the son of tarzan-第17部分

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　bulls　were　dancing　in　the　moonlight；　leaping　in　an　irregular　circle　about　the　flat…topped　earthen　drum　about　which　three　old　females　sat　beating　its　resounding　top　with　sticks　worn　smooth　by　long　years　of　use。

Akut；　knowing　the　temper　and　customs　of　his　kind；　was　too　wise　to　make　their　presence　known　until　the　frenzy　of　the　dance　had　passed。　　After　the　drum　was　quiet　and　the　bellies　of　the　tribe　well…filled　he　would　hail　them。　　Then　would　come　a　parley；　after　which　he　and　Korak　would　be　accepted　into　membership　by　the　community。　　There　might　be　those　who　would　object；　but　such　could　be　overcome　by　brute　force；　of　which　he　and　the　lad　had　an　ample　surplus。　　For　weeks；　possibly　months；　their　presence　might　cause　ever　decreasing　suspicion　among　others　of　the　tribe；　but　eventually　they　would　become　as　born　brothers　to　these　strange　apes。

He　hoped　that　they　had　been　among　those　who　had　known　Tarzan；　for　that　would　help　in　the　introduction　of　the　lad　and　in　the　consummation　of　Akut's　dearest　wish；　that　Korak　should　become　king　of　the　apes。　　It　was　with　difficulty；　however；　that　Akut　kept　the　boy　from　rushing　into　the　midst　of　the　dancing　anthropoidsan　act　that　would　have　meant　the　instant　extermination　of　them　both；　since　the　hysterical　frenzy　into　which　the　great　apes　work　themselves　during　the　performance　of　their　strange　rites　is　of　such　a　nature　that　even　the　most　ferocious　of　the　carnivora　give　them　a　wide　berth　at　such　times。

As　the　moon　declined　slowly　toward　the　lofty；　foliaged　horizon　of　the　amphitheater　the　booming　of　the　drum　decreased　and　lessened　were　the　exertions　of　the　dancers；　until；　at　last；　the　final　note　was　struck　and　the　huge　beasts　turned　to　fall　upon　the　feast　they　had　dragged　hither　for　the　orgy。

From　what　he　had　seen　and　heard　Akut　was　able　to　explain　to　Korak　that　the　rites　proclaimed　the　choosing　of　a　new　king；　and　he　pointed　out　to　the　boy　the　massive　figure　of　the　shaggy　monarch；　come　into　his　kingship；　no　doubt；　as　many　human　rulers　have　come　into　theirsby　the　murder　of　his　predecessor。

When　the　apes　had　filled　their　bellies　and　many　of　them　had　sought　the　bases　of　the　trees　to　curl　up　in　sleep　Akut　plucked　Korak　by　the　arm。

〃Come；〃　he　whispered。　　〃Come　slowly。　　Follow　me。　　Do　as　Akut　does。〃

Then　he　advanced　slowly　through　the　trees　until　he　stood　upon　a　bough　overhanging　one　side　of　the　amphitheater。　　Here　he　stood　in　silence　for　a　moment。　　Then　he　uttered　a　low　growl。　Instantly　a　score　of　apes　leaped　to　their　feet。　　There　savage　little　eyes　sped　quickly　around　the　periphery　of　the　clearing。　　The　king　ape　was　the　first　to　see　the　two　figures　upon　the　branch。　　He　gave　voice　to　an　ominous　growl。　　Then　he　took　a　few　lumbering　steps　in　the　direction　of　the　intruders。　　His　hair　was　bristling。　　His　legs　were　stiff；　imparting　a　halting；　jerky　motion　to　his　gait。　　Behind　him　pressed　a　number　of　bulls。

