tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第7章
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it scorched his fingers。 With an oath he dropped it to the floor； where it
sputtered for a moment and went out。
Now he was in total darkness； and again terror rode heavily astride his
neck。 What further pitfalls and dangers lay ahead he could not guess； but
that he was as far as ever from liberty he was quite willing to believe； so
depressing is utter absence of light to one in unfamiliar surroundings。
Slowly he groped his way along； feeling with his hands upon the
tunnel's walls； and cautiously with his feet ahead of him upon the floor
before he could take a single forward step。 How long he crept on thus he
could not guess； but at last； feeling that the tunnel's length was
interminable； and exhausted by his efforts； by terror； and loss of sleep； he
determined to lie down and rest before proceeding farther。
When he awoke there was no change in the surrounding blackness。
He might have slept a second or a dayhe could not know； but that he had
slept for some time was attested by the fact that he felt refreshed and
hungry。
Again he commenced his groping advance； but this time he had gone
but a short distance when he emerged into a room； which was lighted
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through an opening in the ceiling； from which a flight of concrete steps led
downward to the floor of the chamber。
Above him； through the aperture； Werper could see sunlight glancing
from massive columns； which were twined about by clinging vines。 He
listened； but he heard no sound other than the soughing of the wind
through leafy branches； the hoarse cries of birds； and the chattering of
monkeys。
Boldly he ascended the stairway； to find himself in a circular court。
Just before him stood a stone altar； stained with rusty…brown discolorations。
At the time Werper gave no thought to an explanation of these stainslater
their origin became all too hideously apparent to him。
Beside the opening in the floor； just behind the altar； through which he
had entered the court from the subterranean chamber below； the Belgian
discovered several doors leading from the enclosure upon the level of the
floor。 Above； and circling the courtyard； was a series of open balconies。
Monkeys scampered about the deserted ruins； and gaily plumaged birds
flitted in and out among the columns and the galleries far above； but no
sign of human presence was discernible。 Werper felt relieved。 He
sighed； as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders。 He
took a step toward one of the exits； and then he halted； wide…eyed in
astonishment and terror； for almost at the same instant a dozen doors
opened in the courtyard wall and a horde of frightful men rushed in upon
him。
They were the priests of the Flaming God of Oparthe same； shaggy；
knotted； hideous little men who had dragged Jane Clayton to the sacrificial
altar at this very spot years before。 Their long arms； their short and
crooked legs； their close…set； evil eyes； and their low； receding foreheads
gave them a bestial appearance that sent a qualm of paralyzing fright
through the shaken nerves of the Belgian。
With a scream he turned to flee back into the lesser terrors of the
gloomy corridors and apartments from which he had just emerged； but the
frightful men anticipated his intentions。 They blocked the way； they
seized him； and though he fell； groveling upon his knees before them；
begging for his life； they bound him and hurled him to the floor of the
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inner temple。
The rest was but a repetition of what Tarzan and Jane Clayton had
passed through。 The priestesses came； and with them La； the High
Priestess。 Werper was raised and laid across the altar。 Cold sweat
exuded from his every pore as La raised the cruel； sacrificial knife above
him。 The death chant fell upon his tortured ears。 His staring eyes
wandered to the golden goblets from which the hideous votaries would
soon quench their inhuman thirst in his own； warm life…blood。
He wished that he might be granted the brief respite of
unconsciousness before the final plunge of the keen bladeand then there
was a frightful roar that sounded almost in his ears。 The High Priestess
lowered her dagger。 Her eyes went wide in horror。 The priestesses； her
votaresses； screamed and fled madly toward the exits。 The priests roared
out their rage and terror according to the temper of their courage。 Werper
strained his neck about to catch a sight of the cause of their panic； and
when； at last he saw it； he too went cold in dread； for what his eyes beheld
was the figure of a huge lion standing in the center of the temple； and
already a single victim lay mangled beneath his cruel paws。
Again the lord of the wilderness roared； turning his baleful gaze upon
the altar。 La staggered forward； reeled； and fell across Werper in a
swoon。
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6
The Arab Raid
After their first terror had subsided subsequent to the shock of the
earthquake； Basuli and his warriors hastened back into the passageway in
search of Tarzan and two of their own number who were also missing。
They found the way blocked by jammed and distorted rock。 For two
days they labored to tear a way through to their imprisoned friends； but
when； after Herculean efforts； they had unearthed but a few yards of the
choked passage； and discovered the mangled remains of one of their
fellows they were forced to the conclusion that Tarzan and the second
Waziri also lay dead beneath the rock mass farther in； beyond human aid；
and no longer susceptible of it。
Again and again as they labored they called aloud the names of their
master and their comrade； but no answering call rewarded their listening
ears。 At last they gave up the search。 Tearfully they cast a last look at
the shattered tomb of their master； shouldered the heavy burden of gold
that would at least furnish comfort； if not happiness； to their bereaved and
beloved mistress； and made their mournful way back across the desolate
valley of Opar； and downward through the forests beyond toward the
distant bungalow。
And as they marched what sorry fate was already drawing down upon
that peaceful； happy home！
From the north came Achmet Zek； riding to the summons of his
lieutenant's letter。 With him came his horde of renegade Arabs； outlawed
marauders； these； and equally degraded blacks； garnered from the more
debased and ignorant tribes of savage cannibals through whose countries
the raider passed to and fro with perfect impunity。
Mugambi； the ebon Hercules； who had shared the dangers and
vicissitudes of his beloved Bwana； from Jungle Island； almost to the
headwaters of the Ugambi； was the first to note the bold approach of the
sinister caravan。
He it was whom Tarzan had left in charge of the warriors who
remained to guard Lady Greystoke； nor could a braver or more loyal
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guardian have been found in any clime or upon any soil。 A giant in
stature； a savage； fearless warrior； the huge black possessed also soul and
judgment in proportion to his bulk and his ferocity。
Not once since his master had departed had he been beyond sight or
sound of the bungalow； except when Lady Greystoke chose to canter
across the broad plain； or relieve the monotony of her loneliness by a brief
hunting excursion。 On such occasions Mugambi； mounted upon a wiry
Arab； had ridden close at her horse's heels。
The raiders were still a long way off when the warrior's keen eyes
discovered them。 For a time he stood scrutinizing the advancing party in
silence； then he turned and ran rapidly in the direction of the native huts
which lay a few hundred yards below the bungalow。
Here he called out to the lolling warriors。 He issued orders rapidly。
In compliance with them the men seized upon their weapons and their
shields。 Some ran to call in the workers from the fields and to warn the
tenders of the flocks and herds。 The majority followed Mugambi back
toward the bungalow。
The dust of the raiders was still a long distance away。 Mugambi could
not know positively that it hid an enemy； but he had spent a lifetime of
savage life in savage Africa； and he had seen parties before come thus
unheralded。 Sometimes they had come in peace and sometimes they had
come in warone could never tell。 It was well to be prepared。 Mugambi
did not like the haste with which the strangers advanced。
The Greystoke bungalow was not well adapted for defense。 No
palisade surrounded it； for； situated as it was； in the heart of loyal Waziri；
its master had anticipated no possibility of an attack in force by any enemy。
Heavy； wooden shutters there were to close the window apertures against
hostile arrows； and these Mugambi was engaged in lowering when Lady
Greystoke appeared upon the veranda。
〃Why； Mugambi！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What has happened？ Why are
you lowering the s
