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第62章

the return of tarzan-第62章

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After Tarzan reached the shaft beyond the broken wall;

he felt so positive of the successful issue of his flight that

he stopped to replace the tumbled stones; for he was not

anxious that any of the inmates should discover this

forgotten passage; and through it come upon the treasure chamber。

It was in his mind to return again to Opar and bear away

a still greater fortune than he had already buried in the

amphitheater of the apes。



On through the passageways he trotted; past the first door

and through the treasure vault; past the second door and

into the long; straight tunnel that led to the lofty hidden

exit beyond the city。  Jane Porter was still unconscious。



At the crest of the great bowlder he halted to cast a

backward glance toward the city。  Coming across the plain

he saw a band of the hideous men of Opar。  For a moment

he hesitated。  Should he descend and make a race for the distant

cliffs; or should he hide here until night?  And then a glance at

the girl's white face determined him。  He could not keep her

here and permit her enemies to get between them and liberty。

For aught he knew they might have been followed

through the tunnels; and to have foes before and behind

would result in almost certain capture; since he could not

fight his way through the enemy burdened as he was with

the unconscious girl。



To descend the steep face of the bowlder with Jane

Porter was no easy task; but by binding her across his

shoulders with the grass rope he succeeded in reaching the

ground in safety before the Oparians arrived at the great rock。

As the descent had been made upon the side away from the city;

the searching party saw nothing of it; nor did they dream

that their prey was so close before them。



By keeping the KOPJE between them and their pursuers;

Tarzan of the Apes managed to cover nearly a mile before

the men of Opar rounded the granite sentinel and saw

the fugitive before them。  With loud cries of savage delight;

they broke into a mad run; thinking doubtless that they

would soon overhaul the burdened runner; but they both

underestimated the powers of the ape…man and overestimated

the possibilities of their own short; crooked legs。



By maintaining an easy trot; Tarzan kept the distance

between them always the same。  Occasionally he would glance

at the face so near his own。  Had it not been for the faint

beating of the heart pressed so close against his own; he

would not have known that she was alive; so white and drawn

was the poor; tired face。



And thus they came to the flat…topped mountain and the

barrier cliffs。  During the last mile Tarzan had let himself out;

running like a deer that he might have ample time to descend

the face of the cliffs before the Oparians could reach the

summit and hurl rocks down upon them。  And so it was that

he was half a mile down the mountainside ere the fierce little

men came panting to the edge。



With cries of rage and disappointment they ranged along

the cliff top shaking their cudgels; and dancing up and

down in a perfect passion of anger。  But this time they did

not pursue beyond the boundary of their own country。

Whether it was because they recalled the futility of their

former long and irksome search; or after witnessing the ease

with which the ape…man swung along before them; and the

last burst of speed; they realized the utter hopelessness of

further pursuit; it is difficult to say; but as Tarzan reached

the woods that began at the base of the foothills which

skirted the barrier cliffs they turned their faces once more

toward Opar。



Just within the forest's edge; where he could yet watch the

cliff tops; Tarzan laid his burden upon the grass; and going to

the near…by rivulet brought water with which he bathed

her face and hands; but even this did not revive her; and;

greatly worried; he gathered the girl into his strong arms once

more and hurried on toward the west。



Late in the afternoon Jane Porter regained consciousness。

She did not open her eyes at onceshe was trying to recall

the scenes that she had last witnessed。  Ah; she remembered now。

The altar; the terrible priestess; the descending knife。

She gave a little shudder; for she thought that either this was

death or that the knife had buried itself in her heart and

she was experiencing the brief delirium preceding death。

And when finally she mustered courage to open her eyes;

the sight that met them confirmed her fears; for she saw that

she was being borne through a leafy paradise in the arms

of her dead love。  〃If this be death;〃 she murmured; 〃thank

God that I am dead。〃



〃You spoke; Jane!〃 cried Tarzan。  〃You are regaining consciousness!〃



〃Yes; Tarzan of the Apes;〃 she replied; and for the first

time in months a smile of peace and happiness lighted her face。



〃Thank God!〃 cried the ape…man; coming to the ground in

a little grassy clearing beside the stream。  〃I was in time;

after all。〃



〃In time?  What do you mean?〃 she questioned。



〃In time to save you from death upon the altar; dear;〃

he replied。  〃Do you not remember?〃

〃Save me from death?〃 she asked; in a puzzled tone。

〃Are we not both dead; my Tarzan?〃



He had placed her upon the grass by now; her back resting

against the stem of a huge tree。  At her question he

stepped back where he could the better see her face。



〃Dead!〃 he repeated; and then he laughed。  〃You are not;

Jane; and if you will return to the city of Opar and ask

them who dwell there they will tell you that I was not dead

a few short hours ago。  No; dear; we are both very much alive。〃



〃But both Hazel and Monsieur Thuran told me that you

had fallen into the ocean many miles from land;〃 she urged;

as though trying to convince him that he must indeed

be dead。  〃They said that there was no question but that

it must have been you; and less that you could have survived

or been picked up。〃



〃How can I convince you that I am no spirit?〃 he asked;

with a laugh。  〃It was I whom the delightful Monsieur Thuran

pushed overboard; but I did not drownI will tell you all

about it after a whileand here I am very much the same

wild man you first knew; Jane Porter。〃



The girl rose slowly to her feet and came toward him。



〃I cannot even yet believe it;〃 she murmured。  〃It cannot

be that such happiness can be true after all the hideous

things that I have passed through these awful months since

the LADY ALICE went down。〃



She came close to him and laid a hand; soft and trembling;

upon his arm。



〃It must be that I am dreaming; and that I shall awaken

in a moment to see that awful knife descending toward my

heartkiss me; dear; just once before I lose my dream forever。〃



Tarzan of the Apes needed no second invitation。  He took

the girl he loved in his strong arms; and kissed her not once;

but a hundred times; until she lay there panting for breath;

yet when he stopped she put her arms about his neck and

drew his lips down to hers once more。



〃Am I alive and a reality; or am I but a dream?〃 he asked。



〃If you are not alive; my man;〃 she answered; 〃I pray

that I may die thus before I awaken to the terrible

realities of my last waking moments。〃



For a while both were silentgazing into each others'

eyes as though each still questioned the reality of the

wonderful happiness that had come to them。  The past; with all

its hideous disappointments and horrors; was forgottenthe

future did not belong to them; but the presentah; it was

theirs; none could take it from them。  It was the girl who

first broke the sweet silence。



〃Where are we going; dear?〃 she asked。  〃What are we

going to do?〃



〃Where would you like best to go?〃 he asked。  〃What would

you like best to do?〃



〃To go where you go; my man; to do whatever seems

best to you;〃 she answered。



〃But Clayton?〃 he asked。  For a moment he had forgotten

that there existed upon the ear

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