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again here when our business is concluded。〃
Werper could scarce disguise the joy with which he
received this welcome decision。 And that he did
entirely disguise it from the keen and suspicious eyes
of Achmet Zek is open to question。 However； the
decision reached； the Arab and his lieutenant discussed
the details of their forthcoming ventures for a short
time further； when Werper made his excuses and returned
to his own tent for the comforts and luxury of a
long…desired bath and shave。
Having bathed； the Belgian tied a small hand mirror to
a cord sewn to the rear wall of his tent； placed a rude
chair beside an equally rude table that stood beside
the glass； and proceeded to remove the rough stubble
from his face。
In the catalog of masculine pleasures there is scarce
one which imparts a feeling of greater comfort and
refreshment than follows a clean shave； and now； with
weariness temporarily banished； Albert Werper sprawled
in his rickety chair to enjoy a final cigaret before
retiring。 His thumbs； tucked in his belt in lazy
support of the weight of his arms； touched the belt
which held the jewel pouch about his waist。 He tingled
with excitement as he let his mind dwell upon the value
of the treasure； which； unknown to all save himself；
lay hidden beneath his clothing。
What would Achmet Zek say； if he knew？ Werper grinned。
How the old rascal's eyes would pop could he but have a
glimpse of those scintillating beauties！ Werper had
never yet had an opportunity to feast his eyes for any
great length of time upon them。 He had not even
counted themonly roughly had he guessed at their
value。
He unfastened the belt and drew the pouch from its
hiding place。 He was alone。 The balance of the camp；
save the sentries； had retirednone would enter the
Belgian's tent。 He fingered the pouch； feeling out the
shapes and sizes of the precious； little nodules
within。 He hefted the bag； first in one palm； then in
the other； and at last he wheeled his chair slowly
around before the table； and in the rays of his small
lamp let the glittering gems roll out upon the rough
wood。
The refulgent rays transformed the interior of the
soiled and squalid canvas to the splendor of a palace
in the eyes of the dreaming man。 He saw the gilded
halls of pleasure that would open their portals to the
possessor of the wealth which lay scattered upon this
stained and dented table top。 He dreamed of joys and
luxuries and power which always had been beyond his
grasp； and as he dreamed his gaze lifted from the
table； as the gaze of a dreamer will； to a far distant
goal above the mean horizon of terrestrial
commonplaceness。
Unseeing； his eyes rested upon the shaving mirror which
still hung upon the tent wall above the table； but his
sight was focused far beyond。 And then a reflection
moved within the polished surface of the tiny glass；
the man's eyes shot back out of space to the mirror's
face； and in it he saw reflected the grim visage of
Achmet Zek； framed in the flaps of the tent doorway
behind him。
Werper stifled a gasp of dismay。 With rare
self…possession he let his gaze drop； without appearing
to have halted upon the mirror until it rested again upon
the gems。 Without haste； he replaced them in the
pouch； tucked the latter into his shirt； selected a
cigaret from his case； lighted it and rose。 Yawning；
and stretching his arms above his head； he turned
slowly toward the opposite end of the tent。 The face
of Achmet Zek had disappeared from the opening。
To say that Albert Werper was terrified would be
putting it mildly。 He realized that he not only had
sacrificed his treasure； but his life as well。
Achmet Zek would never permit the wealth that he had
discovered to slip through his fingers； nor would he
forgive the duplicity of a lieutenant who had gained
possession of such a treasure without offering to share
it with his chief。
Slowly the Belgian prepared for bed。 If he were being
watched； he could not know； but if so the watcher saw
no indication of the nervous excitement which the
European strove to conceal。 When ready for his
blankets； the man crossed to the little table and
extinguished the light。
It was two hours later that the flaps at the front of
the tent separated silently and gave entrance to a
dark…robed figure； which passed noiselessly from the
darkness without to the darkness within。 Cautiously
the prowler crossed the interior。 In one hand was a
long knife。 He came at last to the pile of blankets
spread upon several rugs close to one of the tent
walls。
Lightly； his fingers sought and found the bulk beneath
the blanketsthe bulk that should be Albert Werper。
They traced out the figure of a man； and then an arm
shot upward； poised for an instant and descended。
Again and again it rose and fell； and each time the
long blade of the knife buried itself in the thing
beneath the blankets。 But there was an initial
lifelessness in the silent bulk that gave the assassin
momentary wonder。 Feverishly he threw back the
coverlets； and searched with nervous hands for the
pouch of jewels which he expected to find concealed
upon his victim's body。
An instant later he rose with a curse upon his lips。
It was Achmet Zek； and he cursed because he had
discovered beneath the blankets of his lieutenant only
a pile of discarded clothing arranged in the form and
semblance of a sleeping manAlbert Werper had fled。
Out into the village ran the chief； calling in angry
tones to the sleepy Arabs； who tumbled from their tents
in answer to his voice。 But though they searched the
village again and again they found no trace of the
Belgian。 Foaming with anger； Achmet Zek called his
followers to horse； and though the night was pitchy
black they set out to scour the adjoining forest for
their quarry。
As they galloped from the open gates； Mugambi； hiding
in a nearby bush； slipped； unseen； within the palisade。
A score of blacks crowded about the entrance to watch
the searchers depart； and as the last of them passed
out of the village the blacks seized the portals and
drew them to； and Mugambi lent a hand in the work as
though the best of his life had been spent among the
raiders。
In the darkness he passed； unchallenged； as one of
their number； and as they returned from the gates to
their respective tents and huts； Mugambi melted into
the shadows and disappeared。
For an hour he crept about in the rear of the various
huts and tents in an effort to locate that in which his
master's mate was imprisoned。 One there was which he
was reasonably assured contained her； for it was the
only hut before the door of which a sentry had been
posted。 Mugambi was crouching in the shadow of this
structure； just around the corner from the unsuspecting
guard； when another approached to relieve his comrade。
〃The prisoner is safe within？〃 asked the newcomer。
〃She is；〃 replied the other； 〃for none has passed this
doorway since I came。〃
The new sentry squatted beside the door； while he whom
he had relieved made his way to his own hut。 Mugambi
slunk closer to the corner of the building。 In one
powerful hand he gripped a heavy knob…stick。 No sign
of elation disturbed his phlegmatic calm； yet inwardly
he was aroused to joy by the proof he had just heard
that 〃Lady〃 really was within。
The sentry's back was toward the corner of the hut
which hid the giant black。 The fellow did not see the
huge form which silently loomed behind him。 The
knob…stick swung upward in a curve； and downward again。
There was the sound of a dull thud； the crushing of
heavy bone； and the sentry slumped into a silent；
inanimate lump of clay。
A moment later Mugambi was searching the interior of
the hut。 At first slowly； calling； 〃Lady！〃 in a low
whisper； and finally with almost frantic