the son of tarzan-第41部分

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　itespecially　after　livin'　with　you　for　two　months　while　we're　makin'　the　coast。〃

A　shocked　and　angry　protest　rose　to　Baynes'　lips；　but　he　did　not　utter　it；　for　almost　simultaneously　came　the　realization　that　this　was　practically　the　same　thing　he　had　been　planning　upon　himself。　　It　had　sounded　brutal　and　criminal　from　the　lips　of　the　rough　trader；　but　nevertheless　the　young　Englishman　saw　that　with　Hanson's　help　and　his　knowledge　of　African　travel　the　possibilities　of　success　would　be　much　greater　than　as　though　the　Hon。　Morison　were　to　attempt　the　thing　single　handed。　　And　so　he　nodded　a　glum　assent。

The　balance　of　the　long　ride　to　Hanson's　northerly　camp　was　made　in　silence；　for　both　men　were　occupied　with　their　own　thoughts；　most　of　which　were　far　from　being　either　complimentary　or　loyal　to　the　other。　　As　they　rode　through　the　wood　the　sounds　of　their　careless　passage　came　to　the　ears　of　another　jungle　wayfarer。　　The　Killer　had　determined　to　come　back　to　the　place　where　he　had　seen　the　white　girl　who　took　to　the　trees　with　the　ability　of　long　habitude。　　There　was　a　compelling　something　in　the　recollection　of　her　that　drew　him　irresistibly　toward　her。　　He　wished　to　see　her　by　the　light　of　day；　to　see　her　features；　to　see　the　color　of　her　eyes　and　hair。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　she　must　bear　a　strong　resemblance　to　his　lost　Meriem；　and　yet　he　knew　that　the　chances　were　that　she　did　not。　　The　fleeting　glimpse　that　he　had　had　of　her　in　the　moonlight　as　she　swung　from　the　back　of　her　plunging　pony　into　the　branches　of　the　tree　above　her　had　shown　him　a　girl　of　about　the　same　height　as　his　Meriem；　but　of　a　more　rounded　and　developed　femininity。

Now　he　was　moving　lazily　back　in　the　direction　of　the　spot　where　he　had　seen　the　girl　when　the　sounds　of　the　approaching　horsemen　came　to　his　sharp　ears。　　He　moved　stealthily　through　the　branches　until　he　came　within　sight　of　the　riders。　　The　younger　man　he　instantly　recognized　as　the　same　he　had　seen　with　his　arms　about　the　girl　in　the　moonlit　glade　just　the　instant　before　Numa　charged。　　The　other　he　did　not　recognize　though　there　was　a　familiarity　about　his　carriage　and　figure　that　puzzled　Korak。

The　ape…man　decided　that　to　find　the　girl　again　he　would　but　have　to　keep　in　touch　with　the　young　Englishman；　and　so　he　fell　in　behind　the　pair；　following　them　to　Hanson's　camp。　　Here　the　Hon。　Morison　penned　a　brief　note；　which　Hanson　gave　into　the　keeping　of　one　of　his　boys　who　started　off　forthwith　toward　the　south。

Korak　remained　in　the　vicinity　of　the　camp；　keeping　a　careful　watch　upon　the　Englishman。　　He　had　half　expected　to　find　the　girl　at　the　destination　of　the　two　riders　and　had　been　disappointed　when　no　sign　of　her　materialized　about　the　camp。

Baynes　was　restless；　pacing　back　and　forth　beneath　the　trees　when　he　should　have　been　resting　against　the　forced　marches　of　the　coming　flight。　　Hanson　lay　in　his　hammock　and　smoked。　They　spoke　but　little。　　Korak　lay　stretched　upon　a　branch　among　the　dense　foliage　above　them。　　Thus　passed　the　balance　of　the　afternoon。　　Korak　became　hungry　and　thirsty。　　He　doubted　that　either　of　the　men　would　leave　camp　now　before　morning；　so　he　withdrew；　but　toward　the　south；　for　there　it　seemed　most　likely　the　girl　still　was。

