the return of tarzan-µÚ45ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
nearby¡¡sacrificial¡¡court¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡dance¡¡had¡¡ceased¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be
almost¡¡time¡¡for¡¡the¡¡knife¡¡to¡¡fall£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡these
things¡¡he¡¡was¡¡running¡¡rapidly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡high
priestess'¡¡voice¡£
Fate¡¡guided¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡doorway¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡roofless¡¡chamber¡£
Between¡¡him¡¡and¡¡the¡¡altar¡¡was¡¡the¡¡long¡¡row¡¡of¡¡priests¡¡and
priestesses£»¡¡awaiting¡¡with¡¡their¡¡golden¡¡cups¡¡the¡¡spilling
of¡¡the¡¡warm¡¡blood¡¡of¡¡their¡¡victim¡£¡¡¡¡La's¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡descending
slowly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡bosom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frail£»¡¡quiet¡¡figure¡¡that¡¡lay
stretched¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡stone¡£¡¡¡¡Tarzan¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡gasp¡¡that¡¡was
almost¡¡a¡¡sob¡¡as¡¡he¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡features¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡he¡¡loved¡£
And¡¡then¡¡the¡¡scar¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡forehead¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡a¡¡flaming¡¡band¡¡of
scarlet£»¡¡a¡¡red¡¡mist¡¡floated¡¡before¡¡his¡¡eyes£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡the
awful¡¡roar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bull¡¡ape¡¡gone¡¡mad£»¡¡he¡¡sprang¡¡like¡¡a¡¡huge
lion¡¡into¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡votaries¡£
Seizing¡¡a¡¡cudgel¡¡from¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡priest£»¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡about¡¡him¡¡like
a¡¡veritable¡¡demon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡forged¡¡his¡¡rapid¡¡way¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡altar¡£
The¡¡hand¡¡of¡¡La¡¡had¡¡paused¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡interruption¡£
When¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡who¡¡the¡¡author¡¡of¡¡it¡¡was¡¡she¡¡went¡¡white¡£
She¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡fathom¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡the
strange¡¡white¡¡man's¡¡escape¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dungeon¡¡in¡¡which¡¡she
had¡¡locked¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡not¡¡intended¡¡that¡¡he¡¡should¡¡ever
leave¡¡Opar£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡giant¡¡frame¡¡and
handsome¡¡face¡¡with¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡and¡¡not¡¡those
of¡¡a¡¡priestess¡£
In¡¡her¡¡clever¡¡mind¡¡she¡¡had¡¡concocted¡¡a¡¡story¡¡of¡¡wonderful
revelation¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡the¡¡flaming¡¡god¡¡himself£»
in¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡ordered¡¡to¡¡receive¡¡this¡¡white
stranger¡¡as¡¡a¡¡messenger¡¡from¡¡him¡¡to¡¡his¡¡people¡¡on¡¡earth¡£
That¡¡would¡¡satisfy¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡Opar£»¡¡she¡¡knew¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡man
would¡¡be¡¡satisfied£»¡¡she¡¡felt¡¡quite¡¡sure£»¡¡to¡¡remain¡¡and¡¡be¡¡her
husband¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡to¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sacrificial¡¡altar¡£
But¡¡when¡¡she¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡her¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡him¡¡he
had¡¡disappeared£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡door¡¡had¡¡been¡¡tightly¡¡locked
as¡¡she¡¡had¡¡left¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡now¡¡he¡¡had¡¡returnedmaterialized
from¡¡thin¡¡airand¡¡was¡¡killing¡¡her¡¡priests¡¡as¡¡though¡¡they
had¡¡been¡¡sheep¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡she¡¡forgot¡¡her¡¡victim£»
and¡¡before¡¡she¡¡could¡¡gather¡¡her¡¡wits¡¡together¡¡again¡¡the
