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！
u！〃
With a final vicious cuff he knocked the child into a far corner of the tent； where she lay stifling her moans； while The Sheik paced to and fro muttering to himself。 At the entrance sat Mabunu； muttering and chuckling。
In the camp of the strangers one was speaking rapidly to the other。
〃There is no doubt of it； Malbihn；〃 he was saying。 〃Not the slightest； but why the old scoundrel hasn't claimed the reward long since is what puzzles me。〃
〃There are some things dearer to an Arab； Jenssen； than money；〃 returned the first speaker〃revenge is one of them。〃
〃Anyhow it will not harm to try the power of gold；〃 replied Jenssen。
Malbihn shrugged。
〃Not on The Sheik；〃 he said。 〃We might try it on one of his people； but The Sheik will not part with his revenge for gold。 To offer it to him would only confirm his suspicions that we must have awakened when we were talking to him before his tent。 If we got away with our lives； then； we should be fortunate。〃
〃Well； try bribery； then；〃 assented Jenssen。
But bribery failedgrewsomely。 The tool they selected after a stay of several days in their camp outside the village was a tall； old headman of The Sheik's native contingent。 He fell to the lure of the shining metal； for he had lived upon the coast and knew the power of gold。 He promised to bring them what they craved； late that night。
Immediately after dark the two white men commenced to make arrangements to break camp。 By midnight all was prepared。 The porters lay beside their loads； ready to swing them aloft at a moment's notice。 The armed askaris loitered between the balance of the safari and the Arab village； ready to form a rear guard for the retreat that was to begin the moment that the head man brought that which the white masters awaited。
Presently there came the sound of footsteps along the path from the village。 Instantly the askaris and the whites were on the alert。 More than a single man was approaching。 Jenssen stepped forward and challenged the newcomers in a low whisper。
〃Who comes？〃 he queried。
〃Mbeeda；〃 came the reply。
Mbeeda was the name of the traitorous head man。 Jenssen was satisfied； though he wondered why Mbeeda had brought others with him。 Presently he understood。 The thing they fetched lay upon a litter borne by two men。 Jenssen cursed beneath his breath。 Could the fool be bringing them a corpse？ They had paid for a living prize！
The bearers came to a halt before the white men。
〃This has your gold purchased；〃 said one of the two。 They set the litter down； turned and vanished into the darkness toward the village。 Malbihn looked at Jenssen； a crooked smile twisting his lips。 The thing upon the litter was covered with a piece of cloth。
〃Well？〃 queried the latter。 〃Raise the covering and see what you have bought。 Much money shall we realize on a corpse especially after the six months beneath the burning sun that will be consumed in carrying it to its destination！〃
〃The fool should have known that we desired her alive；〃 grumbled Malbihn； grasping a corner of the cloth and jerking the cover from the thing that lay upon the litter。
At sight of what lay beneath both men stepped back involuntary oaths upon their lipsfor there before them lay the dead body of Mbeeda； the faithless head man。
Five minutes later the safari of Jenssen and Malbihn was forcing its way rapidly toward the west； nervous askaris guarding the rear from the attack they momentarily expected。
Chapter 6
His first night in the jungle was one which the son of Tarzan held longest in his memory。 No savage carnivora menaced him。 There was never a sign of hideous barbarian。 Or； if there were； the boy's troubled mind took no cognizance of them。 His conscience was harassed by the thought of his mother's suffering。 Self…blame plunged him into the depths of misery。 The killing of the American caused him little or no remorse。 The fellow had earned his fate。 Jack's regret on this score was due mainly to the effect which the death of Condon had had upon his own plans。 Now he could not return directly to his parents as he had planned。 Fear of the primitive； borderland law； of which he had read highly colored； imaginary tales； had thrust him into the jungle a fugitive。 He dared not return to the coast at this pointnot that he was so greatly influenced through personal fear as from a desire to shield his father and mother from further sorrow and from the shame of having their honored name dragged through the sordid degradation of a murder trial。
