Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Edgar Rice Burroughs

ESL Easy Read

Reading Comprehension B1 • Original Text • Português Support

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Esta edição ESL Easy Read foi adaptada a partir de Tarzan and the Golden Lion, de Edgar Rice Burroughs, publicado originalmente em data não informada.

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Autor

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950)

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Brasil

Autor: Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950)

De acordo com a Lei nº 9.610/1998, os direitos patrimoniais expiram 70 anos após a morte do autor, contados a partir de 1º de janeiro do ano seguinte ao falecimento.

Edgar Rice Burroughs faleceu em 1950.

Situação no Brasil: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Portugal

Autor: Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950)

De acordo com o Código do Direito de Autor e dos Direitos Conexos, a proteção patrimonial dura 70 anos após a morte do autor.

Edgar Rice Burroughs faleceu em 1950.

Situação em Portugal: DOMÍNIO PÚBLICO.

Dados da publicação original

Obra original: Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Autor: Edgar Rice Burroughs

Primeira publicação: data não informada

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Introdução

Como ler este livro

Cada livro desta coleção é apresentado em um nível de leitura simplificada, de acordo com o CEFR — Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para Línguas.

A2 — Básico: indicado para leitores que já compreendem frases simples, vocabulário frequente e textos curtos sobre situações do cotidiano.

B1 — Intermediário: indicado para leitores que conseguem compreender as ideias principais de textos claros e acompanhar uma narrativa com vocabulário e estruturas de dificuldade moderada.

B2 — Intermediário avançado: indicado para leitores que já conseguem compreender textos mais complexos, acompanhar descrições detalhadas e reconhecer uma variedade maior de vocabulário e estruturas gramaticais.

Este livro foi adaptado para o nível B1.

Assim, você pode começar a lê-lo mesmo sem dominar completamente o inglês. O texto foi simplificado para facilitar a compreensão, preservando a história, os personagens e os acontecimentos principais da obra original.

Como usar as notas

No texto de leitura simplificada, cada parágrafo possui um link Pt/En. Esse link abre uma nota com a tradução em português do texto simplificado e o trecho correspondente no texto original em inglês.

No texto original em inglês, o link PT leva diretamente ao parágrafo correspondente na versão em português. Na tradução portuguesa, o link En retorna ao parágrafo correspondente no texto original.

A tradução para o português é feita a partir do texto em inglês simplificado, e não diretamente do texto original. O objetivo é ajudar você a compreender com precisão a frase simplificada que está estudando naquele momento.

O texto original em inglês é apresentado separadamente para a etapa seguinte do aprendizado, quando você já estiver preparado para ler e comparar a obra em sua forma original.

Cada nota contém links que permitem retornar exatamente ao parágrafo que você estava lendo.

Sobre este livro

Em 'Tarzan e o Leão de Ouro', nono romance da série de Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan enfrenta uma dupla ameaça: um misterioso leão de pelagem dourada que aterroriza seu domínio africano e uma conspiração traiçoeira contra sua esposa, Jane. A história começa com Tarzan descobrindo um leão dourado que parece imune a seus ataques. Enquanto isso, o vilão russo Paulvitch, em busca de vingança por derrotas passadas, sequestra Jane e a leva para a cidade perdida de Opar, onde a sumo sacerdotisa La ainda governa. Tarzan, auxiliado por seus fiéis guerreiros Waziri e pelo macaco Akut, os persegue pela selva. O leão dourado, mais tarde revelado como uma fera treinada controlada por um inimigo oculto, adiciona um elemento sobrenatural à aventura. A narrativa progride através da perseguição implacável de Tarzan, seus encontros com o leão e sua infiltração em Opar. O tom é clássico de Burroughs: ritmo acelerado, cheio de ação, com uma mistura de exotismo e heroísmo. A desenvoltura e a força física de Tarzan são centrais, enquanto ele navega por perigos naturais e humanos. O conflito gira em torno da luta de Tarzan para resgatar Jane enquanto confronta o leão misterioso e os esquemas de Paulvitch. O cenário muda da densa selva para as ruínas antigas e cheias de ouro de Opar, enfatizando o contraste entre a natureza selvagem e a civilização decadente. A história se encaminha para um clímax onde Tarzan deve superar tanto o leão quanto seus inimigos humanos, mas o resultado final permanece não revelado nesta sinopse.

Nota editorial

A tradução para o português e a versão Reading Comprehension B1 foram geradas com apoio de inteligência artificial e submetidas a revisão editorial.

Em caso de dúvida ou observações, fale conosco.

MicMac from Las Vegas LLC
Contato: admin@micmacfromlasvegas.com

Outros livros e materiais

Materiais e outros livros da série ESL Easy Read:

Coleção A Selva de Burroughs

Tarzan of the Apes

The Return Of Tarzan

The Beasts Of Tarzan

The Son Of Tarzan

Tarzan and the Jewels Of Opar

Jungle Tales Of Tarzan

Tarzan The Untamed

Tarzan The Terrible

Tarzan and the Golden Lion

Tarzan and the Ant Men

Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle

Jungle Tales Of Tarzan — ESL Easy Read

Tarzan and the City of Gold

Tarzan and the Lion Man

Tarzan and the Lost Empire

Tarzan at the Earth's Core

Tarzan the Invincible

Tarzan Triumphant

The Tarzan Twins

V21 Popup Test

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Reading Comprehension B1

1 - THE GOLDEN LION

2 - THE TRAINING OF JAD-BAL-JA

3 - A MEETING OF MYSTERY

4 - WHAT THE FOOTPRINTS TOLD

THE GOLDEN LION

Pt/En Sabor, a lioness, was with her only cub, a small, spotted baby. She rested near her cave in the sun, but she was watchful. Sabor and her mate, Numa, had three cubs at first, two girls and one boy, and they were very happy. But there was not much food. Sabor could not give enough milk for three strong cubs. Then it rained, and the cubs became sick. Only the strongest cub lived. The two girl cubs died. Sabor was sad and walked near them, making sad sounds. She sometimes touched them with her nose, as if trying to wake them.

Pt/En Finally, Sabor stopped trying to help her dead cubs. Now, all her attention was on the one boy cub that was left. This is why Sabor was more careful than usual.

Pt/En Numa, the lion, was not there. Two nights before, he had brought food to their home. He had gone hunting again the night before but had not come back. While Sabor rested, she thought about the food her mate might be bringing. She thought it might be Wappi, a fat antelope, or maybe Pacco, a zebra, which was very tasty. Sabor's mouth began to water.

Pt/En Suddenly, Sabor heard something. She lifted her head and turned it, listening carefully with her ears up. She wanted to hear the sound again to know what it was.

Pt/En She smelled the air. There was a little wind, and it carried a smell from the direction of the sound. The sound was getting louder, meaning whatever was making it was coming closer. As the sound got nearer, Sabor became more nervous. She lay on her belly, stopping the milk for her cub. The cub made small angry sounds until Sabor made a soft, sad noise that stopped him. Then the cub stood by her side. He looked where she was looking and turned his head, listening.

Pt/En Sabor the lioness heard a strange sound. It made her feel a little worried, but she was not sure if it was dangerous. She thought it might be her mate returning, but it did not sound like a lion. She looked at her cub and felt she had to protect him.

Pt/En The wind brought a smell to Sabor. She became very angry because it was the smell of a man. She stood up and warned her cub to stay hidden. Then she moved quickly and quietly to meet the person.

Pt/En The cub also heard and smelled the man. It knew this smell meant danger, just like its mother. The cub's fur stood up, and it showed its small teeth. While the mother lioness moved quietly into the bushes, the cub followed her, even though she had told him to stay. The mother did not know he was following.

Pt/En Before the lions was a path through the jungle to their home. Then there was a small open area with a trail. Sabor saw the man in the clearing. She was very afraid for her only cub. Normally, she would let a man pass if he was not a threat. But today, she was nervous because she had only one cub. She did not wait for the man to be a danger. She changed from a mother into a dangerous hunter, thinking only of killing him.

Pt/En Sabor attacked the man without waiting. The man, a black warrior, was surprised to see the lion charging at him. He had not been looking for lions and would have run away if he could. The nearest tree was too far. He saw the cub behind the lioness. The man had a spear. Just as Sabor jumped, he threw the spear. It hit the lioness in the heart. At the same time, Sabor bit the man's head. They both fell to the ground, dead.

Pt/En A young lion cub saw a terrible thing happen for the first time. He wanted to go to his mother, but he was afraid of a person's smell. He began to cry, but his mother did not come. He was confused and felt sad and alone. He slowly moved closer to his mother. He saw that the dead animal she had killed did not move. He felt less afraid and came very close to his mother and sniffed her. He cried to her, but she did not answer. He finally understood that something was wrong. His mother was not the same. A change had happened to her. He stayed close to her, crying until he fell asleep next to her dead body.

Pt/En Tarzan found the cub. Tarzan was with his wife, Jane, and their son, Korak. They were returning from a place called Pal-ul-don. When the cub heard them, he opened his eyes. He stood up, flattened his ears, and made a noise at them. He moved back close to his dead mother. Seeing the cub, Tarzan, the ape-man, smiled.

Pt/En Tarzan thought the cub was brave. He quickly understood what had happened. He walked towards the cub, which was making angry noises. Tarzan expected the cub to run away, but it did not. Instead, it snarled more strongly and tried to hit Tarzan's hand when he bent down to reach for it.

Pt/En Jane said that the little cub was very brave. She felt sorry for him because he was an orphan.

Pt/En Korak said that the cub would have become a great lion if his mother had lived. He pointed out that the cub's back was straight and strong like a spear. Korak thought it was a shame that the cub would die.

Pt/En Tarzan said the animal did not have to die.

Pt/En The speaker asked if there was much chance for the animal, as it would need milk for two more months, and questioned who would get it for him.

Pt/En Tarzan replied that he would get the milk.

Pt/En The other person asked if Tarzan was going to adopt the animal.

Pt/En Tarzan nodded to confirm.

Pt/En Korak and Jane laughed. Korak said that it would be fine.

Pt/En Jane laughed and called herself the foster mother to the son of Numa.

Pt/En Tarzan smiled with them but continued to pay attention to the lion cub. He suddenly grabbed the cub by the neck and then gently stroked it while speaking softly. The cub stopped struggling and did not try to scratch or bite his hand. Then, Tarzan picked it up and held it close. The cub was not afraid and did not show its teeth.

Pt/En Jane Clayton asked Tarzan how he did it.

Pt/En Tarzan explained that animals like the cub were not afraid of him because they were his kind. He thought this was why they were not afraid when he showed friendship. He asked Jane if the cub seemed to understand this.

Pt/En Korak told someone that he could not understand something. He explained that although he knew African animals well, he did not have the same control or understanding as the other person, and he asked why this was.

Pt/En Lady Greystoke smiled at her son teasingly and said with pride that there was only one Tarzan.

Pt/En Tarzan reminded his son that he was born and raised by animals. He joked that perhaps his father was an ape, as Kala had always said he was.

Pt/En Jane exclaimed in surprise, asking her son how he could say that, because he knew very well who his parents were.

Pt/En Tarzan looked seriously at his son and winked. He said that his mother could never appreciate the good qualities of apes. He added that she almost seemed to object to the idea that she had mated with one.

Pt/En A woman told John Clayton that she would never speak to him again if he kept saying terrible things. She felt ashamed of him. She said it was bad enough that he was a wild man, and he should not also suggest he might be an ape.

Pt/En Their long trip from Pal-ul-don was almost finished. They expected to reach their old home within a week. It was uncertain if anything was left of their house after the Germans destroyed it. The barns and other buildings were burned, and the main house was partly damaged. The loyal Waziri servants, who had not been killed, had joined the English army to help in the war. Tarzan knew this before he left to find Lady Jane. However, he did not know how many of his Waziri had survived the war or what had happened to his large estates. He worried that wandering tribes or Arab slave traders might have finished the destruction started by the Germans. He also thought the jungle might have taken back his lands, covering all signs of human presence.

Pt/En After Tarzan took in the young lion cub, he had to plan his travels carefully. He needed to think about the cub's needs, especially finding food, which had to be milk.

Pt/En Getting milk from a lion was impossible. Luckily, they were in an area with many villages. The people there knew, feared, and respected Tarzan, the great Lord of the Jungle. So, on the afternoon he found the lion cub, Tarzan went to a village to get milk for it.

Pt/En At first, the villagers seemed unfriendly and uninterested. They looked down on the white people who traveled without a large group of helpers. They thought that without many people, the strangers could not bring gifts or pay for food. They also believed that without guards, the strangers could not force anyone to give them food or protect themselves if attacked. Although the villagers seemed indifferent, they were curious. They were surprised by the strange clothes and decorations of the white travelers. They saw that the travelers were almost as naked as they were and carried similar weapons, except one younger man had a rifle. All three wore clothing from Pal-ul-don, which was simple and strange to the local people.

Pt/En Tarzan walked into the village where there were women, children, and dogs. He asked where their chief was.

Pt/En Some warriors who were resting in the shade of the huts stood up. They walked towards the new people.

Pt/En One warrior said that the chief was sleeping. He asked Tarzan who he was and why he wanted to wake the chief.

Pt/En Tarzan replied that he wanted to speak to the chief and asked the warrior to go and get him.

Pt/En The warrior looked at Tarzan with surprise. Then, he started to laugh loudly.

Pt/En He shouted to his friends that the chief must be brought to him. Then, he laughed loudly, hit his leg, and pushed the people next to him.

Pt/En The ape-man continued and said that Tarzan wanted to speak with the chief.

Pt/En Suddenly, the people changed how they acted. They moved away from him and stopped laughing, with very wide eyes. The one who had laughed the most became serious. He shouted for mats for Tarzan and his people to sit on, and said he would go get Umanga, the chief. He ran away quickly, happy to leave the presence of the powerful man he thought he had upset.

Pt/En It did not matter that they had no safari, no guards, or gifts. The villagers wanted to honor them. Many brought food and decorations even before the chief arrived. Soon, Umanga appeared. He was an old man who had been chief before Tarzan was born. He acted like a wise father and greeted Tarzan like one important man greets another. He was clearly happy that the Lord of the Jungle had visited his village.

Pt/En When Tarzan explained what he wanted and showed the lion cub, Umanga promised there would be plenty of milk from the chief's own goats. While they talked, Tarzan looked carefully at the village and its people. He saw a large female dog with a swollen udder, full of milk. This gave him an idea. He pointed to the dog and told Umanga he wanted to buy her.

Pt/En The chief told Tarzan that the dog was his without payment. He explained that the dog's pups had been stolen by a snake two days before. He offered to give Tarzan other, younger dogs instead, saying the current dog would not be good to eat.

Pt/En Tarzan replied that he did not want to eat the dog. He wanted to take her to give milk to the lion cub. He asked for the dog to be brought to him.

Pt/En Some boys brought the dog to Tarzan. At first, the dog was afraid of him, but Tarzan was kind and calmed her. The dog and the lion cub were both scared of each other. It took a lot of patience, but finally, the dog began to feed the lion cub. The lion cub's hunger helped it accept the dog, and Tarzan's gentle manner helped the dog trust him.

Pt/En That night, Tarzan kept the dog tied inside his hut and made sure the cub fed from her twice before morning. The next day, Tarzan and the cub left Umanga's village. They walked home with the dog on a leash beside them. Tarzan carried the young lion cub, sometimes in his arms and sometimes in a sack on his shoulder.

Pt/En They named the lion Jad-bal-ja, which means the Golden Lion in their language, because of his color. The lion cub became more used to Tarzan and the dog every day. The dog eventually accepted the cub as her own. They called the dog Za, meaning girl. On the second day, they took off her leash, and she happily followed them through the jungle. After that, she always stayed close to them and was unhappy if she was not near Tarzan, the cub, or the dog.

Pt/En The three people were getting close to the edge of the jungle. Their home was on the plain nearby. They felt excited but did not speak. They wondered what they would find. They thought about the jungle plants that Tarzan had cleared to build his home when he first arrived with his wife.

Pt/En Finally, they left the trees of the forest. They looked out across the plain. In the distance, they could see the shape of their bungalow. It was among the trees and plants that had been kept or planted to make the area beautiful.

Pt/En Lady Jane cried out, "Look! It is there--it is still there!"

Pt/En Korak asked about other things to the left, beyond the bungalow.

Pt/En Tarzan answered that they were the huts of local people.

Pt/En The woman exclaimed that the fields were being cultivated.

Pt/En Tarzan said that some of the outbuildings had been rebuilt. He explained that this meant his loyal Waziri had returned from the war. They had fixed what the enemy had destroyed and were looking after their home until Tarzan and his family returned.

THE TRAINING OF JAD-BAL-JA

Pt/En Tarzan, Jane Clayton, and Korak returned home after a long time away. They were accompanied by Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, and Za, the dog. Old Muviro, whose son had died protecting Tarzan's home, was one of the first to greet them.

Pt/En Muviro happily told Tarzan that seeing him made his old eyes feel young again. He said that although many had doubted Tarzan's return, he knew Tarzan would overcome any challenge and come back to his home and his loyal Waziri. Muviro found it hard to believe that Jane, whom they thought was dead, had also returned. He announced that there would be great celebrations among the Waziri that night, with warriors dancing and women cheering, because the three people they loved most had come back.

Pt/En Indeed, the Waziri celebrated for many nights. The dancing and joy continued until Tarzan asked them to stop so that he and his family could get some rest. Tarzan saw that his loyal Waziri, with the help of Jervis, his English supervisor, had completely repaired the stables, animal pens, and other buildings, as well as the huts. They had also restored the inside of the main house. Everything looked exactly as it had before the German attack.

Pt/En Jervis returned to the ranch. He was very happy to see everyone. He sat with the chief and warriors and listened to stories about the land of Pal-ul-don and the adventures they had when Lady Greystoke was kept there. The Waziri were surprised by the strange animals Tarzan brought back. They thought it was very strange that Tarzan had a lion cub from his enemies and that he was teaching it.

Pt/En The golden lion cub and its mother slept in Tarzan's bedroom. Tarzan spent many hours each day teaching and training the young cub. It was playful and loving, but it would grow into a big, wild animal.

Pt/En As the lion grew, Tarzan taught it many things. It learned to bring things, to hide quietly, and to move when Tarzan told it. It also learned to find hidden objects by smell. When the lion ate meat, Tarzan always fed it in a way that surprised the Waziri. Tarzan made a dummy that looked like a man. He put the meat on the dummy's throat. The lion had to wait for Tarzan's word, "kill," before it could attack the dummy and eat the meat. It learned to wait for the command, even when it was very hungry.

Pt/En One lesson was very difficult for the lion to learn. It took Tarzan many weeks and months to teach the lion that when he said "fetch," the lion must bring him an object, even the dummy with meat, without touching the meat or hurting the dummy. The lion had to bring the object and place it carefully at Tarzan's feet. After learning this, the lion was rewarded with extra meat.

Pt/En Lady Greystoke and Korak often watched Tarzan train the lion. Lady Greystoke wondered why Tarzan was training the cub so much and if it was a good idea.

Pt/En A woman asked what they would do with the animal when it grew up. She said it looked like it would become a strong lion. She explained that because it was used to people, it would not be afraid of them. She added that since it had always eaten from a dummy, it would now look for human throats for its food.

Pt/En The ape-man replied that the animal would only eat what he told it to eat.

Pt/En The woman asked, laughing, if he expected the animal to always eat people.

Pt/En He stated that the animal would never eat people.

Pt/En She then asked how he could stop it from eating people, since he had taught it to do so from when it was a cub.

Pt/En Tarzan told Jane that he thought she did not understand the lion's intelligence. He believed his work with the lion was almost finished, but they would test it that afternoon. They planned to take the lion, Jad-bal-ja, out to the plain to see how much control he had over the young lion, Numa.

Pt/En Korak laughed and said he would bet a hundred pounds. He believed the lion would do whatever it wanted after it tasted real blood.

Pt/En Tarzan, the ape-man, accepted the bet. He told Korak that he would show him and Jane something that afternoon that they had never imagined could be done.

Pt/En Lady Greystoke called Lord Greystoke "the world's premier animal trainer!" Tarzan joined them, and they all laughed.

Pt/En The ape-man explained that it was not animal training. He said his method was special and only possible for Tarzan of the Apes. He gave an example: if someone you hate, who is your enemy, forces you to do something, you obey because you are afraid. You do not do it with loyalty, but because you are forced. You would disobey or attack them if you could. But if a friend, who has protected and fed you, asks you to do something, you obey willingly. He said this was why the golden lion would obey him.

Pt/En Korak commented that it would happen as long as it was useful for his purpose.

Pt/En The ape-man asked them to imagine that the creature they loved and obeyed could punish or even kill them if they did not follow its commands. He asked how they would feel about obeying then.

Pt/En Korak said they would see how easily the golden lion would get one hundred pounds for him.

Pt/En That afternoon, Tarzan, Jane, and Korak rode out across the plain with Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, following. They stopped their horses near some trees and then walked carefully towards a low area where antelopes were usually found. They moved quietly through the bushes at the edge of this area. Tarzan, Jane, Korak, and Jad-bal-ja were the four hunters. Jad-bal-ja was the least skilled. They crawled through the brush without making noise until they looked down into the low area and saw a small herd of antelopes eating grass. Tarzan pointed to an old male antelope closest to them and showed it to Jad-bal-ja.

Pt/En Tarzan whispered to the lion to fetch the antelope, and the golden lion made a very quiet sound to show he understood.

Pt/En The lion, Jad-bal-ja, moved quietly through the bushes. The antelopes were eating and did not know he was there. The lion was too far away to attack immediately. He hid and waited for the antelope to come nearer or turn its back. The antelopes made no sound, and the lion also stayed quiet. An older antelope slowly walked closer to the lion. The lion got ready to jump. He moved very fast, like lightning. He was very close to the antelope before it knew he was there. It was too late. When the antelope turned, the lion jumped up and caught it. The other antelopes ran away quickly.

Pt/En Korak said that they would see what happened next.

Pt/En Tarzan said he was sure the lion would bring the antelope to him.

Pt/En The golden lion stopped for a moment with his kill. Then he took the antelope and dragged it along the ground back to Tarzan. He brought the dead antelope to his master and looked up, seeming proud and wanting praise. He dropped the antelope at Tarzan's feet.

Pt/En Tarzan patted the lion's head and spoke kindly to him. Then Tarzan used his knife to cut the antelope's neck and let the blood flow. Jane and Korak watched to see what the lion would do with the smell of fresh blood. The lion sniffed the blood and growled, looking at them with his teeth showing. Tarzan pushed the lion away gently, and the lion growled again and tried to bite him.

Pt/En Tarzan was very fast, like lightning. He hit Jad-bal-ja so hard and quickly that the lion fell down. The lion quickly stood up again, and they looked at each other.

Pt/En Tarzan told the lion, Jad-bal-ja, to lie down. His voice was quiet but strong. The lion waited for a moment, then lay down because Tarzan had taught him to obey commands. Tarzan then picked up the dead antelope and put it on his shoulder.

Pt/En Tarzan told Jad-bal-ja to come with him and stay close. Without looking back at the lion, he walked towards the horses.

Pt/En Korak laughed and said he should have known this would happen and saved his money.

Pt/En Korak's mother replied that he was right, he should have known.

A MEETING OF MYSTERY

Pt/En A young woman, who was dressed too much, was eating in a cheap restaurant in London. She was noticed because of her large and strong male friend. He was in his mid-twenties and had a very big beard that made him look like he was hiding. He was very tall, with wide shoulders and a strong body, like a trained athlete.

Pt/En The man and woman were talking a lot. Sometimes, their conversation seemed like an argument.

Pt/En The man said he did not understand why they needed other people. He asked why they should share the money if he and the woman could have it all by themselves.

Pt/En The woman replied that they needed money to do their plan. She explained that neither she nor Esteban had money, but others did and would help them. They would give money for her knowledge and for Esteban's appearance and strength. She warned Esteban that the others had looked for him for two years and would hurt him if he betrayed them or tried to take all the money for himself, especially now that he knew all the details of their plan.

Pt/En She stopped talking and moved her shoulders. She told Esteban that she liked her life too much to join him in such a bad plan.

Pt/En Esteban told Flora that they should get more money than was offered. He said that he provided the knowledge and she took the risk, so they should get more than one-sixth each.

Pt/En Flora told Esteban to talk to the others himself, but advised him to accept the offer. She said she had the important information and had found him, but she would be happy with one-sixth. She assured him that one-sixth would be enough for the rest of his life if he did not ruin the plan.

Pt/En Esteban did not seem convinced. Flora felt he needed to be watched. She had only known him for about two months, having first seen him on a cinema screen in London. He had played a Roman soldier in a film.

Pt/En Esteban's large size and good body were noticed in the film, but his part was small. Flora was the only person who was very interested in him. She was looking for someone like Esteban for a plan she and her friends had. Finding him in real life was hard, but after searching for a month, she found him working as an extra at a film company in London. She easily became friends with him and did not tell him the real reason she was interested.

Pt/En Flora knew Esteban was Spanish and seemed to come from a good family. She guessed he was not honest because he quickly agreed to her dishonest plan. Flora and her four friends had created the plan. Because Esteban was not honest, Flora knew she had to be very careful. She did not want him to learn too much about their plan, and she kept the main secret to herself, not telling even her friends.

Pt/En They sat quietly for a short time, playing with their empty glasses. Then, she looked up and saw him looking at her. His eyes showed an expression that even a less experienced woman than Flora Hawkes would have understood easily.

Pt/En He told Flora that she could make him do anything. He explained that when he was with her, he forgot about the gold. He only thought about another reward that she always refused him, but that he would win one day.

Pt/En The girl replied that love and business do not mix well. She told Esteban to wait until he had succeeded in his work, and then they could talk about love.

Pt/En He whispered that she did not love him. He knew that the others loved her, and that was why he could hate them. He said that if he thought she loved one of them, he would hurt that person. He felt she was too friendly with them, mentioning John Peebles holding her hand and Dick Throck holding her too close when dancing. He warned that one day he would forget about the gold and only think of her, which would mean fewer people to share the gold he would bring back from Africa. He also mentioned Bluber and Kraski, especially Kraski, saying he did not like the way she looked at him.

Pt/En The girl's eyes showed growing anger. She stopped him with an angry movement.

Pt/En A man asked Senor Miranda why he cared who his friends were or how they treated each other. He explained that he had known his friends for many years, but Senor Miranda only for a few weeks. He felt his friends had more right to influence him than Senor Miranda, and that no one had the right to tell him what to do.

Pt/En His eyes showed he was very angry.

Pt/En He shouted that he knew the truth: she loved one of his friends. He leaned across the table towards her in a threatening way and said he would hurt that friend badly if he found out who it was.

Pt/En He ran his fingers through his long, black hair, making it stand up like a lion's mane. His eyes were bright with anger, making the girl feel scared. He looked like a man who had lost control or was perhaps mad. The girl was afraid and knew she needed to calm him down.

Pt/En She whispered to Esteban to calm down, saying there was no reason to be so angry. She explained that she had not said she loved anyone, nor had she said she did not love him. However, she was not used to being asked for love in this way. She told him that while Spanish women might like it, she was an English girl and wanted to be treated like an English lover would treat her if he loved her.

Pt/En Esteban asked Flora if she loved any of the other men. He said she had not said she loved them, but also had not said she did not love them. He asked her to tell him which one she loved.

Pt/En Esteban's eyes were shining with strong emotion, and his large body was shaking because he was trying to control his feelings.

Pt/En Flora answered that she did not love any of them, and she did not love Esteban yet either. However, she told him that she could love him more than anyone else. She said she would only do this after he returned and they were free to live as they wished. She did not make a promise.

Pt/En Esteban said it would be better if she promised. He sounded unhappy but seemed a little calmer. He added that he did not care about the gold if he could not have her too.

Pt/En Flora told him to be quiet. She said that the others were coming now and that they were very late, almost half an hour.

Pt/En Four men entered the restaurant. Two were large Englishmen who used to be boxers. The third was a short, fat German named Adolph Bluber with a red face and a thick neck. The fourth man, Carl Kraski, was the youngest and the most handsome. He had dark eyes, brown wavy hair, a good body, and moved gracefully. He was a Russian dancer. Miranda felt jealous of him because of his good looks and charm.

Pt/En The girl said hello to the four men in a friendly way. The Spaniard only gave them a short, unfriendly nod. Then, they found chairs and sat down at the table.

Pt/En Peebles called out to get a waiter's attention by hitting the table. He asked for ale.

Pt/En Everyone agreed to have ale. While they waited for their drinks, they talked about small things like the weather, why they were delayed, and what had happened since they last met. Esteban was quiet and seemed unhappy. After the waiter brought the drinks and they had a toast to Flora, which was their usual custom, they started to discuss important matters.

Pt/En Peebles hit the table again and announced that they had everything they needed. He said they had the plans, the money, and Senor Miranda. He told Flora they were ready for her part in their plan.

Pt/En Flora asked how much money they had. She explained that they would need a lot of money for the project and it was not useful to start if they did not have enough to continue.

Pt/En Peebles then pointed to Bluber and said that he was the treasurer. Peebles called him a fat Dutchman and said Bluber could tell them how much money they had.

Pt/En Bluber smiled and rubbed his hands. He asked Miss Flora how much money she thought they should have.

Pt/En Flora quickly replied that they needed at least two thousand pounds to be safe.

Pt/En Bluber exclaimed in surprise. He said that two thousand pounds was a lot of money.

Pt/En The girl showed she was not happy. She explained that she would not help with a plan that used cheap methods or people. She said she would not give them the maps and directions they needed to reach the vaults unless they had enough money to do the job correctly. She mentioned that the vaults held enough gold to buy the whole island. She told them they could spend their own money, but they had to prove they had at least two thousand pounds before she would share the information that could make them very rich.

Pt/En Throck grumbled that the man had the money. He added that he did not understand what the man was complaining about.

Pt/En The Russian said that Bluber could not help it, calling it a natural trait. He joked that Bluber would even try to get a lower price from the person who issues marriage licenses if he were getting married.

Pt/En Bluber sighed and asked why they should spend more money than was needed. He said that if they could do it for one thousand pounds, it would be even better.

Pt/En The girl quickly agreed. She stated that if it only cost one thousand pounds, then that was all they would spend. However, she insisted they must have the two thousand pounds available for unexpected problems. She warned that based on what she had seen of the country, they were likely to face many unexpected problems.

Pt/En Bluber shouted loudly.

Pt/En Peebles said that the person had the money and suggested they should start working.

Pt/En The girl replied that the person might have the money, but she wanted to see it first.

Pt/En Bluber asked what they thought, questioning if he carried all that money in his pocket.

Pt/En Throck grumbled, asking if they could not trust his word.

Pt/En She told the rough men that they were not good people to ask such a question. She laughed at them and said she would believe Carl. If Carl said they had the item and that it could pay for their expedition's costs, she would trust him.

Pt/En Peebles and Throck looked angry, and Miranda's eyes became narrow slits when he looked at the Russian man. Bluber, however, did not seem bothered by insults; he seemed to like them. He would be arrogant if treated with respect, but he was kind to those who were unkind to him. Kraski smiled in a way that made the Spaniard very angry.

Pt/En He told Flora that Bluber had the money because everyone had given their part. They chose Bluber as treasurer because they knew he would carefully keep all the money. Their plan was to leave London in pairs.

Pt/En He showed a map and pointed to a place marked X. He explained that they would meet there to prepare their expedition. Bluber and Miranda would go first, then Peebles and Throck. By the time he and Flora arrived, everything would be ready to go into the interior. They would make a camp far from usual paths, near their goal. Miranda would pretend to be someone else until he started the final part of his journey. He was told that Miranda was good at acting and could play his part well, especially since he only had to trick local people and wild animals.

Pt/En Miranda asked, sounding calm but looking angry, if he understood correctly that he and Miss Hawkes would travel alone to the meeting point X.

Pt/En The Russian replied that the other person understood, unless their understanding was poor.

Pt/En The Spaniard stood up a little from the table and leaned over it towards Kraski in a threatening way. The girl sitting next to him grabbed his coat.

Pt/En She told them to stop, pulling him back into his chair. She said there had been too much fighting already and if it continued, she would hurt them and find different companions for her trip.

Pt/En Peebles aggressively agreed, saying they had arrived and that was it.

Pt/En Throck rumbled in his deep voice that John was right and he would support him. He also said Flora was right and he would support her. He threatened to hit some of them if there was any more trouble, looking at Miranda and Kraski.

Pt/En Bluber calmly suggested that they should all shake hands and be good friends.

Pt/En Peebles happily agreed, saying that was the right idea. He told Esteban to shake hands and asked Carl to stop arguing. Peebles explained that they could not begin their work with any bad feelings between them.

Pt/En The Russian, feeling safe because of his position with Flora and in a good mood, offered his hand to the Spaniard across the table. Esteban paused for a moment.

Pt/En Throck told him to shake hands, or he would lose his job as an extra person. Throck added that they would find someone else to do his work and share the stolen goods.

Pt/En Suddenly, the Spaniard smiled. He quickly took Kraski's hand and said he was sorry. He explained that he had a quick temper but meant no harm. He agreed with Miss Hawkes that they should all be friends and offered his hand to Kraski as a sign of friendship.

Pt/En Kraski said that he was sorry if he had offended the other person. But Kraski did not know that the other person was an actor. If Kraski had seen the person's dark thoughts, he would have been very scared.

Pt/En Bluber rubbed his hands and said that now they were all friends, they should plan when to start finishing everything. He explained that Miss Flora would give him the map and directions, and they would start immediately.

Pt/En The girl asked Carl for a pencil. She then found a place on the map, far from X, and drew a small circle. She told them that this spot was called O and that they would receive the final directions only when they all reached it.

Pt/En Bluber raised his hands and exclaimed that they had spent a lot of money and could not buy something without knowing what it was. He insisted that they must see and know everything before spending any money.

Pt/En John Peebles shouted that they were there and that was the situation, hitting the table with his fist.

Pt/En The girl stood up slowly. She said with a shrug that if he felt that way, they could cancel everything.

Pt/En Bluber quickly asked her to wait and not be upset. He explained that two thousand pounds was a lot of money and they were good businessmen. He said they should not spend it without getting something in return.

Pt/En The girl replied sharply that she was not asking them to spend money and get nothing. She insisted that if anyone had to trust another person in their plan, it should be them trusting her. She explained that if she gave them all her information, they could easily leave her behind, and she did not want that to happen.

Pt/En The man, Bluber, insisted that they were not foolish and would not think of cheating her.

Pt/En The girl retorted that none of them were angels. She told Bluber that if they wanted to continue, they had to do it her way, and she would be there at the end to make sure she got what she deserved. She reminded them that they had trusted her word so far about her having the information, and now they had to continue trusting her. She asked what good it would do her to go to a difficult jungle and suffer hardships with them if she could not deliver what they wanted when they got there. She also said she was not foolish enough to think she could trick them, as they were like bandits. She felt safe as long as she was honest, because she knew Esteban or Carl would protect her, and maybe the others would too. She asked if they agreed to her plan.

