Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1920 — TARZAN AND THE JEWELS OF OPAR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TARZAN AND THE JEWELS OF OPAR

EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS

* or ' I TARZAN OF HIE APES* OF

CHAPTER I. ■MM Belgian ami Arab. Lieut Albert Werper had only the prestige of the name he had dishonored to thank for his narrow escape from being cashiered. At first he had been humbly thankful, too, that they - had sent him to this God-forsaken Congo post instead of court-martial-ing him, as he had so justly deserved; but now six months of the monotony, the frightful isolation and the lonell-, ness had wrought a change. The young man brooded continually over his fate. He regretted the gay life of Brussels as he never had regretted, the sins which had snatched him from that gayest of capitals, and as the days passed he came to center his resentment upon the representative in Congo land of the authority which had exiled him—his captai n and immediate superior. rhe senseless hatred of the lieutenant grew at last Into a form of mania. The captain’s natural taciturnity he distorted into a studied attempt to insult him because of his past shortcomings. He Imagined that his superior held him In contempt, and so he chafed and fumed Inwardly until one evening his madness became suddenly homicidal. He fingered the butt of the revolver at his hip, his eyes narrowed and his brows contracted. At last he spoke. “You have insulted me for the last time!” he cried, springing to his feet “I am an officer and a gentleman, aad I shall put nn with it.no longer without an acounting from you, you pig!” The captain, an expression of surprise upon his features, turned toward his junior. He had seen men before with the jungle madness upon them—the madness of solitude and unrestraining brooding, and perhaps a touch of fever. He rose and extended his hand to lay it upon the other’s shoulder. Quiet words of counsel were upon his lips; but they werfe never spoken. Werper construed his superior’s action into an attempt to close with him. His revolver was on a level with the captain’s heart, and the latter had taken but a step when Werper pulled the trigger. Without a moan the man sank to the rought planking of the veranda, and as he fell the mists that had clouded Werper’s brain lifted, so that he saw himself and the deed that he had done in the same light that those who must judge him would see them. He heard excited exclamations from the quarters of the soldiers and he heard men running in his direction. They would seize him, and if they didn’t kill him they would take him dqwn the Congo to a point where a properly ordered military tribunal would do so just as effectively, though in a more regular manner. werpci naa no desire to die. Never before bad he so yearned for life as in this moment that he had so effectively forfeited his right to live. The men were nearing him. What was he to do? In despair, he turned and fled from the oncoming soldiery. Across the compound he rin, his revolver still clutched tightly in his band. At the gates a sentry halted him. Werper did not pause to parley or to exert the 1 fluence of his commission—he mer raised his weapon and shot down i Innocent black. A moment later tl fugitive had torn open the gates an vanished into the blackness of th< jungle, but not before he had transferred the rifle and ammunition belt of the dead sentry to his own person. All that night Werper fled farther and farther into the heart of the wilderness, more fearful of the human huntsmen In his pear than of the wild carnivora ahead. Dawn came at last, but still the man plodded on. All sense of hunger and fatigue were lost in the terrors of con- . templated capture. He could think, only of escape. He dared not pause to rest or eat until .there was no further danger from pursuit, and so he staggered on until at last he fell and could rise no more. And thus it was that Achmet Zek, the Arab, found him. Achmet’s followers were for running a spear through the body of their hereditary enemy; but Achmet would have It otherwise. First he would question the Belgian. It were easier to question a man first and kill him afterward, than kill him first and then question him? . So he had Lieut. Albert Werper carried to his own tent, and there slaves administered wine and food in small quantities until at last the prisoner regained consciousness. As he opened his eyes be saw the faces of strange blade men abqut him, and just outside the tent the figure of an Arab. Nowhere was the uniform of his soldiers to be seen. I <j' The ATab turned and seeing the

