tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第26章
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himself； until； at a distance； it might have appeared that three white…robed
Arabs squatted silently among the branches of the forest。
Until dark they remained where they were； for from his point of
vantage； Tarzan could view the enclosure within the palisade。 He marked
the position of the hut in which he had first discovered the scent spoor of
the she he sought。 He saw the two sentries standing before its doorway；
and he located the habitation of Achmet Zek； where something told him he
would most likely find the missing pouch and pebbles。
Chulk and Taglat were； at first； greatly interested in their wonderful
raiment。 They fingered the fabric； smelled of it； and regarded each other
intently with every mark of satisfaction and pride。 Chulk； a humorist in
his way； stretched forth a long and hairy arm； and grasping the hood of
Taglat's burnoose pulled it down over the latter's eyes； extinguishing him；
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snuffer…like； as it were。
The older ape； pessimistic by nature； recognized no such thing as
humor。 Creatures laid their paws upon him for but two thingsto search
for fleas and to attack。 The pulling of the Tarmangani…scented thing
about his head and eyes could not be for the performance of the former act；
therefore it must be the latter。 He was attacked！ Chulk had attacked
him。
With a snarl he was at the other's throat； not even waiting to lift the
woolen veil which obscured his vision。 Tarzan leaped upon the two； and
swaying and toppling upon their insecure perch the three great beasts
tussled and snapped at one another until the ape…man finally succeeded in
separating the enraged anthropoids。
An apology is unknown to these savage progenitors of man； and
explanation a laborious and usually futile process； Tarzan bridged the
dangerous gulf by distracting their attention from their altercation to a
consideration of their plans for the immediate future。 Accustomed to
frequent arguments in which more hair than blood is wasted； the apes
speedily forget such trivial encounters； and presently Chulk and Taglat
were again squatting in close proximity to each other and peaceful repose；
awaiting the moment when the ape…man should lead them into the village
of the Tarmangani。
It was long after darkness had fallen； that Tarzan led his companions
from their hiding place in the tree to the ground and around the palisade to
the far side of the village。
Gathering the skirts of his burnoose； beneath one arm； that his legs
might have free action； the ape…man took a short running start； and
scrambled to the top of the barrier。 Fearing lest the apes should rend
their garments to shreds in a similar attempt； he had directed them to wait
below for him； and himself securely perched upon the summit of the
palisade he unslung his spear and lowered one end of it to Chulk。
The ape seized it； and while Tarzan held tightly to the upper end； the
anthropoid climbed quickly up the shaft until with one paw he grasped the
top of the wall。 To scramble then to Tarzan's side was the work of but an
instant。 In like manner Taglat was conducted to their sides； and a
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moment later the three dropped silently within the enclosure。
Tarzan led them first to the rear of the hut in which Jane Clayton was
confined； where； through the roughly repaired aperture in the wall； he
sought with his sensitive nostrils for proof that the she he had come for
was within。
Chulk and Taglat； their hairy faces pressed close to that of the patrician；
sniffed with him。 Each caught the scent spoor of the woman within； and
each reacted according to his temperament and his habits of thought。
It left Chulk indifferent。 The she was for Tarzanall that he desired
was to bury his snout in the foodstuffs of the Tarmangani。 He had come
to eat his fill without laborTarzan had told him that that should be his
reward； and he was satisfied。
But Taglat's wicked； bloodshot eyes； narrowed to the realization of the
nearing fulfillment of his carefully nursed plan。 It is true that sometimes
during the several days that had elapsed since they had set out upon their
expedition it had been difficult for Taglat to hold his idea uppermost in his
mind； and on several occasions he had completely forgotten it； until
Tarzan； by a chance word； had recalled it to him； but； for an ape； Taglat
had done well。
Now； he licked his chops； and he made a sickening； sucking noise with
