tarzan the terrible-第24章

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Like　shadows　the　Kor…ul…ja　melted　into　the　concealment　of　the　foliage　upon　either　side　of　the　trail。　Ignorant　of　impending　danger；　safe　in　the　knowledge　that　they　trod　their　own　domain　where　each　rock　and　stone　was　as　familiar　as　the　features　of　their　mates；　the　Kor…ul…lul　walked　innocently　into　the　ambush。　Suddenly　the　quiet　of　that　seeming　peace　was　shattered　by　a　savage　cry　and　a　hurled　club　felled　a　Kor…ul…lul。

The　cry　was　a　signal　for　a　savage　chorus　from　a　hundred　Kor…ul…ja　throats　with　which　were　soon　mingled　the　war　cries　of　their　enemies。　The　air　was　filled　with　flying　clubs　and　then　as　the　two　forces　mingled；　the　battle　resolved　itself　into　a　number　of　individual　encounters　as　each　warrior　singled　out　a　foe　and　closed　upon　him。　Knives　gleamed　and　flashed　in　the　mottling　sunlight　that　filtered　through　the　foliage　of　the　trees　above。　Sleek　black　coats　were　streaked　with　crimson　stains。

In　the　thick　of　the　fight　the　smooth　brown　skin　of　the　stranger　mingled　with　the　black　bodies　of　friend　and　foe。　Only　his　keen　eyes　and　his　quick　wit　had　shown　him　how　to　differentiate　between　Kor…ul…lul　and　Kor…ul…ja　since　with　the　single　exception　of　apparel　they　were　identical；　but　at　the　first　rush　of　the　enemy　he　had　noticed　that　their　loin　cloths　were　not　of　the　leopard…matted　hides　such　as　were　worn　by　his　allies。

Om…at；　after　dispatching　his　first　antagonist；　glanced　at　Jar…don。　〃He　fights　with　the　ferocity　of　jato；〃　mused　the　chief。　〃Powerful　indeed　must　be　the　tribe　from　which　he　and　Tarzan…jad…guru　come；〃　and　then　his　whole　attention　was　occupied　by　a　new　assailant。

The　fighters　surged　to　and　fro　through　the　forest　until　those　who　survived　were　spent　with　exhaustion。　All　but　the　stranger　who　seemed　not　to　know　the　sense　of　fatigue。　He　fought　on　when　each　new　antagonist　would　have　gladly　quit；　and　when　there　were　no　more　Kor…ul…lul　who　were　not　engaged；　he　leaped　upon　those　who　stood　pantingly　facing　the　exhausted　Kor…ul…ja。

And　always　he　carried　upon　his　back　the　peculiar　thing　which　Om…at　had　thought　was　some　manner　of　strange　weapon　but　the　purpose　of　which　he　could　not　now　account　for　in　view　of　the　fact　that　Jar…don　never　used　it；　and　that　for　the　most　part　it　seemed　but　a　nuisance　and　needless　encumbrance　since　it　banged　and　smashed　against　its　owner　as　he　leaped；　catlike；　hither　and　thither　in　the　course　of　his　victorious　duels。　The　bow　and　arrows　he　had　tossed　aside　at　the　beginning　of　the　fight　but　the　Enfield　he　would　not　discard；　for　where　he　went　he　meant　that　it　should　go　until　its　mission　had　been　fulfilled。

Presently　the　Kor…ul…ja；　seemingly　shamed　by　the　example　of　Jar…don　closed　once　more　with　the　enemy；　but　the　latter；　moved　no　doubt　to　terror　by　the　presence　of　the　stranger；　a　tireless　demon　who　appeared　invulnerable　to　their　attacks；　lost　heart　and　sought　to　flee。　And　then　it　was　that　at　Om…at's　command　his　warriors　surrounded　a　half…dozen　of　the　most　exhausted　and　made　them　prisoners。

It　was　a　tired；　bloody；　and　elated　company　that　returned　victorious　to　the　Kor…ul…ja。　Twenty　of　their　number　were　carried　back　and　six　of　these　were　dead　men。　It　was　the　most　glorious　and　successful　raid　that　the　Kor…ul…ja　had　made　upon　the　Kor…ul…lul　in　the　memory　of　man；　and　it　marked　Om…at　as　the　greatest　of　chiefs；　but　that　fierce　warrior　knew　that　advantage　had　lain　upon　his　side　largely　because　of　the　presence　of　his　strange　ally。　Nor　did　he　hesitate　to　give　credit　where　credit　belonged；　with　the　result　that　Jar…don　and　his　exploits　were　upon　the　tongue　of　every　member　of　the　tribe　of　Kor…ul…ja　and　great　was　the　fame　of　the　race　that　could　produce　two　such　as　he　and　Tarzan…jad…guru。

