tarzan the terrible-第9章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　last　came　in　sight　of　them　they　appeared　to　be　in　full　rout。　The　natural　result　was　that　the　others　turned　and　fled。

Encouraged　by　this　first　success　Om…at　followed　them　into　the　brush；　his　little　company　charging　valiantly　upon　his　either　side；　and　loud　and　terrifying　were　the　savage　yells　with　which　they　pursued　the　fleeing　enemy。　The　brush；　while　not　growing　so　closely　together　as　to　impede　progress；　was　of　such　height　as　to　hide　the　members　of　the　party　from　one　another　when　they　became　separated　by　even　a　few　yards。　The　result　was　that　Tarzan；　always　swift　and　always　keen　for　battle；　was　soon　pursuing　the　enemy　far　in　the　lead　of　the　othersa　lack　of　prudence　which　was　to　prove　his　undoing。

The　warriors　of　Kor…ul…lul；　doubtless　as　valorous　as　their　foemen；　retreated　only　to　a　more　strategic　position　in　the　brush；　nor　were　they　long　in　guessing　that　the　number　of　their　pursuers　was　fewer　than　their　own。　They　made　a　stand　then　where　the　brush　was　densestan　ambush　it　was；　and　into　this　ran　Tarzan　of　the　Apes。　They　tricked　him　neatly。　Yes；　sad　as　is　the　narration　of　it；　they　tricked　the　wily　jungle　lord。　But　then　they　were　fighting　on　their　own　ground；　every　foot　of　which　they　knew　as　you　know　your　front　parlor；　and　they　were　following　their　own　tactics；　of　which　Tarzan　knew　nothing。

A　single　black　warrior　appeared　to　Tarzan　a　laggard　in　the　rear　of　the　retreating　enemy　and　thus　retreating　he　lured　Tarzan　on。　At　last　he　turned　at　bay　confronting　the　ape…man　with　bludgeon　and　drawn　knife　and　as　Tarzan　charged　him　a　score　of　burly　Waz…don　leaped　from　the　surrounding　brush。　Instantly；　but　too　late；　the　giant　Tarmangani　realized　his　peril。　There　flashed　before　him　a　vision　of　his　lost　mate　and　a　great　and　sickening　regret　surged　through　him　with　the　realization　that　if　she　still　lived　she　might　no　longer　hope；　for　though　she　might　never　know　of　the　passing　of　her　lord　the　fact　of　it　must　inevitably　seal　her　doom。

And　consequent　to　this　thought　there　enveloped　him　a　blind　frenzy　of　hatred　for　these　creatures　who　dared　thwart　his　purpose　and　menace　the　welfare　of　his　wife。　With　a　savage　growl　he　threw　himself　upon　the　warrior　before　him　twisting　the　heavy　club　from　the　creature's　hand　as　if　he　had　been　a　little　child；　and　with　his　left　fist　backed　by　the　weight　and　sinew　of　his　giant　frame；　he　crashed　a　shattering　blow　to　the　center　of　the　Waz…don's　facea　blow　that　crushed　the　bones　and　dropped　the　fellow　in　his　tracks。　Then　he　swung　upon　the　others　with　their　fallen　comrade's　bludgeon　striking　to　right　and　left　mighty；　unmerciful　blows　that　drove　down　their　own　weapons　until　that　wielded　by　the　ape…man　was　splintered　and　shattered。　On　either　hand　they　fell　before　his　cudgel；　so　rapid　the　delivery　of　his　blows；　so　catlike　his　recovery　that　in　the　first　few　moments　of　the　battle　he　seemed　invulnerable　to　their　attack；　but　it　could　not　lasthe　was　outnumbered　twenty　to　one　and　his　undoing　came　from　a　thrown　club。　It　struck　him　upon　the　back　of　the　head。　For　a　moment　he　stood　swaying　and　then　like　a　great　pine　beneath　the　woodsman's　ax　he　crashed　to　earth。

Others　of　the　Kor…ul…lul　had　rushed　to　engage　the　balance　of　Om…at's　party。　They　could　be　heard　fighting　at　a　short　distance　and　it　was　evident　that　the　Kor…ul…ja　were　falling　slowly　back　and　as　they　fell　Om…at　called　to　the　missing　one：　〃Tarzan　the　Terrible！　Tarzan　the　Terrible！〃

〃Jad…guru；　indeed；〃　repeated　one　of　the　Kor…ul…lul　rising　from　where　Tarzan　had　dropped　him。　〃Tarzan…jad…guru！　He　was　worse　than　that。〃



