tarzan the terrible-第29章

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isting　upon　his　claims　to　the　throne；　for；　next　to　Ja…don；　Mo…sar　was　the　most　powerful　of　the　chiefs　and　while　Ko…tan　looked　with　fear　upon　Ja…don；　too；　he　had　no　fear　that　the　old　Lion…man　would　attempt　to　seize　the　throne；　though　which　way　he　would　throw　his　influence　and　his　warriors　in　the　event　that　Mo…sar　declare　war　upon　Ko…tan；　the　king　could　not　guess。

Primitive　people　who　are　also　warlike　are　seldom　inclined　toward　either　tact　or　diplomacy　even　when　sober；　but　drunk　they　know　not　the　words；　if　aroused。　It　was　really　Bu…lot　who　started　it。

〃This；〃　he　said；　〃I　drink　to　O…lo…a；〃　and　he　emptied　his　tankard　at　a　single　gulp。　〃And　this；〃　seizing　a　full　one　from　a　neighbor；　〃to　her　son　and　mine　who　will　bring　back　the　throne　of　Pal…ul…don　to　its　rightful　owners！〃

〃The　king　is　not　yet　dead！〃　cried　Ko…tan；　rising　to　his　feet；　〃nor　is　Bu…lot　yet　married　to　his　daughterand　there　is　yet　time　to　save　Pal…ul…don　from　the　spawn　of　the　rabbit　breed。〃

The　king's　angry　tone　and　his　insulting　reference　to　Bu…lot's　well…known　cowardice　brought　a　sudden；　sobering　silence　upon　the　roistering　company。　Every　eye　turned　upon　Bu…lot　and　Mo…sar；　who　sat　together　directly　opposite　the　king。　The　first　was　very　drunk　though　suddenly　he　seemed　quite　sober。　He　was　so　drunk　that　for　an　instant　he　forgot　to　be　a　coward；　since　his　reasoning　powers　were　so　effectually　paralyzed　by　the　fumes　of　liquor　that　he　could　not　intelligently　weigh　the　consequences　of　his　acts。　It　is　reasonably　conceivable　that　a　drunk　and　angry　rabbit　might　commit　a　rash　deed。　Upon　no　other　hypothesis　is　the　thing　that　Bu…lot　now　did　explicable。　He　rose　suddenly　from　the　seat　to　which　he　had　sunk　after　delivering　his　toast　and　seizing　the　knife　from　the　sheath　of　the　warrior　upon　his　right　hurled　it　with　terrific　force　at　Ko…tan。　Skilled　in　the　art　of　throwing　both　their　knives　and　their　clubs　are　the　warriors　of　Pal…ul…don　and　at　this　short　distance　and　coming　as　it　did　without　warning　there　was　no　defense　and　but　one　possible　resultKo…tan；　the　king；　lunged　forward　across　the　table；　the　blade　buried　in　his　heart。

A　brief　silence　followed　the　assassin's　cowardly　act。　White　with　terror；　now；　Bu…lot　fell　slowly　back　toward　the　doorway　at　his　rear；　when　suddenly　angry　warriors　leaped　with　drawn　knives　to　prevent　his　escape　and　to　avenge　their　king。　But　Mo…sar　now　took　his　stand　beside　his　son。

〃Ko…tan　is　dead！〃　he　cried。　〃Mo…sar　is　king！　Let　the　loyal　warriors　of　Pal…ul…don　protect　their　ruler！〃

Mo…sar　commanded　a　goodly　following　and　these　quickly　surrounded　him　and　Bu…lot；　but　there　were　many　knives　against　them　and　now　Ja…don　pressed　forward　through　those　who　confronted　the　pretender。

〃Take　them　both！〃　he　shouted。　〃The　warriors　of　Pal…ul…don　will　choose　their　own　king　after　the　assassin　of　Ko…tan　has　paid　the　penalty　of　his　treachery。〃

Directed　now　by　a　leader　whom　they　both　respected　and　admired　those　who　had　been　loyal　to　Ko…tan　rushed　forward　upon　the　faction　that　had　surrounded　Mo…sar。　Fierce　and　terrible　was　the　fighting；　devoid；　apparently；　of　all　else　than　the　ferocious　lust　to　kill　and　while　it　was　at　its　height　Mo…sar　and　Bu…lot　slipped　unnoticed　from　the　banquet　hall。

To　that　part　of　the　palace　assigned　to　them　during　their　visit　to　A…lur　they　hastened。　Here　were　their　servants　and　the　lesser　warriors　of　their　party　who　had　not　been　bidden　to　the　feast　of　Ko…tan。　These　were　directed　quickly　to　gather　together　their　belongings　for　immediate　departure。　When　all　was　ready；　and　it　did　not　take　long；　since　the　warriors　of　Pal…ul…don　require　but　little　impedimenta　on　the　march；　they　moved　toward　the　palace　gate。

Suddenly　Mo…sar　approached　his　son。　〃The　princess；〃　he　whispered。　〃We　must　not　leave　the　city　without　hershe　is　half　the　battle　for　the　throne。〃

