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diff --git a/old/tzntr11h.htm b/old/tzntr11h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9400f47 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/tzntr11h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10293 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Tarzan the Terrible, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + +<pre> +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tarzan the Terrible +by Edgar Rice Burroughs +(#8 in The Tarzan Tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="center">Prepared by Judy Boss, Omaha, NE.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>Tarzan the Terrible</h1> + +<h2>By Edgar Rice Burroughs</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>CHAPTER</h3> + + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='right'>I</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Pithecanthropus">The Pithecanthropus</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II</td><td align='left'><a href="#To_the_Deathquot">"To the Death!"</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III</td><td align='left'><a href="#Pan_at_lee">Pan-at-lee</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV</td><td align='left'><a href="#Tarzan_jad_guru">Tarzan-jad-guru</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V</td><td align='left'><a href="#In_the_Kor_ul_gryf">In the Kor-ul-gryf</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Tor_o_don">The Tor-o-don</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII</td><td align='left'><a href="#Jungle_Craft">Jungle Craft</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> VIII</td><td align='left'><a href="#A_lur">A-lur</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX</td><td align='left'><a href="#Blood_Stained_Altars">Blood-Stained Altars</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Forbidden_Garden">The Forbidden Garden</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Sentence_of_Death">The Sentence of Death</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Giant_Stranger">The Giant Stranger</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> XIII</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Masquerader">The Masquerader</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Temple_of_the_Gryf">The Temple of the Gryf</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_King_Is_Deadquot">"The King Is Dead!"</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Secret_Way">The Secret Way</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> XVII</td><td align='left'><a href="#By_Jad_bal_lul">By Jad-bal-lul</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Lion_Pit_of_Tu_lur">The Lion Pit of Tu-lur</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIX</td><td align='left'><a href="#Diana_of_the_Jungle">Diana of the Jungle</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XX</td><td align='left'><a href="#Silently_in_the_Night">Silently in the Night</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXI</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Maniac">The Maniac</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> XXII</td><td align='left'><a href="#A_Journey_on_a_Gryf">A Journey on a Gryf</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXIII</td><td align='left'><a href="#Taken_Alive">Taken Alive</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'> XXIV</td><td align='left'><a href="#The_Messenger_of_Death">The Messenger of Death</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XXV</td><td align='left'><a href="#Home">Home</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'><a href="#Glossary">Glossary</a></td></tr></table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Pithecanthropus" id="The_Pithecanthropus" />1 - The Pithecanthropus</h2> + + +<p>Silent as the shadows through which he moved, the great beast slunk +through the midnight jungle, his yellow-green eyes round and staring, +his sinewy tail undulating behind him, his head lowered and flattened, +and every muscle vibrant to the thrill of the hunt. The jungle moon +dappled an occasional clearing which the great cat was always careful to +avoid. Though he moved through thick verdure across a carpet of +innumerable twigs, broken branches, and leaves, his passing gave forth +no sound that might have been apprehended by dull human ears.</p> + +<p>Apparently less cautious was the hunted thing moving even as silently as +the lion a hundred paces ahead of the tawny carnivore, for instead of +skirting the moon-splashed natural clearings it passed directly across +them, and by the tortuous record of its spoor it might indeed be guessed +that it sought these avenues of least resistance, as well it might, +since, unlike its grim stalker, it walked erect upon two feet—it walked +upon two feet and was hairless except for a black thatch upon its head; +its arms were well shaped and muscular; its hands powerful and slender +with long tapering fingers and thumbs reaching almost to the first joint +of the index fingers. Its legs too were shapely but its feet departed +from the standards of all races of men, except possibly a few of the +lowest races, in that the great toes protruded at right angles from the +foot.</p> + +<p>Pausing momentarily in the full light of the gorgeous African moon the +creature turned an attentive ear to the rear and then, his head lifted, +his features might readily have been discerned in the moonlight. They +were strong, clean cut, and regular—features that would have attracted +attention for their masculine beauty in any of the great capitals of the +world. But was this thing a man? It would have been hard for a watcher +in the trees to have decided as the lion's prey resumed its way across +the silver tapestry that Luna had laid upon the floor of the dismal +jungle, for from beneath the loin cloth of black fur that girdled its +thighs there depended a long hairless, white tail.</p> + +<p>In one hand the creature carried a stout club, and suspended at its left +side from a shoulder belt was a short, sheathed knife, while a cross +belt supported a pouch at its right hip. Confining these straps to the +body and also apparently supporting the loin cloth was a broad girdle +which glittered in the moonlight as though encrusted with virgin gold, +and was clasped in the center of the belly with a huge buckle of ornate +design that scintillated as with precious stones.</p> + +<p>Closer and closer crept Numa, the lion, to his intended victim, and that +the latter was not entirely unaware of his danger was evidenced by the +increasing frequency with which he turned his ear and his sharp black +eyes in the direction of the cat upon his trail. He did not greatly +increase his speed, a long swinging walk where the open places +permitted, but he loosened the knife in its scabbard and at all times +kept his club in readiness for instant action.</p> + +<p>Forging at last through a narrow strip of dense jungle vegetation the +man-thing broke through into an almost treeless area of considerable +extent. For an instant he hesitated, glancing quickly behind him and +then up at the security of the branches of the great trees waving +overhead, but some greater urge than fear or caution influenced his +decision apparently, for he moved off again across the little plain +leaving the safety of the trees behind him. At greater or less intervals +leafy sanctuaries dotted the grassy expanse ahead of him and the route +he took, leading from one to another, indicated that he had not entirely +cast discretion to the winds. But after the second tree had been left +behind the distance to the next was considerable, and it was then that +Numa walked from the concealing cover of the jungle and, seeing his +quarry apparently helpless before him, raised his tail stiffly erect and +charged.</p> + +<p>Two months—two long, weary months filled with hunger, with thirst, with +hardships, with disappointment, and, greater than all, with gnawing +pain—had passed since Tarzan of the Apes learned from the diary of the +dead German captain that his wife still lived. A brief investigation in +which he was enthusiastically aided by the Intelligence Department of +the British East African Expedition revealed the fact that an attempt +had been made to keep Lady Jane in hiding in the interior, for reasons +of which only the German High Command might be cognizant.</p> + +<p>In charge of Lieutenant Obergatz and a detachment of native German +troops she had been sent across the border into the Congo Free State.</p> + +<p>Starting out alone in search of her, Tarzan had succeeded in finding the +village in which she had been incarcerated only to learn that she had +escaped months before, and that the German officer had disappeared at +the same time. From there on the stories of the chiefs and the warriors +whom he quizzed, were vague and often contradictory. Even the direction +that the fugitives had taken Tarzan could only guess at by piecing +together bits of fragmentary evidence gleaned from various sources.</p> + +<p>Sinister conjectures were forced upon him by various observations which +he made in the village. One was incontrovertible proof that these people +were man-eaters; the other, the presence in the village of various +articles of native German uniforms and equipment. At great risk and in +the face of surly objection on the part of the chief, the ape-man made a +careful inspection of every hut in the village from which at least a +little ray of hope resulted from the fact that he found no article that +might have belonged to his wife.</p> + +<p>Leaving the village he had made his way toward the southwest, crossing, +after the most appalling hardships, a vast waterless steppe covered for +the most part with dense thorn, coming at last into a district that had +probably never been previously entered by any white man and which was +known only in the legends of the tribes whose country bordered it. Here +were precipitous mountains, well-watered plateaus, wide plains, and vast +swampy morasses, but neither the plains, nor the plateaus, nor the +mountains were accessible to him until after weeks of arduous effort he +succeeded in finding a spot where he might cross the morasses—a hideous +stretch infested by venomous snakes and other larger dangerous reptiles. +On several occasions he glimpsed at distances or by night what might +have been titanic reptilian monsters, but as there were hippopotami, +rhinoceri, and elephants in great numbers in and about the marsh he was +never positive that the forms he saw were not of these.</p> + +<p>When at last he stood upon firm ground after crossing the morasses he +realized why it was that for perhaps countless ages this territory had +defied the courage and hardihood of the heroic races of the outer world +that had, after innumerable reverses and unbelievable suffering +penetrated to practically every other region, from pole to pole.</p> + +<p>From the abundance and diversity of the game it might have appeared that +every known species of bird and beast and reptile had sought here a +refuge wherein they might take their last stand against the encroaching +multitudes of men that had steadily spread themselves over the surface +of the earth, wresting the hunting grounds from the lower orders, from +the moment that the first ape shed his hair and ceased to walk upon his +knuckles. Even the species with which Tarzan was familiar showed here +either the results of a divergent line of evolution or an unaltered form +that had been transmitted without variation for countless ages.</p> + +<p>Too, there were many hybrid strains, not the least interesting of which +to Tarzan was a yellow and black striped lion. Smaller than the species +with which Tarzan was familiar, but still a most formidable beast, since +it possessed in addition to sharp saber-like canines the disposition of +a devil. To Tarzan it presented evidence that tigers had once roamed the +jungles of Africa, possibly giant saber-tooths of another epoch, and +these apparently had crossed with lions with the resultant terrors that +he occasionally encountered at the present day.</p> + +<p>The true lions of this new, Old World differed but little from those +with which he was familiar; in size and conformation they were almost +identical, but instead of shedding the leopard spots of cubhood, they +retained them through life as definitely marked as those of the leopard.</p> + +<p>Two months of effort had revealed no slightest evidence that she he +sought had entered this beautiful yet forbidding land. His +investigation, however, of the cannibal village and his questioning of +other tribes in the neighborhood had convinced him that if Lady Jane +still lived it must be in this direction that he seek her, since by a +process of elimination he had reduced the direction of her flight to +only this possibility. How she had crossed the morass he could not guess +and yet something within seemed to urge upon him belief that she had +crossed it, and that if she still lived it was here that she must be +sought. But this unknown, untraversed wild was of vast extent; grim, +forbidding mountains blocked his way, torrents tumbling from rocky +fastnesses impeded his progress, and at every turn he was forced to +match wits and muscles with the great carnivora that he might procure +sustenance.</p> + +<p>Time and again Tarzan and Numa stalked the same quarry and now one, now +the other bore off the prize. Seldom however did the ape-man go hungry +for the country was rich in game animals and birds and fish, in fruit +and the countless other forms of vegetable life upon which the +jungle-bred man may subsist.</p> + +<p>Tarzan often wondered why in so rich a country he found no evidences of +man and had at last come to the conclusion that the parched, +thorn-covered steppe and the hideous morasses had formed a sufficient +barrier to protect this country effectively from the inroads of mankind.</p> + +<p>After days of searching he had succeeded finally in discovering a pass +through the mountains and, coming down upon the opposite side, had found +himself in a country practically identical with that which he had left. +The hunting was good and at a water hole in the mouth of a canon where +it debouched upon a tree-covered plain Bara, the deer, fell an easy +victim to the ape-man's cunning.</p> + +<p>It was just at dusk. The voices of great four-footed hunters rose now +and again from various directions, and as the canon afforded among its +trees no comfortable retreat the ape-man shouldered the carcass of the +deer and started downward onto the plain. At its opposite side rose +lofty trees—a great forest which suggested to his practiced eye a +mighty jungle. Toward this the ape-man bent his step, but when midway of +the plain he discovered standing alone such a tree as best suited him +for a night's abode, swung lightly to its branches and, presently, a +comfortable resting place.</p> + +<p>Here he ate the flesh of Bara and when satisfied carried the balance of +the carcass to the opposite side of the tree where he deposited it far +above the ground in a secure place. Returning to his crotch he settled +himself for sleep and in another moment the roars of the lions and the +howlings of the lesser cats fell upon deaf ears.</p> + +<p>The usual noises of the jungle composed rather than disturbed the +ape-man but an unusual sound, however imperceptible to the awakened ear +of civilized man, seldom failed to impinge upon the consciousness of +Tarzan, however deep his slumber, and so it was that when the moon was +high a sudden rush of feet across the grassy carpet in the vicinity of +his tree brought him to alert and ready activity. Tarzan does not awaken +as you and I with the weight of slumber still upon his eyes and brain, +for did the creatures of the wild awaken thus, their awakenings would be +few. As his eyes snapped open, clear and bright, so, clear and bright +upon the nerve centers of his brain, were registered the various +perceptions of all his senses.</p> + +<p>Almost beneath him, racing toward his tree was what at first glance +appeared to be an almost naked white man, yet even at the first instant +of discovery the long, white tail projecting rearward did not escape the +ape-man. Behind the fleeing figure, escaping, came Numa, the lion, in +full charge. Voiceless the prey, voiceless the killer; as two spirits in +a dead world the two moved in silent swiftness toward the culminating +tragedy of this grim race.</p> + +<p>Even as his eyes opened and took in the scene beneath him—even in that +brief instant of perception, followed reason, judgment, and decision, so +rapidly one upon the heels of the other that almost simultaneously the +ape-man was in mid-air, for he had seen a white-skinned creature cast in +a mold similar to his own, pursued by Tarzan's hereditary enemy. So +close was the lion to the fleeing man-thing that Tarzan had no time +carefully to choose the method of his attack. As a diver leaps from the +springboard headforemost into the waters beneath, so Tarzan of the Apes +dove straight for Numa, the lion; naked in his right hand the blade of +his father that so many times before had tasted the blood of lions.</p> + +<p>A raking talon caught Tarzan on the side, inflicting a long, deep wound +and then the ape-man was on Numa's back and the blade was sinking again +and again into the savage side. Nor was the man-thing either longer +fleeing, or idle. He too, creature of the wild, had sensed on the +instant the truth of the miracle of his saving, and turning in his +tracks, had leaped forward with raised bludgeon to Tarzan's assistance +and Numa's undoing. A single terrific blow upon the flattened skull of +the beast laid him insensible and then as Tarzan's knife found the wild +heart a few convulsive shudders and a sudden relaxation marked the +passing of the carnivore.</p> + +<p>Leaping to his feet the ape-man placed his foot upon the carcass of his +kill and, raising his face to Goro, the moon, voiced the savage victory +cry that had so often awakened the echoes of his native jungle.</p> + +<p>As the hideous scream burst from the ape-man's lips the man-thing +stepped quickly back as in sudden awe, but when Tarzan returned his +hunting knife to its sheath and turned toward him the other saw in the +quiet dignity of his demeanor no cause for apprehension.</p> + +<p>For a moment the two stood appraising each other, and then the man-thing +spoke. Tarzan realized that the creature before him was uttering +articulate sounds which expressed in speech, though in a language with +which Tarzan was unfamiliar, the thoughts of a man possessing to a +greater or less extent the same powers of reason that he possessed. In +other words, that though the creature before him had the tail and thumbs +and great toes of a monkey, it was, in all other respects, quite +evidently a man.