Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Height of Civilization
Opinionwasdividedastothebraveryofthekingofbeasts—somemaintainingthathewasanarrantcoward,butallagreeingthatitwaswithafeelingofgreatersecuritythattheygrippedtheirexpressrifleswhenthemonarchofthejungleroaredaboutacampatnight.
D’ArnotandTarzanhadagreedthathispastbekeptsecret,andsononeotherthantheFrenchofficerknewoftheape-man’sfamiliaritywiththebeastsofthejungle.
"MonsieurTarzanhasnotexpressedhimself,"saidoneoftheparty."AmanofhisprowesswhohasspentsometimeinAfrica,asIunderstandMonsieurTarzanhas,musthavehadexperienceswithlions—yes?"
"Some,"repliedTarzan,dryly."Enoughtoknowthateachofyouarerightinyourjudgmentofthecharacteristicsofthelions—youhavemet.Butonemightaswelljudgeallblacksbythefellowwhoranamucklastweek,ordecidethatallwhitesarecowardsbecauseonehasmetacowardlywhite.
"Thereisasmuchindividualityamongthelowerorders,gentlemen,asthereisamongourselves.Todaywemaygooutandstumbleuponalionwhichisover-timid—herunsawayfromus.To-morrowwemaymeethisuncleorhistwinbrother,andourfriendswonderwhywedonotreturnfromthejungle.Formyself,Ialwaysassumethatalionisferocious,andsoIamnevercaughtoffmyguard."
"Therewouldbelittlepleasureinhunting,"retortedthefirstspeaker,"ifoneisafraidofthethinghehunts.
