°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
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nd¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡result¡¡being¡¡that¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡of¡¡their¡¡pursuers¡¡was¡¡borne¡¡away¡¡from¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡proceeded¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡way¡¡in¡¡total¡¡ignorance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡tireless¡¡trackers¡¡but¡¡little¡¡less¡¡expert¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mysteries¡¡of¡¡woodcraft¡¡than¡¡themselves¡¡were¡¡dogging¡¡their¡¡trail¡¡with¡¡savage¡¡insistence¡£
The¡¡little¡¡party¡¡of¡¡warriors¡¡was¡¡led¡¡by¡¡Kovudoo£»¡¡the¡¡chief£»¡¡a¡¡middle¡aged¡¡savage¡¡of¡¡exceptional¡¡cunning¡¡and¡¡bravery¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡he¡¡who¡¡first¡¡came¡¡within¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡quarry¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡followed¡¡for¡¡hours¡¡by¡¡the¡¡mysterious¡¡methods¡¡of¡¡their¡¡almost¡¡uncanny¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡observation£»¡¡intuition£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡scent¡£
Kovudoo¡¡and¡¡his¡¡men¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡Korak£»¡¡Akut¡¡and¡¡Meriem¡¡after¡¡the¡¡killing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡ape£»¡¡the¡¡noise¡¡of¡¡the¡¡combat¡¡having¡¡led¡¡them¡¡at¡¡last¡¡straight¡¡to¡¡their¡¡quarry¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slender¡¡white¡¡girl¡¡had¡¡amazed¡¡the¡¡savage¡¡chief¡¡and¡¡held¡¡him¡¡gazing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡trio¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡before¡¡ordering¡¡his¡¡warriors¡¡to¡¡rush¡¡out¡¡upon¡¡their¡¡prey¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡the¡¡great¡¡apes¡¡came¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡blacks¡¡remained¡¡awestruck¡¡witnesses¡¡to¡¡the¡¡palaver£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡battle¡¡between¡¡Korak¡¡and¡¡the¡¡young¡¡bull¡£
But¡¡now¡¡the¡¡apes¡¡had¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡white¡¡youth¡¡and¡¡the¡¡white¡¡maid¡¡stood¡¡alone¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jungle¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡Kovudoo's¡¡men¡¡leaned¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ear¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chief¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Look£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered£»¡¡and¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡something¡¡that¡¡dangled¡¡at¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨When¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡and¡¡I¡¡were¡¡slaves¡¡in¡¡the¡¡village¡¡of¡¡The¡¡Sheik¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡made¡¡that¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡The¡¡Sheik's¡¡little¡¡daughtershe¡¡played¡¡with¡¡it¡¡always¡¡and¡¡called¡¡it¡¡after¡¡my¡¡brother£»¡¡whose¡¡name¡¡is¡¡Geeka¡£¡¡Just¡¡before¡¡we¡¡escaped¡¡some¡¡one¡¡came¡¡and¡¡struck¡¡down¡¡The¡¡Sheik£»¡¡stealing¡¡his¡¡daughter¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡this¡¡is¡¡she¡¡The¡¡Sheik¡¡will¡¡pay¡¡you¡¡well¡¡for¡¡her¡¡return¡£¡¨
Korak's¡¡arm¡¡had¡¡again¡¡gone¡¡around¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡of¡¡Meriem¡£¡¡Love¡¡raced¡¡hot¡¡through¡¡his¡¡young¡¡veins¡£¡¡¡¡Civilization¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡half¡remembered¡¡stateLondon¡¡as¡¡remote¡¡as¡¡ancient¡¡Rome¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡all¡¡the¡¡world¡¡there¡¡were¡¡but¡¡they¡¡twoKorak£»¡¡The¡¡Killer£»¡¡and¡¡Meriem£»¡¡his¡¡mate¡£¡¡¡¡Again¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡close¡¡to¡¡him¡¡and¡¡covered¡¡her¡¡willing¡¡lips¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hot¡¡kisses¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡then¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡him¡¡broke¡¡a¡¡hideous¡¡bedlam¡¡of¡¡savage¡¡war¡¡cries¡¡and¡¡a¡¡score¡¡of¡¡shrieking¡¡blacks¡¡were¡¡upon¡¡them¡£
