the son of tarzan-第39节

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From　this　Hanson　knew　that　a　man　eater　had　wandered　into　the　district　or　been　developed　by　the　aging　of　one　of　the　many　lions　who　ranged　the　plains　and　hills　by　night；　or　lay　up　in　the　cool　wood　by　day。　　He　had　heard　the　roaring　of　a　hungry　lion　not　half　an　hour　before；　and　there　was　little　doubt　in　his　mind　but　that　the　man　eater　was　stalking　Meriem　and　Baynes。　　He　cursed　the　Englishman　for　a　fool；　and　spurred　rapidly　after　them。

Meriem　and　Baynes　had　drawn　up　in　a　small；　natural　clearing。　A　hundred　yards　beyond　them　Numa　lay　crouching　in　the　underbrush；　his　yellow…green　eyes　fixed　upon　his　prey；　the　tip　of　his　sinuous　tail　jerking　spasmodically。　　He　was　measuring　the　distance　between　him　and　them。　　He　was　wondering　if　he　dared　venture　a　charge；　or　should　he　wait　yet　a　little　longer　in　the　hope　that　they　might　ride　straight　into　his　jaws。　　He　was　very　hungry；　but　also　was　he　very　crafty。　　He　could　not　chance　losing　his　meat　by　a　hasty　and　ill…considered　rush。　　Had　he　waited　the　night　before　until　the　blacks　slept　he　would　not　have　been　forced　to　go　hungry　for　another　twenty…four　hours。

Behind　him　the　other　that　had　caught　his　scent　and　that　of　man　together　came　to　a　sitting　posture　upon　the　branch　of　a　tree　in　which　he　had　reposed　himself　for　slumber。　　Beneath　him　a　lumbering　gray　hulk　swayed　to　and　fro　in　the　darkness。　　The　beast　in　the　tree　uttered　a　low　guttural　and　dropped　to　the　back　of　the　gray　mass。　　He　whispered　a　word　in　one　of　the　great　ears　and　Tantor；　the　elephant；　raised　his　trunk　aloft；　swinging　it　high　and　low　to　catch　the　scent　that　the　word　had　warned　him　of。　There　was　another　whispered　wordwas　it　a　command？and　the　lumbering　beast　wheeled　into　an　awkward；　yet　silent　shuffle；　in　the　direction　of　Numa；　the　lion；　and　the　stranger　Tarmangani　his　rider　had　scented。

Onward　they　went；　the　scent　of　the　lion　and　his　prey　becoming　stronger　and　stronger。　　Numa　was　becoming　impatient。　　How　much　longer　must　he　wait　for　his　meat　to　come　his　way？　　He　lashed　his　tail　viciously　now。　　He　almost　growled。　　All　unconscious　of　their　danger　the　man　and　the　girl　sat　talking　in　the　little　clearing。

Their　horses　were　pressed　side　by　side。　　Baynes　had　found　Meriem's　hand　and　was　pressing　it　as　he　poured　words　of　love　into　her　ear；　and　Meriem　was　listening。

〃Come　to　London　with　me；〃　urged　the　Hon。　Morison。　　〃I　can　gather　a　safari　and　we　can　be　a　whole　day　upon　the　way　to　the　coast　before　they　guess　that　we　have　gone。〃

〃Why　must　we　go　that　way？〃　asked　the　girl。　　〃Bwana　and　My　Dear　would　not　object　to　our　marriage。〃

〃I　cannot　marry　you　just　yet；〃　explained　the　Hon。　Morison；　〃there　are　some　formalities　to　be　attended　to　firstyou　do　not　understand。　　It　will　be　all　right。　　We　will　go　to　London。　　I　cannot　wait。　　If　you　love　me　you　will　come。　　What　of　the　apes　you　lived　with？　　Did　they　bother　about　marriage？　　They　love　as　we　love。　　Had　you　stayed　among　them　you　would　have　mated　as　they　mate。　　It　is　the　law　of　natureno　man…made　law　can　abrogate　the　laws　of　God。　　What　difference　does　it　make　if　we　love　one　another？　　What　do　we　care　for　anyone　in　the　world　besides　ourselves？　　I　would　give　my　life　for　youwill　you　give　nothing　for　me？〃

