Part 7 (1/2)

Muga the trail of the retreating raiders He could e hatred and an equally savage desire for vengeance kept him to his task As the days passed his wounds healed and his strength returned, until at last his giant frahty powers Noent reat distance while the wounded black had been painfully crawling after them

They had reached their fortified camp, and there Achmet Zek awaited the return of his lieutenant, Albert Werper During the long, rough journey, Jane Clayton had sufferedfate than froned to acquaint her with his intentions regarding her future She prayed that she had been captured in the hope of ransoreat harm would befall her at the hands of the Arabs; but there was the chance, the horrid chance, that another fate awaited her She had heard ofhite women, who had been sold by outlaws such as Achmet Zek into the slavery of black harems, or taken farther north into the allio

Jane Clayton was of sterner stuff than that which bends in spineless terror before danger Until hope proved futile she would not give it up; nor did she entertain thoughts of self-destruction only as a final escape fro as Tarzan lived there was every reason to expect succor No e continent could boast the cunning and the powers of her lord and master To her, he was little short of oe beasts and savage ed, of that she was certain She counted the days that must elapse before he would return fro his absence After that it would be but a short tihold and punished the doers who inhabited it

That he could find her she had no slightest doubt No spoor, however faint, could elude the keen vigilance of his senses To him, the trail of the raiders would be as plain as the printed page of an open book to her

And while she hoped, there caht and by day, came Albert Werper A dozen tiiant carnivora only by what see ht with hie a country as yet exists upon the face of the globe

By night he had slept in trees By day he had stu the branches when sight or sound of soer But at last he had coht of the palisade behind which were his fierce coae As he stood in the shadow of a great tree, reconnoitering, he saw a le alnized the newcouest of his master before the latter had departed for Opar

The black was upon the point of hailing the Belgian when so confidently across the clearing toward the village gate No sane e in this part of Africa unless he was sure of a friendly welcoambi waited His suspicions were aroused

He heard Werper halloo; he saw the gates swing open, and he witnessed the surprised and friendly welcouest of Lord and Lady Greystoke A light broke upon the understanding of Mugambi This white man had been a traitor and a spy It was to hi the absence of the Great Bwana To his hate for the Arabs, Mugareater hate for the white spy

Within the village Werper passed hurriedly toward the silken tent of Achmet Zek The Arab arose as his lieutenant entered His face showed surprise as he viewed the tattered apparel of the Belgian

”What has happened?” he asked

Werper narrated all, save the little htly strapped about his waist, beneath his clothing The Arab's eyes narrowed greedily as his henchman described the treasure that the Waziri had buried beside the ruins of the Greystoke bungalow

”It will be a siet it,” said Ach of the rash Waziri, and after we have slain them we may take our time to the treasure-none will disturb it where it lies, for we shall leave none alive who knows of its existence

”And the woman?” asked Werper

”I shall sell her in the north,” replied the raider ”It is the only way, now She should bring a good price”

The Belgian nodded He was thinking rapidly If he could persuade Achmet Zek to send him in coive him the opportunity he craved to o a share of the gold, if he could but get away unscathed with the jewels

He knew Achh by this time to know that no member of his band ever was voluntarily released from the service of Achmet Zek Most of the feho deserted were recaptured More than once had Werper listened to their agonized screaian had no wish to take the slightest chance of recapture

”Who will go north with the woold that the Waziri buried by the bungalow of the Englishold was ofIt was necessary to rid himself of her as quickly as possible and it was also well to obtain the gold with the least possible delay Of all his followers, the Belgian was the ical lieutenant to intrust with the command of one of the parties An Arab, as faht collect the woood his escape into the far north Werper, on the other hand, could scarce h a country hostile to Europeans while the ian could be carefully selected with a view to preventing Werper fro any considerable portion of his command to accompany him should he contemplate desertion of his chief

At last the Arab spoke: ”It is not necessary that we both return for the gold You shall go north with the wo a letter to a friend of mine who is always in touch with the best old We can ain here when our business is concluded”

Werper could scarce disguise the joy hich he received this welcouise it from the keen and suspicious eyes of Achmet Zek is open to question However, the decision reached, the Arab and his lieutenant discussed the details of their forthco ventures for a short time further, when Werper made his excuses and returned to his own tent for the co-desired bath and shave