第15章

Hefeltquitesurethatthesacrificewouldgoonfromthepointwhereithadbeeninterruptedifthehighpriestesshadherway，thoughhewasequallypositivethattheywouldfindTarzanoftheApesunboundandwithalongdaggerinhishandamuchlesstractablevictimthanTarzandisarmedandbound。

Thegirlstoodlookingathimforalongmomentbeforeshespoke。

"Youareaverywonderfulman，"shesaid。"YouaresuchamanasIhaveseeninmydaydreamseversinceI

wasalittlegirl。YouaresuchamanasIimaginetheforbearsofmypeoplemusthavebeen——thegreatraceofpeoplewhobuiltthismightycityintheheartofasavageworldthattheymightwrestfromthebowelsoftheearththefabulouswealthforwhichtheyhadsacrificedtheirfar—distantcivilization。

"Icannotunderstandwhyyoucametomyrescueinthefirstplace，andnowIcannotunderstandwhy，havingmewithinyourpower，youdonotwishtoberevengeduponmeforhavingsentencedyoutodeath——forhavingalmostputyoutodeathwithmyownhand。"

"Ipresume，"repliedtheape—man，"thatyoubutfollowedtheteachingsofyourreligion。IcannotblameYOUforthat，nomatterwhatImaythinkofyourcreed。Butwhoareyou——whatpeoplehaveIfallenamong？"

"IamLa，highpriestessoftheTempleoftheSun，inthecityofOpar。Wearedescendantsofapeoplewhocametothissavageworldmorethantenthousandyearsagoinsearchofgold。Theircitiesstretchedfromagreatseaundertherisingsuntoagreatseaintowhichthesundescendsatnighttocoolhisflamingbrow。Theywereveryrichandverypowerful，buttheylivedonlyafewmonthsoftheyearintheirmagnificentpalaceshere;therestofthetimetheyspentintheirnativeland，far，fartothenorth。

"Manyshipswentbackandforthbetweenthisnewworldandtheold。Duringtherainyseasontherewerebutfewoftheinhabitantsremainedhere，onlythosewhosuperintendedtheworkingoftheminesbytheblackslaves，andthemerchantswhohadtostaytosupplytheirwants，andthesoldierswhoguardedthecitiesandthemines。

"Itwasatoneofthesetimesthatthegreatcalamityoccurred。

Whenthetimecamefortheteemingthousandstoreturnnonecame。

Forweeksthepeoplewaited。Thentheysentoutagreatgalleytolearnwhynoonecamefromthemothercountry，butthoughtheysailedaboutformanymonths，theywereunabletofindanytraceofthemightylandthathadforcountlessagesbornetheirancientcivilization——ithadsunkintothesea。

"Fromthatdaydatedthedownfallofmypeople。

Disheartenedandunhappy，theysoonbecameapreytotheblackhordesofthenorthandtheblackhordesofthesouth。

Onebyonethecitiesweredesertedorovercome。Thelastremnantwasfinallyforcedtotakeshelterwithinthismightymountainfortress。Slowlywehavedwindledinpower，incivilization，inintellect，innumbers，untilnowwearenomorethanasmalltribeofsavageapes。

"Infact，theapeslivewithus，andhaveformanyages。

Wecallthemthefirstmen——wespeaktheirlanguagequiteasmuchaswedoourown;onlyintheritualsofthetempledowemakeanyattempttoretainourmothertongue。Intimeitwillbeforgotten，andwewillspeakonlythelanguageoftheapes;intimewewillnolongerbanishthoseofourpeoplewhomatewithapes，andsointimeweshalldescendtotheverybeastsfromwhichagesagoourprogenitorsmayhavesprung。"

"Butwhyareyoumorehumanthantheothers？"askedtheman。

"Forsomereasonthewomenhavenotrevertedtosavagerysorapidlyasthemen。Itmaybebecauseonlythelowertypesofmenremainedhereatthetimeofthegreatcatastrophe，whilethetempleswerefilledwiththenoblestdaughtersoftherace。Mystrainhasremainedclearerthantherestbecauseforcountlessagesmyforemotherswerehighpriestesses——thesacredofficedescendsfrommothertodaughter。Ourhusbandsarechosenforusfromthenoblestintheland。Themostperfectman，mentallyandphysically，isselectedtobethehusbandofthehighpriestess。"

