tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第52章
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At the outskirts of the forest he met the Arabs returning in search of
Achmet Zek。 Hiding； he let them pass； and then resumed his way toward
the charred ruins of the home he had been almost upon the point of
recalling to his memory。
His journey across the plain was interrupted by the discovery of a
small herd of antelope in a little swale； where the cover and the wind were
well combined to make stalking easy。 A fat yearling rewarded a half hour
of stealthy creeping and a sudden； savage rush； and it was late in the
afternoon when the ape…man settled himself upon his haunches beside his
kill to enjoy the fruits of his skill； his cunning； and his prowess。
His hunger satisfied； thirst next claimed his attention。 The river lured
him by the shortest path toward its refreshing waters； and when he had
drunk； night already had fallen and he was some half mile or more down
stream from the point where he had seen the pile of yellow ingots； and
where he hoped to meet the memory woman； or find some clew to her
whereabouts or her identity。
To the jungle bred； time is usually a matter of small moment； and haste；
except when engendered by terror； by rage； or by hunger； is distasteful。
Today was gone。 Therefore tomorrow； of which there was an infinite
procession； would answer admirably for Tarzan's further quest。 And；
besides； the ape…man was tired and would sleep。
A tree afforded him the safety； seclusion and comforts of a well…
appointed bedchamber； and to the chorus of the hunters and the hunted of
the wild river bank he soon dropped off into deep slumber。
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Morning found him both hungry and thirsty again； and dropping from
his tree he made his way to the drinking place at the river's edge。 There
he found Numa； the lion； ahead of him。 The big fellow was lapping the
water greedily； and at the approach of Tarzan along the trail in his rear； he
raised his head； and turning his gaze backward across his maned shoulders
glared at the intruder。 A low growl of warning rumbled from his throat；
but Tarzan； guessing that the beast had but just quitted his kill and was
well filled； merely made a slight detour and continued to the river； where
he stopped a few yards above the tawny cat； and dropping upon his hands
and knees plunged his face into the cool water。 For a moment the lion
continued to eye the man； then he resumed his drinking； and man and
beast quenched their thirst side by side each apparently oblivious of the
other's presence。
Numa was the first to finish。 Raising his head； he gazed across the
river for a few minutes with that stony fixity of attention which is a
characteristic of his kind。 But for the ruffling of his black mane to the
touch of the passing breeze he might have been wrought from golden
bronze； so motionless； so statuesque his pose。
A deep sigh from the cavernous lungs dispelled the illusion。 The
mighty head swung slowly around until the yellow eyes rested upon the
man。 The bristled lip curved upward； exposing yellow fangs。 Another
warning growl vibrated the heavy jowls； and the king of beasts turned
majestically about and paced slowly up the trail into the dense reeds。
Tarzan of the Apes drank on； but from the corners of his gray eyes he
watched the great brute's every move until he had disappeared from view；
and； after； his keen ears marked the movements of the carnivore。
A plunge in the river was followed by a scant breakfast of eggs which
chance discovered to him； and then he set off up river toward the ruins of
the bungalow where the golden ingots had marked the center of
yesterday's battle。
And when he came upon the spot； great was his surprise and
consternation； for the yellow metal had disappeared。 The earth； trampled
by the feet of horses and men； gave no clew。 It was as though the ingots
had evaporated into thin air。
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The ape…man was at a loss to know where to turn or what next to do。
There was no sign of any spoor which might denote that the she had been
here。 The metal was gone； and if there was any connection between the
she and the metal it seemed useless to wait for her now that the latter had
been removed elsewhere。
Everything seemed to elude himthe pretty pebbles； the yellow metal；
the she； his memory。 Tarzan was disgusted。 He would go back into the
jungle and look for Chulk； and so he turned his steps once more toward
the forest。 He moved rapidly； swinging across the plain in a long； easy
trot； and at the edge of the forest； taking to the trees with the agility and
speed of a small monkey。
His direction was aimlesshe merely raced on and on through the
jungle； the joy of unfettered action his principal urge； with the hope of
stumbling upon some clew to Chulk or the she； a secondary incentive。
For two days he roamed about； killing； eating； drinking and sleeping
wherever inclination and the means to indulge it occurred simultaneously。
It was upon the morning of the third day that the scent spoor of horse and
man were wafted faintly to his nostrils。 Instantly he altered his course to
glide silently through the branches in the direction from which the scent
came。
It was not long before he came upon a solitary horseman riding toward
the east。 Instantly his eyes confirmed what his nose had previously
suspectedthe rider was he who had stolen his pretty pebbles。 The light
of rage flared suddenly in the gray eyes as the ape…man dropped lower
among the branches until he moved almost directly above the unconscious
Werper。
There was a quick leap； and the Belgian felt a heavy body hurtle onto
the rump of his terror…stricken mount。 The horse； snorting； leaped forward。
Giant arms encircled the rider； and in the twinkling of an eye he was
dragged from his saddle to find himself lying in the narrow trail with a
naked； white giant kneeling upon his breast。
Recognition came to Werper with the first glance at his captor's face；
and a pallor of fear overspread his features。 Strong fingers were at his
throat； fingers of steel。 He tried to cry out； to plead for his life； but the
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cruel fingers denied him speech； as they were as surely denying him life。
〃The pretty pebbles？〃 cried the man upon his breast。 〃What did you
with the pretty pebbleswith Tarzan's pretty pebbles？〃
The fingers relaxed to permit a reply。 For some time Werper could
only choke and coughat last he regained the powers of speech。
〃Achmet Zek； the Arab； stole them from me；〃 he cried； 〃he made me
give up the pouch and the pebbles。〃
〃I saw all that；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃but the pebble
