Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 111, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 May 1920 — TARZAN AND THE Jewels of Opar [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TARZAN AND THE Jewels of Opar

By EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS

Tanm”

Obpyrlsht, 1»1», by A a McOltug A 00.

SYNOPSIS, CHAPTER I.—Hiding In the jungle after killing his captain in a fit of brooding madness, Lieut. Albert Werper, Belgian officer, Is captured by Achmet Zek, Arab slave raider, who spares his life and proposes to him a scheme to kidnap Jane, wife of Tarzan (Lord Greystoke) and sell her into slavery. Werper accepts. CHAPTER 11.-Posing as Jules Frecoult, French traveler, Werper is hospitably received by the Greystokes. He learns his host is in financial straits and plans an expedition to the treasure vaults of Opar to procure gold. Werper Informs Achmet Zek of the opportunity to seize Lady Greystoke, and follows Tarsan to learn the secret of Ooar CHAPTER Hl.—Spying on Tarsan, Weirer sees him load his blacks with gold from the treasure chamber ot the Bun Worshipers. A convulsion of Nature causes the collapse of the vault Imprisoning both men. CHAPTER IV.—Werper recovers from the shock and finding Tarzan apparently dead he leaves him. Seeking a way to safety Werper is seized by priests of ths Flaming God, a degenerate race. He is about to be offered up as a sacrifice when the ceremonies are interrupted by the appearance of a hunger-maddenea Hon. CHAPTER V.—Believing Tarzan dead his black followers return home with the gold. Achmet Zek, acting on Werper’s Information, has attacked the Greystoke home, burned it, and carried off Lady Greystoke. Mugambi, Tarzan’s lieutenant, is severely wounded but recovers and follows the raiders. cmaPtick xx>rd Greystoxe recovers consciousness, but the accident has destroyed his memory and he Is again Tarzan of the Apes. Fleeing from the scene of his misfortune he finds himself in the jewel room of Opar. He fills his pouch with the "pretty pebbles." Reaching the sacrificial chamber he Is recognized by La, high priestess, whom he had known in previous years. He slays the lion and releases Werper. The latter sees the jewels and covets them. CHAPTER Vll.—Tarzan and Werper watch the former’s party return to the ruined Greystoke home and bury the gold. Tarzan has no memory of the place. Ho buries the jewels, which Werper digs up, ind escapes while Tarzan sleepa CHAPTER VHI. Achmet Eek’s stronghold, Werper tells him of the gold but not of the jewels. Lady Greyitoke Is there, a prisoner. Achmet discovers Werper has the jewels, and the Belgian, fearing for his life, escapes with the gems. CHAPTER IX.—Tarzan misses Werper »ut does not discover the theft of the lewels. He resumes the life of a wild Jian. La and the priests of the Flamin» Sod seek Tarzan and Werper to recover the sacrificial knife, which the latter had carried oft. They capture Tarzan.

CHAPTER X.—The priests make ready » offer Tarsan as a sacrifice to the Naming God. La offers him life in exchange for his love He refuses, and Is Jie jungle language calls Tantor, the elephant, to his rescue. Tantor comes, but n an Insane rage destroys all in his path. La frees Tarzan and he saves her from the elephant. chapter Xl.—The priests who es--aped Tantor’s rage return to the temple with La. Tarzan remembers the jewels and finding them gone realizes Werper oas stolen them. He follows the scent of the Belgian determined on revenge. CHAPTER Xll.—Lady Greystoke es- , capes from Achmet Zek and makes her J way into the jungle Werper, fleeing from , the raider, is made prisoner by Abdul Mourak, Abyssinian officer In command of soldiers sent to wipe out Achmet Zek ■ marauding band. Mugambl, seeking Lady Greystoke, is also captured by Mourak. He sees the jewels Werper has, and recognizing the pouch as the property of hit master, steals the gems, replacing them i With worthless pebbles, and escapes. ' Xin.—wuue pursuing Werber Achmet Zek recaptures Lady Grey■toke. Tarzan has taken command of a band of apes, and With them attacks Achmet Zek’s camp, seeking Werper. His wife calls to him but he does not recognize her. The Arabs beat off the apes end carry away their prisoner. Tarsah, With Chulk and Taglat, two great apes, ollows them and enters the village CHAPTER XlV.—Werper agrees to guide Mourak to where Tarzan’s gold Is buried. While Tarzan is seeking Werper [n Achmet Zek’s camp Taglat carries ofl Lady Greystoke. Tarzan’s recollection has been stirred by the sight of his wife, though he did not recognize her, and he rtarts in pursuit. On the trail the apeman discovers Werper with the party of Abyssinians on the way to the Greystoke home. Following them he sees them attacked by Achmet Zek’s band. In the fighting Werper escapes and Achmet Zek Rursues him. Werper offers to give the swels to Achmet in exchange for his life.

