tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第36节
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the direction of the forest at its farther edge。
For another hour the battle raged nor did it cease until the last of the
Abyssinians lay dead upon the ground； or had galloped off toward the
north in flight。 But a handful of men escaped； among them Abdul Mourak。
The victorious raiders collected about the pile of golden ingots which
the Abyssinians had uncovered； and there awaited the return of their leader。
Their exultation was slightly tempered by the glimpse they had had of the
strange apparition of the naked white man galloping away upon the horse
of one of their foemen and carrying a companion who was now among
them expatiating upon the superhuman strength of the ape…man。 None of
them there but was familiar with the name and fame of Tarzan of the Apes；
and the fact that they had recognized the white giant as the ferocious
enemy of the wrongdoers of the jungle； added to their terror； for they had
been assured that Tarzan was dead。
Naturally superstitious； they fully believed that they had seen the
disembodied spirit of the dead man； and now they cast fearful glances
about them in expectation of the ghost's early return to the scene of the
ruin they had inflicted upon him during their recent raid upon his home；
and discussed in affrighted whispers the probable nature of the vengeance
which the spirit would inflict upon them should he return to find them in
possession of his gold。
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As they conversed their terror grew； while from the concealment of the
reeds along the river below them a small party of naked； black warriors
watched their every move。 From the heights beyond the river these black
men had heard the noise of the conflict； and creeping warily down to the
stream had forded it and advanced through the reeds until they were in a
position to watch every move of the combatants。
For a half hour the raiders awaited Achmet Zek's return； their fear of
the earlier return of the ghost of Tarzan constantly undermining their
loyalty to and fear of their chief。 Finally one among them voiced the
desires of all when he announced that he intended riding forth toward the
forest in search of Achmet Zek。 Instantly every man of them sprang to his
mount。
〃The gold will be safe here；〃 cried one。 〃We have killed the
Abyssinians and there are no others to carry it away。 Let us ride in
search of Achmet Zek！〃
And a moment later； amidst a cloud of dust； the raiders were galloping
madly across the plain； and out from the concealment of the reeds along
the river； crept a party of black warriors toward the spot where the golden
ingots of Opar lay piled on the ground。
Werper had still been in advance of Achmet Zek when he reached the
forest； but the latter； better mounted； was gaining upon him。 Riding with
the reckless courage of desperation the Belgian urged his mount to greater
speed even within the narrow confines of the winding； game trail that the
beast was following。
Behind him he could hear the voice of Achmet Zek crying to him to
halt； but Werper only dug the spurs deeper into the bleeding sides of his
panting mount。 Two hundred yards within the forest a broken branch lay
across the trail。 It was a small thing that a horse might ordinarily take in
his natural stride without noticing its presence； but Werper's horse was
jaded； his feet were heavy with weariness； and as the branch caught
between his front legs he stumbled； was unable to recover himself； and
went down； sprawling in the trail。
Werper； going over his head； rolled a few yards farther on； scrambled
to his feet and ran back。 Seizing the reins he tugged to drag the beast to
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his feet； but the animal would not or could not rise； and as the Belgian
cursed and struck at him； Achmet Zek appeared in view。
Instantly the Belgian ceased his efforts with the dying animal at his
feet； and seizing his rifle； dropped behind the horse and fired at the
oncoming Arab。
His bullet； going low； struck Achmet Zek's horse in the breast；
bringing him down a hundred yards from where Werper lay preparing to
fire a second shot。
The Arab； who had gone down with his mount； was standing astride
him； and seeing the Belgian's strategic position behind his fallen horse；
lost no time in taking up a similar one behind his own。
And there the two lay； alternately firing at and cursing each other；
while from behind the Arab； Tarzan of the Apes approached to the edge of
the forest。 Here he heard the occasional shots of the duelists； and
choosing the safer and swifter avenue of the forest branches to the
uncertain transportation afforded by a half…broken Abyssinian pony； took
to the trees。
Keeping to one side of the trail； the ape…man came presently to a point
where he could look down in comparative safety upon the fighters。 First
one and then the other would partially raise himself above his breastwork
of horseflesh； fire his weapon and immediately drop flat behind his shelter；
where he would reload and repeat the act a moment later。
Werper had but little ammunition； having been hastily armed by Abdul
Mourak from the body of one of the first of the Abyssinians who had
fallen in the fight about the pile of ingots； and now he realized that soon he
would have used his last bullet； and be at the mercy of the Araba mercy
with which he was well acquainted。
Facing both death and despoilment of his treasure； the Belgian cast
about for some plan of escape； and the only one that appealed to him as
containing even a remote possibility of success hinged upon the chance of
bribing Achmet Zek。
Werper had fired all but a single cartridge； when； during a lull in the
fighting； he called aloud to his opponent。
〃Achmet Zek；〃 he cried； 〃Allah alone knows which one of us may
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leave our bones to rot where he lies upon this trail today if we keep up our
foolish battle。 You wish the contents of the pouch I wear about my waist；
and I wish my life and my liberty even more than I do the jewels。 Let us
each； then； take that which he most desires and go our separate ways in
peace。 I will lay the pouch upon the carcass of my horse； where you may
see it； and you； in turn； will lay your gun upon your horse； with butt
toward me。 Then I will go away； leaving the pouch to you； and you will
let me go in safety。 I want only my life； and my freedom。〃
The Arab thought in silence for a moment。 Then he spoke。 His reply
was influenced by the fact that he had expended his last shot。
〃Go your way； then；〃 he growled； 〃leaving the pouch in plain sight
behind you。 See； I lay my gun thus； with the butt toward you。 Go。〃
Werper removed the pouch from about his waist。 Sorrowfully and
affectionately he let his fingers press the hard outlines of the contents。
Ah； if he could extract a little handful of the precious stones！ But
Achmet Zek was standing now； his eagle eyes commanding a plain view
of the Belgian and his every act。
Regretfully Werper laid the pouch； its contents undisturbed； upon the
body of his horse； rose； and taking his rifle with him； backed slowly down
the trail until a turn hid him from the view of the watchful Arab。
Even then Achmet Zek did not advance； fearful as he was of some
such treachery as he himself might have been guilty of under like
circumstances； nor were his suspicions groundless； for the Belgian； no
sooner had he passed out of the range of the Arab's vision； halted behind
the bole of a tree； where he still commanded an unobstructed view of his
dead horse and the pouch； and raising his rifle
