tarzan the terrible-第33章

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avage　denizens　and　making　his　way　at　last　into　South　Africa。

For　her　part；　she　had　been　incarcerated　alternately　in　the　palace　and　the　temple　as　either　Ko…tan　or　Lu…don　succeeded　in　wresting　her　temporarily　from　the　other　by　various　strokes　of　cunning　and　intrigue。　And　now　at　last　she　was　in　the　power　of　a　new　captor；　one　whom　she　knew　from　the　gossip　of　the　temple　and　the　palace　to　be　cruel　and　degraded。　And　she　was　in　the　stern　of　the　last　canoe；　and　every　enemy　back　was　toward　her；　while　almost　at　her　feet　Mo…sar's　loud　snores　gave　ample　evidence　of　his　unconsciousness　to　his　immediate　surroundings。

The　dark　shore　loomed　closer　to　the　south　as　Jane　Clayton；　Lady　Greystoke；　slid　quietly　over　the　stern　of　the　canoe　into　the　chill　waters　of　the　lake。　She　scarcely　moved　other　than　to　keep　her　nostrils　above　the　surface　while　the　canoe　was　yet　discernible　in　the　last　rays　of　the　declining　moon。　Then　she　struck　out　toward　the　southern　shore。

Alone；　unarmed；　all　but　naked；　in　a　country　overrun　by　savage　beasts　and　hostile　men；　she　yet　felt　for　the　first　time　in　many　months　a　sensation　of　elation　and　relief。　She　was　free！　What　if　the　next　moment　brought　death；　she　knew　again；　at　least　a　brief　instant　of　absolute　freedom。　Her　blood　tingled　to　the　almost　forgotten　sensation　and　it　was　with　difficulty　that　she　restrained　a　glad　triumphant　cry　as　she　clambered　from　the　quiet　waters　and　stood　upon　the　silent　beach。

Before　her　loomed　a　forest；　darkly；　and　from　its　depths　came　those　nameless　sounds　that　are　a　part　of　the　night　life　of　the　junglethe　rustling　of　leaves　in　the　wind；　the　rubbing　together　of　contiguous　branches；　the　scurrying　of　a　rodent；　all　magnified　by　the　darkness　to　sinister　and　awe…inspiring　proportions；　the　hoot　of　an　owl；　the　distant　scream　of　a　great　cat；　the　barking　of　wild　dogs；　attested　the　presence　of　the　myriad　life　she　could　not　seethe　savage　life；　the　free　life　of　which　she　was　now　a　part。　And　then　there　came　to　her；　possibly　for　the　first　time　since　the　giant　ape…man　had　come　into　her　life；　a　fuller　realization　of　what　the　jungle　meant　to　him；　for　though　alone　and　unprotected　from　its　hideous　dangers　she　yet　felt　its　lure　upon　her　and　an　exaltation　that　she　had　not　dared　hope　to　feel　again。

Ah；　if　that　mighty　mate　of　hers　were　but　by　her　side！　What　utter　joy　and　bliss　would　be　hers！　She　longed　for　no　more　than　this。　The　parade　of　cities；　the　comforts　and　luxuries　of　civilization　held　forth　no　allure　half　as　insistent　as　the　glorious　freedom　of　the　jungle。

A　lion　moaned　in　the　blackness　to　her　right；　eliciting　delicious　thrills　that　crept　along　her　spine。　The　hair　at　the　back　of　her　head　seemed　to　stand　erectyet　she　was　unafraid。　The　muscles　bequeathed　her　by　some　primordial　ancestor　reacted　instinctively　to　the　presence　of　an　ancient　enemythat　was　all。　The　woman　moved　slowly　and　deliberately　toward　the　wood。　Again　the　lion　moaned；　this　time　nearer。　She　sought　a　low…hanging　branch　and　finding　it　swung　easily　into　the　friendly　shelter　of　the　tree。　The　long　and　perilous　journey　with　Obergatz　had　trained　her　muscles　and　her　nerves　to　such　unaccustomed　habits。　She　found　a　safe　resting　place　such　as　Tarzan　had　taught　her　was　best　and　there　she　curled　herself；　thirty　feet　above　the　ground；　for　a　night's　rest。　She　was　cold　and　uncomfortable　and　yet　she　slept；　for　her　heart　was　warm　with　renewed　hope　and　her　tired　brain　had　found　temporary　surcease　from　worry。

