tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第37节
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the bole of a tree； where he still commanded an unobstructed view of his
dead horse and the pouch； and raising his rifle covered the spot where the
other's body must appear when he came forward to seize the treasure。
But Achmet Zek was no fool to expose himself to the blackened honor
of a thief and a murderer。 Taking his long gun with him； he left the trail；
entering the rank and tangled vegetation which walled it； and crawling
slowly forward on hands and knees he paralleled the trail； but never for an
instant was his body exposed to the rifle of the hidden assassin。
Thus Achmet Zek advanced until he had come opposite the dead horse
of his enemy。 The pouch lay there in full view； while a short distance
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along the trail； Werper waited in growing impatience and nervousness；
wondering why the Arab did not come to claim his reward。
Presently he saw the muzzle of a rifle appear suddenly and
mysteriously a few inches above the pouch； and before he could realize
the cunning trick that the Arab had played upon him the sight of the
weapon was adroitly hooked into the rawhide thong which formed the
carrying strap of the pouch； and the latter was drawn quickly from his
view into the dense foliage at the trail's side。
Not for an instant had the raider exposed a square inch of his body； and
Werper dared not fire his one remaining shot unless every chance of a
successful hit was in his favor。
Chuckling to himself； Achmet Zek withdrew a few paces farther into
the jungle； for he was as positive that Werper was waiting nearby for a
chance to pot him as though his eyes had penetrated the jungle trees to the
figure of the hiding Belgian； fingering his rifle behind the bole of the
buttressed giant。
Werper did not dare advancehis cupidity would not permit him to
depart； and so he stood there； his rifle ready in his hands； his eyes
watching the trail before him with catlike intensity。
But there was another who had seen the pouch and recognized it； who
did advance with Achmet Zek； hovering above him； as silent and as sure
as death itself； and as the Arab； finding a little spot less overgrown with
bushes than he had yet encountered； prepared to gloat his eyes upon the
contents of the pouch； Tarzan paused directly above him； intent upon the
same object。
Wetting his thin lips with his tongue； Achmet Zek loosened the tie
strings which closed the mouth of the pouch； and cupping one claw…like
hand poured forth a portion of the contents into his palm。
A single look he took at the stones lying in his hand。 His eyes
narrowed； a curse broke from his lips； and he hurled the small objects
upon the ground； disdainfully。 Quickly he emptied the balance of the
contents until he had scanned each separate stone； and as he dumped them
all upon the ground and stamped upon them his rage grew until the
muscles of his face worked in demon…like fury； and his fingers clenched
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
until his nails bit into the flesh。
Above； Tarzan watched in wonderment。 He had been curious to
discover what all the pow…wow about his pouch had meant。 He wanted
to see what the Arab would do after the other had gone away； leaving the
pouch behind him； and； having satisfied his curiosity； he would then have
pounced upon Achmet Zek and taken the pouch and his pretty pebbles
away from him； for did they not belong to Tarzan？
He saw the Arab now throw aside the empty pouch； and grasping his
long gun by the barrel； clublike； sneak stealthily through the jungle beside
the trail along which Werper had gone。
As the man disappeared from his view； Tarzan dropped to the ground
and commenced gathering up the spilled contents of the pouch； and the
moment that he obtained his first near view of the scattered pebbles he
understood the rage of the Arab； for instead of the glittering and
scintillating gems which had first caught and held the attention of the ape…
man； the pouch now contained but a collection of ordinary river pebbles。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
19
Jane Clayton and the Beasts of the Jungle
Mugambi； after his successful break for liberty； had fallen upon hard
times。 His way had led him through a country with which he was
unfamiliar； a jungle country in which he could find no water； and but little
food； so that after several days of wandering he found himself so reduced
in strength that he could barely drag himself along。
It was with growing difficulty that he found the strength necessary to
construct a shelter by night wherein he might be reasonably safe from the
large carnivora； and by day he still further exhausted his strength in
digging for edible roots； and searching for water。
A few stagnant pools at considerable distances apart saved him from
death by thirst； but his was a pitiable state when finally he stumbled by
accident upon a large river in a country where fruit was abundant； and
small game which he might bag by means of a combination of stealth；
cunning； and a crude knob…stick which he had fashioned from a fallen
limb。
Realizing that he still had a long march ahead of him before he could
reach even the outskirts of the Waziri country； Mugambi wisely decided to
remain where he was until he had recuperated his strength and health。 A
few days' rest would accomplish wonders for him； he knew； and he could
ill afford to sacrifice his chances for a safe return by setting forth
handicapped by weakness。
And so it was that he constructed a substantial thorn boma； and rigged
a thatched shelter within it； where he might sleep by night in security； and
from which he sallied forth by day to hunt the flesh which alone could
return to his giant thews their normal prowess。
One day； as he hunted； a pair of savage eyes discovered him from the
concealment of the branches of a great tree beneath which the black
warrior passed。 Bloodshot； wicked eyes they were； set in a fierce and hairy
face。
They watched Mugambi make his little kill of a small rodent； and they
followed him as he returned to his hut； their owner moving quietly through
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the trees upon the trail of the Negro。
The creature was Chulk； and he looked down upon the unconscious
man more in curiosity than in hate。 The wearing of the Arab burnoose
which Tarzan had placed upon his person had aroused in the mind of the
anthropoid a desire for similar mimicry of the Tarmangani。 The burnoose；
though； had obstructed his movements and proven such a nuisance that the
ape had long since torn it from him and thrown it away。
Now； however； he saw a Gomangani arrayed in less cumbersome
apparela loin cloth； a few copper ornaments and a feather headdress。
These were more in line with Chulk's desires than a flowing robe which
was constantly getting between one's legs； and catching upon every limb
and bush along the leafy trail。
Chulk eyed the pouch； which； suspended over Mugambi's shoulder；
swung beside his black hip。 This took his fancy； for it was ornamented
with feathers and a fringe； and so the ape hung about Mugambi's boma；
waiting an opportunity to seize either by stealth or might some object of
the black's apparel。
Nor was it long before the opportunity came。 Feeling safe within his
thorny enclosure； Mugambi was wont to stretch himself in the shade of his
shelter during the heat of
