A soft murmuring sounded from her lips. It was hardly a melody but as close as she could come to it. A wonderful sensation was bubbling in her heart and she was happy.
How long she had been moving through the trees, Tallie wasn't aware. But suddenly her sharp sense of hearing picked up a sound that wasn't native to the jungle. Immediately she froze, standing on a thick branch. She looked down at the jungle underbrush below her.
A man and woman pushed through the game trail.
Tallie watched them for a moment and then quickly scampered down the tree, and dropped onto the trail before them.
* * * *
Carol Hill jumped, as if shot. For a moment she was too surprised to say anything, then sudden joy leaped through her; why she didn't really know. Maybe because this jungle girl had been a God send that night when she'd led Bob and herself back to camp.
The naked girl motioned to them, her lips smiled.
"Tallie ... Tallie,” she announced pointing to herself. Then she motioned them to follow her.
Barton gripped hold of Carol's hand. “What do you think?"
"It's better than ... maybe she knows what she's doing,” Carol suggested.
John Barton shrugged and they followed the jungle girl along the game trail.
Just then they heard the sound of gunfire, just a short distance from them.
Gordon's voice shouted: “To the copter—fast!"
* * * *
Bob Lake came to his feet, rushed toward the copter that was sitting in the middle of the clearing. Just as he was about to reach it, a native leaped out in front of him. A spear menaced Bob.
Unlike the man he had been just days before, Bob leaped into the attack, side stepped the spear thrust, then swung at the pointed black chin. The many fun times in the gym, boxing, focused his actions. At the same time he grabbed for the spear. Jerking the weapon from the other's fingers, he rammed the point into the man's chest.
Gun shots sounded, shouts pierced the jungle air.
Bob turned. Saw Eisen go down with an arrow in his chest.
Gordon rushed toward him. “Into the copter!” the man shouted.
Bob made the dash, covering the three yards in two leaps, then pulled himself up into the copter. He searched for a weapon and found a rifle stacked against the far wall. Grabbing the weapon, he turned, started firing at the half dozen natives rushing Gordon. The white hunter came into the copter, slammed the door shut bolted it.
"You know how to run one of these things?” Gordon asked.
Bob shook his head.
"I've watched Eisen.” The man shrugged his broad shoulders. His old face lined. “Well, we're safe in here, in any case! I'll radio for help! It'll be some time in coming—but we'll get out of this damned mess, yet. If only Barton were here!"
The natives were hammering on the door with their spears and fists.
Gordon turned, aimed his rifle, and fired through the metal.
The hammering stopped.
Bob watched out through the door window as the natives backed away and then slowly melted into the jungle.
"They're gone!” Bob announced.
"The hell they are!” Gordon laughed. “They'll stay out there until doomsday! If only I could fly this damned thing!"
Bob was looking through the window at the camp, when suddenly the foliage opened and Tallie stepped into the clearing followed by two others.
His heart leaped, excitedly.
"Gordon—Carol—Barton!” He flung open the door, his rifle ready; his finger squeezed a couple of shots in the direction in which the natives had disappeared.
There was a shout of pain and then a shout of rage. Then the race was on.
Tallie leaped into a tree, Carol and Barton shot forward, running at top speed for the copter.
Gordon helped the woman up into the copter. An arrow just missed her shoulder, bounding off the metal side of the copter. Barton took a running leap then rushed to the controls.
Bob fired until the gun was empty.
Gordon had already started firing at the natives, holding them back. The copter purred, then roared, the propeller blades cut into the air above them.
Then a score of natives rushed in from the surrounding foliage toward the plane. Arrows and spears flew through the air. Some arrows came from a tree, high above the clearing, cutting into the backs of the natives.
Bob was reloading as he realized that Tallie wasn't with them He shouted. “Tallie! Tallie!"
Just then an arrow slammed into his chest and he felt himself crumble down against the floor of the copter. The world spun dizzily. Pain seared his brain. In that moment Bob was convinced he was dead. And somehow that wasn't as horrible as the loss of Tallie. Then blackness ebbed away all conscious sensations.
The copter slowly rose as the door shut against the charging natives. Slowly it ground its way above the screaming savages and then soared upwards above the trees.
In moments it was shooting northward toward civilization.
* * * *
Bob had been in the hospital well over a month before he was well enough to receive visitors. During the latter days he had plenty of time to think about his future; a future that seemed radically different and fuller than it might have been before having crashed in Africa. Those events had changed his life forever. He was a different man, eager to face whatever dangers might offer themselves up to be brushed aside by direction action. But even this new Bob Lake was helpless to one dream; one desire; one determination. Everything hinged on his returning to the territory where Tallie lived and finding her. And bringing the jungle goddess back to the civilized world.
The first day that he could have visitors, Carol and John Barton came into his room with bright smiles on their faces.
