tarzan and the jewels of opar-第7部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



toward　the　exits。　　The　priests　roared　out　their　rage

and　terror　according　to　the　temper　of　their　courage。

Werper　strained　his　neck　about　to　catch　a　sight　of　the

cause　of　their　panic；　and　when；　at　last　he　saw　it；　he

too　went　cold　in　dread；　for　what　his　eyes　beheld　was

the　figure　of　a　huge　lion　standing　in　the　center　of　the

temple；　and　already　a　single　victim　lay　mangled　beneath

his　cruel　paws。



Again　the　lord　of　the　wilderness　roared；　turning　his

baleful　gaze　upon　the　altar。　　La　staggered　forward；

reeled；　and　fell　across　Werper　in　a　swoon。







6



The　Arab　Raid





After　their　first　terror　had　subsided　subsequent　to　the

shock　of　the　earthquake；　Basuli　and　his　warriors

hastened　back　into　the　passageway　in　search　of　Tarzan

and　two　of　their　own　number　who　were　also　missing。



They　found　the　way　blocked　by　jammed　and　distorted

rock。　　For　two　days　they　labored　to　tear　a　way　through

to　their　imprisoned　friends；　but　when；　after　Herculean

efforts；　they　had　unearthed　but　a　few　yards　of　the

choked　passage；　and　discovered　the　mangled　remains　of

one　of　their　fellows　they　were　forced　to　the　conclusion

that　Tarzan　and　the　second　Waziri　also　lay　dead　beneath

the　rock　mass　farther　in；　beyond　human　aid；　and　no

longer　susceptible　of　it。



Again　and　again　as　they　labored　they　called　aloud　the

names　of　their　master　and　their　comrade；　but　no

answering　call　rewarded　their　listening　ears。　　At　last

they　gave　up　the　search。　　Tearfully　they　cast　a　last

look　at　the　shattered　tomb　of　their　master；　shouldered

the　heavy　burden　of　gold　that　would　at　least　furnish

comfort；　if　not　happiness；　to　their　bereaved　and

beloved　mistress；　and　made　their　mournful　way　back

across　the　desolate　valley　of　Opar；　and　downward

through　the　forests　beyond　toward　the　distant　bungalow。



And　as　they　marched　what　sorry　fate　was　already　drawing

down　upon　that　peaceful；　happy　home！



From　the　north　came　Achmet　Zek；　riding　to　the　summons

of　his　lieutenant's　letter。　　With　him　came　his　horde　of

renegade　Arabs；　outlawed　marauders；　these；　and　equally

degraded　blacks；　garnered　from　the　more　debased　and

ignorant　tribes　of　savage　cannibals　through　whose

countries　the　raider　passed　to　and　fro　with　perfect

impunity。



Mugambi；　the　ebon　Hercules；　who　had　shared　the　dangers

and　vicissitudes　of　his　beloved　Bwana；　from　Jungle

Island；　almost　to　the　headwaters　of　the　Ugambi；

was　the　first　to　note　the　bold　approach　of　the

sinister　caravan。



He　it　was　whom　Tarzan　had　left　in　charge　of　the

warriors　who　remained　to　guard　Lady　Greystoke；　nor

could　a　braver　or　more　loyal　guardian　have　been　found

in　any　clime　or　upon　any　soil。　　A　giant　in　stature；

a　savage；　fearless　warrior；　the　huge　black　possessed　also

soul　and　judgment　in　proportion　to　his　bulk　and　his　ferocity。



Not　once　since　his　master　had　departed　had　he　been

beyond　sight　or　sound　of　the　bungalow；　except　when　Lady

Greystoke　chose　to　canter　across　the　broad　plain；　or

relieve　the　monotony　of　her　loneliness　by　a　brief

hunting　excursion。　　On　such　occasions　Mugambi；　mounted

upon　a　wiry　Arab；　had　ridden　close　at　her　horse's

heels。



The　raiders　were　still　a　long　way　off　when　the

warrior's　keen　eyes　discovered　them。　　For　a　time　he

stood　scrutinizing　the　advancing　party　in　silence；

then　he　turned　and　ran　rapidly　in　the　direction　of　the

native　huts　which　lay　a　few　hundred　yards　below　the　bungalow。



Here　he　called　out　to　the　lolling　warriors。　　He　issued

orders　rapidly。　　In　compliance　with　them　the　men　seized

upon　their　weapons　and　their　shields。　　Some　ran　to　call

in　the　workers　from　the　fields　and　to　warn　the　tenders

of　the　flocks　and　herds。　　The　majority　followed　Mugambi

back　toward　the　bungalow。



The　dust　of　the　raiders　was　still　a　long　distance　away。

Mugambi　could　not　know　positively　that　it　hid　an　enemy；

but　he　had　spent　a　lifetime　of　savage　life　in　savage

Africa；　and　he　had　seen　parties　before　come　thus

unheralded。　　Sometimes　they　had　come　in　peace　and

sometimes　they　had　come　in　warone　could　never　tell。

It　was　well　to　be　prepared。　　Mugambi　did　not　like　the

haste　with　which　the　strangers　advanced。



The　Greystoke　bungalow　was　not　well　adapted　for

defense。　　No　palisade　surrounded　it；　for；　situated　as

it　was；　in　the　heart　of　loyal　Waziri；　its　master　had

anticipated　no　possibility　of　an　attack　in　force　by　any

enemy。　　Heavy；　wooden　shutters　there　were　to　close　the

window　apertures　against　hostile　arrows；　and　these

Mugambi　was　engaged　in　lowering　when　Lady　Greystoke

appeared　upon　the　veranda。



〃Why；　Mugambi！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃What　has　happened？

