the return of tarzan-第4章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
〃MON DIEU!〃 he soliloquized; 〃but they are all alike。
Cheating; murdering; lying; fighting; and all for things that
the beasts of the jungle would not deign to possessmoney
to purchase the effeminate pleasures of weaklings。 And yet
withal bound down by silly customs that make them slaves to
their unhappy lot while firm in the belief that they be the
lords of creation enjoying the only real pleasures of existence。
In the jungle one would scarcely stand supinely aside while
another took his mate。 It is a silly world; an idiotic world;
and Tarzan of the Apes was a fool to renounce the freedom and
the happiness of his jungle to come into it。〃
Presently; as he sat there; the sudden feeling came over
him that eyes were watching from behind; and the old
instinct of the wild beast broke through the thin veneer of
civilization; so that Tarzan wheeled about so quickly that the
eyes of the young woman who had been surreptitiously regarding
him had not even time to drop before the gray eyes
of the ape…man shot an inquiring look straight into them。
Then; as they fell; Tarzan saw a faint wave of crimson creep
swiftly over the now half…averted face。
He smiled to himself at the result of his very uncivilized and
ungallant action; for he had not lowered his own eyes when
they met those of the young woman。 She was very young;
and equally good to look upon。 Further; there was something
rather familiar about her that set Tarzan to wondering
where he had seen her before。 He resumed his former position;
and presently he was aware that she had arisen and was
leaving the deck。 As she passed; Tarzan turned to watch her;
in the hope that he might discover a clew to satisfy his mild
curiosity as to her identity。
Nor was he disappointed entirely; for as she walked away
she raised one hand to the black; waving mass at the nape
of her neckthe peculiarly feminine gesture that admits
cognizance of appraising eyes behind herand Tarzan saw
upon a finger of this hand the ring of strange workmanship
that he had seen upon the finger of the veiled woman a short
time before。
So it was this beautiful young woman Rokoff had been
persecuting。 Tarzan wondered in a lazy sort of way whom
she might be; and what relations one so lovely could have
with the surly; bearded Russian。
After dinner that evening Tarzan strolled forward; where
he remained until after dark; in conversation with the second
officer; and when that gentleman's duties called him elsewhere
Tarzan lolled lazily by the rail watching the play of
the moonlight upon the gently rolling waters。 He was
half hidden by a davit; so that two men who approached
along the deck did not see him; and as they passed Tarzan
caught enough of their conversation to cause him to fall in
behind them; to follow and learn what deviltry they were up
to。 He had recognized the voice as that of Rokoff; and had
seen that his companion was Paulvitch。
Tarzan had overheard but a few words: 〃And if she screams
you may choke her until〃 But those had been enough to
arouse the spirit of adventure within him; and so he kept the
two men in sight as they walked; briskly now; along the deck。
To the smoking…room he followed them; but they merely
halted at the doorway long enough; apparently; to assure
themselves that one whose whereabouts they wished to
establish was within。
Then they proceeded directly to the first…class cabins upon
the promenade deck。 Here Tarzan found greater difficulty
in escaping detection; but he managed to do so successfully。
As they halted before one of the polished hardwood doors;
Tarzan slipped into the shadow of a passageway not a dozen
feet from them。
To their knock a woman's voice asked in French: 〃Who is it?〃
〃It is I; OlgaNikolas;〃 was the answer; in Rokoff's now
familiar guttural。 〃May I come in?〃
〃Why do you not cease persecuting me; Nikolas?〃 came
the voice of the woman from beyond the thin panel。
〃I have never harmed you。〃
〃Come; come; Olga;〃 urged the man; in propitiary tones;
〃I but ask a half dozen words with you。 I shall not harm you;
nor shall I enter your cabin; but I cannot shout my message
through the door。〃
Tarzan heard the catch click as it was released from the
inside。 He stepped out from his hiding…place far enough to
see what transpired when the door was opened; for he could
not but recall the sinister words he had heard a few moments
before upon the deck; 〃And if she screams you may choke her。〃
Rokoff was standing directly in front of the door。 Paulvitch
had flattened himself against the paneled wall of the corridor
beyond。 The door opened。 Rokoff half entered the room; and
stood with his back against the door; speaking in a low whisper
to the woman; whom Tarzan could not see。 Then Tarzan heard the
woman's voice; level; but loud enough to distinguish her words。
〃No; Nikolas;〃 she was saying; 〃it is useless。 Threaten as you
will; I shall never accede to your demands。 Leave the room;
please; you have no right here。 You promised not to enter。〃
〃Very well; Olga; I shall not enter; but before I am done
with you; you shall wish a thousand times that you had
done at once the favor I have asked。 In the end I shall win
anyway; so you might as well save trouble and time for me;
and disgrace for yourself and your〃
〃Never; Nikolas!〃 interrupted the woman; and then Tarzan
saw Rokoff turn and nod to Paulvitch; who sprang quickly
toward the doorway of the cabin; rushing in past Rokoff; who
held the door open for him。 Then the latter stepped quickly out。
The door closed。 Tarzan heard the click of the lock as
Paulvitch turned it from the inside。 Rokoff remained standing
before the door; with head bent; as though to catch the words
of the two within。 A nasty smile curled his bearded lip。
Tarzan could hear the woman's voice commanding the fellow to
leave her cabin。 〃I shall send for my husband;〃 she cried。
〃He will show you no mercy。〃
Paulvitch's sneering laugh came through the polished panels。
〃The purser will fetch your husband; madame;〃 said the man。
〃In fact; that officer has already been notified that you
are entertaining a man other than your husband behind the
locked door of your cabin。〃
〃Bah!〃 cried the woman。 〃My husband will know!〃
〃Most assuredly your husband will know; but the purser
will not; nor will the newspaper men who shall in some
mysterious way hear of it on our landing。 But they will
think it a fine story; and so will all your friends when they
read of it at breakfast onlet me see; this is Tuesdayyes;
when they read of it at breakfast next Friday morning。
Nor will it detract from the interest they will all feel when
they learn that the man whom madame entertained is a Russian
servanther brother's valet; to be quite exact。〃
〃Alexis Paulvitch;〃 came the woman's voice; cold and fearless;
〃you are a coward; and when I whisper a certain name
in your ear you will think better of your demands upon me
and your threats against me; and then you will leave my
cabin quickly; nor do I think that ever again will you; at
least; annoy me;〃 and there came a moment's silence in
which Tarzan could imagine the woman leaning toward the
scoundrel and whispering the thing she had hinted at into
his ear。 Only a moment of silence; and then a startled oath
from the manthe scuffling of feeta woman's scream
and silence。
But scarcely had the cry ceased before the ape…man had
leaped from his hiding…place。 Rokoff started to run; but
Tarzan grasped him by the collar and dragged him back。
Neither spoke; for both felt instinctively that murder was
being done in that room; and Tarzan was confident that Rokoff
had had no intention that his confederate should go that
farhe felt that the man's aims were deeper than thatdeeper
and even more sinister than brutal; cold…blooded murder。
Without hesitating