tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第7节
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gazing at the long tiers of dull…yellow metal。 He wondered if La still ruled
the temples of the ruined city whose crumbling walls rose upon the very
foundations about him。 Had she finally been forced into a union with
one of her grotesque priests？ It seemed a hideous fate； indeed； for one so
beautiful。 With a shake of his head； Tarzan stepped to the flickering candle；
extinguished its feeble rays and turned toward the exit。
Behind him the spy waited for him to be gone。 He had learned the
secret for which he had come； and now he could return at his leisure to his
waiting followers； bring them to the treasure vault and carry away all the
gold that they could stagger under。
The Waziri had reached the outer end of the tunnel； and were winding
upward toward the fresh air and the welcome starlight of the kopje's
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summit； before Tarzan shook off the detaining hand of reverie and started
slowly after them。
Once again； and； he thought； for the last time； he closed the massive
door of the treasure room。 In the darkness behind him Werper rose and
stretched his cramped muscles。 He stretched forth a hand and lovingly
caressed a golden ingot on the nearest tier。 He raised it from its
immemorial resting place and weighed it in his hands。 He clutched it to
his bosom in an ecstasy of avarice。
Tarzan dreamed of the happy homecoming which lay before him； of
dear arms about his neck； and a soft cheek pressed to his； but there rose to
dispel that dream the memory of the old witch…doctor and his warning。
And then； in the span of a few brief seconds； the hopes of both these
men were shattered。 The one forgot even his greed in the panic of terror…
…the other was plunged into total forgetfulness of the past by a jagged
fragment of rock which gashed a deep cut upon his head。
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5
The Altar of the Flaming God
It was at the moment that Tarzan turned from the closed door to
pursue his way to the outer world。 The thing came without warning。
One instant all was quiet and stabilitythe next； and the world rocked； the
tortured sides of the narrow passageway split and crumbled； great blocks
of granite； dislodged from the ceiling； tumbled into the narrow way；
choking it； and the walls bent inward upon the wreckage。 Beneath the
blow of a fragment of the roof； Tarzan staggered back against the door to
the treasure room； his weight pushed it open and his body rolled inward
upon the floor。
In the great apartment where the treasure lay less damage was wrought
by the earthquake。 A few ingots toppled from the higher tiers； a single
piece of the rocky ceiling splintered off and crashed downward to the floor；
and the walls cracked； though they did not collapse。
There was but the single shock； no other followed to complete the
damage undertaken by the first。 Werper； thrown to his length by the
suddenness and violence of the disturbance； staggered to his feet when he
found himself unhurt。 Groping his way toward the far end of the
chamber； he sought the candle which Tarzan had left stuck in its own wax
upon the protruding end of an ingot。
By striking numerous matches the Belgian at last found what he
sought； and when； a moment later； the sickly rays relieved the Stygian
darkness about him； he breathed a nervous sigh of relief； for the
impenetrable gloom had accentuated the terrors of his situation。
As they became accustomed to the light the man turned his eyes
toward the doorhis one thought now was of escape from this frightful
tomband as he did so he saw the body of the naked giant lying stretched
upon the floor just within the doorway。 Werper drew back in sudden fear
of detection； but a second glance convinced him that the Englishman was
dead。 From a great gash in the man's head a pool of blood had collected
upon the concrete floor。
Quickly； the Belgian leaped over the prostrate form of his erstwhile
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
host； and without a thought of succor for the man in whom； for aught he
knew； life still remained； he bolted for the passageway and safety。
But his renewed hopes were soon dashed。 Just beyond the doorway
he found the passage completely clogged and choked by impenetrable
masses of shattered rock。 Once more he turned and re…entered the treasure
vault。 Taking the candle from its place he commenced a systematic search
of the apartment； nor had he gone far before he discovered another door in
the opposite end of the room； a door which gave upon creaking hinges to
the weight of his body。 Beyond the door lay another narrow passageway。
Along this Werper made his way； ascending a flight of stone steps to
another corridor twenty feet above the level of the first。 The flickering
candle lighted the way before him； and a moment later he was thankful for
the possession of this crude and antiquated luminant； which； a few hours
before he might have looked upon with contempt； for it showed him； just
in time； a yawning pit； apparently terminating the tunnel he was
traversing。
Before him was a circular shaft。 He held the candle above it and
peered downward。 Below him； at a great distance； he saw the light
reflected back from the surface of a pool of water。 He had come upon a
well。 He raised the candle above his head and peered across the black void；
and there upon the opposite side he saw the continuation of the tunnel； but
how was he to span the gulf？
As he stood there measuring the distance to the opposite side and
wondering if he dared venture so great a leap； there broke suddenly upon
his startled ears a piercing scream which diminished gradually until it
ended in a series of dismal moans。 The voice seemed partly human； yet
so hideous that it might well have emanated from the tortured throat of a
lost soul； writhing in the fires of hell。
The Belgian shuddered and looked fearfully upward； for the scream
had seemed to come from above him。 As he looked he saw an opening far
overhead； and a patch of sky pinked with brilliant stars。
His half…formed intention to call for help was expunged by the
terrifying crywhere such a voice lived； no human creatures could dwell。
He dared not reveal himself to whatever inhabitants dwelt in the place
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above him。 He cursed himself for a fool that he had ever embarked upon
such a mission。 He wished himself safely back in the camp of Achmet
Zek； and would almost have embraced an opportunity to give himself up
to the military authorities of the Congo if by so doing he might be rescued
from the frightful predicament in which he now was。
He listened fearfully； but the cry was not repeated； and at last spurred
to desperate means； he gathered himself for the leap across the chasm。
Going back twenty paces； he took a running start； and at the edge of the
well； leaped upward and outward in an attempt to gain the opposite side。
In his hand he clutched the sputtering candle； and as he took the leap
the rush of air extinguished it。 In utter darkness he flew through space；
clutching outward for a hold should his feet miss the invisible ledge。
He struck the edge of the door of the opposite terminus of the rocky
tunnel with his knees； slipped backward； clutched desperately for a
moment； and at last hung half within and half without the opening； but he
was safe。 For several minutes he dared not move； but clung；
