the son of tarzan-第51部分

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aced　toward　the　bordering　trees　with　all　the　speed　that　lay　in　her　swift；　little　feet；　but　Tantor；　for　all　his　huge　bulk；　drove　down　upon　her　with　the　rapidity　of　an　express　train。

Korak　lay　where　he　could　see　the　whole　frightful　tragedy。　　The　cold　sweat　broke　out　upon　his　body。　　His　heart　seemed　to　have　stopped　its　beating。　　Meriem　might　reach　the　trees　before　Tantor　overtook　her；　but　even　her　agility　would　not　carry　her　beyond　the　reach　of　that　relentless　trunkshe　would　be　dragged　down　and　tossed。　　Korak　could　picture　the　whole　frightful　scene。　　Then　Tantor　would　follow　her　up；　goring　the　frail；　little　body　with　his　relentless　tusks；　or　trampling　it　into　an　unrecognizable　mass　beneath　his　ponderous　feet。

He　was　almost　upon　her　now。　　Korak　wanted　to　close　his　eyes；　but　could　not。　　His　throat　was　dry　and　parched。　　Never　in　all　his　savage　existence　had　he　suffered　such　blighting　terrornever　before　had　he　known　what　terror　meant。　　A　dozen　more　strides　and　the　brute　would　seize　her。　　What　was　that？　　Korak's　eyes　started　from　their　sockets。　　A　strange　figure　had　leaped　from　the　tree　the　shade　of　which　Meriem　already　had　reachedleaped　beyond　the　girl　straight　into　the　path　of　the　charging　elephant。　It　was　a　naked　white　giant。　　Across　his　shoulder　a　coil　of　rope　was　looped。　　In　the　band　of　his　gee　string　was　a　hunting　knife。　Otherwise　he　was　unarmed。　　With　naked　hands　he　faced　the　maddening　Tantor。　　A　sharp　command　broke　from　the　stranger's　lipsthe　great　beast　halted　in　his　tracksand　Meriem　swung　herself　upward　into　the　tree　to　safety。　　Korak　breathed　a　sigh　of　relief　not　unmixed　with　wonder。　　He　fastened　his　eyes　upon　the　face　of　Meriem's　deliverer　and　as　recognition　slowly　filtered　into　his　understanding　they　went　wide　in　incredulity　and　surprise。

Tantor；　still　rumbling　angrily；　stood　swaying　to　and　fro　close　before　the　giant　white　man。　　Then　the　latter　stepped　straight　beneath　the　upraised　trunk　and　spoke　a　low　word　of　command。　　The　great　beast　ceased　his　muttering。　　The　savage　light　died　from　his　eyes；　and　as　the　stranger　stepped　forward　toward　Korak；　Tantor　trailed　docilely　at　his　heels。

Meriem　was　watching；　too；　and　wondering。　　Suddenly　the　man　turned　toward　her　as　though　recollecting　her　presence　after　a　moment　of　forgetfulness。　　〃Come！　　Meriem；〃　he　called；　and　then　she　recognized　him　with　a　startled：　　〃Bwana！〃　　Quickly　the　girl　dropped　from　the　tree　and　ran　to　his　side。　　Tantor　cocked　a　questioning　eye　at　the　white　giant；　but　receiving　a　warning　word　let　Meriem　approach。　　Together　the　two　walked　to　where　Korak　lay；　his　eyes　wide　with　wonder　and　filled　with　a　pathetic　appeal　for　forgiveness；　and；　mayhap；　a　glad　thankfulness　for　the　miracle　that　had　brought　these　two　of　all　others　to　his　side。

〃Jack！〃　cried　the　white　giant；　kneeling　at　the　ape…man's　side。

〃Father！〃　came　chokingly　from　The　Killer's　lips。　　〃Thank　God　that　it　was　you。　　No　one　else　in　all　the　jungle　could　have　stopped　Tantor。〃

Quickly　the　man　cut　the　bonds　that　held　Korak；　and　as　the　youth　leaped　to　his　feet　and　threw　his　arms　about　his　father；　the　older　man　turned　toward　Meriem。

〃I　thought；〃　he　said；　sternly；　〃that　I　told　you　to　return　to　the　farm。〃

Korak　was　looking　at　them　wonderingly。　　In　his　heart　was　a　great　yearning　to　take　the　girl　in　his　arms；　but　in　time　he　remembered　the　otherthe　dapper　young　English　gentleman　and　that　he　was　but　a　savage；　uncouth　ape…man。

