CHAPTER XIII "A Sight which I shall Never Forget"

edthebewilderedSummerleebythearm,andtheybothrantowardsus.TwooftheirguardsboundedafterthemandfelltotwobulletsfromLordJohn.Weranforwardintotheopentomeetourfriends,andpressedaloadedrifleintothehandsofeach.ButSummerleewasattheendofhisstrength.Hecouldhardlytotter.Alreadytheape-menwererecoveringfromtheirpanic.Theywerecomingthroughthebrushwoodandthreateningtocutusoff.ChallengerandIranSummerleealong,oneateachofhiselbows,whileLordJohncoveredourretreat,firingagainandagainassavageheadssnarledatusoutofthebushes.Foramileormorethechatteringbruteswereatourveryheels.Thenthepursuitslackened,fortheylearnedourpowerandwouldnolongerfacethatunerringrifle.Whenwehadatlastreachedthecamp,welookedbackandfoundourselvesalone. Soitseemedtousandyetweweremistaken.Wehadhardlyclosedthethornbushdoorofourzareba,claspedeachother'shands,andthrownourselvespantinguponthegroundbesideourspring,whenweheardapatteroffeetandthenagentle,plaintivecryingfromoutsideourentrance.LordRoxtonrushedforward,rifleinhand,andthrewitopen.There,prostrateupontheirfaces,laythelittleredfiguresofthefoursurvivingIndians,tremblingwithfearofusandyetimploringourprotection.Withanexpressivesweepofhishandsoneofthempointedtothewoodsaroundthem,andindicatedthattheywerefullofdanger.Then,dartingforward,hethrewhisarmsroundLordJohn'slegs,andrestedhisfaceuponthem. "ByGeorge!"criedourpeer,pullingathismoustacheingreatperplexity,"Isay—whatthedeucearewetodowiththesepeople?Getup,littlechappie,andtakeyourfaceoffmyboots." Summerleewassittingupandstuffingsometobaccointohisoldbriar. "We'vegottoseethemsafe,"saidhe."You'vepulledusalloutofthejawsofdeath.Myword!itwasagoodbitofwork!" "Admirable!"criedChallenger."Admirable!Notonlyweasindividuals,butEuropeansciencecollectively,oweyouadeepdebtofgratitudeforwhatyouhavedone.IdonothesitatetosaythatthedisappearanceofProfessorSummerleeandmyselfwouldhaveleftanappreciablegapinmodernzoologicalhistory.Ouryoungfriendhereandyouhavedonemostexcellentlywell." Hebeamedatuswiththeoldpaternalsmile,butEuropeansciencewouldhavebeensomewhatamazedcouldtheyhaveseentheirchosenchild,thehopeofthefuture,withhistangled,unkempthead,hisbarechest,andhistatteredclothes.Hehadoneofthemeat-tinsbetweenhisknees,andsatwithalargepieceofcoldAustralianmuttonbetweenhisfingers.TheIndianlookedupathim,andthen,withalittleyelp,cringedtothegroundandclungtoLordJohn'sleg. "Don'tyoubescared,mybonnieboy,"saidLordJohn,pattingthemattedheadinfrontofhim."Hecan'tstickyourappearance,Challengerand,byGeorge!Idon'twonder.Allright,littlechap,he'sonlyahuman,justthesameastherestofus." "Really,sir!"criedtheProfessor. "Well,it'sluckyforyou,Challenger,thatyouAREalittleoutoftheordinary.Ifyouhadn'tbeensoliketheking——" "Uponmyword,LordJohn,youallowyourselfgreatlatitude." "Well,it'safact." "Ibeg,sir,thatyouwillchangethesubject.Yourremarksareirrelevantandunintelligible.ThequestionbeforeusiswhatarewetodowiththeseIndians?Theobviousthingistoescortthemhome,ifweknewwheretheirhomewas." "Thereisnodifficultyaboutthat,"saidI."Theyliveinthecavesontheothersideofthecentrallake." "Ouryoungfriendhereknowswheretheylive.Igatherthatitissomedistance." "Agoodtwentymiles,"saidI. Summerleegaveagroan. "I,forone,couldnevergetthere.SurelyIhearthosebrutesstillhowlinguponourtrack." Ashespoke,fromthedarkrecessesofthewoodsweheardfarawaythejabberingcryoftheape-men.TheIndiansoncemoresetupafeeblewailoffear. "Wemustmove,andmovequick!"saidLordJohn."YouhelpSummerlee,youngfellah.TheseIndianswillcarrystores.Now,then,comealongbeforetheycanseeus." Inlessthanhalf-an-hourwehadreachedourbrushwoodretreatandconcealedourselves.Alldayweheardtheexcitedcallingoftheape-meninthedirectionofouroldcamp,butnoneofthemcameourway,andthetiredfugitives,redandwhite,hadalong,deepsleep.Iwasdozingmyselfintheeveningwhensomeonepluckedmysleeve,andIfoundChallengerkneelingbesideme. "Youkeepadiaryoftheseevents,andyouexpecteventuallytopublishit,Mr.Malone,"saidhe,withsolemnity. "IamonlyhereasaPressreporter,"Ianswered. "Exactly.YoumayhaveheardsomeratherfatuousremarksofLordJohnRoxton'swhichseemedtoimplythattherewassome—someresemblance——" "Yes,Iheardthem." "Ineednotsaythatanypublicitygiventosuchanidea—anylevityinyournarrativeofwhatoccurred—wouldbeexceedinglyoffensivetome." "Iwillkeepwellwithinthetruth." "LordJohn'sobservationsarefrequentlyexceedinglyfanciful,andheiscapableofattributingthemostabsurdreasonstotherespectwhichisalwaysshownbythemostundevelopedracestodignityandcharacter.Youfollowmymeaning?" "Entirely." "Ileavethemattertoyourdiscretion."Then,afteralongpause,headded:"Thekingoftheape-menwasreallyacreatureofgreatdistinction—amostremarkablyhandsomeandintelligentpersonality.Diditnotstrikeyou?" "Amostremarkablecreature,"saidI. AndtheProfessor,mucheasedinhismind,settleddowntohisslumberoncemore.