tarzan the terrible- 第15部分

〃You　do　not　know　the　gryf；〃　replied　Pan…at…lee　gloomily。

〃Wherever　we　go　it　will　follow　and　always　it　will　be　ready　at　the　foot　of　each　tree　when　we　would　descend。　It　will　never　give　us　up。〃

〃We　can　live　in　the　trees　for　a　long　time　if　necessary；〃　replied　Tarzan；　〃and　sometime　the　thing　will　leave。〃

The　girl　shook　her　head。　〃Never；〃　she　said；　〃and　then　there　are　the　Tor…o…don。　They　will　come　and　kill　us　and　after　eating　a　little　will　throw　the　balance　to　the　gryfthe　gryf　and　Tor…o…don　are　friends；　because　the　Tor…o…don　shares　his　food　with　the　gryf。〃

〃You　may　be　right；〃　said　Tarzan；　〃but　even　so　I　don't　intend　waiting　here　for　someone　to　come　along　and　eat　part　of　me　and　then　feed　the　balance　to　that　beast　below。　If　I　don't　get　out　of　this　place　whole　it　won't　be　my　fault。　Come　along　now　and　we'll　make　a　try　at　it；〃　and　so　saying　he　moved　off　through　the　tree　tops　with　Pan…at…lee　close　behind。　Below　them；　on　the　ground；　moved　the　horned　dinosaur　and　when　they　reached　the　edge　of　the　forest　where　there　lay　fifty　yards　of　open　ground　to　cross　to　the　foot　of　the　cliff　he　was　there　with　them；　at　the　bottom　of　the　tree；　waiting。

Tarzan　looked　ruefully　down　and　scratched　his　head。



7

Jungle　Craft

PRESENTLY　he　looked　up　and　at　Pan…at…lee。　〃Can　you　cross　the　gorge　through　the　trees　very　rapidly？〃　he　questioned。

〃Alone？〃　she　asked。

〃No；〃　replied　Tarzan。

〃I　can　follow　wherever　you　can　lead；〃　she　said　then。

〃Across　and　back　again？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Then　come；　and　do　exactly　as　I　bid。〃　He　started　back　again　through　the　trees；　swiftly；　swinging　monkey…like　from　limb　to　limb；　following　a　zigzag　course　that　he　tried　to　select　with　an　eye　for　the　difficulties　of　the　trail　beneath。　Where　the　underbrush　was　heaviest；　where　fallen　trees　blocked　the　way；　he　led　the　footsteps　of　the　creature　below　them；　but　all　to　no　avail。　When　they　reached　the　opposite　side　of　the　gorge　the　gryf　was　with　them。

〃Back　again；〃　said　Tarzan；　and；　turning；　the　two　retraced　their　high…flung　way　through　the　upper　terraces　of　the　ancient　forest　of　Kor…ul…gryf。　But　the　result　was　the　sameno；　not　quite；　it　was　worse；　for　another　gryf　had　joined　the　first　and　now　two　waited　beneath　the　tree　in　which　they　stopped。

The　cliff　looming　high　above　them　with　its　innumerable　cave　mouths　seemed　to　beckon　and　to　taunt　them。　It　was　so　near；　yet　eternity　yawned　between。　The　body　of　the　Tor…o…don　lay　at　the　cliff's　foot　where　it　had　fallen。　It　was　in　plain　view　of　the　two　in　the　tree。　One　of　the　gryfs　walked　over　and　sniffed　about　it；　but　did　not　offer　to　devour　it。　Tarzan　had　examined　it　casually　as　he　had　passed　earlier　in　the　morning。　He　guessed　that　it　represented　either　a　very　high　order　of　ape　or　a　very　low　order　of　mansomething　akin　to　the　Java　man；　perhaps；　a　truer　example　of　the　pithecanthropi　than　either　the　Ho…don　or　the　Waz…don；　possibly　the　precursor　of　them　both。　As　his　eyes　wandered　idly　over　the　scene　below　his　active　brain　was　working　out　the　details　of　the　plan　that　he　had　made　to　permit　Pan…at…lee's　escape　from　the　gorge。　His　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　a　strange　cry　from　above　them　in　the　gorge。

〃Whee…oo！　Whee…oo！〃　it　sounded；　coming　closer。

The　gryfs　below　raised　their　heads　and　looked　in　the　direction　of　the　interruption。　One　of　them　made　a　low；　rumbling　sound　in　its　throat。　It　was　not　a　bellow　and　it　did　not　indicate　anger。　Immediately　the　〃Whee…oo！〃　responded。　The　gryfs　repeated　the　rumbling　and　at　intervals　the　〃Whee…oo！〃　was　repeated；　coming　ever　closer。

