tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第35节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
121
… Page 122…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
the wild is the way of caution and cunning； unless they be aroused to
rashness by pain or anger。
So the Abyssinians and the Belgian marched southward and Tarzan of
the Apes swung silently after them through the swaying branches of the
middle terrace。
A two days' march brought them to a level plain beyond which lay
mountainsa plain which Tarzan remembered and which aroused within
him vague half memories and strange longings。 Out upon the plain the
horsemen rode； and at a safe distance behind them crept the ape…man；
taking advantage of such cover as the ground afforded。
Beside a charred pile of timbers the Abyssinians halted； and Tarzan；
sneaking close and concealing himself in nearby shrubbery； watched them
in wonderment。 He saw them digging up the earth； and he wondered if
they had hidden meat there in the past and now had come for it。 Then he
recalled how he had buried his pretty pebbles； and the suggestion that had
caused him to do it。 They were digging for the things the blacks had
buried here！
Presently he saw them uncover a dirty； yellow object； and he witnessed
the joy of Werper and of Abdul Mourak as the grimy object was exposed
to view。 One by one they unearthed many similar pieces； all of the same
uniform； dirty yellow； until a pile of them lay upon the ground； a pile
which Abdul Mourak fondled and petted in an ecstasy of greed。
Something stirred in the ape…man's mind as he looked long upon the
golden ingots。 Where had he seen such before？ What were they？
Why did these Tarmangani covet them so greatly？ To whom did they
belong？
He recalled the black men who had buried them。 The things must be
theirs。 Werper was stealing them as he had stolen Tarzan's pouch of
pebbles。 The ape…man's eyes blazed in anger。 He would like to find the
black men and lead them against these thieves。 He wondered where their
village might be。
As all these things ran through the active mind； a party of men moved
out of the forest at the edge of the plain and advanced toward the ruins of
the burned bungalow。
122
… Page 123…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Abdul Mourak； always watchful； was the first to see them； but already
they were halfway across the open。 He called to his men to mount and
hold themselves in readiness； for in the heart of Africa who may know
whether a strange host be friend or foe？
Werper； swinging into his saddle； fastened his eyes upon the
newcomers； then； white and trembling he turned toward Abdul Mourak。
〃It is Achmet Zek and his raiders；〃 he whispered。 〃They are come for
the gold。〃
It must have been at about the same instant that Achmet Zek
discovered the pile of yellow ingots and realized the actuality of what he
had already feared since first his eyes had alighted upon the party beside
the ruins of the Englishman's bungalow。 Someone had forestalled him
another had come for the treasure ahead of him。
The Arab was crazed by rage。 Recently everything had gone against
him。 He had lost the jewels； the Belgian； and for the second time he had
lost the Englishwoman。 Now some one had come to rob him of this
treasure which he had thought as safe from disturbance here as though it
never had been mined。
He cared not whom the thieves might be。 They would not give up the
gold without a battle； of that he was certain； and with a wild whoop and a
command to his followers； Achmet Zek put spurs to his horse and dashed
down upon the Abyssinians； and after him； waving their long guns above
their heads； yelling and cursing； came his motley horde of cut…throat
followers。
The men of Abdul Mourak met them with a volley which emptied a
few saddles； and then the raiders were among them； and sword； pistol and
musket； each was doing its most hideous and bloody work。
Achmet Zek； spying Werper at the first charge； bore down upon the
Belgian； and the latter； terrified by contemplation of the fate he deserved；
turned his horse's head and dashed madly away in an effort to escape。
Shouting to a lieutenant to take command； and urging him upon pain of
death to dispatch the Abyssinians and bring the gold back to his camp；
Achmet Zek set off across the plain in pursuit of the Belgian； his wicked
nature unable to forego the pleasures of revenge； even at the risk of
123
… Page 124…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
sacrificing the treasure。
As the pursued and the pursuer raced madly toward the distant forest
the battle behind them raged with bloody savageness。 No quarter was
asked or given by either the ferocious Abyssinians or the murderous cut…
throats of Achmet Zek。
From the concealment of the shrubbery Tarzan watched the sanguinary
conflict which so effectually surrounded him that he found no loop…hole
through which he might escape to follow Werper and the Arab chief。
The Abyssinians were formed in a circle which included Tarzan's
position； and around and into them galloped the yelling raiders； now
darting away； now charging in to deliver thrusts and cuts with their curved
swords。
Numerically the men of Achmet Zek were superior； and slowly but
surely the soldiers of Menelek were being exterminated。 To Tarzan the
result was immaterial。 He watched with but a single purposeto escape the
ring of blood…mad fighters and be away after the Belgian and his pouch。
When he had first discovered Werper upon the trail where he had slain
Bara； he had thought that his eyes must be playing him false； so certain
had he been that the thief had been slain and devoured by Numa； but after
following the detachment for two days； with his keen eyes always upon
the Belgian； he no longer doubted the identity of the man； though he was
put to it to explain the identity of the mutilated corpse he had supposed
was the man he sought。
As he crouched in hiding among the unkempt shrubbery which so
short a while since had been the delight and pride of the wife he no longer
recalled； an Arab and an Abyssinian wheeled their mounts close to his
position as they slashed at each other with their swords。
Step by step the Arab beat back his adversary until the latter's horse all
but trod upon the ape…man； and then a vicious cut clove the black warrior's
skull； and the corpse toppled backward almost upon Tarzan。
As the Abyssinian tumbled from his saddle the possibility of escape
which was represented by the riderless horse electrified the ape…man to
instant action。 Before the frightened beast could gather himself for flight
a naked giant was astride his back。 A strong hand had grasped his bridle
124
… Page 125…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
rein； and the surprised Arab discovered a new foe in the saddle of him；
whom he had slain。
But this enemy wielded no sword； and his spear and bow remained
upon his back。 The Arab； recovered from his first surprise； dashed in
with raised sword to annihilate this presumptuous stranger。 He aimed a
mighty blow at the ape…man's head； a blow which swung harmlessly
through thin air as Tarzan ducked from its path； and then the Arab felt the
other's horse brushing his leg； a great arm shot out and encircled his waist；
and before he could recover himself he was dragged from his saddle； and
forming a shield for his antagonist was borne at a mad run straight through
the encircling ranks of his fellows。
Just beyond them he was tossed aside upon the ground； and the last he
saw of his strange foeman the latter was galloping off across the plain in
the direction of the forest at its fa
