red up the precious gems and returned them to their container,
while Mugambi, assuming an air of indifference, strolled down to the
river for his bath.

The following morning Abdul Mourak was enraged and chagrined to
discover that this huge, black prisoner had escaped during the night,
while Werper was terrified for the same reason, until his trembling
fingers discovered the pouch still in its place beneath his shirt, and
within it the hard outlines of its contents.

16

Tarzan Again Leads the Mangani

Achmet Zek with two of his followers had circled far to the south to
intercept the flight of his deserting lieutenant, Werper. Others had
spread out in various directions, so that a vast circle had been formed
by them during the night, and now they were beating in toward the
center.

Achmet and the two with him halted for a short rest just before noon.
They squatted beneath the trees upon the southern edge of a clearing.
The chief of the raiders was in ill humor. To have been outwitted by
an unbeliever was bad enough; but to have, at the same time, lost the
jewels upon which he had set his avaricious heart was altogether too
much--Allah must, indeed be angry with his servant.

Well, he still had the woman. She would bring a fair price in the
north, and there was, too, the buried treasure beside the ruins of the
Englishman's house.

A slight noise in the jungle upon the opposite side of the clearing
brought Achmet Zek to immediate and alert attention. He gathered his
rifle in readiness for instant use, at the same time motioning his
followers to silence and concealment. Crouching behind the bushes the
three waited, their eyes fastened upon the far side of the open space.

Presently the foliage parted and a woman's face appeared, glancing
fearfully from side to side. A moment later, evidently satisfied that
no immediate danger lurked before her, she stepped out into the
clearing in full view of the Arab.

Achmet Zek caught his breath with a muttered exclamation of incredulity
and an imprecation. The woman was the prisoner he had thought safely
guarded at his camp!

Apparently she was alone, but Achmet Zek waited that he might make sure
of it before seizing her. Slowly Jane Clayton started across the
clearing. Twice already since she had quitted the village of the
raiders had she barely escaped the fangs of carnivora, and once she had
almost stumbled into the path of one of the searchers. Thoug