Pt/En Bluber asked John and Dick for their opinions. He also told them that Carl would agree with Flora's thoughts.

Pt/En Throck said that he usually did not trust people easily. However, he felt they had to trust Flora now.

Pt/En John Peebles agreed with Throck. He warned Flora that if she tried anything dishonest, he would harm her, making a gesture across his throat.

Pt/En The girl smiled and told John she understood. She knew he would do something for a small amount of money as easily as for a large amount. She asked if they all agreed to follow her plans, including Carl.

Pt/En The Russian agreed, saying that he would go along with whatever the others decided.

Pt/En The small group talked about their plans as much as they could. They discussed the small details needed to get to the place marked 'O' on the map.

WHAT THE FOOTPRINTS TOLD

Pt/En When Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, was two years old, he was very impressive. He was much larger than other adult male lions. He looked like a full-grown lion with a noble head and a big black mane. He was also much smarter than other wild lions.

Pt/En Tarzan was very proud of the lion he had trained and cared for. The lion no longer slept near Tarzan's bed but in a strong cage Tarzan had built. Tarzan knew that a lion is always a wild animal. For the first year, the lion could move freely around the house and grounds. After that, he only went out with Tarzan. They often hunted together. The lion was also familiar with Jane and Korak and they were not afraid of him. However, he showed the most affection to Tarzan. He tolerated the black people who worked for Tarzan and never hurt farm animals. This was because Tarzan had taught him as a cub that he would be punished if he hunted in the animal pens. Keeping the lion from being too hungry also helped protect the farm animals.

Pt/En The man and the lion seemed to understand each other very well. It was amazing how easily Tarzan could tell the lion what he wanted. The lion, who had learned to obey Tarzan through a mix of strictness and kindness when he was young, now did so out of habit. When Tarzan commanded, the lion would travel far to bring back prey like antelopes or zebras. He would leave the kill at Tarzan's feet without eating any of it. He even brought back live animals without hurting them. This was the golden lion that lived with his master in the wild forest.

Pt/En Around this time, Tarzan began to hear rumors about a group of criminals to the west and south of his land. They were involved in stealing ivory, capturing people for slavery, and torture. These stories were disturbing, as such things had not happened in Tarzan's jungle for a long time. Other stories also made Tarzan think deeply. Then, for a month, Tarzan heard nothing more about the rumors from the west.

Pt/En The story continues after a break.

Pt/En Because of the war, the Greystokes had very little money. They had given most of their money to help the Allies. Then, they spent almost all of what was left to repair Tarzan's estate in Africa.

Pt/En One night, John told his wife Jane that he thought they would need to make another trip to Opar.

Pt/En Jane said she was afraid of this. She did not want him to go. She reminded him that he had returned from that dangerous city twice, and each time he had almost died. She worried that the third time he might not be lucky. She explained they had enough money to live happily and comfortably, and asked why he wanted to risk this for more treasure.

Pt/En John assured Jane there was no danger. He explained that last time, Werper had followed him, and combined with an earthquake, it had almost killed him. He believed such a situation would not happen again.

Pt/En Jane asked John if he would go alone. She asked if he would take Korak with him.

Pt/En John replied that he would not take Korak. He explained that Korak must stay with Jane because John's long trips were more dangerous for her than for him. John planned to take fifty Waziri warriors to carry the gold. This amount of gold would be enough for them for a long time.

Pt/En Jane then asked if he would take Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion.

Pt/En John said that Jad-bal-ja should also stay. He thought Korak could look after the lion and take him hunting sometimes. John wanted to travel quickly and lightly, and he felt the trip would be too difficult for the lion, especially because they would travel during the day in the hot sun.

Pt/En So, Tarzan of the Apes began his journey to Opar again. Fifty strong Waziri warriors, chosen from the tribe that made Tarzan their Chief, marched behind him to carry the gold. Jane and Korak stood on the bungalow's porch, waving goodbye. From the back of the house, Tarzan could hear the roar of Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion. As they walked away, the sound of Numa, the lion, followed them across the plains until it faded into the distance.

Pt/En Tarzan's travel speed was limited by the slowest person in his group. Opar was a long journey, about 25 days for people traveling without much luggage. The return trip would be slower because they would be carrying gold. Tarzan planned two months for the entire trip. His group was made of experienced warriors, so they traveled quickly. They did not carry food because they were hunters in a place with plenty of game.

Pt/En They used a thorn bush and leaves for shelter at night. Spears and arrows, along with their leader's strength, ensured they always had food. Tarzan believed his chosen men could reach Opar in 21 days. He could travel much faster alone, moving quickly through the jungle day or night without getting tired.

Pt/En During the third week of their journey, Tarzan, who was hunting ahead of his group, found a dead deer. An arrow was stuck in its side. The arrow showed that the deer had been wounded some time before it died. Tarzan was very surprised by the arrow's design. It looked like an arrow used for archery practice in cities, not something found in the African jungle. He realized this strange arrow had killed the deer, but he guessed it was not shot by an experienced hunter.

Pt/En Tarzan became curious and cautious. He knew it was important to understand unusual things in the jungle. He decided to follow the tracks of the deer to find out who had killed it. He easily followed the blood trail. He wondered why the hunter had not found the deer, which had died the day before. The deer had traveled far. As the sun began to set, Tarzan found footprints. These footprints surprised him as much as the arrow. He looked closely and even smelled them. The footprints belonged to a white man, and he was a big man, perhaps as tall as Tarzan. Tarzan was very confused by this discovery.

Pt/En Tarzan wondered who this white man was, hunting in his jungle with a practice arrow. It seemed impossible, but he remembered hearing rumors weeks before. He decided to follow the stranger's tracks to solve the mystery. The trail was messy, suggesting the hunter was inexperienced. Night fell before Tarzan found answers, and he turned back to his camp in the dark.

Pt/En Tarzan knew his Waziri were waiting for meat and he wanted to give it to them. He heard a lion close by and another one far away. But Tarzan was not afraid of other hunters. He was strong and skilled, and he had fought animals and people before.

Pt/En Tarzan finally caught an antelope. He took it just as a lion was about to get it. The lion was angry because it had wanted the antelope. Tarzan quickly put the antelope on his shoulder and ran away into the night, laughing at the lion.

Pt/En Tarzan found the camp and his hungry Waziri easily. They trusted him completely and were sure he would return with food for them.

Pt/En The next morning, Tarzan started walking towards Opar again. He told his Waziri to keep walking straight ahead. He left them to investigate the mysterious person he had heard about from an arrow and some footprints.

Pt/En Tarzan returned to the place where he had stopped his search the night before. He followed the tracks of the stranger. Soon, he found more proof of this dangerous person. Lying on the path was the body of a large ape, one of the kind Tarzan grew up with. An arrow from a gun was in the ape's body. Tarzan became angry. He wondered who dared to enter his land and kill his people.

Pt/En Tarzan made a low growl. He was not acting like a civilized man. He saw the dead ape not as a relative, but like a wild animal sees the work of a dangerous man. Tarzan did not think of the killer as family.

Pt/En Tarzan knew the tracks were two days old. He quickly followed the killer. He was sure it was murder because he knew the Mangani (a type of ape) only attacked when they were forced to.

Pt/En Tarzan was walking into the wind. About half an hour after finding the ape's body, he smelled other apes. He moved carefully because these jungle animals are shy. He did not want them to run away before they knew who he was. He knew that some of them remembered him, and through them, he could be friends with the rest of the group.

Pt/En Because the plants were very thick, Tarzan climbed through the trees. He moved quickly and soon found the large apes. There were about twenty of them in a small, open area. They were looking for caterpillars and beetles, which were an important part of their food.

Pt/En Tarzan smiled a little as he stopped on a large branch, hidden by leaves. He watched the apes below. Their actions reminded him of his childhood when he lived with the ape tribe, protected by his mother, Kala. He saw his young friends playing and the adult apes he had feared as a child and later defeated. The ways of apes do not change.

Pt/En Tarzan watched the apes for a few minutes. He thought they would be very happy to see him. Tarzan of the Apes was known in the jungle as a friend and protector of the Mangani. At first, the apes might make angry sounds and threaten him. They needed to be sure it was him. They would only accept him after he came closer, and they could smell him and see him. Then, they would be excited for a short time. But soon, they would forget about him and look at other things, like a leaf or a bird. After they smelled and touched him, they would go back to their normal activities and not pay attention to him anymore.

Pt/En Tarzan made a friendly sound to greet the apes. He stepped out so they could see him clearly. He told them that he was Tarzan of the Apes, a strong fighter and friend of the Mangani. He said he came in friendship to his people. Then, he jumped down onto the grass.

Pt/En Suddenly, the apes became very upset. The female apes screamed and ran with the young ones to the other side of the clearing. The male apes, with their fur standing up and making loud noises, faced Tarzan.

Pt/En Tarzan called out to them, asking if they did not know him. He reminded them that he was Tarzan of the Apes, a friend of the Mangani, the son of Kala, and the leader of Kerchak's tribe.

Pt/En One of the older male apes growled that they knew him. He said they had seen him the day before when he killed Gobu. The ape warned Tarzan to leave, or they would kill him.

Pt/En The ape-man replied that he did not kill Gobu. He explained that he found Gobu's dead body yesterday and was following the tracks of the killer when he came upon them.

Pt/En The old bull repeated that they had seen him. He told Tarzan to go away or they would kill him, stating that Tarzan was no longer a friend of the Mangani.

Pt/En The ape-man thought hard. He realized that these apes truly believed they had seen him kill their friend. He wondered what the explanation was and if the footprints of the man he was following meant something more. Tarzan looked up and spoke to the bulls again.

Original English Text

1 - THE GOLDEN LION

2 - THE TRAINING OF JAD-BAL-JA

3 - A MEETING OF MYSTERY

4 - WHAT THE FOOTPRINTS TOLD

THE GOLDEN LION

PT Sabor, the lioness, suckled her young--a single fuzzy ball, spotted like Sheeta, the leopard. She lay in the warm sunshine before the rocky cavern that was her lair, stretched out upon her side with half closed eyes, yet Sabor was alert. There had been three of these little, fuzzy balls at first--two daughters and a son--and Sabor and Numa, their sire, had been proud of them; proud and happy. But kills had not been plentiful, and Sabor, undernourished, had been unable to produce sufficient milk to nourish properly three lusty cubs, and then a cold rain had come, and the little ones had sickened. Only the strongest survived--the two daughters had died. Sabor had mourned, pacing to and fro beside the pitiful bits of bedraggled fur, whining moaning. Now and again she would nose them with her muzzle as though she would awaken them from the long sleep that knows no waking.

PT At last, however, she abandoned her efforts, and now her whole savage heart was filled with concern for the little male cub that remained to her. That was why Sabor was more alert than usual.

PT Numa, the lion, was away. Two nights before he had made a kill and dragged it to their lair and last night he had fared forth again, but he had not returned. Sabor was thinking, as she half dozed, of Wappi, the plump antelope, that her splendid mate might this very minute be dragging through the tangled jungle to her. Or perhaps it would be Pacco, the zebra, whose flesh was the best beloved of her kind--juicy, succulent Pacco. Sabor's mouth watered.

PT Ah, what was that? The shadow of a sound had come to those keen ears. She raised her head, cocking it first upon one side and then the other, as with up-pricked ears she sought to catch the faintest repetition of that which had disturbed her.

PT Her nose sniffed the air. There was but the suggestion of a breeze, but what there was moved toward her from the direction of the sound she had heard, and which she still heard in a slightly increasing volume that told her that whatever was making it was approaching her. As it drew closer the beast's nervousness increased and she rolled over on her belly, shutting off the milk supply from the cub, which vented its disapproval in miniature growls until a low, querulous whine from the lioness silenced him, then he stood at her side, looking first at her and then in the direction toward which she looked, cocking his little head first on one side and then on the other.

PT Evidently there was a disturbing quality in the sound that Sabor heard-[-]something that inspired a certain restlessness, if not actual apprehension--though she could not be sure as yet that it boded ill. It might be her great lord returning, but it did not sound like the movement of a lion, certainly not like a lion dragging a heavy kill. She glanced at her cub, breathing as she did so a plaintive whine. There was always the fear that some danger menaced him--this last of her little family--but she, Sabor the lioness, was there to defend him.

PT Presently the breeze brought to her nostrils the scent-spoor of the thing that moved toward her through the jungle. Instantly the troubled mother-face was metamorphosed into a bare-fanged, glittering-eyed mask of savage rage, for the scent that had come up to her through the jungle was the hated man-scent. She rose to her feet, her head flattened, her sinuous tail twitching nervously. Through that strange medium by which animals communicate with one another she cautioned her cub to lie down and remain where he was until she returned, then she moved rapidly and silently to meet the intruder.

PT The cub had heard what its mother heard and now he caught the smell of man--an unfamiliar smell that had never impinged upon his nostrils before, yet a smell that he knew at once for that of an enemy--a smell that brought a reaction as typical as that which marked the attitude of the grown lioness, bringing the hairs along his little spine erect and baring his tiny fangs. As the adult moved quickly and stealthily into the underbrush the small cub, ignoring her injunction, followed after her, his hind quarters wobbling from side to side, after the manner of the very young of his kind, the ridiculous gait comporting ill with the dignified bearing of his fore quarters; but the lioness, intent upon that which lay before her, did not know that he followed her.

PT There was dense jungle before the two for a hundred yards, but through it the lions had worn a tunnel-like path to their lair; and then there was a small clearing through which ran a well-worn jungle trail, out of the jungle at one end of the clearing and into the jungle again at the other. As Sabor reached the clearing she saw the object of her fear and hatred well within it. What if the man-thing were not hunting her or hers? What if he even dreamed not of their presence? These facts were as nothing to Sabor, the lioness, today. Ordinarily she would have let him pass unmolested, so long as he did not come close enough to threaten the safety of her cub; or, cubless, she would have slunk away at the first intimation of his approach. But today the lioness was nervous and fearful--fearful because of the single cub that remained to her--her maternal instincts centered threefold, perhaps, upon this lone and triply loved survivor --and so she did not wait for the man to threaten the safety of her little one; but instead she moved to meet him and to stop him. From the soft mother she had become a terrifying creature of destruction, her brain obsessed by a single thought--to kill.

PT She did not hesitate an instant at the edge of the clearing, nor did she give the slightest warning. The first intimation that the black warrior had that there was a lion within twenty miles of him, was the terrifying apparition of this devil-faced cat charging across the clearing toward him with the speed of an arrow. The black was not searching for lions. Had he known that there was one near he would have given it a wide berth. He would have fled now had there been anywhere to flee. The nearest tree was farther from him than was the lioness. She could overhaul him before he would have covered a quarter of the distance. There was no hope and there was only one thing to do. The beast was almost upon him and behind her he saw a tiny cub. The man bore a heavy spear. He carried it far back with his right hand and hurled it at the very instant that Sabor rose to seize him. The spear passed through the savage heart and almost simultaneously the giant jaws closed upon the face and skull of the warrior. The momentum of the lioness carried the two heavily to the ground, dead except for a few spasmodic twitchings of their muscles.

PT The orphaned cub stopped twenty feet away and surveyed the first great catastrophe of his life with questioning eyes. He wanted to approach his dam but a natural fear of the man-scent held him away. Presently he commenced to whine in a tone that always brought his mother to him hurriedly; but this time she did not come--she did not even rise and look toward him. He was puzzled--he could not understand it. He continued to cry, feeling all the while more sad and more lonely. Gradually he crept closer to his mother. He saw that the strange creature she had killed did not move and after a while he felt less terror of it, so that at last he found the courage to come quite close to his mother and sniff at her. He still whined to her, but she did not answer. It dawned on him at last that there was something wrong--that his great, beautiful mother was not as she had been--a change had come over her; yet still he clung to her, crying much until at last he fell asleep, cuddled close to her dead body.

PT It was thus that Tarzan found him--Tarzan and Jane, his wife, and their son, Korak the Killer, returning from the mysterious land of Pal-ul-don from which the two men had rescued Jane Clayton. At the sound of their approach the cub opened his eyes and rising, flattened his ears and snarled at them, backing close against his dead mother. At sight of him the ape-man smiled.

PT "Plucky little devil,"he commented, taking in the story of the tragedy at a single glance. He approached the spitting cub, expecting it to turn and run away; but it did nothing of the sort. Instead it snarled more ferociously and struck at his extended hand as he stooped and reached for it.

PT "What a brave little fellow,"cried Jane."Poor little orphan!"

PT "He's going to make a great lion, or he would have if his dam had lived,"said Korak."Look at that back--as straight and strong as a spear. Too bad the rascal has got to die."

PT "He doesn't have to die,"returned Tarzan.

PT "There's not much chance for him--he'll need milk for a couple of months more, and who's going to get it for him?"

PT "I am,"replied Tarzan.

PT "You're going to adopt him?"

PT Tarzan nodded.

PT Korak and Jane laughed."That'll be fine,"commented the former.

PT "Lord Greystoke, foster mother to the son of Numa,"laughed Jane.

PT Tarzan smiled with them, but he did not cease his attentions toward the cub. Reaching out suddenly he caught the little lion by the scruff of its neck and then stroking it gently he talked to it in a low, crooning tone. I do not know what he said; but perhaps the cub did, for presently it ceased its struggles and no longer sought to scratch or bite the caressing hand. After that he picked it up and held it against his breast. It did not seem afraid now, nor did it even bare its fangs against this close proximity to the erstwhile hated man-scent.

PT "How do you do it?"exclaimed Jane Clayton.

PT Tarzan shrugged his broad shoulders."Your kind are not afraid of you--these are really my kind, try to civilize me as you will, and perhaps that is why they are not afraid of me when I give them the signs of friendship. Even this little rascal seems to know it, doesn't he?"

PT "I can never understand it,"commented Korak."I think I am rather familiar with African animals, yet I haven't the power over them or the understanding that you have. Why is it?"

PT "There is but one Tarzan,"said Lady Greystoke, smiling at her son teasingly, and yet her tone was not without a note of pride.

PT "Remember that I was born among beasts and raised by beasts,"Tarzan reminded him."Perhaps after all my father was an ape--you know Kala always insisted that he was."

PT "John! How can you?"exclaimed Jane."You know perfectly well who your father and mother were."

PT Tarzan looked solemnly at his son and closed one eye."Your mother never can learn to appreciate the fine qualities of the anthropoids. One might almost think that she objected to the suggestion that she had mated with one of them."

PT "John Clayton, I shall never speak to you again if you don't stop saying such hideous things. I am ashamed of you. It is bad enough that you are an unregenerate wild-man, without trying to suggest that you may be an ape into the bargain."

PT The long journey from Pal-ul-don was almost completed-- inside the week they should be again at the site of their former home. Whether anything now remained of the ruins the Germans had left was problematical. The barns and outhouses had all been burned and the interior of the bungalow partially wrecked. Those of the Waziri, the faithful native retainers of the Greystokes, who had not been killed by Hauptman Fritz Schneider's soldiers, had rallied to the beat of the war-drum and gone to place themselves at the disposal of the English in whatever capacity they might be found useful to the great cause of humanity. This much Tarzan had known before he set out in search of Lady Jane; but how many of his war-like Waziri had survived the war and what further had befallen his vast estates he did not know. Wandering tribes of natives, or raiding bands of Arab slavers might have completed the demolition inaugurated by the Hun, and it was likely, too, that the jungle had swept up and reclaimed its own, covering his dearings and burying amidst its riot of lush verdure every sign of man's brief trespass upon its world-old preserves.

PT Following the adoption of the tiny Numa, Tarzan was compelled to an immediate consideration of the needs of his protege in planning his marches and his halts, for the cub must have sustenance and that sustenance could be naught but milk.

PT Lion's milk was out of the question, but fortunately they were now in a comparatively well peopled country where villages were not infrequent and where the great Lord of the Jungle was known, feared, and respected, and so it was that upon the afternoon of the day he had found the young lion Tarzan approached a village for the purpose of obtaining milk for the cub.

PT At first the natives appeared sullen and indifferent, looking with contempt upon whites who traveled without a large safari--with contempt and without fear. With no safari these strangers could carry no presents for them, nor anything wherewith to repay for the food they would doubtless desire, and with no askari they could not demand food, or rather they could not enforce an order, nor could they protect themselves should it seem worth while to molest them. Sullen and indifferent the natives seemed, yet they were scarce unconcerned, their curiosity being aroused by the unusual apparel and ornamentation of these whites. They saw them almost as naked as themselves and armed similarly except that one, the younger man, carried a rifle. All three wore the trappings of Pal-ul-don, primitive and barbaric, and entirely strange to the eyes of the simple blacks.

PT "Where is your chief?"asked Tarzan as he strode into the village amongst the women, the children, and the yapping dogs.

PT A few dozing warriors rose from the shadows of the huts where they had been lying and approached the newcomers.

PT "The chief sleeps,"replied one."Who are you to awaken him? What do you want?"

PT "I wish to speak to your chief. Go and fetch him!"

PT The warrior looked at him in wide-eyed amaze, and then broke into a loud laugh.

PT "The chief must be brought to him,"he cried, addressing his fellows, and then, laughing loudly, he slapped his thigh and nudged those nearest him with his elbows.

PT "Tell him,"continued the ape-man,"that Tarzan would speak with him."

PT Instantly the attitude of his auditors underwent a remarkable transformation--they fell back from him and they ceased laughing--their eyes very wide and round. He who had laughed loudest became suddenly solemn."Bring mats,"he cried,"for Tarzan and his people to sit upon, while I fetch Umanga the chief,"and off he ran as fast as he could as though glad of the excuse to escape the presence of the mighty one he feared he had offended.

PT It made no difference now that they had no safari, no askari, nor any presents. The villagers were vying with one another to do them honor. Even before the chief came many had already brought presents of food and ornaments. Presently Umanga appeared. He was an old man who had been a chief even before Tarzan of the Apes was born. His manner was patriarchal and dignified and he greeted his guest as one great man might greet another, yet he was undeniably pleased that the Lord of the Jungle had honored his village with a visit.

PT When Tarzan explained his wishes and exhibited the lion cub Umanga assured him that there would be milk a-plenty so long as Tarzan honored them with his presence--warm milk, fresh from the chief's own goats. As they palavered the ape-man's keen eyes took in every detail of the village and its people, and presently they alighted upon a large bitch among the numerous curs that overran the huts and the street. Her udder was swollen with milk and the sight of it suggested a plan to Tarzan. He jerked a thumb in the direction of the animal."I would buy her,"he said to Umanga.

PT "She is yours, Bwana, without payment,"replied the chief."She whelped two days since and last night her pups were all stolen from her nest, doubtless by a great snake; but if you will accept them I will give you instead as many younger and fatter dogs as you wish, for I am sure that this one would prove poor eating."

PT "I do not wish to eat her,"replied Tarzan."I will take her along with me to furnish milk for the cub. Have her brought to me."

PT Some boys then caught the animal and tying a thong about its neck dragged it to the ape-man. Like the lion, the dog was at first afraid, for the scent of the Tarmangani was not as the scent of the blacks, and it snarled and snapped at its new master; but at length he won the animal's confidence so that it lay quietly beside him while he stroked its head. To get the lion close to it was, however, another matter, for here both were terrified by the enemy scent of the other-- the lion snarling and spitting arid the dog bare-fanged and growling. It required patience--infinite patience--but at last the thing was an accomplished fact and the cur bitch suckled the son of Numa. Hunger had succeeded in overcoming the natural suspicion of the lion, while the firm yet kindly attitude of the ape-man had won the confidence of the canine, which had been accustomed through life to more of cuffs and kicks than kindness.

PT That night Tarzan had the dog tied ill[??] the hut he occupied, and twice before morning he made her lie while the cub fed. The next day they took leave of Umanga and his people and with the dog still upon a leash trotting beside them they set off once more toward home, the young lion cuddled in the hollow of one of Tarzan's arms or carried in a sack slung across his shoulder.

PT They named the lion Jad-bal-ja, which in the language of the pithecanthropi of Pal-ul-don, means the Golden Lion, because of his color. Every day he became more accustomed to them and to his foster mother, who finally came to accept him as flesh of her flesh. The bitch they called Za, meaning girl. The second day they removed her leash and she followed them willingly through the jungle, nor ever after did she seek to leave them, nor was happy unless she was near one of the three.

PT As the moment approached when the trail should break from the jungle onto the edge of the rolling plain where their home had been, the three were filled with suppressed excitement, though none uttered a syllable of the hope and fear that was in the heart of each. What would they find? What could they find other than the same tangled mass of vegetation that the ape-man had cleared away to build his home when first he had come there with his bride?

PT At last they stepped from the concealing verdure of the forest to look out across the plain where, in the distance, the outlines of the bungalow had once been clearly discernible nestled amidst the trees and shrubs that had been retained or imported to beautify the grounds.

PT "Look!"cried Lady Jane."It is there--it is still there!"

PT "But what are those other things to the left, beyond it?"asked Korak.

PT "They are the huts of natives,"replied Tarzan.

PT "The fields are being cultivated!"exclaimed the woman.

PT "And some of the outbuildings have been rebuilt,"said Tarzan."It can mean but one thing--the Waziri have come back from the war--my faithful Waziri. They have restored what the Hun destroyed and are watching over our home until we return."

THE TRAINING OF JAD-BAL-JA

PT And so Tarzan of the Apes, and Jane Clayton, and Korak came home after a long absence and with them came Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, and Za, the bitch. Among the first to meet them and to welcome them home was old Muviro, father of Wasimbu, who had given his life in defense of the home and wife of the ape-man.

PT "Ah, Bwana,"cried the faithful black,"my old eyes are made young again by the sight of you. It has been long that you have been gone, but though many doubted that you would return, old Muviro knew that the great world held nothing that might overcome his master. And so he knew, too, that his master would return to the home of his love and the land where his faithful Waziri awaited him; but that she, whom we have mourned as dead, should have returned is beyond belief, and great shall be the rejoicing in the huts of the Waziri tonight. And the earth shall tremble to the dancing feet of the warriors and the heavens ring with the glad cries of their women, since the three they love most on earth have come back to them."

PT And in truth, great indeed was the rejoicing in the huts of the Waziri. And not for one night alone, but for many nights did the dancing and the rejoicing continue until Tarzan was compelled to put a stop to the festivities that he and his family might gain a few hours of unbroken slumber. The ape-man found that not only had his faithful Waziri, under the equally faithful guidance of his English foreman, Jervis, completely rehabilitated his stables, corrals, and outbuildings as well as the native huts, but had restored the interior of the bungalow, so that in all outward appearances the place was precisely as it had been before the raid of the Germans.

PT Jervis was at Nairobi on the business of the estate, and it was some days after their arrival that he returned to the ranch. His surprise and happiness were no less genuine than those of the Waziri. With the chief and warriors he sat for hours at the feet of the Big Bwana, listening to an account of the strange land of Pal-ul-don and the adventures that had befallen the three during Lady Greystoke's captivity there, and with the Waziri he marveled at the queer pets the ape-man had brought back with him. That Tarzan might have fancied a mongrel native cur was strange enough, but that he should have adopted a cub of his hereditary enemies, Numa and Sabor, seemed beyond all belief. And equally surprising to them all was the manner of Tarzan's education of the cub.

PT The golden lion and his foster mother occupied a corner of the ape-man's bedroom, and many was the hour each day that he spent in training and educating the little spotted, yellow ball--all playfulness and affection now, but one day to grow into a great, savage beast of prey.

PT As the days passed and the golden lion grew, Tarzan taught it many tricks--to fetch and carry, to lie motionless in hiding at his almost inaudible word of command, to move from point to point as he indicated, to hunt for hidden things by scent and to retrieve them, and when meat was added to its diet he fed it always in a way that brought grim smiles to the savage lips of the Waziri warriors, for Tarzan had built for him a dummy in the semblance of a man and the meat that the lion was to eat was fastened always at the throat of the dummy. Never did the manner of feeding vary. At a word from the ape-man the golden lion would crouch, belly to the ground, and then Tarzan would point at the dummy and whisper the single word"kill."However hungry he might be, the lion learned never to move toward his meat until that single word had been uttered by its master; and then with a rush and a savage growl it drove straight for the flesh. While it was little it had difficulty at first in clambering up the dummy to the savory morsel fastened at the figure's throat, but as it grew older and larger it gained the objective more easily, and finally a single leap would carry it to its goal and down would go the dummy upon its back with the young lion tearing at its throat.

PT There was one lesson that, of all the others, was most difficult to learn and it is doubtful that any other than Tarzan of the Apes, reared by beasts, among beasts, could have overcome the savage blood-lust of the carnivore and rendered his natural instinct subservient to the will of his master. It took weeks and months of patient endeavor to accomplish this single item of the lion's education, which consisted in teaching him that at the word"fetch"he must find any indicated object and return with it to his master, even the dummy with raw meat tied at its throat, and that he must not touch the meat nor harm the dummy nor any other article that he was fetching, but place it carefully at the ape-man's feet. Afterward he learned always to be sure of his reward, which usually consisted in a double portion of the meat that he loved best.

PT Lady Greystoke and Korak were often interested spectators of the education of the golden lion, though the former expressed mystification as to the purpose of such elaborate training of the young cub and some misgivings as to the wisdom of the ape-man's program.

PT "What in the world can you do with such a brute after he is grown?"she asked."He bids fair to be a mighty Numa. Being accustomed to men he will be utterly fearless of them, and having fed always at the throat of a dummy he will look there at the throat of living men for his food hereafter."

PT "He will feed only upon what I tell him to feed,"replied the ape-man.

PT "But you do not expect him to feed always upon men?"she interrogated, laughingly.

PT "He will never feed upon men."

PT "But how can you prevent it, having taught him from cubhood always to feed upon men?"

PT "I am afraid, Jane, that you under-estimate the intelligence of a lion, or else I very much over-estimate it. If your theory is correct the hardest part of my work is yet before me, but if I am right it is practically complete now. However, we will experiment a bit and see which is right. We shall take Jad-bal-ja out upon the plain with us this afternoon. Game is plentiful and we shall have no difficulty in ascertaining just how much control I have over young Numa after all."

PT "I'll wager a hundred pounds,"said Korak, laughing,"that he does just what he jolly well pleases after he gets a taste of live blood."

PT "You're on, my son,"said the ape-man. I think I am going to show you and your mother this afternoon what you or anyone else never dreamed could be accomplished."

PT "Lord Greystoke, the world's premier animal trainer!"cried Lady Greystoke, and Tarzan joined them in their laughter.

PT "It is not animal training,"said the ape-man."The plan upon which I work would be impossible to anyone but Tarzan of the Apes. Let us take a hypothetical case to illustrate what I mean. There comes to you some creature whom you hate, whom by instinct and heredity you consider a deadly enemy. You are afraid of him. You understand no word that he speaks. Finally, by means sometimes brutal he impresses upon your mind his wishes. You may do the thing he wants, but do you do it with a spirit of unselfish loyalty? You do not-- you do it under compulsion, hating the creature that forces his will upon you. At any moment that you felt it was in your power to do so, you would disobey him. You would even go further--you would turn upon him and destroy him. On the other hand, there comes to you one with whom you are familiar; he is a friend, a protector. He understands and speaks the language that you understand and speak. He has fed you, he has gained your confidence by kindness and protection, he asks you to do something for him. Do you refuse? No, you obey willingly. It is thus that the golden lion will obey me."

PT "As long as it suits his purpose to do so,"commented Korak.

PT "Let me go a step farther then,"said the ape-man."Suppose that this creature, whom you love and obey, has the power to punish, even to kill you, if it is necessary so to do to enforce his commands. How then about your obedience?"

PT "We'll see,"said Korak,"how easily the golden lion will make one hundred pounds for me."

PT That afternoon they set out across the plain, Jad-bal-ja following Tarzan's horse's heels. They dismounted at a little clump of trees some distance from the bungalow and from there proceeded onward warily toward a swale in which antelopes were usually to be found, moving up which they came cautiously to the heavy brush that bordered the swale upon their side. There was Tarzan, Jane, and Korak, and close beside Tarzan the golden lion--four jungle hunters --and of the four Jad-bal-ja, the lion, was the least accomplished. Stealthily they crawled through the brush, scarce a leaf rustling to their passage, until at last they looked down into the swale upon a small herd of antelope grazing peacefully below. Closest to them was an old buck, and him Tarzan pointed out in some mysterious manner to Jad-bal-ja.

PT "Fetch him,"he whispered, and the golden lion rumbled a scarce audible acknowledgment of the command.

PT Stealthily he worked his way through the brush. The antelopes fed on, unsuspecting. The distance separating the lion from his prey was over great for a successful charge, and so Jad-bal-ja waited, hiding in the brush, until the antelope should either graze closer to him or turn its back toward him. No sound came from the four watching the grazing herbivora, nor did the latter give any indication of a suspicion of the nearness of danger. The old buck moved slowly closer to Jad-bal-ja. Almost imperceptibly the lion was gathering for the charge. The only noticeable movement was the twitching of his tail's tip, and then, as lightning from the sky, as an arrow from a bow, he shot from immobility to tremendous speed in an instant. He was almost upon the buck before the latter realized the proximity of danger, and then it was too late, for scarcely had the antelope wheeled than the lion rose upon its hind legs and seized it, while the balance of the herd broke into precipitate flight.

PT "Now,"said Korak,"we shall see."

PT "He will bring the antelope to me,"said Tarzan confidently.

PT The golden lion hesitated a moment, growling over the carcass of his kill. Then he seized it by the back and with his head turned to one side dragged it along the ground beside him, as he made his way slowly back toward Tarzan. Through the brush he dragged the slain antelope until he had dropped it at the feet of his master, where he stood, looking up at the face of the ape-man with an expression that could not have been construed into aught but pride in his achievement and a plea for commendation.

PT Tarzan stroked his head and spoke to him in a low voice, praising him, and then, drawing his hunting knife, he cut the jugular of the antelope and let the blood from the carcass. Jane and Korak stood close, watching Jad-bal-ja-- what would the lion do with the smell of fresh, hot blood in his nostrils? He sniffed at it and growled, and with bared fangs he eyed the three wickedly. The ape-man pushed him away with his open palm and the lion growled again angrily and snapped at him.

PT Quick is Numa, quick is Bara, the deer, but Tarzan of the Apes is lightning. So swiftly did he strike, and so heavily, that Jad-bal-ja was falling on his back almost in the very instant that he had growled at his master. Swiftly he came to his feet again and the two stood facing one another.

PT "Down!"commanded the ape-man."Lie down, Jad-bal-ja!"His voice was low and firm. The lion hesitated but for an instant, and then lay down as Tarzan of the Apes had taught him to do at the word of command. Tarzan turned and lifted the carcass of the antelope to his shoulder.