Why　are　you　lowering　the　shutters？〃



Mugambi　pointed　out　across　the　plain　to　where　a　white…robed

force　of　mounted　men　was　now　distinctly　visible。



〃Arabs；〃　he　explained。　　〃They　come　for　no　good　purpose

in　the　absence　of　the　Great　Bwana。〃



Beyond　the　neat　lawn　and　the　flowering　shrubs；　Jane

Clayton　saw　the　glistening　bodies　of　her　Waziri。

The　sun　glanced　from　the　tips　of　their　metal…shod　spears；

picked　out　the　gorgeous　colors　in　the　feathers　of　their

war　bonnets；　and　reflected　the　high…lights　from　the

glossy　skins　of　their　broad　shoulders　and　high　cheek　bones。



Jane　Clayton　surveyed　them　with　unmixed　feelings　of

pride　and　affection。　　What　harm　could　befall　her　with

such　as　these　to　protect　her？



The　raiders　had　halted　now；　a　hundred　yards　out　upon

the　plain。　　Mugambi　had　hastened　down　to　join　his

warriors。　　He　advanced　a　few　yards　before　them　and

raising　his　voice　hailed　the　strangers。　　Achmet　Zek　sat

straight　in　his　saddle　before　his　henchmen。



〃Arab！〃　cried　Mugambi。　　〃What　do　you　here？〃



〃We　come　in　peace；〃　Achmet　Zek　called　back。



〃Then　turn　and　go　in　peace；〃　replied　Mugambi。

〃We　do　not　want　you　here。　　There　can　be　no　peace　between

Arab　and　Waziri。〃



Mugambi；　although　not　born　in　Waziri；　had　been　adopted

into　the　tribe；　which　now　contained　no　member　more

jealous　of　its　traditions　and　its　prowess　than　he。



Achmet　Zek　drew　to　one　side　of　his　horde；　speaking　to

his　men　in　a　low　voice。　　A　moment　later；　without

warning；　a　ragged　volley　was　poured　into　the　ranks　of

the　Waziri。　　A　couple　of　warriors　fell；　the　others　were

for　charging　the　attackers；　but　Mugambi　was　a　cautious

as　well　as　a　brave　leader。　　He　knew　the　futility　of

charging　mounted　men　armed　with　muskets。　　He　withdrew

his　force　behind　the　shrubbery　of　the　garden。　　Some　he

dispatched　to　various　other　parts　of　the　grounds

surrounding　the　bungalow。　　Half　a　dozen　he　sent　to　the

bungalow　itself　with　instructions　to　keep　their

mistress　within　doors；　and　to　protect　her　with　their　lives。



Adopting　the　tactics　of　the　desert　fighters　from　which

he　had　sprung；　Achmet　Zek　led　his　followers　at　a　gallop

in　a　long；　thin　line；　describing　a　great　circle　which

drew　closer　and　closer　in　toward　the　defenders。



At　that　part　of　the　circle　closest　to　the　Waziri；

a　constant　fusillade　of　shots　was　poured　into　the　bushes

behind　which　the　black　warriors　had　concealed

themselves。　　The　latter；　on　their　part；　loosed　their

slim　shafts　at　the　nearest　of　the　enemy。



The　Waziri；　justly　famed　for　their　archery；　found　no

cause　to　blush　for　their　performance　that　day。

Time　and　again　some　swarthy　horseman　threw　hands　above

