the son of tarzan-第55节

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at　brought　a　sudden　idea　into　Baynes'　head。　　He　turned　to　search　for　Meriem　only　to　find　her　at　his　elbow。

〃The　horses！〃　he　cried。　　〃If　we　can　get　a　couple　of　them！〃

Filled　with　the　idea　Meriem　led　him　to　the　far　end　of　the　village。

〃Loosen　two　of　them；〃　she　said；　〃and　lead　them　back　into　the　shadows　behind　those　huts。　　I　know　where　there　are　saddles。　I　will　bring　them　and　the　bridles；〃　and　before　he　could　stop　her　she　was　gone。

Baynes　quickly　untied　two　of　the　restive　animals　and　led　them　to　the　point　designated　by　Meriem。　　Here　he　waited　impatiently　for　what　seemed　an　hour；　but　was；　in　reality；　but　a　few　minutes。　Then　he　saw　the　girl　approaching　beneath　the　burden　of　two　saddles。　　Quickly　they　placed　these　upon　the　horses。　　They　could　see　by　the　light　of　the　torture　fire　that　still　burned　that　the　blacks　and　Arabs　were　recovering　from　their　panic。　　Men　were　running　about　gathering　in　the　loose　stock；　and　two　or　three　were　already　leading　their　captives　back　to　the　end　of　the　village　where　Meriem　and　Baynes　were　busy　with　the　trappings　of　their　mounts。

Now　the　girl　flung　herself　into　the　saddle。

〃Hurry！〃　she　whispered。　　〃We　shall　have　to　run　for　it。　　Ride　through　the　gap　that　Tantor　made；〃　and　as　she　saw　Baynes　swing　his　leg　over　the　back　of　his　horse；　she　shook　the　reins　free　over　her　mount's　neck。　　With　a　lunge；　the　nervous　beast　leaped　forward。　　The　shortest　path　led　straight　through　the　center　of　the　village；　and　this　Meriem　took。　　Baynes　was　close　behind　her；　their　horses　running　at　full　speed。

So　sudden　and　impetuous　was　their　dash　for　escape　that　it　carried　them　half…way　across　the　village　before　the　surprised　inhabitants　were　aware　of　what　was　happening。　　Then　an　Arab　recognized　them；　and；　with　a　cry　of　alarm；　raised　his　rifle　and　fired。　　The　shot　was　a　signal　for　a　volley；　and　amid　the　rattle　of　musketry　Meriem　and　Baynes　leaped　their　flying　mounts　through　the　breach　in　the　palisade　and　were　gone　up　the　well…worn　trail　toward　the　north。

And　Korak？

Tantor　carried　him　deep　into　the　jungle；　nor　paused　until　no　sound　from　the　distant　village　reached　his　keen　ears。　　Then　he　laid　his　burden　gently　down。　　Korak　struggled　to　free　himself　from　his　bonds；　but　even　his　great　strength　was　unable　to　cope　with　the　many　strands　of　hard…knotted　cord　that　bound　him。　While　he　lay　there；　working　and　resting　by　turns；　the　elephant　stood　guard　above　him；　nor　was　there　jungle　enemy　with　the　hardihood　to　tempt　the　sudden　death　that　lay　in　that　mighty　bulk。

Dawn　came；　and　still　Korak　was　no　nearer　freedom　than　before。　　He　commenced　to　believe　that　he　should　die　there　of　thirst　and　starvation　with　plenty　all　about　him；　for　he　knew　that　Tantor　could　not　unloose　the　knots　that　held　him。

And　while　he　struggled　through　the　night　with　his　bonds；　Baynes　and　Meriem　were　riding　rapidly　northward　along　the　river。　　The　girl　had　assured　Baynes　that　Korak　was　safe　in　the　jungle　with　Tantor。　　It　had　not　occurred　to　her　that　the　ape…man　might　not　be　able　to　burst　his　bonds。　　Baynes　had　been　wounded　by　a　shot　from　the　rifle　of　one　of　the　Arabs；　and　the　girl　wanted　to　get　him　back　to　Bwana's　home；　where　he　could　be　properly　cared　for。