"FromwhatIsawofthegentlemenabove，"saidTarzan，withagrin，"thereshouldbelittletroubleinchoosingfromamongthem。"

Thegirllookedathimquizzicallyforamoment。

"Donotbesacrilegious，"shesaid。"Theyareveryholymen——theyarepriests。"

"Thenthereareotherswhoarebettertolookupon？"heasked。

"Theothersareallmoreuglythanthepriests，"shereplied。

Tarzanshudderedatherfate，foreveninthedimlightofthevaulthewasimpressedbyherbeauty。

"Buthowaboutmyself？"heaskedsuddenly。"Areyougoingtoleadmetoliberty？"

"YouhavebeenchosenbyTheFlamingGodashisown，"

sheansweredsolemnly。"NotevenIhavethepowertosaveyou——shouldtheyfindyouagain。ButIdonotintendthattheyshallfindyou。Youriskedyourlifetosavemine。

Imaydonolessforyou。Itwillbenoeasymatter——itmayrequiredays;butintheendIthinkthatIcanleadyoubeyondthewalls。Come，theywilllookhereformepresently，andiftheyfindustogetherweshallbothbelost——theywouldkillmedidtheythinkthatIhadprovedfalsetomygod。"

"Youmustnottaketherisk，then，"hesaidquickly。"Iwillreturntothetemple，andifIcanfightmywaytofreedomtherewillbenosuspicionthrownuponyou。"

Butshewouldnothaveitso，andfinallypersuadedhimtofollowher，sayingthattheyhadalreadyremainedinthevaulttoolongtopreventsuspicionfromfallinguponhereveniftheyreturnedtothetemple。

"Iwillhideyou，andthenreturnalone，"shesaid，"tellingthemthatIwaslongunconsciousafteryoukilledTha，andthatIdonotknowwhitheryouescaped。"

Andsosheledhimthroughwindingcorridorsofgloom，untilfinallytheycametoasmallchamberintowhichalittlelightfilteredthroughastonegratingintheceiling。

"ThisistheChamberoftheDead，"shesaid。"Nonewillthinkofsearchinghereforyou——theywouldnotdare。Iwillreturnafteritisdark。BythattimeImayhavefoundaplantoeffectyourescape。"

Shewasgone，andTarzanoftheApeswasleftaloneintheChamberoftheDead，beneaththelong—deadcityofOpar。

Chapter21

TheCastawaysClaytondreamedthathewasdrinkinghisfillofwater，pure，delightfuldraftsoffreshwater。Withastarthegainedconsciousnesstofindhimselfwetthroughbytorrentsofrainthatwerefallinguponhisbodyandhisupturnedface。Aheavytropicalshowerwasbeatingdownuponthem。Heopenedhismouthanddrank。Presentlyhewassorevivedandstrengthenedthathewasenabledtoraisehimselfuponhishands。AcrosshislegslayMonsieurThuran。AfewfeetaftJanePorterwashuddledinapitifullittleheapinthebottomoftheboat——shewasquitestill。Claytonknewthatshewasdead。

AfterinfinitelaborhereleasedhimselffromThuran’spinioningbody，andwithrenewedstrengthcrawledtowardthegirl。

Heraisedherheadfromtheroughboardsoftheboat’sbottom。

Theremightbelifeinthatpoor，starvedframeevenyet。

Hecouldnotquiteabandonallhope，andsoheseizedawater—soakedragandsqueezedthepreciousdropsbetweentheswollenlipsofthehideousthingthathadbutafewshortdaysbeforeglowedwiththeresplendentlifeofhappyyouthandgloriousbeauty。

Forsometimetherewasnosignofreturninganimation，butatlasthiseffortswererewardedbyaslighttremorofthehalf—closedlids。Hechafedthethinhands，andforcedafewmoredropsofwaterintotheparchedthroat。Thegirlopenedhereyes，lookingupathimforalongtimebeforeshecouldrecallhersurroundings。

"Water？"shewhispered。"Arewesaved？"

"Itisraining，"heexplained。"Wemayatleastdrink。

Alreadyithasrevivedusboth。"

"MonsieurThuran？"sheasked。"Hedidnotkillyou。Ishedead？"

"Idonotknow，"repliedClayton。"Ifhelivesandthisrainreviveshim——"Buthestoppedthere，rememberingtoolatethathemustnotaddfurthertothehorrorswhichthegirlalreadyhadendured。

