第17章

"Onlypeace，"answeredtheape—man。

Againtheapesconferred。AtlengthKarnathspokeagain。

"Comeinpeace，then，TarzanoftheApes，"hesaid。

AndsoTarzanoftheApesdroppedlightlytotheturfintothemidstofthefierceandhideoushorde——hehadcompletedthecycleofevolution，andhadreturnedtobeonceagainabruteamongbrutes。

Therewerenogreetingssuchaswouldhavetakenplaceamongmenafteraseparationoftwoyears。Themajorityoftheapeswentonaboutthelittleactivitiesthattheadventoftheape—manhadinterrupted，payingnofurtherattentiontohimthanasthoughhehadnotbeengonefromthetribeatall。

Oneortwoyoungbullswhohadnotbeenoldenoughtorememberhimsidleduponallfourstosniffathim，andonebaredhisfangsandgrowledthreateningly——hewishedtoputTarzanimmediatelyintohisproperplace。HadTarzanbackedoff，growling，theyoungbullwouldquiteprobablyhavebeensatisfied，butalwaysafterTarzan’sstationamonghisfellowapeswouldhavebeenbeneaththatofthebullwhichhadmadehimstepaside。

ButTarzanoftheApesdidnotbackoff。Instead，heswunghisgiantpalmwithalltheforceofhismightymuscles，and，catchingtheyoungbullalongsidethehead，senthimsprawlingacrosstheturf。Theapewasupandathimagaininasecond，andthistimetheyclosedwithtearingfingersandrendingfangs——oratleastthathadbeentheintentionoftheyoungbull;butscarcelyhadtheygonedown，growlingandsnapping，thantheape—man’sfingersfoundthethroatofhisantagonist。

Presentlytheyoungbullceasedtostruggle，andlayquitestill。

ThenTarzanreleasedhisholdandarose——hedidnotwishtokill，onlytoteachtheyoungape，andotherswhomightbewatching，thatTarzanoftheApeswasstillmaster。

Thelessonserveditspurpose——theyoungapeskeptoutofhisway，asyoungapesshouldwhentheirbetterswereabout，andtheoldbullsmadenoattempttoencroachuponhisprerogatives。Forseveraldaystheshe—apeswithyoungremainedsuspiciousofhim，andwhenheventuredtoonearrusheduponhimwithwidemouthsandhideousroars。

ThenTarzandiscreetlyskippedoutofharm’sway，forthatalsoisacustomamongtheapes——onlymadbullswillattackamother。Butafterawhileeventheybecameaccustomedtohim。

Hehuntedwiththemasindaysgoneby，andwhentheyfoundthathissuperiorreasonguidedhimtothebestfoodsources，andthathiscunningropeensnaredtoothsomegamethattheyseldomifevertasted，theycameagaintolookuptohimastheyhadinthepastafterhehadbecometheirking。

Andsoitwasthatbeforetheylefttheamphitheatertoreturntotheirwanderingstheyhadoncemorechosenhimastheirleader。

Theape—manfeltquitecontentedwithhisnewlot。Hewasnothappy——thathenevercouldbeagain，buthewasatleastasfarfromeverythingthatmightremindhimofhispastmiseryashecouldbe。Longsincehehadgivenupeveryintentionofreturningtocivilization，andnowhehaddecidedtoseenomorehisblackfriendsoftheWaziri。Hehadforeswornhumanityforever。Hehadstartedlifeanape——asanapehewoulddie。

Hecouldnot，however，erasefromhismemorythefactthatthewomanhelovedwaswithinashortjourneyofthestamping—groundofhistribe;norcouldhebanishthehauntingfearthatshemightbeconstantlyindanger。

ThatshewasillyprotectedhehadseeninthebriefinstantthathadwitnessedClayton’sinefficiency。

ThemoreTarzanthoughtofit，themorekeenlyhisconscienceprickedhim。

FinallyhecametoloathehimselfforpermittinghisownselfishsorrowandjealousytostandbetweenJanePorterandsafety。

Asthedayspassedthethingpreyedmoreandmoreuponhismind，andhehadaboutdeterminedtoreturntothecoastandplacehimselfonguardoverJanePorterandClayton，whennewsreachedhimthatalteredallhisplansandsenthimdashingmadlytowardtheeastinrecklessdisregardofaccidentanddeath。