PT "Come,"he said to Jad-bal-ja."Heel!"and without another glance at the carnivore he moved off toward the horses.

PT "I might have known it,"said Korak, with a laugh,"and saved my hundred pounds."

PT "Of course you might have known it,"said his mother.

A MEETING OF MYSTERY

PT A rather attractive-looking, though over-dressed, young woman was dining in a second-rate chop-house in London. She was noticeable, not so much for her fine figure and coarsely beautiful face as for the size and appearance of her companion, a large, well-proportioned man in the mid-twenties, with such a tremendous beard that it gave him the appearance of hiding in ambush. He stood fully three inches over six feet. His shoulders were broad, his chest deep, and his hips narrow. His physique, his carriage, everything about him, suggested indubitably the trained athlete.

PT The two were in close conversation, a conversation that occasionally gave every evidence of bordering upon heated argument.

PT "I tell you,"said the man,"that I do not see what we need of the others. Why should they share with us--why divide into six portions that which you and I might have alone?"

PT "It takes money to carry the plan through,"she replied,"and neither you nor I have any money. They have it and they will back us with it--me for my knowledge and you for your appearance and your strength. They searched for you, Esteban, for two years, and, now that they have found you, I should not care to be in your shoes if you betrayed them. They would just as soon slit your throat as not, Esteban, if they no more than thought they couldn't use you, now that you have all the details of their plan. But if you should try to take all the profit from them--"

PT She paused, shrugging her shoulders."No, my dear, I love life too well to join you in any such conspiracy as that."

PT �But I tell you, Flora, we ought to get more out of it than they want to give. You furnish all the knowledge and I take all the risk--why shouldn't we have more than a sixth apiece?"

PT "Talk to them yourself, then, Esteban,"said the girl, with a shrug,"but if you will take my advice you will be satisfied with what you are offered. Not only have I the information, without which they can do nothing, but I found you into the bargain, yet I do not ask it all--I shall be perfectly satisfied with one-sixth, and I can assure you that if you do not muddle the thing, one-sixth of what you bring out will be enough for any one of us for the rest of his natural life."

PT The man did not seem convinced, and the young woman had a feeling that he would bear watching. Really, she knew very little about him, and had seen him in person only a few times since her first discovery of him some two months before. upon the screen of a London cinema house in a spectacular feature in which he had played the role of a Roman soldier of the Pretorian Guard.

PT Here his heroic size and perfect physique had alone entitled him to consideration, for his part was a minor one, and doubtless of all the thousands who saw him upon the silver sheet Flora Hawkes was the only one who took more than a passing interest in him, and her interest was aroused, not by his histrionic ability, but rather because for some two years she and her confederates had been searching for such a type as Esteban Miranda so admirably represented. To find him in the flesh bade fair to prove difficult of accomplishment, but after a month of seemingly fruitless searching she finally discovered him among a score of extra men at the studio of one of London's lesser producing companies. She needed no other credentials than her good looks to form his acquaintance, and while that was ripening into intimacy she made no mention to him of the real purpose of her association with him.

PT That he was a Spaniard and apparently of good family was evident to her, and that he was unscrupulous was to be guessed by the celerity with which he agreed to take part in the shady transaction that had been conceived in the mind of Flora Hawkes, and the details of which had been perfected by her and her four confederates. So, therefore, knowing that he was unscrupulous, she was aware that every precaution must be taken to prevent him taking advantage of the knowledge of their plan that he must one day have in detail, the key to which she, up to the present moment, had kept entirely to herself, not even confiding it to any one of her four other confederates.

PT They sat for a moment in silence, toying with the empty glasses from which they had been drinking. Presently she looked up to find his gaze fixed upon her and an expression in his eyes that even a less sophisticated woman than Flora Hawkes might readily have interpreted.

PT "You can make me do anything you want, Flora,"he said,"for when I am with you I forget the gold, and think only of that other reward which you continually deny me, but which one day I shall win."

PT "Love and business do not mix well,"replied the girl."Wait until you have succeeded in this work, Esteban, and then we may talk of love."

PT "You do not love me,"he whispered, hoarsely."I know--I have seen--that each of the others loves you. That is why I could hate them. And if I thought that you loved one of them, I could cut his heart out. Sometimes I have thought that you did--first one of them and then another. You are too familiar with them, Flora. I have seen John Peebles squeeze your hand when he thought no one was looking, and when you dance with Dick Throck he holds you too close and you dance cheek to cheek. I tell you I do not like it, Flora, and one of these days I shall forget all about the gold and think only of you, and then something will happen and there will not be so many to divide the ingots that I shall bring back from Africa. And Bluber and Kraski are almost as bad; perhaps Kraski is the worst of all, for he is a good-looking devil and I do not like the way in which you cast sheep's eyes at him."

PT The fire of growing anger was leaping to the girl's eyes. With an angry gesture she silenced him.

PT "What business is it of yours, Senor Miranda, who I choose for my friends, or how I treat them or how they treat me? I will have you understand that I have known these men for years, while I have known you for but a few weeks, and if any has a right to dictate my behavior, which, thank God, none has, it would be one of them rather than you."

PT His eyes blazed angrily.

PT "It is as I thought!"he cried."You love one of them."He half rose from the table and leaned across it toward her, menacingly."Just let me find out which one it is and I will cut him into pieces!"

PT He ran his fingers through his long, black hair until it stood up on end like the mane of an angry lion. His eyes were blazing with a light that sent a chill of dread through the girl's heart. He appeared a man temporarily bereft of reason--if he were not a maniac he most certainly looked one, and the girl was afraid and realized that she must placate him.

PT "Come, come, Esteban,"she whispered softly, there is no need for working yourself into a towering rage over nothing. I have not said that I loved one of these, nor have I said that I do not love you, but I am not used to being wooed in such fashion. Perhaps your Spanish senoritas like it, but I am an English girl and if you love me treat me as an English lover would treat me.

PT "You have not said that you loved one of these others--no, but on the other hand you have not said that you do not love one of them--tell me, Flora, which one of them is it that you love?"

PT His eyes were still blazing, and his great frame trembling with suppressed passion.

PT "I do not love any of them, Esteban,"she replied,"nor, as yet, do I love you. But I could, Esteban, that much I will tell you. I could love you, Esteban, as I could never love another, but I shall not permit myself to do so until after you have returned and we are free to live where and how we like. Then, maybe--but, even so, I do not promise."

PT "You had better promise,"he said, sullenly, though evidently somewhat mollified."You had better promise, Flora, for I care nothing for the gold if I may not have you also."

PT "Hush,"she cautioned,"here they come now, and it is about time; they are fully a half-hour late."

PT The man turned his eyes in the direction of her gaze, and the two sat watching the approach of four men who had just entered the chop-house. Two of them were evidently Englishmen--big, meaty fellows of the middle class, who looked what they really were, former pugilists; the third, Adolph Bluber, was a short, fat German, with a round, red face and a bull neck; the other, the youngest of the four, was by far the best looking. His smooth face, clear complexion, and large dark eyes might of themselves have proven sufficient grounds for Miranda's jealousy, but supplementing these were a mop of wavy, brown hair, the figure of a Greek god and the grace of a Russian dancer, which, in truth, was what Carl Kraski was when he chose to be other than a rogue.

PT The girl greeted the four pleasantly, while the Spaniard vouchsafed them but a single, surly nod, as they found chairs and seated themselves at the table.

PT "Hale!"[cried] Peebles, pounding the table to attract the attention of a waiter,"let us 'ave hale."

PT The suggestion met with unanimous approval, and as they waited for their drink they spoke casually of unimportant things; the heat, the circumstance that had delayed them, the trivial occurrences since they had last met; throughout which Esteban sat in sullen silence, but after the waiter had returned and they drank to Flora, with which ceremony it had long been their custom to signalize each gathering, they got down to business.

PT "Now,"cried Peebles, pounding the table with his meaty fist,"'ere we are, and that's that! We 'ave everything, Flora--the plans, the money, Senor Miranda--and are jolly well ready, old dear, for your part of it.

PT "How much money have you?"asked Flora."It is going to take a lot of money, and there is no use starting unless you have plenty to carry on with."

PT Peebles turned to Bluber."There,"he said, pointing a pudgy finger at him,"is the bloomin' treasurer. 'E can tell you 'ow much we 'ave, the fat rascal of a Dutchman."

PT Bluber smiled an oily smile and rubbed his fat palms together."Vell,"he said,"how much you t'ink, Miss Flora, ve should have?"

PT "Not less than two thousand pounds to be on the safe side,"she replied quickly.

PT "Oi! Oi!"exclaimed Bluber."But dot is a lot of money-- two t'ousand pounds. Oi! Oi!"

PT The girl made a gesture of disgust."I told you in the first place that I wouldn't have anything to do with a bunch of cheap screws, and that until you had enough money to carry the thing out properly I would not give you the maps and directions, without which you cannot hope to reach the vaults, where there is stored enough gold to buy this whole, tight, little island if half that what I have heard them say about it is true. You can go along and spend your own money, but you've got to show me that you have at least two thousand pounds to spend before I give up the information that will make you the richest men in the world."

PT "The blighter's got the money,"growled Throck."Blime if I know what he's beefin' about."

PT "He can't help it,"[growled] the Russian,"it's a racial characteristic; Bluber would try to jew down the marriage license clerk if he were going to get married."

PT "Oh, vell,"sighed Bluber,"for vy should we spend more money than is necessary? If ve can do it for vone t'ousand pounds so much the better."

PT "Certainly,"snapped the girl,"and if it don't take but one thousand, that is all that you will have to spend, but you've got to have the two thousand in case of emergencies, and from what I have seen of that country you are likely to run up against more emergencies than anything else."

PT "Oi! Oi!"cried Bluber.

PT "'E's got the money all right,"said Peebles,"now let's get busy."

PT "He may have it, but I want to see it first,"replied the girl.

PT "Vat you t'ink; I carry all dot money around in my pocket?"cried Bluber.

PT "Can't you take our word for it?"grumbled Throck.

PT "You're a nice bunch of crooks to ask me that,"she replied, laughing in the face of the burly ruffians."I'll take Carl's word for it, though; if he tells me that you have it, and that it is in such shape that it can, and will, be used to pay all the necessary expenses of our expedition, I will believe him."

PT Peebles and Throck scowled angrily, and Miranda's eyes closed to two narrow, nasty slits, as he directed his gaze upon the Russian. Bluber, on the contrary, was affected not at all; the more he was insulted, the better, apparently, he liked it. Toward one who treated him with consideration. or respect he would have become arrogant, while he fawned upon the hand that struck him. Kraski, alone, smiled a self-satisfied smile that set the blood of the Spaniard boiling.

PT "Bluber has the money, Flora,"he said;"each of us has contributed his share. We'll make Bluber treasurer, because we know that he will squeeze the last farthing until it shrieks before he will let it escape him. It is our plan now to set out from London in pairs."

PT He drew a map from his pocket, and unfolding it, spread it out upon the table before them. With his finger he indicated a point marked X."Here we will meet and here we will equip our expedition. Bluber and Miranda will go first; then Peebles and Throck. By the time that you and I arrive everything will be in shape for moving immediately into the interior, where we shall establish a permanent camp, off the beaten track and as near our objective as possible. Miranda will disport himself behind his whiskers until he is ready to set out upon the final stage of his long journey. I understand that he is well schooled in the part that he is to play and that he can depict the character to perfection. As he will have only ignorant natives and wild beasts to deceive it should not tax his histrionic ability too greatly."There was a veiled note of sarcasm in the soft, drawling tone that caused the black eyes of the Spaniard to gleam wickedly.

PT "Do I understand,"asked Miranda, his soft tone belying his angry scowl,"that you and Miss Hawkes travel alone to X?"

PT "You do, unless your understanding is poor,"replied the Russian.

PT The Spaniard half rose from the table and leaned across it menacingly toward Kraski. The girl, who was sitting next to him, seized his coat.

PT "None of that!"she said, dragging him back into his chair."There has been too much of it among you already, and if there is any more I shall cut you all and seek more congenial companions for my expedition."

PT "Yes, cut it out; 'ere we are, and that's that!"exclaimed Peebles belligerently.

PT "John's right,"rumbled Throck, in his deep bass,"and I'm here to back him up. Flora's right, and I'm here to back her up. And if there is any more of it, blime if I don't bash a couple of you pretty 'uns,"and he looked first at Miranda and then at Kraski.

PT "Now,"soothed Bluber,"let's all shake hands and be good friends."

PT "Right-o,"cried Peebles,"that's the talk. Give 'im your 'and, Esteban. Come, Carl, bury the 'atchet. We can't start in on this thing with no hanimosities, and 'ere we are, and that's that."

PT The Russian, feeling secure in his position with Flora, and therefore in a magnanimous mood, extended his hand across the table toward the Spaniard. For a moment Esteban hesitated.

PT "Come, man, shake!"growled Throck,"or you can go back to your job as an extra man, blime, and we'll find someone else to do your work and divvy the swag with."

PT Suddenly the dark countenance of the Spaniard was lighted by a pleasant smile. He extended his hand quickly and clasped Kraski's."Forgive me,"he said,"I am hot-tempered, but I mean nothing. Miss Hawkes is right, we must all be friends, and here's my hand on it, Kraski, as far as I am concerned."

PT "Good,"said Kraski,"and I am sorry if I offended you;"but he forgot that the other was an actor, and if he could have seen into the depths of that dark soul he would have shuddered.

PT "Und now, dot ve are all good friends,"said Bluber, rubbing his hands together unctuously, vy not arrange for vhen ve shall commence starting to finish up everyt'ings? Miss Flora, she gives me the map und der directions und we start commencing immediately."

PT "Loan me a pencil, Carl,"said the girl, and when the man had handed her one she searched out a spot upon the map some distance into the interior from X, where she drew a tiny circle."This is O,"she said."When we all reach here you shall have the final directions and not before."

PT Bluber threw up his hands."Oi! Miss Flora, vhat you t'ink, ve spend two t'ousand pounds to buy a pig in a poke? Oi! Oi! you vouldn't ask us to do dot? Ve must see everyt'ing, ve must know everyt'ing, before ve spend vun farthing."

PT "Yes, and 'ere we are, and that's that!"roared John Peebles, striking the table with his fist.

PT The girl rose leisurely from her seat."Oh, very well,"she said with a shrug."If you feel that way about it we might as well call it all off."

PT "Oh, vait, vait, Miss Flora,"cried Bluber, rising hurriedly."Don't be ogcited. But can't you see vere ve are? Two t'ousand pounds is a lot of money, and ve are good business men. Ve shouldn't be spending it all vit'out getting not'ings for it."

PT "I am not asking you to spend it and get nothing for it,"replied the girl, tartly;"but if anyone has got to trust anyone else in this outfit, it is you who are going to trust me. If I give you all the information I have, there is nothing in the world that could prevent you from going ahead and leaving me out in the cold, and I don't intend that that shall happen."

PT "But we are not gonoffs, Miss Flora,"insisted the Jew."Ve vould not t'ink for vun minute of cheating you."

PT "You're not angels, either, Bluber, any of you,� retorted the girl."If you want to go ahead with this you've got to do it in my way, and I am going to be there at the finish to see that I get what is coming to me. You've taken my word for it, up to the present time, that I had the dope, and now you've got to take it the rest of the way or all bets are off. What good would it do me to go over into a bally jungle and suffer all the hardships that we are bound to suffer, dragging you along with me, if I were not going to be able to deliver the goods when I got there? And I am not such a softy as to think I could get away with it with a bunch of bandits like you if I tried to put anything of that kind over on you. And as long as I do play straight I feel perfectly safe, for I know that either Esteban or Carl will look after me, and I don't know but what the rest of you would, too. Is it a go or isn't it?"

PT "Vell, John, vot do you und Dick t'ink?"asked Bluber, addressing the two ex-prize-fighters."Carl, I know he vill t'ink vhatever Flora t'inks. Hey? V'at?"

PT "Blime,"said Throck,"I never was much of a hand at trusting nobody unless I had to, but it looks now as though we had to trust Flora."

PT "Same 'ere,"said John Peebles."If you try any funny work, Flora--"He made a significant movement with his finger across his throat.

PT "I understand, John,"said the girl with a smile,"and I know that you would do it as quickly for two pounds as you would for two thousand. But you are all agreed, then, to carry on according to my plans? You too, Carl?"

PT The Russian nodded."Whatever the rest say goes with me,"he remarked.

PT And so the gentle little coterie discussed their plans in so far as they could--each minutest detail that would be necessary to place them all at the O which the girl had drawn upon the map.

WHAT THE FOOTPRINTS TOLD

PT When Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, was two years old, he was as magnificent a specimen of his kind as the Greystokes had ever looked upon. In size he was far above the average of that attained by mature males; in conformation he was superb, his noble head and his great black mane giving him the appearance of a full-grown male, while in intelligence he far outranked his savage brothers of the forest.

PT Jad-bal-ja was a never-ending source of pride and delight to the ape-man who had trained him so carefully, and nourished him cunningly for the purpose of developing to the full all the latent powers within him. The lion no longer slept at the foot of his master's bed, but occupied a strong cage that Tarzan had had constructed for him at the rear of the bungalow, for who knew better than the ape-man that a lion, wherever he may be or however he may have been raised, is yet a lion--a savage flesh-eater. For the first year he had roamed at will about the house and grounds; after that he went abroad only in the company of Tarzan. Often the two roamed the plain and the jungle hunting together. In a way the lion was almost equally as familiar with Jane and Korak, and neither of them feared or mistrusted him, but toward Tarzan of the Apes did he show the greatest affection. The blacks of Tarzan's household he tolerated, nor did he ever offer to molest any of the domestic animals or fowl, after Tarzan had impressed upon him in his early cubhood that appropriate punishment followed immediately upon any predatory excursion into the corrals or henhouses. The fact that he was never permitted to become ravenously hungry was doubtless the deciding factor in safeguarding the livestock of the farm.

PT The man and the beast seemed to understand one another perfectly. It is doubtful that the lion understood all that Tarzan said to him, but be that as it may the ease with which he communicated his wishes to the lion bordered upon the uncanny. The obedience that a combination of sternness and affection had elicited from the cub had become largely habit in the grown lion. At Tarzan's command he would go to great distances and bring back antelope or zebra, laying his kill at his master's feet without offering to taste the flesh himself, and he had even retrieved living animals without harming them. Such, then, was the golden lion that roamed the primeval forest with his godlike master.

PT It was at about this time that there commenced to drift in to the ape-man rumors of a predatory band to the west and south of his estate; ugly stories of ivory-raiding, slave-running and torture, such as had not disturbed the quiet of the ape-man's savage jungle since the days of Sheik Amor Ben Khatour, and there came other tales, too, that caused Tarzan of the Apes to pucker his brows in puzzlement and thought, and then a month elapsed during which Tarzan heard no more of the rumors from the west.

PT * * * * *

PT The war had reduced the resources of the Greystokes to but a meager income. They had given practically all to the cause of the Allies, and now what little had remained to them had been all but exhausted in the rehabilitation of Tarzan's African estate.

PT "It looks very much, Jane,"he said to his wife one night,"as though another trip to Opar were on the books."

PT "I dread to think of it. I do not want you to go,"she said."You have come away from that awful city twice, but barely with your life. The third time you may not be so fortunate. We have enough, John, to permit us to live here in comfort and in happiness. Why jeopardize those two things which are greater than all wealth in another attempt to raid the treasure vaults?"

PT "There is no danger, Jane,"he assured her."The last time Werper dogged my footsteps, and between him and the earthquake I was nearly done for. But there is no chance of any such combination of circumstances thwarting me again.

PT "You will not go alone, John?"she asked."You will take Korak with you?"

PT "No,"he said,"I shall not take him. He must remain here with you, for really my long absences are more dangerous to you than to me. I shall take fifty of the Waziri, as porters, to carry the gold, and thus we should be able to bring out enough to last us for a long time.

PT "And Jad-bal-ja,"she asked,"shall you take him?"

PT "No, he had better remain here; Korak can look after him and take him out for a hunt occasionally. I am going to travel light and fast and it would be too hard a trip for him-- lions don't care to move around much in the hot sun, and as we shall travel mostly by day I doubt if Jad-bal-ja would last long."

PT And so it befell that Tarzan of the Apes set out once more upon the long trail that leads to Opar. Behind him marched fifty giant Waziri, the pick of the warlike tribe that had adopted Tarzan as its Chief. Upon the veranda of the bungalow stood Jane and Korak waving their adieux, while from the rear of the building there came to the ape-man's ears the rumbling roar of Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion. And as they marched away the voice of Numa accompanied them out upon the rolling plain, until at last it trailed off to nothingness in the distance.

PT His speed determined by that of the slowest of the blacks, Tarzan made but comparatively rapid progress. Opar lay a good twenty-five days' trek from the farm for men traveling light, as were these, but upon the return journey, laden as they would be with the ingots of gold, their progress would be slower. And because of this the ape-man had allotted two months for the venture. His safari, consisting of seasoned warriors only, permitted of really rapid progress. They carried no supplies, for they were all hunters and were moving through a country in which game was abundant--no need then for burdening themselves with the cumbersome impedimenta of white huntsmen.

PT A thorn boma and a few leaves furnished their shelter for the night, while spears and arrows and the powers of their great white chief ensured that their bellies would never go empty. With the picked men that he had brought with him, Tarzan expected to make the trip to Opar in twenty-one days, though had he been traveling alone he would have moved two or three times as fast, since, when Tarzan elected to travel with speed, he fairly flew through the jungle, equally at home in it by day or by night and practically tireless.

PT It was a mid-afternoon the third week of the march that Tarzan, ranging far ahead of his blacks in search of game, came suddenly upon the carcass of Bara, the deer, a feathered arrow protruding from its flank. It was evident that Bara had been wounded at some little distance from where it had lain down to die, for the location of the missile indicated that the wound could not have caused immediate death. But what particularly caught the attention of the ape-man, even before he had come close enough to make a minute examination, was the design of the arrow, and immediately he withdrew it from the body of the deer he knew it for what it was, and was filled with such wonderment as might come to you or to me were we to see a native Swazi headdress upon Broadway or the Strand, for the arrow was precisely such as one may purchase in most any sporting-goods house in any large city of the world--such an arrow as is sold and used for archery practice in the parks and suburbs. Nothing could have been more incongruous than this silly toy in the heart of savage Africa, and yet that it had done its work effectively was evident by the dead body of Bara, though the ape-man guessed that the shaft had been sped by no practiced savage hand.

PT Tarzan's curiosity was aroused and also his inherent jungle caution. One must know his jungle well to survive long the jungle, and if one would know it well he must let no unusual occurrence or circumstance go unexplained. And so it was that Tarzan set out upon the back track of Bara for the purpose of ascertaining, if possible, the nature of Bara's slayer. The bloody spoor was easily followed and the ape-man wondered why it was that the hunter had not tracked and overtaken his quarry, which had evidently been dead since the previous day. He found that Bara had traveled far, and the sun was already low in the west before Tarzan came upon the first indications of the slayer of the animal. These were in the nature of footprints that filled him with quite as much surprise as had the arrow. He examined them carefully, and, stooping low, even sniffed at them with his sensitive nostrils. Improbable, nay impossible though it seemed, the naked footprints were those of a white man--a large man, probably as large as Tarzan himself. As the foster-son of Kala stood gazing upon the spoor of the mysterious stranger he ran the fingers of one hand through his thick, black hair in a characteristic gesture indicative of deep puzzlement.

PT What naked white man could there be in Tarzan's jungle who slew Tarzan's game with the pretty arrow of an archery club? It was incredible that there should be such a one, and yet there recurred to the ape-man's mind the vague rumors that he had heard weeks before. Determined to solve the mystery he set out now upon the trail of the stranger--an erratic trail which wound about through the jungle, apparently aimlessly, prompted, Tarzan guessed, by the ignorance of an inexperienced hunter. But night fell before he had arrived at a solution of the riddle, and it was pitch dark as the ape-man turned his steps toward camp.

PT He knew that his Waziri would be expecting meat and it was not Tarzan's intention to disappoint them, though he then discovered that he was not the only carnivore hunting the district that night. The coughing grunt of a lion close by apprised him of it first, and then, from the distance, the deep roar of another. But of what moment was it to the ape-man that others hunted? It would not be the first time that he had pitted his cunning, his strength, and his agility against the other hunters of his savage world-- both man and beast.

PT And so it was that Tarzan made his kill at last, snatching it almost from under the nose of a disappointed and infuriated lion--a fat antelope that the latter had marked as his own. Throwing his kill to his shoulder almost in the path of the charging Numa, the ape-man swung lightly to the lower terraces and with a taunting laugh for the infuriated cat, vanished noiselessly into the night.

PT He found the camp and his hungry Waziri without trouble, and so great was their faith in him that they not for a moment doubted but that he would return with meat for them.

PT Early the following morning Tarzan set out again toward Opar, and directing his Waziri to continue the march in the most direct way, he left them that he might pursue further his investigations of the mysterious presence in his jungle that the arrow and the footsteps had apprised him of.

PT Coming again to the spot at which darkness had forced him to abandon his investigations, he took up the spoor of the stranger. Nor had he followed it far before he came upon further evidence of the presence of this new and malign personality--stretched before him in the trail was the body of a giant ape, one of the tribe of great anthropoids among whom Tarzan had been raised. Protruding from the hairy abdomen of the Mangani was another of the machine-made arrows of civilization. The ape-man's eyes narrowed and a scowl darkened his brow. Who was this who dared invade his sacred preserves and slaughter thus ruthlessly Tarzan's people?

PT A low growl rumbled in the throat of the ape-man. Sloughed with the habiliments of civilization was the thin veneer of civilization that Tarzan wore among white men. No English lord was this who looked upon the corpse of his hairy cousin, but another jungle beast in whose breast raged the unquenchable fire of suspicion and hatred for the man-thing that is the heritage of the jungle-bred. A beast of prey viewed the bloody work of ruthless man. Nor was there in the consciousness of Tarzan any acknowledgment of his blood relationship to the killer.

PT Realizing that the trail had been made upon the second day before, Tarzan hastened on in pursuit of the slayer. There was no doubt in his mind but that plain murder had been committed, for he was sufficiently familiar with the traits of the Mangani to know that none of them would provoke assault unless driven to it.

PT Tarzan was traveling up wind, and some half-hour after he had discovered the body of the ape his keen nostrils caught the scent-spoor of others of its kind. Knowing the timidity of these fierce denizens of the jungle he moved forward now with great wariness, lest, warned of his approach, they take flight before they were aware of his identity. He did not see them often, yet he knew that there were always those among them who recalled him, and that through these he could always establish amicable relations with the balance of the tribe.

PT Owing to the denseness of the undergrowth Tarzan chose the middle terraces for his advance, and here, swinging freely and swiftly among the leafy boughs, he came presently upon the giant anthropoids. There were about twenty of them in the band, and they were engaged, in a little natural clearing, in their never-ending search for caterpillars and beetles, which formed important items in the diet of the Mangani.

PT A faint smile overspread the ape-man's face as he paused upon a great branch, himself hidden by the leafy foliage about him, and watched the little band below him. Every action, every movement of the great apes, recalled vividly to Tarzan's mind the long years of his childhood, when, protected by the fierce mother-love of Kala, the she-ape, he had ranged the jungle with the tribe of Kerchak. In the romping young, he saw again Neeta and his other childhood playmates and in the adults all the great, savage brutes he had feared in youth and conquered in manhood. The ways of man may change but the ways of the ape are the same, yesterday, today and forever.

PT He watched them in silence for some minutes. How glad they would be to see him when they discovered his identity! For Tarzan of the Apes was known the length and the breadth of the great jungle as the friend and protector of the Mangani. At first they would growl at him and threaten him, for they would not depend solely on either their eyes or their ears for confirmation of his identity. Not until he had entered the clearing, and bristling bulls with bared fighting fangs had circled him stiffly until they had come close enough for their nostrils to verify the evidence of their eyes and ears, would they finally accept him. Then doubtless there would be great excitement for a few minutes, until, following the instincts of the ape mind, their attention was weaned from him by a blowing leaf, a caterpillar, or a bird's egg, and then they would move about their business, taking no further notice of him more than of any other member of the tribe. But this would not come until after each individual had smelled of him, and perhaps, pawed his flesh with calloused hands.

PT Now it was that Tarzan made a friendly sound of greeting, and, as the apes looked up, stepped from his concealment into plain view of them."I am Tarzan of the Apes,"he said,"mighty fighter, friend of the Mangani. Tarzan comes in friendship to his people,"and with these words he dropped lightly to the lush grass of the clearing.

PT Instantly pandemonium reigned. Screaming warnings, the shes raced with the young for the opposite side of the clearing, while the bulls, bristling and growling, faced the intruder.

PT "Come,"cried Tarzan,"do you not know me? I am Tarzan of the Apes, friend of the Mangani, son of Kala, and king of the tribe of Kerchak."

PT "We know you,"growled one of the old bulls;"yesterday we saw you when you killed Gobu. Go away or we shall kill you."

PT "I did not kill Gobu,"replied the ape-man."I found his dead body yesterday and I was following the spoor of his slayer, when I came upon you."

PT "We saw you,"repeated the old bull;"go away or we shall kill you. You are no longer the friend of the Mangani."

PT The ape-man stood with brows contracted in thought. It was evident that these apes really believed that they had seen him kill their fellow. What was the explanation? How could it be accounted for? Did the naked footprints of the great white man whom he had been following mean more, then, than he had guessed? Tarzan wondered. He raised his eyes and again addressed the bulls.

Versão em Português

1 - O LEÃO DOURADO

2 - O TREINAMENTO DE JAD-BAL-JA

3 - UM ENCONTRO MISTERIOSO

4 - O QUE AS PEGADAS REVELARAM

O LEÃO DOURADO

En A leoa Sabor amamentava seu único filhote, uma bola de pelo manchada, muito parecida com um leopardo. Ela estava deitada ao sol quente diante de sua toca rochosa, esticada de lado com os olhos semicerrados, mas permanecia alerta. Inicialmente, havia três filhotes: duas fêmeas e um macho. Sabor e seu pai, Numa, estavam orgulhosos e felizes. Mas a comida havia sido escassa, e Sabor, mal alimentada, não conseguia produzir leite suficiente para três filhotes fortes. Então caiu uma chuva fria, e os filhotes adoeceram. Apenas o mais forte sobreviveu; as duas fêmeas morreram. Sabor lamentou, andando de um lado para o outro ao lado dos pelos tristes e encharcados, gemendo e choramingando. De vez em quando, ela os cutucava com o focinho, como se tentasse acordá-los de um sono do qual não se acorda.

En Finalmente, ela parou de tentar, e todo o seu coração selvagem agora se preocupava apenas com o pequeno filhote macho que ainda estava vivo. Por isso Sabor estava mais vigilante do que o normal.

En Numa, o leão, não estava em casa. Duas noites antes, ele tinha feito uma caça e trazido para a toca deles. Ele tinha saído para caçar novamente na noite anterior, mas ainda não tinha voltado. Sabor, meio adormecida, imaginava a antílope gorda Wappi que seu magnífico companheiro poderia estar arrastando pela selva naquele momento, ou talvez a zebra Pacco, cuja carne era a favorita de sua espécie — suculenta e saborosa. O pensamento fez a boca de Sabor se encher de água.

En Um som indistinto alcançou os ouvidos aguçados de Sabor. Ela ergueu a cabeça e a inclinou de um lado para o outro, com as orelhas em pé, esforçando-se para captar a mais leve repetição do distúrbio.

En Ela farejou o ar. Havia apenas uma leve brisa, mas ela vinha da direção do som que ela ouvira, que ainda aumentava de volume, indicando que o que quer que o causasse estava se aproximando. À medida que se aproximava, a fera ficava mais nervosa. Ela rolou sobre a barriga, cortando o suprimento de leite do filhote. O filhote expressou sua desaprovação com pequenos rosnados até que um gemido baixo e queixoso da leoa o silenciou. Então ele ficou ao lado dela, olhando primeiro para ela e depois na direção que ela olhava, inclinando a cabecinha de um lado para o outro.

En Sabor, a leoa, ouviu um som que a perturbou. Isso a deixou inquieta, embora ainda não tivesse certeza de que significava problemas. Pensou que poderia ser seu companheiro voltando, mas não soava como um leão se movendo, certamente não como um arrastando uma caça pesada. Olhou para seu filhote e soltou um gemido suave. Ela sempre temia perigo para ele, seu último filhote restante, mas estava pronta para defendê-lo.

En A brisa trouxe o cheiro de algo se aproximando pela selva até o nariz da leoa. Seu rosto preocupado de mãe imediatamente se transformou em uma máscara furiosa, com dentes à mostra e olhos irados, porque o cheiro era o odiado odor de um homem. Ela se levantou, achatando a cabeça e balançando o rabo nervosamente. Através do modo silencioso como os animais se comunicam, ela disse ao seu filhote para ficar quieto e esperar por seu retorno. Então ela se moveu rápida e silenciosamente para enfrentar o intruso.

En O filhote ouviu os mesmos sons que sua mãe e então sentiu o cheiro do homem — um odor desconhecido que era novo para ele, mas que ele reconheceu instantaneamente como pertencente a um inimigo. Esse cheiro provocou nele uma reação igual à da leoa adulta: os pelos ao longo de suas pequenas costas se eriçaram e ele mostrou seus minúsculos dentes. Enquanto a leoa adulta se movia rápida e silenciosamente para dentro dos arbustos, o filhote ignorou sua advertência e a seguiu. Suas patas traseiras balançavam de um lado para o outro, como é típico de leões muito jovens, e seu andar desajeitado contrastava com a postura mais digna de seu corpo dianteiro. A leoa, focada no que estava à sua frente, não percebeu que ele a estava seguindo.

En A selva era densa, mas os leões haviam desgastado um caminho como um túnel através dela até sua toca. Além disso, uma pequena clareira se abria, atravessada por uma trilha muito usada. Quando Sabor chegou à clareira, ela viu a criatura-homem que temia e odiava. Ele não estava caçando ela ou seu filhote, mas hoje isso não importava. Normalmente, ela o deixaria passar ileso se ele não ameaçasse seu filhote, mas agora, com apenas um filhote restante, seus instintos maternais eram intensos. Ela não esperou que ele se tornasse um perigo. Em vez disso, ela se moveu para encontrá-lo, transformada de uma mãe gentil em uma assassina movida por um único pensamento: destruí-lo.

En Sabor não hesitou na borda da clareira e não deu nenhum aviso. O guerreiro negro não fazia ideia de que havia uma leoa por perto até vê-la, aterrorizante, investindo contra ele como uma flecha. Ele não estava procurando por leões e teria evitado um. A árvore mais próxima estava longe demais para alcançar. Vendo o filhote atrás dela, ele soube que não havia escape. Ele lançou sua lança pesada no momento em que Sabor saltou. A lança atravessou o coração dela e, ao mesmo tempo, suas mandíbulas se fecharam no rosto dele. Ambos caíram no chão, mortos.