CHAPTER XV.

Jane Clayton Again a Prisoner. Mugambl, after his successful break for liberty, bad fallen upon hard times. His way had led him through k country with which he was unfamlllar, a jungle country In which he Jbuld find no water, and but little food, so that after several days of wandering lie found himself so reI daced in strength that he could barely drag himself along. • A few stagnant pools at considerable apart saved him from death by. thirst’; but his was a pitiable state when finally he stumbled by accident upon a large river in a country where »fruit was abundant, and also game which be might buTT by means of a combination of stealth, cunning, ami a crude knob-stick which he had fashioned from a fallen limb. One day, as he hunted, a pair of snvNage eyes discovered him from the c<»nSjjalment of the brunches of a great tree beneath which the black warrior passed. Bloodshot, wicked eyes they were, set in a tierce and hairy face. The creature was Chulk, and be looked down upon the unconscious nun more in curiosity than in hate. Chulk eyed the pouch which, suspended over Mngamhi’s shoulder, swung beside his black hip. This took his fancy, for it was . ormynented with : 'is/Xthers and a fringe, and so the ape Wng about boma, waiting

an opportunity to seize it either by stealth or might. Nor was it long before th? opportunity came. Feeling safe within his thorny enclosure Mugambi was wont to stretch himself in the shade of his day. and sleep in peaceful security until the declining sun carried with it the enervating temperature of midday. Watching from above, Chulk saw the black warrior stretched thus in the unconsciousness of sleep one sultry af--ternoon. He approached the sleeper upon padded feet which gave forth no sound.-and with an uncanny woodcraft that rustkd not a leaf ora grass bln