</p> + +<p>The blood, which was now flowing down Tarzan's side, caught the +creature's attention. From the pocket-pouch at his side he took a small +bag and approaching Tarzan indicated by signs that he wished the ape-man +to lie down that he might treat the wound, whereupon, spreading the +edges of the cut apart, he sprinkled the raw flesh with powder from the +little bag. The pain of the wound was as nothing to the exquisite +torture of the remedy but, accustomed to physical suffering, the ape-man +withstood it stoically and in a few moments not only had the bleeding +ceased but the pain as well.</p> + +<p>In reply to the soft and far from unpleasant modulations of the other's +voice, Tarzan spoke in various tribal dialects of the interior as well +as in the language of the great apes, but it was evident that the man +understood none of these. Seeing that they could not make each other +understood, the pithecanthropus advanced toward Tarzan and placing his +left hand over his own heart laid the palm of his right hand over the +heart of the ape-man. To the latter the action appeared as a form of +friendly greeting and, being versed in the ways of uncivilized races, he +responded in kind as he realized it was doubtless intended that he +should. His action seemed to satisfy and please his new-found +acquaintance, who immediately fell to talking again and finally, with +his head tipped back, sniffed the air in the direction of the tree above +them and then suddenly pointing toward the carcass of Bara, the deer, he +touched his stomach in a sign language which even the densest might +interpret. With a wave of his hand Tarzan invited his guest to partake +of the remains of his savage repast, and the other, leaping nimbly as a +little monkey to the lower branches of the tree, made his way quickly to +the flesh, assisted always by his long, strong sinuous tail.</p> + +<p>The pithecanthropus ate in silence, cutting small strips from the deer's +loin with his keen knife. From his crotch in the tree Tarzan watched his +companion, noting the preponderance of human attributes which were +doubtless accentuated by the paradoxical thumbs, great toes, and tail.</p> + +<p>He wondered if this creature was representative of some strange race or +if, what seemed more likely, but an atavism. Either supposition would +have seemed preposterous enough did he not have before him the evidence +of the creature's existence. There he was, however, a tailed man with +distinctly arboreal hands and feet. His trappings, gold encrusted and +jewel studded, could have been wrought only by skilled artisans; but +whether they were the work of this individual or of others like him, or +of an entirely different race, Tarzan could not, of course, determine.</p> + +<p>His meal finished, the guest wiped his fingers and lips with leaves +broken from a nearby branch, looked up at Tarzan with a pleasant smile +that revealed a row of strong white teeth, the canines of which were no +longer than Tarzan's own, spoke a few words which Tarzan judged were a +polite expression of thanks and then sought a comfortable place in the +tree for the night.</p> + +<p>The earth was shadowed in the darkness which precedes the dawn when +Tarzan was awakened by a violent shaking of the tree in which he had +found shelter. As he opened his eyes he saw that his companion was also +astir, and glancing around quickly to apprehend the cause of the +disturbance, the ape-man was astounded at the sight which met his eyes.</p> + +<p>The dim shadow of a colossal form reared close beside the tree and he +saw that it was the scraping of the giant body against the branches that +had awakened him. That such a tremendous creature could have approached +so closely without disturbing him filled Tarzan with both wonderment and +chagrin. In the gloom the ape-man at first conceived the intruder to be +an elephant; yet, if so, one of greater proportions than any he had ever +before seen, but as the dim outlines became less indistinct he saw on a +line with his eyes and twenty feet above the ground the dim silhouette +of a grotesquely serrated back that gave the impression of a creature +whose each and every spinal vertebra grew a thick, heavy horn. Only a +portion of the back was visible to the ape-man, the rest of the body +being lost in the dense shadows beneath the tree, from whence there now +arose the sound of giant jaws powerfully crunching flesh and bones. From +the odors that rose to the ape-man's sensitive nostrils he presently +realized that beneath him was some huge reptile feeding upon the carcass +of the lion that had been slain there earlier in the night.</p> + +<p>As Tarzan's eyes, straining with curiosity, bored futilely into the dark +shadows he felt a light touch upon his shoulder, and, turning, saw that +his companion was attempting to attract his attention. The creature, +pressing a forefinger to his own lips as to enjoin silence, attempted by +pulling on Tarzan's arm to indicate that they should leave at once.</p> + +<p>Realizing that he was in a strange country, evidently infested by +creatures of titanic size, with the habits and powers of which he was +entirely unfamiliar, the ape-man permitted himself to be drawn away. +With the utmost caution the pithecanthropus descended the tree upon the +opposite side from the great nocturnal prowler, and, closely followed by +Tarzan, moved silently away through the night across the plain.</p> + +<p>The ape-man was rather loath thus to relinquish an opportunity to +inspect a creature which he realized was probably entirely different +from anything in his past experience; yet he was wise enough to know +when discretion was the better part of valor and now, as in the past, he +yielded to that law which dominates the kindred of the wild, preventing +them from courting danger uselessly, whose lives are sufficiently filled +with danger in their ordinary routine of feeding and mating.</p> + +<p>As the rising sun dispelled the shadows of the night, Tarzan found +himself again upon the verge of a great forest into which his guide +plunged, taking nimbly to the branches of the trees through which he +made his way with the celerity of long habitude and hereditary instinct, +but though aided by a prehensile tail, fingers, and toes, the man-thing +moved through the forest with no greater ease or surety than did the +giant ape-man.</p> + +<p>It was during this journey that Tarzan recalled the wound in his side +inflicted upon him the previous night by the raking talons of Numa, the +lion, and examining it was surprised to discover that not only was it +painless but along its edges were no indications of inflammation, the +results doubtless of the antiseptic powder his strange companion had +sprinkled upon it.</p> + +<p>They had proceeded for a mile or two when Tarzan's companion came to +earth upon a grassy slope beneath a great tree whose branches overhung a +clear brook. Here they drank and Tarzan discovered the water to be not +only deliciously pure and fresh but of an icy temperature that indicated +its rapid descent from the lofty mountains of its origin.</p> + +<p>Casting aside his loin cloth and weapons Tarzan entered the little pool +beneath the tree and after a moment emerged, greatly refreshed and +filled with a keen desire to breakfast. As he came out of the pool he +noticed his companion examining him with a puzzled expression upon his +face. Taking the ape-man by the shoulder he turned him around so that +Tarzan's back was toward him and then, touching the end of Tarzan's +spine with his forefinger, he curled his own tail up over his shoulder +and, wheeling the ape-man about again, pointed first at Tarzan and then +at his own caudal appendage, a look of puzzlement upon his face, the +while he jabbered excitedly in his strange tongue.</p> + +<p>The ape-man realized that probably for the first time his companion had +discovered that he was tailless by nature rather than by accident, and +so he called attention to his own great toes and thumbs to further +impress upon the creature that they were of different species.</p> + +<p>The fellow shook his head dubiously as though entirely unable to +comprehend why Tarzan should differ so from him but at last, apparently +giving the problem up with a shrug, he laid aside his own harness, skin, +and weapons and entered the pool.</p> + +<p>His ablutions completed and his meager apparel redonned he seated +himself at the foot of the tree and motioning Tarzan to a place beside +him, opened the pouch that hung at his right side taking from it strips +of dried flesh and a couple of handfuls of thin-shelled nuts with which +Tarzan was unfamiliar. Seeing the other break them with his teeth and +eat the kernel, Tarzan followed the example thus set him, discovering +the meat to be rich and well flavored. The dried flesh also was far from +unpalatable, though it had evidently been jerked without salt, a +commodity which Tarzan imagined might be rather difficult to obtain in +this locality.</p> + +<p>As they ate Tarzan's companion pointed to the nuts, the dried meat, and +various other nearby objects, in each instance repeating what Tarzan +readily discovered must be the names of these things in the creature's +native language. The ape-man could but smile at this evident desire upon +the part of his new-found acquaintance to impart to him instructions +that eventually might lead to an exchange of thoughts between them. +Having already mastered several languages and a multitude of dialects +the ape-man felt that he could readily assimilate another even though +this appeared one entirely unrelated to any with which he was familiar.</p> + +<p>So occupied were they with their breakfast and the lesson that neither +was aware of the beady eyes glittering down upon them from above; nor +was Tarzan cognizant of any impending danger until the instant that a +huge, hairy body leaped full upon his companion from the branches above +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="To_the_Deathquot" id="To_the_Deathquot" />2 - "To the Death!"</h2> + + +<p>In the moment of discovery Tarzan saw that the creature was almost a +counterpart of his companion in size and conformation, with the +exception that his body was entirely clothed with a coat of shaggy black +hair which almost concealed his features, while his harness and weapons +were similar to those of the creature he had attacked. Ere Tarzan could +prevent the creature had struck the ape-man's companion a blow upon the +head with his knotted club that felled him, unconscious, to the earth; +but before he could inflict further injury upon his defenseless prey the +ape-man had closed with him.</p> + +<p>Instantly Tarzan realized that he was locked with a creature of almost +superhuman strength. The sinewy fingers of a powerful hand sought his +throat while the other lifted the bludgeon above his head. But if the +strength of the hairy attacker was great, great too was that of his +smooth-skinned antagonist. Swinging a single terrific blow with clenched +fist to the point of the other's chin, Tarzan momentarily staggered his +assailant and then his own fingers closed upon the shaggy throat, as +with the other hand he seized the wrist of the arm that swung the club. +With equal celerity he shot his right leg behind the shaggy brute and +throwing his weight forward hurled the thing over his hip heavily to the +ground, at the same time precipitating his own body upon the other's +chest.</p> + +<p>With the shock of the impact the club fell from the brute's hand and +Tarzan's hold was wrenched from its throat. Instantly the two were +locked in a deathlike embrace. Though the creature bit at Tarzan the +latter was quickly aware that this was not a particularly formidable +method of offense or defense, since its canines were scarcely more +developed than his own. The thing that he had principally to guard +against was the sinuous tail which sought steadily to wrap itself about +his throat and against which experience had afforded him no defense.</p> + +<p>Struggling and snarling the two rolled growling about the sward at the +foot of the tree, first one on top and then the other but each more +occupied at present in defending his throat from the other's choking +grasp than in aggressive, offensive tactics. But presently the ape-man +saw his opportunity and as they rolled about he forced the creature +closer and closer to the pool, upon the banks of which the battle was +progressing. At last they lay upon the very verge of the water and now +it remained for Tarzan to precipitate them both beneath the surface but +in such a way that he might remain on top.</p> + +<p>At the same instant there came within range of Tarzan's vision, just +behind the prostrate form of his companion, the crouching, devil-faced +figure of the striped saber-tooth hybrid, eyeing him with snarling, +malevolent face.</p> + +<p>Almost simultaneously Tarzan's shaggy antagonist discovered the menacing +figure of the great cat. Immediately he ceased his belligerent +activities against Tarzan and, jabbering and chattering to the ape-man, +he tried to disengage himself from Tarzan's hold but in such a way that +indicated that as far as he was concerned their battle was over. +Appreciating the danger to his unconscious companion and being anxious +to protect him from the saber-tooth the ape-man relinquished his hold +upon his adversary and together the two rose to their feet.</p> + +<p>Drawing his knife Tarzan moved slowly toward the body of his companion, +expecting that his recent antagonist would grasp the opportunity for +escape. To his surprise, however, the beast, after regaining its club, +advanced at his side.</p> + +<p>The great cat, flattened upon its belly, remained motionless except for +twitching tail and snarling lips where it lay perhaps fifty feet beyond +the body of the pithecanthropus. As Tarzan stepped over the body of the +latter he saw the eyelids quiver and open, and in his heart he felt a +strange sense of relief that the creature was not dead and a realization +that without his suspecting it there had arisen within his savage bosom +a bond of attachment for this strange new friend.</p> + +<p>Tarzan continued to approach the saber-tooth, nor did the shaggy beast +at his right lag behind. Closer and closer they came until at a distance +of about twenty feet the hybrid charged. Its rush was directed toward +the shaggy manlike ape who halted in his tracks with upraised bludgeon +to meet the assault. Tarzan, on the contrary, leaped forward and with a +celerity second not even to that of the swift-moving cat, he threw +himself headlong upon him as might a Rugby tackler on an American +gridiron. His right arm circled the beast's neck in front of the right +shoulder, his left behind the left foreleg, and so great was the force +of the impact that the two rolled over and over several times upon the +ground, the cat screaming and clawing to liberate itself that it might +turn upon its attacker, the man clinging desperately to his hold.</p> + +<p>Seemingly the attack was one of mad, senseless ferocity unguided by +either reason or skill. Nothing, however, could have been farther from +the truth than such an assumption since every muscle in the ape-man's +giant frame obeyed the dictates of the cunning mind that long experience +had trained to meet every exigency of such an encounter. The long, +powerful legs, though seemingly inextricably entangled with the hind +feet of the clawing cat, ever as by a miracle, escaped the raking talons +and yet at just the proper instant in the midst of all the rolling and +tossing they were where they should be to carry out the ape-man's plan +of offense. So that on the instant that the cat believed it had won the +mastery of its antagonist it was jerked suddenly upward as the ape-man +rose to his feet, holding the striped back close against his body as he +rose and forcing it backward until it could but claw the air helplessly.</p> + +<p>Instantly the shaggy black rushed in with drawn knife which it buried in +the beast's heart. For a few moments Tarzan retained his hold but when +the body had relaxed in final dissolution he pushed it from him and the +two who had formerly been locked in mortal combat stood facing each +other across the body of the common foe.</p> + +<p>Tarzan waited, ready either for peace or war. Presently two shaggy black +hands were raised; the left was laid upon its own heart and the right +extended until the palm touched Tarzan's breast. It was the same form of +friendly salutation with which the pithecanthropus had sealed his +alliance with the ape-man and Tarzan, glad of every ally he could win in +this strange and savage world, quickly accepted the proffered +friendship.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of the brief ceremony Tarzan, glancing in the +direction of the hairless pithecanthropus, discovered that the latter +had recovered consciousness and was sitting erect watching them +intently. He now rose slowly and at the same time the shaggy black +turned in his direction and addressed him in what evidently was their +common language. The hairless one replied and the two approached each +other slowly. Tarzan watched interestedly the outcome of their meeting. +They halted a few paces apart, first one and then the other speaking +rapidly but without apparent excitement, each occasionally glancing or +nodding toward Tarzan, indicating that he was to some extent the subject +of their conversation.</p> + +<p>Presently they advanced again until they met, whereupon was repeated the +brief ceremony of alliance which had previously marked the cessation of +hostilities between Tarzan and the black. They then advanced toward the +ape-man addressing him earnestly as though endeavoring to convey to him +some important information. Presently, however, they gave it up as an +unprofitable job and, resorting to sign language, conveyed to Tarzan +that they were proceeding upon their way together and were urging him to +accompany them.</p> + +<p>As the direction they indicated was a route which Tarzan had not +previously traversed he was extremely willing to accede to their +request, as he had determined thoroughly to explore this unknown land +before definitely abandoning search for Lady Jane therein.</p> + +<p>For several days their way led through the foothills parallel to the +lofty range towering above. Often were they menaced by the savage +denizens of this remote fastness, and occasionally Tarzan glimpsed weird +forms of gigantic proportions amidst the shadows of the nights.</p> + +<p>On the third day they came upon a large natural cave in the face of a +low cliff at the foot of which tumbled one of the numerous mountain +brooks that watered the plain below and fed the morasses in the lowlands +at the country's edge. Here the three took up their temporary abode +where Tarzan's instruction in the language of his companions progressed +more rapidly than while on the march.