A Random "Tarzan And The Jewels Of Opar" Cutup

Achmet Zek should know nothing of these--these would be for Werper name, and at the same instant the ape, fretting under the restraints of fastened his eyes upon her. He saw her roll over upon her side away approached the corpse. Without an instant's hesitation he seized the has its own distinctive scent. It was an old man that made his way straight out before him.

His command to accompany him should he contemplate desertion of his the two sentries were now within the hut, but hesitating because of chief, and the more he thought upon the matter the greater his fears the anthropoids a sustained interest in their venture. Chulk was mugambi were following toward the east.

But which he never had found an opportunity to effect. With the aid of the sense among the beasts of the wild.

Hand. This, and Allah, are our witnesses," and they pointed to a the coming of the Belgian and the Arab. Forgotten were the sorrows and burning with white-hot anger was the High Priestess, her heart a like the tent he had investigated, the hut, too, was empty, and after save her. Go your way with her back to Opar, and Tarzan will go his for them to pass before returning his attention to the original prey? The retreating apes. A ragged, straggling volley it was, but at least "What have we here?" he cried, swinging from his saddle, and a moment counted them--only roughly had he guessed at their value.

Above him, he could see no sign of the girl. Dismounting, he quickly the treasure.

Branches of which he might spring upon his unsuspecting prey; but, door to the treasure room, his weight pushed it open and his body mumbling as though in the throes of a bad dream. A moment later he blocks of granite, dislodged from the ceiling, tumbled into the narrow nature that he dared not risk detection.

Never again should she dare descend to the ground among the fearsome mugambi were following toward the east.

Your horse, with butt toward me. Then I will go away, leaving the discolorations. At the time Werper gave no thought to an explanation his apes toward the tent of Achmet Zek. A passing Arab and two slaves moment, and at last hung half within and half without the opening; but together, the hideous little men fingering their knives and bludgeons, position. A figure darted past Werper. He saw a mighty arm upraised, it was not long before he came upon a solitary horseman riding toward slaves administered wine and food in small quantities until at last the return of his lieutenant, Albert Werper. During the long, rough "Are you going alone, or do you wish me to awaken someone to accompany sound of the bungalow, except when Lady Greystoke chose to canter their cruel Arab master, had taken advantage of their separation from was learning. The unexpected pit had taught him care in the traversing vaults, making the total of one hundred which Tarzan intended taking trees behind him. The ape-man made a slight detour and increased his nor had they long to wait. A dim, bulky form dropped lightly from the "Go your way, then," he growled, "leaving the pouch in plain sight last he fell and could rise no more. How long he had fled he did not are riding WEST. Then, when the Abyssinians come they will be put upon prey to the nervous reaction from the frightful ordeal through which was a victim. The man had lost his memory--no longer could he prisoner regained consciousness. As he opened his eyes he saw the the men of Abdul Mourak met them with a volley which emptied a few thought.

Had come in war--one could never tell. It was well to be prepared. Within his consciousness.

Convinced himself that the attentions which might seem hideous to her cooled the hot passion which had dominated him when he entered the tent. Beyd's slave calling to him at the entrance of his tent.

Earth shook to the mighty volume of his noise. He put his head against guarded by an additional sentry, but bound as well.

Compared with equal propriety to the barking and growling of a dog and confidence in the man, and resulted in an increased independence of turned back into her tent and sought the pile of unclean blankets which guarded at his camp!

Time. What return, other than your life, do you expect for your the Arabs rushed across the room; the Waziri met them with their heavy she realized that desperate situations required desperate handling, and captor, rather than protector, and so she suspected nothing though she it was mattered little to Tarzan of the Apes--he was ready and willing as he stood there measuring the distance to the opposite side and congratulate him upon his victory.

He returned and bent above the ape-man. Clutched tightly in his hand life within the enclosure. To this place had the spoor led him. His his hunger satisfied, thirst next claimed his attention. The river one of Achmet Zek's minions, many of whom were scattered in all miles; but presently their interest lagged, the foremost of them halted padding of footfalls on the trail ahead of her, and in another moment a giant locomotive under full speed, and so, though the distance that it was very late when the ape-man re-entered the boma and lay down of Tarzan and Werper. Three great apes accompanied them and to these drawing the noose taut, he tested the solidity of its hold. Satisfied, his spear deep into the fierce heart, then after recovering his arrows agility and ferocity of a second quick charge.

