tarzan and the jewels of opar-第33章

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！



standing　in　the　trail　behind　him。　　A　company　of

uniformed　blacks　stepped　quickly　forward　and　pushing

past　the　three；　surrounded　the　ape…man　and　his　captive。



〃Both　the　law　and　the　power　to　enforce　it　are　upon　my

side；〃　announced　the　officer。　　〃Let　us　have　no　trouble。

If　you　have　a　grievance　against　this　man　you　may　return

with　me　and　enter　your　charge　regularly　before　an

authorized　tribunal。〃



〃Your　legal　rights　are　not　above　suspicion；　my　friend；〃

replied　Tarzan；　〃and　your　power　to　enforce　your

commands　are　only　apparentnot　real。　　You　have

presumed　to　enter　British　territory　with　an　armed

force。　　Where　is　your　authority　for　this　invasion？

Where　are　the　extradition　papers　which　warrant　the

arrest　of　this　man？　　And　what　assurance　have　you　that　I

cannot　bring　an　armed　force　about　you　that　will　prevent

your　return　to　the　Congo　Free　State？〃



The　Belgian　lost　his　temper。　　〃I　have　no　disposition　to

argue　with　a　naked　savage；〃　he　cried。　　〃Unless　you　wish

to　be　hurt　you　will　not　interfere　with　me。　　Take　the

prisoner；　Sergeant！〃



Werper　raised　his　lips　close　to　Tarzan's　ear。　　〃Keep　me

from　them；　and　I　can　show　you　the　very　spot　where　I　saw

your　wife　last　night；〃　he　whispered。　　〃She　cannot　be

far　from　here　at　this　very　minute。〃



The　soldiers；　following　the　signal　from　their　sergeant；

closed　in　to　seize　Werper。　　Tarzan　grabbed　the　Belgian

about　the　waist；　and　bearing　him　beneath　his　arm　as　he

might　have　borne　a　sack　of　flour；　leaped　forward　in　an

attempt　to　break　through　the　cordon。　　His　right　fist

caught　the　nearest　soldier　upon　the　jaw　and　sent　him

hurtling　backward　upon　his　fellows。　　Clubbed　rifles

were　torn　from　the　hands　of　those　who　barred　his　way；

and　right　and　left　the　black　soldiers　stumbled　aside　in

the　face　of　the　ape…man's　savage　break　for　liberty。



So　completely　did　the　blacks　surround　the　two　that　they

dared　not　fire　for　fear　of　hitting　one　of　their　own

number；　and　Tarzan　was　already　through　them　and　upon

the　point　of　dodging　into　the　concealing　mazes　of　the

jungle　when　one　who　had　sneaked　upon　him　from　behind

struck　him　a　heavy　blow　upon　the　head　with　a　rifle。



In　an　instant　the　ape…man　was　down　and　a　dozen　black

soldiers　were　upon　his　back。　　When　he　regained

consciousness　he　found　himself　securely　bound；　as　was

Werper　also。　　The　Belgian　officer；　success　having

crowned　his　efforts；　was　in　good　humor；　and　inclined　to

chaff　his　prisoners　about　the　ease　with　which　they　had

been　captured；　but　from　Tarzan　of　the　Apes　he　elicited

no　response。　　Werper；　however；　was　voluble　in　his

protests。　　He　explained　that　Tarzan　was　an　English

lord；　but　the　officer　only　laughed　at　the　assertion；

and　advised　his　prisoner　to　save　his　breath　for　his

defense　in　court。



As　soon　as　Tarzan　regained　his　senses　and　it　was　found

that　he　was　not　seriously　injured；　the　prisoners　were

hastened　into　line　and　the　return　march　toward　the

Congo　Free　State　boundary　commenced。



Toward　evening　the　column　halted　beside　a　stream；　made

camp　and　prepared　the　evening　meal。　　From　the　thick

foliage　of　the　nearby　jungle　a　pair　of　fierce　eyes

watched　the　activities　of　the　uniformed　blacks　with

silent　intensity　and　curiosity。　　From　beneath　beetling

brows　the　creature　saw　the　boma　constructed；　the　fires

built；　and　the　supper　prepared。



Tarzan　and　Werper　had　been　lying　bound　behind　a　small

pile　of　knapsacks　from　the　time　that　the　company　had

halted；　but　with　the　preparation　of　the　meal　completed；

their　guard　ordered　them　to　rise　and　come　forward　to