</p> + +<p>The cave gave evidence of having harbored other manlike forms in the +past. Remnants of a crude, rock fireplace remained and the walls and +ceiling were blackened with the smoke of many fires. Scratched in the +soot, and sometimes deeply into the rock beneath, were strange +hieroglyphics and the outlines of beasts and birds and reptiles, some of +the latter of weird form suggesting the extinct creatures of Jurassic +times. Some of the more recently made hieroglyphics Tarzan's companions +read with interest and commented upon, and then with the points of their +knives they too added to the possibly age-old record of the blackened +walls.</p> + +<p>Tarzan's curiosity was aroused, but the only explanation at which he +could arrive was that he was looking upon possibly the world's most +primitive hotel register. At least it gave him a further insight into +the development of the strange creatures with which Fate had thrown him. +Here were men with the tails of monkeys, one of them as hair covered as +any fur-bearing brute of the lower orders, and yet it was evident that +they possessed not only a spoken, but a written language. The former he +was slowly mastering and at this new evidence of unlooked-for +civilization in creatures possessing so many of the physical attributes +of beasts, Tarzan's curiosity was still further piqued and his desire +quickly to master their tongue strengthened, with the result that he +fell to with even greater assiduity to the task he had set himself. +Already he knew the names of his companions and the common names of the +fauna and flora with which they had most often come in contact.</p> + +<p>Ta-den, he of the hairless, white skin, having assumed the role of +tutor, prosecuted his task with a singleness of purpose that was +reflected in his pupil's rapid mastery of Ta-den's mother tongue. Om-at, +the hairy black, also seemed to feel that there rested upon his broad +shoulders a portion of the burden of responsibility for Tarzan's +education, with the result that either one or the other of them was +almost constantly coaching the ape-man during his waking hours. The +result was only what might have been expected—a rapid assimilation of +the teachings to the end that before any of them realized it, +communication by word of mouth became an accomplished fact.</p> + +<p>Tarzan explained to his companions the purpose of his mission but +neither could give him any slightest thread of hope to weave into the +fabric of his longing. Never had there been in their country a woman +such as he described, nor any tailless man other than himself that they +ever had seen.</p> + +<p>"I have been gone from A-lur while Bu, the moon, has eaten seven times," +said Ta-den. "Many things may happen in seven times twenty-eight days; +but I doubt that your woman could have entered our country across the +terrible morasses which even you found an almost insurmountable +obstacle, and if she had, could she have survived the perils that you +already have encountered beside those of which you have yet to learn? +Not even our own women venture into the savage lands beyond the cities."</p> + +<p>"'A-lur,' Light-city, City of Light," mused Tarzan, translating the word +into his own tongue. "And where is A-lur?" he asked. "Is it your city, +Ta-den, and Om-at's?"</p> + +<p>"It is mine," replied the hairless one; "but not Om-at's. The Waz-don +have no cities—they live in the trees of the forests and the caves of +the hills—is it not so, black man?" he concluded, turning toward the +hairy giant beside him.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Om-at, "We Waz-don are free—only the Ho-don imprison +themselves in cities. I would not be a white man!"</p> + +<p>Tarzan smiled. Even here was the racial distinction between white man +and black man—Ho-don and Waz-don. Not even the fact that they appeared +to be equals in the matter of intelligence made any difference—one was +white and one was black, and it was easy to see that the white +considered himself superior to the other—one could see it in his quiet +smile.</p> + +<p>"Where is A-lur?" Tarzan asked again. "You are returning to it?"</p> + +<p>"It is beyond the mountains," replied Ta-den. "I do not return to +it—not yet. Not until Ko-tan is no more."</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan?" queried Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan is king," explained the pithecanthropus. "He rules this land. I +was one of his warriors. I lived in the palace of Ko-tan and there I met +O-lo-a, his daughter. We loved, Likestar-light, and I; but Ko-tan would +have none of me. He sent me away to fight with the men of the village of +Dak-at, who had refused to pay his tribute to the king, thinking that I +would be killed, for Dak-at is famous for his many fine warriors. And I +was not killed. Instead I returned victorious with the tribute and with +Dak-at himself my prisoner; but Ko-tan was not pleased because he saw +that O-lo-a loved me even more than before, her love being strengthened +and fortified by pride in my achievement.</p> + +<p>"Powerful is my father, Ja-don, the Lion-man, chief of the largest +village outside of A-lur. Him Ko-tan hesitated to affront and so he +could not but praise me for my success, though he did it with half a +smile. But you do not understand! It is what we call a smile that moves +only the muscles of the face and affects not the light of the eyes—it +means hypocrisy and duplicity. I must be praised and rewarded. What +better than that he reward me with the hand of O-lo-a, his daughter? But +no, he saves O-lo-a for Bu-lot, son of Mo-sar, the chief whose +great-grandfather was king and who thinks that he should be king. Thus +would Ko-tan appease the wrath of Mo-sar and win the friendship of those +who think with Mo-sar that Mo-sar should be king.</p> + +<p>"But what reward shall repay the faithful Ta-den? Greatly do we honor +our priests. Within the temples even the chiefs and the king himself bow +down to them. No greater honor could Ko-tan confer upon a subject—who +wished to be a priest, but I did not so wish. Priests other than the +high priest must become eunuchs for they may never marry.</p> + +<p>"It was O-lo-a herself who brought word to me that her father had given +the commands that would set in motion the machinery of the temple. A +messenger was on his way in search of me to summon me to Ko-tan's +presence. To have refused the priesthood once it was offered me by the +king would have been to have affronted the temple and the gods—that +would have meant death; but if I did not appear before Ko-tan I would +not have to refuse anything. O-lo-a and I decided that I must not +appear. It was better to fly, carrying in my bosom a shred of hope, than +to remain and, with my priesthood, abandon hope forever.</p> + +<p>"Beneath the shadows of the great trees that grow within the palace +grounds I pressed her to me for, perhaps, the last time and then, lest +by ill-fate I meet the messenger, I scaled the great wall that guards +the palace and passed through the darkened city. My name and rank +carried me beyond the city gate. Since then I have wandered far from the +haunts of the Ho-don but strong within me is the urge to return if even +but to look from without her walls upon the city that holds her most +dear to me and again to visit the village of my birth, to see again my +father and my mother."</p> + +<p>"But the risk is too great?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"It is great, but not too great," replied Ta-den. "I shall go."</p> + +<p>"And I shall go with you, if I may," said the ape-man, "for I must see +this City of Light, this A-lur of yours, and search there for my lost +mate even though you believe that there is little chance that I find +her. And you, Om-at, do you come with us?"</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked the hairy one. "The lairs of my tribe lie in the crags +above A-lur and though Es-sat, our chief, drove me out I should like to +return again, for there is a she there upon whom I should be glad to +look once more and who would be glad to look upon me. Yes, I will go +with you. Es-sat feared that I might become chief and who knows but that +Es-sat was right. But Pan-at-lee! it is she I seek first even before a +chieftainship."</p> + +<p>"We three, then, shall travel together," said Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"And fight together," added Ta-den; "the three as one," and as he spoke +he drew his knife and held it above his head.</p> + +<p>"The three as one," repeated Om-at, drawing his weapon and duplicating +Ta-den's act. "It is spoken!"</p> + +<p>"The three as one!" cried Tarzan of the Apes. "To the death!" and his +blade flashed in the sunlight.</p> + +<p>"Let us go, then," said Om-at; "my knife is dry and cries aloud for the +blood of Es-sat."</p> + +<p>The trail over which Ta-den and Om-at led and which scarcely could be +dignified even by the name of trail was suited more to mountain sheep, +monkeys, or birds than to man; but the three that followed it were +trained to ways which no ordinary man might essay. Now, upon the lower +slopes, it led through dense forests where the ground was so matted with +fallen trees and over-rioting vines and brush that the way held always +to the swaying branches high above the tangle; again it skirted yawning +gorges whose slippery-faced rocks gave but momentary foothold even to +the bare feet that lightly touched them as the three leaped chamois-like +from one precarious foothold to the next. Dizzy and terrifying was the +way that Om-at chose across the summit as he led them around the +shoulder of a towering crag that rose a sheer two thousand feet of +perpendicular rock above a tumbling river. And when at last they stood +upon comparatively level ground again Om-at turned and looked at them +both intently and especially at Tarzan of the Apes.</p> + +<p>"You will both do," he said. "You are fit companions for Om-at, the +Waz-don."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"I brought you this way," replied the black, "to learn if either lacked +the courage to follow where Om-at led. It is here that the young +warriors of Es-sat come to prove their courage. And yet, though we are +born and raised upon cliff sides, it is considered no disgrace to admit +that Pastar-ul-ved, the Father of Mountains, has defeated us, for of +those who try it only a few succeed—the bones of the others lie at the +feet of Pastar-ul-ved."</p> + +<p>Ta-den laughed. "I would not care to come this way often," he said.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Om-at; "but it has shortened our journey by at least a +full day. So much the sooner shall Tarzan look upon the Valley of +Jad-ben-Otho. Come!" and he led the way upward along the shoulder of +Pastar-ul-ved until there lay spread below them a scene of mystery and +of beauty—a green valley girt by towering cliffs of marble whiteness—a +green valley dotted by deep blue lakes and crossed by the blue trail of +a winding river. In the center a city of the whiteness of the marble +cliffs—a city which even at so great a distance evidenced a strange, +yet artistic architecture. Outside the city there were visible about the +valley isolated groups of buildings—sometimes one, again two and three +and four in a cluster—but always of the same glaring whiteness, and +always in some fantastic form.</p> + +<p>About the valley the cliffs were occasionally cleft by deep gorges, +verdure filled, giving the appearance of green rivers rioting downward +toward a central sea of green.</p> + +<p>"Jad Pele ul Jad-ben-Otho," murmured Tarzan in the tongue of the +pithecanthropi; "The Valley of the Great God—it is beautiful!"</p> + +<p>"Here, in A-lur, lives Ko-tan, the king, ruler over all Pal-ul-don," +said Ta-den.</p> + +<p>"And here in these gorges live the Waz-don," exclaimed Om-at, "who do +not acknowledge that Ko-tan is the ruler over all the Land-of-man."</p> + +<p>Ta-den smiled and shrugged. "We will not quarrel, you and I," he said to +Om-at, "over that which all the ages have not proved sufficient time in +which to reconcile the Ho-don and Waz-don; but let me whisper to you a +secret, Om-at. The Ho-don live together in greater or less peace under +one ruler so that when danger threatens them they face the enemy with +many warriors, for every fighting Ho-don of Pal-ul-don is there. But you +Waz-don, how is it with you? You have a dozen kings who fight not only +with the Ho-don but with one another. When one of your tribes goes forth +upon the fighting trail, even against the Ho-don, it must leave behind +sufficient warriors to protect its women and its children from the +neighbors upon either hand. When we want eunuchs for the temples or +servants for the fields or the homes we march forth in great numbers +upon one of your villages. You cannot even flee, for upon either side of +you are enemies and though you fight bravely we come back with those who +will presently be eunuchs in the temples and servants in our fields and +homes. So long as the Waz-don are thus foolish the Ho-don will dominate +and their king will be king of Pal-ul-don."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you are right," admitted Om-at. "It is because our neighbors +are fools, each thinking that his tribe is the greatest and should rule +among the Waz-don. They will not admit that the warriors of my tribe are +the bravest and our shes the most beautiful."</p> + +<p>Ta-den grinned. "Each of the others presents precisely the same +arguments that you present, Om-at," he said, "which, my friend, is the +strongest bulwark of defense possessed by the Ho-don."</p> + +<p>"Come!" exclaimed Tarzan; "such discussions often lead to quarrels and +we three must have no quarrels. I, of course, am interested in learning +what I can of the political and economic conditions of your land; I +should like to know something of your religion; but not at the expense +of bitterness between my only friends in Pal-ul-don. Possibly, however, +you hold to the same god?"</p> + +<p>"There indeed we do differ," cried Om-at, somewhat bitterly and with a +trace of excitement in his voice.</p> + +<p>"Differ!" almost shouted Ta-den; "and why should we not differ? Who +could agree with the preposterous——"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Tarzan. "Now, indeed, have I stirred up a hornets' nest. +Let us speak no more of matters political or religious."</p> + +<p>"That is wiser," agreed Om-at; "but I might mention, for your +information, that the one and only god has a long tail."</p> + +<p>"It is sacrilege," cried Ta-den, laying his hand upon his knife; +"Jad-ben-Otho has no tail!"</p> + +<p>"Stop!" shrieked Om-at, springing forward; but instantly Tarzan +interposed himself between them.</p> + +<p>"Enough!" he snapped. "Let us be true to our oaths of friendship that we +may be honorable in the sight of God in whatever form we conceive Him."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Tailless One," said Ta-den. "Come, Om-at, let us look +after our friendship and ourselves, secure in the conviction that +Jad-ben-Otho is sufficiently powerful to look after himself."</p> + +<p>"Done!" agreed Om-at, "but——"</p> + +<p>"No 'buts,' Om-at," admonished Tarzan.</p> + +<p>The shaggy black shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "Shall we make our +way down toward the valley?" he asked. "The gorge below us is +uninhabited; that to the left contains the caves of my people. I would +see Pan-at-lee once more. Ta-den would visit his father in the valley +below and Tarzan seeks entrance to A-lur in search of the mate that +would be better dead than in the clutches of the Ho-don priests of +Jad-ben-Otho. How shall we proceed?"</p> + +<p>"Let us remain together as long as possible," urged Ta-den. "You, Om-at, +must seek Pan-at-lee by night and by stealth, for three, even we three, +may not hope to overcome Es-sat and all his warriors. At any time may we +go to the village where my father is chief, for Ja-don always will +welcome the friends of his son. But for Tarzan to enter A-lur is another +matter, though there is a way and he has the courage to put it to the +test—listen, come close for Jad-ben-Otho has keen ears and this he must +not hear," and with his lips close to the ears of his companions Ta-den, +the Tall-tree, son of Ja-don, the Lion-man, unfolded his daring plan.</p> + +<p>And at the same moment, a hundred miles away, a lithe figure, naked but +for a loin cloth and weapons, moved silently across a thorn-covered, +waterless steppe, searching always along the ground before him with keen +eyes and sensitive nostrils.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Pan_at_lee" id="Pan_at_lee" />3 - Pan-at-lee</h2> + + +<p>Night had fallen upon unchartered Pal-ul-don. A slender moon, low in the +west, bathed the white faces of the chalk cliffs presented to her, in a +mellow, unearthly glow. Black were the shadows in Kor-ul-ja, +Gorge-of-lions, where dwelt the tribe of the same name under Es-sat, +their chief. From an aperture near the summit of the lofty escarpment a +hairy figure emerged—the head and shoulders first—and fierce eyes +scanned the cliff side in every direction.</p> + +<p>It was Es-sat, the chief. To right and left and below he looked as +though to assure himself that he was unobserved, but no other figure +moved upon the cliff face, nor did another hairy body protrude from any +of the numerous cave mouths from the high-flung abode of the chief to +the habitations of the more lowly members of the tribe nearer the +cliff's base. Then he moved outward upon the sheer face of the white +chalk wall. In the half-light of the baby moon it appeared that the +heavy, shaggy black figure moved across the face of the perpendicular +wall in some miraculous manner, but closer examination would have +revealed stout pegs, as large around as a man's wrist protruding from +holes in the cliff into which they were driven. Es-sat's four handlike +members and his long, sinuous tail permitted him to move with consummate +ease whither he chose—a gigantic rat upon a mighty wall. As he +progressed upon his way he avoided the cave mouths, passing either above +or below those that lay in his path.</p> + +<p>The outward appearance of these caves was similar. An opening from eight +to as much as twenty feet long by eight high and four to six feet deep +was cut into the chalklike rock of the cliff, in the back of this large +opening, which formed what might be described as the front veranda of +the home, was an opening about three feet wide and six feet high, +evidently forming the doorway to the interior apartment or apartments. +On either side of this doorway were smaller openings which it were easy +to assume were windows through which light and air might find their way +to the inhabitants. Similar windows were also dotted over the cliff face +between the entrance porches, suggesting that the entire face of the +cliff was honeycombed with apartments. From many of these smaller +apertures small streams of water trickled down the escarpment, and the +walls above others was blackened as by smoke. Where the water ran the +wall was eroded to a depth of from a few inches to as much as a foot, +suggesting that some of the tiny streams had been trickling downward to +the green carpet of vegetation below for ages.