the son of tarzan-第31部分

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at　Korak　was　but　a　memory。　　To　that　memory　she　still　was　loyal；　but　what　weight　has　a　memory　in　the　presence　of　a　fascinating　reality？

Meriem　had　never　accompanied　the　men　upon　a　hunt　since　the　arrival　of　the　guests。　　She　never　had　cared　particularly　for　the　sport　of　killing。　　The　tracking　she　enjoyed；　but　the　mere　killing　for　the　sake　of　killing　she　could　not　find　pleasure　inlittle　savage　that　she　had　been；　and　still；　to　some　measure；　was。　　When　Bwana　had　gone　forth　to　shoot　for　meat　she　had　always　been　his　enthusiastic　companion；　but　with　the　coming　of　the　London　guests　the　hunting　had　deteriorated　into　mere　killing。　　Slaughter　the　host　would　not　permit；　yet　the　purpose　of　the　hunts　were　for　heads　and　skins　and　not　for　food。　　So　Meriem　remained　behind　and　spent　her　days　either　with　My　Dear　upon　the　shaded　verandah；　or　riding　her　favorite　pony　across　the　plains　or　to　the　forest　edge。　　Here　she　would　leave　him　untethered　while　she　took　to　the　trees　for　the　moment's　unalloyed　pleasures　of　a　return　to　the　wild；　free　existence　of　her　earlier　childhood。

Then　would　come　again　visions　of　Korak；　and；　tired　at　last　of　leaping　and　swinging　through　the　trees；　she　would　stretch　herself　comfortably　upon　a　branch　and　dream。　　And　presently；　as　today；　she　found　the　features　of　Korak　slowly　dissolve　and　merge　into　those　of　another；　and　the　figure　of　a　tanned；　half…　naked　tarmangani　become　a　khaki　clothed　Englishman　astride　a　hunting　pony。

And　while　she　dreamed　there　came　to　her　ears　from　a　distance；　faintly；　the　terrified　bleating　of　a　kid。　　Meriem　was　instantly　alert。　　You　or　I；　even　had　we　been　able　to　hear　the　pitiful　wail　at　so　great　distance；　could　not　have　interpreted　it；　but　to　Meriem　it　meant　a　species　of　terror　that　afflicts　the　ruminant　when　a　carnivore　is　near　and　escape　impossible。

It　had　been　both　a　pleasure　and　a　sport　of　Korak's　to　rob　Numa　of　his　prey　whenever　possible；　and　Meriem　too　had　often　enjoyed　in　the　thrill　of　snatching　some　dainty　morsel　almost　from　the　very　jaws　of　the　king　of　beasts。　　Now；　at　the　sound　of　the　kid's　bleat；　all　the　well　remembered　thrills　recurred。　　Instantly　she　was　all　excitement　to　play　again　the　game　of　hide　and　seek　with　death。

Quickly　she　loosened　her　riding　skirt　and　tossed　it　asideit　was　a　heavy　handicap　to　successful　travel　in　the　trees。　　Her　boots　and　stockings　followed　the　skirt；　for　the　bare　sole　of　the　human　foot　does　not　slip　upon　dry　or　even　wet　bark　as　does　the　hard　leather　of　a　boot。　　She　would　have　liked　to　discard　her　riding　breeches　also；　but　the　motherly　admonitions　of　My　Dear　had　convinced　Meriem　that　it　was　not　good　form　to　go　naked　through　the　world。

At　her　hip　hung　a　hunting　knife。　　Her　rifle　was　still　in　its　boot　at　her　pony's　withers。　　Her　revolver　she　had　not　brought。

The　kid　was　still　bleating　as　Meriem　started　rapidly　in　its　direction；　which　she　knew　was　straight　toward　a　certain　water

hole　which　had　once　been　famous　as　a　rendezvous　for　lions。　　Of　late　there　had　been　no　evidence　of　carnivora　in　the　neighborhood　of　this　drinking　place；　but　Meriem　was　positive　that　the　bleating　of　the　kid　was　due　to　the　presence　of　either　lion　or　panther。

But　she　would　soon　know；　for　she　was　rapidly　approaching　the　terrified　animal。　　She　wondered　as　she　hastened　onward　that　the　sounds　continued　to　come　from　the　same　point。　　Why　did　the　kid　not　run　away？　　And　then　she　came　in　sight　of　the　little　animal　and　knew。　　The　kid　was　tethered　to　a　stake　beside　the　waterhole。