huge¡¡white¡¡man¡¡was¡¡standing¡¡before¡¡her£»¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had
lain¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡altar¡¡in¡¡his¡¡arms¡£
¡¨One¡¡side£»¡¡La£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡saved¡¡me¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡I
would¡¡not¡¡harm¡¡you£»¡¡but¡¡do¡¡not¡¡interfere¡¡or¡¡attempt¡¡to
follow£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡have¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡you¡¡also¡£¡¨
As¡¡he¡¡spoke¡¡he¡¡stepped¡¡past¡¡her¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡to¡¡the
subterranean¡¡vaults¡£
¡¨Who¡¡is¡¡she£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡high¡¡priestess£»¡¡pointing¡¡at
the¡¡unconscious¡¡woman¡£
¡¨She¡¡is¡¡mine£»¡¨¡¡said¡¡Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes¡£
For¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡stood¡¡wide¡eyed¡¡and¡¡staring¡£
Then¡¡a¡¡look¡¡of¡¡hopeless¡¡misery¡¡suffused¡¡her¡¡eyes
tears¡¡welled¡¡into¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cry¡¡she¡¡sank¡¡to
the¡¡cold¡¡floor£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡a¡¡swarm¡¡of¡¡frightful¡¡men¡¡dashed¡¡past
her¡¡to¡¡leap¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡£
But¡¡Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes¡¡was¡¡not¡¡there¡¡when¡¡they¡¡reached
out¡¡to¡¡seize¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡a¡¡light¡¡bound¡¡he¡¡had¡¡disappeared
into¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡leading¡¡to¡¡the¡¡pits¡¡below£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡his
pursuers¡¡came¡¡more¡¡cautiously¡¡after¡¡they¡¡found¡¡the¡¡chamber
empty£»¡¡they¡¡but¡¡laughed¡¡and¡¡jabbered¡¡to¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡for
they¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡exit¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pits¡¡other¡¡than¡¡the
one¡¡through¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡entered¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡he¡¡came¡¡out¡¡at¡¡all¡¡he
must¡¡come¡¡this¡¡way£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡would¡¡wait¡¡and¡¡watch¡¡for¡¡him¡¡above¡£
And¡¡so¡¡Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes£»¡¡carrying¡¡the¡¡unconscious¡¡Jane
Porter£»¡¡came¡¡through¡¡the¡¡pits¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡temple¡¡of
The¡¡Flaming¡¡God¡¡without¡¡pursuit¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡when¡¡the¡¡men¡¡of
Opar¡¡had¡¡talked¡¡further¡¡about¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¡they¡¡recalled¡¡to
mind¡¡that¡¡this¡¡very¡¡man¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡once¡¡before¡¡into¡¡the
pits£»¡¡and£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡had¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡entrance¡¡he¡¡had
not¡¡come¡¡forth£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡today¡¡he¡¡had¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡them¡¡from
the¡¡outside¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡again¡¡send¡¡fifty¡¡men¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the
valley¡¡to¡¡find¡¡and¡¡capture¡¡this¡¡desecrater¡¡of¡¡their¡¡temple¡£
After¡¡Tarzan¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡shaft¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡broken¡¡wall£»
he¡¡felt¡¡so¡¡positive¡¡of¡¡the¡¡successful¡¡issue¡¡of¡¡his¡¡flight¡¡that
he¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡replace¡¡the¡¡tumbled¡¡stones£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not
anxious¡¡that¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inmates¡¡should¡¡discover¡¡this
forgotten¡¡passage£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡it¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡chamber¡£
It¡¡was¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡return¡¡again¡¡to¡¡Opar¡¡and¡¡bear¡¡away
a¡¡still¡¡greater¡¡fortune¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡already¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡the
