Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-20
CHAPTER V (Continued)

rounded muscles of his arms. 1t wa
hopeless. What could he, werper
hope to accomplish. other than his
own death, by an attempt to wrest the
gems from their savage owner?
D%isconsolate, Werper threw himself
upon his side. His head was pillowed
on one arm, the other rested across
his face in such a way that his eyes
were hidden from The ape-man, though
n of them was fastened upon him
from beneath the shadow of the Bel
CLANS forearm. For a time he lay
mating schemes for %plundering him
of his observation-disclosures that were
discarded as futile as rapidly as they
were born.
Tarzan presently let his own eyes
rest upon Werper. The Belgian saw
that he wa being watched, and lay
very still. After a few moments he
simulated the regular breathing of
deep slumber.
Tarzan had been thinking. He had
seen the Waziri bury their belongings.
werper had told him that they were
hiding them lest some one find them
and take them away.
This seemed to Tarzan a splendid
plan for safeguarding v~aluables.
Since Werper had evinced a desire to
possess his glittering pebbles, Tarzan,
with the suspicious of a savage, had
guarded the baubles, of whose worth
he was entirely ignorant, as ~zealously
rs though they spelled life or death
to him.
For a long time the ape.man sat
watching his companion. At last, con.
WINGED that he slept, Tarzan with
drew his hunting knife and COM
menced to dig a hole in the ground
before him. With the blade he loosen.
cd the earth, and with his hands he
scooped 1t out until he had e~xcavated
a little cavity a few inches in di.
ameter and five or six inches in depth.
into this he placed the pouch Of
Jewels.
Werper almost forgot to breathe af-
ter the fashion Of a sleeper, as he saw
what the ape.man was doing; he
scarce repressed an ejaculation OF sat
fsfaction.
Tarzan became suddenly rigid as his
keen ears noted the cessation of the
regular inspirations and expirations
of his companion. His narrowed eyes
bored straight down upon the Bel
gian. Werper felt that he was lost;
he must risk all on his ability to carry
on the deception. He sighed, threw
both arms outward, and turned over
on his back, mumbling as though in
the throes Of a bad dream. A moment
later he resumed his regular breath.
ing.
Now he could not watch Tarzan, but
he was sure that the man sat for a
long time looking at him. Then.
faintly, Werper heard the others
hands scraping dirt and later patting
It down. He knew then that the lew.
els were buried.
1t was a n hour before werper
moved again, then he rolled over fac.
Ing Tarzan, and opened his eyes. The
apelman slept. By reaching out his
hand Werper could touch the spot
where the pouch was buried.
For a long time he lay watching
and listening. He moved about, max.
mig more noise than necessary. vet
Tarzan did not awaken. He drew tina
sacrilcial knife from. his belt and
plunged 1t into the ground. Tarzan
did not move.
Cautiously the Belgian pushed the
BLADE downward through the loose
earth above the pouch. He felt the
point touch the soft, tough fabric OF
the leather. Then he pried down upon
the handle. Slowly tile little mound
OF loose earth rose and parted. An In.
slant later a corner of the pouch came
into view.
Werper pulled 1t from It's hiding
place and tucked 1t in his shirt. Then
he refilled the hola and pressed the
dirt carefully down as 1t had been
before.
Greed had prompted him to an act
the discovery OF which by his corn.
panion could lead only to the most
frightful consequences for werper.
Already he could almost feel those
strong, white fangs burying them
selves in his neck. He ~shuddered.
Far out across the plain a leopard
screamed, and in the dense reeds be-
hind him some great beast moved on
padded feet.
Werper feared these providers OF the
hight: but infinitely more he feared
the just wrath of the human beast
sleeping at his side. With utmost
caution the Belgian arose. Tarzan
did not move. Werper took q few
steps toward the plain and the dis
tnnt forest to the northwest, then he
paused and fingered the hilt OF the
long knife In his belt. He turned and
looked down upon the sleeper.
why not7" he unused. Then I
should be safe"
He returned and bent above thu ape.
4 Clutched tightly In his hand
was the s~acrifcial knife OF the High
Priestess OF tho Flaming God.
CHAPTER vi