tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第8章
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〃Why； Mugambi！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What has happened？ Why are
you lowering the shutters？〃
Mugambi pointed out across the plain to where a white…robed force of
mounted men was now distinctly visible。
〃Arabs；〃 he explained。 〃They come for no good purpose in the
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absence of the Great Bwana。〃
Beyond the neat lawn and the flowering shrubs； Jane Clayton saw the
glistening bodies of her Waziri。 The sun glanced from the tips of their
metal…shod spears； picked out the gorgeous colors in the feathers of their
war bonnets； and reflected the high…lights from the glossy skins of their
broad shoulders and high cheek bones。
Jane Clayton surveyed them with unmixed feelings of pride and
affection。 What harm could befall her with such as these to protect her？
The raiders had halted now； a hundred yards out upon the plain。
Mugambi had hastened down to join his warriors。 He advanced a few
yards before them and raising his voice hailed the strangers。 Achmet Zek
sat straight in his saddle before his henchmen。
〃Arab！〃 cried Mugambi。 〃What do you here？〃
〃We come in peace；〃 Achmet Zek called back。
〃Then turn and go in peace；〃 replied Mugambi。 〃We do not want you
here。 There can be no peace between Arab and Waziri。〃
Mugambi； although not born in Waziri； had been adopted into the tribe；
which now contained no member more jealous of its traditions and its
prowess than he。
Achmet Zek drew to one side of his horde； speaking to his men in a
low voice。 A moment later； without warning； a ragged volley was poured
into the ranks of the Waziri。 A couple of warriors fell； the others were for
charging the attackers； but Mugambi was a cautious as well as a brave
leader。 He knew the futility of charging mounted men armed with
muskets。 He withdrew his force behind the shrubbery of the garden。
Some he dispatched to various other parts of the grounds surrounding the
bungalow。 Half a dozen he sent to the bungalow itself with instructions
to keep their mistress within doors； and to protect her with their lives。
Adopting the tactics of the desert fighters from which he had sprung；
Achmet Zek led his followers at a gallop in a long； thin line； describing a
great circle which drew closer and closer in toward the defenders。
At that part of the circle closest to the Waziri； a constant fusillade of
shots was poured into the bushes behind which the black warriors had
concealed themselves。 The latter； on their part； loosed their slim shafts at
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the nearest of the enemy。
The Waziri； justly famed for their archery； found no cause to blush for
their performance that day。 Time and again some swarthy horseman threw
hands above his head and toppled from his saddle； pierced by a deadly
arrow； but the contest was uneven。 The Arabs outnumbered the Waziri；
their bullets penetrated the shrubbery and found marks that the Arab
riflemen had not even seen； and then Achmet Zek circled inward a half
mile above the bungalow； tore down a section of the fence； and led his
marauders within the grounds。
Across the fields they charged at a mad run。 Not again did they
pause to lower fences； instead； they drove their wild mounts straight for
them； clearing the obstacles as lightly as winged gulls。
Mugambi saw them coming； and； calling those of his warriors who
remained； ran for the bungalow and the last stand。 Upon the veranda
Lady Greystoke stood； rifle in hand。 More than a single raider had
accounted to her steady nerves and cool aim for his outlawry； more than a
single pony raced； riderless； in the wake of the charging horde。
Mugambi pushed his mistress back into the greater security of the
interior； and with his depleted force prepared to make a last stand against
the foe。
On came the Arabs； shouting and waving their long guns above their
heads。 Past the veranda they raced； pouring a deadly fire into the
kneeling Waziri who discharged their volley of arrows from behind their
long； oval shieldsshields well adapted； perhaps； to stop a hostile arrow；
or deflect a spear； but futile； quite； before the leaden missiles of the
riflemen。
From beneath the half…raised shutters of the bungalow other bowmen
did effective service in greater security； and after the first assault；
Mugambi withdrew his entire force within the building。
Again and again the Arabs charged； at last forming a stationary circle