Tarzan　looked　at　Pan…at…lee。　〃What　is　it？〃　he　asked。

〃I　do　not　know；〃　she　replied。　〃Perhaps　a　strange　bird；　or　another　horrid　beast　that　dwells　in　this　frightful　place。〃

〃Ah；〃　exclaimed　Tarzan；　〃there　it　is。　Look！〃

Pan…at…lee　voiced　a　cry　of　despair。　〃A　Tor…o…don！〃

The　creature；　walking　erect　and　carrying　a　stick　in　one　hand；　advanced　at　a　slow；　lumbering　gait。　It　walked　directly　toward　the　gryfs　who　moved　aside；　as　though　afraid。　Tarzan　watched　intently。　The　Tor…o…don　was　now　quite　close　to　one　of　the　triceratops。　It　swung　its　head　and　snapped　at　him　viciously。　Instantly　the　Tor…o…don　sprang　in　and　commenced　to　belabor　the　huge　beast　across　the　face　with　his　stick。　To　the　ape…man's　amazement　the　gryf；　that　might　have　annihilated　the　comparatively　puny　Tor…o…don　instantly　in　any　of　a　dozen　ways；　cringed　like　a　whipped　cur。

〃Whee…oo！　Whee…oo！〃　shouted　the　Tor…o…don　and　the　gryf　came　slowly　toward　him。　A　whack　on　the　median　horn　brought　it　to　a　stop。　Then　the　Tor…o…don　walked　around　behind　it；　clambered　up　its　tail　and　seated　himself　astraddle　of　the　huge　back。　〃Whee…oo！〃　he　shouted　and　prodded　the　beast　with　a　sharp　point　of　his　stick。　The　gryf　commenced　to　move　off。

So　rapt　had　Tarzan　been　in　the　scene　below　him　that　he　had　given　no　thought　to　escape；　for　he　realized　that　for　him　and　Pan…at…lee　time　had　in　these　brief　moments　turned　back　countless　ages　to　spread　before　their　eyes　a　page　of　the　dim　and　distant　past。　They　two　had　looked　upon　the　first　man　and　his　primitive　beasts　of　burden。

And　now　the　ridden　gryf　halted　and　looked　up　at　them；　bellowing。　It　was　sufficient。　The　creature　had　warned　its　master　of　their　presence。　Instantly　the　Tor…o…don　urged　the　beast　close　beneath　the　tree　which　held　them；　at　the　same　time　leaping　to　his　feet　upon　the　horny　back。　Tarzan　saw　the　bestial　face；　the　great　fangs；　the　mighty　muscles。　From　the　loins　of　such　had　sprung　the　human　raceand　only　from　such　could　it　have　sprung；　for　only　such　as　this　might　have　survived　the　horrid　dangers　of　the　age　that　was　theirs。

The　Tor…o…don　beat　upon　his　breast　and　growled　horribly　hideous；　uncouth；　beastly。　Tarzan　rose　to　his　full　height　upon　a　swaying　branchstraight　and　beautiful　as　a　demigodunspoiled　by　the　taint　of　civilizationa　perfect　specimen　of　what　the　human　race　might　have　been　had　the　laws　of　man　not　interfered　with　the　laws　of　nature。

The　Present　fitted　an　arrow　to　his　bow　and　drew　the　shaft　far　back。　The　Past　basing　its　claims　upon　brute　strength　sought　to　reach　the　other　and　drag　him　down；　but　the　loosed　arrow　sank　deep　into　the　savage　heart　and　the　Past　sank　back　into　the　oblivion　that　had　claimed　his　kind。

〃Tarzan…jad…guru！〃　murmured　Pan…at…lee；　unknowingly　giving　him　out　of　the　fullness　of　her　admiration　the　same　title　that　the　warriors　of　her　tribe　had　bestowed　upon　him。

The　ape…man　turned　to　her。　〃Pan…at…lee；〃　he　said；　〃these　beasts　may　keep　us　treed　here　indefinitely。　I　doubt　if　we　can　escape　together；　but　I　have　a　plan。　You　remain　here；　hiding　yourself　in　the　foliage；　while　I　start　back　across　the　gorge　in　sight　of　them　and　yelling　to　attract　their　attention。　Unless　they　have　more　brains　than　I　suspect　they　will　follow　me。　When　they　are　gone　you　make　for　the　cliff。　Wait　for　me　in　the　cave　not　longer　than　today。　If　I　do　not　come　by　tomorrow's　sun　you　will　have　to　start　back　for　Kor…ul…ja　alone。　Here　is　a　joint　of　deer　meat　for　you。〃　He　had　severed　one　of　the　deer's　hind　legs　and　this　he　passed　up　to　her。