Bu…lot；　now　entirely　sober；　demurred。　He　had　had　enough　of　fighting　and　of　risk。　〃Let　us　get　out　of　A…lur　quickly；〃　he　urged；　〃or　we　shall　have　the　whole　city　upon　us。　She　would　not　come　without　a　struggle　and　that　would　delay　us　too　long。〃

〃There　is　plenty　of　time；〃　insisted　Mo…sar。　〃They　are　still　fighting　in　the　pal…e…don…so。　It　will　be　long　before　they　miss　us　and；　with　Ko…tan　dead；　long　before　any　will　think　to　look　to　the　safety　of　the　princess。　Our　time　is　nowit　was　made　for　us　by　Jad…ben…Otho。　Come！〃

Reluctantly　Bu…lot　followed　his　father；　who　first　instructed　the　warriors　to　await　them　just　inside　the　gateway　of　the　palace。　Rapidly　the　two　approached　the　quarters　of　the　princess。　Within　the　entrance…way　only　a　handful　of　warriors　were　on　guard。　The　eunuchs　had　retired。

〃There　is　fighting　in　the　pal…e…don…so；〃　Mo…sar　announced　in　feigned　excitement　as　they　entered　the　presence　of　the　guards。　〃The　king　desires　you　to　come　at　once　and　has　sent　us　to　guard　the　apartments　of　the　princess。　Make　haste！〃　he　commanded　as　the　men　hesitated。

The　warriors　knew　him　and　that　on　the　morrow　the　princess　was　to　be　betrothed　to　Bu…lot；　his　son。　If　there　was　trouble　what　more　natural　than　that　Mo…sar　and　Bu…lot　should　be　intrusted　with　the　safety　of　the　princess。　And　then；　too；　was　not　Mo…sar　a　powerful　chief　to　whose　orders　disobedience　might　prove　a　dangerous　thing？　They　were　but　common　fighting　men　disciplined　in　the　rough　school　of　tribal　warfare；　but　they　had　learned　to　obey　a　superior　and　so　they　departed　for　the　banquet　hallthe　place…where…men…eat。

Barely　waiting　until　they　had　disappeared　Mo…sar　crossed　to　the　hangings　at　the　opposite　end　of　the　entrance…hall　and　followed　by　Bu…lot　made　his　way　toward　the　sleeping　apartment　of　O…lo…a　and　a　moment　later；　without　warning；　the　two　men　burst　in　upon　the　three　occupants　of　the　room。　At　sight　of　them　O…lo…a　sprang　to　her　feet。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　she　demanded　angrily。

Mo…sar　advanced　and　halted　before　her。　Into　his　cunning　mind　had　entered　a　plan　to　trick　her。　If　it　succeeded　it　would　prove　easier　than　taking　her　by　force；　and　then　his　eyes　fell　upon　Jane　Clayton　and　he　almost　gasped　in　astonishment　and　admiration；　but　he　caught　himself　and　returned　to　the　business　of　the　moment。

〃O…lo…a；〃　he　cried；　〃when　you　know　the　urgency　of　our　mission　you　will　forgive　us。　We　have　sad　news　for　you。　There　has　been　an　uprising　in　the　palace　and　Ko…tan；　the　king；　has　been　slain。　The　rebels　are　drunk　with　liquor　and　now　on　their　way　here。　We　must　get　you　out　of　A…lur　at　oncethere　is　not　a　moment　to　lose。　Come；　and　quickly！〃

〃My　father　dead？〃　cried　O…lo…a；　and　suddenly　her　eyes　went　wide。　〃Then　my　place　is　here　with　my　people；〃　she　cried。　〃If　Ko…tan　is　dead　I　am　queen　until　the　warriors　choose　a　new　rulerthat　is　the　law　of　Pal…ul…don。　And　if　I　am　queen　none　can　make　me　wed　whom　I　do　not　wish　to　wedand　Jad…ben…Otho　knows　I　never　wished　to　wed　thy　cowardly　son。　Go！〃　She　pointed　a　slim　forefinger　imperiously　toward　the　doorway。

Mo…sar　saw　that　neither　trickery　nor　persuasion　would　avail　now　and　every　precious　minute　counted。　He　looked　again　at　the　beautiful　woman　who　stood　beside　O…lo…a。　He　had　never　before　seen　her　but　he　well　knew　from　palace　gossip　that　she　could　be　no　other　than　the　godlike　stranger　whom　Ko…tan　had　planned　to　make　his　queen。

〃Bu…lot；〃　he　cried　to　his　son；　〃take　you　your　own　woman　and　I　will　takemine！〃　and　with　that　he　sprang　suddenly　forward　and　seizing　Jane　about　the　waist　lifted　her　in　his　arms；　so　that　before　O…lo…a　or　Pan…at…lee　might　even　guess　his　purpose　he　had　disappeared　through　the　hangings　near　the　foot　of　the　dais　and　was　gone　with　the　stranger　woman　struggling　and　fighting　in　his　grasp。

