the return of tarzan-第55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！
from thin airand was killing her priests as though they
had been sheep。 For the moment she forgot her victim；
and before she could gather her wits together again the
huge white man was standing before her； the woman who had
lain upon the altar in his arms。
〃One side； La；〃 he cried。 〃You saved me once； and so I
would not harm you； but do not interfere or attempt to
follow； or I shall have to kill you also。〃
As he spoke he stepped past her toward the entrance to the
subterranean vaults。
〃Who is she？〃 asked the high priestess； pointing at
the unconscious woman。
〃She is mine；〃 said Tarzan of the Apes。
For a moment the girl of Opar stood wide…eyed and staring。
Then a look of hopeless misery suffused her eyes
tears welled into them； and with a little cry she sank to
the cold floor； just as a swarm of frightful men dashed past
her to leap upon the ape…man。
But Tarzan of the Apes was not there when they reached
out to seize him。 With a light bound he had disappeared
into the passage leading to the pits below； and when his
pursuers came more cautiously after they found the chamber
empty； they but laughed and jabbered to one another； for
they knew that there was no exit from the pits other than the
one through which he had entered。 If he came out at all he
must come this way； and they would wait and watch for him above。
And so Tarzan of the Apes； carrying the unconscious Jane
Porter； came through the pits of Opar beneath the temple of
The Flaming God without pursuit。 But when the men of
Opar had talked further about the matter； they recalled to
mind that this very man had escaped once before into the
pits； and； though they had watched the entrance he had
not come forth； and yet today he had come upon them from
the outside。 They would again send fifty men out into the
valley to find and capture this desecrater of their temple。
After Tarzan reached the shaft beyond the broken wall；
he felt so positive of the successful issue of his flight that
he stopped to replace the tumbled stones； for he was not
anxious that any of the inmates should discover this
forgotten passage； and through it come upon the treasure chamber。
It was in his mind to return again to Opar and bear away
a still greater fortune than he had already buried in the
amphitheater of the apes。
On through the passageways he trotted； past the first door
and through the treasure vault； past the second door and
into the long； straight tunnel that led to the lofty hidden
exit beyond the city。 Jane Porter was still unconscious。
At the crest of the great bowlder he halted to cast a
backward glance toward the city。 Coming across the plain
he saw a band of the hideous men of Opar。 For a moment
he hesitated。 Should he descend and make a race for the distant
cliffs； or should he hide here until night？ And then a glance at
the girl's white face determined him。 He could not keep her
here and permit her enemies to get between them and liberty。
For aught he knew they might have been followed
through the tunnels； and to have foes before and behind
would result in almost certain capture； since he could not
fight his way through the enemy burdened as he was with
the unconscious girl。
To descend the steep face of the bowlder with Jane
Porter was no easy task； but by binding her across his
shoulders with the grass rope he succeeded in reaching the
ground in safety before the Oparians arrived at the great rock。
As the descent had been made upon the side away from the city；
the searching party saw nothing of it； nor did they dream
that their prey was so close before them。
By keeping the KOPJE between them and their pursuers；
Tarzan of the Apes managed to cover nearly a mile before
the men of Opar rounded the granite sentinel and saw
the fugitive before them。 With loud cries of savage delight；
they broke into a mad run； thinking doubtless that they
would soon overhaul the burdened runner； but they both
underestimated the powers of the ape…man and overestimated
the possibilities of their own short； crooked legs。
By maintaining an easy trot； Tarzan kept the distance
between them always the same。 Occasionally he would glance
at the face so near his own。 Had it not been for the faint
beating of the heart pressed so close against his own； he
would not have known that she was alive； so white and drawn
was the poor； tired face。
And thus they came to the flat…topped mountain and the
barrier cliffs。 During the last mile Tarzan had let himself out；
running like a deer that he might have ample time to descend
the face of the cliffs before the Oparians could reach the
summit and hurl rocks down upon them。 And so it was that
he was half a mile down the mountainside ere the fierce little
men came panting to the edge。
With cries of rage and disappointment they ranged along
the cliff top shaking their cudgels； and dancing up and
down in a perfect passion of anger。 But this time they did
not pursue beyond the boundary of their own country。
Whether it was because they recalled the futility of their
former long and irksome search； or after witnessing the ease
with which the ape…man swung along before them； and the
last burst of speed； they realized the utter hopelessness of
further pursuit； it is difficult to say； but as Tarzan reached
the woods that began at the base of the foothills which
skirted the barrier cliffs they turned their faces once more
toward Opar。
Just within the forest's edge； where he could yet watch the
cliff tops； Tarzan laid his burden upon the grass； and going to
the near…by rivulet brought water with which he bathed
her face and hands； but even this did not revive her； and；
greatly worried； he gathered the girl into his strong arms once
more and hurried on toward the west。
Late in the afternoon Jane Porter regained consciousness。
She did not open her eyes at onceshe was trying to recall
the scenes that she had last witnessed。 Ah； she remembered now。
The altar； the terrible priestess； the descending knife。
She gave a little shudder； for she thought that either this was
death or that the knife had buried itself in her heart and
she was experiencing the brief delirium preceding death。
And when finally she mustered courage to open her eyes；
the sight that met them confirmed her fears； for she saw that
she was being borne through a leafy paradise in the arms
of her dead love。 〃If this be death；〃 she murmured； 〃thank
God that I am dead。〃
〃You spoke； Jane！〃 cried Tarzan。 〃You are regaining consciousness！〃
〃Yes； Tarzan of the Apes；〃 she replied； and for the first
time in months a smile of peace and happiness lighted her face。
〃Thank God！〃 cried the ape…man； coming to the ground in
a little grassy clearing beside the stream。 〃I was in time；
after all。〃
〃In time？ What do you mean？〃 she questioned。
〃In time to save you from death upon the altar； dear；〃
he replied。 〃Do you not remember？〃
〃Save me from death？〃 she asked； in a puzzled tone。
〃Are we not both dead； my Tarzan？〃
He had placed her upon the grass by now； her back resting
against the stem of a huge tree。 At her question he
stepped back where he could the better see her face。
〃Dead！〃 he repeated； and then he laughed。 〃You are not；
Jane； and if you will return to the city of Opar and ask
them who dwell there they will tell you that I was not dead
a few short hours ago。 No； dear； we are both very much alive。〃
〃But both Hazel and Monsieur Thuran told me that you
had fallen into the ocean many miles from land；〃 she urged；
as though trying to convince him that he must indeed
be dead。 〃They said that there was no question but that
it must have been you； and less that you could have survived
or been picked up。〃
〃How can I convince you that I am no spirit？〃 he asked；
with a laugh。 〃It was I whom the delightful Monsieur Thuran
pushed overboard； but I did not drownI will tell you all
about it after a whileand here I am very much the same
wild man you first knew； Jane Porter。〃
The girl rose slowly to her feet and came toward him。
〃I cannot even yet believe it；〃 she murmured。 〃It cannot
be that such happiness can be true after all the hideous
things that I have passed through these awful months since
the LADY ALICE went down。〃
She came close to him and laid a hand； soft and trembling；
upon his arm。
〃It must be that I am dreaming； and that I shall awaken
in a moment to see that awful knife descending toward my
heartkiss me； dear； just once before I lose my dream forever。〃
Tarzan of the Apes needed no second invitation。 He took
the girl he loved in his strong arms； and kissed her not once；
but a hundred times； until she lay there panting for breath；
yet when he stopped she put her arms about his neck and
drew his lips down to hers once more。
〃Am