BeforeTarzanhadreturnedtothetribe，acertainyoungbull，notbeingabletosecureamatefromamonghisownpeople，had，accordingtocustom，faredforththroughthewildjungle，likesomeknight—errantofold，towinafairladyfromsomeneighboringcommunity。

Hehadbutjustreturnedwithhisbride，andwasnarratinghisadventuresquicklybeforeheshouldforgetthem。Amongotherthingshetoldofseeingagreattribeofstrange—lookingapes。

"Theywereallhairy—facedbullsbutone，"hesaid，"andthatonewasashe，lighterincoloreventhanthisstranger，"

andhechuckedathumbatTarzan。

Theape—manwasallattentioninaninstant。Heaskedquestionsasrapidlyastheslow—wittedanthropoidcouldanswerthem。

"Werethebullsshort，withcrookedlegs？"

"Theywere。"

"DidtheyweartheskinsofNumaandSheetaabouttheirloins，andcarrysticksandknives？"

"Theydid。"

"Andweretheremanyyellowringsabouttheirarmsandlegs？"

"Yes。"

"Andthesheone——wasshesmallandslender，andverywhite？"

"Yes。"

"Didsheseemtobeoneofthetribe，orwassheaprisoner？"

"Theydraggedheralong——sometimesbyanarm——sometimesbythelonghairthatgrewuponherhead;andalwaystheykickedandbeather。Oh，butitwasgreatfuntowatchthem。"

"God！"mutteredTarzan。

"Whereweretheywhenyousawthem，andwhichwayweretheygoing？"continuedtheape—man。

"Theywerebesidethesecondwaterbackthere，"andhepointedtothesouth。"Whentheypassedmetheyweregoingtowardthemorning，upwardalongtheedgeofthewater。"

"Whenwasthis？"askedTarzan。

"Halfamoonsince。"

Withoutanotherwordtheape—mansprangintothetreesandfledlikeadisembodiedspiriteastwardinthedirectionoftheforgottencityofOpar。

Chapter24

HowTarzanCameAgaintoOparWhenClaytonreturnedtotheshelterandfoundJanePorterwasmissing，hebecamefranticwithfearandgrief。

HefoundMonsieurThuranquiterational，thefeverhavinglefthimwiththesurprisingsuddennesswhichisoneofitspeculiarities。TheRussian，weakandexhausted，stilllayuponhisbedofgrasseswithintheshelter。

WhenClaytonaskedhimaboutthegirlheseemedsurprisedtoknowthatshewasnotthere。

"Ihaveheardnothingunusual，"hesaid。"ButthenIhavebeenunconsciousmuchofthetime。"

Haditnotbeenfortheman’sveryevidentweakness，Claytonshouldhavesuspectedhimofhavingsinisterknowledgeofthegirl’swhereabouts;buthecouldseethatThuranlackedsufficientvitalityeventodescend，unaided，fromtheshelter。Hecouldnot，inhispresentphysicalcondition，haveharmedthegirl，norcouldhehaveclimbedtherudeladderbacktotheshelter。

UntildarktheEnglishmansearchedthenearbyjungleforatraceofthemissingoneorasignofthetrailofherabductor。

Butthoughthespoorleftbythefiftyfrightfulmen，unversedinwoodcraftastheywere，wouldhavebeenasplaintothedensestdenizenofthejungleasacitystreettotheEnglishman，yethecrossedandrecrossedittwentytimeswithoutobservingtheslightestindicationthatmanymenhadpassedthatwaybutafewshorthourssince。

Ashesearched，Claytoncontinuedtocallthegirl’snamealoud，buttheonlyresultofthiswastoattractNuma，thelion。Fortunatelythemansawtheshadowyformwormingitswaytowardhimintimetoclimbintothebranchesofatreebeforethebeastwascloseenoughtoreachhim。Thisputanendtohissearchforthebalanceoftheafternoon，asthelionpacedbackandforthbeneathhimuntildark。