Meriem　paused　in　the　branches　of　a　near…by　tree　and　scanned　the　surrounding　clearing　with　quick；　penetrating　eyes。　　Where　was　the　hunter？　　Bwana　and　his　people　did　not　hunt　thus。　　Who　could　have　tethered　this　poor　little　beast　as　a　lure　to　Numa？　Bwana　never　countenanced　such　acts　in　his　country　and　his　word　was　law　among　those　who　hunted　within　a　radius　of　many　miles　of　his　estate。

Some　wandering　savages；　doubtless；　thought　Meriem；　but　where　were　they？　　Not　even　her　keen　eyes　could　discover　them。　And　where　was　Numa？　　Why　had　he　not　long　since　sprung　upon　this　delicious　and　defenseless　morsel？　　That　he　was　close　by　was　attested　by　the　pitiful　crying　of　the　kid。　　Ah！　　Now　she　saw　him。　He　was　lying　close　in　a　clump　of　brush　a　few　yards　to　her　right。　The　kid　was　down　wind　from　him　and　getting　the　full　benefit　of　his　terrorizing　scent；　which　did　not　reach　Meriem。

To　circle　to　the　opposite　side　of　the　clearing　where　the　trees　approached　closer　to　the　kid。　　To　leap　quickly　to　the　little　animal's　side　and　cut　the　tether　that　held　him　would　be　the　work　of　but　a　moment。　　In　that　moment　Numa　might　charge；　and　then　there　would　be　scarce　time　to　regain　the　safety　of　the　trees；　yet　it　might　be　done。　　Meriem　had　escaped　from　closer　quarters　than　that　many　times　before。

The　doubt　that　gave　her　momentary　pause　was　caused　by　fear　of　the　unseen　hunters　more　than　by　fear　of　Numa。　　If　they　were　stranger　blacks　the　spears　that　they　held　in　readiness　for　Numa　might　as　readily　be　loosed　upon　whomever　dared　release　their　bait　as　upon　the　prey　they　sought　thus　to　trap。　　Again　the　kid　struggled　to　be　free。　　Again　his　piteous　wail　touched　the　tender　heart　strings　of　the　girl。　　Tossing　discretion　aside；　she　commenced　to　circle　the　clearing。　　Only　from　Numa　did　she　attempt　to　conceal　her　presence。　　At　last　she　reached　the　opposite　trees。　An　instant　she　paused　to　look　toward　the　great　lion；　and　at　the　same　moment　she　saw　the　huge　beast　rise　slowly　to　his　full　height。　　A　low　roar　betokened　that　he　was　ready。

Meriem　loosened　her　knife　and　leaped　to　the　ground。　　A　quick　run　brought　her　to　the　side　of　the　kid。　　Numa　saw　her。　　He　lashed　his　tail　against　his　tawny　sides。　　He　roared　terribly；　but；　for　an　instant；　he　remained　where　he　stoodsurprised　into　inaction；　doubtless；　by　the　strange　apparition　that　had　sprung　so　unexpectedly　from　the　jungle。

Other　eyes　were　upon　Meriem；　tooeyes　in　which　were　no　less　surprise　than　that　reflected　in　the　yellow…green　orbs　of　the　carnivore。　A　white　man；　hiding　in　a　thorn　boma；　half　rose　as　the　young　girl　leaped　into　the　clearing　and　dashed　toward　the　kid。　　He　saw　Numa　hesitate。　He　raised　his　rifle　and　covered　the　beast's　breast。　　The　girl　reached　the　kid's　side。　　Her　knife　flashed；　and　the　little　prisoner　was　free。　With　a　parting　bleat　it　dashed　off　into　the　jungle。　　Then　the　girl　turned　to　retreat　toward　the　safety　of　the　tree　from　which　she　had　dropped　so　suddenly　and　unexpectedly　into　the　surprised　view　of　the　lion；　the　kid　and　the　man。

As　she　turned　the　girl's　face　was　turned　toward　the　hunter。　His　eyes　went　wide　as　he　saw　her　features。　　He　gave　a　little　gasp　of　surprise；　but　now　the　lion　demanded　all　his　attentionthe　baffled；　angry　beast　was　charging。　　His　breast　was　still　covered　by　the　motionless　rifle。　　The　man　could　have　fired　and　stopped　the　charge　at　once；　but　for　some　reason；　since　he　had　seen　the　girl's　face；　he　hesitated。　　Could　it　be　that　he　did　not　care　to　save　her？　　Or；　did　he　prefer；　if　possible；　to　remain　unseen　by　her？　　It　must　have　been　the　latter　cause　which　kept　the　trigger　finger　of　the　steady　hand　from　exerting　the　little　pressure　that　would　have　brought　the　great　beast　to　at　least　a　temporary　pause。