Butsheguessedwhathewouldhavesaid。

"Whereishe？"sheasked。

ClaytonnoddedhisheadtowardtheprostrateformoftheRussian。Foratimeneitherspoke。

"IwillseeifIcanrevivehim，"saidClaytonatlength。

"No，"shewhispered，extendingadetaininghandtowardhim。

"Donotdothat——hewillkillyouwhenthewaterhasgivenhimstrength。Ifheisdying，lethimdie。Donotleavemealoneinthisboatwiththatbeast。"

Claytonhesitated。HishonordemandedthatheattempttoreviveThuran，andtherewasthepossibility，too，thattheRussianwasbeyondhumanaid。Itwasnotdishonorabletohopeso。Ashesatfightingouthisbattlehepresentlyraisedhiseyesfromthebodyoftheman，andastheypassedabovethegunwaleoftheboathestaggeredweaklytohisfeetwithalittlecryofjoy。

"Land，Jane！"healmostshoutedthroughhiscrackedlips。

"ThankGod，land！"

Thegirllooked，too，andthere，notahundredyardsaway，shesawayellowbeach，and，beyond，theluxuriousfoliageofatropicaljungle。

"Nowyoumayrevivehim，"saidJanePorter，forshe，too，hadbeenhauntedwiththepangsofconsciencewhichhadresultedfromherdecisiontopreventClaytonfromofferingsuccortotheircompanion。

ItrequiredthebetterpartofhalfanhourbeforetheRussianevincedsufficientsymptomsofreturningconsciousnesstoopenhiseyes，anditwassometimelaterbeforetheycouldbringhimtoarealizationoftheirgoodfortune。

Bythistimetheboatwasscrapinggentlyuponthesandybottom。

Betweentherefreshingwaterthathehaddrunkandthestimulusofrenewedhope，Claytonfoundstrengthtostaggerthroughtheshallowwatertotheshorewithalinemadefasttotheboat’sbow。Thishefastenedtoasmalltreewhichgrewatthetopofalowbank，forthetidewasatflood，andhefearedthattheboatmightcarrythemallouttoseaagainwiththeebb，sinceitwasquitelikelythatitwouldbebeyondhisstrengthtogetJanePortertotheshoreforseveralhours。

Nexthemanagedtostaggerandcrawltowardthenear—

byjungle，wherehehadseenevidencesofprofusionoftropicalfruit。HisformerexperienceinthejungleofTarzanoftheApeshadtaughthimwhichofthemanygrowingthingswereedible，andafternearlyanhourofabsencehereturnedtothebeachwithalittlearmfuloffood。

Therainhadceased，andthehotsunwasbeatingdownsomercilesslyuponherthatJanePorterinsistedonmakinganimmediateattempttogaintheland。StillfurtherinvigoratedbythefoodClaytonhadbrought，thethreewereabletoreachthehalfshadeofthesmalltreetowhichtheirboatwasmoored。

Here，thoroughlyexhausted，theythrewthemselvesdowntorest，sleepinguntildark。

Foramonththeyliveduponthebeachincomparativesafety。

Astheirstrengthreturnedthetwomenconstructedarudeshelterinthebranchesofatree，highenoughfromthegroundtoinsuresafetyfromthelargerbeastsofprey。

Bydaytheygatheredfruitsandtrappedsmallrodents;atnighttheylaycoweringwithintheirfrailshelterwhilesavagedenizensofthejunglemadehideousthehoursofdarkness。

Theysleptuponlittersofjunglegrasses，andforcoveringatnightJanePorterhadonlyanoldulsterthatbelongedtoClayton，thesamegarmentthathehadwornuponthatmemorabletriptotheWisconsinwoods。Claytonhaderectedafrailpartitionofboughstodividetheirarborealshelterintotworooms——oneforthegirlandtheotherforMonsieurThuranandhimself。

FromthefirsttheRussianhadexhibitedeverytraitofhistruecharacter——selfishness，boorishness，arrogance，cowardice，andlust。TwicehadheandClaytoncometoblowsbecauseofThuran’sattitudetowardthegirl。

Claytondarednotleaveheralonewithhimforaninstant。

TheexistenceoftheEnglishmanandhisfianceewasonecontinualnightmareofhorror，andyettheylivedoninhopeofultimaterescue。