open eyes of the prisoner upon him entered the tent “I am Achmet Zek,” he announced “Who ate you, and what were you do Ing in my couhtry? Where are youi soldiers?” * Achmet Zek! Werper’s eyes went wide, and his heart sank. He was in the clutches of the most notorious oi cut-throats —a hater of all Europeans especially those who wore the uniform of Belgium. , But in the very hatred of the man for Belgians, Werper saw a faint ray of hope for himself. He, too, was an outcast and an outlaw. So far, at least, they possessed a common interest, and Werper decided to play upon it for all that it might yield. “I have heard of you,” he replied, “and was searching for you. My people have turned against me. I hate them. Even now their soldiers are searching for me, to kill me. .1 knew that you would protect me from them, for you, too, hate them. In return I will take service , with you. I am a trained soldier. I can fight, and your enemies are my enemies.” Achmet Zek eyed the European in silence. In his mind he revolved many thoughts, chief among which was that the unbeliever bed. Of course there was the chance that he did not lie, and if he told the truth then his proposition was one well worthy of consideration, since fighting men were never over-plentiful—especially white men with the training and knowledge of military matters that a European officer must possess. “If you have lied to me," said Achmet Zek, “I will kill you at any time. What return, other than your life, do you expect /or your services?” “My keep only, at first,” replied Werper. “Later, if lam worth more, we can easily reach an understanding.” Werper’s only desire at the moment was to preserve Uis life. And so the agreement was reached and Lieut. Albert Werper became a member of the ivory and slave raiding band of the notorious Achmet Zek. For months the renegade Belgian rode with the savage raiders. He fought with a savage abandon, and a vicious cruelty fully equal to that of his fellow desperadoes. Achmet Zek watched his /recruit with eagle eye, and with a growing satisfaction which finally found expression in a greater confidence in the man, and resulted in an Increased Independence of action for Werper. Achmet Zek took the Belgian Into bls confidence to a great extent, and at last unfolded to him a pet scheme which the Arab had long fostered, but which he never had found an opportunity to effect With the aid of a European, however, the thing might be easily accomplished. He sounded Werper. “You have heard of the man men call Tarzan?” he asked. Werper nodded. “I have heard of him; but Ido not know him." , “But for him we might carry bn our ’trading* In safety and with great profit," continued the Arab. “For years he has fought us, driving us from the richest part of the harassing us. and armine the thnt they' may repel us when we come to ‘trade.’ He is very rich. If we could find some way to make him pay us many pieces of gold we should not only be avenged upon’ him, but repaid for much that he has prevented us from winning from the natives under his protection.” “And you have a plan to make' him pay?” Werper asked. “He has a wife,” replied Achmet Zek, “who men say is very beautiful. She would bring a great price’ farther north, if we found it too difficult to collect ransom money from this Tarsan.” Werper bent bls head In thought. Achmet Zek stood awaiting bls reply. What good remained in Albert Werper revolted at the thought of selling a white woman into the and degradation of a Moslem iXrem. He looked up at Achmet Zek. He saw the Arab’s eyes narrow, and he guessed that tiie other had sensed his antagonism to the plan. What would it mean to Werper to refuse? What was this woman to him, anyway? She was a European, doubtless, a member of organized society. He was an outcast. The hand of white man against him. She was his natural enemy, and if he refused to lend himself to her undoing, Achmet Zek would have him killed. ± “You hesitate/L murmured the Arab. “I was but weighing the chances of success.” lied Werper, “and my reward. As a European I can gain admittance Ao their home and table. You have no other with you who could do so much. The risk will he great. I should be well paid, Achmet Zek.” ' A smile of relief passed over the “Well said, Werper,” and Achmet

