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to ride north with you as rapidly as possible and
dispose of you at the most advantageous terms to a
certain slave broker whose name he gave me。〃
Again the girl was deceived by the apparent frankness
of the Belgian。 She realized that desperate situations
required desperate handling; and though she trembled
inwardly at the thought of again entering the vile and
hideous village of the raiders she saw no better course
than that which her companion had suggested。
Calling aloud to those who tended the gates; Werper;
grasping Jane Clayton by the arm; walked boldly across
the clearing。 Those who opened the gates to him
permitted their surprise to show clearly in their
expressions。 That the discredited and hunted
lieutenant should be thus returning fearlessly of his
own volition; seemed to disarm them quite as
effectually as his manner toward Lady Greystoke had
deceived her。
The sentries at the gate returned Werper's salutations;
and viewed with astonishment the prisoner whom he
brought into the village with him。
Immediately the Belgian sought the Arab who had been
left in charge of the camp during Achmet Zek's absence;
and again his boldness disarmed suspicion and won the
acceptance of his false explanation of his return。
The fact that he had brought back with him the woman
prisoner who had escaped; added strength to his claims;
and Mohammed Beyd soon found himself fraternizing
good…naturedly with the very man whom he would have slain
without compunction had he discovered him alone in the
jungle a half hour before。
Jane Clayton was again confined to the prison hut she
had formerly occupied; but as she realized that this
was but a part of the deception which she and Frecoult
were playing upon the credulous raiders; it was with
quite 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。
He had been wondering how long it would be before the
raiders who had ridden out with Achmet Zek would return
with the murdered body of their chief; and the more he
thought upon the matter the greater his fears became;
that without accomplices his plan would fail。
What; even; if he got away from the camp in safety
before any returned with the true story of his guilt
of what value would this advantage be other than to
protract for a few days his mental torture and his
life? These hard riders; familiar with every trail and
bypath; would get him long before he could hope to
reach the coast。
As these thoughts passed through his mind he entered
the tent where 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。
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 had
deceived; and who sought you with death in his heart。
I have been with Achmet Zek for many yearshis own
mother never knew him so well as I。 He never forgives
much less would he again trust a man who had once
betrayed him; that I know。
〃I have thought much; as I said; and the result of my
thinking has assured me that Achmet Zek is deadfor
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
witnessfor did you not say that Achmet Zek was never
more safe from the sins and dangers of mortality?
〃Achmet Zek is deadyou need not deny it。 I was not
his mother; or his mistress; so do not fear that my
wailings shall disturb you。 Tell me why you have come
back here。 Tell me what you want; and; Werper; if 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 wear about your person。 Eh?〃
The evil eyes narrowed; a vicious; thin…lipped smile
tortured the villainous face; as Mohammed Beyd grinned
knowingly into the face of the Belgian。
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。
To acknowledge that he had lost the jewels might be to
arouse the wrath or suspicion of the Arab to such an
extent as would jeopardize his new…found chances of
escape。 His one hope seemed; then; to lie in fostering
Mohammed Beyd's belief that the jewels were still in
his possession; and depend upon the accidents of the
future to open an avenue of escape。
Could he contrive to tent with the Arab upon the march
north; he might find opportunity in plenty to remove
this menace to his life and libertyit was worth
trying; and; further; there seemed no other way out of
his difficulty。
〃Yes;〃 he 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 I doubt if
any of Achmet Zek's men live; and the gold they sought
is in the possession of the Abyssinians。 Even now they
are doubtless marching on this camp; for they were sent
by Menelek to punish Achmet Zek and his followers for a
raid upon an Abyssinian village。 There are many of
them; and if we do not make haste to escape we shall
all suffer the same 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 cross…question the Belgian too minutely。
〃And if I ride north with you;〃