tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第32节
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Tarzan led them first to the rear of the hut in which Jane Clayton was
confined； where； through the roughly repaired aperture in the wall； he
sought with his sensitive nostrils for proof that the she he had come for
was within。
Chulk and Taglat； their hairy faces pressed close to that of the patrician；
sniffed with him。 Each caught the scent spoor of the woman within； and
each reacted according to his temperament and his habits of thought。
It left Chulk indifferent。 The she was for Tarzanall that he desired
was to bury his snout in the foodstuffs of the Tarmangani。 He had come
to eat his fill without laborTarzan had told him that that should be his
reward； and he was satisfied。
But Taglat's wicked； bloodshot eyes； narrowed to the realization of the
nearing fulfillment of his carefully nursed plan。 It is true that sometimes
during the several days that had elapsed since they had set out upon their
expedition it had been difficult for Taglat to hold his idea uppermost in his
mind； and on several occasions he had completely forgotten it； until
Tarzan； by a chance word； had recalled it to him； but； for an ape； Taglat
had done well。
Now； he licked his chops； and he made a sickening； sucking noise with
his flabby lips as he drew in his breath。
Satisfied that the she was where he had hoped to find her； Tarzan led
his apes toward the tent of Achmet Zek。 A passing Arab and two slaves
saw them； but the night was dark and the white burnooses hid the hairy
limbs of the apes and the giant figure of their leader； so that the three； by
squatting down as though in conversation； were passed by； unsuspected。
To the rear of the tent they made their way。 Within； Achmet Zek
conversed with several of his lieutenants。 Without； Tarzan listened。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
17
The Deadly Peril of Jane Clayton
Lieutenant Albert Werper； terrified by contemplation of the fate
which might await him at Adis Abeba； cast about for some scheme of
escape； but after the black Mugambi had eluded their vigilance the
Abyssinians redoubled their precautions to prevent Werper following the
lead of the Negro。
For some time Werper entertained the idea of bribing Abdul Mourak
with a portion of the contents of the pouch； but fearing that the man would
demand all the gems as the price of liberty； the Belgian； influenced by
avarice； sought another avenue from his dilemma。
It was then that there dawned upon him the possibility of the success
of a different course which would still leave him in possession of the
jewels； while at the same time satisfying the greed of the Abyssinian with
the conviction that he had obtained all that Werper had to offer。
And so it was that a day or so after Mugambi had disappeared； Werper
asked for an audience with Abdul Mourak。 As the Belgian entered the
presence of his captor the scowl upon the features of the latter boded ill for
any hope which Werper might entertain； still he fortified himself by
recalling the common weakness of mankind； which permits the most
inflexible of natures to bend to the consuming desire for wealth。
Abdul Mourak eyed him； frowningly。 〃What do you want now？〃 he
asked。
〃My liberty；〃 replied Werper。
The Abyssinian sneered。 〃And you disturbed me thus to tell me what
any fool might know；〃 he said。
〃I can pay for it；〃 said Werper。
Abdul Mourak laughed loudly。 〃Pay for it？〃 he cried。 〃What with
the rags that you have upon your back？ Or； perhaps you are concealing
beneath your coat a thousand pounds of ivory。 Get out！ You are a fool。
Do not bother me again or I shall have you whipped。〃
But Werper persisted。 His liberty and perhaps his life depended upon
his success。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
〃Listen to me；〃 he pleaded。 〃If I can give you as much gold as ten
men may carry will you promise that I shall be conducted in safety to the
nearest English commissioner？〃
〃As much gold as ten men may carry！〃 repeated Abdul Mourak。
〃You are crazy。 Where have you so much gold as that？〃
〃I know where it is hid；〃 said Werper。 〃Promise； and I will lead you
to itif ten loads is enough？〃
Abdul Mourak had ceased to laugh。 He was eyeing the Belgian
intently。 The fellow seemed sane enoughyet ten loads of gold！ It was
preposterous。 The Abyssinian thought in silence for a moment。
〃Well； and if I promise；〃 he said。 〃How far is this gold？〃
〃A long week's march to the south；〃 replied Werper。
〃And if we do not find it where you say it is； do you realize what your
punishment will be？〃
〃If it is not there I will forfeit my life；〃 replied the Belgian。 〃I know
it is there； for I saw it buried with my own eyes。 And morethere are not
only ten loads； but as many as fifty men may carry。 It is all yours if you
will promise to see me safely delivered into the protection of the English。〃
〃You will stake your life against the finding of the gold？〃 asked Abdul。
Werper assented with a nod。
〃Very well；〃 said the Abyssinian； 〃I promise； and even if there be but
five loads you shall have your freedom； but until the gold is in my
possession you remain a prisoner。〃
〃I am satisfied；〃 said Werper。 〃Tomorrow we start？〃
Abdul Mourak nodded； and the Belgian returned to his guards。 The
following day the Abyssinian soldiers were surprised to receive an order
which turned their faces from the northeast to the south。 And so it
happened that upon the very night that Tarzan and the two apes entered the
village of the raiders； the Abyssinians camped but a few miles to the east
of the same spot。
While Werper dreamed of freedom and the unmolested enjoyment of
the fortune in his stolen pouch； and Abdul Mourak lay awake in greedy
contemplation of the fifty loads of gold which lay but a few days farther to
the south of him； Achmet Zek gave orders to his lieutenants that they
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should prepare a force of fighting men and carriers to proceed to the ruins
of the Englishman's DOUAR on the morrow and bring back the fabulous
fortune which his renegade lieutenant had told him was buried there。
And as he delivered his instructions to those within； a silent listener
crouched without his tent； waiting for the time when he might enter in
safety and prosecute his search for the missing pouch and the pretty
pebbles that had caught his fancy。
At last the swarthy companions of Achmet Zek quitted his tent； and the
leader went with them to smoke a pipe with one of their number； leaving
his own silken habitation unguarded。 Scarcely had they left the interior
when a knife blade was thrust through the fabric of the rear wall； some six
feet above the ground； and a swift downward stroke opened an entrance to
those who waited beyond。
Through the opening stepped the ape…man； and close behind him came
the huge Chulk； but Taglat did not follow them。 Instead he turned and
slunk through the darkness toward the hut where the she who had arrested
his brutish interest lay securely bound。 Before the doorway the sentries
sat upon their haunches； conversing in monotones。 Within； the young
woman lay upon a filthy sleeping mat； resigned； through utter
hopelessness to whatever fate lay in store for her until the opportunity
arrived which would permit her to free herself by the only means which
now seemed even remotely possiblethe hitherto detested act of self…
destruction。
Creeping silently toward the sentries； a white…burnoosed figure
approached the shadows at one
