Rokoff was urging the chief to have his spearmen launch their missiles, and the black was upon the instant of issuing the command, when his eyes strayed beyond Tarzan, following the gaze of the ape-man.
With a yell of terror the chief turned and fled toward the village gate, and as his people looked to see the cause of his fright, they too took to their heels—for there, lumbering5 down upon them, their huge forms exaggerated by the play of moonlight and camp fire, came the hideous6 apes of Akut.
The instant the natives turned to flee the ape-man's savage7 cry rang out above the shrieks8 of the blacks, and in answer to it Sheeta and the apes leaped growling9 after the fugitives10. Some of the warriors turned to battle with their enraged11 antagonists12, but before the fiendish ferocity of the fierce beasts they went down to bloody14 death.
Others were dragged down in their flight, and it was not until the village was empty and the last of the blacks had disappeared into the bush that Tarzan was able to recall his savage pack to his side. Then it was that he discovered to his chagrin15 that he could not make one of them, not even the comparatively intelligent Akut, understand that he wished to be freed from the bonds that held him to the stake.
In time, of course, the idea would filter through their thick skulls17, but in the meanwhile many things might happen—the blacks might return in force to regain18 their village; the whites might readily pick them all off with their rifles from the surrounding trees; he might even starve to death before the dull-witted apes realized that he wished them to gnaw19 through his bonds.
As for Sheeta—the great cat understood even less than the apes; but yet Tarzan could not but marvel20 at the remarkable21 characteristics this beast had evidenced. That it felt real affection for him there seemed little doubt, for now that the blacks were disposed of it walked slowly back and forth22 about the stake, rubbing its sides against the ape-man's legs and purring like a contented23 tabby. That it had gone of its own volition24 to bring the balance of the pack to his rescue, Tarzan could not doubt. His Sheeta was indeed a jewel among beasts.
Mugambi's absence worried the ape-man not a little. He attempted to learn from Akut what had become of the black, fearing that the beasts, freed from the restraint of Tarzan's presence, might have fallen upon the man and devoured25 him; but to all his questions the great ape but pointed26 back in the direction from which they had come out of the jungle.
The night passed with Tarzan still fast bound to the stake, and shortly after dawn his fears were realized in the discovery of naked black figures moving stealthily just within the edge of the jungle about the village. The blacks were returning.
With daylight their courage would be equal to the demands of a charge upon the handful of beasts that had routed them from their rightful abodes27. The result of the encounter seemed foregone if the savages28 could curb29 their superstitious30 terror, for against their overwhelming numbers, their long spears and poisoned arrows, the panther and the apes could not be expected to survive a really determined31 attack.
That the blacks were preparing for a charge became apparent a few moments later, when they commenced to show themselves in force upon the edge of the clearing, dancing and jumping about as they waved their spears and shouted taunts32 and fierce warcries toward the village.
These manoeuvres Tarzan knew would continue until the blacks had worked themselves into a state of hysterical33 courage sufficient to sustain them for a short charge toward the village, and even though he doubted that they would reach it at the first attempt, he believed that at the second or the third they would swarm34 through the gateway35, when the outcome could not be aught than the extermination36 of Tarzan's bold, but unarmed and undisciplined, defenders37.
Even as he had guessed, the first charge carried the howling warriors but a short distance into the open—a shrill38, weird39 challenge from the ape-man being all that was necessary to send them scurrying40 back to the bush. For half an hour they pranced41 and yelled their courage to the sticking-point, and again essayed a charge.
This time they came quite to the village gate, but when Sheeta and the hideous apes leaped among them they turned screaming in terror, and again fled to the jungle.
Again was the dancing and shouting repeated. This time Tarzan felt no doubt they would enter the village and complete the work that a handful of determined white men would have carried to a successful conclusion at the first attempt.
To have rescue come so close only to be thwarted42 because he could not make his poor, savage friends understand precisely43 what he wanted of them was most irritating, but he could not find it in his heart to place blame upon them. They had done their best, and now he was sure they would doubtless remain to die with him in a fruitless effort to defend him.
The blacks were already preparing for the charge. A few individuals had advanced a short distance toward the village and were exhorting44 the others to follow them. In a moment the whole savage horde45 would be racing46 across the clearing.
Tarzan thought only of the little child somewhere in this cruel, relentless47 wilderness48. His heart ached for the son that he might no longer seek to save—that and the realization49 of Jane's suffering were all that weighed upon his brave spirit in these that he thought his last moments of life. Succour, all that he could hope for, had come to him in the instant of his extremity—and failed. There was nothing further for which to hope.
The blacks were half-way across the clearing when Tarzan's attention was attracted by the actions of one of the apes. The beast was glaring toward one of the huts. Tarzan followed his gaze. To his infinite relief and delight he saw the stalwart form of Mugambi racing toward him.
The huge black was panting heavily as though from strenuous50 physical exertion51 and nervous excitement. He rushed to Tarzan's side, and as the first of the savages reached the village gate the native's knife severed52 the last of the cords that bound Tarzan to the stake.
