Adventure stories; Fantasy fiction; Tarzan (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
Presently, to their surprise, they discerned the glow of a light ahead.
What could it be? Had they made a complete circle, and was this again
the camp they had been fleeing? They pushed on to reconnoiter, until at
last they saw before them the outlines of a camp surrounded by a thorn
boma, in the center of which was burning a small camp-fire. About the
fire were congregated half-a-hundred black warriors, and as the
fugitives crept closer they saw among the blacks a figure standing out
clearly in the light of the camp-fire—a white woman—and behind them
rose louder and louder the sound of pursuit.
From the gestures and gesticulations of the blacks around the camp-fire
it was evident that they were discussing the sounds of the battle they
had recently heard in the direction of the raiders’ camp, for they often
pointed in that direction, and now the woman raised her hand for silence
and they all listened, and it was evident that they, too, heard the
coming of the warriors who were pursuing Flora Hawkes and her
confederates.
“There is a white woman there,” said Flora to the others. “We do not
know who she is, but she is our only hope, for those who are pursuing us
will overtake us quickly. Perhaps this woman will protect us. Come, I am
going to find out;” and without waiting for an answer she walked boldly
toward the boma.
They had come but a short distance when the keen eyes of the Waziri
discovered them, and instantly the boma wall was ringed with bristling
spears.
“Stop!” cried one of the warriors. “We are the Waziri of Tarzan. Who are
you?”
“I am an Englishwoman,” called Flora in reply. “I and my companions are
lost in the jungle. We have been betrayed by our safari—our head-man is
pursuing us now with warriors. There are but five of us and we ask your
protection.”
“Let them come,” said Jane to the Waziri.
As Flora Hawkes and the four men entered the boma beneath the scrutiny
of Jane Clayton and the Waziri, another pair of eyes watched from the
foliage of the great tree that overhung the camp upon the opposite
side—gray eyes to which a strange light came as they recognized the
girl and her companions.
As the newcomers approached Lady Greystoke the latter gave an
exclamation of surprise. “Flora!” she exclaimed, in astonishment. “Flora
Hawkes, what in the world are you doing here?”
The girl, startled too, came to a full stop. “Lady Greystoke!” she
ejaculated.
“I do not understand,” continued Lady Greystoke. “I did not know that
you were in Africa.”
For a moment the glib Flora was overcome by consternation, but presently
her native wit came to her assistance. “I am here with Mr. Bluber and
his friends,” she said, “who came to make scientific researches, and
brought me along because I had been to Africa with you and Lord
Greystoke, and knew something of the manners and customs of the country,
and now our boys have turned against us and unless you can help us we
are lost.”
“Are they west coast boys?” asked Jane.
“Yes,” replied Flora.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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