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he had thought as safe from disturbance here as though
it never had been mined。
He cared not whom the thieves might be。 They would not
give up the gold without a battle； of that he was
certain； and with a wild whoop and a command to his
followers； Achmet Zek put spurs to his horse and dashed
down upon the Abyssinians； and after him； waving their
long guns above their heads； yelling and cursing； came
his motley horde of cut…throat followers。
The men of Abdul Mourak met them with a volley which
emptied a few saddles； and then the raiders were among
them； and sword； pistol and musket； each was doing its
most hideous and bloody work。
Achmet Zek； spying Werper at the first charge； bore
down upon the Belgian； and the latter； terrified by
contemplation of the fate he deserved； turned his
horse's head and dashed madly away in an effort to
escape。 Shouting to a lieutenant to take command； and
urging him upon pain of death to dispatch the
Abyssinians and bring the gold back to his camp； Achmet
Zek set off across the plain in pursuit of the Belgian；
his wicked nature unable to forego the pleasures of
revenge； even at the risk of sacrificing the treasure。
As the pursued and the pursuer raced madly toward the
distant forest the battle behind them raged with bloody
savageness。 No quarter was asked or given by either
the ferocious Abyssinians or the murderous cut…throats
of Achmet Zek。
From the concealment of the shrubbery Tarzan watched
the sanguinary conflict which so effectually surrounded
him that he found no loop…hole through which he might
escape to follow Werper and the Arab chief。
The Abyssinians were formed in a circle which included
Tarzan's position； and around and into them galloped
the yelling raiders； now darting away； now charging in
to deliver thrusts and cuts with their curved swords。
Numerically the men of Achmet Zek were superior； and
slowly but surely the soldiers of Menelek were being
exterminated。 To Tarzan the result was immaterial。
He watched with but a single purposeto escape the ring
of blood…mad fighters and be away after the Belgian and
his pouch。
When he had first discovered Werper upon the trail
where he had slain Bara； he had thought that his eyes
must be playing him false； so certain had he been that
the thief had been slain and devoured by Numa； but
after following the detachment for two days； with his
keen eyes always upon the Belgian； he no longer doubted
the identity of the man； though he was put to it to
explain the identity of the mutilated corpse he had
supposed was the man he sought。
As he crouched in hiding among the unkempt shrubbery
which so short a while since had been the delight and
pride of the wife he no longer recalled； an Arab and an
Abyssinian wheeled their mounts close to his position
as they slashed at each other with their swords。
Step by step the Arab beat back his adversary until the
latter's horse all but trod upon the ape…man； and then
a vicious cut clove the black warrior's skull； and the
corpse toppled backward almost upon Tarzan。
As the Abyssinian tumbled from his saddle the
possibility of escape which was represented by the
riderless horse electrified the ape…man to instant
action。 Before the frightened beast could gather
himself for flight a naked giant was astride his back。
A strong hand had grasped his bridle rein； and the
surprised Arab discovered a new foe in the saddle of
him； whom he had slain。
But this enemy wielded no sword； and his spear and bow
remained upon his back。 The Arab； recovered from his
first surprise； dashed in with raised sword to
annihilate this presumptuous stranger。 He aimed a
mighty blow at the ape…man's head； a blow which swung
harmlessly through thin air as Tarzan ducked from its
path； and then the Arab felt the other's horse brushing
his leg； a great arm shot out and encircled his waist；
and before he could recover himself he was dragged from
his saddle； and forming a shield for his antagonist was
borne at a mad run straight through the encircling
ranks of his fellows。
Just beyond them he was tossed aside upon the ground；
and the last he saw of his strange foeman the latter
was galloping off across the plain in the direction of
the forest at its farther edge。
For another hour the battle raged nor did it cease
until the last of the Abyssinians lay dead upon the
ground； or had galloped off toward the north in flight。
But a handful of men escaped； among them Abdul Mourak。
The victorious raiders collected about the pile of
golden ingots which the Abyssinians had uncovered； and
there awaited the return of their leader。 Their
exultation was slightly tempered by the glimpse they
had had of the strange apparition of the naked white
man galloping away upon the horse of one of their
foemen and carrying a companion who was now among them
expatiating upon the superhuman strength of the ape…man。
None of them there but was familiar with the name
and fame of Tarzan of the Apes； and the fact that they
had recognized the white giant as the ferocious enemy
of the wrongdoers of the jungle； added to their terror；
for they had been assured that Tarzan was dead。
Naturally superstitious； they fully believed that they
had seen the disembodied spirit of the dead man； and
now they cast fearful glances about them in expectation
of the ghost's early return to the scene of the ruin
they had inflicted upon him during their recent raid
upon his home； and discussed in affrighted whispers the
probable nature of the vengeance which the spirit would
inflict upon them should he return to find them in
possession of his gold。
As they conversed their terror grew； while from the
concealment of the reeds along the river below them a
small party of naked； black warriors watched their
every move。 From the heights beyond the river these
black men had heard the noise of the conflict； and
creeping warily down to the stream had forded it and
advanced through the reeds until they were in a
position to watch every move of the combatants。
For a half hour the raiders awaited Achmet Zek's
return； their fear of the earlier return of the ghost
of Tarzan constantly undermining their loyalty to and
fear of their chief。 Finally one among them voiced the
desires of all when he announced that he intended
riding forth toward the forest in search of Achmet Zek。
Instantly every man of them sprang to his mount。
〃The gold will be safe here；〃 cried one。 〃We have
killed the Abyssinians and there are no others to carry
it away。 Let us ride in search of Achmet Zek！〃
And a moment later； amidst a cloud of dust； the raiders
were galloping madly across the plain； and out from the
concealment of the reeds along the river； crept a party
of black warriors toward the spot where the golden
ingots of Opar lay piled on the ground。
Werper had sti