tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第48节
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the nearest soldier upon the jaw and sent him hurtling backward upon his
fellows。 Clubbed rifles were torn from the hands of those who barred his
way； and right and left the black soldiers stumbled aside in the face of the
ape…man's savage break for liberty。
So completely did the blacks surround the two that they dared not fire
for fear of hitting one of their own number； and Tarzan was already
through them and upon the point of dodging into the concealing mazes of
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the jungle when one who had sneaked upon him from behind struck him a
heavy blow upon the head with a rifle。
In an instant the ape…man was down and a dozen black soldiers were
upon his back。 When he regained consciousness he found himself
securely bound； as was Werper also。 The Belgian officer； success having
crowned his efforts； was in good humor； and inclined to chaff his prisoners
about the ease with which they had been captured； but from Tarzan of the
Apes he elicited no response。 Werper； however； was voluble in his
protests。 He explained that Tarzan was an English lord； but the officer
only laughed at the assertion； and advised his prisoner to save his breath
for his defense in court。
As soon as Tarzan regained his senses and it was found that he was not
seriously injured； the prisoners were hastened into line and the return
march toward the Congo Free State boundary commenced。
Toward evening the column halted beside a stream； made camp and
prepared the evening meal。 From the thick foliage of the nearby jungle a
pair of fierce eyes watched the activities of the uniformed blacks with
silent intensity and curiosity。 From beneath beetling brows the creature
saw the boma constructed； the fires built； and the supper prepared。
Tarzan and Werper had been lying bound behind a small pile of
knapsacks from the time that the company had halted； but with the
preparation of the meal completed； their guard ordered them to rise and
come forward to one of the fires where their hands would be unfettered
that they might eat。
As the giant ape…man rose； a startled expression of recognition entered
the eyes of the watcher in the jungle； and a low guttural broke from the
savage lips。 Instantly Tarzan was alert； but the answering growl died upon
his lips； suppressed by the fear that it might arouse the suspicions of the
soldiers。
Suddenly an inspiration came to him。 He turned toward Werper。
〃I am going to speak to you in a loud voice and in a tongue which you
do not understand。 Appear to listen intently to what I say； and
occasionally mumble something as though replying in the same language
our escape may hinge upon the success of your efforts。〃
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Werper nodded in assent and understanding； and immediately there
broke from the lips of his companion a strange jargon which might have
been compared with equal propriety to the barking and growling of a dog
and the chattering of monkeys。
The nearer soldiers looked in surprise at the ape…man。 Some of them
laughed； while others drew away in evident superstitious fear。 The
officer approached the prisoners while Tarzan was still jabbering； and
halted behind them； listening in perplexed interest。 When Werper
mumbled some ridiculous jargon in reply his curiosity broke bounds； and
he stepped forward； demanding to know what language it was that they
spoke。
Tarzan had gauged the measure of the man's culture from the nature
and quality of his conversation during the march； and he rested the success
of his reply upon the estimate he had made。
〃Greek；〃 he explained。
〃Oh； I thought it was Greek；〃 replied the officer； 〃but it has been so
many years since I studied it that I was not sure。 In future； however； I
will thank you to speak in a language which I am more familiar with。〃
Werper turned his head to hide a grin； whispering to Tarzan： 〃It was
Greek to him all rightand to me； too。〃
But one of the black soldiers mumbled in a low voice to a companion：
〃I have heard those sounds beforeonce at night when I was lost in the
jungle； I heard the hairy men of the trees talking among themselves； and
their words were like the words of this white man。 I wish that we had not
found him。 He is not a man at allhe is a bad spirit； and we shall have
bad luck if we do not let him go；〃 and the fellow rolled his eyes fearfully
toward the jungle。
His companion laughed nervously； and moved away； to repeat the
conversation； with variations and exaggerations； to others of the black
soldiery； so that it was not long before a frightful tale of black magic and
sudden death was woven about the giant prisoner； and had gone the rounds
of the camp。
And deep in the gloomy jungle amidst the darkening shadows of the
falling night a hairy； manlike creature swung swiftly southward upon some
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secret mission of his own。
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23
A Night of Terror
To Jane Clayton； waiting in the tree where Werper had placed her； it
seemed that the long night would never end； yet end it did at last； and
within an hour of the coming of dawn her spirits leaped with renewed
hope at sight of a solitary horseman approaching along the trail。
The flowing burnoose； with its loose hood； hid both the face and the
figure of the rider； but that it was M。 Frecoult the girl well knew； since he
had been garbed as an Arab； and he alone might be expected to seek her
hiding place。
That which she saw relieved the strain of the long night vigil； but there
was much that she did not see。 She did not see the black face beneath the
white hood； nor the file of ebon horsemen beyond the trail's bend riding
slowly in the wake of their leader。 These things she did not see at first；
and so she leaned downward toward the approaching rider； a cry of
welcome forming in her throat。
At the first word the man looked up； reining in in surprise； and as she
saw the black face of Abdul Mourak； the Abyssinian； she shrank back in
terror among the branches； but it was too late。 The man had seen her；
and now he called to her to descend。 At first she refused； but when a
dozen black cavalrymen drew up behind their leader； and at Abdul
Mourak's command one of them started to climb the tree after her she
realized that resistance was futile； and came slowly down to stand upon
the ground before this new captor and plead her cause in the name of
justice and humanity。
Angered by recent defeat； and by the loss of the gold； the jewels； and
his prisoners； Abdul Mourak was in no mood to be influenced by any
appeal to those softer sentiments to which； as a matter of fact； he was
almost a stranger even under the most favourable conditions。
He looked for degradation and possible death in punishment for his
failures and his misfortunes when he should have returned to his native
land and made his report to Menelek； but an acceptable gift might temper
the wrath of the emperor； and surely this fair flower of another race should
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be gratefully received by the black ruler！
When Jane Clayton had concluded her appeal； Abdul Mourak replied
briefly that he would promise her protection； but that he must take her to
his emperor。 The girl did not need ask him why； and once again ho
