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第8节

tarzan and the jewels of opar-第8节

小说: tarzan and the jewels of opar 字数: 每页4000字

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relieve the monotony of her loneliness by a brief

hunting excursion。  On such occasions Mugambi; mounted

upon a wiry Arab; had ridden close at her horse's

heels。



The raiders were still a long way off when the

warrior's keen eyes discovered them。  For a time he

stood scrutinizing the advancing party in silence;

then he turned and ran rapidly in the direction of the

native huts which lay a few hundred yards below the bungalow。



Here he called out to the lolling warriors。  He issued

orders rapidly。  In compliance with them the men seized

upon their weapons and their shields。  Some ran to call

in the workers from the fields and to warn the tenders

of the flocks and herds。  The majority followed Mugambi

back toward the bungalow。



The dust of the raiders was still a long distance away。

Mugambi could not know positively that it hid an enemy;

but he had spent a lifetime of savage life in savage

Africa; and he had seen parties before come thus

unheralded。  Sometimes they had come in peace and

sometimes they had come in warone could never tell。

It was well to be prepared。  Mugambi did not like the

haste with which the strangers advanced。



The Greystoke bungalow was not well adapted for

defense。  No palisade surrounded it; for; situated as

it was; in the heart of loyal Waziri; its master had

anticipated no possibility of an attack in force by any

enemy。  Heavy; wooden shutters there were to close the

window apertures against hostile arrows; and these

Mugambi was engaged in lowering when Lady Greystoke

appeared upon the veranda。



〃Why; Mugambi!〃 she exclaimed。  〃What has happened?

Why are you lowering the shutters?〃



Mugambi pointed out across the plain to where a white…robed

force of mounted men was now distinctly visible。



〃Arabs;〃 he explained。  〃They come for no good purpose

in the absence of the Great Bwana。〃



Beyond the neat lawn and the flowering shrubs; Jane

Clayton saw the glistening bodies of her Waziri。

The sun glanced from the tips of their metal…shod spears;

picked out the gorgeous colors in the feathers of their

war bonnets; and reflected the high…lights from the

glossy skins of their broad shoulders and high cheek bones。



Jane Clayton surveyed them with unmixed feelings of

pride and affection。  What harm could befall her with

such as these to protect her?



The raiders had halted now; a hundred yards out upon

the plain。  Mugambi had hastened down to join his

warriors。  He advanced a few yards before them and

raising his voice hailed the strangers。  Achmet Zek sat

straight in his saddle before his henchmen。



〃Arab!〃 cried Mugambi。  〃What do you here?〃



〃We come in peace;〃 Achmet Zek called back。



〃Then turn and go in peace;〃 replied Mugambi。

〃We do not want you here。  There can be no peace between

Arab and Waziri。〃



Mugambi; although not born in Waziri; had been adopted

into the tribe; which now contained no member more

jealous of its traditions and its prowess than he。



Achmet Zek drew to one side of his horde; speaking to

his men in a low voice。  A moment later; without

warning; a ragged volley was poured into the ranks of

the Waziri。  A couple of warriors fell; the others were

for charging the attackers; but Mugambi was a cautious

as well as a brave leader。  He knew the futility of

charging mounted men armed with muskets。  He withdrew

his force behind the shrubbery of the garden。  Some he

dispatched to various other parts of the grounds

surrounding the bungalow。  Half a dozen he sent to the

bungalow itself with instructions to keep their

mistress within doors; and to protect her with their lives。



Adopting the tactics of the desert fighters from which

he had sprung; Achmet Zek led his followers at a gallop

in a long; thin line; describing a great circle which

drew closer and closer in toward the defenders。



At that part of the circle closest to the Waziri;