"Well, when the hell are you going to get well?” Barton demanded, as they settled down into chairs at his bedside.
"They say after a couple of weeks I'll get out of here."
Bob looked at Carol. She was beautiful, radiant. Her eyes were bright and happy; happier than he had ever seen her before. Something had changed her, too. She was more relaxed, more content looking, less frantic and driving.
"You've changed, somehow,” Carol observed.
"I have. Somewhat,” he grinned. “But never mind that."
"Oh?
"Well, mind it ... I'll have a favor to ask."
"Anything,” John offered generously.
"And,” Carol said, smiling: “We need your help, too, about something, Bob."
"What?” he frowned, looking from at the two smiling faces.
"Well,” Barton announced, “You're the logical choice for the best man, considering all that we've gone through!"
"Best man for what?” Bob snapped back.
"A marriage ceremony!” Carol laughed.
Then he knew. “I'll be damned! I never thought—never would have thought it would—"
'It happened,” Carol said, “the other night. Big White Hunter Barton popped the question like a nervous shy boy. I thought he never would.” She beamed at the large man sitting next to her. “I guess he had me from the beginning, but I didn't know it until.... a lot happened to us all.” She was silent for a moment, then asked. “I guess you'll be going back to the States—and you can tell Turner that I'm resigning. That should be a shock to him!"
Bob grinned, thinking about his editor-publisher. “Why don't you wire him yourself?"
"Maybe I will,” she laughed.
Bob sobered after a moment and then asked Barton: “What would it take to hire a copter to return; I want to find Tallie!"
Barton frowned, his eyes narrowed. “Are you serious?"
He nodded.
"We barely got out of there with our teeth! You almost didn't make it,” Barton explained. “Why?"
"Why not?” Bob inquired.
"Hell, nobody would believe me if I wrote a book about these adventures—without the evidence in the flesh!"
Carol's eyes brightened. “Wh
at a book that would make! Bob Lake and the Jungle Goddess!"
"The exact title I had in mind!"
"Can I go with you?” Carol wanted to know.
Barton said in a soft but forceful voice: “NO!"
After only a short hesitation, Carol shrugged. “Big Bwana say no! No it is! You'll have to get some one else to do the photos for you."
Bob grinned. “I'm going to bring her back. You can take all the photos you want—then!"
Carol yelped, happily. “Bob Lake and the Jungle Goddess, with photos by Carol Hill!"
"Carol Barton!” John suggested rather firmly.
"Oh, I almost forgot!” she laughed, taking his hand. “Of course. Assuming, Bob, you mean it!"
"A promise!” Bob assured her.
Barton grinned, as his eyes met Bob's. There was a knowing expression in his features. “I take it you found something special in the jungle, too."
"I guess so,” Bob announced. “I guess maybe if I can get the chance, I'll have to ask you folks to be witnesses for marriage, too."
"She's a savage!” John pointed out.
"But a woman,” Carol noted with a grin at Bob.
The writer nodded. “I know, doesn't make sense. I mean, we may never be able to communication in a normal fashion. Who knows. But I'll keep to my fantasy. And hope!"
Carol winked at him, saying: “I suppose it isn't any more fantastic than the many books you've already written."
"And hard reality, this time around,” Bob announced, unafraid to admit the truth. “We connected out there. We'll connect again, somehow. Only time will tell."
Barton nodded: “Assuming you find her and she comes back with you and..."
"Write another best seller!” Carol offered.
They laughed happily, talked about their plans to form an expedition back into the jungle to find the jungle girl, Tallie. After a little while the doctor came into the room and ordered the visitors out.
Just before they left, Bob said: “John—go ahead and make the arrangements. The moment I'm up and about!"
Barton nodded seriously before the door closed between them.
Bob Lake lay back as the doctor examined him. Now that the first steps had been taken, he felt better. It was only a matter of time before he would have his little jungle girl in his arms again. The idea of marriage was fantasy, perhaps, but a nice one; and if possible certainly a promising one. Of course a lot would depend on that charming, innocent, jungle girl, Tallie. He didn't have the least doubt that he would be able to find her, or that she wouldn't be safe when he did—after all, she'd been in the jungle all her life—a few more weeks more or less couldn't make that much difference.
Once the doctor had left him alone, Bob lay back, closed his eyes, and mentally relived his intimate moments of love with the jungle girl. It wasn't long before he fell contentedly asleep.
Three weeks later he was out of the hospital; and the day after that he left the Nairobi airport.
Destination:
Tallie!
* * * *
It was over a year later that the book came out, as illustrated with the photos taken by Carol Barton. It contained the adventures of Bob Lake's story of his daring rescue of the jungle girl from deep dark Africa. [Soon to be a major motion picture.]
The cover featured a picture of....
"Bob Lake and the Jungle Goddess"
THE END
* * *
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