Korak¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡give¡¡battle¡£¡¡¡¡Meriem¡¡with¡¡her¡¡own¡¡light¡¡spear¡¡stood¡¡by¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡An¡¡avalanche¡¡of¡¡barbed¡¡missiles¡¡flew¡¡about¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡pierced¡¡Korak's¡¡shoulder£»¡¡another¡¡his¡¡leg£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡went¡¡down¡£
Meriem¡¡was¡¡unscathed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡blacks¡¡had¡¡intentionally¡¡spared¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡they¡¡rushed¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡finish¡¡Korak¡¡and¡¡made¡¡good¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡capture£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡they¡¡came¡¡there¡¡came¡¡also¡¡from¡¡another¡¡point¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Akut¡¡and¡¡at¡¡his¡¡heels¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡bulls¡¡of¡¡his¡¡new¡¡kingdom¡£
Snarling¡¡and¡¡roaring¡¡they¡¡rushed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡black¡¡warriors¡¡when¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡mischief¡¡they¡¡had¡¡already¡¡wrought¡£¡¡¡¡Kovudoo£»¡¡realizing¡¡the¡¡danger¡¡of¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡close¡¡quarters¡¡with¡¡these¡¡mighty¡¡ape¡men£»¡¡seized¡¡Meriem¡¡and¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡warriors¡¡to¡¡retreat¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡time¡¡the¡¡apes¡¡followed¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡several¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blacks¡¡were¡¡badly¡¡mauled¡¡and¡¡one¡¡killed¡¡before¡¡they¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡escaping¡£¡¡¡¡Nor¡¡would¡¡they¡¡have¡¡gotten¡¡off¡¡thus¡¡easily¡¡had¡¡Akut¡¡not¡¡been¡¡more¡¡concerned¡¡with¡¡the¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡wounded¡¡Korak¡¡than¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡upon¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡had¡¡always¡¡looked¡¡as¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡of¡¡an¡¡interloper¡¡and¡¡an¡¡unquestioned¡¡burden¡£
Korak¡¡lay¡¡bleeding¡¡and¡¡unconscious¡¡when¡¡Akut¡¡reached¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡great¡¡ape¡¡tore¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡spears¡¡from¡¡his¡¡flesh£»¡¡licked¡¡the¡¡wounds¡¡and¡¡then¡¡carried¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡to¡¡the¡¡lofty¡¡shelter¡¡that¡¡Korak¡¡had¡¡constructed¡¡for¡¡Meriem¡£¡¡¡¡Further¡¡than¡¡this¡¡the¡¡brute¡¡could¡¡do¡¡nothing¡£¡¡¡¡Nature¡¡must¡¡accomplish¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡unaided¡¡or¡¡Korak¡¡must¡¡die¡£
He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡die£»¡¡however¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡days¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡helpless¡¡with¡¡fever£»¡¡while¡¡Akut¡¡and¡¡the¡¡apes¡¡hunted¡¡close¡¡by¡¡that¡¡they¡¡might¡¡protect¡¡him¡¡from¡¡such¡¡birds¡¡and¡¡beasts¡¡as¡¡might¡¡reach¡¡his¡¡lofty¡¡retreat¡£¡¡Occasionally¡¡Akut¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡juicy¡¡fruits¡¡which¡¡helped¡¡to¡¡slake¡¡his¡¡thirst¡¡and¡¡allay¡¡his¡¡fever£»¡¡and¡¡little¡¡by¡¡little¡¡his¡¡powerful¡¡constitution¡¡overcame¡¡the¡¡effects¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spear¡¡thrusts¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wounds¡¡healed¡¡and¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡returned¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡during¡¡his¡¡rational¡¡moments¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lain¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡furs¡¡which¡¡lined¡¡Meriem's¡¡nest¡¡he¡¡had¡¡suffered¡¡more¡¡acutely¡¡from¡¡fears¡¡for¡¡Meriem¡¡than¡¡from¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡wounds¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡her¡¡he¡¡must¡¡live¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡her¡¡he¡¡must¡¡regain¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡set¡¡out¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡had¡¡the¡¡blacks¡¡done¡¡to¡¡her£¿¡¡¡¡Did¡¡she¡¡still¡¡live£»¡¡or¡¡had¡¡they¡¡sacrificed¡¡her¡¡to¡¡their¡¡lust¡¡for¡¡torture¡¡and¡¡human¡¡flesh£¿¡¡Korak¡¡almost¡¡trembled¡¡with¡¡terror¡¡as¡¡the¡¡most¡¡hideous¡¡possibilities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡fate¡¡suggested¡¡themselves¡¡to¡¡him¡¡out¡¡of¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡customs¡¡of¡¡Kovudoo's¡¡tribe¡£
