Chapter 7 Tarzan and the Jungle Murders by Edgar Rice Burroughs
MURDER WILL OUT
IN Bangali, Tarzan sat in the bungalow of Col. Gerald Giles-Burton.
"The shock of your news was not as great as it might have been," said Colonel Burton. "I'd given my boy up for dead a long while ago. Yet, to know that he was alive all the time, and almost here—that's what is hard to bear. Did they have any idea who killed him?"
"They're all pretty sure I did it."
"Nonsense," said Burton.
"There are three men in the safari he had trouble with. They all threatened to get him. But from what I heard, the threats were all made in the heat of anger, and probably didn't mean anything. Only one of them might have thought he had reason to kill."
"Who was that?" asked Burton.
"A chap by the name of Trent, who was in love with Lady Barbara. That was the only real motive, so far as I could learn."
"Sometimes a very strong motive," said Burton.
"However," continued Tarzan, "Trent didn't kill your son. He couldn't have. If the murderer was in camp, I could have found him if they hadn't run me out."
"Will you remain here and help me find him when the safari gets in?"
"Of course. You didn't need to ask."
"There is something else I think you ought to know. At the time that he was lost, my son was carrying some very important papers for the Government. He was ostensibly flying from London to Capetown, but his instructions were to stop here and leave the papers with me."
"And he was being pursued by three men in an Italian military plane," said Tarzan.
"Gad, man! How did you know that?" demanded Burton.
"I ran across both planes. Your son's plane was shot down, but he had bailed out safely. I found his parachute near the plane. But before he bailed out, he shot the pilot of the other plane. The fellow brought his plane down safely before he died. I found him still sitting at the controls. The two men with him got out all right. One of them may have been hurt a little, for I noticed that he limped, but he might have been lame before. That, of course, I do not know."
"Did you see them?" asked Burton.
"No. I followed their tracks for a little way until I came across your son's ship. Then, knowing he was an Englishman, or believing so because he was piloting an English plane, I started off after him. You see, he had landed in lion country. You know, the Buiroo country."
"Yes; and the Buiroos are worse than the lions."
"Yes," said Tarzan, reminiscing, "I've had business with them before. They nearly put an end to me this time. After I got away from them I started for Bangali again, and early this morning I stumbled onto this safari."
"Do you think those two men had a chance to get the papers away from my son?"
"No. They were following different trails. They are probably both dead by this time. It's bad country where they came down. They were a couple of Italians, I suppose."
Colonel Burton shook his head.
"No. One was an American and the other was a Russian. Their names were Campbell and Zubanev. I got a full report on them from London. They were wanted for espionage and murder back there."
"Well, I don't think they'll bother anyone again," said Tarzan. "And in the morning you'll have the papers."
"Yes, I'll have the papers," said Burton sadly. "It is strange, Tarzan, how little we appreciate happiness until we lose it. I'm not vindictive, but I'd like to know who killed my son."
"Africa is a large place, Burton," said the ape-man, "but if the man who murdered your boy is still alive, I'll get him before he gets out of Africa. I promise you that."
"If you can't find him, no one can," said Burton. "Thanks, Tarzan."
Tarzan shook Burton's hand warmly.
Eight stretcher bearers, carrying the bodies of Cecil Burton and Peterson brought up the rear of the safari as it halted just on the outskirts of Bangali and prepared to go into camp. Ramsgate and Romanoff went immediately to report to Colonel Burton. They found him sitting in his office, a screened veranda along one side of his bungalow. He stood up as they entered and held out his hand to the young Englishman.
"Lord John Ramsgate, I presume," he said, then turning to the Russian, "and Mr. Romanoff. I have been expecting you gentlemen."
"We come on a very sad mission, Colonel Burton," said Ramsgate, a catch in his voice.
"Yes, I know," said Burton.
Ramsgate and Romanoff looked astonished.
"You know!" exclaimed Romanoff.
"Yes. Word was brought to me last night."
"But that is impossible," said Ramsgate.
"We must be referring to different things."
"No. We are both referring to the murder of my son."
"Extraordinary!" exclaimed Ramsgate.
"I don't understand. But Colonel, we are pretty sure now that we know who the murderer is. Last night there was another similar murder committed in our camp, and one of the members of our safari saw the murderer in the act of committing the crime. He fired at him, and thinks that he hit him."
At this moment the door of the bungalow opened and Tarzan stepped suddenly out onto the veranda!
Ramsgate and Romanoff both leaped to their feet.
"There's the man! There's the murderer!" cried Ramsgate.
Colonel Burton shook his head.
"No, gentlemen," he said quietly. "Tarzan of the Apes would not have murdered my son, and he could not have murdered the other man because he was here in my bungalow all last night!"
"But," said Romanoff, "Smith said that he saw this man and recognized him when Peterson was murdered last night."
"Well, in a moment of excitement like that," said Burton, "and in the darkness, a man might easily make a mistake. Suppose we go to your camp and question some of the people involved. I understand that three of them had either attacked or threatened my son."
"Yes," said Ramsgate. "Both my sister and I wish a most thorough investigation be made, and I am sure that Mr. Romanoff feels as we do about it."
Romanoff inclined his head in assent.
"You will come with us, of course, Tarzan?" asked Burton.
"If you wish," Tarzan replied.
It was with mixed emotions that the members of the safari saw Tarzan enter the camp with Ramsgate, Romanoff and Colonel Burton, and a detail of native constabulary.
"They got him," said Gault to Trent. "That was quick work."
"They ought to handcuff him," said Trent, "or he'll get away just as he did before. They haven't even taken his weapons away from him."