In　the　garden　beside　the　bungalow　Meriem　wandered　thoughtfully　in　the　moonlight。　　She　still　smarted　from　Bwana's；　to　her；　unjust　treatment　of　the　Hon。　Morison　Baynes。　　Nothing　had　been　explained　to　her；　for　both　Bwana　and　My　Dear　had　wished　to　spare　her　the　mortification　and　sorrow　of　the　true　explanation　of　Baynes'　proposal。　　They　knew；　as　Meriem　did　not；　that　the　man　had　no　intention　of　marrying　her；　else　he　would　have　come　directly　to　Bwana；　knowing　full　well　that　no　objection　would　be　interposed　if　Meriem　really　cared　for　him。

Meriem　loved　them　both　and　was　grateful　to　them　for　all　that　they　had　done　for　her；　but　deep　in　her　little　heart　surged　the　savage　love　of　liberty　that　her　years　of　untrammeled　freedom　in　the　jungle　had　made　part　and　parcel　of　her　being。　　Now；　for　the　first　time　since　she　had　come　to　them；　Meriem　felt　like　a　prisoner　in　the　bungalow　of　Bwana　and　My　Dear。

Like　a　caged　tigress　the　girl　paced　the　length　of　the　enclosure。　Once　she　paused　near　the　outer　fence；　her　head　upon　one　sidelistening。　　What　was　it　she　had　heard？　　The　pad　of　naked　human　feet　just　beyond　the　garden。　　She　listened　for　a　moment。　　The　sound　was　not　repeated。　　Then　she　resumed　her　restless　walking。　Down　to　the　opposite　end　of　the　garden　she　passed；　turned　and　retraced　her　steps　toward　the　upper　end。　　Upon　the　sward　near　the　bushes　that　hid　the　fence；　full　in　the　glare　of　the　moonlight；　lay　a　white　envelope　that　had　not　been　there　when　she　had　turned　almost　upon　the　very　spot　a　moment　before。

Meriem　stopped　short　in　her　tracks；　listening　again；　and　sniffingmore　than　ever　the　tigress；　alert；　ready。　　Beyond　the　bushes　a　naked　black　runner　squatted；　peering　through　the　foliage。　　He　saw　her　take　a　step　closer　to　the　letter。　　She　had　seen　it。　　He　rose　quietly　and　following　the　shadows　of　the　bushes　that　ran　down　to　the　corral　was　soon　gone　from　sight。

Meriem's　trained　ears　heard　his　every　move。　　She　made　no　attempt　to　seek　closer　knowledge　of　his　identity。　　Already　she　had　guessed　that　he　was　a　messenger　from　the　Hon。　Morison。　She　stooped　and　picked　up　the　envelope。　　Tearing　it　open　she　easily　read　the　contents　by　the　moon's　brilliant　light。　　It　was；　as　she　had　guessed；　from　Baynes。

〃I　cannot　go　without　seeing　you　again；〃　it　read。　　〃Come　to　the　clearing　early　tomorrow　morning　and　say　good…bye　to　me。　Come　alone。〃

There　was　a　little　morewords　that　made　her　heart　beat　faster　and　a　happy　flush　mount　her　cheek。



Chapter　20

It　was　still　dark　when　the　Hon。　Morison　Baynes　set　forth　for　the　trysting　place。　　He　insisted　upon　having　a　guide；　saying　that　he　was　not　sure　that　he　could　find　his　way　back　to　the　little　clearing。　　As　a　matter　of　fact　the　thought　of　that　lonely　ride　through　the　darkness　before　the　sun　rose　had　been　too　much　for　his　courage；　and　he　craved　company。　　A　black；　therefore；　preceded　him　on　foot。　　Behind　and　above　him　came　Korak；　whom　the　noise　in　the　camp　had　awakened。

