tarzan and the jewels of opar- 第33部分

break　from　the　girl's　lips　as　she　recognized　the

features　of　the　man　above　her；　and　he　saw　Mohammed　Beyd

seize　her　by　the　throat　and　bear　her　back　upon　the

blankets。



Cheated　passion　cast　a　red　blur　before　the　eyes　of　the

Belgian。　　No！　　The　man　should　not　have　her。　　She　was　for

him　and　him　alone。　　He　would　not　be　robbed　of　his　rights。



Quickly　he　ran　across　the　tent　and　threw　himself　upon

the　back　of　Mohammed　Beyd。　　The　latter；　though

surprised　by　this　sudden　and　unexpected　attack；　was　not

one　to　give　up　without　a　battle。　　The　Belgian's　fingers

were　feeling　for　his　throat；　but　the　Arab　tore　them

away；　and　rising　wheeled　upon　his　adversary。　　As　they

faced　each　other　Werper　struck　the　Arab　a　heavy　blow　in

the　face；　sending　him　staggering　backward。　　If　he　had

followed　up　his　advantage　he　would　have　had　Mohammed

Beyd　at　his　mercy　in　another　moment；　but　instead　he

tugged　at　his　revolver　to　draw　it　from　its　holster；　and

Fate　ordained　that　at　that　particular　moment　the　weapon

should　stick　in　its　leather　scabbard。



Before　he　could　disengage　it；　Mohammed　Beyd　had

recovered　himself　and　was　dashing　upon　him。　　Again

Werper　struck　the　other　in　the　face；　and　the　Arab

returned　the　blow。　　Striking　at　each　other　and

ceaselessly　attempting　to　clinch；　the　two　battled

about　the　small　interior　of　the　tent；　while　the　girl；

wide…eyed　in　terror　and　astonishment；　watched　the

duel　in　frozen　silence。



Again　and　again　Werper　struggled　to　draw　his　weapon。

Mohammed　Beyd；　anticipating　no　such　opposition　to　his

base　desires；　had　come　to　the　tent　unarmed；　except　for

a　long　knife　which　he　now　drew　as　he　stood　panting

during　the　first　brief　rest　of　the　encounter。



〃Dog　of　a　Christian；〃　he　whispered；　〃look　upon　this

knife　in　the　hands　of　Mohammed　Beyd！　　Look　well；

unbeliever；　for　it　is　the　last　thing　in　life　that　you

shall　see　or　feel。　　With　it　Mohammed　Beyd　will　cut　out

your　black　heart。　　If　you　have　a　God　pray　to　him　now

in　a　minute　more　you　shall　be　dead；〃　and　with　that　he

rushed　viciously　upon　the　Belgian；　his　knife　raised

high　above　his　head。



Werper　was　still　dragging　futilely　at　his　weapon。　　The

Arab　was　almost　upon　him。　　In　desperation　the　European

waited　until　Mohammed　Beyd　was　all　but　against　him；

then　he　threw　himself　to　one　side　to　the　floor　of　the

tent；　leaving　a　leg　extended　in　the　path　of　the　Arab。



The　trick　succeeded。　　Mohammed　Beyd；　carried　on　by　the

momentum　of　his　charge；　stumbled　over　the　projecting

obstacle　and　crashed　to　the　ground。　　Instantly　he　was

up　again　and　wheeling　to　renew　the　battle；　but　Werper

was　on　foot　ahead　of　him；　and　now　his　revolver；

loosened　from　its　holster；　flashed　in　his　hand。



The　Arab　dove　headfirst　to　grapple　with　him；　there　was

a　sharp　report；　a　lurid　gleam　of　flame　in　the　darkness；

and　Mohammed　Beyd　rolled　over　and　over　upon　the　floor

to　come　to　a　final　rest　beside　the　bed　of　the　woman　he

had　sought　to　dishonor。



Almost　immediately　following　the　report　came　the　sound

of　excited　voices　in　the　camp　without。　　Men　were

calling　back　and　forth　to　one　another　asking　the

meaning　of　the　shot。　　Werper　could　hear　them　running

hither　and　thither；　investigating。



Jane　Clayton　had　risen　to　her　feet　as　the　Arab　died；

