按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Werper feared these prowlers of the night； but
infinitely more he feared the just wrath of the human
beast sleeping at his side。 With utmost caution the
Belgian arose。 Tarzan did not move。 Werper took a few
steps toward the plain and the distant forest to the
northwest； then he paused and fingered the hilt of the
long knife in his belt。 He turned and looked down upon
the sleeper。
〃Why not？〃 he mused。 〃Then I should be safe。〃
He returned and bent above the ape…man。 Clutched
tightly in his hand was the sacrificial knife of the
High Priestess of the Flaming God！
10
Achmet Zek Sees the Jewels
Mugambi； weak and suffering； had dragged his painful
way along the trail of the retreating raiders。
He could move but slowly； resting often； but savage hatred
and an equally savage desire for vengeance kept him to
his task。 As the days passed his wounds healed and his
strength returned； until at last his giant frame had
regained all of its former mighty powers。 Now he went
more rapidly； but the mounted Arabs had covered a great
distance while the wounded black had been painfully
crawling after them。
They had reached their fortified camp； and there Achmet
Zek awaited the return of his lieutenant； Albert
Werper。 During the long； rough journey； Jane Clayton
had suffered more in anticipation of her impending fate
than from the hardships of the road。
Achmet Zek had not deigned to acquaint her with his
intentions regarding her future。 She prayed that she
had been captured in the hope of ransom； for if such
should prove the case； no great harm would befall her
at the hands of the Arabs； but there was the chance；
the horrid chance； that another fate awaited her。
She had heard of many women； among whom were white women；
who had been sold by outlaws such as Achmet Zek into
the slavery of black harems； or taken farther north
into the almost equally hideous existence of some
Turkish seraglio。
Jane Clayton was of sterner stuff than that which bends
in spineless terror before danger。 Until hope proved
futile she would not give it up； nor did she entertain
thoughts of self…destruction only as a final escape
from dishonor。 So long as Tarzan lived there was every
reason to expect succor。 No man nor beast who roamed
the savage continent could boast the cunning and the
powers of her lord and master。 To her； he was little
short of omnipotent in his native worldthis world of
savage beasts and savage men。 Tarzan would come； and
she would be rescued and avenged； of that she was
certain。 She counted the days that must elapse before
he would return from Opar and discover what had
transpired during his absence。 After that it would be
but a short time before he had surrounded the Arab
stronghold and punished the motley crew of wrongdoers
who inhabited it。
That he could find her she had no slightest doubt。
No spoor； however faint； could elude the keen vigilance
of his senses。 To him； the trail of the raiders would be
as plain as the printed page of an open book to her。
And while she hoped； there came through the dark jungle
another。 Terrified by night and by day； came Albert
Werper。 A dozen times he had escaped the claws and
fangs of the giant carnivora only by what seemed a
miracle to him。 Armed with nothing more than the knife
he had brought with him from Opar； he had made his way
through as savage a country as yet exists upon the face
of the globe。
By night he had slept in trees。 By day he had stumbled
fearfully on； often taking refuge among the branches
when sight or sound of some great cat warned him from
danger。 But at last he had come within sight of the
palisade behind which were his fierce companions。
At almost the same time Mugambi came out of the jungle
before the walled village。 As he stood in the shadow
of a great tree； reconnoitering； he saw a man； ragged
and disheveled； emerge from the jungle almost at his
elbow。 Instantly he recognized the newcomer as he who
had been a guest of his master before the latter had
departed for Opar。
The black was upon the point of hailing the Belgian
when something stayed him。 He saw the white man
walking confidently across the clearing toward the
village gate。 No sane man thus approached a village in
this part of Africa unless he was sure of a friendly
welcome。 Mugambi waited。 His suspicions were aroused。
He heard Werper halloo； he saw the gates swing open；
and he witnessed the surprised and friendly welcome
that was accorded the erstwhile guest of Lord and Lady
Greystoke。 A light broke upon the understanding of
Mugambi。 This white man had been a traitor and a spy。
It was to him they owed the raid during the absence of
the Great Bwana。 To his hate for the Arabs； Mugambi
added a still greater hate for the white spy。
Within the village Werper passed hurriedly toward the
silken tent of Achmet Zek。 The Arab arose as his
lieutenant entered。 His face showed surprise as he
viewed the tattered apparel of the Belgian。
〃What has happened？〃 he asked。
Werper narrated all； save the little matter of the
pouch of gems which were now tightly strapped about his
waist； beneath his clothing。 The Arab's eyes narrowed
greedily as his henchman described the treasure that
the Waziri had buried beside the ruins of the Greystoke
bungalow。
〃It will be a simple matter now to return and get it；〃
said Achmet Zek。 〃First we will await the coming of
the rash Waziri； and after we have slain them we may
take our time to the treasurenone will disturb it
where it lies； for we shall leave none alive who knows
of its existence。
〃And the woman？〃 asked Werper。
〃I shall sell her in the north；〃 replied the raider。
〃It is the only way； now。 She should bring a good
price。〃
The Belgian nodded。 He was thinking rapidly。 If he
could persuade Achmet Zek to send him in command of the
party which took Lady Greystoke north it would give him
the opportunity he craved to make his escape from his
chief。 He would forego a share of the gold； if he
could but get away unscathed with the jewels。
He knew Achmet Zek well enough by this time to know
that no member of his band ever was voluntarily
released from the service of Achmet Zek。 Most of the
few who deserted were recaptured。 More than once had
Werper listened to their agonized screams as they were
tortured before being put to death。 The Belgian had no
wish to take the slightest chance of recapture。
〃Who will go north with the woman；〃 he asked； 〃while we
are returning for the gold that the Waziri buried by
the bungalow of the Englishman？〃
Achmet Zek thought for a moment。 The buried gold was
of much greater value than the price the woman would
bring。 It was necessary to rid himself of her as
quickly as possible and it was also well to obtain the
gold with the least possible delay。 Of all his
followers； the Belgian was the most logical lieutenant
to intrust with the command of one of the parties。 An
Arab； as familiar with the trails and tribes as Achmet
Zek himself； might collect the woman's price and make
good his escape into the far north。 Werper； on the
other hand； could scarce make his escape alone through
a country hostile to Europeans while the men he would
send with the Belgian could be carefully selected with
a view to preventing Werper from persuading any
considerable portion of his command to accompany him
should he contemplate desertion of his chief。
At last the Arab spoke： 〃It is not necessary that we
both return for the gold。 You shall go north with the
woman； carrying a letter to a friend of mine who is
always in touch with the best markets for such
merchandise； while I return for the gold。 We can meet
again here when our business is concluded。〃
Werper could scarce disguise the joy with which he
rece