Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
Life and Death
Therebeforehimstoodtheterrifiedgirlvainlytryingtofireanotherbulletintotheanimal’sbody;butshedidnotunderstandthemechanismofthefirearm,andthehammerfellfutilelyuponanemptycartridge.
AlmostsimultaneouslyClaytonregainedhisfeet,andwithoutthoughtoftheutterhopelessnessofit,herushedforwardtodragtheapefromhiswife’sprostrateform.
Withlittleornoefforthesucceeded,andthegreatbulkrolledinertlyupontheturfbeforehim—theapewasdead.Thebullethaddoneitswork.
Ahastyexaminationofhiswiferevealednomarksuponher,andClaytondecidedthatthehugebrutehaddiedtheinstanthehadsprungtowardAlice.
Gentlyheliftedhiswife’sstillunconsciousform,andborehertothelittlecabin,butitwasfullytwohoursbeforesheregainedconsciousness.
HerfirstwordsfilledClaytonwithvagueapprehension.Forsometimeafterregaininghersenses,Alicegazedwonderinglyabouttheinteriorofthelittlecabin,andthen,withasatisfiedsigh,said:
"O,John,itissogoodtobereallyhome!Ihavehadanawfuldream,dear.IthoughtwewerenolongerinLondon,butinsomehorribleplacewheregreatbeastsattackedus."
"There,there,Alice,"hesaid,strokingherforehead,"trytosleepagain,anddonotworryyourheadaboutbaddreams.
