the beasts of tarzan-µÚ31ÕÂ
°´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£¡
she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡rise¡¡gently¡¡from¡¡the¡¡mud¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡and
the¡¡stern¡¡drift¡¡slowly¡¡with¡¡the¡¡current¡¡until¡¡it¡¡again¡¡lodged¡¡a
few¡¡feet¡¡farther¡¡down¡stream¡£
Jane¡¡found¡¡that¡¡by¡¡running¡¡back¡¡and¡¡forth¡¡between¡¡the
bow¡¡and¡¡stern¡¡she¡¡could¡¡alternately¡¡raise¡¡and¡¡lower¡¡each¡¡end
of¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡as¡¡she¡¡shifted¡¡her¡¡weight¡¡from¡¡one¡¡end¡¡to¡¡the
other£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡result¡¡that¡¡each¡¡time¡¡she¡¡leaped¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stern
the¡¡canoe¡¡moved¡¡a¡¡few¡¡inches¡¡farther¡¡into¡¡the¡¡river¡£
As¡¡the¡¡success¡¡of¡¡her¡¡plan¡¡approached¡¡more¡¡closely¡¡to
fruition¡¡she¡¡became¡¡so¡¡wrapped¡¡in¡¡her¡¡efforts¡¡that¡¡she¡¡failed
to¡¡note¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡¡standing¡¡beneath¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡tree¡¡at
the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡from¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡just¡¡emerged¡£
He¡¡watched¡¡her¡¡and¡¡her¡¡labours¡¡with¡¡a¡¡cruel¡¡and¡¡malicious
grin¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡swarthy¡¡countenance¡£
The¡¡boat¡¡at¡¡last¡¡became¡¡so¡¡nearly¡¡free¡¡of¡¡the¡¡retarding
mud¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡that¡¡Jane¡¡felt¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡she¡¡could
pole¡¡it¡¡off¡¡into¡¡deeper¡¡water¡¡with¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡paddles¡¡which
lay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rude¡¡craft¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡this¡¡end¡¡in¡¡view¡¡she
seized¡¡upon¡¡one¡¡of¡¡these¡¡implements¡¡and¡¡had¡¡just¡¡plunged¡¡it
into¡¡the¡¡river¡¡bottom¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡when¡¡her¡¡eyes
happened¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jungle¡£
As¡¡her¡¡gaze¡¡fell¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cry¡¡of
terror¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡her¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡Rokoff¡£
He¡¡was¡¡running¡¡toward¡¡her¡¡now¡¡and¡¡shouting¡¡to¡¡her¡¡to
wait¡¡or¡¡he¡¡would¡¡shootthough¡¡he¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡unarmed¡¡it
was¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡just¡¡how¡¡he¡¡intended¡¡making¡¡good
his¡¡threat¡£
Jane¡¡Clayton¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡misfortunes¡¡that
had¡¡befallen¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡since¡¡she¡¡had¡¡escaped¡¡from¡¡his¡¡tent£»
so¡¡she¡¡believed¡¡that¡¡his¡¡followers¡¡must¡¡be¡¡close¡¡at¡¡hand¡£
However£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡no¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡falling¡¡again¡¡into¡¡the
man's¡¡clutches¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡die¡¡at¡¡once¡¡than¡¡that¡¡that
should¡¡happen¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Another¡¡minute¡¡and¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡would¡¡be¡¡free¡£
Once¡¡in¡¡the¡¡current¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡beyond¡¡Rokoff's
power¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡her£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡boat¡¡upon
the¡¡shore£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡certainly¡¡not¡¡the¡¡cowardly¡¡Rokoff£»
would¡¡dare¡¡to¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡swim¡¡the¡¡crocodile¡infested
water¡¡in¡¡an¡¡effort¡¡to¡¡overtake¡¡her¡£
Rokoff£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡part£»¡¡was¡¡bent¡¡more¡¡upon¡¡escape¡¡than¡¡aught¡¡else¡£¡¡¡¡
He¡¡would¡¡gladly¡¡have¡¡forgone¡¡any¡¡designs¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have
had¡¡upon¡¡Jane¡¡Clayton¡¡would¡¡she¡¡but¡¡permit¡¡him¡¡to¡¡share
this¡¡means¡¡of¡¡escape¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡discovered¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would
promise¡¡anything¡¡if¡¡she¡¡would¡¡let¡¡him¡¡come¡¡aboard¡¡the¡¡dugout£»
but¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡do¡¡so¡£
He¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡easily¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat
before¡¡it¡¡cleared¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be
necessary¡¡to¡¡make¡¡promises¡¡of¡¡any¡¡sort¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡that¡¡Rokoff¡¡would
have¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡compunction¡¡in¡¡ignoring¡¡any¡¡promises
he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡made¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡disliked¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡having
to¡¡sue¡¡for¡¡favour¡¡with¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡so¡¡recently¡¡assaulted
and¡¡escaped¡¡him¡£
Already¡¡he¡¡was¡¡gloating¡¡over¡¡the¡¡days¡¡and¡¡nights¡¡of¡¡revenge
that¡¡would¡¡be¡¡his¡¡while¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡dugout¡¡drifted¡¡its
slow¡¡way¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ocean¡£
Jane¡¡Clayton£»¡¡working¡¡furiously¡¡to¡¡shove¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡beyond
his¡¡reach£»¡¡suddenly¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡successful£»
for¡¡with¡¡a¡¡little¡¡lurch¡¡the¡¡dugout¡¡swung¡¡quickly¡¡into¡¡the
current£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡to¡¡place¡¡his¡¡hand
upon¡¡its¡¡bow¡£
His¡¡fingers¡¡did¡¡not¡¡miss¡¡their¡¡goal¡¡by¡¡a¡¡half¡dozen¡¡inches¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡girl¡¡almost¡¡collapsed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡reaction¡¡from¡¡the¡¡terrific
mental£»¡¡physical£»¡¡and¡¡nervous¡¡strain¡¡under¡¡which¡¡she¡¡had
been¡¡labouring¡¡for¡¡the¡¡past¡¡few¡¡minutes¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡thank¡¡Heaven£»
at¡¡last¡¡she¡¡was¡¡safe£¡
Even¡¡as¡¡she¡¡breathed¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡prayer¡¡of¡¡thanksgiving£»¡¡she
saw¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡triumph¡¡lighten¡¡the¡¡features¡¡of
the¡¡cursing¡¡Russian£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡he¡¡dropped
suddenly¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ground£»¡¡grasping¡¡firmly¡¡upon¡¡something¡¡which
wriggled¡¡through¡¡the¡¡mud¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡water¡£
Jane¡¡Clayton¡¡crouched£»¡¡wide¡eyed¡¡and¡¡horror¡stricken£»¡¡in
the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡as¡¡she¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last¡¡instant
success¡¡had¡¡been¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡failure£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡indeed
again¡¡in¡¡the¡¡power¡¡of¡¡the¡¡malignant¡¡Rokoff¡£
For¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡and¡¡grasped¡¡was¡¡the
end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trailing¡¡rope¡¡with¡¡which¡¡the¡¡dugout¡¡had¡¡been
moored¡¡to¡¡the¡¡tree¡£
Chapter¡¡15
Down¡¡the¡¡Ugambi
Halfway¡¡between¡¡the¡¡Ugambi¡¡and¡¡the¡¡village¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Waganwazam£»
Tarzan¡¡came¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡moving¡¡slowly¡¡along¡¡his¡¡old¡¡spoor¡£¡¡¡¡
Mugambi¡¡could¡¡scarce¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Russian
and¡¡the¡¡mate¡¡of¡¡his¡¡savage¡¡master¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡so¡¡close¡¡to
that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pack¡£
It¡¡seemed¡¡incredible¡¡that¡¡two¡¡human¡¡beings¡¡should¡¡have
come¡¡so¡¡close¡¡to¡¡them¡¡without¡¡having¡¡been¡¡detected¡¡by¡¡some
of¡¡the¡¡marvellously¡¡keen¡¡and¡¡alert¡¡beasts£»¡¡but¡¡Tarzan¡¡pointed
out¡¡the¡¡spoor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡he¡¡trailed£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡certain¡¡points¡¡the
black¡¡could¡¡see¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man¡¡and¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been
in¡¡hiding¡¡as¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡passed¡¡them£»¡¡watching¡¡every¡¡move¡¡of
the¡¡ferocious¡¡creatures¡£
It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡apparent¡¡to¡¡Tarzan¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first¡¡that¡¡Jane¡¡and
Rokoff¡¡were¡¡not¡¡travelling¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡spoor¡¡showed
distinctly¡¡that¡¡the¡¡young¡¡woman¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡distance
ahead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡though¡¡the¡¡farther¡¡the¡¡ape¡man
continued¡¡along¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡the¡¡more¡¡obvious¡¡it¡¡became¡¡that¡¡the
man¡¡was¡¡rapidly¡¡overhauling¡¡his¡¡quarry¡£
At¡¡first¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡spoor¡¡of¡¡wild¡¡beasts¡¡over¡¡the
footprints¡¡of¡¡Jane¡¡Clayton£»¡¡while¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡top¡¡of¡¡all¡¡Rokoff's
