“Ah, Bwana,” cried the faithful black, “my old eyes are made young again by the sight of you. It has been long that you have been gone, but though many doubted that you would return, old Muviro knew that the great world held nothing that might overcome his master. And so he knew, too, that his master would return to the home of his love and the land where his faithful Waziri awaited him; but that she, whom we have mourned as dead, should have returned is beyond belief, and great shall be the rejoicing in the huts of the Waziri tonight. And the earth shall tremble to the dancing feet of the warriors2 and the heavens ring with the glad cries of their women, since the three they love most on earth have come back to them.”
And in truth, great indeed was the rejoicing in the huts of the Waziri. And not for one night alone, but for many nights did the dancing and the rejoicing continue until Tarzan was compelled to put a stop to the festivities that he and his family might gain a few hours of unbroken slumber3. The ape-man found that not only had his faithful Waziri, under the equally faithful guidance of his English foreman, Jervis, completely rehabilitated4 his stables, corrals, and outbuildings as well as the native huts, but had restored the interior of the bungalow5, so that in all outward appearances the place was precisely6 as it had been before the raid of the Germans.
Jervis was at Nairobi on the business of the estate, and it was some days after their arrival that he returned to the ranch7. His surprise and happiness were no less genuine than those of the Waziri. With the chief and warriors he sat for hours at the feet of the Big Bwana, listening to an account of the strange land of Pal-ul-don and the adventures that had befallen the three during Lady Greystoke’s captivity8 there, and with the Waziri he marveled at the queer pets the ape-man had brought back with him. That Tarzan might have fancied a mongrel native cur was strange enough, but that he should have adopted a cub9 of his hereditary10 enemies, Numa and Sabor, seemed beyond all belief. And equally surprising to them all was the manner of Tarzan’s education of the cub.
The golden lion and his foster mother occupied a corner of the ape-man’s bedroom, and many was the hour each day that he spent in training and educating the little spotted11, yellow ball—all playfulness and affection now, but one day to grow into a great, savage12 beast of prey13.
As the days passed and the golden lion grew, Tarzan taught it many tricks—to fetch and carry, to lie motionless in hiding at his almost inaudible word of command, to move from point to point as he indicated, to hunt for hidden things by scent14 and to retrieve15 them, and when meat was added to its diet he fed it always in a way that brought grim smiles to the savage lips of the Waziri warriors, for Tarzan had built for him a dummy16 in the semblance17 of a man and the meat that the lion was to eat was fastened always at the throat of the dummy. Never did the manner of feeding vary. At a word from the ape-man the golden lion would crouch18, belly19 to the ground, and then Tarzan would point at the dummy and whisper the single word “kill.” However hungry he might be, the lion learned never to move toward his meat until that single word had been uttered by its master; and then with a rush and a savage growl20 it drove straight for the flesh. While it was little it had difficulty at first in clambering up the dummy to the savory21 morsel22 fastened at the figure’s throat, but as it grew older and larger it gained the objective more easily, and finally a single leap would carry it to its goal and down would go the dummy upon its back with the young lion tearing at its throat.
There was one lesson that, of all the others, was most difficult to learn and it is doubtful that any other than Tarzan of the Apes, reared by beasts, among beasts, could have overcome the savage blood-lust of the carnivore and rendered his natural instinct subservient23 to the will of his master. It took weeks and months of patient endeavor to accomplish this single item of the lion’s education, which consisted in teaching him that at the word “fetch” he must find any indicated object and return with it to his master, even the dummy with raw meat tied at its throat, and that he must not touch the meat nor harm the dummy nor any other article that he was fetching, but place them carefully at the ape-man’s feet. Afterward24 he learned always to be sure of his reward, which usually consisted in a double portion of the meat that he loved best.
Lady Greystoke and Korak were often interested spectators of the education of the golden lion, though the former expressed mystification as to the purpose of such elaborate training of the young cub and some misgivings25 as to the wisdom of the ape-man’s program.
“What in the world can you do with such a brute26 after he is grown?” she asked. “He bids fair to be a mighty27 Numa. Being accustomed to men he will be utterly28 fearless of them, and having fed always at the throat of a dummy he will look there at the throat of living men for his food hereafter.”
“He will feed only upon what I tell him to feed,” replied the ape-man.
“But you do not expect him to feed always upon men?” she interrogated29, laughingly.
“He will never feed upon men.”
“But how can you prevent it, having taught him from cubhood always to feed upon men?”
“I am afraid, Jane, that you under-estimate the intelligence of a lion, or else I very much over-estimate it. If your theory is correct the hardest part of my work is yet before me, but if I am right it is practically complete now. However, we will experiment a bit and see which is right. We shall take Jad-bal-ja out upon the plain with us this afternoon. Game is plentiful30 and we shall have no difficulty in ascertaining31 just how much control I have over young Numa after all.”
“I’ll wager32 a hundred pounds,” said Korak, laughing, “that he does just what he jolly well pleases after he gets a taste of live blood.”
“You’re on, my son,” said the ape-man. “I think I am going to show you and your mother this afternoon what you or anyone else never dreamed could be accomplished33.”
“Lord Greystoke, the world’s premier34 animal trainer!” cried Lady Greystoke, and Tarzan joined them in their laughter.
