The sun was high in the heavens when Lady Barbara, refreshed by her
long, undisturbed sleep, stepped from her tent in the camp of Lord
Passmore. A smiling, handsome black boy came running toward her.
"Breakfast soon be ready," he told her. "Lord Passmore very sorry. He
have to go hunt."
She asked after Lafayette Smith and was told that he had just awakened,
nor was it long before he joined her; and soon they were breakfasting
together.
"If Jezebel and your friend were here," she said, "I should be very
happy. I am praying that Tarzan finds them."
"I am sure he will," Smith assured her, "though I am only worried about
Jezebel. Danny can take care of himself."
"Doesn't it seem heavenly to eat a meal again?" the girl remarked.
"Do you know it has been months since I have eaten anything that even
vaguely approximated a civilized meal. Lord Passmore was fortunate to
get such a cook for his safari. I had not such luck."
"Have you noticed what splendid looking fellows all his men are?" asked
Smith. "They would make that aggregation of mine resemble fourth rate
roustabouts with hook-worm and sleeping sickness."
"There is another very noticeable thing about them," said Lady Barbara.
"What is that?"
"There is not a single piece of cast off European finery among
them--their garb is native, pure and simple; and, while I'll have to
admit there isn't much to it, it lends a dignity to them that European
clothing would change to the absurd."
"I quite agree with you," said Smith. "I wonder why I didn't get a
safari like this."
"Lord Passmore is evidently an African traveller and hunter of long
experience. No amateur could hope to attract such men as these."
"I shall hate to go back to my own camp, if I stay here very long,"
said Smith; "but I suppose I'll have to; and that suggests another
unpleasant feature of the change."
"And what is that?" she asked.
"I shan't see you any more," he said with a simple directness that
vouched for the sincerity of his regret.
The girl was silent for a moment, as though the suggestion had aroused
a train of thought she had not before considered. "That is true, isn't
it?" she remarked, presently. "We shan't see each other any more--but
not for always. I'm sure you'll stop and visit me in London. Isn't it
odd what old friends we seem? And yet we only met two days ago. Or,
maybe, it doesn't seem that way to you. You see I was so long without
seeing a human being of my own world that you were quite like a long
lost brother, when you came along so unexpectedly."
"I have the same feeling," he said--"as though I had known you
forever--and--," he hesitated, "--as though I could never get along
without you in the future." He flushed a little as he spoke those last
words.
The girl looked up at him with a quick smile--a sympathetic,
understanding smile. "It was nice of you to say that," she said. "Why
it sounded almost like a declaration," she added, with a gay, friendly
laugh.
He reached across the little camp table and laid a hand upon hers.
"Accept it as such," he said. "I'm not very good at saying things--like
that."
"Let's not be serious," she begged. "Really, we scarcely know each
other, after all."
"I have known you always," he replied. "I think we were amoebas
together before the first Cambrian dawn."
"Now, you've compromised me," she cried, laughingly, "for I'm sure
there were no chaperons way back there. I hope that you were a proper
amoeba. You didn't kiss me, did you?"
"Unfortunately for me amoebas have no mouths," he said, "but I've been
profiting by several millions of years of evolution just to remedy that
defect."
"Let's be amoebas again," she suggested.
"No," he said, "for then I couldn't tell you that I--I--" He choked and
flushed.
"Please! Please, don't tell me," she cried. "We're such ripping
friends--don't spoil it."
"Would it spoil it?" he asked.
"I don't know. It might, I am afraid."
"Can't I ever tell you?" he asked.
"Perhaps, some day," she said.
A sudden burst of distant rifle fire interrupted them. The blacks in
the camp were instantly alert. Many of them sprang to their feet, and
all were listening intently to the sounds of this mysterious engagement
between armed men.
The man and the girl heard the headman speaking to his fellows in some
African dialect. His manner showed no excitement, his tones were low
but clear. It was evident that he was issuing instructions. The men
went quickly to their shelters, and a moment later Lady Barbara saw
the peaceful camp transformed. Every man was armed now. As by magic a
modern rifle and a bandoleer of cartridges were in the possession of
each black. White feathered headdresses were being adjusted and war
paint applied to glossy hides.
Smith approached the headman. "What is the matter?" he asked. "Is
something wrong?"
"I do not know, bwana," replied the black; "but we prepare."
"Is there any danger?" continued the white.
The headman straightened to his full, impressive height. "Are we not
here?" he asked.
Jezebel and the "Gunner" were walking slowly in the direction of the
distant water hole and the cached boar meat, following the bottom of a
dip that was the mouth of a small canyon that led up into the hills.
They were stiff and lame and very tired; and the wound on the
"Gunner's" head pained; but, notwithstanding, they were happy as, hand
in hand, they dragged their weary feet toward water and food.
"Geeze, kid," said Danny, "it sure is a funny world. Just think, if I
hadn't met old Smithy on board that ship me and you wouldn't never
have met up. It all started from that," but then Danny knew nothing of
Angustus the Ephesian.
