the return of tarzan-第65章

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At　sunset　they　buried　William　Cecil　Clayton　beside　the

jungle　graves　of　his　uncle　and　his　aunt；　the　former　Lord

and　Lady　Greystoke。　　And　it　was　at　Tarzan's　request　that

three　volleys　were　fired　over　the　last　resting　place　of

〃a　brave　man；　who　met　his　death　bravely。〃



Professor　Porter；　who　in　his　younger　days　had　been　ordained

a　minister；　conducted　the　simple　services　for　the　dead。

About　the　grave；　with　bowed　heads；　stood　as　strange

a　company　of　mourners　as　the　sun　ever　looked　down　upon。

There　were　French　officers　and　sailors；　two　English　lords；

Americans；　and　a　score　of　savage　African　braves。



Following　the　funeral　Tarzan　asked　Captain　Dufranne　to

delay　the　sailing　of　the　cruiser　a　couple　of　days　while　he

went　inland　a　few　miles　to　fetch　his　〃belongings；〃　and　the

officer　gladly　granted　the　favor。



Late　the　next　afternoon　Tarzan　and　his　Waziri　returned

with　the　first　load　of　〃belongings；〃　and　when　the　party　saw

the　ancient　ingots　of　virgin　gold　they　swarmed　upon　the　ape…

man　with　a　thousand　questions；　but　he　was　smilingly　obdurate

to　their　appealshe　declined　to　give　them　the　slightest

clew　as　to　the　source　of　his　immense　treasure。　　〃There　are　a

thousand　that　I　left　behind；〃　he　explained；　〃for　every　one

that　I　brought　away；　and　when　these　are　spent　I　may　wish

to　return　for　more。〃



The　next　day　he　returned　to　camp　with　the　balance　of

his　ingots；　and　when　they　were　stored　on　board　the　cruiser

Captain　Dufranne　said　he　felt　like　the　commander　of　an　old…

time　Spanish　galleon　returning　from　the　treasure　cities　of

the　Aztecs。　　〃I　don't　know　what　minute　my　crew　will　cut　my

throat；　and　take　over　the　ship；〃　he　added。



The　next　morning；　as　they　were　preparing　to　embark　upon

the　cruiser；　Tarzan　ventured　a　suggestion　to　Jane　Porter。



〃Wild　beasts　are　supposed　to　be　devoid　of　sentiment；〃　he

said；　〃but　nevertheless　I　should　like　to　be　married　in　the

cabin　where　I　was　born；　beside　the　graves　of　my　mother　and

my　father；　and　surrounded　by　the　savage　jungle　that　always

has　been　my　home。〃



〃Would　it　be　quite　regular；　dear？〃　she　asked。　　〃For　if　it

would　I　know　of　no　other　place　in　which　I　should　rather　be

married　to　my　forest　god　than　beneath　the　shade　of　his

primeval　forest。〃



And　when　they　spoke　of　it　to　the　others　they　were　assured

that　it　would　be　quite　regular；　and　a　most　splendid

termination　of　a　remarkable　romance。　　So　the　entire　party

assembled　within　the　little　cabin　and　about　the　door　to

witness　the　second　ceremony　that　Professor　Porter　was　to

solemnize　within　three　days。



D'Arnot　was　to　be　best　man；　and　Hazel　Strong　bridesmaid；

until　Tennington　upset　all　the　arrangements　by　another

of　his　marvelous　〃ideas。〃



〃If　Mrs。　Strong　is　agreeable；〃　he　said；　taking　the　bridesmaid's

hand　in　his；　〃Hazel　and　I　think　it　would　be　ripping　to　make　it

a　double　wedding。〃



The　next　day　they　sailed；　and　as　the　cruiser　steamed　slowly

out　to　sea　a　tall　man；　immaculate　in　white　flannel；　and　a

graceful　girl　leaned　against　her　rail　to　watch　the　receding

shore　line　upon　which　danced　twenty　naked；　black　warriors

of　the　Waziri；　waving　their　war　spears　above　their　savage

heads；　and　shouting　farewells　to　their　departing　king。



〃I　should　hate　to　think　that　I　am　looking　upon　the　jungle

for　the　last　time；　dear；〃　he　said；　〃were　it　not　that　I　know

that　I　am　going　to　a　new　world　of　happiness　with　you　forever；〃

and；　bending　down；　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　kissed　his

mate　upon　her　lips。








The　End