第14章

ThefabulouswealthofthefabledcityhadbeenalmostconstantlyinhismindsinceWazirihadrecountedthestrangeadventuresoftheformerexpeditionwhichhadstumbleduponthevastruinsbychance。ThelureofadventuremayhavebeenquiteaspowerfulafactorinurgingTarzanoftheApestoundertakethejourneyasthelureofgold，butthelureofgoldwasthere，too，forhehadlearnedamongcivilizedmensomethingofthemiraclesthatmaybewroughtbythepossessorofthemagicyellowmetal。WhathewoulddowithagoldenfortuneintheheartofsavageAfricaithadnotoccurredtohimtoconsider——itwouldbeenoughtopossessthepowertoworkwonders，eventhoughheneverhadanopportunitytoemployit。

SooneglorioustropicalmorningWaziri，chiefoftheWaziri，setoutattheheadoffiftyclean—limbedebonwarriorsinquestofadventureandofriches。TheyfollowedthecoursewhicholdWazirihaddescribedtoTarzan。Fordaystheymarched——uponeriver，acrossalowdivide;downanotherriver;upathird，untilattheendofthetwenty—fifthdaytheycampeduponamountainside，fromthesummitofwhichtheyhopedtocatchtheirfirstviewofthemarvelouscityoftreasure。

Earlythenextmorningtheywereclimbingthealmostperpendicularcragswhichformedthelast，butgreatest，naturalbarrierbetweenthemandtheirdestination。

ItwasnearlynoonbeforeTarzan，whoheadedthethinlineofclimbingwarriors，scrambledoverthetopofthelastcliffandstooduponthelittleflattable—landofthemountaintop。

Oneitherhandtoweredmightypeaksthousandsoffeethigherthanthepassthroughwhichtheywereenteringtheforbiddenvalley。Behindhimstretchedthewoodedvalleyacrosswhichtheyhadmarchedformanydays，andattheoppositesidethelowrangewhichmarkedtheboundaryoftheirowncountry。

Butbeforehimwastheviewthatcenteredhisattention。

Herelayadesolatevalley——ashallow，narrowvalleydottedwithstuntedtreesandcoveredwithmanygreatbowlders。

Andonthefarsideofthevalleylaywhatappearedtobeamightycity，itsgreatwalls，itsloftyspires，itsturrets，minarets，anddomesshowingredandyellowinthesunlight。

Tarzanwasyettoofarawaytonotethemarksofruin——tohimitappearedawonderfulcityofmagnificentbeauty，andinimaginationhepeopleditsbroadavenuesanditshugetempleswithathrongofhappy，activepeople。

Foranhourthelittleexpeditionresteduponthemountain—

top，andthenTarzanledthemdownintothevalleybelow。

Therewasnotrail，butthewaywaslessarduousthantheascentoftheoppositefaceofthemountainhadbeen。

Onceinthevalleytheirprogresswasrapid，sothatitwasstilllightwhentheyhaltedbeforethetoweringwallsoftheancientcity。

Theouterwallwasfiftyfeetinheightwhereithadnotfallenintoruin，butnowhereasfarastheycouldseehadmorethantenortwentyfeetoftheuppercoursesfallenaway。

Itwasstillaformidabledefense。OnseveraloccasionsTarzanhadthoughtthathediscernedthingsmovingbehindtheruinedportionsofthewallneartothem，asthoughcreatureswerewatchingthemfrombehindthebulwarksoftheancientpile。Andoftenhefeltthesensationofunseeneyesuponhim，butnotoncecouldhebesurethatitwasmorethanimagination。

Thatnighttheycampedoutsidethecity。Once，atmidnight，theywereawakenedbyashrillscreamfrombeyondthegreatwall。

Itwasveryhighatfirst，descendinggraduallyuntilitendedinaseriesofdismalmoans。Ithadastrangeeffectupontheblacks，almostparalyzingthemwithterrorwhileitlasted，anditwasanhourbeforethecampsettleddowntosleeponcemore。Inthemorningtheeffectsofitwerestillvisibleinthefearful，sidelongglancesthattheWaziricontinuallycastatthemassiveandforbiddingstructurewhichloomedabovethem。

ItrequiredconsiderableencouragementandurgingonTarzan’sparttopreventtheblacksfromabandoningtheventureonthespotandhasteningbackacrossthevalleytowardthecliffstheyhadscaledthedaybefore。Butatlength，bydintofcommands，andthreatsthathewouldenterthecityalone，theyagreedtoaccompanyhim。

