tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第15章
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At last Werper succeeded in leading his companion toward the distant
hills which mark the northwestern boundary of the valley； and together the
two set out in the direction of the Greystoke bungalow。
What purpose prompted the Belgian in leading the victim of his
treachery and greed back toward his former home it is difficult to guess；
unless it was that without Tarzan there could be no ransom for Tarzan's
wife。
That night they camped in the valley beyond the hills； and as they sat
before a little fire where cooked a wild pig that had fallen to one of
Tarzan's arrows； the latter sat lost in speculation。 He seemed continually
to be trying to grasp some mental image which as constantly eluded him。
At last he opened the leathern pouch which hung at his side。 From it
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he poured into the palm of his hand a quantity of glittering gems。 The
firelight playing upon them conjured a multitude of scintillating rays； and
as the wide eyes of the Belgian looked on in rapt fascination； the man's
expression at last acknowledged a tangible purpose in courting the society
of the ape…man。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
9
The Theft of the Jewels
For two days Werper sought for the party that had accompanied him
from the camp to the barrier cliffs； but not until late in the afternoon of the
second day did he find clew to its whereabouts； and then in such gruesome
form that he was totally unnerved by the sight。
In an open glade he came upon the bodies of three of the blacks；
terribly mutilated； nor did it require considerable deductive power to
explain their murder。 Of the little party only these three had not been
slaves。 The others； evidently tempted to hope for freedom from their
cruel Arab master； had taken advantage of their separation from the main
camp； to slay the three representatives of the hated power which held them
in slavery； and vanish into the jungle。
Cold sweat exuded from Werper's forehead as he contemplated the fate
which chance had permitted him to escape； for had he been present when
the conspiracy bore fruit； he； too； must have been of the garnered。
Tarzan showed not the slightest surprise or interest in the discovery。
Inherent in him was a calloused familiarity with violent death。 The
refinements of his recent civilization expunged by the force of the sad
calamity which had befallen him； left only the primitive sensibilities
which his childhood's training had imprinted indelibly upon the fabric of
his mind。
The training of Kala； the examples and precepts of Kerchak； of Tublat；
and of Terkoz now formed the basis of his every thought and action。 He
retained a mechanical knowledge of French and English speech。 Werper
had spoken to him in French； and Tarzan had replied in the same tongue
without conscious realization that he had departed from the anthropoidal
speech in which he had addressed La。 Had Werper used English； the
result would have been the same。
Again； that night； as the two sat before their camp fire； Tarzan played
with his shining baubles。 Werper asked him what they were and where
he had found them。 The ape…man replied that they were gay…colored stones；
with which he purposed fashioning a necklace； and that he had found them
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far beneath the sacrificial court of the temple of the Flaming God。
Werper was relieved to find that Tarzan had no conception of the value
of the gems。 This would make it easier for the Belgian to obtain
possession of them。 Possibly the man would give them to him for the
asking。 Werper reached out his hand toward the little pile that Tarzan had
arranged upon a piece of flat wood before him。
〃Let me see them；〃 said the Belgian。
Tarzan placed a large palm over his treasure。 He bared his fighting
fangs； and growled。 Werper withdrew his hand more quickly than he had
advanced it。 Tarzan resumed his playing with the gems； and his
conversation with Werper as though nothing unusual had occurred。 He had
but exhibited the beast's jealous protective instinct for a possession。
When he killed he shared the meat with Werper； but had Werper ever； by
accident； laid a hand upon Tarzan's share； he would have aroused the same
savage； and resentful warning。
From that occurrence dated the beginning of a great fear in the breast
of the Belgian for his savage companion。 He had never understood the
transformation that had been wrought in Tarzan by the blow upon his head；
other than to attribute it to a form of amnesia。 That Tarzan had once been；
in truth； a savage； jungle beast； Werper had not known； and so； of course；
he could not guess that the man had reverted to the state in which his
childhood and young manhood had been spent。
Now Werper saw in the Englishman a dangerous maniac； whom the
slightest untoward accident might turn upon him with rending fangs。 Not
for a moment did Werper attempt to delude himself into the belief that he
could defend himself successfully against an attack by the ape…man。 His
one hope lay in eluding him； and making for the far distant camp of
Achmet Zek as rapidly as he could； but armed only with the sacrificial
knife； Werper shrank from attempting the journey through the jungle。
Tarzan constituted a protection that was by no means despicable； even in
the face of the larger carnivora； as Werper had reason to acknowledge
from the evidence he had witnessed in the Oparian temple。
Too； Werper had his covetous soul set upon the pouch of gems； and so
he was torn between the various emotions of avarice and fear。 But
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avarice it was that burned most strongly in his breast； to the end that he
dared the dangers and suffered the terrors of constant association with him
he thought a mad man； rather than give up the hope of obtaining
possession of the fortune which the contents of the little pouch
represented。
Achmet Zek should know nothing of thesethese would be for Werper
alone； and so soon as he could encompass his design he would reach the
coast and take passage for America； where he could conceal himself
beneath the veil of a new identity and enjoy to some measure the fruits of
his theft。 He had it all planned out； did Lieutenant Albert Werper； living
in anticipation the luxurious life of the idle rich。 He even found himself
regretting that America was so provincial； and that nowhere in the new
world was a city that might compare with his beloved Brussels。
It was upon the third day of their prog