one　of　the　fires　where　their　hands　would　be　unfettered

that　they　might　eat。



As　the　giant　ape…man　rose；　a　startled　expression　of

recognition　entered　the　eyes　of　the　watcher　in　the

jungle；　and　a　low　guttural　broke　from　the　savage　lips。

Instantly　Tarzan　was　alert；　but　the　answering　growl

died　upon　his　lips；　suppressed　by　the　fear　that　it

might　arouse　the　suspicions　of　the　soldiers。



Suddenly　an　inspiration　came　to　him。　　He　turned　toward

Werper。



〃I　am　going　to　speak　to　you　in　a　loud　voice　and　in　a

tongue　which　you　do　not　understand。　　Appear　to　listen

intently　to　what　I　say；　and　occasionally　mumble

something　as　though　replying　in　the　same　languageour

escape　may　hinge　upon　the　success　of　your　efforts。〃



Werper　nodded　in　assent　and　understanding；　and

immediately　there　broke　from　the　lips　of　his　companion

a　strange　jargon　which　might　have　been　compared　with

equal　propriety　to　the　barking　and　growling　of　a　dog

and　the　chattering　of　monkeys。



The　nearer　soldiers　looked　in　surprise　at　the　ape…man。

Some　of　them　laughed；　while　others　drew　away　in　evident

superstitious　fear。　　The　officer　approached　the

prisoners　while　Tarzan　was　still　jabbering；　and　halted

behind　them；　listening　in　perplexed　interest。　　When

Werper　mumbled　some　ridiculous　jargon　in　reply　his

curiosity　broke　bounds；　and　he　stepped　forward；

demanding　to　know　what　language　it　was　that　they　spoke。



Tarzan　had　gauged　the　measure　of　the　man's　culture　from

the　nature　and　quality　of　his　conversation　during　the

march；　and　he　rested　the　success　of　his　reply　upon　the

estimate　he　had　made。



〃Greek；〃　he　explained。



〃Oh；　I　thought　it　was　Greek；〃　replied　the　officer；　〃but

it　has　been　so　many　years　since　I　studied　it　that　I　was

not　sure。　　In　future；　however；　I　will　thank　you　to

speak　in　a　language　which　I　am　more　familiar　with。〃



Werper　turned　his　head　to　hide　a　grin；　whispering　to

Tarzan：　〃It　was　Greek　to　him　all　rightand　to　me；　too。〃



But　one　of　the　black　soldiers　mumbled　in　a　low　voice　to

a　companion：　〃I　have　heard　those　sounds　beforeonce　at

night　when　I　was　lost　in　the　jungle；　I　heard　the　hairy

men　of　the　trees　talking　among　themselves；　and　their

words　were　like　the　words　of　this　white　man。　　I　wish

that　we　had　not　found　him。　　He　is　not　a　man　at　allhe

is　a　bad　spirit；　and　we　shall　have　bad　luck　if　we　do

not　let　him　go；〃　and　the　fellow　rolled　his　eyes

fearfully　toward　the　jungle。



His　companion　laughed　nervously；　and　moved　away；　to

repeat　the　conversation；　with　variations　and

exaggerations；　to　others　of　the　black　soldiery；　so　that

it　was　not　long　before　a　frightful　tale　of　black　magic

and　sudden　death　was　woven　about　the　giant　prisoner；

and　had　gone　the　rounds　of　the　camp。



And　deep　in　the　gloomy　jungle　amidst　the　darkening

shadows　of　the　falling　night　a　hairy；　manlike　creature

swung　swiftly　southward　upon　some　secret　mission　of　his

own。







23



A　Night　of　Terror





To　Jane　Clayton；　waiting　in　the　tree　where　Werper　had

placed　her；　it　seemed　that　the　long　night　would　never

end；　yet　end　it　did　at　last；　and　within　an　hour　of　the

coming　of　dawn　her　spirits　leaped　with　renewed　hope　at

sight　of　a　solitary　horseman　approaching　along　the

trail。



The　flowing　burnoose；　with　its　loose　hood；　hid　both　the

face　and　the　figure　of　the　rider；　but　that　it　was　M。

Frecoult　the　girl　well　knew；　since　he　had　been　garbed

as　an　Arab；　and　he　alone　might　be　expected　to　seek　her

hiding　place。



That　which　she　saw　relieved　the　strain　of　the　long

night　vigil；　but　there　was　much　that　she　did　not　see。

She　did　not　see　the　black　face　beneath　the　white　hood；

nor　the　file　of　ebon　horsemen　beyond　the　trail's　bend