In the street lay the corpses54 of the savages that had fallen before the pack the night before. From one of these Tarzan seized a spear and knob stick, and with Mugambi at his side and the snarling55 pack about him, he met the natives as they poured through the gate.
Fierce and terrible was the battle that ensued, but at last the savages were routed, more by terror, perhaps, at sight of a black man and a white fighting in company with a panther and the huge fierce apes of Akut, than because of their inability to overcome the relatively56 small force that opposed them.
One prisoner fell into the hands of Tarzan, and him the ape-man questioned in an effort to learn what had become of Rokoff and his party. Promised his liberty in return for the information, the black told all he knew concerning the movements of the Russian.
It seemed that early in the morning their chief had attempted to prevail upon the whites to return with him to the village and with their guns destroy the ferocious57 pack that had taken possession of it, but Rokoff appeared to entertain even more fears of the giant white man and his strange companions than even the blacks themselves.
Upon no conditions would he consent to returning even within sight of the village. Instead, he took his party hurriedly to the river, where they stole a number of canoes the blacks had hidden there. The last that had been seen of them they had been paddling strongly up-stream, their porters from Kaviri's village wielding58 the blades.
So once more Tarzan of the Apes with his hideous pack took up his search for the ape-man's son and the pursuit of his abductor.
For weary days they followed through an almost uninhabited country, only to learn at last that they were upon the wrong trail. The little band had been reduced by three, for three of Akut's apes had fallen in the fighting at the village. Now, with Akut, there were five great apes, and Sheeta was there—and Mugambi and Tarzan.
The ape-man no longer heard rumors59 even of the three who had preceded Rokoff—the white man and woman and the child. Who the man and woman were he could not guess, but that the child was his was enough to keep him hot upon the trail. He was sure that Rokoff would be following this trio, and so he felt confident that so long as he could keep upon the Russian's trail he would be winning so much nearer to the time he might snatch his son from the dangers and horrors that menaced him.
In retracing60 their way after losing Rokoff's trail Tarzan picked it up again at a point where the Russian had left the river and taken to the brush in a northerly direction. He could only account for this change on the ground that the child had been carried away from the river by the two who now had possession of it.
Nowhere along the way, however, could he gain definite information that might assure him positively61 that the child was ahead of him. Not a single native they questioned had seen or heard of this other party, though nearly all had had direct experience with the Russian or had talked with others who had.
It was with difficulty that Tarzan could find means to communicate with the natives, as the moment their eyes fell upon his companions they fled precipitately62 into the bush. His only alternative was to go ahead of his pack and waylay63 an occasional warrior2 whom he found alone in the jungle.
One day as he was thus engaged, tracking an unsuspecting savage, he came upon the fellow in the act of hurling64 a spear at a wounded white man who crouched65 in a clump66 of bush at the trail's side. The white was one whom Tarzan had often seen, and whom he recognized at once.
Deep in his memory was implanted those repulsive67 features—the close-set eyes, the shifty expression, the drooping68 yellow moustache.
Instantly it occurred to the ape-man that this fellow had not been among those who had accompanied Rokoff at the village where Tarzan had been a prisoner. He had seen them all, and this fellow had not been there. There could be but one explanation—he it was who had fled ahead of the Russian with the woman and the child—and the woman had been Jane Clayton. He was sure now of the meaning of Rokoff's words.
The ape-man's face went white as he looked upon the pasty, vice-marked countenance69 of the Swede. Across Tarzan's forehead stood out the broad band of scarlet70 that marked the scar where, years before, Terkoz had torn a great strip of the ape-man's scalp from his skull16 in the fierce battle in which Tarzan had sustained his fitness to the kingship of the apes of Kerchak.
The man was his prey—the black should not have him, and with the thought he leaped upon the warrior, striking down the spear before it could reach its mark. The black, whipping out his knife, turned to do battle with this new enemy, while the Swede, lying in the bush, witnessed a duel71, the like of which he had never dreamed to see—a half-naked white man battling with a half-naked black, hand to hand with the crude weapons of primeval man at first, and then with hands and teeth like the primordial72 brutes73 from whose loins their forebears sprung.
For a time Anderssen did not recognize the white, and when at last it dawned upon him that he had seen this giant before, his eyes went wide in surprise that this growling, rending74 beast could ever have been the well-groomed English gentleman who had been a prisoner aboard the Kincaid.
An English nobleman! He had learned the identity of the Kincaid's prisoners from Lady Greystoke during their flight up the Ugambi. Before, in common with the other members of the crew of the steamer, he had not known who the two might be.
The fight was over. Tarzan had been compelled to kill his antagonist13, as the fellow would not surrender.
The Swede saw the white man leap to his feet beside the corpse53 of his foe75, and placing one foot upon the broken neck lift his voice in the hideous challenge of the victorious76 bull-ape.
Anderssen shuddered77. Then Tarzan turned toward him. His face was cold and cruel, and in the grey eyes the Swede read murder.
Anderssen tried to reply, but a sudden fit of coughing choked him. There was an arrow entirely79 through his chest, and as he coughed the blood from his wounded lung poured suddenly from his mouth and nostrils80.
