When he came to he was lying beneath a tree, his wrists and ankles bound. Men and women were squatting or standing around him. When they saw that he had regained consciousness, one of the men spoke to him in Dutch. Tarzan understood him, but he shook his head as though he did not.
The fellow had asked him who he was and what he had been doing spying on them. Another tried French, which was the first spoken language of civilized man that he had learned; but he still shook his head. The young man tried English. Tarzan pretended that he did not understand; and addressed them in Swahili, the language of a Mohammedan Bantu people of Zanzibar and the East coast of Africa , knowing that they would not understand it.
'Sounds like Japanese,' said one of the men.
'It ain't though,' said one who understood that language.
'Maybe it's Chinese,' suggested another.
'He looks about as much like a Chink as you do,' said the first speaker.
'Maybe he's a wild man. No clothes, bow and arrows. Fell out of a tree like a monkey.'
'He's a damned spy.'
'What good's a spy who can't talk any civilized language?'
They thought this over, and it seemed to remove their suspicion that their prisoner might be a spy, at least for the moment. They had more important business to attend to, as was soon demonstrated.
'Oh, to hell with him,' said a bleary-eyed giant. 'I'm getting dry.'
He walked back in the direction of the trees beneath which they had been lolling—in the direction of the trees and the bottle—and the others followed. All but the young man with the smooth face. He still squatted near Tarzan, his back toward his retreating companions. When they were at a safer distance and their attention held by the bottle, he spoke. He spoke in a low whisper and in English.
'I am sure that you are either an American or an Englishman,' he said. 'Possibly one of the Americans from the bomber that was shot down some time ago. If you are, you can trust me. I am practically a prisoner here myself. But don't let them see you talking to me. If you decide that you can trust me, you can make some sign that you understand me.
'You have fallen into the hands of a band of cutthroats. With few exceptions they are criminals who were released from jail and armed when the Japs invaded the island. Most of the women are also criminals who were serving jail sentences. The others are also from the bottom of the social barrel—the ultimate dregs.
'These people escaped to the hills as the Japs took over. They made no attempt to aid our armed forces. They thought only of their own skins. After my regiment surrendered, I managed to escape. I ran across this outfit; and supposing it to be a loyal guerrilla band, I joined it. Learning my background, they would have killed me had it not been that a couple of them are men I had befriended in tunes past. But they don't trust me.
'You see, there are loyal guerrillas hiding in the hills who would kill these traitors as gladly as they'd kill Japs. And these fellows are afraid I'd get in touch with them and reveal the location of this camp.
'About the worst these people have done so far is to trade with the enemy, but they are going to turn you over to the Japs. They decided on that before you regained consciousness. They also thought that you were one of the American fliers. The Japs would pay a good price for you.
'These fellows distill a vile spirit which they call schnapps. What they don't drink themselves they use to barter with the Japs and natives. They get juniper berries, ammunition, and rice, among other things, from the Japs. That the Japs let them have ammunition indicates that they consider them friendly. However, it is little more than an armed truce; as neither trusts the other to any great extent. Natives are the go-betweens who deliver the schnapps and bring the payment.'
Tarzan, knowing now that his fate had already been decided, realized that nothing would be gained by further attempts to deceive the young man. Also, he had gained a good impression of the man; and was inclined to believe that he was trustworthy. He glanced in the direction of the others. They were all intent upon a loudmouthed quarrel between two of their fellows, and were paying no attention to him and his companion.
'I am English,' he said.
The young man grinned.
'Thanks for trusting me,' he said. 'My name is Tak van der Bos. I am a reserve officer.'
'My name is Clayton. Would you like to get away from these people?'
'Yes. But what good would it do? Where could I go? I'd certainly fall into the hands of the Japs eventually, if a tiger didn't get me instead. If I knew where one of our guerrilla outfits was located, I'd sure take the chance. But I don't.'
'There are five in my party,' said Tarzan. 'We are trying to reach the southern end of the island. If we are lucky, we hope to commandeer a boat and try to reach Australia .'
'A rather ambitious plan,' said van der Bos. 'It's more than twelve hundred miles to the nearest point on the Australian continent. And it's five hundred miles to the southern end of this island.'
'Yes,' said Tarzan. 'We know, but we are going to take the chances. We all feel that it would be better to die trying it than to hide in the woods like a lot of hunted rabbits for the duration.'
Van der Bos was silent for a few moments, thinking. Presently he looked up. 'It is the right thing to do,' he said. 'I'd like to come with you. I think I can help you. I can find a boat much nearer than you plan on travelling. I know where there are friendly natives who will help us. But first we've got to get away from these fellows, and that will not be easy. There is only one trail into this little valley, and that is guarded day and night.'
'Yes, I saw him. In fact I passed close to him. I can pass him again as easily. But you are different. I do not think that you could though. If you can get me a knife tonight, I will get you past the sentry.'
'I'll try. If they get drunk enough, it should be easy. Then I'll cut your bonds, and we can have a go at it.'
'I can break these bonds whenever I wish,' said Tarzan.
Van der Bos did not comment on this statement.
This fellow, he thought, is very sure of himself. Maybe a little too sure. And the Dutchman began to wonder if he had been wise in saying that he would go with him. He knew, of course, that no man could break those bonds. Maybe the fellow couldn't make good on his boast that he could pass the sentry, either.
'Do they watch you very carefully at night?' asked Tarzan.
'They don't watch me at all. This is tiger country. Had you thought of that yourself?'
'Oh, yes. But we shall have to take that chance.'
Chapter 13
SLAPPED around, prodded in the backsides with bayonets, spit on, Rosetti and Bubonovitch were two rage filled and unhappy men long before they reached the native village. Here they were taken into a native house, trussed up, and thrown to the floor in a corner of the room. There they were left to their own devices, which consisted almost wholly of profanity. After describing the progenitors of all Japs from Horohito down, and especially those of Lt. Kumajiro Tada, in the picturesque and unprintable patois of Cicero , Brooklyn , and the Army, they worked back up to Hirohito again.
'What's the use?' demanded Bubonovitch. 'We're just working up blood pressure.'
'I'm workin' up my hate,' said Rosetti. 'I know just how dat Corrie dame feels, now. I sure love to hate 'em.'
'Make the most of it while you can,' advised Bubonovitch. 'That ocher looie's going to lop your hater off in the morning.'
'Geeze,' said Rosetti. 'I don't wanna die, Bum.'
'Neither do I, Shrimp.'
'Geeze! I'm scairt.'
'So am I.'
'Let's pray, Bum.'
'Okay. The last time you prayed to Her, She sent Tarzan.'
'I'm just leavin' it to Her. I don't care how She works it.'
