tarzan the terrible-第6章

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least　and　when　I　am　done　with　you　you　shall　belong　to　all　of　the　men　of　Es…sat's　cave。　Thus　for　those　who　spurn　the　love　of　their　chief！〃

He　advanced　quickly　to　seize　her　and　as　he　laid　a　rough　hand　upon　her　she　struck　him　heavily　upon　the　side　of　his　head　with　her　golden　breastplates。　Without　a　sound　Es…sat；　the　chief；　sank　to　the　floor　of　the　apartment。　For　a　moment　Pan…at…lee　bent　over　him；　her　improvised　weapon　raised　to　strike　again　should　he　show　signs　of　returning　consciousness；　her　glossy　breasts　rising　and　falling　with　her　quickened　breathing。　Suddenly　she　stooped　and　removed　Es…sat's　knife　with　its　scabbard　and　shoulder　belt。　Slipping　it　over　her　own　shoulder　she　quickly　adjusted　her　breastplates　and　keeping　a　watchful　glance　upon　the　figure　of　the　fallen　chief；　backed　from　the　room。

In　a　niche　in　the　outer　room；　just　beside　the　doorway　leading　to　the　balcony；　were　neatly　piled　a　number　of　rounded　pegs　from　eighteen　to　twenty　inches　in　length。　Selecting　five　of　these　she　made　them　into　a　little　bundle　about　which　she　twined　the　lower　extremity　of　her　sinuous　tail　and　thus　carrying　them　made　her　way　to　the　outer　edge　of　the　balcony。　Assuring　herself　that　there　was　none　about　to　see；　or　hinder　her；　she　took　quickly　to　the　pegs　already　set　in　the　face　of　the　cliff　and　with　the　celerity　of　a　monkey　clambered　swiftly　aloft　to　the　highest　row　of　pegs　which　she　followed　in　the　direction　of　the　lower　end　of　the　gorge　for　a　matter　of　some　hundred　yards。　Here；　above　her　head；　were　a　series　of　small　round　holes　placed　one　above　another　in　three　parallel　rows。　Clinging　only　with　her　toes　she　removed　two　of　the　pegs　from　the　bundle　carried　in　her　tail　and　taking　one　in　either　hand　she　inserted　them　in　two　opposite　holes　of　the　outer　rows　as　far　above　her　as　she　could　reach。　Hanging　by　these　new　holds　she　now　took　one　of　the　three　remaining　pegs　in　each　of　her　feet；　leaving　the　fifth　grasped　securely　in　her　tail。　Reaching　above　her　with　this　member　she　inserted　the　fifth　peg　in　one　of　the　holes　of　the　center　row　and　then；　alternately　hanging　by　her　tail；　her　feet；　or　her　hands；　she　moved　the　pegs　upward　to　new　holes；　thus　carrying　her　stairway　with　her　as　she　ascended。

At　the　summit　of　the　cliff　a　gnarled　tree　exposed　its　time…worn　roots　above　the　topmost　holes　forming　the　last　step　from　the　sheer　face　of　the　precipice　to　level　footing。　This　was　the　last　avenue　of　escape　for　members　of　the　tribe　hard　pressed　by　enemies　from　below。　There　were　three　such　emergency　exits　from　the　village　and　it　were　death　to　use　them　in　other　than　an　emergency。　This　Pan…at…lee　well　knew；　but　she　knew；　too；　that　it　were　worse　than　death　to　remain　where　the　angered　Es…sat　might　lay　hands　upon　her。

When　she　had　gained　the　summit；　the　girl　moved　quickly　through　the　darkness　in　the　direction　of　the　next　gorge　which　cut　the　mountain…side　a　mile　beyond　Kor…ul…ja。　It　was　the　Gorge…of…water；　Kor…ul…lul；　to　which　her　father　and　two　brothers　had　been　sent　by　Es…sat　ostensibly　to　spy　upon　the　neighboring　tribe。　There　was　a　chance；　a　slender　chance；　that　she　might　find　them；　if　not　there　was　the　deserted　Kor…ul…gryf　several　miles　beyond；　where　she　might　hide　indefinitely　from　man　if　she　could　elude　the　frightful　monster　from　which　the　gorge　derived　its　name　and　whose　presence　there　had　rendered　its　caves　uninhabitable　for　generations。

Pan…at…lee　crept　stealthily　along　the　rim　of　the　Kor…ul…lul。　Just　where　her　father　and　brothers　would　watch　she　did　not　know。　Sometimes　their　spies　remained　upon　the　rim；　sometimes　they　watched　from　the　gorge's　bottom。　Pan…at…lee　was　at　a　loss　to　know　what　to　do　or　where　to　go。　She　felt　very　small　and　helpless　alone　in　the　vast　darkness　of　the　night。　Strange　noises　fell　upon　her　ears。　They　came　from　the　lonely　reaches　of　the　towering　mountains　above　her；　from　far　away　in　the　invisible　valley　and　from　the　nearer　foothills　and　once；　in　the　distance；　she　heard　what　she　thought　was　the　bellow　of　a　bull　gryf。　It　came　from　the　direction　of　the　Kor…ul…gryf。　She　shuddered。