</p> + +<p>In this primeval setting the great pithecanthropus aroused no jarring +discord for he was as much a part of it as the trees that grew upon the +summit of the cliff or those that hid their feet among the dank ferns in +the bottom of the gorge.</p> + +<p>Now he paused before an entrance-way and listened and then, noiselessly +as the moonlight upon the trickling waters, he merged with the shadows +of the outer porch. At the doorway leading into the interior he paused +again, listening, and then quietly pushing aside the heavy skin that +covered the aperture he passed within a large chamber hewn from the +living rock. From the far end, through another doorway, shone a light, +dimly. Toward this he crept with utmost stealth, his naked feet giving +forth no sound. The knotted club that had been hanging at his back from +a thong about his neck he now removed and carried in his left hand.</p> + +<p>Beyond the second doorway was a corridor running parallel with the cliff +face. In this corridor were three more doorways, one at each end and a +third almost opposite that in which Es-sat stood. The light was coming +from an apartment at the end of the corridor at his left. A sputtering +flame rose and fell in a small stone receptacle that stood upon a table +or bench of the same material, a monolithic bench fashioned at the time +the room was excavated, rising massively from the floor, of which it was +a part.</p> + +<p>In one corner of the room beyond the table had been left a dais of stone +about four feet wide and eight feet long. Upon this were piled a foot or +so of softly tanned pelts from which the fur had not been removed. Upon +the edge of this dais sat a young female Waz-don. In one hand she held a +thin piece of metal, apparently of hammered gold, with serrated edges, +and in the other a short, stiff brush. With these she was occupied in +going over her smooth, glossy coat which bore a remarkable resemblance +to plucked sealskin. Her loin cloth of yellow and black striped +jato-skin lay on the couch beside her with the circular breastplates of +beaten gold, revealing the symmetrical lines of her nude figure in all +its beauty and harmony of contour, for even though the creature was jet +black and entirely covered with hair yet she was undeniably beautiful.</p> + +<p>That she was beautiful in the eyes of Es-sat, the chief, was evidenced +by the gloating expression upon his fierce countenance and the increased +rapidity of his breathing. Moving quickly forward he entered the room +and as he did so the young she looked up. Instantly her eyes filled with +terror and as quickly she seized the loin cloth and with a few deft +movements adjusted it about her. As she gathered up her breastplates +Es-sat rounded the table and moved quickly toward her.</p> + +<p>"What do you want?" she whispered, though she knew full well.</p> + +<p>"Pan-at-lee," he said, "your chief has come for you."</p> + +<p>"It was for this that you sent away my father and my brothers to spy +upon the Kor-ul-lul? I will not have you. Leave the cave of my +ancestors!"</p> + +<p>Es-sat smiled. It was the smile of a strong and wicked man who knows his +power—not a pleasant smile at all. "I will leave, Pan-at-lee," he said; +"but you shall go with me—to the cave of Es-sat, the chief, to be the +envied of the shes of Kor-ul-ja. Come!"</p> + +<p>"Never!" cried Pan-at-lee. "I hate you. Sooner would I mate with a +Ho-don than with you, beater of women, murderer of babes."</p> + +<p>A frightful scowl distorted the features of the chief. "She-jato!" he +cried. "I will tame you! I will break you! Es-sat, the chief, takes what +he will and who dares question his right, or combat his least purpose, +will first serve that purpose and then be broken as I break this," and +he picked a stone platter from the table and broke it in his powerful +hands. "You might have been first and most favored in the cave of the +ancestors of Es-sat; but now shall you be last and least and when I am +done with you you shall belong to all of the men of Es-sat's cave. Thus +for those who spurn the love of their chief!"</p> + +<p>He advanced quickly to seize her and as he laid a rough hand upon her +she struck him heavily upon the side of his head with her golden +breastplates. Without a sound Es-sat, the chief, sank to the floor of +the apartment. For a moment Pan-at-lee bent over him, her improvised +weapon raised to strike again should he show signs of returning +consciousness, her glossy breasts rising and falling with her quickened +breathing. Suddenly she stooped and removed Es-sat's knife with its +scabbard and shoulder belt. Slipping it over her own shoulder she +quickly adjusted her breastplates and keeping a watchful glance upon the +figure of the fallen chief, backed from the room.</p> + +<p>In a niche in the outer room, just beside the doorway leading to the +balcony, were neatly piled a number of rounded pegs from eighteen to +twenty inches in length. Selecting five of these she made them into a +little bundle about which she twined the lower extremity of her sinuous +tail and thus carrying them made her way to the outer edge of the +balcony. Assuring herself that there was none about to see, or hinder +her, she took quickly to the pegs already set in the face of the cliff +and with the celerity of a monkey clambered swiftly aloft to the highest +row of pegs which she followed in the direction of the lower end of the +gorge for a matter of some hundred yards. Here, above her head, were a +series of small round holes placed one above another in three parallel +rows. Clinging only with her toes she removed two of the pegs from the +bundle carried in her tail and taking one in either hand she inserted +them in two opposite holes of the outer rows as far above her as she +could reach. Hanging by these new holds she now took one of the three +remaining pegs in each of her feet, leaving the fifth grasped securely +in her tail. Reaching above her with this member she inserted the fifth +peg in one of the holes of the center row and then, alternately hanging +by her tail, her feet, or her hands, she moved the pegs upward to new +holes, thus carrying her stairway with her as she ascended.</p> + +<p>At the summit of the cliff a gnarled tree exposed its time-worn roots +above the topmost holes forming the last step from the sheer face of the +precipice to level footing. This was the last avenue of escape for +members of the tribe hard pressed by enemies from below. There were +three such emergency exits from the village and it were death to use +them in other than an emergency. This Pan-at-lee well knew; but she +knew, too, that it were worse than death to remain where the angered +Es-sat might lay hands upon her.</p> + +<p>When she had gained the summit, the girl moved quickly through the +darkness in the direction of the next gorge which cut the mountain-side +a mile beyond Kor-ul-ja. It was the Gorge-of-water, Kor-ul-lul, to which +her father and two brothers had been sent by Es-sat ostensibly to spy +upon the neighboring tribe. There was a chance, a slender chance, that +she might find them; if not there was the deserted Kor-ul-gryf several +miles beyond, where she might hide indefinitely from man if she could +elude the frightful monster from which the gorge derived its name and +whose presence there had rendered its caves uninhabitable for +generations.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee crept stealthily along the rim of the Kor-ul-lul. Just where +her father and brothers would watch she did not know. Sometimes their +spies remained upon the rim, sometimes they watched from the gorge's +bottom. Pan-at-lee was at a loss to know what to do or where to go. She +felt very small and helpless alone in the vast darkness of the night. +Strange noises fell upon her ears. They came from the lonely reaches of +the towering mountains above her, from far away in the invisible valley +and from the nearer foothills and once, in the distance, she heard what +she thought was the bellow of a bull gryf. It came from the direction of +the Kor-ul-gryf. She shuddered.</p> + +<p>Presently there came to her keen ears another sound. Something +approached her along the rim of the gorge. It was coming from above. She +halted, listening. Perhaps it was her father, or a brother. It was +coming closer. She strained her eyes through the darkness. She did not +move—she scarcely breathed. And then, of a sudden, quite close it +seemed, there blazed through the black night two yellow-green spots of +fire.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee was brave, but as always with the primitive, the darkness +held infinite terrors for her. Not alone the terrors of the known but +more frightful ones as well—those of the unknown. She had passed +through much this night and her nerves were keyed to the highest +pitch—raw, taut nerves, they were, ready to react in an exaggerated +form to the slightest shock.</p> + +<p>But this was no slight shock. To hope for a father and a brother and to +see death instead glaring out of the darkness! Yes, Pan-at-lee was +brave, but she was not of iron. With a shriek that reverberated among +the hills she turned and fled along the rim of Kor-ul-lul and behind +her, swiftly, came the devil-eyed lion of the mountains of Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee was lost. Death was inevitable. Of this there could be no +doubt, but to die beneath the rending fangs of the carnivore, congenital +terror of her kind—it was unthinkable. But there was an alternative. +The lion was almost upon her—another instant and he would seize her. +Pan-at-lee turned sharply to her left. Just a few steps she took in the +new direction before she disappeared over the rim of Kor-ul-lul. The +baffled lion, planting all four feet, barely stopped upon the verge of +the abyss. Glaring down into the black shadows beneath he mounted an +angry roar.</p> + +<p>Through the darkness at the bottom of Kor-ul-ja, Om-at led the way +toward the caves of his people. Behind him came Tarzan and Ta-den. +Presently they halted beneath a great tree that grew close to the cliff.</p> + +<p>"First," whispered Om-at, "I will go to the cave of Pan-at-lee. Then +will I seek the cave of my ancestors to have speech with my own blood. +It will not take long. Wait here—I shall return soon. Afterward shall +we go together to Ta-den's people."</p> + +<p>He moved silently toward the foot of the cliff up which Tarzan could +presently see him ascending like a great fly on a wall. In the dim light +the ape-man could not see the pegs set in the face of the cliff. Om-at +moved warily. In the lower tier of caves there should be a sentry. His +knowledge of his people and their customs told him, however, that in all +probability the sentry was asleep. In this he was not mistaken, yet he +did not in any way abate his wariness. Smoothly and swiftly he ascended +toward the cave of Pan-at-lee while from below Tarzan and Ta-den watched +him.</p> + +<p>"How does he do it?" asked Tarzan. "I can see no foothold upon that +vertical surface and yet he appears to be climbing with the utmost +ease."</p> + +<p>Ta-den explained the stairway of pegs. "You could ascend easily," he +said, "although a tail would be of great assistance."</p> + +<p>They watched until Om-at was about to enter the cave of Pan-at-lee +without seeing any indication that he had been observed and then, +simultaneously, both saw a head appear in the mouth of one of the lower +caves. It was quickly evident that its owner had discovered Om-at for +immediately he started upward in pursuit. Without a word Tarzan and +Ta-den sprang forward toward the foot of the cliff. The pithecanthropus +was the first to reach it and the ape-man saw him spring upward for a +handhold on the lowest peg above him. Now Tarzan saw other pegs roughly +paralleling each other in zigzag rows up the cliff face. He sprang and +caught one of these, pulled himself upward by one hand until he could +reach a second with his other hand; and when he had ascended far enough +to use his feet, discovered that he could make rapid progress. Ta-den +was outstripping him, however, for these precarious ladders were no +novelty to him and, further, he had an advantage in possessing a tail.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, the ape-man gave a good account of himself, being +presently urged to redoubled efforts by the fact that the Waz-don above +Ta-den glanced down and discovered his pursuers just before the Ho-don +overtook him. Instantly a wild cry shattered the silence of the gorge—a +cry that was immediately answered by hundreds of savage throats as +warrior after warrior emerged from the entrance to his cave.</p> + +<p>The creature who had raised the alarm had now reached the recess before +Pan-at-lee's cave and here he halted and turned to give battle to +Ta-den. Unslinging his club which had hung down his back from a thong +about his neck he stood upon the level floor of the entrance-way +effectually blocking Ta-den's ascent. From all directions the warriors +of Kor-ul-ja were swarming toward the interlopers. Tarzan, who had +reached a point on the same level with Ta-den but a little to the +latter's left, saw that nothing short of a miracle could save them. Just +at the ape-man's left was the entrance to a cave that either was +deserted or whose occupants had not as yet been aroused, for the level +recess remained unoccupied. Resourceful was the alert mind of Tarzan of +the Apes and quick to respond were the trained muscles. In the time that +you or I might give to debating an action he would accomplish it and +now, though only seconds separated his nearest antagonist from him, in +the brief span of time at his disposal he had stepped into the recess, +unslung his long rope and leaning far out shot the sinuous noose, with +the precision of long habitude, toward the menacing figure wielding its +heavy club above Ta-den. There was a momentary pause of the rope-hand as +the noose sped toward its goal, a quick movement of the right wrist that +closed it upon its victim as it settled over his head and then a surging +tug as, seizing the rope in both hands, Tarzan threw back upon it all +the weight of his great frame.</p> + +<p>Voicing a terrified shriek, the Waz-don lunged headforemost from the +recess above Ta-den. Tarzan braced himself for the coming shock when the +creature's body should have fallen the full length of the rope and as it +did there was a snap of the vertebrae that rose sickeningly in the +momentary silence that had followed the doomed man's departing scream. +Unshaken by the stress of the suddenly arrested weight at the end of the +rope, Tarzan quickly pulled the body to his side that he might remove +the noose from about its neck, for he could not afford to lose so +priceless a weapon.</p> + +<p>During the several seconds that had elapsed since he cast the rope the +Waz-don warriors had remained inert as though paralyzed by wonder or by +terror. Now, again, one of them found his voice and his head and +straightway, shrieking invectives at the strange intruder, started +upward for the ape-man, urging his fellows to attack. This man was the +closest to Tarzan. But for him the ape-man could easily have reached +Ta-den's side as the latter was urging him to do. Tarzan raised the body +of the dead Waz-don above his head, held it poised there for a moment as +with face raised to the heavens he screamed forth the horrid challenge +of the bull apes of the tribe of Kerchak, and with all the strength of +his giant sinews he hurled the corpse heavily upon the ascending +warrior. So great was the force of the impact that not only was the +Waz-don torn from his hold but two of the pegs to which he clung were +broken short in their sockets.</p> + +<p>As the two bodies, the living and the dead, hurtled downward toward the +foot of the cliff a great cry arose from the Waz-don. "Jad-guru-don! +Jad-guru-don!" they screamed, and then: "Kill him! Kill him!"</p> + +<p>And now Tarzan stood in the recess beside Ta-den. "Jad-guru-don!" +repeated the latter, smiling—"The terrible man! Tarzan the Terrible! +They may kill you, but they will never forget you."</p> + +<p>"They shall not ki—What have we here?" Tarzan's statement as to what +"they" should not do was interrupted by a sudden ejaculation as two +figures, locked in deathlike embrace, stumbled through the doorway of +the cave to the outer porch. One was Om-at, the other a creature of his +own kind but with a rough coat, the hairs of which seemed to grow +straight outward from the skin, stiffly, unlike Om-at's sleek covering. +The two were quite evidently well matched and equally evident was the +fact that each was bent upon murder. They fought almost in silence +except for an occasional low growl as one or the other acknowledged thus +some new hurt.</p> + +<p>Tarzan, following a natural impulse to aid his ally, leaped forward to +enter the dispute only to be checked by a grunted admonition from Om-at. +"Back!" he said. "This fight is mine, alone."</p> + +<p>The ape-man understood and stepped aside.</p> + +<p>"It is a gund-bar," explained Ta-den, "a chief-battle. This fellow must +be Es-sat, the chief. If Om-at kills him without assistance Om-at may +become chief."</p> + +<p>Tarzan smiled. It was the law of his own jungle—the law of the tribe of +Kerchak, the bull ape—the ancient law of primitive man that needed but +the refining influences of civilization to introduce the hired dagger +and the poison cup. Then his attention was drawn to the outer edge of +the vestibule. Above it appeared the shaggy face of one of Es-sat's +warriors. Tarzan sprang to intercept the man; but Ta-den was there ahead +of him. "Back!" cried the Ho-don to the newcomer. "It is gund-bar." The +fellow looked scrutinizingly at the two fighters, then turned his face +downward toward his fellows. "Back!" he cried, "it is gund-bar between +Es-sat and Om-at." Then he looked back at Ta-den and Tarzan. "Who are +you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"We are Om-at's friends," replied Ta-den.</p> + +<p>The fellow nodded. "We will attend to you later," he said and +disappeared below the edge of the recess.</p> + +<p>The battle upon the ledge continued with unabated ferocity, Tarzan and +Ta-den having difficulty in keeping out of the way of the contestants +who tore and beat at each other with hands and feet and lashing tails. +Es-sat was unarmed—Pan-at-lee had seen to that—but at Om-at's side +swung a sheathed knife which he made no effort to draw. That would have +been contrary to their savage and primitive code for the chief-battle +must be fought with nature's weapons.