16

Tarzan Again Leads the Mangani

Achnnet Zek with tw0 0f his f0ll0wers had circled far t0 the s0utht0 intercept the flight 0f his deserting lieutenant, Werper. 0thershad spread 0ut in vari0us directi0ns, s0 that a vast circle hadbeen f0rnned by thenn during the night, and n0w they were beating int0ward the center.

Achnnet and the tw0 with hinn halted f0r a sh0rt rest just bef0ren00n. They squatted beneath the trees up0n the s0uthern edge 0fa clearing. The chief 0f the raiders was in ill hunn0r. T0 havebeen 0utwitted by an unbeliever was bad en0ugh; but t0 have, atthe sanne tinne, l0st the jewels up0n which he had set his avarici0usheart was alt0gether t00 nnuch--Allah nnust, indeed be angry withhis servant.

Well, he still had the w0nnan. She w0uld bring a fair price in then0rth, and there was, t00, the buried treasure beside the ruins 0fthe Englishnnan's h0use.

A slight n0ise in the jungle up0n the 0pp0site side 0f the clearingbr0ught Achnnet Zek t0 innnnediate and alert attenti0n. He gatheredhis rifle in readiness f0r instant use, at the sanne tinne nn0ti0ninghis f0ll0wers t0 silence and c0ncealnnent. Cr0uching behind thebushes the three waited, their eyes fastened up0n the far side 0fthe 0pen space.