tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第52节
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the Waziriand we have love and loyalty and friendship。 And what are
gold and jewels to these？〃
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〃If only poor Mugambi lived；〃 she replied； 〃and those other brave
fellows who sacrificed their lives in vain endeavor to protect me！〃
In the silence of mingled joy and sorrow they passed along through the
familiar jungle； and as the afternoon was waning there came faintly to the
ears of the ape…man the murmuring cadence of distant voices。
〃We are nearing the Waziri； Jane；〃 he said。 〃I can hear them ahead of
us。 They are going into camp for the night； I imagine。〃
A half hour later the two came upon a horde of ebon warriors which
Basuli had collected for his war of vengeance upon the raiders。 With
them were the captured women of the tribe whom they had found in the
village of Achmet Zek； and tall； even among the giant Waziri； loomed a
familiar black form at the side of Basuli。 It was Mugambi； whom Jane
had thought dead amidst the charred ruins of the bungalow。
Ah； such a reunion！ Long into the night the dancing and the singing
and the laughter awoke the echoes of the somber wood。 Again and again
were the stories of their various adventures retold。 Again and once again
they fought their battles with savage beast and savage man； and dawn was
already breaking when Basuli； for the fortieth time； narrated how he and a
handful of his warriors had watched the battle for the golden ingots which
the Abyssinians of Abdul Mourak had waged against the Arab raiders of
Achmet Zek； and how； when the victors had ridden away they had sneaked
out of the river reeds and stolen away with the precious ingots to hide
them where no robber eye ever could discover them。
Pieced out from the fragments of their various experiences with the
Belgian the truth concerning the malign activities of Albert Werper
became apparent。 Only Lady Greystoke found aught to praise in the
conduct of the man； and it was difficult even for her to reconcile his many
heinous acts with this one evidence of chivalry and honor。
〃Deep in the soul of every man；〃 said Tarzan； 〃must lurk the germ of
righteousness。 It was your own virtue； Jane； rather even than your
helplessness which awakened for an instant the latent decency of this
degraded man。 In that one act he retrieved himself； and when he is called
to face his Maker may it outweigh in the balance； all the sins he has
committed。〃
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And Jane Clayton breathed a fervent； 〃Amen！〃
Months had passed。 The labor of the Waziri and the gold of Opar
had rebuilt and refurnished the wasted homestead of the Greystokes。
Once more the simple life of the great African farm went on as it had
before the coming of the Belgian and the Arab。 Forgotten were the
sorrows and dangers of yesterday。
For the first time in months Lord Greystoke felt that he might indulge
in a holiday； and so a great hunt was organized that the faithful laborers
might feast in celebration of the completion of their work。
In itself the hunt was a success； and ten days after its inauguration； a
well…laden safari took up its return march toward the Waziri plain。 Lord
and Lady Greystoke with Basuli and Mugambi rode together at the head of
the column； laughing and talking together in that easy familiarity which
common interests and mutual respect breed between honest and intelligent
men of any races。
Jane Clayton's horse shied suddenly at an object half hidden in the
long grasses of an open space in the jungle。 Tarzan's keen eyes sought
quickly for an explanation of the animal's action。
〃What have we here？〃 he cried； swinging from his saddle； and a
moment later the four were grouped about a human skull and a little litter
of whitened human bones。
Tarzan stooped and lifted a leathern pouch from the grisly relics of a
man。 The hard outlines of the contents brought an exclamation of
surprise to his lips。
〃The jewels of Opar！〃 he cried； holding the pouch aloft； 〃and；〃
pointing to the bones at his feet； 〃all that remains of Werper； the Belgian。〃
Mugambi laughed。 〃Look within； Bwana；〃 he cried； 〃and you will
see what are the jewels of Oparyou will see what the Belgian gave his
life for；〃 and the black laughed aloud。
〃Why do you laugh？〃 asked Tarzan。
〃Because；〃 replied Mugambi； 〃I filled the Belgian's pouch with river
gravel before I escaped the camp of the Abyssinians whose prisoners we
were。 I left the Belgian only worthless stones； while I brought away with
me the jewels he had stolen from you。 That they were afterward stolen
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from me while I slept in the jungle is my shame and my disgrace； but at
least the Belgian lost themopen his pouch and you will see。〃
Tarzan untied the thong which held the mouth of the leathern bag
closed； and permitted the contents to trickle slowly forth into his open
palm。 Mugambi's eyes went wide at the sight； and the others uttered
exclamations of surprise and incredulity； for from the rusty and
weatherworn pouch ran a stream of brilliant； scintillating gems。
〃The jewels of Opar！〃 cried Tarzan。 〃But how did Werper come by
them again？〃
None could answer； for both Chulk and Werper were dead； and no
other knew。
〃Poor devil！〃 said the ape…man； as he swung back into his saddle。
〃Even in death he has made restitution let his sins lie with his bones。〃
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