www.freeclassicebooks.com

from the building and the city. He at last decided that it would do no harm to

investigate beyond the room, that he might have some idea as how best to plan

his escape after dark. To this end he crossed the room toward the door but he

had taken only a few steps when the hangings before the alcove separated and

the figure of a woman appeared in the opening.

She was young and beautifully formed; the single drapery wound around her

body from below her breasts left no detail of her symmetrical proportions

unrevealed, but her face was the face of an imbecile. At sight of her Smith-

Oldwick halted, momentarily expecting that his presence would elicit screams for

help from her. On the contrary she came toward him smiling, and when she was

close her slender, shapely fingers touched the sleeve of his torn blouse as a

curious child might handle a new toy, and still with the same smile she examined

him from head to foot, taking in, in childish wonderment, every detail of his

apparel.

Presently she spoke to him in a soft, well-modulated voice which contrasted

sharply with her facial appearance. The voice and the girlish figure harmonized

perfectly and seemed to belong to each other, while the head and face were those

of another creature. Smith-Oldwick could understand no word of what she said,

but nevertheless he spoke to her in his own cultured tone, the effect of which

upon her was evidently most gratifying, for before he realized her intentions or

could prevent her she had thrown both arms about his neck and was kissing him

with the utmost abandon.

The man tried to free himself from her rather surprising attentions, but she only

clung more tightly to him, and suddenly, as he recalled that he had always heard

that one must humor the mentally deficient, and at the same time seeing in her a

possible agency of escape, he dosed his eyes and returned her embraces.

It was at this juncture that the door opened and a man entered. With the sound

from the first movement of the latch, Smith-Oldwick opened his eyes, but though

he endeavored to disengage himself from the girl he realized that the newcomer

had seen their rather compromising position. The girl, whose back was toward

the door, seemed at first not to realize that someone had entered, but when she

did she turned quickly and as her eyes fell upon the man whose terrible face was

now distorted with an expression of hideous rage she turned, screaming, and fled

toward the alcove. The Englishman, flushed and embarrassed, stood where she

had left him. With the sudden realization of the futility of attempting an

explanation, came that of the menacing appearance of the man, whom he now

recognized as the official who had received them in the room below. The fellow's

face, livid with insane rage and, possibly, jealousy, was twitching violently,

accentuating the maniacal expression that it habitually wore.

209

Tarzan the Untamed