the beasts of tarzan-µÚ27½Ú
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
along¡¡a¡¡narrow¡¡game¡trail£»¡¡fearful¡¡that¡¡the¡¡next¡¡moment
would¡¡bring¡¡her¡¡face¡¡to¡¡face¡¡with¡¡some¡¡savage¡¡beast¡¡or¡¡equally
savage¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡on£»¡¡hoping¡¡against¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had
hit¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡that¡¡would¡¡lead¡¡her¡¡eventually¡¡to¡¡the
great¡¡river£»¡¡she¡¡came¡¡suddenly¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡familiar¡¡spot¡£
At¡¡one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trail£»¡¡beneath¡¡a¡¡giant¡¡tree£»¡¡lay¡¡a¡¡little
heap¡¡of¡¡loosely¡¡piled¡¡brushto¡¡her¡¡dying¡¡day¡¡that¡¡little¡¡spot
of¡¡jungle¡¡would¡¡be¡¡indelibly¡¡impressed¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡memory¡£¡¡¡¡
It¡¡was¡¡where¡¡Anderssen¡¡had¡¡hidden¡¡herwhere¡¡he¡¡had¡¡given
up¡¡his¡¡life¡¡in¡¡the¡¡vain¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡save¡¡her¡¡from¡¡Rokoff¡£
At¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡it¡¡she¡¡recalled¡¡the¡¡rifle¡¡and¡¡ammunition¡¡that
the¡¡man¡¡had¡¡thrust¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡¡Until¡¡now
she¡¡had¡¡forgotten¡¡them¡¡entirely¡£¡¡¡¡Still¡¡clutched¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hand
was¡¡the¡¡revolver¡¡she¡¡had¡¡snatched¡¡from¡¡Rokoff's¡¡belt£»¡¡but
that¡¡could¡¡contain¡¡at¡¡most¡¡not¡¡over¡¡six¡¡cartridgesnot¡¡enough
to¡¡furnish¡¡her¡¡with¡¡food¡¡and¡¡protection¡¡both¡¡on¡¡the¡¡long
journey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sea¡£
With¡¡bated¡¡breath¡¡she¡¡groped¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡little¡¡mound£»
scarce¡¡daring¡¡to¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡remained¡¡where¡¡she
had¡¡left¡¡it£»¡¡but£»¡¡to¡¡her¡¡infinite¡¡relief¡¡and¡¡joy£»¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡came
at¡¡once¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡barrel¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡weapon¡¡and¡¡then¡¡upon
the¡¡bandoleer¡¡of¡¡cartridges¡£
As¡¡she¡¡threw¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡about¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡weight
of¡¡the¡¡big¡¡game¡gun¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡security
suffused¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡with¡¡new¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡a¡¡feeling¡¡almost¡¡of
assured¡¡success¡¡that¡¡she¡¡again¡¡set¡¡forward¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡journey¡£
That¡¡night¡¡she¡¡slept¡¡in¡¡the¡¡crotch¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tree£»¡¡as¡¡Tarzan¡¡had
so¡¡often¡¡told¡¡her¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡accustomed¡¡to¡¡doing£»¡¡and¡¡early
the¡¡next¡¡morning¡¡was¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡way¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡Late¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon£»
as¡¡she¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡cross¡¡a¡¡little¡¡clearing£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡startled
at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡ape¡¡coming¡¡from¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡upon¡¡the
opposite¡¡side¡£
The¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡blowing¡¡directly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡clearing¡¡between
them£»¡¡and¡¡Jane¡¡lost¡¡no¡¡time¡¡in¡¡putting¡¡herself¡¡downwind
from¡¡the¡¡huge¡¡creature¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡she¡¡hid¡¡in¡¡a¡¡clump¡¡of¡¡heavy
bush¡¡and¡¡watched£»¡¡holding¡¡the¡¡rifle¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡instant¡¡use¡£
To¡¡her¡¡consternation¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡apes¡¡were¡¡pausing¡¡in¡¡the
centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clearing¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡came¡¡together¡¡in¡¡a¡¡little¡¡knot£»
where¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡looking¡¡backward£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡in¡¡expectation
of¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡of¡¡others¡¡of¡¡their¡¡tribe¡£¡¡¡¡
Jane¡¡wished¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡go¡¡on£»¡¡for¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡at
any¡¡moment¡¡some¡¡little£»¡¡eddying¡¡gust¡¡of¡¡wind¡¡might¡¡carry
her¡¡scent¡¡down¡¡to¡¡their¡¡nostrils£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡what¡¡would¡¡the
protection¡¡of¡¡her¡¡rifle¡¡amount¡¡to¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡those¡¡gigantic
muscles¡¡and¡¡mighty¡¡fangs£¿
Her¡¡eyes¡¡moved¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡between¡¡the¡¡apes¡¡and¡¡the¡¡edge
of¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡toward¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡gazing¡¡until¡¡at¡¡last
she¡¡perceived¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡their¡¡halt¡¡and¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡that
they¡¡awaited¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡being¡¡stalked¡£
