In single file behind him, there followed, one after another, near fifty others, each burdened with two dull-yellow ingots lashed upon his back.Werper recognized the party immediately as that which had accompanied Tarzan on his journey to Opar.He glanced at the ape-man; but in the savage, watchful eyes he saw no recognition of Basuli and those other loyal Waziri.
When all had passed, Tarzan rose and emerged from concealment.He looked down the trail in the direction the party had gone.Then he turned to Werper.
"We will follow and slay them," he said.
"Why?" asked the Belgian.
"They are black," explained Tarzan."It was a black who killed Kala.They are the enemies of the Manganis."
Werper did not relish the idea of engaging in a battle with Basuli and his fierce fighting men.And, again, he had welcomed the sight of them returning toward the Greystoke bungalow, for he had begun to have doubts as to his ability to retrace his steps to the Waziri country.Tarzan, he knew, had not the remotest idea of whither they were going.By keeping at a safe distance behind the laden warriors, they would have no difficulty in following them home.Once at the bungalow, Werper knew the way to the camp of Achmet Zek.There was still another reason why he did not wish to interfere with the Waziri--they were bearing the great burden of treasure in the direction he wished it borne.The farther they took it, the less the distance that he and Achmet Zek would have to transport it.
He argued with the ape-man therefore, against the latter's desire to exterminate the blacks, and at last he prevailed upon Tarzan to follow them in peace, saying that he was sure they would lead them out of the forest into a rich country, teeming with game.
It was many marches from Opar to the Waziri country;
but at last came the hour when Tarzan and the Belgian, following the trail of the warriors, topped the last rise, and saw before them the broad Waziri plain, the winding river, and the distant forests to the north and west.
A mile or more ahead of them, the line of warriors was creeping like a giant caterpillar through the tall grasses of the plain.Beyond, grazing herds of zebra, hartebeest, and topi dotted the level landscape, while closer to the river a bull buffalo, his head and shoulders protruding from the reeds watched the advancing blacks for a moment, only to turn at last and disappear into the safety of his dank and gloomy retreat.
Tarzan looked out across the familiar vista with no faintest gleam of recognition in his eyes.He saw the game animals, and his mouth watered; but he did not look in the direction of his bungalow.Werper, however, did.A puzzled expression entered the Belgian's eyes.He shaded them with his palms and gazed long and earnestly toward the spot where the bungalow had stood.He could not credit the testimony of his eyes--there was no bungalow--no barns--no out- houses.The corrals, the hay stacks--all were gone.
What could it mean?
And then, slowly there filtered into Werper's consciousness an explanation of the havoc that had been wrought in that peaceful valley since last his eyes had rested upon it--Achmet Zek had been there!
Basuli and his warriors had noted the devastation the moment they had come in sight of the farm.Now they hastened on toward it talking excitedly among themselves in animated speculation upon the cause and meaning of the catastrophe.
When, at last they crossed the trampled garden and stood before the charred ruins of their master's bungalow, their greatest fears became convictions in the light of the evidence about them.
Remnants of human dead, half devoured by prowling hyenas and others of the carnivora which infested the region, lay rotting upon the ground, and among the corpses remained sufficient remnants of their clothing and ornaments to make clear to Basuli the frightful story of the disaster that had befallen his master's house.
"The Arabs," he said, as his men clustered about him.
The Waziri gazed about in mute rage for several minutes.Everywhere they encountered only further evidence of the ruthlessness of the cruel enemy that had come during the Great Bwana's absence and laid waste his property.
"What did they with 'Lady'?" asked one of the blacks.
They had always called Lady Greystoke thus.
"The women they would have taken with them," said Basuli."Our women and his."
A giant black raised his spear above his head, and gave voice to a savage cry of rage and hate.The others followed his example.Basuli silenced them with a gesture.
"This is no time for useless noises of the mouth," he said."The Great Bwana has taught us that it is acts by which things are done, not words.Let us save our breath--we shall need it all to follow up the Arabs and slay them.If 'Lady' and our women live the greater the need of haste, and warriors cannot travel fast upon empty lungs."
From the shelter of the reeds along the river, Werper and Tarzan watched the blacks.They saw them dig a trench with their knives and fingers.They saw them lay their yellow burdens in it and scoop the overturned earth back over the tops of the ingots.
Tarzan seemed little interested, after Werper had assured him that that which they buried was not good to eat; but Werper was intensely interested.He would have given much had he had his own followers with him, that he might take away the treasure as soon as the blacks left, for he was sure that they would leave this scene of desolation and death as soon as possible.