tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第28节
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contents。 The ape…man was disappointedpossibly not so much because
of the loss of the colored pebbles as with Numa for robbing him of the
pleasures of revenge。
Wondering what could have become of his possessions； the ape…man
turned slowly back along the trail in the direction from which he had come。
In his mind he revolved a plan to enter and search the Arab camp； after
darkness had again fallen。 Taking to the trees； he moved directly south in
search of prey； that he might satisfy his hunger before midday； and then lie
up for the afternoon in some spot far from the camp； where he might sleep
without fear of discovery until it came time to prosecute his design。
Scarcely had he quitted the trail when a tall； black warrior； moving at a
dogged trot； passed toward the east。 It was Mugambi； searching for his
mistress。 He continued along the trail； halting to examine the body of the
dead lion。 An expression of puzzlement crossed his features as he bent to
search for the wounds which had caused the death of the jungle lord。
Tarzan had removed his arrows； but to Mugambi the proof of death was as
strong as though both the lighter missiles and the spear still protruded
from the carcass。
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The black looked furtively about him。 The body was still warm； and
from this fact he reasoned that the killer was close at hand； yet no sign of
living man appeared。 Mugambi shook his head； and continued along the
trail； but with redoubled caution。
All day he traveled； stopping occasionally to call aloud the single word；
〃Lady；〃 in the hope that at last she might hear and respond； but in the end
his loyal devotion brought him to disaster。
From the northeast； for several months； Abdul Mourak； in command of
a detachment of Abyssinian soldiers； had been assiduously searching for
the Arab raider； Achmet Zek； who； six months previously； had affronted
the majesty of Abdul Mourak's emperor by conducting a slave raid within
the boundaries of Menelek's domain。
And now it happened that Abdul Mourak had halted for a short rest at
noon upon this very day and along the same trail that Werper and
Mugambi were following toward the east。
It was shortly after the soldiers had dismounted that the Belgian；
unaware of their presence； rode his tired mount almost into their midst；
before he had discovered them。 Instantly he was surrounded； and a
volley of questions hurled at him； as he was pulled from his horse and led
toward the presence of the commander。
Falling back upon his European nationality； Werper assured Abdul
Mourak that he was a Frenchman； hunting in Africa； and that he had been
attacked by strangers； his safari killed or scattered； and himself escaping
only by a miracle。
From a chance remark of the Abyssinian； Werper discovered the
purpose of the expedition； and when he realized that these men were the
enemies of Achmet Zek； he took heart； and immediately blamed his
predicament upon the Arab。
Lest； however； he might again fall into the hands of the raider； he
discouraged Abdul Mourak in the further prosecution of his pursuit；
assuring the Abyssinian that Achmet Zek commanded a large and
dangerous force； and also that he was marching rapidly toward the south。
Convinced that it would take a long time to overhaul the raider； and
that the chances of engagement made the outcome extremely questionable；
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Mourak； none too unwillingly； abandoned his plan and gave the necessary
orders for his command to pitch camp where they were； preparatory to
taking up the return march toward Abyssinia the following morning。
It was late in the afternoon that the attention of the camp was attracted
toward the west by the sound of a powerful voice calling a single word；
repeated several times： 〃Lady！ Lady！ Lady！〃
True to their instincts of precaution； a number of Abyssinians； acting
under orders from Abdul Mourak； advanced stealthily through the jungle
toward the author of the call。
A half hour later they returned； dragging Mugambi among them。 The
first person the big black's eyes fell upon as he was hustled into the
presence of the Abyssinian officer； was M。 Jules Frecoult； the Frenchman
who had been the guest of his master and whom he last had seen entering
the village of Achmet Zek under circumstances which pointed to his
familiarity and friendship for the raiders。
Between the disasters that had befallen his master and his master's
house； and the Frenchman； Mugambi saw a sinister relationship； which
kept him from recalling to Werper's attention the identity which the latter
evidently failed to recognize。
Pleading that he was but a harmless hunter from a tribe farther south；
Mugambi begged to be allowed to go upon his way； but Abdul Mourak；
admiring the warrior's splendid physique； decided to take him back to Adis
Abeba and present him to Menelek。 A few moments later Mugambi and
Werper were marched away under guard； and the Belgian learned for the
first time； that he too was a prisoner rather than a guest。 In vain he
protested against such treatment； until a strapping soldier struck him
across the mouth and threatened to shoot him if he did not desist。
Mugambi took the matter less to heart； for he had not the slightest
doubt but that during the course of the journey he would find ample
opportunity to elude the vigilance of his guards and make good his escape。
With this idea always uppermost in his mind； he courted the good opinion
of the Abyssinians； asked them many questions about their emperor and
their country； and evinced a growing desire to reach their destination； that
he might enjoy all the good things which they assured him the city of Adis
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Abeba contained。 Thus he disarmed their suspicions； and each day found
a slight relaxation of their watchfulness over him。
By taking advantage of the fact that he and Werper always were kept
together； Mugambi sought to learn what the other knew of the
whereabouts of Tarzan； or the authorship of the raid upon the bungalow； as
well as the fate of Lady Greystoke； but as he was confined to the accidents
of conversation for this information； not daring to acquaint Werper with
his true identity； and as Werper was equally anxious to conceal from the
world his part in the destruction of his host's home and happiness；
Mugambi learned nothingat least in this way。
But there came a time when he learned a very surprising thing； by
accident。
The party had camped early in the afternoon of a sultry day； upon the
banks of a clear and beautiful stream。 The bottom of the river was gravelly；
there was no indication of crocodiles； those menaces to promiscuous
bathing in the rivers of certain portions of the dark continent； and so the
Abyssinians took advantage of the opportunity to perform long…deferred；
and much needed； ablutions。
As Werper； who； with Mugambi； had been given permission to enter
the water； removed his clothing； the black noted the care with which he
unfastened something which circled his waist； and which he took off with
his shirt； keeping the latter always around and concealing the object of his
suspicious solicitude。
It was this very carefulness which attracted the black's attention to the
thing； arousing a natural curiosity in the warrior's mind； and so it chanced
that when the Belgian； in the nervousness of overcaution； fumbled the
hidden article and dropped it； Mugambi saw it as it fell upon the ground；
spilling a portion of its contents on the sward。
Now Mugambi had been to London with his master。 He was not the
unsophisticated savage that his apparel proclaimed him。 He had mingled
