tarzan the terrible-第14章

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pted　by　a　strange　cry　from　above　them　in　the　gorge。

〃Whee…oo！　Whee…oo！〃　it　sounded；　coming　closer。

The　gryfs　below　raised　their　heads　and　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　interruption。　One　of　them　made　a　low；　rumbling　sound　in　its　throat。　It　was　not　a　bellow　and　it　did　not　indicate　anger。　Immediately　the　〃Whee…oo！〃　responded。　The　gryfs　repeated　the　rumbling　and　at　intervals　the　〃Whee…oo！〃　was　repeated；　coming　ever　closer。

Tarzan　looked　at　Pan…at…lee。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　replied。　〃Perhaps　a　strange　bird；　or　another　horrid　beast　that　dwells　in　this　frightful　place。〃

〃Ah；〃　exclaimed　Tarzan；　〃there　it　is。　Look！〃

Pan…at…lee　voiced　a　cry　of　despair。　〃A　Tor…o…don！〃

The　creature；　walking　erect　and　carrying　a　stick　in　one　hand；　advanced　at　a　slow；　lumbering　gait。　It　walked　directly　toward　the　gryfs　who　moved　aside；　as　though　afraid。　Tarzan　watched　intently。　The　Tor…o…don　was　now　quite　close　to　one　of　the　triceratops。　It　swung　its　head　and　snapped　at　him　viciously。　Instantly　the　Tor…o…don　sprang　in　and　commenced　to　belabor　the　huge　beast　across　the　face　with　his　stick。　To　the　ape…man's　amazement　the　gryf；　that　might　have　annihilated　the　comparatively　puny　Tor…o…don　instantly　in　any　of　a　dozen　ways；　cringed　like　a　whipped　cur。

〃Whee…oo！　Whee…oo！〃　shouted　the　Tor…o…don　and　the　gryf　came　slowly　toward　him。　A　whack　on　the　median　horn　brought　it　to　a　stop。　Then　the　Tor…o…don　walked　around　behind　it；　clambered　up　its　tail　and　seated　himself　astraddle　of　the　huge　back。　〃Whee…oo！〃　he　shouted　and　prodded　the　beast　with　a　sharp　point　of　his　stick。　The　gryf　commenced　to　move　off。

So　rapt　had　Tarzan　been　in　the　scene　below　him　that　he　had　given　no　thought　to　escape；　for　he　realized　that　for　him　and　Pan…at…lee　time　had　in　these　brief　moments　turned　back　countless　ages　to　spread　before　their　eyes　a　page　of　the　dim　and　distant　past。　They　two　had　looked　upon　the　first　man　and　his　primitive　beasts　of　burden。

And　now　the　ridden　gryf　halted　and　looked　up　at　them；　bellowing。　It　was　sufficient。　The　creature　had　warned　its　master　of　their　presence。　Instantly　the　Tor…o…don　urged　the　beast　close　beneath　the　tree　which　held　them；　at　the　same　time　leaping　to　his　feet　upon　the　horny　back。　Tarzan　saw　the　bestial　face；　the　great　fangs；　the　mighty　muscles。　From　the　loins　of　such　had　sprung　the　human　raceand　only　from　such　could　it　have　sprung；　for　only　such　as　this　might　have　survived　the　horrid　dangers　of　the　age　that　was　theirs。

The　Tor…o…don　beat　upon　his　breast　and　growled　horribly　hideous；　uncouth；　beastly。　Tarzan　rose　to　his　full　height　upon　a　swaying　branchstraight　and　beautiful　as　a　demigodunspoiled　by　the　taint　of　civilizationa　perfect　specimen　of　what　the　human　race　might　have　been　had　the　laws　of　man　not　interfered　with　the　laws　of　nature。

The　Present　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow　and　drew　the　shaft　far　back。　The　Past　basing　its　claims　upon　brute　strength　sought　to　reach　the　other　and　drag　him　down；　but　the　loosed　arrow　sank　deep　into　the　savage　heart　and　the　Past　sank　back　into　the　oblivion　that　had　claimed　his　kind。

〃Tarzan…jad…guru！〃　murmured　Pan…at…lee；　unknowingly　giving　him　out　of　the　fullness　of　her　admiration　the　same　title　that　the　warriors　of　her　tribe　had　bestowed　upon　him。

The　ape…man　turned　to　her。　〃Pan…at…lee；〃　he　said；　〃these　beasts　may　keep　us　treed　here　indefinitely。　I　doubt　if　we　can　escape　together；　but　I　have　a　plan。　You　remain　here；　hiding　yourself　in　the　foliage；　while　I　start　back　across　the　gorge　in　sight　of　them　and　yelling　to　attract　their　attention。　Unless　they　have　more　brains　than　I　suspect　they　will　follow　me。　When　they　are　gone　you　make　for　the　cliff。　Wait　for　me　in　the　cave　not　longer　than　today。　If　I　do　not　come　by　tomorrow's　sun　you　will　have　to　start　back　for　Kor…ul…ja　alone。　Here　is　a　joint　of　deer　meat　for　you。〃　He　had　severed　one　of　the　deer's　hind　legs　and　this　he　passed　up　to　her。