JanePorter’sthoughtsoftenrevertedtoherotherexperienceonthissavageshore。Ah，iftheinvincibleforestgodofthatdeadpastwerebutwiththemnow。Nolongerwouldtherebeaughttofearfromprowlingbeasts，orfromthebestialRussian。ShecouldnotwellrefrainfromcomparingthescantprotectionaffordedherbyClaytonwithwhatshemighthaveexpectedhadTarzanoftheApesbeenforasingleinstantconfrontedbythesinisterandmenacingattitudeofMonsieurThuran。Once，whenClaytonhadgonetothelittlestreamforwater，andThuranhadspokencoarselytoher，shevoicedherthoughts。

"Itiswellforyou，MonsieurThuran，"shesaid，"thatthepoorMonsieurTarzanwhowaslostfromtheshipthatbroughtyouandMissStrongtoCapeTownisnotherenow。"

"Youknewthepig？"askedThuran，withasneer。

"Iknewtheman，"shereplied。"Theonlyrealman，I

think，thatIhaveeverknown。"

TherewassomethinginhertoneofvoicethatledtheRussiantoattributetoheradeeperfeelingforhisenemythanfriendship，andhegraspedatthesuggestiontobefurtherrevengeduponthemanwhomhesupposeddeadbybesmirchinghismemorytothegirl。

"Hewasworsethanapig，"hecried。"Hewasapoltroonandacoward。Tosavehimselffromtherighteouswrathofthehusbandofawomanhehadwronged，heperjuredhissoulinanattempttoplacetheblameentirelyuponher。

Notsucceedinginthis，heranawayfromFrancetoescapemeetingthehusbanduponthefieldofhonor。ThatiswhyhewasonboardtheshipthatboreMissStrongandmyselftoCapeTown。IknowwhereofIspeak，forthewomaninthecaseismysister。SomethingmoreIknowthatIhavenevertoldanother——yourbraveMonsieurTarzanleapedoverboardinanagonyoffearbecauseIrecognizedhim，andinsistedthathemakereparationtomethefollowingmorning——wecouldhavefoughtwithknivesinmystateroom。"

JanePorterlaughed。"YoudonotforamomentimaginethatonewhohasknownbothMonsieurTarzanandyoucouldeverbelievesuchanimpossibletale？"

"Thenwhydidhetravelunderanassumedname？"askedMonsieurThuran。

"Idonotbelieveyou，"shecried，butneverthelesstheseedofsuspicionwassown，forsheknewthatHazelStronghadknownherforestgodonlyasJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。

Ascantfivemilesnorthoftheirrudeshelter，allunknowntothem，andpracticallyasremoteasthoughseparatedbythousandsofmilesofimpenetrablejungle，laythesnuglittlecabinofTarzanoftheApes。Whilefartherupthecoast，afewmilesbeyondthecabin，incrudebutwell—builtshelters，livedalittlepartyofeighteensouls——theoccupantsofthethreeboatsfromtheLADYALICEfromwhichClayton’sboathadbecomeseparated。

Overasmoothseatheyhadrowedtothemainlandinlessthanthreedays。Noneofthehorrorsofshipwreckhadbeentheirs，andthoughdepressedbysorrow，andsufferingfromtheshockofthecatastropheandtheunaccustomedhardshipsoftheirnewexistencetherewasnonemuchtheworsefortheexperience。

Allwerebuoyedbythehopethatthefourthboathadbeenpickedup，andthatathoroughsearchofthecoastwouldbequicklymade。AsallthefirearmsandammunitionontheyachthadbeenplacedinLordTennington’sboat，thepartywaswellequippedfordefense，andforhuntingthelargergameforfood。

ProfessorArchimedesQ。Porterwastheironlyimmediateanxiety。

Fullyassuredinhisownmindthathisdaughterhadbeenpickedupbyapassingsteamer，hegaveoverthelastvestigeofapprehensionconcerningherwelfare，anddevotedhisgiantintellectsolelytotheconsiderationofthosemomentousandabstrusescientificproblemswhichheconsideredtheonlyproperfoodforthoughtinoneofhiserudition。Hismindappearedblanktotheinfluenceofallextraneousmatters。

"Never，"saidtheexhaustedMr。SamuelT。Philander，toLordTennington，"neverhasProfessorPorterbeenmoredifficult——er——Imightsay，impossible。Why，onlythismorning，afterIhadbeenforcedtorelinquishmysurveillanceforabriefhalfhourhewasentirelymissinguponmyreturn。

