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第18章

the return of tarzan-第18章

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assailant leaped quickly upward; but at the top he met the

sudden sword that he had not expectedthe quarry had been

unarmed before。



With a cry; the man toppled back upon those behind him。

Like tenpins they rolled down the stairs。  The ancient and

rickety structure could not withstand the strain of this

unwonted weight and jarring。  With a creaking and rending

of breaking wood it collapsed beneath the Arabs; leaving

Tarzan; Abdul; and the girl alone upon the frail platform

at the top。



〃Come!〃 cried the Ouled…Nail。  〃They will reach us from

another stairway through the room next to mine。  We have

not a moment to spare。〃



Just as they were entering the room Abdul heard and

translated a cry from the yard below for several to hasten

to the street and cut off escape from that side。



〃We are lost now;〃 said the girl simply。



〃We?〃 questioned Tarzan。



〃Yes; m'sieur;〃 she responded; 〃they will kill me as well。

Have I not aided you?〃



This put a different aspect on the matter。  Tarzan had rather

been enjoying the excitement and danger of the encounter。

He had not for an instant supposed that either Abdul or the

girl could suffer except through accident; and he had only

retreated just enough to keep from being killed himself。

He had had no intention of running away until he saw that

he was hopelessly lost were he to remain。



Alone he could have sprung into the midst of that close…

packed mob; and; laying about him after the fashion of

Numa; the lion; have struck the Arabs with such consternation

that escape would have been easy。  Now he must think

entirely of these two faithful friends。



He crossed to the window which overlooked the street。  In

a minute there would be enemies below。  Already he could

hear the mob clambering the stairway to the next quarters

they would be at the door beside him in another instant。

He put a foot upon the sill and leaned out; but he did not

look down。  Above him; within arm's reach; was the low roof

of the building。  He called to the girl。  She came and stood

beside him。  He put a great arm about her and lifted her across

his shoulder。



〃Wait here until I reach down for you from above;〃 he

said to Abdul。  〃In the meantime shove everything in the

room against that doorit may delay them long enough。〃

Then he stepped to the sill of the narrow window with the

girl upon his shoulders。  〃Hold tight;〃 he cautioned her。

A moment later he had clambered to the roof above with the

ease and dexterity of an ape。  Setting the girl down; he leaned

far over the roof's edge; calling softly to Abdul。  The youth

ran to the window。



〃Your hand;〃 whispered Tarzan。  The men in the room beyond

were battering at the door。  With a sudden crash it fell

splintering in; and at the same instant Abdul felt himself

lifted like a feather onto the roof above。  They were not a

moment too soon; for as the men broke into the room which

they had just quitted a dozen more rounded the corner in the

street below and came running to a spot beneath the girl's window。







Chapter 8





The Fight in the Desert





As the three squatted upon the roof above the quarters of

the Ouled…Nails they heard the angry cursing of the

Arabs in the room beneath。  Abdul translated from time

to time to Tarzan。



〃They are berating those in the street below now;〃 said

Abdul; 〃for permitting us to escape so easily。  Those in the

street say that we did not come that waythat we are still

within the building; and that those above; being too cowardly

to attack us; are attempting to deceive them into believing

that we have escaped。  In a moment they will have fighting

of their own to attend to if they continue their brawling。〃



Presently those in the building gave up the search; and

returned to the cafe。  A few remained in the street below;

smoking and talking。



Tarzan spoke to the girl; thanking her for the sacrifice she

had made for him; a total stranger。



〃I liked you;〃 she said simply。  〃You were unlike the others

who come to the cafe。  You did not speak coarsely to me

the manner in which you gave me money was not an insult。〃



〃What shall you do after tonight?〃 he asked。  〃You cannot return

to the cafe。  Can you even remain with safety in Sidi Aissa?〃



〃Tomorrow it will be forgotten;〃 she replied。  〃But I should

be glad if it might be that I need never return to this or

another cafe。  I have not remained because I wished to;

I have been a prisoner。〃



〃A prisoner!〃 ejaculated Tarzan incredulously。



〃A slave would be the better word;〃 she answered。  〃I was stolen

in the night from my father's DOUAR by a band of marauders。

They brought me here and sold me to the Arab who keeps this cafe。

It has been nearly two years now since I saw the last of mine

own people。  They are very far to the south。  They never come

to Sidi Aissa。〃



〃You would like to return to your people?〃 asked Tarzan。

〃Then I shall promise to see you safely so far as Bou Saada

at least。  There we can doubtless arrange with the commandant

to send you the rest of the way。〃



〃Oh; m'sieur;〃 she cried; 〃how can I ever repay you!  You

cannot really mean that you will do so much for a poor

Ouled…Nail。  But my father can reward you; and he will; for

is he not a great sheik?  He is Kadour ben Saden。〃



〃Kadour ben Saden!〃 ejaculated Tarzan。  〃Why; Kadour

ben Saden is in Sidi Aissa this very night。  He dined

with me but a few hours since。〃



〃My father in Sidi Aissa?〃 cried the amazed girl。

〃Allah be praised then; for I am indeed saved。〃



〃Hssh!〃 cautioned Abdul。  〃Listen。〃



From below came the sound of voices; quite distinguishable

upon the still night air。  Tarzan could not understand the

words; but Abdul and the girl translated。



〃They have gone now;〃 said the latter。  〃It is you they want; m'sieur。

One of them said that the stranger who had offered

money for your slaying lay in the house of Akmed din

Soulef with a broken wrist; but that he had offered a still

greater reward if some would lay in wait for you upon the

road to Bou Saada and kill you。〃



〃It is he who followed m'sieur about the market today;〃

exclaimed Abdul。  〃I saw him again within the cafehim

and another; and the two went out into the inner court after

talking with this girl here。  It was they who attacked and

fired upon us; as we came out of the cafe。  Why do they wish

to kill you; m'sieur?〃



〃I do not know;〃 replied Tarzan; and then; after a pause:

〃Unless〃  But he did not finish; for the thought that had

come to his mind; while it seemed the only reasonable solution

of the mystery; appeared at the same time quite improbable。

Presently the men in the street went away。  The courtyard

and the cafe were deserted。  Cautiously Tarzan lowered

himself to the sill of the girl's window。  The room was empty。

He returned to the roof and let Abdul down; then he

lowered the girl to the arms of the waiting Arab。



From the window Abdul dropped the short distance to the

street below; while Tarzan took the girl in his arms and leaped

down as he had done on so many other occasions in his

own forest with a burden in his arms。  A little cry of alarm

was startled from the girl's lips; but Tarzan landed in the

street with but an imperceptible jar; and lowered her in safety

to her feet。



She clung to him for a moment。



〃How strong m'sieur is; and how active;〃 she cried。

〃EL ADREA; the black lion; himself is not more so。〃



〃I should like to meet this EL ADREA of yours;〃 he said。

〃I have heard much about him。〃



〃And you come to the DOUAR of my father you shall see

him;〃 said the girl。  〃He lives in a spur of the mountains

north of us; and comes down from his lair at night to rob my

father's DOUAR。  With a single blow of his mighty paw he

crushes the skull of a bull; and woe betide the belated

wayfarer who meets EL ADREA abroad at night。

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