Presently　there　came　to　her　keen　ears　another　sound。　Something　approached　her　along　the　rim　of　the　gorge。　It　was　coming　from　above。　She　halted；　listening。　Perhaps　it　was　her　father；　or　a　brother。　It　was　coming　closer。　She　strained　her　eyes　through　the　darkness。　She　did　not　moveshe　scarcely　breathed。　And　then；　of　a　sudden；　quite　close　it　seemed；　there　blazed　through　the　black　night　two　yellow…green　spots　of　fire。

Pan…at…lee　was　brave；　but　as　always　with　the　primitive；　the　darkness　held　infinite　terrors　for　her。　Not　alone　the　terrors　of　the　known　but　more　frightful　ones　as　wellthose　of　the　unknown。　She　had　passed　through　much　this　night　and　her　nerves　were　keyed　to　the　highest　pitchraw；　taut　nerves；　they　were；　ready　to　react　in　an　exaggerated　form　to　the　slightest　shock。

But　this　was　no　slight　shock。　To　hope　for　a　father　and　a　brother　and　to　see　death　instead　glaring　out　of　the　darkness！　Yes；　Pan…at…lee　was　brave；　but　she　was　not　of　iron。　With　a　shriek　that　reverberated　among　the　hills　she　turned　and　fled　along　the　rim　of　Kor…ul…lul　and　behind　her；　swiftly；　came　the　devil…eyed　lion　of　the　mountains　of　Pal…ul…don。

Pan…at…lee　was　lost。　Death　was　inevitable。　Of　this　there　could　be　no　doubt；　but　to　die　beneath　the　rending　fangs　of　the　carnivore；　congenital　terror　of　her　kindit　was　unthinkable。　But　there　was　an　alternative。　The　lion　was　almost　upon　heranother　instant　and　he　would　seize　her。　Pan…at…lee　turned　sharply　to　her　left。　Just　a　few　steps　she　took　in　the　new　direction　before　she　disappeared　over　the　rim　of　Kor…ul…lul。　The　baffled　lion；　planting　all　four　feet；　barely　stopped　upon　the　verge　of　the　abyss。　Glaring　down　into　the　black　shadows　beneath　he　mounted　an　angry　roar。

Through　the　darkness　at　the　bottom　of　Kor…ul…ja；　Om…at　led　the　way　toward　the　caves　of　his　people。　Behind　him　came　Tarzan　and　Ta…den。　Presently　they　halted　beneath　a　great　tree　that　grew　close　to　the　cliff。

〃First；〃　whispered　Om…at；　〃I　will　go　to　the　cave　of　Pan…at…lee。　Then　will　I　seek　the　cave　of　my　ancestors　to　have　speech　with　my　own　blood。　It　will　not　take　long。　Wait　hereI　shall　return　soon。　Afterward　shall　we　go　together　to　Ta…den's　people。〃

He　moved　silently　toward　the　foot　of　the　cliff　up　which　Tarzan　could　presently　see　him　ascending　like　a　great　fly　on　a　wall。　In　the　dim　light　the　ape…man　could　not　see　the　pegs　set　in　the　face　of　the　cliff。　Om…at　moved　warily。　In　the　lower　tier　of　caves　there　should　be　a　sentry。　His　knowledge　of　his　people　and　their　customs　told　him；　however；　that　in　all　probability　the　sentry　was　asleep。　In　this　he　was　not　mistaken；　yet　he　did　not　in　any　way　abate　his　wariness。　Smoothly　and　swiftly　he　ascended　toward　the　cave　of　Pan…at…lee　while　from　below　Tarzan　and　Ta…den　watched　him。

〃How　does　he　do　it？〃　asked　Tarzan。　〃I　can　see　no　foothold　upon　that　vertical　surface　and　yet　he　appears　to　be　climbing　with　the　utmost　ease。〃

Ta…den　explained　the　stairway　of　pegs。　〃You　could　ascend　easily；〃　he　said；　〃although　a　tail　would　be　of　great　assistance。〃

