tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第32章
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presence of the Abyssinian officer； was M。 Jules Frecoult； the Frenchman
who had been the guest of his master and whom he last had seen entering
the village of Achmet Zek under circumstances which pointed to his
familiarity and friendship for the raiders。
Between the disasters that had befallen his master and his master's
house； and the Frenchman； Mugambi saw a sinister relationship； which
kept him from recalling to Werper's attention the identity which the latter
evidently failed to recognize。
Pleading that he was but a harmless hunter from a tribe farther south；
Mugambi begged to be allowed to go upon his way； but Abdul Mourak；
admiring the warrior's splendid physique； decided to take him back to Adis
Abeba and present him to Menelek。 A few moments later Mugambi and
Werper were marched away under guard； and the Belgian learned for the
first time； that he too was a prisoner rather than a guest。 In vain he
protested against such treatment； until a strapping soldier struck him
across the mouth and threatened to shoot him if he did not desist。
Mugambi took the matter less to heart； for he had not the slightest
doubt but that during the course of the journey he would find ample
opportunity to elude the vigilance of his guards and make good his escape。
With this idea always uppermost in his mind； he courted the good opinion
of the Abyssinians； asked them many questions about their emperor and
their country； and evinced a growing desire to reach their destination； that
he might enjoy all the good things which they assured him the city of Adis
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Abeba contained。 Thus he disarmed their suspicions； and each day found
a slight relaxation of their watchfulness over him。
By taking advantage of the fact that he and Werper always were kept
together； Mugambi sought to learn what the other knew of the
whereabouts of Tarzan； or the authorship of the raid upon the bungalow； as
well as the fate of Lady Greystoke； but as he was confined to the accidents
of conversation for this information； not daring to acquaint Werper with
his true identity； and as Werper was equally anxious to conceal from the
world his part in the destruction of his host's home and happiness；
Mugambi learned nothingat least in this way。
But there came a time when he learned a very surprising thing； by
accident。
The party had camped early in the afternoon of a sultry day； upon the
banks of a clear and beautiful stream。 The bottom of the river was gravelly；
there was no indication of crocodiles； those menaces to promiscuous
bathing in the rivers of certain portions of the dark continent； and so the
Abyssinians took advantage of the opportunity to perform long…deferred；
and much needed； ablutions。
As Werper； who； with Mugambi； had been given permission to enter
the water； removed his clothing； the black noted the care with which he
unfastened something which circled his waist； and which he took off with
his shirt； keeping the latter always around and concealing the object of his
suspicious solicitude。
It was this very carefulness which attracted the black's attention to the
thing； arousing a natural curiosity in the warrior's mind； and so it chanced
that when the Belgian； in the nervousness of overcaution； fumbled the
hidden article and dropped it； Mugambi saw it as it fell upon the ground；
spilling a portion of its contents on the sward。
Now Mugambi had been to London with his master。 He was not the
unsophisticated savage that his apparel proclaimed him。 He had mingled
with the cosmopolitan hordes of the greatest city in the world； he had
visited museums and inspected shop windows； and； besides； he was a
shrewd and intelligent man。
The instant that the jewels of Opar rolled； scintillating； before his
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astonished eyes； he recognized them for what they were； but he recognized
something else； too； that interested him far more deeply than the value of
the stones。 A thousand times he had seen the leathern pouch which
dangled at his master's side； when Tarzan of the Apes had； in a spirit of
play and adventure； elected to return for a few hours to the primitive
manners and customs of his boyhood； and surrounded by his naked
warriors hunt the lion and the leopard； the buffalo and the elephant after
the manner he loved best。
Werper saw that Mugambi had seen the pouch and the stones。
Hastily he gathered up the precious gems and returned them to their
container； while Mugambi； assuming an air of indifference； strolled down
to the river for his bath。
The following morning Abdul Mourak was enraged and chagrined to
discover that this huge； black prisoner had escaped during the night； while
Werper was terrified for the same reason； until his trembling fingers
discovered the pouch still in its place beneath his shirt； and within it the
hard outlines of its contents。
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16
Tarzan Again Leads the Mangani
Achmet Zek with two of his followers had circled far to the south to
intercept the flight of his deserting lieutenant； Werper。 Others had spread
out in various directions； so that a vast circle had been formed by them
during the night； and now they were beating in toward the center。
Achmet and the two with him halted for a short rest just before noon。
They squatted beneath the trees upon the southern edge of a clearing。
The chief of the raiders was in ill humor。 To have been outwitted by an
unbeliever was bad enough； but to have； at the same time； lost the jewels
upon which he had set his avaricious heart was altogether too muchAllah
must； indeed be angry with his servant。
Well； he still had the woman。 She would bring a fair price in the
north； and there was； too； the buried treasure beside the ruins of the
Englishman's house。
A slight noise in the jungle upon the opposite side of the clearing
brought Achmet Zek to immediate and alert attention。 He gathered his
rifle in readiness for instant use； at the same time motioning his followers
to silence and concealment。 Crouching behind the bushes the three
waited； their eyes fastened upon the far side of the open space。
Presently the foliage parted and a woman's face appeared； glancing
fearfully from side to side。 A moment later； evidently satisfied that no
immediate danger lurked before her； she stepped out into the clearing in
full view of the Arab。
Achmet Zek caught his breath with a muttered exclamation of
incredulity and an imprecation。 The woman was the prisoner he had
thought safely guarded at his camp！
Apparent