“It is not animal training,” said the ape-man. “The plan upon which I work would be impossible to anyone but Tarzan of the Apes. Let us take a hypothetical case to illustrate35 what I mean. There comes to you some creature whom you hate, whom by instinct and heredity you consider a deadly enemy. You are afraid of him. You understand no word that he speaks. Finally, by means sometimes brutal36 he impresses upon your mind his wishes. You may do the thing he wants, but do you do it with a spirit of unselfish loyalty37? You do not—you do it under compulsion, hating the creature that forces his will upon you. At any moment that you felt it was in your power to do so, you would disobey him. You would even go further—you would turn upon him and destroy him. On the other hand, there comes to you one with whom you are familiar; he is a friend, a protector. He understands and speaks the language that you understand and speak. He has fed you, he has gained your confidence by kindness and protection, he asks you to do something for him. Do you refuse? No, you obey willingly. It is thus that the golden lion will obey me.”
“As long as it suits his purpose to do so,” commented Korak.
“Let me go a step farther then,” said the ape-man. “Suppose that this creature, whom you love and obey, has the power to punish, even to kill you, if it is necessary so to do to enforce his commands. How then about your obedience38?”
“We’ll see,” said Korak, “how easily the golden lion will make one hundred pounds for me.”
That afternoon they set out across the plain, Jad-bal-ja following Tarzan’s horse’s heels. They dismounted at a little clump39 of trees some distance from the bungalow and from there proceeded onward40 warily41 toward a swale in which antelopes43 were usually to be found, moving up which they came cautiously to the heavy brush that bordered the swale upon their side. There was Tarzan, Jane, and Korak, and close beside Tarzan the golden lion—four jungle hunters—and of the four Jad-bal-ja, the lion, was the least accomplished. Stealthily they crawled through the brush, scarce a leaf rustling44 to their passage, until at last they looked down into the swale upon a small herd45 of antelope42 grazing peacefully below. Closest to them was an old buck46, and him Tarzan pointed47 out in some mysterious manner to Jad-bal-ja.
“Fetch him,” he whispered, and the golden lion rumbled48 a scarce audible acknowledgment of the command.
Stealthily he worked his way through the brush. The antelopes fed on, unsuspecting. The distance separating the lion from his prey was over great for a successful charge, and so Jad-bal-ja waited, hiding in the brush, until the antelope should either graze closer to him or turn its back toward him. No sound came from the four watching the grazing herbivora, nor did the latter give any indication of a suspicion of the nearness of danger. The old buck moved slowly closer to Jad-bal-ja. Almost imperceptibly the lion was gathering49 for the charge. The only noticeable movement was the twitching50 of his tail’s tip, and then, as lightning from the sky, as an arrow from a bow, he shot from immobility to tremendous speed in an instant. He was almost upon the buck before the latter realized the proximity51 of danger, and then it was too late, for scarcely had the antelope wheeled than the lion rose upon its hind52 legs and seized it, while the balance of the herd broke into precipitate53 flight.
“Now,” said Korak, “we shall see.”
“He will bring the antelope to me,” said Tarzan confidently.
The golden lion hesitated a moment, growling54 over the carcass of his kill. Then he seized it by the back and with his head turned to one side dragged it along the ground beside him, as he made his way slowly back toward Tarzan. Through the brush he dragged the slain55 antelope until he had dropped it at the feet of his master, where he stood, looking up at the face of the ape-man with an expression that could not have been construed56 into aught but pride in his achievement and a plea for commendation.
Tarzan stroked his head and spoke57 to him in a low voice, praising him, and then, drawing his hunting knife, he cut the jugular58 of the antelope and let the blood from the carcass. Jane and Korak stood close, watching Jad-bal-ja—what would the lion do with the smell of fresh, hot blood in his nostrils59? He sniffed60 at it and growled61, and with bared fangs62 he eyed the three wickedly. The ape-man pushed him away with his open palm and the lion growled again angrily and snapped at him.
Quick is Numa, quick is Bara, the deer, but Tarzan of the Apes is lightning. So swiftly did he strike, and so heavily, that Jad-bal-ja was falling on his back almost in the very instant that he had growled at his master. Swiftly he came to his feet again and the two stood facing one another.
“Down!” commanded the ape-man. “Lie down, Jad-bal-ja!” His voice was low and firm. The lion hesitated but for an instant, and then lay down as Tarzan of the Apes had taught him to do at the word of command. Tarzan turned and lifted the carcass of the antelope to his shoulder.
“Come,” he said to Jad-bal-ja. “Heel!” and without another glance at the carnivore he moved off toward the horses.
“I might have known it,” said Korak, with a laugh, “and saved my hundred pounds.”
“Of course you might have known it,” said his mother.
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1
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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rehabilitated
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| 改造（罪犯等）( rehabilitate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使恢复正常生活； 使恢复原状； 修复 | |
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bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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13
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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14
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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15
retrieve
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| vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索 | |
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16
dummy
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| n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头 | |
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semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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19
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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20
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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21
savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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24
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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interrogated
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| v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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30
plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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31
ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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32
wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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33
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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34
premier
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| adj.首要的；n.总理，首相 | |
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35
illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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36
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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37
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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38
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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39
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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40
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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41
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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42
antelope
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| n.羚羊；羚羊皮 | |
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43
antelopes
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| 羚羊( antelope的名词复数 )； 羚羊皮革 | |
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44
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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45
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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46
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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47
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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48
rumbled
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| 发出隆隆声，发出辘辘声( rumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 轰鸣着缓慢行进； 发现…的真相； 看穿（阴谋） | |
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49
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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50
twitching
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| n.颤搐 | |
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51
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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52
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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53
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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54
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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55
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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56
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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57
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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58
jugular
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| n.颈静脉 | |
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59
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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60
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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61
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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62
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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