The¡¡days¡¡dragged¡¡their¡¡weary¡¡lengths¡¡along£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡had¡¡sufficiently¡¡regained¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡to¡¡crawl¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shelter¡¡and¡¡make¡¡his¡¡way¡¡unaided¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡he¡¡lived¡¡more¡¡upon¡¡raw¡¡meat£»¡¡for¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡dependent¡¡on¡¡Akut's¡¡skill¡¡and¡¡generosity¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡meat¡¡diet¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡returned¡¡more¡¡rapidly£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡undertake¡¡the¡¡journey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blacks¡£
Chapter¡¡12
Two¡¡tall£»¡¡bearded¡¡white¡¡men¡¡moved¡¡cautiously¡¡through¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡from¡¡their¡¡camp¡¡beside¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡Carl¡¡Jenssen¡¡and¡¡Sven¡¡Malbihn£»¡¡but¡¡little¡¡altered¡¡in¡¡appearance¡¡since¡¡the¡¡day£»¡¡years¡¡before£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡and¡¡their¡¡safari¡¡had¡¡been¡¡so¡¡badly¡¡frightened¡¡by¡¡Korak¡¡and¡¡Akut¡¡as¡¡the¡¡former¡¡sought¡¡haven¡¡with¡¡them¡£
Every¡¡year¡¡had¡¡they¡¡come¡¡into¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡to¡¡trade¡¡with¡¡the¡¡natives£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡rob¡¡them£»¡¡to¡¡hunt¡¡and¡¡trap£»¡¡or¡¡to¡¡guide¡¡other¡¡white¡¡men¡¡in¡¡the¡¡land¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡so¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡Always¡¡since¡¡their¡¡experience¡¡with¡¡The¡¡Sheik¡¡had¡¡they¡¡operated¡¡at¡¡a¡¡safe¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡his¡¡territory¡£
Now¡¡they¡¡were¡¡closer¡¡to¡¡his¡¡village¡¡than¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡for¡¡years£»¡¡yet¡¡safe¡¡enough¡¡from¡¡discovery¡¡owing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡uninhabited¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡the¡¡intervening¡¡jungle¡¡and¡¡the¡¡fear¡¡and¡¡enmity¡¡of¡¡Kovudoo's¡¡people¡¡for¡¡The¡¡Sheik£»¡¡who£»¡¡in¡¡time¡¡past£»¡¡had¡¡raided¡¡and¡¡all¡¡but¡¡exterminated¡¡the¡¡tribe¡£
This¡¡year¡¡they¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡trap¡¡live¡¡specimens¡¡for¡¡a¡¡European¡¡zoological¡¡garden£»¡¡and¡¡today¡¡they¡¡were¡¡approaching¡¡a¡¡trap¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡set¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡capturing¡¡a¡¡specimen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡large¡¡baboons¡¡that¡¡frequented¡¡the¡¡neighborhood¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡they¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡trap¡¡they¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡from¡¡the¡¡noises¡¡emanating¡¡from¡¡its¡¡vicinity¡¡that¡¡their¡¡efforts¡¡had¡¡been¡¡crowned¡¡with¡¡success¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡barking¡¡and¡¡screaming¡¡of¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡baboons¡¡could¡¡mean¡¡naught¡¡else¡¡than¡¡that¡¡one¡¡or¡¡more¡¡of¡¡their¡¡number¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡a¡¡victim¡¡to¡¡the¡¡allurements¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bait¡£
The¡¡extreme¡¡caution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡men¡¡was¡¡prompted¡¡by¡¡former¡¡experiences¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intelligent¡¡and¡¡doglike¡¡creatures¡¡with¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡to¡¡deal¡£¡¡¡¡More¡¡than¡¡one¡¡trapper¡¡has¡¡lost¡¡his¡¡life¡¡in¡¡battle¡¡with¡¡enraged¡¡baboons¡¡who¡¡will¡¡hesitate¡¡to¡¡attack¡¡nothing¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡occasion£»¡¡while¡¡upon¡¡another¡¡a¡¡single¡¡gun¡¡shot¡¡will¡¡disperse¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡them¡£
