the son of tarzan-第35部分
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〃Oh； no；〃 cried the Hon。 Morison； aghast at this suggestion。 〃Let's ride；〃 and he reined his pony into the dark shadows of the wood。 Behind him came Meriem and in front； prowling ahead waiting a favorable opportunity； skulked Numa； the lion。
Out upon the plain a lone horseman muttered a low curse as he saw the two disappear from sight。 It was Hanson。 He had followed them from the bungalow。 Their way led in the direction of his camp； so he had a ready and plausible excuse should they discover him； but they had not seen him for they had not turned their eyes behind。
Now he turned directly toward the spot at which they had entered the jungle。 He no longer cared whether he was observed or not。 There were two reasons for his indifference。 The first was that he saw in Baynes' act a counterpart of his own planned abduction of the girl。 In some way he might turn the thing to his own purposes。 At least he would keep in touch with them and make sure that Baynes did not get her。 His other reason was based on his knowledge of an event that had transpired at his camp the previous nightan event which he had not mentioned at the bungalow for fear of drawing undesired attention to his movements and bringing the blacks of the big Bwana into dangerous intercourse with his own boys。 He had told at the bungalow that half his men had deserted。 That story might be quickly disproved should his boys and Bwana's grow confidential。
The event that he had failed to mention and which now urged him hurriedly after the girl and her escort had occurred during his absence early the preceding evening。 His men had been sitting around their camp fire； entirely encircled by a high； thorn boma； when； without the slightest warning； a huge lion had leaped amongst them and seized one of their number。 It had been solely due to the loyalty and courage of his comrades that his life had been saved； and then only after a battle royal with the hunger…enraged beast had they been able to drive him off with burning brands； spears； and rifles。
From this Hanson knew that a man eater had wandered into the district or been developed by the aging of one of the many lions who ranged the plains and hills by night； or lay up in the cool wood by day。 He had heard the roaring of a hungry lion not half an hour before； and there was little doubt in his mind but that the man eater was stalking Meriem and Baynes。 He cursed the Englishman for a fool； and spurred rapidly after them。
Meriem and Baynes had drawn up in a small； natural clearing。 A hundred yards beyond them Numa lay crouching in the underbrush； his yellow…green eyes fixed upon his prey； the tip of his sinuous tail jerking spasmodically。 He was measuring the distance between him and them。 He was wondering if he dared venture a charge； or should he wait yet a little longer in the hope that they might ride straight into his jaws。 He was very hungry； but also was he very crafty。 He could not chance losing his meat by a hasty and ill…considered rush。 Had he waited the night before until the blacks slept he would not have been forced to go hungry for another twenty…four hours。
Behind him the other that had caught his scent and that of man together came to a sitting posture upon the branch of a tree in which he had reposed himself for slumber。 Beneath him a lumbering gray hulk swayed to and fro in the darkness。 The beast in the tree uttered a low guttural and dropped to the back of the gray mass。 He whispered a word in one of the great ears and Tantor； the elephant； raised his trunk aloft； swinging it high and low to catch the scent that the word had warned him of。 There was another whispered wordwas it a command？and the lumbering beast wheeled into an awkward； yet silent shuffle； in the direction of Numa； the lion； and the stranger Tarmangani his rider had scented。
Onward they went； the scent of the lion and his prey becoming stronger and stronger。 Numa was becoming impatient。 How much longer must he wait for his meat to come his way？ He lashed his tail viciously now。 He almost growled。 All unconscious of their danger the man and the girl sat talking in the little clearing。
Their horses were pressed side by side。 Baynes had found Meriem's hand and was pressing it as he poured words of love into her ear； and Meriem was listening。
〃Come to London with me；〃 urged the Hon。 Morison。 〃I can gather a safari and we can be a whole day upon the way to the coast before they guess that we have gone。〃
〃Why must we go that way？〃 asked the girl。 〃Bwana and My Dear would not object to our marriage。〃
〃I cannot marry you just yet；〃 explained the Hon。 Morison； 〃there are some formalities to be attended to firstyou do not understand。 It will be all right。 We will go to London。 I cannot wait。 If you love me you will come。 What of the apes you lived with？ Did they bother about marriage？ They love as we love。 Had you stayed among them you would have mated as they mate。 It is the law of natureno man…made law can abrogate the laws of God。 What difference does it make if we love one another？ What do we care for anyone in the world besides ourselves？ I would give my life for youwill you give nothing for me？〃