Evenafterthebeasthadleft，Claytondarednotdescendintotheawfulblacknessbeneathhim，andsohespentaterrifyingandhideousnightinthetree。Thenextmorninghereturnedtothebeach，relinquishingthelasthopeofsuccoringJanePorter。

Duringtheweekthatfollowed，MonsieurThuranrapidlyregainedhisstrength，lyingintheshelterwhileClaytonhuntedfoodforboth。Themenneverspokeexceptasnecessitydemanded。ClaytonnowoccupiedthesectionoftheshelterwhichhadbeenreservedforJanePorter，andonlysawtheRussianwhenhetookfoodorwatertohim，orperformedtheotherkindlyofficeswhichcommonhumanityrequired。

WhenThuranwasagainabletodescendinsearchoffood，Claytonwasstrickenwithfever。Fordayshelaytossingindeliriumandsuffering，butnotoncedidtheRussiancomenearhim。FoodtheEnglishmancouldnothaveeaten，buthiscravingforwateramountedpracticallytotorture。

Betweentherecurrentattacksofdelirium，weakthoughhewas，hemanagedtoreachthebrookonceadayandfillatinycanthathadbeenamongthefewappointmentsofthelifeboat。

Thuranwatchedhimontheseoccasionswithanexpressionofmalignantpleasure——heseemedreallytoenjoythesufferingofthemanwho，despitethejustcontemptinwhichheheldhim，hadministeredtohimtothebestofhisabilitywhilehelaysufferingthesameagonies。

AtlastClaytonbecamesoweakthathewasnolongerabletodescendfromtheshelter。ForadayhesufferedforwaterwithoutappealingtotheRussian，butfinally，unabletoendureitlonger，heaskedThurantofetchhimadrink。

TheRussiancametotheentrancetoClayton’sroom，adishofwaterinhishand。Anastygrincontortedhisfeatures。

"Hereiswater，"hesaid。"Butfirstletmeremindyouthatyoumalignedmebeforethegirl——thatyoukepthertoyourself，andwouldnotshareherwithme——"

Claytoninterruptedhim。"Stop！"hecried。Stop！

Whatmannerofcurareyouthatyoutraducethecharacterofagoodwomanwhomwebelievedead！God！Iwasafoolevertoletyoulive——youarenotfittoliveeveninthisvileland。"

"Hereisyourwater，"saidtheRussian。"Allyouwillget，"andheraisedthebasintohislipsanddrank;whatwaslefthethrewoutuponthegroundbelow。Thenheturnedandleftthesickman。

Claytonrolledover，and，buryinghisfaceinhisarms，gaveupthebattle。

ThenextdayThurandeterminedtosetouttowardthenorthalongthecoast，forheknewthateventuallyhemustcometothehabitationsofcivilizedmen——atleasthecouldbenoworseoffthanhewashere，and，furthermore，theravingsofthedyingEnglishmanweregettingonhisnerves。

SohestoleClayton’sspearandsetoffuponhisjourney。

Hewouldhavekilledthesickmanbeforehelefthaditnotoccurredtohimthatitwouldreallyhavebeenakindnesstodoso。

Thatsamedayhecametoalittlecabinbythebeach，andhisheartfilledwithrenewedhopeashesawthisevidenceoftheproximityofcivilization，forhethoughtitbuttheoutpostofanearbysettlement。Hadheknowntowhomitbelonged，andthatitsownerwasatthatverymomentbutafewmilesinland，NikolasRokoffwouldhavefledtheplaceashewouldapestilence。Buthedidnotknow，andsoheremainedforafewdaystoenjoythesecurityandcomparativecomfortsofthecabin。Thenhetookuphisnorthwardjourneyoncemore。

InLordTennington’scamppreparationsweregoingforwardtobuildpermanentquarters，andthentosendoutanexpeditionofafewmentothenorthinsearchofrelief。

Asthedayshadpassedwithoutbringingthelonged—forsuccor，hopethatJanePorter，Clayton，andMonsieurThuranhadbeenrescuedbegantodie。NoonespokeofthematterlongertoProfessorPorter，andhewassoimmersedinhisscientificdreamingthathewasnotawareoftheelapseoftime。