Meriem　looked　up　pleadingly　into　Bwana's　eyes。

〃You　told　me；〃　she　said；　in　a　very　small　voice；　〃that　my　place　was　beside　the　man　I　loved；〃　and　she　turned　her　eyes　toward　Korak　all　filled　with　the　wonderful　light　that　no　other　man　had　yet　seen　in　them；　and　that　none　other　ever　would。

The　Killer　started　toward　her　with　outstretched　arms；　but　suddenly　he　fell　upon　one　knee　before　her；　instead；　and　lifting　her　hand　to　his　lips　kissed　it　more　reverently　than　he　could　have　kissed　the　hand　of　his　country's　queen。

A　rumble　from　Tantor　brought　the　three；　all　jungle　bred；　to　instant　alertness。　　Tantor　was　looking　toward　the　trees　behind　them；　and　as　their　eyes　followed　his　gaze　the　head　and　shoulders　of　a　great　ape　appeared　amidst　the　foliage。　　For　a　moment　the　creature　eyed　them；　and　then　from　its　throat　rose　a　loud　scream　of　recognition　and　of　joy；　and　a　moment　later　the　beast　had　leaped　to　the　ground；　followed　by　a　score　of　bulls　like　himself；　and　was　waddling　toward　them；　shouting　in　the　primordial　tongue　of　the　anthropoid：

〃Tarzan　has　returned！　　Tarzan；　Lord　of　the　Jungle！〃

It　was　Akut；　and　instantly　he　commenced　leaping　and　bounding　about　the　trio；　uttering　hideous　shrieks　and　mouthings　that　to　any　other　human　beings　might　have　indicated　the　most　ferocious　rage；　but　these　three　knew　that　the　king　of　the　apes　was　doing　homage　to　a　king　greater　than　himself。　　In　his　wake　leaped　his　shaggy　bulls；　vying　with　one　another　as　to　which　could　spring　the　highest　and　which　utter　the　most　uncanny　sounds。

Korak　laid　his　hand　affectionately　upon　his　father's　shoulder。

〃There　is　but　one　Tarzan；〃　he　said。　　〃There　can　never　be　another。〃


Two　days　later　the　three　dropped　from　the　trees　on　the　edge　of　the　plain　across　which　they　could　see　the　smoke　rising　from　the　bungalow　and　the　cook　house　chimneys。　　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　had　regained　his　civilized　clothing　from　the　tree　where　he　had　hidden　it；　and　as　Korak　refused　to　enter　the　presence　of　his　mother　in　the　savage　half…raiment　that　he　had　worn　so　long　and　as　Meriem　would　not　leave　him；　for　fear；　as　she　explained；　that　he　would　change　his　mind　and　run　off　into　the　jungle　again；　the　father　went　on　ahead　to　the　bungalow　for　horses　and　clothes。

My　Dear　met　him　at　the　gate；　her　eyes　filled　with　questioning　and　sorrow；　for　she　saw　that　Meriem　was　not　with　him。

〃Where　is　she？〃　she　asked；　her　voice　trembling。　　〃Muviri　told　me　that　she　disobeyed　your　instructions　and　ran　off　into　the　jungle　after　you　had　left　them。　　Oh；　John；　I　cannot　bear　to　lose　her；　too！〃　　And　Lady　Greystoke　broke　down　and　wept；　as　she　pillowed　her　head　upon　the　broad　breast　where　so　often　before　she　had　found　comfort　in　the　great　tragedies　of　her　life。

Lord　Greystoke　raised　her　head　and　looked　down　into　her　eyes；　his　own　smiling　and　filled　with　the　light　of　happiness。

〃What　is　it；　John？〃　she　cried。　　〃You　have　good　newsdo　not　keep　me　waiting　for　it。〃

〃I　want　to　be　quite　sure　that　you　can　stand　hearing　the　best　news　that　ever　came　to　either　of　us；〃　he　said。

〃Joy　never　kills；〃　she　cried。　　〃You　have　foundher？〃　　She　could　not　bring　herself　to　hope　for　the　impossible。

〃Yes；　Jane；〃　he　said；　and　his　voice　was　husky　with　emotion；　〃I　have　found　her；　andHIM！〃

〃Where　is　he？　　Where　are　they？〃　she　demanded。

〃Out　there　at　the　edge　of　the　jungle。　　He　wouldn't　come　to　you　in　his　savage　leopard　skin　and　his　nakednesshe　sent　me　to　fetch　him　civilized　clothing。〃

