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第64章

the return of tarzan-第64章

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〃And afterward you told us that your mother was a she…ape;

and that you had never known your father?〃 she asked incredulously。



〃The title and the estates meant nothing to me without you;

dear;〃 he replied。  〃And if I had taken them away

from him I should have been robbing the woman I love

don't you understand; Jane?〃  It was as though he attempted

to excuse a fault。



She extended her arms toward him across the body of the

dead man; and took his hands in hers。



〃And I would have thrown away a love like that!〃 she said。







Chapter 26





The Passing of the Ape…Man





The next morning they set out upon the short journey to

Tarzan's cabin。  Four Waziri bore the body of the dead Englishman。

It had been the ape…man's suggestion that Clayton be buried

beside the former Lord Greystoke near the edge of the

jungle against the cabin that the older man had built。



Jane Porter was glad that it was to be so; and in her

heart of hearts she wondered at the marvelous fineness of

character of this wondrous man; who; though raised by brutes

and among brutes; had the true chivalry and tenderness which

only associates with the refinements of the highest civilization。



They had proceeded some three miles of the five that

had separated them from Tarzan's own beach when the

Waziri who were ahead stopped suddenly; pointing in

amazement at a strange figure approaching them along the beach。

It was a man with a shiny silk hat; who walked slowly with

bent head; and hands clasped behind him underneath the

tails of his long; black coat。



At sight of him Jane Porter uttered a little cry of surprise

and joy; and ran quickly ahead to meet him。  At the sound of

her voice the old man looked up; and when he saw who it was

confronting him he; too; cried out in relief and happiness。

As Professor Archimedes Q。 Porter folded his daughter in his

arms tears streamed down his seamed old face; and it was several

minutes before he could control himself sufficiently to speak。



When a moment later he recognized Tarzan it was with

difficulty that they could convince him that his sorrow had

not unbalanced his mind; for with the other members of the

party he had been so thoroughly convinced that the ape…man

was dead it was a problem to reconcile the conviction with

the very lifelike appearance of Jane's 〃forest god。〃  The old

man was deeply touched at the news of Clayton's death。



〃I cannot understand it;〃 he said。  〃Monsieur Thuran

assured us that Clayton passed away many days ago。〃



〃Thuran is with you?〃 asked Tarzan。



〃Yes; he but recently found us and led us to your cabin。

We were camped but a short distance north of it。  Bless me;

but he will be delighted to see you both。〃



〃And surprised;〃 commented Tarzan。



A short time later the strange party came to the clearing

in which stood the ape…man's cabin。  It was filled with people

coming and going; and almost the first whom Tarzan saw

was D'Arnot。



〃Paul!〃 he cried。  〃In the name of sanity what are you

doing here?  Or are we all insane?〃



It was quickly explained; however; as were many other

seemingly strange things。  D'Arnot's ship had been cruising

along the coast; on patrol duty; when at the lieutenant's

suggestion they had anchored off the little landlocked harbor

to have another look at the cabin and the jungle in which

many of the officers and men had taken part in exciting

adventures two years before。  On landing they had found Lord

Tennington's party; and arrangements were being made to

take them all on board the following morning; and carry

them back to civilization。



Hazel Strong and her mother; Esmeralda; and Mr。 Samuel

T。 Philander were almost overcome by happiness at Jane

Porter's safe return。  Her escape seemed to them little short

of miraculous; and it was the consensus of opinion that it

could have been achieved by no other man than Tarzan of

the Apes。  They loaded the uncomfortable ape…man with

eulogies and attentions until he wished himself back in the

amphitheater of the apes。



All were interested in his savage Waziri; and many were

the gifts the black men received from these friends of their

king; but when they learned that he might sail away from

them upon the great canoe that lay at anchor a mile off

shore they became very sad。



As yet the newcomers had seen nothing of Lord Tennington

and Monsieur Thuran。  They had gone out for fresh

meat early in the day; and had not yet returned。



〃How surprised this man; whose name you say is Rokoff;

will be to see you;〃 said Jane Porter to Tarzan。



〃His surprise will be short…lived;〃 replied the ape…man

grimly; and there was that in his tone that made her look up

into his face in alarm。  What she read there evidently

confirmed her fears; for she put her hand upon his arm; and

pleaded with him to leave the Russian to the laws of France。



〃In the heart of the jungle; dear;〃 she said; 〃with no

other form of right or justice to appeal to other than your

own mighty muscles; you would be warranted in executing

upon this man the sentence he deserves; but with the strong

arm of a civilized government at your disposal it would be

murder to kill him now。  Even your friends would have to

submit to your arrest; or if you resisted it would plunge

us all into misery and unhappiness again。  I cannot bear to

lose you again; my Tarzan。  Promise me that you will but

turn him over to Captain Dufranne; and let the law take its

coursethe beast is not worth risking our happiness for。〃



He saw the wisdom of her appeal; and promised。  A half

hour later Rokoff and Tennington emerged from the jungle。

They were walking side by side。  Tennington was the first to

note the presence of strangers in the camp。  He saw the

black warriors palavering with the sailors from the cruiser;

and then he saw a lithe; brown giant talking with Lieutenant

D'Arnot and Captain Dufranne。



〃Who is that; I wonder;〃 said Tennington to Rokoff; and

as the Russian raised his eyes and met those of the ape…man

full upon him; he staggered and went white。



〃SAPRISTI!〃 he cried; and before Tennington realized what

he intended he had thrown his gun to his shoulder; and

aiming point…blank at Tarzan pulled the trigger。  But the

Englishman was close to himso close that his hand reached

the leveled barrel a fraction of a second before the hammer

fell upon the cartridge; and the bullet that was intended for

Tarzan's heart whirred harmlessly above his head。



Before the Russian could fire again the ape…man was

upon him and had wrested the firearm from his grasp。

Captain Dufranne; Lieutenant D'Arnot; and a dozen sailors had

rushed up at the sound of the shot; and now Tarzan turned

the Russian over to them without a word。  He had explained

the matter to the French commander before Rokoff arrived;

and the officer gave immediate orders to place the Russian

in irons and confine him on board the cruiser。



Just before the guard escorted the prisoner into the small

boat that was to transport him to his temporary prison

Tarzan asked permission to search him; and to his delight

found the stolen papers concealed upon his person。



The shot had brought Jane Porter and the others from

the cabin; and a moment after the excitement had died

down she greeted the surprised Lord Tennington。  Tarzan joined

them after he had taken the papers from Rokoff; and; as he

approached; Jane Porter introduced him to Tennington。



〃John Clayton; Lord Greystoke; my lord;〃 she said。



The Englishman looked his astonishment in spite of his

most herculean efforts to appear courteous; and it required

many repetitions of the strange story of the ape…man as told

by himself; Jane Porter; and Lieutenant D'Arnot to convince

Lord Tennington that they were not all quite mad。



At sunset they buried William Cecil Clayton beside the

jungle graves of his uncle and hi

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