Occasionallyhewouldremarkthatwithinafewdaystheyshouldcertainlyseeasteamerdropanchorofftheirshore，andthatthentheyshouldallbereunitedhappily。

Sometimeshespokeofitasatrain，andwonderedifitwerebeingdelayedbysnowstorms。

"IfIdidn’tknowthedearoldfellowsowellbynow，"

TenningtonremarkedtoMissStrong，"Ishouldbequitecertainthathewas——er——notquiteright，don’tyouknow。"

"Ifitwerenotsopatheticitwouldberidiculous，"saidthegirl，sadly。"I，whohaveknownhimallmylife，knowhowheworshipsJane;buttoothersitmustseemthatheisperfectlycalloustoherfate。Itisonlythatheissoabsolutelyimpracticalthathecannotconceiveofsorealathingasdeathunlessnearlycertainproofofitisthrustuponhim。"

"You’dneverguesswhathewasaboutyesterday，"

continuedTennington。"IwascominginalonefromalittlehuntwhenImethimwalkingrapidlyalongthegametrailthatIwasfollowingbacktocamp。Hishandswereclaspedbeneaththetailsofhislongblackcoat，andhistophatwassetfirmlydownuponhishead，aswitheyesbentuponthegroundhehastenedon，probablytosomesuddendeathhadInotinterceptedhim。

"`Why，whereintheworldareyoubound，professor？’I

askedhim。`Iamgoingintotown，LordTennington，’hesaid，asseriouslyaspossible，`tocomplaintothepostmasterabouttheruralfreedeliveryservicewearesufferingfromhere。

Why，sir，Ihaven’thadapieceofmailinweeks。ThereshouldbeseverallettersformefromJane。ThemattermustbereportedtoWashingtonatonce。’

"Andwouldyoubelieveit，MissStrong，"continuedTennington，"Ihadtheverydeuceofajobtoconvincetheoldfellowthattherewasnotonlynoruralfreedelivery，butnotown，andthathewasnotevenonthesamecontinentasWashington，norinthesamehemisphere。

"Whenhedidrealizehecommencedtoworryabouthisdaughter——Ithinkitisthefirsttimethathereallyhasappreciatedourpositionhere，orthefactthatMissPortermaynothavebeenrescued。"

"Ihatetothinkaboutit，"saidthegirl，"andyetIcanthinkofnothingelsethantheabsentmembersofourparty。"

"Letushopeforthebest，"repliedTennington。"Youyourselfhavesetuseachasplendidexampleofbravery，forinawayyourlosshasbeenthegreatest。"

"Yes，"shereplied;"IcouldhavelovedJanePorternomorehadshebeenmyownsister。"

Tenningtondidnotshowthesurprisehefelt。Thatwasnotatallwhathemeant。HehadbeenmuchwiththisfairdaughterofMarylandsincethewreckoftheLADYALICE，andithadrecentlycometohimthathehadgrownmuchmorefondofherthanwouldprovegoodforthepeaceofhismind，forherecalledalmostconstantlynowtheconfidencewhichMonsieurThuranhadimpartedtohimthatheandMissStrongwereengaged。Hewonderedif，afterall，Thuranhadbeenquiteaccurateinhisstatement。Hehadneverseentheslightestindicationonthegirl’spartofmorethanordinaryfriendship。

"AndtheninMonsieurThuran’sloss，iftheyarelost，youwouldsufferaseverebereavement，"heventured。

Shelookedupathimquickly。"MonsieurThuranhadbecomeaverydearfriend，"shesaid。"Ilikedhimverymuch，thoughIhaveknownhimbutashorttime。"

"Thenyouwerenotengagedtomarryhim？"heblurtedout。

"Heavens，nol！"shecried。"Ididnotcareforhimatallinthatway。"

TherewassomethingthatLordTenningtonwantedtosaytoHazelStrong——hewantedverybadlytosayit，andtosayitatonce;butsomehowthewordsstuckinhisthroat。

Hestartedlamelyacoupleoftimes，clearedhisthroat，becameredintheface，andfinallyendedbyremarkingthathehopedthecabinswouldbefinishedbeforetherainyseasoncommenced。

