the son of tarzan-第51节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


no　time　in　doing。　　They　disarmed　him　and　ordered　him　to　climb　to　the　rump　of　one　of　the　horses；　and　then　the　two　who　had　been　detailed　to　guard　him　turned　and　rode　back　toward　the　South；　while　the　others　continued　their　pursuit　of　Abdul　Kamak。

As　Korak　came　out　upon　the　bank　of　the　river　across　from　which　he　could　see　the　camp　of　Malbihn　he　was　at　a　loss　as　to　how　he　was　to　cross。　　He　could　see　men　moving　about　among　the　huts　inside　the　bomaevidently　Hanson　was　still　there。　　Korak　did　not　know　the　true　identity　of　Meriem's　abductor。

How　was　he　to　cross。　　Not　even　he　would　dare　the　perils　of　the　riveralmost　certain　death。　　For　a　moment　he　thought；　then　wheeled　and　sped　away　into　the　jungle；　uttering　a　peculiar　cry；　shrill　and　piercing。　　Now　and　again　he　would　halt　to　listen　as　though　for　an　answer　to　his　weird　call；　then　on　again；　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　wood。

At　last　his　listening　ears　were　rewarded　by　the　sound　they　cravedthe　trumpeting　of　a　bull　elephant；　and　a　few　moments　later　Korak　broke　through　the　trees　into　the　presence　of　Tantor；　standing　with　upraised　trunk；　waving　his　great　ears。

〃Quick；　Tantor！〃　shouted　the　ape…man；　and　the　beast　swung　him　to　his　head。　　〃Hurry！〃　and　the　mighty　pachyderm　lumbered　off　through　the　jungle；　guided　by　kicking　of　naked　heels　against　the　sides　of　his　head。

Toward　the　northwest　Korak　guided　his　huge　mount；　until　they　came　out　upon　the　river　a　mile　or　more　above　the　Swede's　camp；　at　a　point　where　Korak　knew　that　there　was　an　elephant　ford。　　Never　pausing　the　ape…man　urged　the　beast　into　the　river；　and　with　trunk　held　high　Tantor　forged　steadily　toward　the　opposite　bank。　　Once　an　unwary　crocodile　attacked　him　but　the　sinuous　trunk　dove　beneath　the　surface　and　grasping　the　amphibian　about　the　middle　dragged　it　to　light　and　hurled　it　a　hundred　feet　down　stream。　　And　so；　in　safety；　they　made　the　opposite　shore；　Korak　perched　high　and　dry　above　the　turgid　flood。

Then　back　toward　the　South　Tantor　moved；　steadily；　relentlessly；　and　with　a　swinging　gait　which　took　no　heed　of　any　obstacle　other　than　the　larger　jungle　trees。　　At　times　Korak　was　forced　to　abandon　the　broad　head　and　take　to　the　trees　above；　so　close　the　branches　raked　the　back　of　the　elephant；　but　at　last　they　came　to　the　edge　of　the　clearing　where　lay　the　camp　of　the　renegade　Swede；　nor　even　then　did　they　hesitate　or　halt。　　The　gate　lay　upon　the　east　side　of　the　camp；　facing　the　river。　　Tantor　and　Korak　approached　from　the　north。　　There　was　no　gate　there；　but　what　cared　Tantor　or　Korak　for　gates。

At　a　word　from　the　ape　man　and　raising　his　tender　trunk　high　above　the　thorns　Tantor　breasted　the　boma；　walking　through　it　as　though　it　had　not　existed。　　A　dozen　blacks　squatted　before　their　huts　looked　up　at　the　noise　of　his　approach。　　With　sudden　howls　of　terror　and　amazement　they　leaped　to　their　feet　and　fled　for　the　open　gates。　　Tantor　would　have　pursued。　　He　hated　man；　and　he　thought　that　Korak　had　come　to　hunt　these；　but　the　ape　man　held　him　back；　guiding　him　toward　a　large；　canvas　tent　that　rose　in　the　center　of　the　clearingthere　should　be　the　girl　and　her　abductor。