about the little fortress； and outside the effective range of the defenders'
arrows。 From their new position they fired at will at the windows。 One
by one the Waziri fell。 Fewer and fewer were the arrows that replied to
the guns of the raiders； and at last Achmet Zek felt safe in ordering an
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assault。
Firing as they ran； the bloodthirsty horde raced for the veranda。 A
dozen of them fell to the arrows of the defenders； but the majority reached
the door。 Heavy gun butts fell upon it。 The crash of splintered wood
mingled with the report of a rifle as Jane Clayton fired through the panels
upon the relentless foe。
Upon both sides of the door men fell； but at last the frail barrier gave
to the vicious assaults of the maddened attackers； it crumpled inward and a
dozen swarthy murderers leaped into the living…room。 At the far end stood
Jane Clayton surrounded by the remnant of her devoted guardians。 The
floor was covered by the bodies of those who already had given up their
lives in her defense。 In the forefront of her protectors stood the giant
Mugambi。 The Arabs raised their rifles to pour in the last volley that
would effectually end all resistance； but Achmet Zek roared out a warning
order that stayed their trigger fingers。
〃Fire not upon the woman！〃 he cried。 〃Who harms her； dies。 Take
the woman alive！〃
The Arabs rushed across the room； the Waziri met them with their
heavy spears。 Swords flashed； long…barreled pistols roared out their
sullen death dooms。 Mugambi launched his spear at the nearest of the
enemy with a force that drove the heavy shaft completely through the
Arab's body； then he seized a pistol from another； and grasping it by the
barrel brained all who forced their way too near his mistress。
Emulating his example the few warriors who remained to him fought
like demons； but one by one they fell； until only Mugambi remained to
defend the life and honor of the ape…man's mate。
From across the room Achmet Zek watched the unequal struggle and
urged on his minions。 In his hands was a jeweled musket。 Slowly he
raised it to his shoulder； waiting until another move should place
Mugambi at his mercy without endangering the lives of the woman or any
of his own followers。
At last the moment came； and Achmet Zek pulled the trigger。
Without a sound the brave Mugambi sank to the floor at the feet of Jane
Clayton。
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An instant later she was surrounded and disarmed。 Without a word
they dragged her from the bungalow。 A giant Negro lifted her to the
pommel of his saddle； and while the raiders searched the bungalow and
outhouses for plunder he rode with her beyond the gates and waited the
coming of his master。
Jane Clayton saw the raiders lead the horses from the corral； and drive
the herds in from the fields。 She saw her home plundered of all that
represented intrinsic worth in the eyes of the Arabs； and then she saw the
torch applied； and the flames lick up what remained。
And at last； when the raiders assembled after glutting their fury and
their avarice； and rode away with her toward the north； she saw the smoke
and the flames rising far into the heavens until the winding of the trail into
the thick forests hid the sad view from her eyes。
As the flames ate their way into the living…room； reaching out forked
tongues to lick up the bodies of the dead； one of that gruesome company
whose bloody welterings had long since been stilled； moved again。 It was
a huge black who rolled over upon his side and opened blood…shot；
suffering eyes。 Mugambi； whom the Arabs had left for dead； still lived。
The hot flames were almost upon him as he raised himself painfully upon
his hands and knees and crawled slowly toward the doorway。
Again and again he sank weakly to the floor； but each time he rose
again and continued his pitiful way toward safety。 After what seemed to
him an interminable time； during which the flames had become a veritable
fiery furnace at the far side of the room； the great black managed to reach
the veranda； roll down the steps； and crawl off into the cool safety of some
nearby shrubbery。
All night he lay there； alternately unconscious and painfully sentient；
and in the latter state watching with savage hatred the lurid flames which
still rose from burning crib and hay cock。 A prowling lion roared close at
hand； but the giant black was unafraid。 There was place for but a single
thought in his savage mind revenge！ revenge！ revenge！
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