the son of tarzan-第18节

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ut　himself。　　When　he　came　suddenly　upon　another　beast　his　quick　crouch　bore　a　strange　resemblance　to　the　arching　of　a　cat's　back。　　Korak；　the　killer；　was　looking　for　trouble。　In　his　heart　of　hearts　he　hoped　to　meet　the　king　ape　who　had　driven　him　from　the　amphitheater。　　To　this　end　he　insisted　upon　remaining　in　the　vicinity；　but　the　exigencies　of　the　perpetual　search　for　food　led　them　several　miles　further　away　during　day。

They　were　moving　slowly　down　wind；　and　warily　because　the　advantage　was　with　whatever　beast　might　chance　to　be　hunting　ahead　of　them；　where　their　scent…spoor　was　being　borne　by　the　light　breeze。　　Suddenly　the　two　halted　simultaneously。　　Two　heads　were　cocked　upon　one　side。　　Like　creatures　hewn　from　solid　rock　they　stood　immovable；　listening。　　Not　a　muscle　quivered。　　For　several　seconds　they　remained　thus；　then　Korak　advanced　cautiously　a　few　yards　and　leaped　nimbly　into　a　tree。　　Akut　followed　close　upon　his　heels。　　Neither　had　made　a　noise　that　would　have　been　appreciable　to　human　ears　at　a　dozen　paces。

Stopping　often　to　listen　they　crept　forward　through　the　trees。　That　both　were　greatly　puzzled　was　apparent　from　the　questioning　looks　they　cast　at　one　another　from　time　to　time。　　Finally　the　lad　caught　a　glimpse　of　a　palisade　a　hundred　yards　ahead；　and　beyond　it　the　tops　of　some　goatskin　tents　and　a　number　of　thatched　huts。　　His　lip　upcurled　in　a　savage　snarl。　　Blacks！　　How　he　hated　them。　　He　signed　to　Akut　to　remain　where　he　was　while　he　advanced　to　reconnoiter。

Woe　betide　the　unfortunate　villager　whom　The　Killer　came　upon　now。　　Slinking　through　the　lower　branches　of　the　trees；　leaping　lightly　from　one　jungle　giant　to　its　neighbor　where　the　distance　was　not　too　great；　or　swinging　from　one　hand　hold　to　another　Korak　came　silently　toward　the　village。　　He　heard　a　voice　beyond　the　palisade　and　toward　that　he　made　his　way。　　A　great　tree　overhung　the　enclosure　at　the　very　point　from　which　the　voice　came。　　Into　this　Korak　crept。　　His　spear　was　ready　in　his　hand。　　His　ears　told　him　of　the　proximity　of　a　human　being。　　All　that　his　eyes　required　was　a　single　glance　to　show　him　his　target。　Then；　lightning　like；　the　missile　would　fly　to　its　goal。　　With　raised　spear　he　crept　among　the　branches　of　the　tree　glaring　narrowly　downward　in　search　of　the　owner　of　the　voice　which　rose　to　him　from　below。

At　last　he　saw　a　human　back。　　The　spear　hand　flew　to　the　limit　of　the　throwing　position　to　gather　the　force　that　would　send　the　iron　shod　missile　completely　through　the　body　of　the　unconscious　victim。　　And　then　The　Killer　paused。　　He　leaned　forward　a　little　to　get　a　better　view　of　the　target。　　Was　it　to　insure　more　perfect　aim；　or　had　there　been　that　in　the　graceful　lines　and　the　childish　curves　of　the　little　body　below　him　that　had　held　in　check　the　spirit　of　murder　running　riot　in　his　veins？

