Chapter 11 Taishan single-handedly fighting the lion

When the lion opened its teeth and claws and rushed towards Mount Tai, it felt that this man was no different from the easy prey that had been hunted and killed countless times in the past.To it, man is a lorry, a slow, defenseless animal.It doesn't care about them at all. But this time, when the huge, powerful lion landed on the spot where Tarzan had just stood, he had disappeared like a flash of lightning. It found that it had met an opponent who was as nimble and agile as it was. Half-squatting, Tarzan dodged under the lion's claws.The composure and quickness left the girl dumbfounded.Now, my God!Before the ferocious creature could turn its head, he had already gripped its mane tightly and rode on the lion's back.The lion, like a horse, supports its body on its hind legs, and suddenly leaps into the air.Taishan knew its tricks like the back of the hand, and had been on guard for a long time.He tightly strangled the lion's neck with its black mane with an iron arm, raised his hunting knife, and stabbed the dark chestnut back of its left shoulder more than a dozen times.

The black lion jumped up and down like crazy, roaring with anger and pain. But the big man riding on it would never let it fall off, nor let the fangs and claws of this huge-headed king of beasts hurt him before he died. When Tarzan let go of it and stood up, the "King of Beasts" had already passed away.At this time, the "daughter of the desert" saw a scene that was even more terrifying than meeting a lion.Taishan stepped on the black lion with one foot, raised his beautiful head, looked at the full moon in the sky, and uttered a very terrifying and ear-piercing cry. She screamed in fright, and stepped back from his side, thinking that the terrible battle just now must have driven him crazy.When the creepy cry finally disappeared completely in the gradually weakening echo, Tarzan's eyes fell on the girl.

A kind smile appeared on his face immediately.This is enough to prove that he is still sane. The girl breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at him. "What kind of man are you!" said she, "I have never heard of such things as you do. Even now I cannot believe that you could fight a lion with a knife, and you Not even a hair is missing, it will kill it, and your cry just now, it is simply not a human voice. Why are you screaming like that?" Taishan blushed a bit: "Because I forgot..." He said, "Oh, sometimes, I forget that I am also a civilized person. Once the killing ring is started, I become a beast." He didn't want to explain further.Because he always felt that women hate beasts and people who are similar.

They continued walking, and an hour after the sun rose, they got out of the mountains and walked into the desert.By a stream they saw the girl's two horses grazing.They've been running this far on the way home and haven't stopped to eat because they're scared. Taishan and the girl took the two horses back without much effort.They got on their horses and rode across the desert towards the pasture village of Chief Khand Ben Heaton. With no pursuers, they traveled safely, and reached their destination about nine o'clock. As soon as the chief came back, his daughter disappeared, and he was very anxious, thinking that she had been snatched away by bandits again.He gathered 50 people, had mounted his horse, and was about to look around. She and Tai Shan rode into the village.

The old chief was very happy to see his son and daughter safe and sound.With the same zeal he thanked Mount Tai for bringing his daughter back to him safe and sound after a night of trekking, and also thanked Allah for his daughter's timely rescue of the husband who had rescued her. Kander ben Heaton bestowed upon Tarzan the praise which was a token of his gratitude, respect, and friendship.When the girl told the story of Mount Tai single-handedly fighting a lion, a group of admirers surrounded him tightly—— This is indeed the best way to gain the praise and respect of the Arabs. The old chief insists that Tarzan stay indefinitely as his guest.He even hoped that Tarzan could live with him forever as a member of his tribe.For a moment Tarzan almost made up his mind to accept the Chief's request to live forever with these untamed people, because he understood them and they seemed to understand him.His friendship and affection for the girl were naturally an important factor in his desire to stay.

He argued with himself intentionally: If she were a man, he wouldn't have the slightest hesitation.Because that can only mean that she is his perfect friend.They can ride horses and hunt freely together.However, she was a girl after all, and there was an insurmountable gap between her and him formed by customs and traditions.And this gap is deeper in the eyes of this savage nomad who lives in the desert than his brothers and sisters in a civilized society.Before long, she would marry a dark warrior, and at that point their friendship would be over.So instead of taking the chief's advice, he just stayed a week as a guest in his tribe.

