www.freeclassicebooks.com

scolded and screamed in the branches overhead, while harsh-voiced birds of

brilliant plumage darted hither and thither. She noticed presently that their

captors often cast apprehensive glances in the direction of the birds and on

numerous occasions seemed to be addressing the winged denizens of the forest.

One incident made a marked impression on her. The man who immediately

preceded her was a fellow of powerful build, yet, when a brilliantly colored parrot

swooped downward toward him, he dropped upon his knees and covering his face

with his arms bent forward until his head touched the ground. Some of the

others looked at him and laughed nervously. Presently the man glanced upward

and seeing that the bird had gone, rose to his feet and continued along the trail.

It was at this brief halt that Smith-Oldwick was brought to her side by the men

who had been supporting him. He had been rather badly mauled by one of the

lions; but was now able to walk alone, though he was extremely weak from shock

and loss of blood.

Pretty mess, what?" he remarked with a wry smile, indicating his bloody and

disheveled state.

"It is terrible," said the girl. "I hope you are not suffering."

"Not as much as I should have expected," he replied, "but I feel as weak as a fool.

What sort of creatures are these beggars, anyway?"

"I don't know," she replied, "there is something terribly uncanny about their

appearance."

The man regarded one of their captors closely for a moment and then, turning to

the girl asked, "Did you ever visit a madhouse?"

She looked up at him in quick understanding and with a horrified expression in

her eyes. "That's it!" she cried.

They have all the earmarks," he said. "Whites of the eyes showing all around the

irises, hair growing stiffly erect from the scalp and low down upon the forehead--

even their mannerisms and their carriage are those of maniacs."

The girl shuddered.

"Another thing about them," continued the Englishman, "that doesn't appear

normal is that they are afraid of parrots and utterly fearless of lions."

Yes," said the girl; "and did you notice that the birds seem utterly fearless of

them--really seem to hold them in contempt? Have you any idea what language

they speak?"

175

Tarzan the Untamed