But，thoughhedidnotknowit，hehadconveyedtothegirltheverymessageheintended，anditleftherhappy——

happierthanshehadeverbeforebeeninallherlife。

Justthenfurtherconversationwasinterruptedbythesightofastrangeandterrible—lookingfigurewhichemergedfromthejunglejustsouthofthecamp。Tenningtonandthegirlsawitatthesametime。TheEnglishmanreachedforhisrevolver，butwhenthehalf—naked，beardedcreaturecalledhisnamealoudandcamerunningtowardthemhedroppedhishandandadvancedtomeetit。

Nonewouldhaverecognizedinthefilthy，emaciatedcreature，coveredbyasinglegarmentofsmallskins，theimmaculateMonsieurThuranthepartyhadlastseenuponthedeckoftheLADYALICE。

BeforetheothermembersofthelittlecommunitywereapprisedofhispresenceTenningtonandMissStrongquestionedhimregardingtheotheroccupantsofthemissingboat。

"Theyarealldead，"repliedThuran。"Thethreesailorsdiedbeforewemadeland。MissPorterwascarriedoffintothejunglebysomewildanimalwhileIwaslyingdeliriouswithfever。Claytondiedofthesamefeverbutafewdayssince。

Andtothinkthatallthistimewehavebeenseparatedbybutafewmiles——scarcelyaday’smarch。Itisterrible！"

HowlongJanePorterlayinthedarknessofthevaultbeneaththetempleintheancientcityofOparshedidnotknow。

Foratimeshewasdeliriouswithfever，butafterthispassedshecommencedslowlytoregainherstrength。

Everydaythewomanwhobroughtherfoodbeckonedtohertoarise，butformanydaysthegirlcouldonlyshakeherheadtoindicatethatshewastooweak。

Buteventuallyshewasabletogainherfeet，andthentostaggerafewstepsbysupportingherselfwithonehanduponthewall。Hercaptorsnowwatchedherwithincreasinginterest。Thedaywasapproaching，andthevictimwasgaininginstrength。

Presentlythedaycame，andayoungwomanwhomJanePorterhadnotseenbeforecamewithseveralotherstoherdungeon。

Heresomesortofceremonywasperformed——thatitwasofareligiousnaturethegirlwassure，andsoshetooknewheart，andrejoicedthatshehadfallenamongpeopleuponwhomtherefiningandsofteninginfluencesofreligionevidentlyhadfallen。Theywouldtreatherhumanely——ofthatshewasnowquitesure。

Andsowhentheyledherfromherdungeon，throughlong，darkcorridors，andupaflightofconcretestepstoabrilliantcourtyard，shewentwillingly，evengladly——forwasshenotamongtheservantsofGod？Itmightbe，ofcourse，thattheirinterpretationofthesupremebeingdifferedfromherown，butthattheyownedagodwassufficientevidencetoherthattheywerekindandgood。

Butwhenshesawastonealtarinthecenterofthecourtyard，anddark—brownstainsuponitandthenearbyconcreteofthefloor，shebegantowonderandtodoubt。Andastheystoopedandboundherankles，andsecuredherwristsbehindher，herdoubtswereturnedtofear。Amomentlater，asshewasliftedandplacedsupineacrossthealtar’stop，hopeleftherentirely，andshetrembledinanagonyoffright。

Duringthegrotesquedanceofthevotarieswhichfollowed，shelayfrozeninhorror，nordidsherequirethesightofthethinbladeinthehandsofthehighpriestessasitroseslowlyabovehertoenlightenherfurtherastoherdoom。

Asthehandbeganitsdescent，JanePorterclosedhereyesandsentupasilentprayertotheMakershewassosoontoface——thenshesuccumbedtothestrainuponhertirednerves，andswooned。

DayandnightTarzanoftheApesracedthroughtheprimevalforesttowardtheruinedcityinwhichhewaspositivethewomanhelovedlayeitheraprisonerordead。

Inadayandanighthecoveredthesamedistancethatthefiftyfrightfulmenhadtakenthebetterpartofaweektotraverse，forTarzanoftheApestraveledalongthemiddleterracehighabovethetangledobstaclesthatimpedeprogressupontheground。

