Here she paused and looked about, and then as though satisfied that she had at last reached the place she sought, she pushed bravely into the interior of the vile3 den4.
A score of half-drunken sailors and wharf-rats looked up at the unaccustomed sight of a richly gowned woman in their midst. Rapidly she approached the slovenly5 barmaid who stared half in envy, half in hate, at her more fortunate sister.
"Have you seen a tall, well-dressed man here, but a minute since," she asked, "who met another and went away with him?"
The girl answered in the affirmative, but could not tell which way the two had gone. A sailor who had approached to listen to the conversation vouchsafed6 the information that a moment before as he had been about to enter the "pub" he had seen two men leaving it who walked toward the wharf.
"Show me the direction they went," cried the woman, slipping a coin into the man's hand.
The fellow led her from the place, and together they walked quickly toward the wharf and along it until across the water they saw a small boat just pulling into the shadows of a near-by steamer.
"There they be," whispered the man.
"Ten pounds if you will find a boat and row me to that steamer," cried the woman.
"Quick, then," he replied, "for we gotta go it if we're goin' to catch the Kincaid afore she sails. She's had steam up for three hours an' jest been a-waitin' fer that one passenger. I was a-talkin' to one of her crew 'arf an hour ago."
As he spoke7 he led the way to the end of the wharf where he knew another boat lay moored8, and, lowering the woman into it, he jumped in after and pushed off. The two were soon scudding9 over the water.
At the steamer's side the man demanded his pay and, without waiting to count out the exact amount, the woman thrust a handful of bank-notes into his outstretched hand. A single glance at them convinced the fellow that he had been more than well paid. Then he assisted her up the ladder, holding his skiff close to the ship's side against the chance that this profitable passenger might wish to be taken ashore10 later.
But presently the sound of the donkey engine and the rattle11 of a steel cable on the hoisting-drum proclaimed the fact that the Kincaid's anchor was being raised, and a moment later the waiter heard the propellers12 revolving14, and slowly the little steamer moved away from him out into the channel.
"That's wot I calls rotten luck," he soliloquized. "I might jest as well of 'ad the whole bloomin' wad."
When Jane Clayton climbed to the deck of the Kincaid she found the ship apparently16 deserted17. There was no sign of those she sought nor of any other aboard, and so she went about her search for her husband and the child she hoped against hope to find there without interruption.
Quickly she hastened to the cabin, which was half above and half below deck. As she hurried down the short companion-ladder into the main cabin, on either side of which were the smaller rooms occupied by the officers, she failed to note the quick closing of one of the doors before her. She passed the full length of the main room, and then retracing18 her steps stopped before each door to listen, furtively19 trying each latch20.
All was silence, utter silence there, in which the throbbing21 of her own frightened heart seemed to her overwrought imagination to fill the ship with its thunderous alarm.
One by one the doors opened before her touch, only to reveal empty interiors. In her absorption she did not note the sudden activity upon the vessel22, the purring of the engines, the throbbing of the propeller13. She had reached the last door upon the right now, and as she pushed it open she was seized from within by a powerful, dark-visaged man, and drawn23 hastily into the stuffy24, ill-smelling interior.
The sudden shock of fright which the unexpected attack had upon her drew a single piercing scream from her throat; then the man clapped a hand roughly over the mouth.
"Not until we are farther from land, my dear," he said. "Then you may yell your pretty head off."
Lady Greystoke turned to look into the leering, bearded face so close to hers. The man relaxed the pressure of his fingers upon her lips, and with a little moan of terror as she recognized him the girl shrank away from her captor.
"Nikolas Rokoff! M. Thuran!" she exclaimed.
"My little boy," she said next, ignoring the terms of endearment—"where is he? Let me have him. How could you be so cruel—even as you—Nikolas Rokoff—cannot be entirely26 devoid27 of mercy and compassion28? Tell me where he is. Is he aboard this ship? Oh, please, if such a thing as a heart beats within your breast, take me to my baby!"
"If you do as you are bid no harm will befall him," replied Rokoff. "But remember that it is your own fault that you are here. You came aboard voluntarily, and you may take the consequences. I little thought," he added to himself, "that any such good luck as this would come to me."
He went on deck then, locking the cabin-door upon his prisoner, and for several days she did not see him. The truth of the matter being that Nikolas Rokoff was so poor a sailor that the heavy seas the Kincaid encountered from the very beginning of her voyage sent the Russian to his berth29 with a bad attack of sea-sickness.
During this time her only visitor was an uncouth30 Swede, the Kincaid's unsavoury cook, who brought her meals to her. His name was Sven Anderssen, his one pride being that his patronymic was spelt with a double "s."
The man was tall and raw-boned, with a long yellow moustache, an unwholesome complexion31, and filthy32 nails. The very sight of him with one grimy thumb buried deep in the lukewarm stew33, that seemed, from the frequency of its repetition, to constitute the pride of his culinary art, was sufficient to take away the girl's appetite.