They　watched　until　Om…at　was　about　to　enter　the　cave　of　Pan…at…lee　without　seeing　any　indication　that　he　had　been　observed　and　then；　simultaneously；　both　saw　a　head　appear　in　the　mouth　of　one　of　the　lower　caves。　It　was　quickly　evident　that　its　owner　had　discovered　Om…at　for　immediately　he　started　upward　in　pursuit。　Without　a　word　Tarzan　and　Ta…den　sprang　forward　toward　the　foot　of　the　cliff。　The　pithecanthropus　was　the　first　to　reach　it　and　the　ape…man　saw　him　spring　upward　for　a　handhold　on　the　lowest　peg　above　him。　Now　Tarzan　saw　other　pegs　roughly　paralleling　each　other　in　zigzag　rows　up　the　cliff　face。　He　sprang　and　caught　one　of　these；　pulled　himself　upward　by　one　hand　until　he　could　reach　a　second　with　his　other　hand；　and　when　he　had　ascended　far　enough　to　use　his　feet；　discovered　that　he　could　make　rapid　progress。　Ta…den　was　outstripping　him；　however；　for　these　precarious　ladders　were　no　novelty　to　him　and；　further；　he　had　an　advantage　in　possessing　a　tail。

Nevertheless；　the　ape…man　gave　a　good　account　of　himself；　being　presently　urged　to　redoubled　efforts　by　the　fact　that　the　Waz…don　above　Ta…den　glanced　down　and　discovered　his　pursuers　just　before　the　Ho…don　overtook　him。　Instantly　a　wild　cry　shattered　the　silence　of　the　gorgea　cry　that　was　immediately　answered　by　hundreds　of　savage　throats　as　warrior　after　warrior　emerged　from　the　entrance　to　his　cave。

The　creature　who　had　raised　the　alarm　had　now　reached　the　recess　before　Pan…at…lee's　cave　and　here　he　halted　and　turned　to　give　battle　to　Ta…den。　Unslinging　his　club　which　had　hung　down　his　back　from　a　thong　about　his　neck　he　stood　upon　the　level　floor　of　the　entrance…way　effectually　blocking　Ta…den's　ascent。　From　all　directions　the　warriors　of　Kor…ul…ja　were　swarming　toward　the　interlopers。　Tarzan；　who　had　reached　a　point　on　the　same　level　with　Ta…den　but　a　little　to　the　latter's　left；　saw　that　nothing　short　of　a　miracle　could　save　them。　Just　at　the　ape…man's　left　was　the　entrance　to　a　cave　that　either　was　deserted　or　whose　occupants　had　not　as　yet　been　aroused；　for　the　level　recess　remained　unoccupied。　Resourceful　was　the　alert　mind　of　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　and　quick　to　respond　were　the　trained　muscles。　In　the　time　that　you　or　I　might　give　to　debating　an　action　he　would　accomplish　it　and　now；　though　only　seconds　separated　his　nearest　antagonist　from　him；　in　the　brief　span　of　time　at　his　disposal　he　had　stepped　into　the　recess；　unslung　his　long　rope　and　leaning　far　out　shot　the　sinuous　noose；　with　the　precision　of　long　habitude；　toward　the　menacing　figure　wielding　its　heavy　club　above　Ta…den。　There　was　a　momentary　pause　of　the　rope…hand　as　the　noose　sped　toward　its　goal；　a　quick　movement　of　the　right　wrist　that　closed　it　upon　its　victim　as　it　settled　over　his　head　and　then　a　surging　tug　as；　seizing　the　rope　in　both　hands；　Tarzan　threw　back　upon　it　all　the　weight　of　his　great　frame。

Voicing　a　terrified　shriek；　the　Waz…don　lunged　headforemost　from　the　recess　above　Ta…den。　Tarzan　braced　himself　for　the　coming　shock　when　the　creature's　body　should　have　fallen　the　full　length　of　the　rope　and　as　it　did　there　was　a　snap　of　the　vertebrae　that　rose　sickeningly　in　the　momentary　silence　that　had　followed　the　doomed　man's　departing　scream。　Unshaken　by　the　stress　of　the　suddenly　arrested　weight　at　the　end　of　the　rope；　Tarzan　quickly　pulled　the　body　to　his　side　that　he　might　remove　the　noose　from　about　its　neck；　for　he　could　not　afford　to　lose　so　priceless　a　weapon。

During　the　several　seconds　that　had　elapsed　since　he　cast　the　rope　the　Waz…don　warriors　had　remained　inert　as　though　paralyzed　by　wonder　or　by　terror。　Now；　again；　one　of　them　found　his　voice　and　his　head　and　straightway；　shrieking　invectives　at　the　strange　intruder；　started　upward　for　the　ape…man；　urging　his　fellows　to　attack。　This　man　was　the　closest　to　Tarzan。　But　for　him　the　ape…man　could　easily　have　reached　Ta…den's　side　as　the　latter　was　urging　him　to　do。　Tarzan　raised　the　body　of　the　dead　Waz…don　above　his　head；　held　it　poised　there　for　a　moment　as　with　face　raised　to　the　heavens　he　screamed　forth　the　horrid　challenge　of　the　bull　apes　of　the　tribe　of　Kerchak；　and　with　all　the　strength　of　his　giant　sinews　he　hurled　the　corpse　heavily　upon　the　ascending　warrior。　So　great　was　the　force　of　the