tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第29章
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belong？
He recalled the black men who had buried them。 The things must be
theirs。 Werper was stealing them as he had stolen Tarzan's pouch of
pebbles。 The ape…man's eyes blazed in anger。 He would like to find the
black men and lead them against these thieves。 He wondered where their
village might be。
As all these things ran through the active mind； a party of men moved
out of the forest at the edge of the plain and advanced toward the ruins of
the burned bungalow。
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Abdul Mourak； always watchful； was the first to see them； but already
they were halfway across the open。 He called to his men to mount and
hold themselves in readiness； for in the heart of Africa who may know
whether a strange host be friend or foe？
Werper； swinging into his saddle； fastened his eyes upon the
newcomers； then； white and trembling he turned toward Abdul Mourak。
〃It is Achmet Zek and his raiders；〃 he whispered。 〃They are come for
the gold。〃
It must have been at about the same instant that Achmet Zek
discovered the pile of yellow ingots and realized the actuality of what he
had already feared since first his eyes had alighted upon the party beside
the ruins of the Englishman's bungalow。 Someone had forestalled him
another had come for the treasure ahead of him。
The Arab was crazed by rage。 Recently everything had gone against
him。 He had lost the jewels； the Belgian； and for the second time he had
lost the Englishwoman。 Now some one had come to rob him of this
treasure which he had thought as safe from disturbance here as though it
never had been mined。
He cared not whom the thieves might be。 They would not give up the
gold without a battle； of that he was certain； and with a wild whoop and a
command to his followers； Achmet Zek put spurs to his horse and dashed
down upon the Abyssinians； and after him； waving their long guns above
their heads； yelling and cursing； came his motley horde of cut…throat
followers。
The men of Abdul Mourak met them with a volley which emptied a
few saddles； and then the raiders were among them； and sword； pistol and
musket； each was doing its most hideous and bloody work。
Achmet Zek； spying Werper at the first charge； bore down upon the
Belgian； and the latter； terrified by contemplation of the fate he deserved；
turned his horse's head and dashed madly away in an effort to escape。
Shouting to a lieutenant to take command； and urging him upon pain of
death to dispatch the Abyssinians and bring the gold back to his camp；
Achmet Zek set off across the plain in pursuit of the Belgian； his wicked
nature unable to forego the pleasures of revenge； even at the risk of
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sacrificing the treasure。
As the pursued and the pursuer raced madly toward the distant forest
the battle behind them raged with bloody savageness。 No quarter was
asked or given by either the ferocious Abyssinians or the murderous cut…
throats of Achmet Zek。
From the concealment of the shrubbery Tarzan watched the sanguinary
conflict which so effectually surrounded him that he found no loop…hole
through which he might escape to follow Werper and the Arab chief。
The Abyssinians were formed in a circle which included Tarzan's
position； and around and into them galloped the yelling raiders； now
darting away； now charging in to deliver thrusts and cuts with their curved
swords。
Numerically the men of Achmet Zek were superior； and slowly but
surely the soldiers of Menelek were being exterminated。 To Tarzan the
result was immaterial。 He watched with but a single purposeto escape the
ring of blood…mad fighters and be away after the Belgian and his pouch。
When he had first discovered Werper upon the trail where he had slain
Bara； he had thought that his eyes must be playing him false； so certain
had he been that the thief had been slain and devoured by Numa； but after
following the detachment for two days； with his keen eyes always upon
the Belgian； he no longer doubted the identity of the man； though he was
put to it to explain the identity of the mutilated corpse he had supposed
was the man he sought。
As he crouched in hiding among the unkempt shrubbery which so
short a while since had been the delight and pride of the wife he no longer
recalled； an Arab and an Abyssinian wheeled their mounts close to his
position as they slashed at each other with their swords。
Step by step the Arab beat back his adversary until the latter's horse all
but trod upon the ape…man； and then a vicious cut clove the black warrior's
skull； and the corpse toppled backward almost upon Tarzan。