Tarzan stood waiting for the paroxysm to pass. Like a bronze image—cold, hard, and relentless—he stood over the helpless man, waiting to wring81 such information from him as he needed, and then to kill.
Presently the coughing and haemorrhage ceased, and again the wounded man tried to speak. Tarzan knelt near the faintly moving lips.
"The wife and child!" he repeated. "Where are they?"
Anderssen pointed up the trail.
"The Russian—he got them," he whispered.
"How did you come here?" continued Tarzan. "Why are you not with Rokoff?"
"They catch us," replied Anderssen, in a voice so low that the ape-man could just distinguish the words. "They catch us. Ay fight, but my men they all run away. Then they get me when Ay ban vounded. Rokoff he say leave me here for the hyenas82. That vas vorse than to kill. He tak your vife and kid."
"What were you doing with them—where were you taking them?" asked Tarzan, and then fiercely, leaping close to the fellow with fierce eyes blazing with the passion of hate and vengeance83 that he had with difficulty controlled, "What harm did you do to my wife or child? Speak quick before I kill you! Make your peace with God! Tell me the worst, or I will tear you to pieces with my hands and teeth. You have seen that I can do it!"
A look of wide-eyed surprise overspread Anderssen's face.
"Why," he whispered, "Ay did not hurt them. Ay tried to save them from that Russian. Your vife was kind to me on the Kincaid, and Ay hear that little baby cry sometimes. Ay got a vife an' kid for my own by Christiania an' Ay couldn't bear for to see them separated an' in Rokoff's hands any more. That vas all. Do Ay look like Ay ban here to hurt them?" he continued after a pause, pointing to the arrow protruding84 from his breast.
There was something in the man's tone and expression that convinced Tarzan of the truth of his assertions. More weighty than anything else was the fact that Anderssen evidently seemed more hurt than frightened. He knew he was going to die, so Tarzan's threats had little effect upon him; but it was quite apparent that he wished the Englishman to know the truth and not to wrong him by harbouring the belief that his words and manner indicated that he had entertained.
The ape-man instantly dropped to his knees beside the Swede.
"I am sorry," he said very simply. "I had looked for none but knaves85 in company with Rokoff. I see that I was wrong. That is past now, and we will drop it for the more important matter of getting you to a place of comfort and looking after your wounds. We must have you on your feet again as soon as possible."
The Swede, smiling, shook his head.
"You go on an' look for the vife an' kid," he said. "Ay ban as gude as dead already; but"—he hesitated—"Ay hate to think of the hyenas. Von't you finish up this job?"
Tarzan shuddered. A moment ago he had been upon the point of killing86 this man. Now he could no more have taken his life than he could have taken the life of any of his best friends.
He lifted the Swede's head in his arms to change and ease his position.
Again came a fit of coughing and the terrible haemorrhage. After it was over Anderssen lay with closed eyes.
Tarzan thought that he was dead, until he suddenly raised his eyes to those of the ape-man, sighed, and spoke—in a very low, weak whisper.
"Ay tank it blow purty soon purty hard!" he said, and died.
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1
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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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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shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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fugitives
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| n.亡命者，逃命者( fugitive的名词复数 ) | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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antagonists
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| 对立[对抗] 者，对手，敌手( antagonist的名词复数 )； 对抗肌； 对抗药 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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chagrin
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| n.懊恼；气愤；委屈 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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skulls
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| 颅骨( skull的名词复数 )； 脑袋； 脑子； 脑瓜 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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gnaw
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| v.不断地啃、咬；使苦恼，折磨 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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volition
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| n.意志；决意 | |
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devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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abodes
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| 住所( abode的名词复数 )； 公寓； （在某地的）暂住； 逗留 | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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extermination
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| n.消灭，根绝 | |
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defenders
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| n.防御者( defender的名词复数 )；守卫者；保护者；辩护者 | |
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shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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scurrying
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 ) | |
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pranced
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| v.（马）腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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exhorting
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的现在分词 ) | |
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horde
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| n.群众，一大群 | |
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racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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48
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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50
strenuous
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| adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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52
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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corpses
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| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
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55
snarling
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| v.（指狗）吠，嗥叫， （人）咆哮( snarl的现在分词 )；咆哮着说，厉声地说 | |
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56
relatively
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| adv.比较...地，相对地 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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58
wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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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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positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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precipitately
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| adv.猛进地 | |
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waylay
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| v.埋伏，伏击 | |
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hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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68
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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69
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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70
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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71
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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72
primordial
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| adj.原始的；最初的 | |
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73
brutes
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| 兽( brute的名词复数 )； 畜生； 残酷无情的人； 兽性 | |
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74
rending
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| v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破 | |
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75
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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76
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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77
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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78
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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79
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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80
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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81
wring
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| n.扭绞；v.拧，绞出，扭 | |
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82
hyenas
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| n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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83
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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84
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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85
knaves
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| n.恶棍，无赖( knave的名词复数 )；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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86
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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