The Forest God

           WhenClaytonheardthereportofthefirearmhefellintoanagonyoffearandapprehension.Heknewthatoneofthesailorsmightbetheauthorofit;butthefactthathehadlefttherevolverwithJane,togetherwiththeoverwroughtconditionofhisnerves,madehimmorbidlypositivethatshewasthreatenedwithsomegreatdanger.Perhapsevennowshewasattemptingtodefendherselfagainstsomesavagemanorbeast.

           WhatwerethethoughtsofhisstrangecaptororguideClaytoncouldonlyvaguelyconjecture;butthathehadheardtheshot,andwasinsomemanneraffectedbyitwasquiteevident,forhequickenedhispacesoappreciablythatClayton,stumblingblindlyinhiswake,wasdownadozentimesinasmanyminutesinavainefforttokeeppacewithhim,andsoonwaslefthopelesslybehind.

           Fearingthathewouldagainbeirretrievablylost,hecalledaloudtothewildmanaheadofhim,andinamomenthadthesatisfactionofseeinghimdroplightlytohissidefromthebranchesabove.

           ForamomentTarzanlookedattheyoungmanclosely,asthoughundecidedastojustwhatwasbesttodo;then,stoopingdownbeforeClayton,hemotionedhimtograsphimabouttheneck,and,withthewhitemanuponhisback,Tarzantooktothetrees.

           ThenextfewminutestheyoungEnglishmanneverforgot.Highintobendingandswayingbrancheshewasbornewithwhatseemedtohimincredibleswiftness,whileTarzanchafedattheslownessofhisprogress.