Chapter XXVIII
Conclusion
At the sight of Jane, cries of relief and delight broke from every lip,and as Tarzan's car stopped beside the other, Professor Porter caughthis daughter in his arms.
For a moment no one noticed Tarzan, sitting silently in his seat.
Clayton was the first to remember, and, turning, held out his hand.
How can we ever thank you? he exclaimed. You have saved us all.You called me by name at the cottage, but I do not seem to recallyours, though there is something very familiar about you. It is asthough I had known you well under very different conditions a long timeago.
Tarzan smiled as he took the proffered hand.
You are quite right, Monsieur Clayton, he said, in French. You willpardon me if I do not speak to you in English. I am just learning it,and while I understand it fairly well I speak it very poorly.
But who are you? insisted Clayton, speaking in French this timehimself.
Tarzan of the Apes.
Clayton started back in surprise.
By Jove! he exclaimed. It is true.
And Professor Porter and Mr. Philander pressed forward to add theirthanks to Clayton's, and to voice their surprise and pleasure at seeingtheir jungle friend so far from his savage home.
The party now entered the modest little hostelry, where Clayton soonmade arrangements for their entertainment.
They were sitting in the little, stuffy parlor when the distantchugging of an approaching automobile caught their attention.
Mr. Philander, who was sitting near the window, looked out as the cardrew in sight, finally stopping beside the other automobiles.
Bless me! said Mr. Philander, a shade of annoyance in his tone. Itis Mr. Canler. I had hoped, er--I had thought or--er--how very happywe should be that he was not caught in the fire, he ended lamely.
Tut, tut! Mr. Philander, said Professor Porter. Tut, tut! I haveoften admonished my pupils to count ten before speaking. Were I you,Mr. Philander, I should count at least a thousand, and then maintain adiscreet silence.
Bless me, yes! acquiesced Mr. Philander. But who is the clericalappearing gentleman with him?
Jane blanched.
Clayton moved uneasily in his chair.
Professor Porter removed his spectacles nervously, and breathed uponthem, but replaced them on his nose without wiping.
The ubiquitous Esmeralda grunted.
Only Tarzan did not comprehend.
Presently Robert Canler burst into the room.
Thank God! he cried. I feared the worst, until I saw your car,Clayton. I was cut off on the south road and had to go away back totown, and then strike east to this road. I thought we'd never reachthe cottage.
No one seemed to enthuse much. Tarzan eyed Robert Canler as Sabor eyesher prey.
Jane glanced at him and coughed nervously.
Mr. Canler, she said, this is Monsieur Tarzan, an old friend.
Canler turned and extended his hand. Tarzan rose and bowed as onlyD'Arnot could have taught a gentleman to do it, but he did not seem tosee Canler's hand.
Nor did Canler appear to notice the oversight.
This is the Reverend Mr. Tousley, Jane, said Canler, turning to theclerical party behind him. Mr. Tousley, Miss Porter.
Mr. Tousley bowed and beamed.
Canler introduced him to the others.
We can have the ceremony at once, Jane, said Canler. Then you and Ican catch the midnight train in town.
Tarzan understood the plan instantly. He glanced out of half-closedeyes at Jane, but he did not move.
The girl hesitated. The room was tense with the silence of taut nerves.
All eyes turned toward Jane, awaiting her reply.
Can't we wait a few days? she asked. I am all unstrung. I havebeen through so much today.
Canler felt the hostility that emanated from each member of the party.It made him angry.
We have waited as long as I intend to wait, he said roughly. Youhave promised to marry me. I shall be played with no longer. I havethe license and here is the preacher. Come Mr. Tousley; come Jane.There are plenty of witnesses--more than enough, he added with adisagreeable inflection; and taking Jane Porter by the arm, he startedto lead her toward the waiting minister.
But scarcely had he taken a single step ere a heavy hand closed uponhis arm with a grip of steel.
Another hand shot to his throat and in a moment he was being shakenhigh above the floor, as a cat might shake a mouse.
Jane turned in horrified surprise toward Tarzan.
And, as she looked into his face, she saw the crimson band upon hisforehead that she had seen that other day in far distant Africa, whenTarzan of the Apes had closed in mortal combat with the greatanthropoid--Terkoz.
She knew that murder lay in that savage heart, and with a little cry ofhorror she sprang forward to plead with the ape-man. But her fears weremore for Tarzan than for Canler. She realized the stern retributionwhich justice metes to the murderer.
Before she could reach them, however, Clayton had jumped to Tarzan'sside and attempted to drag Canler from his grasp.
With a single sweep of one mighty arm the Englishman was hurled acrossthe room, and then Jane laid a firm white hand upon Tarzan's wrist, andlooked up into his eyes.