And，blessme，sir，wheredoyouimagineIdiscoveredhim？

Ahalfmileoutintheocean，sir，inoneofthelifeboats，rowingawayfordearlife。Idonotknowhowheattainedeventhatmagnificentdistancefromshore，forhehadbutasingleoar，withwhichhewasblissfullyrowingaboutincircles。

"Whenoneofthesailorshadtakenmeouttohiminanotherboattheprofessorbecamequiteindignantatmysuggestionthatwereturnatoncetoland。`Why，Mr。Philander，’

hesaid，`Iamsurprisedthatyou，sir，amanoflettersyourself，shouldhavethetemeritysotointerrupttheprogressofscience。IhadaboutdeducedfromcertainastronomicphenomenaIhavehadunderminuteobservationduringthepastseveraltropicnightsanentirelynewnebularhypothesiswhichwillunquestionablystartlethescientificworld。IwishtoconsultaveryexcellentmonographonLaplace’shypothesis，whichIunderstandisinacertainprivatecollectioninNewYorkCity。Yourinterference，Mr。Philander，willresultinanirreparabledelay，forIwasjustrowingovertoobtainthispamphlet。’AnditwaswiththegreatestdifficultythatI

persuadedhimtoreturntoshore，withoutresortingtoforce，"

concludedMr。Philander。

MissStrongandhermotherwereverybraveunderthestrainofalmostconstantapprehensionoftheattacksofsavagebeasts。NorweretheyquiteabletoacceptsoreadilyastheothersthetheorythatJane，Clayton，andMonsieurThuranhadbeenpickedupsafely。

JanePorter’sEsmeraldawasinaconstantstateoftearsatthecruelfatewhichhadseparatedherfromher"po，li’lehoney。"

LordTennington’sgreat—heartedgoodnatureneverdesertedhimforamoment。Hewasstillthejovialhost，seekingalwaysforthecomfortandpleasureofhisguests。Withthemenofhisyachtheremainedthejustbutfirmcommander——therewasneveranymorequestioninthejunglethantherehadbeenonboardtheLADYALICEastowhowasthefinalauthorityinallquestionsofimportance，andinallemergenciesrequiringcoolandintelligentleadership。

Couldthiswell—organizedandcomparativelysecurepartyofcastawayshaveseentheragged，fear—hauntedtrioafewmilessouthofthemtheywouldscarcelyhaverecognizedinthemtheformerlyimmaculatemembersofthelittlecompanythathadlaughedandplayedupontheLADYALICE。

ClaytonandMonsieurThuranwerealmostnaked，sotornhadtheirclothesbeenbythethornbushesandtangledvegetationofthemattedjunglethroughwhichtheyhadbeencompelledtoforcetheirwayinsearchoftheirevermoredifficultfoodsupply。

JanePorterhadofcoursenotbeensubjectedtothesestrenuousexpeditions，butherapparelwas，nevertheless，inasadstateofdisrepair。

Clayton，forlackofanybetteroccupation，hadcarefullysavedtheskinofeveryanimaltheyhadkilled。Bystretchingthemuponthestemsoftrees，anddiligentlyscrapingthem，hehadmanagedtosavetheminafaircondition，andnowthathisclotheswerethreateningtocoverhisnakednessnolonger，hecommencedtofashionarudegarmentofthem，usingasharpthornforaneedle，andbitsoftoughgrassandanimaltendonsinlieuofthread。

Theresultwhencompletedwasasleevelessgarmentwhichfellnearlytohisknees。Asitwasmadeupofnumeroussmallpeltsofdifferentspeciesofrodents，itpresentedaratherstrangeandwonderfulappearance，which，togetherwiththevilestenchwhichpermeatedit，rendereditanythingotherthanadesirableadditiontoawardrobe。Butthetimecamewhenforthesakeofdecencyhewascompelledtodonit，andeventhemiseryoftheirconditioncouldnotpreventJanePorterfromlaughingheartilyatsightofhim。

Later，Thuranalsofounditnecessarytoconstructasimilarprimitivegarment，sothat，withtheirbarelegsandheavilybeardedfaces，theylookednotunlikereincarnationsoftwoprehistoricprogenitorsofthehumanrace。Thuranactedlikeone。