Of¡¡this¡¡she¡¡was¡¡positive£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡lithe£»¡¡sinewy¡¡form
of¡¡a¡¡panther¡¡glide¡¡noiselessly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡at¡¡the¡¡point¡¡at
which¡¡the¡¡apes¡¡had¡¡emerged¡¡but¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡before¡£
Quickly¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡trotted¡¡across¡¡the¡¡clearing¡¡toward
the¡¡anthropoids¡£¡¡¡¡Jane¡¡wondered¡¡at¡¡their¡¡apparent¡¡apathy£»
and¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡her¡¡wonder¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡amazement¡¡as¡¡she¡¡saw
the¡¡great¡¡cat¡¡come¡¡quite¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡apes£»¡¡who¡¡appeared
entirely¡¡unconcerned¡¡by¡¡its¡¡presence£»¡¡and£»¡¡squatting¡¡down
in¡¡their¡¡midst£»¡¡fell¡¡assiduously¡¡to¡¡the¡¡business¡¡of¡¡preening£»
which¡¡occupies¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡waking¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cat¡¡family¡£
If¡¡the¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡was¡¡surprised¡¡by¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡these¡¡natural
enemies¡¡fraternizing£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡with¡¡emotions¡¡little¡¡short¡¡of¡¡fear
for¡¡her¡¡own¡¡sanity¡¡that¡¡she¡¡presently¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡tall£»¡¡muscular¡¡warrior
enter¡¡the¡¡clearing¡¡and¡¡join¡¡the¡¡group¡¡of¡¡savage¡¡beasts¡¡assembled¡¡there¡£
At¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would
be¡¡torn¡¡to¡¡pieces£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡half¡¡risen¡¡from¡¡her¡¡shelter£»
raising¡¡her¡¡rifle¡¡to¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡¡to¡¡do¡¡what¡¡she¡¡could¡¡to
avert¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡terrible¡¡fate¡£
Now¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡actually¡¡conversing¡¡with¡¡the¡¡beasts
issuing¡¡orders¡¡to¡¡them¡£
Presently¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡company¡¡filed¡¡on¡¡across¡¡the¡¡clearing
and¡¡disappeared¡¡in¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side¡£
With¡¡a¡¡gasp¡¡of¡¡mingled¡¡incredulity¡¡and¡¡relief¡¡Jane¡¡Clayton
staggered¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡fled¡¡on¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡terrible¡¡horde
that¡¡had¡¡just¡¡passed¡¡her£»¡¡while¡¡a¡¡half¡mile¡¡behind¡¡her¡¡another
individual£»¡¡following¡¡the¡¡same¡¡trail¡¡as¡¡she£»¡¡lay¡¡frozen¡¡with
terror¡¡behind¡¡an¡¡ant¡hill¡¡as¡¡the¡¡hideous¡¡band¡¡passed¡¡quite
close¡¡to¡¡him¡£
This¡¡one¡¡was¡¡Rokoff£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡members
of¡¡the¡¡awful¡¡aggregation¡¡as¡¡allies¡¡of¡¡Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes¡£¡¡¡¡
No¡¡sooner£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡had¡¡the¡¡beasts¡¡passed¡¡him¡¡than¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡and
raced¡¡through¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡as¡¡fast¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡go£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡that
he¡¡might¡¡put¡¡as¡¡much¡¡distance¡¡as¡¡possible¡¡between¡¡himself
and¡¡these¡¡frightful¡¡beasts¡£
So¡¡it¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡as¡¡Jane¡¡Clayton¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»
down¡¡which¡¡she¡¡hoped¡¡to¡¡float¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ocean¡¡and¡¡eventual¡¡rescue£»
Nikolas¡¡Rokoff¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡short¡¡distance¡¡in¡¡her¡¡rear¡£
Upon¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡great¡¡dugout¡¡drawn¡¡half¡way
from¡¡the¡¡water¡¡and¡¡tied¡¡securely¡¡to¡¡a¡¡near¡by¡¡tree¡£
This£»¡¡she¡¡felt£»¡¡would¡¡solve¡¡the¡¡question¡¡of¡¡transportation
to¡¡the¡¡sea¡¡could¡¡she¡¡but¡¡launch¡¡the¡¡huge£»¡¡unwieldy¡¡craft¡£¡¡¡¡
Unfastening¡¡the¡¡rope¡¡that¡¡had¡¡moored¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tree£»¡¡Jane
pushed¡¡frantically¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡canoe£»¡¡but¡¡for
all¡¡the¡¡results¡¡that¡¡were¡¡apparent¡¡she¡¡might¡¡as¡¡well¡¡have¡¡been
attempting¡¡to¡¡shove¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡out¡¡of¡¡its¡¡orbit¡£
She¡¡was¡¡about¡¡winded¡¡when¡¡it¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡her¡¡to¡¡try¡¡working
the¡¡dugout¡¡into¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡by¡¡loading¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡with¡¡ballast
and¡¡then¡¡rocking¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡along¡¡the¡¡bank
until¡¡the¡¡craft¡¡eventually¡¡worked¡¡itself¡¡into¡¡the¡¡river¡£
There¡¡were¡¡no¡¡stones¡¡or¡¡rocks¡¡available£»¡¡but¡¡along¡¡the
shore¡¡she¡¡found¡¡quantities¡¡of¡¡driftwood¡¡deposited¡¡by¡¡the¡¡river
at¡¡a¡¡slightly¡¡higher¡¡stage¡£¡¡¡¡These¡¡she¡¡gathered¡¡and¡¡piled¡¡far
in¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat£»¡¡until¡¡at¡¡last£»¡¡to¡¡her¡¡immense¡¡relief£»
she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡rise¡¡gently¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mud¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡and
the¡¡stern¡¡drift¡¡slowly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡current¡¡until¡¡it¡¡again¡¡lodged¡¡a