his flabby lips as he drew in his breath。
Satisfied that the she was where he had hoped to find her； Tarzan led
his apes toward the tent of Achmet Zek。 A passing Arab and two slaves
saw them； but the night was dark and the white burnooses hid the hairy
limbs of the apes and the giant figure of their leader； so that the three； by
squatting down as though in conversation； were passed by； unsuspected。
To the rear of the tent they made their way。 Within； Achmet Zek
conversed with several of his lieutenants。 Without； Tarzan listened。
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17
The Deadly Peril of Jane Clayton
Lieutenant Albert Werper； terrified by contemplation of the fate
which might await him at Adis Abeba； cast about for some scheme of
escape； but after the black Mugambi had eluded their vigilance the
Abyssinians redoubled their precautions to prevent Werper following the
lead of the Negro。
For some time Werper entertained the idea of bribing Abdul Mourak
with a portion of the contents of the pouch； but fearing that the man would
demand all the gems as the price of liberty； the Belgian； influenced by
avarice； sought another avenue from his dilemma。
It was then that there dawned upon him the possibility of the success
of a different course which would still leave him in possession of the
jewels； while at the same time satisfying the greed of the Abyssinian with
the conviction that he had obtained all that Werper had to offer。
And so it was that a day or so after Mugambi had disappeared； Werper
asked for an audience with Abdul Mourak。 As the Belgian entered the
presence of his captor the scowl upon the features of the latter boded ill for
any hope which Werper might entertain； still he fortified himself by
recalling the common weakness of mankind； which permits the most
inflexible of natures to bend to the consuming desire for wealth。
Abdul Mourak eyed him； frowningly。 〃What do you want now？〃 he
asked。
〃My liberty；〃 replied Werper。
The Abyssinian sneered。 〃And you disturbed me thus to tell me what
any fool might know；〃 he said。
〃I can pay for it；〃 said Werper。
Abdul Mourak laughed loudly。 〃Pay for it？〃 he cried。 〃What with
the rags that you have upon your back？ Or； perhaps you are concealing
beneath your coat a thousand pounds of ivory。 Get out！ You are a fool。
Do not bother me again or I shall have you whipped。〃
But Werper persisted。 His liberty and perhaps his life depended upon
his success。
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〃Listen to me；〃 he pleaded。 〃If I can give you as much gold as ten
men may carry will you promise that I shall be conducted in safety to the
nearest English commissioner？〃
〃As much gold as ten men may carry！〃 repeated Abdul Mourak。
〃You are crazy。 Where have you so much gold as that？〃
〃I know where it is hid；〃 said Werper。 〃Promise； and I will lead you
to itif ten loads is enough？〃
Abdul Mourak had ceased to laugh。 He was eyeing the Belgian
intently。 The fellow seemed sane enoughyet ten loads of gold！ It was
preposterous。 The Abyssinian thought in silence for a moment。
〃Well； and if I promise；〃 he said。 〃How far is this gold？〃
〃A long week's march to the south；〃 replied Werper。
〃And if we do not find it where you say it is； do you realize what your
punishment will be？〃
〃If it is not there I will forfeit my life；〃 replied the Belgian。 〃I know
it is there； for I saw it buried with my own eyes。 And morethere are not
only ten loads； but as many as fifty men may carry。 It is all yours if you
will promise to see me safely delivered into the protection of the English。〃
〃You will stake your life against the finding of the gold？〃 asked Abdul。
Werper assented with a nod。
〃Very well；〃 said the Abyssinian； 〃I promise； and even if there be but
five loads you shall have your freedom； but until the gold is in my
possession you remain a prisoner。〃
〃I am satisfied；〃 said Werper。 〃Tomorrow we start？〃
Abdul Mourak nodded； and the Belgian returned to his guards。 The
following day the Abyssinian soldiers were surprised to receive an order
which turned their faces from the northeast to the south。 And so it
happened that upon the very night that Tarzan and the two apes entered the
village of the raiders； the Abyssinians camped but a few miles to the east
of the same spot。
While Werper dreamed of freedom and the unmolested enjoyment of
the fortune in his stolen pouch； and Abdul Mourak lay awake in greedy
contemplation of the fifty loads of gold which lay but a few days farther to
the south of him； Achmet Zek gave orders to his lieutenants t