〃I　cannot　desert　you；〃　she　said　simply；　〃it　is　not　the　way　of　my　people　to　desert　a　friend　and　ally。　Om…at　would　never　forgive　me。〃

〃Tell　Om…at　that　I　commanded　you　to　go；〃　replied　Tarzan。

〃It　is　a　command？〃　she　asked。

〃It　is！　Good…bye；　Pan…at…lee。　Hasten　back　to　Om…atyou　are　a　fitting　mate　for　the　chief　of　Kor…ul…ja。〃　He　moved　off　slowly　through　the　trees。

〃Good…bye；　Tarzan…jad…guru！〃　she　called　after　him。　〃Fortunate　are　my　Om…at　and　his　Pan…at…lee　in　owning　such　a　friend。〃

Tarzan；　shouting　aloud；　continued　upon　his　way　and　the　great　gryfs；　lured　by　his　voice；　followed　beneath。　His　ruse　was　evidently　proving　successful　and　he　was　filled　with　elation　as　he　led　the　bellowing　beasts　farther　and　farther　from　Pan…at…lee。　He　hoped　that　she　would　take　advantage　of　the　opportunity　afforded　her　for　escape；　yet　at　the　same　time　he　was　filled　with　concern　as　to　her　ability　to　survive　the　dangers　which　lay　between　Kor…ul…gryf　and　Kor…ul…ja。　There　were　lions　and　Tor…o…dons　and　the　unfriendly　tribe　of　Kor…ul…lul　to　hinder　her　progress；　though　the　distance　in　itself　to　the　cliffs　of　her　people　was　not　great。

He　realized　her　bravery　and　understood　the　resourcefulness　that　she　must　share　in　common　with　all　primitive　people　who；　day　by　day；　must　contend　face　to　face　with　nature's　law　of　the　survival　of　the　fittest；　unaided　by　any　of　the　numerous　artificial　protections　that　civilization　has　thrown　around　its　brood　of　weaklings。

Several　times　during　this　crossing　of　the　gorge　Tarzan　endeavored　to　outwit　his　keen　pursuers；　but　all　to　no　avail。　Double　as　he　would　he　could　not　throw　them　off　his　track　and　ever　as　he　changed　his　course　they　changed　theirs　to　conform。　Along　the　verge　of　the　forest　upon　the　southeastern　side　of　the　gorge　he　sought　some　point　at　which　the　trees　touched　some　negotiable　portion　of　the　cliff；　but　though　he　traveled　far　both　up　and　down　the　gorge　he　discovered　no　such　easy　avenue　of　escape。　The　ape…man　finally　commenced　to　entertain　an　idea　of　the　hopelessness　of　his　case　and　to　realize　to　the　full　why　the　Kor…ul…gryf　had　been　religiously　abjured　by　the　races　of　Pal…ul…don　for　all　these　many　ages。

Night　was　falling　and　though　since　early　morning　he　had　sought　diligently　a　way　out　of　this　cul…de…sac　he　was　no　nearer　to　liberty　than　at　the　moment　the　first　bellowing　gryf　had　charged　him　as　he　stooped　over　the　carcass　of　his　kill：　but　with　the　falling　of　night　came　renewed　hope　for；　in　common　with　the　great　cats；　Tarzan　was；　to　a　greater　or　lesser　extent；　a　nocturnal　beast。　It　is　true　he　could　not　see　by　night　as　well　as　they；　but　that　lack　was　largely　recompensed　for　by　the　keenness　of　his　scent　and　the　highly　developed　sensitiveness　of　his　other　organs　of　perception。　As　the　blind　follow　and　interpret　their　Braille　characters　with　deft　fingers；　so　Tarzan　reads　the　book　of　the　jungle　with　feet　and　hands　and　eyes　and　ears　and　nose；　each　contributing　its　share　to　the　quick　and　accurate　translation　of　the　text。

But　again　he　was　doomed　to　be　thwarted　by　one　vital　weaknesshe　did　not　know　the　gryf；　and　before　the　night　was　over　he　wondered　if　the　things　never　slept；　for　wheresoever　he　moved　they　moved　also；　and　always　they　barred　his　road　to　liberty。　Finally；　just　before　dawn；　he　relinquished　his　immediate　effort　and　sought　r