and　now　she　came　forward　with　outstretched　hands　toward

Werper。



〃How　can　I　ever　thank　you；　my　friend？〃　she　asked。

〃And　to　think　that　only　today　I　had　almost　believed　the

infamous　story　which　this　beast　told　me　of　your　perfidy

and　of　your　past。　　Forgive　me；　M。　Frecoult。　　I　might

have　known　that　a　white　man　and　a　gentleman　could　be

naught　else　than　the　protector　of　a　woman　of　his　own

race　amid　the　dangers　of　this　savage　land。〃



Werper's　hands　dropped　limply　at　his　sides。　　He　stood

looking　at　the　girl；　but　he　could　find　no　words　to

reply　to　her。　　Her　innocent　arraignment　of　his　true

purposes　was　unanswerable。



Outside；　the　Arabs　were　searching　for　the　author　of

the　disturbing　shot。　　The　two　sentries　who　had　been

relieved　and　sent　to　their　blankets　by　Mohammed　Beyd

were　the　first　to　suggest　going　to　the　tent　of　the

prisoner。　　It　occurred　to　them　that　possibly　the　woman

had　successfully　defended　herself　against　their　leader。



Werper　heard　the　men　approaching。　　To　be　apprehended　as

the　slayer　of　Mohammed　Beyd　would　be　equivalent　to　a

sentence　of　immediate　death。　　The　fierce　and　brutal

raiders　would　tear　to　pieces　a　Christian　who　had　dared

spill　the　blood　of　their　leader。　　He　must　find　some

excuse　to　delay　the　finding　of　Mohammed　Beyd's　dead

body。



Returning　his　revolver　to　its　holster；　he　walked

quickly　to　the　entrance　of　the　tent。　　Parting　the　flaps

he　stepped　out　and　confronted　the　men；　who　were　rapidly

approaching。　　Somehow　he　found　within　him　the　necessary

bravado　to　force　a　smile　to　his　lips；　as　he　held　up　his

hand　to　bar　their　farther　progress。



〃The　woman　resisted；〃　he　said；　〃and　Mohammed　Beyd　was

forced　to　shoot　her。　　She　is　not　deadonly　slightly

wounded。　　You　may　go　back　to　your　blankets。　　Mohammed

Beyd　and　I　will　look　after　the　prisoner；〃　then　he

turned　and　re…entered　the　tent；　and　the　raiders；

satisfied　by　this　explanation；　gladly　returned　to　their

broken　slumbers。



As　he　again　faced　Jane　Clayton；　Werper　found　himself

animated　by　quite　different　intentions　than　those　which

had　lured　him　from　his　blankets　but　a　few　minutes

before。　　The　excitement　of　his　encounter　with　Mohammed

Beyd；　as　well　as　the　dangers　which　he　now　faced　at　the

hands　of　the　raiders　when　morning　must　inevitably

reveal　the　truth　of　what　had　occurred　in　the　tent　of

the　prisoner　that　night；　had　naturally　cooled　the　hot

passion　which　had　dominated　him　when　he　entered　the

tent。



But　another　and　stronger　force　was　exerting　itself　in

the　girl's　favor。　　However　low　a　man　may　sink；　honor

and　chivalry；　has　he　ever　possessed　them；　are　never

entirely　eradicated　from　his　character；　and　though

Albert　Werper　had　long　since　ceased　to　evidence　the

slightest　claim　to　either　the　one　or　the　other；　the

spontaneous　acknowledgment　of　them　which　the　girl's

speech　had　presumed　had　reawakened　them　both　within

him。



For　the　first　time　he　realized　the　almost　hopeless　and

frightful　position　of　the　fair　captive；　and　the　depths

of　ignominy　to　which　he　had　sunk；　that　had　made　it

possible　for　him；　a　well…born；　European　gentleman；　to

have　entertained　even　for　a　moment　the　part　that　he　had

taken　in　the　ruin　of　her　home；　happiness；　and　herself。



Too　much　of　baseness　already　lay　at　the　threshold　of

his　conscience　for　him　ever　to　hope　entirely　to　redeem

