tarzan and the jewels of opar-第25章

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expatiating　upon　the　superhuman　strength　of　the　ape…man。

None　of　them　there　but　was　familiar　with　the　name

and　fame　of　Tarzan　of　the　Apes；　and　the　fact　that　they

had　recognized　the　white　giant　as　the　ferocious　enemy

of　the　wrongdoers　of　the　jungle；　added　to　their　terror；

for　they　had　been　assured　that　Tarzan　was　dead。



Naturally　superstitious；　they　fully　believed　that　they

had　seen　the　disembodied　spirit　of　the　dead　man；　and

now　they　cast　fearful　glances　about　them　in　expectation

of　the　ghost's　early　return　to　the　scene　of　the　ruin

they　had　inflicted　upon　him　during　their　recent　raid

upon　his　home；　and　discussed　in　affrighted　whispers　the

probable　nature　of　the　vengeance　which　the　spirit　would

inflict　upon　them　should　he　return　to　find　them　in

possession　of　his　gold。



As　they　conversed　their　terror　grew；　while　from　the

concealment　of　the　reeds　along　the　river　below　them　a

small　party　of　naked；　black　warriors　watched　their

every　move。　　From　the　heights　beyond　the　river　these

black　men　had　heard　the　noise　of　the　conflict；　and

creeping　warily　down　to　the　stream　had　forded　it　and

advanced　through　the　reeds　until　they　were　in　a

position　to　watch　every　move　of　the　combatants。



For　a　half　hour　the　raiders　awaited　Achmet　Zek's

return；　their　fear　of　the　earlier　return　of　the　ghost

of　Tarzan　constantly　undermining　their　loyalty　to　and

fear　of　their　chief。　　Finally　one　among　them　voiced　the

desires　of　all　when　he　announced　that　he　intended

riding　forth　toward　the　forest　in　search　of　Achmet　Zek。

Instantly　every　man　of　them　sprang　to　his　mount。



〃The　gold　will　be　safe　here；〃　cried　one。　　〃We　have

killed　the　Abyssinians　and　there　are　no　others　to　carry

it　away。　　Let　us　ride　in　search　of　Achmet　Zek！〃



And　a　moment　later；　amidst　a　cloud　of　dust；　the　raiders

were　galloping　madly　across　the　plain；　and　out　from　the

concealment　of　the　reeds　along　the　river；　crept　a　party

of　black　warriors　toward　the　spot　where　the　golden

ingots　of　Opar　lay　piled　on　the　ground。



Werper　had　still　been　in　advance　of　Achmet　Zek　when　he

reached　the　forest；　but　the　latter；　better　mounted；　was

gaining　upon　him。　　Riding　with　the　reckless　courage　of

desperation　the　Belgian　urged　his　mount　to　greater

speed　even　within　the　narrow　confines　of　the　winding；

game　trail　that　the　beast　was　following。



Behind　him　he　could　hear　the　voice　of　Achmet　Zek　crying

to　him　to　halt；　but　Werper　only　dug　the　spurs　deeper

into　the　bleeding　sides　of　his　panting　mount。　　Two

hundred　yards　within　the　forest　a　broken　branch　lay

across　the　trail。　　It　was　a　small　thing　that　a　horse

might　ordinarily　take　in　his　natural　stride　without

noticing　its　presence；　but　Werper's　horse　was　jaded；

his　feet　were　heavy　with　weariness；　and　as　the　branch

caught　between　his　front　legs　he　stumbled；　was　unable

to　recover　himself；　and　went　down；　sprawling　in　the

trail。



Werper；　going　over　his　head；　rolled　a　few　yards　farther

on；　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　ran　back。　　Seizing　the

reins　he　tugged　to　drag　the　beast　to　his　feet；　but　the

animal　would　not　or　could　not　rise；　and　as　the　Belgian

cursed　and　struck　at　him；　Achmet　Zek　appeared　in　view。



Instantly　the　Belgian　ceased　his　efforts　with　the　dying

animal　at　his　feet；　and　seizing　his　rifle；　dropped

behind　the　horse　and　fired　at　the　oncoming　Arab。



His　bullet；　going　low；　struck　Achmet　Zek's　horse　in　the

breast；　bringing　him　down　a　hundred　yards　from　where

Werper　lay　preparing　to　fire　a　second　shot。



The　Arab；　who　had　gone　down　with　his　mount；　was

