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！
was empty； and his sense of smell discovered； too； the
scent spoor of Taglat； the ape。 Tarzan uttered a low；
ominous growl。 Those who were pressing forward at the
doorway to seize him； fell back as the savage notes of
the bestial challenge smote upon their ears。 They
looked at one another in surprise and consternation。
A man had entered the hut alone； and yet with their own
ears they had heard the voice of a wild beast within。
What could it mean？ Had a lion or a leopard sought
sanctuary in the interior； unbeknown to the sentries？
Tarzan's quick eyes discovered the opening in the roof；
through which Taglat had fallen。 He guessed that the
ape had either come or gone by way of the break； and
while the Arabs hesitated without； he sprang； catlike；
for the opening； grasped the top of the wall and
clambered out upon the roof； dropping instantly to the
ground at the rear of the hut。
When the Arabs finally mustered courage to enter the
hut； after firing several volleys through the walls；
they found the interior deserted。 At the same time
Tarzan； at the far end of the village； sought for
Chulk； but the ape was nowhere to be found。
Robbed of his she； deserted by his companions； and as
much in ignorance as ever as to the whereabouts of his
pouch and pebbles； it was an angry Tarzan who climbed
the palisade and vanished into the darkness of the
jungle。
For the present he must give up the search for his
pouch； since it would be paramount to self…destruction
to enter the Arab camp now while all its inhabitants
were aroused and upon the alert。
In his escape from the village； the ape…man had lost
the spoor of the fleeing Taglat； and now he circled
widely through the forest in an endeavor to again pick
it up。
Chulk had remained at his post until the cries and
shots of the Arabs had filled his simple soul with
terror； for above all things the ape folk fear the
thunder…sticks of the Tarmangani； then he had clambered
nimbly over the palisade； tearing his burnoose in the
effort； and fled into the depths of the jungle；
grumbling and scolding as he went。
Tarzan； roaming the jungle in search of the trail of
Taglat and the she； traveled swiftly。 In a little
moonlit glade ahead of him the great ape was bending
over the prostrate form of the woman Tarzan sought。
The beast was tearing at the bonds that confined her
ankles and wrists； pulling and gnawing upon the cords。
The course the ape…man was taking would carry him but a
short distance to the right of them； and though he
could not have seen them the wind was bearing down from them
to him； carrying their scent spoor strongly toward him。
A moment more and Jane Clayton's safety might have been
assured； even though Numa； the lion； was already
gathering himself in preparation for a charge； but
Fate； already all too cruel； now outdid herselfthe
wind veered suddenly for a few moments； the scent spoor
that would have led the ape…man to the girl's side was
wafted in the opposite direction； Tarzan passed within
fifty yards of the tragedy that was being enacted in
the glade； and the opportunity was gone beyond recall。
18
The Fight For the Treasure
It was morning before Tarzan could bring himself to a
realization of the possibility of failure of his quest；
and even then he would only admit that success was but
delayed。 He would eat and sleep； and then set forth
again。 The jungle was wide； but wide too were the
experience and cunning of Tarzan。 Taglat might travel
far； but Tarzan would find him in the end； though he
had to search every tree in the mighty forest。
Soliloquizing thus； the ape…man followed the spoor of
Bara； the deer； the unfortunate upon which he had
decided to satisfy his hunger。 For half an hour the
trail led the ape…man toward the east along a
well…marked game path； when suddenly； to the stalker's
astonishment； the quarry broke into sight； racing madly
back along the narrow way straight toward the hunter。
Tarzan； who had been following along the trail； leaped
so quickly to the concealing verdure at the side that
the deer was still unaware of the presence of an enemy
in this direction； and while the animal was still some
distance away； the ape…man swung into the lower
branches of the tree which overhung the trail。 There
he crouched； a savage beast of prey； awaiting the
coming of its victim。
What had frightened the deer into so frantic a retreat；
Tarzan did not knowNuma； the lion； perhaps； or
Sheeta； the panther； but whatsoever it was mattered
little to Tarzan of the Apeshe was ready and willing
to defend his kill against any other denizen of the
jungle。 If he were unable to do it by means of
physical prowess； he had at his command another and a
greater powerhis shrewd intelligence。
And so； on came the running deer； straight into the
jaws of death。 The ape…man turned so that his back was
toward the approaching animal。 He poised with bent
knees upon the gently swaying limb above the trail；
timing with keen ears the nearing hoof beats of
frightened Bara。
In a moment the victim flashed beneath the limb and at
the same instant the ape…man above sprang out and down
upon its back。 The weight of the man's body carried
the deer to the ground。 It stumbled forward once in a
futile effort to rise； and then mighty muscles dragged
its head far back； gave the neck a vicious wrench； and
Bara was dead。
Quick had been the killing； and equally quick were the
ape…man's subsequent actions； for who might know what
manner of killer pursued Bara； or how close at hand he
might be？ Scarce had the neck of the victim snapped
than the carcass was hanging over one of Tarzan's broad
shoulders； and an instant later the ape…man was perched
once more among the lower branches of a tree above the
trail； his keen； gray eyes scanning the pathway down
which the deer had fled。
Nor was it long before the cause of Bara's fright
became evident to Tarzan； for presently came the
unmistakable sounds of approaching horsemen。 Dragging
his kill after him the ape…man ascended to the middle
terrace； and settling himself comfortably in the crotch
of a tree where he could still view the trail beneath；
cut a juicy steak from the deer's loin； and burying his
strong； white teeth in the hot flesh proceeded to enjoy
the fruits of his prowess and his cunning。
Nor did he neglect the trail beneath while he satisfied
his hunger。 His sharp eyes saw the muzzle of the
leading horse as it came into view around a bend in the
tortuous trail； and one by one they scrutinized the
riders as they passed beneath him in single file。
Among them came one whom Tarzan recognized； but so
schooled was the ape…man in the control of his emotions
that no slightest change of expression； much less any
hysterical demonstration that might have revealed his
presence； betrayed the fact of his inward excitement。
Beneath him； as unconscious of his presence as were the
Abyssinians before and behind him； rode Albert Werper；
while the ape…man scrutinized the Belgian for some sign
of the pouch which he had stolen。
As the Abyssinians rode toward the south； a giant
figure hovered ever upon their traila huge； almost
naked white man； who carried the bloody carcass of a
deer upon his shoulders； for Tarzan knew that he might
not have another opportunity to hunt for some time if
he were to follow the Belgian。
To endeavor to snatch him from the midst of the armed
horsemen； not even Tarzan would attempt other than in
the last extremity； for the way of the wild is the way
of caution and cunning； unless they be aroused to
rashness by pain or anger。
So the Abyssinians and the Belgian marched southward
and Tarzan of the Apes swung silently after them
through the swaying branches of the middle terrace。
A two days' march brought th