Tarzan's Quest t-18 Read online

  "No such luck," said Brown.

  "It was a very close call, sir, if I may make so bold as to say so, sir," said Tibbs.

  Jane stepped into the cabin doorway. "All right?" she asked. "From the noise you were making, Kitty, I thought something dreadful had happened."

  "The Lord only knows what would happen if something really should happen," said Brown, disgustedly. "I'm getting fed up on all this screaming and bellyaching. I never had no royalty in my hair before, but I sure got 'em now."

  Jane shook her head. "Be patient, Brown," she said. "Remember this is all new to them, and naturally anyway their nerves are on edge after all that we have passed through."

  "Well, ain't the rest of us got nerves, Miss? Ain't we got a right to be upset, too? But you don't hear none of us bawling around like them. I suppose being royal gives 'em the right to be nuisances."

  "Never mind, now," said Jane; "you're getting as bad as the others, Brown. The thing that I am interested in just now is what we are going to do about that lion. He may hang around here for hours; and as long as he does, we're just blocked. He's in a nasty mood, and it won't be safe to go down there until we know that he has cleared out. The best thing for us to do is to kill him, as he may hang around this neighborhood waiting for a chance to get some of us. He's an old fellow; and because of that, he may be a man-eater. They get that way when they are too old to bag their regular prey."

  "A man-eater!" The Princess Sborov shuddered. "How horrible. I mean, how terribly horrible."

  "I think we can get rid of him," said Jane. "You brought rifles, of course, Alexis?"

  "Oh, yes, indeed, two of them—high-powered rifles—they'd stop an elephant."

  "Good," said Jane, "where are they?"

  "They're in the baggage compartment, Miss; I'll get them," said Brown.

  "And bring some ammunition, too," said Jane.

  "Who's going down there to shoot the horrid thing?" demanded the princess.

  "I, of course," said Jane.

  "But, my dear," cried the princess, "I mean, you just couldn't."

  Brown returned with a rifle. "I couldn't find no ammunition, Miss," he said. "Where is it packed, Sborov?"

  "Eh, what?" demanded the prince.

  "The ammunition," snapped Brown.

  "Oh, ammunition?"

  "Yes, ammunition, you—"

  The prince cleared his throat. "Well, you see, I—ah—"

  "You mean you didn't bring any ammunition?" demanded Brown. "Well, of all the—"

  "Never mind," said Jane. "If there's no ammunition, there's no ammunition, and grousing about it isn't going to get us any."

  "If I may be permitted, I think I can be of assistance, Milady," said Tibbs, not without some show of pride.

  "How is that, Tibbs?" asked Jane.

  "I have a firearm in my bag, Milady. I will kill the beast."

  "That's fine, Tibbs," said Jane; "please go and get it."

  As Tibbs was moving toward the doorway, he suddenly stopped. A flush slowly mantled his face; he appeared most uncomfortable.

  "What's the matter, Tibbs?" asked Jane.

  "I—I had forgotten, Milady," he stammered, "but my bag has already been lowered down there with the bloomin' lion."

  Jane could not repress a laugh. "This is becoming a comedy of errors," she cried, "—rifles without ammunition, and our only firearm in possession of the enemy."

  "Oh, my dear, what are we going to do?" demanded the princess.

  "There's nothing to do until that brute goes away. It's almost too late now anyway to try to make camp; we'll simply have to make the best of it up here for the night."

  And so it was that a most unhappy and uncomfortable party shivered and grumbled through the long, dark night—a night made hideous by the roars of hunting lions and the shrill screams of stricken beasts. But at last day broke with that uncanny suddenness that is a phenomenon of equatorial regions.

  The moment that it was light enough Jane was out recon-noitering. The lion was gone; and a survey of the surrounding country in the immediate vicinity of the ship, from the lower branches of the trees, revealed no sign of him or any other danger.

  "I think we can go down now and start making camp," she said, after she had returned to the ship. "Is most of the baggage down, Brown?"

  "All but a few pieces, Miss," he replied.

  "Well, get it down as rapidly as possible; and then we'll cut an opening to the trail; it is only a few yards."

