tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第46章
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though she trembled inwardly at the thought of again entering the vile and
hideous village of the raiders she saw no better course than that which her
companion had suggested。
Calling aloud to those who tended the gates； Werper； grasping Jane
Clayton by the arm； walked boldly across the clearing。 Those who
opened the gates to him permitted their surprise to show clearly in their
expressions。 That the discredited and hunted lieutenant should be thus
returning fearlessly of his own volition； seemed to disarm them quite as
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effectually as his manner toward Lady Greystoke had deceived her。
The sentries at the gate returned Werper's salutations； and viewed with
astonishment the prisoner whom he brought into the village with him。
Immediately the Belgian sought the Arab who had been left in charge
of the camp during Achmet Zek's absence； and again his boldness
disarmed suspicion and won the acceptance of his false explanation of his
return。 The fact that he had brought back with him the woman prisoner
who had escaped； added strength to his claims； and Mohammed Beyd
soon found himself fraternizing good…naturedly with the very man whom
he would have slain without compunction had he discovered him alone in
the jungle a half hour before。
Jane Clayton was again confined to the prison hut she had formerly
occupied； but as she realized that this was but a part of the deception
which she and Frecoult were playing upon the credulous raiders； it was
with quite a different sensation that she again entered the vile and filthy
interior； from that which she had previously experienced； when hope was
so far away。
Once more she was bound and sentries placed before the door of her
prison； but before Werper left her he whispered words of cheer into her ear。
Then he left； and made his way back to the tent of Mohammed Beyd。 He
had been wondering how long it would be before the raiders who had
ridden out with Achmet Zek would return with the murdered body of their
chief； and the more he thought upon the matter the greater his fears
became； that without accomplices his plan would fail。
What； even； if he got away from the camp in safety before any
returned with the true story of his guilt of what value would this
advantage be other than to protract for a few days his mental torture and
his life？ These hard riders； familiar with every trail and bypath； would
get him long before he could hope to reach the coast。
As these thoughts passed through his mind he entered the tent where
Mohammed Beyd sat cross…legged upon a rug； smoking。 The Arab
looked up as the European came into his presence。
〃Greetings； O Brother！〃 he said。
〃Greetings！〃 replied Werper。
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For a while neither spoke further。 The Arab was the first to break the
silence。
〃And my master； Achmet Zek； was well when last you saw him？〃 he
asked。
〃Never was he safer from the sins and dangers of mortality；〃 replied
the Belgian。
〃It is well；〃 said Mohammed Beyd； blowing a little puff of blue smoke
straight out before him。
Again there was silence for several minutes。
〃And if he were dead？〃 asked the Belgian； determined to lead up to the
truth； and attempt to bribe Mohammed Beyd into his service。
The Arab's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward； his gaze boring
straight into the eyes of the Belgian。
〃I have been thinking much； Werper； since you returned so
unexpectedly to the camp of the man whom you had deceived； and who
sought you with death in his heart。 I have been with Achmet Zek for many
yearshis own mother never knew him so well as I。 He never forgives
much less would he again trust a man who had once betrayed him； that I
know。
〃I have thought much； as I said； and the result of my thinking has
assured me that Achmet Zek is deadfor otherwise you would never have
dared return to his camp； unless you be either a braver man or a bigger
fool than I have imagined。 And； if this evidence of my judgment is not
sufficient； I have but just now received from your own lips even more
confirmatory witnessfor did you not say that Achmet Zek was never
more safe from the sins and dangers of mortality？
〃Achmet Zek is deadyou need not deny it。 I was not his mother； or
his mistress； so do not fear that my wailings shall disturb you。 Tell me
why you have come back here。 Tell me what you want； and； Werper； if you
still possess the jewels of which Achmet Zek told me； there is no reason
why you and I should not ride north together and divide the ransom of the
white woman and the contents of the pouch you wear about your person。
Eh？〃
The evil eyes narrowed； a vicious； thin…lipped smile tortured the
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villainous face； as Mohammed Beyd grinned knowingly into the face of
the Belgian。
Werper was both relieved and disturbed by the Arab's attitude。 The
complacency with which he accepted the death of his chief lifted a
considerable burden of apprehension from the shoulders of Achmet Zek's
assassin； but his demand for a share of the jewels boded ill for Werper
when Mohammed Beyd should have learned that the precious stones were
no longer in the Belgian's possession。
To acknowledge that he had lost the jewels might be to arouse the
wrath or suspicion of the Arab to such an extent as would jeopardize his
new…found chances of escape。 His one hope seemed； then； to lie in
fostering Mohammed Beyd's belief that the jewels were still in his
possession； and depend upon the accidents of the future to open an avenue
of escape。
Could he contrive to tent with the Arab upon the march north； he
might find opportunity in plenty to remove this menace to his life and
libertyit was worth trying； and； further； there seemed no other way out of
his difficulty。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃Achmet Zek is dead。 He fell in battle with a
company of Abyssinian cavalry that held me captive。 During the fighting
I escaped； but I doubt if any of Achmet Zek's men live； and the gold they
sought is in the possession of the Abyssinians。 Even now they are
doubtless marching on this camp； for they were sent by Menelek to punish
Achmet Zek and his followers for a raid upon an Abyssinian village。
There are many of them； and if we do not make haste to escape we shall
all suffer the same fate as Achmet Zek。〃
Mohammed Beyd listened in silence。 How much of the unbeliever's
story he might safely believe he did not know； but as it afforded him an
excuse for deserting the village and making for the north he was not
inclined to cross…question the Belgian too min