Forfifteenminutestheymarchedalongthefaceofthewallbeforetheydiscoveredameansofingress。Thentheycametoanarrowcleftabouttwentyincheswide。Within，aflightofconcretesteps，wornhollowbycenturiesofuse，rosebeforethem，todisappearatasharpturningofthepassageafewyardsahead。

IntothisnarrowalleyTarzanmadehisway，turninghisgiantshoulderssidewaysthattheymightenteratall。

Behindhimtrailedhisblackwarriors。Attheturninthecleftthestairsended，andthepathwaslevel;butitwoundandtwistedinaserpentinefashion，untilsuddenlyatasharpangleitdeboucheduponanarrowcourt，acrosswhichloomedaninnerwallequallyashighastheouter。Thisinnerwallwassetwithlittleroundtowersalternatingalongitsentiresummitwithpointedmonoliths。Inplacesthesehadfallen，andthewallwasruined，butitwasinamuchbetterstateofpreservationthantheouterwall。

Anothernarrowpassageledthroughthiswall，andatitsendTarzanandhiswarriorsfoundthemselvesinabroadavenue，ontheoppositesideofwhichcrumblingedificesofhewngraniteloomeddarkandforbidding。Uponthecrumblingdebrisalongthefaceofthebuildingstreeshadgrown，andvineswoundinandoutofthehollow，staringwindows;butthebuildingdirectlyoppositethemseemedlessovergrownthantheothers，andinamuchbetterstateofpreservation。Itwasamassivepile，surmountedbyanenormousdome。Ateithersideofitsgreatentrancestoodrowsoftallpillars，eachcappedbyahuge，grotesquebirdcarvedfromthesolidrockofthemonoliths。

Astheape—manandhiscompanionsstoodgazinginvaryingdegreesofwondermentatthisancientcityinthemidstofsavageAfrica，severalofthembecameawareofmovementwithinthestructureatwhichtheywerelooking。

Dim，shadowyshapesappearedtobemovingaboutinthesemi—darknessoftheinterior。Therewasnothingtangiblethattheeyecouldgrasp——onlyanuncannysuggestionoflifewhereitseemedthatthereshouldbenolife，forlivingthingsseemedoutofplaceinthisweird，deadcityofthelong—deadpast。

TarzanrecalledsomethingthathehadreadinthelibraryatParisofalostraceofwhitementhatnativelegenddescribedaslivingintheheartofAfrica。Hewonderedifhewerenotlookingupontheruinsofthecivilizationthatthisstrangepeoplehadwroughtamidthesavagesurroundingsoftheirstrangeandsavagehome。Coulditbepossiblethatevennowaremnantofthatlostraceinhabitedtheruinedgrandeurthathadoncebeentheirprogenitor？Againhebecameconsciousofastealthymovementwithinthegreattemplebeforehim。

"Come！"hesaid，tohisWaziri。"Letushavealookatwhatliesbehindthoseruinedwalls。"

Hismenwereloathtofollowhim，butwhentheysawthathewasbravelyenteringthefrowningportaltheytrailedafewpacesbehindinahuddledgroupthatseemedthepersonificationofnervousterror。Asingleshrieksuchastheyhadheardthenightbeforewouldhavebeensufficienttohavesentthemallracingmadlyforthenarrowcleftthatledthroughthegreatwallstotheouterworld。

AsTarzanenteredthebuildinghewasdistinctlyawareofmanyeyesuponhim。Therewasarustlingintheshadowsofanear—bycorridor，andhecouldhaveswornthathesawahumanhandwithdrawnfromanembrasurethatopenedabovehimintothedomelikerotundainwhichhefoundhimself。

Thefloorofthechamberwasofconcrete，thewallsofsmoothgranite，uponwhichstrangefiguresofmenandbeastswerecarved。Inplacestabletsofyellowmetalhadbeensetinthesolidmasonryofthewalls。

Whenheapproachedclosertooneofthesetabletshesawthatitwasofgold，andboremanyhieroglyphics。Beyondthisfirstchambertherewereothers，andbackofthemthebuildingbranchedoutintoenormouswings。Tarzanpassedthroughseveralofthesechambers，findingmanyevidencesofthefabulouswealthoftheoriginalbuilders。Inoneroomweresevenpillarsofsolidgold，andinanothertheflooritselfwasofthepreciousmetal。Andallthewhilethatheexplored，hisblackshuddledclosetogetherathisback，andstrangeshapeshovereduponeitherhandandbeforethemandbehind，yetnevercloseenoughthatanymightsaythattheywerenotalone。