As the Abyssinian tumbled from his saddle the possibility of escape
which was represented by the riderless horse electrified the ape…man to
instant action。 Before the frightened beast could gather himself for flight
a naked giant was astride his back。 A strong hand had grasped his bridle
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rein； and the surprised Arab discovered a new foe in the saddle of him；
whom he had slain。
But this enemy wielded no sword； and his spear and bow remained
upon his back。 The Arab； recovered from his first surprise； dashed in
with raised sword to annihilate this presumptuous stranger。 He aimed a
mighty blow at the ape…man's head； a blow which swung harmlessly
through thin air as Tarzan ducked from its path； and then the Arab felt the
other's horse brushing his leg； a great arm shot out and encircled his waist；
and before he could recover himself he was dragged from his saddle； and
forming a shield for his antagonist was borne at a mad run straight through
the encircling ranks of his fellows。
Just beyond them he was tossed aside upon the ground； and the last he
saw of his strange foeman the latter was galloping off across the plain in
the direction of the forest at its farther edge。
For another hour the battle raged nor did it cease until the last of the
Abyssinians lay dead upon the ground； or had galloped off toward the
north in flight。 But a handful of men escaped； among them Abdul Mourak。
The victorious raiders collected about the pile of golden ingots which
the Abyssinians had uncovered； and there awaited the return of their leader。
Their exultation was slightly tempered by the glimpse they had had of the
strange apparition of the naked white man galloping away upon the horse
of one of their foemen and carrying a companion who was now among
them expatiating upon the superhuman strength of the ape…man。 None of
them there but was familiar with the name and fame of Tarzan of the Apes；
and the fact that they had recognized the white giant as the ferocious
enemy of the wrongdoers of the jungle； added to their terror； for they had
been assured that Tarzan was dead。
Naturally superstitious； they fully believed that they had seen the
disembodied spirit of the dead man； and now they cast fearful glances
about them in expectation of the ghost's early return to the scene of the
ruin they had inflicted upon him during their recent raid upon his home；
and discussed in affrighted whispers the probable nature of the vengeance
which the spirit would inflict upon them should he return to find them in
possession of his gold。
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As they conversed their terror grew； while from the concealment of the
reeds along the river below them a small party of naked； black warriors
watched their every move。 From the heights beyond the river these black
men had heard the noise of the conflict； and creeping warily down to the
stream had forded it and advanced through the reeds until they were in a
position to watch every move of the combatants。
For a half hour the raiders awaited Achmet Zek's return； their fear of
the earlier return of the ghost of Tarzan constantly undermining their
loyalty to and fear of their chief。 Finally one among them voiced the
desires of all when he announced that he intended riding forth toward the
forest in search of Achmet Zek。 Instantly every man of them sprang to his
mount。
〃The gold will be safe here；〃 cried one。 〃We have killed the
Abyssinians and there are no others to carry it away。 Let us ride in
search of Achmet Zek！〃
And a moment later； amidst a cloud of dust； the raiders were galloping
madly across the plain； and out from the concealment of the reeds along
the river； crept a party of black warriors toward the spot where the golden
ingots of Opar lay piled on the ground。
Werper had still been in advance of Achmet Zek when he reached the
forest； but the latter； better mounted； was gaining upon him。 Riding with
the reckless courage of desperation the Belgian urged his mount to greater
speed even within the narrow confines of the winding； game trail that the
beast was following。
Behind him he could hear the voice of Achmet Zek crying to him to
halt； but Werper only dug the spurs deeper into the bleeding sides of his
panting mount。 Two hundred yards within the forest a broken branch lay
across the trail。 It was a small thing that a horse might ordinarily take in
his natural stride without noticing its presence； but Werper's horse was
jaded； his feet were heavy with weariness； and as the branch caught
between his front legs he stumbled； was unable to recover himself； and
went down； sprawling in the trail。
