the son of tarzan-第4节

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and　steal　my　ivory；〃　and　he　dexterously　trussed　Mr。　Moore's　hobbled　ankles　up　behind　to　meet　his　hobbled　wrists。　　〃Ahha！　　Villain！　　I　have　you　in　me　power　at　last。　　I　go；　but　I　shall　return！〃　　And　the　son　of　Tarzan　skipped　across　the　room；　slipped　through　the　open　window；　and　slid　to　liberty　by　way　of　the　down　spout　from　an　eaves　trough。

Mr。　Moore　wriggled　and　struggled　about　the　bed。　　He　was　sure　that　he　should　suffocate　unless　aid　came　quickly。　　In　his　frenzy　of　terror　he　managed　to　roll　off　the　bed。　　The　pain　and　shock　of　the　fall　jolted　him　back　to　something　like　sane　consideration　of　his　plight。　　Where　before　he　had　been　unable　to　think　intelligently　because　of　the　hysterical　fear　that　had　claimed　him　he　now　lay　quietly　searching　for　some　means　of　escape　from　his　dilemma。　　It　finally　occurred　to　him　that　the　room　in　which　Lord　and　Lady　Greystoke　had　been　sitting　when　he　left　them　was　directly　beneath　that　in　which　he　lay　upon　the　floor。　　He　knew　that　some　time　had　elapsed　since　he　had　come　up　stairs　and　that　they　might　be　gone　by　this　time；　for　it　seemed　to　him　that　he　had　struggled　about　the　bed；　in　his　efforts　to　free　himself；　for　an　eternity。　　But　the　best　that　he　could　do　was　to　attempt　to　attract　attention　from　below；　and　so；　after　many　failures；　he　managed　to　work　himself　into　a　position　in　which　he　could　tap　the　toe　of　his　boot　against　the　floor。　　This　he　proceeded　to　do　at　short　intervals；　until；　after　what　seemed　a　very　long　time；　he　was　rewarded　by　hearing　footsteps　ascending　the　stairs；　and　presently　a　knock　upon　the　door。　　Mr。　Moore　tapped　vigorously　with　his　toehe　could　not　reply　in　any　other　way。　　The　knock　was　repeated　after　a　moment's　silence。　　Again　Mr。　Moore　tapped。　　Would　they　never　open　the　door！　　Laboriously　he　rolled　in　the　direction　of　succor。　　If　he　could　get　his　back　against　the　door　he　could　then　tap　upon　its　base；　when　surely　he　must　be　heard。　　The　knocking　was　repeated　a　little　louder；　and　finally　a　voice　called：　　〃Mr。　Jack！〃

It　was　one　of　the　house　menMr。　Moore　recognized　the　fellow's　voice。　　He　came　near　to　bursting　a　blood　vessel　in　an　endeavor　to　scream　〃come　in〃　through　the　stifling　gag。　　After　a　moment　the　man　knocked　again；　quite　loudly　and　again　called　the　boy's　name。　　Receiving　no　reply　he　turned　the　knob；　and　at　the　same　instant　a　sudden　recollection　filled　the　tutor　anew　with　numbing　terrorhe　had；　himself；　locked　the　door　behind　him　when　he　had　entered　the　room。

He　heard　the　servant　try　the　door　several　times　and　then　depart。　　Upon　which　Mr。　Moore　swooned。

In　the　meantime　Jack　was　enjoying　to　the　full　the　stolen　pleasures　of　the　music　hall。　　He　had　reached　the　temple　of　mirth　just　as　Ajax's　act　was　commencing；　and　having　purchased　a　box　seat　was　now　leaning　breathlessly　over　the　rail　watching　every　move　of　the　great　ape；　his　eyes　wide　in　wonder。　　The　trainer　was　not　slow　to　note　the　boy's　handsome；　eager　face；　and　as　one　of　Ajax's　biggest　hits　consisted　in　an　entry　to　one　or　more　boxes　during　his　performance；　ostensibly　in　search　of　a　long…lost　relative；　as　the　trainer　explained；　the　man　realized　the　effectiveness　of　sending　him　into　the　box　with　the　handsome　boy；　who；　doubtless；　would　be　terror　stricken　by　proximity　to　the　shaggy；　powerful　beast。

