tarzan the terrible-第45节
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shiver through the woman's frame。
As Obergatz talked Jane had recovered her spear from the carcass of the antelope and commenced busying herself with the removal of the hide。 The man made no attempt to assist her； but stood by talking and watching her； the while he continually ran his filthy fingers through his matted hair and beard。 His face and body were caked with dirt and he was naked except for a torn greasy hide about his loins。 His weapons consisted of a club and knife of Waz…don pattern； that he had stolen from the city of Bu…lur； but what more greatly concerned the woman than his filth or his armament were his cackling laughter and the strange expression in his eyes。
She went on with her work； however； removing those parts of the buck she wanted； taking only as much meat as she might consume before it spoiled； as she was not sufficiently a true jungle creature to relish it beyond that stage； and then she straightened up and faced the man。
〃Lieutenant Obergatz；〃 she said； 〃by a chance of accident we have met again。 Certainly you would not have sought the meeting any more than I。 We have nothing in common other than those sentiments which may have been engendered by my natural dislike and suspicion of you； one of the authors of all the misery and sorrow that I have endured for endless months。 This little corner of the world is mine by right of discovery and occupation。 Go away and leave me to enjoy here what peace I may。 It is the least that you can do to amend the wrong that you have done me and mine。〃
The man stared at her through his fishy eyes for a moment in silence； then there broke from his lips a peal of mirthless； uncanny laughter。
〃Go away！ Leave you alone！〃 he cried。 〃I have found you。 We are going to be good friends。 There is no one else in the world but us。 No one will ever know what we do or what becomes of us and now you ask me to go away and live alone in this hellish solitude。〃 Again he laughed； though neither the muscles of his eyes or his mouth reflected any mirthit was just a hollow sound that imitated laughter。
〃Remember your promise；〃 she said。
〃Promise！ Promise！ What are promises？ They are made to be brokenwe taught the world that at Liege and Louvain。 No； no！ I will not go away。 I shall stay and protect you。〃
〃I do not need your protection；〃 she insisted。 〃You have already seen that I can use a spear。〃
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃but it would not be right to leave you here aloneyou are but a woman。 No； no； I am an officer of the Kaiser and I cannot abandon you。〃
Once more he laughed。 〃We could be very happy here together；〃 he added。
The woman could not repress a shudder； nor； in fact； did she attempt to hide her aversion。
〃You do not like me？〃 he asked。 〃Ah； well； it is too sad。 But some day you will love me；〃 and again the hideous laughter。
The woman had wrapped the pieces of the buck in the hide and this she now raised and threw across her shoulder。 In her other hand she held her spear and faced the German。
〃Go！〃 she commanded。 〃We have wasted enough words。 This is my country and I shall defend it。 If I see you about again I shall kill you。 Do you understand？〃
An expression of rage contorted Obergatz' features。 He raised his club and started toward her。
〃Stop！〃 she commanded； throwing her spear…hand backward for a cast。 〃You saw me kill this buck and you have said truthfully that no one will ever know what we do here。 Put these two facts together； German； and draw your own conclusions before you take another step in my direction。〃
The man halted and his club…hand dropped to his side。 〃Come；〃 he begged in what he intended as a conciliatory tone。 〃Let us be friends； Lady Greystoke。 We can be of great assistance to each other and I promise not to harm you。〃
〃Remember Liege and Louvain；〃 she reminded him with a sneer。 〃I am going nowbe sure that you do not follow me。 As far as you can walk in a day from this spot in any direction you may consider the limits of my domain。 If ever again I see you within these limits I shall kill you。〃
There could be no question that she meant what she said and the man seemed convinced for he but stood sullenly eyeing her as she backed from sight beyond a turn in the game trail that crossed the ford where they had met； and disappeared in the forest。
20
Silently in the Night
