the beasts of tarzan-µÚ17ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
death¡¡it¡¡circled¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡nose¡¡to¡¡ground£»¡¡halting¡¡at¡¡last
close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡palisade£»¡¡where¡¡it¡¡almost¡¡touched¡¡the¡¡backs
of¡¡several¡¡huts¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡sniffed¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»¡¡and¡¡then£»
turning¡¡its¡¡head¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡side£»¡¡listened¡¡with¡¡up¡pricked¡¡ears¡£
What¡¡it¡¡heard¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sound¡¡by¡¡the¡¡standards¡¡of¡¡human¡¡ears£»
yet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡highly¡¡attuned¡¡and¡¡delicate¡¡organs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡beast
a¡¡message¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡borne¡¡to¡¡the¡¡savage¡¡brain¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡wondrous
transformation¡¡was¡¡wrought¡¡in¡¡the¡¡motionless¡¡mass¡¡of
statuesque¡¡bone¡¡and¡¡muscle¡¡that¡¡had¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡before¡¡stood
as¡¡though¡¡carved¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡living¡¡bronze¡£
As¡¡if¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡poised¡¡upon¡¡steel¡¡springs£»¡¡suddenly¡¡released£»
it¡¡rose¡¡quickly¡¡and¡¡silently¡¡to¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palisade£»
disappearing£»¡¡stealthily¡¡and¡¡catlike£»¡¡into¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡space
between¡¡the¡¡wall¡¡and¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡an¡¡adjacent¡¡hut¡£
In¡¡the¡¡village¡¡street¡¡beyond¡¡women¡¡were¡¡preparing¡¡many¡¡little
fires¡¡and¡¡fetching¡¡cooking¡pots¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡water£»¡¡for¡¡a¡¡great
feast¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡celebrated¡¡ere¡¡the¡¡night¡¡was¡¡many¡¡hours¡¡older¡£¡¡¡¡
About¡¡a¡¡stout¡¡stake¡¡near¡¡the¡¡centre¡¡of¡¡the¡¡circling¡¡fires
a¡¡little¡¡knot¡¡of¡¡black¡¡warriors¡¡stood¡¡conversing£»¡¡their¡¡bodies
smeared¡¡with¡¡white¡¡and¡¡blue¡¡and¡¡ochre¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡grotesque¡¡bands¡£¡¡¡¡
Great¡¡circles¡¡of¡¡colour¡¡were¡¡drawn¡¡about¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡lips£»
their¡¡breasts¡¡and¡¡abdomens£»¡¡and¡¡from¡¡their¡¡clay¡plastered
coiffures¡¡rose¡¡gay¡¡feathers¡¡and¡¡bits¡¡of¡¡long£»¡¡straight¡¡wire¡£
The¡¡village¡¡was¡¡preparing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡feast£»¡¡while¡¡in¡¡a¡¡hut¡¡at
one¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡orgy¡¡the¡¡bound¡¡victim¡¡of
their¡¡bestial¡¡appetites¡¡lay¡¡waiting¡¡for¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡such¡¡an¡¡end£¡
Tarzan¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Apes£»¡¡tensing¡¡his¡¡mighty¡¡muscles£»¡¡strained
at¡¡the¡¡bonds¡¡that¡¡pinioned¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡re¡enforced
many¡¡times¡¡at¡¡the¡¡instigation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Russian£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡not¡¡even
the¡¡ape¡man's¡¡giant¡¡brawn¡¡could¡¡budge¡¡them¡£
Death£¡
Tarzan¡¡had¡¡looked¡¡the¡¡Hideous¡¡Hunter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡many¡¡a¡¡time£»
and¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡he¡¡would¡¡smile¡¡again¡¡tonight¡¡when¡¡he¡¡knew
the¡¡end¡¡was¡¡coming¡¡quickly£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡his¡¡thoughts¡¡were¡¡not
of¡¡himself£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡those¡¡othersthe¡¡dear¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡must
suffer¡¡most¡¡because¡¡of¡¡his¡¡passing¡£
Jane¡¡would¡¡never¡¡know¡¡the¡¡manner¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡that¡¡he¡¡thanked¡¡Heaven£»
and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡thankful¡¡also¡¡that¡¡she¡¡at¡¡least¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of
the¡¡world's¡¡greatest¡¡city¡£¡¡¡¡Safe¡¡among¡¡kind¡¡and¡¡loving¡¡friends¡¡who
would¡¡do¡¡their¡¡best¡¡to¡¡lighten¡¡her¡¡misery¡£
But¡¡the¡¡boy£¡
Tarzan¡¡writhed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡son£¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡now
hethe¡¡mighty¡¡Lord¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Junglehe£»¡¡Tarzan£»¡¡King¡¡of¡¡the
Apes£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡in¡¡all¡¡the¡¡world¡¡fitted¡¡to¡¡find¡¡and¡¡save¡¡the
child¡¡from¡¡the¡¡horrors¡¡that¡¡Rokoff's¡¡evil¡¡mind¡¡had¡¡planned
