They had reached their fortified7 camp, and there Achmet Zek awaited the return of his lieutenant8, Albert Werper. During the long, rough journey, Jane Clayton had suffered more in anticipation9 of her impending10 fate than from the hardships of the road.
Achmet Zek had not deigned11 to acquaint her with his intentions regarding her future. She prayed that she had been captured in the hope of ransom12, for if such should prove the case, no great harm would befall her at the hands of the Arabs; but there was the chance, the horrid13 chance, that another fate awaited her. She had heard of many women, among whom were white women, who had been sold by outlaws14 such as Achmet Zek into the slavery of black harems, or taken farther north into the almost equally hideous15 existence of some Turkish seraglio.
Jane Clayton was of sterner stuff than that which bends in spineless terror before danger. Until hope proved futile16 she would not give it up; nor did she entertain thoughts of self-destruction only as a final escape from dishonor. So long as Tarzan lived there was every reason to expect succor17. No man nor beast who roamed the savage continent could boast the cunning and the powers of her lord and master. To her, he was little short of omnipotent18 in his native world—this world of savage beasts and savage men. Tarzan would come, and she would be rescued and avenged19, of that she was certain. She counted the days that must elapse before he would return from Opar and discover what had transpired20 during his absence. After that it would be but a short time before he had surrounded the Arab stronghold and punished the motley crew of wrongdoers who inhabited it.
That he could find her she had no slightest doubt. No spoor, however faint, could elude21 the keen vigilance of his senses. To him, the trail of the raiders would be as plain as the printed page of an open book to her.
And while she hoped, there came through the dark jungle another. Terrified by night and by day, came Albert Werper. A dozen times he had escaped the claws and fangs22 of the giant carnivora only by what seemed a miracle to him. Armed with nothing more than the knife he had brought with him from Opar, he had made his way through as savage a country as yet exists upon the face of the globe.
By night he had slept in trees. By day he had stumbled fearfully on, often taking refuge among the branches when sight or sound of some great cat warned him from danger. But at last he had come within sight of the palisade behind which were his fierce companions.
At almost the same time Mugambi came out of the jungle before the walled village. As he stood in the shadow of a great tree, reconnoitering, he saw a man, ragged1 and disheveled, emerge from the jungle almost at his elbow. Instantly he recognized the newcomer as he who had been a guest of his master before the latter had departed for Opar.
The black was upon the point of hailing the Belgian when something stayed him. He saw the white man walking confidently across the clearing toward the village gate. No sane23 man thus approached a village in this part of Africa unless he was sure of a friendly welcome. Mugambi waited. His suspicions were aroused.
He heard Werper halloo; he saw the gates swing open, and he witnessed the surprised and friendly welcome that was accorded the erstwhile guest of Lord and Lady Greystoke. A light broke upon the understanding of Mugambi. This white man had been a traitor24 and a spy. It was to him they owed the raid during the absence of the Great Bwana. To his hate for the Arabs, Mugambi added a still greater hate for the white spy.
Within the village Werper passed hurriedly toward the silken tent of Achmet Zek. The Arab arose as his lieutenant entered. His face showed surprise as he viewed the tattered25 apparel of the Belgian.
"What has happened?" he asked.
Werper narrated26 all, save the little matter of the pouch27 of gems28 which were now tightly strapped29 about his waist, beneath his clothing. The Arab's eyes narrowed greedily as his henchman described the treasure that the Waziri had buried beside the ruins of the Greystoke bungalow30.
"It will be a simple matter now to return and get it," said Achmet Zek. "First we will await the coming of the rash Waziri, and after we have slain31 them we may take our time to the treasure—none will disturb it where it lies, for we shall leave none alive who knows of its existence.
"And the woman?" asked Werper.
"I shall sell her in the north," replied the raider. "It is the only way, now. She should bring a good price."
The Belgian nodded. He was thinking rapidly. If he could persuade Achmet Zek to send him in command of the party which took Lady Greystoke north it would give him the opportunity he craved32 to make his escape from his chief. He would forego a share of the gold, if he could but get away unscathed with the jewels.
He knew Achmet Zek well enough by this time to know that no member of his band ever was voluntarily released from the service of Achmet Zek. Most of the few who deserted33 were recaptured. More than once had Werper listened to their agonized34 screams as they were tortured before being put to death. The Belgian had no wish to take the slightest chance of recapture.
"Who will go north with the woman," he asked, "while we are returning for the gold that the Waziri buried by the bungalow of the Englishman?"