Zek slapped bls lieutenant upon the shoulder. “fOU Mild be Wen paid and you dhafi. ‘NOW let us sit together uad plan,how best the thing may be done,” and the two men talked together in low voices well into the eight - v The following day Werper spent th overhauling* bls Belgian uniform, removing from it every vestige of evidence that might indicate its military purpose. From a heterogeneous collection of loot, Achmet Zek procured a pith helmet and a European saddle, and from his black slaves and followert r party 1 of porters, askaris and tent boys to make Up a modest safari for a big' game hunt. At the head st this party Werper set out fro* camp, CHRFTER IL On the Road to opar. z It was two weeks later that John Clayton, Lord Greystoke, tiding In from a tour of Inspection of bls vast African estate, glimpsed the hfead of a column of men crossing the plain that lay between his bungalow and the forest to the north and West. His -keen eyes caught the reflection of the sun upon the white helmet of a mounted man, and with the conviction that a wandering European hunter was seeking his hospitality, he wheeled bls mount and rode slowly forward ter meet the newcomer. A half hour later he was mounting the steps leading to-the veranda of His bungalow, and introducing M. Jules Frecoult to Lady Greystoke. “I was completely lost,” M. Frecoult was explaining. “My -man had never before been in this part of the country and the guides who were to have accompanied me from the last village we passed knew even less of the country than we. They finally deserted us two days since. I do not know what I should have done, had I not found you.” It was decided that-FTOCdult and bls party should remain several days, or until they were thoroughly rested, when Lord Greystoke would furnish guides to lead them safely back into country with which Frecoult’s head man was supposedly familiar. .In his guise of a French gentleman or leisure, Werper found little difficulty In deceiving his host and in in-< gratia ting himself With both Tarzan and Jane Clayton; but the longer ho remained the less hopeful he became of an easy accomplishment of bls designs. Lady Greystoke never rode alone at any great distance from the bungalow, and the savage loyalty of the ferocious Wazlri warriors who formed a great part of Tarzan’s followers seemed to preclude the possibility of a successful attempt at forcible abduction, or of the bribery of the Wazlrithemselves. A week passed, and Werper Was no nearer the fulfillment of his plan. In so far as he could judge, than upon the day of bls arrival, but at that very moment something occurred which gave him renewed hope and set his mind upon an even greater reward than a woman’s ransom. A runner had arrived at the bungalow with the weekly mall, and Lord Greystoke had spent the afternoon tn his study reading and answering letters. At dinner he seemed distraught,, and early In the evening he excused himself and retired. Lady Greystoke following him very soon after. Werper, sitting upon the veranda, could hear their voices in earnest discussion, and having realized that something of un-

। usual moment was afoot, he made his silent way to a point beneath ihe window of the room in which Ms bostttod hostess slept. Lady Greysteke was speaking is Werper came wltitirr hearing. “I always feared torthe stability tile company," die was saying; “but It seems incredible that they Mild have tailed for so enormous * sum—nnires there he* been arena munipniktion." ~ “That Is what I suspect,” replied Tarzan; “but whatever the caune, the Hart remains flhat I have lostevetr tiling, and there Is nothing for it but to । return to Opar and get more." I “Oh, John." cried Lady GreystM and Werper could feel the shudder through her voice; “Is there no other ms? I cannot bear to think'of yon returning to that frightful eity.* “You need have no fear,” replied Tarzan, laughing. “I am pretty well able to take &Jre of myself, and were