Malbihn　lay　in　a　hammock　beneath　canopy　before　his　tent。　His　wounds　were　painful　and　he　had　lost　much　blood。　　He　was　very　weak。　　He　looked　up　in　surprise　as　he　heard　the　screams　of　his　men　and　saw　them　running　toward　the　gate。　　And　then　from　around　the　corner　of　his　tent　loomed　a　huge　bulk；　and　Tantor；　the　great　tusker；　towered　above　him。　　Malbihn's　boy；　feeling　neither　affection　nor　loyalty　for　his　master；　broke　and　ran　at　the　first　glimpse　of　the　beast；　and　Malbihn　was　left　alone　and　helpless。

The　elephant　stopped　a　couple　of　paces　from　the　wounded　man's　hammock。　　Malbihn　cowered；　moaning。　　He　was　too　weak　to　escape。　　He　could　only　lie　there　with　staring　eyes　gazing　in　horror　into　the　blood　rimmed；　angry　little　orbs　fixed　upon　him；　and　await　his　death。

Then；　to　his　astonishment；　a　man　slid　to　the　ground　from　the　elephant's　back。　　Almost　at　once　Malbihn　recognized　the　strange　figure　as　that　of　the　creature　who　consorted　with　apes　and　baboonsthe　white　warrior　of　the　jungle　who　had　freed　the　king　baboon　and　led　the　whole　angry　horde　of　hairy　devils　upon　him　and　Jenssen。　　Malbihn　cowered　still　lower。

〃Where　is　the　girl？〃　demanded　Korak；　in　English。

〃What　girl？〃　asked　Malbihn。　　〃There　is　no　girl　hereonly　the　women　of　my　boys。　　Is　it　one　of　them　you　want？〃

〃The　white　girl；〃　replied　Korak。　　〃Do　not　lie　to　meyou　lured　her　from　her　friends。　　You　have　her。　　Where　is　she？〃

〃It　was　not　I；〃　cried　Malbihn。　　〃It　was　an　Englishman　who　hired　me　to　steal　her。　　He　wished　to　take　her　to　London　with　him。　　She　was　willing　to　go。　　His　name　is　Baynes。　　Go　to　him；　if　you　want　to　know　where　the　girl　is。〃

〃I　have　just　come　from　him；〃　said　Korak。　　〃He　sent　me　to　you。　　The　girl　is　not　with　him。　　Now　stop　your　lying　and　tell　me　the　truth。　　Where　is　she？〃　　Korak　took　a　threatening　step　toward　the　Swede。

Malbihn　shrank　from　the　anger　in　the　other's　face。

〃I　will　tell　you；〃　he　cried。　　〃Do　not　harm　me　and　I　will　tell　you　all　that　I　know。　　I　had　the　girl　here；　but　it　was　Baynes　who　persuaded　her　to　leave　her　friendshe　had　promised　to　marry　her。　　He　does　not　know　who　she　is；　but　I　do；　and　I　know　that　there　is　a　great　reward　for　whoever　takes　her　back　to　her　people。　It　was　the　only　reward　I　wanted。　　But　she　escaped　and　crossed　the　river　in　one　of　my　canoes。　　I　followed　her；　but　The　Sheik　was　there；　God　knows　how；　and　he　captured　her　and　attacked　me　and　drove　me　back。　　Then　came　Baynes；　angry　because　he　had　lost　the　girl；　and　shot　me。　　If　you　want　her；　go　to　The　Sheik　and　ask　him　for　hershe　has　passed　as　his　daughter　since　childhood。〃

〃She　is　not　The　Sheik's　daughter？〃　asked　Korak。

〃She　is　not；〃　replied　Malbihn。

〃Who　is　she　then？〃　asked　Korak。

Here　Malbihn　saw　his　chance。　　Possibly　he　could　make　use　of　his　knowledge　after　allit　might　even　buy　back　his　life　for　him。　He　was　not　so　credulous　as　to　believe　that　this　savage　ape…man　would　have　any　compunctions　about　slaying　him。

