tarzan the terrible-第10章

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f　the　cliff；　and　over　all　brooded　an　ominous　silence。

Pan…at…lee　lay　upon　her　belly　and　stretching　over　the　edge　scanned　the　cliff　face　below　her。　She　could　see　caves　there　and　the　stone　pegs　which　the　ancients　had　fashioned　so　laboriously　by　hand。　She　had　heard　of　these　in　the　firelight　tales　of　her　childhood　and　of　how　the　gryfs　had　come　from　the　morasses　across　the　mountains　and　of　how　at　last　the　people　had　fled　after　many　had　been　seized　and　devoured　by　the　hideous　creatures；　leaving　their　caves　untenanted　for　no　man　living　knew　how　long。　Some　said　that　Jad…ben…Otho；　who　has　lived　forever；　was　still　a　little　boy。　Pan…at…lee　shuddered；　but　there　were　caves　and　in　them　she　would　be　safe　even　from　the　gryfs。

She　found　a　place　where　the　stone　pegs　reached　to　the　very　summit　of　the　cliff；　left　there　no　doubt　in　the　final　exodus　of　the　tribe　when　there　was　no　longer　need　of　safeguarding　the　deserted　caves　against　invasion。　Pan…at…lee　clambered　slowly　down　toward　the　uppermost　cave。　She　found　the　recess　in　front　of　the　doorway　almost　identical　with　those　of　her　own　tribe。　The　floor　of　it；　though；　was　littered　with　twigs　and　old　nests　and　the　droppings　of　birds；　until　it　was　half　choked。　She　moved　along　to　another　recess　and　still　another；　but　all　were　alike　in　the　accumulated　filth。　Evidently　there　was　no　need　in　looking　further。　This　one　seemed　large　and　commodious。　With　her　knife　she　fell　to　work　cleaning　away　the　debris　by　the　simple　expedient　of　pushing　it　over　the　edge；　and　always　her　eyes　turned　constantly　toward　the　silent　gorge　where　lurked　the　fearsome　creatures　of　Pal…ul…don。　And　other　eyes　there　were；　eyes　she　did　not　see；　but　that　saw　her　and　watched　her　every　movefierce　eyes；　greedy　eyes；　cunning　and　cruel。　They　watched　her；　and　a　red　tongue　licked　flabby；　pendulous　lips。　They　watched　her；　and　a　half…human　brain　laboriously　evolved　a　brutish　design。

As　in　her　own　Kor…ul…ja；　the　natural　springs　in　the　cliff　had　been　developed　by　the　long…dead　builders　of　the　caves　so　that　fresh；　pure　water　trickled　now；　as　it　had　for　ages；　within　easy　access　to　the　cave　entrances。　Her　only　difficulty　would　be　in　procuring　food　and　for　that　she　must　take　the　risk　at　least　once　in　two　days；　for　she　was　sure　that　she　could　find　fruits　and　tubers　and　perhaps　small　animals；　birds；　and　eggs　near　the　foot　of　the　cliff；　the　last　two；　possibly；　in　the　caves　themselves。　Thus　might　she　live　on　here　indefinitely。　She　felt　now　a　certain　sense　of　security　imparted　doubtless　by　the　impregnability　of　her　high…flung　sanctuary　that　she　knew　to　be　safe　from　all　the　more　dangerous　beasts；　and　this　one　from　men；　too；　since　it　lay　in　the　abjured　Kor…ul…gryf。

Now　she　determined　to　inspect　the　interior　of　her　new　home。　The　sun　still　in　the　south；　lighted　the　interior　of　the　first　apartment。　It　was　similar　to　those　of　her　experiencethe　same　beasts　and　men　were　depicted　in　the　same　crude　fashion　in　the　carvings　on　the　wallsevidently　there　had　been　little　progress　in　the　race　of　Waz…don　during　the　generations　that　had　come　and　departed　since　Kor…ul…gryf　had　been　abandoned　by　men。　Of　course　Pan…at…lee　thought　no　such　thoughts；　for　evolution　and　progress　existed　not　for　her；　or　her　kind。　Things　were　as　they　had　always　been　and　would　always　be　as　they　were。

That　these　strange　creatures　have　existed　thus　for　incalculable　ages　it　can　scarce　be　doubted；　so　marked　are　the　indications　of　antiquity　about　their　dwellingsdeep　furrows　worn　by　naked　feet　in　living　rock；　the　hollow　in　the　jamb　of　a　stone　doorway　where　many　arms　have　touched　in　passing；　the　endless　carvings　that　cover；　ofttimes；　the　entire　face　of　a　great　cliff　and　all　the　walls　and　ceilings　of　every　cave　and　each　carving　wrought　by　a　different　hand；　for　each　is　the　coat　of　arms；　one　might　say；　of　the　adult　male　who　traced　it。