5

In　the　Kor…ul…gryf

AS　TARZAN　fell　among　his　enemies　a　man　halted　many　miles　away　upon　the　outer　verge　of　the　morass　that　encircles　Pal…ul…don。　Naked　he　was　except　for　a　loin　cloth　and　three　belts　of　cartridges；　two　of　which　passed　over　his　shoulders；　crossing　upon　his　chest　and　back；　while　the　third　encircled　his　waist。　Slung　to　his　back　by　its　leathern　sling…strap　was　an　Enfield；　and　he　carried　too　a　long　knife；　a　bow　and　a　quiver　of　arrows。　He　had　come　far；　through　wild　and　savage　lands；　menaced　by　fierce　beasts　and　fiercer　men；　yet　intact　to　the　last　cartridge　was　the　ammunition　that　had　filled　his　belts　the　day　that　he　set　out。

The　bow　and　the　arrows　and　the　long　knife　had　brought　him　thus　far　safely；　yet　often　in　the　face　of　great　risks　that　could　have　been　minimized　by　a　single　shot　from　the　well…kept　rifle　at　his　back。　What　purpose　might　he　have　for　conserving　this　precious　ammunition？　in　risking　his　life　to　bring　the　last　bright　shining　missile　to　his　unknown　goal？　For　what；　for　whom　were　these　death…dealing　bits　of　metal　preserved？　In　all　the　world　only　he　knew。

When　Pan…at…lee　stepped　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff　above　Kor…ul…lul　she　expected　to　be　dashed　to　instant　death　upon　the　rocks　below；　but　she　had　chosen　this　in　preference　to　the　rending　fangs　of　ja。　Instead；　chance　had　ordained　that　she　make　the　frightful　plunge　at　a　point　where　the　tumbling　river　swung　close　beneath　the　overhanging　cliff　to　eddy　for　a　slow　moment　in　a　deep　pool　before　plunging　madly　downward　again　in　a　cataract　of　boiling　foam；　and　water　thundering　against　rocks。

Into　this　icy　pool　the　girl　shot；　and　down　and　down　beneath　the　watery　surface　until；　half　choked；　yet　fighting　bravely；　she　battled　her　way　once　more　to　air。　Swimming　strongly　she　made　the　opposite　shore　and　there　dragged　herself　out　upon　the　bank　to　lie　panting　and　spent　until　the　approaching　dawn　warned　her　to　seek　concealment；　for　she　was　in　the　country　of　her　people's　enemies。

Rising；　she　moved　into　the　concealment　of　the　rank　vegetation　that　grows　so　riotously　in　the　well…watered　kors（1）　of　Pal…ul…don。

_______________________________________________________________

（1）　I　have　used　the　Pal…ul…　don　word　for　gorge　with　the　English　plural；　which　is　not　the　correct　native　plural　form。　The　latter；　it　seems　to　me；　is　awkward　for　us　and　so　I　have　generally　ignored　it　throughout　my　manuscript；　permitting；　for　example；　Kor…ul…ja　to　answer　for　both　singular　and　plural。　However；　for　the　benefit　of　those　who　may　be　interested　in　such　things　I　may　say　that　the　plurals　are　formed　simply　for　all　words　in　the　Pal…ul…don　language　by　doubling　the　initial　letter　of　the　word；　as　k'kor；　gorges；　pronounced　as　though　written　kakor；　the　a　having　the　sound　of　a　in　sofa。　Lions；　then；　would　be　j'ja；　or　men　d'　don。　_______________________________________________________________

Hidden　amidst　the　plant　life　from　the　sight　of　any　who　might　chance　to　pass　along　the　well…beaten　trail　that　skirted　the　river　Pan…at…lee　sought　rest　and　food；　the　latter　growing　in　abundance　all　about　her　in　the　form　of　fruits　and　berries　and　succulent　tubers　which　she　scooped　from　the　earth　with　the　knife　of　the　dead　Es…sat。

Ah！　if　she　had　but　known　that　he　was　dead！　What　trials　and　risks　and　terrors　she　might　have　been　saved；　but　she　thought　that　he　still　lived　and　so　she　dared　not　return　to　Kor…ul…ja。　At　least　not　yet　while　his　rage　was　at　white　heat。　Later；　perhaps；　her　father　and　brothers　returned　to　their　cave；　she　might　risk　it；　but　not　nownot　now。　Nor　could　she　for　long　remain　here　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　hostile　Kor…ul…lul　and　somewhere　she　must　find　safety　from　beasts　before　the　night　set　in。