Khand ibn Heaton decided to go out himself and lead 50 warriors in white robes to ride him to Bhushada.In the morning, when they mounted their steeds, from Cander ben When Heaton's pastoral village set off, the girl came to bid farewell to Mount Tai. "I've been praying that you would stay and live with us," she said flatly, and he leaned down from his horse and squeezed her hand in good-bye. The girl added: "Now, I pray that you will come back again." Her big beautiful eyes are full of longing, and the corners of her mouth are curved, charming and charming.Taishan was deeply moved by her.

"Who knows, maybe they will come back." Reluctantly, he turned his horse's head and galloped towards the Arabs who had already set off. Tarzan parted ways with Kander ben Heaton's men outside of Bhushada.Because he wanted to keep others from discovering as much as possible when he entered the city.The chief listened to his explanation and agreed.So it was decided that the Arab warriors would go ahead and never mention to anyone that they had traveled with Mount Tai.Then Taishan went to the city alone, and went straight to find an unassuming small hotel to stay. Tarzan waited until after dark before riding towards Bousada.No acquaintance saw him go to town, and he checked into a hotel without being noticed.he invited kander ben

After eating, Heaton made a detour to find the hotel he had stayed in before, entered through the back door, and found the owner of the store.The boss was surprised to see that he was still alive. There is a letter from Taishan, the boss is going to pick it up.Taishan told him not to disclose the news of his return to Bousada with anyone.After a while, the boss took back several letters.One was an order from his superiors, instructing him to drop his current job immediately and take the first steamer he could catch to Cape Town.Instructions for the next steps were available there, the orders were in the hands of an agent whose name and address were written on the letter, and the instructions were clear and brief.When Tarzan was ready to leave Bousada early the next morning, he went to the local garrison to find Captain Gerald.The hotel owner told him that he had brought the troops back only the day before.

He followed Captain Gerald in the barracks.The captain was surprised and delighted to see Taishan alive and healthy. "After Lieutenant Genoes came back, he reported that when he led his troops into the mountain to search, you didn't want to follow and stayed alone in that valley. When he came back from searching the mountain, you were gone. I was We were surprised to hear that, and we searched for you in the mountains for several days, and then came the news that you were dead. They said that you were eaten by a lion, and they sent us your gun as physical evidence, and your horse was in the You came back on your own the day after your disappearance. So we can no longer doubt. Lieutenant Gnoes is very sad, he blamed himself for your misfortune, and found your gun from the Arabs The lieutenant too. He must be very smart now to know that you are still alive."

