the son of tarzan-第26部分

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and　stately；　beside　her　hard　captors。

Malbihn　remained　scowling　and　angry。　　He　replied　to　Jenssen's　friendly　advances　in　curt　monosyllables。　　To　Meriem　he　did　not　speak；　but　on　several　occasions　she　discovered　him　glaring　at　her　from　beneath　half　closed　lidsgreedily。　　The　look　sent　a　shudder　through　her。　　She　hugged　Geeka　closer　to　her　breast　and　doubly　regretted　the　knife　that　they　had　taken　from　her　when　she　was　captured　by　Kovudoo。

It　was　on　the　fourth　day　that　Meriem　began　definitely　to　give　up　hope。　　Something　had　happened　to　Korak。　　She　knew　it。　　He　would　never　come　now；　and　these　men　would　take　her　far　away。　Presently　they　would　kill　her。　　She　would　never　see　her　Korak　again。

On　this　day　the　Swedes　rested；　for　they　had　marched　rapidly　and　their　men　were　tired。　　Malbihn　and　Jenssen　had　gone　from　camp　to　hunt；　taking　different　directions。　　They　had　been　gone　about　an　hour　when　the　door　of　Meriem's　tent　was　lifted　and　Malbihn　entered。　　The　look　of　a　beast　was　on　his　face。



Chapter　14

With　wide　eyes　fixed　upon　him；　like　a　trapped　creature　horrified　beneath　the　mesmeric　gaze　of　a　great　serpent；　the　girl　watched　the　approach　of　the　man。　　Her　hands　were　free；　the　Swedes　having　secured　her　with　a　length　of　ancient　slave　chain　fastened　at　one　end　to　an　iron　collar　padlocked　about　her　neck　and　at　the　other　to　a　long　stake　driven　deep　into　the　ground。

Slowly　Meriem　shrank　inch　by　inch　toward　the　opposite　end　of　the　tent。　　Malbihn　followed　her。　　His　hands　were　extended　and　his　fingers　half…openedclaw…liketo　seize　her。　　His　lips　were　parted；　and　his　breath　came　quickly；　pantingly。

The　girl　recalled　Jenssen's　instructions　to　call　him　should　Malbihn　molest　her；　but　Jenssen　had　gone　into　the　jungle　to　hunt。　　Malbihn　had　chosen　his　time　well。　　Yet　she　screamed；　loud　and　shrill；　once；　twice；　a　third　time；　before　Malbihn　could　leap　across　the　tent　and　throttle　her　alarming　cries　with　his　brute　fingers。　　Then　she　fought　him；　as　any　jungle　she　might　fight；　with　tooth　and　nail。　　The　man　found　her　no　easy　prey。　　In　that　slender；　young　body；　beneath　the　rounded　curves　and　the　fine；　soft　skin；　lay　the　muscles　of　a　young　lioness。　　But　Malbihn　was　no　weakling。　　His　character　and　appearance　were　brutal；　nor　did　they　belie　his　brawn。　　He　was　of　giant　stature　and　of　giant　strength。　　Slowly　he　forced　the　girl　back　upon　the　ground；　striking　her　in　the　face　when　she　hurt　him　badly　either　with　teeth　or　nails。　　Meriem　struck　back；　but　she　was　growing　weaker　from　the　choking　fingers　at　her　throat。

Out　in　the　jungle　Jenssen　had　brought　down　two　bucks。　　His　hunting　had　not　carried　him　far　afield；　nor　was　he　prone　to　permit　it　to　do　so。　　He　was　suspicious　of　Malbihn。　　The　very　fact　that　his　companion　had　refused　to　accompany　him　and　elected　instead　to　hunt　alone　in　another　direction　would　not；　under　ordinary　circumstances；　have　seemed　fraught　with　sinister　suggestion；　but　Jenssen　knew　Malbihn　well；　and　so；　having　secured　meat；　he　turned　immediately　back　toward　camp；　while　his　boys　brought　in　his　kill。

He　had　covered　about　half　the　return　journey　when　a　scream　came　faintly　to　his　ears　from　the　direction　of　camp。　　He　halted　to　listen。　　It　was　repeated　twice。　　Then　silence。　　With　a　muttered　curse　Jenssen　broke　into　a　rapid　run。　　He　wondered　if　he　would　be　too　late。　　What　a　fool　Malbihn　was　indeed　to　thus　chance　jeopardizing　a　fortune！