Like　an　eagle　the　man　watched　the　race　for　life　the　girl　was　making。　　A　second　or　two　measured　the　time　which　the　whole　exciting　event　consumed　from　the　moment　that　the　lion　broke　into　his　charge。　　Nor　once　did　the　rifle　sights　fail　to　cover　the　broad　breast　of　the　tawny　sire　as　the　lion's　course　took　him　a　little　to　the　man's　left。　　Once；　at　the　very　last　moment；　when　escape　seemed　impossible；　the　hunter's　finger　tightened　ever　so　little　upon　the　trigger；　but　almost　coincidentally　the　girl　leaped　for　an　over　hanging　branch　and　seized　it。　　The　lion　leaped　too；　but　the　nimble　Meriem　had　swung　herself　beyond　his　reach　without　a　second　or　an　inch　to　spare。

The　man　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　as　he　lowered　his　rifle。　　He　saw　the　girl　fling　a　grimace　at　the　angry；　roaring；　maneater　beneath　her；　and　then；　laughing；　speed　away　into　the　forest。　　For　an　hour　the　lion　remained　about　the　water　hole。　　A　hundred　times　could　the　hunter　have　bagged　his　prey。　　Why　did　he　fail　to　do　so？　Was　he　afraid　that　the　shot　might　attract　the　girl　and　cause　her　to　return？

At　last　Numa；　still　roaring　angrily；　strode　majestically　into　the　jungle。　　The　hunter　crawled　from　his　boma；　and　half　an　hour　later　was　entering　a　little　camp　snugly　hidden　in　the　forest。　　A　handful　of　black　followers　greeted　his　return　with　sullen　indifference。　　He　was　a　great　bearded　man；　a　huge；　yellow…bearded　giant；　when　he　entered　his　tent。　　Half　an　hour　later　he　emerged　smooth　shaven。

His　blacks　looked　at　him　in　astonishment。

〃Would　you　know　me？〃　he　asked。

〃The　hyena　that　bore　you　would　not　know　you；　Bwana；〃　replied　one。

The　man　aimed　a　heavy　fist　at　the　black's　face；　but　long　experience　in　dodging　similar　blows　saved　the　presumptuous　one。



Chapter　17

Meriem　returned　slowly　toward　the　tree　in　which　she　had　left　her　skirt；　her　shoes　and　her　stockings。　　She　was　singing　blithely；　but　her　song　came　to　a　sudden　stop　when　she　came　within　sight　of　the　tree；　for　there；　disporting　themselves　with　glee　and　pulling　and　hauling　upon　her　belongings；　were　a　number　of　baboons。　　When　they　saw　her　they　showed　no　signs　of　terror。　　Instead　they　bared　their　fangs　and　growled　at　her。　What　was　there　to　fear　in　a　single　she…Tarmangani？　　Nothing；　absolutely　nothing。

In　the　open　plain　beyond　the　forest　the　hunters　were　returning　from　the　day's　sport。　　They　were　widely　separated；　hoping　to　raise　a　wandering　lion　on　the　homeward　journey　across　the　plain。　The　Hon。　Morison　Baynes　rode　closest　to　the　forest。　　As　his　eyes　wandered　back　and　forth　across　the　undulating；　shrub　sprinkled　ground　they　fell　upon　the　form　of　a　creature　close　beside　the　thick　jungle　where　it　terminated　abruptly　at　the　plain's　edge。

He　reined　his　mount　in　the　direction　of　his　discovery。　　It　was　yet　too　far　away　for　his　untrained　eyes　to　recognize　it；　but　as　he　came　closer　he　saw　that　it　was　a　horse；　and　was　about　to　resume　the　original　direction　of　his　way　when　he　thought　that　he　discerned　a　saddle　upon　the　beast's　back。　　He　rode　a　little　closer。　　Yes；　the　animal　was　saddled。　　The　Hon。　Morison　approached　yet　nearer；　and　as　he　did　so　his　eyes　expressed　a　pl