Achmet Zek thought for a moment. The buried gold was of much greater value than the price the woman would bring. It was necessary to rid himself of her as quickly as possible and it was also well to obtain the gold with the least possible delay. Of all his followers35, the Belgian was the most logical lieutenant to intrust with the command of one of the parties. An Arab, as familiar with the trails and tribes as Achmet Zek himself, might collect the woman's price and make good his escape into the far north. Werper, on the other hand, could scarce make his escape alone through a country hostile to Europeans while the men he would send with the Belgian could be carefully selected with a view to preventing Werper from persuading any considerable portion of his command to accompany him should he contemplate36 desertion of his chief.
At last the Arab spoke37: "It is not necessary that we both return for the gold. You shall go north with the woman, carrying a letter to a friend of mine who is always in touch with the best markets for such merchandise, while I return for the gold. We can meet again here when our business is concluded."
Werper could scarce disguise the joy with which he received this welcome decision. And that he did entirely38 disguise it from the keen and suspicious eyes of Achmet Zek is open to question. However, the decision reached, the Arab and his lieutenant discussed the details of their forthcoming ventures for a short time further, when Werper made his excuses and returned to his own tent for the comforts and luxury of a long-desired bath and shave.
Having bathed, the Belgian tied a small hand mirror to a cord sewn to the rear wall of his tent, placed a rude chair beside an equally rude table that stood beside the glass, and proceeded to remove the rough stubble from his face.
In the catalog of masculine pleasures there is scarce one which imparts a feeling of greater comfort and refreshment39 than follows a clean shave, and now, with weariness temporarily banished40, Albert Werper sprawled41 in his rickety chair to enjoy a final cigaret42 before retiring. His thumbs, tucked in his belt in lazy support of the weight of his arms, touched the belt which held the jewel pouch about his waist. He tingled43 with excitement as he let his mind dwell upon the value of the treasure, which, unknown to all save himself, lay hidden beneath his clothing.
What would Achmet Zek say, if he knew? Werper grinned. How the old rascal's eyes would pop could he but have a glimpse of those scintillating44 beauties! Werper had never yet had an opportunity to feast his eyes for any great length of time upon them. He had not even counted them—only roughly had he guessed at their value.
He unfastened the belt and drew the pouch from its hiding place. He was alone. The balance of the camp, save the sentries45, had retired—none would enter the Belgian's tent. He fingered the pouch, feeling out the shapes and sizes of the precious, little nodules within. He hefted the bag, first in one palm, then in the other, and at last he wheeled his chair slowly around before the table, and in the rays of his small lamp let the glittering gems roll out upon the rough wood.
The refulgent46 rays transformed the interior of the soiled and squalid canvas to the splendor47 of a palace in the eyes of the dreaming man. He saw the gilded48 halls of pleasure that would open their portals to the possessor of the wealth which lay scattered49 upon this stained and dented50 table top. He dreamed of joys and luxuries and power which always had been beyond his grasp, and as he dreamed his gaze lifted from the table, as the gaze of a dreamer will, to a far distant goal above the mean horizon of terrestrial commonplaceness.
Unseeing, his eyes rested upon the shaving mirror which still hung upon the tent wall above the table; but his sight was focused far beyond. And then a reflection moved within the polished surface of the tiny glass, the man's eyes shot back out of space to the mirror's face, and in it he saw reflected the grim visage of Achmet Zek, framed in the flaps of the tent doorway51 behind him.
Werper stifled52 a gasp53 of dismay. With rare self-possession he let his gaze drop, without appearing to have halted upon the mirror until it rested again upon the gems. Without haste, he replaced them in the pouch, tucked the latter into his shirt, selected a cigaret from his case, lighted it and rose. Yawning, and stretching his arms above his head, he turned slowly toward the opposite end of the tent. The face of Achmet Zek had disappeared from the opening.
To say that Albert Werper was terrified would be putting it mildly. He realized that he not only had sacrificed his treasure; but his life as well. Achmet Zek would never permit the wealth that he had discovered to slip through his fingers, nor would he forgive the duplicity of a lieutenant who had gained possession of such a treasure without offering to share it with his chief.
Slowly the Belgian prepared for bed. If he were being watched, he could not know; but if so the watcher saw no indication of the nervous excitement which the European strove to conceal54. When ready for his blankets, the man crossed to the little table and extinguished the light.