〃Then；〃　she　said；　〃I　shall　get　Bwana　to　come　with　me　and　search　for　Korak。　　He　must　come　and　live　with　us。〃

All　night　they　rode；　and　the　day　was　still　young　when　they　came　suddenly　upon　a　party　hurrying　southward。　　It　was　Bwana　himself　and　his　sleek；　black　warriors。　　At　sight　of　Baynes　the　big　Englishman's　brows　contracted　in　a　scowl；　but　he　waited　to　hear　Meriem's　story　before　giving　vent　to　the　long　anger　in　his　breast。　　When　she　had　finished　he　seemed　to　have　forgotten　Baynes。　　His　thoughts　were　occupied　with　another　subject。

〃You　say　that　you　found　Korak？〃　he　asked。　　〃You　really　saw　him？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Meriem；　〃as　plainly　as　I　see　you；　and　I　want　you　to　come　with　me；　Bwana；　and　help　me　find　him　again。〃

〃Did　you　see　him？〃　　He　turned　toward　the　Hon。　Morison。

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Baynes；　〃very　plainly。〃

〃What　sort　of　appearing　man　is　he？〃　continued　Bwana。　〃About　how　old；　should　you　say？〃

〃I　should　say　he　was　an　Englishman；　about　my　own　age；〃　replied　Baynes；　〃though　he　might　be　older。　　He　is　remarkably　muscled；　and　exceedingly　tanned。〃

〃His　eyes　and　hair；　did　you　notice　them？〃　　Bwana　spoke　rapidly；　almost　excitedly。　　It　was　Meriem　who　answered　him。

〃Korak's　hair　is　black　and　his　eyes　are　gray；〃　she　said。

Bwana　turned　to　his　headman。

〃Take　Miss　Meriem　and　Mr。　Baynes　home；〃　he　said。　　〃I　am　going　into　the　jungle。〃

〃Let　me　go　with　you；　Bwana；〃　cried　Meriem。　　〃You　are　going　to　search　for　Korak。　　Let　me　go；　too。〃

Bwana　turned　sadly　but　firmly　upon　the　girl。

〃Your　place；〃　he　said；　〃is　beside　the　man　you　love。〃

Then　he　motioned　to　his　head…man　to　take　his　horse　and　commence　the　return　journey　to　the　farm。　　Meriem　slowly　mounted　the　tired　Arab　that　had　brought　her　from　the　village　of　The　Sheik。　　A　litter　was　rigged　for　the　now　feverish　Baynes；　and　the　little　cavalcade　was　soon　slowly　winding　off　along　the　river　trail。

Bwana　stood　watching　them　until　they　were　out　of　sight。　　Not　once　had　Meriem　turned　her　eyes　backward。　　She　rode　with　bowed　head　and　drooping　shoulders。　　Bwana　sighed。　　He　loved　the　little　Arab　girl　as　he　might　have　loved　an　own　daughter。　　He　realized　that　Baynes　had　redeemed　himself；　and　so　he　could　interpose　no　objections　now　if　Meriem　really　loved　the　man；　but；　somehow；　some　way；　Bwana　could　not　convince　himself　that　the　Hon。　Morison　was　worthy　of　his　little　Meriem。　　Slowly　he　turned　toward　a　nearby　tree。　　Leaping　upward　he　caught　a　lower　branch　and　drew　himself　up　among　the　branches。　　His　movements　were　cat…like　and　agile。　　High　into　the　trees　he　made　his　way　and　there　commenced　to　divest　himself　of　his　clothing。　From　the　game　bag　slung　across　one　shoulder　he　drew　a　long　strip　of　doe…skin；　a　neatly　coiled　rope；　and　a　wicked　looking　knife。　　The　doe…skin；　he　fashioned　into　a　loin　cloth；　the　rope　he　looped　over　one　shoulder；　and　the　knife　he　thrust　into　the　belt　formed　by　his　gee　string。

