the son of tarzan-第54部分

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　his　father's　hideous　slave。　　The　blow　that　this　naked　white　warrior　had　once　struck　him　added　fuel　to　his　rage。　He　could　think　of　nothing　adequate　to　the　creature's　offense。

And　as　he　sat　there　looking　upon　Korak　the　silence　was　broken　by　the　trumpeting　of　an　elephant　in　the　jungle　beyond　the　palisade。　　A　half　smile　touched　Korak's　lips。　　He　turned　his　head　a　trifle　in　the　direction　from　which　the　sound　had　come　and　then　there　broke　from　his　lips；　a　low；　weird　call。　　One　of　the　blacks　guarding　him　struck　him　across　the　mouth　with　the　haft　of　his　spear；　but　none　there　knew　the　significance　of　his　cry。

In　the　jungle　Tantor　cocked　his　ears　as　the　sound　of　Korak's　voice　fell　upon　them。　　He　approached　the　palisade　and　lifting　his　trunk　above　it；　sniffed。　　Then　he　placed　his　head　against　the　wooden　logs　and　pushed；　but　the　palisade　was　strong　and　only　gave　a　little　to　the　pressure。

In　The　Sheik's　tent　The　Sheik　rose　at　last；　and；　pointing　toward　the　bound　captive；　turned　to　one　of　his　lieutenants。

〃Burn　him；〃　he　commanded。　　〃At　once。　　The　stake　is　set。〃

The　guard　pushed　Korak　from　The　Sheik's　presence。　　They　dragged　him　to　the　open　space　in　the　center　of　the　village；　where　a　high　stake　was　set　in　the　ground。　　It　had　not　been　intended　for　burnings；　but　offered　a　convenient　place　to　tie　up　refractory　slaves　that　they　might　be　beatenofttimes　until　death　relieved　their　agonies。

To　this　stake　they　bound　Korak。　　Then　they　brought　brush　and　piled　about　him；　and　The　Sheik　came　and　stood　by　that　he　might　watch　the　agonies　of　his　victim。　　But　Korak　did　not　wince　even　after　they　had　fetched　a　brand　and　the　flames　had　shot　up　among　the　dry　tinder。

Once；　then；　he　raised　his　voice　in　the　low　call　that　he　had　given　in　The　Sheik's　tent；　and　now；　from　beyond　the　palisade；　came　again　the　trumpeting　of　an　elephant。

Old　Tantor　had　been　pushing　at　the　palisade　in　vain。　　The　sound　of　Korak's　voice　calling　him；　and　the　scent　of　man；　his　enemy；　filled　the　great　beast　with　rage　and　resentment　against　the　dumb　barrier　that　held　him　back。　　He　wheeled　and　shuffled　back　a　dozen　paces；　then　he　turned；　lifted　his　trunk　and　gave　voice　to　a　mighty　roaring；　trumpet…call　of　anger；　lowered　his　head　and　charged　like　a　huge　battering　ram　of　flesh　and　bone　and　muscle　straight　for　the　mighty　barrier。

The　palisade　sagged　and　splintered　to　the　impact；　and　through　the　breach　rushed　the　infuriated　bull。　　Korak　heard　the　sounds　that　the　others　heard；　and　he　interpreted　them　as　the　others　did　not。　　The　flames　were　creeping　closer　to　him　when　one　of　the　blacks；　hearing　a　noise　behind　him　turned　to　see　the　enormous　bulk　of　Tantor　lumbering　toward　them。　　The　man　screamed　and　fled；　and　then　the　bull　elephant　was　among　them　tossing　Negroes　and　Arabs　to　right　and　left　as　he　tore　through　the　flames　he　feared　to　the　side　of　the　comrade　he　loved。

The　Sheik；　calling　orders　to　his　followers；　ran　to　his　tent　to　get　his　rifle。　　Tantor　wrapped　his　trunk　about　the　body　of　Korak　and　the　stake　to　which　it　was　bound；　and　tore　it　from　the　ground。　The　flames　were　searing　his　sensitive　hidesensitive　for　all　its　thicknessso　that　in　his　frenzy　to　both　rescue　his　friend　and　escape　the　hated　fire　he　had　all　but　crushed　the　life　from　the　ape…man。

