tarzan the terrible-第45章
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avage denizens and making his way at last into South Africa。
For her part； she had been incarcerated alternately in the palace and the temple as either Ko…tan or Lu…don succeeded in wresting her temporarily from the other by various strokes of cunning and intrigue。 And now at last she was in the power of a new captor； one whom she knew from the gossip of the temple and the palace to be cruel and degraded。 And she was in the stern of the last canoe； and every enemy back was toward her； while almost at her feet Mo…sar's loud snores gave ample evidence of his unconsciousness to his immediate surroundings。
The dark shore loomed closer to the south as Jane Clayton； Lady Greystoke； slid quietly over the stern of the canoe into the chill waters of the lake。 She scarcely moved other than to keep her nostrils above the surface while the canoe was yet discernible in the last rays of the declining moon。 Then she struck out toward the southern shore。
Alone； unarmed； all but naked； in a country overrun by savage beasts and hostile men； she yet felt for the first time in many months a sensation of elation and relief。 She was free！ What if the next moment brought death； she knew again； at least a brief instant of absolute freedom。 Her blood tingled to the almost forgotten sensation and it was with difficulty that she restrained a glad triumphant cry as she clambered from the quiet waters and stood upon the silent beach。
Before her loomed a forest； darkly； and from its depths came those nameless sounds that are a part of the night life of the junglethe rustling of leaves in the wind； the rubbing together of contiguous branches； the scurrying of a rodent； all magnified by the darkness to sinister and awe…inspiring proportions； the hoot of an owl； the distant scream of a great cat； the barking of wild dogs； attested the presence of the myriad life she could not seethe savage life； the free life of which she was now a part。 And then there came to her； possibly for the first time since the giant ape…man had come into her life； a fuller realization of what the jungle meant to him； for though alone and unprotected from its hideous dangers she yet felt its lure upon her and an exaltation that she had not dared hope to feel again。
Ah； if that mighty mate of hers were but by her side！ What utter joy and bliss would be hers！ She longed for no more than this。 The parade of cities； the comforts and luxuries of civilization held forth no allure half as insistent as the glorious freedom of the jungle。
A lion moaned in the blackness to her right； eliciting delicious thrills that crept along her spine。 The hair at the back of her head seemed to stand erectyet she was unafraid。 The muscles bequeathed her by some primordial ancestor reacted instinctively to the presence of an ancient enemythat was all。 The woman moved slowly and deliberately toward the wood。 Again the lion moaned； this time nearer。 She sought a low…hanging branch and finding it swung easily into the friendly shelter of the tree。 The long and perilous journey with Obergatz had trained her muscles and her nerves to such unaccustomed habits。 She found a safe resting place such as Tarzan had taught her was best and there she curled herself； thirty feet above the ground； for a night's rest。 She was cold and uncomfortable and yet she slept； for her heart was warm with renewed hope and her tired brain had found temporary surcease from worry。
She slept until the heat of the sun； high in the heavens； awakened her。 She was rested and now her body was well as her heart was warm。 A sensation of ease and comfort and happiness pervaded her being。 She rose upon her gently swaying couch and stretched luxuriously； her naked limbs and lithe body mottled by the sunlight filtering through the foliage above combined with the lazy gesture to impart to her appearance something of the leopard。 With careful eye she scrutinized the ground below and with attentive ear she listened for any warning sound that might suggest the near presence of enemies； either man or beast。 Satisfied at last that there was nothing close of which she need have fear she clambered to the ground。 She wished to bathe but the lake was too exposed and just a bit too far from the safety of the trees for her to risk it until she became more familiar with her surroundings。 She wandered aimlessly through the forest searching for food which she found in abundance。 She ate and rested； for she had no objective as yet。 Her freedom was too new to be spoiled by plannings for the future。 The haunts of civilized man seemed to her now as vague and unattainable as the half…forgotten substance of a dream。 If she could but live on here in peace； waiting； waiting forhim。 It was the old hope revived。 She knew that he would come some day； if he lived。 She had always known that； though recently she had believed that he would come too late。 If he lived！ Yes； he would come if he lived； and if he did not live she were as well off here as elsewhere； for then nothing mattered； only to wait for the end as patiently as might be。
Her wanderings brought her to a crystal brook and there she drank and bathed beneath an overhanging tree that offered her quick asylum in the event of danger。 It was a quiet and beautiful spot and she loved it from the first。 The bottom of the brook was paved with pretty stones and bits of glassy obsidian。 As she gathered a handful of the pebbles and held them up to look at them she noticed that one of her fingers was bleeding from a clean； straight cut。 She fell to searching for the cause and presently discovered it in one of the fragments of volcanic glass which revealed an edge that was almost razor…like。 Jane Clayton was elated。 Here； God…given to her hands； was the first beginning with which she might eventually arrive at both weapons and toolsa cutting edge。 Everything was possible to him who possessed itnothing without。
She sought until she had collected many of the precious bits of stoneuntil the pouch that hung at her right side was almost filled。 Then she climbed into the great tree to examine them at leisure。 There were some that looked like knife blades； and some that could easily be fashioned into spear heads； and many smaller ones that nature seemed to have intended for the tips of savage arrows。
The spear she would essay firstthat would be easiest。 There was a hollow in the bole of the tree in a great crotch high above the ground。 Here she cached all of her treasure except a single knifelike sliver。 With this she descended to the ground and searching out a slender sapling that grew arrow…straight she hacked and sawed until she could break it off without splitting the wood。 It was just the right diameter for the shaft of a speara hunting spear such as her beloved Waziri had liked best。 How often had she watched them fashioning them； and they had taught her how to use them； toothem and the heavy war spearslaughing and clapping their hands as her proficiency increased。
She knew the arborescent grasses that yielded the longest and toughest fibers and these she sought and carried to her tree with the spear shaft that was to be。 Clambering to her crotch she bent to her work； humming softly a little tune。 She caught herself and smiledit was the first time in all these bitter months that song had passed her lips or such a smile。
〃I feel；〃 she sighed； 〃I almost feel that John is nearmy Johnmy Tarzan！〃
She cut the spear shaft to the proper length and removed the twigs and branches and the bark； whittling and scraping at the nubs until the surface was all smooth and straight。 Then she split one end and inserted a spear point； shaping the wood until it fitted perfectly。 This done she laid the shaft aside and fell to splitting the thick grass stems and pounding and twisting them until she had separated and partially cleaned the fibers。 These she took down to the brook and washed and brought back again and wound tightly around the cleft end of the shaft； which she had notched to receive them； and the upper part of the spear head which she had also notched slightly with a bit of stone。 It was a crude spear but the best that she could attain in so short a time。 Later； she promised herself； she should have othersmany of
