tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第41章
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The Arab； who had gone down with his mount； was standing astride
him； and seeing the Belgian's strategic position behind his fallen horse；
lost no time in taking up a similar one behind his own。
And there the two lay； alternately firing at and cursing each other；
while from behind the Arab； Tarzan of the Apes approached to the edge of
the forest。 Here he heard the occasional shots of the duelists； and
choosing the safer and swifter avenue of the forest branches to the
uncertain transportation afforded by a half…broken Abyssinian pony； took
to the trees。
Keeping to one side of the trail； the ape…man came presently to a point
where he could look down in comparative safety upon the fighters。 First
one and then the other would partially raise himself above his breastwork
of horseflesh； fire his weapon and immediately drop flat behind his shelter；
where he would reload and repeat the act a moment later。
Werper had but little ammunition； having been hastily armed by Abdul
Mourak from the body of one of the first of the Abyssinians who had
fallen in the fight about the pile of ingots； and now he realized that soon he
would have used his last bullet； and be at the mercy of the Araba mercy
with which he was well acquainted。
Facing both death and despoilment of his treasure； the Belgian cast
about for some plan of escape； and the only one that appealed to him as
containing even a remote possibility of success hinged upon the chance of
bribing Achmet Zek。
Werper had fired all but a single cartridge； when； during a lull in the
fighting； he called aloud to his opponent。
〃Achmet Zek；〃 he cried； 〃Allah alone knows which one of us may
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leave our bones to rot where he lies upon this trail today if we keep up our
foolish battle。 You wish the contents of the pouch I wear about my waist；
and I wish my life and my liberty even more than I do the jewels。 Let us
each； then； take that which he most desires and go our separate ways in
peace。 I will lay the pouch upon the carcass of my horse； where you may
see it； and you； in turn； will lay your gun upon your horse； with butt
toward me。 Then I will go away； leaving the pouch to you； and you will
let me go in safety。 I want only my life； and my freedom。〃
The Arab thought in silence for a moment。 Then he spoke。 His reply
was influenced by the fact that he had expended his last shot。
〃Go your way； then；〃 he growled； 〃leaving the pouch in plain sight
behind you。 See； I lay my gun thus； with the butt toward you。 Go。〃
Werper removed the pouch from about his waist。 Sorrowfully and
affectionately he let his fingers press the hard outlines of the contents。
Ah； if he could extract a little handful of the precious stones！ But
Achmet Zek was standing now； his eagle eyes commanding a plain view
of the Belgian and his every act。
Regretfully Werper laid the pouch； its contents undisturbed； upon the
body of his horse； rose； and taking his rifle with him； backed slowly down
the trail until a turn hid him from the view of the watchful Arab。
Even then Achmet Zek did not advance； fearful as he was of some
such treachery as he himself might have been guilty of under like
circumstances； nor were his suspicions groundless； for the Belgian； no
sooner had he passed out of the range of the Arab's vision； halted behind
the bole of a tree； where he still commanded an unobstructed view of his
dead horse and the pouch； and raising his rifle covered the spot where the
other's body must appear when he came forward to seize the treasure。
But Achmet Zek was no fool to expose himself to the blackened honor
of a thief and a murderer。 Taking his long gun with him； he left the trail；
entering the rank and tangled vegetation which walled it； and crawling
slowly forward on hands and knees he paralleled the trail； but never for an
instant was his body exposed to the rifle of the hidden assassin。
Thus Achmet Zek advanced until he had come opposite the dead horse
of his enemy。 The pouch lay there in full view； while a short distance
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along the trail； Werper waited in growing impatience and nervousness；
wondering why the Arab did not come to claim his reward。
Presently he saw the muzzle of a rifle appear suddenly and
mysteriously a few inches above the pouch； and before he could realize
the cunning trick that the Arab had played upon him the sight of the
weapon was adroitly hooked into the rawhide thong which formed the
carrying strap of the pouch； and the latter was drawn quickly from his
view into the dense foliage at the trail's side。
Not for an instant had the raider exposed a square inch of his body； and
Werper dared not fire his one remaining shot unless every chance of a
successful hit was in his favor。
Chuckling to himself； Achmet Zek withdrew a few paces farther into
the jungle； for he was as positive that Werper was waiting nearby for a
chance to pot him as though his eyes had penetrated the jungle trees to the
figure of the hiding Belgian； fingering his rifle behind the bole of the
buttressed giant。
Werper did not dare advancehis cupidity would not permit him to
depart； and so he stood there； his rifle ready in his hands； his eyes
watching the trail before him with catlike intensity。
But there was another who had seen the pouch and recognized it； who
did advance with Achmet Zek； hovering above him； as silent and as sure
as death itself； and as the Arab； finding a little spot less overgrown with
bushes than he had yet encountered； prepared to gloat his eyes upon the
contents of the pouch； Tarzan paused directly above him； intent upon the
same object。
Wetting his thin lips with his tongue； Achmet Zek loosened the tie
strings which closed the mouth of the pouch； and cupping one claw…like
hand poured forth a portion of the contents into his palm。
A single look he took at the stones lying in his hand。 His eyes
narrowed； a curse broke from his lips； and he hurled the small objects
upon the ground； disdainfully。 Quickly he emptied the balance of the
contents until he had scanned each separate stone； and as he dumped them
all upon the ground and stamped upon them his rage grew until the
muscles of his face worked in demon…like fury； and his fingers clenched
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until his nails bit into the flesh。
Above； Tarzan watched in wonderment。 He had been curious to
discover what all the pow…wow about his pouch had meant。 He wanted
to see what the Arab would do after the other had gone away； leaving the
pouch behind
