scolding; and sometimes when he came too close, they chased him away. But handicapped though he was by his stick and his envelope, he always succeeded in eluding them; for Nkima was an adept in escaping danger.
But there was one who did not bare her teeth and scold. However, it was difficult for Nkima to find her when there was not an old male hanging around; and old males can be very disagreeable.
This last day in camp, however, he was more successful; he discovered her some little distance from her fellows.
The young lady was coy; she did not repulse him but she led Nkima a merry chase through the trees. It was all in fun; and they were enjoying it greatly, for she was not really trying to escape from Nkima, nor was he seriously intent upon capturing her, for he knew that eventually she would stop and let him come close.
And so, thoughtless of time or direction or distance, they swung through the trees, a little lady monkey and Nkima with his stick and his envelope.
They had had a glorious time and thoroughly understood one another when the little lady finally came to rest upon a broad branch. That they might permanently cement this friendship, each was soon searching for what he might find upon the head of the other, and certainly that is almost the last word in intimacy—the final proof of trust and confidence and friendship.
They were very happy, and only once did a shadow momentarily becloud this bliss. That was when the young lady sought to snatch the stick and envelope from Nkima. He bared his teeth in a terrible grimace, and gave her a resounding box on one of her shell-like ears. She lowered her head sheepishly then and cuddled closer to him, and it was plain to see that she liked this dominant male and his cave-man tactics.
What a day for little Nkima! They hunted for fruit and nuts; they ate together; they scampered through the trees; they sat enfolded in each other's arms; and little Nkima was entirely unaware that Tarzan and the Waziri had broken camp and started north again. Perhaps if he had known, it would have made no difference at the moment for the alchemy of love works strange metamorphoses in the minds of its victims.
To their consternation, while they were still far away, night overtook them; and they were afraid to return through the menacing darkness of the glowering forest. They were afraid; but they were happy, and when the moon rose it looked down upon two little monkeys clutched tightly in each other's arms. Above their heads rose a little stick bearing an envelope in its split end.
Chapter 17 The Snake
IT WAS with feelings of relief that the five left the scene of the tragedy that had cast a pall of gloom and horror over them; and while the future held out little of encouragement to them, the very fact of being on the move raised their spirits to some extent.
Brown had insisted upon marching at the head of the little column, and Jane had acceded to his request. Annette stayed as close to Brown as she could. Jane brought up the rear and Alexis walked with her. Tibbs plodded along behind Annette.
Either because he tired more quickly than the others, or because he wanted to get out of earshot of those whom he considered servants and beneath him, Alexis lagged.
'We shouldn't fall so far behind the others,' said Jane. 'We must not become separated. You will have to walk a little faster, Alexis.' Her tone was just a little impatient.
'I thought it would be nice for us to be alone together, Jane,' he said. 'You see, you and I have nothing in common with those others; and it must be as much of a relief to you as to me to have the companionship of one of your own class.'
'You will have to get over that,' said Jane; 'there are no class distinctions here.'
'I am afraid you do not like me, dear lady.'
'You have been very annoying at times, Alexis.'
'I have been terribly upset,' he replied, 'and most of all by you.'
'By me? What have I done?'
'It is not that you have done anything; it is just that you are you. Can't you understand, Jane? Haven't you noticed?'
'Noticed what?'
'From the first, you attracted me strangely. There seemed to be no hope, though, and I was desperately blue; but now I am free, Jane.' He seized her hand. 'Oh, Jane, can't you like me a little?'
She jerked her hand from his. 'You fool!' she exclaimed.
His eyes narrowed menacingly. 'You are going to regret that,' he said. 'I tell you I'm in love with you, madly in love. I'm desperate, and I won't stand idly by and see an illiterate aeroplane pilot get the woman I want.'
'Just what do you mean by that?' The girl's eyes and voice were level and cold.
'It's too obvious to need explanation. Anyone can see that you are in love with Brown.'
'Alexis, did you ever hear a man referred to as an unspeakable cad? I have; but until this minute I never knew what it meant. I never could have conceived the sort of man it describes until now. Move on now. Get away from me. Get up there with Tibbs.'
Instantly his manner changed. 'Oh, Jane,' he pleaded, 'please don't send me away. I don't know why I ever said that; I was just mad with jealousy. Can't you understand that it is because I love you so? Can't you understand and forgive me?'
She made no reply but started ahead, increasing her gait to overtake the others.
'Wait!' he exclaimed, huskily. 'You've got to listen to me. I'm not going to give you up.' He seized her by the arm and pulled her toward him, endeavoring to throw his arms about her. Then she struck him; and, jumping back, levelled her spear to hold him off.
For a moment they stood there facing one another in silence; and in that moment she saw something in his eyes, in the expression on his face, that made her fear him for the first time. She knew then how really dangerous he was, and it was no longer difficult for her to believe that he had murdered his wife.
'Go up there now as I told you,' she said, 'or I will kill you. There is no law here but the law of the jungle.'
Perhaps he, too, read something in her narrowed lids and icy tone, for he did as she bid, and went on ahead of her in silence.
By mid-afternoon, Tibbs and Alexis and Annette were almost exhausted; and when the party reached a favorable spot, Jane called a halt.
The trail by which they had come had followed the mean-derings of the stream upon which they had been camped, and thus the water problem had been solved for them.
'What now, Miss?' demanded Brown. 'Hadn't we better rustle some grub?'
'Yes,' she replied. 'I'll go out and see what I can bring in.'
'I'm going to have a look-see myself,' said Brown. 'We can go in different directions and maybe one of us will find something.'
'All right. You go on up the trail, and I'll take to the trees and follow the river. I may run across a drinking hole.' She turned to the others. 'And while we are gone, the rest of you can be building a boma and gathering firewood. All right, Brown, let's get going.'
The three that remained in camp seemed physically unable to drag themselves to their feet, but Alexis was resourceful.
'Tibbs,' he said, 'go out and gather material for the boma and get some firewood.'
Motivated by years of servile obedience, the Englishman rose painfully to his feet and started away.
'I'll help you, Tibbs,' said Annette, and started to rise.
Alexis laid a restraining hand on her arm. 'Wait,' he said, 'I want to talk with you.'
'But we must help Tibbs.'
'He can do very nicely by himself. You wait here.'
'What do you want, Prince Sborov? I've got to go and help Tibbs.' 'Listen, my dear,' said Alexis, 'how would you like to have a hundred thousand francs?'
The girl shrugged. 'Who would not like to have a hundred thousand francs?' she demanded.
