the son of tarzan-第22部分
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Almost at once the other ape reached his companion's side。 He made a lunge at Meriem； but her captor swung her to one side； bared his fighting fangs and growled ominously。 Meriem struggled to escape。 She struck at the hairy breast and bearded cheek。 She fastened her strong； white teeth in one shaggy forearm。 The ape cuffed her viciously across the face； then he had to turn his attention to his fellow who quite evidently desired the prize for his own。
The captor could not fight to advantage upon the swaying bough； burdened as he was by a squirming； struggling captive； so he dropped quickly to the ground beneath。 The other followed him； and here they fought； occasionally abandoning their duel to pursue and recapture the girl who took every advantage of her captors' preoccupation in battle to break away in attempted escape； but always they overtook her； and first one and then the other possessed her as they struggled to tear one another to pieces for the prize。
Often the girl came in for many blows that were intended for a hairy foe； and once she was felled； lying unconscious while the apes； relieved of the distraction of detaining her by force； tore into one another in fierce and terrible combat。
Above them screamed the little monkeys； racing hither and thither in a frenzy of hysterical excitement。 Back and forth over the battle field flew countless birds of gorgeous plumage； squawking their hoarse cries of rage and defiance。 In the distance a lion roared。
The larger bull was slowly tearing his antagonist to pieces。 They rolled upon the ground biting and striking。 Again； erect upon their hind legs they pulled and tugged like human wrestlers； but always the giant fangs found their bloody part to play until both combatants and the ground about them were red with gore。
Meriem； through it all； lay still and unconscious upon the ground。 At last one found a permanent hold upon the jugular of the other and thus they went down for the last time。 For several minutes they lay with scarce a struggle。 It was the larger bull who arose alone from the last embrace。 He shook himself。 A deep growl rumbled from his hairy throat。 He waddled back and forth between the body of the girl and that of his vanquished foe。 Then he stood upon the latter and gave tongue to his hideous challenge。 The little monkeys broke； screaming； in all directions as the terrifying noise broke upon their ears。 The gorgeous birds took wing and fled。 Once again the lion roared； this time at a greater distance。
The great ape waddled once more to the girl's side。 He turned her over upon her back； and stooping commenced to sniff and listen about her face and breast。 She lived。 The monkeys were returning。 They came in swarms； and from above hurled down insults upon the victor。
The ape showed his displeasure by baring his teeth and growling up at them。 Then he stooped and lifting the girl to his shoulder waddled off through the jungle。 In his wake followed the angry mob。
Chapter 11
Korak； returning from the hunt； heard the jabbering of the excited monkeys。 He knew that something was seriously amiss。 Histah； the snake； had doubtless coiled his slimy folds about some careless Manu。 The youth hastened ahead。 The monkeys were Meriem's friends。 He would help them if he could。 He traveled rapidly along the middle terrace。 In the tree by Meriem's shelter he deposited his trophies of the hunt and called aloud to her。 There was no answer。 He dropped quickly to a lower level。 She might be hiding from him。
Upon a great branch where Meriem often swung at indolent ease he saw Geeka propped against the tree's great bole。 What could it mean？ Meriem had never left Geeka thus alone before。 Korak picked up the doll and tucked it in his belt。 He called again； more loudly； but no Meriem answered his summons。 In the distance the jabbering of the excited Manus was growing less distinct。
Could their excitement be in any way connected with Meriem's disappearance？ The bare thought was enough。 Without waiting for Akut who was coming slowly along some distance in his rear； Korak swung rapidly in the direction of the chattering mob。 But a few minutes sufficed to overtake the rearmost。 At sight of him they fell to screaming and pointing downward ahead of them； and a moment later Korak came within sight of the cause of their rage。
The youth's heart stood still in terror as he saw the limp body of the girl across the hairy shoulders of a great ape。 That she was dead he did not doubt； and in that instant there arose within him a something which he did not try to interpret nor could have hade he tried； but all at once the whole world seemed centered in that tender； graceful body； that frail little body； hanging so pitifully limp and helpless across the bulging shoulders of the brute。
He knew then that little Meriem was his worldhis sun； his moon； his starswith her going had gone all light and warmth and happiness。 A groan escaped his lips； and after that a series of hideous roars； more bestial than the beasts'； as he dropped plummet…like in mad descent toward the perpetrator of this hideous crime。
The bull ape turned at the first note of this new and menacing voice； and as he turned a new flame was added to the rage and hatred of The Killer； for he saw that the creature before him was none other than the king ape which had driven him away from the great anthropoids to whom he had looked for friendship and asylum。
Dropping the body of the girl to the ground the bull turned to battle anew for possession of his expensive prize； but this time he looked for an easy conquest。 He too recognized Korak。 Had he not chased him away from the amphitheater without even having to lay a fang or paw upon him？ With lowered head and bulging shoulders he rushed headlong for the smooth…skinned creature who was daring to question his right to his prey。
They met head on like two charging bulls； to go down together tearing and striking。 Korak forgot his knife。 Rage and bloodlust such as his could be satisfied only by the feel of hot flesh between rending fangs； by the gush of new life blood against his bare skin； for； though he did not realize it； Korak； The Killer； was fighting for something more compelling than hate or revenge he was a great male fighting another male for a she of his own kind。
So impetuous was the attack of the man…ape that he found his hold before the anthropoid could prevent hima savage hold； with strong jaws closed upon a pulsing jugular； and there he clung； with closed eyes； while his fingers sought another hold upon the shaggy throat。
It was then that Meriem opened her eyes。 At the sight before her they went wide。
〃Korak！〃 she cried。 〃Korak！ My Korak！ I knew that you would come。 Kill him； Korak！ Kill him！〃 And with flashing eyes and heaving bosom the girl； coming to her feet； ran to Korak's side to encourage him。 Nearby lay The Killer's spear； where he had flung it as he charged the ape。 The girl saw it and snatched it up。 No faintness overcame her in the face of this battle primeval at her feet。 For her there was no hysterical reaction from the nerve strain of her own personal encounter with the bull。 She was excited； but cool and entirely unafraid。 Her Korak was battling with another Mangani that would have stolen her； but she did not seek the safety of an overhanging bough there to watch the battle from afar； as would a she Mangani。 Instead she placed the point of Korak's spear against the bull ape's side and plunged the sharp point deep into the savage heart。 Korak had not needed her aid； for the great bull had been already as good as dead； with the blood gushing from his torn jugular； but Korak rose smiling with a word of approbation for his helper。
How tall and fine she was！ Had she changed suddenly within the few hours of his absence； or had his battle with the ape affected his vision？ He might have been looking at Meriem through new eyes for the many startling and wonderful surprises his gaze revealed。 How long it had been since he had found her in her father's village； a little Arab girl； he did not know； for time is of no import in the jungle and so he had kept no track of the passing days。 But he realized； as he looked upon her now； that she was no longer such a little girl as he had first seen playing with Geeka beneath the great tree just within the palisade。 The change must have been very gradual to have eluded his notice until now。 And what was it that had caused him to realize it so suddenly？ His gaze wandered from the girl to the body of the dead bull。 For the first time there flashed to his understanding the explanation of the reason for the girl's attempted abduction。 Korak's eyes went wide and then they closed to narrow slits of rage as he stood glaring down upon the abysmal brute at his feet。 When next his glance rose to Meriem's face a slow flush suffused his own。 Now； indeed； was he looking upon her through new eyesthe eyes of a man looking upon a maid。
Akut had come up just as Meriem had speared Korak's antagonist。 The exultation of the old ape was keen。 He strutted； stiff…legged and truculent about the body of the fallen enemy。 He growled and upcurved his