Thestrain，however，wastellinguponthenervesoftheWaziri。

TheybeggedTarzantoreturntothesunlight。Theysaidthatnogoodcouldcomeofsuchanexpedition，fortheruinswerehauntedbythespiritsofthedeadwhohadonceinhabitedthem。

"Theyarewatchingus，Oking，"whisperedBusuli。"Theyarewaitinguntiltheyhaveledusintotheinnermostrecessesoftheirstronghold，andthentheywillfalluponusandtearustopieceswiththeirteeth。Thatisthewaywithspirits。

Mymother’suncle，whoisagreatwitchdoctor，hastoldmeallaboutitmanytimes。"

Tarzanlaughed。"Runbackintothesunlight，mychildren，"

hesaid。"IwilljoinyouwhenIhavesearchedthisoldruinfromtoptobottom，andfoundthegold，orfoundthatthereisnone。Atleastwemaytakethetabletsfromthewalls，thoughthepillarsaretooheavyforustohandle;butthereshouldbegreatstoreroomsfilledwithgold——goldthatwecancarryawayuponourbackswithease。Runonnow，outintothefreshairwhereyoumaybreatheeasier。"

Someofthewarriorsstartedtoobeytheirchiefwithalacrity，butBusuliandseveralothershesitatedtoleavehim——hesitatedbetweenloveandloyaltyfortheirking，andsuperstitiousfearoftheunknown。Andthen，quiteunexpectedly，thatoccurredwhichdecidedthequestionwithoutthenecessityforfurtherdiscussion。

Outofthesilenceoftheruinedtemplethererang，closetotheirears，thesamehideousshriektheyhadheardthepreviousnight，andwithhorrifiedcriestheblackwarriorsturnedandfledthroughtheemptyhallsoftheage—oldedifice。

BehindthemstoodTarzanoftheApeswheretheyhadlefthim，agrimsmileuponhislips——waitingfortheenemyhefullyexpectedwasabouttopounceuponhim。Butagainsilencereigned，exceptforthefaintsuggestionofthesoundofnakedfeetmovingstealthilyinnear—byplaces。

ThenTarzanwheeledandpassedonintothedepthsofthetemple。

Fromroomtoroomhewent，untilhecametooneatwhicharude，barreddoorstillstood，andasheputhisshoulderagainstittopushitin，againtheshriekofwarningrangoutalmostbesidehim。Itwasevidentthathewasbeingwarnedtorefrainfromdesecratingthisparticularroom。

Orcoulditbethatwithinlaythesecrettothetreasurestores？

Atanyrate，theveryfactthatthestrange，invisibleguardiansofthisweirdplacehadsomereasonforwishinghimnottoenterthisparticularchamberwassufficienttotrebleTarzan’sdesiretodoso，andthoughtheshriekingwasrepeatedcontinuously，hekepthisshouldertothedooruntilitgavebeforehisgiantstrengthtoswingopenuponcreakingwoodenhinges。

Withinallwasblackasthetomb。Therewasnowindowtoletinthefaintestrayoflight，andasthecorridoruponwhichitopenedwasitselfinsemi—darkness，eventheopendoorshednorelievingrayswithin。Feelingbeforehimuponthefloorwiththebuttofhisspear，TarzanenteredtheStygiangloom。

Suddenlythedoorbehindhimclosed，andatthesametimehandsclutchedhimfromeverydirectionoutofthedarkness。

Theape—manfoughtwithallthesavagefuryofself—

preservationbackedbytheherculeanstrengththatwashis。

Butthoughhefelthisblowsland，andhisteethsinkintosoftflesh，thereseemedalwaystwonewhandstotaketheplaceofthosethathefoughtoff。Atlasttheydraggedhimdown，andslowly，veryslowly，theyovercamehimbythemereweightoftheirnumbers。Andthentheyboundhim——hishandsbehindhisbackandhisfeettrusseduptomeetthem。

Hehadheardnosoundexcepttheheavybreathingofhisantagonists，andthenoiseofthebattle。Heknewnotwhatmannerofcreatureshadcapturedhim，butthattheywerehumanseemedevidentfromthefactthattheyhadboundhim。