"I got a few grand salted away, kid, and when we get out of this mess
we'll go somewhere where nobody doesn't know me and I'll start over
again. Get myself a garage or a filling station, and we'll have a
little flat. Geeze, it's goin' to be great showin' you things. You
don't know what you ain't seen--movies and railroads and boats! Geeze!
You ain't seen nothin' and nobody ain't goin' to show you nothin', only
me."
"Yes, Danny," said Jezebel, "it's going to be ripping," and she
squeezed his hand.
Just then they were startled by the sound of rifle fire ahead.
"What was that?" asked Jezebel.
"It sounded like the Valentine Massacre," said Danny, "but I guess
it's them tough smokes from the village. We better hide, kid." He drew
her toward some low bushes; and there they lay down, listening to the
shouts and shots that came down to them from where Tarzan fought for
his life and liberty with the odds a hundred to one against him.
After a while the din ceased, and a little later the two heard the
thudding of many galloping hoofs. The sound increased in volume as it
drew nearer, and Danny and Jezebel tried to make themselves as small as
possible beneath the little bush in the inadequate concealment of which
they were hiding.
At a thundering gallop the _shiftas_ crossed the swale just above them,
and all but a few had passed when one of the stragglers discovered
them. His shout, which attracted the attention of others, was carried
forward until it reached the new chief, and presently the entire band
had circled back to learn what their fellow had discovered.
Poor "Gunner"! Poor Jezebel! Their happiness had been short lived.
Their recapture was effected with humiliating ease. Broken and
dejected, they were soon on their way to the village under escort of
two black ruffians.
Bound, hands and feet, they were thrown into the hut formerly occupied
by Capietro and left without food or water upon the pile of dirty rugs
and clothing that littered the floor.
Beside them lay the corpse of the Italian which his followers, in their
haste to overtake his slayer, had not taken the time to remove. It lay
upon its back, the dead eyes staring upward.
Never before in his life had the spirits of Danny Patrick sunk so low,
for the very reason, perhaps, that never in his life had they risen
so high as during the brief interlude of happiness he had enjoyed
following his reunion with Jezebel. Now he saw no hope ahead, for, with
the two white men eliminated, he feared that he might not even be able
to dicker with these ignorant black men for the ransom that he would
gladly pay to free Jezebel and himself.
"There goes the garage, the filling station, and the flat," he said,
lugubriously.
"Where?" asked Jezebel.
"Flooie," explained Danny.
"But you are here with me," said the golden one; "so I do not care what
else there is."
"That's nice, kid; but I ain't much help, all tied up like a Christmas
present. They sure picked out a swell bed for me--feels like I was
lyin' on a piece of the kitchen stove." He rolled himself to one side
and nearer Jezebel. "That's better," he said, "but I wonder what was
that thing I was parked on."
"Maybe your friend will come and take us away," suggested Jezebel.
"Who, Smithy? What would he take us with--that dinky toy pistol of his?"
"I was thinking of the other that you told me about."
"Oh, that Tarzan guy! Say kid, if he knew we was here he'd walk in and
push all these nutty dumps over with one mit and kick the smokes over
the back fence. Geeze, you bet I wish he was here. There is one big
shot, and I don't mean maybe."
In the hut on the edge of the village was the answer to the "Gunner's"
wish, bound hand and foot, as was the "Gunner," and, apparently,
equally helpless, constantly the ape-man was working on the thongs
that confined his wrists--twisting, tugging, pulling.
The long day wore on and never did the giant captive cease his efforts
to escape; but the thongs were heavy and securely tied, yet little by
little he felt that they were loosening.
Towards evening the new chief returned with the party that had been
searching for Stabutch. They had not found him; but scouts had located
the camp of Lord Passmore, and now the _shiftas_ were discussing plans
for attacking it on the morrow.
They had not come sufficiently close to it to note the number of armed
natives it contained; but they had glimpsed Smith and Lady Barbara;
and, being sure that there were not more than two white men, they felt
little hesitation in attempting the raid, since they were planning to
start back for Abyssinia on the morrow.
"We will kill the white man we now have," said the chief, "and carry
the two girls and Tarzan with us. Tarzan should bring a good ransom and
the girls a good price."
"Why not keep the girls for ourselves," suggested another.
"We shall sell them," said the chief.
"Who are you, to say what we shall do?" demanded the other. "You are no
chief."
"No," growled a villainous looking black squatting beside the first
objector.
He who would be chief leaped, catlike, upon the first speaker, before
any was aware of his purpose. A sword gleamed for an instant in the
light of the new made cook fires and fell with terrific force upon the
skull of the victim.
"Who am I?" repeated the killer, as he wiped the bloody blade upon
the garment of the slain man. "I am chief!" He looked around upon the
scowling faces about him. "Is there any who says I am not chief?" There
was no demur. Ntale was chief of the _shifta_ band.
Inside the dark interior of the hut where he had lain bound all day
without food or water the ape-man tugged and pulled until the sweat
stood in beads upon his body, but not in vain. Gradually a hand
slipped through the stretched thong, and he was free. Or at least his
hands were, and it took but a moment to loosen the bonds that secured
his ankles.
