tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第13节
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they face death and welcome it if it came while they defended their High
Priestess and her altar； but evidently there were deaths； and deaths。
Some strange superstition must surround that polished blade； that no
Oparian cared to chance a death thrust from it； yet gladly rushed to the
slaughter of the ape…man's flaying spear。
Once outside the temple court； Werper communicated his discovery to
Tarzan。 The ape…man grinned； and let Werper go before him； brandishing
the jeweled and holy weapon。 Like leaves before a gale； the Oparians
scattered in all directions and Tarzan and the Belgian found a clear
passage through the corridors and chambers of the ancient temple。
The Belgian's eyes went wide as they passed through the room of the
seven pillars of solid gold。 With ill…concealed avarice he looked upon the
age…old； golden tablets set in the walls of nearly every room and down the
sides of many of the corridors。 To the ape…man all this wealth appeared
to mean nothing。
On the two went； chance leading them toward the broad avenue which
lay between the stately piles of the half…ruined edifices and the inner wall
of the city。 Great apes jabbered at them and menaced them； but Tarzan
answered them after their own kind； giving back taunt for taunt； insult for
insult； challenge for challenge。
Werper saw a hairy bull swing down from a broken column and
advance； stiff…legged and bristling； toward the naked giant。 The yellow
fangs were bared； angry snarls and barkings rumbled threateningly
through the thick and hanging lips。
The Belgian watched his companion。 To his horror； he saw the man
stoop until his closed knuckles rested upon the ground as did those of the
anthropoid。 He saw him circle； stiff…legged about the circling ape。 He
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
heard the same bestial barkings and growlings issue from the human throat
that were coming from the mouth of the brute。 Had his eyes been closed
he could not have known but that two giant apes were bridling for combat。
But there was no battle。 It ended as the majority of such jungle
encounters endone of the boasters loses his nerve； and becomes suddenly
interested in a blowing leaf； a beetle； or the lice upon his hairy stomach。
In this instance it was the anthropoid that retired in stiff dignity to
inspect an unhappy caterpillar； which he presently devoured。 For a
moment Tarzan seemed inclined to pursue the argument。 He swaggered
truculently； stuck out his chest； roared and advanced closer to the bull。 It
was with difficulty that Werper finally persuaded him to leave well enough
alone and continue his way from the ancient city of the Sun Worshipers。
The two searched for nearly an hour before they found the narrow exit
through the inner wall。 From there the well…worn trail led them beyond
the outer fortification to the desolate valley of Opar。
Tarzan had no idea； in so far as Werper could discover； as to where he
was or whence he came。 He wandered aimlessly about； searching for
food； which he discovered beneath small rocks； or hiding in the shade of
the scant brush which dotted the ground。
The Belgian was horrified by the hideous menu of his companion。
Beetles； rodents and caterpillars were devoured with seeming relish。
Tarzan was indeed an ape again。
At last Werper succeeded in leading his companion toward the distant
hills which mark the northwestern boundary of the valley； and together the
two set out in the direction of the Greystoke bungalow。
What purpose prompted the Belgian in leading the victim of his
treachery and greed back toward his former home it is difficult to guess；
unless it was that without Tarzan there could be no ransom for Tarzan's
wife。
That night they camped in the valley beyond the hills； and as they sat
before a little fire where cooked a wild pig that had fallen to one of
Tarzan's arrows； the latter sat lost in speculation。 He seemed continually
to be trying to grasp some mental image which as constantly eluded him。
At last he opened the leathern pouch which hung at his side。 From it
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
he poured into the palm of his hand a quantity of glittering gems。 The
firelight playing upon them conjured a multitude of scintillating rays； and
as the wide eyes of the Belgian looked on in rapt fascination； the man's
expression at last acknowledged a tangible purpose in courting the society
of the ape…man。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
9
The Theft of the Jewels
For two days Werper sought for the party that had accompanied him
from the camp to the barrier cliffs； but not until late in the afternoon of the
second day did he find clew to its whereabouts； and then in such gruesome
form that he was totally unnerved by the sight。
In an open glade he came upon the bodies of three of the blacks；
terribly mutilated； nor did it require considerable deductive power to
explain their murder。 Of the little party only these three had not been
slaves。 The others； evidently tempted to hope for freedom from their
cruel Arab master； had taken advantage of their separation from the main
camp； to slay the three representatives of the hated power which held them
in slavery； and vanish into the jungle。
Cold sweat exuded from Werper's forehead as he contemplated the fate
which chance had permitted him to escape； for had he been present when
the conspiracy bore fruit； he； too； must have been of the garnered。
Tarzan showed not the slightest surprise or interest in the discovery。
Inherent in him was a calloused familiarity with violent death。 The
refinements of his recent civilization expunged by the force of the sad
calamity which had befallen him； left only the primitive sensibilities
which his childhood's training had imprinted indelibly upon the fabric of
his mind。
The training of Kala； the examples and precepts of Kerchak； of Tublat；
and of Terkoz now formed the basis of his every thought and action。 He
retained a mechanical knowledge of French and English speech。 Werper
had spoken to him in French； and Tarzan had replied in the same tongue
without conscious realization that he had departed from the anthropoidal
speech in which he had addressed La。 Had Werper used English； the
result would have been the same。
Again； that night； as the two sat before their camp fire； Tarzan played
with his shining baubles。 Werper asked him what they were and where
he had found them。 The ape…man replied that they were gay…colored stones；
with which he purposed fashioning a necklace； and that he had found them
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far beneath the sacrificial court of the temple of the Flaming God。
Werper was relieved to find that Tarzan had no conception of the value
of the gems。 This would make it easier for the Belgian to obtain
possession of them。 Possibly the man would give them to him for the
asking。 Werper reached out his hand toward the little pile that Tarzan had
arranged upon a piece of flat wood before him。
〃Let me see them；〃 said the Belgian。
Tarzan placed a large palm over his treasure。 He bared his fighting
fangs； and growled。 Werper withdrew his hand more quickly than he had
advanced it。 Tarzan resumed his playing with the gems； and his
conversation with Werper as though nothing unusual had occurred。 He had
but exhibited the beast's jealous protec
