登陆注册
5232000000073

第73章 Tarzan Rescues the Moon(5)

Here was a brave man, and Tarzan had deep admiration for bravery. Even his hatred of the blacks was not so strong a passion as his love of courage. He would have joyed in battling with a black warrior at almost any time;but this one he did not wish to kill--he felt, vaguely, that the man had earned his life by his brave defense of it on the preceding night, nor did he fancy the odds that were pitted against the lone warrior.

He turned to the apes. "Go back to your feeding,"he said, "and let this Gomangani go his way in peace.

He has not harmed us, and last night I saw him fighting Numa and Sabor with fire, alone in the jungle. He is brave.

Why should we kill one who is brave and who has not attacked us? Let him go."The apes growled. They were displeased. "Kill the Gomangani!"cried one.

"Yes." roared another, "kill the Gomangani and the Tarmangani as well.""Kill the white ape!" screamed Gozan, "he is no ape at all;but a Gomangani with his skin off."

"Kill Tarzan!" bellowed Gunto. "Kill! Kill! Kill!"The bulls were now indeed working themselves into the frenzy of slaughter; but against Tarzan rather than the black man.

A shaggy form charged through them, hurling those it came in contact with to one side as a strong man might scatter children. It was Taug--great, savage Taug.

"Who says 'kill Tarzan'?" he demanded. "Who kills Tarzan must kill Taug, too. Who can kill Taug? Taug will tear your insides from you and feed them to Dango.""We can kill you all," replied Gunto. "There are many of us and few of you," and he was right. Tarzan knew that he was right. Taug knew it; but neither would admit such a possibility. It is not the way of bull apes.

"I am Tarzan," cried the ape-man. "I am Tarzan.

Mighty hunter; mighty fighter. In all the jungle none so great as Tarzan."Then, one by one, the opposing bulls recounted their virtues and their prowess. And all the time the combatants came closer and closer to one another. Thus do the bulls work themselves to the proper pitch before engaging in battle.

Gunto came, stiff-legged, close to Tarzan and sniffed at him, with bared fangs. Tarzan rumbled forth a low, menacing growl.

They might repeat these tactics a dozen times; but sooner or later one bull would close with another and then the whole hideous pack would be tearing and rending at their prey.

Bulabantu, the black man, had stood wide-eyed in wonder from the moment he had seen Tarzan approaching through the apes.

He had heard much of this devil-god who ran with the hairy tree people; but never before had he seen him in full daylight. He knew him well enough from the description of those who had seen him and from the glimpses he had had of the marauder upon several occasions when the ape-man had entered the village of Mbonga, the chief, by night, in the perpetration of one of his numerous ghastly jokes.

Bulabantu could not, of course, understand anything which passed between Tarzan and the apes; but he saw that the ape-man and one of the larger bulls were in argument with the others. He saw that these two were standing with their back toward him and between him and the balance of the tribe, and he guessed, though it seemed improbable, that they might be defending him.

He knew that Tarzan had once spared the life of Mbonga, the chief, and that he had succored Tibo, and Tibo's mother, Momaya. So it was not impossible that he would help Bulabantu; but how he could accomplish it Bulabantu could not guess; nor as a matter of fact could Tarzan, for the odds against him were too great.

Gunto and the others were slowly forcing Tarzan and Taug back toward Bulabantu. The ape-man thought of his words with Tantor just a short time before: "Yes, Tantor, it is good to live. I should hate to die." And now he knew that he was about to die, for the temper of the great bulls was mounting rapidly against him.

Always had many of them hated him, and all were suspicious of him. They knew he was different. Tarzan knew it too;but he was glad that he was--he was a MAN; that he had learned from his picture-books, and he was very proud of the distinction. Presently, though, he would be a dead man.

Gunto was preparing to charge. Tarzan knew the signs.

He knew that the balance of the bulls would charge with Gunto. Then it would soon be over. Something moved among the verdure at the opposite side of the clearing.

Tarzan saw it just as Gunto, with the terrifying cry of a challenging ape, sprang forward. Tarzan voiced a peculiar call and then crouched to meet the assault.

Taug crouched, too, and Bulabantu, assured now that these two were fighting upon his side, couched his spear and sprang between them to receive the first charge of the enemy.