It　was　nine　o'clock　before　Baynes　drew　rein　in　the　clearing。　Meriem　had　not　yet　arrived。　　The　black　lay　down　to　rest。　　Baynes　lolled　in　his　saddle。　　Korak　stretched　himself　comfortably　upon　a　lofty　limb；　where　he　could　watch　those　beneath　him　without　being　seen。

An　hour　passed。　　Baynes　gave　evidence　of　nervousness。　　Korak　had　already　guessed　that　the　young　Englishman　had　come　here　to　meet　another；　nor　was　he　at　all　in　doubt　as　to　the　identity　of　that　other。　　The　Killer　was　perfectly　satisfied　that　he　was　soon　again　to　see　the　nimble　she　who　had　so　forcefully　reminded　him　of　Meriem。

Presently　the　sound　of　an　approaching　horse　came　to　Korak's　ears。　　She　was　coming！　　She　had　almost　reached　the　clearing　before　Baynes　became　aware　of　her　presence；　and　then　as　he　looked　up；　the　foliage　parted　to　the　head　and　shoulders　of　her　mount　and　Meriem　rode　into　view。　　Baynes　spurred　to　meet　her。　　Korak　looked　searchingly　down　upon　her；　mentally　anathematizing　the　broad…brimmed　hat　that　hid　her　features　from　his　eyes。　　She　was　abreast　the　Englishman　now。　　Korak　saw　the　man　take　both　her　hands　and　draw　her　close　to　his　breast。　　He　saw　the　man's　face　concealed　for　a　moment　beneath　the　same　broad　brim　that　hid　the　girl's。　　He　could　imagine　their　lips　meeting；　and　a　twinge　of　sorrow　and　sweet　recollection　combined　to　close　his　eyes　for　an　instant　in　that　involuntary　muscular　act　with　which　we　attempt　to　shut　out　from　the　mind's　eye　harrowing　reflections。

When　he　looked　again　they　had　drawn　apart　and　were　conversing　earnestly。　　Korak　could　see　the　man　urging　something。　It　was　equally　evident　that　the　girl　was　holding　back。　　There　were　many　of　her　gestures；　and　the　way　in　which　she　tossed　her　head　up　and　to　the　right；　tip…tilting　her　chin；　that　reminded　Korak　still　more　strongly　of　Meriem。　　And　then　the　conversation　was　over　and　the　man　took　the　girl　in　his　arms　again　to　kiss　her　good…bye。　　She　turned　and　rode　toward　the　point　from　which　she　had　come。　　The　man　sat　on　his　horse　watching　her。　　At　the　edge　of　the　jungle　she　turned　to　wave　him　a　final　farewell。

〃Tonight！〃　she　cried；　throwing　back　her　head　as　she　called　the　words　to　him　across　the　little　distance　which　separated　themthrowing　back　her　head　and　revealing　her　face　for　the　first　time　to　the　eyes　of　The　Killer　in　the　tree　above。　　Korak　started　as　though　pierced　through　the　heart　with　an　arrow。　　He　trembled　and　shook　like　a　leaf。　　He　closed　his　eyes；　pressing　his　palms　across　them；　and　then　he　opened　them　again　and　looked　but　the　girl　was　goneonly　the　waving　foliage　of　the　jungle's　rim　marked　where　she　had　disappeared。　　It　was　impossible！　　It　could　not　be　true！　　And　yet；　with　his　own　eyes　he　had　seen　his　Meriem　older　a　little；　with　figure　more　rounded　by　nearer　maturity；　and　subtly　changed　in　other　ways；　more　beautiful　than　ever；　yet　still　his　little　Meriem。　　Yes；　he　had　seen　the　dead　alive　again；　he　had　seen　his　Meriem　in　the　flesh。　　She　lived！　　She　had　not　died！　　He　had　seen　herhe　had　seen　his　MeriemIN　THE　ARMS　OF　ANOTHER　MAN！　And　that　man　sat　below　him　now；　within　easy　reach。　　Korak；　The　Killer；　fo