Further　away　from　camp　than　Jenssen　and　upon　the　opposite　side　another　heard　Meriem's　screamsa　stranger　who　was　not　even　aware　of　the　proximity　of　white　men　other　than　himself　a　hunter　with　a　handful　of　sleek；　black　warriors。　　He；　too；　listened　intently　for　a　moment。　　That　the　voice　was　that　of　a　woman　in　distress　he　could　not　doubt；　and　so　he　also　hastened　at　a　run　in　the　direction　of　the　affrighted　voice；　but　he　was　much　further　away　than　Jenssen　so　that　the　latter　reached　the　tent　first。　　What　the　Swede　found　there　roused　no　pity　within　his　calloused　heart；　only　anger　against　his　fellow　scoundrel。　　Meriem　was　still　fighting　off　her　attacker。　　Malbihn　still　was　showering　blows　upon　her。　　Jenssen；　streaming　foul　curses　upon　his　erstwhile　friend；　burst　into　the　tent。　　Malbihn；　interrupted；　dropped　his　victim　and　turned　to　meet　Jenssen's　infuriated　charge。　　He　whipped　a　revolver　from　his　hip。　　Jenssen；　anticipating　the　lightning　move　of　the　other's　hand；　drew　almost　simultaneously；　and　both　men　fired　at　once。　　Jenssen　was　still　moving　toward　Malbihn　at　the　time；　but　at　the　flash　of　the　explosion　he　stopped。　　His　revolver　dropped　from　nerveless　fingers。　　For　a　moment　he　staggered　drunkenly。　Deliberately　Malbihn　put　two　more　bullets　into　his　friend's　body　at　close　range。　　Even　in　the　midst　of　the　excitement　and　her　terror　Meriem　found　herself　wondering　at　the　tenacity　of　life　which　the　hit　man　displayed。　　His　eyes　were　closed；　his　head　dropped　forward　upon　his　breast；　his　hands　hung　limply　before　him。　　Yet　still　he　stood　there　upon　his　feet；　though　he　reeled　horribly。　　It　was　not　until　the　third　bullet　had　found　its　mark　within　his　body　that　he　lunged　forward　upon　his　face。　　Then　Malbihn　approached　him；　and　with　an　oath　kicked　him　viciously。　　Then　he　returned　once　more　to　Meriem。　　Again　he　seized　her；　and　at　the　same　instant　the　flaps　of　the　tent　opened　silently　and　a　tall　white　man　stood　in　the　aperture。　　Neither　Meriem　or　Malbihn　saw　the　newcomer。　　The　latter's　back　was　toward　him　while　his　body　hid　the　stranger　from　Meriem's　eyes。

He　crossed　the　tent　quickly；　stepping　over　Jenssen's　body。　　The　first　intimation　Malbihn　had　that　he　was　not　to　carry　out　his　design　without　further　interruption　was　a　heavy　hand　upon　his　shoulder。　　He　wheeled　to　face　an　utter　strangera　tall；　black…haired；　gray…eyed　stranger　clad　in　khaki　and　pith　helmet。　　Malbihn　reached　for　his　gun　again；　but　another　hand　had　been　quicker　than　his　and　he　saw　the　weapon　tossed　to　the　ground　at　the　side　of　the　tentout　of　reach。

〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this？〃　the　stranger　addressed　his　question　to　Meriem　in　a　tongue　she　did　not　understand。　　She　shook　her　head　and　spoke　in　Arabic。　　Instantly　the　man　changed　his　question　to　that　language。

〃These　men　are　taking　me　away　from　Korak；〃　explained　the　girl。　　〃This　one　would　have　harmed　me。　　The　other；　whom　he　had　just　killed；　tried　to　stop　him。　　They　were　both　very　bad　men；　but　this　one　is　the　worse。　　If　my　Korak　were　here　he　would　kill　him。　　I　suppose　you　are　like　them；　so　you　will　not　kill　him。〃

The　stranger　smiled。　　〃He　deserves　killing？〃　he　said。　　〃There　is　no　doubt　of　that。　　Once　I　should　have　killed　him；　but　not　now。　I　will　see；　though；　that　he　does　not　bother　you　any　more。〃

He　was　holding　Malbihn　in　a　grasp　the　giant　Swede　could　not　break；　though　he　struggled　to　do　so；　and　he　was　holding　him　as　easily　as　Malbihn　might　have　held　a　little　child；　yet　Malbihn　was　a　huge　man；　mightily　thewed。　　The　Swede　began　to　rage　and　curse。　　He　struck　at　his　captor；　only　to　be　twisted　about　and　held　at　arm's　length。　　Then　he　shouted　to　his　boys　to　come　and　kill　the　stranger。　　In　response　a　dozen　strange　blacks　entered　the　tent。　They；　too；　were　powerful；　clean…limbed　men；　not　at　all　like　the　mangy　crew　that　followed　the　Swedes。

