Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Call of the Primitive
Atboughs’ends,wheretheanthropoidswingsfromonetreetoanother,thereismosttomarkthetrail,butleasttopointthedirectionofthequarry;fortherethepressureisdownwardalways,towardthesmallendofthebranch,whethertheapebeleavingorenteringatree.Nearerthecenterofthetree,wherethesignsofpassagearefainter,thedirectionisplainlymarked.
Here,onthisbranch,acaterpillarhasbeencrushedbythefugitive’sgreatfoot,andTarzanknowsinstinctivelywherethatsamefootwouldtouchinthenextstride.Herehelookstofindatinyparticleofthedemolishedlarva,ofttimesnotmorethanaspeckofmoisture.
Again,aminutebitofbarkhasbeenupturnedbythescrapinghand,andthedirectionofthebreakindicatesthedirectionofthepassage.Orsomegreatlimb,orthestemofthetreeitselfhasbeenbrushedbythehairybody,andatinyshredofhairtellshimbythedirectionfromwhichitiswedgedbeneaththebarkthatheisontherighttrail.
Nordoesheneedtocheckhisspeedtocatchtheseseeminglyfaintrecordsofthefleeingbeast.
ToTarzantheystandoutboldlyagainstallthemyriadotherscarsandbruisesandsignsupontheleafyway.Butstrongestofallisthescent,forTarzanispursuingupthewind,andhistrainednostrilsareassensitiveasahound’s.