"No doubt." Taishan said with a sneer. "He's gone to town, or I'll send for him at once," continued Captain Gerald, "and I'll tell him the good news as soon as he comes back." Tarzan told Captain Gerald that he got lost and ended up wandering around to Cander Ben Heaton's pastoral village, they escorted him back to Bousada.After saying goodbye to the kind officer, he returned to the city at once.In the small hotel run by the local aborigines, Cander ben Heaton told him a very interesting thing: there was a white man with a black beard who often went around disguised as an Arab.Some time ago, his arm and wrist were broken.In the recent period, this person has been away from Bousada, and he did not come back until a day or two ago.Tai Shan found out where this person lived, and went straight to search there. Passing through narrow, fetid alleys as dark as Erebus, and climbing a rickety staircase, he found a closed door and a small unglazed window. .The windows are high and close to the low eaves of the adobe attic.Although Taishan was tall, the top of his head could only barely reach the window sill.Standing cautiously on tiptoe, he looked into the room and saw that there was a light in the room, that Rukov and Gnoesse were sitting at the table, and Gnoesse was talking. "You are a monster, Rukov!" he said. "You have driven me to the last sliver of human dignity. You have made me kill people and covered my hands with that ① Erebus (Erebus): The dark area between the yang world and the underworld in Greek mythology. The blood of Tarzan.If that bastard Balwitch didn't know my secret, I'd kill you tonight with my own hands! " Zhukov laughed nonchalantly. "My dear lieutenant, you won't kill me," he said. "The news of my assassination will spread, and my dear Alexey Borvich will make you so hopeful." Give the Department of Defense all the evidence that will be hidden forever, and then charge you with murdering me. Well, be sensible, I'm your best friend. Don't I protect your honor as much as I protect my own? " Gnoes sneered and cursed a string of obscenities. "Just give me a little money," Zhukov continued, "and give me the documents I need, and I swear to you that I will never ask you for a penny again, nor will you provide information." "What reason do you have for me to do this!" Gnoes growled, "You want to scrape away my last penny and take away the only valuable military information I have. For this information, you You should pay me instead of taking information and blackmailing me." "I'm keeping my mouth shut. If I don't tell you about this matter, it's equivalent to giving you a reward." Zhukov replied, "Let's make a deal, do it, or not? I'll let you think about it for three minutes. If you don't agree, tonight I'll send a note to your commanding officer, and you'll be thrown into hell like Dreyfus. The only difference is, he was framed, and you deserved it." Gnoes sat there with his head bowed for a while, then finally stood up and took out two pieces of paper from his coat pocket. "Here you are," he said resignedly. "I'm ready. I know that's the way it's going to be." He handed the Russian the check and the information. A look of satisfaction appeared on Zhukov's fierce face, and he grabbed the two pieces of paper. "Good job, Gnoes," he said. "I won't bother you again, unless you happen to get information and money again." He grinned grimly. "Don't think about it, you dog!" Gnoes said angrily. "Next time you make trouble, I will kill you! In fact, I almost killed you tonight. Before I came here, the table There is a check with information on it, and a loaded pistol next to it. Facing these two things, I hesitated for an hour, making up my mind which one I should bring to see you. Next time, it will be easier to choose. Because I The decision has been made now. You escaped death today, Rukov, don't take any chances!" After saying this, Gnoes stood up and left.Taishan quickly put down his heels and hid in the shadows beyond the door.He felt that it was almost inevitable that he would be discovered.Because the platform above the stairs is very small, although the body tightly Sticking to the wall, only a foot away from that door too.As soon as he hid, the door opened.Gnoes came out, followed by Zhukov, neither of them spoke.Gnoes walked up the stairs three steps, stopped suddenly, and turned half around, as if to return. Tarzan thought, now they must find him.Zhukov was standing at the door, at an arm's length from him, but with his face turned to Gnoes and his back. The officer obviously reconsidered his decision, then walked straight downstairs, and Tarzan heard Rukov let out a long hiss.After a while, the Russian turned back to the house and closed the door. Taishan waited for Gnoes to go away, then opened the door and entered the house.Zhukov was sitting in a chair reading the information he had just obtained, and before he had time to stand up, Tarzan was already standing in front of him.He turned his face, his eyes fell on Tarzan the ape, his face immediately turned pale. "You!" He couldn't even catch his breath. "Me." Tarzan replied. "What are you going to do?" Rukov murmured, Tarzan's eyes frightened him enough, "Are you here to kill me? You dare not! They will hang you. You dare not kill me!" "I dare to kill you, Rukov," said Tarzan, "because no one knows that you and I are here. Balvich can only tell them that Genoys did it. I heard you tell Genoys Ace said so. But I will not be affected by these