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place。
Scarcely had Frecoult hidden himself than the figure of
a white…robed Arab crept silently along the trail in
pursuit。 From her hiding place； Jane Clayton could see
both men plainly。 She recognized Achmet Zek as the
leader of the band of ruffians who had raided her home
and made her a prisoner； and as she saw Frecoult； the
supposed friend and ally； raise his gun and take
careful aim at the Arab； her heart stood still and
every power of her soul was directed upon a fervent
prayer for the accuracy of his aim。
Achmet Zek paused in the middle of the trail。 His keen
eyes scanned every bush and tree within the radius of
his vision。 His tall figure presented a perfect target
to the perfidious assassin。 There was a sharp report；
and a little puff of smoke arose from the bush that hid
the Belgian； as Achmet Zek stumbled forward and
pitched； face down； upon the trail。
As Werper stepped back into the trail； he was startled
by the sound of a glad cry from above him； and as he
wheeled about to discover the author of this unexpected
interruption； he saw Jane Clayton drop lightly from a
nearby tree and run forward with outstretched hands to
congratulate him upon his victory。
20
Jane Clayton Again a Prisoner
Though her clothes were torn and her hair disheveled；
Albert Werper realized that he never before had looked
upon such a vision of loveliness as that which Lady
Greystoke presented in the relief and joy which she
felt in coming so unexpectedly upon a friend and
rescuer when hope had seemed so far away。
If the Belgian had entertained any doubts as to the
woman's knowledge of his part in the perfidious attack
upon her home and herself； it was quickly dissipated by
the genuine friendliness of her greeting。 She told him
quickly of all that had befallen her since he had
departed from her home； and as she spoke of the death
of her husband her eyes were veiled by the tears which
she could not repress。
〃I am shocked；〃 said Werper； in well…simulated
sympathy； 〃but I am not surprised。 That devil there；〃
and he pointed toward the body of Achmet Zek； 〃has
terrorized the entire country。 Your Waziri are either
exterminated； or have been driven out of their country；
far to the south。 The men of Achmet Zek occupy the
plain about your former homethere is neither
sanctuary nor escape in that direction。 Our only hope
lies in traveling northward as rapidly as we may； of
coming to the camp of the raiders before the knowledge
of Achmet Zek's death reaches those who were left
there； and of obtaining； through some ruse； an escort
toward the north。
〃I think that the thing can be accomplished； for I was
a guest of the raider's before I knew the nature of the
man； and those at the camp are not aware that I turned
against him when I discovered his villainy。
〃Come！ We will make all possible haste to reach the
camp before those who accompanied Achmet Zek upon his
last raid have found his body and carried the news of
his death to the cut…throats who remained behind。 It
is our only hope； Lady Greystoke； and you must place
your entire faith in me if I am to succeed。 Wait for
me here a moment while I take from the Arab's body the
wallet that he stole from me；〃 and Werper stepped
quickly to the dead man's side； and； kneeling； sought
with quick fingers the pouch of jewels。 To his
consternation； there was no sign of them in the
garments of Achmet Zek。 Rising； he walked back along
the trail； searching for some trace of the missing
pouch or its contents； but he found nothing； even
though he searched carefully the vicinity of his dead
horse； and for a few paces into the jungle on either
side。 Puzzled； disappointed and angry； he at last
returned to the girl。 〃The wallet is gone；〃 he
explained； crisply； 〃and I dare not delay longer in
search of it。 We must reach the camp before the
returning raiders。〃
Unsuspicious of the man's true character； Jane Clayton
saw nothing peculiar in his plans； or in his specious
explanation of his former friendship for the raider；
and so she grasped with alacrity the seeming hope for
safety which he proffered her； and turning about she
set out with Albert Werper toward the hostile camp in
which she so lately had been a prisoner。
It was late in the afternoon of the second day before
they reached their destination； and as they paused upon
the edge of the clearing before the gates of the walled
village； Werper cautioned the girl to accede to
whatever he might suggest by his conversation with the
raiders。
〃I shall tell them；〃 he said； 〃that I apprehended you
after you escaped from the camp； that I took you to
Achmet Zek； and that as he was engaged in a stubborn
battle with the Waziri； he directed me to return to
camp with you； to obtain here a sufficient guard； and
to ride north with you as rapidly as possible and
dispose of you at the most advantageous terms to a
certain slave broker whose name he gave me。〃
Again the girl was deceived by the apparent frankness
of the Belgian。 She realized that desperate situations
required desperate handling； and though she trembled
inwardly at the thought of again entering the vile and
hideous village of the raiders she saw no better course
than that which her companion had suggested。
Calling aloud to those who tended the gates； Werper；
grasping Jane Clayton by the arm； walked boldly across
the clearing。 Those who opened the gates to him
permitted their surprise to show clearly in their
expressions。 That the discredited and hunted
lieutenant should be thus returning fearlessly of his
own volition； seemed to disarm them quite as
effectually as his manner toward Lady Greystoke had
deceived her。
The sentries at the gate returned Werper's salutations；
and viewed with astonishment the prisoner whom he
brought into the village with him。
Immediately the Belgian sought the Arab who had been
left in charge of the camp during Achmet Zek's absence；
and again his boldness disarmed suspicion and won the
acceptance of his false explanation of his return。
The fact that he had brought back with him the woman
prisoner who had escaped； added strength to his claims；
and Mohammed Beyd soon found himself fraternizing
good…naturedly with the very man whom he would have slain
without compunction had he discovered him alone in the
jungle a half hour before。
Jane Clayton was again confined to the prison hut she
had formerly occupied； but as she realized that this
was but a part of the deception which she and Frecoult
were playing upon the credulous raiders； it was with
quite a different sensation that she again entered the
vile and filthy interior； from that which she had
previously experienced； when hope was so far away。
Once more she was bound and sentries placed before the
door of her prison； but before Werper left her he
whispered words of cheer into her ear。 Then he left；
and made his way back to the tent of Mohammed Beyd。
He had been wondering how long it would be before the
raiders who had ridden out with Achmet Zek would return
with the murdered body of their chief； and the more he
thought upon the matter the greater his fears became；
that without accomplices his plan would fail。
What； even； if he got away from the camp in safety
before any returned with the true story of his guilt
of what value would this advantage be other than to
protract for a few days his mental torture and his
life？ These hard riders； familiar with every trail and
bypath； would get him long before he could hope to
reach the coast。
As these thoughts passed through his mind he entered
the tent where Mohammed Beyd sat cross…legged upon a
rug； smoking。 The Arab looked up as the European came
into his presence。
〃Greetings； O Brother！〃 he said。
〃Greetings！〃 replied Werper。
For a wh