11 not; the Wazlri Who Will accompany me Will see that no harm befalls me. There is no other way half so easy to obtain another fortune, as to go to the treasure vaults of. Opar rand bring it iway. I shah bo very careful, Jane, and the chances are that the inhab‘ititots of Opar WHI neVef knbw that 1 1 have been there Sgain and despoiled them of another portion of the treas- , ure, the very existence of which they are as ignorant of as they would be of tito value.” I 'finality In his tone seemed to assure Lady Greystoke that further argument was futile, and so she abandoned the subject. ! Werper remained, listening, for a abort time, and then, confident that he had overheard all that'was necessary, and fearing discovery, returned to the veranda, ’ where he smoked numerous cigarettes In rapid succession before retiring. The following morning Werper announced his intention of making an I early departure, and asked Tarzan’s ' permission to hunt big game In the , Wazlri country on his way out—permission which Lord Grey stoke readily 1 granted. i The Belgian consumed two days to 1 completing his preparations, but finally got away with his safari, accom- ' panled by a single Wazlri guide whom , Lord Greystoke had loaned him. The ppiky made but a single short march । when Werper simulated Illness, । announced his Intention of remaining I where he was until he had fully recoveTOd. nAs they had gone but a short i dlStoace ftom the Gfcystoke bungalow, Warper dismissed the Wazlri guide, j telling the warrior that he would send 'for him Whbn he was able to proceed. ' The Wazlri gone, the Belgian sumi moped one of Achmet Zek’s trusted, blades to his tent, and dispatched him to watch for the departure of Tarzan, returning Immediately to’advise Werper of the event and the direction taken by the Englishman. The Belgian did not have long to wait, for the following day his emissary returned with word that Tarzan and aparty of fifty WpZlrl warriors had‘set out toward the southeast early tn she rooming. Werper called his head man to him, after writing a long letter to Achmet Zek. This fetter he banded to the bead man. “Send a runner at once to Achmet Zek with this,” he Instructed the head rartm. “Remain here in camp awaiting farther Instructions from him or from ■ toe. If any come from the bungalow of the Englishman, tell them that I am very ill within my tent and can see no one. Now, give me six porters and six askaria—the strongest and bravest of the ‘safari—«nd I will march after the Englishman and discover where his And so It was that as Tarzan, Stripped to the loin cloth and armed after the primitive fashion he best loved, ledhisloyal Wazlri toward the dead city of Opar, Werper, the renegade,''haunted bis trail through the long,-mt nays, and camped dore behind him by night. Ahd'as they marched, Achmet Zek Tode#ith his entire following southward toward the Greystoke farm. To Tarzan of the Apes the expedition was In the nature of a holiday outing. Ris civilization was at best but an outward veneer which he gladly peeled off with his uncomfortable European clothes whenever any reasonable pretext presented Itself. It was a woman’s loVe which kept Tarsan even to the semblance of civilization—a condition for which familiarity < had bred contempt. He hated the shams and the hypocrisies of it and with .the dear vision of an unspoiled mind he had penetrated to the rotten core of the heart of the thing—the cowardly greed for peace and ease and . the safeguarding of property rights. | f AAdso Tarzan Always came back to nature in the spirit of a lover keeping । a long-deferred tryst after a period behind -prison walls. His Wazlri, at marrow, were more civilized than he. They cooked their meat before they ate It and they shunned many articles of food as unclean that Tarzan had eaten with gusto all his life, and so to-1 sldlous Is the virus of hypocrisy that even the stalwart ape-man hesitated ■ to-glve fiein to his natural longings be- j fore them. • He ate burnt flesh when he would have preferred it raw and unspoiled, and he brought down game with arrow or spear when he would far rather have leaped upon it from ambush and sunk his strong teeth in Its jugular; but at last the call of the milk of the savage mother that had Ruckled him to infancy rose to an Insistent demand —he craved the hot bloodofa fresh kill and his muscles yearned to pit themselves against the savage jungle In the battle for existence that had been his sole birthright for the first twenty years of his life. Moved by these vague yet gU-powre-fttl urgings the ape-man lay awake one veght to the little thorn boma that protected, in a way, his party from the depredations of the great carnivore of the jungle. A single warrior stood sleepy guard beside the fire that yello’v eyes out of the darkness beyond ckTriri rosA* imperative. The moans knd tito coughing of the big cats the myriad noises of the iMser denbros of the jungle, to fan the savage flame In tile breast of tills savagv Enltilsh lord. He tossed upon his bod of graases, aleepiesß, for an hour and then he noiseless as a wraith, and while the Wazlri’a back was turned, vaulted the botaa wall to' the face at the flaming eyes, swung sUent- । ly Into a great tree and was gone. nr a time In sheer exuberance of । animal spirit he raced swiftly through v ng porfloiKdjr gbat to the next, and then ht dam-

