Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Search Party
Theyquestionedtheprisonersbysigns,andfinallyoneofthesailorswhohadservedintheFrenchCongofoundthathecouldmakethemunderstandthebastardtonguethatpassesforlanguagebetweenthewhitesandthemoredegradedtribesofthecoast,buteventhentheycouldlearnnothingdefiniteregardingthefateofD’Arnot.
Onlyexcitedgesturesandexpressionsoffearcouldtheyobtaininresponsetotheirinquiriesconcerningtheirfellow;andatlasttheybecameconvincedthatthesewerebutevidencesoftheguiltofthesedemonswhohadslaughteredandeatentheircomradetwonightsbefore.
Atlengthallhopeleftthem,andtheypreparedtocampforthenightwithinthevillage.Theprisonerswereherdedintothreehutswheretheywereheavilyguarded.Sentrieswerepostedatthebarredgates,andfinallythevillagewaswrappedinthesilenceofslumber,exceptforthewailingofthenativewomenfortheirdead.
Thenextmorningtheysetoutuponthereturnmarch.Theiroriginalintentionhadbeentoburnthevillage,butthisideawasabandonedandtheprisonerswereleftbehind,weepingandmoaning,butwithroofstocoverthemandapalisadeforrefugefromthebeastsofthejungle.
Slowlytheexpeditionretraceditsstepsoftheprecedingday.Tenloadedhammocksretardeditspace.Ineightofthemlaythemoreseriouslywounded,whiletwoswungbeneaththeweightofthedead.