〃When　you　find　her　I　will　tell　you；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　will　promise　to　spare　my　life　and　divide　the　reward　with　me。　　If　you　kill　me　you　will　never　know；　for　only　The　Sheik　knows　and　he　will　never　tell。　　The　girl　herself　is　ignorant　of　her　origin。〃

〃If　you　have　told　me　the　truth　I　will　spare　you；〃　said　Korak。　〃I　shall　go　now　to　The　Sheik's　village　and　if　the　girl　is　not　there　I　shall　return　and　slay　you。　　As　for　the　other　information　you　have；　if　the　girl　wants　it　when　we　have　found　her　we　will　find　a　way　to　purchase　it　from　you。〃

The　look　in　the　Killer's　eyes　and　his　emphasis　of　the　word　〃purchase〃　were　none　too　reassuring　to　Malbihn。　　Evidently；　unless　he　found　means　to　escape；　this　devil　would　have　both　his　secret　and　his　life　before　he　was　done　with　him。　　He　wished　he　would　be　gone　and　take　his　evil…eyed　companion　away　with　him。　　The　swaying　bulk　towering　high　above　him；　and　the　ugly　little　eyes　of　the　elephant　watching　his　every　move　made　Malbihn　nervous。

Korak　stepped　into　the　Swede's　tent　to　assure　himself　that　Meriem　was　not　hid　there。　　As　he　disappeared　from　view　Tantor；　his　eyes　still　fixed　upon　Malbihn；　took　a　step　nearer　the　man。　An　elephant's　eyesight　is　none　too　good；　but　the　great　tusker　evidently　had　harbored　suspicions　of　this　yellow…bearded　white　man　from　the　first。　　Now　he　advanced　his　snake…like　trunk　toward　the　Swede；　who　shrank　still　deeper　into　his　hammock。

The　sensitive　member　felt　and　smelled　back　and　forth　along　the　body　of　the　terrified　Malbihn。　　Tantor　uttered　a　low；　rumbling　sound。　　His　little　eyes　blazed。　　At　last　he　had　recognized　the　creature　who　had　killed　his　mate　long　years　before。　　Tantor；　the　elephant；　never　forgets　and　never　forgives。　　Malbihn　saw　in　the　demoniacal　visage　above　him　the　murderous　purpose　of　the　beast。　　He　shrieked　aloud　to　Korak。　　〃Help！　　Help！　　The　devil　is　going　to　kill　me！〃

Korak　ran　from　the　tent　just　in　time　to　see　the　enraged　elephant's　trunk　encircle　the　beast's　victim；　and　then　hammock；　canopy　and　man　were　swung　high　over　Tantor's　head。　　Korak　leaped　before　the　animal；　commanding　him　to　put　down　his　prey　unharmed；　but　as　well　might　he　have　ordered　the　eternal　river　to　reverse　its　course。　　Tantor　wheeled　around　like　a　cat；　hurled　Malbihn　to　the　earth　and　kneeled　upon　him　with　the　quickness　of　a　cat。　　Then　he　gored　the　prostrate　thing　through　and　through　with　his　mighty　tusks；　trumpeting　and　roaring　in　his　rage；　and　at　last；　convinced　that　no　slightest　spark　of　life　remained　in　the　crushed　and　lacerated　flesh；　he　lifted　the　shapeless　clay　that　had　been　Sven　Malbihn　far　aloft　and　hurled　the　bloody　mass；　still　entangled　in　canopy　and　hammock；　over　the　boma　and　out　into　the　jungle。

Korak　stood　looking　sorrowfully　on　at　the　tragedy　he　gladly　would　have　averted。　　He　had　no　love　for　the　Swede；　in　fact　only　hatred；　but　he　would　have　preserved　the　man　for　the　sake　of　the　secret　he　possessed。　　Now　that　secret　was　gone　forever　unless　The　Sheik　could　be　made　to　divulge　it；　but　in　that　possibility　Korak　placed　little　faith。

The　ape…man；　as　unafraid　of　the　mighty　Tantor　as　though　he　had　not　just　witnessed　his　shocking　murder　of　a　human　being；　signalled　the　beast　to　approach　and　lift　him　to　its　head；　and　Tantor　came　as　he