Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The White Ape
Tarzanhadalwayshatedwaterexceptasamediumforquenchinghisthirst.Hehateditbecauseheconnecteditwiththechillanddiscomfortofthetorrentialrains,andhefeareditforthethunderandlightningandwindwhichaccompaniedthem.
Thedeepwatersofthelakehehadbeentaughtbyhiswildmothertoavoid,andfurther,hadhenotseenlittleNeetasinkbeneathitsquietsurfaceonlyafewshortweeksbeforenevertoreturntothetribe?
ButofthetwoevilshisquickmindchosethelessererethefirstnoteofSabor’sscreamhadscarcebrokenthequietofthejungle,andbeforethegreatbeasthadcoveredhalfherleapTarzanfeltthechillwaterscloseabovehishead.
Hecouldnotswim,andthewaterwasverydeep;butstillhelostnoparticleofthatself-confidenceandresourcefulnesswhichwerethebadgesofhissuperiorbeing.
Rapidlyhemovedhishandsandfeetinanattempttoscrambleupward,and,possiblymorebychancethandesign,hefellintothestrokethatadoguseswhenswimming,sothatwithinafewsecondshisnosewasabovewaterandhefoundthathecouldkeepittherebycontinuinghisstrokes,andalsomakeprogressthroughthewater.
Hewasmuchsurprisedandpleasedwiththisnewacquirementwhichhadbeensosuddenlythrustuponhim,buthehadnotimeforthinkingmuchuponit.