Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Search Party
Theycarriedbeddingandhammocks,thelatterfortransportingtheirsickandwounded.
Itwasadeterminedandangrycompany—apunitiveexpeditionaswellasoneofrelief.Theyreachedthesiteoftheskirmishofthepreviousexpeditionshortlyafternoon,fortheywerenowtravelingaknowntrailandnotimewaslostinexploring.
Fromthereontheelephant-trackledstraighttoMbonga’svillage.Itwasbuttwoo’clockwhentheheadofthecolumnhaltedupontheedgeoftheclearing.
LieutenantCharpentier,whowasincommand,immediatelysentaportionofhisforcethroughthejungletotheoppositesideofthevillage.Anotherdetachmentwasdispatchedtoapointbeforethevillagegate,whileheremainedwiththebalanceuponthesouthsideoftheclearing.
Itwasarrangedthatthepartywhichwastotakeitspositiontothenorth,andwhichwouldbethelasttogainitsstationshouldcommencetheassault,andthattheiropeningvolleyshouldbethesignalforaconcertedrushfromallsidesinanattempttocarrythevillagebystormatthefirstcharge.
ForhalfanhourthemenwithLieutenantCharpentiercrouchedinthedensefoliageofthejungle,waitingthesignal.Tothemitseemedlikehours.Theycouldseenativesinthefields,andothersmovinginandoutofthevillagegate.