Lifting　his　burden　high　above　his　head　the　giant　beast　wheeled　and　raced　for　the　breach　that　he　had　just　made　in　the　palisade。　The　Sheik；　rifle　in　hand；　rushed　from　his　tent　directly　into　the　path　of　the　maddened　brute。　　He　raised　his　weapon　and　fired　once；　the　bullet　missed　its　mark；　and　Tantor　was　upon　him；　crushing　him　beneath　those　gigantic　feet　as　he　raced　over　him　as　you　and　I　might　crush　out　the　life　of　an　ant　that　chanced　to　be　in　our　pathway。

And　then；　bearing　his　burden　carefully；　Tantor；　the　elephant；　entered　the　blackness　of　the　jungle。



Chapter　26

Meriem；　dazed　by　the　unexpected　sight　of　Korak　whom　she　had　long　given　up　as　dead；　permitted　herself　to　be　led　away　by　Baynes。　　Among　the　tents　he　guided　her　safely　to　the　palisade；　and　there；　following　Korak's　instructions；　the　Englishman　pitched　a　noose　over　the　top　of　one　of　the　upright　logs　that　formed　the　barrier。　　With　difficulty　he　reached　the　top　and　then　lowered　his　hand　to　assist　Meriem　to　his　side。

〃Come！〃　he　whispered。　　〃We　must　hurry。〃　　And　then；　as　though　she　had　awakened　from　a　sleep；　Meriem　came　to　herself。　Back　there；　fighting　her　enemies；　alone；　was　Korakher　Korak。　Her　place　was　by　his　side；　fighting　with　him　and　for　him。　　She　glanced　up　at　Baynes。

〃Go！〃　she　called。　　〃Make　your　way　back　to　Bwana　and　bring　help。　　My　place　is　here。　　You　can　do　no　good　remaining。　　Get　away　while　you　can　and　bring　the　Big　Bwana　back　with　you。〃

Silently　the　Hon。　Morison　Baynes　slid　to　the　ground　inside　the　palisade　to　Meriem's　side。

〃It　was　only　for　you　that　I　left　him；〃　he　said；　nodding　toward　the　tents　they　had　just　left。　　〃I　knew　that　he　could　hold　them　longer　than　I　and　give　you　a　chance　to　escape　that　I　might　not　be　able　to　have　given　you。　　It　was　I　though　who　should　have　remained。　　I　heard　you　call　him　Korak　and　so　I　know　now　who　he　is。　　He　befriended　you。　　I　would　have　wronged　you。　　Nodon't　interrupt。　　I'm　going　to　tell　you　the　truth　now　and　let　you　know　just　what　a　beast　I　have　been。　　I　planned　to　take　you　to　London；　as　you　know；　but　I　did　not　plan　to　marry　you。　　Yes；　shrink　from　meI　deserve　it。　I　deserve　your　contempt　and　loathing；　but　I　didn't　know　then　what　love　was。　　Since　I　have　learned　that　I　have　learned　something　elsewhat　a　cad　and　what　a　coward　I　have　been　all　my　life。　　I　looked　down　upon　those　whom　I　considered　my　social　inferiors。　　I　did　not　think　you　good　enough　to　bear　my　name。　　Since　Hanson　tricked　me　and　took　you　for　himself　I　have　been　through　hell；　but　it　has　made　a　man　of　me；　though　too　late。　　Now　I　can　come　to　you　with　an　offer　of　honest　love；　which　will　realize　the　honor　of　having　such　as　you　share　my　name　with　me。〃

For　a　moment　Meriem　was　silent；　buried　in　thought。　　Her　first　question　seemed　irrelevant。

〃How　did　you　happen　to　be　in　this　village？〃　she　asked。

He　told　her　all　that　had　transpired　since　the　black　had　told　him　of　Hanson's　duplicity。