Heretofore¡¡the¡¡Swedes¡¡had¡¡always¡¡watched¡¡near¡by¡¡their¡¡trap£»¡¡for¡¡as¡¡a¡¡rule¡¡only¡¡the¡¡stronger¡¡bulls¡¡are¡¡thus¡¡caught£»¡¡since¡¡in¡¡their¡¡greediness¡¡they¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡weaker¡¡from¡¡approaching¡¡the¡¡covered¡¡bait£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡once¡¡within¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡rude¡¡trap¡¡woven¡¡on¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡of¡¡interlaced¡¡branches¡¡they¡¡are¡¡able£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡aid¡¡of¡¡their¡¡friends¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡outside£»¡¡to¡¡demolish¡¡their¡¡prison¡¡and¡¡escape¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡in¡¡this¡¡instance¡¡the¡¡trappers¡¡had¡¡utilized¡¡a¡¡special¡¡steel¡¡cage¡¡which¡¡could¡¡withstand¡¡all¡¡the¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡cunning¡¡of¡¡a¡¡baboon¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡only¡¡necessary£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡away¡¡the¡¡herd¡¡which¡¡they¡¡knew¡¡were¡¡surrounding¡¡the¡¡prison¡¡and¡¡wait¡¡for¡¡their¡¡boys¡¡who¡¡were¡¡even¡¡now¡¡following¡¡them¡¡to¡¡the¡¡trap¡£
As¡¡they¡¡came¡¡within¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spot¡¡they¡¡found¡¡conditions¡¡precisely¡¡as¡¡they¡¡had¡¡expected¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡large¡¡male¡¡was¡¡battering¡¡frantically¡¡against¡¡the¡¡steel¡¡wires¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cage¡¡that¡¡held¡¡him¡¡captive¡£¡¡¡¡Upon¡¡the¡¡outside¡¡several¡¡hundred¡¡other¡¡baboons¡¡were¡¡tearing¡¡and¡¡tugging¡¡in¡¡his¡¡aid£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡were¡¡roaring¡¡and¡¡jabbering¡¡and¡¡barking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡their¡¡lungs¡£
But¡¡what¡¡neither¡¡the¡¡Swedes¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡baboons¡¡saw¡¡was¡¡the¡¡half¡naked¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡youth¡¡hidden¡¡in¡¡the¡¡foliage¡¡of¡¡a¡¡nearby¡¡tree¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡at¡¡almost¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡as¡¡Jenssen¡¡and¡¡Malbihn£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡activities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡baboons¡¡with¡¡every¡¡mark¡¡of¡¡interest¡£
Korak's¡¡relations¡¡with¡¡the¡¡baboons¡¡had¡¡never¡¡been¡¡over¡¡friendly¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡species¡¡of¡¡armed¡¡toleration¡¡had¡¡marked¡¡their¡¡occasional¡¡meetings¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡baboons¡¡and¡¡Akut¡¡had¡¡walked¡¡stiff¡¡legged¡¡and¡¡growling¡¡past¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡while¡¡Korak¡¡had¡¡maintained¡¡a¡¡bared¡¡fang¡¡neutrality¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡greatly¡¡disturbed¡¡by¡¡the¡¡predicament¡¡of¡¡their¡¡king¡£¡¡¡¡Curiosity¡¡prompted¡¡him¡¡to¡¡tarry¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡his¡¡quick¡¡eyes¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡unfamiliar¡¡coloration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡Swedes¡¡behind¡¡a¡¡bush¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡he¡¡was¡¡all¡¡alertness¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡were¡¡these¡¡interlopers£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡was¡¡their¡¡business¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mangani£¿¡¡¡¡Korak¡¡slunk¡¡noiselessly¡¡around¡¡them¡¡to¡¡a¡¡point¡¡where¡¡he¡¡might¡¡get¡¡their¡¡scent¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡a¡¡better¡¡view¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡scarce¡¡had¡¡he¡¡done¡¡so¡¡when¡¡he¡¡recognized¡¡themthey¡¡were¡¡the¡¡men¡¡who¡¡had¡¡fired¡¡upon¡¡him¡¡years¡¡before¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡blazed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡hairs¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡scalp¡¡stiffen¡¡at¡¡the¡¡roots¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡watched¡¡them¡¡with¡¡the¡¡intentness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡panther¡¡about¡¡to¡¡spring¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡prey¡£
He¡¡saw¡¡them¡¡rise¡¡and£»¡¡shouting£»¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡frighten¡¡away¡¡the¡¡baboons¡¡as¡¡they¡¡approached¡¡the¡¡cage¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡one¡¡of¡¡them¡¡raised¡¡his¡¡rifle¡¡and¡¡fired¡¡into¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡surprised¡¡and¡¡angry¡¡herd¡£¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡Korak¡¡thought