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When he comes out you should speak to him about it. He has
just sent me to fetch the skin of the codon you killed. He was
very angry to think that I left it lying in the forest."
After Balal departed, Tanar sat with his own thoughts for a
long while.
Presently Gura came from the cave. She appeared frightened
and excited. She came close to Tanar and, kneeling, placed her
lips close to his ear. "You must escape at once," she said, in a low
whisper. "Scurv is going to kill you. That is why he sent Balal
away."
"But why does he want to kill me?" demanded Tanar. "I saved
the life of his son and I have only asked that he direct me to the
village of Jude.''
"He thinks Sloo is in love with you," explained Gura, "for
when he awakened she was not in the cave. She was out here
upon the ledge with you."
Tanar laughed. "Sloo made it very plain to me that she did not
like me," he said, "and wanted me to be gone."
"I believe you," said Gura, "but Scurv, filled with suspicion
and hatred and a guilty conscience, is anxious to believe
anything bad that he can of Sloo, and as he does not wish to be
convinced that he is wrong it stands to reason that nothing can
convince him, so that your only hope is in flight."
"Thank you, Gura," said Tanar. "I shall go at once."
"No, that will not do," said the girl. "Scurv is coming out here
immediately. He would miss you, possibly before you could get
out of sight, and in a moment he could muster a hundred
warriors to pursue you, and furthermore you have no proper
weapons with which to start out in search of Jude.''
"Perhaps you have a better plan, then," said Tanar.
"I have," said the girl. "Listen! Do you see where the stream
enters the jungle," and she pointed across the clearing at the
foot of the cliff toward the edge of a dark forest.
"Yes," said Tanar, "I see."
"I shall descend now and hide there in a large tree beside the
stream. When Scurv comes out, tell him that you saw a deer
there and ask him to loan you weapons, so that you may go and
kill it. Meat is always welcome and he will postpone his attack
upon you until you have returned with the carcass of your kill,
but you will not return. When you enter the forest I shall be
there to direct you to the village of Jude."
"Why are you doing this, Gura?" demanded Tanar.
 Never mind about that,'' said the girl.  Only do as I say.
There is no time to lose as Scurv may come out from the cave at
any moment," and without further words she commenced the
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descent of the cliff face.
Tanar watched her as, with the agility and grace of a chamois,
the girl, oftentimes disdaining ladders, leaped lightly from ledge
to ledge. Almost before he could realize it she was at the bottom
of the cliff and moving swiftly toward the forest beyond, the
foliage of which had scarcely closed about her when Scurv
emerged from the cave. Directly behind him were Sloo and
Dhung, and Tanar saw that each carried a club.
"I am glad you came out now," said Tanar, losing no time, for
he sensed that the three were bent upon immediate attack.
"Why?" growled Scurv.
"I just saw a deer at the edge of the forest. If you will let me
take weapons, perhaps I can repay your hospitality by bringing
you the carcass."
Scurv hesitated, his stupid mind requiring time to readjust
itself and change from one line of thought to another, but Sloo
was quick to see the advantage of utilizing the unwelcome guest
and she willing to delay his murder until he had brought back
the kill. "Get weapons," she said to Dhung,  and let the stranger
fetch the deer.''
Scurv scratched his head, still in a quandary, and before he
had made up his mind one way or the other, Dhung reappeared
with a lance and a stone knife, which, instead of handing to
Tanar, he threw at him, but the Sarian caught the weapons, and,
without awaiting further permission, clambered down the
ladder to the next ledge and from thence downward to the
ground. Several of the villagers, recognizing him as a stranger,
sought to interfere with him, but Scurv, standing upon the ledge
high above watching his descent, bellowed commands that he be
left alone, and presently the Sarian was crossing the open
towards the jungle.
Just inside the concealing verdure of the forest he was
accosted by Gura, who was perched upon the limb of a tree
above him.
"Your warning came just in time, Gura," said the man, "for
Scurv and Sloo and Dhung came out almost immediately, armed
and ready to kill me.''
"I knew that they would," she said, "and I am glad that they
will be disappointed, especially Dhung the little beast! He
begged to be allowed to torture you."
"It does not seem possible that he can be your brother," said
Tanar.
"He is just like Scurv's mother," said the girl. "I knew her
before she was killed. She was a most terrible old woman, and
Dhung has inherited all of her venom and none of the kindly
blood of the Amiocapians, which flows in the veins of my
mother, despite the change that her horrid life has brought over
her.''
"And now," said Tanar, "point the way to Jude's village and I
shall be gone. Never, Gura, can I repay you for your kindness to
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me a kindness which I can only explain on the strength of the
Amiocapian blood which is in you. I shall never see you again,
Gura, but I shall carry the recollection of your image and your
kindness always in my heart."
"I am going with you," said Gura.
"You cannot do that," said Tanar.
"How else may I guide you to the village ofJude then?" she
demanded.
"You do not have to guide me; only tell me the direction in
which it lies and I shall find it," replied Tanar.
"I am going with you," said the girl, determinedly. "There is
only hate and misery in the cave of my father. I would rather be
with you.9'
"But that cannot be, Gura," said Tanar.
6
'If I went back now to the cave of Scurv he would suspect me
of having aided your escape and they would all beat me. Come,
we cannot waste time here for if you do not return quickly, Scurv
will become suspicious and set out upon your trail." She had
dropped to the ground beside him and now she started off into
the forest.
"Have it as you wish, then, Gura," said Tanar, "but I am afraid
that you are going to regret your act I am afraid that we are
both going to regret it."
"At least I shall have a little happiness in life," said the girl,
"and if I have that I shall be willing to die."
"Wait," said Tanar, "in which direction does the village of
Jude lie?" The girl pointed. "Very well," said Tanar, ' 'instead of
going on the ground and leaving our spoor plainly marked for
Scurv to follow, we shall take to the trees, for after having
watched you descend the cliff I know that you must be able to
travel as rapidly among the branches as you do upon the
ground."
"I have never done it," said the girl, "but wherever you go I
shall follow."
Although Tanar had been loath to permit the girl to accom-
pany him, nevertheless he found that her companionship made
what would have been otherwise a lonely adventure far from
unpleasant.
XII
 I HATE YOU!"
THE COMPANIONS OF BOHAR THE BLOODY HAD NOT
waited long for him after he had set out in pursuit of Stellara
and had not returned. They .hastened the work upon their boat
to early completion, and, storing provisions and water, sailed
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out of the coves on the shores of which they had constructed
their craft and bore away to Korsar with no regret for Bohar,
whom they all cordially hated.
The very storm that had come near to driving Tanar past the
island of Hime bore the Korsars down upon the opposite end,
carried away their rude sail and finally dashed their craft, a totnl
wreck, upon the rocks at the upper end of Hime.
The loss of their boat, their provisions and one of their [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]