En O filhote órfão parou a vinte pés de distância, estudando com olhos perplexos o primeiro grande desastre de sua vida. Ele desejava se aproximar de sua mãe, mas um medo instintivo do cheiro humano o mantinha distante. Começou a gemer de um jeito que normalmente a fazia correr, mas desta vez ela não veio. Ela nem sequer levantou a cabeça para olhá-lo. Ele estava confuso e não conseguia entender por quê. Enquanto continuava a chorar, sentia-se cada vez mais triste e solitário. Gradualmente, ele se arrastou para mais perto dela. Percebeu que a estranha criatura que ela havia matado estava imóvel e, após um tempo, seu medo diminuiu. Por fim, reuniu coragem para chegar bem perto e cheirá-la. Ainda gemia por ela, mas ela não respondia. Finalmente, caiu-lhe a ficha de que algo estava errado — que sua linda mãe havia mudado; ela não era mais como antes. No entanto, ele ficou perto dela, chorando até que por fim adormeceu, enroscado contra seu corpo sem vida.

En Tarzan, com sua esposa Jane e seu filho Korak, o Assassino, acabara de retornar da misteriosa terra de Pal-ul-don, onde os dois homens haviam resgatado Jane. Eles encontraram um filhote de leão cuja mãe jazia morta nas proximidades. Ao som de sua aproximação, o filhote abriu os olhos, levantou-se, achou as orelhas e rosnou para eles enquanto recuava contra o corpo da mãe. Vendo isso, o homem-macaco sorriu.

En Ele comentou que o filhote era um diabinho corajoso, compreendendo toda a tragédia de imediato. Aproximou-se do filhote que cuspia, esperando que ele fugisse, mas ele manteve-se firme. Em vez disso, rosnou mais ferozmente e atacou sua mão estendida enquanto ele se abaixava para alcançá-lo.

En Jane exclamou que o filhote era notavelmente corajoso e expressou pena pela criatura órfã.

En Korak observou que o filhote teria se tornado um leão magnífico se sua mãe tivesse sobrevivido. Ele chamou a atenção para o dorso do filhote, que descreveu como reto e poderoso como uma lança, e expressou pesar que a criatura tivesse que ser morta.

En Tarzan respondeu que não precisava morrer.

En Ele pensou que o animal tinha pouca chance porque precisaria de leite por mais dois meses, e ninguém parecia disposto a fornecê-lo.

En Tarzan declarou que ele seria o responsável por trazer o leite.

En Alguém perguntou a Tarzan se ele pretendia adotar o filhote de leão.

En Tarzan indicou seu acordo com um aceno de cabeça.

En Korak e Jane riram, e Korak comentou que ficaria bem.

En Jane riu, referindo-se a si mesma como a mãe adotiva do filho de Numa.

En Tarzan acompanhou os sorrisos, mas permaneceu concentrado no filhote de leão. Ele rapidamente agarrou o filhote pela nuca e falou com ele em uma voz suave e murmurante, enquanto o acariciava gentilmente. O filhote gradualmente parou de resistir e não tentou mais arranhar ou morder a mão que o afagava. Após um momento, Tarzan ergueu o filhote e o segurou contra o peito. A pequena criatura não parecia mais assustada, nem mostrou os dentes, apesar da proximidade do odor humano outrora temido.

En Jane Clayton exclamou de surpresa, perguntando como ele fez isso.

En Tarzan deu de ombros e disse que a espécie dela, os humanos, não tinha medo dela, mas que aqueles animais eram realmente da espécie dele. Ele acrescentou que, por mais que tentassem civilizá-lo, talvez fosse por isso que eles não tinham medo quando ele dava sinais de amizade. Ele então perguntou se até aquele pequeno malandro parecia entender isso.

En Korak disse que nunca conseguia entender isso. Ele achava que conhecia muito bem os animais africanos, mas não tinha o mesmo poder sobre eles ou a compreensão que a outra pessoa tinha, e perguntou por que isso acontecia.

En Lady Greystoke provocou o filho, afirmando que havia apenas um Tarzan, e seu tom carregava um toque de orgulho.

En Tarzan lembrou a seu ouvinte que ele nasceu e foi criado entre animais. Ele sugeriu que talvez seu pai fosse de fato um macaco, como Kala sempre afirmou.

En Jane exclamou em descrença, questionando como John poderia dizer tal coisa, já que ele sabia perfeitamente quem eram seus pais.

En Tarzan olhou seriamente para seu filho e piscou. Ele comentou que a mãe dele nunca poderia aprender a apreciar as qualidades admiráveis dos macacos. Era quase como se ela não gostasse da sugestão de que havia acasalado com um.

En Uma mulher diz a John Clayton que nunca mais falará com ele se ele não parar de dizer coisas tão terríveis. Ela sente vergonha dele e diz que já é ruim o suficiente ele ser um homem selvagem irredimido sem que ele também sugira que pode ser um macaco.

En A longa viagem de Pal-ul-don estava quase no fim. Eles esperavam chegar à sua antiga casa dentro de uma semana. Não se sabia se restava algo das ruínas deixadas pelos alemães. Os celeiros e anexos haviam sido queimados, e o interior da casa principal estava parcialmente destruído. Os leais servos waziri que não foram mortos pelos soldados do capitão Fritz Schneider juntaram-se ao exército inglês para ajudar na guerra. Tarzan sabia disso antes de partir para encontrar Lady Jane. No entanto, ele não sabia quantos de seus guerreiros waziri haviam sobrevivido à guerra nem o que mais havia acontecido com suas vastas propriedades. Tribos nativas errantes ou traficantes de escravos árabes podem ter concluído a destruição que os alemães iniciaram. Também era possível que a selva tivesse tomado conta de suas clareiras, cobrindo todos os sinais de presença humana.

En Após adotar o pequeno filhote de leão, Tarzan teve que pensar imediatamente no que o animal jovem precisava. Ao planejar suas jornadas e paradas, ele tinha que lembrar que o filhote precisava de leite, já que era a única comida que podia comer.

En O leite de leoa era impossível, mas felizmente eles estavam agora em uma área comparativamente bem povoada, com muitas aldeias. O grande Senhor da Selva era conhecido, temido e respeitado ali. Portanto, na tarde do dia em que encontrou o filhote de leão, Tarzan aproximou-se de uma aldeia para obter leite para o filhote.

En Primeiramente, os nativos pareciam mal-humorados e indiferentes, olhando com desprezo para os viajantes brancos que chegaram sem um grande safari. Eles sentiam desprezo porque, sem uma grande comitiva, esses estranhos não podiam trazer presentes ou meios para pagar pela comida, e sem askari, não podiam impor exigências ou se proteger caso fossem atacados. No entanto, apesar de sua aparente indiferença, os nativos estavam curiosos, intrigados com as roupas e ornamentos incomuns dos brancos. Eles observaram que os viajantes estavam quase tão nus quanto eles e carregavam armas semelhantes, exceto que o homem mais jovem tinha um rifle. Todos os três usavam os trajes primitivos e bárbaros de Pal-ul-don, que eram totalmente desconhecidos para o simples povo negro.

En Tarzan entrou na vila entre mulheres, crianças e cachorros latindo, e perguntou onde estava o chefe deles.

En Alguns guerreiros, que cochilavam nas sombras das cabanas, despertaram e se aproximaram dos recém-chegados.

En Um dos guerreiros respondeu que o chefe estava dormindo e perguntou a Tarzan quem ele era e o que queria, insinuando que ele não tinha o direito de acordar o chefe.

En Tarzan declarou que desejava falar com o chefe e ordenou que o guerreiro o trouxesse.

En O guerreiro olhou para ele espantado e então explodiu em uma gargalhada.

En Ele declarou a seus companheiros que o chefe tinha que ser trazido até ele. Então ele riu com vontade, deu um tapa na coxa e cutucou com os cotovelos aqueles mais próximos a ele.

En O homem-macaco continuou, dizendo que Tarzan desejava falar com ele.

En De repente, as atitudes dos que ouviam mudaram completamente. Eles recuaram e pararam de rir, com os olhos arregalados e redondos. O homem que havia rido mais alto ficou muito sério. Ele ordenou que trouxessem esteiras para Tarzan e seu povo se sentarem, e disse que iria buscar Umanga, o chefe. Então ele correu o mais rápido que pôde, como se estivesse feliz por ter uma desculpa para escapar da presença da pessoa poderosa que temia ter ofendido.

En A falta de um safari, guardas ou presentes já não importava mais. Os aldeões competiam para demonstrar respeito. Antes da chegada do chefe, muitos já haviam trazido oferendas de comida e ornamentos. Logo, Umanga apareceu. Era um velho que já era chefe antes mesmo do nascimento de Tarzan. Sua postura era patriarcal e digna, e ele saudou seu convidado como um igual. Ele estava claramente satisfeito que o Senhor da Selva havia honrado sua vila com uma visita.

En Quando Tarzan explicou seus desejos e mostrou o filhote de leão, Umanga garantiu que haveria leite suficiente enquanto Tarzan permanecesse com eles—leite quente das próprias cabras do chefe. Enquanto conversavam, Tarzan observou cuidadosamente a vila e seu povo. Sua atenção foi atraída por uma grande cadela entre os muitos cães vadios que percorriam as cabanas e a rua. Ao ver o úbere cheio de leite, teve uma ideia. Apontou para o animal e disse que queria comprá-la.

En O chefe informou Tarzan que o cão era seu sem custo. Ele explicou que a cadela havia dado à luz dois dias antes e, na noite anterior, todos os seus filhotes haviam sido levados de sua toca, provavelmente por uma grande cobra. No entanto, se Tarzan preferisse, o chefe lhe daria quantos cães mais jovens e mais gordos desejasse, pois acreditava que este não daria uma boa comida.

En Tarzan respondeu que não queria comê-lo. Disse que o levaria consigo para fornecer leite para o filhote e ordenou que o trouxessem até ele.

En Os meninos capturaram uma cadela e a levaram até Tarzan com uma corda no pescoço. No início, a cadela ficou assustada com o cheiro desconhecido do homem-macaco, que era diferente do cheiro dos homens negros, e rosnou e tentou mordê-lo. No entanto, Tarzan gradualmente conquistou sua confiança, e a cadela eventualmente se deitou calmamente ao lado dele enquanto ele a acariciava. Apresentar o filhote de leão foi mais difícil, pois ambos os animais estavam aterrorizados com o cheiro um do outro — o leão cuspia e rosnava enquanto a cadela mostrava os dentes e rosnavava. Exigiu imensa paciência, mas eventualmente eles conseguiram, e a cadela amamentou o filhote de leão. A fome havia vencido a desconfiança natural do leão, enquanto a maneira firme mas gentil de Tarzan conquistou a confiança da cadela, que tinha conhecido mais crueldade do que bondade em sua vida.

En Naquela noite, Tarzan manteve a cadela amarrada dentro de sua cabana. Duas vezes antes do amanhecer, ele a fez deitar para que o filhote pudesse mamar. No dia seguinte, eles se despediram de Umanga e seu povo. Com a cadela ainda na coleira trotando ao lado deles, eles partiram novamente em direção ao lar. Tarzan carregava o filhote de leão, ora aninhado em um braço, ora em um saco pendurado em seu ombro.

En Eles nomearam o leão Jad-bal-ja, que na língua dos pitecantropos de Pal-ul-don significa o Leão Dourado, por causa de sua cor. A cada dia ele se acostumava mais com eles e com sua mãe adotiva, que eventualmente o aceitou como seu próprio filho. A cadela eles chamavam de Za, que significa menina. No segundo dia, eles removeram sua coleira, e ela os seguiu de boa vontade pela selva; depois disso, ela nunca tentou deixá-los e ficava infeliz a menos que estivesse perto de um dos três.

En Ao se aproximarem do ponto onde a trilha da selva se abria para a vasta planície onde seu lar outrora existira, os três sentiram uma mistura de empolgação e ansiedade, embora nenhum falasse de suas esperanças ou medos. Eles se perguntavam o que encontrariam — provavelmente a mesma vegetação densa que Tarzan havia limpado para construir sua casa quando chegou pela primeira vez com sua noiva.

En Finalmente, eles emergiram da vegetação densa da floresta e olharam para a planície. Ao longe, podiam ver o contorno do bangalô, que outrora era claramente visível entre as árvores e arbustos que haviam sido mantidos ou trazidos para embelezar os terrenos.

En Lady Jane gritou com empolgação, exclamando que aquilo estava ali, ainda ali.

En Korak perguntou o que eram aquelas outras coisas à esquerda, além dela.

En Tarzan respondeu que as cabanas eram as moradias dos habitantes nativos.

En A mulher exclamou que os campos estavam sendo cultivados.

En Tarzan observou que algumas das dependências externas haviam sido reconstruídas. Ele concluiu que isso só poderia significar que seus fiéis Waziri haviam retornado da guerra. Eles haviam reparado os danos causados pelo inimigo e estavam protegendo seu lar até que ele e sua família voltassem.

O TREINAMENTO DE JAD-BAL-JA

En Tarzan dos Macacos, sua esposa Jane Clayton e seu filho Korak voltaram para casa após uma longa viagem. Com eles estavam Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado, e Za, a cadela. Um dos primeiros a recebê-los foi o velho Muviro, pai de Wasimbu, que havia morrido protegendo a casa e a esposa de Tarzan.

En Muviro, o fiel Waziri, expressou sua alegria ao ver Tarzan novamente, dizendo que seus olhos velhos se sentiam jovens. Ele admitiu que, embora muitos duvidassem do retorno de Tarzan, ele próprio sempre soubera que o grande mundo não poderia derrotar seu mestre, e que Tarzan retornaria ao seu amado lar e ao seu povo leal. Ele acrescentou que o retorno de Jane, a quem eles haviam lamentado como morta, parecia inacreditável, e que grandes celebrações ocorreriam entre os Waziri naquela noite, com guerreiros dançando e mulheres gritando de alegria, porque as três pessoas mais amadas haviam voltado.

En Os Waziri celebraram com grande alegria em suas cabanas por muitas noites. As danças e festividades continuaram até Tarzan ordenar que parassem para que ele e sua família pudessem dormir. Ele viu que seus leais Waziri, liderados por seu capataz inglês Jervis, haviam reconstruído completamente os estábulos, currais, anexos e cabanas nativas. Eles também restauraram o interior do bangalô, fazendo tudo ficar exatamente como era antes do ataque alemão.

En Jervis retornou ao rancho alguns dias depois dos outros. Ele ficou tão surpreso e feliz quanto os Waziri. Sentou-se por horas com o chefe e os guerreiros aos pés de Tarzan, ouvindo a história de Pal-ul-don e as aventuras durante o cativeiro de Lady Greystoke. Os Waziri ficaram maravilhados com os animais de estimação estranhos que Tarzan trouxera. Acharam incrível que ele tivesse adotado um filhote de leão, a prole de seus inimigos naturais, e ainda mais surpreendente era como Tarzan estava treinando o filhote.

En O leão dourado e sua mãe adotiva dividiam um canto do quarto de Tarzan. Todos os dias, o homem-macaco passava muitas horas treinando e educando o pequeno filhote amarelo e malhado, que era cheio de brincadeiras e afeto, mas um dia se tornaria uma grande e selvagem fera de rapina.

En À medida que o leão dourado amadurecia, Tarzan o treinou em várias habilidades, como buscar objetos, permanecer escondido sob comando e rastrear pelo cheiro. Ele criou um método de alimentação incomum que divertia os guerreiros Waziri: construiu um boneco em forma de homem e sempre prendia a carne do leão em sua garganta. O leão aprendeu a esperar o comando de Tarzan antes de atacar, não importa o quanto estivesse com fome, e com uma única palavra ele saltava e derrubava o boneco.

En A lição mais difícil para o leão aprender foi superar seu instinto natural de matar e obedecer ao comando de Tarzan para buscar objetos sem machucá-los. Foram necessárias semanas e meses de treinamento paciente. O leão foi ensinado a recuperar qualquer item indicado, até mesmo um boneco com carne crua amarrada em sua garganta, e trazê-lo de volta para Tarzan sem tocar na carne ou danificar o boneco. Depois, o leão sempre recebia uma recompensa, geralmente uma porção dupla de sua carne favorita.

En Lady Greystoke e Korak frequentemente observavam com interesse enquanto Tarzan treinava o leão dourado. No entanto, Lady Greystoke ficava intrigada com o propósito de um treinamento tão intensivo para o filhote e duvidava da sabedoria do plano do homem-macaco.

En Ela perguntou o que poderia ser feito com uma fera daquelas quando crescesse. Ela observou que parecia destinada a se tornar um poderoso Numa. Acostumada aos homens, não teria medo deles, e como sempre se alimentara atacando a garganta de um boneco, agora procuraria as gargantas de homens vivos para se alimentar.

En O homem-macaco respondeu que a criatura se alimentaria apenas daquilo que ele lhe instruísse a se alimentar.

En Ela perguntou, rindo, se ele realmente esperava que o animal se alimentasse sempre de humanos.

En Ele declarou que o animal nunca atacaria humanos.

En Ela perguntou como ele poderia evitar isso, visto que ele o havia ensinado desde filhote a se alimentar de homens.

En Tarzan disse a Jane que ele temia que ela estivesse subestimando a inteligência de um leão, ou então ele a estava superestimando. Ele disse que, se a teoria dela estava certa, a parte mais difícil do trabalho dele ainda estava por vir, mas se ele estivesse certo, estava praticamente terminado. Ele sugeriu que eles testassem suas ideias levando Jad-bal-ja para a planície naquela tarde, onde havia caça em abundância, para que pudessem ver quanto controle ele realmente tinha sobre o leão jovem.

En Korak riu e propôs uma aposta de cem libras, afirmando que, uma vez que o leão tivesse experimentado o gosto de sangue vivo, seguiria seus próprios desejos sem restrições.

En O homem-macaco aceitou o desafio, dizendo que pretendia mostrar a Korak e sua mãe algo naquela tarde que ninguém jamais imaginou ser possível.

En Lady Greystoke declarou que Lord Greystoke era o melhor treinador de animais do mundo, e Tarzan se juntou a eles no riso.

En O homem-macaco explicou que seu método não era treinamento de animais, mas algo que só ele poderia fazer, pois dependia de confiança e amizade, e não de força. Ele deu um exemplo: se uma pessoa que você odeia e teme o força a fazer algo, você obedece apenas por medo, e desobedeceria ou atacaria se pudesse. Mas se um amigo que o alimentou e protegeu pede ajuda, você obedece de boa vontade. Ele disse que o leão dourado o obedeceria da mesma forma, por lealdade.

En Korak comentou que continuaria enquanto servisse ao seu propósito.

En O homem-macaco foi além, pedindo que eles imaginassem que o ser que amavam e obedeciam tinha o poder de punir ou até matá-los, se necessário, para impor seus comandos. Ele então perguntou como eles se sentiriam em relação à sua obediência nessa situação.

En Korak comentou que eles veriam como facilmente o leão dourado ganharia cem libras para ele.

En Naquela tarde, Tarzan, Jane e Korak cavalgaram pela planície, com Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado, seguindo atrás. Eles desmontaram perto de um pequeno grupo de árvores e então avançaram cautelosamente em direção a um vale baixo onde antílopes eram frequentemente encontrados. Movendo-se silenciosamente, alcançaram a vegetação densa que margeava o vale. Tarzan, Jane, Korak e Jad-bal-ja eram quatro caçadores da selva; Jad-bal-ja era o menos experiente. Eles rastejaram pelos arbustos tão silenciosamente que quase nenhuma folha se mexeu. Por fim, eles olharam para o vale e viram um pequeno rebanho de antílopes pastando pacificamente. O mais próximo era um velho macho, e Tarzan o apontou para Jad-bal-ja de maneira misteriosa.

En Tarzan sussurrou para o leão buscar o antílope, e o leão dourado fez um som baixo e rosnado que era quase inaudível.

En Jad-bal-ja, o leão, moveu-se silenciosamente pelos arbustos. Os antílopes continuavam se alimentando, sem perceber sua presença. O leão estava muito longe para atacar com sucesso, então ele esperou, escondido na vegetação, que o antílope se aproximasse ou virasse as costas. O rebanho não demonstrou nenhum sinal de sentir perigo. Um velho macho aproximou-se lentamente do leão. Quase imperceptivelmente, Jad-bal-ja preparou-se para atacar. O único movimento visível era o tremor da ponta de sua cauda, e então ele avançou com uma velocidade incrível. Ele estava quase em cima do macho antes que este percebesse o perigo; quando o antílope se virou, já era tarde demais. O leão ergueu-se sobre as patas traseiras e agarrou sua presa, enquanto o resto do rebanho fugiu em pânico.

En Korak declarou que eles agora veriam o que aconteceria.

En Tarzan afirmou com confiança que o leão traria o antílope até ele.

En O leão dourado hesitou por um momento, rosnando sobre a carcaça do antílope que havia matado. Então, agarrou-o pelas costas e, virando a cabeça para um lado, arrastou-o pelo chão ao seu lado enquanto voltava lentamente para Tarzan. Ele trouxe o antílope abatido através da vegetação e o largou aos pés de seu mestre. Ali ficou, olhando para Tarzan com uma expressão que mostrava claramente orgulho por sua conquista e um pedido de elogio.

En Tarzan acariciou a cabeça do leão e falou baixinho, elogiando-o. Então, puxando sua faca de caça, cortou a jugular do antílope e deixou o sangue escorrer da carcaça. Jane e Korak permaneceram próximos, observando Jad-bal-ja atentamente — o que o leão faria com o cheiro de sangue fresco e quente em suas narinas? O leão cheirou o sangue e rosnou, mostrando os dentes e olhando para os três com uma expressão maligna. O homem-macaco o afastou com a mão aberta, e o leão rosnou com raiva e tentou mordê-lo.

En Numa o leão e Bara o cervo são rápidos, mas Tarzan dos Macacos é como um relâmpago. Ele golpeou tão rápido e forte que Jad-bal-ja caiu de costas quase imediatamente após rosnar para seu mestre. O leão rapidamente se levantou novamente, e os dois ficaram frente a frente.

En O homem-macaco ordenou ao leão, Jad-bal-ja, que se deitasse. Sua voz era baixa e firme. O leão hesitou apenas por um momento, então deitou-se como Tarzan lhe havia ensinado a fazer quando recebia a ordem. Tarzan virou-se e levantou a carcaça do antílope sobre seu ombro.

En Tarzan disse a Jad-bal-ja para vir e ficar junto, e então, sem olhar novamente para o leão, ele se moveu em direção aos cavalos.

En Korak riu e comentou que deveria ter previsto esse resultado, economizando assim cem libras.

En A mãe de Korak disse a ele que, é claro, ele poderia ter sabido.

UM ENCONTRO MISTERIOSO

En Uma jovem, bastante atraente, mas excessivamente vestida, estava jantando em um modesto restaurante londrino. Ela chamava a atenção não por sua própria aparência, mas por seu acompanhante — um homem enorme e bem constituído na faixa dos vinte e poucos anos, cuja barba imensa o fazia parecer que estava escondido. Ele tinha mais de um metro e noventa de altura, ombros largos, peito profundo e quadris estreitos. Toda sua aparência mostrava claramente que era um atleta treinado.

En Os dois indivíduos estavam profundamente envolvidos em uma conversa, que por vezes mostrava claros sinais de se tornar uma discussão acalorada.

En O homem argumentou que não via necessidade de envolver os outros. Ele questionou por que o dinheiro deveria ser dividido em seis partes quando ele e a mulher poderiam ficar com tudo para si mesmos.

En A mulher respondeu que o plano exigia dinheiro, o qual nem ela nem Esteban tinham. No entanto, seus apoiadores possuíam os fundos e os apoiariam: ela por sua experiência, e ele por sua impressionante aparência e força. Ela alertou que os apoiadores haviam procurado por Esteban por dois anos, e agora que ele conhecia todos os detalhes do esquema, traí-los seria perigoso. Eles não hesitariam em matá-lo se suspeitassem que ele pretendia ficar com todos os lucros para si.

En Ela fez uma pausa, encolhendo os ombros, e declarou que valorizava demais a vida para participar de qualquer conspiração como aquela com ele.

En Esteban insistiu com Flora que eles deveriam receber uma parte maior do que estava sendo oferecida. Ele argumentou que, já que ela fornecia todo o conhecimento e ele corria todo o perigo, eles tinham direito a mais do que apenas um sexto cada.

En Flora disse a Esteban que ele poderia falar com eles mesmo, mas recomendou que ele se contentasse com a oferta. Ela destacou que possuía as informações necessárias, sem as quais eles não poderiam fazer nada, e que também o havia encontrado. Apesar disso, ela não exigiu a parte inteira; ela ficaria satisfeita com um sexto. Ela garantiu a ele que, se ele não cometesse um erro, um sexto do lucro seria suficiente para cada um deles pelo resto de suas vidas.

En O homem permaneceu não convencido, e a jovem suspeitou que ele exigia vigilância atenta. Na verdade, ela sabia pouco sobre ele, tendo-o visto pessoalmente apenas algumas vezes desde que o descobriu cerca de dois meses antes em uma tela de cinema em Londres, onde ele interpretou um soldado romano na Guarda Pretoriana em um grande filme.

En O tamanho impressionante e o físico perfeito de Esteban Miranda foram as únicas razões pelas quais ele foi notado no filme, já que seu papel era pequeno. Entre os milhares que o viram na tela, Flora Hawkes foi a única que demonstrou mais do que um interesse passageiro por ele, e seu interesse não se devia à sua atuação, mas sim porque ela e seus parceiros estavam procurando por alguém como ele há cerca de dois anos. Encontrá-lo na vida real mostrou-se difícil, mas após um mês de busca aparentemente infrutífera, ela finalmente o descobriu trabalhando como figurante em um pequeno estúdio de cinema em Londres. Sua boa aparência foi suficiente para iniciar uma amizade com ele, e conforme o relacionamento deles se aproximava, ela não revelou o verdadeiro propósito de sua conexão com ele.

En Flora via que o homem era espanhol e vinha de uma boa família, mas também entendia que ele era desonesto. Ele havia concordado rapidamente em participar do plano suspeito que ela e seus quatro cúmplices haviam criado. Sabendo de sua falta de escrúpulos, ela tomou muito cuidado para manter os detalhes mais importantes do plano em segredo, não os compartilhando nem mesmo com seus outros parceiros.

En Eles ficaram sentados silenciosamente por um momento, brincando com seus copos vazios. Então ela ergueu o olhar e viu que ele estava a encarando. A expressão em seus olhos era tão clara que até uma mulher menos sofisticada do que Flora Hawkes teria entendido seu significado.

En Ele disse a Flora que ela tinha controle total sobre ele, porque quando ele estava na presença dela, perdia o interesse pelo ouro e só conseguia pensar no outro prêmio que ela lhe negava, embora estivesse determinado a obtê-lo eventualmente.

En A garota respondeu que amor e negócios não combinam bem. Ela aconselhou Esteban a primeiro ter sucesso em seu trabalho antes que pudessem falar sobre amor.

En Ele sussurrou roucamente que ela não o amava, acrescentando que a afeição que os outros homens sentiam por ela era a fonte de seu ódio por eles. Ele avisou que, se acreditasse que ela amava algum deles, machucaria essa pessoa. Ele reclamou que ela era muito familiar com eles, citando exemplos como John Peebles apertando a mão dela e Dick Throck segurando-a perto enquanto dançavam. Ele declarou que um dia seu ciúme ofuscaria sua busca por ouro, resultando em menos pessoas para dividir os lingotes que traria da África. Ele também mencionou Bluber e Kraski, particularmente Kraski, cuja aparência bonita e o modo como ela o olhava ele considerava perturbadores.

En A raiva acendeu nos olhos da garota. Ela fez um gesto furioso para silenciá-lo.

En O interlocutor questionou com raiva o direito de Senhor Miranda de se preocupar com a escolha de amigos do interlocutor ou com a forma como eles se tratavam. Ele declarou que conhecia aqueles homens há anos, enquanto conhecia Senhor Miranda há pouco tempo. Consequentemente, se alguém tivesse autoridade para controlar suas ações, o que ele agradecia que ninguém tinha, seria um de seus conhecidos de longa data, em vez de Miranda.

En Seus olhos queimavam de raiva.

En Ele exclamou que sua suspeita estava correta: ela estava apaixonada por um de seus companheiros. Levantando-se parcialmente de seu assento, inclinou-se sobre a mesa, com postura ameaçadora, e avisou que, se descobrisse qual homem era, o mataria.

En Ele passou os dedos pelos cabelos longos e pretos até que eles se eriçaram como a juba de um leão furioso. Seus olhos brilhavam com uma luz que encheu o coração da garota de pavor. Ele parecia temporariamente fora de si, e se não era um louco, certamente parecia um. A garota ficou com medo e entendeu que precisava acalmá-lo.

En Ela sussurrou para Esteban, dizendo-lhe que não havia necessidade de ficar tão irritado sem motivo. Ela não tinha dito que amava alguém, nem que não o amava, mas não estava acostumada a ser cortejada daquela forma. Talvez as mulheres espanholas gostassem daquele estilo, mas ela era inglesa e queria ser tratada como um amante inglês a trataria se realmente a amasse.

En Esteban lembrou a Flora que ela não havia dito que amava nenhum dos outros homens, mas também não havia dito que não amava um deles. Então ele pediu diretamente que ela dissesse qual deles amava.

En Os olhos de Esteban continuavam a arder com emoção intensa, e seu corpo poderoso tremia enquanto ele lutava para conter sua fúria.

En Flora respondeu que não amava nenhum deles, nem Esteban ainda. No entanto, ela admitiu que poderia amá-lo mais do que qualquer outra pessoa. Ela disse que não se permitiria fazer isso a menos que ele voltasse e eles fossem livres para viver como quisessem. Mesmo assim, ela não prometeria.

En Esteban disse a Flora que seria melhor ela prometer, com a voz sombria embora um tanto apaziguada. Ele insistiu que o ouro não significava nada para ele se não pudesse tê-la também.

En Ela o advertiu para ficar em silêncio, observando que os outros estavam chegando agora e que já era hora, pois estavam com meia hora de atraso.

En O homem seguiu o olhar dela até a porta, onde quatro homens entravam no bar. Dois deles eram claramente ingleses, grandes e sólidos, com aparência de ex-boxeadores. O terceiro, Adolph Bluber, era um alemão baixo e gordo, com rosto vermelho e pescoço grosso. O quarto, Carl Kraski, era o mais jovem e de longe o mais atraente. Sua pele lisa, olhos claros e cabelo castanho ondulado eram suficientes para deixar Miranda com ciúmes, mas ele também tinha um corpo perfeito e se movia como um dançarino. Na verdade, ele era um dançarino russo quando escolhia não ser um criminoso.

En Os quatro homens encontraram cadeiras e sentaram-se à mesa. A garota os cumprimentou calorosamente, enquanto o espanhol ofereceu apenas um único aceno rude.

En Peebles bateu na mesa para chamar a atenção de um garçom e pediu cerveja.

En A proposta foi aceita por todos. Enquanto aguardavam suas bebidas, eles conversaram sobre assuntos triviais, como o clima, o motivo do atraso e pequenos acontecimentos desde o último encontro. Durante todo esse tempo, Esteban permaneceu em silêncio e parecia descontente. Quando o garçom voltou, eles fizeram um brinde à Flora, uma tradição que sempre observavam em suas reuniões, e então passaram a discutir seus negócios reais.

En Peebles bateu na mesa com o punho e declarou que agora tinham tudo: os planos, o dinheiro e o Senhor Miranda. Ele disse a Flora que estavam prontos para a parte dela no empreendimento.

En Flora perguntou sobre a quantia de dinheiro que possuíam, enfatizando que uma soma substancial seria necessária e que iniciar o empreendimento sem fundos suficientes seria inútil.

En Peebles virou-se para Bluber e apontou para ele, dizendo que ele era o tesoureiro. Ele acrescentou que o gordo patife holandês poderia lhes dizer quanto dinheiro eles tinham.

En Bluber sorriu um sorriso oleoso e esfregou as palmas gordas. Ele perguntou a Miss Flora quanto ela achava que eles deveriam ter.

En Ela respondeu rapidamente que eles precisavam de nada menos que duas mil libras para ficarem seguros.

En Bluber exclamou assombrado, declarando que duas mil libras era uma quantia enorme de dinheiro.

En A garota fez um gesto de desgosto e repetiu que não trabalharia com um grupo que considerava incompetente. Ela explicou que não lhes daria os mapas e as direções necessárias para chegar aos cofres até que tivessem dinheiro suficiente para executar o plano corretamente. Ela afirmou que os cofres continham ouro suficiente para comprar a ilha inteira, se o que ela tinha ouvido fosse verdade. Ela disse a eles que poderiam gastar seu próprio dinheiro, mas tinham que mostrar a ela pelo menos duas mil libras antes de compartilhar a informação que os tornaria os homens mais ricos do mundo.

En Throck resmungou que o homem tinha o dinheiro e acrescentou que não conseguia entender por que o sujeito estava reclamando.

En O russo resmungou que Bluber não podia evitar, explicando que era uma característica natural do seu povo. Ele brincou que, se Bluber fosse se casar, ele até tentaria pechinchar com o funcionário que emite as licenças de casamento.

En Bluber suspirou e disse que eles não precisavam gastar mais dinheiro do que o necessário. Se conseguissem realizar isso por mil libras, seria ainda melhor.

En A garota concordou bruscamente e explicou que, se custasse apenas mil, isso seria tudo o que precisariam gastar. No entanto, ela insistiu que eles deveriam ter dois mil disponíveis para problemas inesperados. Ela acrescentou que, com base no que tinha visto daquele país, provavelmente encontrariam mais emergências do que qualquer outra coisa.

En Bluber gritou alarmado.

En Peebles confirmou que o dinheiro estava em mãos e propôs que eles começassem o trabalho.

En A garota respondeu que o homem realmente poderia tê-lo, mas ela insistiu em ver isso por si mesma primeiro.

En Bluber exclamou, perguntando se eles achavam que ele carregava todo aquele dinheiro no bolso.

En Throck resmungou que eles deveriam aceitar a palavra dele.

En Ela disse ao grupo de homens rústicos que eles dificilmente estavam em posição de fazer tal pergunta, e riu deles. Disse que aceitaria a palavra de Carl; se Carl lhe dissesse que eles possuíam o item e que ele estava em condições de ser usado para cobrir todas as despesas necessárias da expedição, então ela acreditaria nele.

En Peebles e Throck franziram a testa com raiva, e os olhos de Miranda se estreitaram em fendas desagradáveis enquanto ele olhava para o russo. Bluber, por outro lado, não foi afetado de forma alguma; quanto mais era insultado, mais parecia gostar. Ele teria se tornado arrogante se tratado com respeito, mas bajulava quem o agredia. Kraski esboçou um sorriso satisfeito que fez o sangue do espanhol ferver.

