第 9 节
作者:击水三千      更新:2021-02-18 22:45      字数:9322
  swoon。
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  Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
  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
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  Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
  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
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  Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
  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
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  Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
  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