And　in　the　gorge　of　Kor…ul…lul　beyond　the　ridge　the　survivors　spoke　in　bated　breath　of　this　second　demon　that　had　joined　forces　with　their　ancient　enemy。

Returned　to　his　cave　Om…at　caused　the　Kor…ul…lul　prisoners　to　be　brought　into　his　presence　singly；　and　each　he　questioned　as　to　the　fate　of　Tarzan。　Without　exception　they　told　him　the　same　storythat　Tarzan　had　been　taken　prisoner　by　them　five　days　before　but　that　he　had　slain　the　warrior　left　to　guard　him　and　escaped；　carrying　the　head　of　the　unfortunate　sentry　to　the　opposite　side　of　Kor…ul…lul　where　he　had　left　it　suspended　by　its　hair　from　the　branch　of　a　tree。　But　what　had　become　of　him　after；　they　did　not　know；　not　one　of　them；　until　the　last　prisoner　was　examined；　he　whom　they　had　taken　firstthe　unarmed　Kor…ul…lul　making　his　way　from　the　direction　of　the　Valley　of　Jad…ben…Otho　toward　the　caves　of　his　people。

This　one；　when　he　discovered　the　purpose　of　their　questioning；　bartered　with　them　for　the　lives　and　liberty　of　himself　and　his　fellows。　〃I　can　tell　you　much　of　this　terrible　man　of　whom　you　ask；　Kor…ul…ja；〃　he　said。　〃I　saw　him　yesterday　and　I　know　where　he　is；　and　if　you　will　promise　to　let　me　and　my　fellows　return　in　safety　to　the　caves　of　our　ancestors　I　will　tell　you　all；　and　truthfully；　that　which　I　know。〃

〃You　will　tell　us　anyway；〃　replied　Om…at；　〃or　we　shall　kill　you。〃

〃You　will　kill　me　anyway；〃　retorted　the　prisoner；　〃unless　you　make　me　this　promise；　so　if　I　am　to　be　killed　the　thing　I　know　shall　go　with　me。〃

〃He　is　right；　Om…at；〃　said　Ta…den；　〃promise　him　that　they　shall　have　their　liberty。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Om…at。　〃Speak　Kor…ul…lul；　and　when　you　have　told　me　all；　you　and　your　fellows　may　return　unharmed　to　your　tribe。〃

〃It　was　thus；〃　commenced　the　prisoner。　〃Three　days　since　I　was　hunting　with　a　party　of　my　fellows　near　the　mouth　of　Kor…ul…lul　not　far　from　where　you　captured　me　this　morning；　when　we　were　surprised　and　set　upon　by　a　large　number　of　Ho…don　who　took　us　prisoners　and　carried　us　to　A…lur　where　a　few　were　chosen　to　be　slaves　and　the　rest　were　cast　into　a　chamber　beneath　the　temple　where　are　held　for　sacrifice　the　victims　that　are　offered　by　the　Ho…don　to　Jad…ben…Otho　upon　the　sacrificial　altars　of　the　temple　at　A…lur。

〃It　seemed　then　that　indeed　was　my　fate　sealed　and　that　lucky　were　those　who　had　been　selected　for　slaves　among　the　Ho…don；　for　they　at　least　might　hope　to　escapethose　in　the　chamber　with　me　must　be　without　hope。

〃But　yesterday　a　strange　thing　happened。　There　came　to　the　temple；　accompanied　by　all　the　priests　and　by　the　king　and　many　of　his　warriors；　one　whom　all　did　great　reverence；　and　when　he　came　to　the　barred　gateway　leading　to　the　chamber　in　which　we　wretched　ones　awaited　our　fate；　I　saw　to　my　surprise　that　it　was　none　other　than　that　terrible　man　who　had　so　recently　been　a　prisoner　in　the　village　of　Kor…ul…lulhe　whom　you　call　Tarzan…jad…guru　but　whom　they　addressed　as　Dor…ul…Otho。　And　he　looked　upon　us　and　questioned　the　high　priest　and　when　he　was　told　of　the　purpose　for　which　we　were　imprisoned　there　he　grew　angry　and　cried　that　it　was　not　the　will　of　Jad…ben…Otho　that　his　people　be　thus　sacrificed；　and　he　commanded　the　high　priest　to　liberate　us；　and　this　was　done。

〃The　Ho…don　prisoners　were　permitted　to　return　to　their　homes　and　we　were　led　beyond　the　City　of　A…lur　and　set　upon　our　way　toward　Kor…ul…lul。　There　were　three　of　us；　but　many　are　the　dangers　that　lie　between　A…lur　and　Kor…ul…lul　and　we　were　only　three　and　unarmed。　Therefore　none　of　us　reached　the　village　of　our　people　and　only　one　of　us　lives。　I　have　spoken。〃

