Тарзан, прийом мавп
The Search Party
Atlengththesignalcame—asharprattleofmusketry,andlikeoneman,anansweringvolleytorefromthejungletothewestandtothesouth.
Thenativesinthefielddroppedtheirimplementsandbrokemadlyforthepalisade.TheFrenchbulletsmowedthemdown,andtheFrenchsailorsboundedovertheirprostratebodiesstraightforthevillagegate.
Sosuddenandunexpectedtheassaulthadbeenthatthewhitesreachedthegatesbeforethefrightenednativescouldbarthem,andinanotherminutethevillagestreetwasfilledwitharmedmenfightinghandtohandinaninextricabletangle.
Forafewmomentstheblacksheldtheirgroundwithintheentrancetothestreet,buttherevolvers,riflesandcutlassesoftheFrenchmencrumpledthenativespearmenandstruckdowntheblackarcherswiththeirbowshalfdrawn.
Soonthebattleturnedtoawildrout,andthentoagrimmassacre;fortheFrenchsailorshadseenbitsofD’Arnot’suniformuponseveraloftheblackwarriorswhoopposedthem.
Theysparedthechildrenandthoseofthewomenwhomtheywerenotforcedtokillinself-defense,butwhenatlengththeystopped,parting,bloodcoveredandsweating,itwasbecausetherelivedtoopposethemnosinglewarriorofallthesavagevillageofMbonga.
Carefullytheyransackedeveryhutandcornerofthevillage,butnosignofD’Arnotcouldtheyfind.