She　slept　until　the　heat　of　the　sun；　high　in　the　heavens；　awakened　her。　She　was　rested　and　now　her　body　was　well　as　her　heart　was　warm。　A　sensation　of　ease　and　comfort　and　happiness　pervaded　her　being。　She　rose　upon　her　gently　swaying　couch　and　stretched　luxuriously；　her　naked　limbs　and　lithe　body　mottled　by　the　sunlight　filtering　through　the　foliage　above　combined　with　the　lazy　gesture　to　impart　to　her　appearance　something　of　the　leopard。　With　careful　eye　she　scrutinized　the　ground　below　and　with　attentive　ear　she　listened　for　any　warning　sound　that　might　suggest　the　near　presence　of　enemies；　either　man　or　beast。　Satisfied　at　last　that　there　was　nothing　close　of　which　she　need　have　fear　she　clambered　to　the　ground。　She　wished　to　bathe　but　the　lake　was　too　exposed　and　just　a　bit　too　far　from　the　safety　of　the　trees　for　her　to　risk　it　until　she　became　more　familiar　with　her　surroundings。　She　wandered　aimlessly　through　the　forest　searching　for　food　which　she　found　in　abundance。　She　ate　and　rested；　for　she　had　no　objective　as　yet。　Her　freedom　was　too　new　to　be　spoiled　by　plannings　for　the　future。　The　haunts　of　civilized　man　seemed　to　her　now　as　vague　and　unattainable　as　the　half…forgotten　substance　of　a　dream。　If　she　could　but　live　on　here　in　peace；　waiting；　waiting　forhim。　It　was　the　old　hope　revived。　She　knew　that　he　would　come　some　day；　if　he　lived。　She　had　always　known　that；　though　recently　she　had　believed　that　he　would　come　too　late。　If　he　lived！　Yes；　he　would　come　if　he　lived；　and　if　he　did　not　live　she　were　as　well　off　here　as　elsewhere；　for　then　nothing　mattered；　only　to　wait　for　the　end　as　patiently　as　might　be。

Her　wanderings　brought　her　to　a　crystal　brook　and　there　she　drank　and　bathed　beneath　an　overhanging　tree　that　offered　her　quick　asylum　in　the　event　of　danger。　It　was　a　quiet　and　beautiful　spot　and　she　loved　it　from　the　first。　The　bottom　of　the　brook　was　paved　with　pretty　stones　and　bits　of　glassy　obsidian。　As　she　gathered　a　handful　of　the　pebbles　and　held　them　up　to　look　at　them　she　noticed　that　one　of　her　fingers　was　bleeding　from　a　clean；　straight　cut。　She　fell　to　searching　for　the　cause　and　presently　discovered　it　in　one　of　the　fragments　of　volcanic　glass　which　revealed　an　edge　that　was　almost　razor…like。　Jane　Clayton　was　elated。　Here；　God…given　to　her　hands；　was　the　first　beginning　with　which　she　might　eventually　arrive　at　both　weapons　and　toolsa　cutting　edge。　Everything　was　possible　to　him　who　possessed　itnothing　without。

She　sought　until　she　had　collected　many　of　the　precious　bits　of　stoneuntil　the　pouch　that　hung　at　her　right　side　was　almost　filled。　Then　she　climbed　into　the　great　tree　to　examine　them　at　leisure。　There　were　some　that　looked　like　knife　blades；　and　some　that　could　easily　be　fashioned　into　spear　heads；　and　many　smaller　ones　that　nature　seemed　to　have　intended　for　the　tips　of　savage　arrows。

The　spear　she　would　essay　firstthat　would　be　easiest。　There　was　a　hollow　in　the　bole　of　the　tree　in　a　great　crotch　high　above　the　ground。　Here　she　cached　all　of　her　treasure　except　a　single　knifelike　sliver。　With　this　she　descended　to　the　ground　and　searching　out　a　slender　sapling　that　grew　arrow…straight　she　hacked　and　sawed　until　she　could　break　it　off　without　splitting　the　wood。　It　was　just　the　right　diameter　for　the　shaft　of　a　speara　hunting　spear　such　as　her　beloved　Waziri　had　liked　best。　How　often　had　she　watched　them　fashioning　them；　and　they　had　taught　her　how　to　use　them；　toothem　and　the　heavy　war　spearslaughing　and　clapping　their　hands　as　her　proficiency　increased。

She　knew　the　arborescent　grasses　that　yielded　the　longest　and　toughest　fibers　and　these　she　sought　and　carried　to　her　tree　with　the　spear　shaft　that　was　to　be。　Clambering　to　her　crotch　she　bent　to　her　work；　humming　softly　a　little　tune。　She　caught　herself　and　smiledit　was　the　first　time　in　all　these　bitter　months　that　song　had　passed　her　lips　or　such　a　smile。

