tarzan and the jewels of opar- 第30部分

The　beast　lay　motionless；　his　head　turned　upon　his

shoulders　and　his　glaring　eyes　fixed　upon　the　rigid

victim；　now　nearly　fifty　yards　away。　　The　girl　stared

back　straight　into　those　cruel　orbs；　daring　not　to　move

even　a　muscle。



The　strain　upon　her　nerves　was　becoming　so　unbearable

that　she　could　scarcely　restrain　a　growing　desire　to

scream；　when　Numa　deliberately　turned　back　to　the

business　of　feeding；　but　his　back…layed　ears　attested　a

sinister　regard　for　the　actions　of　the　girl　behind　him。



Realizing　that　she　could　not　again　turn　without

attracting　his　immediate　and　perhaps　fatal　attention；

Jane　Clayton　resolved　to　risk　all　in　one　last　attempt

to　reach　the　tree　and　clamber　to　the　lower　branches。



Gathering　herself　stealthily　for　the　effort；　she　leaped

suddenly　to　her　feet；　but　almost　simultaneously　the

lion　sprang　up；　wheeled　and　with　wide…distended　jaws

and　terrific　roars；　charged　swiftly　down　upon　her。



Those　who　have　spent　lifetimes　hunting　the　big　game　of

Africa　will　tell　you　that　scarcely　any　other　creature

in　the　world　attains　the　speed　of　a　charging　lion。

For　the　short　distance　that　the　great　cat　can　maintain　it；

it　resembles　nothing　more　closely　than　the　onrushing　of

a　giant　locomotive　under　full　speed；　and　so；　though　the

distance　that　Jane　Clayton　must　cover　was　relatively

small；　the　terrific　speed　of　the　lion　rendered　her

hopes　of　escape　almost　negligible。



Yet　fear　can　work　wonders；　and　though　the　upward　spring

of　the　lion　as　he　neared　the　tree　into　which　she　was

scrambling　brought　his　talons　in　contact　with　her　boots

she　eluded　his　raking　grasp；　and　as　he　hurtled　against

the　bole　of　her　sanctuary；　the　girl　drew　herself　into

the　safety　of　the　branches　above　his　reach。



For　some　time　the　lion　paced；　growling　and　moaning；

beneath　the　tree　in　which　Jane　Clayton　crouched；

panting　and　trembling。　　The　girl　was　a　prey　to　the

nervous　reaction　from　the　frightful　ordeal　through

which　she　had　so　recently　passed；　and　in　her

overwrought　state　it　seemed　that　never　again　should　she

dare　descend　to　the　ground　among　the　fearsome　dangers

which　infested　the　broad　stretch　of　jungle　that　she

knew　must　lie　between　herself　and　the　nearest　village

of　her　faithful　Waziri。



It　was　almost　dark　before　the　lion　finally　quit　the

clearing；　and　even　had　his　place　beside　the　remnants　of

the　mangled　ape　not　been　immediately　usurped　by　a　pack

of　hyenas；　Jane　Clayton　would　scarcely　have　dared

venture　from　her　refuge　in　the　face　of　impending　night；

and　so　she　composed　herself　as　best　she　could　for　the

long　and　tiresome　wait；　until　daylight　might　offer　some

means　of　escape　from　the　dread　vicinity　in　which　she

had　witnessed　such　terrifying　adventures。



Tired　nature　at　last　overcame　even　her　fears；　and　she

dropped　into　a　deep　slumber；　cradled　in　a　comparatively

safe；　though　rather　uncomfortable；　position　against　the

bole　of　the　tree；　and　supported　by　two　large　branches

which　grew　outward；　almost　horizontally；　but　a　few

inches　apart。



The　sun　was　high　in　the　heavens　when　she　at　last　awoke；

and　beneath　her　was　no　sign　either　of　Numa　or　the

hyenas。　　Only　the　clean…picked　bones　of　the　ape；

scattered　about　the　ground；　attested　the　fact　of　what

had　transpired　in　this　seemingly　peaceful　spot　but　a

few　hours　before。



Both　hunger　and　thirst　assailed　her　now；　and　realizing

that　she　must　descend　or　die　of　starvation；　she　at　last

summoned　courage　to　undertake　the　ordeal　of　continuing

her　journey　through　the　jungle。



Descending　from　the　tree；　she　set　out　in　a　southerly

direction；　toward　the　point　where　she　believed　the

plains　of　Waziri　lay；　and　though　she　knew　that　only

ruin　and　desolation　marked　the　spot　where　once　her

happy　home　had　stood；　she　hoped　that　by　coming　to　the

broad　plain　she　might　eventually　reach　one　of　the

numerous　Waziri　villages　that　were　scattered　over　the

surrounding　country；　or　chance　upon　a　roving　band　of

these　indefatigable　huntsmen。



The　day　was　half　spent　when　there　broke　unexpectedly

upon　her　startled　ears　the　sound　of　a　rifle　shot　not

far　ahead　of　her。　　As　she　paused　to　listen；　this　first

shot　was　followed　by　another　and　another　and　another。

What　could　it　mean？　　The　first　explanation　which　sprung