Courage. Werper strained his neck about to catch a sight of the cause singly and in twos the searchers who had ridden out with Achmet Zek inches apart.

Language--our escape may hinge upon the success of your efforts." But Werper only dug the spurs deeper into the bleeding sides of his examined the ground with his nose. There was no scent spoor here of in the Congo country and fled to the protection of Achmet Zek. He led suspicions, and each day found a slight relaxation of their

Sentries at the gates, then he dropped lightly to the ground, circled thus Achmet Zek advanced until he had come opposite the dead horse of safety of the exits. The lion stood upon the body of one who had been presently the body scent of the deer told Tarzan that his prey was the still and unconscious form of the girl, lying a few paces from him clearing in full view of the Arab.

Might rest, or whether she were behind friend or foe, she dared not bottom, and presently he sensed that the Belgian had recently passed lion lowered his head, the gaping fangs closed with a single sickening boma. He approached the sleeper upon padded feet which gave forth no earth shook to the mighty volume of his noise. He put his head against charge, stumbled over the projecting obstacle and crashed to the

Minded to allow this frail opportunity for life to entirely elude her for him, and in trembling, piteous tones she begged him for his love. Blood. He saw the mighty limbs tremble and stagger and at last he saw "Then why should you have wished to kill him?" Tarzan was determined to gently as one who treads on eggs, the devil-faced cat crept forward identical to hers.

Human flesh and learned that though not the most palatable it was much noise that neither could hear anything above their concerted village in this part of Africa unless he was sure of a friendly his waist, and before he could recover himself he was dragged from his mohammed Beyd sat cross-legged upon a rug, smoking. The Arab looked up spoor led always in the shadow and at the rear of the huts and tents of what would Achmet Zek say, if he knew? Werper grinned. How the old chulk and Taglat, their hairy faces pressed close to that of the priestess of the degraded remnants of the oldest civilization upon to the right of them, and though he could not have seen them the wind who had been a guest of his master before the latter had departed for his mind, reverted to the primitive, was untroubled by any more serious that ever had aroused the fires of love within her virgin breast; she white-robed Arabs squatted silently among the branches of the forest. From his victim.

Tarzan placed a large palm over his treasure. He bared his fighting that the yellow pile for which these men had fought and died had been his prisoners, Abdul Mourak was in no mood to be influenced by any occupied by thoughts of the pretty pebbles he had lost, yet his every they pounded upon their breasts with their fists; they raised their for any of the repulsive priests of Opar. Custom, duty and religious swinging back through the jungle in a wide circle the ape-man came to conceal from the world his part in the destruction of his host's home quitted his kill and was well filled, merely made a slight detour and clinging with one hand to the short mane of his quarry, Tarzan struck another and a greater power--his shrewd intelligence.

Muscular companions, and so the speed of all was limited to that of the trampled by the feet of horses and men, gave no clew. It was as though disguise. Where it could have walked boldly to the very sides of the they returned from the gates to their respective tents and huts, tarzan's wife.

And passed into the hut. The black grinned and winked as the European recognized something else, too, that interested him far more deeply quick fingers the pouch of jewels. To his consternation, there was no nowhere in the new world was a city that might compare with his beloved "I have thought much, as I said, and the result of my thinking has beside the rotting bole, from beneath which he was assiduously engaged fingers, his thoughts returned to the pile of yellow ingots about which a thief and a murderer. Taking his long gun with him, he left the came in sight a sleek, black warrior, alert and watchful.

Lion racing toward him and even as he turned, Numa seized him. At the in his escape from the village, the ape-man had lost the spoor of the saw that he was weakening and that soon the greater numbers would of elation disturbed his phlegmatic calm, yet inwardly he was aroused righteousness. It was your own virtue, Jane, rather even than your who so recently had been a guest in her home. She was upon the point beyond the neat lawn and the flowering shrubs, Jane Clayton saw the bush along the leafy trail.

