tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第22章
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of the Belgian possessions which lay between him and the Atlantic。 The
south was closed to him by the feared presence of the savage ape…man he
had robbed。 To the north lay the friends and allies of Achmet Zek。
Only toward the east； through British East Africa； lay reasonable assurance
of freedom。
Accompanied by a titled Englishwoman whom he had rescued from a
frightful fate； and his identity vouched for by her as that of a Frenchman
by the name of Frecoult； he had looked forward； and not without reason； to
the active assistance of the British from the moment that he came in
contact with their first outpost。
But now that Lady Greystoke had disappeared； though he still looked
toward the east for hope； his chances were lessened； and another；
subsidiary design completely dashed。 From the moment that he had first
laid eyes upon Jane Clayton he had nursed within his breast a secret
passion for the beautiful American wife of the English lord； and when
Achmet Zek's discovery of the jewels had necessitated flight； the Belgian
had dreamed； in his planning； of a future in which he might convince Lady
Greystoke that her husband was dead； and by playing upon her gratitude
win her for himself。
At that part of the village farthest from the gates； Werper discovered
that two or three long poles； taken from a nearby pile which had been
collected for the construction of huts； had been leaned against the top of
the palisade； forming a precarious； though not impossible avenue of
escape。
Rightly； he inferred that thus had Lady Greystoke found the means to
scale the wall； nor did he lose even a moment in following her lead。
Once in the jungle he struck out directly eastward。
A few miles south of him； Jane Clayton lay panting among the
branches of a tree in which she had taken refuge from a prowling and
hungry lioness。
Her escape from the village had been much easier than she had
anticipated。 The knife which she had used to cut her way through the
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brush wall of the hut to freedom she had found sticking in the wall of her
prison； doubtless left there by accident when a former tenant had vacated
the premises。
To cross the rear of the village； keeping always in the densest shadows；
had required but a few moments； and the fortunate circumstance of the
discovery of the hut poles lying so near the palisade had solved for her the
problem of the passage of the high wall。
For an hour she had followed the old game trail toward the south； until
there fell upon her trained hearing the stealthy padding of a stalking beast
behind her。 The nearest tree gave her instant sanctuary； for she was too
wise in the ways of the jungle to chance her safety for a moment after
discovering that she was being hunted。
Werper； with better success； traveled slowly onward until dawn； when；
to his chagrin； he discovered a mounted Arab upon his trail。 It was one
of Achmet Zek's minions； many of whom were scattered in all directions
through the forest； searching for the fugitive Belgian。
Jane Clayton's escape had not yet been discovered when Achmet Zek
and his searchers set forth to overhaul Werper。 The only man who had seen
the Belgian after his departure from his tent was the black sentry before
the doorway of Lady Greystoke's prison hut； and he had been silenced by
the discovery of the dead body of the man who had relieved him； the
sentry that Mugambi had dispatched。
The bribe taker naturally inferred that Werper had slain his fellow and
dared not admit that he had permitted him to enter the hut； fearing as he
did； the anger of Achmet Zek。 So； as chance directed that he should be the
one to discover the body of the sentry when the first alarm had been given
following Achmet Zek's discovery that Werper had outwitted him； the
crafty black had dragged the dead body to the interior of a nearby tent； and
himself resumed his station before the doorway of the hut in which he still
believed the woman to be。
With the discovery of the Arab close behind him； the Belgian hid in
the foliage of a leafy bush。 Here the trail ran straight for a considerable
distance； and down the shady forest aisle； beneath the overarching
branches of the trees； rode the white…robed figure of the pursuer。
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Nearer and nearer he came。 Werper crouched closer to the ground
behind the leaves of his hiding place。 Across the trail a vine moved。
Werper's eyes instantly centered upon the spot。 There was no wind to stir
