the son of tarzan-第25节
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sed his rifle and fired into the midst of the surprised and angry herd。 For an instant Korak thought that the baboons were about to charge； but two more shots from the rifles of the white men sent them scampering into the trees。 Then the two Europeans advanced upon the cage。 Korak thought that they were going to kill the king。 He cared nothing for the king but he cared less for the two white men。 The king had never attempted to kill him the white men had。 The king was a denizen of his own beloved junglethe white men were aliens。 His loyalty therefore was to the baboon against the human。 He could speak the language of the baboonit was identical to that of the great apes。 Across the clearing he saw the jabbering horde watching。
Raising his voice he shouted to them。 The white men turned at the sound of this new factor behind them。 They thought it was another baboon that had circled them； but though they searched the trees with their eyes they saw nothing of the now silent figure hidden by the foliage。 Again Korak shouted。
〃I am The Killer；〃 he cried。 〃These men are my enemies and yours。 I will help you free your king。 Run out upon the strangers when you see me do so； and together we will drive them away and free your king。〃
And from the baboons came a great chorus： 〃We will do what you say； Korak。〃
Dropping from his tree Korak ran toward the two Swedes； and at the same instant three hundred baboons followed his example。 At sight of the strange apparition of the half…naked white warrior rushing upon them with uplifted spear Jenssen and Malbihn raised their rifles and fired at Korak； but in the excitement both missed and a moment later the baboons were upon them。 Now their only hope of safety lay in escape； and dodging here and there； fighting off the great beasts that leaped upon their backs； they ran into the jungle。 Even then they would have died but for the coming of their men whom they met a couple of hundred yards from the cage。
Once the white men had turned in flight Korak gave them no further attention； turning instead to the imprisoned baboon。 The fastenings of the door that had eluded the mental powers of the baboons； yielded their secret immediately to the human intelligence of The Killer； and a moment later the king baboon stepped forth to liberty。 He wasted no breath in thanks to Korak； nor did the young man expect thanks。 He knew that none of the baboons would ever forget his service； though as a matter of fact he did not care if they did。 What he had done had been prompted by a desire to be revenged upon the two white men。 The baboons could never be of service to him。 Now they were racing in the direction of the battle that was being waged between their fellows and the followers of the two Swedes； and as the din of battle subsided in the distance； Korak turned and resumed his journey toward the village of Kovudoo。
On the way he came upon a herd of elephants standing in an open forest glade。 Here the trees were too far apart to permit Korak to travel through the branchesa trail he much preferred not only because of its freedom from dense underbrush and the wider field of vision it gave him but from pride in his arboreal ability。 It was exhilarating to swing from tree to tree； to test the prowess of his mighty muscles； to reap the pleasurable fruits of his hard won agility。 Korak joyed in the thrills of the highflung upper terraces of the great forest； where； unhampered and unhindered； he might laugh down upon the great brutes who must keep forever to the darkness and the gloom of the musty soil。
But here； in this open glade where Tantor flapped his giant ears and swayed his huge bulk from side to side； the ape…man must pass along the surface of the grounda pygmy amongst giants。 A great bull raised his trunk to rattle a low warning as he sensed the coming of an intruder。 His weak eyes roved hither and thither but it was his keen scent and acute hearing which first located the ape…man。 The herd moved restlessly； prepared for fight； for the old bull had caught the scent of man。
〃Peace； Tantor；〃 called The Killer。 〃It is I； Korak； Tarmangani。〃
The bull lowered his trunk and the herd resumed their interrupted meditations。 Korak passed within a foot of the great bull。 A sinuous trunk undulated toward him； touching his brown hide in a half caress。 Korak slapped the great shoulder affectionately as he went by。 For years he had been upon good terms with Tantor and his people。 Of all the jungle folk he loved best the mighty pachydermthe most peaceful and at the same time the most terrible of them all。 The gentle gazelle feared him not； yet Numa； lord of the jungle； gave him a wide berth。 Among the younger bulls； the cows and the calves Korak wound his way。 Now and then another trunk would run out to touch him； and once a playful calf grasped his legs and upset him。
The afternoon was almost spent when Korak arrived at the village of Kovudoo。 There were many natives lolling in shady spots beside the conical huts or beneath the branches of the several trees which had been left standing within the enclosure。 Warriors were in evidence upon hand。 It was not a good time for a lone enemy to prosecute a search through the village。 Korak determined to await the coming of darkness。 He was a match for many warriors； but he could not； unaided； overcome an entire tribenot even for his beloved Meriem。 While he waited among the branches and foliage of a near…by tree he searched the village constantly with his keen eyes； and twice he circled it； sniffing the vagrant breezes which puffed erratically from first one point of the compass and then another。 Among the various stenches peculiar to a native village the ape…man's sensitive nostrils were finally rewarded by cognizance of the delicate aroma which marked the presence of her he sought。 Meriem was there in one of those huts！ But which one he could not know without closer investigation； and so he waited； with the dogged patience of a beast of prey； until night had fallen。
The camp fires of the blacks dotted the gloom with little points of light； casting their feeble rays in tiny circles of luminosity that brought into glistening relief the naked bodies of those who lay or squatted about them。 It was then that Korak slid silently from the tree that had hidden him and dropped lightly to the ground within the enclosure。
Keeping well in the shadows of the huts he commenced a systematic search of the villageears； eyes and nose constantly upon the alert for the first intimation of the near presence of Meriem。 His progress must of necessity be slow since not even the keen…eared curs of the savages must guess the presence of a stranger within the gates。 How close he came to a detection on several occasions The Killer well knew from the restless whining of several of them。
It was not until he reached the back of a hut at the head of the wide village street that Korak caught again； plainly； the scent of Meriem。 With nose close to the thatched wall Korak sniffed eagerly about the structuretense and palpitant as a hunting hound。 Toward the front and the door he made his way when once his nose had assured him that Meriem lay within； but as he rounded the side and came within view of the entrance he saw a burly Negro armed with a long spear squatting at the portal of the girl's prison。 The fellow's back was toward him； his figure outlined against the glow of cooking fires further down the street。 He was alone。 The nearest of his fellows were beside a fire sixty or seventy feet beyond。 To enter the hut Korak must either silence the sentry or pass him unnoticed。 The danger in the accomplishment of the former alternative lay in the practical certainty of alarming the warriors near by and bringing them and the balance of the village down upon him。 To achieve the latter appeared practically impossible。 To you or me it would have been impossible； but Korak； The Killer； was not as you or I。
There was a good twelve inches of space between the broad back of the black and the frame of the doorway。 Could Korak pass through behind the savage warrior without detection？ The light that fell upon the glistening ebony of the sentry's black skin fell also upon the light brown of Korak's。 Should one of the many further down the street chance to look long in this direction they must surely note the tall； light…colored； moving figure； but Korak depended upon their interest in their own gossip to hold their attention fast where it already lay； and upon the firelight near them to prevent them seeing too plainly at a distance into the darkness at the village end where his work lay。
Flattened against the side of the hut； yet not arousing a single warning rustle from its dried thatching； The Killer came closer and closer to the watcher。 Now he was at his shoulder。 Now he had wormed his sinuous way behind him。 He could feel the heat of the naked body against his knees。 He could hear the man breathe。 He marveled that the dull…witted creature had not long since been alarmed； but the fellow sat there as ignorant of the presence of another as though that other had not existed。
Korak moved scarcely more than an inch at a time； then he wou