his　head　and　toppled　from　his　saddle；　pierced　by　a

deadly　arrow；　but　the　contest　was　uneven。　　The　Arabs

outnumbered　the　Waziri；　their　bullets　penetrated　the

shrubbery　and　found　marks　that　the　Arab　riflemen　had

not　even　seen；　and　then　Achmet　Zek　circled　inward　a

half　mile　above　the　bungalow；　tore　down　a　section　of

the　fence；　and　led　his　marauders　within　the　grounds。



Across　the　fields　they　charged　at　a　mad　run。　　Not　again

did　they　pause　to　lower　fences；　instead；　they　drove

their　wild　mounts　straight　for　them；　clearing　the

obstacles　as　lightly　as　winged　gulls。



Mugambi　saw　them　coming；　and；　calling　those　of　his

warriors　who　remained；　ran　for　the　bungalow　and　the

last　stand。　　Upon　the　veranda　Lady　Greystoke　stood；

rifle　in　hand。　　More　than　a　single　raider　had　accounted

to　her　steady　nerves　and　cool　aim　for　his　outlawry；

more　than　a　single　pony　raced；　riderless；　in　the　wake

of　the　charging　horde。



Mugambi　pushed　his　mistress　back　into　the　greater

security　of　the　interior；　and　with　his　depleted　force

prepared　to　make　a　last　stand　against　the　foe。



On　came　the　Arabs；　shouting　and　waving　their　long　guns

above　their　heads。　　Past　the　veranda　they　raced；

pouring　a　deadly　fire　into　the　kneeling　Waziri　who

discharged　their　volley　of　arrows　from　behind　their

long；　oval　shieldsshields　well　adapted；　perhaps；

to　stop　a　hostile　arrow；　or　deflect　a　spear；　but　futile；

quite；　before　the　leaden　missiles　of　the　riflemen。



From　beneath　the　half…raised　shutters　of　the　bungalow

other　bowmen　did　effective　service　in　greater　security；

and　after　the　first　assault；　Mugambi　withdrew　his

entire　force　within　the　building。



Again　and　again　the　Arabs　charged；　at　last　forming　a

stationary　circle　about　the　little　fortress；　and

outside　the　effective　range　of　the　defenders'　arrows。

From　their　new　position　they　fired　at　will　at　the

windows。　　One　by　one　the　Waziri　fell。　　Fewer　and　fewer

were　the　arrows　that　replied　to　the　guns　of　the

raiders；　and　at　last　Achmet　Zek　felt　safe　in　ordering

an　assault。



Firing　as　they　ran；　the　bloodthirsty　horde　raced　for

the　veranda。　　A　dozen　of　them　fell　to　the　arrows　of　the

defenders；　but　the　majority　reached　the　door。

Heavy　gun　butts　fell　upon　it。　　The　crash　of　splintered

wood　mingled　with　the　report　of　a　rifle　as　Jane　Clayton

fired　through　the　panels　upon　the　relentless　foe。



Upon　both　sides　of　the　door　men　fell；　but　at　last　the

frail　barrier　gave　to　the　vicious　assaults　of　the

maddened　attackers；　it　crumpled　inward　and　a　dozen

swarthy　murderers　leaped　into　the　living…room。

At　the　far　end　stood　Jane　Clayton　surrounded　by　the　rem