第4章

RokoffspieduponTarzanalmostconstantly，waitingforthetimethatheshouldcallattheDeCoudepalaceatnight，butinthishewasdoomedtodisappointment。OnseveraloccasionsTarzanaccompaniedthecountesstoherhomeaftertheopera，butheinvariablyleftherattheentrance——muchtothedisgustofthelady’sdevotedbrother。

FindingthatitseemedimpossibletotrapTarzanthroughanyvoluntaryactofhisown，RokoffandPaulvitchputtheirheadstogethertohatchaplanthatwouldtraptheape—maninallthecircumstantialevidenceofacompromisingposition。

FordaystheywatchedthepapersaswellasthemovementsofDeCoudeandTarzan。Atlengththeywererewarded。

AmorningpapermadebriefmentionofasmokerthatwastobegivenonthefollowingeveningbytheGermanminister。

DeCoude’snamewasamongthoseoftheinvitedguests。

Ifheattendedthismeantthathewouldbeabsentfromhishomeuntilaftermidnight。

OnthenightofthebanquetPaulvitchwaitedatthecurbbeforetheresidenceoftheGermanminister，wherehecouldscanthefaceofeachguestthatarrived。HehadnotlongtowaitbeforeDeCoudedescendedfromhiscarandpassedhim。

Thatwasenough。Paulvitchhastenedbacktohisquarters，whereRokoffawaitedhim。Theretheywaiteduntilaftereleven，thenPaulvitchtookdownthereceiveroftheirtelephone。

Hecalledanumber。

"TheapartmentsofLieutenantD’Arnot？"heasked，whenhehadobtainedhisconnection。

"AmessageforMonsieurTarzan，ifhewillbesokindastosteptothetelephone。"

Foraminutetherewassilence。

"MonsieurTarzan？"

"Ah，yes，monsieur，thisisFrancois——intheserviceoftheCountessdeCoude。PossiblymonsieurdoespoorFrancoisthehonortorecallhim——yes？

"Yes，monsieur。Ihaveamessage，anurgentmessagefromthecountess。Sheasksthatyouhastentoheratonce——sheisintrouble，monsieur。

"No，monsieur，poorFrancoisdoesnotknow。ShallI

tellmadamethatmonsieurwillbehereshortly？

"Thankyou，monsieur。ThegoodGodwillblessyou。"

PaulvitchhungupthereceiverandturnedtogrinatRokoff。

"Itwilltakehimthirtyminutestogetthere。IfyoureachtheGermanminister’sinfifteen，DeCoudeshouldarriveathishomeinaboutforty—fiveminutes。Italldependsuponwhetherthefoolwillremainfifteenminutesafterhefindsthatatrickhasbeenplayeduponhim;butunlessIammistakenOlgawillbeloathtolethimgoinsoshortatimeasthat。HereisthenoteforDeCoude。Hasten！"

PaulvitchlostnotimeinreachingtheGermanminister’s。

Atthedoorhehandedthenotetoafootman。"ThisisfortheCountdeCoude。Itisveryurgent。Youmustseethatitisplacedinhishandsatonce，"andhedroppedapieceofsilverintothewillinghandoftheservant。Thenhereturnedtohisquarters。

AmomentlaterDeCoudewasapologizingtohishostashetoreopentheenvelope。Whathereadlefthisfacewhiteandhishandtrembling。

MONSIEURLECOUNTDECOUDE:

Onewhowishestosavethehonorofyournametakesthismeanstowarnyouthatthesanctityofyourhomeisthisminuteinjeopardy。

Acertainmanwhoformonthshasbeenaconstantvisitorthereduringyourabsenceisnowwithyourwife。Ifyougoatoncetoyourcountess’boudoiryouwillfindthemtogether。

AFRIEND。

TwentyminutesafterPaulvitchhadcalledTarzan，RokoffobtainedaconnectionwithOlga’sprivateline。Hermaidansweredthetelephonewhichwasinthecountess’boudoir。

"Butmadamehasretired，"saidthemaid，inanswertoRokoff’srequesttospeakwithher。

"Thisisaveryurgentmessageforthecountess’earsalone，"repliedRokoff。"Tellherthatshemustariseandslipsomethingaboutherandcometothetelephone。Ishallcallupagaininfiveminutes。"Thenhehunguphisreceiver。

