Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Jungle Toll
Histoneswerenolongerthoseoftheeruditepedanttheorizingupontheabstractandtheunknowable;butthoseofthemanofaction—determined,buttingedalsobyanoteofindescribablehopelessnessandgriefwhichwrunganansweringpangfromClayton’sheart.
"Ishallliedownnow,"saidtheoldman,"andtrytosleep.Earlyto-morrow,assoonasitislight,IshalltakewhatfoodIcancarryandcontinuethesearchuntilIhavefoundJane.Iwillnotreturnwithouther."
Hiscompanionsdidnotreplyatonce.Eachwasimmersedinhisownsorrowfulthoughts,andeachknew,asdidtheoldprofessor,whatthelastwordsmeant—ProfessorPorterwouldneverreturnfromthejungle.
AtlengthClaytonaroseandlaidhishandgentlyuponProfessorPorter’sbentoldshoulder.
"Ishallgowithyou,ofcourse,"hesaid.
"Iknewthatyouwouldoffer—thatyouwouldwishtogo,Mr.Clayton;butyoumustnot.Janeisbeyondhumanassistancenow.Whatwasoncemydearlittlegirlshallnotliealoneandfriendlessintheawfuljungle.
"Thesamevinesandleaveswillcoverus,thesamerainsbeatuponus;andwhenthespiritofhermotherisabroad,itwillfindustogetherindeath,asithasalwaysfoundusinlife.
"No;itisIalonewhomaygo,forshewasmydaughter—allthatwasleftonearthformetolove."
"Ishallgowithyou,"saidClaytonsimply