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Chapter 12: Tur's Deception · The Eternal Savage

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Section twenty five of The Eternal Savage by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This LibriVox recording
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is in the public domain. Chapter twelve. Ter's deception. At the instant
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that the beast leapt for him, new dove forward into the lake. The
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water was shallow, not over two or three feet deep, but the caveman
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hugged the bottom, worming his way to the left, toward the shadows of
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the causeway. He knew that the cat would not follow him into the lake.
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His greater danger now lay in the unknown detizens of the water. But
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though every instant he expected to feel a slimy body or sharp teeth, he
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met with no attack. At last, his breath spent, he turned upon
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his back, floating until his nose and mouth rose above the surface. Filling
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his lungs with air. He sank again and continued his way in the direction
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of the piling. After what seemed an eternity to him, his hand came
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at last in contact with the rough surface of a pile. Immediately he rose
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to the surface, and to his delight, found that he was beneath the
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causeway, say from the eyes of the guardsman and his companion upon the bank
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behind him. He could hear the angry complaining of the baffled cat. He
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wondered if the noise of his escape had alarmed the sentry to greater watchfulness.
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For long he listened for some sign from above, and at last he caught
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the low tones of whispered conversation. Good. They were still at their love
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making, with never a thought for the dangers lying close at hand. New
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wish that they would be done, he dared not venture aloft while the woman
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was there. For an hour, he waded wayst deep in water, until
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finally he heard her retreating footsteps above him. He gave her time to regain
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her dwelling, and then, with the agility of a cat, he clambered
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up the slippery pile until his fingers closed upon the edge of the flooring of
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the causeway. Cautiously, he drew himself up so that his eyes topped the
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upper surface of the platform. A dozen paces from him was the sentry,
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moving slowly shoreward toward the watch fire. The man's back was toward new and
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he was already between Nu and the shore. Nothing could have been better.
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The caveman crawled quickly to the platform, and with silent feet ran lightly in
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the wake of the guard. The man was beside the pile of wood with
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which he kept up the fire, and was bending over to gather up an
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armful when Nu overtook him with the speed and directness of a killing lion.
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Nu leaped full upon his quarry's back. Both hands sought the man's throat to
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shut off his cries for help, and the teeth of the attacker buried themselves
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in the muscles behind the collar bone, that he might not easily be shaken
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from his advantageous hold. The sentry, taken entirely by surprise by this attack,
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from the rear, struggle to turn upon his foe. He tore the
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fingers at his throat that he might release them for a little instant that would
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be sufficient for him to call for help. But the vice like grip would
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not loosen. Then the victim groped with his right hand for his knife.
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Nu had been expecting this and waiting for it. Instantly, his own right
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hand released its grip upon the other's throat, and lightning like followed the dagger
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hand in quest of the coveted blade, so that news fingers closed about those
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of the sentry. The instant that the latter gripped the handle of the knife.
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Now the blade flew from its sheath, drawn by the power of two
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hands, and then commenced a test of strength that was to decide the outcome
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of the battle. The lake dweller sought to drive the knife backward into the
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body of the man upon his Backnu sought to force the knife hand upward and
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outward. The blade was turned backward. Nu did not attempt to alter this.
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It was as he would have it. Slowly, his mighty muscles pre
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veiled over those of his antagonist, and still his left hand choked off the
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other's voice. Upward, Slowly but surely, New carried the knife hand of
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his foe. Now it was breast high, now to the other shoulder,
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and all the time the hairy giant is attempting to drive it back to the
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body of the cave man. At the instant that it rose level with the
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sentry shoulder, Nu pushed the hand gradually toward the left, until the blade
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hovered directly over the heart of its owner. And then quite suddenly New reversed
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the direction of his exertions, and like lightning, the blade, driven by
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the combined strength of both men, and, guided by Nu, plunged into
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the heart of the lake dweller. Silently, the man crumpled beneath the weight
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upon him. There was a final struggle, and then he lay still.