standing　astride　him；　and　seeing　the　Belgian's

strategic　position　behind　his　fallen　horse；　lost　no

time　in　taking　up　a　similar　one　behind　his　own。



And　there　the　two　lay；　alternately　firing　at　and

cursing　each　other；　while　from　behind　the　Arab；　Tarzan

of　the　Apes　approached　to　the　edge　of　the　forest。　　Here

he　heard　the　occasional　shots　of　the　duelists；　and

choosing　the　safer　and　swifter　avenue　of　the　forest

branches　to　the　uncertain　transportation　afforded　by　a

half…broken　Abyssinian　pony；　took　to　the　trees。



Keeping　to　one　side　of　the　trail；　the　ape…man　came

presently　to　a　point　where　he　could　look　down　in

comparative　safety　upon　the　fighters。　　First　one　and

then　the　other　would　partially　raise　himself　above　his

breastwork　of　horseflesh；　fire　his　weapon　and

immediately　drop　flat　behind　his　shelter；　where　he

would　reload　and　repeat　the　act　a　moment　later。



Werper　had　but　little　ammunition；　having　been　hastily

armed　by　Abdul　Mourak　from　the　body　of　one　of　the　first

of　the　Abyssinians　who　had　fallen　in　the　fight　about

the　pile　of　ingots；　and　now　he　realized　that　soon　he

would　have　used　his　last　bullet；　and　be　at　the　mercy　of

the　Araba　mercy　with　which　he　was　well　acquainted。



Facing　both　death　and　despoilment　of　his　treasure；　the

Belgian　cast　about　for　some　plan　of　escape；　and　the

only　one　that　appealed　to　him　as　containing　even　a

remote　possibility　of　success　hinged　upon　the　chance　of

bribing　Achmet　Zek。



Werper　had　fired　all　but　a　single　cartridge；　when；

during　a　lull　in　the　fighting；　he　called　aloud　to　his

opponent。



〃Achmet　Zek；〃　he　cried；　〃Allah　alone　knows　which　one　of

us　may　leave　our　bones　to　rot　where　he　lies　upon　this

trail　today　if　we　keep　up　our　foolish　battle。　　You　wish

the　contents　of　the　pouch　I　wear　about　my　waist；　and　I

wish　my　life　and　my　liberty　even　more　than　I　do　the

jewels。　　Let　us　each；　then；　take　that　which　he　most

desires　and　go　our　separate　ways　in　peace。　　I　will　lay

the　pouch　upon　the　carcass　of　my　horse；　where　you　may

see　it；　and　you；　in　turn；　will　lay　your　gun　upon　your

horse；　with　butt　toward　me。　　Then　I　will　go　away；

leaving　the　pouch　to　you；　and　you　will　let　me　go　in

safety。　　I　want　only　my　life；　and　my　freedom。〃



The　Arab　thought　in　silence　for　a　moment。　　Then　he

spoke。　His　reply　was　influenced　by　the　fact　that　he　had

expended　his　last　shot。



〃Go　your　way；　then；〃　he　growled；　〃leaving　the　pouch　in

plain　sight　behind　you。　　See；　I　lay　my　gun　thus；　with

the　butt　toward　you。　　Go。〃



Werper　removed　the　pouch　from　about　his　waist。

Sorrowfully　and　affectionately　he　let　his　fingers　press

the　hard　outlines　of　the　contents。　　Ah；　if　he　could

extract　a　little　handful　of　the　precious　stones！　　But

Achmet　Zek　was　standing　now；　his　eagle　eyes　commanding

a　plain　view　of　the　Belgian　and　his　every　act。



Regretfully　Werper　laid　the　pouch；　its　contents

undisturbed；　upon　the　body　of　his　horse；　rose；　and

taking　his　rifle　with　him；　backed　slowly　down　the　trail

until　a　turn　hid　him　from　the　view　of　the　watchful　Arab。



Even　then　Achmet　Zek　did　not　advance；　fearful　as　he　was

of　some　such　treachery　as　he　himself　might　have　been

guilty　of　under　like　circumstances；　nor　were　his

suspicions　groundless；　for　the　Belgian；　no　sooner　had

he　passed　out　of　the　range　of　the　Arab's　vision；　halted

behind　the　bole　of　a　tree；　where　he　still　commanded　an

unobstructed　view　of　his　dead　horse　and　the　pouch；　and

raising　his　rifle　covered　the　spot　where　the　other's

body　must　appear　when　he　came　forward　to　seize　the

treasure。



But　Achmet　Zek　was　no　fool　to　expose　himself　to　the

blackened　honor　of　a　thief　and　a　murderer。　　Taking　his