ThestorytheyoungbullapehadtoldmadeitcleartohimthatthegirlcaptivehadbeenJanePorter，fortherewasnotanothersmallwhite"she"inallthejungle。The"bulls"hehadrecognizedfromtheape’scrudedescriptionasthegrotesqueparodiesuponhumanitywhoinhabittheruinsofOpar。

Andthegirl’sfatehecouldpictureasplainlyasthoughhewereaneyewitnesstoit。Whentheywouldlayheracrossthattrimaltarhecouldnotguess，butthatherdear，frailbodywouldeventuallyfinditswaytherehewasconfident。

But，finally，afterwhatseemedlongagestotheimpatientape—man，hetoppedthebarriercliffsthathemmedthedesolatevalley，andbelowhimlaythegrimandawfulruinsofthenowhideouscityofOpar。Atarapidtrothestartedacrossthedryanddusty，bowlder—strewngroundtowardthegoalofhisdesires。

Wouldhebeintimetorescue？Hehopedagainsthope。

Atleasthecouldberevenged，andinhiswrathitseemedtohimthathewasequaltothetaskofwipingouttheentirepopulationofthatterriblecity。Itwasnearlynoonwhenhereachedthegreatbowlderatthetopofwhichterminatedthesecretpassagetothepitsbeneaththecity。LikeacathescaledtheprecipitoussidesofthefrowninggraniteKOPJE。

Amomentlaterhewasrunningthroughthedarknessofthelong，straighttunnelthatledtothetreasurevault。

Throughthishepassed，thenonandonuntilatlasthecametothewell—likeshaftupontheoppositesideofwhichlaythedungeonwiththefalsewall。

Ashepausedamomentuponthebrinkofthewellafaintsoundcametohimthroughtheopeningabove。Hisquickearscaughtandtranslatedit——itwasthedanceofdeaththatprecededasacrifice，andthesingsongritualofthehighpriestess。Hecouldevenrecognizethewoman’svoice。

Coulditbethattheceremonymarkedtheverythinghehadsohastenedtoprevent？Awaveofhorrorsweptoverhim。

Washe，afterall，tobejustamomenttoolate？Likeafrighteneddeerheleapedacrossthenarrowchasmtothecontinuationofthepassagebeyond。Atthefalsewallhetorelikeonepossessedtodemolishthebarrierthatconfrontedhim——withgiantmusclesheforcedtheopening，thrustinghisheadandshouldersthroughthefirstsmallholehemade，andcarryingthebalanceofthewallwithhim，toclatterresoundinglyuponthecementfloorofthedungeon。

Withasingleleapheclearedthelengthofthechamberandthrewhimselfagainsttheancientdoor。Butherehestopped。

Themightybarsupontheothersidewereproofevenagainstsuchmusclesashis。Itneededbutamoment’sefforttoconvincehimofthefutilityofendeavoringtoforcethatimpregnablebarrier。Therewasbutoneotherway，andthatledbackthroughthelongtunnelstothebowlderamilebeyondthecity’swalls，andthenbackacrosstheopenashehadcometothecityfirstwithhisWaziri。

Herealizedthattoretracehisstepsandenterthecityfromabovegroundwouldmeanthathewouldbetoolatetosavethegirl，ifitwereindeedshewholayuponthesacrificialaltarabovehim。Butthereseemednootherway，andsoheturnedandranswiftlybackintothepassagewaybeyondthebrokenwall。Atthewellheheardagainthemonotonousvoiceofthehighpriestess，and，asheglancedaloft，theopening，twentyfeetabove，seemedsonearthathewastemptedtoleapforitinamadendeavortoreachtheinnercourtyardthatlaysonear。

Ifhecouldbutgetoneendofhisgrassropecaughtuponsomeprojectionatthetopofthattantalizingaperture！

Intheinstant’spauseandthoughtanideaoccurredtohim。

Hewouldattemptit。Turningbacktothetumbledwall，heseizedoneofthelarge，flatslabsthathadcomposedit。

Hastilymakingoneendofhisropefasttothepieceofgranite，hereturnedtotheshaft，and，coilingthebalanceoftheropeonthefloorbesidehim，theape—mantooktheheavyslabinbothhands，and，swingingitseveraltimestogetthedistanceandthedirectionfixed，helettheweightflyupataslightangle，sothat，insteadoffallingstraightbackintotheshaftagain，itgrazedthefaredge，tumblingoverintothecourtbeyond。