amphitheater¡¡of¡¡the¡¡apes¡£
On¡¡through¡¡the¡¡passageways¡¡he¡¡trotted£»¡¡past¡¡the¡¡first¡¡door
and¡¡through¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡vault£»¡¡past¡¡the¡¡second¡¡door¡¡and
into¡¡the¡¡long£»¡¡straight¡¡tunnel¡¡that¡¡led¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lofty¡¡hidden
exit¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡¡¡Jane¡¡Porter¡¡was¡¡still¡¡unconscious¡£
At¡¡the¡¡crest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡bowlder¡¡he¡¡halted¡¡to¡¡cast¡¡a
backward¡¡glance¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡¡¡Coming¡¡across¡¡the¡¡plain
he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡band¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hideous¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Opar¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡a¡¡moment
he¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡¡¡Should¡¡he¡¡descend¡¡and¡¡make¡¡a¡¡race¡¡for¡¡the¡¡distant
cliffs£»¡¡or¡¡should¡¡he¡¡hide¡¡here¡¡until¡¡night£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡at
the¡¡girl's¡¡white¡¡face¡¡determined¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡not¡¡keep¡¡her
here¡¡and¡¡permit¡¡her¡¡enemies¡¡to¡¡get¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡liberty¡£
For¡¡aught¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡they¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been¡¡followed
through¡¡the¡¡tunnels£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡have¡¡foes¡¡before¡¡and¡¡behind
would¡¡result¡¡in¡¡almost¡¡certain¡¡capture£»¡¡since¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not
fight¡¡his¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡enemy¡¡burdened¡¡as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡with
the¡¡unconscious¡¡girl¡£
To¡¡descend¡¡the¡¡steep¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bowlder¡¡with¡¡Jane
Porter¡¡was¡¡no¡¡easy¡¡task£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡binding¡¡her¡¡across¡¡his
shoulders¡¡with¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡rope¡¡he¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡reaching¡¡the
ground¡¡in¡¡safety¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Oparians¡¡arrived¡¡at¡¡the¡¡great¡¡rock¡£
As¡¡the¡¡descent¡¡had¡¡been¡¡made¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡side¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡city£»
the¡¡searching¡¡party¡¡saw¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡they¡¡dream
that¡¡their¡¡prey¡¡was¡¡so¡¡close¡¡before¡¡them¡£
By¡¡keeping¡¡the¡¡KOPJE¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡their¡¡pursuers£»
Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡cover¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡before
the¡¡men¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡rounded¡¡the¡¡granite¡¡sentinel¡¡and¡¡saw
the¡¡fugitive¡¡before¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡loud¡¡cries¡¡of¡¡savage¡¡delight£»
they¡¡broke¡¡into¡¡a¡¡mad¡¡run£»¡¡thinking¡¡doubtless¡¡that¡¡they
would¡¡soon¡¡overhaul¡¡the¡¡burdened¡¡runner£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡both
underestimated¡¡the¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡and¡¡overestimated
the¡¡possibilities¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡short£»¡¡crooked¡¡legs¡£
By¡¡maintaining¡¡an¡¡easy¡¡trot£»¡¡Tarzan¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡distance
between¡¡them¡¡always¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡¡¡Occasionally¡¡he¡¡would¡¡glance
at¡¡the¡¡face¡¡so¡¡near¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡Had¡¡it¡¡not¡¡been¡¡for¡¡the¡¡faint
beating¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡pressed¡¡so¡¡close¡¡against¡¡his¡¡own£»¡¡he
would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡known¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡alive£»¡¡so¡¡white¡¡and¡¡drawn
was¡¡the¡¡poor£»¡¡tired¡¡face¡£
And¡¡thus¡¡they¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡flat¡topped¡¡mountain¡¡and¡¡the
