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through the swaying branches of the middle terrace。
A two days' march brought them to a level plain beyond
which lay mountainsa plain which Tarzan remembered
and which aroused within him vague half memories and
strange longings。 Out upon the plain the horsemen
rode； and at a safe distance behind them crept the ape…man；
taking advantage of such cover as the ground afforded。
Beside a charred pile of timbers the Abyssinians
halted； and Tarzan； sneaking close and concealing
himself in nearby shrubbery； watched them in
wonderment。 He saw them digging up the earth； and he
wondered if they had hidden meat there in the past and
now had come for it。 Then he recalled how he had
buried his pretty pebbles； and the suggestion that had
caused him to do it。 They were digging for the things
the blacks had buried here！
Presently he saw them uncover a dirty； yellow object；
and he witnessed the joy of Werper and of Abdul Mourak
as the grimy object was exposed to view。 One by one
they unearthed many similar pieces； all of the same
uniform； dirty yellow； until a pile of them lay upon
the ground； a pile which Abdul Mourak fondled and
petted in an ecstasy of greed。
Something stirred in the ape…man's mind as he looked
long upon the golden ingots。 Where had he seen such
before？ What were they？ Why did these Tarmangani covet
them so greatly？ To whom did they belong？
He recalled the black men who had buried them。
The things must be theirs。 Werper was stealing them as
he had stolen Tarzan's pouch of pebbles。 The ape…man's
eyes blazed in anger。 He would like to find the black
men and lead them against these thieves。 He wondered
where their village might be。
As all these things ran through the active mind； a
party of men moved out of the forest at the edge of the
plain and advanced toward the ruins of the burned bungalow。
Abdul Mourak； always watchful； was the first to see
them； but already they were halfway across the open。
He called to his men to mount and hold themselves in
readiness； for in the heart of Africa who may know
whether a strange host be friend or foe？
Werper； swinging into his saddle； fastened his eyes
upon the newcomers； then； white and trembling he turned
toward Abdul Mourak。
〃It is Achmet Zek and his raiders；〃 he whispered。
〃They are come for the gold。〃
It must have been at about the same instant that Achmet
Zek discovered the pile of yellow ingots and realized
the actuality of what he had already feared since first
his eyes had alighted upon the party beside the ruins
of the Englishman's bungalow。 Someone had forestalled
himanother had come for the treasure ahead of him。
The Arab was crazed by rage。 Recently everything had
gone against him。 He had lost the jewels； the Belgian；
and for the second time he had lost the Englishwoman。
Now some one had come to rob him of this treasure which
he had thought as safe from disturbance here as though
it never had been mined。
He cared not whom the thieves might be。 They would not
give up the gold without a battle； of that he was
certain； and with a wild whoop and a command to his
followers； Achmet Zek put spurs to his horse and dashed
down upon the Abyssinians； and after him； waving their
long guns above their heads； yelling and cursing； came
his motley horde of cut…throat followers。
The men of Abdul Mourak met them with a volley which
emptied a few saddles； and then the raiders were among
them； and sword； pistol and musket； each was doing its
most hideous and bloody work。
Achmet Zek； spying Werper at the first charge； bore
down upon the Belgian； and the latter； terrified by
contemplation of the fate he deserved； turned his
horse's head and dashed madly away in an effort to
escape。 Shouting to a lieutenant to take command； and
urging him upon pain of death to dispatch the
Abyssinians and bring the gold back to his camp； Achmet
Zek set off across the plain in pursuit of the Belgian；
his wicked nature unable to forego the pleasures of
revenge； even at the risk of sacrificing the treasure。
As the pursued and the pursuer raced madly toward the
distant forest the battle behind them raged with bloody
savageness。 No quarter was asked or given by either
the ferocious Abyssinians or the murderous cut…throats
of Achmet Zek。
From the concealment of the shrubbery Tarzan watched
the sanguinary conflict which so effectually surrounded
him that he found no loop…hole through which he might
escape to follow Werper and the Arab chief。
The Abyssinians were formed in a circle which included
Tarzan's position； and around and into them galloped
the yelling raiders； now darting away； now charging in
to deliver thrusts and cuts with their curved swords。
Numerically the men of Achmet Zek were superior； and
slowly but surely the soldiers of Menelek were being
exterminated。 To Tarzan the result was immaterial。
He watched with but a single purposeto escape the ring
of blood…mad fighters and be away after the Belgian and
his pouch。
When he had first discovered Werper upon the trail
where he had slain Bara； he had thought that his eyes
must be playing him false； so certain had he been that
the thief had been slain and devoured by Numa； but
after following the detachment for two days； with his
keen eyes always upon the Belgian； he no longer doubted
the identity of the man； though he was put to it to
explain the identity of the mutilated corpse he had
supposed was the man he sought。
As he crouched in hiding among the unkempt shrubbery
which so short a while since had been the delight and
pride of the wife he no longer recalled； an Arab and an
Abyssinian wheeled their mounts close to his position
as they slashed at each other with their swords。
Step by step the Arab beat back his adversary until the
latter's horse all but trod upon the ape…man； and then
a vicious cut clove the black warrior's skull； and the
corpse toppled backward almost upon Tarzan。
As the Abyssinian tumbled from his saddle the
possibility of escape which was represented by the
riderless horse electrified the ape…man to instant
action。 Before the frightened beast could gather
himself for flight a naked giant was astride his back。
A strong hand had grasped his bridle rein； and the
surprised Arab discovered a new foe in the saddle of
him； whom he had slain。
But this enemy wielded no sword； and his spear and bow
remained upon his back。 The Arab； recovered from his
first surprise； dashed in with raised sword to
annihilate this presumptuous stranger。 He aimed a
mighty blow at the ape…man's head； a blow which swung
harmlessly through thin air as Tarzan ducked from its
path； and then the Arab felt the other's horse brushing
his leg； a great arm shot out and encircled his waist；
and before he could recover himself he was dragged from
his saddle； and forming a shield for his antagonist was
borne at a mad run straight through the encircling
ranks of his fellows。
Just beyond them he was tossed aside upon the ground；
and the last he saw of his strange foeman the latter
was galloping off across the plain in the direction of
the forest at its farther edge。
For another hour the battle raged nor did it cease
until the last of the Abyssinians lay dead upon the
ground； or had galloped off toward the north in flight。
But a handful of men escaped； among them Abdul Mourak。
The victorious raiders collected about the pile of
golden ingots which the Abyssinians had uncovered； and
there awaited the return of their leader。 Their
exultation was slightly tempered by the glimpse they
had had of the strange apparition of the naked white
man galloping away upon the horse of one of their
foemen and carrying a companion who was now among them
expatiating upon the superhuman strength of the ape…man。
None of them there but was fami