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The training of Kala； the examples and precepts of
Kerchak； of Tublat； and of Terkoz now formed the basis
of his every thought and action。 He retained a
mechanical knowledge of French and English speech。
Werper had spoken to him in French； and Tarzan had
replied in the same tongue without conscious
realization that he had departed from the anthropoidal
speech in which he had addressed La。 Had Werper used
English； the result would have been the same。
Again； that night； as the two sat before their camp
fire； Tarzan played with his shining baubles。 Werper
asked him what they were and where he had found them。
The ape…man replied that they were gay…colored stones；
with which he purposed fashioning a necklace； and that
he had found them far beneath the sacrificial court of
the temple of the Flaming God。
Werper was relieved to find that Tarzan had no
conception of the value of the gems。 This would make
it easier for the Belgian to obtain possession of them。
Possibly the man would give them to him for the asking。
Werper reached out his hand toward the little pile that
Tarzan had arranged upon a piece of flat wood before
him。
〃Let me see them；〃 said the Belgian。
Tarzan placed a large palm over his treasure。 He bared
his fighting fangs； and growled。 Werper withdrew his
hand more quickly than he had advanced it。 Tarzan
resumed his playing with the gems； and his conversation
with Werper as though nothing unusual had occurred。
He had but exhibited the beast's jealous protective
instinct for a possession。 When he killed he shared
the meat with Werper； but had Werper ever； by accident；
laid a hand upon Tarzan's share； he would have aroused
the same savage； and resentful warning。
From that occurrence dated the beginning of a great
fear in the breast of the Belgian for his savage
companion。 He had never understood the transformation
that had been wrought in Tarzan by the blow upon his
head； other than to attribute it to a form of amnesia。
That Tarzan had once been； in truth； a savage； jungle
beast； Werper had not known； and so； of course； he
could not guess that the man had reverted to the state
in which his childhood and young manhood had been
spent。
Now Werper saw in the Englishman a dangerous maniac；
whom the slightest untoward accident might turn upon
him with rending fangs。 Not for a moment did Werper
attempt to delude himself into the belief that he could
defend himself successfully against an attack by the
ape…man。 His one hope lay in eluding him； and making
for the far distant camp of Achmet Zek as rapidly as he
could； but armed only with the sacrificial knife；
Werper shrank from attempting the journey through the
jungle。 Tarzan constituted a protection that was by no
means despicable； even in the face of the larger
carnivora； as Werper had reason to acknowledge from the
evidence he had witnessed in the Oparian temple。
Too； Werper had his covetous soul set upon the pouch of
gems； and so he was torn between the various emotions
of avarice and fear。 But avarice it was that burned
most strongly in his breast； to the end that he dared
the dangers and suffered the terrors of constant
association with him he thought a mad man； rather than
give up the hope of obtaining possession of the fortune
which the contents of the little pouch represented。
Achmet Zek should know nothing of thesethese would be
for Werper alone； and so soon as he could encompass his
design he would reach the coast and take passage for
America； where he could conceal himself beneath the
veil of a new identity and enjoy to some measure the
fruits of his theft。 He had it all planned out； did
Lieutenant Albert Werper； living in anticipation the
luxurious life of the idle rich。 He even found himself
regretting that America was so provincial； and that
nowhere in the new world was a city that might compare
with his beloved Brussels。
It was upon the third day of their progress from Opar
that the keen ears of Tarzan caught the sound of men
behind them。 Werper heard nothing above the humming of
the jungle insects； and the chattering life of the
lesser monkeys and the birds。
For a time Tarzan stood in statuesque silence；
listening； his sensitive nostrils dilating as he
assayed each passing breeze。 Then he withdrew Werper
into the concealment of thick brush； and waited。
Presently； along the game trail that Werper and Tarzan
had been following； there came in sight a sleek；
black warrior； alert and watchful。
In single file behind him； there followed； one after
another； near fifty others； each burdened with two
dull…yellow ingots lashed upon his back。 Werper
recognized the party immediately as that which had
accompanied Tarzan on his journey to Opar。 He glanced
at the ape…man； but in the savage； watchful eyes he saw
no recognition of Basuli and those other loyal Waziri。
When all had passed； Tarzan rose and emerged from
concealment。 He looked down the trail in the direction
the party had gone。 Then he turned to Werper。
〃We will follow and slay them；〃 he said。
〃Why？〃 asked the Belgian。
〃They are black；〃 explained Tarzan。 〃It was a black
who killed Kala。 They are the enemies of the
Manganis。〃
Werper did not relish the idea of engaging in a battle
with Basuli and his fierce fighting men。 And； again；
he had welcomed the sight of them returning toward the
Greystoke bungalow； for he had begun to have doubts as
to his ability to retrace his steps to the Waziri
country。 Tarzan； he knew； had not the remotest idea of
whither they were going。 By keeping at a safe distance
behind the laden warriors； they would have no
difficulty in following them home。 Once at the
bungalow； Werper knew the way to the camp of Achmet
Zek。 There was still another reason why he did not
wish to interfere with the Wazirithey were bearing
the great burden of treasure in the direction he wished
it borne。 The farther they took it； the less the
distance that he and Achmet Zek would have to transport it。
He argued with the ape…man therefore； against the
latter's desire to exterminate the blacks； and at last
he prevailed upon Tarzan to follow them in peace；
saying that he was sure they would lead them out of the
forest into a rich country； teeming with game。
It was many marches from Opar to the Waziri country；
but at last came the hour when Tarzan and the Belgian；
following the trail of the warriors； topped the last
rise； and saw before them the broad Waziri plain； the
winding river； and the distant forests to the north and
west。
A mile or more ahead of them； the line of warriors was
creeping like a giant caterpillar through the tall
grasses of the plain。 Beyond； grazing herds of zebra；
hartebeest； and topi dotted the level landscape； while
closer to the river a bull buffalo； his head and
shoulders protruding from the reeds watched the
advancing blacks for a moment； only to turn at last and
disappear into the safety of his dank and gloomy
retreat。
Tarzan looked out across the familiar vista with no
faintest gleam of recognition in his eyes。 He saw the
game animals； and his mouth watered； but he did not
look in the direction of his bungalow。 Werper；
however； did。 A puzzled expression entered the
Belgian's eyes。 He shaded them with his palms and
gazed long and earnestly toward the spot where the
bungalow had stood。 He could not credit the testimony
of his eyesthere was no bungalowno barnsno
out… houses。 The corrals； the hay stacksall were gone。
What could it mean？
And then； slowly there filtered into Werper's
consciousness an explanation of the havoc that had been
wrought in that peaceful valley since last his eyes had
rested upon itAchmet Zek had been there！
Basuli and his warriors had noted the devastation the
moment they had come in sight of the farm。 N