Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
At the Mercy of the Jungle
"Oh,Gaberelle!"sheshrieked,andslidtotheflooraninertandsenselessmass.
Forwhatseemedaneternitythegreatbrutestoodwithitsforepawsuponthesill,glaringintothelittleroom.Presentlyittriedthestrengthofthelatticewithitsgreattalons.
Thegirlhadalmostceasedtobreathe,when,toherrelief,theheaddisappearedandsheheardthebrute’sfootstepsleavingthewindow.Butnowtheycametothedooragain,andoncemorethescratchingcommenced;thistimewithincreasingforceuntilthegreatbeastwastearingatthemassivepanelsinaperfectfrenzyofeagernesstoseizeitsdefenselessvictims.
CouldJanehaveknowntheimmensestrengthofthatdoor,builtpiecebypiece,shewouldhavefeltlessfearofthelionessreachingherbythisavenue.
LittledidJohnClaytonimaginewhenhefashionedthatcrudebutmightyportalthatoneday,twentyyearslater,itwouldshieldafairAmericangirl,thenunborn,fromtheteethandtalonsofaman-eater.
Forfullytwentyminutesthebrutealternatelysniffedandtoreatthedoor,occasionallygivingvoicetoawild,savagecryofbaffledrage.Atlength,however,shegaveuptheattempt,andJaneheardherreturningtowardthewindow,beneathwhichshepausedforaninstant,andthenlaunchedhergreatweightagainstthetimewornlattice.
Thegirlheardthewoodenrodsgroanbeneaththeimpact;buttheyheld,andthehugebodydroppedbacktothegroundbelow.