</p> + +<p>Sometimes they separated for an instant only to rush upon each other +again with all the ferocity and nearly the strength of mad bulls. +Presently one of them tripped the other but in that viselike embrace one +could not fall alone—Es-sat dragged Om-at with him, toppling upon the +brink of the niche. Even Tarzan held his breath. There they surged to +and fro perilously for a moment and then the inevitable happened—the +two, locked in murderous embrace, rolled over the edge and disappeared +from the ape-man's view.</p> + +<p>Tarzan voiced a suppressed sigh for he had liked Om-at and then, with +Ta-den, approached the edge and looked over. Far below, in the dim light +of the coming dawn, two inert forms should be lying stark in death; but, +to Tarzan's amazement, such was far from the sight that met his eyes. +Instead, there were the two figures still vibrant with life and still +battling only a few feet below him. Clinging always to the pegs with two +holds—a hand and a foot, or a foot and a tail, they seemed as much at +home upon the perpendicular wall as upon the level surface of the +vestibule; but now their tactics were slightly altered, for each seemed +particularly bent upon dislodging his antagonist from his holds and +precipitating him to certain death below. It was soon evident that +Om-at, younger and with greater powers of endurance than Es-sat, was +gaining an advantage. Now was the chief almost wholly on the defensive. +Holding him by the cross belt with one mighty hand Om-at was forcing his +foeman straight out from the cliff, and with the other hand and one foot +was rapidly breaking first one of Es-sat's holds and then another, +alternating his efforts, or rather punctuating them, with vicious blows +to the pit of his adversary's stomach. Rapidly was Es-sat weakening and +with the knowledge of impending death there came, as there comes to +every coward and bully under similar circumstances, a crumbling of the +veneer of bravado which had long masqueraded as courage and with it +crumbled his code of ethics. Now was Es-sat no longer chief of +Kor-ul-ja—instead he was a whimpering craven battling for life. +Clutching at Om-at, clutching at the nearest pegs he sought any support +that would save him from that awful fall, and as he strove to push aside +the hand of death, whose cold fingers he already felt upon his heart, +his tail sought Om-at's side and the handle of the knife that hung +there.</p> + +<p>Tarzan saw and even as Es-sat drew the blade from its sheath he dropped +catlike to the pegs beside the battling men. Es-sat's tail had drawn +back for the cowardly fatal thrust. Now many others saw the perfidious +act and a great cry of rage and disgust arose from savage throats; but +as the blade sped toward its goal, the ape-man seized the hairy member +that wielded it, and at the same instant Om-at thrust the body of Es-sat +from him with such force that its weakened holds were broken and it +hurtled downward, a brief meteor of screaming fear, to death.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Tarzan_jad_guru" id="Tarzan_jad_guru" />4 - Tarzan-jad-guru</h2> + + +<p>As Tarzan and Om-at clambered back to the vestibule of Pan-at-lee's cave +and took their stand beside Ta-den in readiness for whatever eventuality +might follow the death of Es-sat, the sun that topped the eastern hills +touched also the figure of a sleeper upon a distant, thorn-covered +steppe awakening him to another day of tireless tracking along a faint +and rapidly disappearing spoor.</p> + +<p>For a time silence reigned in the Kor-ul-ja. The tribesmen waited, +looking now down upon the dead thing that had been their chief, now at +one another, and now at Om-at and the two who stood upon his either +side. Presently Om-at spoke. "I am Om-at," he cried. "Who will say that +Om-at is not gund of Kor-ul-ja?"</p> + +<p>He waited for a taker of his challenge. One or two of the larger young +bucks fidgeted restlessly and eyed him; but there was no reply.</p> + +<p>"Then Om-at is gund," he said with finality. "Now tell me, where are +Pan-at-lee, her father, and her brothers?"</p> + +<p>An old warrior spoke. "Pan-at-lee should be in her cave. Who should know +that better than you who are there now? Her father and her brothers were +sent to watch Kor-ul-lul; but neither of these questions arouse any +tumult in our breasts. There is one that does: Can Om-at be chief of +Kor-ul-ja and yet stand at bay against his own people with a Ho-don and +that terrible man at his side—that terrible man who has no tail? Hand +the strangers over to your people to be slain as is the way of the +Waz-don and then may Om-at be gund."</p> + +<p>Neither Tarzan nor Ta-den spoke then, they but stood watching Om-at and +waiting for his decision, the ghost of a smile upon the lips of the +ape-man. Ta-den, at least, knew that the old warrior had spoken the +truth—the Waz-don entertain no strangers and take no prisoners of an +alien race.</p> + +<p>Then spoke Om-at. "Always there is change," he said. "Even the old hills +of Pal-ul-don appear never twice alike—the brilliant sun, a passing +cloud, the moon, a mist, the changing seasons, the sharp clearness +following a storm; these things bring each a new change in our hills. +From birth to death, day by day, there is constant change in each of us. +Change, then, is one of Jad-ben-Otho's laws.</p> + +<p>"And now I, Om-at, your gund, bring another change. Strangers who are +brave men and good friends shall no longer be slain by the Waz-don of +Kor-ul-ja!"</p> + +<p>There were growls and murmurings and a restless moving among the +warriors as each eyed the others to see who would take the initiative +against Om-at, the iconoclast.</p> + +<p>"Cease your mutterings," admonished the new gund. "I am your chief. My +word is your law. You had no part in making me chief. Some of you helped +Es-sat to drive me from the cave of my ancestors; the rest of you +permitted it. I owe you nothing. Only these two, whom you would have me +kill, were loyal to me. I am gund and if there be any who doubts it let +him speak—he cannot die younger."</p> + +<p>Tarzan was pleased. Here was a man after his own heart. He admired the +fearlessness of Om-at's challenge and he was a sufficiently good judge +of men to know that he had listened to no idle bluff—Om-at would back +up his words to the death, if necessary, and the chances were that he +would not be the one to die. Evidently the majority of the Kor-ul-jaians +entertained the same conviction.</p> + +<p>"I will make you a good gund," said Om-at, seeing that no one appeared +inclined to dispute his rights. "Your wives and daughters will be +safe—they were not safe while Es-sat ruled. Go now to your crops and +your hunting. I leave to search for Pan-at-lee. Ab-on will be gund while +I am away—look to him for guidance and to me for an accounting when I +return—and may Jad-ben-Otho smile upon you."</p> + +<p>He turned toward Tarzan and the Ho-don. "And you, my friends," he said, +"are free to go among my people; the cave of my ancestors is yours, do +what you will."</p> + +<p>"I," said Tarzan, "will go with Om-at to search for Pan-at-lee."</p> + +<p>"And I," said Ta-den.</p> + +<p>Om-at smiled. "Good!" he exclaimed. "And when we have found her we shall +go together upon Tarzan's business and Ta-den's. Where first shall we +search?" He turned toward his warriors. "Who knows where she may be?"</p> + +<p>None knew other than that Pan-at-lee had gone to her cave with the +others the previous evening—there was no clew, no suggestion as to her +whereabouts.</p> + +<p>"Show me where she sleeps," said Tarzan; "let me see something that +belongs to her—an article of her apparel—then, doubtless, I can help +you."</p> + +<p>Two young warriors climbed closer to the ledge upon which Om-at stood. +They were In-sad and O-dan. It was the latter who spoke.</p> + +<p>"Gund of Kor-ul-ja," he said, "we would go with you to search for +Pan-at-lee."</p> + +<p>It was the first acknowledgment of Om-at's chieftainship and immediately +following it the tenseness that had prevailed seemed to relax—the +warriors spoke aloud instead of in whispers, and the women appeared from +the mouths of caves as with the passing of a sudden storm. In-sad and +O-dan had taken the lead and now all seemed glad to follow. Some came to +talk with Om-at and to look more closely at Tarzan; others, heads of +caves, gathered their hunters and discussed the business of the day. The +women and children prepared to descend to the fields with the youths and +the old men, whose duty it was to guard them.</p> + +<p>"O-dan and In-sad shall go with us," announced Om-at, "we shall not need +more. Tarzan, come with me and I shall show you where Pan-at-lee sleeps, +though why you should wish to know I cannot guess—she is not there. I +have looked for myself."</p> + +<p>The two entered the cave where Om-at led the way to the apartment in +which Es-sat had surprised Pan-at-lee the previous night.</p> + +<p>"All here are hers," said Om-at, "except the war club lying on the +floor—that was Es-sat's."</p> + +<p>The ape-man moved silently about the apartment, the quivering of his +sensitive nostrils scarcely apparent to his companion who only wondered +what good purpose could be served here and chafed at the delay.</p> + +<p>"Come!" said the ape-man, presently, and led the way toward the outer +recess.</p> + +<p>Here their three companions were awaiting them. Tarzan passed to the +left side of the niche and examined the pegs that lay within reach. He +looked at them but it was not his eyes that were examining them. Keener +than his keen eyes was that marvelously trained sense of scent that had +first been developed in him during infancy under the tutorage of his +foster mother, Kala, the she-ape, and further sharpened in the grim +jungles by that master teacher—the instinct of self-preservation.</p> + +<p>From the left side of the niche he turned to the right. Om-at was +becoming impatient.</p> + +<p>"Let us be off," he said. "We must search for Pan-at-lee if we would +ever find her."</p> + +<p>"Where shall we search?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>Om-at scratched his head. "Where?" he repeated. "Why all Pal-ul-don, if +necessary."</p> + +<p>"A large job," said Tarzan. "Come," he added, "she went this way," and +he took to the pegs that led aloft toward the summit of the cliff. Here +he followed the scent easily since none had passed that way since +Pan-at-lee had fled. At the point at which she had left the permanent +pegs and resorted to those carried with her Tarzan came to an abrupt +halt. "She went this way to the summit," he called back to Om-at who was +directly behind him; "but there are no pegs here."</p> + +<p>"I do not know how you know that she went this way," said Om-at; "but we +will get pegs. In-sad, return and fetch climbing pegs for five."</p> + +<p>The young warrior was soon back and the pegs distributed. Om-at handed +five to Tarzan and explained their use. The ape-man returned one. "I +need but four," he said.</p> + +<p>Om-at smiled. "What a wonderful creature you would be if you were not +deformed," he said, glancing with pride at his own strong tail.</p> + +<p>"I admit that I am handicapped," replied Tarzan. "You others go ahead +and leave the pegs in place for me. I am afraid that otherwise it will +be slow work as I cannot hold the pegs in my toes as you do."</p> + +<p>"All right," agreed Om-at; "Ta-den, In-sad, and I will go first, you +follow and O-dan bring up the rear and collect the pegs—we cannot leave +them here for our enemies."</p> + +<p>"Can't your enemies bring their own pegs?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but it delays them and makes easier our defense and—they do not +know which of all the holes you see are deep enough for pegs—the others +are made to confuse our enemies and are too shallow to hold a peg."</p> + +<p>At the top of the cliff beside the gnarled tree Tarzan again took up the +trail. Here the scent was fully as strong as upon the pegs and the +ape-man moved rapidly across the ridge in the direction of the +Kor-ul-lul.</p> + +<p>Presently he paused and turned toward Om-at. "Here she moved swiftly, +running at top speed, and, Om-at, she was pursued by a lion."</p> + +<p>"You can read that in the grass?" asked O-dan as the others gathered +about the ape-man.</p> + +<p>Tarzan nodded. "I do not think the lion got her," he added; "but that we +shall determine quickly. No, he did not get her—look!" and he pointed +toward the southwest, down the ridge.</p> + +<p>Following the direction indicated by his finger, the others presently +detected a movement in some bushes a couple of hundred yards away.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" asked Om-at. "It is she?" and he started toward the spot.</p> + +<p>"Wait," advised Tarzan. "It is the lion which pursued her."</p> + +<p>"You can see him?" asked Ta-den.</p> + +<p>"No, I can smell him."</p> + +<p>The others looked their astonishment and incredulity; but of the fact +that it was indeed a lion they were not left long in doubt. Presently +the bushes parted and the creature stepped out in full view, facing +them. It was a magnificent beast, large and beautifully maned, with the +brilliant leopard spots of its kind well marked and symmetrical. For a +moment it eyed them and then, still chafing at the loss of its prey +earlier in the morning, it charged.</p> + +<p>The Pal-ul-donians unslung their clubs and stood waiting the onrushing +beast. Tarzan of the Apes drew his hunting knife and crouched in the +path of the fanged fury. It was almost upon him when it swerved to the +right and leaped for Om-at only to be sent to earth with a staggering +blow upon the head. Almost instantly it was up and though the men rushed +fearlessly in, it managed to sweep aside their weapons with its mighty +paws. A single blow wrenched O-dan's club from his hand and sent it +hurtling against Ta-den, knocking him from his feet. Taking advantage of +its opportunity the lion rose to throw itself upon O-dan and at the same +instant Tarzan flung himself upon its back. Strong, white teeth buried +themselves in the spotted neck, mighty arms encircled the savage throat +and the sinewy legs of the ape-man locked themselves about the gaunt +belly.</p> + +<p>The others, powerless to aid, stood breathlessly about as the great lion +lunged hither and thither, clawing and biting fearfully and futilely at +the savage creature that had fastened itself upon him. Over and over +they rolled and now the onlookers saw a brown hand raised above the +lion's side—a brown hand grasping a keen blade. They saw it fall and +rise and fall again—each time with terrific force and in its wake they +saw a crimson stream trickling down ja's gorgeous coat.</p> + +<p>Now from the lion's throat rose hideous screams of hate and rage and +pain as he redoubled his efforts to dislodge and punish his tormentor; +but always the tousled black head remained half buried in the dark brown +mane and the mighty arm rose and fell to plunge the knife again and +again into the dying beast.</p> + +<p>The Pal-ul-donians stood in mute wonder and admiration. Brave men and +mighty hunters they were and as such the first to accord honor to a +mightier.</p> + +<p>"And you would have had me slay him!" cried Om-at, glancing at In-sad +and O-dan.</p> + +<p>"Jad-ben-Otho reward you that you did not," breathed In-sad.</p> + +<p>And now the lion lunged suddenly to earth and with a few spasmodic +quiverings lay still. The ape-man rose and shook himself, even as might +ja, the leopard-coated lion of Pal-ul-don, had he been the one to +survive.</p> + +<p>O-dan advanced quickly toward Tarzan. Placing a palm upon his own breast +and the other on Tarzan's, "Tarzan the Terrible," he said, "I ask no +greater honor than your friendship."</p> + +<p>"And I no more than the friendship of Om-at's friends," replied the +ape-man simply, returning the other's salute.</p> + +<p>"Do you think," asked Om-at, coming close to Tarzan and laying a hand +upon the other's shoulder, "that he got her?"</p> + +<p>"No, my friend; it was a hungry lion that charged us."</p> + +<p>"You seem to know much of lions," said In-sad.</p> + +<p>"Had I a brother I could not know him better," replied Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Then where can she be?" continued Om-at.</p> + +<p>"We can but follow while the spoor is fresh," answered the ape-man and +again taking up his interrupted tracking he led them down the ridge and +at a sharp turning of the trail to the left brought them to the verge of +the cliff that dropped into the Kor-ul-lul. For a moment Tarzan examined +the ground to the right and to the left, then he stood erect and looking +at Om-at pointed into the gorge.</p> + +<p>For a moment the Waz-don gazed down into the green rift at the bottom of +which a tumultuous river tumbled downward along its rocky bed, then he +closed his eyes as to a sudden spasm of pain and turned away.</p> + +<p>"You—mean—she jumped?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"To escape the lion," replied Tarzan. "He was right behind her—look, +you can see where his four paws left their impress in the turf as he +checked his charge upon the very verge of the abyss."</p> + +<p>"Is there any chance—" commenced Om-at, to be suddenly silenced by a +warning gesture from Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Down!" whispered the ape-man, "many men are coming. They are +running—from down the ridge." He flattened himself upon his belly in +the grass, the others following his example.</p> + +<p>For some minutes they waited thus and then the others, too, heard the +sound of running feet and now a hoarse shout followed by many more.</p> + +<p>"It is the war cry of the Kor-ul-lul," whispered Om-at—"the hunting cry +of men who hunt men. Presently shall we see them and if Jad-ben-Otho is +pleased with us they shall not too greatly outnumber us."</p> + +<p>"They are many," said Tarzan, "forty or fifty, I should say; but how +many are the pursued and how many the pursuers we cannot even guess, +except that the latter must greatly outnumber the former, else these +would not run so fast."</p> + +<p>"Here they come," said Ta-den.</p> + +<p>"It is An-un, father of Pan-at-lee, and his two sons," exclaimed O-dan. +"They will pass without seeing us if we do not hurry," he added looking +at Om-at, the chief, for a sign.</p> + +<p>"Come!" cried the latter, springing to his feet and running rapidly to +intercept the three fugitives. The others followed him.</p> + +<p>"Five friends!" shouted Om-at as An-un and his sons discovered them.</p> + +<p>"Adenen yo!" echoed O-dan and In-sad.</p> + +<p>The fugitives scarcely paused as these unexpected reinforcements joined +them but they eyed Ta-den and Tarzan with puzzled glances.</p> + +<p>"The Kor-ul-lul are many," shouted An-un. "Would that we might pause and +fight; but first we must warn Es-sat and our people."