tarzan and the jewels of opar- 第27部分

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　to　forego　the　pleasures　of

revenge；　even　at　the　risk　of　sacrificing　the　treasure。



As　the　pursued　and　the　pursuer　raced　madly　toward　the

distant　forest　the　battle　behind　them　raged　with　bloody

savageness。　　No　quarter　was　asked　or　given　by　either

the　ferocious　Abyssinians　or　the　murderous　cut…throats

of　Achmet　Zek。



From　the　concealment　of　the　shrubbery　Tarzan　watched

the　sanguinary　conflict　which　so　effectually　surrounded

him　that　he　found　no　loop…hole　through　which　he　might

escape　to　follow　Werper　and　the　Arab　chief。



The　Abyssinians　were　formed　in　a　circle　which　included

Tarzan's　position；　and　around　and　into　them　galloped

the　yelling　raiders；　now　darting　away；　now　charging　in

to　deliver　thrusts　and　cuts　with　their　curved　swords。



Numerically　the　men　of　Achmet　Zek　were　superior；　and

slowly　but　surely　the　soldiers　of　Menelek　were　being

exterminated。　　To　Tarzan　the　result　was　immaterial。

He　watched　with　but　a　single　purposeto　escape　the　ring

of　blood…mad　fighters　and　be　away　after　the　Belgian　and

his　pouch。



When　he　had　first　discovered　Werper　upon　the　trail

where　he　had　slain　Bara；　he　had　thought　that　his　eyes

must　be　playing　him　false；　so　certain　had　he　been　that

the　thief　had　been　slain　and　devoured　by　Numa；　but

after　following　the　detachment　for　two　days；　with　his

keen　eyes　always　upon　the　Belgian；　he　no　longer　doubted

the　identity　of　the　man；　though　he　was　put　to　it　to

explain　the　identity　of　the　mutilated　corpse　he　had

supposed　was　the　man　he　sought。



As　he　crouched　in　hiding　among　the　unkempt　shrubbery

which　so　short　a　while　since　had　been　the　delight　and

pride　of　the　wife　he　no　longer　recalled；　an　Arab　and　an

Abyssinian　wheeled　their　mounts　close　to　his　position

as　they　slashed　at　each　other　with　their　swords。



Step　by　step　the　Arab　beat　back　his　adversary　until　the

latter's　horse　all　but　trod　upon　the　ape…man；　and　then

a　vicious　cut　clove　the　black　warrior's　skull；　and　the

corpse　toppled　backward　almost　upon　Tarzan。



As　the　Abyssinian　tumbled　from　his　saddle　the

possibility　of　escape　which　was　represented　by　the

riderless　horse　electrified　the　ape…man　to　instant

action。　　Before　the　frightened　beast　could　gather

himself　for　flight　a　naked　giant　was　astride　his　back。

A　strong　hand　had　grasped　his　bridle　rein；　and　the

surprised　Arab　discovered　a　new　foe　in　the　saddle　of

him；　whom　he　had　slain。



But　this　enemy　wielded　no　sword；　and　his　spear　and　bow

remained　upon　his　back。　　The　Arab；　recovered　from　his

first　surprise；　dashed　in　with　raised　sword　to

annihilate　this　presumptuous　stranger。　　He　aimed　a

mighty　blow　at　the　ape…man's　head；　a　blow　which　swung

harmlessly　through　thin　air　as　Tarzan　ducked　from　its

path；　and　then　the　Arab　felt　the　other's　horse　brushing

his　leg；　a　great　arm　shot　out　and　encircled　his　waist；

and　before　he　could　recover　himself　he　was　dragged　from

his　saddle；　and　forming　a　shield　for　his　antagonist　was

borne　at　a　mad　run　straight　through　the　encircling

ranks　of　his　fellows。



Just　beyond　them　he　was　tossed　aside　upon　the　ground；

and　the　last　he　saw　of　his　strange　foeman　the　latter

was　galloping　off　across　the　plain　in　the　direction　of

