tarzan the terrible-第2章

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site　side　rose　lofty　treesa　great　forest　which　suggested　to　his　practiced　eye　a　mighty　jungle。　Toward　this　the　ape…man　bent　his　step；　but　when　midway　of　the　plain　he　discovered　standing　alone　such　a　tree　as　best　suited　him　for　a　night's　abode；　swung　lightly　to　its　branches　and；　presently；　a　comfortable　resting　place。

Here　he　ate　the　flesh　of　Bara　and　when　satisfied　carried　the　balance　of　the　carcass　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　tree　where　he　deposited　it　far　above　the　ground　in　a　secure　place。　Returning　to　his　crotch　he　settled　himself　for　sleep　and　in　another　moment　the　roars　of　the　lions　and　the　howlings　of　the　lesser　cats　fell　upon　deaf　ears。

The　usual　noises　of　the　jungle　composed　rather　than　disturbed　the　ape…man　but　an　unusual　sound；　however　imperceptible　to　the　awakened　ear　of　civilized　man；　seldom　failed　to　impinge　upon　the　consciousness　of　Tarzan；　however　deep　his　slumber；　and　so　it　was　that　when　the　moon　was　high　a　sudden　rush　of　feet　across　the　grassy　carpet　in　the　vicinity　of　his　tree　brought　him　to　alert　and　ready　activity。　Tarzan　does　not　awaken　as　you　and　I　with　the　weight　of　slumber　still　upon　his　eyes　and　brain；　for　did　the　creatures　of　the　wild　awaken　thus；　their　awakenings　would　be　few。　As　his　eyes　snapped　open；　clear　and　bright；　so；　clear　and　bright　upon　the　nerve　centers　of　his　brain；　were　registered　the　various　perceptions　of　all　his　senses。

Almost　beneath　him；　racing　toward　his　tree　was　what　at　first　glance　appeared　to　be　an　almost　naked　white　man；　yet　even　at　the　first　instant　of　discovery　the　long；　white　tail　projecting　rearward　did　not　escape　the　ape…man。　Behind　the　fleeing　figure；　escaping；　came　Numa；　the　lion；　in　full　charge。　Voiceless　the　prey；　voiceless　the　killer；　as　two　spirits　in　a　dead　world　the　two　moved　in　silent　swiftness　toward　the　culminating　tragedy　of　this　grim　race。

Even　as　his　eyes　opened　and　took　in　the　scene　beneath　himeven　in　that　brief　instant　of　perception；　followed　reason；　judgment；　and　decision；　so　rapidly　one　upon　the　heels　of　the　other　that　almost　simultaneously　the　ape…man　was　in　mid…air；　for　he　had　seen　a　white…skinned　creature　cast　in　a　mold　similar　to　his　own；　pursued　by　Tarzan's　hereditary　enemy。　So　close　was　the　lion　to　the　fleeing　man…thing　that　Tarzan　had　no　time　carefully　to　choose　the　method　of　his　attack。　As　a　diver　leaps　from　the　springboard　headforemost　into　the　waters　beneath；　so　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　dove　straight　for　Numa；　the　lion；　naked　in　his　right　hand　the　blade　of　his　father　that　so　many　times　before　had　tasted　the　blood　of　lions。

A　raking　talon　caught　Tarzan　on　the　side；　inflicting　a　long；　deep　wound　and　then　the　ape…man　was　on　Numa's　back　and　the　blade　was　sinking　again　and　again　into　the　savage　side。　Nor　was　the　man…thing　either　longer　fleeing；　or　idle。　He　too；　creature　of　the　wild；　had　sensed　on　the　instant　the　truth　of　the　miracle　of　his　saving；　and　turning　in　his　tracks；　had　leaped　forward　with　raised　bludgeon　to　Tarzan's　assistance　and　Numa's　undoing。　A　single　terrific　blow　upon　the　flattened　skull　of　the　beast　laid　him　insensible　and　then　as　Tarzan's　knife　found　the　wild　heart　a　few　convulsive　shudders　and　a　sudden　relaxation　marked　the　passing　of　the　carnivore。

Leaping　to　his　feet　the　ape…man　placed　his　foot　upon　the　carcass　of　his　kill　and；　raising　his　face　to　Goro；　the　moon；　voiced　the　savage　victory　cry　that　had　so　often　awakened　the　echoes　of　his　native　jungle。

As　the　hideous　scream　burst　from　the　ape…man's　lips　the　man…thing　stepped　quickly　back　as　in　sudden　awe；　but　when　Tarzan　returned　his　hunting　knife　to　its　sheath　and　turned　toward　him　the　other　saw　in　the　quiet　dignity　of　his　demeanor　no　cause　for　apprehension。

