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！
It was long after darkness had fallen； that Tarzan led
his companions from their hiding place in the tree to
the ground and around the palisade to the far side of
the village。
Gathering the skirts of his burnoose； beneath one arm；
that his legs might have free action； the ape…man took
a short running start； and scrambled to the top of the
barrier。 Fearing lest the apes should rend their
garments to shreds in a similar attempt； he had
directed them to wait below for him； and himself
securely perched upon the summit of the palisade he
unslung his spear and lowered one end of it to Chulk。
The ape seized it； and while Tarzan held tightly to the
upper end； the anthropoid climbed quickly up the shaft
until with one paw he grasped the top of the wall。
To scramble then to Tarzan's side was the work of but an
instant。 In like manner Taglat was conducted to their
sides； and a moment later the three dropped silently
within the enclosure。
Tarzan led them first to the rear of the hut in which
Jane Clayton was confined； where； through the roughly
repaired aperture in the wall； he sought with his
sensitive nostrils for proof that the she he had come
for was within。
Chulk and Taglat； their hairy faces pressed close to
that of the patrician； sniffed with him。 Each caught
the scent spoor of the woman within； and each reacted
according to his temperament and his habits of thought。
It left Chulk indifferent。 The she was for Tarzanall
that he desired was to bury his snout in the foodstuffs
of the Tarmangani。 He had come to eat his fill without
laborTarzan had told him that that should be his
reward； and he was satisfied。
But Taglat's wicked； bloodshot eyes； narrowed to the
realization of the nearing fulfillment of his carefully
nursed plan。 It is true that sometimes during the
several days that had elapsed since they had set out
upon their expedition it had been difficult for Taglat
to hold his idea uppermost in his mind； and on several
occasions he had completely forgotten it； until Tarzan；
by a chance word； had recalled it to him； but； for an
ape； Taglat had done well。
Now； he licked his chops； and he made a sickening；
sucking noise with his flabby lips as he drew in his breath。
Satisfied that the she was where he had hoped to find
her； Tarzan led his apes toward the tent of Achmet Zek。
A passing Arab and two slaves saw them； but the night
was dark and the white burnooses hid the hairy limbs of
the apes and the giant figure of their leader； so that
the three； by squatting down as though in conversation；
were passed by； unsuspected。 To the rear of the tent
they made their way。 Within； Achmet Zek conversed with
several of his lieutenants。 Without； Tarzan listened。
17
The Deadly Peril of Jane Clayton
Lieutenant Albert Werper； terrified by contemplation of
the fate which might await him at Adis Abeba； cast
about for some scheme of escape； but after the black
Mugambi had eluded their vigilance the Abyssinians
redoubled their precautions to prevent Werper following
the lead of the Negro。
For some time Werper entertained the idea of bribing
Abdul Mourak with a portion of the contents of the
pouch； but fearing that the man would demand all the
gems as the price of liberty； the Belgian； influenced
by avarice； sought another avenue from his dilemma。
It was then that there dawned upon him the possibility
of the success of a different course which would still
leave him in possession of the jewels； while at the
same time satisfying the greed of the Abyssinian with
the conviction that he had obtained all that Werper had
to offer。
And so it was that a day or so after Mugambi had
disappeared； Werper asked for an audience with Abdul
Mourak。 As the Belgian entered the presence of his
captor the scowl upon the features of the latter boded
ill for any hope which Werper might entertain； still he
fortified himself by recalling the common weakness of
mankind； which permits the most inflexible of natures
to bend to the consuming desire for wealth。
Abdul Mourak eyed him； frowningly。 〃What do you want
now？〃 he asked。
〃My liberty；〃 replied Werper。
The Abyssinian sneered。 〃And you disturbed me thus to
tell me what any fool might know；〃 he said。
〃I can pay for it；〃 said Werper。
Abdul Mourak laughed loudly。 〃Pay for it？〃 he cried。
〃What withthe rags that you have upon your back？
Or； perhaps you are concealing beneath your coat a thousand
pounds of ivory。 Get out！ You are a fool。 Do not
bother me again or I shall have you whipped。〃
But Werper persisted。 His liberty and perhaps his life
depended upon his success。
〃Listen to me；〃 he pleaded。 〃If I can give you as much
gold as ten men may carry will you promise that I shall
be conducted in safety to the nearest English
commissioner？〃
〃As much gold as ten men may carry！〃 repeated Abdul
Mourak。 〃You are crazy。 Where have you so much gold
as that？〃
〃I know where it is hid；〃 said Werper。 〃Promise； and I
will lead you to itif ten loads is enough？〃
Abdul Mourak had ceased to laugh。 He was eyeing the
Belgian intently。 The fellow seemed sane enoughyet
ten loads of gold！ It was preposterous。 The Abyssinian
thought in silence for a moment。
〃Well； and if I promise；〃 he said。 〃How far is this gold？〃
〃A long week's march to the south；〃 replied Werper。
〃And if we do not find it where you say it is； do you
realize what your punishment will be？〃
〃If it is not there I will forfeit my life；〃 replied
the Belgian。 〃I know it is there； for I saw it buried
with my own eyes。 And morethere are not only ten
loads； but as many as fifty men may carry。 It is all
yours if you will promise to see me safely delivered
into the protection of the English。〃
〃You will stake your life against the finding of the
gold？〃 asked Abdul。
Werper assented with a nod。
〃Very well；〃 said the Abyssinian； 〃I promise； and even
if there be but five loads you shall have your freedom；
but until the gold is in my possession you remain a
prisoner。〃
〃I am satisfied；〃 said Werper。 〃Tomorrow we start？〃
Abdul Mourak nodded； and the Belgian returned to his
guards。 The following day the Abyssinian soldiers were
surprised to receive an order which turned their faces
from the northeast to the south。 And so it happened
that upon the very night that Tarzan and the two apes
entered the village of the raiders； the Abyssinians
camped but a few miles to the east of the same spot。
While Werper dreamed of freedom and the unmolested
enjoyment of the fortune in his stolen pouch； and Abdul
Mourak lay awake in greedy contemplation of the fifty
loads of gold which lay but a few days farther to the
south of him； Achmet Zek gave orders to his lieutenants
that they should prepare a force of fighting men and
carriers to proceed to the ruins of the Englishman's
DOUAR on the morrow and bring back the fabulous
fortune which his renegade lieutenant had told him was
buried there。
And as he delivered his instructions to those within； a
silent listener crouched without his tent； waiting for
the time when he might enter in safety and prosecute
his search for the missing pouch and the pretty pebbles
that had caught his fancy。
At last the swarthy companions of Achmet Zek quitted
his tent； and the leader went with them to smoke a pipe
with one of their number； leaving his own silken
habitation unguarded。 Scarcely had they left the
interior when a knife blade was thrust through the
fabric of the rear wall； some six feet above the
ground； and a swift downward stroke opened an entrance
to those who waited beyond。
Through the opening stepped the ape…man； and close
behind him came the huge Chulk； but Taglat did not
follow them。 Instead he turned and slunk through the
darknes