With returning day the boy's spirits rose。 With the rising sun rose new hope within his breast。 He would return to civilization by another way。 None would guess that he had been connected with the killing of the stranger in the little out…of…the…way trading post upon a remote shore。
Crouched close to the great ape in the crotch of a tree the boy had shivered through an almost sleepless night。 His light pajamas had been but little protection from the chill dampness of the jungle； and only that side of him which was pressed against the warm body of his shaggy companion approximated to comfort。 And so he welcomed the rising sun with its promise of warmth as well as lightthe blessed sun； dispeller of physical and mental ills。
He shook Akut into wakefulness。
〃Come；〃 he said。 〃I am cold and hungry。 We will search for food； out there in the sunlight；〃 and he pointed to an open plain； dotted with stunted trees and strewn with jagged rock。
The boy slid to the ground as he spoke； but the ape first looked carefully about； sniffing the morning air。 Then； satisfied that no danger lurked near； he descended slowly to the ground beside the boy。〃
〃Numa； and Sabor his mate； feast upon those who descend first and look afterward； while those who look first and descend afterward live to feast themselves。〃 Thus the old ape imparted to the son of Tarzan the boy's first lesson in jungle lore。 Side by side they set off across the rough plain； for the boy wished first to be warm。 The ape showed him the best places to dig for rodents and worms； but the lad only gagged at the thought of devouring the repulsive things。 Some eggs they found； and these he sucked raw； as also he ate roots and tubers which Akut unearthed。 Beyond the plain and across a low bluff they came upon water brackish； ill…smelling stuff in a shallow water hole； the sides and bottom of which were trampled by the feet of many beasts。 A herd of zebra galloped away as they approached。
The lad was too thirsty by now to cavil at anything even remotely resembling water； so he drank his fill while Akut stood with raised head； alert for any danger。 Before the ape drank he cautioned the boy to be watchful； but as he drank he raised his head from time to time to cast a quick glance toward a clump of bushes a hundred yards away upon the opposite side of the water hole。 When he had done he rose and spoke to the boy； in the language that was their common heritagethe tongue of the great apes。
〃There is no danger near？〃 he asked。
〃None；〃 replied the boy。 〃I saw nothing move while you drank。〃
〃Your eyes will help you but little in the jungle；〃 said the ape。
〃Here； if you would live； you must depend upon your ears and your nose but most upon your nose。 When we came down to drink I knew that no danger lurked near upon this side of the water hole； for else the zebras would have discovered it and fled before we came； but upon the other side toward which the wind blows danger might lie concealed。 We could not smell it for its scent is being blown in the other direction； and so I bent my ears and eyes down wind where my nose cannot travel。〃
〃And you foundnothing？〃 asked the lad； with a laugh。
〃I found Numa crouching in that clump of bushes where the tall grasses grow；〃 and Akut pointed。
〃A lion？〃 exclaimed the boy。 〃How do you know？ I can see nothing。〃
〃Numa is there； though；〃 replied the great ape。 〃First I heard him sigh。 To you the sigh of Numa may sound no different from the other noises which the wind makes among the grasses and the trees； but later you must learn to know the sigh of Numa。 Then I watched and at last I saw the tall grasses moving at one point to a force other than the force of the wind。 See； they are spread there upon either side of Numa's great body； and as he breathesyou see？ You see the little motion at either side that is not caused by the windthe motion that none of the other grasses have？〃
The boy strained his eyesbetter eyes than the ordinary boy inheritsand at last he gave a little exclamation of discovery。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃I see。 He lies there；〃 and he pointed。 〃His head is toward us。 Is he watching us？〃
〃Numa is watching us；〃 replied Akut； 〃but we are in little danger； unless we approach too close； for he is lying upon his kill。 His belly is almost full； or we should hear him crunching the bones。 He is watching us in silence merely from curiosity。 Presently he will resume his feeding or he will rise and come down to the water for a drink。 As he neither fears or desires us he will not try to hide his presence from us； but now is an excellent time to learn to know Numa； for you must learn to know him well if