A Journey on a Gryf
TARZAN and Jane skirted the shore of Jad-bal-lul and crossed the river at the head of the lake.They moved in leisurely fashion with an eye to comfort and safety, for the ape-man, now that he had found his mate, was determined to court no chance that might again separate them, or delay or prevent their escape from Pal-ul-don.How they were to recross the morass was a matter of little concern to him as yet--it would be time enough to consider that matter when it became of more immediate moment.
Their hours were filled with the happiness and content of reunion after long separation; they had much to talk of, for each had passed through many trials and vicissitudes and strange adventures, and no important hour might go unaccounted for since last they met.
It was Tarzan's intention to choose a way above A-lur and the scattered Ho-don villages below it, passing about midway between them and the mountains, thus avoiding, in so far as possible, both the Ho-don and Waz-don, for in this area lay the neutral territory that was uninhabited by either.Thus he would travel northwest until opposite the Kor-ul-ja where he planned to stop to pay his respects to Om-at and give the gund word of Pan-at-lee, and a plan Tarzan had for insuring her safe return to her people.It was upon the third day of their journey and they had almost reached the river that passes through A-lur when Jane suddenly clutched Tarzan's arm and pointed ahead toward the edge of a forest that they were approaching.Beneath the shadows of the trees loomed a great bulk that the ape-man instantly recognized.
"What is it?" whispered Jane.
"A gryf," replied the ape-man, "and we have met him in the worst place that we could possibly have found.There is not a large tree within a quarter of a mile, other than those among which he stands.Come, we shall have to go back, Jane; I cannot risk it with you along.The best we can do is to pray that he does not discover us."
"And if he does?"
"Then I shall have to risk it."
"Risk what?"
"The chance that I can subdue him as I subdued one of his fellows," replied Tarzan."I told you--you recall?"
"Yes, but I did not picture so huge a creature.Why, John, he is as big as a battleship."
The ape-man laughed."Not quite, though I'll admit he looks quite as formidable as one when he charges."
They were moving away slowly so as not to attract the attention of the beast.
"I believe we're going to make it," whispered the woman, her voice tense with suppressed excitement.A low rumble rolled like distant thunder from the wood.Tarzan shook his head.
"'The big show is about to commence in the main tent,'" he quoted, grinning.He caught the woman suddenly to his breast and kissed her."One can never tell, Jane," he said."We'll do our best--that is all we can do.Give me your spear, and--don't run.
The only hope we have lies in that little brain more than in us.
If I can control it--well, let us see."
The beast had emerged from the forest and was looking about through his weak eyes, evidently in search of them.Tarzan raised his voice in the weird notes of the Tor-o-don's cry, "Whee-oo! Whee-oo! Whee-oo!" For a moment the great beast stood motionless, his attention riveted by the call.The ape-man advanced straight toward him, Jane Clayton at his elbow.
"Whee-oo!" he cried again peremptorily.A low rumble rolled from the gryf's cavernous chest in answer to the call, and the beast moved slowly toward them.
"Fine!" exclaimed Tarzan."The odds are in our favor now.You can keep your nerve?--but I do not need to ask."
"I know no fear when I am with Tarzan of the Apes," she replied softly, and he felt the pressure of her soft fingers on his arm.
And thus the two approached the giant monster of a forgotten epoch until they stood close in the shadow of a mighty shoulder.
"Whee-oo!" shouted Tarzan and struck the hideous snout with the shaft of the spear.The vicious side snap that did not reach its mark--that evidently was not intended to reach its mark--was the hoped-for answer.
"Come," said Tarzan, and taking Jane by the hand he led her around behind the monster and up the broad tail to the great, horned back."Now will we ride in the state that our forebears knew, before which the pomp of modern kings pales into cheap and tawdry insignificance.How would you like to canter through Hyde Park on a mount like this?"
"I am afraid the Bobbies would be shocked by our riding habits, John," she cried, laughingly.
Tarzan guided the gryf in the direction that they wished to go.
Steep embankments and rivers proved no slightest obstacle to the ponderous creature.
"A prehistoric tank, this," Jane assured him, and laughing and talking they continued on their way.Once they came unexpectedly upon a dozen Ho-don warriors as the gryf emerged suddenly into a small clearing.The fellows were lying about in the shade of a single tree that grew alone.When they saw the beast they leaped to their feet in consternation and at their shouts the gryf issued his hideous, challenging bellow and charged them.The warriors fled in all directions while Tarzan belabored the beast across the snout with his spear in an effort to control him, and at last he succeeded, just as the gryf was almost upon one poor devil that it seemed to have singled out for its special prey.
With an angry grunt the gryf stopped and the man, with a single backward glance that showed a face white with terror, disappeared in the jungle he had been seeking to reach.