barrier¡¡cliffs¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡the¡¡last¡¡mile¡¡Tarzan¡¡had¡¡let¡¡himself¡¡out£»
running¡¡like¡¡a¡¡deer¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡ample¡¡time¡¡to¡¡descend
the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cliffs¡¡before¡¡the¡¡Oparians¡¡could¡¡reach¡¡the
summit¡¡and¡¡hurl¡¡rocks¡¡down¡¡upon¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that
he¡¡was¡¡half¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡down¡¡the¡¡mountainside¡¡ere¡¡the¡¡fierce¡¡little
men¡¡came¡¡panting¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡£
With¡¡cries¡¡of¡¡rage¡¡and¡¡disappointment¡¡they¡¡ranged¡¡along
the¡¡cliff¡¡top¡¡shaking¡¡their¡¡cudgels£»¡¡and¡¡dancing¡¡up¡¡and
down¡¡in¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡passion¡¡of¡¡anger¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡this¡¡time¡¡they¡¡did
not¡¡pursue¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡boundary¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡country¡£
Whether¡¡it¡¡was¡¡because¡¡they¡¡recalled¡¡the¡¡futility¡¡of¡¡their
former¡¡long¡¡and¡¡irksome¡¡search£»¡¡or¡¡after¡¡witnessing¡¡the¡¡ease
with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡swung¡¡along¡¡before¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the
last¡¡burst¡¡of¡¡speed£»¡¡they¡¡realized¡¡the¡¡utter¡¡hopelessness¡¡of
further¡¡pursuit£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡Tarzan¡¡reached
the¡¡woods¡¡that¡¡began¡¡at¡¡the¡¡base¡¡of¡¡the¡¡foothills¡¡which
skirted¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡cliffs¡¡they¡¡turned¡¡their¡¡faces¡¡once¡¡more
toward¡¡Opar¡£
Just¡¡within¡¡the¡¡forest's¡¡edge£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡could¡¡yet¡¡watch¡¡the
cliff¡¡tops£»¡¡Tarzan¡¡laid¡¡his¡¡burden¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡grass£»¡¡and¡¡going¡¡to
the¡¡near¡by¡¡rivulet¡¡brought¡¡water¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡bathed
her¡¡face¡¡and¡¡hands£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡this¡¡did¡¡not¡¡revive¡¡her£»¡¡and£»
greatly¡¡worried£»¡¡he¡¡gathered¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡into¡¡his¡¡strong¡¡arms¡¡once
more¡¡and¡¡hurried¡¡on¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡west¡£
Late¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡Jane¡¡Porter¡¡regained¡¡consciousness¡£
She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡open¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡at¡¡onceshe¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡recall
the¡¡scenes¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡last¡¡witnessed¡£¡¡¡¡Ah£»¡¡she¡¡remembered¡¡now¡£
The¡¡altar£»¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡priestess£»¡¡the¡¡descending¡¡knife¡£
She¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡little¡¡shudder£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡either¡¡this¡¡was
death¡¡or¡¡that¡¡the¡¡knife¡¡had¡¡buried¡¡itself¡¡in¡¡her¡¡heart¡¡and
she¡¡was¡¡experiencing¡¡the¡¡brief¡¡delirium¡¡preceding¡¡death¡£
And¡¡when¡¡finally¡¡she¡¡mustered¡¡courage¡¡to¡¡open¡¡her¡¡eyes£»
the¡¡sight¡¡that¡¡met¡¡them¡¡confirmed¡¡her¡¡fears£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡that
she¡¡was¡¡being¡¡borne¡¡through¡¡a¡¡leafy¡¡paradise¡¡in¡¡the¡¡arms
of¡¡her¡¡dead¡¡love¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨If¡¡this¡¡be¡¡death£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡murmured£»¡¡¡¨thank
God¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡dead¡£¡¨
¡¨You¡¡spoke£»¡¡Jane£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Tarzan¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡regaining¡¡consciousness£¡¡¨
¡¨Yes£»¡¡Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first
time¡¡in¡¡months¡¡a¡¡smile¡¡of¡¡peace¡¡and¡¡happiness¡¡lighted¡¡her¡¡face¡£
¡¨Thank¡¡God£¡¡¨¡¡cried¡¡the¡¡ape¡man£»¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡in
a¡¡little¡¡grassy¡¡clearing¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡stream¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡time£»