4---• * , • 4 bered upward to the swaying, leaser boughs of the upper terrace where the moon shone'full upon him and the air was stirred by little breezes and death lurked ready In each frail branch. Here be paused dnd raised his face to Goro, the moon. With uplifted arm lie stood, the cry of the bull ape quivering upon his lips, yet he remained silent lest he arouse his faithful Wazlrt, all too familiar with the hideous challenge of their master. And then he went on more slowly and with greater stealth and caution, for now Tarzan of the Apes was seeding a kill. Down to the ground he came in the utter blackness of the close-set boles and the overhanging verdure of the jungle. He stooped from time to time and put his hose dose to earth. He sought and found a wide game trail and at last his nostrils were rewarded with the scent of the fresh spoor of Bara, the deer. Tarzan’s mouth watered and a low growl escaped his patrician lips. Sloughed from him was the last vestige of artificial, caste —once' again he was the primeval hunter —the first man —the highest caste type of the human race. Up wind he followed the elusive spoor with sense of perception so transcendIng that of ordinary man as to be inconceivable to us. Presently the body scent of the deer told Tarzan that his prey was close at hand. It sent him into the trees again —into the lower terrace where he could watch the ground below and catch with ears and nose the first intimation of actual contact with his quarry. Nor was It long before the ape-man came upon Bara standing alert at the edge of a moon-bathed .clearing. Noiselessly Tarzan crept through the trees until he was directly over the deer. In the ape-man’s hand was the long hunting knife of his father and in his heart the blood lust of the carnivore. Just for an Instant he poised above the unsuspecting Bara and then he launched himself downward upon the sleek back. The impact of his weight carried the deer to its knees and before the animal could regain Its feet the knife had found Its heart. As Tarzan rose upon the body of his kill to scream forth his hideous victory cry into the face of the moon the wind carried to his nostrils something which froze him to statuesque Immobility and silence. His savage eyes blazed Into the direction from which the wind had borne down the warning to him and a moment later

the grasses at one side of the clearing parted and Numa, the lion, strode majestically Into view. From the Ups, of the ape-man broke a rumbling growl of warning. Numa answered but he did not advance. Instead he stood waving his tall gently, to and fro, and presently Tarzan' squatted upon his HU and cut a generous portion from a hind quarter. Numa eyed him with growing resent-' ment and rage as, between mouthfuls, the ape-man growled out his savage warnings. Now this particular lion had never before come in contact with Tarzan of the Apes and he was much mystified. Here was the appearance and the scent of a man-thing and Numa had tasted human flesh and learned that though not the most palatable It was certainly by fir the easiest to secure, yet there was that in the bestial growls of .the strange creature which reminded him of formidable antagonists and gave him pause, while his hunger and the odor of the hot flesh of Bara goaded him almost to madness. At last Numa could stand it no longer. JUs tall shot suddenly erect and at the same instant the wary ape-man, knowing all too weU what the signal portended, grasped the remainder of the deer's hind quarter between his teeth and leaped into a nearby tree as Numa charged him with all the speed and a sufficient semblance of the weight of an express train. Tarzan's retreat was no indication that he felt fbar. Jungle life is ordered along different Unes than ours and different standards prevail. Had Tarzan been famished ha would, doubtless, have stood his ground and met the lion’s charge. He had done the thing before upon more than one occasion, Just as in the past he had charged lions himself; but tonight he was far from famished and in the hind quarter he had carried off with him was more raw flesh than he could eat; yet it was with n® equanimity that he looked down upon Numa rending the Mah * Tarzan's MIL The jweump.