had¡¡been¡¡trapped¡¡like¡¡a¡¡silly£»¡¡dumb¡¡creature¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡to¡¡die
in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡him¡¡would¡¡go¡¡the¡¡child's¡¡last¡¡chance
of¡¡succour¡£
Rokoff¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡to¡¡see¡¡and¡¡revile¡¡and¡¡abuse¡¡him¡¡several
times¡¡during¡¡the¡¡afternoon£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡wring¡¡no
word¡¡of¡¡remonstrance¡¡or¡¡murmur¡¡of¡¡pain¡¡from¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡the
giant¡¡captive¡£
So¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡had¡¡given¡¡up£»¡¡reserving¡¡his¡¡particular¡¡bit¡¡of
exquisite¡¡mental¡¡torture¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡moment£»¡¡when£»¡¡just
before¡¡the¡¡savage¡¡spears¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cannibals¡¡should¡¡for¡¡ever¡¡make
the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hatred¡¡immune¡¡to¡¡further¡¡suffering£»¡¡the
Russian¡¡planned¡¡to¡¡reveal¡¡to¡¡his¡¡enemy¡¡the¡¡true¡¡whereabouts¡¡of
his¡¡wife¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡safe¡¡in¡¡England¡£
Dusk¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡village£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ape¡men¡¡could¡¡hear
the¡¡preparations¡¡going¡¡forward¡¡for¡¡the¡¡torture¡¡and¡¡the¡¡feast¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡dance¡¡of¡¡death¡¡he¡¡could¡¡picture¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind's¡¡eyefor
he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡many¡¡times¡¡in¡¡the¡¡past¡£¡¡¡¡Now¡¡he¡¡was
to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡central¡¡figure£»¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stake¡£
The¡¡torture¡¡of¡¡the¡¡slow¡¡death¡¡as¡¡the¡¡circling¡¡warriors¡¡cut
him¡¡to¡¡bits¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fiendish¡¡skill£»¡¡that¡¡mutilated¡¡without
bringing¡¡unconsciousness£»¡¡had¡¡no¡¡terrors¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was
inured¡¡to¡¡suffering¡¡and¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡and¡¡to¡¡cruel
death£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡live¡¡was¡¡no¡¡less¡¡strong¡¡within¡¡him£»
and¡¡until¡¡the¡¡last¡¡spark¡¡of¡¡life¡¡should¡¡flicker¡¡and¡¡go¡¡out£»¡¡his
whole¡¡being¡¡would¡¡remain¡¡quick¡¡with¡¡hope¡¡and¡¡determination¡£¡¡¡¡
Let¡¡them¡¡relax¡¡their¡¡watchfulness¡¡but¡¡for¡¡an¡¡instant£»¡¡he
knew¡¡that¡¡his¡¡cunning¡¡mind¡¡and¡¡giant¡¡muscles¡¡would¡¡find¡¡a
way¡¡to¡¡escapeescape¡¡and¡¡revenge¡£
As¡¡he¡¡lay£»¡¡thinking¡¡furiously¡¡on¡¡every¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡self¡
salvation£»¡¡there¡¡came¡¡to¡¡his¡¡sensitive¡¡nostrils¡¡a¡¡faint¡¡and¡¡a
familiar¡¡scent¡£¡¡¡¡Instantly¡¡every¡¡faculty¡¡of¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡was¡¡upon
the¡¡alert¡£¡¡¡¡Presently¡¡his¡¡trained¡¡ears¡¡caught¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the
soundless¡¡presence¡¡withoutbehind¡¡the¡¡hut¡¡wherein¡¡he¡¡lay¡£¡¡¡¡
His¡¡lips¡¡moved£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡no¡¡sound¡¡came¡¡forth¡¡that¡¡might
have¡¡been¡¡appreciable¡¡to¡¡a¡¡human¡¡ear¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of
his¡¡prison£»¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡one¡¡beyond¡¡would¡¡hear¡£¡¡¡¡
Already¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡who¡¡that¡¡one¡¡was£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡nostrils¡¡had¡¡told
him¡¡as¡¡plainly¡¡as¡¡your¡¡eyes¡¡or¡¡mine¡¡tell¡¡us¡¡of¡¡the¡¡identity¡¡of
an¡¡old¡¡friend¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡in¡¡broad¡¡daylight¡£
An¡¡instant¡¡later¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fur¡clad
body¡¡and¡¡padded¡¡feet¡¡scaling¡¡the¡¡outer¡¡wall¡¡behind¡¡the
hut¡¡and¡¡then¡¡a¡¡tearing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡poles¡¡which¡¡formed¡¡the¡¡wall¡£¡¡¡¡
Presently¡¡through¡¡the¡¡hole¡¡thus¡¡made¡¡slunk¡¡a¡¡great¡¡beast£»
pressing¡¡its¡¡cold¡¡muzzle¡¡close¡¡to¡¡his¡¡neck¡£
It¡¡was¡¡Sheeta£»¡¡the¡¡panther¡£
The¡¡beast¡¡snuffed¡¡round¡¡the¡¡prostrate¡¡man£»¡¡whining¡¡a¡¡little¡£¡¡¡¡
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡limit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡interchange¡¡of¡¡ideas¡¡which¡¡could
take¡¡place¡¡between¡¡these¡¡two£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡Tarzan¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be
sure¡¡that¡¡Sheeta¡¡understood¡¡all¡¡that¡¡he¡¡attempted¡¡to
communicate¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡the¡¡man¡¡was¡¡tied¡¡and¡¡helpless¡¡Sheeta