For　a　moment　the　two　stood　appraising　each　other；　and　then　the　man…thing　spoke。　Tarzan　realized　that　the　creature　before　him　was　uttering　articulate　sounds　which　expressed　in　speech；　though　in　a　language　with　which　Tarzan　was　unfamiliar；　the　thoughts　of　a　man　possessing　to　a　greater　or　less　extent　the　same　powers　of　reason　that　he　possessed。　In　other　words；　that　though　the　creature　before　him　had　the　tail　and　thumbs　and　great　toes　of　a　monkey；　it　was；　in　all　other　respects；　quite　evidently　a　man。

The　blood；　which　was　now　flowing　down　Tarzan's　side；　caught　the　creature's　attention。　From　the　pocket…pouch　at　his　side　he　took　a　small　bag　and　approaching　Tarzan　indicated　by　signs　that　he　wished　the　ape…man　to　lie　down　that　he　might　treat　the　wound；　whereupon；　spreading　the　edges　of　the　cut　apart；　he　sprinkled　the　raw　flesh　with　powder　from　the　little　bag。　The　pain　of　the　wound　was　as　nothing　to　the　exquisite　torture　of　the　remedy　but；　accustomed　to　physical　suffering；　the　ape…man　withstood　it　stoically　and　in　a　few　moments　not　only　had　the　bleeding　ceased　but　the　pain　as　well。

In　reply　to　the　soft　and　far　from　unpleasant　modulations　of　the　other's　voice；　Tarzan　spoke　in　various　tribal　dialects　of　the　interior　as　well　as　in　the　language　of　the　great　apes；　but　it　was　evident　that　the　man　understood　none　of　these。　Seeing　that　they　could　not　make　each　other　understood；　the　pithecanthropus　advanced　toward　Tarzan　and　placing　his　left　hand　over　his　own　heart　laid　the　palm　of　his　right　hand　over　the　heart　of　the　ape…man。　To　the　latter　the　action　appeared　as　a　form　of　friendly　greeting　and；　being　versed　in　the　ways　of　uncivilized　races；　he　responded　in　kind　as　he　realized　it　was　doubtless　intended　that　he　should。　His　action　seemed　to　satisfy　and　please　his　new…found　acquaintance；　who　immediately　fell　to　talking　again　and　finally；　with　his　head　tipped　back；　sniffed　the　air　in　the　direction　of　the　tree　above　them　and　then　suddenly　pointing　toward　the　carcass　of　Bara；　the　deer；　he　touched　his　stomach　in　a　sign　language　which　even　the　densest　might　interpret。　With　a　wave　of　his　hand　Tarzan　invited　his　guest　to　partake　of　the　remains　of　his　savage　repast；　and　the　other；　leaping　nimbly　as　a　little　monkey　to　the　lower　branches　of　the　tree；　made　his　way　quickly　to　the　flesh；　assisted　always　by　his　long；　strong　sinuous　tail。

The　pithecanthropus　ate　in　silence；　cutting　small　strips　from　the　deer's　loin　with　his　keen　knife。　From　his　crotch　in　the　tree　Tarzan　watched　his　companion；　noting　the　preponderance　of　human　attributes　which　were　doubtless　accentuated　by　the　paradoxical　thumbs；　great　toes；　and　tail。

He　wondered　if　this　creature　was　representative　of　some　strange　race　or　if；　what　seemed　more　likely；　but　an　atavism。　Either　supposition　would　have　seemed　preposterous　enough　did　he　not　have　before　him　the　evidence　of　the　creature's　existence。　There　he　was；　however；　a　tailed　man　with　distinctly　arboreal　hands　and　feet。　His　trappings；　gold　encrusted　and　jewel　studded；　could　have　been　wrought　only　by　skilled　artisans；　but　whether　they　were　the　work　of　this　individual　or　of　others　like　him；　or　of　an　entirely　different　race；　Tarzan　could　not；　of　course；　determine。

His　meal　finished；　the　guest　wiped　his　fingers　and　lips　with　leaves　broken　from　a　nearby　branch；　looked　up　at　Tarzan　with　a　pleasant　smile　that　revealed　a　row　of　strong　white　teeth；　the　canines　of　which　were　no　longer　than　Tarzan's　own；　spoke　a　few　words　which　Tarzan　judged　were　a　polite　expression　of　thanks　and　then　sought　a　comfortable　place　in　the　tree　for　the　night。

The　earth　was　shadowed　in　the　darkness　which　precedes　the　dawn　when　Tarzan　was　awakened　by　a　violent　shaking　of　the　tree　in　which　he　had　found　shelter。　As　he　opened　his　eyes　he　saw　that　his　companion　was　also　astir；　and　glancing　around　quickly　to　apprehend　the　cause　of　the　disturbance；　the　ape…man　was　astounded　at　the　sight　which　met　his　eyes。