the　forest　at　its　farther　edge。



For　another　hour　the　battle　raged　nor　did　it　cease

until　the　last　of　the　Abyssinians　lay　dead　upon　the

ground；　or　had　galloped　off　toward　the　north　in　flight。

But　a　handful　of　men　escaped；　among　them　Abdul　Mourak。



The　victorious　raiders　collected　about　the　pile　of

golden　ingots　which　the　Abyssinians　had　uncovered；　and

there　awaited　the　return　of　their　leader。　　Their

exultation　was　slightly　tempered　by　the　glimpse　they

had　had　of　the　strange　apparition　of　the　naked　white

man　galloping　away　upon　the　horse　of　one　of　their

foemen　and　carrying　a　companion　who　was　now　among　them

expatiating　upon　the　superhuman　strength　of　the　ape…man。

None　of　them　there　but　was　familiar　with　the　name

and　fame　of　Tarzan　of　the　Apes；　and　the　fact　that　they

had　recognized　the　white　giant　as　the　ferocious　enemy

of　the　wrongdoers　of　the　jungle；　added　to　their　terror；

for　they　had　been　assured　that　Tarzan　was　dead。



Naturally　superstitious；　they　fully　believed　that　they

had　seen　the　disembodied　spirit　of　the　dead　man；　and

now　they　cast　fearful　glances　about　them　in　expectation

of　the　ghost's　early　return　to　the　scene　of　the　ruin

they　had　inflicted　upon　him　during　their　recent　raid

upon　his　home；　and　discussed　in　affrighted　whispers　the

probable　nature　of　the　vengeance　which　the　spirit　would

inflict　upon　them　should　he　return　to　find　them　in

possession　of　his　gold。



As　they　conversed　their　terror　grew；　while　from　the

concealment　of　the　reeds　along　the　river　below　them　a

small　party　of　naked；　black　warriors　watched　their

every　move。　　From　the　heights　beyond　the　river　these

black　men　had　heard　the　noise　of　the　conflict；　and

creeping　warily　down　to　the　stream　had　forded　it　and

advanced　through　the　reeds　until　they　were　in　a

position　to　watch　every　move　of　the　combatants。



For　a　half　hour　the　raiders　awaited　Achmet　Zek's

return；　their　fear　of　the　earlier　return　of　the　ghost

of　Tarzan　constantly　undermining　their　loyalty　to　and

fear　of　their　chief。　　Finally　one　among　them　voiced　the

desires　of　all　when　he　announced　that　he　intended

riding　forth　toward　the　forest　in　search　of　Achmet　Zek。

Instantly　every　man　of　them　sprang　to　his　mount。



〃The　gold　will　be　safe　here；〃　cried　one。　　〃We　have

killed　the　Abyssinians　and　there　are　no　others　to　carry

it　away。　　Let　us　ride　in　search　of　Achmet　Zek！〃



And　a　moment　later；　amidst　a　cloud　of　dust；　the　raiders

were　galloping　madly　across　the　plain；　and　out　from　the

concealment　of　the　reeds　along　the　river；　crept　a　party

of　black　warriors　toward　the　spot　where　the　golden

ingots　of　Opar　lay　piled　on　the　ground。



Werper　had　still　been　in　advance　of　Achmet　Zek　when　he

reached　the　forest；　but　the　latter；　better　mounted；　was

gaining　upon　him。　　Riding　with　the　reckless　courage　of

desperation　the　Belgian　urged　his　mount　to　greater

speed　even　within　the　narrow　confines　of　the　winding；

game　trail　that　the　beast　was　following。



Behind　him　he　could　hear　the　voice　of　Achmet　Zek　crying

to　him　to　halt；　but　Werper　only　dug　the　spurs　deeper

into　the　bleeding　sides　of　his　panting　mount。　　Two

hundred　yards　within　the　forest　a　broken　branch　lay

across　the　trail。　　It　was　a　small　thing　that　a　horse

might　ordinarily　take　in　his　natural　stride　without