With a low, inaudible growl he rose to his feet and stepped to the
doorway. Before him lay the village compound. He saw the _shiftas_
squatting about while slaves prepared the evening meal. Nearby was the
palisade. They must see him as he crossed to it, but what matter?
He would be gone before they could gather their wits. Perhaps a few
stray shots would be fired; but then, had they not fired many shots at
him this morning, not one of which had touched him?
He stepped out into the open, and at the same instant a burly black
stepped from the next hut and saw him. With a shout of warning to his
fellows the man leaped upon the escaping prisoner. Those at the fires
sprang to their feet and came running toward the two.
Within their prison hut Jezebel and Danny heard the commotion and
wondered.
The ape-man seized the black who would have stopped him and wheeling
him about to form a shield for himself, backed quickly toward the
palisade.
"Stay where you are," he called to the advancing _shiftas_, in their
own dialect. "Stay where you are, or I will kill this man."
"Let him kill him then," growled Ntale. "He is not worth the ransom
we are losing," and with a shout of encouragement to his followers he
leaped quickly forward to intercept the ape-man.
Tarzan was already near the palisade as Ntale charged. He raised the
struggling black above his head and hurled him upon the advancing
chief, and as the two went down he wheeled and ran for the palisade.
Like Manu the monkey he scaled the high barrier. A few scattered shots
followed him, but he dropped to the ground outside unscathed and
disappeared in the growing gloom of the advancing night.
The long night of their captivity dragged on and still the "Gunner" and
Jezebel lay as they had been left, without food or drink, while the
silent corpse of Capietro stared at the ceiling.
"I wouldn't treat nobody like this," said the "Gunner," "not even a
rat."
Jezebel raised herself to one elbow. "Why not try it?" she whispered.
"What?" demanded Danny. "I'd try anything once."
"What you said about a rat made me think of it," said Jezebel. "We have
lots of rats in the land of Midian. Sometimes we catch them--they are
very good to eat. We make traps, but if we do not kill the rats soon
after they are caught they gnaw their way to freedom--they gnaw the
cords which bind the traps together."
"Well, what of it?" demanded Danny. "We ain' got no rats, and if we
had--well, I won't say I wouldn't eat 'em, kid; but I don't see what
it's got to do with the mess we're in."
"We're like the rats, Danny," she said. "Don't you see? We're like the
rats and--we can gnaw our way to freedom!"
"Well, kid," said Danny, "if you want to gnaw your way through the
side of this hut, hop to it; but if I gets a chance to duck I'm goin'
through the door."
"You do not understand, Danny," insisted Jezebel. "You are an egg that
cannot talk. I mean that I can gnaw the cords that fasten your wrists
together."
"Geeze, kid!" exclaimed Danny. "Dumb ain't no name for it, and I always
thought I was the bright little boy. You sure got a bean, and I don't
mean maybe."
"I wish I knew what you are talking about, Danny," said Jezebel, "and I
wish you would let me try to gnaw the cords from your wrist. Can't you
understand what I'm talking about?"
"Sure, kid, but I'll do the gnawing--my jaws are tougher. Roll over,
and I'll get busy. When you're free you untie me."
Jezebel rolled over on her stomach and Danny wriggled into position
where he could reach the thongs at her wrists with his teeth. He fell
to work with a will, but it was soon evident to him that the job was
going to be much more difficult than he had anticipated.
He found, too, that he was very weak and soon tired; but though often
he was forced to stop through exhaustion, he never gave up. Once, when
he paused to rest, he kissed the little hands that he was trying to
liberate. It was a gentle, reverent kiss, quite unlike the "Gunner";
but then love is a strange force, and when it is aroused in the breast
of a man by a clean and virtuous woman it makes him always a little
tenderer and a little better.
Dawn was lifting the darkness with the hut, and still the "Gunner"
gnawed upon the thongs that it seemed would never part. Capietro lay
staring at the ceiling, his dead eyes rolled upward, just as he had
lain there staring through all the long hours of the night, unseeing.
The _shiftas_ were stirring in the village, for this was to be a busy
day. Slaves were preparing the loads of camp equipment and plunder that
they were to carry toward the north. The fighting men were hastening
their breakfasts that they might look to their weapons and their horse
gear before riding out on their last raid from this village, against
the camp of the English hunter.
Ntale the chief was eating beside the fire of his favorite wife. "Make
haste, woman," he said. "I have work to do before we ride."
"You are chief now," she reminded him. "Let others work."
"This thing I do myself," replied the black man.
"What do you that is so important that I must hasten the preparation of
the morning meal?" she demanded.
"I go to kill the white man and get the girl ready for the journey," he
replied. "Have food prepared for her. She must eat or she will die."
"Let her die," replied the woman. "I do not want her around. Kill them
both."
"Shut thy mouth!" snapped the man. "I am chief."
"If you do not kill her, I shall," said the woman, "I shall not cook
for any white bitch."
The man rose. "I go to kill the man," he said. "Have breakfast for the
girl when I return with her."