Nearlytwomonthsofthisexistencehadpassedwhenthefirstgreatcalamitybefellthem。Itwasprefacedbyanadventurewhichcamenearterminatingabruptlythesufferingsoftwoofthem——terminatingtheminthegrimandhorriblemannerofthejungle，forever。

Thuran，downwithanattackofjunglefever，layintheshelteramongthebranchesoftheirtreeofrefuge。

Claytonhadbeenintothejungleafewhundredyardsinsearchoffood。AshereturnedJanePorterwalkedtomeethim。Behindtheman，cunningandcrafty，creptanoldandmangylion。Forthreedayshisancientthewsandsinewshadprovedinsufficientforthetaskofprovidinghiscavernousbellywithmeat。Formonthshehadeatenlessandlessfrequently，andfartherandfartherhadheroamedfromhisaccustomedhauntsinsearchofeasierprey。Atlasthehadfoundnature’sweakestandmostdefenselesscreature——inamomentmoreNumawoulddine。

Clayton，allunconsciousofthelurkingdeathbehindhim，strodeoutintotheopentowardJane。Hehadreachedherside，ahundredfeetfromthetanglededgeofjunglewhenpasthisshoulderthegirlsawthetawnyheadandthewickedyelloweyesasthegrassesparted，andthehugebeast，nosetoground，steppedsoftlyintoview。

Sofrozenwithhorrorwasshethatshecouldutternosound，butthefixedandterrifiedgazeofherfear—widenedeyesspokeasplainlytoClaytonaswords。Aquickglancebehindhimrevealedthehopelessnessoftheirsituation。

Thelionwasscarcethirtypacesfromthem，andtheywereequallyasfarfromtheshelter。Themanwasarmedwithastoutstick——asefficaciousagainstahungrylion，herealized，asatoypop—gunchargedwithatetheredcork。

Numa，ravenouswithhunger，hadlongsincelearnedthefutilityofroaringandmoaningashesearchedforprey，butnowthatitwasassurelyhisasthoughalreadyhehadfeltthesoftfleshbeneathhisstillmightypaw，heopenedhishugejaws，andgaveventtohislong—pentrageinaseriesofdeafeningroarsthatmadetheairtremble。

"Run，Jane！"criedClayton。"Quick！Runfortheshelter！"

Butherparalyzedmusclesrefusedtorespond，andshestoodmuteandrigid，staringwithghastlycountenanceatthelivingdeathcreepingtowardthem。

Thuran，atthesoundofthatawfulroar，hadcometotheopeningoftheshelter，andashesawthetableaubelowhimhehoppedupanddown，shriekingtotheminRussian。

"Run！Run！"hecried。"Run，orIshallbeleftallaloneinthishorribleplace，"andthenhebrokedownandcommencedtoweep。

Foramomentthisnewvoicedistractedtheattentionofthelion，whohaltedtocastaninquiringglanceinthedirectionofthetree。Claytoncouldendurethestrainnolonger。

Turninghisbackuponthebeast，heburiedhisheadinhisarmsandwaited。

Thegirllookedathiminhorror。Whydidhenotdosomething？Ifhemustdie，whynotdielikeaman——bravely;

beatingatthatterriblefacewithhispunystick，nomatterhowfutileitmightbe。WouldTarzanoftheApeshavedonethus？

Wouldhenotatleasthavegonedowntohisdeathfightingheroicallytothelast？

Nowthelionwascrouchingforthespringthatwouldendtheiryounglivesbeneathcruel，rending，yellowfangs。

JanePortersanktoherkneesinprayer，closinghereyestoshutoutthelasthideousinstant。Thuran，weakfromfever，fainted。

Secondsdraggedintominutes，longminutesintoaneternity，andyetthebeastdidnotspring。Claytonwasalmostunconsciousfromtheprolongedagonyoffright——hiskneestrembled——amomentmoreandhewouldcollapse。

JanePortercouldendureitnolonger。Sheopenedhereyes。

Couldshebedreaming？

"William，"shewhispered;"look！"

Claytonmasteredhimselfsufficientlytoraisehisheadandturntowardthelion。Anejaculationofsurpriseburstfromhislips。Attheirveryfeetthebeastlaycrumpledindeath。

Aheavywarspearprotrudedfromthetawnyhide。Ithadenteredthegreatbackabovetherightshoulder，and，passingentirelythroughthebody，hadpiercedthesavageheart。