The　dim　shadow　of　a　colossal　form　reared　close　beside　the　tree　and　he　saw　that　it　was　the　scraping　of　the　giant　body　against　the　branches　that　had　awakened　him。　That　such　a　tremendous　creature　could　have　approached　so　closely　without　disturbing　him　filled　Tarzan　with　both　wonderment　and　chagrin。　In　the　gloom　the　ape…man　at　first　conceived　the　intruder　to　be　an　elephant；　yet；　if　so；　one　of　greater　proportions　than　any　he　had　ever　before　seen；　but　as　the　dim　outlines　became　less　indistinct　he　saw　on　a　line　with　his　eyes　and　twenty　feet　above　the　ground　the　dim　silhouette　of　a　grotesquely　serrated　back　that　gave　the　impression　of　a　creature　whose　each　and　every　spinal　vertebra　grew　a　thick；　heavy　horn。　Only　a　portion　of　the　back　was　visible　to　the　ape…man；　the　rest　of　the　body　being　lost　in　the　dense　shadows　beneath　the　tree；　from　whence　there　now　arose　the　sound　of　giant　jaws　powerfully　crunching　flesh　and　bones。　From　the　odors　that　rose　to　the　ape…man's　sensitive　nostrils　he　presently　realized　that　beneath　him　was　some　huge　reptile　feeding　upon　the　carcass　of　the　lion　that　had　been　slain　there　earlier　in　the　night。

As　Tarzan's　eyes；　straining　with　curiosity；　bored　futilely　into　the　dark　shadows　he　felt　a　light　touch　upon　his　shoulder；　and；　turning；　saw　that　his　companion　was　attempting　to　attract　his　attention。　The　creature；　pressing　a　forefinger　to　his　own　lips　as　to　enjoin　silence；　attempted　by　pulling　on　Tarzan's　arm　to　indicate　that　they　should　leave　at　once。

Realizing　that　he　was　in　a　strange　country；　evidently　infested　by　creatures　of　titanic　size；　with　the　habits　and　powers　of　which　he　was　entirely　unfamiliar；　the　ape…man　permitted　himself　to　be　drawn　away。　With　the　utmost　caution　the　pithecanthropus　descended　the　tree　upon　the　opposite　side　from　the　great　nocturnal　prowler；　and；　closely　followed　by　Tarzan；　moved　silently　away　through　the　night　across　the　plain。

The　ape…man　was　rather　loath　thus　to　relinquish　an　opportunity　to　inspect　a　creature　which　he　realized　was　probably　entirely　different　from　anything　in　his　past　experience；　yet　he　was　wise　enough　to　know　when　discretion　was　the　better　part　of　valor　and　now；　as　in　the　past；　he　yielded　to　that　law　which　dominates　the　kindred　of　the　wild；　preventing　them　from　courting　danger　uselessly；　whose　lives　are　sufficiently　filled　with　danger　in　their　ordinary　routine　of　feeding　and　mating。

As　the　rising　sun　dispelled　the　shadows　of　the　night；　Tarzan　found　himself　again　upon　the　verge　of　a　great　forest　into　which　his　guide　plunged；　taking　nimbly　to　the　branches　of　the　trees　through　which　he　made　his　way　with　the　celerity　of　long　habitude　and　hereditary　instinct；　but　though　aided　by　a　prehensile　tail；　fingers；　and　toes；　the　man…thing　moved　through　the　forest　with　no　greater　ease　or　surety　than　did　the　giant　ape…man。

It　was　during　this　journey　that　Tarzan　recalled　the　wound　in　his　side　inflicted　upon　him　the　previous　night　by　the　raking　talons　of　Numa；　the　lion；　and　examining　it　was　surprised　to　discover　that　not　only　was　it　painless　but　along　its　edges　were　no　indications　of　inflammation；　the　results　doubtless　of　the　antiseptic　powder　his　strange　companion　had　sprinkled　upon　it。

They　had　proceeded　for　a　mile　or　two　when　Tarzan's　companion　came　to　earth　upon　a　grassy　slope　beneath　a　great　tree　whose　branches　overhung　a　clear　brook。　Here　they　drank　and　Tarzan　discovered　the　water　to　be　not　only　deliciously　pure　and　fresh　but　of　an　icy　temperature　that　indicated　its　rapid　descent　from　the　lofty　mountains　of　its　origin。

Casting　aside　his　loin　cloth　and　weapons　Tarzan　entered　the　little　pool　beneath　the　tree　and　after　a　moment　emerged；　greatly　refreshed　and　filled　with　a　keen　desire　to　breakfast。　As　he　cam