For my sake, she said.
The grasp upon Canler's throat relaxed.
Tarzan looked down into the beautiful face before him.
Do you wish this to live? he asked in surprise.
I do not wish him to die at your hands, my friend, she replied. Ido not wish you to become a murderer.
Tarzan removed his hand from Canler's throat.
Do you release her from her promise? he asked. It is the price ofyour life.
Canler, gasping for breath, nodded.
Will you go away and never molest her further?
Again the man nodded his head, his face distorted by fear of the deaththat had been so close.
Tarzan released him, and Canler staggered toward the door. In anothermoment he was gone, and the terror-stricken preacher with him.
Tarzan turned toward Jane.
May I speak with you for a moment, alone, he asked.
The girl nodded and started toward the door leading to the narrowveranda of the little hotel. She passed out to await Tarzan and so didnot hear the conversation which followed.
Wait, cried Professor Porter, as Tarzan was about to follow.
The professor had been stricken dumb with surprise by the rapiddevelopments of the past few minutes.
Before we go further, sir, I should like an explanation of the eventswhich have just transpired. By what right, sir, did you interferebetween my daughter and Mr. Canler? I had promised him her hand, sir,and regardless of our personal likes or dislikes, sir, that promisemust be kept.
I interfered, Professor Porter, replied Tarzan, because yourdaughter does not love Mr. Canler--she does not wish to marry him.That is enough for me to know.
You do not know what you have done, said Professor Porter. Now hewill doubtless refuse to marry her.
He most certainly will, said Tarzan, emphatically.
And further, added Tarzan, you need not fear that your pride willsuffer, Professor Porter, for you will be able to pay the Canler personwhat you owe him the moment you reach home.
Tut, tut, sir! exclaimed Professor Porter. What do you mean, sir?
Your treasure has been found, said Tarzan.
What--what is that you are saying? cried the professor. You aremad, man. It cannot be.
It is, though. It was I who stole it, not knowing either its value orto whom it belonged. I saw the sailors bury it, and, ape-like, I hadto dig it up and bury it again elsewhere. When D'Arnot told me what itwas and what it meant to you I returned to the jungle and recovered it.It had caused so much crime and suffering and sorrow that D'Arnotthought it best not to attempt to bring the treasure itself on here, ashad been my intention, so I have brought a letter of credit instead.
Here it is, Professor Porter, and Tarzan drew an envelope from hispocket and handed it to the astonished professor, two hundred andforty-one thousand dollars. The treasure was most carefully appraisedby experts, but lest there should be any question in your mind, D'Arnothimself bought it and is holding it for you, should you prefer thetreasure to the credit.
To the already great burden of the obligations we owe you, sir, saidProfessor Porter, with trembling voice, is now added this greatest ofall services. You have given me the means to save my honor.
Clayton, who had left the room a moment after Canler, now returned.
Pardon me, he said. I think we had better try to reach town beforedark and take the first train out of this forest. A native just rodeby from the north, who reports that the fire is moving slowly in thisdirection.
This announcement broke up further conversation, and the entire partywent out to the waiting automobiles.
Clayton, with Jane, the professor and Esmeralda occupied Clayton's car,while Tarzan took Mr. Philander in with him.
Bless me! exclaimed Mr. Philander, as the car moved off afterClayton. Who would ever have thought it possible! The last time Isaw you you were a veritable wild man, skipping about among thebranches of a tropical African forest, and now you are driving me alonga Wisconsin road in a French automobile. Bless me! But it is mostremarkable.
Yes, assented Tarzan, and then, after a pause, Mr. Philander, do yourecall any of the details of the finding and burying of three skeletonsfound in my cabin beside that African jungle?
Very distinctly, sir, very distinctly, replied Mr. Philander.
Was there anything peculiar about any of those skeletons?
Mr. Philander eyed Tarzan narrowly.
Why do you ask?
It means a great deal to me to know, replied Tarzan. Your answermay clear up a mystery. It can do no worse, at any rate, than to leaveit still a mystery. I have been entertaining a theory concerning thoseskeletons for the past two months, and I want you to answer my questionto the best of your knowledge--were the three skeletons you buried allhuman skeletons?
No, said Mr. Philander, the smallest one, the one found in the crib,was the skeleton of an anthropoid ape.
Thank you, said Tarzan.
In the car ahead, Jane was thinking fast and furiously. She had feltthe purpose for which Tarzan had asked a few words with her, and sheknew that she must be prepared to give him an answer in the very nearfuture.
He was not the sort of person one could put off, and somehow that verythought made her wonder if she did not really fear him.
And could she love where she feared?