could£»¡¡of¡¡course£»¡¡see£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡to¡¡the¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡the¡¡panther¡¡this
would¡¡carry¡¡any¡¡suggestion¡¡of¡¡harm¡¡in¡¡so¡¡far¡¡as¡¡his¡¡master
was¡¡concerned£»¡¡Tarzan¡¡could¡¡not¡¡guess¡£
What¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡the¡¡beast¡¡to¡¡him£¿¡¡¡¡The¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had
come¡¡augured¡¡well¡¡for¡¡what¡¡he¡¡might¡¡accomplish£»¡¡but¡¡when
Tarzan¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡get¡¡Sheeta¡¡to¡¡gnaw¡¡his¡¡bonds¡¡asunder¡¡the¡¡great
animal¡¡could¡¡not¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡was¡¡expected¡¡of¡¡him£»
and£»¡¡instead£»¡¡but¡¡licked¡¡the¡¡wrists¡¡and¡¡arms¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prisoner¡£
Presently¡¡there¡¡came¡¡an¡¡interruption¡£¡¡¡¡Some¡¡one¡¡was
approaching¡¡the¡¡hut¡£¡¡¡¡Sheeta¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡low¡¡growl¡¡and¡¡slunk¡¡into
the¡¡blackness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡far¡¡corner¡£¡¡¡¡Evidently¡¡the¡¡visitor¡¡did¡¡not
hear¡¡the¡¡warning¡¡sound£»¡¡for¡¡almost¡¡immediately¡¡he¡¡entered
the¡¡huta¡¡tall£»¡¡naked£»¡¡savage¡¡warrior¡£
He¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Tarzan's¡¡side¡¡and¡¡pricked¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡spear¡£¡¡¡¡
From¡¡the¡¡lips¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡came¡¡a¡¡weird£»¡¡uncanny¡¡sound£»
and¡¡in¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡it¡¡there¡¡leaped¡¡from¡¡the¡¡blackness¡¡of¡¡the
hut's¡¡farthermost¡¡corner¡¡a¡¡bolt¡¡of¡¡fur¡clad¡¡death¡£¡¡¡¡Full¡¡upon
the¡¡breast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡painted¡¡savage¡¡the¡¡great¡¡beast¡¡struck£»
burying¡¡sharp¡¡talons¡¡in¡¡the¡¡black¡¡flesh¡¡and¡¡sinking
great¡¡yellow¡¡fangs¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ebon¡¡throat¡£
There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡fearful¡¡scream¡¡of¡¡anguish¡¡and¡¡terror¡¡from¡¡the¡¡black£»
and¡¡mingled¡¡with¡¡it¡¡was¡¡the¡¡hideous¡¡challenge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡killing¡¡panther¡£
Then¡¡came¡¡silencesilence¡¡except¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rending¡¡of¡¡bloody¡¡flesh
and¡¡the¡¡crunching¡¡of¡¡human¡¡bones¡¡between¡¡mighty¡¡jaws¡£
The¡¡noise¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡sudden¡¡quiet¡¡to¡¡the¡¡village¡¡without¡£¡¡¡¡
Then¡¡there¡¡came¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡voices¡¡in¡¡consultation¡£
High¡pitched£»¡¡fear¡filled¡¡voices£»¡¡and¡¡deep£»¡¡low¡¡tones¡¡of
authority£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡chief¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡¡Tarzan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡panther¡¡heard
the¡¡approaching¡¡footsteps¡¡of¡¡many¡¡men£»¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡to¡¡Tarzan's
surprise£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡cat¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡across¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡its¡¡kill£»
and¡¡slunk¡¡noiselessly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hut¡¡through¡¡the¡¡aperture
through¡¡which¡¡it¡¡had¡¡entered¡£
The¡¡man¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡soft¡¡scraping¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body¡¡as¡¡it¡¡passed
over¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palisade£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡silence¡£¡¡¡¡From¡¡the
opposite¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hut¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡savages¡¡approaching
to¡¡investigate¡£
He¡¡had¡¡little¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡Sheeta¡¡would¡¡return£»¡¡for¡¡had¡¡the¡¡great
cat¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡him¡¡against¡¡all¡¡comers¡¡it¡¡would¡¡have
remained¡¡by¡¡his¡¡side¡¡as¡¡it¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡approaching¡¡savages¡¡without¡£
Tarzan¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡strange¡¡were¡¡the¡¡workings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡brains
of¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡carnivora¡¡of¡¡the¡¡junglehow¡¡fiendishly¡¡fearless
they¡¡might¡¡be¡¡in¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡certain¡¡death£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡how¡¡timid
upon¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡provocation¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡was¡¡doubt¡¡in¡¡his¡¡min