the foliage in the depths of the jungle。 Again the vine moved。 In the
mind of the Belgian only the presence of a sinister and malevolent force
could account for the phenomenon。
The man's eyes bored steadily into the screen of leaves upon the
opposite side of the trail。 Gradually a form took shape beyond thema
tawny form； grim and terrible； with yellow…green eyes glaring fearsomely
across the narrow trail straight into his。
Werper could have screamed in fright； but up the trail was coming the
messenger of another death； equally sure and no less terrible。 He
remained silent； almost paralyzed by fear。 The Arab approached。 Across
the trail from Werper the lion crouched for the spring； when suddenly his
attention was attracted toward the horseman。
The Belgian saw the massive head turn in the direction of the raider
and his heart all but ceased its beating as he awaited the result of this
interruption。 At a walk the horseman approached。 Would the nervous
animal he rode take fright at the odor of the carnivore； and； bolting； leave
Werper still to the mercies of the king of beasts？
But he seemed unmindful of the near presence of the great cat。 On he
came； his neck arched； champing at the bit between his teeth。 The
Belgian turned his eyes again toward the lion。 The beast's whole
attention now seemed riveted upon the horseman。 They were abreast the
lion now； and still the brute did not spring。 Could he be but waiting for
them to pass before returning his attention to the original prey？ Werper
shuddered and half rose。 At the same instant the lion sprang from his
place of concealment； full upon the mounted man。 The horse； with a
shrill neigh of terror； shrank sideways almost upon the Belgian； the lion
dragged the helpless Arab from his saddle； and the horse leaped back into
the trail and fled away toward the west。
But he did not flee alone。 As the frightened beast had pressed in
upon him； Werper had not been slow to note the quickly emptied saddle
and the opportunity it presented。 Scarcely had the lion dragged the Arab
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down from one side； than the Belgian； seizing the pommel of the saddle
and the horse's mane； leaped upon the horse's back from the other。
A half hour later a naked giant； swinging easily through the lower
branches of the trees； paused； and with raised head； and dilating nostrils
sniffed the morning air。 The smell of blood fell strong upon his senses；
and mingled with it was the scent of Numa； the lion。 The giant cocked
his head upon one side and listened。
From a short distance up the trail came the unmistakable noises of the
greedy feeding of a lion。 The crunching of bones； the gulping of great
pieces； the contented growling； all attested the nearness of the king at
table。
Tarzan approached the spot； still keeping to the branches of the trees。
He made no effort to conceal his approach； and presently he had evidence
that Numa had heard him； from the ominous； rumbling warning that broke
from a thicket beside the trail。
Halting upon a low branch just above the lion Tarzan looked down
upon the grisly scene。 Could this unrecognizable thing be the man he
had been trailing？ The ape…man wondered。 From time to time he had
descended to the trail and verified his judgment by the evidence of his
scent that the Belgian had followed this game trail toward the east。
Now he proceeded beyond the lion and his feast； again descended and
examined the ground with his nose。 There was no scent spoor here of the
man he had been trailing。 Tarzan returned to the tree。 With keen eyes he
searched the ground about the mutilated corpse for a sign of the missing
pouch of pretty pebbles； but naught could he see of it。
He scolded Numa and tried to drive the great beast away； but only
angry growls rewarded his efforts。 He tore small branches from a nearby
limb and hurled them at his ancient enemy。 Numa looked up with bared
fangs； grinning hideously； but he did not rise from his kill。
Then Tarzan fitted an arrow to his bow； and drawing the slim shaft far
back let drive with all the force of the tough wood that only he could bend。
As the arrow sank deeply into his side； Numa leaped to his feet with a roar
of mingled rage and pain。 He leaped futilely at the grinning ape…man；
tore at the protruding end of the shaft； and then； springing into the trail；
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paced back and forth beneath his tormentor。 Again Tarzan loosed a swift
bolt。 This time the missile； aimed with care； lodged in the lion's spine。
The great creature halted in its tracks； and lurched awkwardly forward
upon its
