tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第40节
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the point where she believed the plains of Waziri lay； and though she knew
that only ruin and desolation marked the spot where once her happy home
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had stood； she hoped that by coming to the broad plain she might
eventually reach one of the numerous Waziri villages that were scattered
over the surrounding country； or chance upon a roving band of these
indefatigable huntsmen。
The day was half spent when there broke unexpectedly upon her
startled ears the sound of a rifle shot not far ahead of her。 As she paused
to listen； this first shot was followed by another and another and another。
What could it mean？ The first explanation which sprung to her mind
attributed the firing to an encounter between the Arab raiders and a party
of Waziri； but as she did not know upon which side victory might rest； or
whether she were behind friend or foe； she dared not advance nearer on
the chance of revealing herself to an enemy。
After listening for several minutes she became convinced that no more
than two or three rifles were engaged in the fight； since nothing
approximating the sound of a volley reached her ears； but still she
hesitated to approach； and at last； determining to take no chance； she
climbed into the concealing foliage of a tree beside the trail she had been
following and there fearfully awaited whatever might reveal itself。
As the firing became less rapid she caught the sound of men's voices；
though she could distinguish no words； and at last the reports of the guns
ceased； and she heard two men calling to each other in loud tones。 Then
there was a long silence which was finally broken by the stealthy padding
of footfalls on the trail ahead of her； and in another moment a man
appeared in view backing toward her； a rifle ready in his hands； and his
eyes directed in careful watchfulness along the way that he had come。
Almost instantly Jane Clayton recognized the man as M。 Jules Frecoult；
who so recently had been a guest in her home。 She was upon the point of
calling to him in glad relief when she saw him leap quickly to one side and
hide himself in the thick verdure at the trail's side。 It was evident that he
was being followed by an enemy； and so Jane Clayton kept silent； lest she
distract Frecoult's attention； or guide his foe to his hiding place。
Scarcely had Frecoult hidden himself than the figure of a white…robed
Arab crept silently along the trail in pursuit。 From her hiding place； Jane
Clayton could see both men plainly。 She recognized Achmet Zek as the
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leader of the band of ruffians who had raided her home and made her a
prisoner； and as she saw Frecoult； the supposed friend and ally； raise his
gun and take careful aim at the Arab； her heart stood still and every power
of her soul was directed upon a fervent prayer for the accuracy of his aim。
Achmet Zek paused in the middle of the trail。 His keen eyes scanned
every bush and tree within the radius of his vision。 His tall figure
presented a perfect target to the perfidious assassin。 There was a sharp
report； and a little puff of smoke arose from the bush that hid the Belgian；
as Achmet Zek stumbled forward and pitched； face down； upon the trail。
As Werper stepped back into the trail； he was startled by the sound of a
glad cry from above him； and as he wheeled about to discover the author
of this unexpected interruption； he saw Jane Clayton drop lightly from a
nearby tree and run forward with outstretched hands to congratulate him
upon his victory。
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20
Jane Clayton Again a Prisoner
Though her clothes were torn and her hair disheveled； Albert Werper
realized that he never before had looked upon such a vision of loveliness
as that which Lady Greystoke presented in the relief and joy which she felt
in coming so unexpectedly upon a friend and rescuer when hope had
seemed so far away。
If the Belgian had entertained any doubts as to the woman's knowledge
of his part in the perfidious attack upon her home and herself； it was
quickly dissipated by the genuine friendliness of her greeting。 She told
him quickly of all that had befallen her since he had departed from her
home； and as she spoke of the death of her husband her eyes were veiled
by the tears which she could not repress。
〃I am shocked；〃 said Werper； in well…simulated sympathy； 〃but I am
not surprised。 That devil there；〃 and he pointed toward the body of
Achmet Zek； 〃has terrorized the entire country。 Your Waziri are either
exterminated； or have been driven out of their country； far to the south。
The men of Achmet Zek occupy the plain about your former homethere
is neither sanctuary nor escape in that direction。 Our only hope lies in
traveling northward as rapidly as we may； of coming to the camp of the
raiders before the knowledge of Achmet Zek's death reaches those who
were left there； and of obtaining； through some ruse； an escort toward the
north。
〃I think that the thing can be accomplished； for I was a guest of the
raider's before I knew the nature of the man； and those at the camp are not
aware that I turned against him when I discovered his villainy。
〃Come！ We will make all possible haste to reach the camp before
those who accompanied Achmet Zek upon his last raid have found his
body and carried the news of his death to the cut…throats who remained
behind。 It is our only hope； Lady Greystoke； and you must place your
entire faith in me if I am to succeed。 Wait for me here a moment while I
take from the Arab's body the wallet that he stole from me；〃 and Werper
stepped quickly to the dead man's side； and； kneeling； sought with quick
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fingers the pouch of jewels。 To his consternation； there was no sign of
them in the garments of Achmet Zek。 Rising； he walked back along the
trail； searching for some trace of the missing pouch or its contents； but he
found nothing； even though he searched carefully the vicinity of his dead
horse； and for a few paces into the jungle on either side。 Puzzled；
disappointed and angry； he at last returned to the girl。 〃The wallet is
gone；〃 he explained； crisply； 〃and I dare not delay longer in search of it。
We must reach the camp before the returning raiders。〃
Unsuspicious of the man's true character； Jane Clayton saw nothing
peculiar in his plans； or in his specious explanation of his former
friendship for the raider； and so she grasped with alacrity the seeming
hope for safety which he proffered her； and turning about she set out with
Albert Werper toward the hostile camp in which she so lately had been a
prisoner。
It was late in the afternoon of the second day before they reached their
destination； and as they paused upon the edge of the clearing before the
gates of the walled village； Werper cautioned the girl to accede to
whatever he might suggest by his conversation with the raiders。
〃I shall tell them；〃 he said； 〃that I apprehended you after you escaped
from the camp； that I took you to Achmet Zek； and that as he was engaged
in a stubborn battle with the Waziri； he directed me to return to camp with
you； to obtain here a sufficient guard； and to ride north with you as rapidly
as possible and dispose of you at the most advantageous terms to a certain
slave broker whose name he gave me。〃
Again the girl was deceived by the apparent frankness of the Belgian。
She realized that desperate situations required desperate handling； and
though she trembled inwardly at the thought of again e
