the son of tarzan-第40节

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ook　for　him。　　The　ape…man；　however；　was　little　concerned　by　the　absence　of　his　friend。　　Tantor　had　a　habit　of　wandering　off　unexpectedly。　　For　a　month　they　might　not　see　one　another；　for　Korak　seldom　took　the　trouble　to　follow　the　great　pachyderm；　nor　did　he　upon　this　occasion。　　Instead　he　found　a　comfortable　perch　in　a　large　tree　and　was　soon　asleep。

At　the　bungalow　Bwana　had　met　the　returning　adventurers　on　the　verandah。　　In　a　moment　of　wakefulness　he　had　heard　the　report　of　Hanson's　rifle　far　out　across　the　plain；　and　wondered　what　it　might　mean。　　Presently　it　had　occurred　to　him　that　the　man　whom　he　considered　in　the　light　of　a　guest　might　have　met　with　an　accident　on　his　way　back　to　camp；　so　he　had　arisen　and　gone　to　his　foreman's　quarters　where　he　had　learned　that　Hanson　had　been　there　earlier　in　the　evening　but　had　departed　several　hours　before。　　Returning　from　the　foreman's　quarters　Bwana　had　noticed　that　the　corral　gate　was　open　and　further　investigation　revealed　the　fact　that　Meriem's　pony　was　gone　and　also　the　one　most　often　used　by　Baynes。　　Instantly　Bwana　assumed　that　the　shot　had　been　fired　by　Hon。　Morison；　and　had　again　aroused　his　foreman　and　was　making　preparations　to　set　forth　in　investigation　when　he　had　seen　the　party　approaching　across　the　plain。

Explanation　on　the　part　of　the　Englishman　met　a　rather　chilly　reception　from　his　host。　　Meriem　was　silent。　　She　saw　that　Bwana　was　angry　with　her。　　It　was　the　first　time　and　she　was　heart　broken。

〃Go　to　your　room；　Meriem；〃　he　said；　〃and　Baynes；　if　you　will　step　into　my　study；　I'd　like　to　have　a　word　with　you　in　a　moment。〃

He　stepped　toward　Hanson　as　the　others　turned　to　obey　him。　There　was　something　about　Bwana　even　in　his　gentlest　moods　that　commanded　instant　obedience。

〃How　did　you　happen　to　be　with　them；　Hanson？〃　he　asked。

〃I'd　been　sitting　in　the　garden；〃　replied　the　trader；　〃after　leaving　Jervis'　quarters。　　I　have　a　habit　of　doing　that　as　your　lady　probably　knows。　　Tonight　I　fell　asleep　behind　a　bush；　and　was　awakened　by　them　two　spooning。　　I　couldn't　hear　what　they　said；　but　presently　Baynes　brings　two　ponies　and　they　ride　off。　　I　didn't　like　to　interfere　for　it　wasn't　any　of　my　business；　but　I　knew　they　hadn't　ought　to　be　ridin'　about　that　time　of　night；　leastways　not　the　girlit　wasn't　right　and　it　wasn't　safe。　　So　I　follows　them　and　it's　just　as　well　I　did。　　Baynes　was　gettin'　away　from　the　lion　as　fast　as　he　could；　leavin'　the　girl　to　take　care　of　herself；　when　I　got　a　lucky　shot　into　the　beast's　shoulder　that　fixed　him。〃

Hanson　paused。　　Both　men　were　silent　for　a　time。　　Presently　the　trader　coughed　in　an　embarrassed　manner　as　though　there　was　something　on　his　mind　he　felt　in　duty　bound　to　say；　but　hated　to。

〃What　is　it；　Hanson？〃　asked　Bwana。　　〃You　were　about　to　say　something　weren't　you？〃

〃Well；　you　see　it's　like　this；〃　ventured　Hanson。　　〃Bein'　around　here　evenings　a　good　deal　I've　seen　them　two　together　a　lot；　and；　beggin'　your　pardon；　sir；　but　I　don't　think　Mr。　Baynes　means　the　girl　any　good。　　I've　overheard　enough　to　make　me　think　he's　tryin'　to　get　her　to　run　off　with　him。〃　　Hanson；　to　fit　his　own　ends；　hit　nearer　the　truth　than　he　knew。　　He　was　afraid　that　Baynes　would　interfere　with　his　own　plans；　and　he　had　hit　upon　a　scheme　to　both　utilize　the　young　Englishman　and　get　rid　of　him　at　the　same　time。