tion of this strange Numa must be punished! And forthwith Taiwan set out to make life miserable for the big cat, Close by were many trees bearing large, hard fruits and to one of these the ape-man swung with the agility of a squirrel. Then commenced a bombardment which brought forth earth-shaking roars from Numa. It was impossible for the tawny cat to eat under that hall of missiles—he could but roar and growl and dodge and eventually he was driven away, entirely from the carcass of Bara, the deer. He went roaring and resentful; but in the very center of the clearing his voice was suddenly hushed and Tarzan saw the great head lower and flatten out, the body crouch and the long tall quiver, as the beast slunk cautiously toward the trees upon the opposite side. Immediately Tarzan was alert He lifted his, head and sniffed the slow, jungle breeze. What was it that had attracted Numa’s attention and taken him soft-footed and silent away from the scene of his discomfiture? Just as the lion disappeared among the trees beyond the dealing Tarzan caught upon the down-coming wind-the explanation of his new Interest—the scent spoor of man was wafted strongly to the sensitive nostrils. Caching the remainder of the dee/s hind quarter In the crotch of a tree the apeman moved through the trees, the shadow of a wraith. The savage sat and the savage man saw Numa’s quarry almost simultaneously, though both had known before it came within the vision of their eyes that it was a black man. Their sensitive nostrils had told them this much and Tarzan’s had told him that the scent spoor was that of a stranger—old and a male, for race and sex and age each has Its own distinc"Sve scent It was an old man that made his way alone through the gloomy jungle, a wrinkled, dried up little old man, hideously scarred and tattooed and strangely garbed, with the skin of a hyena about his shoulders and the dried head mounted upon his gray patd. Tarzan recognized the earmarks of the witch-doctor and awaited Numa’s charge with a feeltte ot pleasurable anticipation, for the apeman bad no love for witch-doctors; but In the instant that Numa did charge, the white man suddenly > recalled that the lton had stolen 'his kill a few minutes before and that revenge is sweet. The first-intimation the black man had that he was tn danger was the crash'' of twigs as Numa charged through the bushes into the game trail not twenty yards behind him. Then he turned to see r huge, black-maned lion racing toward him and; even as he turned, Numa seized him. At the same instant the ape-man dropped from an overhanging limb toll upon the lion’s back and as he alighted he plunged his knife into the tawny side behind the left shoulder, tangled the fingers of his right hand In the long mane, burled his teeth In Numa's neck and wound his powerful legs about the beast’s torso. With a roar of pain and rage, Numa reared up and fell backward upon the ape-man; but still the mighty man-thing clung to his hold and repeatedly the long knife plunged deeply Into bls side. Over and over rolled Numa, the lion, clawing and biting at the air, roaring and growling horribly in savage attempt to %mjich the thing upon its back. More man once was Tarzan almost brushed from his hold. He was battered and bruised and covered with; blood from Numa and dirt from the trail, yeti not for an Instant did he lessen the'ferocity of bls mad ettack nor his grim hold upon the back of bls* antagonist Where be bad fallen beneath the spring of the lion the witch-doctor lay, torn and bleeding, unable to drag himself away and watched the terrific battle between these two lords of the jungle. His sunken eyes glittered and his wrinkled lips moved over toothless gums as he mumbled weird Incantations to the demons of his cult For a time he felt no doubt as to ' the outcome—the strange white man must certainly succumb to terrible WuTns—whoever heard of a lone man ’armed only With a knife slaying so Hftghty a beast! Yet presently the qld black man’s eyes went Wider and he commenced to have his doubts and misgivings. What wonderful .creature; was > this that battled with Numa and held ids 'own despite the mighty muscles of the king of beasts? Then slowly there dawned In those sunken eyes, gleaming so brightly from the scarred and wrinkled face, the light of a dawning recollection. It was the picture at a lithe, whiteskinned youth swinging through the trees in company with a band of huge the old eyes blinked and a great fear came into them—the superstitious tear of one who believes in ghosts and spirits and demons. And came the time once more when the witch-doctor no longer doubted the outcome of the duel, yet his first judgment was reversed, for now be knew that the jungle god would slay Numa and the old black was even more terrified of his own impending fate at the hands of the victor than he bad been by the sure and sudden death which the triumphant Hon weald have meted out to him. He saw the Hon weaken from loss ot blood. He saw the mighty limbs tremble and stagger and at last he saw the beast sink down to rise no more. He saw the god domoo rise from the vanquished foe and, placing a foot upon, the still quivering carcass, raise bis face to the moon and bay out a hideous cry that froze toe ebbing blood in the veins of the witchdoctor. (TO BE CONTINUED.) ■ , ' Tn o yvi*i ntnYl CT At JE*OvwaMAOsBM ofld* •

Made His Sllent Way to a Point Beneath the Window.

Numa, the Lion, Strode Majestically Into View.