tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第43节
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saw a tall； broad…shouldered man riding in from distant fields； she saw
herself waiting to greet him with an armful of fresh…cut roses from the
bushes which flanked the little rustic gate before her。 All this was gone；
vanished into the past； wiped out by the torches and bullets and hatred of
these hideous and degenerate men。 With a stifled sob； and a little
shudder； Jane Clayton turned back into her tent and sought the pile of
unclean blankets which were her bed。 Throwing herself face downward
upon them she sobbed forth her misery until kindly sleep brought her； at
least temporary； relief。
And while she slept a figure stole from the tent that stood to the right
of hers。 It approached the sentry before the doorway and whispered a
few words in the man's ear。 The latter nodded； and strode off through the
darkness in the direction of his own blankets。 The figure passed to the rear
of Jane Clayton's tent and spoke again to the sentry there； and this man
also left； following in the trail of the first。
Then he who had sent them away stole silently to the tent flap and
untying the fastenings entered with the noiselessness of a disembodied
spirit。
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21
The Flight to the Jungle
Sleepless upon his blankets； Albert Werper let his evil mind dwell
upon the charms of the woman in the nearby tent。 He had noted
Mohammed Beyd's sudden interest in the girl； and judging the man by his
own standards； had guessed at the basis of the Arab's sudden change of
attitude toward the prisoner。
And as he let his imaginings run riot they aroused within him a bestial
jealousy of Mohammed Beyd； and a great fear that the other might
encompass his base designs upon the defenseless girl。 By a strange
process of reasoning； Werper； whose designs were identical with the
Arab's； pictured himself as Jane Clayton's protector； and presently
convinced himself that the attentions which might seem hideous to her if
proffered by Mohammed Beyd； would be welcomed from Albert Werper。
Her husband was dead； and Werper fancied that he could replace in the
girl's heart the position which had been vacated by the act of the grim
reaper。 He could offer Jane Clayton marriagea thing which Mohammed
Beyd would not offer； and which the girl would spurn from him with as
deep disgust as she would his unholy lust。
It was not long before the Belgian had succeeded in convincing
himself that the captive not only had every reason for having conceived
sentiments of love for him； but that she had by various feminine methods
acknowledged her new…born affection。
And then a sudden resolution possessed him。 He threw the blankets
from him and rose to his feet。 Pulling on his boots and buckling his
cartridge belt and revolver about his hips he stepped to the flap of his tent
and looked out。 There was no sentry before the entrance to the prisoner's
tent！ What could it mean？ Fate was indeed playing into his hands。
Stepping outside he passed to the rear of the girl's tent。 There was no
sentry there； either！ And now； boldly； he walked to the entrance and
stepped within。
Dimly the moonlight illumined the interior。 Across the tent a figure
bent above the blankets of a bed。 There was a whispered word； and
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another figure rose from the blankets to a sitting position。 Slowly Albert
Werper's eyes were becoming accustomed to the half darkness of the tent。
He saw that the figure leaning over the bed was that of a man； and he
guessed at the truth of the nocturnal visitor's identity。
A sullen； jealous rage enveloped him。 He took a step in the direction
of the two。 He heard a frightened cry break from the girl's lips as she
recognized the features of the man above her； and he saw Mohammed
Beyd seize her by the throat and bear her back upon the blankets。
Cheated passion cast a red blur before the eyes of the Belgian。 No！
The man should not have her。 She was for him and him alone。 He
would not be robbed of his rights。
Quickly he ran across the tent and threw himself upon the back of
Mohammed Beyd。 The latter； though surprised by this sudden and
unexpected attack； was not one to give up without a battle。 The Belgian's
fingers were feeling for his throat； but the Arab tore them away； and rising
wheeled upon his adversary。 As they faced each other Werper struck the
Arab a heavy blow in the face； sending him staggering backward。 If he
had followed up his advantage he would have had Mohammed Beyd at his
mercy in another moment； but instead he tugged at his revolver to draw it
from its holster； and Fate ordained that at that particular moment the
weapon should stick in its leather scabbard。
Before he could disengage it； Mohammed Beyd had recovered himself
and was dashing upon him。 Again Werper struck the other in the face；
and the Arab returned the blow。 Striking at each other and ceaselessly
attempting to clinch； the two battled about the small interior of the tent；
while the girl； wide…eyed in terror and astonishment； watched the duel in
frozen silence。
Again and again Werper struggled to draw his weapon。 Mohammed
Beyd； anticipating no such opposition to his base desires； had come to the
tent unarmed； except for a long knife which he now drew as he stood
panting during the first brief rest of the encounter。
〃Dog of a Christian；〃 he whispered； 〃look upon this knife in the hands
of Mohammed Beyd！ Look well； unbeliever； for it is the last thing in life
that you shall see or feel。 With it Mohammed Beyd will cut out your
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black heart。 If you have a God pray to him now in a minute more you
shall be dead；〃 and with that he rushed viciously upon the Belgian； his
knife raised high above his head。
Werper was still dragging futilely at his weapon。 The Arab was
almost upon him。 In desperation the European waited until Mohammed
Beyd was all but against him； then he threw himself to one side to the
floor of the tent； leaving a leg extended in the path of the Arab。
The trick succeeded。 Mohammed Beyd； carried on by the
momentum of his charge； stumbled over the projecting obstacle and
crashed to the ground。 Instantly he was up again and wheeling to renew
the battle； but Werper was on foot ahead of him； and now his revolver；
loosened from its holster； flashed in his hand。
The Arab dove headfirst to grapple with him； there was a sharp report；
a lurid gleam of flame in the darkness； and Mohammed Beyd rolled over
and over upon the floor to come to a final rest beside the bed of the
woman he had sought to dishonor。
Almost immediately following the report came the sound of excited
voices in the camp without。 Men were calling back and forth to one
another asking the meaning of the shot。 Werper could hear them running
hither and thither； investigating。
Jane Clayton had risen to her feet as the Arab died； and now she came
forward with outstretched hands toward Werper。
〃How can I ever thank you； my friend？〃 she asked。 〃And to think that
only today I had almost believed the infamous story which this beast told
me of your perfidy and of your past。 Forgive me； M。 Frec
