tarzan and the jewels of opar-第44节

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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　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。〃







End