JanePorterhadrisentoherfeet;asClaytonturnedbacktohershestaggeredinweakness。Heputouthisarmstosaveherfromfalling，andthendrewherclosetohim——pressingherheadagainsthisshoulder，hestoopedtokissherinthanksgiving。

Gentlythegirlpushedhimaway。

"Pleasedonotdothat，William，"shesaid。"Ihavelivedathousandyearsinthepastbriefmoments。Ihavelearnedinthefaceofdeathhowtolive。Idonotwishtohurtyoumorethanisnecessary;butIcannolongerbeartoliveouttheimpossiblepositionIhaveattemptedbecauseofafalsesenseofloyaltytoanimpulsivepromiseImadeyou。

"Thelastfewsecondsofmylifehavetaughtmethatitwouldbehideoustoattemptfurthertodeceivemyselfandyou，ortoentertainforaninstantlongerthepossibilityofeverbecomingyourwife，shouldweregaincivilization。"

"Why，Jane，"hecried，"whatdoyoumean？Whathasourprovidentialrescuetodowithalteringyourfeelingstowardme？

Youarebutunstrung——tomorrowyouwillbeyourselfagain。"

"IammorenearlymyselfthisminutethanIhavebeenforoverayear，"shereplied。"Thethingthathasjusthappenedhasagainforcedtomymemorythefactthatthebravestmanthateverlivedhonoredmewithhislove。UntilitwastoolateIdidnotrealizethatIreturnedit，andsoIsenthimaway。

Heisdeadnow，andIshallnevermarry。Icertainlycouldnotwedanotherlessbravethanhewithoutharboringconstantlyafeelingofcontemptfortherelativecowardiceofmyhusband。

Doyouunderstandme？"

"Yes，"heanswered，withbowedhead，hisfacemantlingwiththeflushofshame。

Anditwasthenextdaythatthegreatcalamitybefell。

Chapter22

TheTreasureVaultsofOparItwasquitedarkbeforeLa，thehighpriestess，returnedtotheChamberoftheDeadwithfoodanddrinkforTarzan。

Sheborenolight，feelingwithherhandsalongthecrumblingwallsuntilshegainedthechamber。Throughthestonegratingabove，atropicmoonserveddimlytoilluminatetheinterior。

Tarzan，crouchingintheshadowsatthefarsideoftheroomasthefirstsoundofapproachingfootstepsreachedhim，cameforthtomeetthegirlasherecognizedthatitwasshe。

"Theyarefurious，"wereherfirstwords。"Neverbeforehasahumansacrificeescapedthealtar。Alreadyfiftyhavegoneforthtotrackyoudown。Theyhavesearchedthetemple——allsavethissingleroom。"

"Whydotheyfeartocomehere？"heasked。

"ItistheChamberoftheDead。Herethedeadreturntoworship。

Seethisancientaltar？Itisherethatthedeadsacrificetheliving——iftheyfindavictimhere。Thatisthereasonourpeopleshunthischamber。Wereonetoenterheknowsthatthewaitingdeadwouldseizehimfortheirsacrifice。"

"Butyou？"heasked。

"Iamhighpriestess——Ialoneamsafefromthedead。

ItisIwhoatrareintervalsbringthemahumansacrificefromtheworldabove。Ialonemayenterhereinsafety。"

"Whyhavetheynotseizedme？"heasked，humoringhergrotesquebelief。

Shelookedathimquizzicallyforamoment。Thenshereplied:

"Itisthedutyofahighpriestesstoinstruct，tointerpret——

accordingtothecreedthatothers，wiserthanherself，havelaiddown;butthereisnothinginthecreedwhichsaysthatshemustbelieve。Themoreoneknowsofone’sreligionthelessonebelieves——noonelivingknowsmoreofminethanI。"

"Thenyouronlyfearinaidingmetoescapeisthatyourfellowmortalsmaydiscoveryourduplicity？"

"Thatisall——thedeadaredead;theycannotharm——orhelp。

Wemustthereforedependentirelyuponourselves，andthesoonerweactthebetteritwillbe。Ihaddifficultyineludingtheirvigilancebutnowinbringingyouthismorseloffood。Toattempttorepeatthethingdailywouldbetheheightoffolly。Come，letusseehowfarwemaygotowardlibertybeforeImustreturn。"

Sheledhimbacktothechamberbeneaththealtarroom。

Heresheturnedintooneoftheseveralcorridorsleadingfromit。InthedarknessTarzancouldnotseewhichone。