AmomentlaterPaulvitchentered。

"Thecounthasthemessage？"askedRokoff。

"Heshouldbeonhiswaytohishomebynow，"repliedPaulvitch。

"Good！Myladywillbesittinginherboudoir，verymuchinnegligee，aboutnow。InaminutethefaithfulJacqueswillescortMonsieurTarzanintoherpresencewithoutannouncinghim。

Itwilltakeafewminutesforexplanations。Olgawilllookveryalluringinthefilmycreationthatishernight—

dress，andtheclingingrobewhichbuthalfconcealsthecharmsthattheformerdoesnotconcealatall。Olgawillbesurprised，butnotdispleased。

"Ifthereisadropofredbloodinthemanthecountwillbreakinuponaveryprettylovesceneinaboutfifteenminutesfromnow。Ithinkwehaveplannedmarvelously，mydearAlexis。LetusgooutanddrinktotheverygoodhealthofMonsieurTarzaninsomeofoldPlancon’sunparalleledabsinth;notforgettingthattheCountdeCoudeisoneofthebestswordsmeninParis，andbyfarthebestshotinallFrance。"

WhenTarzanreachedOlga’s，Jacqueswasawaitinghimattheentrance。

"Thisway，Monsieur，"hesaid，andledthewayupthebroad，marblestaircase。Inanothermomenthehadopenedadoor，and，drawingasideaheavycurtain，obsequiouslybowedTarzanintoadimlylightedapartment。ThenJacquesvanished。

AcrosstheroomfromhimTarzansawOlgaseatedbeforealittledeskonwhichstoodhertelephone。Shewastappingimpatientlyuponthepolishedsurfaceofthedesk。Shehadnotheardhimenter。

"Olga，"hesaid，"whatiswrong？"

Sheturnedtowardhimwithalittlecryofalarm。

"Jean！"shecried。"Whatareyoudoinghere？

Whoadmittedyou？Whatdoesitmean？"

Tarzanwasthunderstruck，butinaninstantherealizedapartofthetruth。

"Thenyoudidnotsendforme，Olga？"

"Sendforyouatthistimeofnight？MONDIEU！Jean，doyouthinkthatIamquitemad？"

"Francoistelephonedmetocomeatonce;thatyouwereintroubleandwantedme。"

"Francois？WhointheworldisFrancois？"

"Hesaidthathewasinyourservice。HespokeasthoughIshouldrecallthefact。"

"Thereisnoonebythatnameinmyemploy。Someonehasplayedajokeuponyou，Jean，"andOlgalaughed。

"Ifearthatitmaybeamostsinister`joke，’Olga，"hereplied。

"Thereismorebackofitthanhumor。"

"Whatdoyoumean？Youdonotthinkthat——"

"Whereisthecount？"heinterrupted。

"AttheGermanambassador’s。"

"Thisisanothermovebyyourestimablebrother。

Tomorrowthecountwillhearofit。Hewillquestiontheservants。Everythingwillpointto——towhatRokoffwishesthecounttothink。"

"Thescoundrel！"criedOlga。Shehadarisen，andcomeclosetoTarzan，whereshestoodlookingupintohisface。

Shewasveryfrightened。Inhereyeswasanexpressionthatthehunterseesinthoseofapoor，terrifieddoe——puzzled——questioning。

Shetrembled，andtosteadyherselfraisedherhandstohisbroadshoulders。"Whatshallwedo，Jean？"shewhispered。

"Itisterrible。TomorrowallPariswillreadofit——hewillseetothat。"

Herlook，herattitude，herwordswereeloquentoftheage—

oldappealofdefenselesswomantohernaturalprotector——man。

Tarzantookoneofthewarmlittlehandsthatlayonhisbreastinhisownstrongone。Theactwasquiteinvoluntary，andalmostequallysowastheinstinctofprotectionthatthrewashelteringarmaroundthegirl’sshoulders。

Theresultwaselectrical。Neverbeforehadhebeensoclosetoher。Instartledguilttheylookedsuddenlyintoeachother’seyes，andwhereOlgadeCoudeshouldhavebeenstrongshewasweak，forshecreptcloserintotheman’sarms，andclaspedherownabouthisneck。AndTarzanoftheApes？

Hetookthepantingfigureintohismightyarms，andcoveredthehotlipswithkisses。

RaouldeCoudemadehurriedexcusestohishostafterhehadreadthenotehandedhimbytheambassador’sbutler。

