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！
until a full score of hideously trapped； savage warriors
were lying upon their bellies along the crest of the ridge
watching the white…skinned stranger。
They were down wind from Tarzan； and so their scent was
not carried to him； and as his back was turned half toward
them he did not see their cautious advance over the edge of
the promontory and down through the rank grass toward the
sandy beach where he lay。
Big fellows they were； all of them； their barbaric
headdresses and grotesquely painted faces； together with their
many metal ornaments and gorgeously coloured feathers；
adding to their wild； fierce appearance。
Once at the foot of the ridge； they came cautiously to their feet；
and； bent half…double； advanced silently upon the unconscious white man；
their heavy war…clubs swinging menacingly in their brawny hands。
The mental suffering that Tarzan's sorrowful thoughts induced had the
effect of numbing his keen； perceptive faculties； so that the
advancing savages were almost upon him before he became aware
that he was no longer alone upon the beach。
So quickly； though； were his mind and muscles wont to
react in unison to the slightest alarm that he was upon his
feet and facing his enemies； even as he realized that
something was behind him。 As he sprang to his feet the warriors
leaped toward him with raised clubs and savage yells； but the
foremost went down to sudden death beneath the long； stout
stick of the ape…man； and then the lithe； sinewy figure was
among them； striking right and left with a fury； power； and
precision that brought panic to the ranks of the blacks。
For a moment they withdrew； those that were left of them；
and consulted together at a short distance from the ape…man；
who stood with folded arms； a half…smile upon his handsome
face； watching them。 Presently they advanced upon him once
more； this time wielding their heavy war…spears。 They were
between Tarzan and the jungle； in a little semicircle that
closed in upon him as they advanced。
There seemed to the ape…man but slight chance to escape
the final charge when all the great spears should be hurled
simultaneously at him； but if he had desired to escape
there was no way other than through the ranks of the savages
except the open sea behind him。
His predicament was indeed most serious when an idea
occurred to him that altered his smile to a broad grin。
The warriors were still some little distance away；
advancing slowly； making； after the manner of their kind；
a frightful din with their savage yells and the pounding
of their naked feet upon the ground as they leaped up and
down in a fantastic war dance。
Then it was that the ape…man lifted his voice in a series of
wild； weird screams that brought the blacks to a sudden；
perplexed halt。 They looked at one another questioningly；
for here was a sound so hideous that their own frightful din
faded into insignificance beside it。 No human throat could
have formed those bestial notes； they were sure； and yet with
their own eyes they had seen this white man open his mouth
to pour forth his awful cry。
But only for a moment they hesitated； and then with one accord
they again took up their fantastic advance upon their prey；
but even then a sudden crashing in the jungle behind them
brought them once more to a halt； and as they turned to look
in the direction of this new noise there broke upon their
startled visions a sight that may well have frozen the blood
of braver men than the Wagambi。
Leaping from the tangled vegetation of the jungle's rim
came a huge panther； with blazing eyes and bared fangs； and
in his wake a score of mighty； shaggy apes lumbering rapidly
toward them； half erect upon their short； bowed legs； and
with their long arms reaching to the ground； where their
horny knuckles bore the weight of their ponderous bodies as
they lurched from side to side in their grotesque advance。
The beasts of Tarzan had come in answer to his call。
Before the Wagambi could recover from their astonishment
the frightful horde was upon them from one side and
Tarzan of the Apes from the other。 Heavy spears were hurled
and mighty war…clubs wielded； and though apes went down
never to rise； so； too； went down the men of Ugambi。
Sheeta's cruel fangs and tearing talons ripped and tore at
the black hides。 Akut's mighty yellow tusks found the jugular
of more than one sleek…skinned savage； and Tarzan of the Apes
was here and there and everywhere； urging on his fierce allies
and taking a heavy toll with his long； slim knife。
In a moment the blacks had scattered for their lives； but
of the score that had crept down the grassy sides of the
promontory only a single warrior managed to escape the horde
that had overwhelmed his people。
This one was Mugambi； chief of the Wagambi of Ugambi；
and as he disappeared in the tangled luxuriousness of the
rank growth upon the ridge's summit only the keen eyes of
the ape…man saw the direction of his flight。
Leaving his pack to eat their fill upon the flesh of their
victimsflesh that he could not touchTarzan of the Apes
pursued the single survivor of the bloody fray。 Just beyond
the ridge he came within sight of the fleeing black； making
with headlong leaps for a long war…canoe that was drawn
well up upon the beach above the high tide surf。
Noiseless as the fellow's shadow； the ape…man raced after the
terror…stricken black。 In the white man's mind was a new plan；
awakened by sight of the war…canoe。 If these men had
come to his island from another； or from the mainland；
why not utilize their craft to make his way to the country from
which they had come？ Evidently it was an inhabited country；
and no doubt had occasional intercourse with the mainland；
if it were not itself upon the continent of Africa。
A heavy hand fell upon the shoulder of the escaping Mugambi
before he was aware that he was being pursued； and as he
turned to do battle with his assailant giant fingers closed
about his wrists and he was hurled to earth with a giant
astride him before he could strike a blow in his own defence。
In the language of the West Coast； Tarzan spoke to the
prostrate man beneath him。
〃Who are you？〃 he asked。
〃Mugambi； chief of the Wagambi；〃 replied the black。
〃I will spare your life；〃 said Tarzan； 〃if you will promise
to help me to leave this island。 What do you answer？〃
〃I will help you；〃 replied Mugambi。 〃But now that you
have killed all my warriors； I do not know that even I can
leave your country； for there will be none to wield the paddles；
and without paddlers we cannot cross the water。〃
Tarzan rose and allowed his prisoner to come to his feet。
The fellow was a magnificent specimen of manhooda black
counterpart in physique of the splendid white man whom he faced。
〃Come！〃 said the ape…man； and started back in the direction
from which they could h