tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第17节
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concluded。〃
Werper could scarce disguise the joy with which he received this
welcome decision。 And that he did entirely disguise it from the keen and
suspicious eyes of Achmet Zek is open to question。 However； the
decision reached； the Arab and his lieutenant discussed the details of their
forthcoming ventures for a short time further； when Werper made his
excuses and returned to his own tent for the comforts and luxury of a long…
desired bath and shave。
Having bathed； the Belgian tied a small hand mirror to a cord sewn to
the rear wall of his tent； placed a rude chair beside an equally rude table
that stood beside the glass； and proceeded to remove the rough stubble
from his face。
In the catalog of masculine pleasures there is scarce one which imparts
a feeling of greater comfort and refreshment than follows a clean shave；
and now； with weariness temporarily banished； Albert Werper sprawled in
his rickety chair to enjoy a final cigaret before retiring。 His thumbs；
tucked in his belt in lazy support of the weight of his arms； touched the
belt which held the jewel pouch about his waist。 He tingled with
excitement as he let his mind dwell upon the value of the treasure； which；
unknown to all save himself； lay hidden beneath his clothing。
What would Achmet Zek say； if he knew？ Werper grinned。 How the
old rascal's eyes would pop could he but have a glimpse of those
scintillating beauties！ Werper had never yet had an opportunity to feast
his eyes for any great length of time upon them。 He had not even
counted themonly roughly had he guessed at their value。
He unfastened the belt and drew the pouch from its hiding place。 He
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was alone。 The balance of the camp； save the sentries； had retirednone
would enter the Belgian's tent。 He fingered the pouch； feeling out the
shapes and sizes of the precious； little nodules within。 He hefted the bag；
first in one palm； then in the other； and at last he wheeled his chair slowly
around before the table； and in the rays of his small lamp let the glittering
gems roll out upon the rough wood。
The refulgent rays transformed the interior of the soiled and squalid
canvas to the splendor of a palace in the eyes of the dreaming man。 He
saw the gilded halls of pleasure that would open their portals to the
possessor of the wealth which lay scattered upon this stained and dented
table top。 He dreamed of joys and luxuries and power which always had
been beyond his grasp； and as he dreamed his gaze lifted from the table； as
the gaze of a dreamer will； to a far distant goal above the mean horizon of
terrestrial commonplaceness。
Unseeing； his eyes rested upon the shaving mirror which still hung
upon the tent wall above the table； but his sight was focused far beyond。
And then a reflection moved within the polished surface of the tiny glass；
the man's eyes shot back out of space to the mirror's face； and in it he saw
reflected the grim visage of Achmet Zek； framed in the flaps of the tent
doorway behind him。
Werper stifled a gasp of dismay。 With rare self…possession he let his
gaze drop； without appearing to have halted upon the mirror until it rested
again upon the gems。 Without haste； he replaced them in the pouch；
tucked the latter into his shirt； selected a cigaret from his case； lighted it
and rose。 Yawning； and stretching his arms above his head； he turned
slowly toward the opposite end of the tent。 The face of Achmet Zek had
disappeared from the opening。
To say that Albert Werper was terrified would be putting it mildly。
He realized that he not only had sacrificed his treasure； but his life as well。
Achmet Zek would never permit the wealth that he had discovered to slip
through his fingers； nor would he forgive the duplicity of a lieutenant who
had gained possession of such a treasure without offering to share it with
his chief。
Slowly the Belgian prepared for bed。 If he were being watched； he
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could not know； but if so the watcher saw no indication of the nervous
excitement which the European strove to conceal。 When ready for his
blankets； the man crossed to the little table and extinguished the light。
It was two hours later that the flaps at the front of the tent separated
silently and gave entrance to a dark…robed figure； which passed noiselessly
from the darkness without to the darkness within。 Cautiously the prowler
crossed the interior。 In one hand was a long knife。 He came at last to
the pile of blankets spread upon several rugs close to one of the tent walls。
Lightly； his fingers sought and found the bulk beneath the blankets
the bulk that should be Albert Werper。 They traced out the figure of a man；
and then an arm shot upward； poised for an instant and descended。 Again
and again it rose and fell； and each time the long blade of the knife buried
itself in the thing beneath the blankets。 But there was an initial
lifelessness in the silent bulk that gave the assassin momentary wonder。
Feverishly he threw back the coverlets； and searched with nervous hands
for the pouch of jewels which he expected to find concealed upon his
victim's body。
An instant later he rose with a curse upon his lips。 It was Achmet Zek；
and he cursed because he had discovered beneath the blankets of his
lieutenant only a pile of discarded clothing arranged in the form and
semblance of a sleeping manAlbert Werper had fled。
Out into the village ran the chief； calling in angry tones to the sleepy
Arabs； who tumbled from their tents in answer to his voice。 But though
they searched the village again and again they found no trace of the
Belgian。 Foaming with anger； Achmet Zek called his followers to horse；
and though the night was pitchy black they set out to scour the adjoining
forest for their quarry。
As they galloped from the open gates； Mugambi； hiding in a nearby
bush； slipped； unseen； within the palisade。 A score of blacks crowded
about the entrance to watch the searchers depart； and as the last of them
passed out of the village the blacks seized the portals and drew them to；
and Mugambi lent a hand in the work as though the best of his life had
been spent among the raiders。
In the darkness he passed； unchallenged； as one of their number； and as
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they returned from the gates to their respective tents and huts； Mugambi
melted into the shadows and disappeared。
For an hour he crept about in the rear of the various huts and tents in
an effort to locate that in which his master's mate was imprisoned。 One
there was which he was reasonably assured contained her； for it was the
only hut before the door of which a sentry had been posted。 Mugambi
was crouching in the shadow of this structure； just around the corner from
the unsuspecting guard； when another approached to relieve his comrade。
〃The prisoner is safe within？〃 asked the newcomer。
〃She is；〃 replied the other； 〃for none has passed this doorway since I
came。〃
The new sentry squatted beside the door； while he whom he had
relieved made his way to his own hut。 Mugambi slunk closer to the
corner of the building。 In one powerful hand he gripped a heavy knob…
stick。 No sign of elation disturbed his phlegmatic calm； yet inwardly he
was aroused to joy by the proof he had just heard that 〃Lady〃 really was
within。
The sentry's back was toward the corner of the hut which hid the giant
black。 The fellow did not see the huge form which silently loomed
behind him。 The knob…stick swung upward in a curve； and downward
again。 There was the sound