And　so　Pan…at…lee　found　this　ancient　cave　homelike　and　familiar。　There　was　less　litter　within　than　she　had　found　without　and　what　there　was　was　mostly　an　accumulation　of　dust。　Beside　the　doorway　was　the　niche　in　which　wood　and　tinder　were　kept；　but　there　remained　nothing　now　other　than　mere　dust。　She　had　however　saved　a　little　pile　of　twigs　from　the　debris　on　the　porch。　In　a　short　time　she　had　made　a　light　by　firing　a　bundle　of　twigs　and　lighting　others　from　this　fire　she　explored　some　of　the　inner　rooms。　Nor　here　did　she　find　aught　that　was　new　or　strange　nor　any　relic　of　the　departed　owners　other　than　a　few　broken　stone　dishes。　She　had　been　looking　for　something　soft　to　sleep　upon；　but　was　doomed　to　disappointment　as　the　former　owners　had　evidently　made　a　leisurely　departure；　carrying　all　their　belongings　with　them。　Below；　in　the　gorge　were　leaves　and　grasses　and　fragrant　branches；　but　Pan…at…lee　felt　no　stomach　for　descending　into　that　horrid　abyss　for　the　gratification　of　mere　creature　comfortonly　the　necessity　for　food　would　drive　her　there。

And　so；　as　the　shadows　lengthened　and　night　approached　she　prepared　to　make　as　comfortable　a　bed　as　she　could　by　gathering　the　dust　of　ages　into　a　little　pile　and　spreading　it　between　her　soft　body　and　the　hard　floorat　best　it　was　only　better　than　nothing。　But　Pan…at…lee　was　very　tired。　She　had　not　slept　since　two　nights　before　and　in　the　interval　she　had　experienced　many　dangers　and　hardships。　What　wonder　then　that　despite　the　hard　bed；　she　was　asleep　almost　immediately　she　had　composed　herself　for　rest。

She　slept　and　the　moon　rose；　casting　its　silver　light　upon　the　cliff's　white　face　and　lessening　the　gloom　of　the　dark　forest　and　the　dismal　gorge。　In　the　distance　a　lion　roared。　There　was　a　long　silence。　From　the　upper　reaches　of　the　gorge　came　a　deep　bellow。　There　was　a　movement　in　the　trees　at　the　cliff's　foot。　Again　the　bellow；　low　and　ominous。　It　was　answered　from　below　the　deserted　village。　Something　dropped　from　the　foliage　of　a　tree　directly　below　the　cave　in　which　Pan…at…lee　sleptit　dropped　to　the　ground　among　the　dense　shadows。　Now　it　moved；　cautiously。　It　moved　toward　the　foot　of　the　cliff；　taking　form　and　shape　in　the　moonlight。　It　moved　like　the　creature　of　a　bad　dreamslowly；　sluggishly。　It　might　have　been　a　huge　slothit　might　have　been　a　man；　with　so　grotesque　a　brush　does　the　moon　paintmaster　cubist。

Slowly　it　moved　up　the　face　of　the　clifflike　a　great　grubworm　it　moved；　but　now　the　moon…brush　touched　it　again　and　it　had　hands　and　feet　and　with　them　it　clung　to　the　stone　pegs　and　raised　itself　laboriously　aloft　toward　the　cave　where　Pan…at…lee　slept。　From　the　lower　reaches　of　the　gorge　came　again　the　sound　of　bellowing；　and　it　was　answered　from　above　the　village。

Tarzan　of　the　Apes　opened　his　eyes。　He　was　conscious　of　a　pain　in　his　head；　and　at　first　that　was　about　all。　A　moment　later　grotesque　shadows；　rising　and　falling；　focused　his　arousing　perceptions。　Presently　he　saw　that　he　was　in　a　cave。　A　dozen　Waz…don　warriors　squatted　about；　talking。　A　rude　stone　cresset　containing　burning　oil　lighted　the　interior　and　as　the　flame　rose　and　fell　the　exaggerated　shadows　of　the　warriors　danced　upon　the　walls　behind　them。

〃We　brought　him　to　you　alive；　Gund；〃　he　heard　one　of　them　saying；　〃because　never　before　was　Ho…don　like　him　seen。　He　has　no　tailhe　was　born　without　one；　for　there　is　no　scar　to　mark　where　a　tail　had　been　cut　off。　The　thumbs　upon　his　hands　and　feet　are　unlike　those　of　the　races　of　Pal…ul…don。　He　is　more　powerful　than　many　men　put　together　and　he　attacks　with　the　fearlessness　of　ja。　We　brought　him　alive；　that　you　might　see　him　before　he　is　slain。〃

The　chief　rose　and　approached　the　ape…man；　who　closed　his　eyes　and　feigned　unconsciousness。　He　felt　hairy　hands　upon　him　as　he　was　turned　over；　none　too　gently。　The　gund　examined　him　from　head　to　foot；　making　comments；　especially　upon　the　shape　and　size　of　his　thumbs　and　great　toes。