En Ele disse a Flora que Bluber tinha o dinheiro porque cada um deles havia contribuído com sua parte. Eles fariam de Bluber o tesoureiro porque sabiam que ele seguraria cada último centavo com força e nunca deixaria nenhum escapar. O plano atual deles era sair de Londres em pares.

En Ele tirou um mapa do bolso, desdobrou-o e o espalhou sobre a mesa. Apontou para um local marcado com um X. Explicou que eles se encontrariam ali para preparar a expedição. Bluber e Miranda iriam primeiro, seguidos por Peebles e Throck. Quando ele e Flora chegassem, tudo estaria pronto para que eles se deslocassem diretamente para o interior. Montariam um acampamento permanente longe das trilhas principais, o mais próximo possível do objetivo. Miranda fingiria ser outra pessoa, escondendo-se atrás de suas barbas, até que estivesse pronto para iniciar a parte final da longa jornada. O orador disse que Miranda era bem treinado em seu papel e poderia interpretá-lo perfeitamente. Como ele só precisava enganar nativos ignorantes e animais selvagens, não deveria ser muito difícil para ele. Um toque de sarcasmo na voz suave e arrastada fez os olhos escuros do espanhol brilharem de raiva.

En Miranda perguntou, com sua voz suave contradizendo sua expressão furiosa, se ela e a Srta. Hawkes viajariam sozinhas para X.

En O russo respondeu que a outra pessoa entendia, a menos que sua compreensão fosse deficiente.

En O espanhol se levantou parcialmente da mesa e se inclinou sobre ela de forma ameaçadora em direção a Kraski. A garota ao lado dele agarrou seu casaco.

En Ela o puxou de volta para sua cadeira e disse a ele para parar. Ela disse que já havia tido muito daquilo entre eles, e se continuasse, ela os cortaria a todos e procuraria companheiros mais compatíveis para sua expedição.

En Peebles afirmou agressivamente que eles haviam chegado e que era isso.

En Throck resmungou em sua voz grave que John estava certo e que ele estava lá para apoiá-lo. Ele acrescentou que Flora estava certa e que ele também a apoiaria. Então ele avisou que, se houvesse mais problemas, ele bateria em alguns deles, olhando primeiro para Miranda e depois para Kraski.

En Bluber tentou acalmar o grupo sugerindo que todos apertassem as mãos e se tornassem bons amigos.

En Peebles concordou entusiasticamente, declarando que essa era a abordagem correta. Ele instruiu Esteban a oferecer sua mão em amizade e instou Carl a deixar de lado suas diferenças. Ele enfatizou que eles não poderiam iniciar seu empreendimento com qualquer animosidade persistente.

En Sentindo-se seguro em seu relacionamento com Flora e de bom humor, o russo ofereceu a mão a Esteban do outro lado da mesa. Esteban hesitou por um momento.

En Throck rosnou para o homem apertar a mão, caso contrário, ele poderia voltar ao trabalho de ajudante e eles encontrariam outra pessoa para fazer o serviço e dividir os bens roubados.

En A expressão sombria do espanhol de repente se suavizou em um sorriso agradável. Ele estendeu rapidamente a mão para Kraski e se desculpou, admitindo que tinha um temperamento explosivo, mas não queria causar mal. Concordou com a Srta. Hawkes que todos deveriam ser amigos e ofereceu a mão como um sinal de boa vontade.

En Kraski disse que estava bem e pediu desculpas se tivesse ofendido o outro homem. No entanto, ele esqueceu que o outro homem era um ator. Se Kraski pudesse ter visto as profundezas daquela alma escura, ele teria ficado horrorizado.

En Bluber esfregou as mãos de maneira untuosa e sugeriu que, agora que eram todos bons amigos, deveriam combinar um horário para começar a terminar tudo. Ele disse que a senhorita Flora lhe daria o mapa e as instruções, e eles poderiam começar imediatamente.

En A garota pediu um lápis a Carl e, assim que ele o forneceu, ela localizou no mapa um ponto a uma boa distância para o interior a partir de X, marcando-o com um pequeno círculo. Ela identificou esse ponto como O e afirmou que as instruções finais só seriam reveladas quando todos chegassem lá.

En Bluber levantou as mãos e perguntou à Srta. Flora se ela achava que eles gastariam duas mil libras para comprar algo não visto. Ele insistiu que eles precisavam ver e saber tudo antes de gastar um único centavo.

En John Peebles gritou que eles haviam chegado e que era isso, batendo na mesa com o punho.

En Ela se levantou lentamente da cadeira. Ela deu de ombros e disse que, se ele se sentia assim, seria melhor cancelar tudo.

En Bluber pulou e disse urgentemente à Srta. Flora para esperar e não se excitar. Ele pediu que ela considerasse onde estavam, enfatizando que dois mil libras era muito dinheiro e que eles eram homens de negócios práticos. Ele insistiu que não deveriam gastar todo aquele dinheiro sem obter algo em troca.

En A garota respondeu asperamente que não estava pedindo que gastassem dinheiro sem receber nada em troca. Ela destacou que, se alguém no grupo precisava confiar em outra pessoa, eram eles que deveriam confiar nela. Ela argumentou que, se fornecesse todas as suas informações, não haveria nada que os impedisse de seguir em frente sem ela, e ela não pretendia permitir que isso acontecesse.

En Bluber insistiu com a Srta. Flora que eles não eram trapaceiros e nunca pensariam em enganá-la.

En A garota respondeu a Bluber dizendo que nenhum deles eram anjos também. Ela insistiu que, se quisessem prosseguir, teriam que seguir o plano dela, e ela estaria presente no final para garantir que receberia sua parte. Ela lembrou a eles que tinham acreditado na palavra dela sobre ter a informação, e agora teriam que continuar confiando nela, ou o acordo estava cancelado. Ela argumentou que não seria benéfico para ela viajar para uma selva difícil e suportar dificuldades com eles se não pudesse entregar o que queriam quando chegassem. Ela também afirmou que não era ingênua o suficiente para pensar que poderia enganar um grupo de bandidos como eles. Enquanto fosse honesta, sentia-se segura porque Esteban ou Carl a protegeriam, e talvez os outros também. Então ela perguntou se eles aceitavam os termos dela.

En Bluber pediu a opinião de John e Dick, acrescentando que Carl provavelmente concordaria com o que Flora pensasse.

En Throck admitiu que geralmente não estava inclinado a confiar nos outros a menos que necessário, mas agora parecia que não tinham escolha a não ser confiar em Flora.

En John Peebles apoiou o aviso de Throck. Ele disse a Flora que, se ela tentasse algum engano, ele a machucaria, e ilustrou isso passando o dedo pela garganta.

En A garota sorriu e disse que entendia John. Ela sabia que ele agiria tão rapidamente por uma pequena quantia quanto por uma grande. Ela perguntou se todos, incluindo Carl, concordavam em seguir seus planos.

En O russo concordou com um aceno, indicando que seguiria qualquer decisão dos outros.

En O pequeno grupo discutiu seus planos o quanto puderam, cobrindo cada mínimo detalhe necessário para levá-los todos ao local marcado com O que a garota havia desenhado no mapa.

O QUE AS PEGADAS REVELARAM

En Aos dois anos de idade, Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado, era um magnífico exemplo de sua espécie, talvez o melhor que os Greystokes já tinham visto. Ele era muito maior do que a maioria dos leões machos adultos, e seu corpo era perfeitamente formado. Sua cabeça nobre e sua grande juba preta faziam-no parecer um macho adulto, e ele era muito mais inteligente do que seus primos selvagens na selva.

En Jad-bal-ja, o leão que Tarzan havia criado e treinado, era uma fonte constante de orgulho. Tarzan o mantinha em uma gaiola forte nos fundos da casa, entendendo que mesmo um leão domesticado ainda é um predador selvagem. Inicialmente, o leão vagueava livremente, mas depois só saía com Tarzan, e eles frequentemente caçavam juntos. O leão era familiar a Jane e Korak, mas sua maior afeição era por Tarzan. Ele tolerava os criados da casa e não machucava os animais da fazenda, pois Tarzan o havia ensinado quando filhote que tal comportamento seria punido. Mantê-lo bem alimentado também ajudava a proteger o gado.

En O homem e a fera pareciam se entender perfeitamente. Embora fosse incerto se o leão compreendia tudo o que Tarzan dizia, a facilidade com que Tarzan transmitia seus desejos ao leão era quase sobrenatural. A obediência que uma combinação de firmeza e afeto havia incutido no filhote tornara-se, em grande parte, um hábito no leão adulto. Ao comando de Tarzan, o leão percorria grandes distâncias para trazer antílopes ou zebras, depositando sua presa aos pés de seu mestre sem provar a carne ele mesmo. Ele até mesmo trazia animais vivos sem machucá-los. Tal era o leão dourado que vagava pela floresta primitiva com seu mestre divino.

En Por essa época, rumores de uma banda saqueadora a oeste e sul de seu domínio começaram a circular entre o homem-macaco. Eles contavam sobre incursões de marfim, captura de escravos e tortura — males que não perturbavam a paz da selva de Tarzan desde os dias de Sheik Amor Ben Khatour. Havia também outras histórias, mais intrigantes, que faziam Tarzan franzir a testa em pensamento. Então passou-se um mês durante o qual os rumores do oeste cessaram completamente.

En Ocorre uma pausa na narrativa, após a qual a história continua.

En A guerra havia deixado os Greystokes com apenas uma pequena renda. Eles haviam dado quase tudo para apoiar os Aliados, e então o pouco que haviam economizado foi gasto principalmente na restauração da propriedade de Tarzan na África.

En Uma noite, John mencionou à sua esposa Jane que outra viagem a Opar parecia estar planejada.

En Jane confessou que temia a ideia e não queria que ele partisse. Ela lembrou que ele havia escapado daquela cidade terrível duas vezes, cada vez por pouco sobrevivendo, e temia que em uma terceira tentativa ele não tivesse tanta sorte. Eles tinham o suficiente, disse ela, para viver confortavelmente e felizes onde estavam. Ela questionou por que ele arriscaria tudo isso para outra incursão aos cofres do tesouro.

En Ele assegurou a Jane que não havia perigo. Ele explicou que da vez anterior, Werper o havia seguido e, combinado com um terremoto, quase o matou, mas ele acreditava que tal combinação de circunstâncias não se repetiria.

En Jane perguntou a John se ele pretendia ir sozinho ou levar Korak com ele.

En Tarzan recusou-se a levar Korak, explicando que ele deveria permanecer com Jane porque as longas ausências de Tarzan representavam um perigo maior para ela do que para ele mesmo. Ele levaria cinquenta guerreiros Waziri como carregadores para transportar o ouro, permitindo que trouxessem o suficiente para sustentá-los por um período prolongado.

En Ela perguntou se ele levaria Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado.

En Ele disse que era melhor o leão ficar para trás. Korak poderia cuidar dele e levá-lo para caçar ocasionalmente. Ele planejava viajar leve e rápido, e a jornada seria muito difícil para o leão, já que os leões não gostam de se mover sob o sol quente. Como viajariam principalmente durante o dia, ele duvidava que Jad-bal-ja aguentasse por muito tempo.

En Tarzan dos Macacos mais uma vez iniciou a longa jornada para Opar. Cinquenta poderosos guerreiros Waziri, os melhores da tribo que havia escolhido Tarzan como seu chefe, marchavam atrás dele. Jane e Korak estavam na varanda do bangalô, acenando adeus. De trás do edifício, Tarzan ouviu o rugido profundo de Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado. Enquanto se afastavam pela planície, a voz do leão os seguiu até desaparecer lentamente no silêncio.

En A velocidade de Tarzan dependia do homem mais lento entre seus companheiros negros, mas seu ritmo era bastante rápido. Opar ficava a cerca de vinte e cinco dias de marcha da fazenda para homens viajando leves, como eles estavam. Mas na viagem de volta, eles estariam carregados com lingotes de ouro, então seu progresso seria mais lento. Por essa razão, o homem-macaco havia planejado dois meses para toda a jornada. Seu safari consistia apenas de guerreiros experientes, o que permitia uma viagem genuinamente rápida. Eles não carregavam suprimentos porque eram todos caçadores se movendo por uma região onde a caça era abundante; não havia necessidade de se sobrecarregar com o equipamento pesado que os caçadores brancos geralmente traziam.

En Eles construíram um abrigo com arbustos espinhosos e folhas para a noite. Suas lanças e flechas, junto com a força de seu líder branco, garantiram que nunca passassem fome. Tarzan esperava chegar a Opar em vinte e um dias com seus homens escolhidos, embora pudesse viajar muito mais rápido sozinho, movendo-se pela selva com grande velocidade e resistência, dia ou noite, sem se cansar.

En Durante a terceira semana da jornada, Tarzan, que estava caçando à frente de seu grupo, encontrou o corpo de um veado. Uma flecha com penas estava saindo de seu flanco. Parecia que o veado havia sido ferido a alguma distância antes de se deitar e morrer. No entanto, o que surpreendeu Tarzan antes mesmo de examiná-la de perto foi o design da flecha. Quando a retirou, reconheceu-a como o tipo vendido em lojas de artigos esportivos nas cidades, usado para prática de arco e flecha em parques. Um brinquedo assim parecia completamente fora de lugar nas selvas da África, mas mesmo assim matara o veado de forma eficaz, embora Tarzan suspeitasse que não havia sido disparada por um caçador experiente.

En A curiosidade e a cautela da selva de Tarzan foram despertadas. Conhecer bem a selva era essencial para a sobrevivência, e isso significava entender cada coisa incomum. Então ele seguiu a trilha de volta do veado para descobrir o que o havia matado. A trilha sangrenta era fácil de seguir, e Tarzan se perguntou por que o caçador não havia rastreado e capturado o veado, que estava morto desde o dia anterior. O veado havia viajado longe, e o sol já estava baixo quando Tarzan encontrou os primeiros sinais do matador. Eram pegadas que o surpreenderam tanto quanto a flecha. Ele as examinou cuidadosamente, até mesmo cheirando-as com suas narinas sensíveis. Por mais impossível que parecesse, as pegadas nuas eram de um homem branco, tão grande quanto o próprio Tarzan. Enquanto observava as marcas, Tarzan passou os dedos pelos cabelos, demonstrando profunda perplexidade.

En Tarzan não conseguia imaginar quem poderia ser o homem branco nu que caçava em sua selva com flechas de um clube de arco e flecha. A ideia parecia impossível, mas as memórias de rumores ouvidos semanas antes voltaram a ele. Determinado a descobrir a verdade, ele seguiu a trilha do estranho, que serpenteava sem rumo pela selva, sugerindo um caçador inexperiente. Ao cair da noite, ele não havia resolvido o mistério e, na escuridão total, voltou para seu acampamento.

En Tarzan sabia que seus homens Waziri estariam esperando por carne, e ele queria dá-la a eles. No entanto, ele logo percebeu que não era o único carnívoro procurando comida naquela noite. Ele primeiro ouviu o grunhido tossido de um leão próximo, e depois o rugido profundo de outro ao longe. Mas isso não preocupou o homem-macaco que houvesse outros caçadores. Não era a primeira vez que ele usava sua inteligência, força e agilidade contra outros caçadores — tanto humanos quanto animais.

En Tarzan finalmente fez sua matança, pegando um antílope gordo bem na frente de um leão decepcionado e furioso que o havia reivindicado como seu. Ele ergueu o antílope até o ombro enquanto o leão atacava, pulou rapidamente para os galhos mais baixos das árvores, riu do gato enfurecido e então desapareceu silenciosamente na noite.

En Tarzan localizou o acampamento e seus famintos Waziri sem dificuldade. A fé que tinham nele era tão profunda que nunca duvidaram de seu retorno com carne para eles.

En Na manhã seguinte, Tarzan partiu novamente para Opar. Ele ordenou que seus Waziri continuassem a marcha da maneira mais direta, e então os deixou para que pudesse investigar mais a fundo a misteriosa presença em sua selva que a flecha e as pegadas haviam revelado a ele.

En Tarzan voltou ao local onde a escuridão havia interrompido sua busca na noite anterior. Ele pegou o rastro do estranho e o seguiu. Logo encontrou mais evidências do intruso indesejado. Deitado no caminho à sua frente estava o corpo de um grande macaco, um dos macacos da tribo que havia criado Tarzan. Saindo do estômago peludo do macaco havia outra flecha fabricada pela civilização. Os olhos do homem-macaco se estreitaram e uma expressão sombria apareceu em seu rosto. Ele se perguntou quem era aquele estranho que ousava invadir sua terra e matar seu povo tão impiedosamente.

En Tarzan soltou um rosnado baixo. A fina camada de civilização que vestia entre os homens brancos havia caído. Ele não era um lord inglês olhando para o corpo de seu parente peludo; em vez disso, era uma fera de rapina cheia de suspeita e ódio pelo homem que havia feito a matança, como qualquer criatura da selva seria. Tarzan não considerava o assassino como qualquer tipo de família.

En Tarzan entendeu que as pegadas tinham dois dias, então ele apressou-se atrás do assassino. Ele tinha certeza de que um assassinato claro havia ocorrido, porque ele conhecia os Mangani o suficiente para perceber que eles só atacariam se não tivessem outra escolha.

En Tarzan estava se movendo contra o vento, e cerca de meia hora depois de descobrir o macaco morto, seu olfato apurado captou o cheiro de outros macacos. Sabendo como essas criaturas poderosas da selva podiam se assustar facilmente, ele avançou com extremo cuidado para não assustá-los antes que o reconhecessem. Embora raramente os visse, ele sabia que sempre havia alguns entre eles que se lembravam dele, e através desses indivíduos ele podia geralmente estabelecer relações amigáveis com o resto do grupo.

En Como a vegetação rasteira era muito densa, Tarzan viajou pelas camadas médias das árvores. Ele balançou rápida e facilmente entre os galhos e logo encontrou os grandes macacos. Havia cerca de vinte deles em uma pequena clareira. Eles estavam constantemente procurando por lagartas e besouros, que eram alimentos importantes para os Mangani.

En O homem-macaco parou em um grande galho, escondido pela folhagem, e observou o pequeno grupo abaixo. Um leve sorriso se espalhou por seu rosto. Cada ação e movimento dos grandes macacos lembravam vividamente seus anos de infância, quando ele vagava pela selva com a tribo de Kerchak, protegido pelo amor feroz de Kala, a macaca. Nos jovens brincalhões, ele via novamente seus companheiros de infância, e nos adultos, as feras selvagens que temera quando jovem e depois conquistara como homem. Os caminhos do homem podem mudar, mas os caminhos do macaco permanecem os mesmos, ontem, hoje e para sempre.

En Tarzan observou os macacos silenciosamente por vários minutos. Ele imaginou como eles ficariam contentes quando o reconhecessem. Por toda a vasta selva, Tarzan dos Macacos era conhecido como o protetor dos Mangani. No início, eles rosnariam e o ameaçariam porque não confiariam apenas na visão ou audição para confirmar sua identidade. Somente depois que ele entrasse na clareira, e os machos ferozes o rodeassem cautelosamente com dentes à mostra, chegando perto o suficiente para cheirá-lo e verificar o que seus olhos e ouvidos sugeriam, eles finalmente o aceitariam. Então, provavelmente haveria alguns minutos de grande excitação. Mas seguindo os instintos da mente dos macacos, sua atenção logo seria distraída por algo como uma folha soprada pelo vento, uma lagarta ou um ovo de pássaro. Depois disso, eles cuidariam de seus afazeres, não prestando mais atenção a ele do que a qualquer outro membro da tribo. No entanto, isso só acontecia depois que cada indivíduo o cheirava e talvez tocava sua pele com suas mãos calejadas.

En Enquanto os macacos olhavam para cima, Tarzan fez um som amigável de saudação e saiu do esconderijo, aparecendo completamente à vista. Ele anunciou que era Tarzan dos Macacos, um lutador poderoso e amigo dos Mangani, e que vinha em amizade ao seu povo. Então, saltou levemente para a grama viçosa da clareira.

En O caos irrompeu imediatamente. As fêmeas gritaram avisos e correram com seus filhotes para o lado oposto da clareira, enquanto os machos, eriçados e rosnando, enfrentaram Tarzan.

En Tarzan gritou, perguntando se eles não o reconheciam. Ele declarou que era Tarzan dos Macacos, amigo dos Mangani, filho de Kala e rei da tribo de Kerchak.

En Um dos macacos mais velhos rosnou que o reconheciam do dia anterior, quando ele havia matado Gobu, e avisou que, se ele não fosse embora imediatamente, eles o matariam.

En O homem-macaco afirmou que não havia matado Gobu. Ele explicou que havia descoberto o corpo de Gobu no dia anterior e estava seguindo o assassino quando encontrou o grupo.

En O touro velho repetiu que eles tinham visto Tarzan e ordenou que ele fosse embora, avisando que o matariam caso contrário, e declarou que Tarzan não era mais amigo dos Mangani.

En O homem-macaco ficou com a testa franzida, pensando profundamente. Ficou claro que esses macacos realmente acreditavam ter testemunhado ele matar seu companheiro. Ele se perguntou o que poderia explicar isso. Será que as pegadas do grande homem branco que ele estava seguindo significavam algo mais do que ele supunha? Tarzan considerou isso. Então ergueu os olhos e falou novamente com os touros.

THE GOLDEN LION

Português

A leoa Sabor amamentava seu único filhote, uma bola de pelo manchada, muito parecida com um leopardo. Ela estava deitada ao sol quente diante de sua toca rochosa, esticada de lado com os olhos semicerrados, mas permanecia alerta. Inicialmente, havia três filhotes: duas fêmeas e um macho. Sabor e seu pai, Numa, estavam orgulhosos e felizes. Mas a comida havia sido escassa, e Sabor, mal alimentada, não conseguia produzir leite suficiente para três filhotes fortes. Então caiu uma chuva fria, e os filhotes adoeceram. Apenas o mais forte sobreviveu; as duas fêmeas morreram. Sabor lamentou, andando de um lado para o outro ao lado dos pelos tristes e encharcados, gemendo e choramingando. De vez em quando, ela os cutucava com o focinho, como se tentasse acordá-los de um sono do qual não se acorda.

Original English

Sabor, the lioness, suckled her young--a single fuzzy ball, spotted like Sheeta, the leopard. She lay in the warm sunshine before the rocky cavern that was her lair, stretched out upon her side with half closed eyes, yet Sabor was alert. There had been three of these little, fuzzy balls at first--two daughters and a son--and Sabor and Numa, their sire, had been proud of them; proud and happy. But kills had not been plentiful, and Sabor, undernourished, had been unable to produce sufficient milk to nourish properly three lusty cubs, and then a cold rain had come, and the little ones had sickened. Only the strongest survived--the two daughters had died. Sabor had mourned, pacing to and fro beside the pitiful bits of bedraggled fur, whining moaning. Now and again she would nose them with her muzzle as though she would awaken them from the long sleep that knows no waking.

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Português

Finalmente, ela parou de tentar, e todo o seu coração selvagem agora se preocupava apenas com o pequeno filhote macho que ainda estava vivo. Por isso Sabor estava mais vigilante do que o normal.

Original English

At last, however, she abandoned her efforts, and now her whole savage heart was filled with concern for the little male cub that remained to her. That was why Sabor was more alert than usual.

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Português

Numa, o leão, não estava em casa. Duas noites antes, ele tinha feito uma caça e trazido para a toca deles. Ele tinha saído para caçar novamente na noite anterior, mas ainda não tinha voltado. Sabor, meio adormecida, imaginava a antílope gorda Wappi que seu magnífico companheiro poderia estar arrastando pela selva naquele momento, ou talvez a zebra Pacco, cuja carne era a favorita de sua espécie — suculenta e saborosa. O pensamento fez a boca de Sabor se encher de água.

Original English

Numa, the lion, was away. Two nights before he had made a kill and dragged it to their lair and last night he had fared forth again, but he had not returned. Sabor was thinking, as she half dozed, of Wappi, the plump antelope, that her splendid mate might this very minute be dragging through the tangled jungle to her. Or perhaps it would be Pacco, the zebra, whose flesh was the best beloved of her kind--juicy, succulent Pacco. Sabor's mouth watered.

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Português

Um som indistinto alcançou os ouvidos aguçados de Sabor. Ela ergueu a cabeça e a inclinou de um lado para o outro, com as orelhas em pé, esforçando-se para captar a mais leve repetição do distúrbio.

Original English

Ah, what was that? The shadow of a sound had come to those keen ears. She raised her head, cocking it first upon one side and then the other, as with up-pricked ears she sought to catch the faintest repetition of that which had disturbed her.

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Português

Ela farejou o ar. Havia apenas uma leve brisa, mas ela vinha da direção do som que ela ouvira, que ainda aumentava de volume, indicando que o que quer que o causasse estava se aproximando. À medida que se aproximava, a fera ficava mais nervosa. Ela rolou sobre a barriga, cortando o suprimento de leite do filhote. O filhote expressou sua desaprovação com pequenos rosnados até que um gemido baixo e queixoso da leoa o silenciou. Então ele ficou ao lado dela, olhando primeiro para ela e depois na direção que ela olhava, inclinando a cabecinha de um lado para o outro.

Original English

Her nose sniffed the air. There was but the suggestion of a breeze, but what there was moved toward her from the direction of the sound she had heard, and which she still heard in a slightly increasing volume that told her that whatever was making it was approaching her. As it drew closer the beast's nervousness increased and she rolled over on her belly, shutting off the milk supply from the cub, which vented its disapproval in miniature growls until a low, querulous whine from the lioness silenced him, then he stood at her side, looking first at her and then in the direction toward which she looked, cocking his little head first on one side and then on the other.

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Português

Sabor, a leoa, ouviu um som que a perturbou. Isso a deixou inquieta, embora ainda não tivesse certeza de que significava problemas. Pensou que poderia ser seu companheiro voltando, mas não soava como um leão se movendo, certamente não como um arrastando uma caça pesada. Olhou para seu filhote e soltou um gemido suave. Ela sempre temia perigo para ele, seu último filhote restante, mas estava pronta para defendê-lo.

Original English

Evidently there was a disturbing quality in the sound that Sabor heard-[-]something that inspired a certain restlessness, if not actual apprehension--though she could not be sure as yet that it boded ill. It might be her great lord returning, but it did not sound like the movement of a lion, certainly not like a lion dragging a heavy kill. She glanced at her cub, breathing as she did so a plaintive whine. There was always the fear that some danger menaced him--this last of her little family--but she, Sabor the lioness, was there to defend him.

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Português

A brisa trouxe o cheiro de algo se aproximando pela selva até o nariz da leoa. Seu rosto preocupado de mãe imediatamente se transformou em uma máscara furiosa, com dentes à mostra e olhos irados, porque o cheiro era o odiado odor de um homem. Ela se levantou, achatando a cabeça e balançando o rabo nervosamente. Através do modo silencioso como os animais se comunicam, ela disse ao seu filhote para ficar quieto e esperar por seu retorno. Então ela se moveu rápida e silenciosamente para enfrentar o intruso.

Original English

Presently the breeze brought to her nostrils the scent-spoor of the thing that moved toward her through the jungle. Instantly the troubled mother-face was metamorphosed into a bare-fanged, glittering-eyed mask of savage rage, for the scent that had come up to her through the jungle was the hated man-scent. She rose to her feet, her head flattened, her sinuous tail twitching nervously. Through that strange medium by which animals communicate with one another she cautioned her cub to lie down and remain where he was until she returned, then she moved rapidly and silently to meet the intruder.

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Português

O filhote ouviu os mesmos sons que sua mãe e então sentiu o cheiro do homem — um odor desconhecido que era novo para ele, mas que ele reconheceu instantaneamente como pertencente a um inimigo. Esse cheiro provocou nele uma reação igual à da leoa adulta: os pelos ao longo de suas pequenas costas se eriçaram e ele mostrou seus minúsculos dentes. Enquanto a leoa adulta se movia rápida e silenciosamente para dentro dos arbustos, o filhote ignorou sua advertência e a seguiu. Suas patas traseiras balançavam de um lado para o outro, como é típico de leões muito jovens, e seu andar desajeitado contrastava com a postura mais digna de seu corpo dianteiro. A leoa, focada no que estava à sua frente, não percebeu que ele a estava seguindo.

Original English

The cub had heard what its mother heard and now he caught the smell of man--an unfamiliar smell that had never impinged upon his nostrils before, yet a smell that he knew at once for that of an enemy--a smell that brought a reaction as typical as that which marked the attitude of the grown lioness, bringing the hairs along his little spine erect and baring his tiny fangs. As the adult moved quickly and stealthily into the underbrush the small cub, ignoring her injunction, followed after her, his hind quarters wobbling from side to side, after the manner of the very young of his kind, the ridiculous gait comporting ill with the dignified bearing of his fore quarters; but the lioness, intent upon that which lay before her, did not know that he followed her.

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Português

A selva era densa, mas os leões haviam desgastado um caminho como um túnel através dela até sua toca. Além disso, uma pequena clareira se abria, atravessada por uma trilha muito usada. Quando Sabor chegou à clareira, ela viu a criatura-homem que temia e odiava. Ele não estava caçando ela ou seu filhote, mas hoje isso não importava. Normalmente, ela o deixaria passar ileso se ele não ameaçasse seu filhote, mas agora, com apenas um filhote restante, seus instintos maternais eram intensos. Ela não esperou que ele se tornasse um perigo. Em vez disso, ela se moveu para encontrá-lo, transformada de uma mãe gentil em uma assassina movida por um único pensamento: destruí-lo.

Original English

There was dense jungle before the two for a hundred yards, but through it the lions had worn a tunnel-like path to their lair; and then there was a small clearing through which ran a well-worn jungle trail, out of the jungle at one end of the clearing and into the jungle again at the other. As Sabor reached the clearing she saw the object of her fear and hatred well within it. What if the man-thing were not hunting her or hers? What if he even dreamed not of their presence? These facts were as nothing to Sabor, the lioness, today. Ordinarily she would have let him pass unmolested, so long as he did not come close enough to threaten the safety of her cub; or, cubless, she would have slunk away at the first intimation of his approach. But today the lioness was nervous and fearful--fearful because of the single cub that remained to her--her maternal instincts centered threefold, perhaps, upon this lone and triply loved survivor --and so she did not wait for the man to threaten the safety of her little one; but instead she moved to meet him and to stop him. From the soft mother she had become a terrifying creature of destruction, her brain obsessed by a single thought--to kill.

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Português

Sabor não hesitou na borda da clareira e não deu nenhum aviso. O guerreiro negro não fazia ideia de que havia uma leoa por perto até vê-la, aterrorizante, investindo contra ele como uma flecha. Ele não estava procurando por leões e teria evitado um. A árvore mais próxima estava longe demais para alcançar. Vendo o filhote atrás dela, ele soube que não havia escape. Ele lançou sua lança pesada no momento em que Sabor saltou. A lança atravessou o coração dela e, ao mesmo tempo, suas mandíbulas se fecharam no rosto dele. Ambos caíram no chão, mortos.

Original English

She did not hesitate an instant at the edge of the clearing, nor did she give the slightest warning. The first intimation that the black warrior had that there was a lion within twenty miles of him, was the terrifying apparition of this devil-faced cat charging across the clearing toward him with the speed of an arrow. The black was not searching for lions. Had he known that there was one near he would have given it a wide berth. He would have fled now had there been anywhere to flee. The nearest tree was farther from him than was the lioness. She could overhaul him before he would have covered a quarter of the distance. There was no hope and there was only one thing to do. The beast was almost upon him and behind her he saw a tiny cub. The man bore a heavy spear. He carried it far back with his right hand and hurled it at the very instant that Sabor rose to seize him. The spear passed through the savage heart and almost simultaneously the giant jaws closed upon the face and skull of the warrior. The momentum of the lioness carried the two heavily to the ground, dead except for a few spasmodic twitchings of their muscles.

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Português

O filhote órfão parou a vinte pés de distância, estudando com olhos perplexos o primeiro grande desastre de sua vida. Ele desejava se aproximar de sua mãe, mas um medo instintivo do cheiro humano o mantinha distante. Começou a gemer de um jeito que normalmente a fazia correr, mas desta vez ela não veio. Ela nem sequer levantou a cabeça para olhá-lo. Ele estava confuso e não conseguia entender por quê. Enquanto continuava a chorar, sentia-se cada vez mais triste e solitário. Gradualmente, ele se arrastou para mais perto dela. Percebeu que a estranha criatura que ela havia matado estava imóvel e, após um tempo, seu medo diminuiu. Por fim, reuniu coragem para chegar bem perto e cheirá-la. Ainda gemia por ela, mas ela não respondia. Finalmente, caiu-lhe a ficha de que algo estava errado — que sua linda mãe havia mudado; ela não era mais como antes. No entanto, ele ficou perto dela, chorando até que por fim adormeceu, enroscado contra seu corpo sem vida.

Original English

The orphaned cub stopped twenty feet away and surveyed the first great catastrophe of his life with questioning eyes. He wanted to approach his dam but a natural fear of the man-scent held him away. Presently he commenced to whine in a tone that always brought his mother to him hurriedly; but this time she did not come--she did not even rise and look toward him. He was puzzled--he could not understand it. He continued to cry, feeling all the while more sad and more lonely. Gradually he crept closer to his mother. He saw that the strange creature she had killed did not move and after a while he felt less terror of it, so that at last he found the courage to come quite close to his mother and sniff at her. He still whined to her, but she did not answer. It dawned on him at last that there was something wrong--that his great, beautiful mother was not as she had been--a change had come over her; yet still he clung to her, crying much until at last he fell asleep, cuddled close to her dead body.

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Português

Tarzan, com sua esposa Jane e seu filho Korak, o Assassino, acabara de retornar da misteriosa terra de Pal-ul-don, onde os dois homens haviam resgatado Jane. Eles encontraram um filhote de leão cuja mãe jazia morta nas proximidades. Ao som de sua aproximação, o filhote abriu os olhos, levantou-se, achou as orelhas e rosnou para eles enquanto recuava contra o corpo da mãe. Vendo isso, o homem-macaco sorriu.

Original English

It was thus that Tarzan found him--Tarzan and Jane, his wife, and their son, Korak the Killer, returning from the mysterious land of Pal-ul-don from which the two men had rescued Jane Clayton. At the sound of their approach the cub opened his eyes and rising, flattened his ears and snarled at them, backing close against his dead mother. At sight of him the ape-man smiled.

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Português

Ele comentou que o filhote era um diabinho corajoso, compreendendo toda a tragédia de imediato. Aproximou-se do filhote que cuspia, esperando que ele fugisse, mas ele manteve-se firme. Em vez disso, rosnou mais ferozmente e atacou sua mão estendida enquanto ele se abaixava para alcançá-lo.