Simultaneously a huge bulk broke into the clearing from the jungle behind the charging bulls.

The trumpeting of a mad tusker rose shrill above the cries of the anthropoids, as Tantor, the elephant, dashed swiftly across the clearing to the aid of his friend.

Gunto never closed upon the ape-man, nor did a fang enter flesh upon either side. The terrific reverberation of Tantor's challenge sent the bulls scurrying to the trees, jabbering and scolding. Taug raced off with them.

Only Tarzan and Bulabantu remained. The latter stood his ground because he saw that the devil-god did not run, and because the black had the courage to face a certain and horrible death beside one who had quite evidently dared death for him.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 社交女达人:交友建议,教你如何吸引男人找到男友

    社交女达人:交友建议,教你如何吸引男人找到男友

    本书将帮你找到自己,让你了解你真正想要的是什么样的男人,并在他们出没的地方遇见他们;让你做你热衷的事,同时又能认识好男人;帮你重树信心!简单四步,立即执行!让你成为社交达人!
  • Sintram and His Companions

    Sintram and His Companions

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 新农村建设背景下我国村落农民体育的理论与实证研究

    新农村建设背景下我国村落农民体育的理论与实证研究

    新农村建设是现阶段我国全面建设小康社会、构建社会主义和谐社会征程中迈出的重大战略步伐,其意义影响深远。新农村建设既为我国农村、农民体育的发展带来了新的契机,也为我国农村、农民体育的研究提供了新的视角。乘新农村建设之东风,应村落体育发展之需,《新农村建设背景下我国村落农民体育的理论与实证研究》一书应运而生。
  • 什么是道德?——李泽厚伦理学讨论班实录

    什么是道德?——李泽厚伦理学讨论班实录

    2014年5月,李泽厚在华东师范大学开设伦理学讨论班,与全国各地慕名而来的青年学生探讨道德和伦理问题,并与陈嘉映、杨国荣、童世骏和郁振华等教授围绕“何为哲学”这一话题,进行了深度交谈。这一事件成为2014上海学界一大盛事。本书的内容主要是李泽厚上海之行的讲课和对话录。
  • 东京那边女人的故事

    东京那边女人的故事

    三位女性在日本截然不同又同样坎坷的经历。她们中有的逐渐坚强,最终自立;有的心灰意冷,削发为尼;有的无怨无悔,笑对生活。三个为不同目的来到日本的中国女人;三个在日本经历迥然不同的中国女人;三个在日本体味世间冷暖的中国女人;三个为未来重新开启人生的中国女人。
  • 小儿初生护养门

    小儿初生护养门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 憧憬

    憧憬

    素贞腹部胀痛,已经有小两天了。起初.只觉得那儿有团生面样的东西堵着,后来那团面慢慢发酵伸展,渐渐地,整个腹部就胀疼起来。按说从前肚子也胀过,也疼过,可那种胀,是明目张胆的胀,摸着如揣个滚圆西瓜,敲打似牛皮小鼓般嘣响。那种疼,也是利利落落、翻江倒海般生疼,吃一粒马丁啉,喝一杯肠清茶,或者烤几瓣老蒜吞下,咕噜噜嗳了几口馊气,放了几个响屁,最多猛一阵拉稀,便万事大吉。不像眼下,感觉胀得像吞了一砣生铁,摸上去肚皮却瘪瘪软软的。那疼痛,更是阴阴森森,不急不徐,令人说不出叫不响的窝火憋气。况且,马丁啉也吃了,肠清茶也喝了,烤老蒜也吞了,还是硬生生堵着胀着,不见半点松动。
  • 徐文长先生佚稿

    徐文长先生佚稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 总裁夺心,专宠二婚新娘

    总裁夺心,专宠二婚新娘

    有人说:没有撬不动的墙角,只有不努力的小三。我家女房客是一个优秀的小三,成功勾走了我憨厚的老公,摆平了老公乖张的姐姐,也收服了一向嚣张的婆婆。在这种情况下,我毅然决然的离开了老公,奔向我的新生活...这个帅气的总裁,视我为珍宝般,从此我就真的能过上幸福生活么?
  • 周易举正

    周易举正

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。