Neverafterwardcouldherecallthenatureoftheexcuseshemade。Everythingwasquiteablurtohimuptothetimethathestoodonthethresholdofhisownhome。

Thenhebecameverycool，movingquietlyandwithcaution。

ForsomeinexplicablereasonJacqueshadthedooropenbeforehewashalfwaytothesteps。Itdidnotstrikehimatthetimeasbeingunusual，thoughafterwardheremarkedit。

Verysoftlyhetiptoedupthestairsandalongthegallerytothedoorofhiswife’sboudoir。Inhishandwasaheavywalkingstick——inhisheart，murder。

Olgawasthefirsttoseehim。WithahorrifiedshriekshetoreherselffromTarzan’sarms，andtheape—manturnedjustintimetowardwithhisarmaterrificblowthatDeCoudehadaimedathishead。Once，twice，threetimestheheavystickfellwithlightningrapidity，andeachblowaidedinthetransitionoftheape—manbacktotheprimordial。

Withthelow，gutturalsnarlofthebullapehesprangfortheFrenchman。Thegreatstickwastornfromhisgraspandbrokenintwoasthoughithadbeenmatchwood，tobeflungasideasthenowinfuriatedbeastchargedforhisadversary’sthroat。

OlgadeCoudestoodahorrifiedspectatoroftheterriblescenewhichensuedduringthenextbriefmoment，thenshesprangtowhereTarzanwasmurderingherhusband——

chokingthelifefromhim——shakinghimasaterriermightshakearat。

Franticallyshetoreathisgreathands。"MotherofGod！"shecried。"Youarekillinghim，youarekillinghim！

Oh，Jean，youarekillingmyhusband！"

Tarzanwasdeafwithrage。Suddenlyhehurledthebodytothefloor，and，placinghisfootupontheupturnedbreast，raisedhishead。ThenthroughthepalaceoftheCountdeCouderangtheawesomechallengeofthebullapethathasmadeakill。Fromcellartoatticthehorridsoundsearchedouttheservants，andleftthemblanchedandtrembling。

Thewomanintheroomsanktoherkneesbesidethebodyofherhusband，andprayed。

SlowlytheredmistfadedfrombeforeTarzan’seyes。

Thingsbegantotakeform——hewasregainingtheperspectiveofcivilizedman。Hiseyesfelluponthefigureofthekneelingwoman。

"Olga，"hewhispered。Shelookedup，expectingtoseethemaniacallightofmurderintheeyesaboveher。

Insteadshesawsorrowandcontrition。

"Oh，Jean！"shecried。"Seewhatyouhavedone。Hewasmyhusband。Ilovedhim，andyouhavekilledhim。"

VerygentlyTarzanraisedthelimpformoftheCountdeCoudeandboreittoacouch。Thenheputhiseartotheman’sbreast。

"Somebrandy，Olga，"hesaid。

Shebroughtit，andtogethertheyforceditbetweenhislips。

Presentlyafaintgaspcamefromthewhitelips。

Theheadturned，andDeCoudegroaned。

"Hewillnotdie，"saidTarzan。"ThankGod！"

"Whydidyoudoit，Jean？"sheasked。

"Idonotknow。Hestruckme，andIwentmad。Ihaveseentheapesofmytribedothesamething。Ihavenevertoldyoumystory，Olga。Itwouldhavebeenbetterhadyouknownit——thismightnothavehappened。Ineversawmyfather。

TheonlymotherIknewwasaferociousshe—ape。UntilIwasfifteenIhadneverseenahumanbeing。IwastwentybeforeIsawawhiteman。AlittlemorethanayearagoIwasanakedbeastofpreyinanAfricanjungle。

"Donotjudgemetooharshly。Twoyearsistooshortatimeinwhichtoattempttoworkthechangeinanindividualthatithastakencountlessagestoaccomplishinthewhiterace。"

"Idonotjudgeatall，Jean。Thefaultismine。

Youmustgonow——hemustnotfindyouherewhenheregainsconsciousness。Good—by。"

ItwasasorrowfulTarzanwhowalkedwithbowedheadfromthepalaceoftheCountdeCoude。

Onceoutsidehisthoughtstookdefiniteshape，totheendthattwentyminuteslaterheenteredapolicestationnotfarfromtheRueMaule。Herehesoonfoundoneoftheofficerswithwhomhehadhadtheencounterseveralweeksprevious。Thepolicemanwasgenuinelygladtoseeagainthemanwhohadsoroughlyhandledhim。AfteramomentofconversationTarzanaskedifhehadeverheardofNikolasRokofforAlexisPaulvitch。