spoor¡¡showed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡after¡¡the¡¡animals
had¡¡left¡¡their¡¡records¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡later¡¡there
were¡¡fewer¡¡and¡¡fewer¡¡animal¡¡imprints¡¡occurring¡¡between
those¡¡of¡¡Jane's¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Russian's¡¡feet£»¡¡until¡¡as¡¡he¡¡approached
the¡¡river¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡became¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡Rokoff¡¡could¡¡not
have¡¡been¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hundred¡¡yards¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡girl¡£
He¡¡felt¡¡they¡¡must¡¡be¡¡close¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡him¡¡now£»¡¡and£»¡¡with¡¡a
little¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡expectation£»¡¡he¡¡leaped¡¡rapidly¡¡forward¡¡ahead
of¡¡the¡¡pack¡£¡¡¡¡Swinging¡¡swiftly¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡he¡¡came¡¡out
upon¡¡the¡¡river¡bank¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡point¡¡at¡¡which¡¡Rokoff¡¡had
overhauled¡¡Jane¡¡as¡¡she¡¡endeavoured¡¡to¡¡launch¡¡the¡¡cumbersome¡¡dugout¡£
In¡¡the¡¡mud¡¡along¡¡the¡¡bank¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡footprints
of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡he¡¡sought£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡neither¡¡boat¡¡nor¡¡people
there¡¡when¡¡he¡¡arrived£»¡¡nor£»¡¡at¡¡first¡¡glance£»¡¡any¡¡sign¡¡of
their¡¡whereabouts¡£
It¡¡was¡¡plain¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡shoved¡¡off¡¡a¡¡native¡¡canoe¡¡and
embarked¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bosom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡the¡¡ape¡man's
eye¡¡ran¡¡swiftly¡¡down¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡beneath¡¡the
shadows¡¡of¡¡the¡¡overarching¡¡trees¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡in¡¡the¡¡distance£»
just¡¡as¡¡it¡¡rounded¡¡a¡¡bend¡¡that¡¡shut¡¡it¡¡off¡¡from¡¡his¡¡view£»
a¡¡drifting¡¡dugout¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡of¡¡which¡¡was¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡man¡£
Just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡pack¡¡came¡¡in¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡their
agile¡¡leader¡¡racing¡¡down¡¡the¡¡river's¡¡bank£»¡¡leaping¡¡from¡¡hummock
to¡¡hummock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡swampy¡¡ground¡¡that¡¡spread¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and
a¡¡little¡¡promontory¡¡which¡¡rose¡¡just¡¡where¡¡the¡¡river¡¡curved
inward¡¡from¡¡their¡¡sight¡£
To¡¡follow¡¡him¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡the¡¡heavy£»¡¡cumbersome
apes¡¡to¡¡make¡¡a¡¡wide¡¡detour£»¡¡and¡¡Sheeta£»¡¡too£»¡¡who¡¡hated¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡
Mugambi¡¡followed¡¡after¡¡them¡¡as¡¡rapidly¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could
in¡¡the¡¡wake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡white¡¡master¡£
A¡¡half¡hour¡¡of¡¡rapid¡¡travelling¡¡across¡¡the¡¡swampy¡¡neck¡¡of
land¡¡and¡¡over¡¡the¡¡rising¡¡promontory¡¡brought¡¡Tarzan£»¡¡by¡¡a
short¡¡cut£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inward¡¡bend¡¡of¡¡the¡¡winding¡¡river£»¡¡and¡¡there
before¡¡him¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡bosom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡stream¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡dugout£»
and¡¡in¡¡its¡¡stern¡¡Nikolas¡¡Rokoff¡£
Jane¡¡was¡¡not¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Russian¡£
At¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡enemy¡¡the¡¡broad¡¡scar¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡ape¡man's
brow¡¡burned¡¡scarlet£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡his¡¡lips¡¡the¡¡hideous£»
bestial¡¡challenge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bull¡ape¡£
Rokoff¡¡shuddered¡¡as¡¡the¡¡weird¡¡and¡¡terrible¡¡alarm¡¡fell¡¡upon
his¡¡ears¡£¡¡¡¡Cowering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boat£»¡¡his¡¡teeth
chattering¡¡in¡¡terror£»¡¡he¡¡watched¡¡the¡¡man¡¡he¡¡feared¡¡above¡¡all
other¡¡creatures¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡as¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡quickly
to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡water¡£
Even¡¡though¡¡the¡¡Russian¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡safe¡¡from¡¡his¡¡enemy£»
the¡¡very¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡him¡¡threw¡¡him¡¡into¡¡a¡¡frenzy