Pausing beside the man, the ape bent over and examined his belongings. The only detachable things were the knobstick and the poueh, which had fallen from the black’s shoulder as"he rolled In sleep. Seizing these two articles, Chulk retreated with haste, and evert' indication of nervous terror, to the safety of the tree from which he had dropped and, haunted by that Indefinable terror which the close proximity of man awakened in his breast, fled, precipitately through the jungle. It was some time after Mugambi awoke that he missed the pouch. Instantly he was all excitement. What could have become of it? It had been there when he lay down to sleep. How then had It vanished? In the trampled turf beside him was the faint impress of huge, manlike feet. Mugambi raised his brows as the truth dawned upon him. Hastily leaving the boina he searched in all directions about the enclosure" for some further sign of the tell-tale spoor; but the faint signs left by a wary ape wbo elects to travel through the trees eluded the woodcraft of Mugambi. Tarzan might have followed them; but no ordinary mortal could perceive them, or perceiving, - translate. The black, now strengthened and refreshed by his rest, felt ready to set out again for Waziri, and finding himself another knob-stick, turned his back upon the river and plunged Into the mazes of the jungle. ♦ * ♦ • • ♦ ♦ As Taglat struggled with the fionds which secured the ankles and wrists of his captive, the great Hon that eyed the two from behind a nearby clump of bushes wormed closer to his Intended prey. The ape’s back was toward the Hon. His first intimation of impending danger was the thunderous and triumphant roar which the charging Hon could no longer suppress. Scarce pausing for a backward glance, Taglat abandoned the unconscious woman and fled in the opposite direction from the horrid sound which had broken in so unexpected and terrifying a manner upon his startled ears; but the warning had come too late to save him, and the lion, in his second bound, alighted full upon the broad shoulders of the anthropoid. As the great bull went down there was awakened In him to the full all the cunning, all the ferocity, all the physlcial prowess which obey the mightiest of the fundamental laws of nature, the law of self-preservation, and turning upon his back he closed with the carnivore in a death struggle so fearless and abandoned that for a moment the great Numa himself may have trembled for the outcome. Rolling over and over upon the turf the two battled with demoniac fury until the colossal cat, by doubling his hind paws far up beneath his belly, sank his talons deep Into Taglat’s chest, then, ripping downward with all his strength, Numa accomplished his design and the disemboweled anthropoid, with a last spasmodic struggle, relaxed In limp and bfoody dissolution beneath his titanic adversary. Scrambling to his feet, Nump looked about quickly in all directions, as though seeking to detect the possible presence of other foes; but only the still and unconscious form of the girl, lying a few paces from him, met his gaze, and with an angry growl he placed a forepaw upon the body of his kill and raising his head gave voice to his savage victory cry. For another moment he stood with fierce eyes roving to and fro about the clearing. At last they halted for a second time upon the girl. Like two yellow-green augers, wide and unblinking, the terrible eyes remained fixed upon Jane Clayton. The erect and majestic pose of the great frame shrank suddenly Into a sinister crouch as, slowly and gently as one who treads on eggs, the devil-faced cat crept forward toward the girl. Beneficent Fate maintained her in happy unconsciousness of the dread presence sneaking stealthily upon her. She did not know when the lion paused at her side. She did not hear the sniffing of his nostrils as he smelled about her. She did not feel the heat of the fetid breath upon her face, nor the dripping of the saliva from the frightful jaws half opened so close above her. —“ ~“ Finally the Hon lifted a forepaw and turned the body of the girl half over, then he stood again eyeing her as though still undetermined whether life was extinct or not. Some noise or odor from the nearby jungle attracted his attention for a moment, pis eyes did not again return to Jane Clayton, and presently he left her, walked over to. the remains of Taglat and. crouching down upon his kill with his back toward the girl, proceeded to devour the ape. ~ _ ... It was upon this scene that,Jane Clayton at Inst opened her eyes.'‘’W ured to danger, she maintained her selfpossession in the face of the startling surprise which her new-found consciousness revealed to her. She saw that the lion had killed tty* ape and that he was devouring his prey less

than fifty feet from where site lay; but what couldJ»he doi Her hands and feet were bound. She must wait then. In what patience site could comma'nd, until Numa had eaten and digested ths ape, when, withou ( doubt, he would return to feast upon her, unless, In the meantime, the dread hyenas should discover her, or some other of the numerous prowling carnivora of the jun- . gle. As she lay tormented by these frightful thoughts she suddenly be- ( came conscious that the bonds on her* wrists and ankles, no longer hurt her. and then of that her hand” were separated, one lying upon eith:'; Ude of her, instead of both being confined at her back. For a moment Jane Clayton was overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving; but only for a moment. What good was her new-found liberty in the face-of the frightful beast crouching so close beside her? She watched the lion narrowly. He could not see her without turning his head more than halfway around. She would attempt, a ruse..... Silently she rolled over in Jhe direction of the nearest tree, and away from the lion, until

