tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第24章
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manners and customs of his boyhood； and surrounded by his naked
warriors hunt the lion and the leopard； the buffalo and the elephant after
the manner he loved best。
Werper saw that Mugambi had seen the pouch and the stones。
Hastily he gathered up the precious gems and returned them to their
container； while Mugambi； assuming an air of indifference； strolled down
to the river for his bath。
The following morning Abdul Mourak was enraged and chagrined to
discover that this huge； black prisoner had escaped during the night； while
Werper was terrified for the same reason； until his trembling fingers
discovered the pouch still in its place beneath his shirt； and within it the
hard outlines of its contents。
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16
Tarzan Again Leads the Mangani
Achmet Zek with two of his followers had circled far to the south to
intercept the flight of his deserting lieutenant； Werper。 Others had spread
out in various directions； so that a vast circle had been formed by them
during the night； and now they were beating in toward the center。
Achmet and the two with him halted for a short rest just before noon。
They squatted beneath the trees upon the southern edge of a clearing。
The chief of the raiders was in ill humor。 To have been outwitted by an
unbeliever was bad enough； but to have； at the same time； lost the jewels
upon which he had set his avaricious heart was altogether too muchAllah
must； indeed be angry with his servant。
Well； he still had the woman。 She would bring a fair price in the
north； and there was； too； the buried treasure beside the ruins of the
Englishman's house。
A slight noise in the jungle upon the opposite side of the clearing
brought Achmet Zek to immediate and alert attention。 He gathered his
rifle in readiness for instant use； at the same time motioning his followers
to silence and concealment。 Crouching behind the bushes the three
waited； their eyes fastened upon the far side of the open space。
Presently the foliage parted and a woman's face appeared； glancing
fearfully from side to side。 A moment later； evidently satisfied that no
immediate danger lurked before her； she stepped out into the clearing in
full view of the Arab。
Achmet Zek caught his breath with a muttered exclamation of
incredulity and an imprecation。 The woman was the prisoner he had
thought safely guarded at his camp！
Apparently she was alone； but Achmet Zek waited that he might make
sure of it before seizing her。 Slowly Jane Clayton started across the
clearing。 Twice already since she had quitted the village of the raiders
had she barely escaped the fangs of carnivora； and once she had almost
stumbled into the path of one of the searchers。 Though she was almost
despairing of ever reaching safety she still was determined to fight on；
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until death or success terminated her endeavors。
As the Arabs watched her from the safety of their concealment； and
Achmet Zek noted with satisfaction that she was walking directly into his
clutches； another pair of eyes looked down upon the entire scene from the
foliage of an adjacent tree。
Puzzled； troubled eyes they were； for all their gray and savage glint；
for their owner was struggling with an intangible suggestion of the
familiarity of the face and figure of the woman below him。
A sudden crashing of the bushes at the point from which Jane Clayton
had emerged into the clearing brought her to a sudden stop and attracted
the attention of the Arabs and the watcher in the tree to the same point。
The woman wheeled about to see what new danger menaced her from
behind； and as she did so a great； anthropoid ape waddled into view。
Behind him came another and another； but Lady Greystoke did not wait to
learn how many more of the hideous creatures were so close upon her
trail。
With a smothered scream she rushed toward the opposite jungle； and
as she reached the bushes there； Achmet Zek and his two henchmen rose
up and seized her。 At the same instant a naked； brown giant dropped
from the branches of a tree at the right of the clearing。
Turning toward the astonished apes he gave voice to a short volley of
low gutturals； and without waiting to note the effect of his words upon
them； wheeled and charged for the Arabs。
Achmet Zek was dragging Jane Clayton toward his tethered horse。
His two men were hastily unfastening all three mounts。 The woman；
struggling to escape the Arab； turned and saw the ape…man running toward
her。 A glad light of hope illuminated her face。
〃John！〃 she cried。 〃Thank God that you have come in time。〃
Behind Tarzan came the great apes； wondering； but obedient to his
summons。 The Arabs saw that they would not have time to mount and
make their escape before the beasts and the man were upon them。
Achmet Zek recognized the latter as the redoubtable enemy of such as he；
and he saw； too； in the circumstance an opportunity to rid himself forever
of the menace of the ape…man's presence。
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Calling to his men to follow his example he raised his rifle and leveled
it upon the charging giant。 His followers； acting with no less alacrity
than himself； fired almost simultaneously； and with the reports of the rifles；
Tarzan of the Apes and two of his hairy henchmen pitched forward among
the jungle grasses。
The noise of the rifle shots brought the balance of the apes to a
wondering pause； and； taking advantage of their momentary distraction；
Achmet Zek and his fellows leaped to their horses' backs and galloped
away with the now hopeless and grief…stricken woman。
Back to the village they rode； and once again Lady Greystoke found
herself incarcerated in the filthy； little hut from which she had thought to
have escaped for good。 But this time she was not only guarded by an
additional sentry； but bound as well。
Singly and in twos the searchers who had ridden out with Achmet Zek
upon the trail of the Belgian； returned empty handed。 With the report of
each the raider's rage and chagrin increased； until he was in such a
transport of ferocious anger that none dared approach him。 Threatening
and cursing； Achmet Zek paced up and down the floor of his silken tent；
but his temper served him naughtWerper was gone and with him the
fortune in scintillating gems which had aroused the cupidity of his chief
and placed the sentence of death upon the head of the lieutenant。
With the escape of the Arabs the great apes had turned their attention
to their fallen comrades。 One was dead； but another and the great white
ape still breathed。 The hairy monsters gathered about these two；
grumbling and muttering after the fashion of their kind。
Tarzan was the first to regain consciousness。 Sitting up； he looked
about him。 Blood was flowing from a wound in his shoulder。 The
shock had thrown him down and dazed him； but he was far from dead。
Rising slowly to his feet he let his eyes wander toward the spot where last
he had seen the she； who had aroused within his savage breast such
strange emotions。
〃Where is she？〃 he asked。
〃The Tarmangani took her away；〃 replied one of the apes。 〃Who are
you who speak the language of the Mangani？〃 〃I am Tarzan；〃 replied the
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ape…man； 〃mighty hunter； greatest of fighters。 When I roar； the jungle is
silent and trembles with terror。 I am Tarzan of the Apes。 I have been
away； but now I have come back to my people。〃
〃Yes；〃 spoke up an old ape； 〃he is Tarzan。 I know him。 It is well that
he has come back。 Now we shall have good hunting。〃
The other apes came closer and sniffed at the ape…man。 Tarzan stood
very still； his fangs half bared； and his muscles tense and ready for action；
but there was none there to question his right to be with them； and
presently； the inspection satisfactorily concluded； the apes again returned
their attention to the other survivor。
He too was but slightly wounded； a bullet； grazing his skull； having
stunned him； so that when he regained consciousness he was apparently as
fit as ever。
The apes told Tarzan that they had been traveling toward the east when
the scent spoor of the she had attracted them and they had stalked her。
Now they wished to continue upon their interrupted march； but Tarzan
preferred to follow the Arabs and take the woman from them。 After a
considerable argument it was decided that they should first hunt toward
the east for a few days and then return and search for the Arabs； and as
time is of little moment to the ape folk； Tarzan acceded to their demands；
he； himself； having reverted to a mental state but little superior to their
own。
Another circumstance which decided him to postpone pursuit of the
Arabs was the painfulness of his wound。 It would be better to wait until
that had healed before he pitted himself again against the guns of the
