tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第18章
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journey； Jane Clayton had suffered more in anticipation of her impending
fate than from the hardships of the road。
Achmet Zek had not deigned to acquaint her with his intentions
regarding her future。 She prayed that she had been captured in the hope
of ransom； for if such should prove the case； no great harm would befall
her at the hands of the Arabs； but there was the chance； the horrid chance；
that another fate awaited her。 She had heard of many women； among
whom were white women； who had been sold by outlaws such as Achmet
Zek into the slavery of black harems； or taken farther north into the almost
equally hideous existence of some Turkish seraglio。
Jane Clayton was of sterner stuff than that which bends in spineless
terror before danger。 Until hope proved futile she would not give it up；
nor did she entertain thoughts of self…destruction only as a final escape
from dishonor。 So long as Tarzan lived there was every reason to expect
succor。 No man nor beast who roamed the savage continent could boast
the cunning and the powers of her lord and master。 To her； he was little
short of omnipotent in his native worldthis world of savage beasts and
savage men。 Tarzan would come； and she would be rescued and avenged；
of that she was certain。 She counted the days that must elapse before he
would return from Opar and discover what had transpired during his
absence。 After that it would be but a short time before he had surrounded
the Arab stronghold and punished the motley crew of wrongdoers who
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inhabited it。
That he could find her she had no slightest doubt。 No spoor； however
faint； could elude the keen vigilance of his senses。 To him； the trail of
the raiders would be as plain as the printed page of an open book to her。
And while she hoped； there came through the dark jungle another。
Terrified by night and by day； came Albert Werper。 A dozen times he had
escaped the claws and fangs of the giant carnivora only by what seemed a
miracle to him。 Armed with nothing more than the knife he had brought
with him from Opar； he had made his way through as savage a country as
yet exists upon the face of the globe。
By night he had slept in trees。 By day he had stumbled fearfully on；
often taking refuge among the branches when sight or sound of some great
cat warned him from danger。 But at last he had come within sight of the
palisade behind which were his fierce companions。
At almost the same time Mugambi came out of the jungle before the
walled village。 As he stood in the shadow of a great tree； reconnoitering；
he saw a man； ragged and disheveled； emerge from the jungle almost at his
elbow。 Instantly he recognized the newcomer as he who had been a guest
of his master before the latter had departed for Opar。
The black was upon the point of hailing the Belgian when something
stayed him。 He saw the white man walking confidently across the
clearing toward the village gate。 No sane man thus approached a village
in this part of Africa unless he was sure of a friendly welcome。 Mugambi
waited。 His suspicions were aroused。
He heard Werper halloo； he saw the gates swing open； and he
witnessed the surprised and friendly welcome that was accorded the
erstwhile guest of Lord and Lady Greystoke。 A light broke upon the
understanding of Mugambi。 This white man had been a traitor and a spy。
It was to him they owed the raid during the absence of the Great Bwana。
To his hate for the Arabs； Mugambi added a still greater hate for the white
spy。
Within the village Werper passed hurriedly toward the silken tent of
Achmet Zek。 The Arab arose as his lieutenant entered。 His face
showed surprise as he viewed the tattered apparel of the Belgian。
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〃What has happened？〃 he asked。
Werper narrated all； save the little matter of the pouch of gems which
were now tightly strapped about his waist； beneath his clothing。 The
Arab's eyes narrowed greedily as his henchman described the treasure that
the Waziri had buried beside the ruins of the Greystoke bungalow。
〃It will be a simple matter now to return and get it；〃 said Achmet Zek。
〃First we will await the coming of the rash Waziri； and after we have slain
them we may take our time to the treasurenone will disturb it where it
lies； for we shall leave none alive who knows of its existence。
〃And the woman？〃 asked Werper。
〃I shall sell her in the north；〃 replied the raider。 〃It is the only way；
now。 She should bring a good price。〃
The Belgian nodded。 He was thinking rapidly。 If he could persuade
Achmet Zek to send him in command of the party which took Lady
Greystoke north it would give him the opportunity he craved to make his
escape from his chief。 He would forego a share of the gold； if he could
but get away unscathed with the jewels。
He knew Achmet Zek well enough by this time to know that no
member of his band ever was voluntarily released from the service of
Achmet Zek。 Most of the few who deserted were recaptured。 More
than once had Werper listened to their agonized screams as they were
tortured before being put to death。 The Belgian had no wish to take the
slightest chance of recapture。
〃Who will go north with the woman；〃 he asked； 〃while we are
returning for the gold that the Waziri buried by the bungalow of the
Englishman？〃
Achmet Zek thought for a moment。 The buried gold was of much
greater value than the price the woman would bring。 It was necessary to
rid himself of her as quickly as possible and it was also well to obtain the
gold with the least possible delay。 Of all his followers； the Belgian was
the most logical lieutenant to intrust with the command of one of the
parties。 An Arab； as familiar with the trails and tribes as Achmet Zek
himself； might collect the woman's price and make good his escape into
the far north。 Werper； on the other hand； could scarce make his escape
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alone through a country hostile to Europeans while the men he would send
with the Belgian could be carefully selected with a view to preventing
Werper from persuading any considerable portion of his command to
accompany him should he contemplate desertion of his chief。
At last the Arab spoke： 〃It is not necessary that we both return for the
gold。 You shall go north with the woman； carrying a letter to a friend of
mine who is always in touch with the best markets for such merchandise；
while I return for the gold。 We can meet again here when our business is
concluded。〃
Werper could scarce disguise the joy with which he received this
welcome decision。