〃You　say　that　you　are　a　coward；〃　she　said；　〃and　yet　you　have　done　all　this　to　save　me？　　The　courage　that　it　must　have　taken　to　tell　me　the　things　that　you　told　me　but　a　moment　since；　while　courage　of　a　different　sort；　proves　that　you　are　no　moral　coward；　and　the　other　proves　that　you　are　not　a　physical　coward。　　I　could　not　love　a　coward。〃

〃You　mean　that　you　love　me？〃　he　gasped　in　astonishment；　taking　a　step　toward　her　as　though　to　gather　her　into　his　arms；　but　she　placed　her　hand　against　him　and　pushed　him　gently　away；　as　much　as　to　say；　not　yet。　　What　she　did　mean　she　scarcely　knew。　　She　thought　that　she　loved　him；　of　that　there　can　be　no　question；　nor　did　she　think　that　love　for　this　young　Englishman　was　disloyalty　to　Korak；　for　her　love　for　Korak　was　undiminishedthe　love　of　a　sister　for　an　indulgent　brother。　　As　they　stood　there　for　the　moment　of　their　conversation　the　sounds　of　tumult　in　the　village　subsided。

〃They　have　killed　him；〃　whispered　Meriem。

The　statement　brought　Baynes　to　a　realization　of　the　cause　of　their　return。

〃Wait　here；〃　he　said。　　〃I　will　go　and　see。　　If　he　is　dead　we　can　do　him　no　good。　　If　he　lives　I　will　do　my　best　to　free　him。〃

〃We　will　go　together；〃　replied　Meriem。　　〃Come！〃　　And　she　led　the　way　back　toward　the　tent　in　which　they　last　had　seen　Korak。　　As　they　went　they　were　often　forced　to　throw　themselves　to　the　ground　in　the　shadow　of　a　tent　or　hut；　for　people　were　passing　hurriedly　to　and　fro　nowthe　whole　village　was　aroused　and　moving　about。　　The　return　to　the　tent　of　Ali　ben　Kadin　took　much　longer　than　had　their　swift　flight　to　the　palisade。　　Cautiously　they　crept　to　the　slit　that　Korak's　knife　had　made　in　the　rear　wall。　　Meriem　peered　withinthe　rear　apartment　was　empty。　She　crawled　through　the　aperture；　Baynes　at　her　heels；　and　then　silently　crossed　the　space　to　the　rugs　that　partitioned　the　tent　into　two　rooms。　　Parting　the　hangings　Meriem　looked　into　the　front　room。　　It；　too；　was　deserted。　　She　crossed　to　the　door　of　the　tent　and　looked　out。　　Then　she　gave　a　little　gasp　of　horror。　　Baynes　at　her　shoulder　looked　past　her　to　the　sight　that　had　startled　her；　and　he；　too；　exclaimed；　but　his　was　an　oath　of　anger。

A　hundred　feet　away　they　saw　Korak　bound　to　a　stakethe　brush　piled　about　him　already　alight。　　The　Englishman　pushed　Meriem　to　one　side　and　started　to　run　for　the　doomed　man。　What　he　could　do　in　the　face　of　scores　of　hostile　blacks　and　Arabs　he　did　not　stop　to　consider。　　At　the　same　instant　Tantor　broke　through　the　palisade　and　charged　the　group。　　In　the　face　of　the　maddened　beast　the　crowd　turned　and　fled；　carrying　Baynes　backward　with　them。　　In　a　moment　it　was　all　over；　and　the　elephant　had　disappeared　with　his　prize；　but　pandemonium　reigned　throughout　the　village。　　Men；　women　and　children　ran　helter　skelter　for　safety。　　Curs　fled；　yelping。　　The　horses　and　camels　and　donkeys；　terrorized　by　the　trumpeting　of　the　pachyderm；　kicked　and　pulled　at　their　tethers。　　A　dozen　or　more　broke　loose；　and　it　was　the　galloping　of　these　past　him　that　brought　a　sudden　idea　into　Baynes'　head。　　He　turned　to　search　for　Meriem　only　to　find　her　at　his