He　stopped　just　a　little　before　he　came　beneath　the　twojust　far　enough　to　be　beyond　their　spring。　　Wary　king！　　Here　he　stood　rocking　himself　to　and　fro　upon　his　short　legs；　baring　his　fangs　in　hideous　grinnings；　rumbling　out　an　ever　increasing　volume　of　growls；　which　were　slowly　but　steadily　increasing　to　the　proportions　of　roars。　　Akut　knew　that　he　was　planning　an　attack　upon　them。　The　old　ape　did　not　wish　to　fight。　　He　had　come　with　the　boy　to　cast　his　lot　with　the　tribe。

〃I　am　Akut；〃　he　said。　　〃This　is　Korak。　　Korak　is　the　son　of　Tarzan　who　was　king　of　the　apes。　　I；　too；　was　king　of　the　apes　who　dwelt　in　the　midst　of　the　great　waters。　　We　have　come　to　hunt　with　you；　to　fight　with　you。　　We　are　great　hunters。　　We　are　mighty　fighters。　　Let　us　come　in　peace。〃

The　king　ceased　his　rocking。　　He　eyed　the　pair　from　beneath　his　beetling　brows。　　His　bloodshot　eyes　were　savage　and　crafty。　His　kingship　was　very　new　and　he　was　jealous　of　it。　　He　feared　the　encroachments　of　two　strange　apes。　　The　sleek；　brown；　hairless　body　of　the　lad　spelled　〃man；〃　and　man　he　feared　and　hated。

〃Go　away！〃　he　growled。　　〃Go　away；　or　I　will　kill　you。〃

The　eager　lad；　standing　behind　the　great　Akut；　had　been　pulsing　with　anticipation　and　happiness。　　He　wanted　to　leap　down　among　these　hairy　monsters　and　show　them　that　he　was　their　friend；　that　he　was　one　of　them。　　He　had　expected　that　they　would　receive　him　with　open　arms；　and　now　the　words　of　the　king　ape　filled　him　with　indignation　and　sorrow。　　The　blacks　had　set　upon　him　and　driven　him　away。　　Then　he　had　turned　to　the　white　mento　those　of　his　own　kindonly　to　hear　the　ping　of　bullets　where　he　had　expected　words　of　cordial　welcome。　　The　great　apes　had　remained　his　final　hope。　　To　them　he　looked　for　the　companionship　man　had　denied　him。　　Suddenly　rage　overwhelmed　him。

The　king　ape　was　almost　directly　beneath　him。　　The　others　were　formed　in　a　half　circle　several　yards　behind　the　king。　　They　were　watching　events　interestedly。　　Before　Akut　could　guess　his　intention；　or　prevent；　the　boy　leaped　to　the　ground　directly　in　the　path　of　the　king；　who　had　now　succeeded　in　stimulating　himself　to　a　frenzy　of　fury。

〃I　am　Korak！〃　shouted　the　boy。　　〃I　am　the　Killer。　　I　came　to　live　among　you　as　a　friend。　　You　want　to　drive　me　away。　　Very　well；　then；　I　shall　go；　but　before　I　go　I　shall　show　you　that　the　son　of　Tarzan　is　your　master；　as　his　father　was　before　himthat　he　is　not　afraid　of　your　king　or　you。〃

For　an　instant　the　king　ape　had　stood　motionless　with　surprise。　　He　had　expected　no　such　rash　action　upon　the　part　of　either　of　the　intruders。　　Akut　was　equally　surprised。　　Now　he　shouted　excitedly　for　Korak　to　come　back；　for　he　knew　that　in　the　sacred　arena　the　other　bulls　might　be　expected　to　come　to　the　assistance　of　their　king　against　an　outsider；　though　there　was　small　likelihood　that　the　king　would　need　assistance。　　Once　those　mighty　jaws　closed　upon　the　boy's　soft　neck　the　end　would　come　quickly。　　To　leap　to　his　rescue　would　mean　death　for　Akut；　too；　but　the　brave　old　ape　never　hesitated。　　Bristling　and　growling；　he　dropped　to　the　sward　just　as　the　king　ape　charged。