riding　slowly　in　the　wake　of　their　leader。　　These

things　she　did　not　see　at　first；　and　so　she　leaned

downward　toward　the　approaching　rider；　a　cry　of　welcome

forming　in　her　throat。



At　the　first　word　the　man　looked　up；　reining　in　in

surprise；　and　as　she　saw　the　black　face　of　Abdul

Mourak；　the　Abyssinian；　she　shrank　back　in　terror　among

the　branches；　but　it　was　too　late。　　The　man　had　seen

her；　and　now　he　called　to　her　to　descend。　　At　first　she

refused；　but　when　a　dozen　black　cavalrymen　drew　up

behind　their　leader；　and　at　Abdul　Mourak's　command　one

of　them　started　to　climb　the　tree　after　her　she

realized　that　resistance　was　futile；　and　came　slowly

down　to　stand　upon　the　ground　before　this　new　captor

and　plead　her　cause　in　the　name　of　justice　and　humanity。



Angered　by　recent　defeat；　and　by　the　loss　of　the　gold；

the　jewels；　and　his　prisoners；　Abdul　Mourak　was　in　no

mood　to　be　influenced　by　any　appeal　to　those　softer

sentiments　to　which；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　he　was　almost

a　stranger　even　under　the　most　favourable　conditions。



He　looked　for　degradation　and　possible　death　in

punishment　for　his　failures　and　his　misfortunes　when　he

should　have　returned　to　his　native　land　and　made　his

report　to　Menelek；　but　an　acceptable　gift　might　temper

the　wrath　of　the　emperor；　and　surely　this　fair　flower

of　another　race　should　be　gratefully　received　by　the

black　ruler！



When　Jane　Clayton　had　concluded　her　appeal；　Abdul

Mourak　replied　briefly　that　he　would　promise　her

protection；　but　that　he　must　take　her　to　his　emperor。

The　girl　did　not　need　ask　him　why；　and　once　again　hope

died　within　her　breast。　　Resignedly　she　permitted

herself　to　be　lifted　to　a　seat　behind　one　of　the

troopers；　and　again；　under　new　masters；　her　journey　was

resumed　toward　what　she　now　began　to　believe　was　her

inevitable　fate。



Abdul　Mourak；　bereft　of　his　guides　by　the　battle　he　had

waged　against　the　raiders；　and　himself　unfamiliar　with

the　country；　had　wandered　far　from　the　trail　he　should

have　followed；　and　as　a　result　had　made　but　little

progress　toward　the　north　since　the　beginning　of　his

flight。　　Today　he　was　beating　toward　the　west　in　the

hope　of　coming　upon　a　village　where　he　might　obtain

guides；　but　night　found　him　still　as　far　from　a

realization　of　his　hopes　as　had　the　rising　sun。



It　was　a　dispirited　company　which　went　into　camp；

waterless　and　hungry；　in　the　dense　jungle。　　Attracted

by　the　horses；　lions　roared　about　the　boma；　and　to

their　hideous　din　was　added　the　shrill　neighs　of　the

terror…stricken　beasts　they　hunted。　　There　was　little

sleep　for　man　or　beast；　and　the　sentries　were　doubled

that　there　might　be　enough　on　duty　both　to　guard

against　the　sudden　charge　of　an　overbold；　or　overhungry

lion；　and　to　keep　the　fire　blazing　which　was　an　even

more　effectual　barrier　against　them　than　the　thorny　boma。



It　was　well　past　midnight；　and　as　yet　Jane　Clayton；

notwithstanding　that　she　had　passed　a　sleepless　night

the　night　before；　had　scarcely　more　than　dozed。　　A

sense　of　impending　danger　seemed　to　hang　like　a　black

pall　over　the　camp。　　The　veteran　troopers　of　the　black

emperor　were　nervous　and　ill　at　ease。　　Abdul　Mourak

left　his　blankets　a　dozen　times　to　pace　restlessly　back

and　forth　between　the　tethered　horses　and　the　crackling

fire。　　The　girl　could　see　his　great　frame　silhouetted

against　the　lurid　glare　of　the　flames；　and　she　guessed

from　the　quick；　nervous　movements　of　the　man　that　he

was　afraid。



The　roaring　of　the　lions　rose　in　sudden　fury　until　the

earth　trembled　to　the　hideous　chorus。　　The　horses

shrilled　their　neighs　of　terror　as　they　lay　back　u