Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The White Ape
Toonelesswisethewildalarmofherfiercecryasshesprangwouldhaveseemedafoolishthing,forcouldshenotmoresurelyhavefallenuponhervictimshadshebutquietlyleapedwithoutthatloudshriek?
ButSaborknewwellthewondrousquicknessofthejunglefolkandtheiralmostunbelievablepowersofhearing.Tothemthesuddenscrapingofonebladeofgrassacrossanotherwasaseffectualawarningasherloudestcry,andSaborknewthatshecouldnotmakethatmightyleapwithoutalittlenoise.
Herwildscreamwasnotawarning.Itwasvoicedtofreezeherpoorvictimsinaparalysisofterrorforthetinyfractionofaninstantwhichwouldsufficeforhermightyclawstosinkintotheirsoftfleshandholdthembeyondhopeofescape.
Sofarastheapewasconcerned,Saborreasonedcorrectly.Thelittlefellowcrouchedtremblingjustaninstant,butthatinstantwasquitelongenoughtoprovehisundoing.
Notso,however,withTarzan,theman-child.Hislifeamidstthedangersofthejunglehadtaughthimtomeetemergencieswithself-confidence,andhishigherintelligenceresultedinaquicknessofmentalactionfarbeyondthepowersoftheapes.
SothescreamofSabor,thelioness,galvanizedthebrainandmusclesoflittleTarzanintoinstantaction.
Beforehimlaythedeepwatersofthelittlelake,behindhimcertaindeath;acrueldeathbeneathtearingclawsandrendingfangs.