〃That　is　all　you　know　concerning　Tarzan…jad…guru？〃　asked　Om…at。

〃That　is　all　I　know；〃　replied　the　prisoner；　〃other　than　that　he　whom　they　call　Lu…don；　the　high　priest　at　A…lur；　was　very　angry；　and　that　one　of　the　two　priests　who　guided　us　out　of　the　city　said　to　the　other　that　the　stranger　was　not　Dor…ul…Otho　at　all；　that　Lu…don　had　said　so　and　that　he　had　also　said　that　he　would　expose　him　and　that　he　should　be　punished　with　death　for　his　presumption。　That　is　all　they　said　within　my　hearing。

〃And　now；　chief　of　Kor…ul…ja；　let　us　depart。〃

Om…at　nodded。　〃Go　your　way；〃　he　said；　〃and　Ab…on；　send　warriors　to　guard　them　until　they　are　safely　within　the　Kor…ul…lul。

〃Jar…don；〃　he　said　beckoning　to　the　stranger；　〃come　with　me；〃　and　rising　he　led　the　way　toward　the　summit　of　the　cliff；　and　when　they　stood　upon　the　ridge　Om…at　pointed　down　into　the　valley　toward　the　City　of　A…lur　gleaming　in　the　light　of　the　western　sun。

〃There　is　Tarzan…jad…guru；〃　he　said；　and　Jar…don　understood。



13

The　Masquerader

AS　TARZAN　dropped　to　the　ground　beyond　the　temple　wall　there　was　in　his　mind　no　intention　to　escape　from　the　City　of　A…lur　until　he　had　satisfied　himself　that　his　mate　was　not　a　prisoner　there；　but　how；　in　this　strange　city　in　which　every　man's　hand　must　be　now　against　him；　he　was　to　live　and　prosecute　his　search　was　far　from　clear　to　him。

There　was　only　one　place　of　which　he　knew　that　he　might　find　even　temporary　sanctuary　and　that　was　the　Forbidden　Garden　of　the　king。　There　was　thick　shrubbery　in　which　a　man　might　hide；　and　water　and　fruits。　A　cunning　jungle　creature；　if　he　could　reach　the　spot　unsuspected；　might　remain　concealed　there　for　a　considerable　time；　but　how　he　was　to　traverse　the　distance　between　the　temple　grounds　and　the　garden　unseen　was　a　question　the　seriousness　of　which　he　fully　appreciated。

〃Mighty　is　Tarzan；〃　he　soliloquized；　〃in　his　native　jungle；　but　in　the　cities　of　man　he　is　little　better　than　they。〃

Depending　upon　his　keen　observation　and　sense　of　location　he　felt　safe　in　assuming　that　he　could　reach　the　palace　grounds　by　means　of　the　subterranean　corridors　and　chambers　of　the　temple　through　which　he　had　been　conducted　the　day　before；　nor　any　slightest　detail　of　which　had　escaped　his　keen　eyes。　That　would　be　better；　he　reasoned；　than　crossing　the　open　grounds　above　where　his　pursuers　would　naturally　immediately　follow　him　from　the　temple　and　quickly　discover　him。

And　so　a　dozen　paces　from　the　temple　wall　he　disappeared　from　sight　of　any　chance　observer　above；　down　one　of　the　stone　stairways　that　led　to　the　apartments　beneath。　The　way　that　he　had　been　conducted　the　previous　day　had　followed　the　windings　and　turnings　of　numerous　corridors　and　apartments；　but　Tarzan；　sure　of　himself　in　such　matters；　retraced　the　route　accurately　without　hesitation。

He　had　little　fear　of　immediate　apprehension　here　since　he　believed　that　all　the　priests　of　the　temple　had　assembled　in　the　court　above　to　witness　his　trial　and　his　humiliation　and　his　death；　and　with　this　idea　firmly　implanted　in　his　mind　he　rounded　the　turn　of　the　corridor　and　came　face　to　face　with　an　under　priest；　his　grotesque　headdress　concealing　whatever　emotion　the　sight　of　Tarzan　may　have　aroused。

However；　Tarzan　had　one　advantage　over　the　masked　votary　of　Jad…ben…Otho　in　that　the　moment　he　saw　the　priest　he　knew　his　intention　concerning　him；　and　therefore　was　not　compelled　to　delay　action。　And　so　it　was　that　before　the　priest　could　determine　on　any　suitable　line　of　conduct　in　the　premises　a　long；　keen　knife　had　been　slipped　into　his　heart。

As　the　body　lunged　toward　the　floor　Tarzan　caught　it　and　snatched　the　headdress　from　its　shoulders；　for　the　first　sight　of　the　creature　had　suggested　to　his　ever…alert　mind　a　bold　scheme　for　deceiving　his　enemies。

The　headdress　saved　from　such　possible　damage　as　it　must　have　sustained　had　it　fallen　to　the　floor　with　the　body　of　its　owner；　Tarzan　relinquished　his　hold　upon　the　corpse；　set　the　headdress　carefully　upon　the　floor　and　stoop