"Veryoften，indeed，monsieur。Eachhasapolicerecord，andwhilethereisnothingchargedagainstthemnow，wemakeitapointtoknowprettywellwheretheymaybefoundshouldtheoccasiondemand。Itisonlythesameprecautionthatwetakewitheveryknowncriminal。Whydoesmonsieurask？"

"Theyareknowntome，"repliedTarzan。"IwishtoseeMonsieurRokoffonalittlematterofbusiness。IfyoucandirectmetohislodgingsIshallappreciateit。"

Afewminuteslaterhebadethepolicemanadieu，and，withaslipofpaperinhispocketbearingacertainaddressinasemirespectablequarter，hewalkedbrisklytowardthenearesttaxistand。

RokoffandPaulvitchhadreturnedtotheirrooms，andweresittingtalkingovertheprobableoutcomeoftheevening’sevents。TheyhadtelephonedtotheofficesoftwoofthemorningpapersfromwhichtheymomentarilyexpectedrepresentativestohearthefirstreportofthescandalthatwastostirsocialParisonthemorrow。

Aheavystepsoundedonthestairway。"Ah，butthesenewspapermenareprompt，"exclaimedRokoff，andasaknockfelluponthedooroftheirroom:"Enter，monsieur。"

ThesmileofwelcomefrozeupontheRussian’sfaceashelookedintothehard，grayeyesofhisvisitor。

"Nameofaname！"heshouted，springingtohisfeet，"Whatbringsyouhere！"

"Sitdown！"saidTarzan，solowthatthemencouldbarelycatchthewords，butinatonethatbroughtRokofftohischair，andkeptPaulvitchinhis。

"Youknowwhathasbroughtmehere，"hecontinued，inthesamelowtone。"Itshouldbetokillyou，butbecauseyouareOlgadeCoude’sbrotherIshallnotdothat——now。

"Ishallgiveyouachanceforyourlives。Paulvitchdoesnotcountmuch——heismerelyastupid，foolishlittletool，andsoIshallnotkillhimsolongasIpermityoutolive。

BeforeIleaveyoutwoaliveinthisroomyouwillhavedonetwothings。Thefirstwillbetowriteafullconfessionofyourconnectionwithtonight’splot——andsignit。

"Thesecondwillbetopromisemeuponpainofdeaththatyouwillpermitnowordofthisaffairtogetintothenewspapers。

Ifyoudonotdoboth，neitherofyouwillbealivewhenI

passnextthroughthatdoorway。Doyouunderstand？"

And，withoutwaitingforareply:"Makehaste;thereisinkbeforeyou，andpaperandapen。"

Rokoffassumedatruculentair，attemptingbybravadotoshowhowlittlehefearedTarzan’sthreats。Aninstantlaterhefelttheape—man’ssteelfingersathisthroat，andPaulvitch，whoattemptedtododgethemandreachthedoor，wasliftedcompletelyoffthefloor，andhurledsenselessintoacorner。WhenRokoffcommencedtoblackenaboutthefaceTarzanreleasedhisholdandshovedthefellowbackintohischair。AfteramomentofcoughingRokoffsatsullenlyglaringatthemanstandingoppositehim。PresentlyPaulvitchcametohimself，andlimpedpainfullybacktohischairatTarzan’scommand。

"Nowwrite，"saidtheape—man。"IfitisnecessarytohandleyouagainIshallnotbesolenient。"

Rokoffpickedupapenandcommencedtowrite。

"Seethatyouomitnodetail，andthatyoumentioneveryname，"cautionedTarzan。

Presentlytherewasaknockatthedoor。"Enter，"saidTarzan。

Adapperyoungmancamein。"IamfromtheMATIN，"

heannounced。"IunderstandthatMonsieurRokoffhasastoryforme。"

"Thenyouaremistaken，monsieur，"repliedTarzan。

"Youhavenostoryforpublication，haveyou，mydearNikolas。"

Rokofflookedupfromhiswritingwithanuglyscowluponhisface。

"No，"hegrowled，"Ihavenostoryforpublication——now。"

"Norever，mydearNikolas，"andthereporterdidnotseethenastylightintheape—man’seye;butNikolasRokoffdid。

