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ingots of Opar lay piled on the ground。
Werper had still been in advance of Achmet Zek when he
reached the forest； but the latter； better mounted； was
gaining upon him。 Riding with the reckless courage of
desperation the Belgian urged his mount to greater
speed even within the narrow confines of the winding；
game trail that the beast was following。
Behind him he could hear the voice of Achmet Zek crying
to him to halt； but Werper only dug the spurs deeper
into the bleeding sides of his panting mount。 Two
hundred yards within the forest a broken branch lay
across the trail。 It was a small thing that a horse
might ordinarily take in his natural stride without
noticing its presence； but Werper's horse was jaded；
his feet were heavy with weariness； and as the branch
caught between his front legs he stumbled； was unable
to recover himself； and went down； sprawling in the
trail。
Werper； going over his head； rolled a few yards farther
on； scrambled to his feet and ran back。 Seizing the
reins he tugged to drag the beast to his feet； but the
animal would not or could not rise； and as the Belgian
cursed and struck at him； Achmet Zek appeared in view。
Instantly the Belgian ceased his efforts with the dying
animal at his feet； and seizing his rifle； dropped
behind the horse and fired at the oncoming Arab。
His bullet； going low； struck Achmet Zek's horse in the
breast； bringing him down a hundred yards from where
Werper lay preparing to fire a second shot。
The Arab； who had gone down with his mount； was
standing astride him； and seeing the Belgian's
strategic position behind his fallen horse； lost no
time in taking up a similar one behind his own。
And there the two lay； alternately firing at and
cursing each other； while from behind the Arab； Tarzan
of the Apes approached to the edge of the forest。 Here
he heard the occasional shots of the duelists； and
choosing the safer and swifter avenue of the forest
branches to the uncertain transportation afforded by a
half…broken Abyssinian pony； took to the trees。
Keeping to one side of the trail； the ape…man came
presently to a point where he could look down in
comparative safety upon the fighters。 First one and
then the other would partially raise himself above his
breastwork of horseflesh； fire his weapon and
immediately drop flat behind his shelter； where he
would reload and repeat the act a moment later。
Werper had but little ammunition； having been hastily
armed by Abdul Mourak from the body of one of the first
of the Abyssinians who had fallen in the fight about
the pile of ingots； and now he realized that soon he
would have used his last bullet； and be at the mercy of
the Araba mercy with which he was well acquainted。
Facing both death and despoilment of his treasure； the
Belgian cast about for some plan of escape； and the
only one that appealed to him as containing even a
remote possibility of success hinged upon the chance of
bribing Achmet Zek。
Werper had fired all but a single cartridge； when；
during a lull in the fighting； he called aloud to his
opponent。
〃Achmet Zek；〃 he cried； 〃Allah alone knows which one of
us may leave our bones to rot where he lies upon this
trail today if we keep up our foolish battle。 You wish
the contents of the pouch I wear about my waist； and I
wish my life and my liberty even more than I do the
jewels。 Let us each； then； take that which he most
desires and go our separate ways in peace。 I will lay
the pouch upon the carcass of my horse； where you may
see it； and you； in turn； will lay your gun upon your
horse； with butt toward me。 Then I will go away；
leaving the pouch to you； and you will let me go in
safety。 I want only my life； and my freedom。〃
The Arab thought in silence for a moment。 Then he
spoke。 His reply was influenced by the fact that he had
expended his last shot。
〃Go your way； then；〃 he growled； 〃leaving the pouch in
plain sight behind you。 See； I lay my gun thus； with
the butt toward you。 Go。〃
Werper removed the pouch from about his waist。
Sorrowfully and affectionately he let his fingers press
the hard outlines of the contents。 Ah； if he could
extract a little handful of the precious stones！ But
Achmet Zek was standing now； his eagle eyes commanding
a plain view of the Belgian and his every act。
Regretfully Werper laid the pouch； its contents
undisturbed； upon the body of his horse； rose； and
taking his rifle with him； backed slowly down the trail
until a turn hid him from the view of the watchful Arab。
Even then Achmet Zek did not advance； fearful as he was
of some such treachery as he himself might have been
guilty of under like circumstances； nor were his
suspicions groundless； for the Belgian； no sooner had
he passed out of the range of the Arab's vision； halted
behind the bole of a tree； where he still commanded an
unobstructed view of his dead horse and the pouch； and
raising his rifle covered the spot where the other's
body must appear when he came forward to seize the
treasure。
But Achmet Zek was no fool to expose himself to the
blackened honor of a thief and a murderer。 Taking his
long gun with him； he left the trail； entering the rank
and tangled vegetation which walled it； and crawling
slowly forward on hands and knees he paralleled the
trail； but never for an instant was his body exposed to
the rifle of the hidden assassin。
Thus Achmet Zek advanced until he had come opposite the
dead horse of his enemy。 The pouch lay there in full
view； while a short distance along the trail； Werper
waited in growing impatience and nervousness； wondering
why the Arab did not come to claim his reward。
Presently he saw the muzzle of a rifle appear suddenly
and mysteriously a few inches above the pouch； and
before he could realize the cunning trick that the Arab
had played upon him the sight of the weapon was
adroitly hooked into the rawhide thong which formed the
carrying strap of the pouch； and the latter was drawn
quickly from his view into the dense foliage at the
trail's side。
Not for an instant had the raider exposed a square inch
of his body； and Werper dared not fire his one
remaining shot unless every chance of a successful hit
was in his favor。
Chuckling to himself； Achmet Zek withdrew a few paces
farther into the jungle； for he was as positive that
Werper was waiting nearby for a chance to pot him as
though his eyes had penetrated the jungle trees to the
figure of the hiding Belgian； fingering his rifle
behind the bole of the buttressed giant。
Werper did not dare advancehis cupidity would not
permit him to depart； and so he stood there； his rifle
ready in his hands； his eyes watching the trail before
him with catlike intensity。
But there was another who had seen the pouch and
recognized it； who did advance with Achmet Zek；
hovering ab