And it was several minutes after they had halted at Tarzan's command sleek, fat bunch of zebra he wormed his stealthy way. No intricate off through the darkness in the direction of his own blankets. The soft, tough fabric of the leather. Then he pried down upon the handle. His way to the outer world. The thing came without warning. One with bushes than he had yet encountered, prepared to gloat his eyes ramparts and behind him slunk Werper, jackal-like, and only God knew raiment. They fingered the fabric, smelled of it, and regarded each for a time Tarzan stood in statuesque silence, listening, his sensitive it away sticky with clotted blood. He sniffed at his fingers, as a lions were upon the rhinoceros, rending and tearing the while they were "Someone is having trouble over there," he said, turning toward Werper. Sentiments of love for him; but that she had by various feminine might have known that a white man and a gentleman could be naught else accede to whatever he might suggest by his conversation with the it was two hours later that the flaps at the front of the tent there was a quick leap, and the Belgian felt a heavy body hurtle onto the other apes came closer and sniffed at the ape-man. Tarzan stood enemy. Heavy, wooden shutters there were to close the window apertures vantage, Tarzan could view the enclosure within the palisade. He and thus it was that Achmet Zek, the Arab, found him. Achmet's creatures of the jungle. No intimation of danger assailed the dormant floor before he could take a single forward step. How long he crept on excused himself and retired, Lady Greystoke following him very soon his back. When he regained consciousness he found himself securely sooner had he passed out of the range of the Arab's vision, halted his superior officer."

Should be no torture--there should be instant death. No longer should the forest to the north and west.

An opening in the ceiling, from which a flight of concrete steps led suspicious of the ape-man, and in his mind had constantly revolved many a runner had arrived at the bungalow with the weekly mail, and Lord she realized that desperate situations required desperate handling, and at his side hung a long, rawhide rope--a natural and more dependable another circumstance which decided him to postpone pursuit of the Arabs attested a sinister regard for the actions of the girl behind him. Where he might easily have acquired the apparel. So sure was Tarzan as the European came into his presence.

Lower orders, especially to the hunters and the hunted, as interesting were. I left the Belgian only worthless stones, while I brought away was no further danger from pursuit, and so he staggered on until at before the gates of the walled village, Werper cautioned the girl to inhabitants of the village, or at least his work had been of such a life with which they had been intimately connected. His boyhood among trail of the retreating raiders. He could move but slowly, resting nondescript stew in which a new-killed monkey, a couple of squirrels you have no other with you who could do so much. The risk will be from their hiding place in the tree to the ground and around the fight on, until death or success terminated her endeavors.

The jungle when one who had sneaked upon him from behind struck him a anthropoids sprung the gnarled men of Opar; but by some queer freak of nearest English commissioner?"

Him in the end, though he had to search every tree in the mighty forest. "You will stake your life against the finding of the gold?" asked Abdul. Even as Tarzan opened his eyes he was upon his feet, his spear grasped later a corner of the pouch came into view. Werper pulled it from its tunnel with his knees, slipped backward, clutched desperately for a them and rose to his feet. Approaching Werper he knelt beside him. Achmet Zek to send him in command of the party which took Lady pebbles. You have hidden them! Tell me where they are or I will kill insult for insult, challenge for challenge.

Werper was relieved to find that Tarzan had no conception of the value heartless god and again a melting woman filled with compassion and the age-old, golden tablets set in the walls of nearly every room and both were tall and bearded, and the exposure to sun and wind had given the Belgian.

Long-gone day that he had wrested his first spear from the body of a achmet Zek himself, might collect the woman's price and make good his dead. If you are not all fools you will let me go my way in peace and been a prisoner.

Little or no reasoning was required to convince him of the identity of face, then he wheeled upon the Arabs.

Sentry was posted at the front and another at the back, and with these unconscious Werper.

Zek, "has terrorized the entire country. Your Waziri are either that indefinable terror which the close proximity of man awakened in great frame shrank suddenly into a sinister crouch as, slowly and similar and answering sound from the camp. The sentries drew close the priests gathered together in a little knot arguing and discussing. Save the Negro--he had merely done it in revenge upon the lion; but now scent spoor of the she he sought. He saw the two sentries standing way into the jungle. Let there be peace always between Tarzan and La. Mbonga, the chief--the forest god--the Munango-Keewati for whom we set sensitive nostrils. Caching the remainder of the deer's hind quarter still more?"

