the son of tarzan-第20节

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The　sleeping　problem　vexed　Korak。　　He　knew　that　the　girl　could　not　balance　herself　in　safety　in　a　tree　crotch　while　she　slept；　nor　would　it　be　safe　to　permit　her　to　sleep　upon　the　ground　open　to　the　attacks　of　prowling　beasts　of　prey。　　There　was　but　a　single　solution　that　presented　itselfhe　must　hold　her　in　his　arms　all　night。　　And　that　he　did；　with　Akut　braced　upon　one　side　of　her　and　he　upon　the　other；　so　that　she　was　warmed　by　the　bodies　of　them　both。

She　did　not　sleep　much　until　the　night　was　half　spent；　but　at　last　Nature　overcame　her　terrors　of　the　black　abyss　beneath　and　the　hairy　body　of　the　wild　beast　at　her　side；　and　she　fell　into　a　deep　slumber　which　outlasted　the　darkness。　　When　she　opened　her　eyes　the　sun　was　well　up。　　At　first　she　could　not　believe　in　the　reality　of　her　position。　　Her　head　had　rolled　from　Korak's　shoulder　so　that　her　eyes　were　directed　upon　the　hairy　back　of　the　ape。　　At　sight　of　it　she　shrank　away。　　Then　she　realized　that　someone　was　holding　her；　and　turning　her　head　she　saw　the　smiling　eyes　of　the　youth　regarding　her。　　When　he　smiled　she　could　not　fear　him；　and　now　she　shrank　closer　against　him　in　natural　revulsion　toward　the　rough　coat　of　the　brute　upon　her　other　side。

Korak　spoke　to　her　in　the　language　of　the　apes；　but　she　shook　her　head；　and　spoke　to　him　in　the　language　of　the　Arab；　which　was　as　unintelligible　to　him　as　was　ape　speech　to　her。　　Akut　sat　up　and　looked　at　them。　　He　could　understand　what　Korak　said　but　the　girl　made　only　foolish　noises　that　were　entirely　unintelligible　and　ridiculous。　　Akut　could　not　understand　what　Korak　saw　in　her　to　attract　him。　　He　looked　at　her　long　and　steadily；　appraising　her　carefully；　then　he　scratched　his　head；　rose　and　shook　himself。

His　movement　gave　the　girl　a　little　startshe　had　forgotten　Akut　for　the　moment。　　Again　she　shrank　from　him。　　The　beast　saw　that　she　feared　him；　and　being　a　brute　enjoyed　the　evidence　of　the　terror　his　brutishness　inspired。　　Crouching；　he　extended　his　huge　hand　stealthily　toward　her；　as　though　to　seize　her。　　She　shrank　still　further　away。　　Akut's　eyes　were　busy　drinking　in　the　humor　of　the　situationhe　did　not　see　the　narrowing　eyes　of　the　boy　upon　him；　nor　the　shortening　neck　as　the　broad　shoulders　rose　in　a　characteristic　attitude　of　preparation　for　attack。　　As　the　ape's　fingers　were　about　to　close　upon　the　girl's　arm　the　youth　rose　suddenly　with　a　short；　vicious　growl。　　A　clenched　fist　flew　before　Meriem's　eyes　to　land　full　upon　the　snout　of　the　astonished　Akut。　With　an　explosive　bellow　the　anthropoid　reeled　backward　and　tumbled　from　the　tree。

Korak　stood　glaring　down　upon　him　when　a　sudden　swish　in　the　bushes　close　by　attracted　his　attention。　　The　girl　too　was　looking　down；　but　she　saw　nothing　but　the　angry　ape　scrambling　to　his　feet。　　Then；　like　a　bolt　from　a　cross　bow；　a　mass　of　spotted；　yellow　fur　shot　into　view　straight　for　Akut's　back。　　It　was　Sheeta；　the　leopard。



