tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第6章
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blinked and a great fear came into themthe superstitious fear of one who
believes in ghosts and spirits and demons。
And came the time once more when the witch…doctor no longer
doubted the outcome of the duel； yet his first judgment was reversed； for
now he knew that the jungle god would slay Simba and the old black was
even more terrified of his own impending fate at the hands of the victor
than he had been by the sure and sudden death which the triumphant lion
would have meted out to him。 He saw the lion weaken from loss of blood。
He saw the mighty limbs tremble and stagger and at last he saw the beast
sink down to rise no more。 He saw the forest god or demon rise from the
vanquished foe； and placing a foot upon the still quivering carcass； raise
his face to the moon and bay out a hideous cry that froze the ebbing blood
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
in the veins of the witch…doctor。
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4
Prophecy and Fulfillment
Then Tarzan turned his attention to the man。 He had not slain Numa
to save the Negrohe had merely done it in revenge upon the lion； but
now that he saw the old man lying helpless and dying before him
something akin to pity touched his savage heart。 In his youth he would
have slain the witch…doctor without the slightest compunction； but
civilization had had its softening effect upon him even as it does upon the
nations and races which it touches； though it had not yet gone far enough
with Tarzan to render him either cowardly or effeminate。 He saw an old
man suffering and dying； and he stooped and felt of his wounds and
stanched the flow of blood。
〃Who are you？〃 asked the old man in a trembling voice。
〃I am TarzanTarzan of the Apes；〃 replied the ape…man and not
without a greater touch of pride than he would have said； 〃I am John
Clayton； Lord Greystoke。〃
The witch…doctor shook convulsively and closed his eyes。 When he
opened them again there was in them a resignation to whatever horrible
fate awaited him at the hands of this feared demon of the woods。 〃Why
do you not kill me？〃 he asked。
〃Why should I kill you？〃 inquired Tarzan。 〃You have not harmed me；
and anyway you are already dying。 Numa； the lion； has killed you。〃
〃You would not kill me？〃 Surprise and incredulity were in the tones of
the quavering old voice。
〃I would save you if I could；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃but that cannot be done。
Why did you think I would kill you？〃
For a moment the old man was silent。 When he spoke it was
evidently after some little effort to muster his courage。 〃I knew you of
old；〃 he said； 〃when you ranged the jungle in the country of Mbonga； the
chief。 I was already a witch…doctor when you slew Kulonga and the others；
and when you robbed our huts and our poison pot。 At first I did not
remember you； but at last I didthe white…skinned ape that lived with the
hairy apes and made life miserable in the village of Mbonga； the chiefthe
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forest godthe Munango…Keewati for whom we set food outside our gates
and who came and ate it。 Tell me before I dieare you man or devil？〃
Tarzan laughed。 〃I am a man；〃 he said。
The old fellow sighed and shook his head。 〃You have tried to save
me from Simba；〃 he said。 〃For that I shall reward you。 I am a great
witch…doctor。 Listen to me； white man！ I see bad days ahead of you。
It is writ in my own blood which I have smeared upon my palm。 A god
greater even than you will rise up and strike you down。 Turn back；
Munango…Keewati！ Turn back before it is too late。 Danger lies ahead
of you and danger lurks behind； but greater is the danger before。 I see〃
He paused and drew a long； gasping breath。 Then he crumpled into a
little； wrinkled heap and died。 Tarzan wondered what else he had seen。
It was very late when the ape…man re…entered the boma and lay down
among his black warriors。 None had seen him go and none saw him
return。 He thought about the warning of the old witch…doctor before he
fell asleep and he thought of it again after he awoke； but he did not turn
back for he was unafraid； though had he known what lay in store for one
he loved most in all the world he would have flown through the trees to
her side and allowed the gold of Opar to remain forever hidden in its
forgotten storehouse。
Behind him that morning another white man pondered something he
had heard during the night and very nearly did he give up his project and
turn back upon his trail。 It was Werper； the murderer； who in the still of
the night had heard far away upon the trail ahead of him a sound that had
filled his cowardly soul with terrora sound such as he never before had
heard in all his life； nor dreamed that such a frightful thing could emanate
from the lungs of a God…created creature。 He had heard the victory cry of
the bull ape as Tarzan had screamed it forth into the face of Goro； the
moon； and he had trembled then and hidden his face； and now in the broad
light of a new day he trembled again as he recalled it； and would have
turned back from the nameless danger the echo of that frightful sound
seemed to portend； had he not stood in even greater fear of Achmet Zek；
his master。
And so Tarzan of the Apes forged steadily ahead toward Opar's ruined
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ramparts and behind him slunk Werper； jackal…like； and only God knew
what lay in store for each。
At the edge of the desolate valley； overlooking the golden domes and
minarets of Opar； Tarzan halted。 By night he would go alone to the
treasure vault； reconnoitering； for he had determined that caution should
mark his every move upon this expedition。
With the coming of night he set forth； and Werper； who had scaled the
cliffs alone behind the ape…man's party； and hidden through the day among
the rough boulders of the mountain top； slunk stealthily after him。 The
boulder…strewn plain between the valley's edge and the mighty granite
kopje； outside the city's walls； where lay the entrance to the passage…way
leading to the treasure vault； gave the Belgian ample cover as he followed
Tarzan toward Opar。
He saw the giant ape…man swing himself nimbly up the face of the
great rock。 Werper； clawing fearfully during the perilous ascent；
sweating in terror； almost palsied by fear； but spurred on by avarice；
following upward； until at last he stood upon the summit of the rocky hill。
Tarzan was nowhere in sight。 For a time Werper hid behind one of
the lesser boulders that were scattered over the to
