按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
and the officer gave immediate orders to place the Russian
in irons and confine him on board the cruiser。
Just before the guard escorted the prisoner into the small
boat that was to transport him to his temporary prison
Tarzan asked permission to search him； and to his delight
found the stolen papers concealed upon his person。
The shot had brought Jane Porter and the others from
the cabin； and a moment after the excitement had died
down she greeted the surprised Lord Tennington。 Tarzan joined
them after he had taken the papers from Rokoff； and； as he
approached； Jane Porter introduced him to Tennington。
〃John Clayton； Lord Greystoke； my lord；〃 she said。
The Englishman looked his astonishment in spite of his
most herculean efforts to appear courteous； and it required
many repetitions of the strange story of the ape…man as told
by himself； Jane Porter； and Lieutenant D'Arnot to convince
Lord Tennington that they were not all quite mad。
At sunset they buried William Cecil Clayton beside the
jungle graves of his uncle and his aunt； the former Lord
and Lady Greystoke。 And it was at Tarzan's request that
three volleys were fired over the last resting place of
〃a brave man； who met his death bravely。〃
Professor Porter； who in his younger days had been ordained
a minister； conducted the simple services for the dead。
About the grave； with bowed heads； stood as strange
a company of mourners as the sun ever looked down upon。
There were French officers and sailors； two English lords；
Americans； and a score of savage African braves。
Following the funeral Tarzan asked Captain Dufranne to
delay the sailing of the cruiser a couple of days while he
went inland a few miles to fetch his 〃belongings；〃 and the
officer gladly granted the favor。
Late the next afternoon Tarzan and his Waziri returned
with the first load of 〃belongings；〃 and when the party saw
the ancient ingots of virgin gold they swarmed upon the ape…
man with a thousand questions； but he was smilingly obdurate
to their appealshe declined to give them the slightest
clew as to the source of his immense treasure。 〃There are a
thousand that I left behind；〃 he explained； 〃for every one
that I brought away； and when these are spent I may wish
to return for more。〃
The next day he returned to camp with the balance of
his ingots； and when they were stored on board the cruiser
Captain Dufranne said he felt like the commander of an old…
time Spanish galleon returning from the treasure cities of
the Aztecs。 〃I don't know what minute my crew will cut my
throat； and take over the ship；〃 he added。
The next morning； as they were preparing to embark upon
the cruiser； Tarzan ventured a suggestion to Jane Porter。
〃Wild beasts are supposed to be devoid of sentiment；〃 he
said； 〃but nevertheless I should like to be married in the
cabin where I was born； beside the graves of my mother and
my father； and surrounded by the savage jungle that always
has been my home。〃
〃Would it be quite regular； dear？〃 she asked。 〃For if it
would I know of no other place in which I should rather be
married to my forest god than beneath the shade of his
primeval forest。〃
And when they spoke of it to the others they were assured
that it would be quite regular； and a most splendid
termination of a remarkable romance。 So the entire party
assembled within the little cabin and about the door to
witness the second ceremony that Professor Porter was to
solemnize within three days。
D'Arnot was to be best man； and Hazel Strong bridesmaid；
until Tennington upset all the arrangements by another
of his marvelous 〃ideas。〃
〃If Mrs。 Strong is agreeable；〃 he said； taking the bridesmaid's
hand in his； 〃Hazel and I think it would be ripping to make it
a double wedding。〃
The next day they sailed； and as the cruiser steamed slowly
out to sea a tall man； immaculate in white flannel； and a
graceful girl leaned against her rail to watch the receding
shore line upon which danced twenty naked； black warriors
of the Waziri； waving their war spears above their savage
heads； and shouting farewells to their departing king。
〃I should hate to think that I am looking upon the jungle
for the last time； dear；〃 he said； 〃were it not that I know
that I am going to a new world of happiness with you forever；〃
and； bending down； Tarzan of the Apes kissed his
mate upon her lips。
The End