tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第7章
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the lesser boulders that were scattered over the top of the hill； but； seeing
or hearing nothing of the Englishman； he crept from his place of
concealment to undertake a systematic search of his surroundings； in the
hope that he might discover the location of the treasure in ample time to
make his escape before Tarzan returned； for it was the Belgian's desire
merely to locate the gold； that； after Tarzan had departed； he might come
in safety with his followers and carry away as much as he could transport。
He found the narrow cleft leading downward into the heart of the
kopje along well…worn； granite steps。 He advanced quite to the dark
mouth of the tunnel into which the runway disappeared； but here he halted；
fearing to enter； lest he meet Tarzan returning。
The ape…man； far ahead of him； groped his way along the rocky
passage； until he came to the ancient wooden door。 A moment later he
stood within the treasure chamber； where； ages since； long…dead hands had
ranged the lofty rows of precious ingots for the rulers of that great
continent which now lies submerged beneath the waters of the Atlantic。
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No sound broke the stillness of the subterranean vault。 There was no
evidence that another had discovered the forgotten wealth since last the
ape…man had visited its hiding place。
Satisfied； Tarzan turned and retraced his steps toward the summit of
the kopje。 Werper； from the concealment of a jutting； granite shoulder；
watched him pass up from the shadows of the stairway and advance
toward the edge of the hill which faced the rim of the valley where the
Waziri awaited the signal of their master。 Then Werper； slipping stealthily
from his hiding place； dropped into the somber darkness of the entrance
and disappeared。
Tarzan； halting upon the kopje's edge； raised his voice in the
thunderous roar of a lion。 Twice； at regular intervals； he repeated the call；
standing in attentive silence for several minutes after the echoes of the
third call had died away。 And then； from far across the valley； faintly；
came an answering roaronce； twice； thrice。 Basuli； the Waziri chieftain；
had heard and replied。
Tarzan again made his way toward the treasure vault； knowing that in
a few hours his blacks would be with him； ready to bear away another
fortune in the strangely shaped； golden ingots of Opar。 In the meantime
he would carry as much of the precious metal to the summit of the kopje
as he could。
Six trips he made in the five hours before Basuli reached the kopje；
and at the end of that time he had transported forty…eight ingots to the edge
of the great boulder； carrying upon each trip a load which might well have
staggered two ordinary men； yet his giant frame showed no evidence of
fatigue； as he helped to raise his ebon warriors to the hill top with the rope
that had been brought for the purpose。
Six times he had returned to the treasure chamber； and six times
Werper； the Belgian； had cowered in the black shadows at the far end of
the long vault。 Once again came the ape…man； and this time there came
with him fifty fighting men； turning porters for love of the only creature in
the world who might command of their fierce and haughty natures such
menial service。 Fifty…two more ingots passed out of the vaults； making
the total of one hundred which Tarzan intended taking away with him。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
As the last of the Waziri filed from the chamber； Tarzan turned back
for a last glimpse of the fabulous wealth upon which his two inroads had
made no appreciable impression。 Before he extinguished the single
candle he had brought with him for the purpose； and the flickering light of
which had cast the first alleviating rays into the impenetrable darkness of
the buried chamber； that it had known for the countless ages since it had
lain forgotten of man； Tarzan's mind reverted to that first occasion upon
which he had entered the treasure vault； coming upon it by chance as he
fled from the pits beneath the temple； where he had been hidden by La； the
High Priestess of the Sun Worshipers。
He recalled the scene within the temple when he had lain stretched
upon the sacrificial altar； while La； with high…raised dagger； stood above
him； and the rows of priests and priestesses awaited； in the ecstatic
hysteria of fanaticism； the first gush of their victim's warm blood； that they
might fill their golden goblets and drink to the glory of their Flaming God。
The brutal and bloody interruption by Tha； the mad priest； passed
vividly before the ape…man's recollective eyes； the flight of the votaries
before the insane blood lust of the hideous creature； the brutal attack upon
La； and his own part of the grim tragedy when he had battled with the
infuriated Oparian and left him dead at the feet of the priestess he would
have profaned。
This and much more passed through Tarzan's memory as he stood
gazing at the long tiers of dull…yellow metal。 He wondered if La still ruled
the temples of the ruined city whose crumbling walls rose upon the very
foundations about him。 Had she finally been forced into a union with
one of her grotesque priests？ It seemed a hideous fate； indeed； for one so
beautiful。 With a shake of his head； Tarzan stepped to the flickering candle；
extinguished its feeble rays and turned toward the exit。
Behind him the spy waited for him to be gone。 He had learned the
secret for which he had come； and now he could return at his leisure to his
waiting followers； bring them to the treasure vault and carry away all the
gold that they could stagger under。
The Waziri had reached the outer end of the tunnel； and were winding
upward toward the fresh air and the welcome starlight of the kopje's
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
summit； before Tarzan shook off the detaining hand of reverie and started
slowly after them。
Once again； and； he thought； for the last time； he closed the massive
door of the treasure room。 In the darkness behind him Werper rose and
stretched his cramped muscles。 He stretched forth a hand and lovingly
caressed a golden ingot on the nearest tier。 He raised it from its
immemorial resting place and weighed it in his hands。 He clutched it to
his bosom in an ecstasy of avarice。
Tarzan dreamed of the happy homecoming which lay before him； of
dear arms about his neck； and a soft cheek pressed to his； but there rose to
dispel that dream the memory of the old witch…doctor and his warning。
And then； in the span of a few brief seconds； the hopes of both these
men were shattered。 The one forgot even his greed in the panic of terror…
…the other was plunged into total forgetfulness of the past by a jagged
fragment of
