　help。

We　must　therefore　depend　entirely　upon　ourselves；　and　the

sooner　we　act　the　better　it　will　be。　　I　had　difficulty　in

eluding　their　vigilance　but　now　in　bringing　you　this　morsel

of　food。　　To　attempt　to　repeat　the　thing　daily　would　be　the

height　of　folly。　　Come；　let　us　see　how　far　we　may　go　toward

liberty　before　I　must　return。〃



She　led　him　back　to　the　chamber　beneath　the　altar　room。

Here　she　turned　into　one　of　the　several　corridors　leading

from　it。　　In　the　darkness　Tarzan　could　not　see　which　one。

For　ten　minutes　they　groped　slowly　along　a　winding　passage；

until　at　length　they　came　to　a　closed　door。　　Here　he　heard

her　fumbling　with　a　key；　and　presently　came　the　sound　of　a

metal　bolt　grating　against　metal。　　The　door　swung　in　on

scraping　hinges；　and　they　entered。



〃You　will　be　safe　here　until　tomorrow　night；〃　she　said。



Then　she　went　out；　and；　closing　the　door；　locked　it　behind　her。



Where　Tarzan　stood　it　was　dark　as　Erebus。　　Not　even　his

trained　eyes　could　penetrate　the　utter　blackness。

Cautiously　he　moved　forward　until　his　out…stretched　hand

touched　a　wall；　then　very　slowly　he　traveled　around　the

four　walls　of　the　chamber。



Apparently　it　was　about　twenty　feet　square。　　The　floor

was　of　concrete；　the　walls　of　the　dry　masonry　that　marked

the　method　of　construction　above　ground。　　Small　pieces　of

granite　of　various