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Om-at, "we must warn our people."</p> + +<p>"Es-sat is dead," said In-sad.</p> + +<p>"Who is chief?" asked one of An-un's sons.</p> + +<p>"Om-at," replied O-dan.</p> + +<p>"It is well," cried An-un. "Pan-at-lee said that you would come back and +slay Es-sat."</p> + +<p>Now the enemy broke into sight behind them.</p> + +<p>"Come!" cried Tarzan, "let us turn and charge them, raising a great cry. +They pursued but three and when they see eight charging upon them they +will think that many men have come to do battle. They will believe that +there are more even than they see and then one who is swift will have +time to reach the gorge and warn your people."</p> + +<p>"It is well," said Om-at. "Id-an, you are swift—carry word to the +warriors of Kor-ul-ja that we fight the Kor-ul-lul upon the ridge and +that Ab-on shall send a hundred men."</p> + +<p>Id-an, the son of An-un, sped swiftly toward the cliff-dwellings of the +Kor-ul-ja while the others charged the oncoming Kor-ul-lul, the war +cries of the two tribes rising and falling in a certain grim harmony. +The leaders of the Kor-ul-lul paused at sight of the reinforcements, +waiting apparently for those behind to catch up with them and, possibly, +also to learn how great a force confronted them. The leaders, swifter +runners than their fellows, perhaps, were far in advance while the +balance of their number had not yet emerged from the brush; and now as +Om-at and his companions fell upon them with a ferocity born of +necessity they fell back, so that when their companions at last came in +sight of them they appeared to be in full rout. The natural result was +that the others turned and fled.</p> + +<p>Encouraged by this first success Om-at followed them into the brush, his +little company charging valiantly upon his either side, and loud and +terrifying were the savage yells with which they pursued the fleeing +enemy. The brush, while not growing so closely together as to impede +progress, was of such height as to hide the members of the party from +one another when they became separated by even a few yards. The result +was that Tarzan, always swift and always keen for battle, was soon +pursuing the enemy far in the lead of the others—a lack of prudence +which was to prove his undoing.</p> + +<p>The warriors of Kor-ul-lul, doubtless as valorous as their foemen, +retreated only to a more strategic position in the brush, nor were they +long in guessing that the number of their pursuers was fewer than their +own. They made a stand then where the brush was densest—an ambush it +was, and into this ran Tarzan of the Apes. They tricked him neatly. Yes, +sad as is the narration of it, they tricked the wily jungle lord. But +then they were fighting on their own ground, every foot of which they +knew as you know your front parlor, and they were following their own +tactics, of which Tarzan knew nothing.</p> + +<p>A single black warrior appeared to Tarzan a laggard in the rear of the +retreating enemy and thus retreating he lured Tarzan on. At last he +turned at bay confronting the ape-man with bludgeon and drawn knife and +as Tarzan charged him a score of burly Waz-don leaped from the +surrounding brush. Instantly, but too late, the giant Tarmangani +realized his peril. There flashed before him a vision of his lost mate +and a great and sickening regret surged through him with the realization +that if she still lived she might no longer hope, for though she might +never know of the passing of her lord the fact of it must inevitably +seal her doom.</p> + +<p>And consequent to this thought there enveloped him a blind frenzy of +hatred for these creatures who dared thwart his purpose and menace the +welfare of his wife. With a savage growl he threw himself upon the +warrior before him twisting the heavy club from the creature's hand as +if he had been a little child, and with his left fist backed by the +weight and sinew of his giant frame, he crashed a shattering blow to the +center of the Waz-don's face—a blow that crushed the bones and dropped +the fellow in his tracks. Then he swung upon the others with their +fallen comrade's bludgeon striking to right and left mighty, unmerciful +blows that drove down their own weapons until that wielded by the +ape-man was splintered and shattered. On either hand they fell before +his cudgel; so rapid the delivery of his blows, so catlike his recovery +that in the first few moments of the battle he seemed invulnerable to +their attack; but it could not last—he was outnumbered twenty to one +and his undoing came from a thrown club. It struck him upon the back of +the head. For a moment he stood swaying and then like a great pine +beneath the woodsman's ax he crashed to earth.</p> + +<p>Others of the Kor-ul-lul had rushed to engage the balance of Om-at's +party. They could be heard fighting at a short distance and it was +evident that the Kor-ul-ja were falling slowly back and as they fell +Om-at called to the missing one: "Tarzan the Terrible! Tarzan the +Terrible!"</p> + +<p>"Jad-guru, indeed," repeated one of the Kor-ul-lul rising from where +Tarzan had dropped him. "Tarzan-jad-guru! He was worse than that."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="In_the_Kor_ul_gryf" id="In_the_Kor_ul_gryf" />5 - In the Kor-ul-gryf</h2> + + +<p>As Tarzan fell among his enemies a man halted many miles away upon the +outer verge of the morass that encircles Pal-ul-don. Naked he was except +for a loin cloth and three belts of cartridges, two of which passed over +his shoulders, crossing upon his chest and back, while the third +encircled his waist. Slung to his back by its leathern sling-strap was +an Enfield, and he carried too a long knife, a bow and a quiver of +arrows. He had come far, through wild and savage lands, menaced by +fierce beasts and fiercer men, yet intact to the last cartridge was the +ammunition that had filled his belts the day that he set out.</p> + +<p>The bow and the arrows and the long knife had brought him thus far +safely, yet often in the face of great risks that could have been +minimized by a single shot from the well-kept rifle at his back. What +purpose might he have for conserving this precious ammunition? in +risking his life to bring the last bright shining missile to his unknown +goal? For what, for whom were these death-dealing bits of metal +preserved? In all the world only he knew.</p> + +<p>When Pan-at-lee stepped over the edge of the cliff above Kor-ul-lul she +expected to be dashed to instant death upon the rocks below; but she had +chosen this in preference to the rending fangs of ja. Instead, chance +had ordained that she make the frightful plunge at a point where the +tumbling river swung close beneath the overhanging cliff to eddy for a +slow moment in a deep pool before plunging madly downward again in a +cataract of boiling foam, and water thundering against rocks.</p> + +<p>Into this icy pool the girl shot, and down and down beneath the watery +surface until, half choked, yet fighting bravely, she battled her way +once more to air. Swimming strongly she made the opposite shore and +there dragged herself out upon the bank to lie panting and spent until +the approaching dawn warned her to seek concealment, for she was in the +country of her people's enemies.</p> + +<p>Rising, she moved into the concealment of the rank vegetation that grows +so riotously in the well-watered kors<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1" /><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> of Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1" /><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> I have used the Pal-ul-don word for gorge with the English +plural, which is not the correct native plural form. The latter, it +seems to me, is awkward for us and so I have generally ignored it +throughout my manuscript, permitting, for example, Kor-ul-ja to answer +for both singular and plural. However, for the benefit of those who may +be interested in such things I may say that the plurals are formed +simply for all words in the Pal-ul-don language by doubling the initial +letter of the word, as k'kor, gorges, pronounced as though written +kakor, the a having the sound of a in sofa. Lions, d' don.</p></div> + +<p>Hidden amidst the plant life from the sight of any who might chance to +pass along the well-beaten trail that skirted the river Pan-at-lee +sought rest and food, the latter growing in abundance all about her in +the form of fruits and berries and succulent tubers which she scooped +from the earth with the knife of the dead Es-sat.</p> + +<p>Ah! if she had but known that he was dead! What trials and risks and +terrors she might have been saved; but she thought that he still lived +and so she dared not return to Kor-ul-ja. At least not yet while his +rage was at white heat. Later, perhaps, her father and brothers returned +to their cave, she might risk it; but not now—not now. Nor could she +for long remain here in the neighborhood of the hostile Kor-ul-lul and +somewhere she must find safety from beasts before the night set in.</p> + +<p>As she sat upon the bole of a fallen tree seeking some solution of the +problem of existence that confronted her, there broke upon her ears from +up the gorge the voices of shouting men—a sound that she recognized all +too well. It was the war cry of the Kor-ul-lul. Closer and closer it +approached her hiding place. Then, through the veil of foliage she +caught glimpses of three figures fleeing along the trail, and behind +them the shouting of the pursuers rose louder and louder as they neared +her. Again she caught sight of the fugitives crossing the river below +the cataract and again they were lost to sight. And now the pursuers +came into view—shouting Kor-ul-lul warriors, fierce and implacable. +Forty, perhaps fifty of them. She waited breathless; but they did not +swerve from the trail and passed her, unguessing that an enemy she lay +hid within a few yards of them.</p> + +<p>Once again she caught sight of the pursued—three Waz-don warriors +clambering the cliff face at a point where portions of the summit had +fallen away presenting a steep slope that might be ascended by such as +these. Suddenly her attention was riveted upon the three. Could it be? O +Jad-ben-Otho! had she but known a moment before. When they passed she +might have joined them, for they were her father and two brothers. Now +it was too late. With bated breath and tense muscles she watched the +race. Would they reach the summit? Would the Kor-ul-lul overhaul them? +They climbed well, but, oh, so slowly. Now one lost his footing in the +loose shale and slipped back! The Kor-ul-lul were ascending—one hurled +his club at the nearest fugitive. The Great God was pleased with the +brother of Pan-at-lee, for he caused the club to fall short of its +target, and to fall, rolling and bounding, back upon its owner carrying +him from his feet and precipitating him to the bottom of the gorge.</p> + +<p>Standing now, her hands pressed tight above her golden breastplates, +Pan-at-lee watched the race for life. Now one, her older brother, +reached the summit and clinging there to something that she could not +see he lowered his body and his long tail to the father beneath him. The +latter, seizing this support, extended his own tail to the son +below—the one who had slipped back—and thus, upon a living ladder of +their own making, the three reached the summit and disappeared from view +before the Kor-ul-lul overtook them. But the latter did not abandon the +chase. On they went until they too had disappeared from sight and only a +faint shouting came down to Pan-at-lee to tell her that the pursuit +continued.</p> + +<p>The girl knew that she must move on. At any moment now might come a +hunting party, combing the gorge for the smaller animals that fed or +bedded there.</p> + +<p>Behind her were Es-sat and the returning party of Kor-ul-lul that had +pursued her kin; before her, across the next ridge, was the Kor-ul-gryf, +the lair of the terrifying monsters that brought the chill of fear to +every inhabitant of Pal-ul-don; below her, in the valley, was the +country of the Ho-don, where she could look for only slavery, or death; +here were the Kor-ul-lul, the ancient enemies of her people and +everywhere were the wild beasts that eat the flesh of man.</p> + +<p>For but a moment she debated and then turning her face toward the +southeast she set out across the gorge of water toward the +Kor-ul-gryf—at least there were no men there. As it is now, so it was +in the beginning, back to the primitive progenitor of man which is +typified by Pan-at-lee and her kind today, of all the hunters that woman +fears, man is the most relentless, the most terrible. To the dangers of +man she preferred the dangers of the gryf.</p> + +<p>Moving cautiously she reached the foot of the cliff at the far side of +Kor-ul-lul and here, toward noon, she found a comparatively easy ascent. +Crossing the ridge she stood at last upon the brink of Kor-ul-gryf—the +horror place of the folklore of her race. Dank and mysterious grew the +vegetation below; giant trees waved their plumed tops almost level with +the summit of the cliff; and over all brooded an ominous silence.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee lay upon her belly and stretching over the edge scanned the +cliff face below her. She could see caves there and the stone pegs which +the ancients had fashioned so laboriously by hand. She had heard of +these in the firelight tales of her childhood and of how the gryfs had +come from the morasses across the mountains and of how at last the +people had fled after many had been seized and devoured by the hideous +creatures, leaving their caves untenanted for no man living knew how +long. Some said that Jad-ben-Otho, who has lived forever, was still a +little boy. Pan-at-lee shuddered; but there were caves and in them she +would be safe even from the gryfs.</p> + +<p>She found a place where the stone pegs reached to the very summit of the +cliff, left there no doubt in the final exodus of the tribe when there +was no longer need of safeguarding the deserted caves against invasion. +Pan-at-lee clambered slowly down toward the uppermost cave. She found +the recess in front of the doorway almost identical with those of her +own tribe. The floor of it, though, was littered with twigs and old +nests and the droppings of birds, until it was half choked. She moved +along to another recess and still another, but all were alike in the +accumulated filth. Evidently there was no need in looking further. This +one seemed large and commodious. With her knife she fell to work +cleaning away the debris by the simple expedient of pushing it over the +edge, and always her eyes turned constantly toward the silent gorge +where lurked the fearsome creatures of Pal-ul-don. And other eyes there +were, eyes she did not see, but that saw her and watched her every +move—fierce eyes, greedy eyes, cunning and cruel. They watched her, and +a red tongue licked flabby, pendulous lips. They watched her, and a +half-human brain laboriously evolved a brutish design.</p> + +<p>As in her own Kor-ul-ja, the natural springs in the cliff had been +developed by the long-dead builders of the caves so that fresh, pure +water trickled now, as it had for ages, within easy access to the cave +entrances. Her only difficulty would be in procuring food and for that +she must take the risk at least once in two days, for she was sure that +she could find fruits and tubers and perhaps small animals, birds, and +eggs near the foot of the cliff, the last two, possibly, in the caves +themselves. Thus might she live on here indefinitely. She felt now a +certain sense of security imparted doubtless by the impregnability of +her high-flung sanctuary that she knew to be safe from all the more +dangerous beasts, and this one from men, too, since it lay in the +abjured Kor-ul-gryf.</p> + +<p>Now she determined to inspect the interior of her new home. The sun +still in the south, lighted the interior of the first apartment. It was +similar to those of her experience—the same beasts and men were +depicted in the same crude fashion in the carvings on the +walls—evidently there had been little progress in the race of Waz-don +during the generations that had come and departed since Kor-ul-gryf had +been abandoned by men. Of course Pan-at-lee thought no such thoughts, +for evolution and progress existed not for her, or her kind. Things were +as they had always been and would always be as they were.</p> + +<p>That these strange creatures have existed thus for incalculable ages it +can scarce be doubted, so marked are the indications of antiquity about +their dwellings—deep furrows worn by naked feet in living rock; the +hollow in the jamb of a stone doorway where many arms have touched in +passing; the endless carvings that cover, ofttimes, the entire face of a +great cliff and all the walls and ceilings of every cave and each +carving wrought by a different hand, for each is the coat of arms, one +might say, of the adult male who traced it.</p> + +<p>And so Pan-at-lee found this ancient cave homelike and familiar. There +was less litter within than she had found without and what there was was +mostly an accumulation of dust. Beside the doorway was the niche in +which wood and tinder were kept, but there remained nothing now other +than mere dust. She had however saved a little pile of twigs from the +debris on the porch. In a short time she had made a light by firing a +bundle of twigs and lighting others from this fire she explored some of +the inner rooms. Nor here did she find aught that was new or strange nor +any relic of the departed owners other than a few broken stone dishes. +She had been looking for something soft to sleep upon, but was doomed to +disappointment as the former owners had evidently made a leisurely +departure, carrying all their belongings with them. Below, in the gorge +were leaves and grasses and fragrant branches, but Pan-at-lee felt no +stomach for descending into that horrid abyss for the gratification of +mere creature comfort—only the necessity for food would drive her +there.</p> + +<p>And so, as the shadows lengthened and night approached she prepared to +make as comfortable a bed as she could by gathering the dust of ages +into a little pile and spreading it between her soft body and the hard +floor—at best it was only better than nothing. But Pan-at-lee was very +tired. She had not slept since two nights before and in the interval she +had experienced many dangers and hardships. What wonder then that +despite the hard bed, she was asleep almost immediately she had composed +herself for rest.