Adventure stories; Fantasy fiction; Tarzan (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
As they felicitated their fellow upon his miraculous escape Tarzan
had an opportunity to inspect them more closely. The tallest of them
stood about eighteen inches in height, their white skins were tanned
by exposure to a shade a trifle darker than his own, yet there was no
question but that they were white men; their features were regular and
well proportioned, so that by any standards of our race they would
have been considered handsome. There were, of course, variations and
exceptions; but on the whole those that he saw before him were fine
looking men. All were smooth faced and there seemed to be no very old
men among them, while he whom Tarzan had saved from the Alalus woman
was apparently younger than the average, and much younger than those
who had dismounted to do him homage.
As Tarzan watched them the young man bade the others rise and then
addressed them for a moment after which he turned toward the ape-man
and directed his remarks to him, none of which, of course, Tarzan
could understand. By his manner, however, he guessed that the other
was thanking him and possibly too asking his further intentions toward
them and in reply the ape-man endeavored to assure them that he desired
their friendship. Further to emphasize his peaceful intentions he cast
his weapons aside and took a step toward them, his arms thrown slightly
outward, his open palms in their direction.
The young man seemed to understand his friendly overtures, for he
too advanced, offering his hand to Tarzan. The ape-man knew that the
other meant that he should kiss it, but this he did not do, preferring
to assume a role of equality with their highest. Instead, he kneeled
upon one knee that he might more easily reach the profferred hand of
the pygmy and pressing the tiny fingers gently, inclined his head
slightly in a formal bow which carried no suggestion of servility. The
other seemed satisfied, returned the bow with equal dignity and then
attempted to convey to the ape-man that he and his party were about to
ride off across the plain, inviting him to accompany them.
Rather curious to see more of these remarkable little people Tarzan
was nothing loath to accept the invitation. Before the party set out,
however, they dispersed to gather up their dead and wounded and to put
out of their misery any of the injured antelope that were too severely
hurt to travel. This they did with the relatively long, straight sword
which was part of the armament of each. Their lances they left resting
in cylindrical boots attached to the right side of their saddles. For
other weapons Tarzan could discover nothing but a tiny knife carried in
a scabbard at the right side by each warrior. The blade, like the blade
of the rapier, was two edged but only about an inch and a half long,
with a very sharp point.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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