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！
were left there； and of obtaining； through some ruse； an escort toward the
north。
〃I think that the thing can be accomplished； for I was a guest of the
raider's before I knew the nature of the man； and those at the camp are not
aware that I turned against him when I discovered his villainy。
〃Come！ We will make all possible haste to reach the camp before
those who accompanied Achmet Zek upon his last raid have found his
body and carried the news of his death to the cut…throats who remained
behind。 It is our only hope； Lady Greystoke； and you must place your
entire faith in me if I am to succeed。 Wait for me here a moment while I
take from the Arab's body the wallet that he stole from me；〃 and Werper
stepped quickly to the dead man's side； and； kneeling； sought with quick
141
… Page 142…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
fingers the pouch of jewels。 To his consternation； there was no sign of
them in the garments of Achmet Zek。 Rising； he walked back along the
trail； searching for some trace of the missing pouch or its contents； but he
found nothing； even though he searched carefully the vicinity of his dead
horse； and for a few paces into the jungle on either side。 Puzzled；
disappointed and angry； he at last returned to the girl。 〃The wallet is
gone；〃 he explained； crisply； 〃and I dare not delay longer in search of it。
We must reach the camp before the returning raiders。〃
Unsuspicious of the man's true character； Jane Clayton saw nothing
peculiar in his plans； or in his specious explanation of his former
friendship for the raider； and so she grasped with alacrity the seeming
hope for safety which he proffered her； and turning about she set out with
Albert Werper toward the hostile camp in which she so lately had been a
prisoner。
It was late in the afternoon of the second day before they reached their
destination； and as they paused upon the edge of the clearing before the
gates of the walled village； Werper cautioned the girl to accede to
whatever he might suggest by his conversation with the raiders。
〃I shall tell them；〃 he said； 〃that I apprehended you after you escaped
from the camp； that I took you to Achmet Zek； and that as he was engaged
in a stubborn battle with the Waziri； he directed me to return to camp with
you； to obtain here a sufficient guard； and to ride north with you as rapidly
as possible and dispose of you at the most advantageous terms to a certain
slave broker whose name he gave me。〃
Again the girl was deceived by the apparent frankness of the Belgian。
She realized that desperate situations required desperate handling； and
though she trembled inwardly at the thought of again entering the vile and
hideous village of the raiders she saw no better course than that which her
companion had suggested。
Calling aloud to those who tended the gates； Werper； grasping Jane
Clayton by the arm； walked boldly across the clearing。 Those who
opened the gates to him permitted their surprise to show clearly in their
expressions。 That the discredited and hunted lieutenant should be thus
returning fearlessly of his own volition； seemed to disarm them quite as
142
… Page 143…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
effectually as his manner toward Lady Greystoke had deceived her。
The sentries at the gate returned Werper's salutations； and viewed with
astonishment the prisoner whom he brought into the village with him。
Immediately the Belgian sought the Arab who had been left in charge
of the camp during Achmet Zek's absence； and again his boldness
disarmed suspicion and won the acceptance of his false explanation of his
return。 The fact that he had brought back with him the woman prisoner
who had escaped； added strength to his claims； and Mohammed Beyd
soon found himself fraternizing good…naturedly with the very man whom
he would have slain without compunction had he discovered him alone in
the jungle a half hour before。
Jane Clayton was again confined to the prison hut she had formerly
occupied； but as she realized that this was but a part of the deception
which she and Frecoult were playing upon the credulous raiders； it was
with quite a different sensation that she again entered the vile and filthy
interior； from that which she had previously experienced； when hope was
so far away。
Once more she was bound and sentries placed before the door of her
prison； but before Werper left her he whispered words of cheer into her ear。
Then he left； and made his way back to the tent of Mohammed Beyd。 He
had been wondering how long it would be before the raiders who had
ridden out with Achmet Zek would return with the murdered body of their
chief； and the more he thought upon the matter the greater his fears
became； that without accomplices his plan would fail。
What； even； if he got away from the camp in safety before any
returned with the true story of his guilt of what value would this
advantage be other than to protract for a few days his mental torture and
his life？ These hard riders； familiar with every trail and bypath； would
get him long before he could hope to reach the coast。
As these thoughts passed through his mind he entered the tent where
Mohammed Beyd sat cross…legged upon a rug； smoking。 The Arab
looked up as the European came into his presence。
〃Greetings； O Brother！〃 he said。
〃Greetings！〃 replied Werper。
143
… Page 144…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
For a while neither spoke further。 The Arab was the first to break the
silence。
〃And my master； Achmet Zek； was well when last you saw him？〃 he
asked。
〃Never was he safer from the sins and dangers of mortality；〃 replied
the Belgian。
〃It is well；〃 said Mohammed Beyd； blowing a little puff of blue smoke
straight out before him。
Again there was silence for several minutes。
〃And if he were dead？〃 asked the Belgian； determined to lead up to the
truth； and attempt to bribe Mohammed Beyd into his service。
The Arab's eye