When　the　time　came；　therefore；　for　the　ape　to　return　from　the　wings　in　reply　to　an　encore　the　trainer　directed　its　attention　to　the　boy　who　chanced　to　be　the　sole　occupant　of　the　box　in　which　he　sat。　　With　a　spring　the　huge　anthropoid　leaped　from　the　stage　to　the　boy's　side；　but　if　the　trainer　had　looked　for　a　laughable　scene　of　fright　he　was　mistaken。　　A　broad　smile　lighted　the　boy's　features　as　he　laid　his　hand　upon　the　shaggy　arm　of　his　visitor。　　The　ape；　grasping　the　boy　by　either　shoulder；　peered　long　and　earnestly　into　his　face；　while　the　latter　stroked　his　head　and　talked　to　him　in　a　low　voice。

Never　had　Ajax　devoted　so　long　a　time　to　an　examination　of　another　as　he　did　in　this　instance。　　He　seemed　troubled　and　not　a　little　excited；　jabbering　and　mumbling　to　the　boy；　and　now　caressing　him；　as　the　trainer　had　never　seen　him　caress　a　human　being　before。　　Presently　he　clambered　over　into　the　box　with　him　and　snuggled　down　close　to　the　boy's　side。　　The　audience　was　delighted；　but　they　were　still　more　delighted　when　the　trainer；　the　period　of　his　act　having　elapsed；　attempted　to　persuade　Ajax　to　leave　the　box。　　The　ape　would　not　budge。　　The　manager；　becoming　excited　at　the　delay；　urged　the　trainer　to　greater　haste；　but　when　the　latter　entered　the　box　to　drag　away　the　reluctant　Ajax　he　was　met　by　bared　fangs　and　menacing　growls。

The　audience　was　delirious　with　joy。　　They　cheered　the　ape。　　They　cheered　the　boy；　and　they　hooted　and　jeered　at　the　trainer　and　the　manager；　which　luckless　individual　had　inadvertently　shown　himself　and　attempted　to　assist　the　trainer。

Finally；　reduced　to　desperation　and　realizing　that　this　show　of　mutiny　upon　the　part　of　his　valuable　possession　might　render　the　animal　worthless　for　exhibition　purposes　in　the　future　if　not　immediately　subdued；　the　trainer　had　hastened　to　his　dressing　room　and　procured　a　heavy　whip。　　With　this　he　now　returned　to　the　box；　but　when　he　had　threatened　Ajax　with　it　but　once　he　found　himself　facing　two　infuriated　enemies　instead　of　one；　for　the　boy　had　leaped　to　his　feet；　and　seizing　a　chair　was　standing　ready　at　the　ape's　side　to　defend　his　new　found　friend。　　There　was　no　longer　a　smile　upon　his　handsome　face。　　In　his　gray　eyes　was　an　expression　which　gave　the　trainer　pause；　and　beside　him　stood　the　giant　anthropoid　growling　and　ready。

What　might　have　happened；　but　for　a　timely　interruption；　may　only　be　surmised；　but　that　the　trainer　would　have　received　a　severe　mauling；　if　nothing　more；　was　clearly　indicated　by　the　attitudes　of　the　two　who　faced　him。

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It　was　a　pale…faced　man　who　rushed　into　the　Greystoke　library　to　announce　that　he　had　found　Jack's　door　locked　and　had　been　able　to　obtain　no　response　to　his　repeated　knocking　and　calling　other　than　a　strange　tapping　and　the　sound　of　what　might　have　been　a　body　moving　about　upon　the　floor。