She realized the spell that had been upon her in the depths of thatfar-off jungle, but there was no spell of enchantment now in prosaicWisconsin.
Nor did the immaculate young Frenchman appeal to the primal woman inher, as had the stalwart forest god.
Did she love him? She did not know--now.
She glanced at Clayton out of the corner of her eye. Was not here aman trained in the same school of environment in which she had beentrained--a man with social position and culture such as she had beentaught to consider as the prime essentials to congenial association?
Did not her best judgment point to this young English nobleman, whoselove she knew to be of the sort a civilized woman should crave, as thelogical mate for such as herself?
Could she love Clayton? She could see no reason why she could not.Jane was not coldly calculating by nature, but training, environmentand heredity had all combined to teach her to reason even in matters ofthe heart.
That she had been carried off her feet by the strength of the younggiant when his great arms were about her in the distant African forest,and again today, in the Wisconsin woods, seemed to her onlyattributable to a temporary mental reversion to type on her part--tothe psychological appeal of the primeval man to the primeval woman inher nature.
If he should never touch her again, she reasoned, she would never feelattracted toward him. She had not loved him, then. It had beennothing more than a passing hallucination, super-induced by excitementand by personal contact.
Excitement would not always mark their future relations, should shemarry him, and the power of personal contact eventually would be dulledby familiarity.
Again she glanced at Clayton. He was very handsome and every inch agentleman. She should be very proud of such a husband.
And then he spoke--a minute sooner or a minute later might have madeall the difference in the world to three lives--but chance stepped inand pointed out to Clayton the psychological moment.
You are free now, Jane, he said. Won't you say yes--I will devotemy life to making you very happy.
Yes, she whispered.
That evening in the little waiting room at the station Tarzan caughtJane alone for a moment.
You are free now, Jane, he said, and _I_ have come across the agesout of the dim and distant past from the lair of the primeval man toclaim you--for your sake I have become a civilized man--for your sake Ihave crossed oceans and continents--for your sake I will be whateveryou will me to be. I can make you happy, Jane, in the life you knowand love best. Will you marry me?
For the first time she realized the depths of the man's love--all thathe had accomplished in so short a time solely for love of her. Turningher head she buried her face in her arms.
What had she done? Because she had been afraid she might succumb tothe pleas of this giant, she had burned her bridges behind her--in hergroundless apprehension that she might make a terrible mistake, she hadmade a worse one.
And then she told him all--told him the truth word by word, withoutattempting to shield herself or condone her error.
What can we do? he asked. You have admitted that you love me. Youknow that I love you; but I do not know the ethics of society by whichyou are governed. I shall leave the decision to you, for you know bestwhat will be for your eventual welfare.
I cannot tell him, Tarzan, she said. He too, loves me, and he is agood man. I could never face you nor any other honest person if Irepudiated my promise to Mr. Clayton. I shall have to keep it--and youmust help me bear the burden, though we may not see each other againafter tonight.
The others were entering the room now and Tarzan turned toward thelittle window.
But he saw nothing outside--within he saw a patch of greenswardsurrounded by a matted mass of gorgeous tropical plants and flowers,and, above, the waving foliage of mighty trees, and, over all, the blueof an equatorial sky.
In the center of the greensward a young woman sat upon a little moundof earth, and beside her sat a young giant. They ate pleasant fruitand looked into each other's eyes and smiled. They were very happy,and they were all alone.
His thoughts were broken in upon by the station agent who enteredasking if there was a gentleman by the name of Tarzan in the party.
I am Monsieur Tarzan, said the ape-man.
Here is a message for you, forwarded from Baltimore; it is a cablegramfrom Paris.
Tarzan took the envelope and tore it open. The message was fromD'Arnot.
It read:
Fingerprints prove you Greystoke. Congratulations. D'ARNOT.
As Tarzan finished reading, Clayton entered and came toward him withextended hand.
Here was the man who had Tarzan's title, and Tarzan's estates, and wasgoing to marry the woman whom Tarzan loved--the woman who loved Tarzan.A single word from Tarzan would make a great difference in this man'slife.
It would take away his title and his lands and his castles, and--itwould take them away from Jane Porter also. I say, old man, criedClayton, I haven't had a chance to thank you for all you've done forus. It seems as though you had your hands full saving our lives inAfrica and here.
I'm awfully glad you came on here. We must get better acquainted. Ioften thought about you, you know, and the remarkable circumstances ofyour environment.
If it's any of my business, how the devil did you ever get into thatbally jungle?
I was born there, said Tarzan, quietly. My mother was an Ape, andof course she couldn't tell me much about it. I never knew who myfather was.
FOR THE FURTHER ADVENTURES OF LORD GREYSTOKE READ THE RETURN OF TARZAN