Chapter　10

As　the　leopard　leaped　for　the　great　ape　Meriem　gasped　in　surprise　and　horrornot　for　the　impending　fate　of　the　anthropoid；　but　at　the　act　of　the　youth　who　but　for　an　instant　before　had　angrily　struck　his　strange　companion；　for　scarce　had　the　carnivore　burst　into　view　than　with　drawn　knife　the　youth　had　leaped　far　out　above　him；　so　that　as　Sheeta　was　almost　in　the　act　of　sinking　fangs　and　talons　in　Akut's　broad　back　The　Killer　landed　full　upon　the　leopard's　shoulders。

The　cat　halted　in　mid　air；　missed　the　ape　by　but　a　hair's　breadth；　and　with　horrid　snarlings　rolled　over　upon　its　back；　clutching　and　clawing　in　an　effort　to　reach　and　dislodge　the　antagonist　biting　at　its　neck　and　knifing　it　in　the　side。

Akut；　startled　by　the　sudden　rush　from　his　rear；　and　following　hoary　instinct；　was　in　the　tree　beside　the　girl　with　an　agility　little　short　of　marvelous　in　so　heavy　a　beast。　　But　the　moment　that　he　turned　to　see　what　was　going　on　below　him　brought　him　as　quickly　to　the　ground　again。　　Personal　differences　were　quickly　forgotten　in　the　danger　which　menaced　his　human　companion；　nor　was　he　a　whit　less　eager　to　jeopardize　his　own　safety　in　the　service　of　his　friend　than　Korak　had　been　to　succor　him。

The　result　was　that　Sheeta　presently　found　two　ferocious　creatures　tearing　him　to　ribbons。　　Shrieking；　snarling　and　growling；　the　three　rolled　hither　and　thither　among　the　underbrush；　while　with　staring　eyes　the　sole　spectator　of　the　battle　royal　crouched　trembling　in　the　tree　above　them　hugging　Geeka　frantically　to　her　breast。

It　was　the　boy's　knife　which　eventually　decided　the　battle；　and　as　the　fierce　feline　shuddered　convulsively　and　rolled　over　upon　its　side　the　youth　and　the　ape　rose　and　faced　one　another　across　the　prostrate　carcass。　　Korak　jerked　his　head　in　the　direction　of　the　little　girl　in　the　tree。

〃Leave　her　alone；〃　he　said；　〃she　is　mine。〃

Akut　grunted；　blinked　his　blood…shot　eyes；　and　turned　toward　the　body　of　Sheeta。　　Standing　erect　upon　it　he　threw　out　his　great　chest；　raised　his　face　toward　the　heavens　and　gave　voice　to　so　horrid　a　scream　that　once　again　the　little　girl　shuddered　and　shrank。　　It　was　the　victory　cry　of　the　bull　ape　that　has　made　a　kill。　　The　boy　only　looked　on　for　a　moment　in　silence；　then　he　leaped　into　the　tree　again　to　the　girl's　side。　　Akut　presently　rejoined　them。　　For　a　few　minutes　he　busied　himself　licking　his　wounds；　then　he　wandered　off　to　hunt　his　breakfast。