From the time that the company had halted; but with the preparation of it is our only hope, Lady Greystoke, and you must place your entire protected them and so they came without fatalities far along the trail loitered a fleeting sense of familiarity with all that he saw, yet he about them in expectation of the ghost's early return to the scene of her prison, doubtless left there by accident when a former tenant had jane Clayton could see both men plainly. She recognized Achmet Zek as the Arab was crazed by rage. Recently everything had gone against him. Mysterious continent, a weird and terrible caravan in search of him. He saw the Arab now throw aside the empty pouch, and grasping his long "I am satisfied," said Werper. "Tomorrow we start?"

Allies which Basuli had scattered his messengers broadcast to summon. Securing her prisoner's feet and hands. In an instant Tarzan was upon

Bent above the blankets of a bed. There was a whispered word, and landscape, while closer to the river a bull buffalo, his head and cautioned the others to silence and a moment later was swinging quietly last falling again beneath the weight of his burden and the shock of tarzan, although cognizant of his mighty powers, realized also his well it was that he did watch him, for at last Numa could stand it no own peril--everything save the wondrous miracle of this strange but Achmet Zek was no fool to expose himself to the blackened honor of opened them again there was in them a resignation to whatever horrible lieutenant Albert Werper, terrified by contemplation of the fate which it was mattered little to Tarzan of the Apes--he was ready and willing a half hour later the two came upon a horde of ebon warriors which "Why should I kill you?" inquired Tarzan. "You have not harmed me, and as they conversed their terror grew, while from the concealment of the to his feet and ran back. Seizing the reins he tugged to drag the the surprised and friendly welcome that was accorded the erstwhile were veiled by the tears which she could not repress.

Transformation that had been wrought in Tarzan by the blow upon his their cult she should have belonged to him. Seemingly there was to be pilfering of the sacred knife bring to La, the Oparian, Queen and High from his throat; but Tarzan, guessing that the beast had but just up the pouch and the pebbles."

Of mingled joy and sorrow. She saw a tall, broad-shouldered man riding werper was astounded. Could this creature be the same dignified dragged down from behind in futile flight. She did not even close her might have slept a second or a day--he could not know; but that he had the Belgian after his departure from his tent was the black sentry "Protect her," cried Tarzan to the other Oparians. "Protect her so spurred to desperate means, he gathered himself for the leap across the think only of escape. He dared not pause to rest or eat until there utmost caution the Belgian arose. Tarzan did not move. Werper took a thoughts for a considerable time. With the next sun he would cross the scent of the Arabs, undertaking the rescue of the woman who had "Greek," he explained.

With the fiendish cunning of their kind, the tawny hunters commenced to if the Belgian had entertained any doubts as to the woman's knowledge shall have bad luck if we do not let him go," and the fellow rolled his on ahead, that he might warn Achmet Zek of the coming of Basuli, and step by step the Arab beat back his adversary until the latter's horse searched with nervous hands for the pouch of jewels which he expected with his shining baubles. Werper asked him what they were and where he horsemen. Dragging his kill after him the ape-man ascended to the tree he made his way to the drinking place at the river's edge. There the ingots had evaporated into thin air.

Speedily forget such trivial encounters, and presently Chulk and Taglat but none came. For a time he wondered that they should so bravely riflemen had not even seen; and then Achmet Zek circled inward a half upon his first visit, La had had no thought that such men as he us. Cut them and I may yet save you."

To Tarzan for one of the symptoms of madness is a revulsion of recalled, an Arab and an Abyssinian wheeled their mounts close to his it was very late when the ape-man re-entered the boma and lay down nervous energy and rob him of his peace of mind. Recalling only dimly from them, for you, too, hate them. In return I will take service with mugambi were following toward the east.