"Norever，"herepeatedhastily。

"Itistoobadthatmonsieurhasbeentroubled，"saidTarzan，turningtothenewspaperman。"Ibidmonsieurgoodevening，"andhebowedthedapperyoungmanoutoftheroom，andclosedthedoorinhisface。

AnhourlaterTarzan，witharatherbulkymanuscriptinhiscoatpocket，turnedatthedoorleadingfromRokoff’sroom。

"WereIyouIshouldleaveFrance，"hesaid，"forsoonerorlaterIshallfindanexcusetokillyouthatwillnotinanywaycompromiseyoursister。"

Chapter6

ADuelD’ArnotwasasleepwhenTarzanenteredtheirapartmentsafterleavingRokoff’s。Tarzandidnotdisturbhim，butthefollowingmorninghenarratedthehappeningsofthepreviousevening，omittingnotasingledetail。

"WhatafoolIhavebeen，"heconcluded。"DeCoudeandhiswifewerebothmyfriends。HowhaveIreturnedtheirfriendship？BarelydidIescapemurderingthecount。Ihavecastastigmaonthenameofagoodwoman。ItisveryprobablethatIhavebrokenupahappyhome。"

"DoyouloveOlgadeCoude？"askedD’Arnot。

"WereInotpositivethatshedoesnotlovemeIcouldnotansweryourquestion，Paul;butwithoutdisloyaltytoherI

tellyouthatIdonotloveher，nordoessheloveme。Foraninstantwewerethevictimsofasuddenmadness——itwasnotlove——anditwouldhaveleftus，unharmed，assuddenlyasithadcomeuponuseventhoughDeCoudehadnotreturned。

Asyouknow，Ihavehadlittleexperienceofwomen。OlgadeCoudeisverybeautiful;that，andthedimlightandtheseductivesurroundings，andtheappealofthedefenselessforprotection，mighthavebeenresistedbyamorecivilizedman，butmycivilizationisnotevenskindeep——itdoesnotgodeeperthanmyclothes。

"Parisisnoplaceforme。Iwillbutcontinuetostumbleintomoreandmoreseriouspitfalls。Theman—maderestrictionsareirksome。IfeelalwaysthatIamaprisoner。

Icannotendureit，myfriend，andsoIthinkthatIshallgobacktomyownjungle，andleadthelifethatGodintendedthatIshouldleadwhenHeputmethere。"

"Donottakeitsotoheart，Jean，"respondedD’Arnot。

"Youhaveacquittedyourselfmuchbetterthanmost`civilized’menwouldhaveundersimilarcircumstances。

AstoleavingParisatthistime，IratherthinkthatRaouldeCoudemaybeexpectedtohavesomethingtosayonthatsubjectbeforelong。"

NorwasD’Arnotmistaken。AweeklateronMonsieurFlaubertwasannouncedabouteleveninthemorning，asD’ArnotandTarzanwerebreakfasting。MonsieurFlaubertwasanimpressivelypolitegentleman。WithmanylowbowshedeliveredMonsieurleCountdeCoude’schallengetoMonsieurTarzan。

WouldmonsieurbesoverykindastoarrangetohaveafriendmeetMonsieurFlaubertatasearlyanhourasconvenient，thatthedetailsmightbearrangedtothemutualsatisfactionofallconcerned？

Certainly。MonsieurTarzanwouldbedelightedtoplacehisinterestsunreservedlyinthehandsofhisfriend，LieutenantD’Arnot。AndsoitwasarrangedthatD’ArnotwastocallonMonsieurFlaubertattwothatafternoon，andthepoliteMonsieurFlaubert，withmanybows，leftthem。

WhentheywereagainaloneD’ArnotlookedquizzicallyatTarzan。

"Well？"hesaid。

"NowtomysinsImustaddmurder，orelsemyselfbekilled，"

saidTarzan。"Iamprogressingrapidlyinthewaysofmycivilizedbrothers。"

"Whatweaponsshallyouselect？"askedD’Arnot。

"DeCoudeisaccreditedwithbeingamasterwiththesword，andasplendidshot。"

"Imightthenchoosepoisonedarrowsattwentypaces，orspearsatthesamedistance，"laughedTarzan。

"Makeitpistols，Paul。"

"Hewillkillyou，Jean。"

"Ihavenodoubtofit，"repliedTarzan。"Imustdiesomeday。"

"Wehadbettermakeitswords，"saidD’Arnot。"Hewillbesatisfiedwithwoundingyou，andthereislessdangerofamortalwound。"