〃You　love　me？〃　she　said。　　〃You　will　marry　me　when　we　have　reached　London？〃

〃I　swear　it；〃　he　cried。

〃I　will　go　with　you；〃　she　whispered；　〃though　I　do　not　understand　why　it　is　necessary。〃　　She　leaned　toward　him　and　he　took　her　in　his　arms　and　bent　to　press　his　lips　to　hers。

At　the　same　instant　the　head　of　a　huge　tusker　poked　through　the　trees　that　fringed　the　clearing。　　The　Hon。　Morison　and　Meriem；　with　eyes　and　ears　for　one　another　alone；　did　not　see　or　hear；　but　Numa　did。　　The　man　upon　Tantor's　broad　head　saw　the　girl　in　the　man's　arms。　　It　was　Korak；　but　in　the　trim　figure　of　the　neatly　garbed　girl　he　did　not　recognize　his　Meriem。　　He　only　saw　a　Tarmangani　with　his　she。　　And　then　Numa　charged。

With　a　frightful　roar；　fearful　lest　Tantor　had　come　to　frighten　away　his　prey；　the　great　beast　leaped　from　his　hiding　place。　　The　earth　trembled　to　his　mighty　voice。　　The　ponies　stood　for　an　instant　transfixed　with　terror。　　The　Hon。　Morison　Baynes　went　white　and　cold。　　The　lion　was　charging　toward　them　full　in　the　brilliant　light　of　the　magnificent　moon。　　The　muscles　of　the　Hon。　Morison　no　longer　obeyed　his　willthey　flexed　to　the　urge　of　a　greater　powerthe　power　of　Nature's　first　law。　　They　drove　his　spurred　heels　deep　into　his　pony's　flanks；　they　bore　the　rein　against　the　brute's　neck　that　wheeled　him　with　an　impetuous　drive　toward　the　plain　and　safety。

The　girl's　pony；　squealing　in　terror；　reared　and　plunged　upon　the　heels　of　his　mate。　　The　lion　was　close　upon　him。　　Only　the　girl　was　coolthe　girl　and　the　half…naked　savage　who　bestrode　the　neck　of　his　mighty　mount　and　grinned　at　the　exciting　spectacle　chance　had　staked　for　his　enjoyment。

To　Korak　here　were　but　two　strange　Tarmangani　pursued　by　Numa；　who　was　empty。　　It　was　Numa's　right　to　prey；　but　one　was　a　she。　　Korak　felt　an　intuitive　urge　to　rush　to　her　protection。　Why；　he　could　not　guess。　　All　Tarmangani　were　enemies　now。　He　had　lived　too　long　a　beast　to　feel　strongly　the　humanitarian　impulses　that　were　inherent　in　himyet　feel　them　he　did；　for　the　girl　at　least。

He　urged　Tantor　forward。　　He　raised　his　heavy　spear　and　hurled　it　at　the　flying　target　of　the　lion's　body。　　The　girl's　pony　had　reached　the　trees　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　clearing。　　Here　he　would　become　easy　prey　to　the　swiftly　moving　lion；　but　Numa；　infuriated；　preferred　the　woman　upon　his　back。　　It　was　for　her　he　leaped。

Korak　gave　an　exclamation　of　astonishment　and　approval　as　Numa　landed　upon　the　pony's　rump　and　at　the　same　instant　the　girl　swung　free　of　her　mount　to　the　branches　of　a　tree　above　her。

Korak's　spear　struck　Numa　in　the　shoulder；　knocking　him　from　his　precarious　hold　upon　the　frantically　plunging　horse。　Freed　of　the　weight　of　both　girl　and　lion　the　pony　raced　ahead　toward　safety。　　Numa　tore　and　struck　at　the　missile　in　his　shoulder　but　could　not　dislodge　it。　　Then　he　resumed　the　chase。

Korak　guided　Tantor　into　the　seclusion　of　the　jungle。　　He　did　not　wish　to　be　seen；　nor　had　he。