Friend of mine who is always in touch with the best markets for such werper had still been in advance of Achmet Zek when he reached the his efforts, was in good humor, and inclined to chaff his prisoners cautiously the prowler crossed the interior. In one hand was a long lungs, and Buto, with victory almost in sight, succumbed to internal only toward the east, through British East Africa, lay reasonable doubtless marching on this camp, for they were sent by Menelek to sprawled in his rickety chair to enjoy a final cigaret before retiring. Werper with his true identity, and as Werper was equally anxious to listening halt; but with cocked and ready rifle he pushed ahead again, which was confined to the darkness of the four stone walls surrounding and slowly there dawned in those sunken eyes, gleaming so brightly from necessary bravado to force a smile to his lips, as he held up his hand and now he called to her to descend. At first she refused; but when a dead wrists and dragged the body upon its back to the point where he to acknowledge that he had lost the jewels might be to arouse the wrath center of the clearing that the Flaming God may look down upon our it was almost dark before the lion finally quit the clearing, and even to his own possession; but the restricted radius to which his bonds the battle behind them raged with bloody savageness. No quarter was branches of the tree from whence he had dropped so uncannily upon the lion, until she lay again in the same position in which Numa had left by the blood-mad cats. The leaping carnivora and the plunging horses, terror--the other was plunged into total forgetfulness of the past by a by a quick side step, Tarzan eluded the first swinging clutch of the prison; but before Werper left her he whispered words of cheer into her abdul Mourak eyed him, frowningly. "What do you want now?" he asked. Of his candle. To his delight he discovered that the thin blocks of jane Clayton could not know how much of Mohammed Beyd's indictment choosing the safer and swifter avenue of the forest branches to the "Tarzan!" she exclaimed, and then, in the vernacular of the great apes were now tightly strapped about his waist, beneath his clothing. The one moment they were laughing and talking together--the next they lay would be but to invite instant destruction, for Numa would doubtless be its former mighty powers. Now he went more rapidly; but the mounted prevail over him, nor had she long to wait before the mighty jungle as, burdened with her weight, he swung nimbly into the lower branches contents. Ah, if he could extract a little handful of the precious path from the direction of the river. The ape-man counted seven--a wondering if he dared venture so great a leap, there broke suddenly a horse, struck by a stray bullet, fell beside Jane Clayton, a lion middle terrace, and settling himself comfortably in the crotch of a pointed to his familiarity and friendship for the raiders.

Night it was pitched between those of Mohammed Beyd and Werper. A the lion dragged the helpless Arab from his saddle, and the horse evening cigarets in a silence which neither seemed desirous of loveliness as that which Lady Greystoke presented in the relief and joy appealed, strongly. With Taglat there was another incentive--a secret these two, then, were to be Tarzan's companions upon his return to the promiscuous bathing in the rivers of certain portions of the dark was or whence he came. He wandered aimlessly about, searching for went wide in horror as the significance of the death chant impinged the Arab raider, Achmet Zek, who, six months previously, had affronted dispel that dream the memory of the old witch-doctor and his warning. Shall die. Tarzan will go again to Opar before the next rains and if ape-man was looking down upon the mighty horn lowered to toss him, so "But there must be some other way," insisted the woman.

It was not long before the Belgian had succeeded in convincing himself was alone. The balance of the camp, save the sentries, had

The shot ploughed a deep and painful furrow in the lion's side, nearest English commissioner?"

It, and finding a comfortable crotch among its branches, reposed "Go your way, then," he growled, "leaving the pouch in plain sight werper was upon his feet now, gazing, white and trembling, at the fate these indefatigable huntsmen.

All fours and commenced a diligent search for the little tallow the Abyssinians were formed in a circle which included Tarzan's always than to have you risk the hideous dangers of Opar."

Shields. Some ran to call in the workers from the fields and to warn and Tarzan continued their journey alone; nor was the latter either off the other. Neither wished to turn back and give way, nor did garden. Some he dispatched to various other parts of the grounds to joy by the proof he had just heard that "Lady" really was within. Fool than I have imagined. And, if this evidence of my judgment is not of the pouch, and the latter was drawn quickly from his view into the

Men he would send with the Belgian could be carefully selected with a and grisly fangs may inflict before the coming of the merciful oblivion the apes told Tarzan that they had been traveling toward the east when braved the presence of a score of human beings, but alone--ah, that was and that was the end.