after¡¡all¡£¡¨
¡¨In¡¡time£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡questioned¡£
¡¨In¡¡time¡¡to¡¡save¡¡you¡¡from¡¡death¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡altar£»¡¡dear£»¡¨
he¡¡replied¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Do¡¡you¡¡not¡¡remember£¿¡¨
¡¨Save¡¡me¡¡from¡¡death£¿¡¨¡¡she¡¡asked£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡puzzled¡¡tone¡£
¡¨Are¡¡we¡¡not¡¡both¡¡dead£»¡¡my¡¡Tarzan£¿¡¨
He¡¡had¡¡placed¡¡her¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡grass¡¡by¡¡now£»¡¡her¡¡back¡¡resting
against¡¡the¡¡stem¡¡of¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡tree¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡her¡¡question¡¡he
stepped¡¡back¡¡where¡¡he¡¡could¡¡the¡¡better¡¡see¡¡her¡¡face¡£
¡¨Dead£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡repeated£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡he¡¡laughed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨You¡¡are¡¡not£»
Jane£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡you¡¡will¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡and¡¡ask
them¡¡who¡¡dwell¡¡there¡¡they¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡not¡¡dead
a¡¡few¡¡short¡¡hours¡¡ago¡£¡¡¡¡No£»¡¡dear£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡both¡¡very¡¡much¡¡alive¡£¡¨
¡¨But¡¡both¡¡Hazel¡¡and¡¡Monsieur¡¡Thuran¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡you
had¡¡fallen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡many¡¡miles¡¡from¡¡land£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡urged£»
as¡¡though¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡convince¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡must¡¡indeed
be¡¡dead¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡said¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡question¡¡but¡¡that
it¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡less¡¡that¡¡you¡¡could¡¡have¡¡survived
or¡¡been¡¡picked¡¡up¡£¡¨
¡¨How¡¡can¡¡I¡¡convince¡¡you¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡no¡¡spirit£¿¡¨¡¡he¡¡asked£»
with¡¡a¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡was¡¡I¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡delightful¡¡Monsieur¡¡Thuran
pushed¡¡overboard£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡drownI¡¡will¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡all
about¡¡it¡¡after¡¡a¡¡whileand¡¡here¡¡I¡¡am¡¡very¡¡much¡¡the¡¡same
wild¡¡man¡¡you¡¡first¡¡knew£»¡¡Jane¡¡Porter¡£¡¨
The¡¡girl¡¡rose¡¡slowly¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡came¡¡toward¡¡him¡£
¡¨I¡¡cannot¡¡even¡¡yet¡¡believe¡¡it£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡murmured¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨It¡¡cannot
be¡¡that¡¡such¡¡happiness¡¡can¡¡be¡¡true¡¡after¡¡all¡¡the¡¡hideous
things¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡passed¡¡through¡¡these¡¡awful¡¡months¡¡since
the¡¡LADY¡¡ALICE¡¡went¡¡down¡£¡¨
She¡¡came¡¡close¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡a¡¡hand£»¡¡soft¡¡and¡¡trembling£»
upon¡¡his¡¡arm¡£
¡¨It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡that¡¡I¡¡am¡¡dreaming£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡awaken
in¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡awful¡¡knife¡¡descending¡¡toward¡¡my
heartkiss¡¡me£»¡¡dear£»¡¡just¡¡once¡¡before¡¡I¡¡lose¡¡my¡¡dream¡¡forever¡£¡¨
Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes¡¡needed¡¡no¡¡second¡¡invitation¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡took
the¡¡girl¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡in¡¡his¡¡strong¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡kissed¡¡her¡¡not¡¡once£»
but¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡times£»¡¡until¡¡she¡¡lay¡¡there¡¡panting¡¡for¡¡breath£»
yet¡¡when¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡she¡¡put¡¡her¡¡arms¡¡about¡¡his¡¡neck¡¡and
drew¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡down¡¡to¡¡hers¡¡