Presentlytheyliftedhimfromthefloor，andhalfdragging，halfpushinghim，theybroughthimoutoftheblackchamberthroughanotherdoorwayintoaninnercourtyardofthetemple。Herehesawhiscaptors。Theremusthavebeenahundredofthem——short，stockymen，withgreatbeardsthatcoveredtheirfacesandfellupontheirhairybreasts。

Thethick，mattedhairupontheirheadsgrewlowovertheirrecedingbrows，andhungabouttheirshouldersandtheirbacks。Theircrookedlegswereshortandheavy，theirarmslongandmuscular。Abouttheirloinstheyworetheskinsofleopardsandlions，andgreatnecklacesoftheclawsofthesesameanimalsdependedupontheirbreasts。

Massivecircletsofvirgingoldadornedtheirarmsandlegs。

Forweaponstheycarriedheavy，knottedbludgeons，andinthebeltsthatconfinedtheirsinglegarmentseachhadalong，wicked—lookingknife。

Butthefeatureofthemthatmadethemoststartlingimpressionupontheirprisonerwastheirwhiteskins——neitherincolornorfeaturewasthereatraceofthenegroidaboutthem。

Yet，withtheirrecedingforeheads，wickedlittleclose—seteyes，andyellowfangs，theywerefarfromprepossessinginappearance。

Duringthefightwithinthedarkchamber，andwhiletheyhadbeendraggingTarzantotheinnercourt，nowordhadbeenspoken，butnowseveralofthemexchangedgrunting，monosyllabicconversationinalanguageunfamiliartotheape—man，andpresentlytheylefthimlyingupontheconcretefloorwhiletheytroopedoffontheirshortlegsintoanotherpartofthetemplebeyondthecourt。

AsTarzanlaythereuponhisbackhesawthatthetempleentirelysurroundedthelittleinclosure，andthatonallsidesitsloftywallsrosehighabovehim。Atthetopalittlepatchofblueskywasvisible，and，inonedirection，throughanembrasure，hecouldseefoliage，butwhetheritwasbeyondorwithinthetemplehedidnotknow。

Aboutthecourt，fromthegroundtothetopofthetemple，wereseriesofopengalleries，andnowandthenthecaptivecaughtglimpsesofbrighteyesgleamingfrombeneathmassesoftumblinghair，peeringdownuponhimfromabove。

Theape—mangentlytestedthestrengthofthebondsthatheldhim，andwhilehecouldnotbesureitseemedthattheywereofinsufficientstrengthtowithstandthestrainofhismightymuscleswhenthetimecametomakeabreakforfreedom;buthedidnotdaretoputthemtothecrucialtestuntildarknesshadfallen，orhefeltthatnospyingeyeswereuponhim。

Hehadlainwithinthecourtforseveralhoursbeforethefirstraysofsunlightpenetratedtheverticalshaft;

almostsimultaneouslyheheardthepatteringofbarefeetinthecorridorsabouthim，andamomentlatersawthegalleriesabovefillwithcraftyfacesasascoreormoreenteredthecourtyard。

Foramomenteveryeyewasbentuponthenoondaysun，andtheninunisonthepeopleinthegalleriesandthoseinthecourtbelowtookuptherefrainofalow，weirdchant。

PresentlythoseaboutTarzanbegantodancetothecadenceoftheirsolemnsong。Theycircledhimslowly，resemblingintheirmannerofdancinganumberofclumsy，shufflingbears;

butasyettheydidnotlookathim，keepingtheirlittleeyesfixeduponthesun。

Fortenminutesormoretheykeptuptheirmonotonouschantandsteps，andthensuddenly，andinperfectunison，theyturnedtowardtheirvictimwithupraisedbludgeonsandemittingfearfulhowls，thewhiletheycontortedtheirfeaturesintothemostdiabolicalexpressions，theyrusheduponhim。

Atthesameinstantafemalefiguredashedintothemidstofthebloodthirstyhorde，and，withabludgeonsimilartotheirown，exceptthatitwaswroughtfromgold，beatbacktheadvancingmen。