few¡¡feet¡¡farther¡¡down¡stream¡£
Jane¡¡found¡¡that¡¡by¡¡running¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡between¡¡the
bow¡¡and¡¡stern¡¡she¡¡could¡¡alternately¡¡raise¡¡and¡¡lower¡¡each¡¡end
of¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡as¡¡she¡¡shifted¡¡her¡¡weight¡¡from¡¡one¡¡end¡¡to¡¡the
other£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡result¡¡that¡¡each¡¡time¡¡she¡¡leaped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stern
the¡¡canoe¡¡moved¡¡a¡¡few¡¡inches¡¡farther¡¡into¡¡the¡¡river¡£
As¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡her¡¡plan¡¡approached¡¡more¡¡closely¡¡to
fruition¡¡she¡¡became¡¡so¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡her¡¡efforts¡¡that¡¡she¡¡failed
to¡¡note¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡standing¡¡beneath¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡tree¡¡at
the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡just¡¡emerged¡£
He¡¡watched¡¡her¡¡and¡¡her¡¡labours¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cruel¡¡and¡¡malicious
grin¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡swarthy¡¡countenance¡£
The¡¡boat¡¡at¡¡last¡¡became¡¡so¡¡nearly¡¡free¡¡of¡¡the¡¡retarding
mud¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡that¡¡Jane¡¡felt¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could
pole¡¡it¡¡off¡¡into¡¡deeper¡¡water¡¡with¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡paddles¡¡which
lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rude¡¡craft¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡this¡¡end¡¡in¡¡view¡¡she
seized¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡implements¡¡and¡¡had¡¡just¡¡plunged¡¡it
into¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bottom¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡when¡¡her¡¡eyes
happened¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jungle¡£
As¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cry¡¡of
terror¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡her¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Rokoff¡£
He¡¡was¡¡running¡¡toward¡¡her¡¡now¡¡and¡¡shouting¡¡to¡¡her¡¡to
wait¡¡or¡¡he¡¡would¡¡shootthough¡¡he¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡unarmed¡¡it
was¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡just¡¡how¡¡he¡¡intended¡¡making¡¡good
his¡¡threat¡£
Jane¡¡Clayton¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡misfortunes¡¡that
had¡¡befallen¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡since¡¡she¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡from¡¡his¡¡tent£»
so¡¡she¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡his¡¡followers¡¡must¡¡be¡¡close¡¡at¡¡hand¡£
However£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡no¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡falling¡¡again¡¡into¡¡the
man's¡¡clutches¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡die¡¡at¡¡once¡¡than¡¡that¡¡that
should¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Another¡¡minute¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡would¡¡be¡¡free¡£
Once¡¡in¡¡the¡¡current¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡beyond¡¡Rokoff's
power¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡her£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡boat¡¡upon
the¡¡shore£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡not¡¡the¡¡cowardly¡¡Rokoff£»
would¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡swim¡¡the¡¡crocodile¡infested
water¡¡in¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡overtake¡¡her¡£
Rokoff£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡was¡¡bent¡¡more¡¡upon¡¡escape¡¡than¡¡aught¡¡else¡£¡¡¡¡
He¡¡would¡¡gladly¡¡have¡¡forgone¡¡any¡¡designs¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have
had¡¡upon¡¡Jane¡¡Clayton¡¡would¡¡she¡¡but¡¡permit¡¡him¡¡to¡¡share
this¡¡means¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡discovered¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would
promise¡¡anything¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡let¡¡him¡¡come¡¡aboard¡¡the¡¡dugout£»
but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£
He¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat
before¡¡it¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be
necessary¡¡to¡¡make¡¡promises¡¡of¡¡any¡¡sort¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡that¡¡Rokoff¡¡would
have¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡compunction¡¡in¡¡ignoring¡¡any¡¡promises
he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡made¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡disliked¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡having
to¡¡sue¡¡for¡¡favour¡¡with¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡so¡¡recently¡¡assaulted
and¡¡escaped¡¡him¡£
Already¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gloating¡¡over¡¡the¡¡days¡¡and¡¡nights¡¡of¡¡revenge
that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡his¡¡while¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡dugout¡¡drifted¡¡its
slow¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ocean¡£
Jane¡¡Clayton£»¡¡working¡¡furiously¡¡to¡¡shove¡¡t