  "All right, Miss," said Brown. "Come on, your majesty, we'll lower you down to unhook the stuff at the other end."

  "You won't lower me down," said Alexis. "I wouldn't go down there alone again for all the baggage in the world."

  Brown looked at the man with disgust that he made no effort to conceal. "All right," he said, "you stay up here and help Tibbs; I'll go down and unfasten the stuff when you lower it to me."

  "If you think I'm going to balance out there on that limb and unload the baggage compartment, you're mistaken," said the prince. "It's absolutely out of the question; I get very dizzy in high places, and I should most certainly fall."

  "Well, what are you going to do?" demanded Brown; "sit around here while the rest of us wait on you?"

  "That's what you servants were hired for," said Alexis.

  "Oh, yeah? Well—"

  "I'll go down below," said Jane. "Brown, you and Tibbs lower the stuff to me. Now let's get busy," and with that she turned and dropped down through the trees to the ground below.

  With a grunt of disgust, Brown climbed out on the limb that led to the baggage compartment, followed by Tibbs; and the two soon lowered away the remainder of the luggage.

  "Now lower your passengers," called Jane, after Brown had told her that there was no more baggage. "Alexis, you come first."

  "Come on, your majesty," said Brown; "you're going first."

  "I told you that I wouldn't go down there alone," said the prince. "Lower the others."

  "All right, your majesty, but if you don't go now, you'll either climb down yourself or stay here till Hell freezes over, for all I care. Come ahead, Annette; I guess you're the one to go first, and then we'll lower the old lady."

  "Brown, how dare you refer to me so disrespectfully?" It was the voice of the Princess Sborov coming from the interior of the cabin.

  "There's nothing wrong with her ears," said Brown, with a grin.

  "I'm terribly afraid, Mr. Brown," said Annette.

  "You needn't be, little one," he replied; "we'll see that nothing happens to you. Come on, sit down in the doorway and I'll put this belt around you."

  "You won't drop me?"

  "Not a chance, my dear. I might drop royalty, but not you."

  She flashed him a quick smile. "You are so very nice, Mr. Brown," she said.

  "You just finding that out? Well, come on, sister; climb out on this branch here. I'll help you. Steady—now sit down. Ready, Tibbs?"

  "Ready, sir," replied Tibbs.

  "All right. Now down you go."

  Annette clutched her rosary, closed her eyes, and started praying, but before she realized it she had touched the ground and Jane was helping to remove the belt from about her.

  "Now, princess," called Brown.

  "Oh, I can't move," cried the princess. "I'm paralyzed. I mean, I really am."

  Brown turned to Sborov. "Go in there, mister, and fork your old lady out," he snapped. "We ain't got no time to fool around. Tell her if she don't come pronto, we'll leave you both up here."

  "You unspeakable ruffian," sputtered the prince.

  "Shut up, and go on and do what I tell you to," growled the pilot.

  Sborov turned back to his wife and helped her to the door of the cabin, but one glance down was enough for her. She screamed and shrank back.

  "Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up," said Brown.

  "I can't. I mean, I just can't, Brown."

  Brown made his way to the cabin. He carried the end of a long strap with him. "Come on,"
he said, "let me get this around you."

  "But I can't do it, I tell you. I mean, I shall die of fright."

  "You won't die of nothing; half-witted people live forever."

  "That will be enough out of you, Brown. I have endured all of your insults that I am going to." The princess bridled and attempted to look very dignified, in which, in her dishevelled condition, she failed miserably.

  Brown had stooped and fastened the belt about her.

  "Ready, Tibbs?" he asked.

  "Yes, sir. All ready, sir," replied the valet.

  "Come on then, princess. Here, you, give me a lift. Shove on her from behind."

  Brown pulled from in front, and Alexis pushed from behind, and the Princess Sborov shrieked and clawed at everything in sight in an attempt to get a hold that they could not break.

  "What's the matter up there?" demanded Jane. "Is anyone hurt?"

  "No," replied Brown. "We're just moving the better half of the royal family. Now listen, princess, we're doing this for your own good. If you stays up here alone, you starves to death."

  "Yes, go on, Kitty. You're delaying things," said Alexis.