Chapter20

LaForamomentTarzanthoughtthatbysomestrangefreakoffateamiraclehadsavedhim，butwhenherealizedtheeasewithwhichthegirlhad，single—handed，beatenofftwentygorilla—likemales，andaninstantlater，ashesawthemagaintakeuptheirdanceabouthimwhilesheaddressedtheminasingsongmonotone，whichboreeveryevidenceofrote，hecametotheconclusionthatitwasallbutapartoftheceremonyofwhichhewasthecentralfigure。

Afteramomentortwothegirldrewaknifefromhergirdle，and，leaningoverTarzan，cutthebondsfromhislegs。

Then，asthemenstoppedtheirdance，andapproached，shemotionedtohimtorise。Placingtheropethathadbeenabouthislegsaroundhisneck，sheledhimacrossthecourtyard，themenfollowingintwos。

Throughwindingcorridorssheled，fartherandfartherintotheremoterprecinctsofthetemple，untiltheycametoagreatchamberinthecenterofwhichstoodanaltar。ThenitwasthatTarzantranslatedthestrangeceremonythathadprecededhisintroductionintothisholyofholies。

Hehadfallenintothehandsofdescendantsoftheancientsunworshippers。Hisseemingrescuebyavotaressofthehighpriestessofthesunhadbeenbutapartofthemimicryoftheirheathenceremony——thesunlookingdownuponhimthroughtheopeningatthetopofthecourthadclaimedhimashisown，andthepriestesshadcomefromtheinnertempletosavehimfromthepollutinghandsofworldlings——

tosavehimasahumanofferingtotheirflamingdeity。

Andhadheneededfurtherassuranceastothecorrectnessofhistheoryhehadonlytocasthiseyesuponthebrownish—

redstainsthatcakedthestonealtarandcoveredthefloorinitsimmediatevicinity，ortothehumanskullswhichgrinnedfromcountlessnichesinthetoweringwalls。

Thepriestessledthevictimtothealtarsteps。Againthegalleriesabovefilledwithwatchers，whilefromanarcheddoorwayattheeastendofthechamberaprocessionoffemalesfiledslowlyintotheroom。Theywore，likethemen，onlyskinsofwildanimalscaughtabouttheirwaistswithrawhidebeltsorchainsofgold;buttheblackmassesoftheirhairwereincrustedwithgoldenheadgearcomposedofmanycircularandovalpiecesofgoldingeniouslyheldtogethertoformametalcapfromwhichdependedateachsideofthehead，longstringsofovalpiecesfallingtothewaist。

Thefemalesweremoresymmetricallyproportionedthanthemales，theirfeaturesweremuchmoreperfect，theshapesoftheirheadsandtheirlarge，soft，blackeyesdenotingfargreaterintelligenceandhumanitythanwaspossessedbytheirlordsandmasters。

Eachpriestessboretwogoldencups，andastheyformedinlinealongonesideofthealtarthemenformedoppositethem，advancingandtakingeachacupfromthefemaleopposite。

Thenthechantbeganoncemore，andpresentlyfromadarkpassagewaybeyondthealtaranotherfemaleemergedfromthecavernousdepthsbeneaththechamber。

Thehighpriestess，thoughtTarzan。Shewasayoungwomanwitharatherintelligentandshapelyface。Herornamentsweresimilartothosewornbyhervotaries，butmuchmoreelaborate，manybeingsetwithdiamonds。Herbarearmsandlegswerealmostconcealedbythemassive，bejeweledornamentswhichcoveredthem，whilehersingleleopardskinwassupportedbyaclose—fittinggirdleofgoldenringssetinstrangedesignswithinnumerablesmalldiamonds。

Inthegirdleshecarriedalong，jeweledknife，andinherhandaslenderwandinlieuofabludgeon。

Assheadvancedtotheoppositesideofthealtarshehalted，andthechantingceased。Thepriestsandpriestesseskneltbeforeher，whilewithwandextendedabovethemsherecitedalongandtiresomeprayer。Hervoicewassoftandmusical——Tarzancouldscarcerealizethatitspossessorinamomentmorewouldbetransformedbythefanaticalecstasyofreligiouszealintoawild—eyedandbloodthirstyexecutioner，who，withdrippingknife，wouldbethefirsttodrinkhervictim’sred，warmbloodfromthelittlegoldencupthatstooduponthealtar。

AsshefinishedherprayershelethereyesrestforthefirsttimeuponTarzan。Witheveryindicationofconsiderablecuriositysheexaminedhimfromheadtofoot。Thensheaddressedhim，andwhenshehadfinishedstoodwaiting，asthoughsheexpectedareply。