"Pistols，"saidTarzan，withfinality。

D’Arnottriedtoarguehimoutofit，butwithoutavail，sopistolsitwas。

D’ArnotreturnedfromhisconferencewithMonsieurFlaubertshortlyafterfour。

"Itisallarranged，"hesaid。"Everythingissatisfactory。

Tomorrowmorningatdaylight——thereisasecludedspotontheroadnotfarfromEtamps。ForsomepersonalreasonMonsieurFlaubertpreferredit。Ididnotdemur。"

"Good！"wasTarzan’sonlycomment。Hedidnotrefertothematteragainevenindirectly。Thatnighthewroteseverallettersbeforeheretired。AftersealingandaddressingthemheplacedthemallinanenvelopeaddressedtoD’Arnot。

AsheundressedD’Arnotheardhimhummingamusic—hallditty。

TheFrenchmansworeunderhisbreath。Hewasveryunhappy，forhewaspositivethatwhenthesunrosethenextmorningitwouldlookdownuponadeadTarzan。ItgrateduponhimtoseeTarzansounconcerned。

"Thisisamostuncivilizedhourforpeopletokilleachother，"remarkedtheape—manwhenhehadbeenroutedoutofacomfortablebedintheblacknessoftheearlymorninghours。

Hehadsleptwell，andsoitseemedthathisheadscarcelytouchedthepillowerehismandeferentiallyarousedhim。

HisremarkwasaddressedtoD’Arnot，whostoodfullydressedinthedoorwayofTarzan’sbedroom。

D’Arnothadscarcelysleptatallduringthenight。Hewasnervous，andthereforeinclinedtobeirritable。

"Ipresumeyousleptlikeababyallnight，"hesaid。

Tarzanlaughed。"Fromyourtone，Paul，Iinferthatyouratherharborthefactagainstme。Icouldnothelpit，really。"

"No，Jean;itisnotthat，"repliedD’Arnot，himselfsmiling。"Butyoutaketheentirematterwithsuchinfernalindifference——itisexasperating。Onewouldthinkthatyouweregoingouttoshootatatarget，ratherthantofaceoneofthebestshotsinFrance。"

Tarzanshruggedhisshoulders。"Iamgoingouttoexpiateagreatwrong，Paul。Averynecessaryfeatureoftheexpiationisthemarksmanshipofmyopponent。Wherefore，then，shouldIbedissatisfied？HaveyounotyourselftoldmethatCountdeCoudeisasplendidmarksman？"

"Youmeanthatyouhopetobekilled？"exclaimedD’Arnot，inhorror。

"IcannotsaythatIhopetobe;butyoumustadmitthatthereislittlereasontobelievethatIshallnotbekilled。"

HadD’Arnotknownthethingthatwasintheape—man’smind——thathadbeeninhismindalmostfromthefirstintimationthatDeCoudewouldcallhimtoaccountonthefieldofhonor——hewouldhavebeenevenmorehorrifiedthanhewas。

InsilencetheyenteredD’Arnot’sgreatcar，andinsimilarsilencetheyspedoverthedimroadthatleadstoEtamps。Eachmanwasoccupiedwithhisownthoughts。

D’Arnot’swereverymournful，forhewasgenuinelyfondofTarzan。Thegreatfriendshipwhichhadsprungupbetweenthesetwomenwhoselivesandtraininghadbeensowidelydifferenthadbutbeenstrengthenedbyassociation，fortheywerebothmentowhomthesamehighidealsofmanhood，ofpersonalcourage，andofhonorappealedwithequalforce。

Theycouldunderstandoneanother，andeachcouldbeproudofthefriendshipoftheother。

TarzanoftheApeswaswrappedinthoughtsofthepast;

pleasantmemoriesofthehappieroccasionsofhislostjunglelife。Herecalledthecountlessboyhoodhoursthathehadspentcross—leggeduponthetableinhisdeadfather’scabin，hislittlebrownbodybentoveroneofthefascinatingpicturebooksfromwhich，unaided，hehadgleanedthesecretoftheprintedlanguagelongbeforethesoundsofhumanspeechfelluponhisears。AsmileofcontentmentsoftenedhisstrongfaceashethoughtofthatdayofdaysthathehadhadalonewithJanePorterintheheartofhisprimevalforest。

Presentlyhisreminiscenceswerebrokeninuponbythestoppingofthecar——theywereattheirdestination。