Original English

"Plucky little devil,"he commented, taking in the story of the tragedy at a single glance. He approached the spitting cub, expecting it to turn and run away; but it did nothing of the sort. Instead it snarled more ferociously and struck at his extended hand as he stooped and reached for it.

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Português

Jane exclamou que o filhote era notavelmente corajoso e expressou pena pela criatura órfã.

Original English

"What a brave little fellow,"cried Jane."Poor little orphan!"

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Português

Korak observou que o filhote teria se tornado um leão magnífico se sua mãe tivesse sobrevivido. Ele chamou a atenção para o dorso do filhote, que descreveu como reto e poderoso como uma lança, e expressou pesar que a criatura tivesse que ser morta.

Original English

"He's going to make a great lion, or he would have if his dam had lived,"said Korak."Look at that back--as straight and strong as a spear. Too bad the rascal has got to die."

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Português

Tarzan respondeu que não precisava morrer.

Original English

"He doesn't have to die,"returned Tarzan.

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Português

Ele pensou que o animal tinha pouca chance porque precisaria de leite por mais dois meses, e ninguém parecia disposto a fornecê-lo.

Original English

"There's not much chance for him--he'll need milk for a couple of months more, and who's going to get it for him?"

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Português

Tarzan declarou que ele seria o responsável por trazer o leite.

Original English

"I am,"replied Tarzan.

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Português

Alguém perguntou a Tarzan se ele pretendia adotar o filhote de leão.

Original English

"You're going to adopt him?"

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Português

Tarzan indicou seu acordo com um aceno de cabeça.

Original English

Tarzan nodded.

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Português

Korak e Jane riram, e Korak comentou que ficaria bem.

Original English

Korak and Jane laughed."That'll be fine,"commented the former.

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Português

Jane riu, referindo-se a si mesma como a mãe adotiva do filho de Numa.

Original English

"Lord Greystoke, foster mother to the son of Numa,"laughed Jane.

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Português

Tarzan acompanhou os sorrisos, mas permaneceu concentrado no filhote de leão. Ele rapidamente agarrou o filhote pela nuca e falou com ele em uma voz suave e murmurante, enquanto o acariciava gentilmente. O filhote gradualmente parou de resistir e não tentou mais arranhar ou morder a mão que o afagava. Após um momento, Tarzan ergueu o filhote e o segurou contra o peito. A pequena criatura não parecia mais assustada, nem mostrou os dentes, apesar da proximidade do odor humano outrora temido.

Original English

Tarzan smiled with them, but he did not cease his attentions toward the cub. Reaching out suddenly he caught the little lion by the scruff of its neck and then stroking it gently he talked to it in a low, crooning tone. I do not know what he said; but perhaps the cub did, for presently it ceased its struggles and no longer sought to scratch or bite the caressing hand. After that he picked it up and held it against his breast. It did not seem afraid now, nor did it even bare its fangs against this close proximity to the erstwhile hated man-scent.

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Português

Jane Clayton exclamou de surpresa, perguntando como ele fez isso.

Original English

"How do you do it?"exclaimed Jane Clayton.

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Português

Tarzan deu de ombros e disse que a espécie dela, os humanos, não tinha medo dela, mas que aqueles animais eram realmente da espécie dele. Ele acrescentou que, por mais que tentassem civilizá-lo, talvez fosse por isso que eles não tinham medo quando ele dava sinais de amizade. Ele então perguntou se até aquele pequeno malandro parecia entender isso.

Original English

Tarzan shrugged his broad shoulders."Your kind are not afraid of you--these are really my kind, try to civilize me as you will, and perhaps that is why they are not afraid of me when I give them the signs of friendship. Even this little rascal seems to know it, doesn't he?"

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Português

Korak disse que nunca conseguia entender isso. Ele achava que conhecia muito bem os animais africanos, mas não tinha o mesmo poder sobre eles ou a compreensão que a outra pessoa tinha, e perguntou por que isso acontecia.

Original English

"I can never understand it,"commented Korak."I think I am rather familiar with African animals, yet I haven't the power over them or the understanding that you have. Why is it?"

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Português

Lady Greystoke provocou o filho, afirmando que havia apenas um Tarzan, e seu tom carregava um toque de orgulho.

Original English

"There is but one Tarzan,"said Lady Greystoke, smiling at her son teasingly, and yet her tone was not without a note of pride.

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Português

Tarzan lembrou a seu ouvinte que ele nasceu e foi criado entre animais. Ele sugeriu que talvez seu pai fosse de fato um macaco, como Kala sempre afirmou.

Original English

"Remember that I was born among beasts and raised by beasts,"Tarzan reminded him."Perhaps after all my father was an ape--you know Kala always insisted that he was."

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Português

Jane exclamou em descrença, questionando como John poderia dizer tal coisa, já que ele sabia perfeitamente quem eram seus pais.

Original English

"John! How can you?"exclaimed Jane."You know perfectly well who your father and mother were."

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Português

Tarzan olhou seriamente para seu filho e piscou. Ele comentou que a mãe dele nunca poderia aprender a apreciar as qualidades admiráveis dos macacos. Era quase como se ela não gostasse da sugestão de que havia acasalado com um.

Original English

Tarzan looked solemnly at his son and closed one eye."Your mother never can learn to appreciate the fine qualities of the anthropoids. One might almost think that she objected to the suggestion that she had mated with one of them."

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Português

Uma mulher diz a John Clayton que nunca mais falará com ele se ele não parar de dizer coisas tão terríveis. Ela sente vergonha dele e diz que já é ruim o suficiente ele ser um homem selvagem irredimido sem que ele também sugira que pode ser um macaco.

Original English

"John Clayton, I shall never speak to you again if you don't stop saying such hideous things. I am ashamed of you. It is bad enough that you are an unregenerate wild-man, without trying to suggest that you may be an ape into the bargain."

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Português

A longa viagem de Pal-ul-don estava quase no fim. Eles esperavam chegar à sua antiga casa dentro de uma semana. Não se sabia se restava algo das ruínas deixadas pelos alemães. Os celeiros e anexos haviam sido queimados, e o interior da casa principal estava parcialmente destruído. Os leais servos waziri que não foram mortos pelos soldados do capitão Fritz Schneider juntaram-se ao exército inglês para ajudar na guerra. Tarzan sabia disso antes de partir para encontrar Lady Jane. No entanto, ele não sabia quantos de seus guerreiros waziri haviam sobrevivido à guerra nem o que mais havia acontecido com suas vastas propriedades. Tribos nativas errantes ou traficantes de escravos árabes podem ter concluído a destruição que os alemães iniciaram. Também era possível que a selva tivesse tomado conta de suas clareiras, cobrindo todos os sinais de presença humana.

Original English

The long journey from Pal-ul-don was almost completed-- inside the week they should be again at the site of their former home. Whether anything now remained of the ruins the Germans had left was problematical. The barns and outhouses had all been burned and the interior of the bungalow partially wrecked. Those of the Waziri, the faithful native retainers of the Greystokes, who had not been killed by Hauptman Fritz Schneider's soldiers, had rallied to the beat of the war-drum and gone to place themselves at the disposal of the English in whatever capacity they might be found useful to the great cause of humanity. This much Tarzan had known before he set out in search of Lady Jane; but how many of his war-like Waziri had survived the war and what further had befallen his vast estates he did not know. Wandering tribes of natives, or raiding bands of Arab slavers might have completed the demolition inaugurated by the Hun, and it was likely, too, that the jungle had swept up and reclaimed its own, covering his dearings and burying amidst its riot of lush verdure every sign of man's brief trespass upon its world-old preserves.

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Português

Após adotar o pequeno filhote de leão, Tarzan teve que pensar imediatamente no que o animal jovem precisava. Ao planejar suas jornadas e paradas, ele tinha que lembrar que o filhote precisava de leite, já que era a única comida que podia comer.

Original English

Following the adoption of the tiny Numa, Tarzan was compelled to an immediate consideration of the needs of his protege in planning his marches and his halts, for the cub must have sustenance and that sustenance could be naught but milk.

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Português

O leite de leoa era impossível, mas felizmente eles estavam agora em uma área comparativamente bem povoada, com muitas aldeias. O grande Senhor da Selva era conhecido, temido e respeitado ali. Portanto, na tarde do dia em que encontrou o filhote de leão, Tarzan aproximou-se de uma aldeia para obter leite para o filhote.

Original English

Lion's milk was out of the question, but fortunately they were now in a comparatively well peopled country where villages were not infrequent and where the great Lord of the Jungle was known, feared, and respected, and so it was that upon the afternoon of the day he had found the young lion Tarzan approached a village for the purpose of obtaining milk for the cub.

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Português

Primeiramente, os nativos pareciam mal-humorados e indiferentes, olhando com desprezo para os viajantes brancos que chegaram sem um grande safari. Eles sentiam desprezo porque, sem uma grande comitiva, esses estranhos não podiam trazer presentes ou meios para pagar pela comida, e sem askari, não podiam impor exigências ou se proteger caso fossem atacados. No entanto, apesar de sua aparente indiferença, os nativos estavam curiosos, intrigados com as roupas e ornamentos incomuns dos brancos. Eles observaram que os viajantes estavam quase tão nus quanto eles e carregavam armas semelhantes, exceto que o homem mais jovem tinha um rifle. Todos os três usavam os trajes primitivos e bárbaros de Pal-ul-don, que eram totalmente desconhecidos para o simples povo negro.

Original English

At first the natives appeared sullen and indifferent, looking with contempt upon whites who traveled without a large safari--with contempt and without fear. With no safari these strangers could carry no presents for them, nor anything wherewith to repay for the food they would doubtless desire, and with no askari they could not demand food, or rather they could not enforce an order, nor could they protect themselves should it seem worth while to molest them. Sullen and indifferent the natives seemed, yet they were scarce unconcerned, their curiosity being aroused by the unusual apparel and ornamentation of these whites. They saw them almost as naked as themselves and armed similarly except that one, the younger man, carried a rifle. All three wore the trappings of Pal-ul-don, primitive and barbaric, and entirely strange to the eyes of the simple blacks.

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Português

Tarzan entrou na vila entre mulheres, crianças e cachorros latindo, e perguntou onde estava o chefe deles.

Original English

"Where is your chief?"asked Tarzan as he strode into the village amongst the women, the children, and the yapping dogs.

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Português

Alguns guerreiros, que cochilavam nas sombras das cabanas, despertaram e se aproximaram dos recém-chegados.

Original English

A few dozing warriors rose from the shadows of the huts where they had been lying and approached the newcomers.

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Português

Um dos guerreiros respondeu que o chefe estava dormindo e perguntou a Tarzan quem ele era e o que queria, insinuando que ele não tinha o direito de acordar o chefe.

Original English

"The chief sleeps,"replied one."Who are you to awaken him? What do you want?"

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Português

Tarzan declarou que desejava falar com o chefe e ordenou que o guerreiro o trouxesse.

Original English

"I wish to speak to your chief. Go and fetch him!"

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Português

O guerreiro olhou para ele espantado e então explodiu em uma gargalhada.

Original English

The warrior looked at him in wide-eyed amaze, and then broke into a loud laugh.

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Português

Ele declarou a seus companheiros que o chefe tinha que ser trazido até ele. Então ele riu com vontade, deu um tapa na coxa e cutucou com os cotovelos aqueles mais próximos a ele.

Original English

"The chief must be brought to him,"he cried, addressing his fellows, and then, laughing loudly, he slapped his thigh and nudged those nearest him with his elbows.

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Português

O homem-macaco continuou, dizendo que Tarzan desejava falar com ele.

Original English

"Tell him,"continued the ape-man,"that Tarzan would speak with him."

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Português

De repente, as atitudes dos que ouviam mudaram completamente. Eles recuaram e pararam de rir, com os olhos arregalados e redondos. O homem que havia rido mais alto ficou muito sério. Ele ordenou que trouxessem esteiras para Tarzan e seu povo se sentarem, e disse que iria buscar Umanga, o chefe. Então ele correu o mais rápido que pôde, como se estivesse feliz por ter uma desculpa para escapar da presença da pessoa poderosa que temia ter ofendido.

Original English

Instantly the attitude of his auditors underwent a remarkable transformation--they fell back from him and they ceased laughing--their eyes very wide and round. He who had laughed loudest became suddenly solemn."Bring mats,"he cried,"for Tarzan and his people to sit upon, while I fetch Umanga the chief,"and off he ran as fast as he could as though glad of the excuse to escape the presence of the mighty one he feared he had offended.

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Português

A falta de um safari, guardas ou presentes já não importava mais. Os aldeões competiam para demonstrar respeito. Antes da chegada do chefe, muitos já haviam trazido oferendas de comida e ornamentos. Logo, Umanga apareceu. Era um velho que já era chefe antes mesmo do nascimento de Tarzan. Sua postura era patriarcal e digna, e ele saudou seu convidado como um igual. Ele estava claramente satisfeito que o Senhor da Selva havia honrado sua vila com uma visita.

Original English

It made no difference now that they had no safari, no askari, nor any presents. The villagers were vying with one another to do them honor. Even before the chief came many had already brought presents of food and ornaments. Presently Umanga appeared. He was an old man who had been a chief even before Tarzan of the Apes was born. His manner was patriarchal and dignified and he greeted his guest as one great man might greet another, yet he was undeniably pleased that the Lord of the Jungle had honored his village with a visit.

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Português

Quando Tarzan explicou seus desejos e mostrou o filhote de leão, Umanga garantiu que haveria leite suficiente enquanto Tarzan permanecesse com eles—leite quente das próprias cabras do chefe. Enquanto conversavam, Tarzan observou cuidadosamente a vila e seu povo. Sua atenção foi atraída por uma grande cadela entre os muitos cães vadios que percorriam as cabanas e a rua. Ao ver o úbere cheio de leite, teve uma ideia. Apontou para o animal e disse que queria comprá-la.

Original English

When Tarzan explained his wishes and exhibited the lion cub Umanga assured him that there would be milk a-plenty so long as Tarzan honored them with his presence--warm milk, fresh from the chief's own goats. As they palavered the ape-man's keen eyes took in every detail of the village and its people, and presently they alighted upon a large bitch among the numerous curs that overran the huts and the street. Her udder was swollen with milk and the sight of it suggested a plan to Tarzan. He jerked a thumb in the direction of the animal."I would buy her,"he said to Umanga.

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Português

O chefe informou Tarzan que o cão era seu sem custo. Ele explicou que a cadela havia dado à luz dois dias antes e, na noite anterior, todos os seus filhotes haviam sido levados de sua toca, provavelmente por uma grande cobra. No entanto, se Tarzan preferisse, o chefe lhe daria quantos cães mais jovens e mais gordos desejasse, pois acreditava que este não daria uma boa comida.

Original English

"She is yours, Bwana, without payment,"replied the chief."She whelped two days since and last night her pups were all stolen from her nest, doubtless by a great snake; but if you will accept them I will give you instead as many younger and fatter dogs as you wish, for I am sure that this one would prove poor eating."

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Português

Tarzan respondeu que não queria comê-lo. Disse que o levaria consigo para fornecer leite para o filhote e ordenou que o trouxessem até ele.

Original English

"I do not wish to eat her,"replied Tarzan."I will take her along with me to furnish milk for the cub. Have her brought to me."

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Português

Os meninos capturaram uma cadela e a levaram até Tarzan com uma corda no pescoço. No início, a cadela ficou assustada com o cheiro desconhecido do homem-macaco, que era diferente do cheiro dos homens negros, e rosnou e tentou mordê-lo. No entanto, Tarzan gradualmente conquistou sua confiança, e a cadela eventualmente se deitou calmamente ao lado dele enquanto ele a acariciava. Apresentar o filhote de leão foi mais difícil, pois ambos os animais estavam aterrorizados com o cheiro um do outro — o leão cuspia e rosnava enquanto a cadela mostrava os dentes e rosnavava. Exigiu imensa paciência, mas eventualmente eles conseguiram, e a cadela amamentou o filhote de leão. A fome havia vencido a desconfiança natural do leão, enquanto a maneira firme mas gentil de Tarzan conquistou a confiança da cadela, que tinha conhecido mais crueldade do que bondade em sua vida.

Original English

Some boys then caught the animal and tying a thong about its neck dragged it to the ape-man. Like the lion, the dog was at first afraid, for the scent of the Tarmangani was not as the scent of the blacks, and it snarled and snapped at its new master; but at length he won the animal's confidence so that it lay quietly beside him while he stroked its head. To get the lion close to it was, however, another matter, for here both were terrified by the enemy scent of the other-- the lion snarling and spitting arid the dog bare-fanged and growling. It required patience--infinite patience--but at last the thing was an accomplished fact and the cur bitch suckled the son of Numa. Hunger had succeeded in overcoming the natural suspicion of the lion, while the firm yet kindly attitude of the ape-man had won the confidence of the canine, which had been accustomed through life to more of cuffs and kicks than kindness.

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Português

Naquela noite, Tarzan manteve a cadela amarrada dentro de sua cabana. Duas vezes antes do amanhecer, ele a fez deitar para que o filhote pudesse mamar. No dia seguinte, eles se despediram de Umanga e seu povo. Com a cadela ainda na coleira trotando ao lado deles, eles partiram novamente em direção ao lar. Tarzan carregava o filhote de leão, ora aninhado em um braço, ora em um saco pendurado em seu ombro.

Original English

That night Tarzan had the dog tied ill[??] the hut he occupied, and twice before morning he made her lie while the cub fed. The next day they took leave of Umanga and his people and with the dog still upon a leash trotting beside them they set off once more toward home, the young lion cuddled in the hollow of one of Tarzan's arms or carried in a sack slung across his shoulder.

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Português

Eles nomearam o leão Jad-bal-ja, que na língua dos pitecantropos de Pal-ul-don significa o Leão Dourado, por causa de sua cor. A cada dia ele se acostumava mais com eles e com sua mãe adotiva, que eventualmente o aceitou como seu próprio filho. A cadela eles chamavam de Za, que significa menina. No segundo dia, eles removeram sua coleira, e ela os seguiu de boa vontade pela selva; depois disso, ela nunca tentou deixá-los e ficava infeliz a menos que estivesse perto de um dos três.

Original English

They named the lion Jad-bal-ja, which in the language of the pithecanthropi of Pal-ul-don, means the Golden Lion, because of his color. Every day he became more accustomed to them and to his foster mother, who finally came to accept him as flesh of her flesh. The bitch they called Za, meaning girl. The second day they removed her leash and she followed them willingly through the jungle, nor ever after did she seek to leave them, nor was happy unless she was near one of the three.

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Português

Ao se aproximarem do ponto onde a trilha da selva se abria para a vasta planície onde seu lar outrora existira, os três sentiram uma mistura de empolgação e ansiedade, embora nenhum falasse de suas esperanças ou medos. Eles se perguntavam o que encontrariam — provavelmente a mesma vegetação densa que Tarzan havia limpado para construir sua casa quando chegou pela primeira vez com sua noiva.

Original English

As the moment approached when the trail should break from the jungle onto the edge of the rolling plain where their home had been, the three were filled with suppressed excitement, though none uttered a syllable of the hope and fear that was in the heart of each. What would they find? What could they find other than the same tangled mass of vegetation that the ape-man had cleared away to build his home when first he had come there with his bride?

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Português

Finalmente, eles emergiram da vegetação densa da floresta e olharam para a planície. Ao longe, podiam ver o contorno do bangalô, que outrora era claramente visível entre as árvores e arbustos que haviam sido mantidos ou trazidos para embelezar os terrenos.

Original English

At last they stepped from the concealing verdure of the forest to look out across the plain where, in the distance, the outlines of the bungalow had once been clearly discernible nestled amidst the trees and shrubs that had been retained or imported to beautify the grounds.

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Português

Lady Jane gritou com empolgação, exclamando que aquilo estava ali, ainda ali.

Original English

"Look!"cried Lady Jane."It is there--it is still there!"

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Português

Korak perguntou o que eram aquelas outras coisas à esquerda, além dela.

Original English

"But what are those other things to the left, beyond it?"asked Korak.

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Português

Tarzan respondeu que as cabanas eram as moradias dos habitantes nativos.

Original English

"They are the huts of natives,"replied Tarzan.

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Português

A mulher exclamou que os campos estavam sendo cultivados.

Original English

"The fields are being cultivated!"exclaimed the woman.

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Português

Tarzan observou que algumas das dependências externas haviam sido reconstruídas. Ele concluiu que isso só poderia significar que seus fiéis Waziri haviam retornado da guerra. Eles haviam reparado os danos causados pelo inimigo e estavam protegendo seu lar até que ele e sua família voltassem.

Original English

"And some of the outbuildings have been rebuilt,"said Tarzan."It can mean but one thing--the Waziri have come back from the war--my faithful Waziri. They have restored what the Hun destroyed and are watching over our home until we return."

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THE TRAINING OF JAD-BAL-JA

Português

Tarzan dos Macacos, sua esposa Jane Clayton e seu filho Korak voltaram para casa após uma longa viagem. Com eles estavam Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado, e Za, a cadela. Um dos primeiros a recebê-los foi o velho Muviro, pai de Wasimbu, que havia morrido protegendo a casa e a esposa de Tarzan.

Original English

And so Tarzan of the Apes, and Jane Clayton, and Korak came home after a long absence and with them came Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, and Za, the bitch. Among the first to meet them and to welcome them home was old Muviro, father of Wasimbu, who had given his life in defense of the home and wife of the ape-man.

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Português

Muviro, o fiel Waziri, expressou sua alegria ao ver Tarzan novamente, dizendo que seus olhos velhos se sentiam jovens. Ele admitiu que, embora muitos duvidassem do retorno de Tarzan, ele próprio sempre soubera que o grande mundo não poderia derrotar seu mestre, e que Tarzan retornaria ao seu amado lar e ao seu povo leal. Ele acrescentou que o retorno de Jane, a quem eles haviam lamentado como morta, parecia inacreditável, e que grandes celebrações ocorreriam entre os Waziri naquela noite, com guerreiros dançando e mulheres gritando de alegria, porque as três pessoas mais amadas haviam voltado.

Original English

"Ah, Bwana,"cried the faithful black,"my old eyes are made young again by the sight of you. It has been long that you have been gone, but though many doubted that you would return, old Muviro knew that the great world held nothing that might overcome his master. And so he knew, too, that his master would return to the home of his love and the land where his faithful Waziri awaited him; but that she, whom we have mourned as dead, should have returned is beyond belief, and great shall be the rejoicing in the huts of the Waziri tonight. And the earth shall tremble to the dancing feet of the warriors and the heavens ring with the glad cries of their women, since the three they love most on earth have come back to them."

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Português

Os Waziri celebraram com grande alegria em suas cabanas por muitas noites. As danças e festividades continuaram até Tarzan ordenar que parassem para que ele e sua família pudessem dormir. Ele viu que seus leais Waziri, liderados por seu capataz inglês Jervis, haviam reconstruído completamente os estábulos, currais, anexos e cabanas nativas. Eles também restauraram o interior do bangalô, fazendo tudo ficar exatamente como era antes do ataque alemão.

Original English

And in truth, great indeed was the rejoicing in the huts of the Waziri. And not for one night alone, but for many nights did the dancing and the rejoicing continue until Tarzan was compelled to put a stop to the festivities that he and his family might gain a few hours of unbroken slumber. The ape-man found that not only had his faithful Waziri, under the equally faithful guidance of his English foreman, Jervis, completely rehabilitated his stables, corrals, and outbuildings as well as the native huts, but had restored the interior of the bungalow, so that in all outward appearances the place was precisely as it had been before the raid of the Germans.

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Português

Jervis retornou ao rancho alguns dias depois dos outros. Ele ficou tão surpreso e feliz quanto os Waziri. Sentou-se por horas com o chefe e os guerreiros aos pés de Tarzan, ouvindo a história de Pal-ul-don e as aventuras durante o cativeiro de Lady Greystoke. Os Waziri ficaram maravilhados com os animais de estimação estranhos que Tarzan trouxera. Acharam incrível que ele tivesse adotado um filhote de leão, a prole de seus inimigos naturais, e ainda mais surpreendente era como Tarzan estava treinando o filhote.

Original English

Jervis was at Nairobi on the business of the estate, and it was some days after their arrival that he returned to the ranch. His surprise and happiness were no less genuine than those of the Waziri. With the chief and warriors he sat for hours at the feet of the Big Bwana, listening to an account of the strange land of Pal-ul-don and the adventures that had befallen the three during Lady Greystoke's captivity there, and with the Waziri he marveled at the queer pets the ape-man had brought back with him. That Tarzan might have fancied a mongrel native cur was strange enough, but that he should have adopted a cub of his hereditary enemies, Numa and Sabor, seemed beyond all belief. And equally surprising to them all was the manner of Tarzan's education of the cub.

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Português

O leão dourado e sua mãe adotiva dividiam um canto do quarto de Tarzan. Todos os dias, o homem-macaco passava muitas horas treinando e educando o pequeno filhote amarelo e malhado, que era cheio de brincadeiras e afeto, mas um dia se tornaria uma grande e selvagem fera de rapina.

Original English

The golden lion and his foster mother occupied a corner of the ape-man's bedroom, and many was the hour each day that he spent in training and educating the little spotted, yellow ball--all playfulness and affection now, but one day to grow into a great, savage beast of prey.

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Português

À medida que o leão dourado amadurecia, Tarzan o treinou em várias habilidades, como buscar objetos, permanecer escondido sob comando e rastrear pelo cheiro. Ele criou um método de alimentação incomum que divertia os guerreiros Waziri: construiu um boneco em forma de homem e sempre prendia a carne do leão em sua garganta. O leão aprendeu a esperar o comando de Tarzan antes de atacar, não importa o quanto estivesse com fome, e com uma única palavra ele saltava e derrubava o boneco.

Original English

As the days passed and the golden lion grew, Tarzan taught it many tricks--to fetch and carry, to lie motionless in hiding at his almost inaudible word of command, to move from point to point as he indicated, to hunt for hidden things by scent and to retrieve them, and when meat was added to its diet he fed it always in a way that brought grim smiles to the savage lips of the Waziri warriors, for Tarzan had built for him a dummy in the semblance of a man and the meat that the lion was to eat was fastened always at the throat of the dummy. Never did the manner of feeding vary. At a word from the ape-man the golden lion would crouch, belly to the ground, and then Tarzan would point at the dummy and whisper the single word"kill."However hungry he might be, the lion learned never to move toward his meat until that single word had been uttered by its master; and then with a rush and a savage growl it drove straight for the flesh. While it was little it had difficulty at first in clambering up the dummy to the savory morsel fastened at the figure's throat, but as it grew older and larger it gained the objective more easily, and finally a single leap would carry it to its goal and down would go the dummy upon its back with the young lion tearing at its throat.

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Português

A lição mais difícil para o leão aprender foi superar seu instinto natural de matar e obedecer ao comando de Tarzan para buscar objetos sem machucá-los. Foram necessárias semanas e meses de treinamento paciente. O leão foi ensinado a recuperar qualquer item indicado, até mesmo um boneco com carne crua amarrada em sua garganta, e trazê-lo de volta para Tarzan sem tocar na carne ou danificar o boneco. Depois, o leão sempre recebia uma recompensa, geralmente uma porção dupla de sua carne favorita.

Original English

There was one lesson that, of all the others, was most difficult to learn and it is doubtful that any other than Tarzan of the Apes, reared by beasts, among beasts, could have overcome the savage blood-lust of the carnivore and rendered his natural instinct subservient to the will of his master. It took weeks and months of patient endeavor to accomplish this single item of the lion's education, which consisted in teaching him that at the word"fetch"he must find any indicated object and return with it to his master, even the dummy with raw meat tied at its throat, and that he must not touch the meat nor harm the dummy nor any other article that he was fetching, but place it carefully at the ape-man's feet. Afterward he learned always to be sure of his reward, which usually consisted in a double portion of the meat that he loved best.

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Português

Lady Greystoke e Korak frequentemente observavam com interesse enquanto Tarzan treinava o leão dourado. No entanto, Lady Greystoke ficava intrigada com o propósito de um treinamento tão intensivo para o filhote e duvidava da sabedoria do plano do homem-macaco.

Original English

Lady Greystoke and Korak were often interested spectators of the education of the golden lion, though the former expressed mystification as to the purpose of such elaborate training of the young cub and some misgivings as to the wisdom of the ape-man's program.

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Português

Ela perguntou o que poderia ser feito com uma fera daquelas quando crescesse. Ela observou que parecia destinada a se tornar um poderoso Numa. Acostumada aos homens, não teria medo deles, e como sempre se alimentara atacando a garganta de um boneco, agora procuraria as gargantas de homens vivos para se alimentar.

Original English

"What in the world can you do with such a brute after he is grown?"she asked."He bids fair to be a mighty Numa. Being accustomed to men he will be utterly fearless of them, and having fed always at the throat of a dummy he will look there at the throat of living men for his food hereafter."

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Português

O homem-macaco respondeu que a criatura se alimentaria apenas daquilo que ele lhe instruísse a se alimentar.

Original English

"He will feed only upon what I tell him to feed,"replied the ape-man.

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Português

Ela perguntou, rindo, se ele realmente esperava que o animal se alimentasse sempre de humanos.

Original English

"But you do not expect him to feed always upon men?"she interrogated, laughingly.

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Português

Ele declarou que o animal nunca atacaria humanos.

Original English

"He will never feed upon men."

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Português

Ela perguntou como ele poderia evitar isso, visto que ele o havia ensinado desde filhote a se alimentar de homens.

Original English

"But how can you prevent it, having taught him from cubhood always to feed upon men?"

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Português

Tarzan disse a Jane que ele temia que ela estivesse subestimando a inteligência de um leão, ou então ele a estava superestimando. Ele disse que, se a teoria dela estava certa, a parte mais difícil do trabalho dele ainda estava por vir, mas se ele estivesse certo, estava praticamente terminado. Ele sugeriu que eles testassem suas ideias levando Jad-bal-ja para a planície naquela tarde, onde havia caça em abundância, para que pudessem ver quanto controle ele realmente tinha sobre o leão jovem.

Original English

"I am afraid, Jane, that you under-estimate the intelligence of a lion, or else I very much over-estimate it. If your theory is correct the hardest part of my work is yet before me, but if I am right it is practically complete now. However, we will experiment a bit and see which is right. We shall take Jad-bal-ja out upon the plain with us this afternoon. Game is plentiful and we shall have no difficulty in ascertaining just how much control I have over young Numa after all."

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Português

Korak riu e propôs uma aposta de cem libras, afirmando que, uma vez que o leão tivesse experimentado o gosto de sangue vivo, seguiria seus próprios desejos sem restrições.

Original English

"I'll wager a hundred pounds,"said Korak, laughing,"that he does just what he jolly well pleases after he gets a taste of live blood."

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Português

O homem-macaco aceitou o desafio, dizendo que pretendia mostrar a Korak e sua mãe algo naquela tarde que ninguém jamais imaginou ser possível.

Original English

"You're on, my son,"said the ape-man. I think I am going to show you and your mother this afternoon what you or anyone else never dreamed could be accomplished."

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Português

Lady Greystoke declarou que Lord Greystoke era o melhor treinador de animais do mundo, e Tarzan se juntou a eles no riso.

Original English

"Lord Greystoke, the world's premier animal trainer!"cried Lady Greystoke, and Tarzan joined them in their laughter.

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Português

O homem-macaco explicou que seu método não era treinamento de animais, mas algo que só ele poderia fazer, pois dependia de confiança e amizade, e não de força. Ele deu um exemplo: se uma pessoa que você odeia e teme o força a fazer algo, você obedece apenas por medo, e desobedeceria ou atacaria se pudesse. Mas se um amigo que o alimentou e protegeu pede ajuda, você obedece de boa vontade. Ele disse que o leão dourado o obedeceria da mesma forma, por lealdade.

Original English

"It is not animal training,"said the ape-man."The plan upon which I work would be impossible to anyone but Tarzan of the Apes. Let us take a hypothetical case to illustrate what I mean. There comes to you some creature whom you hate, whom by instinct and heredity you consider a deadly enemy. You are afraid of him. You understand no word that he speaks. Finally, by means sometimes brutal he impresses upon your mind his wishes. You may do the thing he wants, but do you do it with a spirit of unselfish loyalty? You do not-- you do it under compulsion, hating the creature that forces his will upon you. At any moment that you felt it was in your power to do so, you would disobey him. You would even go further--you would turn upon him and destroy him. On the other hand, there comes to you one with whom you are familiar; he is a friend, a protector. He understands and speaks the language that you understand and speak. He has fed you, he has gained your confidence by kindness and protection, he asks you to do something for him. Do you refuse? No, you obey willingly. It is thus that the golden lion will obey me."

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Português

Korak comentou que continuaria enquanto servisse ao seu propósito.

Original English

"As long as it suits his purpose to do so,"commented Korak.

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Português

O homem-macaco foi além, pedindo que eles imaginassem que o ser que amavam e obedeciam tinha o poder de punir ou até matá-los, se necessário, para impor seus comandos. Ele então perguntou como eles se sentiriam em relação à sua obediência nessa situação.

Original English

"Let me go a step farther then,"said the ape-man."Suppose that this creature, whom you love and obey, has the power to punish, even to kill you, if it is necessary so to do to enforce his commands. How then about your obedience?"

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Português

Korak comentou que eles veriam como facilmente o leão dourado ganharia cem libras para ele.

Original English

"We'll see,"said Korak,"how easily the golden lion will make one hundred pounds for me."

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Português

Naquela tarde, Tarzan, Jane e Korak cavalgaram pela planície, com Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado, seguindo atrás. Eles desmontaram perto de um pequeno grupo de árvores e então avançaram cautelosamente em direção a um vale baixo onde antílopes eram frequentemente encontrados. Movendo-se silenciosamente, alcançaram a vegetação densa que margeava o vale. Tarzan, Jane, Korak e Jad-bal-ja eram quatro caçadores da selva; Jad-bal-ja era o menos experiente. Eles rastejaram pelos arbustos tão silenciosamente que quase nenhuma folha se mexeu. Por fim, eles olharam para o vale e viram um pequeno rebanho de antílopes pastando pacificamente. O mais próximo era um velho macho, e Tarzan o apontou para Jad-bal-ja de maneira misteriosa.

Original English

That afternoon they set out across the plain, Jad-bal-ja following Tarzan's horse's heels. They dismounted at a little clump of trees some distance from the bungalow and from there proceeded onward warily toward a swale in which antelopes were usually to be found, moving up which they came cautiously to the heavy brush that bordered the swale upon their side. There was Tarzan, Jane, and Korak, and close beside Tarzan the golden lion--four jungle hunters --and of the four Jad-bal-ja, the lion, was the least accomplished. Stealthily they crawled through the brush, scarce a leaf rustling to their passage, until at last they looked down into the swale upon a small herd of antelope grazing peacefully below. Closest to them was an old buck, and him Tarzan pointed out in some mysterious manner to Jad-bal-ja.