As　she　sat　upon　the　bole　of　a　fallen　tree　seeking　some　solution　of　the　problem　of　existence　that　confronted　her；　there　broke　upon　her　ears　from　up　the　gorge　the　voices　of　shouting　mena　sound　that　she　recognized　all　too　well。　It　was　the　war　cry　of　the　Kor…ul…lul。　Closer　and　closer　it　approached　her　hiding　place。　Then；　through　the　veil　of　foliage　she　caught　glimpses　of　three　figures　fleeing　along　the　trail；　and　behind　them　the　shouting　of　the　pursuers　rose　louder　and　louder　as　they　neared　her。　Again　she　caught　sight　of　the　fugitives　crossing　the　river　below　the　cataract　and　again　they　were　lost　to　sight。　And　now　the　pursuers　came　into　viewshouting　Kor…ul…lul　warriors；　fierce　and　implacable。　Forty；　perhaps　fifty　of　them。　She　waited　breathless；　but　they　did　not　swerve　from　the　trail　and　passed　her；　unguessing　that　an　enemy　she　lay　hid　within　a　few　yards　of　them。

Once　again　she　caught　sight　of　the　pursuedthree　Waz…don　warriors　clambering　the　cliff　face　at　a　point　where　portions　of　the　summit　had　fallen　away　presenting　a　steep　slope　that　might　be　ascended　by　such　as　these。　Suddenly　her　attention　was　riveted　upon　the　three。　Could　it　be？　O　Jad…ben…Otho！　had　she　but　known　a　moment　before。　When　they　passed　she　might　have　joined　them；　for　they　were　her　father　and　two　brothers。　Now　it　was　too　late。　With　bated　breath　and　tense　muscles　she　watched　the　race。　Would　they　reach　the　summit？　Would　the　Kor…ul…lul　overhaul　them？　They　climbed　well；　but；　oh；　so　slowly。　Now　one　lost　his　footing　in　the　loose　shale　and　slipped　back！　The　Kor…ul…lul　were　ascendingone　hurled　his　club　at　the　nearest　fugitive。　The　Great　God　was　pleased　with　the　brother　of　Pan…at…lee；　for　he　caused　the　club　to　fall　short　of　its　target；　and　to　fall；　rolling　and　bounding；　back　upon　its　owner　carrying　him　from　his　feet　and　precipitating　him　to　the　bottom　of　the　gorge。

Standing　now；　her　hands　pressed　tight　above　her　golden　breastplates；　Pan…at…lee　watched　the　race　for　life。　Now　one；　her　older　brother；　reached　the　summit　and　clinging　there　to　something　that　she　could　not　see　he　lowered　his　body　and　his　long　tail　to　the　father　beneath　him。　The　latter；　seizing　this　support；　extended　his　own　tail　to　the　son　belowthe　one　who　had　slipped　backand　thus；　upon　a　living　ladder　of　their　own　making；　the　three　reached　the　summit　and　disappeared　from　view　before　the　Kor…ul…lul　overtook　them。　But　the　latter　did　not　abandon　the　chase。　On　they　went　until　they　too　had　disappeared　from　sight　and　only　a　faint　shouting　came　down　to　Pan…at…lee　to　tell　her　that　the　pursuit　continued。

The　girl　knew　that　she　must　move　on。　At　any　moment　now　might　come　a　hunting　party；　combing　the　gorge　for　the　smaller　animals　that　fed　or　bedded　there。

Behind　her　were　Es…sat　and　the　returning　party　of　Kor…ul…lul　that　had　pursued　her　kin；　before　her；　across　the　next　ridge；　was　the　Kor…ul…gryf；　the　lair　of　the　terrifying　monsters　that　brought　the　chill　of　fear　to　every　inhabitant　of　Pal…ul…don；　below　her；　in　the　valley；　was　the　country　of　the　Ho…don；　where　she　could　look　for　only　slavery；　or　death；　here　were　the　Kor…ul…lul；　the　ancient　enemies　of　her　people　and　everywhere　were　the　wild　beasts　that　eat　the　flesh　of　man。

For　but　a　moment　she　debated　and　then　turning　her　face　toward　the　southeast　she　set　out　across　the　gorge　of　water　toward　the　Kor…ul…gryfat　least　there　were　no　men　there。　As　it　is　now；　so　it　was　in　the　beginning；　back　to　the　primitive　progenitor　of　man　which　is　typified　by　Pan…at…lee　and　her　kind　today；　of　all　the　hunters　that　woman　fears；　man　is　the　most　relentless；　the　most　terrible。　To　the　dangers　of　man　she　preferred　the　dangers　of　the　gryf。

Moving　cautiously　she　reached　the　foot　of　the　cliff　at　the　far　side　of　Kor…ul…lul　and　here；　toward　noon；　she　found　a　comparatively　easy　ascent。　Crossing　the　ridge　she　stood　at　last　upon　the　brink　of　Kor…ul…gryfthe　horror　place　of　the　folklore　of　her　race。　Dank　and　mysterious　grew　the　vegetation　below；　giant　trees　waved　their　plumed　tops　almost　level　with　the　summit　of　the　cliff；　and　over　all　brooded　an　ominous　silence。

Pan…at…lee　lay　upon　her　belly　and　stretchin