It was two hours later that the flaps at the front of the tent separated silently and gave entrance to a dark-robed figure, which passed noiselessly from the darkness without to the darkness within. Cautiously the prowler crossed the interior. In one hand was a long knife. He came at last to the pile of blankets spread upon several rugs close to one of the tent walls.
Lightly, his fingers sought and found the bulk beneath the blankets—the bulk that should be Albert Werper. They traced out the figure of a man, and then an arm shot upward, poised55 for an instant and descended56. Again and again it rose and fell, and each time the long blade of the knife buried itself in the thing beneath the blankets. But there was an initial lifelessness in the silent bulk that gave the assassin momentary57 wonder. Feverishly58 he threw back the coverlets, and searched with nervous hands for the pouch of jewels which he expected to find concealed59 upon his victim's body.
An instant later he rose with a curse upon his lips. It was Achmet Zek, and he cursed because he had discovered beneath the blankets of his lieutenant only a pile of discarded clothing arranged in the form and semblance60 of a sleeping man—Albert Werper had fled.
Out into the village ran the chief, calling in angry tones to the sleepy Arabs, who tumbled from their tents in answer to his voice. But though they searched the village again and again they found no trace of the Belgian. Foaming61 with anger, Achmet Zek called his followers to horse, and though the night was pitchy black they set out to scour62 the adjoining forest for their quarry63.
As they galloped64 from the open gates, Mugambi, hiding in a nearby bush, slipped, unseen, within the palisade. A score of blacks crowded about the entrance to watch the searchers depart, and as the last of them passed out of the village the blacks seized the portals and drew them to, and Mugambi lent a hand in the work as though the best of his life had been spent among the raiders.
In the darkness he passed, unchallenged, as one of their number, and as they returned from the gates to their respective tents and huts, Mugambi melted into the shadows and disappeared.
For an hour he crept about in the rear of the various huts and tents in an effort to locate that in which his master's mate was imprisoned65. One there was which he was reasonably assured contained her, for it was the only hut before the door of which a sentry66 had been posted. Mugambi was crouching67 in the shadow of this structure, just around the corner from the unsuspecting guard, when another approached to relieve his comrade.
"The prisoner is safe within?" asked the newcomer.
"She is," replied the other, "for none has passed this doorway since I came."
The new sentry squatted68 beside the door, while he whom he had relieved made his way to his own hut. Mugambi slunk closer to the corner of the building. In one powerful hand he gripped a heavy knob-stick. No sign of elation69 disturbed his phlegmatic70 calm, yet inwardly he was aroused to joy by the proof he had just heard that "Lady" really was within.
The sentry's back was toward the corner of the hut which hid the giant black. The fellow did not see the huge form which silently loomed71 behind him. The knob-stick swung upward in a curve, and downward again. There was the sound of a dull thud, the crushing of heavy bone, and the sentry slumped72 into a silent, inanimate lump of clay.
A moment later Mugambi was searching the interior of the hut. At first slowly, calling, "Lady!" in a low whisper, and finally with almost frantic73 haste, until the truth presently dawned upon him—the hut was empty!
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1
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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7
fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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deigned
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| v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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13
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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outlaws
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| 歹徒，亡命之徒( outlaw的名词复数 )； 逃犯 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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succor
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| n.援助，帮助；v.给予帮助 | |
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omnipotent
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| adj.全能的，万能的 | |
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avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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elude
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| v.躲避，困惑 | |
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fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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28
gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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bungalow
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| n.平房，周围有阳台的木造小平房 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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agonized
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| v.使（极度）痛苦，折磨( agonize的过去式和过去分词 )；苦斗；苦苦思索；感到极度痛苦 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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37
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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38
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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40
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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42
cigaret
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| n.（cigarette）香烟，纸烟，卷烟 | |
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43
tingled
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| v.有刺痛感( tingle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
scintillating
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| adj．才气横溢的,闪闪发光的; 闪烁的 | |
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45
sentries
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| 哨兵，步兵( sentry的名词复数 ) | |
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46
refulgent
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| adj.辉煌的，灿烂的 | |
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47
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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48
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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49
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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50
dented
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| v.使产生凹痕( dent的过去式和过去分词 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
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51
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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52
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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53
gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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54
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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55
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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56
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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57
momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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59
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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60
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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61
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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62
scour
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| v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷 | |
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63
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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64
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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65
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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67
crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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68
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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69
elation
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| n.兴高采烈，洋洋得意 | |
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70
phlegmatic
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| adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的 | |
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71
loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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72
slumped
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| 大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下] | |
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frantic
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| adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的 | |
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