按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
cunning of Tarzan。 Taglat might travel far； but Tarzan would find him in
the end； though he had to search every tree in the mighty forest。
Soliloquizing thus； the ape…man followed the spoor of Bara； the deer；
the unfortunate upon which he had decided to satisfy his hunger。 For half
an hour the trail led the ape…man toward the east along a well…marked
game path； when suddenly； to the stalker's astonishment； the quarry broke
into sight； racing madly back along the narrow way straight toward the
hunter。
Tarzan； who had been following along the trail； leaped so quickly to
the concealing verdure at the side that the deer was still unaware of the
presence of an enemy in this direction； and while the animal was still some
distance away； the ape…man swung into the lower branches of the tree
which overhung the trail。 There he crouched； a savage beast of prey；
awaiting the coming of its victim。
What had frightened the deer into so frantic a retreat； Tarzan did not
knowNuma； the lion； perhaps； or Sheeta； the panther； but whatsoever it
was mattered little to Tarzan of the Apeshe was ready and willing to
defend his kill against any other denizen of the jungle。 If he were unable
to do it by means of physical prowess； he had at his command another and
a greater powerhis shrewd intelligence。
And so； on came the running deer； straight into the jaws of death。
The ape…man turned so that his back was toward the approaching animal。
He poised with bent knees upon the gently swaying limb above the trail；
timing with keen ears the nearing hoof beats of frightened Bara。
In a moment the victim flashed beneath the limb and at the same
instant the ape…man above sprang out and down upon its back。 The
weight of the man's body carried the deer to the ground。 It stumbled
120
… Page 121…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
forward once in a futile effort to rise； and then mighty muscles dragged its
head far back； gave the neck a vicious wrench； and Bara was dead。
Quick had been the killing； and equally quick were the ape…man's
subsequent actions； for who might know what manner of killer pursued
Bara； or how close at hand he might be？ Scarce had the neck of the
victim snapped than the carcass was hanging over one of Tarzan's broad
shoulders； and an instant later the ape…man was perched once more among
the lower branches of a tree above the trail； his keen； gray eyes scanning
the pathway down which the deer had fled。
Nor was it long before the cause of Bara's fright became evident to
Tarzan； for presently came the unmistakable sounds of approaching
horsemen。 Dragging his kill after him the ape…man ascended to the
middle terrace； and settling himself comfortably in the crotch of a tree
where he could still view the trail beneath； cut a juicy steak from the deer's
loin； and burying his strong； white teeth in the hot flesh proceeded to
enjoy the fruits of his prowess and his cunning。
Nor did he neglect the trail beneath while he satisfied his hunger。 His
sharp eyes saw the muzzle of the leading horse as it came into view
around a bend in the tortuous trail； and one by one they scrutinized the
riders as they passed beneath him in single file。
Among them came one whom Tarzan recognized； but so schooled was
the ape…man in the control of his emotions that no slightest change of
expression； much less any hysterical demonstration that might have
revealed his presence； betrayed the fact of his inward excitement。
Beneath him； as unconscious of his presence as were the Abyssinians
before and behind him； rode Albert Werper； while the ape…man scrutinized
the Belgian for some sign of the pouch which he had stolen。
As the Abyssinians rode toward the south； a giant figure hovered ever
upon their traila huge； almost naked white man； who carried the bloody
carcass of a deer upon his shoulders； for Tarzan knew that he might not
have another opportunity to hunt for some time if he were to follow the
Belgian。
To endeavor to snatch him from the midst of the armed horsemen； not
even Tarzan would attempt other than in the last extremity； for the way of
121
… Page 122…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
the wild is the way of caution and cunning； unless they be aroused to
rashness by pain or anger。
So the Abyssinians and the Belgian marched southward and Tarzan of
the Apes swung silently after them through the swaying branches of the
middle terrace。
A two days' march brought them to a level plain beyond which lay
mountainsa plain which Tarzan remembered and which aroused within
him vague half memories and strange longings。 Out upon the plain the
horsemen rode； and at a safe distance behind them crept the ape…man；
taking advantage of such cover as the ground afforded。
Beside a charred pile of timbers the Abyssinians halted； and Tarzan；
sneaking close and concealing himself in nearby shrubbery； watched them
in wonderment。 He saw them digging up the earth； and he wondered if
they had hidden meat there in the past and now had come for it。 Then he
recalled how he had buried his pretty pebbles； and the suggestion that had
caused him to do it。 They were digging for the things the blacks had
buried here！
Presently he saw them uncover a dirty； yellow object； and he witnessed
the joy of Werper and of Abdul Mourak as the grimy object was exposed
to view。 One by one they unearthed many similar pieces； all of the same
uniform； dirty yellow； until a pile of them lay upon the ground； a pile
which Abdul Mourak fondled and petted in an ecstasy of greed。
Something stirred in the ape…man's mind as he looked long upon the
golden ingots。 Where had he seen such before？ What were they？
Why did these Tarmangani covet them so greatly？ To whom did they
belong？
He recalled the black men who had buried them。 The things must be
theirs。 Werper was stealing them as he had