And　then　Bu…lot　sought　to　seize　O…lo…a；　but　O…lo…a　had　her　Pan…at…leefierce　little　tiger…girl　of　the　savage　Kor…ul…jaPan…at…lee　whose　name　belied　herand　Bu…lot　found　that　with　the　two　of　them　his　hands　were　full。　When　he　would　have　lifted　O…lo…a　and　borne　her　away　Pan…at…lee　seized　him　around　the　legs　and　strove　to　drag　him　down。　Viciously　he　kicked　her；　but　she　would　not　desist；　and　finally；　realizing　that　he　might　not　only　lose　his　princess　but　be　so　delayed　as　to　invite　capture　if　he　did　not　rid　himself　of　this　clawing；　scratching　she…jato；　he　hurled　O…lo…a　to　the　floor　and　seizing　Pan…at…lee　by　the　hair　drew　his　knife　and

The　curtains　behind　him　suddenly　parted。　In　two　swift　bounds　a　lithe　figure　crossed　the　room　and　before　ever　the　knife　of　Bu…lot　reached　its　goal　his　wrist　was　seized　from　behind　and　a　terrific　blow　crashing　to　the　base　of　his　brain　dropped　him；　lifeless；　to　the　floor。　Bu…lot；　coward；　traitor；　and　assassin；　died　without　knowing　who　struck　him　down。

As　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　leaped　into　the　pool　in　the　gryf　pit　of　the　temple　at　A…lur　one　might　have　accounted　for　his　act　on　the　hypothesis　that　it　was　the　last　blind　urge　of　self…preservation　to　delay；　even　for　a　moment；　the　inevitable　tragedy　in　which　each　some　day　must　play　the　leading　role　upon　his　little　stage；　but　nothose　cool；　gray　eyes　had　caught　the　sole　possibility　for　escape　that　the　surroundings　and　the　circumstances　offereda　tiny；　moonlit　patch　of　water　glimmering　through　a　small　aperture　in　the　cliff　at　the　surface　of　the　pool　upon　its　farther　side。　With　swift；　bold　strokes　he　swam　for　speed　alone　knowing　that　the　water　would　in　no　way　deter　his　pursuer。　Nor　did　it。　Tarzan　heard　the　great　splash　as　the　huge　creature　plunged　into　the　pool　behind　him；　he　heard　the　churning　waters　as　it　forged　rapidly　onward　in　his　wake。　He　was　nearing　the　openingwould　it　be　large　enough　to　permit　the　passage　of　his　body？　That　portion　of　it　which　showed　above　the　surface　of　the　water　most　certainly　would　not。　His　life；　then；　depended　upon　how　much　of　the　aperture　was　submerged。　And　now　it　was　directly　before　him　and　the　gryf　directly　behind。　There　was　no　alternativethere　was　no　other　hope。　The　ape…man　threw　all　the　resources　of　his　great　strength　into　the　last　few　strokes；　extended　his　hands　before　him　as　a　cutwater；　submerged　to　the　water's　level　and　shot　forward　toward　the　hole。

Frothing　with　rage　was　the　baffled　Lu…don　as　he　realized　how　neatly　the　stranger　she　had　turned　his　own　tables　upon　him。　He　could　of　course　escape　the　Temple　of　the　Gryf　in　which　her　quick　wit　had　temporarily　imprisoned　him；　but　during　the　delay；　however　brief；　Ja…don　would　find　time　to　steal　her　from　the　temple　and　deliver　her　to　Ko…tan。　But　he　would　have　her　yetthat　the　high　priest　swore　in　the　names　of　Jad…ben…Otho　and　all　the　demons　of　his　faith。　He　hated　Ko…tan。　Secretly　he　had　espoused　the　cause　of　Mo…sar；　in　whom　he　would　have　a　willing　tool。　Perhaps；　then；　this　would　give　him　the　opportunity　he　had　long　awaiteda　pretext　for　inciting　the　revolt　that　would　dethrone　Ko…tan　and　place　Mo…sar　in　powerwith　Lu…don　the　real　ruler　of　Pal…ul…don。　He　licked　his　thin　lips　as　he　sought　the　window　through　which　Tarzan　had　entered　and　now　Lu…don's　only　avenue　of　escape。　Cautiously　he　made　his　way　across　the　floor；　feeling　before　him　with　his　hands；　and　when　they　discovered　that　the　trap　was　set　for　him　an　ugly　snarl　broke　from　the　priest's　lips。　〃The　she…devil！〃　he　muttered；　〃but　she　shall　pay；　she　shall　payah；　Jad…ben…Otho；　how　she　shall　pay　for　the　trick　she　has　played　upon　Lu…don！〃

He　crawled　through　the　window　and　climbed　easily　downward　to　the　ground。　Should　he　pursue　Ja…don　and　the　woman；　chancing　an　encounter　with　the　fierce　chief；　or　bide　his　time　until　treachery　and　intrigue　sh