〃With　these　and　with　no　tail；〃　he　said；　〃it　cannot　climb。〃

〃No；〃　agreed　one　of　the　warriors；　〃it　would　surely　fall　even　from　the　cliff　pegs。〃

〃I　have　never　seen　a　thing　like　it；〃　said　the　chief。　〃It　is　neither　Waz…don　nor　Ho…don。　I　wonder　from　whence　it　came　and　what　it　is　called。〃

〃The　Kor…ul…ja　shouted　aloud；　'Tarzan…jad…guru！'　and　we　thought　that　they　might　be　calling　this　one；〃　said　a　warrior。　〃Shall　we　kill　it　now？〃

〃No；〃　replied　the　chief；　〃we　will　wait　until　it's　life　returns　into　its　head　that　I　may　question　it。　Remain　here；　In…tan；　and　watch　it。　When　it　can　again　hear　and　speak　call　me。〃

He　turned　and　departed　from　the　cave；　the　others；　except　In…tan；　following　him。　As　they　moved　past　him　and　out　of　the　chamber　Tarzan　caught　snatches　of　their　conversation　which　indicated　that　the　Kor…ul…ja　reinforcements　had　fallen　upon　their　little　party　in　great　numbers　and　driven　them　away。　Evidently　the　swift　feet　of　Id…an　had　saved　the　day　for　the　warriors　of　Om…at。　The　ape…man　smiled；　then　he　partially　opened　an　eye　and　cast　it　upon　In…tan。　The　warrior　stood　at　the　entrance　to　the　cave　looking　outhis　back　was　toward　his　prisoner。　Tarzan　tested　the　bonds　that　secured　his　wrists。　They　seemed　none　too　stout　and　they　had　tied　his　hands　in　front　of　him！　Evidence　indeed　that　the　Waz…don　took　few　prisonersif　any。

Cautiously　he　raised　his　wrists　until　he　could　examine　the　thongs　that　confined　them。　A　grim　smile　lighted　his　features。　Instantly　he　was　at　work　upon　the　bonds　with　his　strong　teeth；　but　ever　a　wary　eye　was　upon　In…tan；　the　warrior　of　Kor…ul…lul。　The　last　knot　had　been　loosened　and　Tarzan's　hands　were　free　when　In…tan　turned　to　cast　an　appraising　eye　upon　his　ward。　He　saw　that　the　prisoner's　position　was　changedhe　no　longer　lay　upon　his　back　as　they　had　left　him；　but　upon　his　side　and　his　hands　were　drawn　up　against　his　face。　In…tan　came　closer　and　bent　down。　The　bonds　seemed　very　loose　upon　the　prisoner's　wrists。　He　extended　his　hand　to　examine　them　with　his　fingers　and　instantly　the　two　hands　leaped　from　their　bondsone　to　seize　his　own　wrist；　the　other　his　throat。　So　unexpected　the　catlike　attack　that　In…tan　had　not　even　time　to　cry　out　before　steel　fingers　silenced　him。　The　creature　pulled　him　suddenly　forward　so　that　he　lost　his　balance　and　rolled　over　upon　the　prisoner　and　to　the　floor　beyond　to　stop　with　Tarzan　upon　his　breast。　In…tan　struggled　to　release　himselfstruggled　to　draw　his　knife；　but　Tarzan　found　it　before　him。　The　Waz…don's　tail　leaped　to　the　other's　throat；　encircling　ithe　too　could　choke；　but　his　own　knife；　in　the　hands　of　his　antagonist；　severed　the　beloved　member　close　to　its　root。

The　Waz…don's　struggles　became　weakera　film　was　obscuring　his　vision。　He　knew　that　he　was　dying　and　he　was　right。　A　moment　later　he　was　dead。　Tarzan　rose　to　his　feet　and　placed　one　foot　upon　the　breast　of　his　dead　foe。　How　the　urge　seized　him　to　roar　forth　the　victory　cry　of　his　kind！　But　he　dared　not。　He　discovered　that　they　had　not　removed　his　rope　from　his　shoulders　and　that　they　had　replaced　his　knife　in　its　sheath。　It　had　been　in　his　hand　when　he　was　felled。　Strange　creatures！　He　did　not　know　that　they　held　a　superstitious　fear　of　the　weapons　of　a　dead　enemy；　believing　that　if　buried　without　them　he　would　forever　haunt　his　slayers　in　search　of　them　and　that　when　he　found　them　he　would　kill　the　man　who　killed　him。　Against　the　wall　leaned　his　bow　and　quiver　of　arrows。

Tarzan　stepped　toward　the　doorway　of　the　cave　and　looked　out。　Night　had　just　fallen。　He　c