Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Life and Death
Claytonwasatsomedistancefromthecabin,havingcometofellaparticularlyperfecttreeforhisbuildingoperations.Growncarelessfrommonthsofcontinuedsafety,duringwhichtimehehadseennodangerousanimalsduringthedaylighthours,hehadlefthisriflesandrevolversallwithinthelittlecabin,andnowthathesawthegreatapecrashingthroughtheunderbrushdirectlytowardhim,andfromadirectionwhichpracticallycuthimofffromescape,hefeltavaguelittleshiverplayupanddownhisspine.
Heknewthat,armedonlywithanax,hischanceswiththisferociousmonsterweresmallindeed—andAlice;OGod,hethought,whatwillbecomeofAlice?
Therewasyetaslightchanceofreachingthecabin.Heturnedandrantowardit,shoutinganalarmtohiswifetoruninandclosethegreatdoorincasetheapecutoffhisretreat.
LadyGreystokehadbeensittingalittlewayfromthecabin,andwhensheheardhiscryshelookeduptoseetheapespringingwithalmostincredibleswiftness,forsolargeandawkwardananimal,inanefforttoheadoffClayton.
Withalowcryshesprangtowardthecabin,and,assheentered,gaveabackwardglancewhichfilledhersoulwithterror,forthebrutehadinterceptedherhusband,whonowstoodatbaygraspinghisaxwithbothhandsreadytoswingitupontheinfuriatedanimalwhenheshouldmakehisfinalcharge.
"Closeandboltthedoor,Alice,"criedClayton.