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Nu did not wait longer than to transfer all the coveted weapons from the corpse
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of his antagonist to his own body, and then, silent and swift as
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a wraith, he vanished into the dark, toward the forest and the heights
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above the lake. Gran alone in the cave, sat buried in thought.
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Sometimes she was goaded to despair by recollections of her lost babe, and again
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she rose to heights of righteous anger at thoughts of the brutality and injustice of
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terror. Her fingers twitched to be at the brute's throat. She compared him
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time and time again with new and at each comparison she realized more and more
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fully the intensity of her new found passion for the stranger. She loved this
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alien warrior with a fierceness that almost hurt. She relived again and again the
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countless little episodes in which he had shown her a kindness and consideration to which
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she was not accustomed among her own people. These things would have seemed a
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sign of weakness upon the part of a man, but Gran knew that no
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taint of weakness lay behind that noble exterior. For long into the night,
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she sat straining her eyes and ears through the darkness for the first intimation of
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his return. At last, when he had not come, she commenced to
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feel apprehension. He had gone out unarmed through the savage land to wrest weapons
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from the enemy. Already he might be dead, Yet Gron could not believe
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that aught could overcome that mighty physique. Toward morning, she became hopeless and
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crawling within the cave, curled up upon the grasses that new had gathered for
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her, and slept. It was several hours after dawn when she was awakened
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by a sound from without. It was the scraping of a spear butt against
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the rocky face of the cliff as it trailed along in the wake of a
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climbing man. As Gron saw who it was that came, she gave a
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little cry of joy, braving the dangers of the perilous decclivity to meet him.
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Nu looked up with a smile, exhibiting his captured weapons. As he
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came. He noted the changed expression upon the woman's face, a smile of
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welcome that ran her countenance, quite radiant. He had never before taken the
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time to appraise Gron's personal appearance, and now it was with a sense of
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surprise that was almost a shock, that he realized that the woman was both
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young and good looking. But this surprise was as nothing by comparison with that
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which followed, for no sooner had Gron reached him than she threw both arms
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about his neck, and before he realized her intent had dragged his lips to
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hers. Nw disengaged himself with a laugh. He did not love Gron.
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His heart was wholly not ools, and his whole mind now was occupied with
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plans for returning to his own country, where he might continue his search for
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her who was to have been his mate. Still laughing and with an arm
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about Gron to support her up the steep cliff, he turned his steps toward
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the cave. I have brought a little food, he said, and after
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I have slept, we were returned to the sea on the way I can
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hunt for now I have weapons, but in the meantime I must sleep,
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for I am exhausted. While I sleep, you must watch. But once
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within the cave, Gron, carried away by her new found love, renewed
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her protestations of affection. But even with their arms about him, Nu saw
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only the lovely vision of another face his not ule. Where was she?
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Whennoul and Nu the Chief discovered that the sun of noon no longer was bound
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to the flame girt steak in the village of the boat builders, they turned
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toward one another in questioning surprise, the man examined the stake more closely.
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It is not burned, he said, so, therefore new could not have
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been burned. And here, he pointed at the ground about the stake.
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Look, here are the cores that bound him. He picked up one of
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them, examining it. They have been cut. Some one came before us
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and Liberatenu, the son of Nu. Who could it have been and whither
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have they gone? Questioned Natoul. Nu shook his head. I do not
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know, and now I may not stop to learn, for my warriors are
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pursuing the strangers, and I must be with them. And Nu the Chief
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leaped across the dying fires after the yelling spearmen, who chased the enemy toward
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the sea. But Natoul was determined to let nothing stay her search for Nu,
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the son of Nu. Scarcely had the young man's father left her than
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she turned back toward the shelters. First she would search the village, and
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if she did not find him there, she would go out into the jungle
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and along the beach. He could not be far. As Nadul searched the
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shelters of the boat builders, a figure hid beneath a pile of aurex skins
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in one of them. Stirred, uncovered an ear and listened. The sounds
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of conflict had retreated. The village seemed deserted. An armed threw aside the
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covering, and a man sprang quickly to his feet. It was ur hard
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pressed by the savage spearmen of the caves and surrounded. The man had crawled
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within a hut and hid himself beneath the skins. Now he thought he saw
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a chance to escape while the enemy were pursuing his people. He approached the
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entrance to the shelter and peered out. Quickly he drew back. He had
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seen a figure emerging from the next hut. It was a woman, and
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she was coming toward the shelter in which he had concealed himself. The light
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of the beast fires played upon her. Urre drew in his breath in pleased
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surprise. It was the woman he had once captured and who had escaped him.