At Colonel Burton's suggestion all the whites in the party were gathered together for questioning. While they were being summoned Tarzan carefully examined the body of Peterson. He looked particularly at the man's hands and feet. Then he scrutinized the wound over the heart. Just for a moment he bent low over the body, his face close to the sleeve of the man's tunic. Then he returned to where the company was gathered in front of Colonel Burton.
One by one, the English official questioned them. He listened intently to the evidence of Violet, Tomlin and Lady Barbara. He questioned Godensky, Gault and Trent. He questioned Smith about the murderer of Peterson.
"I understand that you said you saw this man kill Peterson." He indicated Tarzan.
"I thought it was him," said Smith, "but I might have been mistaken. It was very dark."
"Well, now, as to my son," said Burton. "Is there anyone here who cares to make a direct charge of murder against any individual?"
Lady Barbara Ramsgate stiffened.
"Yes, Colonel," she said. "I charge Duncan Trent with the murder of Cecil Giles-Burton."
Trent paled considerably, but did not speak. All eyes were turned upon him. Tarzan bent close and whispered something in Burton's ear. The latter nodded.
"Tarzan wishes to ask a few questions," said Burton. "You will please answer them as you would if I asked them."
"May I see your knife?" asked Tarzan, pointing at Pierre.
"I do not carry one, sir."
"And yours?" He indicated Gault.
Gault withdrew his knife from its scabbard and handed it to the ape-man, who examined it for a moment and then returned it. Then he asked for Tomlin's knife; but Tomlin did not carry one.
In rapid succession he asked for and examined the knives of Smith, Godensky, and Trent. Then he turned to Smith.
"Smith," he said, "you were in the tent after Peterson was murdered. Can you tell me how he was lying on his cot?"
"He was lying flat on his back," Smith said.
"Which side of his cot was against the side of the tent?"
"The left side."
Tarzan turned to Ramsgate.
"How long have you known this man Smith?" he asked.
"A few weeks only," replied Ramsgate. "We found him and Peterson wandering around lost. They said their boys had deserted them."
"He was limping when you found him, wasn't he?"
John Ramsgate looked his astonishment.
"Yes," he said. "He told us he had sprained his ankle."
"What's that got to do with it?" demanded Smith. "Didn't I tell you the guy's a nut?"
Tarzan stepped close to Smith.
"Let me have your gun," he said.
"I ain't got no gun," growled Smith.
"What is that bulge underneath the left side of your shirt?"
As he spoke, Tarzan placed his hand quickly over the spot.
Smith grinned.
"You ain't as smart as you think you are," he said.
Tarzan turned to Lady Barbara.
"Mr. Trent did not kill Burton," he said with great conviction. "Smith killed him. Smith killed Peterson, too."
"It's a damn lie!" cried Smith. "You killed 'em yourself! I'm being framed! Can't you all see it?"
"What makes you think Smith is the murderer?" asked Colonel Burton.
"Well, I'll make one change in my statement," said Tarzan. "It was Campbell who killed them. This man's name is not Smith. It is Campbell. The real name of the man he killed last night was not Peterson, but Zubanev!"
"I tell you it's a damned lie!" shouted Smith. "You ain't got nothin' on me! You can't prove nothin'!"
Tarzan towered over the rest of the company. A hush fell over the group. Even Smith was silent.
"A very powerful, left-handed man with the second finger of his right hand missing killed Lieutenant Burton," Tarzan said. "The wound which killed Burton could only have been inflicted if the knife were held in the left hand. On his throat were the imprints of a thumb, a first, third, and little finger.
"You will notice that the second finger of Smith's, or rather Campbell's right hand is missing. Also I noticed that when I asked the men to hand me their knives, Campbell was the only man who passed the weapon to me with his left hand. The knife wound in Zubanev's chest was made by a knife held in a left hand."
"But the motive for these murders," exclaimed Romanoff.
"Colonel Burton will find them inside of Campbell's shirt! They are the papers that Lieutenant Burton was carrying when he was shot down by the pursuing plane that carried Campbell and Zubanev. I know that Peterson, or rather Zubanev, was on that plane. The other man with him limped when he walked away from the plane. That man was Campbell, who calls himself Smith."
"But why did Smith or Campbell, or whatever his name is, want to kill Burton and Peterson?" asked John Ramsgate.
"He and Zubanev wanted the papers that Burton carried," Tarzan explained. "No one else knew about the papers. Campbell knew that if he stole the papers and let Burton live, the latter would immediately launch an intensive search through the safari for them. He had to kill Burton. He killed Zubanev so that he would not have to share with him the money that he expected to get for the papers, which they had already tentatively sold to the Italian Government. Here"—Tarzan ripped open Campbell's shirt—"are the papers!"
The native constabulary dragged Joseph Campbell, alias Joe the Pooch, away.
"How did you know that Zubanev was on that Italian plane?" Ramsgate asked curiously.
"I found his glove in the rear cockpit," replied the ape-man. Ramsgate shook his head in bewilderment.
"I still don't understand," he said. Tarzan smiled.
"That is because you are a civilized man," he said. "Numa, the Lion, or Sheeta, the Leopard, would understand. When I found that glove I took its scent. Therefore I carried in my memory the smell of Zubanev. Then when I smelled Peterson, I knew he was Zubanev. Hence, Smith must be Campbell. And now—" Tarzan paused, swept them with his glance. "I am going home," he said. "Goodbye, my friends. It was good to see some of my own people again, but the call of the jungle is stronger. Goodbye..."
And Tarzan of the Apes returned to the jungle.