tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第47节
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wherever inclination and the means to indulge it occurred simultaneously。
It was upon the morning of the third day that the scent spoor of horse and
man were wafted faintly to his nostrils。 Instantly he altered his course to
glide silently through the branches in the direction from which the scent
came。
It was not long before he came upon a solitary horseman riding toward
the east。 Instantly his eyes confirmed what his nose had previously
suspectedthe rider was he who had stolen his pretty pebbles。 The light
of rage flared suddenly in the gray eyes as the ape…man dropped lower
among the branches until he moved almost directly above the unconscious
Werper。
There was a quick leap； and the Belgian felt a heavy body hurtle onto
the rump of his terror…stricken mount。 The horse； snorting； leaped forward。
Giant arms encircled the rider； and in the twinkling of an eye he was
dragged from his saddle to find himself lying in the narrow trail with a
naked； white giant kneeling upon his breast。
Recognition came to Werper with the first glance at his captor's face；
and a pallor of fear overspread his features。 Strong fingers were at his
throat； fingers of steel。 He tried to cry out； to plead for his life； but the
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cruel fingers denied him speech； as they were as surely denying him life。
〃The pretty pebbles？〃 cried the man upon his breast。 〃What did you
with the pretty pebbleswith Tarzan's pretty pebbles？〃
The fingers relaxed to permit a reply。 For some time Werper could
only choke and coughat last he regained the powers of speech。
〃Achmet Zek； the Arab； stole them from me；〃 he cried； 〃he made me
give up the pouch and the pebbles。〃
〃I saw all that；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃but the pebbles in the pouch were not
the pebbles of Tarzanthey were only such pebbles as fill the bottoms of
the rivers； and the shelving banks beside them。 Even the Arab would not
have them； for he threw them away in anger when he had looked upon
them。 It is my pretty pebbles that I wantwhere are they？〃
〃I do not know； I do not know；〃 cried Werper。 〃I gave them to
Achmet Zek or he would have killed me。 A few minutes later he
followed me along the trail to slay me； although he had promised to molest
me no further； and I shot and killed him； but the pouch was not upon his
person and though I searched about the jungle for some time I could not
find it。〃
〃I found it； I tell you；〃 growled Tarzan； 〃and I also found the pebbles
which Achmet Zek had thrown away in disgust。 They were not Tarzan's
pebbles。 You have hidden them！ Tell me where they are or I will kill
you；〃 and the brown fingers of the ape…man closed a little tighter upon the
throat of his victim。
Werper struggled to free himself。 〃My God； Lord Greystoke；〃 he
managed to scream； 〃would you commit murder for a handful of stones？〃
The fingers at his throat relaxed； a puzzled； far…away expression
softened the gray eyes。
〃Lord Greystoke！〃 repeated the ape…man。 〃Lord Greystoke！ Who is
Lord Greystoke？ Where have I heard that name before？〃
〃Why man； you are Lord Greystoke；〃 cried the Belgian。 〃You were
injured by a falling rock when the earthquake shattered the passage to the
underground chamber to which you and your black Waziri had come to
fetch golden ingots back to your bungalow。 The blow shattered your
memory。 You are John Clayton； Lord Greystokedon't you remember？〃
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〃John Clayton； Lord Greystoke！〃 repeated Tarzan。 Then for a
moment he was silent。 Presently his hand went falteringly to his
forehead； an expression of wonderment filled his eyesof wonderment
and sudden understanding。 The forgotten name had reawakened the
returning memory that had been struggling to reassert itself。 The ape…
man relinquished his grasp upon the throat of the Belgian； and leaped to
his feet。
〃God！〃 he cried； and then； 〃Jane！〃 Suddenly he turned toward Werper。
〃My wife？〃 he asked。 〃What has become of her？ The farm is in ruins。
You know。 You have had something to do with all this。 You followed
me to Opar； you stole the jewels which I thought but pretty pebbles。 You
are a crook！ Do not try to tell me that you are not。〃
〃He is worse than a crook；〃 said a quiet voice close behind them。
Tarzan turned in astonishment to see a tall man in uniform standing in
the trail a few paces from him。 Back of the man were a number of black
soldiers in the uniform of the Congo Free State。
〃He is a murderer； Monsieur；〃 continued the officer。 〃I have followed
him for a long time to take him back to stand trial for the killing of his
superior officer。〃
Werper was upon his feet now； gazing； white and trembling； at the fate
which had overtaken him even in the fastness of the labyrinthine jungle。
Instinctively he turned to flee； but Tarzan of the Apes reached out a strong
hand and grasped him by the shoulder。
〃Wait！〃 said the ape…man to his captive。 〃This gentleman wishes you；
and so do I。 When I am through with you； he may have you。 Tell me
what has become of my wife。〃
The Belgian officer eyed the almost naked； white giant with curiosity。
He noted the strange contrast of primitive weapons and apparel； and the
easy； fluent French which the man spoke。 The former denoted the lowest；
the latter the highest type of culture。 He could not quite determine the
social status of this strange creature； but he knew that he did not relish the
easy assurance with which the fellow presumed to dictate when he might
take possession of the prisoner。
〃Pardon me；〃 he said； stepping forward and placing his hand on
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Werper's other shoulder； 〃but this gentleman is my prisoner。 He must
come with me。〃
〃When I am through with him；〃 replied Tarzan； quietly。
The officer turned and beckoned to the soldiers standing in the trail
behind him。 A company of uniformed blacks stepped quickly forward
and pushing past the three； surrounded the ape…man and his captive。
〃Both the law and the power to enforce it are upon my side；〃
announced the officer。 〃Let us have no trouble。 If you have a grievance
against this man you may return with me and enter your charge regularly
before an authorized tribunal。〃
〃Your legal rights are not above suspicion； my friend；〃 replied Tarzan；
〃and your power to enforce your commands are only apparentnot real。
You have presumed to enter British territory with an armed force。 Where
is your authority for this invasion？ Where are the extradition papers which
warrant the arrest of this man？ And what assurance have you that I
cannot bring an armed force about you that will prevent your return to the
Congo Free State？〃
The Belgian lost his temper。 〃I have no disposition to argue with a
naked savage；〃 he cried。 〃Unless you wish to be hurt you will not
interfere with me。 Take the prisoner； Sergeant！〃
Werper raised his lips close to Tarzan's ear。 〃Keep me from them；
and I can show you the very spot where I saw your wife last night；〃 he
whispered。 〃She cannot be far from here at this very minute。〃
The soldiers； following the signal from their sergeant； closed in to
seize Werper。 Tarzan grabbed the Belgian about the waist； and bearing
him beneath his arm as he might have borne a sack of flour； leaped
forward in an attempt to break through the cordon。 His right fist caught
the nearest soldier upon the jaw and sent him hurtling backward upon his
fellows。 Clubbed rifles were torn from the