she lay again in the same position in which Numa had left her, but a few feet farther from him. Here she lay breathless, watching the lion; but the beast gave no Indication that he had heard aught to arouse, his suspicions. Again she rolled over, gaining a few more feet and again she lay in rigid contemplation of the beast’s back. , The girl was but a few paces from the tree —a moment more and she would be close enough to chance springing to her feet, throwing caution aside and making,a sudden, bold dash for safety. She was halfway over in her turn, her face away from the lion, when he suddenly turned his great head and fastened his eyes upon her. He saw her roll over upon her side away from him, and then her eyes were turned again toward him, and the" cold sweat broke from the girl’s every pore as she realized that, with life almost within her grasp, death had found her out.' For a long time neither the girl nor the Hon moved. The beast lay motionless, his head turned Upon his shoulders and his glaring eyes fixed upon the rigid victim, now nearly fifty yards away. Realizing that she could not again turn without attracting his immediate and perhaps fatal attention, Jane Clayton resolved to risk all Ip one last attemgt to reach the tree and clamber to the lower branches. / Gathering herself stealthily for the effort, she leaped suddenly to her feet, but almost simultaneously the lion sprang up, wheeled and W'ith wide-dis-tended jaws and terrific roars, charged swiftly down upon her. Fear can work wonders, and though the upward Spring of the lion as he neared the tree into which she was scrambling brought his talons, in contact with her boots she eluded his raking grasp, and as he hurtled against the bole of her sanctuary, the girl drew herself into the safety of the branches above his reach.. For some time —the lion paced, growling and moaning, beneath the tree in which Jane Clayton panting and trembling. It was almost dark before he finally quit the clearing, and even hail his place beside the remnants of the mangled ape not been Immediately, usurped by a pack of hyenas, Jane Clayton would scarcely have dared venture from her refuge In the face of impending night, Tired nature at last overcame even her fears, and she dropped into a deep slumber, cradled' in a comparatively safe, though rather uuemufortable, p<M sition against the bole of the tree, and supported by two large branches which grew outward, almost horizontally, but a few Inches apart, The sun was high in the heavens when she at last awoke, and beneath her was no sign either of Numa or the hyenas. Both hunger and thirst assailed her now, and realizing that she must descend or die of starvation, she at last summoned courage to undertake the ordeal of continuing her journey through the jungle. 3 Descending from she tree, she sei out In a southerly direction, toward the point where she believed the plains of Waziri lay, and though she knew that only ruin and desolation marked ths spot where onee her happy home had stood, she hoped that by coming to the broad plain, she might eventual-

ly reach one of (the nupierous Waziri villages that were scattered over the surrounding country. or chance upon a roving band of these Indefatigable huntsmen. The day was half spent when there broke unexpectedly upon her startled ears the sound of a rifle shot not far ahead of her. As she paused to listen, this first shot was followed by another and another. What could it mean? As the firing became less rapid she caught the sound of men’s -voices, though she could distinguish no words, and she heard two men calling to each other in loud tones. Then there was a long silence which was finally broken by the stealthy padding of footfalls on the trail ahead of her, and in another moment a man appeared In view backing toward her, a rifle in his hands, and his eyes directed in careful watchfulness along the way that he had come. •- Almost instantly Jane Clayton recognized the man as M. Jules Frecoult, who so recently had been a guest in her home. She was upon the point of calling to him in glad relief when she saw him leap quickly to one side and hide himself ln”the thick verdure at the trail’s side. •It was evident that he was being followed by an enemy, and so Jane Clayton kept silence, lest she distract Frecoult’s attention, or guide his foe to his hiding place. Scarcely had Frecoult hidden himself than the figure of a white-robed Arab crept silently along the trail In pursuit. From her hiding place, Jane Clayton could see both men plainly. She recognized Achmet Zek as the leader of the ruffians who had raided her home and made her a prisoner, and as she saw Frecoult, the supposed friend and ally, raise his gun and take careful alm at the Arab, her heart stood still and every power of her soul

was directed upon a fervent prayer for the accuracy of his aim. Achffiet Zek paused In the middle of the trail. His keen eyes scanned every bush and tree within the radius of his vision. His tall pgure presented a perfect target to the perfidious assassin. There was a sharp report,' and a little puff of smoke arose from the bush that hid the Belgian, as Achmet Zek stumbled forward and pitched, face down, upon the trail. As Werper stepped back into the trail, he was startled by the sound of a glad cry from above him, and as he wheeled about to discover the author of this unexpected Interruption, he saw Jane Clayton drop lightly frem a nearby tree and run forward with outst retched hands to congratulate him upon his Victory. If the Belgian had entertained any doubts as to the woman’s knowledge of his part In the perfidious attack upon her home and herself,’it WML quickly dissipated by the genuine friendship of her greeting. She told him gntcklynf all that had befallen her since he had departed from her home, and as she spoke of the death of her husband her eyes were veiled by the tears which she could not repress. "I am shocked,” said Werper, in well-simulated sympathy; “but I am not surprised. That devil there,” and he pointed toward the body of Achmet Zek, “has terrorized the entire country. Tour Waziri are either exterminated, or have been driven out of their Country, far to the south. Our only hope Ues in traveling northward as rapidly as we may, of coming to the camp of the raiders before the knowledge of Achmet Zek’s death reaches those who were left there, and of obtaining, through some ruse, an escort toward the north. It Is our only hope, Lady Greystoke, and you must place your entire faith In me if I am to suc-