〃I　cannot　desert　you；〃　she　said　simply；　〃it　is　not　the　way　of　my　people　to　desert　a　friend　and　ally。　Om…at　would　never　forgive　me。〃

〃Tell　Om…at　that　I　commanded　you　to　go；〃　replied　Tarzan。

〃It　is　a　command？〃　she　asked。

〃It　is！　Good…bye；　Pan…at…lee。　Hasten　back　to　Om…atyou　are　a　fitting　mate　for　the　chief　of　Kor…ul…ja。〃　He　moved　off　slowly　through　the　trees。

〃Good…bye；　Tarzan…jad…guru！〃　she　called　after　him。　〃Fortunate　are　my　Om…at　and　his　Pan…at…lee　in　owning　such　a　friend。〃

Tarzan；　shouting　aloud；　continued　upon　his　way　and　the　great　gryfs；　lured　by　his　voice；　followed　beneath。　His　ruse　was　evidently　proving　successful　and　he　was　filled　with　elation　as　he　led　the　bellowing　beasts　farther　and　farther　from　Pan…at…lee。　He　hoped　that　she　would　take　advantage　of　the　opportunity　afforded　her　for　escape；　yet　at　the　same　time　he　was　filled　with　concern　as　to　her　ability　to　survive　the　dangers　which　lay　between　Kor…ul…gryf　and　Kor…ul…ja。　There　were　lions　and　Tor…o…dons　and　the　unfriendly　tribe　of　Kor…ul…lul　to　hinder　her　progress；　though　the　distance　in　itself　to　the　cliffs　of　her　people　was　not　great。

He　realized　her　bravery　and　understood　the　resourcefulness　that　she　must　share　in　common　with　all　primitive　people　who；　day　by　day；　must　contend　face　to　face　with　nature's　law　of　the　survival　of　the　fittest；　unaided　by　any　of　the　numerous　artificial　protections　that　civilization　has　thrown　around　its　brood　of　weaklings。

Several　times　during　this　crossing　of　the　gorge　Tarzan　endeavored　to　outwit　his　keen　pursuers；　but　all　to　no　avail。　Double　as　he　would　he　could　not　throw　them　off　his　track　and　ever　as　he　changed　his　course　they　changed　theirs　to　conform。　Along　the　verge　of　the　forest　upon　the　southeastern　side　of　the　gorge　he　sought　some　point　at　which　the　trees　touched　some　negotiable　portion　of　the　cliff；　but　though　he　traveled　far　both　up　and　down　the　gorge　he　discovered　no　such　easy　avenue　of　escape。　The　ape…man　finally　commenced　to　entertain　an　idea　of　the　hopelessness　of　his　case　and　to　realize　to　the　full　why　the　Kor…ul…gryf　had　been　religiously　abjured　by　the　races　of　Pal…ul…don　for　all　these　many　ages。

Night　was　falling　and　though　since　early　morning　he　had　sought　diligently　a　way　out　of　this　cul…de…sac　he　was　no　nearer　to　liberty　than　at　the　moment　the　first　bellowing　gryf　had　charged　him　as　he　stooped　over　the　carcass　of　his　kill：　but　with　the　falling　of　night　came　renewed　hope　for；　in　common　with　the　great　cats；　Tarzan　was；　to　a　greater　or　lesser　extent；　a　nocturnal　beast。　It　is　true　he　could　not　see　by　night　as　well　as　they；　but　that　lack　was　largely　recompensed　for　by　the　keenness　of　his　scent　and　the　highly　developed　sensitiveness　of　his　other　organs　of　perception。　As　the　blind　follow　and　interpret　their　Braille　characters　with　deft　fingers；　so　Tarzan　reads　the　book　of　the　jungle　with　feet　and　hands　and　eyes　and　ears　and　nose；　each　contributing　its　share　to　the　quick　and　accurate　translation　of　the　text。

But　again　he　was　doomed　to　be　thwarted　by　one　vital　weaknesshe　did　not　know　the　gryf；　and　before　the　night　was　over　he　wondered　if　the　things　never　slept；　for　wheresoever　he　moved　they　moved　also；　and　always　they　barred　his　road　to　liberty。　Finally；　just　before　dawn；　he　relinquished　his　immediate　effort　and　sought　rest　in　a　friendly　tree　crotch　in　the　safety　of　the　middle　terrace。