〃I　feel；〃　she　sighed；　〃I　almost　feel　that　John　is　nearmy　Johnmy　Tarzan！〃

She　cut　the　spear　shaft　to　the　proper　length　and　removed　the　twigs　and　branches　and　the　bark；　whittling　and　scraping　at　the　nubs　until　the　surface　was　all　smooth　and　straight。　Then　she　split　one　end　and　inserted　a　spear　point；　shaping　the　wood　until　it　fitted　perfectly。　This　done　she　laid　the　shaft　aside　and　fell　to　splitting　the　thick　grass　stems　and　pounding　and　twisting　them　until　she　had　separated　and　partially　cleaned　the　fibers。　These　she　took　down　to　the　brook　and　washed　and　brought　back　again　and　wound　tightly　around　the　cleft　end　of　the　shaft；　which　she　had　notched　to　receive　them；　and　the　upper　part　of　the　spear　head　which　she　had　also　notched　slightly　with　a　bit　of　stone。　It　was　a　crude　spear　but　the　best　that　she　could　attain　in　so　short　a　time。　Later；　she　promised　herself；　she　should　have　othersmany　of　themand　they　would　be　spears　of　which　even　the　greatest　of　the　Waziri　spear…men　might　be　proud。



18

The　Lion　Pit　of　Tu…lur

THOUGH　Tarzan　searched　the　outskirts　of　the　city　until　nearly　dawn　he　discovered　nowhere　the　spoor　of　his　mate。　The　breeze　coming　down　from　the　mountains　brought　to　his　nostrils　a　diversity　of　scents　but　there　was　not　among　them　the　slightest　suggestion　of　her　whom　he　sought。　The　natural　deduction　was　therefore　that　she　had　been　taken　in　some　other　direction。　In　his　search　he　had　many　times　crossed　the　fresh　tracks　of　many　men　leading　toward　the　lake　and　these　he　concluded　had　probably　been　made　by　Jane　Clayton's　abductors。　It　had　only　been　to　minimize　the　chance　of　error　by　the　process　of　elimination　that　he　had　carefully　reconnoitered　every　other　avenue　leading　from　A…lur　toward　the　southeast　where　lay　Mo…sar's　city　of　Tu…lur；　and　now　he　followed　the　trail　to　the　shores　of　Jad…ben…lul　where　the　party　had　embarked　upon　the　quiet　waters　in　their　sturdy　canoes。

He　found　many　other　craft　of　the　same　description　moored　along　the　shore　and　one　of　these　he　commandeered　for　the　purpose　of　pursuit。　It　was　daylight　when　he　passed　through　the　lake　which　lies　next　below　Jad…ben…lul　and　paddling　strongly　passed　within　sight　of　the　very　tree　in　which　his　lost　mate　lay　sleeping。

Had　the　gentle　wind　that　caressed　the　bosom　of　the　lake　been　blowing　from　a　southerly　direction　the　giant　ape…man　and　Jane　Clayton　would　have　been　reunited　then；　but　an　unkind　fate　had　willed　otherwise　and　the　opportunity　passed　with　the　passing　of　his　canoe　which　presently　his　powerful　strokes　carried　out　of　sight　into　the　stream　at　the　lower　end　of　the　lake。

Following　the　winding　river　which　bore　a　considerable　distance　to　the　north　before　doubling　back　to　empty　into　the　Jad…in…lul；　the　ape…man　missed　a　portage　that　would　have　saved　him　hours　of　paddling。

It　was　at　the　upper　end　of　this　portage　where　Mo…sar　and　his　warriors　had　debarked　that　the　chief　discovered　the　absence　of　his　captive。　As　Mo…sar　had　been　asleep　since　shortly　after　their　departure　from　A…lur；　and　as　none　of　the　warriors　recalled　when　she　had　last　been　seen；　it　was　impossible　to　conjecture　with　any　degree　of　accuracy　the　place　where　she　had　escaped。　The　consensus　of　opinion　was；　however；　that　it　had　been　in　the　narrow　river　connecting　Jad…ben…lul　with　the　lake　next　below　it；　which　is　called　Jad…bal…lul；　which　freely　translated　means　the　lake　of　gold。　Mo…sar　had　been　very　wroth　and　having　himself　been　the　only　one　at　fault　he　naturally　sought　with　great　diligence　to　fix　the　blame　upon　another。

He　would　have　returned　in　search　of　her　had　he　not　feared　to　meet　a　pursuing　company　dispatched　either　by　Ja…don　or　the　high　priest；　both　of　whom；　he　knew；　had　just　grievances　against　him。　He　would　not　even　spare　a　boatload　of　his　warriors　from　his　own　protection　to　return　in　quest　of　the　fugitive　but　hastened　onward　with　as　little　delay　as　possible　across　the　portage　and　out　upon　the　waters　of　Jad…in…lul。

The　morning　sun　was　just　touching　the　w