He　lowered　his　spear　cautiously　that　it　might　make　no　noise　by　scraping　against　foliage　or　branches。　　Quietly　he　crouched　in　a　comfortable　position　along　a　great　limb　and　there　he　lay　with　wide　eyes　looking　down　in　wonder　upon　the　creature　he　had　crept　upon　to　killlooking　down　upon　a　little　girl；　a　little　nut　brown　maiden。　　The　snarl　had　gone　from　his　lip。　　His　only　expression　was　one　of　interested　attentionhe　was　trying　to　discover　what　the　girl　was　doing。　　Suddenly　a　broad　grin　overspread　his　face；　for　a　turn　of　the　girl's　body　had　revealed　Geeka　of　the　ivory　head　and　the　rat　skin　torsoGeeka　of　the　splinter　limbs　and　the　disreputable　appearance。　　The　little　girl　raised　the　marred　face　to　hers　and　rocking　herself　backward　and　forward　crooned　a　plaintive　Arab　lullaby　to　the　doll。　　A　softer　light　entered　the　eyes　of　The　Killer。　　For　a　long　hour　that　passed　very　quickly　to　him　Korak　lay　with　gaze　riveted　upon　the　playing　child。　　Not　once　had　he　had　a　view　of　the　girl's　full　face。　　For　the　most　part　he　saw　only　a　mass　of　wavy；　black　hair；　one　brown　little　shoulder　exposed　upon　the　side　from　where　her　single　robe　was　caught　beneath　her　arm；　and　a　shapely　knee　protruding　from　beneath　her　garment　as　she　sat　cross　legged　upon　the　ground。　　A　tilt　of　the　head　as　she　emphasized　some　maternal　admonition　to　the　passive　Geeka　revealed　occasionally　a　rounded　cheek　or　a　piquant　little　chin。　　Now　she　was　shaking　a　slim　finger　at　Geeka；　reprovingly；　and　again　she　crushed　to　her　heart　this　only　object　upon　which　she　might　lavish　the　untold　wealth　of　her　childish　affections。

Korak；　momentarily　forgetful　of　his　bloody　mission；　permitted　the　fingers　of　his　spear　hand　to　relax　a　little　their　grasp　upon　the　shaft　of　his　formidable　weapon。　　It　slipped；　almost　falling；　but　the　occurrence　recalled　The　Killer　to　himself。　　It　reminded　him　of　his　purpose　in　slinking　stealthily　upon　the　owner　of　the　voice　that　had　attracted　his　vengeful　attention。　　He　glanced　at　the　spear；　with　its　well…worn　grip　and　cruel；　barbed　head。　　Then　he　let　his　eyes　wander　again　to　the　dainty　form　below　him。　　In　imagination　he　saw　the　heavy　weapon　shooting　downward。　　He　saw　it　pierce　the　tender　flesh；　driving　its　way　deep　into　the　yielding　body。　　He　saw　the　ridiculous　doll　drop　from　its　owner's　arms　to　lie　sprawled　and　pathetic　beside　the　quivering　body　of　the　little　girl。　　The　Killer　shuddered；　scowling　at　the　inanimate　iron　and　wood　of　the　spear　as　though　they　constituted　a　sentient　being　endowed　with　a　malignant　mind。

Korak　wondered　what　the　girl　would　do　were　he　to　drop　suddenly　from　the　tree　to　her　side。　　Most　likely　she　would　scream　and　run　away。　　Then　would　come　the　men　of　the　village　with　spears　and　guns　and　set　upon　him。　　They　would　either　kill　him　or　drive　him　away。　　A　lump　rose　in　the　boy's　throat。　　He　craved　the　companionship　of　his　own　kind；　though　he　scarce　realized　how　greatly。　　He　would　have　liked　to　slip　down　beside　the　little　girl　and　talk　with　her；　though　he　knew　from　the　words　he　had　overheard　that　she　spoke　a　language　with　which　he　was　unfamiliar。　　They　could　have　talked　by　signs　a　little。　　That　would　have　been　better　than　nothing。　　Too；　he　would　have　been　glad　to　see　her　face。　　What　he　had　glimpsed　assured　him　that　she　was　pretty；　but　her　strongest　appeal　to　him　lay　in　the　affectionate　nature　revealed　by　her　gentle　mothering　of　the　grotesque　doll。