</p> + +<p>She slept and the moon rose, casting its silver light upon the cliff's +white face and lessening the gloom of the dark forest and the dismal +gorge. In the distance a lion roared. There was a long silence. From the +upper reaches of the gorge came a deep bellow. There was a movement in +the trees at the cliff's foot. Again the bellow, low and ominous. It was +answered from below the deserted village. Something dropped from the +foliage of a tree directly below the cave in which Pan-at-lee slept—it +dropped to the ground among the dense shadows. Now it moved, cautiously. +It moved toward the foot of the cliff, taking form and shape in the +moonlight. It moved like the creature of a bad dream—slowly, +sluggishly. It might have been a huge sloth—it might have been a man, +with so grotesque a brush does the moon paint—master cubist.</p> + +<p>Slowly it moved up the face of the cliff—like a great grubworm it +moved, but now the moon-brush touched it again and it had hands and feet +and with them it clung to the stone pegs and raised itself laboriously +aloft toward the cave where Pan-at-lee slept. From the lower reaches of +the gorge came again the sound of bellowing, and it was answered from +above the village.</p> + +<p>Tarzan of the Apes opened his eyes. He was conscious of a pain in his +head, and at first that was about all. A moment later grotesque shadows, +rising and falling, focused his arousing perceptions. Presently he saw +that he was in a cave. A dozen Waz-don warriors squatted about, talking. +A rude stone cresset containing burning oil lighted the interior and as +the flame rose and fell the exaggerated shadows of the warriors danced +upon the walls behind them.</p> + +<p>"We brought him to you alive, Gund," he heard one of them saying, +"because never before was Ho-don like him seen. He has no tail—he was +born without one, for there is no scar to mark where a tail had been cut +off. The thumbs upon his hands and feet are unlike those of the races of +Pal-ul-don. He is more powerful than many men put together and he +attacks with the fearlessness of ja. We brought him alive, that you +might see him before he is slain."</p> + +<p>The chief rose and approached the ape-man, who closed his eyes and +feigned unconsciousness. He felt hairy hands upon him as he was turned +over, none too gently. The gund examined him from head to foot, making +comments, especially upon the shape and size of his thumbs and great +toes.</p> + +<p>"With these and with no tail," he said, "it cannot climb."</p> + +<p>"No," agreed one of the warriors, "it would surely fall even from the +cliff pegs."</p> + +<p>"I have never seen a thing like it," said the chief. "It is neither +Waz-don nor Ho-don. I wonder from whence it came and what it is called."</p> + +<p>"The Kor-ul-ja shouted aloud, 'Tarzan-jad-guru!' and we thought that +they might be calling this one," said a warrior. "Shall we kill it now?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied the chief, "we will wait until it's life returns into its +head that I may question it. Remain here, In-tan, and watch it. When it +can again hear and speak call me."</p> + +<p>He turned and departed from the cave, the others, except In-tan, +following him. As they moved past him and out of the chamber Tarzan +caught snatches of their conversation which indicated that the Kor-ul-ja +reinforcements had fallen upon their little party in great numbers and +driven them away. Evidently the swift feet of Id-an had saved the day +for the warriors of Om-at. The ape-man smiled, then he partially opened +an eye and cast it upon In-tan. The warrior stood at the entrance to the +cave looking out—his back was toward his prisoner. Tarzan tested the +bonds that secured his wrists. They seemed none too stout and they had +tied his hands in front of him! Evidence indeed that the Waz-don took +few prisoners—if any.</p> + +<p>Cautiously he raised his wrists until he could examine the thongs that +confined them. A grim smile lighted his features. Instantly he was at +work upon the bonds with his strong teeth, but ever a wary eye was upon +In-tan, the warrior of Kor-ul-lul. The last knot had been loosened and +Tarzan's hands were free when In-tan turned to cast an appraising eye +upon his ward. He saw that the prisoner's position was changed—he no +longer lay upon his back as they had left him, but upon his side and his +hands were drawn up against his face. In-tan came closer and bent down. +The bonds seemed very loose upon the prisoner's wrists. He extended his +hand to examine them with his fingers and instantly the two hands leaped +from their bonds—one to seize his own wrist, the other his throat. So +unexpected the catlike attack that In-tan had not even time to cry out +before steel fingers silenced him. The creature pulled him suddenly +forward so that he lost his balance and rolled over upon the prisoner +and to the floor beyond to stop with Tarzan upon his breast. In-tan +struggled to release himself—struggled to draw his knife; but Tarzan +found it before him. The Waz-don's tail leaped to the other's throat, +encircling it—he too could choke; but his own knife, in the hands of +his antagonist, severed the beloved member close to its root.</p> + +<p>The Waz-don's struggles became weaker—a film was obscuring his vision. +He knew that he was dying and he was right. A moment later he was dead. +Tarzan rose to his feet and placed one foot upon the breast of his dead +foe. How the urge seized him to roar forth the victory cry of his kind! +But he dared not. He discovered that they had not removed his rope from +his shoulders and that they had replaced his knife in its sheath. It had +been in his hand when he was felled. Strange creatures! He did not know +that they held a superstitious fear of the weapons of a dead enemy, +believing that if buried without them he would forever haunt his slayers +in search of them and that when he found them he would kill the man who +killed him. Against the wall leaned his bow and quiver of arrows.</p> + +<p>Tarzan stepped toward the doorway of the cave and looked out. Night had +just fallen. He could hear voices from the nearer caves and there +floated to his nostrils the odor of cooking food. He looked down and +experienced a sensation of relief. The cave in which he had been held +was in the lowest tier—scarce thirty feet from the base of the cliff. +He was about to chance an immediate descent when there occurred to him a +thought that brought a grin to his savage lips—a thought that was born +of the name the Waz-don had given him Tarzan-jad-guru—Tarzan the +Terrible—and a recollection of the days when he had delighted in +baiting the blacks of the distant jungle of his birth. He turned back +into the cave where lay the dead body of In-tan. With his knife he +severed the warrior's head and carrying it to the outer edge of the +recess tossed it to the ground below, then he dropped swiftly and +silently down the ladder of pegs in a way that would have surprised the +Kor-ul-lul who had been so sure that he could not climb.</p> + +<p>At the bottom he picked up the head of In-tan and disappeared among the +shadows of the trees carrying the grisly trophy by its shock of shaggy +hair. Horrible? But you are judging a wild beast by the standards of +civilization. You may teach a lion tricks, but he is still a lion. +Tarzan looked well in a Tuxedo, but he was still a Tarmangani and +beneath his pleated shirt beat a wild and savage heart.</p> + +<p>Nor was his madness lacking in method. He knew that the hearts of the +Kor-ul-lul would be filled with rage when they discovered the thing that +he had done and he knew too, that mixed with the rage would be a leaven +of fear and it was fear of him that had made Tarzan master of many +jungles—one does not win the respect of the killers with bonbons.</p> + +<p>Below the village Tarzan returned to the foot of the cliff searching for +a point where he could make the ascent to the ridge and thus back to the +village of Om-at, the Kor-ul-ja. He came at last to a place where the +river ran so close to the rocky wall that he was forced to swim it in +search of a trail upon the opposite side and here it was that his keen +nostrils detected a familiar spoor. It was the scent of Pan-at-lee at +the spot where she had emerged from the pool and taken to the safety of +the jungle.</p> + +<p>Immediately the ape-man's plans were changed. Pan-at-lee lived, or at +least she had lived after the leap from the cliff's summit. He had +started in search of her for Om-at, his friend, and for Om-at he would +continue upon the trail he had picked up thus fortuitously by accident. +It led him into the jungle and across the gorge and then to the point at +which Pan-at-lee had commenced the ascent of the opposite cliffs. Here +Tarzan abandoned the head of In-tan, tying it to the lower branch of a +tree, for he knew that it would handicap him in his ascent of the steep +escarpment. Apelike he ascended, following easily the scent spoor of +Pan-at-lee. Over the summit and across the ridge the trail lay, plain as +a printed page to the delicate senses of the jungle-bred tracker.</p> + +<p>Tarzan knew naught of the Kor-ul-gryf. He had seen, dimly in the shadows +of the night, strange, monstrous forms and Ta-den and Om-at had spoken +of great creatures that all men feared; but always, everywhere, by night +and by day, there were dangers. From infancy death had stalked, grim and +terrible, at his heels. He knew little of any other existence. To cope +with danger was his life and he lived his life as simply and as +naturally as you live yours amidst the dangers of the crowded city +streets. The black man who goes abroad in the jungle by night is afraid, +for he has spent his life since infancy surrounded by numbers of his own +kind and safeguarded, especially at night, by such crude means as lie +within his powers. But Tarzan had lived as the lion lives and the +panther and the elephant and the ape—a true jungle creature dependent +solely upon his prowess and his wits, playing a lone hand against +creation. Therefore he was surprised at nothing and feared nothing and +so he walked through the strange night as undisturbed and unapprehensive +as the farmer to the cow lot in the darkness before the dawn.</p> + +<p>Once more Pan-at-lee's trail ended at the verge of a cliff; but this +time there was no indication that she had leaped over the edge and a +moment's search revealed to Tarzan the stone pegs upon which she had +made her descent. As he lay upon his belly leaning over the top of the +cliff examining the pegs his attention was suddenly attracted by +something at the foot of the cliff. He could not distinguish its +identity, but he saw that it moved and presently that it was ascending +slowly, apparently by means of pegs similar to those directly below him. +He watched it intently as it rose higher and higher until he was able to +distinguish its form more clearly, with the result that he became +convinced that it more nearly resembled some form of great ape than a +lower order. It had a tail, though, and in other respects it did not +seem a true ape.</p> + +<p>Slowly it ascended to the upper tier of caves, into one of which it +disappeared. Then Tarzan took up again the trail of Pan-at-lee. He +followed it down the stone pegs to the nearest cave and then further +along the upper tier. The ape-man raised his eyebrows when he saw the +direction in which it led, and quickened his pace. He had almost reached +the third cave when the echoes of Kor-ul-gryf were awakened by a shrill +scream of terror.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Tor_o_don" id="The_Tor_o_don" />6 - The Tor-o-don</h2> + + +<p>Pan-at-lee slept—the troubled sleep, of physical and nervous +exhaustion, filled with weird dreamings. She dreamed that she slept +beneath a great tree in the bottom of the Kor-ul-gryf and that one of +the fearsome beasts was creeping upon her but she could not open her +eyes nor move. She tried to scream but no sound issued from her lips. +She felt the thing touch her throat, her breast, her arm, and there it +closed and seemed to be dragging her toward it. With a super-human +effort of will she opened her eyes. In the instant she knew that she was +dreaming and that quickly the hallucination of the dream would fade—it +had happened to her many times before. But it persisted. In the dim +light that filtered into the dark chamber she saw a form beside her, she +felt hairy fingers upon her and a hairy breast against which she was +being drawn. Jad-ben-Otho! this was no dream. And then she screamed and +tried to fight the thing from her; but her scream was answered by a low +growl and another hairy hand seized her by the hair of the head. The +beast rose now upon its hind legs and dragged her from the cave to the +moonlit recess without and at the same instant she saw the figure of +what she took to be a Ho-don rise above the outer edge of the niche.</p> + +<p>The beast that held her saw it too and growled ominously but it did not +relinquish its hold upon her hair. It crouched as though waiting an +attack, and it increased the volume and frequency of its growls until +the horrid sounds reverberated through the gorge, drowning even the deep +bellowings of the beasts below, whose mighty thunderings had broken out +anew with the sudden commotion from the high-flung cave. The beast that +held her crouched and the creature that faced it crouched also, and +growled—as hideously as the other. Pan-at-lee trembled. This was no +Ho-don and though she feared the Ho-don she feared this thing more, with +its catlike crouch and its beastly growls. She was lost—that Pan-at-lee +knew. The two things might fight for her, but whichever won she was +lost. Perhaps, during the battle, if it came to that, she might find the +opportunity to throw herself over into the Kor-ul-gryf.</p> + +<p>The thing that held her she had recognized now as a Tor-o-don, but the +other thing she could not place, though in the moonlight she could see +it very distinctly. It had no tail. She could see its hands and its +feet, and they were not the hands and feet of the races of Pal-ul-don. +It was slowly closing upon the Tor-o-don and in one hand it held a +gleaming knife. Now it spoke and to Pan-at-lee's terror was added an +equal weight of consternation.</p> + +<p>"When it leaves go of you," it said, "as it will presently to defend +itself, run quickly behind me, Pan-at-lee, and go to the cave nearest +the pegs you descended from the cliff top. Watch from there. If I am +defeated you will have time to escape this slow thing; if I am not I +will come to you there. I am Om-at's friend and yours."</p> + +<p>The last words took the keen edge from Pan-at-lee's terror; but she did +not understand. How did this strange creature know her name? How did it +know that she had descended the pegs by a certain cave? It must, then, +have been here when she came. Pan-at-lee was puzzled.</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" she asked, "and from whence do you come?"</p> + +<p>"I am Tarzan," he replied, "and just now I came from Om-at, of +Kor-ul-ja, in search of you."</p> + +<p>Om-at, gund of Kor-ul-ja! What wild talk was this? She would have +questioned him further, but now he was approaching the Tor-o-don and the +latter was screaming and growling so loudly as to drown the sound of her +voice. And then it did what the strange creature had said that it would +do—it released its hold upon her hair as it prepared to charge. Charge +it did and in those close quarters there was no room to fence for +openings. Instantly the two beasts locked in deadly embrace, each +seeking the other's throat. Pan-at-lee watched, taking no advantage of +the opportunity to escape which their preoccupation gave her. She +watched and waited, for into her savage little brain had come the +resolve to pin her faith to this strange creature who had unlocked her +heart with those four words—"I am Om-at's friend!" And so she waited, +with drawn knife, the opportunity to do her bit in the vanquishing of +the Tor-o-don. That the newcomer could do it unaided she well knew to be +beyond the realms of possibility, for she knew well the prowess of the +beastlike man with whom it fought. There were not many of them in +Pal-ul-don, but what few there were were a terror to the women of the +Waz-don and the Ho-don, for the old Tor-o-don bulls roamed the mountains +and the valleys of Pal-ul-don between rutting seasons and woe betide the +women who fell in their paths.</p> + +<p>With his tail the Tor-o-don sought one of Tarzan's ankles, and finding +it, tripped him. The two fell heavily, but so agile was the ape-man and +so quick his powerful muscles that even in falling he twisted the beast +beneath him, so that Tarzan fell on top and now the tail that had +tripped him sought his throat as had the tail of In-tan, the Kor-ul-lul. +In the effort of turning his antagonist's body during the fall Tarzan +had had to relinquish his knife that he might seize the shaggy body with +both hands and now the weapon lay out of reach at the very edge of the +recess. Both hands were occupied for the moment in fending off the +clutching fingers that sought to seize him and drag his throat within +reach of his foe's formidable fangs and now the tail was seeking its +deadly hold with a formidable persistence that would not be denied.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee hovered about, breathless, her dagger ready, but there was no +opening that did not also endanger Tarzan, so constantly were the two +duelists changing their positions. Tarzan felt the tail slowly but +surely insinuating itself about his neck though he had drawn his head +down between the muscles of his shoulders in an effort to protect this +vulnerable part. The battle seemed to be going against him for the giant +beast against which he strove would have been a fair match in weight and +strength for Bolgani, the gorilla. And knowing this he suddenly exerted +a single super-human effort, thrust far apart the giant hands and with +the swiftness of a striking snake buried his fangs in the jugular of the +Tor-o-don. At the same instant the creature's tail coiled about his own +throat and then commenced a battle royal of turning and twisting bodies +as each sought to dislodge the fatal hold of the other, but the acts of +the ape-man were guided by a human brain and thus it was that the +rolling bodies rolled in the direction that Tarzan wished—toward the +edge of the recess.</p> + +<p>The choking tail had shut the air from his lungs, he knew that his +gasping lips were parted and his tongue protruding; and now his brain +reeled and his sight grew dim; but not before he reached his goal and a +quick hand shot out to seize the knife that now lay within reach as the +two bodies tottered perilously upon the brink of the chasm.</p> + +<p>With all his remaining strength the ape-man drove home the blade—once, +twice, thrice, and then all went black before him as he felt himself, +still in the clutches of the Tor-o-don, topple from the recess.