〃We　have　had　enough　foolishness；〃　said　the　stranger　to　Malbihn。　　〃You　deserve　death；　but　I　am　not　the　law。　　I　know　now　who　you　are。　　I　have　heard　of　you　before。　　You　and　your　friend　here　bear　a　most　unsavory　reputation。　　We　do　not　want　you　in　our　country。　　I　shall　let　you　go　this　time；　but　should　you　ever　return　I　shall　take　the　law　into　my　own　hands。　　You　understand？〃

Malbihn　blustered　and　threatened；　finishing　by　applying　a　most　uncomplimentary　name　to　his　captor。　　For　this　he　received　a　shaking　that　rattled　his　teeth。　　Those　who　know　say　that　the　most　painful　punishment　that　can　be　inflicted　upon　an　adult　male；　short　of　injuring　him；　is　a　good；　old　fashioned　shaking。　Malbihn　received　such　a　shaking。

〃Now　get　out；〃　said　the　stranger；　〃and　next　time　you　see　me　remember　who　I　am；〃　and　he　spoke　a　name　in　the　Swede's　eara　name　that　more　effectually　subdued　the　scoundrel　than　many　beatingsthen　he　gave　him　a　push　that　carried　him　bodily　through　the　tent　doorway　to　sprawl　upon　the　turf　beyond。

〃Now；〃　he　said；　turning　toward　Meriem；　〃who　has　the　key　to　this　thing　about　your　neck？〃

The　girl　pointed　to　Jenssen's　body。　　〃He　carried　it　always；〃　she　said。

The　stranger　searched　the　clothing　on　the　corpse　until　he　came　upon　the　key。　　A　moment　more　Meriem　was　free。

〃Will　you　let　me　go　back　to　my　Korak？〃　she　asked。

〃I　will　see　that　you　are　returned　to　your　people；〃　he　replied。　〃Who　are　they　and　where　is　their　village？〃

He　had　been　eyeing　her　strange；　barbaric　garmenture　wonderingly。　　From　her　speech　she　was　evidently　an　Arab　girl；　but　he　had　never　before　seen　one　thus　clothed。

〃Who　are　your　people？　　Who　is　Korak？〃　he　asked　again。

〃Korak！　　Why　Korak　is　an　ape。　　I　have　no　other　people。　　Korak　and　I　live　in　the　jungle　alone　since　A'ht　went　to　be　king　of　the　apes。〃　　She　had　always　thus　pronounced　Akut's　name；　for　so　it　had　sounded　to　her　when　first　she　came　with　Korak　and　the　ape。　　〃Korak　could　have　been　kind；　but　he　would　not。〃

A　questioning　expression　entered　the　stranger's　eyes。　　He　looked　at　the　girl　closely。

〃So　Korak　is　an　ape？〃　he　said。　　〃And　what；　pray；　are　you？〃

〃I　am　Meriem。　　I；　also；　am　an　ape。〃

〃M…m；〃　was　the　stranger's　only　oral　comment　upon　this　startling　announcement；　but　what　he　thought　might　have　been　partially　interpreted　through　the　pitying　light　that　entered　his　eyes。　　He　approached　the　girl　and　started　to　lay　his　hand　upon　her　forehead。　　She　drew　back　with　a　savage　little　growl。　　A　smile　touched　his　lips。

〃You　need　not　fear　me；〃　he　said。　　〃I　shall　not　harm　you。　　I　only　wish　to　discover　if　you　have　feverif　you　are　entirely　well。　If　you　are　we　will　set　forth　in　search　of　Korak。〃

Meriem　looked　straight　into　the　keen　gray　eyes。　　She　must　have　found　there　an　unquestionable　assurance　of　the　honorableness　of　their　owner；　for　she　permitted　him　to　lay　his　palm　upon　her　forehead　and　feel　her　pulse。　　Apparently　she　had　no　fever。

〃How　long　have　you　been　an　ape？〃　asked　the　man。

〃Since　I　was　a　little　girl；　many；　many　years　ago；　and　Korak　came　and　took　me　from　my　father　who　was　beating　me。　　Since　then　I　have　lived　in　the　trees　with　Korak　and　A'