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Naduel advanced rapidly to the shelter. She thought them all deserted. As
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she entered this one, she saw the figure of a man dimly visible in
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the darkness of the interior. She thought it one of the warriors of her
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own tribe looting. Oftentimes, they could not wait the total destruction of an
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enemy for searching greedily for booty. Who are you, she asked, and
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then, not waiting for an answer, I am searching for Nu. The
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son of neu Ter saw his opportunity and was quick to grasp it. I
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know where he is, he said. I am one of Scarb's people.
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But I will lead you to New, the son of New, if you
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will promise that you will protect me from your warriors when we return. My
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people have fled and I may never hope to reach them again unless you promise
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to aid me. Natoul thought this unnatural and fair proposition and was quick to
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accept it. Then come cried Turre, there is no time to be lost.
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The man is hidden in a cove south of here along the shore.
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He is fast bound, and so was left without a guard. If we
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hurry, we may reach him before my people regain him. If we can
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elude your warriors and the delay that would follow their discovery of me, we
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may yet be in time. Ur hurried from the shelter, followed by Naoul.
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The man was careful to keep his face averted from the girl while they
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traversed the area lit by the camp and beast fires. So he forged ahead,
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trusting to her desire to find her man to urge her after him,
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Nor did he overestimate the girl's anxiety to find Nu, the son of Nu.
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Natoul followed swiftly upon Turre's heels through the deserted village and across the beach,
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from whence the sounds of conflict rose beside the sea. Urk kept to
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the north of the fighters, going to a spot upon the beach where he
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had left his own boat. He found the craft without difficulty, pushed it
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into the water, lifted Nahoul into it, and shoved it through the surf
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to tur The work required but a moment he was as much at home in
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the boiling surf as upon dry Land. Seated in the stern with Natoul facing
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him in the bow, he forced the dugout beyond the grip of the rollers.
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Nahoul took up a second paddle that lay at her feet, plying it
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awkwardly, perhaps, but not without good effect. She could scarce wait until
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the boat reached the cove, and every effort of her own added so much
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to the speed of the craft. Turk kept the boat's head toward the open
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sea. It was his purpose to turn toward the south after they were well
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out and moving slowly during the night, await the breaking dawn to disclose the
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whereabouts of his fellows, that they too would paddle slowly southward. He was
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sure. Presently he caught sight of the outline of a boat just ahead.
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Probably beyond that were others. He had been fortunate to stumble upon the last
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boatload of his fleeing tribe. He did not hail them for two reasons.
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One was that he did not wish the girl to know that he was not
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bearing her south toward the cove the imaginary location of her man, and the
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other was due to the danger of attracting the attention of the boats and be
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carrying the pursuit out upon the sea. Presently, a third possibility kept him
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quiet. The boat ahead might contain warriors of the enemy searching for fugitives.
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Turre did not know that the tribe of Nu was entirely unfamiliar with navigation,
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that never before had they dreamed of such a thing as a boat. So
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Ur followed the boat ahead in silence, straight out to sea. To Nadul
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it seemed that the cove must be a long distance away. In the darkness,
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she did not perceive that they were traveling directly away from shore. After
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a long time, she heard the pounding of serf to the left of the
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boat. She was startled and confused. Traveling south as she supposed they had
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been doing, the serf should have been off the right side of the boat.
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Where are we, she asked. There is land upon the left,
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whereas it should be upon the right. Tur laughed. We must be lost,
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he said, But now dul knew now that she had been deceived.
