tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第50章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
me to take your body into the jungle。 This seemingly unnecessary act I
shall explain upon the grounds that Mohammed Beyd had conceived a
violent passion for you and that he so regretted the act by which he had
become your slayer that he could not endure the silent reproach of your
lifeless body。〃
The girl held up her hand to stop。 A smile touched her lips。
〃Are you quite mad？〃 she asked。 〃Do you imagine that the sentries
will credit any such ridiculous tale？〃
〃You do not know them；〃 he replied。 〃Beneath their rough exteriors；
despite their calloused and criminal natures； there exists in each a well…
defined strain of romantic emotionalismyou will find it among such as
these throughout the world。 It is romance which lures men to lead wild
lives of outlawry and crime。 The ruse will succeednever fear。〃
Jane Clayton shrugged。 〃We can but try itand then what？〃
154
… Page 155…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
〃I shall hide you in the jungle；〃 continued the Belgian； 〃coming for
you alone and with two horses in the morning。〃
〃But how will you explain Mohammed Beyd's death？〃 she asked。 〃It
will be discovered before ever you can escape the camp in the morning。〃
〃I shall not explain it；〃 replied Werper。 〃Mohammed Beyd shall
explain it himselfwe must leave that to him。 Are you ready for the
venture？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But wait； I must get you a weapon and ammunition；〃 and Werper
walked quickly from the tent。
Very shortly he returned with an extra revolver and ammunition belt
strapped about his waist。
〃Are you ready？〃 he asked。
〃Quite ready；〃 replied the girl。
〃Then come and throw yourself limply across my left shoulder；〃 and
Werper knelt to receive her。
〃There；〃 he said； as he rose to his feet。 〃Now； let your arms； your
legs and your head hang limply。 Remember that you are dead。〃
A moment later the man walked out into the camp； the body of the
woman across his shoulder。
A thorn boma had been thrown up about the camp； to discourage the
bolder of the hungry carnivora。 A couple of sentries paced to and fro in
the light of a fire which they kept burning brightly。 The nearer of these
looked up in surprise as he saw Werper approaching。
〃Who are you？〃 he cried。 〃What have you there？〃
Werper raised the hood of his burnoose that the fellow might see his
face。
〃This is the body of the woman；〃 he explained。 〃Mohammed Beyd has
asked me to take it into the jungle； for he cannot bear to look upon the face
of her whom he loved； and whom necessity compelled him to slay。 He
suffers greatlyhe is inconsolable。 It was with difficulty that I prevented
him taking his own life。〃
Across the speaker's shoulder； limp and frightened； the girl waited for
the Arab's reply。 He would laugh at this preposterous story； of that she
155
… Page 156…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
was sure。 In an instant he would unmask the deception that M。 Frecoult
was attempting to practice upon him； and they would both be lost。 She
tried to plan how best she might aid her would…be rescuer in the fight
which must most certainly follow within a moment or two。
Then she heard the voice of the Arab as he replied to M。 Frecoult。
〃Are you going alone； or do you wish me to awaken someone to
accompany you？〃 he asked； and his tone denoted not the least surprise that
Mohammed Beyd had suddenly discovered such remarkably sensitive
characteristics。
〃I shall go alone；〃 replied Werper； and he passed on and out through
the narrow opening in the boma； by which the sentry stood。
A moment later he had entered among the boles of the trees with his
burden； and when safely hidden from the sentry's view lowered the girl to
her feet； with a low； 〃sh…sh；〃 when she would have spoken。
Then he led her a little farther into the forest； halted beneath a large
tree with spreading branches； buckled a cartridge belt and revolver about
her waist； and assisted her to clamber into the lower branches。
〃Tomorrow；〃 he whispered； 〃as soon as I can elude them； I will return
for you。 Be brave； Lady Greystokewe may yet escape。〃
〃Thank you；〃 she replied in a low tone。 〃You have been very kind；
and very brave。〃
Werper did not reply； and the darkness of the night hid the scarlet flush
of shame which swept upward across his face。 Quickly he turned and
made his way back to camp。 The sentry； from his post； saw him enter his
own tent； but he did not see him crawl under the canvas at the rear and
sneak cautiously to the tent which the prisoner had occupied； where now
lay the dead body of Mohammed Beyd。
Raising the lower edge of the rear wall； Werper crept within and
approached the corpse。 Without an instant's hesitation he seized the dead
wrists and dragged the body upon its back to the point where he had just
entered。 On hands and knees he backed out as he had come in； drawing
the corpse after him。 Once outside the Belgian crept to the side of the
tent and surveyed as much of the camp as lay within his visionno one
was watching。
156
… Page 157…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Returning to the body； he lifted it to his shoulder； and risking all on a
quick sally； ran swiftly across the narrow opening which separated the
prisoner's tent from that of the dead man。 Behind the silken wall he
halted and lowered his burden to the ground； and there he remained
motionless for several minutes； listening。
Satisfied； at last； that no one had seen him； he stooped and raised the
bottom of the tent wall； backed in and dragged the thing that had been
Mohammed Beyd after him。 To the sleeping rugs of the dead raider he
drew the corpse； then he fumbled about in the darkness until he had found
Mohammed Beyd's revolver。 With the weapon in his hand he returned to
the side of the dead man； kneeled beside the bedding； and inserted his
right hand with the weapon beneath the rugs； piled a number of
thicknesses of the closely woven fabric over and about the revolver with
his left hand。 Then he pulled the trigger； and at the same time he
coughed。
The muffled report could not have been heard above the sound of his
cough by one directly outside the tent。 Werper was satisfied。 A grim
smile touched his lips as he withdrew the weapon from the rugs and
placed it carefully in the right hand of the dead man； fixing three of the
fingers around the grip and the index finger inside the trigger guard。
A moment longer he tarried to rearrange the disordered rugs； and then
he left as he had entered； fastening down the rear wall of the tent as it had
been before he had raised it。
Going to the tent of the prisoner he removed there also the evidence
that someone might have come or gone beneath the rear wall。 Then he