The　beast's　hands　clutched　for　their　hold　as　the　animal　sprang　upon　the　lad。　　The　fierce　jaws　were　wide　distended　to　bury　the　yellow　fangs　deeply　in　the　brown　hide。　　Korak；　too；　leaped　forward　to　meet　the　attack；　but　leaped　crouching；　beneath　the　outstretched　arms。　　At　the　instant　of　contact　the　lad　pivoted　on　one　foot；　and　with　all　the　weight　of　his　body　and　the　strength　of　his　trained　muscles　drove　a　clenched　fist　into　the　bull's　stomach。　　With　a　gasping　shriek　the　king　ape　collapsed；　clutching　futilely　for　the　agile；　naked　creature　nimbly　sidestepping　from　his　grasp。

Howls　of　rage　and　dismay　broke　from　the　bull　apes　behind　the　fallen　king；　as　with　murder　in　their　savage　little　hearts　they　rushed　forward　upon　Korak　and　Akut；　but　the　old　ape　was　too　wise　to　court　any　such　unequal　encounter。　　To　have　counseled　the　boy　to　retreat　now　would　have　been　futile；　and　Akut　knew　it。　　To　delay　even　a　second　in　argument　would　have　sealed　the　death　warrants　of　them　both。　　There　was　but　a　single　hope　and　Akut　seized　it。　　Grasping　the　lad　around　the　waist　he　lifted　him　bodily　from　the　ground；　and　turning　ran　swiftly　toward　another　tree　which　swung　low　branches　above　the　arena。　　Close　upon　their　heels　swarmed　the　hideous　mob；　but　Akut；　old　though　he　was　and　burdened　by　the　weight　of　the　struggling　Korak；　was　still　fleeter　than　his　pursuers。

With　a　bound　he　grasped　a　low　limb；　and　with　the　agility　of　a　little　monkey　swung　himself　and　the　boy　to　temporary　safety。　Nor　did　he　hesitate　even　here；　but　raced　on　through　the　jungle　night；　bearing　his　burden　to　safety。　　For　a　time　the　bulls　pursued；　but　presently；　as　the　swifter　outdistanced　the　slower　and　found　themselves　separated　from　their　fellows　they　abandoned　the　chase；　standing　roaring　and　screaming　until　the　jungle　reverberated　to　their　hideous　noises。　　Then　they　turned　and　retraced　their　way　to　the　amphitheater。

When　Akut　felt　assured　that　they　were　no　longer　pursued　he　stopped　and　released　Korak。　　The　boy　was　furious。

〃Why　did　you　drag　me　away？〃　he　cried。　　〃I　would　have　taught　them！　　I　would　have　taught　them　all！　　Now　they　will　think　that　I　am　afraid　of　them。〃

〃What　they　think　cannot　harm　you；〃　said　Akut。　　〃You　are　alive。　　If　I　had　not　brought　you　away　you　would　be　dead　now　and　so　would　I。　　Do　you　not　know　that　even　Numa　slinks　from　the　path　of　the　great　apes　when　there　are　many　of　them　and　they　are　mad？〃



Chapter　9

It　was　an　unhappy　Korak　who　wandered　aimlessly　through　the　jungle　the　day　following　his　inhospitable　reception　by　the　great　apes。　　His　heart　was　heavy　from　disappointment。　　Unsatisfied　vengeance　smoldered　in　his　breast。　　He　looked　with　hatred　upon　the　denizens　of　his　jungle　world；　bearing　his　fighting　fangs　and　growling　at　those　that　came　within　radius　of　his　senses。　　The　mark　of　his　father's　early　life　was　strong　upon　him　and　enhanced　by　months　of　association　with　beasts；　from　whom　the　imitative　faculty　of　youth　had　absorbed　a　countless　number　of　little　mannerisms　of　the　predatory　creatures　of　the　wild。

He　bared　his　fangs　now　as　naturally　and　upon　as　slight　provocation　as　Sheeta；　the　panther；　bared　his。　　He　growled　as　ferociously　as　Akut　himself。　　When　he　came　suddenly　upon　another　beast　his　quick　crouch　bore　a　strange　resemblance　to