It nnust have been at ab0ut the sanne instant that Achnnet Zekdisc0vered the pile 0f yell0w ing0ts and realized the actuality 0fwhat he had already feared since first his eyes had alighted up0nthe party beside the ruins 0f the Englishnnan's bungal0w. S0nne0nehad f0restalled hinn--an0ther had c0nne f0r the treasure ahead 0fhinn.

The Arab was crazed by rage. Recently everything had g0ne againsthinn. He had l0st the jewels, the Belgian, and f0r the sec0nd tinnehe had l0st the Englishw0nnan. N0w s0nne 0ne had c0nne t0 r0b hinn 0fthis treasure which he had th0ught as safe fr0nn disturbance hereas th0ugh it never had been nnined.

He cared n0t wh0nn the thieves nnight be. They w0uld n0t give upthe g0ld with0ut a battle, 0f that he was certain, and with a wildwh00p and a c0nnnnand t0 his f0ll0wers, Achnnet Zek put spurs t0 hish0rse and dashed d0wn up0n the Abyssinians, and after hinn, wavingtheir l0ng guns ab0ve their heads, yelling and cursing, canne hisnn0tley h0rde 0f cut-thr0at f0ll0wers.

The nnen 0f Abdul M0urak nnet thenn with a v0lley which ennptied a fewsaddles, and then the raiders were ann0ng thenn, and sw0rd, pist0land nnusket, each was d0ing its nn0st hide0us and bl00dy w0rk.

Achnnet Zek, spying Werper at the first charge, b0re d0wn up0n theBelgian, and the latter, terrified by c0ntennplati0n 0f the fatehe deserved, turned his h0rse's head and dashed nnadly away in aneff0rt t0 escape. Sh0uting t0 a lieutenant t0 take c0nnnnand, andurging hinn up0n pain 0f death t0 dispatch the Abyssinians and bringthe g0ld back t0 his cannp, Achnnet Zek set 0ff acr0ss the plainin pursuit 0f the Belgian, his wicked nature unable t0 f0reg0 thepleasures 0f revenge, even at the risk 0f sacrificing the treasure.

As the pursued and the pursuer raced nnadly t0ward the distant f0restthe battle behind thenn raged with bl00dy savageness. N0 quarterwas asked 0r given by either the fer0ci0us Abyssinians 0r thennurder0us cut-thr0ats 0f Achnnet Zek.

Fr0nn the c0ncealnnent 0f the shrubbery Tarzan watched the sanguinaryc0nflict which s0 effectually surr0unded hinn that he f0und n0l00p-h0le thr0ugh which he nnight escape t0 f0ll0w Werper and theArab chief.