Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
His Own Kind
Mirando,theysaid,whohadbeenaheadofthemashortdistance,hadsuddenlycomescreamingtowardthem,cryingthataterriblewhiteandnakedwarriorwaspursuinghim.Thethreeofthemhadhurriedtowardthevillageasrapidlyastheirlegswouldcarrythem.
AgainMirando’sshrillcryofmortalterrorhadcausedthemtolookback,andtheretheyhadseenthemosthorriblesight—theircompanion’sbodyflyingupwardsintothetrees,hisarmsandlegsbeatingtheairandhistongueprotrudingfromhisopenmouth.Noothersounddidheutternorwasthereanycreatureinsightabouthim.
Thevillagerswereworkedupintoastateoffearborderingonpanic,butwiseoldMbongaaffectedtofeelconsiderableskepticismregardingthetale,andattributedthewholefabricationtotheirfrightinthefaceofsomerealdanger.
"Youtellusthisgreatstory,"hesaid,"becauseyoudonotdaretospeakthetruth.YoudonotdareadmitthatwhenthelionspranguponMirandoyouranawayandlefthim.Youarecowards."
ScarcelyhadMbongaceasedspeakingwhenagreatcrashingofbranchesinthetreesabovethemcausedtheblackstolookupinrenewedterror.ThesightthatmettheireyesmadeevenwiseoldMbongashudder,forthere,turningandtwistingintheair,camethedeadbodyofMirando,tosprawlwithasickeningreverberationuponthegroundattheirfeet.