When　he　stood　erect；　his　head　thrown　back　and　his　great　chest　expanded　a　grim　smile　touched　his　lips　for　a　moment。　　His　nostrils　dilated　as　he　sniffed　the　jungle　odors。　　His　gray　eyes　narrowed。　　He　crouched　and　leaped　to　a　lower　limb　and　was　away　through　the　trees　toward　the　southeast；　bearing　away　from　the　river。　　He　moved　swiftly；　stopping　only　occasionally　to　raise　his　voice　in　a　weird　and　piercing　scream；　and　to　listen　for　a　moment　after　for　a　reply。

He　had　traveled　thus　for　several　hours　when；　ahead　of　him　and　a　little　to　his　left；　he　heard；　far　off　in　the　jungle；　a　faint　responsethe　cry　of　a　bull　ape　answering　his　cry。　　His　nerves　tingled　and　his　eyes　lighted　as　the　sound　fell　upon　his　ears。　Again　he　voiced　his　hideous　call；　and　sped　forward　in　the　new　direction。

Korak；　finally　becoming　convinced　that　he　must　die　if　he　remained　where　he　was；　waiting　for　the　succor　that　could　not　come；　spoke　to　Tantor　in　the　strange　tongue　that　the　great　beast　understood。　　He　commanded　the　elephant　to　lift　him　and　carry　him　toward　the　northeast。　　There；　recently；　Korak　had　seen　both　white　men　and　black。　　If　he　could　come　upon　one　of　the　latter　it　would　be　a　simple　matter　to　command　Tantor　to　capture　the　fellow；　and　then　Korak　could　get　him　to　release　him　from　the　stake。　It　was　worth　trying　at　leastbetter　than　lying　there　in　the　jungle　until　he　died。　　As　Tantor　bore　him　along　through　the　forest　Korak　called　aloud　now　and　then　in　the　hope　of　attracting　Akut's　band　of　anthropoids；　whose　wanderings　often　brought　them　into　their　neighborhood。　　Akut；　he　thought；　might　possibly　be　able　to　negotiate　the　knotshe　had　done　so　upon　that　other　occasion　when　the　Russian　had　bound　Korak　years　before；　and　Akut；　to　the　south　of　him；　heard　his　calls　faintly；　and　came。　　There　was　another　who　heard　them；　too。

After　Bwana　had　left　his　party；　sending　them　back　toward　the　farm；　Meriem　had　ridden　for　a　short　distance　with　bowed　head。　What　thoughts　passed　through　that　active　brain　who　may　say？　Presently　she　seemed　to　come　to　a　decision。　　She　called　the　headman　to　her　side。

〃I　am　going　back　with　Bwana；〃　she　announced。

The　black　shook　his　head。　　〃No！〃　he　announced。　　〃Bwana　says　I　take　you　home。　　So　I　take　you　home。〃

〃You　refuse　to　let　me　go？〃　asked　the　girl。

The　black　nodded；　and　fell　to　the　rear　where　he　might　better　watch　her。　　Meriem　half　smiled。　　Presently　her　horse　passed　beneath　a　low…hanging　branch；　and　the　black　headman　found　himself　gazing　at　the　girl's　empty　saddle。　　He　ran　forward　to　the　tree　into　which　she　had　disappeared。　　He　could　see　nothing　of　her。　　He　called；　but　there　was　no　response；　unless　it　might　have　been　a　low；　taunting　laugh　far　to　the　right。　　He　sent　his　men　into　the　jungle　to　search　for　her；　but　they　came　back　empty　handed。　　After　a　while　he　resumed　his　march　toward　the　farm；　for　Baynes；　by　this　time；　was　delirious　with　fever。

Meriem　raced　straight　back　toward　the　point　she　imagined　Tantor　would　make　fora　point　where　she　knew　the　elephants　often　gathered　deep　in　the　forest　due　east　of　The　Sheik's　village。　She　moved　silently　and　swiftly。　　From　her　mind　she　had　expunged　all　thoughts　other　than　that　she　must　reach　Korak　and　bring　him　back　with　her。　　It　wa