Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Jungle Toll
TOHAZELSTRONG,BALTIMORE,MD.
Tarzansatinabrownstudyforalongtimeafterhefinishedreadingtheletter.Itwasfilledwithsomanynewandwonderfulthingsthathisbrainwasinawhirlasheattemptedtodigestthemall.
SotheydidnotknowthathewasTarzanoftheApes.Hewouldtellthem.
Inhistreehehadconstructedarudeshelterofleavesandboughs,beneathwhich,protectedfromtherain,hehadplacedthefewtreasuresbroughtfromthecabin.Amongtheseweresomepencils.
Hetookone,andbeneathJanePorter’ssignaturehewrote:
IamTarzanoftheApes
Hethoughtthatwouldbesufficient.Laterhewouldreturnthelettertothecabin.
Inthematteroffood,thoughtTarzan,theyhadnoneedtoworry—hewouldprovide,andhedid.
ThenextmorningJanefoundhermissingletterintheexactspotfromwhichithaddisappearedtwonightsbefore.Shewasmystified;butwhenshesawtheprintedwordsbeneathhersignature,shefeltacold,clammychillrunupherspine.Sheshowedtheletter,orratherthelastsheetwiththesignature,toClayton.
"Andtothink,"shesaid,"thatuncannythingwasprobablywatchingmeallthetimethatIwaswriting—oo!Itmakesmeshudderjusttothinkofit.