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At the same instant, there ca over her a sudden sense of familiarity in
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the voice of her companion. Where had she heard it before? She strove
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to pierce the darkness that shrouded the features of the man at the opposite end
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of the boat. Who are you, she asked, Where are you taking
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me? You will soon be with your man, replied Turre, But there
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was an ill concealed note of gloating that did not escape not all. The
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girl now remained silent. She no longer paddled, but sat listening to the
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booming of the surf, which he realized that they were approaching. What shore
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was it? Her mind was working rapidly. She was accustomed to depending largely
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on a well developed instinct for locality and direction upon land, and while it
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did not aid her much upon water, it at least preserved her from the
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hopeless bewilderment that besets the average modern when once he loses his bearings, preventing
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any semblance of rational thought in the establishment of his whereabouts. Natul knew that
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they had not turned toward the north once after they had left the shore,
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and so she knew that the mainland could not be upon their left. Therefore
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the surf upon that hand must be breaking upon the shore of one of the
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islands that she only too well knew lay off the mainland, Which of the
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islands they were approaching. She could not guess, but any one of them
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was sufficiently horrible. In her estimation. Natuu planned quickly against the emergency which
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confronted her. She knew or thought that the man had brought her here where
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she would be utterly helpless in his power. Her people could not follow them,
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there would be none to succor or avenge Ur was wielding his paddle rapidly
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and vigorously. Now he shot the boat just ahead of an enormous roller that
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presently caught and lifted it upon its crest, carrying it swiftly up the beach.
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As the keel touched the sand, ter leapt out and dragged the craft
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as far up as he could while the wave receded to the ocean. Natoul
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stepped out upon the beach in her hand. She still held the paddle.
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Urr came toward her. He was quite close, so close that even in
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the darkness of the night, she saw his features and recognized them. He
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reached toward her arm to seize her. Come. He said, come to
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your mate. Like a flash, the crude, heavy paddle flew back over
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Natul's shoulder, cleaving the air downward. Toward the man's head. Ter realizing
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his danger, leapt back, but the point of the blade struck his forehead
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a glancing blow. The man reeled drunkenly for a second, stumbled forward,
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and fell full upon his face on the wet sand. The instant that the
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blade touched her tormentor Natul dropped the paddle, dodged past the man, and
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scurried like a frightened deer toward the black shadows of the jungle above the beach.
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The next great roller washed in across the prostrate form of ur. It
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rolled him over, and as it raced back toward the sea, it dragged
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him with it. But the water revived him, and he came coughing and
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struggling to his hands and knees, clinging desperately to life, until the waters
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receded, leaving him in momentary safety. Slowly he staggered to his feet and
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made his way up the beach, beyond the reach of the greedy seas.
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His head hurt him terribly, Blood trickled down his cheek and clodded upon his
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hairy breast, and he was mad with rage and the lust for vengeance.
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Could he have laid his hands upon Natul. Then she would have died beneath
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his choking fingers. But he did not lay hands upon her, for Natoul
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was already safely asconced in a tree just within the shadows of the jungle until
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daylight. She was as safe there from Ter as though a thousand miles separated
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them. A half hour later, New and Gron, a mile further inland,
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were clambering into another tree. Ah if now Toule could but have known
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it, what doubt, despair and suffering she might have been spared. Tur
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ran down the beach in the direction in which he thought that he heard the
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sound of the fleeing not Ule. Yes, there she was. Ur redoubled
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his speed. His quarry was just beneath a tree at the edge of the
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jungle. The man leaped forward with an exclamation of savage satisfaction that died upon
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his lips. Frozen by the horrid roar of a lion, Ur turned and
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fled. The thing he had thought was not ull proved to be a huge
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cave lion standing over the corpse of its kill. Fortunate for Teur was it
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that the beast already had its supper before it. It did not pursue the
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frightened man, and so Ur reached the safety of a nearby tree, where
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he crouched, shaking and trembling throughout the balance of the night. Ur was
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a boat builder and a fisherman. He was not of the stalk of new
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and not ull the hunters of savage beasts, the precursors of warrior nations yet
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unborn. End of Section twenty five