noticing　its　presence；　but　Werper's　horse　was　jaded；

his　feet　were　heavy　with　weariness；　and　as　the　branch

caught　between　his　front　legs　he　stumbled；　was　unable

to　recover　himself；　and　went　down；　sprawling　in　the

trail。



Werper；　going　over　his　head；　rolled　a　few　yards　farther

on；　scrambled　to　his　feet　and　ran　back。　　Seizing　the

reins　he　tugged　to　drag　the　beast　to　his　feet；　but　the

animal　would　not　or　could　not　rise；　and　as　the　Belgian

cursed　and　struck　at　him；　Achmet　Zek　appeared　in　view。



Instantly　the　Belgian　ceased　his　efforts　with　the　dying

animal　at　his　feet；　and　seizing　his　rifle；　dropped

behind　the　horse　and　fired　at　the　oncoming　Arab。



His　bullet；　going　low；　struck　Achmet　Zek's　horse　in　the

breast；　bringing　him　down　a　hundred　yards　from　where

Werper　lay　preparing　to　fire　a　second　shot。



The　Arab；　who　had　gone　down　with　his　mount；　was

standing　astride　him；　and　seeing　the　Belgian's

strategic　position　behind　his　fallen　horse；　lost　no

time　in　taking　up　a　similar　one　behind　his　own。



And　there　the　two　lay；　alternately　firing　at　and

cursing　each　other；　while　from　behind　the　Arab；　Tarzan

of　the　Apes　approached　to　the　edge　of　the　forest。　　Here

he　heard　the　occasional　shots　of　the　duelists；　and

choosing　the　safer　and　swifter　avenue　of　the　forest

branches　to　the　uncertain　transportation　afforded　by　a

half…broken　Abyssinian　pony；　took　to　the　trees。



Keeping　to　one　side　of　the　trail；　the　ape…man　came

presently　to　a　point　where　he　could　look　down　in

comparative　safety　upon　the　fighters。　　First　one　and

then　the　other　would　partially　raise　himself　above　his

breastwork　of　horseflesh；　fire　his　weapon　and

immediately　drop　flat　behind　his　shelter；　where　he

would　reload　and　repeat　the　act　a　moment　later。



Werper　had　but　little　ammunition；　having　been　hastily

armed　by　Abdul　Mourak　from　the　body　of　one　of　the　first

of　the　Abyssinians　who　had　fallen　in　the　fight　about

the　pile　of　ingots；　and　now　he　realized　that　soon　he

would　have　used　his　last　bullet；　and　be　at　the　mercy　of

the　Araba　mercy　with　which　he　was　well　acquainted。



Facing　both　death　and　despoilment　of　his　treasure；　the

Belgian　cast　about　for　some　plan　of　escape；　and　the

only　one　that　appealed　to　him　as　containing　even　a

remote　possibility　of　success　hinged　upon　the　chance　of

bribing　Achmet　Zek。



Werper　had　fired　all　but　a　single　cartridge；　when；

during　a　lull　in　the　fighting；　he　called　aloud　to　his

opponent。



〃Achmet　Zek；〃　he　cried；　〃Allah　alone　knows　which　one　of

us　may　leave　our　bones　to　rot　where　he　lies　upon　this

trail　today　if　we　keep　up　our　foolish　battle。　　You　wish

the　contents　of　the　pouch　I　wear　about　my　waist；　and　I

wish　my　life　and　my　liberty　even　more　than　I　do　the

jewels。　　Let　us　each；　then；　take　that　which　he　most

desires　and　go　our　separate　ways　in　peace。　　I　will　lay

the　pouch　upon　the　carcass　of　my　horse；　where　you　may

see　it；　and　you；　in　turn；　will　lay　your　gun　upon　your

horse；　with　butt　toward　me。　　Then　I　will　go　away；

leaving　the　pouch　to　you；　and　you　will　let　me　go　in

safety。　　I　want　only　my　life；　and　my　freedom。〃



The　Arab　thought　in　silence　for　a　moment。　　Then　he

spoke。　His　reply　was　influenced　by　the　fact　that　he　had

expended　his　last　shot。



〃Go　your　way；　then；〃　he　growled；　〃lea