"Idonotunderstandyourlanguage，"saidTarzan。

"Possiblywemayspeaktogetherinanothertongue？"

Butshecouldnotunderstandhim，thoughhetriedFrench，English，Arab，Waziri，and，asalastresort，themongreltongueoftheWestCoast。

Sheshookherhead，anditseemedthattherewasanoteofwearinessinhervoiceasshemotionedtotheprieststocontinuewiththerites。Thesenowcircledinarepetitionoftheiridioticdance，whichwasterminatedfinallyatacommandfromthepriestess，whohadstoodthroughout，stilllookingintentlyuponTarzan。

Athersignalthepriestsrushedupontheape—man，and，liftinghimbodily，laidhimuponhisbackacrossthealtar，hisheadhangingoveroneedge，hislegsovertheopposite。

Thentheyandthepriestessesformedintwolines，withtheirlittlegoldencupsinreadinesstocaptureashareofthevictim’slifebloodafterthesacrificialknifehadaccomplisheditswork。

Inthelineofpriestsanaltercationaroseastowhoshouldhavefirstplace。Aburlybrutewithalltherefinedintelligenceofagorillastampeduponhisbestialfacewasattemptingtopushasmallermantosecondplace，butthesmalleroneappealedtothehighpriestess，whoinacoldperemptoryvoicesentthelargertotheextremeendoftheline。

Tarzancouldhearhimgrowlingandrumblingashewentslowlytotheinferiorstation。

Thenthepriestess，standingabovehim，beganrecitingwhatTarzantooktobeaninvocation，thewhilesheslowlyraisedherthin，sharpknifealoft。Itseemedagestotheape—manbeforeherarmceaseditsupwardprogressandtheknifehaltedhighabovehisunprotectedbreast。

Thenitstarteddownward，slowlyatfirst，butastheincantationincreasedinrapidity，withgreaterspeed。AttheendofthelineTarzancouldstillhearthegrumblingofthedisgruntledpriest。Theman’svoiceroselouderandlouder。

Apriestessnearhimspokeinsharptonesofrebuke。TheknifewasquiteneartoTarzan’sbreastnow，butithaltedforaninstantasthehighpriestessraisedhereyestoshootherswiftdispleasureattheinstigatorofthissacrilegiousinterruption。

Therewasasuddencommotioninthedirectionofthedisputants，andTarzanrolledhisheadintheirdirectionintimetoseetheburlybruteofapriestleapuponthewomanoppositehim，dashingoutherbrainswithasingleblowofhisheavycudgel。ThenthathappenedwhichTarzanhadwitnessedahundredtimesbeforeamongthewilddenizensofhisownsavagejungle。HehadseenthethingfalluponKerchak，andTublat，andTerkoz;uponadozenoftheothermightybullapesofhistribe;anduponTantor，theelephant;therewasscarceanyofthemalesoftheforestthatdidnotattimesfallpreytoit。Thepriestwentmad，andwithhisheavybludgeonranamuckamonghisfellows。

Hisscreamsofragewerefrightfulashedashedhitherandthither，dealingterrificblowswithhisgiantweapon，orsinkinghisyellowfangsintothefleshofsomelucklessvictim。

AndduringitthepriestessstoodwithpoisedknifeaboveTarzan，hereyesfixedinhorroruponthemaniacalthingthatwasdealingoutdeathanddestructiontohervotaries。

Presentlytheroomwasemptiedexceptforthedeadanddyingonthefloor，thevictimuponthealtar，thehighpriestess，andthemadman。Asthecunningeyesofthelatterfelluponthewomantheylightedwithanewandsuddenlust。

Slowlyhecrepttowardher，andnowhespoke;butthistimetherefelluponTarzan’ssurprisedearsalanguagehecouldunderstand;thelastonethathewouldeverhavethoughtofemployinginattemptingtoconversewithhumanbeings——thelowgutturalbarkingofthetribeofgreatanthropoids——hisownmothertongue。Andthewomanansweredthemaninthesamelanguage。

Hewasthreatening——sheattemptingtoreasonwithhim，foritwasquiteevidentthatshesawthathewaspastherauthority。

Thebrutewasquiteclosenow——creepingwithclawlikehandsextendedtowardheraroundtheendofthealtar。

