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the return of tarzan-第20章

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There was a mad clatter of galloping hoofs; a volley of shots

from both sides; and the Arabs withdrew to repeat the

maneuver; but there were now only four against the two。



For a few moments there came no sound from out of

the surrounding blackness。  Tarzan could not tell whether the

Arabs; satisfied with their losses; had given up the fight; or

were waiting farther along the road to waylay them as they

proceeded on toward Bou Saada。  But he was not left long in

doubt; for now all from one direction came the sound of a

new charge。  But scarcely had the first gun spoken ere a

dozen shots rang out behind the Arabs。  There came the wild

shouts of a new party to the controversy; and the pounding

of the feet of many horses from down the road to Bou Saada。



The Arabs did not wait to learn the identity of the oncomers。

With a parting volley as they dashed by the position which

Tarzan and Abdul were holding; they plunged off along the

road toward Sidi Aissa。  A moment later Kadour ben Saden

and his men dashed up。



The old sheik was much relieved to find that neither

Tarzan nor Abdul had received a scratch。  Not even had their

horses been wounded。  They sought out the two men who had

fallen before Tarzan's shots; and; finding that both were

dead; left them where they lay。



〃Why did you not tell me that you contemplated ambushing

those fellows?〃 asked the sheik in a hurt tone。  〃We might

have had them all if the seven of us had stopped to meet them。〃



〃Then it would have been useless to stop at all;〃 replied

Tarzan; 〃for had we simply ridden on toward Bou Saada they

would have been upon us presently; and all could have been

engaged。  It was to prevent the transfer of my own quarrel

to another's shoulders that Abdul and I stopped off to

question them。  Then there is your daughterI could not be the

cause of exposing her needlessly to the marksmanship of six men。〃



Kadour ben Saden shrugged his shoulders。  He did not

relish having been cheated out of a fight。



The little battle so close to Bou Saada had drawn out a

company of soldiers。  Tarzan and his party met them just

outside the town。  The officer in charge halted them to learn

the significance of the shots。



〃A handful of marauders;〃 replied Kadour ben Saden。

〃They attacked two of our number who had dropped behind;

but when we returned to them the fellows soon dispersed。

They left two dead。  None of my party was injured。〃



This seemed to satisfy the officer; and after taking the

names of the party he marched his men on toward the scene

of the skirmish to bring back the dead men for purposes of

identification; if possible。



Two days later; Kadour ben Saden; with his daughter and

followers; rode south through the pass below Bou Saada;

bound for their home in the far wilderness。  The sheik had

urged Tarzan to accompany him; and the girl had added her

entreaties to those of her father; but; though he could not

explain it to them; Tarzan's duties loomed particularly large

after the happenings of the past few days; so that he could not

think of leaving his post for an instant。  But he promised to

come later if it lay within his power to do so; and they had

to content themselves with that assurance。



During these two days Tarzan had spent practically all his

time with Kadour ben Saden and his daughter。  He was keenly

interested in this race of stern and dignified warriors; and

embraced the opportunity which their friendship offered to

learn what he could of their lives and customs。  He even

commenced to acquire the rudiments of their language under the

pleasant tutorage of the brown…eyed girl。  It was with real

regret that he saw them depart; and he sat his horse at the

opening to the pass; as far as which he had accompanied

them; gazing after the little party as long as he could catch a

glimpse of them。



Here were people after his own heart!  Their wild; rough

lives; filled with danger and hardship; appealed to this half…

savage man as nothing had appealed to him in the midst of the

effeminate civilization of the great cities he had visited。  Here

was a life that excelled even that of the jungle; for here he

might have the society of menreal men whom he could honor and

respect; and yet be near to the wild nature that he loved。

In his head revolved an idea that when he had completed his

mission he would resign and return to live for the remainder

of his life with the tribe of Kadour ben Saden。



Then he turned his horse's head and rode slowly back to Bou Saada。



The front of the Hotel du Petit Sahara; where Tarzan

stopped in Bou Saada; is taken up with the bar; two dining…

rooms; and the kitchens。  Both of the dining…rooms open

directly off the bar; and one of them is reserved for the use

of the officers of the garrison。  As you stand in the barroom

you may look into either of the dining…rooms if you wish。



It was to the bar that Tarzan repaired after speeding

Kadour ben Saden and his party on their way。  It was yet

early in the morning; for Kadour ben Saden had elected to

ride far that day; so that it happened that when Tarzan

returned there were guests still at breakfast。



As his casual glance wandered into the officers' dining…

room; Tarzan saw something which brought a look of interest

to his eyes。  Lieutenant Gernois was sitting there; and as

Tarzan looked a white…robed Arab approached and; bending;

whispered a few words into the lieutenant's ear。  Then he

passed on out of the building through another door。



In itself the thing was nothing; but as the man had stooped

to speak to the officer; Tarzan had caught sight of something

which the accidental parting of the man's burnoose had

revealedhe carried his left arm in a sling。







Chapter 9





Numa 〃El Adrea〃





On the same day that Kadour ben Saden rode south the

diligence from the north brought Tarzan a letter from

D'Arnot which had been forwarded from Sidi…bel…Abbes。

It opened the old wound that Tarzan would have

been glad to have forgotten; yet he was not sorry that

D'Arnot had written; for one at least of his subjects could

never cease to interest the ape…man。  Here is the letter:



MY DEAR JEAN:



Since last I wrote you I have been across to London on a

matter of business。  I was there but three days。  The very first

day I came upon an old friend of yoursquite unexpectedlyin

Henrietta Street。  Now you never in the world would guess whom。

None other than Mr。 Samuel T。 Philander。  But it is true。

I can see your look of incredulity。  Nor is this all。

He insisted that I return to the hotel with him; and there

I found the othersProfessor Archimedes Q。 Porter; Miss

Porter; and that enormous black woman; Miss Porter's maid

Esmeralda; you will recall。  While I was there Clayton

came in。  They are to be married soon; or rather sooner; for

I rather suspect that we shall receive announcements almost

any day。  On account of his father's death it is to be a

very quiet affaironly blood relatives。



While I was alone with Mr。 Philander the old fellow became

rather confidential。  Said Miss Porter had already postponed

the wedding on three different occasions。  He confided

that it appeared to him that she was not particularly anxious

to marry Clayton at all; but this time it seems that it is

quite likely to go through。



Of course they all asked after you; but I respected your

wishes in the matter of your true origin; and only spoke to

them of your present affairs。



Miss Porter was especially interested in everything I had

to say about you; and asked many questions。  I am afraid I

took a rather unchivalrous delight in picturing your desire

and resolve to go back eventually to your native jungle。

I was sorry afterward; for it did seem to cause her real

anguish to contemplate the awful dangers to which you wished

to return。  〃And yet;〃 she said; 〃I do not know。  There ar

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