Once　again　was　the　sun　high　when　Tarzan　awoke；　rested　and　refreshed。　Keen　to　the　necessities　of　the　moment　he　made　no　effort　to　locate　his　jailers　lest　in　the　act　he　might　apprise　them　of　his　movements。　Instead　he　sought　cautiously　and　silently　to　melt　away　among　the　foliage　of　the　trees。　His　first　move；　however；　was　heralded　by　a　deep　bellow　from　below。

Among　the　numerous　refinements　of　civilization　that　Tarzan　had　failed　to　acquire　was　that　of　profanity；　and　possibly　it　is　to　be　regretted　since　there　are　circumstances　under　which　it　is　at　least　a　relief　to　pent　emotion。　And　it　may　be　that　in　effect　Tarzan　resorted　to　profanity　if　there　can　be　physical　as　well　as　vocal　swearing；　since　immediately　the　bellow　announced　that　his　hopes　had　been　again　frustrated；　he　turned　quickly　and　seeing　the　hideous　face　of　the　gryf　below　him　seized　a　large　fruit　from　a　nearby　branch　and　hurled　it　viciously　at　the　horned　snout。　The　missile　struck　full　between　the　creature's　eyes；　resulting　in　a　reaction　that　surprised　the　ape…man；　it　did　not　arouse　the　beast　to　a　show　of　revengeful　rage　as　Tarzan　had　expected　and　hoped；　instead　the　creature　gave　a　single　vicious　side　snap　at　the　fruit　as　it　bounded　from　his　skull　and　then　turned　sulkily　away；　walking　off　a　few　steps。

There　was　that　in　the　act　that　recalled　immediately　to　Tarzan's　mind　similar　action　on　the　preceding　day　when　the　Tor…o…don　had　struck　one　of　the　creatures　across　the　face　with　his　staff；　and　instantly　there　sprung　to　the　cunning　and　courageous　brain　a　plan　of　escape　from　his　predicament　that　might　have　blanched　the　cheek　of　the　most　heroic。

The　gambling　instinct　is　not　strong　among　creatures　of　the　wild；　the　chances　of　their　daily　life　are　sufficient　stimuli　for　the　beneficial　excitement　of　their　nerve　centers。　It　has　remained　for　civilized　man；　protected　in　a　measure　from　the　natural　dangers　of　existence；　to　invent　artificial　stimulants　in　the　form　of　cards　and　dice　and　roulette　wheels。　Yet　when　necessity　bids　there　are　no　greater　gamblers　than　the　savage　denizens　of　the　jungle；　the　forest；　and　the　hills；　for　as　lightly　as　you　roll　the　ivory　cubes　upon　the　green　cloth　they　will　gamble　with　deaththeir　own　lives　the　stake。

And　so　Tarzan　would　gamble　now；　pitting　the　seemingly　wild　deductions　of　his　shrewd　brain　against　all　the　proofs　of　the　bestial　ferocity　of　his　antagonists　that　his　experience　of　them　had　adducedagainst　all　the　age…old　folklore　and　legend　that　had　been　handed　down　for　countless　generations　and　passed　on　to　him　through　the　lips　of　Pan…at…lee。

Yet　as　he　worked　in　preparation　for　the　greatest　play　that　man　can　make　in　the　game　of　life；　he　smiled；　nor　was　there　any　indication　of　haste　or　excitement　or　nervousness　in　his　demeanor。

First　he　selected　a　long；　straight　branch　about　two　inches　in　diameter　at　its　base。　This　he　cut　from　the　tree　with　his　knife；　removed　the　smaller　branches　and　twigs　until　he　had　fashioned　a　pole　about　ten　feet　in　length。　This　he　sharpened　at　the　smaller　end。　The　staff　finished　to　his　satisfaction　he　looked　down　upon　the　triceratops。

〃Whee…oo！〃　he　cried。

Instantly　the　beasts　raised　their　heads　and　looked　at　him。　From　the　throat　of　one　of　them　came　faintly　a　low　rumbling　sound。

〃Whee…oo！〃　repeated　Tarzan　and　hurled　the　balance　of　the　carcass　of　the　deer　to　them。

Instantly　the　gryfs　fell　upon　it　with　much　bellowing；　one　of　them　attempting　to　seize　it　and　keep　it　from　the　other：　but　finally　the　second　obtained　a　hold　and　an　instant　later　it　had　been　torn　asunder　and　greedily　devoured。　Once　again　they　looked　up　at　the　ape…man　and　this　time　they　saw　him　descending　to　the　ground。

One　of　them　started　toward　him。　Again　Tarzan　repeated　the　weird　cry　of　the　Tor…o…don。　The　gryf　halted　in　his　track；　apparently　puzzled；　while　Tarzan　slipped　lightly　to　the　earth　and　advanced　toward　the　nearer　beast；　his　staff　raised　menacingly　and　the　call　of　the　first…man　upon　his　lips。

Would　the　cry　be　answered　by　the　low　rumbling　of　the　beast　of　burden　or　the　horrid　bellow　of　the　man…eater？