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Português

Tarzan sussurrou para o leão buscar o antílope, e o leão dourado fez um som baixo e rosnado que era quase inaudível.

Original English

"Fetch him,"he whispered, and the golden lion rumbled a scarce audible acknowledgment of the command.

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Português

Jad-bal-ja, o leão, moveu-se silenciosamente pelos arbustos. Os antílopes continuavam se alimentando, sem perceber sua presença. O leão estava muito longe para atacar com sucesso, então ele esperou, escondido na vegetação, que o antílope se aproximasse ou virasse as costas. O rebanho não demonstrou nenhum sinal de sentir perigo. Um velho macho aproximou-se lentamente do leão. Quase imperceptivelmente, Jad-bal-ja preparou-se para atacar. O único movimento visível era o tremor da ponta de sua cauda, e então ele avançou com uma velocidade incrível. Ele estava quase em cima do macho antes que este percebesse o perigo; quando o antílope se virou, já era tarde demais. O leão ergueu-se sobre as patas traseiras e agarrou sua presa, enquanto o resto do rebanho fugiu em pânico.

Original English

Stealthily he worked his way through the brush. The antelopes fed on, unsuspecting. The distance separating the lion from his prey was over great for a successful charge, and so Jad-bal-ja waited, hiding in the brush, until the antelope should either graze closer to him or turn its back toward him. No sound came from the four watching the grazing herbivora, nor did the latter give any indication of a suspicion of the nearness of danger. The old buck moved slowly closer to Jad-bal-ja. Almost imperceptibly the lion was gathering for the charge. The only noticeable movement was the twitching of his tail's tip, and then, as lightning from the sky, as an arrow from a bow, he shot from immobility to tremendous speed in an instant. He was almost upon the buck before the latter realized the proximity of danger, and then it was too late, for scarcely had the antelope wheeled than the lion rose upon its hind legs and seized it, while the balance of the herd broke into precipitate flight.

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Português

Korak declarou que eles agora veriam o que aconteceria.

Original English

"Now,"said Korak,"we shall see."

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Português

Tarzan afirmou com confiança que o leão traria o antílope até ele.

Original English

"He will bring the antelope to me,"said Tarzan confidently.

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Português

O leão dourado hesitou por um momento, rosnando sobre a carcaça do antílope que havia matado. Então, agarrou-o pelas costas e, virando a cabeça para um lado, arrastou-o pelo chão ao seu lado enquanto voltava lentamente para Tarzan. Ele trouxe o antílope abatido através da vegetação e o largou aos pés de seu mestre. Ali ficou, olhando para Tarzan com uma expressão que mostrava claramente orgulho por sua conquista e um pedido de elogio.

Original English

The golden lion hesitated a moment, growling over the carcass of his kill. Then he seized it by the back and with his head turned to one side dragged it along the ground beside him, as he made his way slowly back toward Tarzan. Through the brush he dragged the slain antelope until he had dropped it at the feet of his master, where he stood, looking up at the face of the ape-man with an expression that could not have been construed into aught but pride in his achievement and a plea for commendation.

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Português

Tarzan acariciou a cabeça do leão e falou baixinho, elogiando-o. Então, puxando sua faca de caça, cortou a jugular do antílope e deixou o sangue escorrer da carcaça. Jane e Korak permaneceram próximos, observando Jad-bal-ja atentamente — o que o leão faria com o cheiro de sangue fresco e quente em suas narinas? O leão cheirou o sangue e rosnou, mostrando os dentes e olhando para os três com uma expressão maligna. O homem-macaco o afastou com a mão aberta, e o leão rosnou com raiva e tentou mordê-lo.

Original English

Tarzan stroked his head and spoke to him in a low voice, praising him, and then, drawing his hunting knife, he cut the jugular of the antelope and let the blood from the carcass. Jane and Korak stood close, watching Jad-bal-ja-- what would the lion do with the smell of fresh, hot blood in his nostrils? He sniffed at it and growled, and with bared fangs he eyed the three wickedly. The ape-man pushed him away with his open palm and the lion growled again angrily and snapped at him.

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Português

Numa o leão e Bara o cervo são rápidos, mas Tarzan dos Macacos é como um relâmpago. Ele golpeou tão rápido e forte que Jad-bal-ja caiu de costas quase imediatamente após rosnar para seu mestre. O leão rapidamente se levantou novamente, e os dois ficaram frente a frente.

Original English

Quick is Numa, quick is Bara, the deer, but Tarzan of the Apes is lightning. So swiftly did he strike, and so heavily, that Jad-bal-ja was falling on his back almost in the very instant that he had growled at his master. Swiftly he came to his feet again and the two stood facing one another.

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Português

O homem-macaco ordenou ao leão, Jad-bal-ja, que se deitasse. Sua voz era baixa e firme. O leão hesitou apenas por um momento, então deitou-se como Tarzan lhe havia ensinado a fazer quando recebia a ordem. Tarzan virou-se e levantou a carcaça do antílope sobre seu ombro.

Original English

"Down!"commanded the ape-man."Lie down, Jad-bal-ja!"His voice was low and firm. The lion hesitated but for an instant, and then lay down as Tarzan of the Apes had taught him to do at the word of command. Tarzan turned and lifted the carcass of the antelope to his shoulder.

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Português

Tarzan disse a Jad-bal-ja para vir e ficar junto, e então, sem olhar novamente para o leão, ele se moveu em direção aos cavalos.

Original English

"Come,"he said to Jad-bal-ja."Heel!"and without another glance at the carnivore he moved off toward the horses.

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Português

Korak riu e comentou que deveria ter previsto esse resultado, economizando assim cem libras.

Original English

"I might have known it,"said Korak, with a laugh,"and saved my hundred pounds."

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Português

A mãe de Korak disse a ele que, é claro, ele poderia ter sabido.

Original English

"Of course you might have known it,"said his mother.

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A MEETING OF MYSTERY

Português

Uma jovem, bastante atraente, mas excessivamente vestida, estava jantando em um modesto restaurante londrino. Ela chamava a atenção não por sua própria aparência, mas por seu acompanhante — um homem enorme e bem constituído na faixa dos vinte e poucos anos, cuja barba imensa o fazia parecer que estava escondido. Ele tinha mais de um metro e noventa de altura, ombros largos, peito profundo e quadris estreitos. Toda sua aparência mostrava claramente que era um atleta treinado.

Original English

A rather attractive-looking, though over-dressed, young woman was dining in a second-rate chop-house in London. She was noticeable, not so much for her fine figure and coarsely beautiful face as for the size and appearance of her companion, a large, well-proportioned man in the mid-twenties, with such a tremendous beard that it gave him the appearance of hiding in ambush. He stood fully three inches over six feet. His shoulders were broad, his chest deep, and his hips narrow. His physique, his carriage, everything about him, suggested indubitably the trained athlete.

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Português

Os dois indivíduos estavam profundamente envolvidos em uma conversa, que por vezes mostrava claros sinais de se tornar uma discussão acalorada.

Original English

The two were in close conversation, a conversation that occasionally gave every evidence of bordering upon heated argument.

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Português

O homem argumentou que não via necessidade de envolver os outros. Ele questionou por que o dinheiro deveria ser dividido em seis partes quando ele e a mulher poderiam ficar com tudo para si mesmos.

Original English

"I tell you,"said the man,"that I do not see what we need of the others. Why should they share with us--why divide into six portions that which you and I might have alone?"

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Português

A mulher respondeu que o plano exigia dinheiro, o qual nem ela nem Esteban tinham. No entanto, seus apoiadores possuíam os fundos e os apoiariam: ela por sua experiência, e ele por sua impressionante aparência e força. Ela alertou que os apoiadores haviam procurado por Esteban por dois anos, e agora que ele conhecia todos os detalhes do esquema, traí-los seria perigoso. Eles não hesitariam em matá-lo se suspeitassem que ele pretendia ficar com todos os lucros para si.

Original English

"It takes money to carry the plan through,"she replied,"and neither you nor I have any money. They have it and they will back us with it--me for my knowledge and you for your appearance and your strength. They searched for you, Esteban, for two years, and, now that they have found you, I should not care to be in your shoes if you betrayed them. They would just as soon slit your throat as not, Esteban, if they no more than thought they couldn't use you, now that you have all the details of their plan. But if you should try to take all the profit from them--"

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Português

Ela fez uma pausa, encolhendo os ombros, e declarou que valorizava demais a vida para participar de qualquer conspiração como aquela com ele.

Original English

She paused, shrugging her shoulders."No, my dear, I love life too well to join you in any such conspiracy as that."

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Português

Esteban insistiu com Flora que eles deveriam receber uma parte maior do que estava sendo oferecida. Ele argumentou que, já que ela fornecia todo o conhecimento e ele corria todo o perigo, eles tinham direito a mais do que apenas um sexto cada.

Original English

�But I tell you, Flora, we ought to get more out of it than they want to give. You furnish all the knowledge and I take all the risk--why shouldn't we have more than a sixth apiece?"

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Português

Flora disse a Esteban que ele poderia falar com eles mesmo, mas recomendou que ele se contentasse com a oferta. Ela destacou que possuía as informações necessárias, sem as quais eles não poderiam fazer nada, e que também o havia encontrado. Apesar disso, ela não exigiu a parte inteira; ela ficaria satisfeita com um sexto. Ela garantiu a ele que, se ele não cometesse um erro, um sexto do lucro seria suficiente para cada um deles pelo resto de suas vidas.

Original English

"Talk to them yourself, then, Esteban,"said the girl, with a shrug,"but if you will take my advice you will be satisfied with what you are offered. Not only have I the information, without which they can do nothing, but I found you into the bargain, yet I do not ask it all--I shall be perfectly satisfied with one-sixth, and I can assure you that if you do not muddle the thing, one-sixth of what you bring out will be enough for any one of us for the rest of his natural life."

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Português

O homem permaneceu não convencido, e a jovem suspeitou que ele exigia vigilância atenta. Na verdade, ela sabia pouco sobre ele, tendo-o visto pessoalmente apenas algumas vezes desde que o descobriu cerca de dois meses antes em uma tela de cinema em Londres, onde ele interpretou um soldado romano na Guarda Pretoriana em um grande filme.

Original English

The man did not seem convinced, and the young woman had a feeling that he would bear watching. Really, she knew very little about him, and had seen him in person only a few times since her first discovery of him some two months before. upon the screen of a London cinema house in a spectacular feature in which he had played the role of a Roman soldier of the Pretorian Guard.

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Português

O tamanho impressionante e o físico perfeito de Esteban Miranda foram as únicas razões pelas quais ele foi notado no filme, já que seu papel era pequeno. Entre os milhares que o viram na tela, Flora Hawkes foi a única que demonstrou mais do que um interesse passageiro por ele, e seu interesse não se devia à sua atuação, mas sim porque ela e seus parceiros estavam procurando por alguém como ele há cerca de dois anos. Encontrá-lo na vida real mostrou-se difícil, mas após um mês de busca aparentemente infrutífera, ela finalmente o descobriu trabalhando como figurante em um pequeno estúdio de cinema em Londres. Sua boa aparência foi suficiente para iniciar uma amizade com ele, e conforme o relacionamento deles se aproximava, ela não revelou o verdadeiro propósito de sua conexão com ele.

Original English

Here his heroic size and perfect physique had alone entitled him to consideration, for his part was a minor one, and doubtless of all the thousands who saw him upon the silver sheet Flora Hawkes was the only one who took more than a passing interest in him, and her interest was aroused, not by his histrionic ability, but rather because for some two years she and her confederates had been searching for such a type as Esteban Miranda so admirably represented. To find him in the flesh bade fair to prove difficult of accomplishment, but after a month of seemingly fruitless searching she finally discovered him among a score of extra men at the studio of one of London's lesser producing companies. She needed no other credentials than her good looks to form his acquaintance, and while that was ripening into intimacy she made no mention to him of the real purpose of her association with him.

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Português

Flora via que o homem era espanhol e vinha de uma boa família, mas também entendia que ele era desonesto. Ele havia concordado rapidamente em participar do plano suspeito que ela e seus quatro cúmplices haviam criado. Sabendo de sua falta de escrúpulos, ela tomou muito cuidado para manter os detalhes mais importantes do plano em segredo, não os compartilhando nem mesmo com seus outros parceiros.

Original English

That he was a Spaniard and apparently of good family was evident to her, and that he was unscrupulous was to be guessed by the celerity with which he agreed to take part in the shady transaction that had been conceived in the mind of Flora Hawkes, and the details of which had been perfected by her and her four confederates. So, therefore, knowing that he was unscrupulous, she was aware that every precaution must be taken to prevent him taking advantage of the knowledge of their plan that he must one day have in detail, the key to which she, up to the present moment, had kept entirely to herself, not even confiding it to any one of her four other confederates.

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Português

Eles ficaram sentados silenciosamente por um momento, brincando com seus copos vazios. Então ela ergueu o olhar e viu que ele estava a encarando. A expressão em seus olhos era tão clara que até uma mulher menos sofisticada do que Flora Hawkes teria entendido seu significado.

Original English

They sat for a moment in silence, toying with the empty glasses from which they had been drinking. Presently she looked up to find his gaze fixed upon her and an expression in his eyes that even a less sophisticated woman than Flora Hawkes might readily have interpreted.

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Português

Ele disse a Flora que ela tinha controle total sobre ele, porque quando ele estava na presença dela, perdia o interesse pelo ouro e só conseguia pensar no outro prêmio que ela lhe negava, embora estivesse determinado a obtê-lo eventualmente.

Original English

"You can make me do anything you want, Flora,"he said,"for when I am with you I forget the gold, and think only of that other reward which you continually deny me, but which one day I shall win."

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Português

A garota respondeu que amor e negócios não combinam bem. Ela aconselhou Esteban a primeiro ter sucesso em seu trabalho antes que pudessem falar sobre amor.

Original English

"Love and business do not mix well,"replied the girl."Wait until you have succeeded in this work, Esteban, and then we may talk of love."

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Português

Ele sussurrou roucamente que ela não o amava, acrescentando que a afeição que os outros homens sentiam por ela era a fonte de seu ódio por eles. Ele avisou que, se acreditasse que ela amava algum deles, machucaria essa pessoa. Ele reclamou que ela era muito familiar com eles, citando exemplos como John Peebles apertando a mão dela e Dick Throck segurando-a perto enquanto dançavam. Ele declarou que um dia seu ciúme ofuscaria sua busca por ouro, resultando em menos pessoas para dividir os lingotes que traria da África. Ele também mencionou Bluber e Kraski, particularmente Kraski, cuja aparência bonita e o modo como ela o olhava ele considerava perturbadores.

Original English

"You do not love me,"he whispered, hoarsely."I know--I have seen--that each of the others loves you. That is why I could hate them. And if I thought that you loved one of them, I could cut his heart out. Sometimes I have thought that you did--first one of them and then another. You are too familiar with them, Flora. I have seen John Peebles squeeze your hand when he thought no one was looking, and when you dance with Dick Throck he holds you too close and you dance cheek to cheek. I tell you I do not like it, Flora, and one of these days I shall forget all about the gold and think only of you, and then something will happen and there will not be so many to divide the ingots that I shall bring back from Africa. And Bluber and Kraski are almost as bad; perhaps Kraski is the worst of all, for he is a good-looking devil and I do not like the way in which you cast sheep's eyes at him."

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Português

A raiva acendeu nos olhos da garota. Ela fez um gesto furioso para silenciá-lo.

Original English

The fire of growing anger was leaping to the girl's eyes. With an angry gesture she silenced him.

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Português

O interlocutor questionou com raiva o direito de Senhor Miranda de se preocupar com a escolha de amigos do interlocutor ou com a forma como eles se tratavam. Ele declarou que conhecia aqueles homens há anos, enquanto conhecia Senhor Miranda há pouco tempo. Consequentemente, se alguém tivesse autoridade para controlar suas ações, o que ele agradecia que ninguém tinha, seria um de seus conhecidos de longa data, em vez de Miranda.

Original English

"What business is it of yours, Senor Miranda, who I choose for my friends, or how I treat them or how they treat me? I will have you understand that I have known these men for years, while I have known you for but a few weeks, and if any has a right to dictate my behavior, which, thank God, none has, it would be one of them rather than you."

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Português

Seus olhos queimavam de raiva.

Original English

His eyes blazed angrily.

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Português

Ele exclamou que sua suspeita estava correta: ela estava apaixonada por um de seus companheiros. Levantando-se parcialmente de seu assento, inclinou-se sobre a mesa, com postura ameaçadora, e avisou que, se descobrisse qual homem era, o mataria.

Original English

"It is as I thought!"he cried."You love one of them."He half rose from the table and leaned across it toward her, menacingly."Just let me find out which one it is and I will cut him into pieces!"

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Português

Ele passou os dedos pelos cabelos longos e pretos até que eles se eriçaram como a juba de um leão furioso. Seus olhos brilhavam com uma luz que encheu o coração da garota de pavor. Ele parecia temporariamente fora de si, e se não era um louco, certamente parecia um. A garota ficou com medo e entendeu que precisava acalmá-lo.

Original English

He ran his fingers through his long, black hair until it stood up on end like the mane of an angry lion. His eyes were blazing with a light that sent a chill of dread through the girl's heart. He appeared a man temporarily bereft of reason--if he were not a maniac he most certainly looked one, and the girl was afraid and realized that she must placate him.

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Português

Ela sussurrou para Esteban, dizendo-lhe que não havia necessidade de ficar tão irritado sem motivo. Ela não tinha dito que amava alguém, nem que não o amava, mas não estava acostumada a ser cortejada daquela forma. Talvez as mulheres espanholas gostassem daquele estilo, mas ela era inglesa e queria ser tratada como um amante inglês a trataria se realmente a amasse.

Original English

"Come, come, Esteban,"she whispered softly, there is no need for working yourself into a towering rage over nothing. I have not said that I loved one of these, nor have I said that I do not love you, but I am not used to being wooed in such fashion. Perhaps your Spanish senoritas like it, but I am an English girl and if you love me treat me as an English lover would treat me.

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Português

Esteban lembrou a Flora que ela não havia dito que amava nenhum dos outros homens, mas também não havia dito que não amava um deles. Então ele pediu diretamente que ela dissesse qual deles amava.

Original English

"You have not said that you loved one of these others--no, but on the other hand you have not said that you do not love one of them--tell me, Flora, which one of them is it that you love?"

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Português

Os olhos de Esteban continuavam a arder com emoção intensa, e seu corpo poderoso tremia enquanto ele lutava para conter sua fúria.

Original English

His eyes were still blazing, and his great frame trembling with suppressed passion.

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Português

Flora respondeu que não amava nenhum deles, nem Esteban ainda. No entanto, ela admitiu que poderia amá-lo mais do que qualquer outra pessoa. Ela disse que não se permitiria fazer isso a menos que ele voltasse e eles fossem livres para viver como quisessem. Mesmo assim, ela não prometeria.

Original English

"I do not love any of them, Esteban,"she replied,"nor, as yet, do I love you. But I could, Esteban, that much I will tell you. I could love you, Esteban, as I could never love another, but I shall not permit myself to do so until after you have returned and we are free to live where and how we like. Then, maybe--but, even so, I do not promise."

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Português

Esteban disse a Flora que seria melhor ela prometer, com a voz sombria embora um tanto apaziguada. Ele insistiu que o ouro não significava nada para ele se não pudesse tê-la também.

Original English

"You had better promise,"he said, sullenly, though evidently somewhat mollified."You had better promise, Flora, for I care nothing for the gold if I may not have you also."

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Português

Ela o advertiu para ficar em silêncio, observando que os outros estavam chegando agora e que já era hora, pois estavam com meia hora de atraso.

Original English

"Hush,"she cautioned,"here they come now, and it is about time; they are fully a half-hour late."

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Português

O homem seguiu o olhar dela até a porta, onde quatro homens entravam no bar. Dois deles eram claramente ingleses, grandes e sólidos, com aparência de ex-boxeadores. O terceiro, Adolph Bluber, era um alemão baixo e gordo, com rosto vermelho e pescoço grosso. O quarto, Carl Kraski, era o mais jovem e de longe o mais atraente. Sua pele lisa, olhos claros e cabelo castanho ondulado eram suficientes para deixar Miranda com ciúmes, mas ele também tinha um corpo perfeito e se movia como um dançarino. Na verdade, ele era um dançarino russo quando escolhia não ser um criminoso.

Original English

The man turned his eyes in the direction of her gaze, and the two sat watching the approach of four men who had just entered the chop-house. Two of them were evidently Englishmen--big, meaty fellows of the middle class, who looked what they really were, former pugilists; the third, Adolph Bluber, was a short, fat German, with a round, red face and a bull neck; the other, the youngest of the four, was by far the best looking. His smooth face, clear complexion, and large dark eyes might of themselves have proven sufficient grounds for Miranda's jealousy, but supplementing these were a mop of wavy, brown hair, the figure of a Greek god and the grace of a Russian dancer, which, in truth, was what Carl Kraski was when he chose to be other than a rogue.

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Português

Os quatro homens encontraram cadeiras e sentaram-se à mesa. A garota os cumprimentou calorosamente, enquanto o espanhol ofereceu apenas um único aceno rude.

Original English

The girl greeted the four pleasantly, while the Spaniard vouchsafed them but a single, surly nod, as they found chairs and seated themselves at the table.

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Português

Peebles bateu na mesa para chamar a atenção de um garçom e pediu cerveja.

Original English

"Hale!"[cried] Peebles, pounding the table to attract the attention of a waiter,"let us 'ave hale."

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Português

A proposta foi aceita por todos. Enquanto aguardavam suas bebidas, eles conversaram sobre assuntos triviais, como o clima, o motivo do atraso e pequenos acontecimentos desde o último encontro. Durante todo esse tempo, Esteban permaneceu em silêncio e parecia descontente. Quando o garçom voltou, eles fizeram um brinde à Flora, uma tradição que sempre observavam em suas reuniões, e então passaram a discutir seus negócios reais.

Original English

The suggestion met with unanimous approval, and as they waited for their drink they spoke casually of unimportant things; the heat, the circumstance that had delayed them, the trivial occurrences since they had last met; throughout which Esteban sat in sullen silence, but after the waiter had returned and they drank to Flora, with which ceremony it had long been their custom to signalize each gathering, they got down to business.

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Português

Peebles bateu na mesa com o punho e declarou que agora tinham tudo: os planos, o dinheiro e o Senhor Miranda. Ele disse a Flora que estavam prontos para a parte dela no empreendimento.

Original English

"Now,"cried Peebles, pounding the table with his meaty fist,"'ere we are, and that's that! We 'ave everything, Flora--the plans, the money, Senor Miranda--and are jolly well ready, old dear, for your part of it.

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Português

Flora perguntou sobre a quantia de dinheiro que possuíam, enfatizando que uma soma substancial seria necessária e que iniciar o empreendimento sem fundos suficientes seria inútil.

Original English

"How much money have you?"asked Flora."It is going to take a lot of money, and there is no use starting unless you have plenty to carry on with."

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Português

Peebles virou-se para Bluber e apontou para ele, dizendo que ele era o tesoureiro. Ele acrescentou que o gordo patife holandês poderia lhes dizer quanto dinheiro eles tinham.

Original English

Peebles turned to Bluber."There,"he said, pointing a pudgy finger at him,"is the bloomin' treasurer. 'E can tell you 'ow much we 'ave, the fat rascal of a Dutchman."

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Português

Bluber sorriu um sorriso oleoso e esfregou as palmas gordas. Ele perguntou a Miss Flora quanto ela achava que eles deveriam ter.

Original English

Bluber smiled an oily smile and rubbed his fat palms together."Vell,"he said,"how much you t'ink, Miss Flora, ve should have?"

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Português

Ela respondeu rapidamente que eles precisavam de nada menos que duas mil libras para ficarem seguros.

Original English

"Not less than two thousand pounds to be on the safe side,"she replied quickly.

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Português

Bluber exclamou assombrado, declarando que duas mil libras era uma quantia enorme de dinheiro.

Original English

"Oi! Oi!"exclaimed Bluber."But dot is a lot of money-- two t'ousand pounds. Oi! Oi!"

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Português

A garota fez um gesto de desgosto e repetiu que não trabalharia com um grupo que considerava incompetente. Ela explicou que não lhes daria os mapas e as direções necessárias para chegar aos cofres até que tivessem dinheiro suficiente para executar o plano corretamente. Ela afirmou que os cofres continham ouro suficiente para comprar a ilha inteira, se o que ela tinha ouvido fosse verdade. Ela disse a eles que poderiam gastar seu próprio dinheiro, mas tinham que mostrar a ela pelo menos duas mil libras antes de compartilhar a informação que os tornaria os homens mais ricos do mundo.

Original English

The girl made a gesture of disgust."I told you in the first place that I wouldn't have anything to do with a bunch of cheap screws, and that until you had enough money to carry the thing out properly I would not give you the maps and directions, without which you cannot hope to reach the vaults, where there is stored enough gold to buy this whole, tight, little island if half that what I have heard them say about it is true. You can go along and spend your own money, but you've got to show me that you have at least two thousand pounds to spend before I give up the information that will make you the richest men in the world."

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Português

Throck resmungou que o homem tinha o dinheiro e acrescentou que não conseguia entender por que o sujeito estava reclamando.

Original English

"The blighter's got the money,"growled Throck."Blime if I know what he's beefin' about."

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Português

O russo resmungou que Bluber não podia evitar, explicando que era uma característica natural do seu povo. Ele brincou que, se Bluber fosse se casar, ele até tentaria pechinchar com o funcionário que emite as licenças de casamento.

Original English

"He can't help it,"[growled] the Russian,"it's a racial characteristic; Bluber would try to jew down the marriage license clerk if he were going to get married."

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Português

Bluber suspirou e disse que eles não precisavam gastar mais dinheiro do que o necessário. Se conseguissem realizar isso por mil libras, seria ainda melhor.

Original English

"Oh, vell,"sighed Bluber,"for vy should we spend more money than is necessary? If ve can do it for vone t'ousand pounds so much the better."

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Português

A garota concordou bruscamente e explicou que, se custasse apenas mil, isso seria tudo o que precisariam gastar. No entanto, ela insistiu que eles deveriam ter dois mil disponíveis para problemas inesperados. Ela acrescentou que, com base no que tinha visto daquele país, provavelmente encontrariam mais emergências do que qualquer outra coisa.

Original English

"Certainly,"snapped the girl,"and if it don't take but one thousand, that is all that you will have to spend, but you've got to have the two thousand in case of emergencies, and from what I have seen of that country you are likely to run up against more emergencies than anything else."

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Português

Bluber gritou alarmado.

Original English

"Oi! Oi!"cried Bluber.

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Português

Peebles confirmou que o dinheiro estava em mãos e propôs que eles começassem o trabalho.

Original English

"'E's got the money all right,"said Peebles,"now let's get busy."

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Português

A garota respondeu que o homem realmente poderia tê-lo, mas ela insistiu em ver isso por si mesma primeiro.

Original English

"He may have it, but I want to see it first,"replied the girl.

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Português

Bluber exclamou, perguntando se eles achavam que ele carregava todo aquele dinheiro no bolso.

Original English

"Vat you t'ink; I carry all dot money around in my pocket?"cried Bluber.

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Português

Throck resmungou que eles deveriam aceitar a palavra dele.

Original English

"Can't you take our word for it?"grumbled Throck.

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Português

Ela disse ao grupo de homens rústicos que eles dificilmente estavam em posição de fazer tal pergunta, e riu deles. Disse que aceitaria a palavra de Carl; se Carl lhe dissesse que eles possuíam o item e que ele estava em condições de ser usado para cobrir todas as despesas necessárias da expedição, então ela acreditaria nele.

Original English

"You're a nice bunch of crooks to ask me that,"she replied, laughing in the face of the burly ruffians."I'll take Carl's word for it, though; if he tells me that you have it, and that it is in such shape that it can, and will, be used to pay all the necessary expenses of our expedition, I will believe him."

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Português

Peebles e Throck franziram a testa com raiva, e os olhos de Miranda se estreitaram em fendas desagradáveis enquanto ele olhava para o russo. Bluber, por outro lado, não foi afetado de forma alguma; quanto mais era insultado, mais parecia gostar. Ele teria se tornado arrogante se tratado com respeito, mas bajulava quem o agredia. Kraski esboçou um sorriso satisfeito que fez o sangue do espanhol ferver.

Original English

Peebles and Throck scowled angrily, and Miranda's eyes closed to two narrow, nasty slits, as he directed his gaze upon the Russian. Bluber, on the contrary, was affected not at all; the more he was insulted, the better, apparently, he liked it. Toward one who treated him with consideration. or respect he would have become arrogant, while he fawned upon the hand that struck him. Kraski, alone, smiled a self-satisfied smile that set the blood of the Spaniard boiling.

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Português

Ele disse a Flora que Bluber tinha o dinheiro porque cada um deles havia contribuído com sua parte. Eles fariam de Bluber o tesoureiro porque sabiam que ele seguraria cada último centavo com força e nunca deixaria nenhum escapar. O plano atual deles era sair de Londres em pares.

Original English

"Bluber has the money, Flora,"he said;"each of us has contributed his share. We'll make Bluber treasurer, because we know that he will squeeze the last farthing until it shrieks before he will let it escape him. It is our plan now to set out from London in pairs."

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Português

Ele tirou um mapa do bolso, desdobrou-o e o espalhou sobre a mesa. Apontou para um local marcado com um X. Explicou que eles se encontrariam ali para preparar a expedição. Bluber e Miranda iriam primeiro, seguidos por Peebles e Throck. Quando ele e Flora chegassem, tudo estaria pronto para que eles se deslocassem diretamente para o interior. Montariam um acampamento permanente longe das trilhas principais, o mais próximo possível do objetivo. Miranda fingiria ser outra pessoa, escondendo-se atrás de suas barbas, até que estivesse pronto para iniciar a parte final da longa jornada. O orador disse que Miranda era bem treinado em seu papel e poderia interpretá-lo perfeitamente. Como ele só precisava enganar nativos ignorantes e animais selvagens, não deveria ser muito difícil para ele. Um toque de sarcasmo na voz suave e arrastada fez os olhos escuros do espanhol brilharem de raiva.

Original English

He drew a map from his pocket, and unfolding it, spread it out upon the table before them. With his finger he indicated a point marked X."Here we will meet and here we will equip our expedition. Bluber and Miranda will go first; then Peebles and Throck. By the time that you and I arrive everything will be in shape for moving immediately into the interior, where we shall establish a permanent camp, off the beaten track and as near our objective as possible. Miranda will disport himself behind his whiskers until he is ready to set out upon the final stage of his long journey. I understand that he is well schooled in the part that he is to play and that he can depict the character to perfection. As he will have only ignorant natives and wild beasts to deceive it should not tax his histrionic ability too greatly."There was a veiled note of sarcasm in the soft, drawling tone that caused the black eyes of the Spaniard to gleam wickedly.

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Português

Miranda perguntou, com sua voz suave contradizendo sua expressão furiosa, se ela e a Srta. Hawkes viajariam sozinhas para X.

Original English

"Do I understand,"asked Miranda, his soft tone belying his angry scowl,"that you and Miss Hawkes travel alone to X?"

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Português

O russo respondeu que a outra pessoa entendia, a menos que sua compreensão fosse deficiente.

Original English

"You do, unless your understanding is poor,"replied the Russian.

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Português

O espanhol se levantou parcialmente da mesa e se inclinou sobre ela de forma ameaçadora em direção a Kraski. A garota ao lado dele agarrou seu casaco.

Original English

The Spaniard half rose from the table and leaned across it menacingly toward Kraski. The girl, who was sitting next to him, seized his coat.

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Português

Ela o puxou de volta para sua cadeira e disse a ele para parar. Ela disse que já havia tido muito daquilo entre eles, e se continuasse, ela os cortaria a todos e procuraria companheiros mais compatíveis para sua expedição.

Original English

"None of that!"she said, dragging him back into his chair."There has been too much of it among you already, and if there is any more I shall cut you all and seek more congenial companions for my expedition."

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Português

Peebles afirmou agressivamente que eles haviam chegado e que era isso.

Original English

"Yes, cut it out; 'ere we are, and that's that!"exclaimed Peebles belligerently.

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Português

Throck resmungou em sua voz grave que John estava certo e que ele estava lá para apoiá-lo. Ele acrescentou que Flora estava certa e que ele também a apoiaria. Então ele avisou que, se houvesse mais problemas, ele bateria em alguns deles, olhando primeiro para Miranda e depois para Kraski.

Original English

"John's right,"rumbled Throck, in his deep bass,"and I'm here to back him up. Flora's right, and I'm here to back her up. And if there is any more of it, blime if I don't bash a couple of you pretty 'uns,"and he looked first at Miranda and then at Kraski.

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Português

Bluber tentou acalmar o grupo sugerindo que todos apertassem as mãos e se tornassem bons amigos.

Original English

"Now,"soothed Bluber,"let's all shake hands and be good friends."

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Português

Peebles concordou entusiasticamente, declarando que essa era a abordagem correta. Ele instruiu Esteban a oferecer sua mão em amizade e instou Carl a deixar de lado suas diferenças. Ele enfatizou que eles não poderiam iniciar seu empreendimento com qualquer animosidade persistente.

Original English

"Right-o,"cried Peebles,"that's the talk. Give 'im your 'and, Esteban. Come, Carl, bury the 'atchet. We can't start in on this thing with no hanimosities, and 'ere we are, and that's that."

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Português

Sentindo-se seguro em seu relacionamento com Flora e de bom humor, o russo ofereceu a mão a Esteban do outro lado da mesa. Esteban hesitou por um momento.

Original English

The Russian, feeling secure in his position with Flora, and therefore in a magnanimous mood, extended his hand across the table toward the Spaniard. For a moment Esteban hesitated.

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Português

Throck rosnou para o homem apertar a mão, caso contrário, ele poderia voltar ao trabalho de ajudante e eles encontrariam outra pessoa para fazer o serviço e dividir os bens roubados.

Original English

"Come, man, shake!"growled Throck,"or you can go back to your job as an extra man, blime, and we'll find someone else to do your work and divvy the swag with."

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Português

A expressão sombria do espanhol de repente se suavizou em um sorriso agradável. Ele estendeu rapidamente a mão para Kraski e se desculpou, admitindo que tinha um temperamento explosivo, mas não queria causar mal. Concordou com a Srta. Hawkes que todos deveriam ser amigos e ofereceu a mão como um sinal de boa vontade.

Original English

Suddenly the dark countenance of the Spaniard was lighted by a pleasant smile. He extended his hand quickly and clasped Kraski's."Forgive me,"he said,"I am hot-tempered, but I mean nothing. Miss Hawkes is right, we must all be friends, and here's my hand on it, Kraski, as far as I am concerned."