〃You love me？〃 she said。 〃You will marry me when we have reached London？〃
〃I swear it；〃 he cried。
〃I will go with you；〃 she whispered； 〃though I do not understand why it is necessary。〃 She leaned toward him and he took her in his arms and bent to press his lips to hers。
At the same instant the head of a huge tusker poked through the trees that fringed the clearing。 The Hon。 Morison and Meriem； with eyes and ears for one another alone； did not see or hear； but Numa did。 The man upon Tantor's broad head saw the girl in the man's arms。 It was Korak； but in the trim figure of the neatly garbed girl he did not recognize his Meriem。 He only saw a Tarmangani with his she。 And then Numa charged。
With a frightful roar； fearful lest Tantor had come to frighten away his prey； the great beast leaped from his hiding place。 The earth trembled to his mighty voice。 The ponies stood for an instant transfixed with terror。 The Hon。 Morison Baynes went white and cold。 The lion was charging toward them full in the brilliant light of the magnificent moon。 The muscles of the Hon。 Morison no longer obeyed his willthey flexed to the urge of a greater powerthe power of Nature's first law。 They drove his spurred heels deep into his pony's flanks； they bore the rein against the brute's neck that wheeled him with an impetuous drive toward the plain and safety。
The girl's pony； squealing in terror； reared and plunged upon the heels of his mate。 The lion was close upon him。 Only the girl was coolthe girl and the half…naked savage who bestrode the neck of his mighty mount and grinned at the exciting spectacle chance had staked for his enjoyment。
To Korak here were but two strange Tarmangani pursued by Numa； who was empty。 It was Numa's right to prey； but one was a she。 Korak felt an intuitive urge to rush to her protection。 Why； he could not guess。 All Tarmangani were enemies now。 He had lived too long a beast to feel strongly the humanitarian impulses that were inherent in himyet feel them he did； for the girl at least。
He urged Tantor forward。 He raised his heavy spear and hurled it at the flying target of the lion's body。 The girl's pony had reached the trees upon the opposite side of the clearing。 Here he would become easy prey to the swiftly moving lion； but Numa； infuriated； preferred the woman upon his back。 It was for her he leaped。
Korak gave an exclamation of astonishment and approval as Numa landed upon the pony's rump and at the same instant the girl swung free of her mount to the branches of a tree above her。
Korak's spear struck Numa in the shoulder； knocking him from his precarious hold upon the frantically plunging horse。 Freed of the weight of both girl and lion the pony raced ahead toward safety。 Numa tore and struck at the missile in his shoulder but could not dislodge it。 Then he resumed the chase。
Korak guided Tantor into the seclusion of the jungle。 He did not wish to be seen； nor had he。
Hanson had almost reached the wood when he heard the lion's terrific roars； and knew that the charge had come。 An instant later the Hon。 Morison broke upon his vision； racing like mad for safety。 The man lay flat upon his pony's back hugging the animal's neck tightly with both arms and digging the spurs into his sides。 An instant later the second pony appearedriderless。
Hanson groaned as he guessed what had happened out of sight in the jungle。 With an oath he spurred on in the hope of driving the lion from his preyhis rifle was ready in his hand。 And then the lion came into view behind the girl's pony。 Hanson could not understand。 He knew that if Numa had succeeded in seizing the girl he would not have continued in pursuit of the others。
He drew in his own mount； took quick aim and fired。 The lion stopped in his tracks； turned and bit at his side； then rolled over dead。 Hanson rode on into the forest； calling aloud to the girl。
〃Here I am；〃 came a quick response from the foliage of the trees just ahead。 〃Did you hit him？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Hanson。 〃Where are you？ You had a mighty narrow escape。 It will teach you to keep out of the jungle at night。〃
Together they returned to the plain where they found the Hon。 Morison riding slowly back toward them。 He explained that his pony had bolted and that he had had hard work stopping him at all。 Hanson grinned； for he recalled the pounding heels that he had seen driving sharp spurs into the flanks of Baynes' mount； but he said nothing of what he had seen。 He took Meriem up behind him and the three rode in silence toward the bungalow。
Chapter 19
Behind them Korak emerged from the jungle and recovered his spear from Numa's side。 He still was smiling。 He had enjoyed the spectacle exceedingly。 There was one thing that troubled himthe agility with which the she had clambered from her pony's back into the safety of the tree ABOVE her。 That was more like manganimore like his lost Meriem。 He sighed。 His lost Meriem！ His little； dead Meriem！ He wondered if this she stranger resembled h