  "A lot you'd care if I were killed, Alexis. I suppose you'd be glad if I were dead—it's all that will you got me to make. I was a big fool to do it; but, believe me, I mean, just as soon as I find writing materials, I'm going to change it, after what you said to me and what you called me. I'll cut you off without a cent, Alexis, without a cent."

  The eyes of Prince Sborov closed to two ugly slits. His brow contracted in a frown, but he made no reply.

  Brown took the princess' hands and held them away from the chair to which she had been clinging. "There ain't no use, princess," he said, a little less harshly this time, for he saw that the woman was genuinely terrified. "Tibbs and I'll see that you don't get hurt none. We'll lower you easy, and Lady Greystoke and Annette are down there to help you. Just get hold of yourself and show a little spunk for a minute and it will be over."

  "Oh, I shall die, I know I shall die."

  Brown and Alexis lifted her out of the cabin onto the branch that passed close to the doorway. Slowly they eased her off it and then lowered her carefully to the ground.

  "Well, Tibbs," said Brown, "I guess you're next. Do you want to be lowered, or will you climb down?"

  "I shall climb down," replied Tibbs. "You and I can go together and perhaps help one another."

  "Hey, how about me?" demanded Sborov.

  "You climb, too, you louse, or you can stay up here," replied Brown, "and I don't mean maybe!"

  Chapter 8 Ydeni, the Kavuru

  FRAMED in the small doorway of the hut and silhouetted against the lesser darkness beyond, Tarzan saw the figure of his stealthy nocturnal visitor and knew that it was a man.

  Helpless in his bonds, the Lord of the Jungle could only wait, for he could not defend himself. And though he chafed at the thought of giving up his life without an opportunity to defend it, he was still unmoved and unafraid.

  The figure crept closer, groping in the darkness, when suddenly Tarzan spoke. "Who are you?" he demanded.

  The creature sought to silence him with a sibilant hiss. "Not so loud," he cautioned. "I am Gupingu, the witchdoctor."

  "What do you want?"

  "I have come to set you free. Go back to your people, Kavuru, and tell them that Gupingu saved you from death. Tell them that because of this, they must not harm Gupingu or take his daughters from him."

  Darkness hid the faint smile with which Tarzan received this charge. "You are a wise man, Gupingu," he said; "now cut my bonds."

  "One thing more," said Gupingu.

  "What is that?"

  "You must promise never to tell Udalo, or any of my people, that I freed you."

  "They will never know from me," replied the ape-man, "if you will tell me where your people think we Kavuru live."

  "You live to the north, beyond a barren country, by a high mountain that stands alone in the center of a plain," explained Gupingu.

  "Do your people know the trail to the Kavuru country?"

  "I know it," replied the witch-doctor, "but I promise not to lead anyone there."

  "That is well—if you know."

  "I do know," insisted Gupingu.

  "Tell me how you would reach this trail; then I shall know whether you know or not."

  "To the north of our kraal, leading to the north, is an old elephant trail. It winds much, but it leads always toward the country of the Kavuru. Much bamboo grows on the slopes of the mountain beside your village, and there the elephants have gone for years to feed on the young shoots."

  The witch-doctor came closer and felt for the bonds around Tarzan's ankles. "After I have freed you," he said, "wait here until I have had time to return to my hut; then go silently to the gates of the village; there you will find a platform just inside the palisade from which the warriors shoot their arrows over the top when enemies attack us. From there you can easily climb over the top of the palisade, and drop to the ground on the outside."

  "Where are my weapons?" demanded Tarzan.

  "They are in the hut of Udalo, but you cannot get them. A warrior sleeps just inside the doorway; you would awaken him if you tried to enter."

  "Cut my bonds," said the ape-man.

  With his knife, Gupingu severed the thongs about the prisoner's ankles and wrists. "Wait now, until I have reached my hut," he said, and turning, crawled silently through the doorway.

  The ape-man stood up and shook himself. He rubbed his wrists and then his ankles to restore circulation. As he waited for Gupingu to reach his hut, he considered the possibility of regaining his weapons.