Four　steps　at　a　time　John　Clayton　took　the　stairs　that　led　to　the　floor　above。　　His　wife　and　the　servant　hurried　after　him。　　Once　he　called　his　son's　name　in　a　loud　voice；　but　receiving　no　reply　he　launched　his　great　weight；　backed　by　all　the　undiminished　power　of　his　giant　muscles；　against　the　heavy　door。　　With　a　snapping　of　iron　butts　and　a　splintering　of　wood　the　obstacle　burst　inward。

At　its　foot　lay　the　body　of　the　unconscious　Mr。　Moore；　across　whom　it　fell　with　a　resounding　thud。　　Through　the　opening　leaped　Tarzan；　and　a　moment　later　the　room　was　flooded　with　light　from　a　dozen　electric　bulbs。

It　was　several　minutes　before　the　tutor　was　discovered；　so　completely　had　the　door　covered　him；　but　finally　he　was　dragged　forth；　his　gag　and　bonds　cut　away；　and　a　liberal　application　of　cold　water　had　hastened　returning　consciousness。

〃Where　is　Jack？〃　was　John　Clayton's　first　question；　and　then；　〃Who　did　this？〃　as　the　memory　of　Rokoff　and　the　fear　of　a　second　abduction　seized　him。

Slowly　Mr。　Moore　staggered　to　his　feet。　　His　gaze　wandered　about　the　room。　　Gradually　he　collected　his　scattered　wits。　　The　details　of　his　recent　harrowing　experience　returned　to　him。

〃I　tender　my　resignation；　sir；　to　take　effect　at　once；〃　were　his　first　words。　　〃You　do　not　need　a　tutor　for　your　sonwhat　he　needs　is　a　wild　animal　trainer。〃

〃But　where　is　he？〃　cried　Lady　Greystoke。

〃He　has　gone　to　see　Ajax。〃

It　was　with　difficulty　that　Tarzan　restrained　a　smile；　and　after　satisfying　himself　that　the　tutor　was　more　scared　than　injured；　he　ordered　his　closed　car　around　and　departed　in　the　direction　of　a　certain　well…known　music　hall。



Chapter　3

As　the　trainer；　with　raised　lash；　hesitated　an　instant　at　the　entrance　to　the　box　where　the　boy　and　the　ape　confronted　him；　a　tall　broad…shouldered　man　pushed　past　him　and　entered。　　As　his　eyes　fell　upon　the　newcomer　a　slight　flush　mounted　the　boy's　cheeks。

〃Father！〃　he　exclaimed。

The　ape　gave　one　look　at　the　English　lord；　and　then　leaped　toward　him；　calling　out　in　excited　jabbering。　　The　man；　his　eyes　going　wide　in　astonishment；　stopped　as　though　turned　to　stone。

〃Akut！〃　he　cried。

The　boy　looked；　bewildered；　from　the　ape　to　his　father；　and　from　his　father　to　the　ape。　　The　trainer's　jaw　dropped　as　he　listened　to　what　followed；　for　from　the　lips　of　the　Englishman　flowed　the　gutturals　of　an　ape　that　were　answered　in　kind　by　the　huge　anthropoid　that　now　clung　to　him。

And　from　the　wings　a　hideously　bent　and　disfigured　old　man　watched　the　tableau　in　the　box；　his　pock…marked　features　working　spasmodically　in　varying　expressions　that　might　have　marked　every　sensation　in　the　gamut　from　pleasure　to　terror。

〃Long　have　I　looked　for　you；　Tarzan；〃　said　Akut。　　〃Now　that　I　have　found　you　I　shall　come　to　your　jungle　and　live　there　always。〃

The　man　stroked　the　beast's　head。　　Through　his　mind　there　was　running　rapidly　a　train　of　recollection　that　carried　him　far　into　the　depths　of　the　primeval　African　forest　where　this　huge；　man…like　beast　had　fought　shoulder　to　shoulder　with　him　years　before。　　He　saw　the　black　Mugambi　wielding　his　deadly　knob…　stick；　and　besi