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Português

Kraski disse que estava bem e pediu desculpas se tivesse ofendido o outro homem. No entanto, ele esqueceu que o outro homem era um ator. Se Kraski pudesse ter visto as profundezas daquela alma escura, ele teria ficado horrorizado.

Original English

"Good,"said Kraski,"and I am sorry if I offended you;"but he forgot that the other was an actor, and if he could have seen into the depths of that dark soul he would have shuddered.

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Português

Bluber esfregou as mãos de maneira untuosa e sugeriu que, agora que eram todos bons amigos, deveriam combinar um horário para começar a terminar tudo. Ele disse que a senhorita Flora lhe daria o mapa e as instruções, e eles poderiam começar imediatamente.

Original English

"Und now, dot ve are all good friends,"said Bluber, rubbing his hands together unctuously, vy not arrange for vhen ve shall commence starting to finish up everyt'ings? Miss Flora, she gives me the map und der directions und we start commencing immediately."

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Português

A garota pediu um lápis a Carl e, assim que ele o forneceu, ela localizou no mapa um ponto a uma boa distância para o interior a partir de X, marcando-o com um pequeno círculo. Ela identificou esse ponto como O e afirmou que as instruções finais só seriam reveladas quando todos chegassem lá.

Original English

"Loan me a pencil, Carl,"said the girl, and when the man had handed her one she searched out a spot upon the map some distance into the interior from X, where she drew a tiny circle."This is O,"she said."When we all reach here you shall have the final directions and not before."

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Português

Bluber levantou as mãos e perguntou à Srta. Flora se ela achava que eles gastariam duas mil libras para comprar algo não visto. Ele insistiu que eles precisavam ver e saber tudo antes de gastar um único centavo.

Original English

Bluber threw up his hands."Oi! Miss Flora, vhat you t'ink, ve spend two t'ousand pounds to buy a pig in a poke? Oi! Oi! you vouldn't ask us to do dot? Ve must see everyt'ing, ve must know everyt'ing, before ve spend vun farthing."

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Português

John Peebles gritou que eles haviam chegado e que era isso, batendo na mesa com o punho.

Original English

"Yes, and 'ere we are, and that's that!"roared John Peebles, striking the table with his fist.

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Português

Ela se levantou lentamente da cadeira. Ela deu de ombros e disse que, se ele se sentia assim, seria melhor cancelar tudo.

Original English

The girl rose leisurely from her seat."Oh, very well,"she said with a shrug."If you feel that way about it we might as well call it all off."

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Português

Bluber pulou e disse urgentemente à Srta. Flora para esperar e não se excitar. Ele pediu que ela considerasse onde estavam, enfatizando que dois mil libras era muito dinheiro e que eles eram homens de negócios práticos. Ele insistiu que não deveriam gastar todo aquele dinheiro sem obter algo em troca.

Original English

"Oh, vait, vait, Miss Flora,"cried Bluber, rising hurriedly."Don't be ogcited. But can't you see vere ve are? Two t'ousand pounds is a lot of money, and ve are good business men. Ve shouldn't be spending it all vit'out getting not'ings for it."

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Português

A garota respondeu asperamente que não estava pedindo que gastassem dinheiro sem receber nada em troca. Ela destacou que, se alguém no grupo precisava confiar em outra pessoa, eram eles que deveriam confiar nela. Ela argumentou que, se fornecesse todas as suas informações, não haveria nada que os impedisse de seguir em frente sem ela, e ela não pretendia permitir que isso acontecesse.

Original English

"I am not asking you to spend it and get nothing for it,"replied the girl, tartly;"but if anyone has got to trust anyone else in this outfit, it is you who are going to trust me. If I give you all the information I have, there is nothing in the world that could prevent you from going ahead and leaving me out in the cold, and I don't intend that that shall happen."

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Português

Bluber insistiu com a Srta. Flora que eles não eram trapaceiros e nunca pensariam em enganá-la.

Original English

"But we are not gonoffs, Miss Flora,"insisted the Jew."Ve vould not t'ink for vun minute of cheating you."

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Português

A garota respondeu a Bluber dizendo que nenhum deles eram anjos também. Ela insistiu que, se quisessem prosseguir, teriam que seguir o plano dela, e ela estaria presente no final para garantir que receberia sua parte. Ela lembrou a eles que tinham acreditado na palavra dela sobre ter a informação, e agora teriam que continuar confiando nela, ou o acordo estava cancelado. Ela argumentou que não seria benéfico para ela viajar para uma selva difícil e suportar dificuldades com eles se não pudesse entregar o que queriam quando chegassem. Ela também afirmou que não era ingênua o suficiente para pensar que poderia enganar um grupo de bandidos como eles. Enquanto fosse honesta, sentia-se segura porque Esteban ou Carl a protegeriam, e talvez os outros também. Então ela perguntou se eles aceitavam os termos dela.

Original English

"You're not angels, either, Bluber, any of you,� retorted the girl."If you want to go ahead with this you've got to do it in my way, and I am going to be there at the finish to see that I get what is coming to me. You've taken my word for it, up to the present time, that I had the dope, and now you've got to take it the rest of the way or all bets are off. What good would it do me to go over into a bally jungle and suffer all the hardships that we are bound to suffer, dragging you along with me, if I were not going to be able to deliver the goods when I got there? And I am not such a softy as to think I could get away with it with a bunch of bandits like you if I tried to put anything of that kind over on you. And as long as I do play straight I feel perfectly safe, for I know that either Esteban or Carl will look after me, and I don't know but what the rest of you would, too. Is it a go or isn't it?"

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Português

Bluber pediu a opinião de John e Dick, acrescentando que Carl provavelmente concordaria com o que Flora pensasse.

Original English

"Vell, John, vot do you und Dick t'ink?"asked Bluber, addressing the two ex-prize-fighters."Carl, I know he vill t'ink vhatever Flora t'inks. Hey? V'at?"

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Português

Throck admitiu que geralmente não estava inclinado a confiar nos outros a menos que necessário, mas agora parecia que não tinham escolha a não ser confiar em Flora.

Original English

"Blime,"said Throck,"I never was much of a hand at trusting nobody unless I had to, but it looks now as though we had to trust Flora."

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Português

John Peebles apoiou o aviso de Throck. Ele disse a Flora que, se ela tentasse algum engano, ele a machucaria, e ilustrou isso passando o dedo pela garganta.

Original English

"Same 'ere,"said John Peebles."If you try any funny work, Flora--"He made a significant movement with his finger across his throat.

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Português

A garota sorriu e disse que entendia John. Ela sabia que ele agiria tão rapidamente por uma pequena quantia quanto por uma grande. Ela perguntou se todos, incluindo Carl, concordavam em seguir seus planos.

Original English

"I understand, John,"said the girl with a smile,"and I know that you would do it as quickly for two pounds as you would for two thousand. But you are all agreed, then, to carry on according to my plans? You too, Carl?"

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Português

O russo concordou com um aceno, indicando que seguiria qualquer decisão dos outros.

Original English

The Russian nodded."Whatever the rest say goes with me,"he remarked.

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Português

O pequeno grupo discutiu seus planos o quanto puderam, cobrindo cada mínimo detalhe necessário para levá-los todos ao local marcado com O que a garota havia desenhado no mapa.

Original English

And so the gentle little coterie discussed their plans in so far as they could--each minutest detail that would be necessary to place them all at the O which the girl had drawn upon the map.

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WHAT THE FOOTPRINTS TOLD

Português

Aos dois anos de idade, Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado, era um magnífico exemplo de sua espécie, talvez o melhor que os Greystokes já tinham visto. Ele era muito maior do que a maioria dos leões machos adultos, e seu corpo era perfeitamente formado. Sua cabeça nobre e sua grande juba preta faziam-no parecer um macho adulto, e ele era muito mais inteligente do que seus primos selvagens na selva.

Original English

When Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion, was two years old, he was as magnificent a specimen of his kind as the Greystokes had ever looked upon. In size he was far above the average of that attained by mature males; in conformation he was superb, his noble head and his great black mane giving him the appearance of a full-grown male, while in intelligence he far outranked his savage brothers of the forest.

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Português

Jad-bal-ja, o leão que Tarzan havia criado e treinado, era uma fonte constante de orgulho. Tarzan o mantinha em uma gaiola forte nos fundos da casa, entendendo que mesmo um leão domesticado ainda é um predador selvagem. Inicialmente, o leão vagueava livremente, mas depois só saía com Tarzan, e eles frequentemente caçavam juntos. O leão era familiar a Jane e Korak, mas sua maior afeição era por Tarzan. Ele tolerava os criados da casa e não machucava os animais da fazenda, pois Tarzan o havia ensinado quando filhote que tal comportamento seria punido. Mantê-lo bem alimentado também ajudava a proteger o gado.

Original English

Jad-bal-ja was a never-ending source of pride and delight to the ape-man who had trained him so carefully, and nourished him cunningly for the purpose of developing to the full all the latent powers within him. The lion no longer slept at the foot of his master's bed, but occupied a strong cage that Tarzan had had constructed for him at the rear of the bungalow, for who knew better than the ape-man that a lion, wherever he may be or however he may have been raised, is yet a lion--a savage flesh-eater. For the first year he had roamed at will about the house and grounds; after that he went abroad only in the company of Tarzan. Often the two roamed the plain and the jungle hunting together. In a way the lion was almost equally as familiar with Jane and Korak, and neither of them feared or mistrusted him, but toward Tarzan of the Apes did he show the greatest affection. The blacks of Tarzan's household he tolerated, nor did he ever offer to molest any of the domestic animals or fowl, after Tarzan had impressed upon him in his early cubhood that appropriate punishment followed immediately upon any predatory excursion into the corrals or henhouses. The fact that he was never permitted to become ravenously hungry was doubtless the deciding factor in safeguarding the livestock of the farm.

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Português

O homem e a fera pareciam se entender perfeitamente. Embora fosse incerto se o leão compreendia tudo o que Tarzan dizia, a facilidade com que Tarzan transmitia seus desejos ao leão era quase sobrenatural. A obediência que uma combinação de firmeza e afeto havia incutido no filhote tornara-se, em grande parte, um hábito no leão adulto. Ao comando de Tarzan, o leão percorria grandes distâncias para trazer antílopes ou zebras, depositando sua presa aos pés de seu mestre sem provar a carne ele mesmo. Ele até mesmo trazia animais vivos sem machucá-los. Tal era o leão dourado que vagava pela floresta primitiva com seu mestre divino.

Original English

The man and the beast seemed to understand one another perfectly. It is doubtful that the lion understood all that Tarzan said to him, but be that as it may the ease with which he communicated his wishes to the lion bordered upon the uncanny. The obedience that a combination of sternness and affection had elicited from the cub had become largely habit in the grown lion. At Tarzan's command he would go to great distances and bring back antelope or zebra, laying his kill at his master's feet without offering to taste the flesh himself, and he had even retrieved living animals without harming them. Such, then, was the golden lion that roamed the primeval forest with his godlike master.

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Português

Por essa época, rumores de uma banda saqueadora a oeste e sul de seu domínio começaram a circular entre o homem-macaco. Eles contavam sobre incursões de marfim, captura de escravos e tortura — males que não perturbavam a paz da selva de Tarzan desde os dias de Sheik Amor Ben Khatour. Havia também outras histórias, mais intrigantes, que faziam Tarzan franzir a testa em pensamento. Então passou-se um mês durante o qual os rumores do oeste cessaram completamente.

Original English

It was at about this time that there commenced to drift in to the ape-man rumors of a predatory band to the west and south of his estate; ugly stories of ivory-raiding, slave-running and torture, such as had not disturbed the quiet of the ape-man's savage jungle since the days of Sheik Amor Ben Khatour, and there came other tales, too, that caused Tarzan of the Apes to pucker his brows in puzzlement and thought, and then a month elapsed during which Tarzan heard no more of the rumors from the west.

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Português

Ocorre uma pausa na narrativa, após a qual a história continua.

Original English

* * * * *

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Português

A guerra havia deixado os Greystokes com apenas uma pequena renda. Eles haviam dado quase tudo para apoiar os Aliados, e então o pouco que haviam economizado foi gasto principalmente na restauração da propriedade de Tarzan na África.

Original English

The war had reduced the resources of the Greystokes to but a meager income. They had given practically all to the cause of the Allies, and now what little had remained to them had been all but exhausted in the rehabilitation of Tarzan's African estate.

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Português

Uma noite, John mencionou à sua esposa Jane que outra viagem a Opar parecia estar planejada.

Original English

"It looks very much, Jane,"he said to his wife one night,"as though another trip to Opar were on the books."

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Português

Jane confessou que temia a ideia e não queria que ele partisse. Ela lembrou que ele havia escapado daquela cidade terrível duas vezes, cada vez por pouco sobrevivendo, e temia que em uma terceira tentativa ele não tivesse tanta sorte. Eles tinham o suficiente, disse ela, para viver confortavelmente e felizes onde estavam. Ela questionou por que ele arriscaria tudo isso para outra incursão aos cofres do tesouro.

Original English

"I dread to think of it. I do not want you to go,"she said."You have come away from that awful city twice, but barely with your life. The third time you may not be so fortunate. We have enough, John, to permit us to live here in comfort and in happiness. Why jeopardize those two things which are greater than all wealth in another attempt to raid the treasure vaults?"

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Português

Ele assegurou a Jane que não havia perigo. Ele explicou que da vez anterior, Werper o havia seguido e, combinado com um terremoto, quase o matou, mas ele acreditava que tal combinação de circunstâncias não se repetiria.

Original English

"There is no danger, Jane,"he assured her."The last time Werper dogged my footsteps, and between him and the earthquake I was nearly done for. But there is no chance of any such combination of circumstances thwarting me again.

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Português

Jane perguntou a John se ele pretendia ir sozinho ou levar Korak com ele.

Original English

"You will not go alone, John?"she asked."You will take Korak with you?"

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Português

Tarzan recusou-se a levar Korak, explicando que ele deveria permanecer com Jane porque as longas ausências de Tarzan representavam um perigo maior para ela do que para ele mesmo. Ele levaria cinquenta guerreiros Waziri como carregadores para transportar o ouro, permitindo que trouxessem o suficiente para sustentá-los por um período prolongado.

Original English

"No,"he said,"I shall not take him. He must remain here with you, for really my long absences are more dangerous to you than to me. I shall take fifty of the Waziri, as porters, to carry the gold, and thus we should be able to bring out enough to last us for a long time.

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Português

Ela perguntou se ele levaria Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado.

Original English

"And Jad-bal-ja,"she asked,"shall you take him?"

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Português

Ele disse que era melhor o leão ficar para trás. Korak poderia cuidar dele e levá-lo para caçar ocasionalmente. Ele planejava viajar leve e rápido, e a jornada seria muito difícil para o leão, já que os leões não gostam de se mover sob o sol quente. Como viajariam principalmente durante o dia, ele duvidava que Jad-bal-ja aguentasse por muito tempo.

Original English

"No, he had better remain here; Korak can look after him and take him out for a hunt occasionally. I am going to travel light and fast and it would be too hard a trip for him-- lions don't care to move around much in the hot sun, and as we shall travel mostly by day I doubt if Jad-bal-ja would last long."

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Português

Tarzan dos Macacos mais uma vez iniciou a longa jornada para Opar. Cinquenta poderosos guerreiros Waziri, os melhores da tribo que havia escolhido Tarzan como seu chefe, marchavam atrás dele. Jane e Korak estavam na varanda do bangalô, acenando adeus. De trás do edifício, Tarzan ouviu o rugido profundo de Jad-bal-ja, o leão dourado. Enquanto se afastavam pela planície, a voz do leão os seguiu até desaparecer lentamente no silêncio.

Original English

And so it befell that Tarzan of the Apes set out once more upon the long trail that leads to Opar. Behind him marched fifty giant Waziri, the pick of the warlike tribe that had adopted Tarzan as its Chief. Upon the veranda of the bungalow stood Jane and Korak waving their adieux, while from the rear of the building there came to the ape-man's ears the rumbling roar of Jad-bal-ja, the golden lion. And as they marched away the voice of Numa accompanied them out upon the rolling plain, until at last it trailed off to nothingness in the distance.

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Português

A velocidade de Tarzan dependia do homem mais lento entre seus companheiros negros, mas seu ritmo era bastante rápido. Opar ficava a cerca de vinte e cinco dias de marcha da fazenda para homens viajando leves, como eles estavam. Mas na viagem de volta, eles estariam carregados com lingotes de ouro, então seu progresso seria mais lento. Por essa razão, o homem-macaco havia planejado dois meses para toda a jornada. Seu safari consistia apenas de guerreiros experientes, o que permitia uma viagem genuinamente rápida. Eles não carregavam suprimentos porque eram todos caçadores se movendo por uma região onde a caça era abundante; não havia necessidade de se sobrecarregar com o equipamento pesado que os caçadores brancos geralmente traziam.

Original English

His speed determined by that of the slowest of the blacks, Tarzan made but comparatively rapid progress. Opar lay a good twenty-five days' trek from the farm for men traveling light, as were these, but upon the return journey, laden as they would be with the ingots of gold, their progress would be slower. And because of this the ape-man had allotted two months for the venture. His safari, consisting of seasoned warriors only, permitted of really rapid progress. They carried no supplies, for they were all hunters and were moving through a country in which game was abundant--no need then for burdening themselves with the cumbersome impedimenta of white huntsmen.

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Português

Eles construíram um abrigo com arbustos espinhosos e folhas para a noite. Suas lanças e flechas, junto com a força de seu líder branco, garantiram que nunca passassem fome. Tarzan esperava chegar a Opar em vinte e um dias com seus homens escolhidos, embora pudesse viajar muito mais rápido sozinho, movendo-se pela selva com grande velocidade e resistência, dia ou noite, sem se cansar.

Original English

A thorn boma and a few leaves furnished their shelter for the night, while spears and arrows and the powers of their great white chief ensured that their bellies would never go empty. With the picked men that he had brought with him, Tarzan expected to make the trip to Opar in twenty-one days, though had he been traveling alone he would have moved two or three times as fast, since, when Tarzan elected to travel with speed, he fairly flew through the jungle, equally at home in it by day or by night and practically tireless.

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Português

Durante a terceira semana da jornada, Tarzan, que estava caçando à frente de seu grupo, encontrou o corpo de um veado. Uma flecha com penas estava saindo de seu flanco. Parecia que o veado havia sido ferido a alguma distância antes de se deitar e morrer. No entanto, o que surpreendeu Tarzan antes mesmo de examiná-la de perto foi o design da flecha. Quando a retirou, reconheceu-a como o tipo vendido em lojas de artigos esportivos nas cidades, usado para prática de arco e flecha em parques. Um brinquedo assim parecia completamente fora de lugar nas selvas da África, mas mesmo assim matara o veado de forma eficaz, embora Tarzan suspeitasse que não havia sido disparada por um caçador experiente.

Original English

It was a mid-afternoon the third week of the march that Tarzan, ranging far ahead of his blacks in search of game, came suddenly upon the carcass of Bara, the deer, a feathered arrow protruding from its flank. It was evident that Bara had been wounded at some little distance from where it had lain down to die, for the location of the missile indicated that the wound could not have caused immediate death. But what particularly caught the attention of the ape-man, even before he had come close enough to make a minute examination, was the design of the arrow, and immediately he withdrew it from the body of the deer he knew it for what it was, and was filled with such wonderment as might come to you or to me were we to see a native Swazi headdress upon Broadway or the Strand, for the arrow was precisely such as one may purchase in most any sporting-goods house in any large city of the world--such an arrow as is sold and used for archery practice in the parks and suburbs. Nothing could have been more incongruous than this silly toy in the heart of savage Africa, and yet that it had done its work effectively was evident by the dead body of Bara, though the ape-man guessed that the shaft had been sped by no practiced savage hand.

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Português

A curiosidade e a cautela da selva de Tarzan foram despertadas. Conhecer bem a selva era essencial para a sobrevivência, e isso significava entender cada coisa incomum. Então ele seguiu a trilha de volta do veado para descobrir o que o havia matado. A trilha sangrenta era fácil de seguir, e Tarzan se perguntou por que o caçador não havia rastreado e capturado o veado, que estava morto desde o dia anterior. O veado havia viajado longe, e o sol já estava baixo quando Tarzan encontrou os primeiros sinais do matador. Eram pegadas que o surpreenderam tanto quanto a flecha. Ele as examinou cuidadosamente, até mesmo cheirando-as com suas narinas sensíveis. Por mais impossível que parecesse, as pegadas nuas eram de um homem branco, tão grande quanto o próprio Tarzan. Enquanto observava as marcas, Tarzan passou os dedos pelos cabelos, demonstrando profunda perplexidade.

Original English

Tarzan's curiosity was aroused and also his inherent jungle caution. One must know his jungle well to survive long the jungle, and if one would know it well he must let no unusual occurrence or circumstance go unexplained. And so it was that Tarzan set out upon the back track of Bara for the purpose of ascertaining, if possible, the nature of Bara's slayer. The bloody spoor was easily followed and the ape-man wondered why it was that the hunter had not tracked and overtaken his quarry, which had evidently been dead since the previous day. He found that Bara had traveled far, and the sun was already low in the west before Tarzan came upon the first indications of the slayer of the animal. These were in the nature of footprints that filled him with quite as much surprise as had the arrow. He examined them carefully, and, stooping low, even sniffed at them with his sensitive nostrils. Improbable, nay impossible though it seemed, the naked footprints were those of a white man--a large man, probably as large as Tarzan himself. As the foster-son of Kala stood gazing upon the spoor of the mysterious stranger he ran the fingers of one hand through his thick, black hair in a characteristic gesture indicative of deep puzzlement.

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Português

Tarzan não conseguia imaginar quem poderia ser o homem branco nu que caçava em sua selva com flechas de um clube de arco e flecha. A ideia parecia impossível, mas as memórias de rumores ouvidos semanas antes voltaram a ele. Determinado a descobrir a verdade, ele seguiu a trilha do estranho, que serpenteava sem rumo pela selva, sugerindo um caçador inexperiente. Ao cair da noite, ele não havia resolvido o mistério e, na escuridão total, voltou para seu acampamento.

Original English

What naked white man could there be in Tarzan's jungle who slew Tarzan's game with the pretty arrow of an archery club? It was incredible that there should be such a one, and yet there recurred to the ape-man's mind the vague rumors that he had heard weeks before. Determined to solve the mystery he set out now upon the trail of the stranger--an erratic trail which wound about through the jungle, apparently aimlessly, prompted, Tarzan guessed, by the ignorance of an inexperienced hunter. But night fell before he had arrived at a solution of the riddle, and it was pitch dark as the ape-man turned his steps toward camp.

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Português

Tarzan sabia que seus homens Waziri estariam esperando por carne, e ele queria dá-la a eles. No entanto, ele logo percebeu que não era o único carnívoro procurando comida naquela noite. Ele primeiro ouviu o grunhido tossido de um leão próximo, e depois o rugido profundo de outro ao longe. Mas isso não preocupou o homem-macaco que houvesse outros caçadores. Não era a primeira vez que ele usava sua inteligência, força e agilidade contra outros caçadores — tanto humanos quanto animais.

Original English

He knew that his Waziri would be expecting meat and it was not Tarzan's intention to disappoint them, though he then discovered that he was not the only carnivore hunting the district that night. The coughing grunt of a lion close by apprised him of it first, and then, from the distance, the deep roar of another. But of what moment was it to the ape-man that others hunted? It would not be the first time that he had pitted his cunning, his strength, and his agility against the other hunters of his savage world-- both man and beast.

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Português

Tarzan finalmente fez sua matança, pegando um antílope gordo bem na frente de um leão decepcionado e furioso que o havia reivindicado como seu. Ele ergueu o antílope até o ombro enquanto o leão atacava, pulou rapidamente para os galhos mais baixos das árvores, riu do gato enfurecido e então desapareceu silenciosamente na noite.

Original English

And so it was that Tarzan made his kill at last, snatching it almost from under the nose of a disappointed and infuriated lion--a fat antelope that the latter had marked as his own. Throwing his kill to his shoulder almost in the path of the charging Numa, the ape-man swung lightly to the lower terraces and with a taunting laugh for the infuriated cat, vanished noiselessly into the night.

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Português

Tarzan localizou o acampamento e seus famintos Waziri sem dificuldade. A fé que tinham nele era tão profunda que nunca duvidaram de seu retorno com carne para eles.

Original English

He found the camp and his hungry Waziri without trouble, and so great was their faith in him that they not for a moment doubted but that he would return with meat for them.

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Português

Na manhã seguinte, Tarzan partiu novamente para Opar. Ele ordenou que seus Waziri continuassem a marcha da maneira mais direta, e então os deixou para que pudesse investigar mais a fundo a misteriosa presença em sua selva que a flecha e as pegadas haviam revelado a ele.

Original English

Early the following morning Tarzan set out again toward Opar, and directing his Waziri to continue the march in the most direct way, he left them that he might pursue further his investigations of the mysterious presence in his jungle that the arrow and the footsteps had apprised him of.

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Português

Tarzan voltou ao local onde a escuridão havia interrompido sua busca na noite anterior. Ele pegou o rastro do estranho e o seguiu. Logo encontrou mais evidências do intruso indesejado. Deitado no caminho à sua frente estava o corpo de um grande macaco, um dos macacos da tribo que havia criado Tarzan. Saindo do estômago peludo do macaco havia outra flecha fabricada pela civilização. Os olhos do homem-macaco se estreitaram e uma expressão sombria apareceu em seu rosto. Ele se perguntou quem era aquele estranho que ousava invadir sua terra e matar seu povo tão impiedosamente.

Original English

Coming again to the spot at which darkness had forced him to abandon his investigations, he took up the spoor of the stranger. Nor had he followed it far before he came upon further evidence of the presence of this new and malign personality--stretched before him in the trail was the body of a giant ape, one of the tribe of great anthropoids among whom Tarzan had been raised. Protruding from the hairy abdomen of the Mangani was another of the machine-made arrows of civilization. The ape-man's eyes narrowed and a scowl darkened his brow. Who was this who dared invade his sacred preserves and slaughter thus ruthlessly Tarzan's people?

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Português

Tarzan soltou um rosnado baixo. A fina camada de civilização que vestia entre os homens brancos havia caído. Ele não era um lord inglês olhando para o corpo de seu parente peludo; em vez disso, era uma fera de rapina cheia de suspeita e ódio pelo homem que havia feito a matança, como qualquer criatura da selva seria. Tarzan não considerava o assassino como qualquer tipo de família.

Original English

A low growl rumbled in the throat of the ape-man. Sloughed with the habiliments of civilization was the thin veneer of civilization that Tarzan wore among white men. No English lord was this who looked upon the corpse of his hairy cousin, but another jungle beast in whose breast raged the unquenchable fire of suspicion and hatred for the man-thing that is the heritage of the jungle-bred. A beast of prey viewed the bloody work of ruthless man. Nor was there in the consciousness of Tarzan any acknowledgment of his blood relationship to the killer.

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Português

Tarzan entendeu que as pegadas tinham dois dias, então ele apressou-se atrás do assassino. Ele tinha certeza de que um assassinato claro havia ocorrido, porque ele conhecia os Mangani o suficiente para perceber que eles só atacariam se não tivessem outra escolha.

Original English

Realizing that the trail had been made upon the second day before, Tarzan hastened on in pursuit of the slayer. There was no doubt in his mind but that plain murder had been committed, for he was sufficiently familiar with the traits of the Mangani to know that none of them would provoke assault unless driven to it.

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Português

Tarzan estava se movendo contra o vento, e cerca de meia hora depois de descobrir o macaco morto, seu olfato apurado captou o cheiro de outros macacos. Sabendo como essas criaturas poderosas da selva podiam se assustar facilmente, ele avançou com extremo cuidado para não assustá-los antes que o reconhecessem. Embora raramente os visse, ele sabia que sempre havia alguns entre eles que se lembravam dele, e através desses indivíduos ele podia geralmente estabelecer relações amigáveis com o resto do grupo.

Original English

Tarzan was traveling up wind, and some half-hour after he had discovered the body of the ape his keen nostrils caught the scent-spoor of others of its kind. Knowing the timidity of these fierce denizens of the jungle he moved forward now with great wariness, lest, warned of his approach, they take flight before they were aware of his identity. He did not see them often, yet he knew that there were always those among them who recalled him, and that through these he could always establish amicable relations with the balance of the tribe.

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Português

Como a vegetação rasteira era muito densa, Tarzan viajou pelas camadas médias das árvores. Ele balançou rápida e facilmente entre os galhos e logo encontrou os grandes macacos. Havia cerca de vinte deles em uma pequena clareira. Eles estavam constantemente procurando por lagartas e besouros, que eram alimentos importantes para os Mangani.

Original English

Owing to the denseness of the undergrowth Tarzan chose the middle terraces for his advance, and here, swinging freely and swiftly among the leafy boughs, he came presently upon the giant anthropoids. There were about twenty of them in the band, and they were engaged, in a little natural clearing, in their never-ending search for caterpillars and beetles, which formed important items in the diet of the Mangani.

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Português

O homem-macaco parou em um grande galho, escondido pela folhagem, e observou o pequeno grupo abaixo. Um leve sorriso se espalhou por seu rosto. Cada ação e movimento dos grandes macacos lembravam vividamente seus anos de infância, quando ele vagava pela selva com a tribo de Kerchak, protegido pelo amor feroz de Kala, a macaca. Nos jovens brincalhões, ele via novamente seus companheiros de infância, e nos adultos, as feras selvagens que temera quando jovem e depois conquistara como homem. Os caminhos do homem podem mudar, mas os caminhos do macaco permanecem os mesmos, ontem, hoje e para sempre.

Original English

A faint smile overspread the ape-man's face as he paused upon a great branch, himself hidden by the leafy foliage about him, and watched the little band below him. Every action, every movement of the great apes, recalled vividly to Tarzan's mind the long years of his childhood, when, protected by the fierce mother-love of Kala, the she-ape, he had ranged the jungle with the tribe of Kerchak. In the romping young, he saw again Neeta and his other childhood playmates and in the adults all the great, savage brutes he had feared in youth and conquered in manhood. The ways of man may change but the ways of the ape are the same, yesterday, today and forever.

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Português

Tarzan observou os macacos silenciosamente por vários minutos. Ele imaginou como eles ficariam contentes quando o reconhecessem. Por toda a vasta selva, Tarzan dos Macacos era conhecido como o protetor dos Mangani. No início, eles rosnariam e o ameaçariam porque não confiariam apenas na visão ou audição para confirmar sua identidade. Somente depois que ele entrasse na clareira, e os machos ferozes o rodeassem cautelosamente com dentes à mostra, chegando perto o suficiente para cheirá-lo e verificar o que seus olhos e ouvidos sugeriam, eles finalmente o aceitariam. Então, provavelmente haveria alguns minutos de grande excitação. Mas seguindo os instintos da mente dos macacos, sua atenção logo seria distraída por algo como uma folha soprada pelo vento, uma lagarta ou um ovo de pássaro. Depois disso, eles cuidariam de seus afazeres, não prestando mais atenção a ele do que a qualquer outro membro da tribo. No entanto, isso só acontecia depois que cada indivíduo o cheirava e talvez tocava sua pele com suas mãos calejadas.

Original English

He watched them in silence for some minutes. How glad they would be to see him when they discovered his identity! For Tarzan of the Apes was known the length and the breadth of the great jungle as the friend and protector of the Mangani. At first they would growl at him and threaten him, for they would not depend solely on either their eyes or their ears for confirmation of his identity. Not until he had entered the clearing, and bristling bulls with bared fighting fangs had circled him stiffly until they had come close enough for their nostrils to verify the evidence of their eyes and ears, would they finally accept him. Then doubtless there would be great excitement for a few minutes, until, following the instincts of the ape mind, their attention was weaned from him by a blowing leaf, a caterpillar, or a bird's egg, and then they would move about their business, taking no further notice of him more than of any other member of the tribe. But this would not come until after each individual had smelled of him, and perhaps, pawed his flesh with calloused hands.

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Português

Enquanto os macacos olhavam para cima, Tarzan fez um som amigável de saudação e saiu do esconderijo, aparecendo completamente à vista. Ele anunciou que era Tarzan dos Macacos, um lutador poderoso e amigo dos Mangani, e que vinha em amizade ao seu povo. Então, saltou levemente para a grama viçosa da clareira.

Original English

Now it was that Tarzan made a friendly sound of greeting, and, as the apes looked up, stepped from his concealment into plain view of them."I am Tarzan of the Apes,"he said,"mighty fighter, friend of the Mangani. Tarzan comes in friendship to his people,"and with these words he dropped lightly to the lush grass of the clearing.

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Português

O caos irrompeu imediatamente. As fêmeas gritaram avisos e correram com seus filhotes para o lado oposto da clareira, enquanto os machos, eriçados e rosnando, enfrentaram Tarzan.

Original English

Instantly pandemonium reigned. Screaming warnings, the shes raced with the young for the opposite side of the clearing, while the bulls, bristling and growling, faced the intruder.

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Português

Tarzan gritou, perguntando se eles não o reconheciam. Ele declarou que era Tarzan dos Macacos, amigo dos Mangani, filho de Kala e rei da tribo de Kerchak.

Original English

"Come,"cried Tarzan,"do you not know me? I am Tarzan of the Apes, friend of the Mangani, son of Kala, and king of the tribe of Kerchak."

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Português

Um dos macacos mais velhos rosnou que o reconheciam do dia anterior, quando ele havia matado Gobu, e avisou que, se ele não fosse embora imediatamente, eles o matariam.

Original English

"We know you,"growled one of the old bulls;"yesterday we saw you when you killed Gobu. Go away or we shall kill you."

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Português

O homem-macaco afirmou que não havia matado Gobu. Ele explicou que havia descoberto o corpo de Gobu no dia anterior e estava seguindo o assassino quando encontrou o grupo.

Original English

"I did not kill Gobu,"replied the ape-man."I found his dead body yesterday and I was following the spoor of his slayer, when I came upon you."

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Português

O touro velho repetiu que eles tinham visto Tarzan e ordenou que ele fosse embora, avisando que o matariam caso contrário, e declarou que Tarzan não era mais amigo dos Mangani.

Original English

"We saw you,"repeated the old bull;"go away or we shall kill you. You are no longer the friend of the Mangani."

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Português

O homem-macaco ficou com a testa franzida, pensando profundamente. Ficou claro que esses macacos realmente acreditavam ter testemunhado ele matar seu companheiro. Ele se perguntou o que poderia explicar isso. Será que as pegadas do grande homem branco que ele estava seguindo significavam algo mais do que ele supunha? Tarzan considerou isso. Então ergueu os olhos e falou novamente com os touros.

Original English

The ape-man stood with brows contracted in thought. It was evident that these apes really believed that they had seen him kill their fellow. What was the explanation? How could it be accounted for? Did the naked footprints of the great white man whom he had been following mean more, then, than he had guessed? Tarzan wondered. He raised his eyes and again addressed the bulls.

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