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Updated: June 17, 2025
But a handful of men escaped, among them Abdul Mourak. The victorious raiders collected about the pile of golden ingots which the Abyssinians had uncovered, and there awaited the return of their leader.
Instantly he was surrounded, and a volley of questions hurled at him, as he was pulled from his horse and led toward the presence of the commander. Falling back upon his European nationality, Werper assured Abdul Mourak that he was a Frenchman, hunting in Africa, and that he had been attacked by strangers, his safari killed or scattered, and himself escaping only by a miracle.
They were digging for the things the blacks had buried here! Presently he saw them uncover a dirty, yellow object, and he witnessed the joy of Werper and of Abdul Mourak as the grimy object was exposed to view.
Do not bother me again or I shall have you whipped." But Werper persisted. His liberty and perhaps his life depended upon his success. "Listen to me," he pleaded. "If I can give you as much gold as ten men may carry will you promise that I shall be conducted in safety to the nearest English commissioner?" "As much gold as ten men may carry!" repeated Abdul Mourak. "You are crazy.
From the northeast, for several months, Abdul Mourak, in command of a detachment of Abyssinian soldiers, had been assiduously searching for the Arab raider, Achmet Zek, who, six months previously, had affronted the majesty of Abdul Mourak's emperor by conducting a slave raid within the boundaries of Menelek's domain.
Where have you so much gold as that?" "I know where it is hid," said Werper. "Promise, and I will lead you to it if ten loads is enough?" Abdul Mourak had ceased to laugh. He was eyeing the Belgian intently. The fellow seemed sane enough yet ten loads of gold! It was preposterous. The Abyssinian thought in silence for a moment. "Well, and if I promise," he said. "How far is this gold?"
"My liberty," replied Werper. The Abyssinian sneered. "And you disturbed me thus to tell me what any fool might know," he said. "I can pay for it," said Werper. Abdul Mourak laughed loudly. "Pay for it?" he cried. "What with the rags that you have upon your back? Or, perhaps you are concealing beneath your coat a thousand pounds of ivory. Get out! You are a fool.
He called to his men to mount and hold themselves in readiness, for in the heart of Africa who may know whether a strange host be friend or foe? Werper, swinging into his saddle, fastened his eyes upon the newcomers, then, white and trembling he turned toward Abdul Mourak. "It is Achmet Zek and his raiders," he whispered. "They are come for the gold."
Lest, however, he might again fall into the hands of the raider, he discouraged Abdul Mourak in the further prosecution of his pursuit, assuring the Abyssinian that Achmet Zek commanded a large and dangerous force, and also that he was marching rapidly toward the south.
While Werper dreamed of freedom and the unmolested enjoyment of the fortune in his stolen pouch, and Abdul Mourak lay awake in greedy contemplation of the fifty loads of gold which lay but a few days farther to the south of him, Achmet Zek gave orders to his lieutenants that they should prepare a force of fighting men and carriers to proceed to the ruins of the Englishman's DOUAR on the morrow and bring back the fabulous fortune which his renegade lieutenant had told him was buried there.
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