〃And　I　thought；〃　continued　the　trader；　〃that　inasmuch　as　I'm　about　due　to　move　you　might　like　to　suggest　to　Mr。　Baynes　that　he　go　with　me。　　I'd　be　willin'　to　take　him　north　to　the　caravan　trails　as　a　favor　to　you；　sir。〃

Bwana　stood　in　deep　thought　for　a　moment。　　Presently　he　looked　up。

〃Of　course；　Hanson；　Mr。　Baynes　is　my　guest；〃　he　said；　a　grim　twinkle　in　his　eye。　　〃Really　I　cannot　accuse　him　of　planning　to　run　away　with　Meriem　on　the　evidence　that　we　have；　and　as　he　is　my　guest　I　should　hate　to　be　so　discourteous　as　to　ask　him　to　leave；　but；　if　I　recall　his　words　correctly；　it　seems　to　me　that　he　has　spoken　of　returning　home；　and　I　am　sure　that　nothing　would　delight　him　more　than　going　north　with　youyou　say　you　start　tomorrow？　　I　think　Mr。　Baynes　will　accompany　you。　　Drop　over　in　the　morning；　if　you　please；　and　now　good　night；　and　thank　you　for　keeping　a　watchful　eye　on　Meriem。〃

Hanson　hid　a　grin　as　he　turned　and　sought　his　saddle。　　Bwana　stepped　from　the　verandah　to　his　study；　where　he　found　the　Hon。　Morison　pacing　back　and　forth；　evidently　very　ill　at　ease。

〃Baynes；〃　said　Bwana；　coming　directly　to　the　point；　〃Hanson　is　leaving　for　the　north　tomorrow。　　He　has　taken　a　great　fancy　to　you；　and　just　asked　me　to　say　to　you　that　he'd　be　glad　to　have　you　accompany　him。　　Good　night；　Baynes。〃

At　Bwana's　suggestion　Meriem　kept　to　her　room　the　following　morning　until　after　the　Hon。　Morison　Baynes　had　departed。　Hanson　had　come　for　him　earlyin　fact　he　had　remained　all　night　with　the　foreman；　Jervis；　that　they　might　get　an　early　start。

The　farewell　exchanges　between　the　Hon。　Morison　and　his　host　were　of　the　most　formal　type；　and　when　at　last　the　guest　rode　away　Bwana　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief。　　It　had　been　an　unpleasant　duty　and　he　was　glad　that　it　was　over；　but　he　did　not　regret　his　action。　　He　had　not　been　blind　to　Baynes'　infatuation　for　Meriem；　and　knowing　the　young　man's　pride　in　caste　he　had　never　for　a　moment　believed　that　his　guest　would　offer　his　name　to　this　nameless　Arab　girl；　for；　extremely　light　in　color　though　she　was　for　a　full　blood　Arab；　Bwana　believed　her　to　be　such。

He　did　not　mention　the　subject　again　to　Meriem；　and　in　this　he　made　a　mistake；　for　the　young　girl；　while　realizing　the　debt　of　gratitude　she　owed　Bwana　and　My　Dear；　was　both　proud　and　sensitive；　so　that　Bwana's　action　in　sending　Baynes　away　and　giving　her　no　opportunity　to　explain　or　defend　hurt　and　mortified　her。　　Also　it　did　much　toward　making　a　martyr　of　Baynes　in　her　eyes　and　arousing　in　her　breast　a　keen　feeling　of　loyalty　toward　him。

What　she　had　half…mistaken　for　love　before；　she　now　wholly　mistook　for　love。　　Bwana　and　My　Dear　might　have　told　her　much　of　the　social　barriers　that　they　only　too　well　knew　Baynes　must　feel　existed　between　Meriem　and　himself；　but　they　hesitated　to　wound　her。　　It　would　have　been　better　had　they　inflicted　this　lesser　sorrow；　and　saved　the　child　the　misery　that　was　to　follow　because　of　her　ignorance。