For　many　months　the　strange　life　of　the　three　went　on　unmarked　by　any　unusual　occurrences。　　At　least　without　any　occurrences　that　seemed　unusual　to　the　youth　or　the　ape；　but　to　the　little　girl　it　was　a　constant　nightmare　of　horrors　for　days　and　weeks；　until　she　too　became　accustomed　to　gazing　into　the　eyeless　sockets　of　death　and　to　the　feel　of　the　icy　wind　of　his　shroud…like　mantle。　　Slowly　she　learned　the　rudiments　of　the　only　common　medium　of　thought　exchange　which　her　companions　possessedthe　language　of　the　great　apes。　　More　quickly　she　perfected　herself　in　jungle　craft；　so　that　the　time　soon　came　when　she　was　an　important　factor　in　the　chase；　watching　while　the　others　slept；　or　helping　them　to　trace　the　spoor　of　whatever　prey　they　might　be　stalking。　　Akut　accepted　her　on　a　footing　which　bordered　upon　equality　when　it　was　necessary　for　them　to　come　into　close　contact；　but　for　the　most　part　he　avoided　her。　The　youth　always　was　kind　to　her；　and　if　there　were　many　occasions　upon　which　he　felt　the　burden　of　her　presence　he　hid　it　from　her。　　Finding　that　the　night　damp　and　chill　caused　her　discomfort　and　even　suffering；　Korak　constructed　a　tight　little　shelter　high　among　the　swaying　branches　of　a　giant　tree。　　Here　little　Meriem　slept　in　comparative　warmth　and　safety；　while　The　Killer　and　the　ape　perched　upon　near…by　branches；　the　former　always　before　the　entrance　to　the　lofty　domicile；　where　he　best　could　guard　its　inmate　from　the　dangers　of　arboreal　enemies。　　They　were　too　high　to　feel　much　fear　of　Sheeta；　but　there　was　always　Histah；　the　snake；　to　strike　terror　to　one's　soul；　and　the　great　baboons　who　lived　near…by；　and　who；　while　never　attacking　always　bared　their　fangs　and　barked　at　any　of　the　trio　when　they　passed　near　them。

After　the　construction　of　the　shelter　the　activities　of　the　three　became　localized。　　They　ranged　less　widely；　for　there　was　always　the　necessity　of　returning　to　their　own　tree　at　nightfall。　　A　river　flowed　near　by。　　Game　and　fruit　were　plentiful；　as　were　fish　also。　Existence　had　settled　down　to　the　daily　humdrum　of　the　wild　the　search　for　food　and　the　sleeping　upon　full　bellies。　　They　looked　no　further　ahead　than　today。　　If　the　youth　thought　of　his　past　and　of　those　who　longed　for　him　in　the　distant　metropolis　it　was　in　a　detached　and　impersonal　sort　of　way　as　though　that　other　life　belonged　to　another　creature　than　himself。　　He　had　given　up　hope　of　returning　to　civilization；　for　since　his　various　rebuffs　at　the　hands　of　those　to　whom　he　had　looked　for　friendship　he　had　wandered　so　far　inland　as　to　realize　that　he　was　completely　lost　in　the　mazes　of　the　jungle。

Then；　too；　since　the　coming　of　Meriem　he　had　found　in　her　that　one　thing　which　he　had　most　missed　before　in　his　savage；　jungle　lifehuman　companionship。　　In　his　friendship　for　her　there　was　appreciable　no　trace　of　sex　influence　of　which　he　was　cognizant。　　They　were　friendscompanionsthat　was　all。　　Both　might　have　been　boys；　except　for　the　half　tender　and　always　masterful　manifestation　of　the　protective　instinct　which　was　apparent　in　Korak's　attitude。

The　little　girl　idolized　him　as　she　might　have　idolized　an　indulgent　brother　had　she　had　one。　　Love　was　a　thing　unknown　to　either；　but　as　the　youth　neared　manhood　it　was　inevitable　that　it　should　come　to　him　as　it　did　to　every　other　savage；　jungle　male。

As　Meriem　became　proficient　in　their　common　language　the　pleasures　of　their　companionship　grew　correspondingly；　for　now　they　could　converse　and　aided　by　the　mental　powers　of　their　human　heritage　they　amplified　the　restricted　vocabulary　of　the　apes　until　talking　was　transformed　from　a　task　into　an　enjoyable　pastime。　　When　Korak　hunted；　Meriem　usually　accompanied　him；　for　she　had　learned　the　fine　art　of　silence；　when　silence　was　desirable。　　She　could　pass　through　the　branches　of　the　great　trees　now　with　all　the　agility　and　stealth　of　The　Killer