factors, Zhukov, I don't care who knows that I killed you. No matter how they punish me, killing you is a pleasure. You are the one I have seen in my life The most despicable villain I have ever seen. The most cowardly coward, Rukov. You deserve to die, and I am willing to kill you." Tarzan said as he walked over. Zhukov's nerves were suddenly on the verge of collapse.He screamed and rushed towards a nearby hut, but just as his feet were off the ground, he was hugged by Tai Shan's waist, and his throat was tightly grasped by fingers like iron clamps.Rukov screamed like a stabbed pig until Tarzan pinched him so hard he couldn't even breathe.Tarzan squeezed his neck and lifted him up, and the Russian struggled uselessly like a baby in Tarzan's hands. Tarzan threw him into a chair and let go of his fingers, leaving him alive.Only when the Russian slowly stopped his violent cough did Tarzan speak again. "I'll give you a taste of death," he said. "This time, I don't want to kill you. I spare your life for the sake of a very kind woman. Her greatest misfortune is that she voted with you." But, for her sake, I will only forgive you this once! If I hear that you have disturbed her or her husband again, if you dare to mess with me, if I hear that you have returned to France, or Any French colony, I will definitely find you and strangle you!" After saying this, Taishan turned around, saw the two pieces of paper still on the table, and reached out to pick them up.Zhukov was so frightened that he couldn't even breathe. Tarzan looked at the check and the information.The content of the intelligence surprised him.Rukov had already glanced at this material briefly, but Taishan knew that no one would memorize those numbers and details all at once.And it was these details that made the intelligence of real value to the enemies of France. "The General Staff will be very interested in this," Tarzan said casually as he stuffed the information into his coat pocket. Rukov groaned, not daring to curse out loud. Early the next morning Tarzan rode north to Bouella and Algiers.Lieutenant Gnoes, who was standing under the porch as he passed the hotel, turned pale when he saw Tarzan.Of course Tarzan the Ape didn't want to meet him here, but he couldn't avoid it, so he had no choice but to bow to the officer on horseback.Gnoes returned the salute, his movements very stiff.He looked terrified, opened a pair of terrified eyes, and looked at Mount Tai with an expression as if he had encountered a ghost. Tarzan had met a French officer at Seti Aisa, and they had become acquainted during their recent stay in the city. "Have you left Bousada long ago?" asked the officer. "So you haven't heard about poor Gnoes?" "He was the last acquaintance I saw when I rode away from Bousada," Tarzan replied. "What's the matter with him?" "He's dead. Killed himself at eight o'clock this morning." Two days later, Tarzan arrived in Algiers.He had to wait two days before he could board a boat to Cape Town.Using this time, he wrote a comprehensive report on his work.He did not dare to put the information he had snatched back from Zhukov into an envelope. He was going to hand it over to another secret agent, or go back to Paris. ① Algiers (Algiers): the capital of Algeria. Then hand it over to your superiors. Taishan waited in boredom and boredom for two days before boarding the boat.At this moment there were two men standing on the upper deck watching him.They are smartly dressed and their faces are bare.The taller one had brown hair and dark eyelashes. Tarzan chanced upon them on deck later that day.One of the two hurriedly called to his companion to look at something on the sea, and both turned their faces away.So Tarzan didn't see what they looked like. In fact, he paid no attention to them at all. According to the instructions of his superiors, Taishan used a pseudonym when booking the boat ticket: John Caldwell, Londoner.He couldn't see why it was necessary.The incident made him ponder for a long time what role he would play in Cape Town. "Oh," he thought, "thank God, I've got rid of Zhukov. He's already starting to hurt me. I don't know if I've really become so civilized that I'm going to be nervous soon too. He'd make me neurotic if he could. Because he doesn't fight you fairly. You never know what new trick he's up to. It's like Numa the Lion seducing Tante the Elephant and Black the Viper Star is like its partner in killing me, so you never know when and who is attacking you. But beasts are more chivalrous than men, and they don't play tricks." At dinner, Tarzan sat next to a young woman.She sat to the captain's left.The captain introduced them to each other. Miss Strong!The name is very familiar, he seems to have heard it somewhere before. Later, the girl's mother provided him with a "clue".When she spoke to her daughter, she called her Hazel. Hazel Strong!The name brought back so many memories of his past. That letter from the delicate hand of Jenny Porter was addressed to her!The past was vivid in his memory, and he remembered the night he stole the letter from his father's cabin.That night Jenny Potter sat at the table his long-dead father had made and wrote letters late into the night.Once he crouched outside the cabin and watched her in the dark. At that time, if she knew that there was a wild animal in the jungle squatting outside the window, watching her every move, how frightened she would be! Oh, this is Hazel Strong - Jane Potter's best friend!