Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Apes
SuddenlyKerchak’sfingercloseduponthetrigger.Therewasadeafeningroarinthelittleroomandtheapesatandbeyondthedoorfelloveroneanotherintheirwildanxietytoescape.
Kerchakwasequallyfrightened,sofrightened,infact,thathequiteforgottothrowasidetheauthorofthatfearfulnoise,butboltedforthedoorwithittightlyclutchedinonehand.
Ashepassedthroughtheopening,thefrontsightoftheriflecaughtupontheedgeoftheinswungdoorwithsufficientforcetocloseittightlyafterthefleeingape.
WhenKerchakcametoahaltashortdistancefromthecabinanddiscoveredthathestillheldtherifle,hedroppeditashemighthavedroppedaredhotiron,nordidheagainattempttorecoverit—thenoisewastoomuchforhisbrutenerves;buthewasnowquiteconvincedthattheterriblestickwasquiteharmlessbyitselfifleftalone.
Itwasanhourbeforetheapescouldagainbringthemselvestoapproachthecabintocontinuetheirinvestigations,andwhentheyfinallydidso,theyfoundtotheirchagrinthatthedoorwasclosedandsosecurelyfastenedthattheycouldnotforceit.
ThecleverlyconstructedlatchwhichClaytonhadmadeforthedoorhadsprungasKerchakpassedout;norcouldtheapesfindmeansofingressthroughtheheavilybarredwindows.
Afterroamingaboutthevicinityforashorttime,theystartedbackforthedeeperforestsandthehigherlandfromwhencetheyhadcome