tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第51节
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〃God！〃 he cried； 〃she might be； and the lions are attacking themthey
are in the camp。 I can tell from the screams of the horsesand there！
that was the cry of a man in his death agonies。 Stay here manI will
come back for you。 I must go first to them；〃 and swinging into a tree the
lithe figure swung rapidly off into the night with the speed and silence of a
disembodied spirit。
For a moment Werper stood where the ape…man had left him。 Then a
cunning smile crossed his lips。 〃Stay here？〃 he asked himself。 〃Stay
here and wait until you return to find and take these jewels from me？
Not I； my friend； not I；〃 and turning abruptly eastward Albert Werper
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passed through the foliage of a hanging vine and out of the sight of his
fellow…manforever。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
24
Home
As Tarzan of the Apes hurtled through the trees the discordant sounds
of the battle between the Abyssinians and the lions smote more and more
distinctly upon his sensitive ears； redoubling his assurance that the plight
of the human element of the conflict was critical indeed。
At last the glare of the camp fire shone plainly through the intervening
trees； and a moment later the giant figure of the ape…man paused upon an
overhanging bough to look down upon the bloody scene of carnage below。
His quick eye took in the whole scene with a single comprehending
glance and stopped upon the figure of a woman standing facing a great
lion across the carcass of a horse。
The carnivore was crouching to spring as Tarzan discovered the tragic
tableau。 Numa was almost beneath the branch upon which the ape…man
stood； naked and unarmed。 There was not even an instant's hesitation
upon the part of the latterit was as though he had not even paused in his
swift progress through the trees； so lightning…like his survey and
comprehension of the scene below himso instantaneous his consequent
action。
So hopeless had seemed her situation to her that Jane Clayton but
stood in lethargic apathy awaiting the impact of the huge body that would
hurl her to the groundawaiting the momentary agony that cruel talons
and grisly fangs may inflict before the coming of the merciful oblivion
which would end her sorrow and her suffering。
What use to attempt escape？ As well face the hideous end as to be
dragged down from behind in futile flight。 She did not even close her eyes
to shut out the frightful aspect of that snarling face； and so it was that as
she saw the lion preparing to charge she saw； too； a bronzed and mighty
figure leap from an overhanging tree at the instant that Numa rose in his
spring。
Wide went her eyes in wonder and incredulity； as she beheld this
seeming apparition risen from the dead。 The lion was forgottenher own
perileverything save the wondrous miracle of this strange recrudescence。
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With parted lips； with palms tight pressed against her heaving bosom； the
girl leaned forward； large…eyed； enthralled by the vision of her dead mate。
She saw the sinewy form leap to the shoulder of the lion； hurtling
against the leaping beast like a huge； animate battering ram。 She saw the
carnivore brushed aside as he was almost upon her； and in the instant she
realized that no substanceless wraith could thus turn the charge of a
maddened lion with brute force greater than the brute's。
Tarzan； her Tarzan； lived！ A cry of unspeakable gladness broke from
her lips； only to die in terror as she saw the utter defenselessness of her
mate； and realized that the lion had recovered himself and was turning
upon Tarzan in mad lust for vengeance。
At the ape…man's feet lay the discarded rifle of the dead Abyssinian
whose mutilated corpse sprawled where Numa had abandoned it。 The
quick glance which had swept the ground for some weapon of defense
discovered it； and as the lion reared upon his hind legs to seize the rash
man…thing who had dared interpose its puny strength between Numa and
his prey； the heavy stock whirred through the air and splintered upon the
broad forehead。
Not as an ordinary mortal might strike a blow did Tarzan of the Apes
strike； but with the maddened frenzy of a wild beast backed by the steel
thews which his wild； arboreal boyhood had bequeathed him。 When the
blow ended the splintered stock was driven through the splintered skull
into the savage brain； and the heavy iron barrel was bent into a rude V。
In the instant that the lion sank； lifeless； to the ground； Jane Clayton
threw herself into the eager arms of her husband。 For a brief instant he
strained her dear form to his breast； and then a glance about him awakened
the ape…man to the dangers which still surrounded them。
Upon every hand the lions were still leaping upon new victims。 Fear…
maddened horses still menaced them with their erratic bolting from one
side of the enclosure to the other。 Bullets from the guns of the defenders
who remained alive but added to the perils of their situation。
To remain was to court death。 Tarzan seized Jane Clayton and lifted
her to a broad shoulder。 The blacks who had witnessed his advent looked
on in amazement as they saw the naked giant leap easily into the branches
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of the tree from whence he had dropped so uncannily upon the scene； and
vanish as he had come； bearing away their prisoner with him。
They were too well occupied in self…defense to attempt to halt him； nor
could they have done so other than by the wasting of a precious bullet
which might be needed the next instant to turn the charge of a savage foe。
And so； unmolested； Tarzan passed from the camp of the Abyssinians；
from which the din of conflict followed him deep into the jungle until
distance gradually obliterated it entirely。
Back to the spot where he had left Werper went the ape…man； joy in his
heart now； where fear and sorrow had so recently reigned； and in his mind
a determination to forgive the Belgian and aid him in making good his
escape。 But when he came to the place； Werper was gone； and though
Tarzan called aloud many times he received no reply。 Convinced that the
man had purposely eluded him for reasons of his own； John Clayton felt
that he was under no obligations to expose his wife to further danger and
discomfort in the prosecution of a more thorough search for the missing
Belgian。
〃He has acknowledged his guilt by his flight； Jane；〃 he said。 〃We
will let him go to lie in the bed that he has made for himself。〃
Straight as homing pigeons； the two made their way toward the ruin
and desolation that had once been the center of their happy lives； and
which was soon to be restored by the willing black hands of laughing
laborers； made happy again by the return of the master and mistress whom
they had mourned as dead。
Past the village of Achmet Zek their way led them； and there they
found but the charred remains of the palisade and the native huts； still
smoking； as mute evidence of the wrath and vengeance of a powerful
enemy。
〃The Waziri；〃 commented Tarzan with a grim smile。
〃God bless them！〃 cried Jane Clayton。
〃They cannot be far ahead of us；〃 said Tarzan； 〃Basuli and the others。
The gold is gone and the jewels of Opar； Jane； but we have each other and
the Waziriand we have love and loyalty and friendship。 And what are
gold and jewels to thes