a constant fusillade of shots was poured into the bushes

behind which the black warriors had concealed

themselves。  The latter; on their part; loosed their

slim shafts at the nearest of the enemy。



The Waziri; justly famed for their archery; found no

cause to blush for their performance that day。

Time and again some swarthy horseman threw hands above

his head and toppled from his saddle; pierced by a

deadly arrow; but the contest was uneven。  The Arabs

outnumbered the Waziri; their bullets penetrated the

shrubbery and found marks that the Arab riflemen had

not even seen; and then Achmet Zek circled inward a

half mile above the bungalow; tore down a section of

the fence; and led his marauders within the grounds。



Across the fields they charged at a mad run。  Not again

did they pause to lower fences; instead; they drove

their wild mounts straight for them; clearing the

obstacles as lightly as winged gulls。



Mugambi saw them coming; and; calling those of his

warriors who remained; ran for the bungalow and the

last stand。  Upon the veranda Lady Greystoke stood;

rifle in hand。  More than a single raider had accounted

to her steady nerves and cool aim for his outlawry;

more than a single pony raced; riderless; in the wake

of the charging horde。



Mugambi pushed his mistress back into the greater

security of the interior; and with his depleted force

prepared to make a last stand against the foe。



On came the Arabs; shouting and waving their long guns

above their heads。  Past the veranda they raced;

pouring a deadly fire into the kneeling Waziri who

discharged their volley of arrows from behind their

long; oval shieldsshields well adapted; perhaps;

to stop a hostile arrow; or deflect a spear; but futile;

quite; before the leaden missiles of the riflemen。



From beneath the half…raised shutters of the bungalow

other bowmen did effective service in greater security;

and after the first assault; Mugambi withdrew his

entire force within the building。



Again and again the Arabs charged; at last forming a

stationary circle about the little fortress; and

outside the effective range of the defenders' arrows。

From their new position they fired at will at the

windows。  One by one the Waziri fell。  Fewer and fewer

were the arrows that replied to the guns of the

raiders; and at last Achmet Zek felt safe in ordering

an assault。



Firing as they ran; the bloodthirsty horde raced for

the veranda。  A dozen of them fell to the arrows of the

defenders; but the majority reached the door。

Heavy gun butts fell upon it。  The crash of splintered

wood mingled with the report of a rifle as Jane Clayton

fired through the panels upon the relentless foe。



Upon both sides of the door men fell; but at last the

frail barrier gave to the vicious assaults of the

maddened attackers; it crumpled inward and a dozen

swarthy murderers leaped into the living…room。

At the far end stood Jane Clayton surrounded by the remnant

of her devoted guardians。  The floor was covered by the

bodies of those who already had given up their lives in

her defense。  In the forefront of her protectors stood

the giant Mugambi。  The Arabs raised their rifles to

pour in the last volley that would effectually end all

resistance; but Achmet Zek roared out a warning order

that stayed their trigger fingers。



〃Fire not upon the woman!〃 he cried。  〃Who harms her;

dies。  Take the woman alive!〃



The Arabs rushed across the room; the Waziri met them

with their heavy spears。  Swords flashed; long…barreled

pistols roared out their sullen death dooms。  Mugambi

launched his spear at the nearest of the enemy with a

force that drove the heavy shaft completely through the

Arab's body; then he seized a pistol from another; and

grasping it by the barrel brained all who forced their

way too near his mistress。



Emulating his example the few warriors who remained to

him fought like demons; but one by one they fell; until

only Mugambi remained to defend the life and honor of

the ape…man's mate。



From across the room Achmet Zek watched the unequal

struggle and urged on his minions。  In his hands was a

jeweled musket。  Slowly he raised it to his shoulder;

waiting until another move should place Mugambi at his

mercy without endangering the lives of the woman or any

of his own followers。



At last the moment came; and Achmet Zek pulled the

trigger。  Without a sound the brave Mugambi sank to the

floor at the feet of Jane Clayton。



An instant later she was surrounded and disarmed。

Without a word they dragged her from the bungalow。

A giant Negro lifted her to the pommel of his saddle;

and while the raiders searched the bungalow and outhouses

for plunder he rode with her beyond the gates and

waited the coming of his master。



Jane Clayton saw the raiders lead the horses from the

corral; and drive the herds in from the fields。

She saw her home plundered of all that represented

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