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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
Tarzan and the Jewels of
Opar
by Edgar Rice Burroughs
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
1
Belgian and Arab
Lieutenant Albert Werper had only the prestige of the name he had
dishonored to thank for his narrow escape from being cashiered。 At first
he had been humbly thankful； too； that they had sent him to this
Godforsaken Congo post instead of court…martialing him； as he had so
justly deserved； but now six months of the monotony； the frightful
isolation and the loneliness had wrought a change。 The young man
brooded continually over his fate。 His days were filled with morbid self…
pity； which eventually engendered in his weak and vacillating mind a
hatred for those who had sent him here for the very men he had at first
inwardly thanked for saving him from the ignominy of degradation。 He
regretted the gay life of Brussels as he never had regretted the sins which
had snatched him from that gayest of capitals； and as the days passed he
came to center his resentment upon the representative in Congo land of the
authority which had exiled himhis captain and immediate superior。
This officer was a cold； taciturn man； inspiring little love in those
directly beneath him； yet respected and feared by the black soldiers of his
little command。
Werper was accustomed to sit for hours glaring at his superior as the
two sat upon the veranda of their common quarters； smoking their evening
cigarets in a silence which neither seemed desirous of breaking。 The
senseless hatred of the lieutenant grew at last into a form of mania。 The
captain's natural taciturnity he distorted into a studied attempt to insult him
because of his past shortcomings。 He imagined that his superior held
him in contempt； and so he chafed and fumed inwardly until one evening
his madness became suddenly homicidal。 He fingered the butt of the
revolver at his hip； his eyes narrowed and his brows contracted。 At last
he spoke。
〃You have insulted me for the last time！〃 he cried； springing to his feet。
〃I am an officer and a gentleman； and I shall put up with it no longer
without an accounting from you； you pig。〃
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
The captain； an expression of surprise upon his features； turned toward
his junior。 He had seen men before with the jungle madness upon them
the madness of solitude and unrestrained brooding； and perhaps a touch of
fever。
He rose and extended his hand to lay it upon the other's shoulder。
Quiet words of counsel were upon his lips； but they were never spoken。
Werper construed his superior's action into an attempt to close with him。
His revolver was on a level with the captain's heart； and the latter had
taken but a step when Werper pulled the trigger。 Without a moan the man
sank to the rough planking of the veranda； and as he fell the mists that had
clouded Werper's brain lifted； so that he saw himself and the deed that he
had done in the same light that those who must judge him would see them。
He heard excited exclamations from the quarters of the soldiers and he
heard men running in his direction。 They would seize him； and if they
didn't kill him they would take him down the Congo to a point where a
properly ordered military tribunal would do so just as effectively； though
in a more regular manner。
Werper had no desire to die。 Never before had he so yearned for life
as in this moment that he had so effectively forfeited his right to live。
The men were nearing him。 What was he to do？ He glanced about as
though searching for the tangible form of a legitimate excuse for his crime；
but he could find only the body of the man he had so causelessly shot
down。
In despair； he turned and fled from the oncoming soldiery。 Across the
compound he ran； his revolver still clutched tightly in his hand。 At the
gates a sentry halted him。 Werper did not pause to parley or to exert the
influence of his commissionhe merely raised his weapon and shot down
the innocent black。 A moment later the fugitive had torn open the gates
and vanished into the blackness of the jungle； but not before he had
transferred the rifle and ammunition belts of the dead sentry to his own
person。
All that night Werper fled farther and farther into the heart of the
wilderness。 Now and again the voice of a lion brought him to a listening
halt； but with cocked and ready rifle he pushed ahead again； more fearful
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
of the human huntsmen in his rear than of the wild carnivora ahead。
Dawn came at last； but still the man plodded on。 All sense of hunger
and fatigue were lost in the terrors of contemplated capture。 He could
think only of escape。 He dared not pause to rest or eat until there was no
further danger from pursuit； and so he staggered on until at last he fell and
could rise no more。 How long he had fled he did not know； or try to
know。 When he could flee no longer the knowledge that he had reached
his limit was hidden from him in the unconsciousness of utter exhaustion。
And thus it was that Achmet Zek； the Arab； found him。 Achmet's
followers were for running a spear through the body of their hereditary
enemy； but Achmet would have it otherwise。 First he would question the
Belgian。 It were easier to question a man first and kill him afterward； than
kill him first and then question him。
So he had Lieutenant Albert Werper carried to his own tent； and there
slaves administered wine and food in small quantities until at last the
prisoner regained consciousness。 As he opened his eyes he saw the faces
of strange black men about him； and just outside the tent the figure of an
Arab。 Nowhere was the uniform of his soldiers to be seen。
The Arab turned and seeing the open eyes of the prisoner upon him；
entered the tent。
〃I am Achmet Zek；〃 he announced。 〃Who are you； and what were
you doing in my country？ Where are your soldiers？〃
Achmet Zek！ Werper's eyes went wide； and his heart sank。 He was
in the clutches of the most notorious of cut…throatsa hater of all
Europeans； especially those who wore the uniform of Belgium。 For
years the military forces of Belgian Congo had waged a fruitless war upon
this man and his followersa war in which quarter had never been asked
nor expected by either side。
But presently in the very hatred of the man for Belgians； Werper saw a
faint ray of hope for himself。 He； too； was an outcast and an outlaw。 So
far； at least； they possessed a common interest； and Werper decided to play
upon it for all that it might yield。
〃I have heard of you；〃 he replied； 〃and was searching for you。 My
people have turned against me。 I hate them。 Even now their soldiers
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are searching for me； to kill me。 I knew that you would protect me from
them； for you； too； hate them。 In return I will take service with you。 I
am a trained soldier。 I can fight； and your enemies are my enemies。〃
Achmet Zek eyed the European in silence。 In his mind he revolved
many thoughts； chief among which was that the unbeliever lied。 Of
course there was the chance that he did not lie； and if he told the truth then
his proposition was one well worthy of consideration； since fighting men
were never over plentifulespecially white men with the training and
knowledge of military matters that a European officer must possess。
Achmet Zek scowled and Werper's heart sank； but Werper did not
know Achmet Zek； who was quite apt to scowl where another would smile；
and smile where another would scowl。
〃And if you have lied to me；〃 said Achmet Zek； 〃I will kill you at any
time。 What return； other than your life； do you expect for your services？〃
〃My keep only； at first；〃 replied Werper。 〃Later； if I am worth more；
we can easily reach an understanding。〃 Werper's only desire at the moment
was to preserve his life。 And so the agreement was reached and
Lieutenant Albert Werper became a member of the ivory and slave raiding
band of the notorious Achmet Zek。
For months the renegade Belgian rode with the savage raider。 He
fought with a savage abandon； and a vicious cruelty fully equal to that of
his fellow desperadoes。 Achmet Zek watched his recruit with eagle eye；
and with a growing satisfaction which finally found expression in a greater
confidence in the man； and resulted in an increased independence of action
for Werper。
Achmet Zek took the Belgian into his confidence to a great extent； and
at last unfolded to him a pet scheme which the Arab had long fostered； but
which he never had found an opportunity to effect。 With the aid of a
European； however； the thing might be easily accomplished。 He sounded
Werper。
〃You have heard of the man men call Tarzan？〃 he asked。
Werper nodded。 〃I have heard of him； but I do not know him。〃
〃But for him we might carry on our 'trading' in safety and with great
profit；〃 continued the Arab。 〃For years he has fought us； driving us from
