"And the saber rattlers will start preparing for World War III," said van der Bos.
"I don't think they will rattle their sabers very loudly for a while," said Corrie.
"Just about in time to catch our children in the next war," said Jerry.
There was an embarrassed silence. Jerry suddenly realized the interpretation that might be placed on his innocent remark, and flushed. So did Corrie. Everybody was looking at them, which made it worse.
Finally, van der Bos could no longer restrain his laughter; and they all joined him—even Corrie and Jerry. Sing Tai, who had been busy over a cooking fire, further relieved the tension by repeating a time honored phrase that he had been taught by Rosetti: "Come and get it!"
Wild pig, grouse, fruits, and nuts formed the menu for the meal.
"We sure live high," said Davis.
"De Drake Hotel ain't got nuttin' on us," agreed Rosetti.
"We have the choice of an enormous market, and without ration coupons," said Tarzan.
"And no coin on de line," said Rosetti. "Geeze! dis is de life."
"You gone batty?" inquired Bubonovitch.
"Come back here after the war, sergeant," said van der Bos, "and I'll show you a very different Sumatra."
Bubonovitch shook his head. "If I ever get back to Brooklyn," he said, "I'm going to stay there."
"And me for Texas," said Davis.
"Is Texas a nice state?" asked Corrie.
"Finest state in the Union," Davis assured her.
"But Jerry told me that Oklahoma was the finest state."
"That little Indian reservation?" demanded Davis. "Say! Texas is almost four times as big. She grows more cotton then any other state in the Union. She's first in cattle, sheep, mules. She's got the biggest ranch in the world."
"And the biggest liars," said Douglas. "Now if you really want to know which is the finest state in the Union, I'll tell you. It's California. You just come to the good old San Fernando Valley after the war and you'll never want to live anywhere else."
"We haven't heard from New York State," said Jerry, grinning.
"New Yorkers don't have to boast," said Bubonovitch. "They are not plagued by any inferiority feeling."
"That's going to be a hard one to top," said van der Bos.
"How about your state, Tony?" asked Sarina.
Rosetti thought for a moment. "Well," he said, "Illinois had Public Enemy Number One."
"Every American," said Tarzan, "lives in the finest town in the finest county in the finest state in the finest country in the world—and each one of them believes it. And that is what makes America a great country and is going to keep her so."
"You can say that again," said Davis.
"I have noticed the same thing in your Army," continued the Englishman. "Every soldier is serving in 'the best damned outfit in this man's Army,' and he's willing to fight you about it. That feeling makes for a great Army."
"Well," said Jerry, "we haven't done so bad for a nation of jitterbugging playboys. I guess we surprised the world."
"You certainly have surprised Hitler and Tojo. If you hadn't come in, first with materiel and then with men, the war would be over by now, and Hitler and Tojo would have won it. The World owes you an enormous debt."
"I wonder if it will pay it," said Jerry.
"Probably not," said Tarzan.
CHAPTER 28
Corrie was sitting with her back against the wall of the cave. Jerry came and sat down beside her. Sarina and Rosetti had wandered out of the cave together, arm in arm.
"Shrimp has become absolutely shameless," said Jerry. "Do you know, he really hated women. I think you are the first one he ever tolerated. He is very fond of you now."
"You weren't particularly keen about us yourself," Corrie reminded him.
"Well, you see, I'd never known a Dutch girl."
"That was nice. You're improving. But don't tell me that the finest State in the Union hasn't the finest girls in the world."
"There is only one 'finest girl in the world,' and she is not from Oklahoma."
Corrie laughed. "I know what you're doing?"
"What?"
"You're handing me a line. Isn't that what you Americans call it?"
"I'm not handing you a line, Corrie. You know how I feel about you."
"I'm not a mind reader."
"You're the most wonderful thing that has ever come into my life."
"Now don't tell me that you're making love to me!"
"That is the general idea that I have in mind," said Jerry, "but I guess I'm not so hot at it." He was looking into her eyes. Their misty depths reflected the firelight, but deep below the surface there burned another light, such a light as he had never seen in a woman's eyes before. "God! but you're wonderful," he said.
Corrie smiled. "That's what you said before, but that time you called me a thing. They tell me you're a great pilot, Captain."
He knew she was making fun of him; but he didn't care—he could still see that light in her eyes. "I'm not a great pilot. I'm a great coward. I'm so scared of you that I can't say three little words." Corrie laughed, and she didn't try to help him. "Listen!" he blurted. "How do you think you'll like living in Oklahoma?"
"I shall like it very much," she said.
"Darling!" said Jerry. "I've got to kiss you. I've got to kiss you right now—if it weren't for all these people in here."
"We could go outside," said Corrie.
Sergeant Rosetti held Sarina in his arms. His mouth covered hers. Her arms about his neck pressed him to her fiercely. Corrie and Jerry, coming from the firelight into the night, nearly bumped into them. Then they walked on to a distance.
"I suppose sergeants aren't supposed to be able to teach their captains anything," said Corrie; "but then Sergeant Rosetti is a most unusual sergeant." She was panting a little a moment later when she gently pushed him away. "You misogynists!" she gasped.
Sergeant Bubonovitch was sitting by the fire just inside the mouth of the cave. He had seen Shrimp and Sarina go out arm in arm; then Corrie and Jerry had gone out into the darkness. "I gotta have love," said Bubonovitch, trying to make friends with little Keta. Little Keta bit him. "Nobody loves me," said the sergeant, sorrowfully.
Day after day The Foreign Legion fought with nature for every hard won mile. Often some of them were so exhausted by the time they made camp at the end of a day that they fell asleep without eating. They were too tired even to talk much. But there was no complaining. Corrie and Sarina held their own with the men, who were very proud of them.
"They're lucky they haven't much to carry," remarked Bubonovitch. "Add them together and they wouldn't weigh any more than I do. Maybe they could throw in Shrimp, too. After the war I think I'll hire the three of them and start a flea circus."
"Yeah? Wot you ought to have did," said Shrimp, "is went in de Navy. Den you'd a had a battlewagon to haul you around, you big cow."
"What you should have done; not 'Wot you ought to have did,'" corrected Sarina, who had been laboring to bring Shrimp's English more into line with that which the Catholic sisters had taught her, to the secret amusement of the rest of the company.
Bubonovitch had once said to Jerry: "The granddaughter of a Borneo head hunter teaching an American English! I have seen everything now."
Sarina made no effort to spare Shrimp's feelings. She corrected him in front of everybody, and often in the middle of a sentence. And Shrimp never objected. He just grinned and started over. And he was improving. He had almost stopped saying dis and dat, but did and done still troubled him. Douglas said: "Ain't love wonderful!"
They were nearing Mt. Masoerai, slightly short of which they were to recross the range and start down toward the sea. It had already been a month since they had left the camp of the guerrillas, and they had had only hardships with which to contend. Never had any of them been in great danger, nor had they seen a human being other than themselves. And then, out of a clear sky, disaster struck. Tarzan was captured by the Japs.