Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Life and Death
Thricehadtheycaughtfleetingglimpsesofgreatman-likefigureslikethatofthefirstnight,butneveratsufficientlycloserangetoknowpositivelywhetherthehalf-seenformswerethoseofmanorbrute.
Thebrilliantbirdsandthelittlemonkeyshadbecomeaccustomedtotheirnewacquaintances,andastheyhadevidentlyneverseenhumanbeingsbeforetheypresently,aftertheirfirstfrighthadwornoff,approachedcloserandcloser,impelledbythatstrangecuriositywhichdominatesthewildcreaturesoftheforestandthejungleandtheplain,sothatwithinthefirstmonthseveralofthebirdshadgonesofaraseventoacceptmorselsoffoodfromthefriendlyhandsoftheClaytons.
Oneafternoon,whileClaytonwasworkinguponanadditiontotheircabin,forhecontemplatedbuildingseveralmorerooms,anumberoftheirgrotesquelittlefriendscameshriekingandscoldingthroughthetreesfromthedirectionoftheridge.Everastheyfledtheycastfearfulglancesbackofthem,andfinallytheystoppednearClaytonjabberingexcitedlytohimasthoughtowarnhimofapproachingdanger.
Atlasthesawit,thethingthelittlemonkeyssofeared—theman-bruteofwhichtheClaytonshadcaughtoccasionalfleetingglimpses.
Itwasapproachingthroughthejungleinasemi-erectposition,nowandthenplacingthebacksofitsclosedfistsupontheground—agreatanthropoidape,and,asitadvanced,itemitteddeepgutturalgrowlsandanoccasionallowbarkingsound.