himself；　but　in　the　first；　sudden　burst　of　contrition

the　man　conceived　an　honest　intention　to　undo；　in　so

far　as　lay　within　his　power；　the　evil　that　his　criminal

avarice　had　brought　upon　this　sweet　and　unoffending

woman。



As　he　stood　apparently　listening　to　the　retreating

footstepsJane　Clayton　approached　him。



〃What　are　we　to　do　now？〃　she　asked。　　〃Morning　will

bring　discovery　of　this；〃　and　she　pointed　to　the　still

body　of　Mohammed　Beyd。　　〃They　will　kill　you　when　they

find　him。〃



For　a　time　Werper　did　not　reply；　then　he　turned

suddenly　toward　the　woman。



〃I　have　a　plan；〃　he　cried。　　〃It　will　require　nerve　and

courage　on　your　part；　but　you　have　already　shown　that

you　possess　both。　　Can　you　endure　still　more？〃



〃I　can　endure　anything；〃　she　replied　with　a　brave

smile；　〃that　may　offer　us　even　a　slight　chance　for

escape。〃



〃You　must　simulate　death；〃　he　explained；　〃while　I　carry

you　from　the　camp。　　I　will　explain　to　the　sentries　that

Mohammed　Beyd　has　ordered　me　to　take　your　body　into　the

jungle。　　This　seemingly　unnecessary　act　I　shall　explain

upon　the　grounds　that　Mohammed　Beyd　had　conceived　a

violent　passion　for　you　and　that　he　so　regretted　the

act　by　which　he　had　become　your　slayer　that　he　could

not　endure　the　silent　reproach　of　your　lifeless　body。〃



The　girl　held　up　her　hand　to　stop。　　A　smile　touched　her

lips。



〃Are　you　quite　mad？〃　she　asked。　　〃Do　you　imagine　that

the　sentries　will　credit　any　such　ridiculous　tale？〃



〃You　do　not　know　them；〃　he　replied。　　〃Beneath　their

rough　exteriors；　despite　their　calloused　and　criminal

natures；　there　exists　in　each　a　well…defined　strain　of

romantic　emotionalismyou　will　find　it　among　such　as

these　throughout　the　world。　　It　is　romance　which　lures

men　to　lead　wild　lives　of　outlawry　and　crime。　　The　ruse

will　succeednever　fear。〃



Jane　Clayton　shrugged。　　〃We　can　but　try　itand　then

what？〃



〃I　shall　hide　you　in　the　jungle；〃　continued　the

Belgian；　〃coming　for　you　alone　and　with　two　horses　in

the　morning。〃



〃But　how　will　you　explain　Mohammed　Beyd's　death？〃　she

asked。　　〃It　will　be　discovered　before　ever　you　can

escape　the　camp　in　the　morning。〃



〃I　shall　not　explain　it；〃　replied　Werper。　　〃Mohammed

Beyd　shall　explain　it　himselfwe　must　leave　that　to

him。　　Are　you　ready　for　the　venture？〃



〃Yes。〃



〃But　wait；　I　must　get　you　a　weapon　and　ammunition；〃

and　Werper　walked　quickly　from　the　tent。



Very　shortly　he　returned　with　an　extra　revolver　and

ammunition　belt　strapped　about　his　waist。



〃Are　you　ready？〃　he　asked。



〃Quite　ready；〃　replied　the　girl。



〃Then　come　and　throw　yourself　limply　across　my　left

shoulder；〃　and　Werper　knelt　to　receive　her。



〃There；〃　he　said；　as　he　rose　to　his　feet。　　〃Now；　let

your　arms；　your　legs　and　your　head　hang　limply。

Remember　that　you　are　dead。〃



A　moment　later　the　man　walked　out　into　the　camp；　the

body　of　the　woman　across　his　shoulder。



A　thorn　boma　had　been　thrown　up　about　the　camp；　to

discourage　the　bolder　of　the　hungry　carnivora。　　A

couple　of　sentries　paced　to　and　fro　in　the　light　of　a

fire　which　they　kept　burning　brightly。　　The　nearer　of

these　looked　up　in　surprise　as　he　saw　Werper　approaching。



〃Who　are　you？〃　he　cried。　　〃What　have　you　there？〃



Werper　raised　the　hood　of　his　burnoose　that　the