tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第2节
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his proposition was one well worthy of consideration； since fighting men
were never over plentifulespecially white men with the training and
knowledge of military matters that a European officer must possess。
Achmet Zek scowled and Werper's heart sank； but Werper did not
know Achmet Zek； who was quite apt to scowl where another would smile；
and smile where another would scowl。
〃And if you have lied to me；〃 said Achmet Zek； 〃I will kill you at any
time。 What return； other than your life； do you expect for your services？〃
〃My keep only； at first；〃 replied Werper。 〃Later； if I am worth more；
we can easily reach an understanding。〃 Werper's only desire at the moment
was to preserve his life。 And so the agreement was reached and
Lieutenant Albert Werper became a member of the ivory and slave raiding
band of the notorious Achmet Zek。
For months the renegade Belgian rode with the savage raider。 He
fought with a savage abandon； and a vicious cruelty fully equal to that of
his fellow desperadoes。 Achmet Zek watched his recruit with eagle eye；
and with a growing satisfaction which finally found expression in a greater
confidence in the man； and resulted in an increased independence of action
for Werper。
Achmet Zek took the Belgian into his confidence to a great extent； and
at last unfolded to him a pet scheme which the Arab had long fostered； but
which he never had found an opportunity to effect。 With the aid of a
European； however； the thing might be easily accomplished。 He sounded
Werper。
〃You have heard of the man men call Tarzan？〃 he asked。
Werper nodded。 〃I have heard of him； but I do not know him。〃
〃But for him we might carry on our 'trading' in safety and with great
profit；〃 continued the Arab。 〃For years he has fought us； driving us from
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
the richest part of the country； harassing us； and arming the natives that
they may repel us when we come to 'trade。' He is very rich。 If we could
find some way to make him pay us many pieces of gold we should not
only be avenged upon him； but repaid for much that he has prevented us
from winning from the natives under his protection。〃
Werper withdrew a cigaret from a jeweled case and lighted it。
〃And you have a plan to make him pay？〃 he asked。
〃He has a wife；〃 replied Achmet Zek； 〃whom men say is very beautiful。
She would bring a great price farther north； if we found it too difficult to
collect ransom money from this Tarzan。〃
Werper bent his head in thought。 Achmet Zek stood awaiting his
reply。 What good remained in Albert Werper revolted at the thought of
selling a white woman into the slavery and degradation of a Moslem
harem。 He looked up at Achmet Zek。 He saw the Arab's eyes narrow； and
he guessed that the other had sensed his antagonism to the plan。 What
would it mean to Werper to refuse？ His life lay in the hands of this semi…
barbarian； who esteemed the life of an unbeliever less highly than that of
a dog。 Werper loved life。 What was this woman to him； anyway？ She
was a European； doubtless； a member of organized society。 He was an
outcast。 The hand of every white man was against him。 She was his
natural enemy； and if he refused to lend himself to her undoing； Achmet
Zek would have him killed。
〃You hesitate；〃 murmured the Arab。
〃I was but weighing the chances of success；〃 lied Werper； 〃and my
reward。 As a European I can gain admittance to their home and table。
You have no other with you who could do so much。 The risk will be
great。 I should be well paid； Achmet Zek。〃
A smile of relief passed over the raider's face。
〃Well said； Werper；〃 and Achmet Zek slapped his lieutenant upon the
shoulder。 〃You should be well paid and you shall。 Now let us sit
together and plan how best the thing may be done；〃 and the two men
squatted upon a soft rug beneath the faded silks of Achmet's once
gorgeous tent； and talked together in low voices well into the night。 Both
were tall and bearded； and the exposure to sun and wind had given an
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almost Arab hue to the European's complexion。 In every detail of dress；
too； he copied the fashions of his chief； so that outwardly he was as much
an Arab as the other。 It was late when he arose and retired to his own tent。
The following day Werper spent in overhauling his Belgian uniform；
removing from it every vestige of evidence that might indicate its military
purposes。 From a heterogeneous collection of loot； Achmet Zek procured a
pith helmet and a European saddle； and from his black slaves and
followers a party of porters； askaris and tent boys to make up a modest
safari for a big game hunter。 At the head of this party Werper set out
from camp。
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2
On the Road To Opar
It was two weeks later that John Clayton； Lord Greystoke； riding in
from a tour of inspection of his vast African estate； glimpsed the head of a
column of men crossing the plain that lay between his bungalow and the
forest to the north and west。
He reined in his horse and watched the little party as it emerged from a
concealing swale。 His keen eyes caught the reflection of the sun upon
the white helmet of a mounted man； and with the conviction that a
wandering European hunter was seeking his hospitality； he wheeled his
mount and rode slowly forward to meet the newcomer。
A half hour later he was mounting the steps leading to the veranda of
his bungalow； and introducing M。 Jules Frecoult to Lady Greystoke。
〃I was completely lost；〃 M。 Frecoult was explaining。 〃My head man
had never before been in this part of the country and the guides who were
to have accompanied me from the last village we passed knew even less of
the country than we。 They finally deserted us two days since。 I am
very fortunate indeed to have stumbled so providentially upon succor。 I
do not know what I should have done； had I not found you。〃
It was decided that Frecoult and his party should remain several days；
or until they were thoroughly rested； when Lord Greystoke would furnish
guides to lead them safely back into country with which Frecoult's head
man was supposedly familiar。
In his guise of a French gentleman of leisure； Werper found little
difficulty in deceiving his host and in ingratiating himself with both
Tarzan and Jane Clayton； but the longer he remained the less hopeful he
became of an easy accomplishment of his designs。
Lady Greystoke never rode alone at any great distance from the
bungalow； and the savage loyalty of the ferocious Waziri warriors who
formed a great part of Tarzan's followers seemed to preclude the
possibility of a successful attempt at forcible abduction； or of the bribery
of the Waziri themselves。
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A week passed； and Werper was no nearer the fulfillment of his plan；
in so far as he could judge； than upon the day of his arrival； but at that
very moment something occurred which gave him renewed hope and set
his mind upon an even greater reward than a woman's ransom。
A runner had arrived at the bungalow with the weekly mail； and Lord
Greystoke had spent the afternoon in his study reading and answering
letters。 At dinner he seemed distraught； and early in the evening he
excused himself and retired； Lady Greystoke following