Tarzanstrainedatthebondswhichheldhisarmspinionedbehindhim。Thewomandidnotsee——shehadforgottenherpreyinthehorrorofthedangerthatthreatenedherself。

AsthebruteleapedpastTarzantoclutchhisvictim，theape—mangaveonesuperhumanwrenchatthethongsthatheldhim。

Theeffortsenthimrollingfromthealtartothestonefloorontheoppositesidefromthatonwhichthepriestessstood;butashesprangtohisfeetthethongsdroppedfromhisfreedarms，andatthesametimeherealizedthathewasaloneintheinnertemple——thehighpriestessandthemadpriesthaddisappeared。

Andthenamuffledscreamcamefromthecavernousmouthofthedarkholebeyondthesacrificialaltarthroughwhichthepriestesshadenteredthetemple。Withoutevenathoughtforhisownsafety，orthepossibilityforescapewhichthisrapidseriesoffortuitouscircumstanceshadthrustuponhim，TarzanoftheApesansweredthecallofthewomanindanger。

Withalittleboundhewasatthegapingentrancetothesubterraneanchamber，andamomentlaterwasrunningdownaflightofage—oldconcretestepsthatledheknewnotwhere。

Thefaintlightthatfilteredinfromaboveshowedhimalarge，low—ceiledvaultfromwhichseveraldoorwaysledoffintoinkydarkness，buttherewasnoneedtothreadanunknownway，fortherebeforehimlaytheobjectsofhissearch——themadbrutehadthegirluponthefloor，andgorilla—likefingerswereclutchingfranticallyatherthroatasshestruggledtoescapethefuryoftheawfulthinguponher。

AsTarzan’sheavyhandfelluponhisshoulderthepriestdroppedhisvictim，andturneduponherwould—berescuer。

Withfoam—fleckedlipsandbaredfangsthemadsun—worshiperbattledwiththetenfoldpowerofthemaniac。Inthebloodlustofhisfurythecreaturehadundergoneasuddenreversiontotype，whichlefthimawildbeast，forgetfulofthedaggerthatprojectedfromhisbelt——thinkingonlyofnature’sweaponswithwhichhisbruteprototypehadbattled。

Butifhecouldusehisteethandhandstoadvantage，hefoundoneevenbetterversedintheschoolofsavagewarfaretowhichhehadreverted，forTarzanoftheApesclosedwithhim，andtheyfelltothefloortearingandrendingatoneanotherliketwobullapes;whiletheprimitivepriestessstoodflattenedagainstthewall，watchingwithwide，fear—

fascinatedeyesthegrowing，snappingbeastsatherfeet。

Atlastshesawthestrangercloseonemightyhanduponthethroatofhisantagonist，andasheforcedthebruteman’sheadfarbackrainblowafterblowupontheupturnedface。

Amomentlaterhethrewthestillthingfromhim，and，arising，shookhimselflikealion。Heplacedafootuponthecarcassbeforehim，andraisedhisheadtogivethevictorycryofhiskind，butashiseyesfellupontheopeningabovehimleadingintothetempleofhumansacrificehethoughtbetterofhisintendedact。

Thegirl，whohadbeenhalfparalyzedbyfearasthetwomenfought，hadjustcommencedtogivethoughttoherprobablefatenowthat，thoughreleasedfromtheclutchesofamadman，shehadfallenintothehandsofonewhombutamomentbeforeshehadbeenuponthepointofkilling。

Shelookedaboutforsomemeansofescape。Theblackmouthofadivergingcorridorwasnearathand，butassheturnedtodartintoittheape—man’seyesfelluponher，andwithaquickleaphewasatherside，andarestraininghandwaslaiduponherarm。

"Wait！"saidTarzanoftheApes，inthelanguageofthetribeofKerchak。

Thegirllookedathiminastonishment。

"Whoareyou，"shewhispered，"whospeaksthelanguageofthefirstman？"

"IamTarzanoftheApes，"heansweredinthevernacularoftheanthropoids。

"Whatdoyouwantofme？"shecontinued。"ForwhatpurposedidyousavemefromTha？"

"Icouldnotseeawomanmurdered？"Itwasahalfquestionthatansweredher。

"Butwhatdoyouintendtodowithmenow？"shecontinued。

"Nothing，"hereplied，"butyoucandosomethingforme——youcanleadmeoutofthisplacetofreedom。"Hemadethesuggestionwithouttheslightestthoughtthatshewouldaccede。