tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第48章
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past act of the man upon whom she had been looking as her sole protector
in the midst of a world of enemies and dangers。
On the march a separate tent had been provided for the captive； and at
night it was pitched between those of Mohammed Beyd and Werper。 A
sentry was posted at the front and another at the back； and with these
precautions it had not been thought necessary to confine the prisoner to
bonds。 The evening following her interview with Mohammed Beyd；
Jane Clayton sat for some time at the opening of her tent watching the
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rough activities of the camp。 She had eaten the meal that had been
brought her by Mohammed Beyd's Negro slavea meal of cassava cakes
and a nondescript stew in which a new…killed monkey； a couple of
squirrels and the remains of a zebra； slain the previous day； were
impartially and unsavorily combined； but the one…time Baltimore belle had
long since submerged in the stern battle for existence； an estheticism
which formerly revolted at much slighter provocation。
As the girl's eyes wandered across the trampled jungle clearing；
already squalid from the presence of man； she no longer apprehended
either the nearer objects of the foreground； the uncouth men laughing or
quarreling among themselves； or the jungle beyond； which circumscribed
the extreme range of her material vision。 Her gaze passed through all these；
unseeing； to center itself upon a distant bungalow and scenes of happy
security which brought to her eyes tears of mingled joy and sorrow。 She
saw a tall； broad…shouldered man riding in from distant fields； she saw
herself waiting to greet him with an armful of fresh…cut roses from the
bushes which flanked the little rustic gate before her。 All this was gone；
vanished into the past； wiped out by the torches and bullets and hatred of
these hideous and degenerate men。 With a stifled sob； and a little
shudder； Jane Clayton turned back into her tent and sought the pile of
unclean blankets which were her bed。 Throwing herself face downward
upon them she sobbed forth her misery until kindly sleep brought her； at
least temporary； relief。
And while she slept a figure stole from the tent that stood to the right
of hers。 It approached the sentry before the doorway and whispered a
few words in the man's ear。 The latter nodded； and strode off through the
darkness in the direction of his own blankets。 The figure passed to the rear
of Jane Clayton's tent and spoke again to the sentry there； and this man
also left； following in the trail of the first。
Then he who had sent them away stole silently to the tent flap and
untying the fastenings entered with the noiselessness of a disembodied
spirit。
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21
The Flight to the Jungle
Sleepless upon his blankets； Albert Werper let his evil mind dwell
upon the charms of the woman in the nearby tent。 He had noted
Mohammed Beyd's sudden interest in the girl； and judging the man by his
own standards； had guessed at the basis of the Arab's sudden change of
attitude toward the prisoner。
And as he let his imaginings run riot they aroused within him a bestial
jealousy of Mohammed Beyd； and a great fear that the other might
encompass his base designs upon the defenseless girl。 By a strange
process of reasoning； Werper； whose designs were identical with the
Arab's； pictured himself as Jane Clayton's protector； and presently
convinced himself that the attentions which might seem hideous to her if
proffered by Mohammed Beyd； would be welcomed from Albert Werper。
Her husband was dead； and Werper fancied that he could replace in the
girl's heart the position which had been vacated by the act of the grim
reaper。 He could offer Jane Clayton marriagea thing which Mohammed
Beyd would not offer； and which the girl would spurn from him with as
deep disgust as she would his unholy lust。
It was not long before the Belgian had succeeded in convincing
himself that the captive not only had every reason for having conceived
sentiments of love for him； but that she had by various feminine methods
acknowledged her new…born affection。
And then a sudden resolution possessed him。 He threw the blankets
from him and rose to his feet。 Pulling on his boots and buckling his
cartridge belt and revolver about his hips he stepped to the flap of his tent
and looked out。 There was no sentry before the entrance to the prisoner's
tent！ What could it mean？ Fate was indeed playing into his hands。
Stepping outside he passed to the rear of the girl's tent。 There was no
sentry there； either！ And now； boldly； he walked to the entrance and
stepped within。
Dimly the moonlight illumined the interior。 Across the tent a figure
bent above the blankets of a bed。 There was a whispered word； and
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another figure rose from the blankets to a sitting position。 Slowly Albert
Werper's eyes were becoming accustomed to the half darkness of the tent。
He saw that the figure leaning over the bed was that of a man； and he
guessed at the truth of the nocturnal visitor's identity。
A sullen； jealous rage enveloped him。 He took a step in the direction
of the two。 He heard a frightened cry break from the girl's lips as she
recognized the features of the man above her； and he saw Mohammed
Beyd seize her by the throat and bear her back upon the blankets。
Cheated passion cast a red blur before the eyes of the Belgian。 No！
The man should not have her。 She was for him and him alone。 He
would not be robbed of his rights。
Quickly he ran across the tent and threw himself upon the back of
Mohammed Beyd。 The latter； though surprised by this sudden and
unexpected attack； was not one to give up without a battle。 The Belgian's
fingers were feeling for his throat； but the Arab tore them away； and rising
wheeled upon his adversary。 As they faced each other Werper struck the
Arab a heavy blow in the face； sending him staggering backward。 If he
had followed up his advantage he would have had Mohammed Beyd at his
mercy in another moment； but instead he tugged at his revolver to draw it
from its holster； and Fate ordained that at that particular moment the
weapon should stick in its leather scabbard。
Before he could disengage it； Mohammed Beyd