As　Hanson　and　Baynes　rode　toward　the　former's　camp　the　Englishman　maintained　a　morose　silence。　　The　other　was　attempting　to　formulate　an　opening　that　would　lead　naturally　to　the　proposition　he　had　in　mind。　　He　rode　a　neck　behind　his　companion；　grinning　as　he　noted　the　sullen　scowl　upon　the　other's　patrician　face。

〃Rather　rough　on　you；　wasn't　he？〃　he　ventured　at　last；　jerking　his　head　back　in　the　direction　of　the　bungalow　as　Baynes　turned　his　eyes　upon　him　at　the　remark。　　〃He　thinks　a　lot　of　the　girl；〃　continued　Hanson；　〃and　don't　want　nobody　to　marry　her　and　take　her　away；　but　it　looks　to　me　as　though　he　was　doin'　her　more　harm　than　good　in　sendin'　you　away。　　She　ought　to　marry　some　time；　and　she　couldn't　do　better　than　a　fine　young　gentleman　like　you。〃

Baynes；　who　had　at　first　felt　inclined　to　take　offense　at　the　mention　of　his　private　affairs　by　this　common　fellow；　was　mollified　by　Hanson's　final　remark；　and　immediately　commenced　to　see　in　him　a　man　of　fine　discrimination。

〃He's　a　darned　bounder；〃　grumbled　the　Hon。　Morison；　〃but　I'll　get　even　with　him。　　He　may　be　the　whole　thing　in　Central　Africa　but　I'm　as　big　as　he　is　in　London；　and　he'll　find　it　out　when　he　comes　home。〃

〃If　I　was　you；〃　said　Hanson；　〃I　wouldn't　let　any　man　keep　me　from　gettin'　the　girl　I　want。　　Between　you　and　me　I　ain't　got　no　use　for　him　either；　and　if　I　can　help　you　any　way　just　call　on　me。〃

〃It's　mighty　good　of　you；　Hanson；〃　replied　Baynes；　warming　up　a　bit；　〃but　what　can　a　fellow　do　here　in　this　God…forsaken　hole？〃

〃I　know　what　I'd　do；〃　said　Hanson。　　〃I'd　take　the　girl　along　with　me。　　If　she　loves　you　she'll　go；　all　right。〃

〃It　can't　be　done；〃　said　Baynes。　　〃He　bosses　this　whole　blooming　country　for　miles　around。　　He'd　be　sure　to　catch　us。〃

〃No；　he　wouldn't；　not　with　me　running　things；〃　said　Hanson。　　〃I've　been　trading　and　hunting　here　for　ten　years　and　I　know　as　much　about　the　country　as　he　does。　　If　you　want　to　take　the　girl　along　I'll　help　you；　and　I'll　guarantee　that　there　won't　nobody　catch　up　with　us　before　we　reach　the　coast。　　I'll　tell　you　what；　you　write　her　a　note　and　I'll　get　it　to　her　by　my　head　man。　Ask　her　to　meet　you　to　say　goodbyeshe　won't　refuse　that。　　In　the　meantime　we　can　be　movin'　camp　a　little　further　north　all　the　time　and　you　can　make　arrangements　with　her　to　be　all　ready　on　a　certain　night。　　Tell　her　I'll　meet　her　then　while　you　wait　for　us　in　camp。　　That'll　be　better　for　I　know　the　country　well　and　can　cover　it　quicker　than　you。　　You　can　take　care　of　the　safari　and　be　movin'　along　slow　toward　the　north　and　the　girl　and　I'll　catch　up　to　you。〃

〃But　suppose　she　won't　come？〃　suggested　Baynes。

〃Then　make　another　date　for　a　last　good…bye；〃　said　Hanson；　〃and　instead　of　you　I'll　be　there　and　I'll　bring　her　along　anyway。　She'll　have　to　come；　and　after　it's　all　over　she　won't　feel　so　bad　about　itespecially　after　livin'　with　you　for　two　months　while　we're　makin'　the　coast。〃

A　shocked　and　a