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of strange black men about him； and just outside the tent the figure of an
Arab。 Nowhere was the uniform of his soldiers to be seen。
The Arab turned and seeing the open eyes of the prisoner upon him；
entered the tent。
〃I am Achmet Zek；〃 he announced。 〃Who are you； and what were
you doing in my country？ Where are your soldiers？〃
Achmet Zek！ Werper's eyes went wide； and his heart sank。 He was
in the clutches of the most notorious of cut…throatsa hater of all
Europeans； especially those who wore the uniform of Belgium。 For
years the military forces of Belgian Congo had waged a fruitless war upon
this man and his followersa war in which quarter had never been asked
nor expected by either side。
But presently in the very hatred of the man for Belgians； Werper saw a
faint ray of hope for himself。 He； too； was an outcast and an outlaw。 So
far； at least； they possessed a common interest； and Werper decided to play
upon it for all that it might yield。
〃I have heard of you；〃 he replied； 〃and was searching for you。 My
people have turned against me。 I hate them。 Even now their soldiers
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are searching for me； to kill me。 I knew that you would protect me from
them； for you； too； hate them。 In return I will take service with you。 I
am a trained soldier。 I can fight； and your enemies are my enemies。〃
Achmet Zek eyed the European in silence。 In his mind he revolved
many thoughts； chief among which was that the unbeliever lied。 Of
course there was the chance that he did not lie； and if he told the truth then
his proposition was one well worthy of consideration； since fighting men
were never over plentifulespecially white men with the training and
knowledge of military matters that a European officer must possess。
Achmet Zek scowled and Werper's heart sank； but Werper did not
know Achmet Zek； who was quite apt to scowl where another would smile；
and smile where another would scowl。
〃And if you have lied to me；〃 said Achmet Zek； 〃I will kill you at any
time。 What return； other than your life； do you expect for your services？〃
〃My keep only； at first；〃 replied Werper。 〃Later； if I am worth more；
we can easily reach an understanding。〃 Werper's only desire at the moment
was to preserve his life。 And so the agreement was reached and
Lieutenant Albert Werper became a member of the ivory and slave raiding
band of the notorious Achmet Zek。
For months the renegade Belgian rode with the savage raider。 He
fought with a savage abandon； and a vicious cruelty fully equal to that of
his fellow desperadoes。 Achmet Zek watched his recruit with eagle eye；
and with a growing satisfaction which finally found expression in a greater
confidence in the man； and resulted in an increased independence of action
for Werper。
Achmet Zek took the Belgian into his confidence to a great extent； and
at last unfolded to him a pet scheme which the Arab had long fostered； but
which he never had found an opportunity to effect。 With the aid of a
European； however； the thing might be easily accomplished。 He sounded
Werper。
〃You have heard of the man men call Tarzan？〃 he asked。
Werper nodded。 〃I have heard of him； but I do not know him。〃
〃But for him we might carry on our 'trading' in safety and with great
profit；〃 continued the Arab。 〃For years he has fought us； driving us from
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the richest part of the country； harassing us； and arming the natives that
they may repel us when we come to 'trade。' He is very rich。 If we could
find some way to make him pay us many pieces of gold we should not
only be avenged upon him； but repaid for much that he has prevented us
from winning from the natives under his protection。〃
Werper withdrew a cigaret from a jeweled case and lighted it。
〃And you have a plan to make him pay？〃 he asked。
〃He has a wife；〃 replied Achmet Zek； 〃whom men say is very beautiful。
She would bring a great price farther north； if we found it too difficult to
collect ransom money from this Tarzan。〃
Werper bent his head in thought。 Achmet Zek stood awaiting his
reply。 What good remained in Albert Werper revolted at the thought of
selling a white woman into the slavery and degradation of a Moslem
harem。 He looked up at Achmet Zek。 He saw the Arab's eyes narrow； and
he guessed that the other had sensed his antagonism to the plan。 What
would it mean to Werper to refuse？ His life lay in the hands of this semi…
barbarian； who esteemed the life of an unbeliever less highly than that of
a dog。 Werper loved life。 What was this woman to him； anyway？ She
was a European； doubtless； a member of organized society。 He was an
outcast。 The hand of every white man was against him。 She was his
natural enemy； and if he refused to lend himself to her undoing； Achmet
Zek would have him killed。
〃You hesitate；〃 murmured the Arab。
〃I was but weighing the chances of success；〃 lied Werper； 〃and my
reward。 As a European I can gain admittance to their home and table。
You have no other with you who could do so much。 The risk will be
great。 I should be well paid； Achmet Zek。〃
A smile of relief passed over the raider's face。
〃Well said； Werper；〃 and Achmet Zek slapped his lieutenant upon the
shoulder。 〃You should be well paid and you shall。 Now let us sit
together and plan how best the thing may be done；〃 and the two men
squatted upon a soft rug beneath the faded silks of Achmet's once
gorgeous tent； and talked together in low voices well into the night。 Both
were tall and bearded； and the exposure to sun and wind had given an
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almost Arab hue to the European's complexion。 In ev