按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 and another。
What could it mean？ The first explanation which sprung
to her mind attributed the firing to an encounter
between the Arab raiders and a party of Waziri； but as
she did not know upon which side victory might rest； or
whether she were behind friend or foe； she dared not
advance nearer on the chance of revealing herself to an
enemy。
After listening for several minutes she became
convinced that no more than two or three rifles were
engaged in the fight； since nothing approximating the
sound of a volley reached her ears； but still she
hesitated to approach； and at last； determining to take
no chance； she climbed into the concealing foliage of a
tree beside the trail she had been following and there
fearfully awaited whatever might reveal itself。
As the firing became less rapid she caught the sound of
men's voices； though she could distinguish no words；
and at last the reports of the guns ceased； 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 ready 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 in the thick verdure at the trail's side。
It was evident that he was being followed by an enemy；
and so Jane Clayton kept silent； 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 band of 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 aim 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。
Achmet Zek paused in the middle of the trail。 His keen
eyes scanned every bush and tree within the radius of
his vision。 His tall figure 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 from a
nearby tree and run forward with outstretched hands to
congratulate him upon his victory。
20
Jane Clayton Again a Prisoner
Though her clothes were torn and her hair disheveled；
Albert Werper realized that he never before had looked
upon such a vision of loveliness as that which Lady
Greystoke presented in the relief and joy which she
felt in coming so unexpectedly upon a friend and
rescuer when hope had seemed so far away。
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 was quickly dissipated by
the genuine friendliness of her greeting。 She told him
quickly of 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。 Your Waziri are either
exterminated； or have been driven out of their country；
far to the south。 The men of Achmet Zek occupy the
plain about your former homethere is neither
sanctuary nor escape in that direction。 Our only hope
lies 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。
〃I think that the thing can be accomplished； for I was
a guest of the raider's before I knew the nature of the
man； and those at the camp are not aware that I turned
against him when I discovered his villainy。
〃Come！ We will make all possible haste to reach the
camp before those who accompanied Achmet Zek upon his
last raid have found his body and carried the news of
his death to the cut…throats who remained behind。 It
is our only hope； Lady Greystoke； and you must place
your entire faith in me if I am to succeed。 Wait 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 fingers the pouch of jewels。 To his
consternation； there was no sign of them in the
garments of Achmet Zek。 Rising； he walked back along
the trail； searching for some trace of the missing
pouch or its contents； but he found nothing； even
though he searched carefully the vicinity of his dead
horse； and for a few paces into the jungle on either
side。 Puzzled； disappointed and angry； he at last
returned to the girl。 〃The wallet is gone；〃 he
explained； crisply； 〃and I dare not delay longer in
search of it。 We must reach the camp before the
returning raiders。〃
Unsuspicious of the man's true character； Jane Clayton
saw nothing peculiar in his plans； or in his specious
explanation of his former friendship for the raider；
and so she grasped with alacrity the seeming hope for
safety which he proffered her； and turning about she
set out with Albert Werper toward the hostile camp in
which she so lately had been a prisoner。
It was late in the afternoon of the second day before
they reached their destination； and as they paused upon
the edge of the clearing before the gates of the walled
village； Werper cautioned the girl to accede to
whatever he might suggest by his conversation with the
raiders。
〃I shall tell them；〃 he said； 〃that I apprehended you
after you escaped from the camp； that I took you to
Achmet Zek； and that as he was engaged in a stubborn
battle with the Waziri； he directed me to return to
camp with you； to obtain here a sufficient guard； and
to ride north with you as rapidly as possible and
dispose of you at the most advantageous terms to