His small, blue, close-set eyes never met hers squarely. There was a shiftiness of his whole appearance that even found expression in the cat-like manner of his gait, and to it all a sinister34 suggestion was added by the long slim knife that always rested at his waist, slipped through the greasy35 cord that supported his soiled apron36. Ostensibly it was but an implement37 of his calling; but the girl could never free herself of the conviction that it would require less provocation38 to witness it put to other and less harmless uses.
His manner toward her was surly, yet she never failed to meet him with a pleasant smile and a word of thanks when he brought her food to her, though more often than not she hurled39 the bulk of it through the tiny cabin port the moment that the door closed behind him.
During the days of anguish40 that followed Jane Clayton's imprisonment41, but two questions were uppermost in her mind—the whereabouts of her husband and her son. She fully42 believed that the baby was aboard the Kincaid, provided that he still lived, but whether Tarzan had been permitted to live after having been lured43 aboard the evil craft she could not guess.
She knew, of course, the deep hatred44 that the Russian felt for the Englishman, and she could think of but one reason for having him brought aboard the ship—to dispatch him in comparative safety in revenge for his having thwarted45 Rokoff's pet schemes, and for having been at last the means of landing him in a French prison.
Tarzan, on his part, lay in the darkness of his cell, ignorant of the fact that his wife was a prisoner in the cabin almost above his head.
The same Swede that served Jane brought his meals to him, but, though on several occasions Tarzan had tried to draw the man into conversation, he had been unsuccessful. He had hoped to learn through this fellow whether his little son was aboard the Kincaid, but to every question upon this or kindred subjects the fellow returned but one reply, "Ay tank it blow purty soon purty hard." So after several attempts Tarzan gave it up.
For weeks that seemed months to the two prisoners the little steamer forged on they knew not where. Once the Kincaid stopped to coal, only immediately to take up the seemingly interminable voyage.
Rokoff had visited Jane Clayton but once since he had locked her in the tiny cabin. He had come gaunt and hollow-eyed from a long siege of sea-sickness. The object of his visit was to obtain from her her personal cheque for a large sum in return for a guarantee of her personal safety and return to England.
"When you set me down safely in any civilized47 port, together with my son and my husband," she replied, "I will pay you in gold twice the amount you ask; but until then you shall not have a cent, nor the promise of a cent under any other conditions."
"You will give me the cheque I ask," he replied with a snarl48, "or neither you nor your child nor your husband will ever again set foot within any port, civilized or otherwise."
"I would not trust you," she replied. "What guarantee have I that you would not take my money and then do as you pleased with me and mine regardless of your promise?"
"I think you will do as I bid," he said, turning to leave the cabin. "Remember that I have your son—if you chance to hear the agonized49 wail50 of a tortured child it may console you to reflect that it is because of your stubbornness that the baby suffers—and that it is your baby."
"You would not do it!" cried the girl. "You would not—could not be so fiendishly cruel!"
"It is not I that am cruel, but you," he returned, "for you permit a paltry51 sum of money to stand between your baby and immunity52 from suffering."
The end of it was that Jane Clayton wrote out a cheque of large denomination53 and handed it to Nikolas Rokoff, who left her cabin with a grin of satisfaction upon his lips.
The following day the hatch was removed from Tarzan's cell, and as he looked up he saw Paulvitch's head framed in the square of light above him.
"Come up," commanded the Russian. "But bear in mind that you will be shot if you make a single move to attack me or any other aboard the ship."
The ape-man swung himself lightly to the deck. About him, but at a respectful distance, stood a half-dozen sailors armed with rifles and revolvers. Facing him was Paulvitch.
Tarzan looked about for Rokoff, who he felt sure must be aboard, but there was no sign of him.
"Lord Greystoke," commenced the Russian, "by your continued and wanton interference with M. Rokoff and his plans you have at last brought yourself and your family to this unfortunate extremity54. You have only yourself to thank. As you may imagine, it has cost M. Rokoff a large amount of money to finance this expedition, and, as you are the sole cause of it, he naturally looks to you for reimbursement55.
"Further, I may say that only by meeting M. Rokoff's just demands may you avert56 the most unpleasant consequences to your wife and child, and at the same time retain your own life and regain57 your liberty."
"What is the amount?" asked Tarzan. "And what assurance have I that you will live up to your end of the agreement? I have little reason to trust two such scoundrels as you and Rokoff, you know."
The Russian flushed.
"You are in no position to deliver insults," he said. "You have no assurance that we will live up to our agreement other than my word, but you have before you the assurance that we can make short work of you if you do not write out the cheque we demand.
"Unless you are a greater fool than I imagine, you should know that there is nothing that would give us greater pleasure than to order these men to fire. That we do not is because we have other plans for punishing you that would be entirely upset by your death."
"Answer one question," said Tarzan. "Is my son on board this ship?"
