tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第26节
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intruded his head within the interior。 All was quiet and dark。 Tarzan
crawled cautiously withinthe scent of the Belgian was strong； but it was
not live scent。 Even before he had examined the interior minutely； Tarzan
knew that no one was within it。
In one corner he found a pile of blankets and clothing scattered about；
but no pouch of pretty pebbles。 A careful examination of the balance of the
tent revealed nothing more； at least nothing to indicate the presence of the
jewels； but at the side where the blankets and clothing lay； the ape…man
discovered that the tent wall had been loosened at the bottom； and
presently he sensed that the Belgian had recently passed out of the tent by
this avenue。
Tarzan was not long in following the way that his prey had fled。 The
spoor led always in the shadow and at the rear of the huts and tents of the
villageit was quite evident to Tarzan that the Belgian had gone alone and
secretly upon his mission。 Evidently he feared the inhabitants of the
village； or at least his work had been of such a nature that he dared not risk
detection。
At the back of a native hut the spoor led through a small hole recently
cut in the brush wall and into the dark interior beyond。 Fearlessly； Tarzan
followed the trail。 On hands and knees； he crawled through the small
aperture。 Within the hut his nostrils were assailed by many odors； but
clear and distinct among them was one that half aroused a latent memory
of the pastit was the faint and delicate odor of a woman。 With the
cognizance of it there rose in the breast of the ape…man a strange
uneasinessthe result of an irresistible force which he was destined to
become acquainted with anewthe instinct which draws the male to his
mate。
In the same hut was the scent spoor of the Belgian； too； and as both
these assailed the nostrils of the ape…man； mingling one with the other； a
jealous rage leaped and burned within him； though his memory held
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before the mirror of recollection no image of the she to which he had
attached his desire。
Like the tent he had investigated； the hut； too； was empty； and after
satisfying himself that his stolen pouch was secreted nowhere within； he
left； as he had entered； by the hole in the rear wall。
Here he took up the spoor of the Belgian； followed it across the
clearing； over the palisade； and out into the dark jungle beyond。
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15
The Flight of Werper
After Werper had arranged the dummy in his bed； and sneaked out
into the darkness of the village beneath the rear wall of his tent； he had
gone directly to the hut in which Jane Clayton was held captive。
Before the doorway squatted a black sentry。 Werper approached him
boldly； spoke a few words in his ear； handed him a package of tobacco；
and passed into the hut。 The black grinned and winked as the European
disappeared within the darkness of the interior。
The Belgian； being one of Achmet Zek's principal lieutenants； might
naturally go where he wished within or without the village； and so the
sentry had not questioned his right to enter the hut with the white； woman
prisoner。
Within； Werper called in French and in a low whisper： 〃Lady
Greystoke！ It is I； M。 Frecoult。 Where are you？〃 But there was no
response。 Hastily the man felt around the interior； groping blindly
through the darkness with outstretched hands。 There was no one within！
Werper's astonishment surpassed words。 He was on the point of
stepping without to question the sentry； when his eyes； becoming
accustomed to the dark； discovered a blotch of lesser blackness near the
base of the rear wall of the hut。 Examination revealed the fact that the
blotch was an opening cut in the wall。 It was large enough to permit the
passage of his body； and assured as he was that Lady Greystoke had
passed out through the aperture in an attempt to escape the village； he lost
no time in availing himself of the same avenue； but neither did he lose
time in a fruitless search for Jane Clayton。
His own life depended upon the chance of his eluding； or
outdistancing Achmet Zek； when that worthy should have discovered that
he had escaped。 His original plan had contemplated connivance in the
escape of Lady Greystoke for two very good and sufficient reasons。 The
first was that by saving her he would win the gratitude of the English； and
thus lessen the chance of his extradition should his identity and his crime
against his superior officer be charged against him。
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The second reason was based upon the fact that only one direction of
escape was safely open to him。 He could not travel to the west because
of the Belgian possessions which lay between him and the Atlantic。 The
south was closed to him by the feared presence of the savage ape…man he
had robbed。 To the north lay the friends and allies of Achmet Zek。
Only toward the east； through British East Africa； lay reasonable assurance
of freedom。
Accompanied by a titled Englishwoman whom he had rescued from a
frightful fate； and his identity vouched for by her as that of a Frenchman
by the name of Frecoult； he had looked forward； and not without reason； to
the active assistance of the British from the moment that he came in
contact with their first outpost。
But now that Lady Greystoke had disappeared； though he still looked
toward the east for hope； his chances were lessened； and another；
subsidiary design completely dashed。 From the moment that he had first
laid eyes upon Jane Clayton he had nursed within his breast a secret
passion for the beautiful American wife of the English lord； and when
Achmet Zek's discovery of the jewels had necessitated flight； the Belgian
had dreamed； in his planning； of a future in which he might convince Lady
Greystoke that her husband was dead； and by playing upon her gratitude
win her for himself。
At that part of the village farthest from the gates； Werper discovered
that two or three long poles； taken from a nearby pile which had been
collected for the construction of huts； had been leaned against the top of
the palisade； forming a precarious； though not impossible avenue of
escape。
Rightly； he inferred that thus had Lady Greystoke found the means to
scale the wall； nor did he lose even a moment in following her lead。
Once in the jungle he struck out directly eastward。
A few miles south of him； Jane Clayton lay panting among the
branches of a tree in which she had taken refuge from a prowling and
hungry lioness。
Her escape from the village had been much easier than she had
anticipated。 The knife which she had used to cut her way through the
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brush wall of the hut to freedom she had found sticking in the wall of her
prison； doubtless left there by accident when a former tenant had vacated
the premises。
To cross the rear of the village； keeping always in the densest shadows；
had required but a few moments； and the fortunate circumstance of the
discovery of the hut poles lying so near the palisade had solved for her the
problem of the passage of the high wall。
For an hour she had followed the old game trail toward the south； until
there fell
