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Achmet Zek eyed the European in silence。 In his mind
he revolved many thoughts； chief among which was that
the unbeliever lied。 Of course there was the chance
that he did not lie； and if he told the truth then his
proposition was one well worthy of consideration； since
fighting men were never over plentifulespecially
white men with the training and knowledge of military
matters that a European officer must possess。
Achmet Zek scowled and Werper's heart sank； but Werper
did not know Achmet Zek； who was quite apt to scowl
where another would smile； and smile where another
would scowl。
〃And if you have lied to me；〃 said Achmet Zek； 〃I will
kill you at any time。 What return； other than your
life； do you expect for your services？〃
〃My keep only； at first；〃 replied Werper。 〃Later； if I
am worth more； we can easily reach an understanding。〃
Werper's only desire at the moment was to preserve his
life。 And so the agreement was reached and Lieutenant
Albert Werper became a member of the ivory and slave
raiding band of the notorious Achmet Zek。
For months the renegade Belgian rode with the savage
raider。 He fought with a savage abandon； and a vicious
cruelty fully equal to that of his fellow desperadoes。
Achmet Zek watched his recruit with eagle eye； and with
a growing satisfaction which finally found expression
in a greater confidence in the man； and resulted in an
increased independence of action for Werper。
Achmet Zek took the Belgian into his confidence to a
great extent； and at last unfolded to him a pet scheme
which the Arab had long fostered； but which he never
had found an opportunity to effect。 With the aid of a
European； however； the thing might be easily
accomplished。 He sounded Werper。
〃You have heard of the man men call Tarzan？〃 he asked。
Werper nodded。 〃I have heard of him； but I do not know
him。〃
〃But for him we might carry on our 'trading' in safety
and with great profit；〃 continued the Arab。 〃For years
he has fought us； driving us from the richest part of
the country； harassing us； and arming the natives that
they may repel us when we come to 'trade。' He is very
rich。 If we could find some way to make him pay us
many pieces of gold we should not only be avenged upon
him； but repaid for much that he has prevented us from
winning from the natives under his protection。〃
Werper withdrew a cigaret from a jeweled case and
lighted it。
〃And you have a plan to make him pay？〃 he asked。
〃He has a wife；〃 replied Achmet Zek； 〃whom men say is
very beautiful。 She would bring a great price farther
north； if we found it too difficult to collect ransom
money from this Tarzan。〃
Werper bent his head in thought。 Achmet Zek stood
awaiting his reply。 What good remained in Albert
Werper revolted at the thought of selling a white woman
into the slavery and degradation of a Moslem harem。
He looked up at Achmet Zek。 He saw the Arab's eyes
narrow； and he guessed that the other had sensed his
antagonism to the plan。 What would it mean to Werper to
refuse？ His life lay in the hands of this semi…barbarian；
who esteemed the life of an unbeliever less
highly than that of a dog。 Werper loved life。 What
was this woman to him； anyway？ She was a European；
doubtless； a member of organized society。 He was an
outcast。 The hand of every white man was against him。
She was his natural enemy； and if he refused to lend
himself to her undoing； Achmet Zek would have him
killed。
〃You hesitate；〃 murmured the Arab。
〃I was but weighing the chances of success；〃 lied
Werper； 〃and my reward。 As a European I can gain
admittance to their home and table。 You have no other
with you who could do so much。 The risk will be great。
I should be well paid； Achmet Zek。〃
A smile of relief passed over the raider's face。
〃Well said； Werper；〃 and Achmet Zek slapped his
lieutenant upon the shoulder。 〃You should be well paid
and you shall。 Now let us sit together and plan how
best the thing may be done；〃 and the two men squatted
upon a soft rug beneath the faded silks of Achmet's
once gorgeous tent； and talked together in low voices
well into the night。 Both were tall and bearded； and
the exposure to sun and wind had given an almost Arab
hue to the European's complexion。 In every detail of
dress； too； he copied the fashions of his chief； so
that outwardly he was as much an Arab as the other。
It was late when he arose and retired to his own tent。
The following day Werper spent in overhauling his
Belgian uniform； removing from it every vestige of
evidence that might indicate its military purposes。
From a heterogeneous collection of loot； Achmet Zek
procured a pith helmet and a European saddle； and from
his black slaves and followers a party of porters；
askaris and tent boys to make up a modest safari for a
big game hunter。 At the head of this party Werper set
out from camp。
2
On the Road To Opar
It was two weeks later that John Clayton； Lord
Greystoke； riding in from a tour of inspection of his
vast African estate； glimpsed the head of a column of
men crossing the plain that lay between his bungalow
and the forest to the north and west。
He reined in his horse and watched the little party as
it emerged from a concealing swale。 His keen eyes
caught the reflection of the sun upon the white helmet
of a mounted man； and with the conviction that a
wandering European hunter was seeking his hospitality；
he wheeled his mount and rode slowly forward to meet
the newcomer。
A half hour later he was mounting the steps leading to
the veranda of his bungalow； and introducing M。 Jules
Frecoult to Lady Greystoke。
〃I was completely lost；〃 M。 Frecoult was explaining。
〃My head man had never before been in this part of the
country and the guides who were to have accompanied me
from the last village we passed knew even less of the
country than we。 They finally deserted us two days
since。 I am very fortunate indeed to have stumbled so
providentially upon succor。 I do not know what I
should have done； had I not found you。〃
It was decided that Frecoult and his party should
remain several days； or until they were thoroughly
rested； when Lord Greystoke would furnish guides to
lead them safely back into country with which
Frecoult's head man was supposedly familiar。
In his guise of a French gentleman of leisure； Werper
found little difficulty in deceiving his host and in
ingratiating himself with both Tarzan and Jane Clayton；
but the longer he remained the less hopeful he became
of an easy accomplishment of his designs。
Lady Greystoke never rode alone at any great distance
from the bungalow； and the savage loyalty of the
ferocious Waziri warriors who formed a great part of
Tarzan's followers seemed to preclude the possibility
of a successful attempt at forcible abduction； or of
the bribery of the Waziri themselves。
A week passed； and Werper was no nearer the fulfillment
of his plan； in so far as he could judge； than upon the
day of his arrival； but at that very moment something
occurred which gave him renewed hope and set his mind
upon an even greater reward than a woman's ransom。
A runner had arrived at the bungalow with the weekly
mail； and Lord Greystoke had spent the afternoon in his
study reading and answering letters。 At dinner he
seemed distraught； and early in the evening he excused
himself and retired； Lady Greystoke following him very
soon after。 Werper； sitting upon the veranda； could
hear their voices in earnest discussion； and having
realized that something of unusual moment was afoot；
he quietly rose from his chair； and keeping well in the
shadow of the shrubbery growing profusely about the
bungalow； made his silent way to a point beneath the
window of the room in which his host and hostess slept。