"No," replied Alexis Paulvitch, "your son is quite safe elsewhere; nor will he be killed until you refuse to accede58 to our fair demands. If it becomes necessary to kill you, there will be no reason for not killing59 the child, since with you gone the one whom we wish to punish through the boy will be gone, and he will then be to us only a constant source of danger and embarrassment60. You see, therefore, that you may only save the life of your son by saving your own, and you can only save your own by giving us the cheque we ask."
"Very well," replied Tarzan, for he knew that he could trust them to carry out any sinister threat that Paulvitch had made, and there was a bare chance that by conceding their demands he might save the boy.
That they would permit him to live after he had appended his name to the cheque never occurred to him as being within the realms of probability. But he was determined61 to give them such a battle as they would never forget, and possibly to take Paulvitch with him into eternity62. He was only sorry that it was not Rokoff.
He took his pocket cheque-book and fountain-pen from his pocket.
"What is the amount?" he asked.
Paulvitch named an enormous sum. Tarzan could scarce restrain a smile.
Their very cupidity63 was to prove the means of their undoing64, in the matter of the ransom65 at least. Purposely he hesitated and haggled66 over the amount, but Paulvitch was obdurate67. Finally the ape-man wrote out his cheque for a larger sum than stood to his credit at the bank.
As he turned to hand the worthless slip of paper to the Russian his glance chanced to pass across the starboard bow of the Kincaid. To his surprise he saw that the ship lay within a few hundred yards of land. Almost down to the water's edge ran a dense68 tropical jungle, and behind was higher land clothed in forest.
"You are to be set at liberty here," he said.
Tarzan's plan for immediate46 physical revenge upon the Russian vanished. He thought the land before him the mainland of Africa, and he knew that should they liberate70 him here he could doubtless find his way to civilization with comparative ease.
Paulvitch took the cheque.
"Remove your clothing," he said to the ape-man. "Here you will not need it."
Paulvitch pointed72 to the armed sailors. Then the Englishman slowly divested73 himself of his clothing.
A boat was lowered, and, still heavily guarded, the ape-man was rowed ashore. Half an hour later the sailors had returned to the Kincaid, and the steamer was slowly getting under way.
As Tarzan stood upon the narrow strip of beach watching the departure of the vessel he saw a figure appear at the rail and call aloud to attract his attention.
The ape-man had been about to read a note that one of the sailors had handed him as the small boat that bore him to the shore was on the point of returning to the steamer, but at the hail from the vessel's deck he looked up.
He saw a black-bearded man who laughed at him in derision as he held high above his head the figure of a little child. Tarzan half started as though to rush through the surf and strike out for the already moving steamer; but realizing the futility74 of so rash an act he halted at the water's edge.
Thus he stood, his gaze riveted75 upon the Kincaid until it disappeared beyond a projecting promontory76 of the coast.
From the jungle at his back fierce bloodshot eyes glared from beneath shaggy overhanging brows upon him.
Little monkeys in the tree-tops chattered77 and scolded, and from the distance of the inland forest came the scream of a leopard78.
But still John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, stood deaf and unseeing, suffering the pangs79 of keen regret for the opportunity that he had wasted because he had been so gullible80 as to place credence81 in a single statement of the first lieutenant82 of his arch-enemy.
"I have at least," he thought, "one consolation—the knowledge that Jane is safe in London. Thank Heaven she, too, did not fall into the clutches of those villains83."
Behind him the hairy thing whose evil eyes had been watching him as a cat watches a mouse was creeping stealthily toward him.
Where the acute hearing?
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1
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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alley
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| n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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slovenly
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| adj.懒散的，不整齐的，邋遢的 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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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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8
moored
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| adj. 系泊的 动词moor的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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propellers
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器( propeller的名词复数 ) | |
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propeller
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| n.螺旋桨，推进器 | |
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revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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retracing
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| v.折回( retrace的现在分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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stuffy
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| adj.不透气的，闷热的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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implement
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| n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行 | |
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provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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lured
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| 吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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45
thwarted
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| 阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过 | |
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46
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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49
agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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50
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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51
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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52
immunity
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| n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权 | |
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53
denomination
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| n.命名，取名，(度量衡、货币等的)单位 | |
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extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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55
reimbursement
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| n.偿还，退还 | |
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56
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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57
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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accede
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| v.应允，同意 | |
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59
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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cupidity
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| n.贪心，贪财 | |
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undoing
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| n.毁灭的原因，祸根；破坏，毁灭 | |
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65
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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66
haggled
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| v.讨价还价( haggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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obdurate
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| adj.固执的，顽固的 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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69
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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71
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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73
divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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74
futility
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| n.无用 | |
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75
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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76
promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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77
chattered
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| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 | |
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78
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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79
pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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80
gullible
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| adj.易受骗的；轻信的 | |
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81
credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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82
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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83
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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84
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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85
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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