Hanson　had　almost　reached　the　wood　when　he　heard　the　lion's　terrific　roars；　and　knew　that　the　charge　had　come。　　An　instant　later　the　Hon。　Morison　broke　upon　his　vision；　racing　like　mad　for　safety。　　The　man　lay　flat　upon　his　pony's　back　hugging　the　animal's　neck　tightly　with　both　arms　and　digging　the　spurs　into　his　sides。　　An　instant　later　the　second　pony　appearedriderless。

Hanson　groaned　as　he　guessed　what　had　happened　out　of　sight　in　the　jungle。　　With　an　oath　he　spurred　on　in　the　hope　of　driving　the　lion　from　his　preyhis　rifle　was　ready　in　his　hand。　　And　then　the　lion　came　into　view　behind　the　girl's　pony。　　Hanson　could　not　understand。　　He　knew　that　if　Numa　had　succeeded　in　seizing　the　girl　he　would　not　have　continued　in　pursuit　of　the　others。

He　drew　in　his　own　mount；　took　quick　aim　and　fired。　　The　lion　stopped　in　his　tracks；　turned　and　bit　at　his　side；　then　rolled　over　dead。　　Hanson　rode　on　into　the　forest；　calling　aloud　to　the　girl。

〃Here　I　am；〃　came　a　quick　response　from　the　foliage　of　the　trees　just　ahead。　　〃Did　you　hit　him？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Hanson。　　〃Where　are　you？　　You　had　a　mighty　narrow　escape。　　It　will　teach　you　to　keep　out　of　the　jungle　at　night。〃

Together　they　returned　to　the　plain　where　they　found　the　Hon。　Morison　riding　slowly　back　toward　them。　　He　explained　that　his　pony　had　bolted　and　that　he　had　had　hard　work　stopping　him　at　all。　　Hanson　grinned；　for　he　recalled　the　pounding　heels　that　he　had　seen　driving　sharp　spurs　into　the　flanks　of　Baynes'　mount；　but　he　said　nothing　of　what　he　had　seen。　　He　took　Meriem　up　behind　him　and　the　three　rode　in　silence　toward　the　bungalow。



Chapter　19

Behind　them　Korak　emerged　from　the　jungle　and　recovered　his　spear　from　Numa's　side。　　He　still　was　smiling。　　He　had　enjoyed　the　spectacle　exceedingly。　　There　was　one　thing　that　troubled　himthe　agility　with　which　the　she　had　clambered　from　her　pony's　back　into　the　safety　of　the　tree　ABOVE　her。　　That　was　more　like　manganimore　like　his　lost　Meriem。　　He　sighed。　His　lost　Meriem！　　His　little；　dead　Meriem！　　He　wondered　if　this　she　stranger　resembled　his　Meriem　in　other　ways。　　A　great　longing　to　see　her　overwhelmed　him。　　He　looked　after　the　three　figures　moving　steadily　across　the　plain。　　He　wondered　where　might　lie　their　destination。　　A　desire　to　follow　them　came　over　him；　but　he　only　stood　there　watching　until　they　had　disappeared　in　the　distance。　　The　sight　of　the　civilized　girl　and　the　dapper；　khaki　clad　Englishman　had　aroused　in　Korak　memories　long　dormant。

Once　he　had　dreamed　of　returning　to　the　world　of　such　as　these；　but　with　the　death　of　Meriem　hope　and　ambition　seemed　to　have　deserted　him。　　He　cared　now　only　to　pass　the　remainder　of　his　life　in　solitude；　as　far　from　man　as　possible。　　With　a　sigh　he　turned　slowly　back　into　the　jungle。

Tantor；　nervous　by　nature；　had　been　far　from　reassured　by　close　proximity　to　the　three　strange　whites；　and　with　the　report　of　Hanson's　rifle　had　turned　and　ambled　away　at　his　long；　swinging　shuffle。　　He　was　nowhere　in　sight　when　Korak　returned　to　look　for　him。　　The　ape…man；　however；　was　little　concerned　by　the　absence