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！
mumbled some ridiculous jargon in reply his curiosity broke bounds； and
he stepped forward； demanding to know what language it was that they
spoke。
Tarzan had gauged the measure of the man's culture from the nature
and quality of his conversation during the march； and he rested the success
of his reply upon the estimate he had made。
〃Greek；〃 he explained。
〃Oh； I thought it was Greek；〃 replied the officer； 〃but it has been so
many years since I studied it that I was not sure。 In future； however； I
will thank you to speak in a language which I am more familiar with。〃
Werper turned his head to hide a grin； whispering to Tarzan： 〃It was
Greek to him all rightand to me； too。〃
But one of the black soldiers mumbled in a low voice to a companion：
〃I have heard those sounds beforeonce at night when I was lost in the
jungle； I heard the hairy men of the trees talking among themselves； and
their words were like the words of this white man。 I wish that we had not
found him。 He is not a man at allhe is a bad spirit； and we shall have
bad luck if we do not let him go；〃 and the fellow rolled his eyes fearfully
toward the jungle。
His companion laughed nervously； and moved away； to repeat the
conversation； with variations and exaggerations； to others of the black
soldiery； so that it was not long before a frightful tale of black magic and
sudden death was woven about the giant prisoner； and had gone the rounds
of the camp。
And deep in the gloomy jungle amidst the darkening shadows of the
falling night a hairy； manlike creature swung swiftly southward upon some
168
… Page 169…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
secret mission of his own。
169
… Page 170…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
23
A Night of Terror
To Jane Clayton； waiting in the tree where Werper had placed her； it
seemed that the long night would never end； yet end it did at last； and
within an hour of the coming of dawn her spirits leaped with renewed
hope at sight of a solitary horseman approaching along the trail。
The flowing burnoose； with its loose hood； hid both the face and the
figure of the rider； but that it was M。 Frecoult the girl well knew； since he
had been garbed as an Arab； and he alone might be expected to seek her
hiding place。
That which she saw relieved the strain of the long night vigil； but there
was much that she did not see。 She did not see the black face beneath the
white hood； nor the file of ebon horsemen beyond the trail's bend riding
slowly in the wake of their leader。 These things she did not see at first；
and so she leaned downward toward the approaching rider； a cry of
welcome forming in her throat。
At the first word the man looked up； reining in in surprise； and as she
saw the black face of Abdul Mourak； the Abyssinian； she shrank back in
terror among the branches； but it was too late。 The man had seen her；
and now he called to her to descend。 At first she refused； but when a
dozen black cavalrymen drew up behind their leader； and at Abdul
Mourak's command one of them started to climb the tree after her she
realized that resistance was futile； and came slowly down to stand upon
the ground before this new captor and plead her cause in the name of
justice and humanity。
Angered by recent defeat； and by the loss of the gold； the jewels； and
his prisoners； Abdul Mourak was in no mood to be influenced by any
appeal to those softer sentiments to which； as a matter of fact； he was
almost a stranger even under the most favourable conditions。
He looked for degradation and possible death in punishment for his
failures and his misfortunes when he should have returned to his native
land and made his report to Menelek； but an acceptable gift might temper
the wrath of the emperor； and surely this fair flower of another race should
170
… Page 171…
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
be gratefully received by the black ruler！
When Jane Clayton had concluded her appeal； Abdul Mourak replied
briefly that he would promise her protection； but that he must take her to
his emperor。 The girl did not need ask him why； and once again hope died
within her breast。 Resignedly she permitted herself to be lifted to a seat
behind one of the troopers； and again； under new masters； her journey was
resumed toward what she now began to believe was her inevitable fate。
Abdul Mourak； bereft of his guides by the battle he had waged against
the raiders； and himself unfamiliar with the country； had wandered far
from the trail he should have followed； and as a result had made but little
progress toward the north since the beginning of his flight。 Today he was
beating toward the west in the hope of coming upon a village where he
might obtain guides； but night found him still as far from a realization of
his hopes as had the rising sun。
It was a dispirited company which went into camp； waterless and
hungry； in the dense jungle。 Attracted by the horses； lions roared about
the boma； and to their hideous din was added the shrill neighs of the
terror…stricken beasts they hunted。 There was little sleep for man or beast；
and the sentries were doubled that there might be enough on duty both to
guard against the sudden charge of an overbold； or overhungry lion； and to
keep the fire blazing which was an even more effectual barrier against
them than the thorny boma。
It was well past midnight； and as yet Jane Clayton； notwithstanding
that she had passed a sleepless night the night before； had scarcely more
than dozed。 A sense of impending danger seemed to hang like a black
pall over the camp。 The veteran troopers of the black emperor were
nervous and ill at ease。 Abdul Mourak left his blankets a dozen times to
pace restlessly back and forth between the tethered horses and the
crackling fire。 The girl could see his great fra