feeed. Walt for me here - a moment while I take from the Arab’s body the wallet that he stole from me,” and Werper stepped quickly to the dead man’s side, and, kneeling, sought with quick tigers the pouch of Jewels. To bls consternation, there was no sign of them’ in the garments of Achmet Zek. Pussled, disappointed and angry, he at last returned to the girl. “The wallet is gone,” he explained, crisply, “end I dare not delay longer in search of it. We must reach the camp before Unsuspicious of the man’s true character, lane Clayton saw nothing peculiar in his plans, or In his specious explanation of his former friendship for the raider, and so she grasped with niarrify tile seeming hope for safety which he proffered her and, turning she set out with Albert Werper

toward ilia hosiTie camp in which she so lately hud been <a prisoner. । Calling aloud to those who tended the gates, Werper, grasping Jane Clay|ton by the arm. walked bohtly across | the clearing. Those who opened the i gates to him permitted their surprise to show clearly Id their expressions. | That the discredited and hunted lleu- ' tenant should be thus returning fearlessly of his own volition seemed to disarm them quite as effectually us his manner toward Lady Greystoke bad deceived her. Jane Clayton was again conflntd to the prison hut she had formerly occupied, but as -she realized that this was out a part of the deception which she and Frecoult were playing upon thd credulous raiders it was with a different sensation that she again entered the vile and filthy interior, from that which she had previously experienced when hope was so far away. Once more she was bound and sentries placed before the door of her prison; but before Werper left her he whispered words of cheer into her ear. Then he left and made his way back to the tent of Mohammed Beyd, Achmet’s lieutenant. _ Mohammed Beyd sat cross-legged , upon a rug, smoking. The Arab looked | up as the European came into his presence. “Greetings, O, brother!” he said. “Greetings!” replied Werper. ' j For a while neither spoke further. The Arab was the first to break the silence. “And my master, Achmet Zek, was well when last you saw him?” he asked. “Never was he safer from the sins and dangers of-mortality/’ replied the Belgian. “It is well,” said Mohammed Beyd, blowing a little puff of blue smoke straight out before him. Again there“was silence for several" minutes. “And, if he were dead?” asked the Belgian, determined to lead up to the truth and attempt to bribe Mohammed Beyd into his service. The Arab's eyes narrowed and he leaned forward,, his gaze boring straight into the eyes of the Belgian. “I have been thinking much, Werper, since you returned so unexpectedly to the camp of the man whom you deceived and who sought ypu with death in his heart. I have thought much, as I said, and the result of my thinking has assured me that Achmet Zek is dead —for otherwise you would never have dared return to his camp, unless you be either a braver man or a bigger fool than I have Imagined. And, if this evidence of my judgment is not sufficient, I have but just now received from your own lips even more confirmatory witness —'tor did you not say that Achmet Zek was never more safe from the sins and dangers of" mortality? Tell me why you have come back here. Tell me what you want and, Warper, 1/ you still possess the jewels of which Achmet Zek told me, there is no reason why you and I should not ride north together and divide the ransom of the white woman and the contents of the pouch you jvear about your person. Eh?” Werper was both relieved and disturbed by the Arab’s attitude. The complacency with which he accepted the death of his chief lifted a considerable burden of apprehension from the shoulders of Achmet Zek’s assassin ; but his demand for a share of the jewels boded ill for Werper when Mohammed Beyd should have learned that the precious stones were no longer in the Belgian’s possession. “Yes,” lie said: “Achmet Zek is dead. He fell in battle with a company of Abyssinian cavalry that held me captive. During the fighting I escaped, but 1 doubt if any of Achmet Zek’s men live, and the gold they sought Is In the possession of the Abysslnians. Even now they are doubtless marching on this camp, for they were sent by Mendlek to punish Acjimet Zek and his followers for a raid upon the Abyssinian village. There are many of them, and If we do not make haste to escape we shall all suffer the satne fate as Achmet Zek.” ( Mohammed Beyd listened in silence. How much of the unbeliever’s story he might safely believe he did not know; but as it afforded him an excuse for deserting the village and making for the north he was not inclined to crossquestion the Beigtan too minutely. “And if I ride north with you,” he