IN A…LUR the fortunes of the city had been tossed from hand to hand。 The party of Ko…tan's loyal warriors that Tarzan had led to the rendezvous at the entrance to the secret passage below the palace gates had met with disaster。 Their first rush had been met with soft words from the priests。 They had been exhorted to defend the faith of their fathers from blasphemers。 Ja…don was painted to them as a defiler of temples； and the wrath of Jad…ben…Otho was prophesied for those who embraced his cause。 The priests insisted that Lu…don's only wish was to prevent the seizure of the throne by Ja…don until a new king could be chosen according to the laws of the Ho…don。
The result was that many of the palace warriors joined their fellows of the city； and when the priests saw that those whom they could influence outnumbered those who remained loyal to the palace； they caused the former to fall upon the latter with the result that many were killed and only a handful succeeded in reaching the safety of the palace gates； which they quickly barred。
The priests led their own forces through the secret passageway into the temple； while some of the loyal ones sought out Ja…don and told him all that had happened。 The fight in the banquet hall had spread over a considerable portion of the palace grounds and had at last resulted in the temporary defeat of those who had opposed Ja…don。 This force； counseled by under priests sent for the purpose by Lu…don； had withdrawn within the temple grounds so that now the issue was plainly marked as between Ja…don on the one side and Lu…don on the other。
The former had been told of all that had occurred in the apartments of O…lo…a to whose safety he had attended at the first opportunity and he had also learned of Tarzan's part in leading his men to the gathering of Lu…don's warriors。
These things had naturally increased the old warrior's former inclinations of friendliness toward the ape…man； and now he regretted that the other had departed from the city。
The testimony of O…lo…a and Pan…at…lee was such as to strengthen whatever belief in the godliness of the stranger Ja…don and others of the warriors had previously entertained； until presently there appeared a strong tendency upon the part of this palace faction to make the Dor…ul…otho an issue of their original quarrel with Lu…don。 Whether this occurred as the natural sequence to repeated narrations of the ape…man's exploits； which lost nothing by repetition； in conjunction with Lu…don's enmity toward him； or whether it was the shrewd design of some wily old warrior such as Ja…don； who realized the value of adding a religious cause to their temporal one； it were difficult to determine； but the fact remained that Ja…don's followers developed bitter hatred for the followers of Lu…don because of the high priest's antagonism to Tarzan。
Unfortunately however Tarzan was not there to inspire the followers of Ja…don with the holy zeal that might have quickly settled the dispute in the old chieftain's favor。 Instead； he was miles away and because their repeated prayers for his presence were unanswered； the weaker spirits among them commenced to suspect that their cause did not have divine favor。 There was also another and a potent cause for defection from the ranks of Ja…don。 It emanated from the city where the friends and relatives of the palace warriors； who were largely also the friends and relatives of Lu…don's forces； found the means； urged on by the priesthood； to circulate throughout the palace pernicious propaganda aimed at Ja…don's cause。
The result was that Lu…don's power increased while that of Ja…don waned。 Then followed a sortie from the temple which resulted in the defeat of the palace forces； and though they were able to withdraw in decent order withdraw they did； leaving the palace to Lu…don； who was now virtually ruler of Pal…ul…don。
Ja…don； taking with him the princess； her women； and their slaves； including Pan…at…lee； as well as the women and children of his faithful followers； retreated not only from the palace but from the city of A…lur as well and fell back upon his own city of Ja…lur。 Here he remained； recruiting his forces from the surrounding villages of the north which； being far removed from the influence of the priesthood of A…lur； were enthusiastic partisans in any cause that the old chieftain espoused； since for years he had been revered as their friend and protector。
And while these events were transpiring in the north； Tarzan…jad…guru lay in the lion pit at Tu…lur while messengers passed back and forth between Mo…sar and Lu…don as the two dickered for the throne of Pal…ul…don。 Mo…sar was cunning enough to guess that should an open breach occur between himself and the high priest he might use his prisoner to his own advantage； for he had heard whisperings among even his own people that suggested that there were those who were more than a