  Presently, dropping to his knees, he crawled from the hut; and when he stood erect again upon the outside, he drew a deep breath. It was good to be free. On silent feet he moved down the village street. Other than in silence, he sought no concealment for he knew that even if he were discovered they could not take him again before he could reach the palisade and scale it.

  As he approached the chief's hut, he paused. The temptation was very great; for it takes time and labor to produce weapons, and there were his own only a few paces from him.

  He saw a faint light illuminating the interior of the hut—a very faint light from the embers of a dying fire. He approached the entrance, which was much larger than those of the other huts, and just inside and across the threshold he saw the figure of a sleeping warrior.

  Tarzan stooped and looked into the interior. His quick, keen eyes, accustomed to darkness, discovered much more than might yours or mine; and one of the first things that they discovered were his weapons lying near the fire beyond the body of the warrior.

  The throat of the sleeping man lay bare and fully exposed. It would have been the work of but a moment for the steel-thewed fingers of the ape-man to have throttled life from that unconscious figure. Tarzan considered the possibilities of this plan, but he discarded it for two reasons. One was that he never chose to kill wantonly; and the other, and probably the dominating reason, was that he was sure that the man would struggle even if he could not cry out and that his struggles would awaken the sleepers inside the hut, an event which would preclude the possibility of Tarzan retrieving his weapons. So he decided upon another and even more dangerous plan.

  Stooping and moving cautiously, he stepped over the body of the warrior. He made no sound, and the two steps took him to his weapons.

  First of all, he retrieved his precious knife, which he slipped into the sheath at his hip; then he adjusted the quiver of arrows behind his right shoulder and looped his rope across his left. Gathering his short spear and bow in one hand, he turned again toward the entrance, after a hasty glance around the interior of the hut to assure himself that its occupants were all asleep.

  At that instant, the warrior rolled over and opened his eyes. At the sight of a man standing between himself and the fire, he sat up. In the gloom of the interior, it was impossible for him to know that this was an enemy, and
the natural assumption was that one of the inmates of the hut was moving about in the night. Yet the figure did not seem familiar, and the warrior was puzzled.

  "Who's that?" he demanded. "What's the matter?"

  Tarzan took a step nearer the man. "Silence," he whispered. "One sound and you die; I am the Kavuru."

  The black's lower jaw dropped; his eyes went wide. Even in the semi-darkness, Tarzan could see him tremble.

  "Go outside," directed the ape-man, "and I will not harm you; and go quietly."

  Shaking like a leaf, the warrior did as he was bid; and Tarzan followed him. He made the warrior accompany him to the gates and open them; then he passed out of the village of Udalo into the black jungle night. A moment later he heard the shouts of the warrior as he aroused the village, but Tarzan knew that there would be no pursuit. They would not dare follow a Kavuru into the night.

  For an hour Tarzan followed the trail toward the north in accordance with Gupingu's directions. All about him were the noises of the jungle night—stealthy movements in the underbrush, the sound of padded feet, the coughing grunts of a nearby lion, the roar of a distant one; but his sensitive ears and nostrils told him where danger lurked; so that he was always alert to avoid it.

  He was moving up wind, and presently he caught the scent of a lion that had not fed—a hunting lion, a hungry lion; and Tarzan took to the trees. A short search revealed a comfortable resting place, and here he lay up for the remainder of the night. Wondering what had become of Nkima, whom he had not seen since he was captured, he fell asleep, soothed by the familiar jungle sounds.

  With the coming of dawn, he moved on again toward the north; and back in the village of Udalo , little Nkima cowered among the branches of the tree above the chief's hut.

  He was a most unhappy little monkey, a very frightened little monkey. During the night the blacks had run from their huts shouting and jabbering. That had awakened Nkima, but he had not known the cause of it; he did not know that it meant that his master had escaped from the village. He thought he was still lying in the hut where he had seen the Bukena take him.

  When Nkima awoke again, dawn was dispelling the darkness. Below him, the village streets were deserted. He heard no sound of life from any hut. He looked down upon that one to which they had dragged his master; and, summoning all his courage, he dropped quickly to the ground and scampered along the village street to the entrance to this hut.