asked, “half the Jewels and half the ransom of the woman shall h® "p’WI”

"Xes,” replied Werper. “Good,” said Mohammed Beyd. “I go nqw to give the order for the breaking of camp early on the mor-row,’’-and he rose to leave-the tent. Werper laid a detaining hand upon his arm. “Walt.” he said, “let us determine how many shall accompany us. It is not well that we be burdened by the women and children, for then Indeed we might be overtaken by the Abyssinlans. It would be far better to select a small guard of your bravest men, and leave word behind that we are riding west Then, when the Abys* sinlans come they will be put upon too wrong trail should they have It In their hearts to pursue us, and if they do not they will at least ride north with less rapid by than as though they thought that we were ahead of them.” "The serpent is less wise than thou, Werper,? said Mohammed Beyd with a smile. “It shall be done as you say. Twenty men shall accompany us, and we shall ride west —when we leave the village.” * “Good,” cried the Belgian, and so it was arranged. Early the next morning Jane Clayton, after an almost sleepless night, was aroused by the sound of voices outside her prison, and a moment later, M. Frecoult, and two Arabs entered. The latter unbound her ankles and lifted her to her feet. Then hen wrists were loosed, she was given a handful of dry bread, and led out into the faint light of dawn.

She looked questioningly at Fra* cgult, and at a moment that the Arab’s attention was attracted In another direction the man leaned toward her and whispered that-AH-AKas-worlu-ing out as he had planned. Thus assured, the young woman felt a renewal of the hope which the long and miserable night of bondage had al--mest expunged. Shortly after, she was lifted to the back of a horse, and surrounded by Arabs, was escorted through the gateway of the village and off into the Jungle toward the west. Half an hour later the party turned north, and northerly was their direction for the balance of the* march. On the march a separate ’ tent had been provided for the captive, and at night it was pitched between those of Mohammed Beyd and Werper. A sentry was posted at the front and another at the back, and with these precautions It had not been thought necessary to confine the prisoner in bonds.

As the girt’s eyes wandered across the trampled jungle clearing, already squalid from the presence of man, she no longer apprehended either the nearer objects of the foreground, the'uncouth men laughing or quarreling among themselves, or the jungle beyond, which circumscribed the extreme range of her material vision. Her gaze passed through all these, unseeing, 4o center itself upon a distant bungalow and scenes of happy security whl<!h brought to her eyes tears of mingled joy and sorrow. She saw a tall, broad-shouldered man riding. in from distant fields; she saw herself waiting to greet him with an armful of fresh-cut roses from the bushes which flanked the little rustic gate before her. All this was gone, vanished into the past, wiped out by the torches and bullets and hatred of these hideous and degenerate men. With a. stifled sob, and a little shudder, Jane Clayton sobbed forth her misery until kindly sleep brought her at least temporary relief. z And while she slept a figure stole from the tent that stood to the right of hers. It approached the sentry before the doorway and whispered a few words in the man’s ear. The latter nodded, and strode off through the darkness in the direction of his own blankets. The figure passed to the rear of Jane Clayton’s tent and spoke again to the sentry there, and this man also left, following in the trail of the first. Then he who had sent them away stole silently to the tent flap and untying the fastenings entered with the noiselessness of a disembodied spirit. (TO BE CONTINUED

Here She Lay Breathless, Watching the Lion.

Her Heart Stood Still.

“The Serpent Is Less Wise Than Thou."