At　last　he　hit　upon　a　plan。　　He　would　attract　her　attention；　and　reassure　her　by　a　smiling　greeting　from　a　greater　distance。　　Silently　he　wormed　his　way　back　into　the　tree。　　It　was　his　intention　to　hail　her　from　beyond　the　palisade；　giving　her　the　feeling　of　security　which　he　imagined　the　stout　barricade　would　afford。

He　had　scarcely　left　his　position　in　the　tree　when　his　attention　was　attracted　by　a　considerable　noise　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　village。　　By　moving　a　little　he　could　see　the　gate　at　the　far　end　of　the　main　street。　　A　number　of　men；　women　and　children　were　running　toward　it。　　It　swung　open；　revealing　the　head　of　a　caravan　upon　the　opposite　side。　　In　trooped　the　motley　organization　black　slaves　and　dark　hued　Arabs　of　the　northern　deserts；　cursing　camel　drivers　urging　on　their　vicious　charges；　overburdened　donkeys；　waving　sadly　pendulous　ears　while　they　endured　with　stoic　patience　the　brutalities　of　their　masters；　goats；　sheep　and　horses。　　Into　the　village　they　all　trooped　behind　a　tall；　sour；　old　man；　who　rode　without　greetings　to　those　who　shrunk　from　his　path　directly　to　a　large　goatskin　tent　in　the　center　of　the　village。　　Here　he　spoke　to　a　wrinkled　hag。

Korak；　from　his　vantage　spot；　could　see　it　all。　　He　saw　the　old　man　asking　questions　of　the　black　woman；　and　then　he　saw　the　latter　point　toward　a　secluded　corner　of　the　village　which　was　hidden　from　the　main　street　by　the　tents　of　the　Arabs　and　the　huts　of　the　natives　in　the　direction　of　the　tree　beneath　which　the　little　girl　played。　　This　was　doubtless　her　father；　thought　Korak。　He　had　been　away　and　his　first　thought　upon　returning　was　of　his　little　daughter。　　How　glad　she　would　be　to　see　him！　　How　she　would　run　and　throw　herself　into　his　arms；　to　be　crushed　to　his　breast　and　covered　with　his　kisses。　　Korak　sighed。　　He　thought　of　his　own　father　and　mother　far　away　in　london。

He　returned　to　his　place　in　the　tree　above　the　girl。　　If　he　couldn't　have　happiness　of　this　sort　himself　he　wanted　to　enjoy　the　happiness　of　others。　　Possibly　if　he　made　himself　known　to　the　old　man　he　might　be　permitted　to　come　to　the　village　occasionally　as　a　friend。　　It　would　be　worth　trying。　　He　would　wait　until　the　old　Arab　had　greeted　his　daughter；　then　he　would　make　his　presence　known　with　signs　of　peace。

The　Arab　was　striding　softly　toward　the　girl。　　In　a　moment　he　would　be　beside　her；　and　then　how　surprised　and　delighted　she　would　be！　　Korak's　eyes　sparkled　in　anticipationand　now　the　old　man　stood　behind　the　little　girl。　　His　stern　old　face　was　still　unrelaxed。　　The　child　was　yet　unconscious　of　his　presence。　　She　prattled　on　to　the　unresponsive　Geeka。　　Then　the　old　man　coughed。　　With　a　start　the　child　glanced　quickly　up　over　her　shoulder。　　Korak　could　see　her　full　face　now。　　It　was　very　beautiful　in　its　sweet　and　innocent　childishnessall　soft　and　lovely　curves。　　He　could　see　her　great；　dark　eyes。　　He　looked　for　the　happy　love　light　that　would　follow　recognition；　but　it　did　not　come。　　Instead；　terror；　stark；　paralyzing　terror；　was　mirrored　in　her　eyes；　in