to　her　mind　attributed　the　firing　to　an　encounter

between　the　Arab　raiders　and　a　party　of　Waziri；　but　as

she　did　not　know　upon　which　side　victory　might　rest；　or

whether　she　were　behind　friend　or　foe；　she　dared　not

advance　nearer　on　the　chance　of　revealing　herself　to　an

enemy。



After　listening　for　several　minutes　she　became

convinced　that　no　more　than　two　or　three　rifles　were

engaged　in　the　fight；　since　nothing　approximating　the

sound　of　a　volley　reached　her　ears；　but　still　she

hesitated　to　approach；　and　at　last；　determining　to　take

no　chance；　she　climbed　into　the　concealing　foliage　of　a

tree　beside　the　trail　she　had　been　following　and　there

fearfully　awaited　whatever　might　reveal　itself。



As　the　firing　became　less　rapid　she　caught　the　sound　of

men's　voices；　though　she　could　distinguish　no　words；

and　at　last　the　reports　of　the　guns　ceased；　and　she

heard　two　men　calling　to　each　other　in　loud　tones。

Then　there　was　a　long　silence　which　was　finally　broken

by　the　stealthy　padding　of　footfalls　on　the　trail　ahead

of　her；　and　in　another　moment　a　man　appeared　in　view

backing　toward　her；　a　rifle　ready　in　his　hands；　and　his

eyes　directed　in　careful　watchfulness　along　the　way

that　he　had　come。



Almost　instantly　Jane　Clayton　recognized　the　man　as　M。

Jules　Frecoult；　who　so　recently　had　been　a　guest　in　her

home。　　She　was　upon　the　point　of　calling　to　him　in　glad

relief　when　she　saw　him　leap　quickly　to　one　side　and

hide　himself　in　the　thick　verdure　at　the　trail's　side。

It　was　evident　that　he　was　being　followed　by　an　enemy；

and　so　Jane　Clayton　kept　silent；　lest　she　distract

Frecoult's　attention；　or　guide　his　foe　to　his　hiding

place。



Scarcely　had　Frecoult　hidden　himself　than　the　figure　of

a　white…robed　Arab　crept　silently　along　the　trail　in

pursuit。　　From　her　hiding　place；　Jane　Clayton　could　see

both　men　plainly。　　She　recognized　Achmet　Zek　as　the

leader　of　the　band　of　ruffians　who　had　raided　her　home

and　made　her　a　prisoner；　and　as　she　saw　Frecoult；　the

supposed　friend　and　ally；　raise　his　gun　and　take

careful　aim　at　the　Arab；　her　heart　stood　still　and

every　power　of　her　soul　was　directed　upon　a　fervent

prayer　for　the　accuracy　of　his　aim。



Achmet　Zek　paused　in　the　middle　of　the　trail。　　His　keen

eyes　scanned　every　bush　and　tree　within　the　radius　of

his　vision。　　His　tall　figure　presented　a　perfect　target

to　the　perfidious　assassin。　　There　was　a　sharp　report；

and　a　little　puff　of　smoke　arose　from　the　bush　that　hid

the　Belgian；　as　Achmet　Zek　stumbled　forward　and

pitched；　face　down；　upon　the　trail。



As　Werper　stepped　back　into　the　trail；　he　was　startled

by　the　sound　of　a　glad　cry　from　above　him；　and　as　he

wheeled　about　to　discover　the　author　of　this　unexpected

interruption；　he　saw　Jane　Clayton　drop　lightly　from　a

nearby　tree　and　run　forward　with　outstretched　hands　to

congratulate　him　upon　his　victory。







20



Jane　Clayton　Again　a　Prisoner





Though　her　clothes　were　torn　and　her　hair　disheveled；

Albert　Werper　realized　that　he　never　before　had　looked

upon　such　a　vision　of　loveliness　as　that　which　Lady

Greystoke　presented　in　the　relief　and　joy　which　she

felt　in　coming　so　unexpectedly　upon　a　friend　and

rescuer　when　hope　had　seemed　so　far　away。



If　the　Belgian　had　entertained　any　doubts　as　to　the

woman's　knowledge　of　his　part　in　the　perfidious　attack

upon　her　home　and　herself；　it　was　quickly　dissipated　by

the　genuine　friendliness　of　her　greeting。　　She　told　him

quickly　of　all　that　had　befallen　her　since　he　had

departed　from　her　home；　and　as　she　spoke　of　the　death

of　her　husband　her　eyes　were　veiled　by　the　tears　which

she　could　not　repress。



〃I　am　shocked；〃　said　Werper；　in　well…simulated

sympathy；　〃but　I　am　not　surprised。　　That　devil　there；〃

and　he　pointed　toward　the　body　of　Achmet　Zek；　〃has

terrorized　the　entire　country。　　Your　Waziri　are　either

exterminated；　or　have　been　driven　out　of　their　country；

far　to　the　south。　　The　men　of　Achmet　Zek　occupy　the

plain　about　your　former　homethere　is　neither

sanctuary　nor　escape　in　that　direction。　　Our　only　hope

lies　in　traveling　northward　as　rapidly　as　we　may；　of

coming　to　the　camp　of　the　raiders　before　the　knowledge

of　Achmet　Zek's　death　reaches　those　who　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　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　ma