nimbly¡¡over¡¡the¡¡palisade£»¡¡tearing¡¡his¡¡burnoose¡¡in¡¡the
effort£»¡¡and¡¡fled¡¡into¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡jungle£»
grumbling¡¡and¡¡scolding¡¡as¡¡he¡¡went¡£
Tarzan£»¡¡roaming¡¡the¡¡jungle¡¡in¡¡search¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trail¡¡of
Taglat¡¡and¡¡the¡¡she£»¡¡traveled¡¡swiftly¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡little
moonlit¡¡glade¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡him¡¡the¡¡great¡¡ape¡¡was¡¡bending
over¡¡the¡¡prostrate¡¡form¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡Tarzan¡¡sought¡£
The¡¡beast¡¡was¡¡tearing¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bonds¡¡that¡¡confined¡¡her
ankles¡¡and¡¡wrists£»¡¡pulling¡¡and¡¡gnawing¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡cords¡£
The¡¡course¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡was¡¡taking¡¡would¡¡carry¡¡him¡¡but¡¡a
short¡¡distance¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡he
could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡them¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡was¡¡bearing¡¡down¡¡from¡¡them
to¡¡him£»¡¡carrying¡¡their¡¡scent¡¡spoor¡¡strongly¡¡toward¡¡him¡£
A¡¡moment¡¡more¡¡and¡¡Jane¡¡Clayton's¡¡safety¡¡might¡¡have¡¡been
assured£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡Numa£»¡¡the¡¡lion£»¡¡was¡¡already
gathering¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡preparation¡¡for¡¡a¡¡charge£»¡¡but
Fate£»¡¡already¡¡all¡¡too¡¡cruel£»¡¡now¡¡outdid¡¡herselfthe
wind¡¡veered¡¡suddenly¡¡for¡¡a¡¡few¡¡moments£»¡¡the¡¡scent¡¡spoor
that¡¡would¡¡have¡¡led¡¡the¡¡ape¡man¡¡to¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡side¡¡was
wafted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡direction£»¡¡Tarzan¡¡passed¡¡within
fifty¡¡yards¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tragedy¡¡that¡¡was¡¡being¡¡enacted¡¡in
the¡¡glade£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡beyond¡¡recall¡£
18
The¡¡Fight¡¡For¡¡the¡¡Treasure
It¡¡was¡¡morning¡¡before¡¡Tarzan¡¡could¡¡bring¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡a
realization¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡failure¡¡of¡¡his¡¡quest£»
and¡¡even¡¡then¡¡he¡¡would¡¡only¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡success¡¡was¡¡but
delayed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡eat¡¡and¡¡sleep£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡set¡¡forth
again¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡jungle¡¡was¡¡wide£»¡¡but¡¡wide¡¡too¡¡were¡¡the
experience¡¡and¡¡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
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he¡¡crouched£»¡¡a¡¡savage¡¡beast¡¡of¡¡prey£»¡¡awaiting¡¡the
coming¡¡of¡¡its¡¡victim¡£
What¡¡had¡¡frightened¡¡the¡¡deer¡¡into¡¡so¡¡frantic¡¡a¡¡retreat£»
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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¡¡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¡¡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
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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£¡
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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¡¡stolen¡¡Tarzan's¡¡pouch¡¡of¡¡pebbles¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡ape¡man's
eyes¡¡blazed¡¡in¡¡anger¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡like¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡black
men¡¡and¡¡lead¡¡them¡¡against¡¡these¡¡thieves¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡wondered
where¡¡their¡¡village¡¡might¡¡be¡£
As¡¡all¡¡these¡¡things¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡the¡¡active¡¡mind£»¡¡a
party¡¡of¡¡men¡¡moved¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the
plain¡¡and¡¡advanced¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡ruins¡¡of¡¡the¡¡burned¡¡bungalow¡£
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them£»¡¡but¡¡already¡¡they¡¡were¡¡halfway¡¡across¡¡the¡¡open¡£
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readiness£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡Africa¡¡who¡¡may¡¡know
whether¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡host¡¡be¡¡friend¡¡or¡¡foe£¿
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upon¡¡the¡¡newcomers£»¡¡then£»¡¡white¡¡and¡¡trembling¡¡he¡¡turned
toward¡¡Abdul¡¡Mourak¡£
¡¨It¡¡is¡¡Achmet¡¡Zek¡¡and¡¡his¡¡raiders£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡whispered¡£
¡¨They¡¡are¡¡come¡¡for¡¡the¡¡gold¡£¡¨
It¡¡must¡¡have¡¡been¡¡at¡¡about¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡that¡¡Achmet
Zek¡¡discovered¡¡the¡¡pile¡¡of¡¡yellow¡¡ingots¡¡and¡¡realized
the¡¡actuality¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡already¡¡feared¡¡since¡¡first
his¡¡eyes¡¡had¡¡alighted¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡party¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡ruins
of¡¡the¡¡Englishman's¡¡bungalow¡£¡¡¡¡Someone¡¡had¡¡forestalled
himanother¡¡had¡¡come¡¡for¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡ahead¡¡of¡¡him¡£
The¡¡Arab¡¡was¡¡crazed¡¡by¡¡rage¡£¡¡¡¡Recently¡¡everything¡¡had
gone¡¡against¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡jewels£»¡¡the¡¡Belgian£»
and¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡Englishwoman¡£
Now¡¡some¡¡one¡¡had¡¡come¡¡to¡¡rob¡¡him¡¡of¡¡this¡¡treasure¡¡which
he¡¡had¡¡thought¡¡as¡¡safe¡¡from¡¡disturbance¡¡here¡¡as¡¡though
it¡¡never¡¡had¡¡been¡¡mined¡£
He¡¡cared¡¡not¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡thieves¡¡might¡¡be¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡would¡¡not
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certain£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡whoop¡¡and¡¡a¡¡command¡¡to¡¡his
followers£»¡¡Achmet¡¡Zek¡¡put¡¡spurs¡¡to¡¡his¡¡horse¡¡and¡¡dashed
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long¡¡guns¡¡above¡¡their¡¡heads£»¡¡yelling¡¡and¡¡cursing£»¡¡came
his¡¡motley¡¡horde¡¡of¡¡cut¡throat¡¡followers¡£
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them£»¡¡and¡¡sword£»¡¡pistol¡¡and¡¡musket£»¡¡each¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡its
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down¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Belgian£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡latter£»¡¡terrified¡¡by
contemplation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fate¡¡he¡¡deserved£»¡¡turned¡¡his
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escape¡£¡¡¡¡Shouting¡¡to¡¡a¡¡lieutenant¡¡to¡¡take¡¡command£»¡¡and
urging¡¡him¡¡upon¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡death¡¡to¡¡dispatch¡¡the
Abyssinians¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡the¡¡gold¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡camp£»¡¡Achmet
Zek¡¡set¡¡off¡¡across¡¡the¡¡plain¡¡in¡¡pursuit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Belgian£»
his¡¡wicked¡¡nature¡¡unable¡¡
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