Tarzandraggedforamomentupontheslackendoftheropeuntilhefeltthatthestonewaslodgedwithfairsecurityattheshaft’stop，thenheswungoutovertheblackdepthsbeneath。Themomenthisfullweightcameupontheropehefeltitslipfromabove。Hewaitedthereinawfulsuspenseasitdroppedinlittlejerks，inchbyinch。

Thestonewasbeingdraggeduptheoutsideofthemasonrysurroundingthetopoftheshaft——woulditcatchattheveryedge，orwouldhisweightdragitovertofalluponhimashehurtledintotheunknowndepthsbelow？

Chapter25

ThroughtheForestPrimevalForabrief，sickeningmomentTarzanfelttheslippingoftheropetowhichheclung，andheardthescrapingoftheblockofstoneagainstthemasonryabove。

Thenofasuddentheropewasstill——thestonehadcaughtattheveryedge。Gingerlytheape—manclamberedupthefrailrope。

Inamomenthisheadwasabovetheedgeoftheshaft。

Thecourtwasempty。TheinhabitantsofOparwereviewingthesacrifice。TarzancouldhearthevoiceofLafromthenearbysacrificialcourt。Thedancehadceased。Itmustbealmosttimefortheknifetofall;butevenashethoughtthesethingshewasrunningrapidlytowardthesoundofthehighpriestess’voice。

Fateguidedhimtotheverydoorwayofthegreatrooflesschamber。

Betweenhimandthealtarwasthelongrowofpriestsandpriestesses，awaitingwiththeirgoldencupsthespillingofthewarmbloodoftheirvictim。La’shandwasdescendingslowlytowardthebosomofthefrail，quietfigurethatlaystretcheduponthehardstone。Tarzangaveagaspthatwasalmostasobasherecognizedthefeaturesofthegirlheloved。

Andthenthescaruponhisforeheadturnedtoaflamingbandofscarlet，aredmistfloatedbeforehiseyes，and，withtheawfulroarofthebullapegonemad，hespranglikeahugelionintothemidstofthevotaries。

Seizingacudgelfromthenearestpriest，helaidabouthimlikeaveritabledemonasheforgedhisrapidwaytowardthealtar。

ThehandofLahadpausedatthefirstnoiseofinterruption。

Whenshesawwhotheauthorofitwasshewentwhite。

Shehadneverbeenabletofathomthesecretofthestrangewhiteman’sescapefromthedungeoninwhichshehadlockedhim。ShehadnotintendedthatheshouldeverleaveOpar，forshehadlookeduponhisgiantframeandhandsomefacewiththeeyesofawomanandnotthoseofapriestess。

Inherclevermindshehadconcoctedastoryofwonderfulrevelationfromthelipsoftheflaminggodhimself，inwhichshehadbeenorderedtoreceivethiswhitestrangerasamessengerfromhimtohispeopleonearth。

ThatwouldsatisfythepeopleofOpar，sheknew。Themanwouldbesatisfied，shefeltquitesure，toremainandbeherhusbandratherthantoreturntothesacrificialaltar。

Butwhenshehadgonetoexplainherplantohimhehaddisappeared，thoughthedoorhadbeentightlylockedasshehadleftit。Andnowhehadreturned——materializedfromthinair——andwaskillingherpriestsasthoughtheyhadbeensheep。Forthemomentsheforgothervictim，andbeforeshecouldgatherherwitstogetheragainthehugewhitemanwasstandingbeforeher，thewomanwhohadlainuponthealtarinhisarms。

"Oneside，La，"hecried。"Yousavedmeonce，andsoI

wouldnotharmyou;butdonotinterfereorattempttofollow，orIshallhavetokillyoualso。"

Ashespokehesteppedpasthertowardtheentrancetothesubterraneanvaults。

"Whoisshe？"askedthehighpriestess，pointingattheunconsciouswoman。

"Sheismine，"saidTarzanoftheApes。

ForamomentthegirlofOparstoodwide—eyedandstaring。