long　gun　with　him；　he　left　the　trail；　entering　the　rank

and　tangled　vegetation　which　walled　it；　and　crawling

slowly　forward　on　hands　and　knees　he　paralleled　the

trail；　but　never　for　an　instant　was　his　body　exposed　to

the　rifle　of　the　hidden　assassin。



Thus　Achmet　Zek　advanced　until　he　had　come　opposite　the

dead　horse　of　his　enemy。　　The　pouch　lay　there　in　full

view；　while　a　short　distance　along　the　trail；　Werper

waited　in　growing　impatience　and　nervousness；　wondering

why　the　Arab　did　not　come　to　claim　his　reward。



Presently　he　saw　the　muzzle　of　a　rifle　appear　suddenly

and　mysteriously　a　few　inches　above　the　pouch；　and

before　he　could　realize　the　cunning　trick　that　the　Arab

had　played　upon　him　the　sight　of　the　weapon　was

adroitly　hooked　into　the　rawhide　thong　which　formed　the

carrying　strap　of　the　pouch；　and　the　latter　was　drawn

quickly　from　his　view　into　the　dense　foliage　at　the

trail's　side。



Not　for　an　instant　had　the　raider　exposed　a　square　inch

of　his　body；　and　Werper　dared　not　fire　his　one

remaining　shot　unless　every　chance　of　a　successful　hit

was　in　his　favor。



Chuckling　to　himself；　Achmet　Zek　withdrew　a　few　paces

farther　into　the　jungle；　for　he　was　as　positive　that

Werper　was　waiting　nearby　for　a　chance　to　pot　him　as

though　his　eyes　had　penetrated　the　jungle　trees　to　the

figure　of　the　hiding　Belgian；　fingering　his　rifle

behind　the　bole　of　the　buttressed　giant。



Werper　did　not　dare　advancehis　cupidity　would　not

permit　him　to　depart；　and　so　he　stood　there；　his　rifle

ready　in　his　hands；　his　eyes　watching　the　trail　before

him　with　catlike　intensity。



But　there　was　another　who　had　seen　the　pouch　and

recognized　it；　who　did　advance　with　Achmet　Zek；

hovering　above　him；　as　silent　and　as　sure　as　death

itself；　and　as　the　Arab；　finding　a　little　spot　less

overgrown　with　bushes　than　he　had　yet　encountered；

prepared　to　gloat　his　eyes　upon　the　contents　of　the

pouch；　Tarzan　paused　directly　above　him；　intent　upon

the　same　object。



Wetting　his　thin　lips　with　his　tongue；　Achmet　Zek

loosened　the　tie　strings　which　closed　the　mouth　of　the

pouch；　and　cupping　one　claw…like　hand　poured　forth　a

portion　of　the　contents　into　his　palm。



A　single　look　he　took　at　the　stones　lying　in　his　hand。

His　eyes　narrowed；　a　curse　broke　from　his　lips；　and　he

hurled　the　small　objects　upon　the　ground；　disdainfully。

Quickly　he　emptied　the　balance　of　the　contents　until　he

had　scanned　each　separate　stone；　and　as　he　dumped　them

all　upon　the　ground　and　stamped　upon　them　his　rage　grew

until　the　muscles　of　his　face　worked　in　demon…like

fury；　and　his　fingers　clenched　until　his　nails　bit　into

the　flesh。



Above；　Tarzan　watched　in　wonderment。　　He　had　been

curious　to　discover　what　all　the　pow…wow　about　his

pouch　had　meant。　　He　wanted　to　see　what　the　Arab　would

do　after　the　other　had　gone　away；　leaving　the　pouch

behind　him；　and；　having　satisfied　his　curiosity；　he

would　then　have　pounced　upon　Achmet　Zek　and　taken　the

pouch　and　his　pretty　pebbles　away　from　him；　for　did

they　not　belong　to　Tarzan？



He　saw　the　Arab　now　throw　aside　the　empty　pouch；　and

grasping　his　long　gun　by　the　barrel；　clublike；　sneak

stealthily　through　the　jungle　beside　the　trail　along

which　Werper　had　gone。



As　the　man　disappeared　from　his　view；　Tarzan　dropped　to

the　ground　and　commenced　gathering　up　the　spilled

contents　of　the　pouch；　and　the　moment　that　he　obtained

his　first　near　view　of　the　scattered　pebbles　he

understood　the　rage　of　the　Arab；　for　instead　of　the

glittering　and　scintillating　gems　which　had　first

caught　and　held　the　attention　of　the　ape…man；　the　pouch

now　contained　but　a　collection　of　ordinary　rive