She　clapped　her　hands　in　ecstasy；　and　turned　to　run　toward　the　bungalow。　　〃Wait！〃　she　cried　over　her　shoulder。　　〃I　have　all　his　little　suitsI　have　saved　them　all。　　I　will　bring　one　to　you。〃

Tarzan　laughed　and　called　to　her　to　stop。

〃The　only　clothing　on　the　place　that　will　fit　him；〃　he　said；　〃is　mineif　it　isn't　too　small　for　himyour　little　boy　has　grown；　Jane。〃

She　laughed；　too；　she　felt　like　laughing　at　everything；　or　at　nothing。　　The　world　was　all　love　and　happiness　and　joy　once　morethe　world　that　had　been　shrouded　in　the　gloom　of　her　great　sorrow　for　so　many　years。　　So　great　was　her　joy　that　for　the　moment　she　forgot　the　sad　message　that　awaited　Meriem。　　She　called　to　Tarzan　after　he　had　ridden　away　to　prepare　her　for　it；　but　he　did　not　hear　and　rode　on　without　knowing　himself　what　the　event　was　to　which　his　wife　referred。

And　so；　an　hour　later；　Korak；　The　Killer；　rode　home　to　his　motherthe　mother　whose　image　had　never　faded　in　his　boyish　heartand　found　in　her　arms　and　her　eyes　the　love　and　forgiveness　that　he　plead　for。

And　then　the　mother　turned　toward　Meriem；　an　expression　of　pitying　sorrow　erasing　the　happiness　from　her　eyes。

〃My　little　girl；〃　she　said；　〃in　the　midst　of　our　happiness　a　great　sorrow　awaits　youMr。　Baynes　did　not　survive　his　wound。〃

The　expression　of　sorrow　in　Meriem's　eyes　expressed　only　what　she　sincerely　felt；　but　it　was　not　the　sorrow　of　a　woman　bereft　of　her　best　beloved。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　she　said；　quite　simply。　　〃He　would　have　done　me　a　great　wrong；　but　he　amply　atoned　before　he　died。　　Once　I　thought　that　I　loved　him。　　At　first　it　was　only　fascination　for　a　type　that　was　new　to　methen　it　was　respect　for　a　brave　man　who　had　the　moral　courage　to　admit　a　sin　and　the　physical　courage　to　face　death　to　right　the　wrong　he　had　committed。　　But　it　was　not　love。　　I　did　not　know　what　love　was　until　I　knew　that　Korak　lived；〃　and　she　turned　toward　The　Killer　with　a　smile。

Lady　Greystoke　looked　quickly　up　into　the　eyes　of　her　son　the　son　who　one　day　would　be　Lord　Greystoke。　　No　thought　of　the　difference　in　the　stations　of　the　girl　and　her　boy　entered　her　mind。　　To　her　Meriem　was　fit　for　a　king。　　She　only　wanted　to　know　that　Jack　loved　the　little　Arab　waif。　　The　look　in　his　eyes　answered　the　question　in　her　heart；　and　she　threw　her　arms　about　them　both　and　kissed　them　each　a　dozen　times。

〃Now；〃　she　cried；　〃I　shall　really　have　a　daughter！〃

It　was　several　weary　marches　to　the　nearest　mission；　but　they　only　waited　at　the　farm　a　few　days　for　rest　and　preparation　for　the　great　event　before　setting　out　upon　the　journey；　and　after　the　marriage　ceremony　had　been　performed　they　kept　on　to　the　coast　to　take　passage　for　England。　　Those　days　were　the　most　wonderful　of　Meriem's　life。　　She　had　not　dreamed　even　vaguely　of　the　marvels　that　civilization　held　in　store　for　her。　　The　great　ocean　and　the　commodious　steamship　filled　her　with　awe。　　The　noise；　and　bustle　and　confusion　of　the　English　railway　station　frightened　her。

〃If　there　was　a　good…sized　tree　at　hand；〃　she　confided　to　Korak；　〃I　know　that　I　should　run　to　the　very　top　of　it　in　terror　of　my　life。〃

〃And　make　faces　and　throw　twigs　at　the　engine？〃　he　laughed　back。

〃Poor　old　Numa；〃　sighed　the　girl。　　〃What　will　he　do　without　us？〃

〃Oh；　there　are　others　to　tease　him；　my　little　Mangani；〃　assured　Korak。

The　Greystoke　town　house　quite　took　Meriem's　breath　away；　but　when　strangers　were　about　none　might　guess　that　she　ha