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was waning there came faintly to the ears of the
ape…man the murmuring cadence of distant voices。
〃We are nearing the Waziri； Jane；〃 he said。 〃I can
hear them ahead of us。 They are going into camp for
the night； I imagine。〃
A half hour later the two came upon a horde of ebon
warriors which Basuli had collected for his war of
vengeance upon the raiders。 With them were the
captured women of the tribe whom they had found in the
village of Achmet Zek； and tall； even among the giant
Waziri； loomed a familiar black form at the side of
Basuli。 It was Mugambi； whom Jane had thought dead
amidst the charred ruins of the bungalow。
Ah； such a reunion！ Long into the night the dancing and
the singing and the laughter awoke the echoes of the
somber wood。 Again and again were the stories of their
various adventures retold。 Again and once again they
fought their battles with savage beast and savage man；
and dawn was already breaking when Basuli； for the
fortieth time； narrated how he and a handful of his
warriors had watched the battle for the golden ingots
which the Abyssinians of Abdul Mourak had waged against
the Arab raiders of Achmet Zek； and how； when the
victors had ridden away they had sneaked out of the
river reeds and stolen away with the precious ingots to
hide them where no robber eye ever could discover them。
Pieced out from the fragments of their various
experiences with the Belgian the truth concerning the
malign activities of Albert Werper became apparent。
Only Lady Greystoke found aught to praise in the
conduct of the man； and it was difficult even for her
to reconcile his many heinous acts with this one
evidence of chivalry and honor。
〃Deep in the soul of every man；〃 said Tarzan； 〃must
lurk the germ of righteousness。 It was your own
virtue； Jane； rather even than your helplessness which
awakened for an instant the latent decency of this
degraded man。 In that one act he retrieved himself；
and when he is called to face his Maker may it outweigh
in the balance； all the sins he has committed。〃
And Jane Clayton breathed a fervent； 〃Amen！〃
Months had passed。 The labor of the Waziri and the
gold of Opar had rebuilt and refurnished the wasted
homestead of the Greystokes。 Once more the simple life
of the great African farm went on as it had before the
coming of the Belgian and the Arab。 Forgotten were the
sorrows and dangers of yesterday。
For the first time in months Lord Greystoke felt that
he might indulge in a holiday； and so a great hunt was
organized that the faithful laborers might feast in
celebration of the completion of their work。
In itself the hunt was a success； and ten days after
its inauguration； a well…laden safari took up its
return march toward the Waziri plain。 Lord and Lady
Greystoke with Basuli and Mugambi rode together at the
head of the column； laughing and talking together in
that easy familiarity which common interests and mutual
respect breed between honest and intelligent men of any
races。
Jane Clayton's horse shied suddenly at an object half
hidden in the long grasses of an open space in the
jungle。 Tarzan's keen eyes sought quickly for an
explanation of the animal's action。
〃What have we here？〃 he cried； swinging from his
saddle； and a moment later the four were grouped about
a human skull and a little litter of whitened human
bones。
Tarzan stooped and lifted a leathern pouch from the
grisly relics of a man。 The hard outlines of the
contents brought an exclamation of surprise to his
lips。
〃The jewels of Opar！〃 he cried； holding the pouch
aloft； 〃and；〃 pointing to the bones at his feet； 〃all
that remains of Werper； the Belgian。〃
Mugambi laughed。 〃Look within； Bwana；〃 he cried； 〃and
you will see what are the jewels of Oparyou will see
what the Belgian gave his life for；〃 and the black
laughed aloud。
〃Why do you laugh？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃Because；〃 replied Mugambi； 〃I filled the Belgian's
pouch with river gravel before I escaped the camp of
the Abyssinians whose prisoners we were。 I left the
Belgian only worthless stones； while I brought away
with me the jewels he had stolen from you。 That they
were afterward stolen from me while I slept in the
jungle is my shame and my disgrace； but at least the
Belgian lost themopen his pouch and you will see。〃
Tarzan untied the thong which held the mouth of the
leathern bag closed； and permitted the contents to
trickle slowly forth into his open palm。 Mugambi's
eyes went wide at the sight； and the others uttered
exclamations of surprise and incredulity； for from the
rusty and weatherworn pouch ran a stream of brilliant；
scintillating gems。
〃The jewels of Opar！〃 cried Tarzan。 〃But how did
Werper come by them again？〃
None could answer； for both Chulk and Werper were dead；
and no other knew。
〃Poor devil！〃 said the ape…man； as he swung back into
his saddle。 〃Even in death he has made restitution
let his sins lie with his bones。〃
End