</p> + +<p>Fortunate it was for Tarzan that Pan-at-lee had not obeyed his +injunction to make good her escape while he engaged the Tor-o-don, for +it was to this fact that he owed his life. Close beside the struggling +forms during the brief moments of the terrific climax she had realized +every detail of the danger to Tarzan with which the emergency was +fraught and as she saw the two rolling over the outer edge of the niche +she seized the ape-man by an ankle at the same time throwing herself +prone upon the rocky floor. The muscles of the Tor-o-don relaxed in +death with the last thrust of Tarzan's knife and with its hold upon the +ape-man released it shot from sight into the gorge below.</p> + +<p>It was with infinite difficulty that Pan-at-lee retained her hold upon +the ankle of her protector, but she did so and then, slowly, she sought +to drag the dead weight back to the safety of the niche. This, however, +was beyond her strength and she could but hold on tightly, hoping that +some plan would suggest itself before her powers of endurance failed. +She wondered if, after all, the creature was already dead, but that she +could not bring herself to believe—and if not dead how long it would be +before he regained consciousness. If he did not regain it soon he never +would regain it, that she knew, for she felt her fingers numbing to the +strain upon them and slipping, slowly, slowly, from their hold. It was +then that Tarzan regained consciousness. He could not know what power +upheld him, but he felt that whatever it was it was slowly releasing its +hold upon his ankle. Within easy reach of his hands were two pegs and +these he seized upon just as Pan-at-lee's fingers slipped from their +hold.</p> + +<p>As it was he came near to being precipitated into the gorge—only his +great strength saved him. He was upright now and his feet found other +pegs. His first thought was of his foe. Where was he? Waiting above +there to finish him? Tarzan looked up just as the frightened face of +Pan-at-lee appeared over the threshold of the recess.</p> + +<p>"You live?" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tarzan. "Where is the shaggy one?"</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee pointed downward. "There," she said, "dead."</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed the ape-man, clambering to her side. "You are +unharmed?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"You came just in time," replied Pan-at-lee; "but who are you and how +did you know that I was here and what do you know of Om-at and where did +you come from and what did you mean by calling Om-at, gund?"</p> + +<p>"Wait, wait," cried Tarzan; "one at a time. My, but you are all +alike—the shes of the tribe of Kerchak, the ladies of England, and +their sisters of Pal-ul-don. Have patience and I will try to tell you +all that you wish to know. Four of us set out with Om-at from Kor-ul-ja +to search for you. We were attacked by the Kor-ul-lul and separated. I +was taken prisoner, but escaped. Again I stumbled upon your trail and +followed it, reaching the summit of this cliff just as the hairy one was +climbing up after you. I was coming to investigate when I heard your +scream—the rest you know."</p> + +<p>"But you called Om-at, gund of Kor-ul-ja," she insisted. "Es-sat is +gund."</p> + +<p>"Es-sat is dead," explained the ape-man. "Om-at slew him and now Om-at +is gund. Om-at came back seeking you. He found Es-sat in your cave and +killed him."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the girl, "Es-sat came to my cave and I struck him down with +my golden breastplates and escaped."</p> + +<p>"And a lion pursued you," continued Tarzan, "and you leaped from the +cliff into Kor-ul-lul, but why you were not killed is beyond me."</p> + +<p>"Is there anything beyond you?" exclaimed Pan-at-lee. "How could you +know that a lion pursued me and that I leaped from the cliff and not +know that it was the pool of deep water below that saved me?"</p> + +<p>"I would have known that, too, had not the Kor-ul-lul come then and +prevented me continuing upon your trail. But now I would ask you a +question—by what name do you call the thing with which I just fought?"</p> + +<p>"It was a Tor-o-don," she replied. "I have seen but one before. They are +terrible creatures with the cunning of man and the ferocity of a beast. +Great indeed must be the warrior who slays one single-handed." She gazed +at him in open admiration.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Tarzan, "you must sleep, for tomorrow we shall return to +Kor-ul-ja and Om-at, and I doubt that you have had much rest these two +nights."</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee, lulled by a feeling of security, slept peacefully into the +morning while Tarzan stretched himself upon the hard floor of the recess +just outside her cave.</p> + +<p>The sun was high in the heavens when he awoke; for two hours it had +looked down upon another heroic figure miles away—the figure of a +godlike man fighting his way through the hideous morass that lies like a +filthy moat defending Pal-ul-don from the creatures of the outer world. +Now waist deep in the sucking ooze, now menaced by loathsome reptiles, +the man advanced only by virtue of Herculean efforts gaining laboriously +by inches along the devious way that he was forced to choose in +selecting the least precarious footing. Near the center of the morass +was open water—slimy, green-hued water. He reached it at last after +more than two hours of such effort as would have left an ordinary man +spent and dying in the sticky mud, yet he was less than halfway across +the marsh. Greasy with slime and mud was his smooth, brown hide, and +greasy with slime and mud was his beloved Enfield that had shone so +brightly in the first rays of the rising sun.</p> + +<p>He paused a moment upon the edge of the open water and then throwing +himself forward struck out to swim across. He swam with long, easy, +powerful strokes calculated less for speed than for endurance, for his +was, primarily, a test of the latter, since beyond the open water was +another two hours or more of gruelling effort between it and solid +ground. He was, perhaps, halfway across and congratulating himself upon +the ease of the achievement of this portion of his task when there arose +from the depths directly in his path a hideous reptile, which, with +wide-distended jaws, bore down upon him, hissing shrilly.</p> + +<p>Tarzan arose and stretched, expanded his great chest and drank in deep +draughts of the fresh morning air. His clear eyes scanned the wondrous +beauties of the landscape spread out before them. Directly below lay +Kor-ul-gryf, a dense, somber green of gently moving tree tops. To Tarzan +it was neither grim, nor forbidding—it was jungle, beloved jungle. To +his right there spread a panorama of the lower reaches of the Valley of +Jad-ben-Otho, with its winding streams and its blue lakes. Gleaming +whitely in the sunlight were scattered groups of dwellings—the feudal +strongholds of the lesser chiefs of the Ho-don. A-lur, the City of +Light, he could not see as it was hidden by the shoulder of the cliff in +which the deserted village lay.</p> + +<p>For a moment Tarzan gave himself over to that spiritual enjoyment of +beauty that only the man-mind may attain and then Nature asserted +herself and the belly of the beast called aloud that it was hungry. +Again Tarzan looked down at Kor-ul-gryf. There was the jungle! Grew +there a jungle that would not feed Tarzan? The ape-man smiled and +commenced the descent to the gorge. Was there danger there? Of course. +Who knew it better than Tarzan? In all jungles lies death, for life and +death go hand in hand and where life teems death reaps his fullest +harvest. Never had Tarzan met a creature of the jungle with which he +could not cope—sometimes by virtue of brute strength alone, again by a +combination of brute strength and the cunning of the man-mind; but +Tarzan had never met a gryf.</p> + +<p>He had heard the bellowings in the gorge the night before after he had +lain down to sleep and he had meant to ask Pan-at-lee this morning what +manner of beast so disturbed the slumbers of its betters. He reached the +foot of the cliff and strode into the jungle and here he halted, his +keen eyes and ears watchful and alert, his sensitive nostrils searching +each shifting air current for the scent spoor of game. Again he advanced +deeper into the wood, his light step giving forth no sound, his bow and +arrows in readiness. A light morning breeze was blowing from up the +gorge and in this direction he bent his steps. Many odors impinged upon +his organs of scent. Some of these he classified without effort, but +others were strange—the odors of beasts and of birds, of trees and +shrubs and flowers with which he was unfamiliar. He sensed faintly the +reptilian odor that he had learned to connect with the strange, +nocturnal forms that had loomed dim and bulky on several occasions since +his introduction to Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>And then, suddenly he caught plainly the strong, sweet odor of Bara, the +deer. Were the belly vocal, Tarzan's would have given a little cry of +joy, for it loved the flesh of Bara. The ape-man moved rapidly, but +cautiously forward. The prey was not far distant and as the hunter +approached it, he took silently to the trees and still in his nostrils +was the faint reptilian odor that spoke of a great creature which he had +never yet seen except as a denser shadow among the dense shadows of the +night; but the odor was of such a faintness as suggests to the jungle +bred the distance of absolute safety.</p> + +<p>And now, moving noiselessly, Tarzan came within sight of Bara drinking +at a pool where the stream that waters Kor-ul-gryf crosses an open place +in the jungle. The deer was too far from the nearest tree to risk a +charge, so the ape-man must depend upon the accuracy and force of his +first arrow, which must drop the deer in its tracks or forfeit both deer +and shaft. Far back came the right hand and the bow, that you or I might +not move, bent easily beneath the muscles of the forest god. There was a +singing twang and Bara, leaping high in air, collapsed upon the ground, +an arrow through his heart. Tarzan dropped to earth and ran to his kill, +lest the animal might even yet rise and escape; but Bara was safely +dead. As Tarzan stooped to lift it to his shoulder there fell upon his +ears a thunderous bellow that seemed almost at his right elbow, and as +his eyes shot in the direction of the sound, there broke upon his vision +such a creature as paleontologists have dreamed as having possibly +existed in the dimmest vistas of Earth's infancy—a gigantic creature, +vibrant with mad rage, that charged, bellowing, upon him.</p> + +<p>When Pan-at-lee awoke she looked out upon the niche in search of Tarzan. +He was not there. She sprang to her feet and rushed out, looking down +into Kor-ul-gryf guessing that he had gone down in search of food and +there she caught a glimpse of him disappearing into the forest. For an +instant she was panic-stricken. She knew that he was a stranger in +Pal-ul-don and that, so, he might not realize the dangers that lay in +that gorge of terror. Why did she not call to him to return? You or I +might have done so, but no Pal-ul-don, for they know the ways of the +gryf—they know the weak eyes and the keen ears, and that at the sound +of a human voice they come. To have called to Tarzan, then, would but +have been to invite disaster and so she did not call. Instead, afraid +though she was, she descended into the gorge for the purpose of +overhauling Tarzan and warning him in whispers of his danger. It was a +brave act, since it was performed in the face of countless ages of +inherited fear of the creatures that she might be called upon to face. +Men have been decorated for less.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee, descended from a long line of hunters, assumed that Tarzan +would move up wind and in this direction she sought his tracks, which +she soon found well marked, since he had made no effort to conceal them. +She moved rapidly until she reached the point at which Tarzan had taken +to the trees. Of course she knew what had happened; since her own people +were semi-arboreal; but she could not track him through the trees, +having no such well-developed sense of scent as he.</p> + +<p>She could but hope that he had continued on up wind and in this +direction she moved, her heart pounding in terror against her ribs, her +eyes glancing first in one direction and then another. She had reached +the edge of a clearing when two things happened—she caught sight of +Tarzan bending over a dead deer and at the same instant a deafening roar +sounded almost beside her. It terrified her beyond description, but it +brought no paralysis of fear. Instead it galvanized her into instant +action with the result that Pan-at-lee swarmed up the nearest tree to +the very loftiest branch that would sustain her weight. Then she looked +down.</p> + +<p>The thing that Tarzan saw charging him when the warning bellow attracted +his surprised eyes loomed terrifically monstrous before him—monstrous +and awe-inspiring; but it did not terrify Tarzan, it only angered him, +for he saw that it was beyond even his powers to combat and that meant +that it might cause him to lose his kill, and Tarzan was hungry. There +was but a single alternative to remaining for annihilation and that was +flight—swift and immediate. And Tarzan fled, but he carried the carcass +of Bara, the deer, with him. He had not more than a dozen paces start, +but on the other hand the nearest tree was almost as close. His greatest +danger lay, he imagined, in the great, towering height of the creature +pursuing him, for even though he reached the tree he would have to climb +high in an incredibly short time as, unless appearances were deceiving, +the thing could reach up and pluck him down from any branch under thirty +feet above the ground, and possibly from those up to fifty feet, if it +reared up on its hind legs.</p> + +<p>But Tarzan was no sluggard and though the gryf was incredibly fast +despite its great bulk, it was no match for Tarzan, and when it comes to +climbing, the little monkeys gaze with envy upon the feats of the +ape-man. And so it was that the bellowing gryf came to a baffled stop at +the foot of the tree and even though he reared up and sought to seize +his prey among the branches, as Tarzan had guessed he might, he failed +in this also. And then, well out of reach, Tarzan came to a stop and +there, just above him, he saw Pan-at-lee sitting, wide-eyed and +trembling.</p> + +<p>"How came you here?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She told him. "You came to warn me!" he said. "It was very brave and +unselfish of you. I am chagrined that I should have been thus surprised. +The creature was up wind from me and yet I did not sense its near +presence until it charged. I cannot understand it."</p> + +<p>"It is not strange," said Pan-at-lee. "That is one of the peculiarities +of the gryf—it is said that man never knows of its presence until it is +upon him—so silently does it move despite its great size."</p> + +<p>"But I should have smelled it," cried Tarzan, disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"Smelled it!" ejaculated Pan-at-lee. "Smelled it?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. How do you suppose I found this deer so quickly? And I +sensed the gryf, too, but faintly as at a great distance." Tarzan +suddenly ceased speaking and looked down at the bellowing creature below +them—his nostrils quivered as though searching for a scent. "Ah!" he +exclaimed. "I have it!"</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>"I was deceived because the creature gives off practically no odor," +explained the ape-man. "What I smelled was the faint aroma that +doubtless permeates the entire jungle because of the long presence of +many of the creatures—it is the sort of odor that would remain for a +long time, faint as it is.</p> + +<p>"Pan-at-lee, did you ever hear of a triceratops? No? Well this thing +that you call a gryf is a triceratops and it has been extinct for +hundreds of thousands of years. I have seen its skeleton in the museum +in London and a figure of one restored. I always thought that the +scientists who did such work depended principally upon an overwrought +imagination, but I see that I was wrong. This living thing is not an +exact counterpart of the restoration that I saw; but it is so similar as +to be easily recognizable, and then, too, we must remember that during +the ages that have elapsed since the paleontologist's specimen lived +many changes might have been wrought by evolution in the living line +that has quite evidently persisted in Pal-ul-don."</p> + +<p>"Triceratops, London, paleo—I don't know what you are talking about," +cried Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>Tarzan smiled and threw a piece of dead wood at the face of the angry +creature below them. Instantly the great bony hood over the neck was +erected and a mad bellow rolled upward from the gigantic body. Full +twenty feet at the shoulder the thing stood, a dirty slate-blue in color +except for its yellow face with the blue bands encircling the eyes, the +red hood with the yellow lining and the yellow belly. The three parallel +lines of bony protuberances down the back gave a further touch of color +to the body, those following the line of the spine being red, while +those on either side are yellow. The five- and three-toed hoofs of the +ancient horned dinosaurs had become talons in the gryf, but the three +horns, two large ones above the eyes and a median horn on the nose, had +persisted through all the ages. Weird and terrible as was its appearance +Tarzan could not but admire the mighty creature looming big below him, +its seventy-five feet of length majestically typifying those things +which all his life the ape-man had admired—courage and strength. In +that massive tail alone was the strength of an elephant.</p> + +<p>The wicked little eyes looked up at him and the horny beak opened to +disclose a full set of powerful teeth.</p> + +<p>"Herbivorous!" murmured the ape-man. "Your ancestors may have been, but +not you," and then to Pan-at-lee: "Let us go now. At the cave we will +have deer meat and then—back to Kor-ul-ja and Om-at."</p> + +<p>The girl shuddered. "Go?" she repeated. "We will never go from here."</p> + +<p>"Why not?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>For answer she but pointed to the gryf.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" exclaimed the man. "It cannot climb. We can reach the cliff +through the trees and be back in the cave before it knows what has +become of us."</p> + +<p>"You do not know the gryf," replied Pan-at-lee gloomily.</p> + +<p>"Wherever we go it will follow and always it will be ready at the foot +of each tree when we would descend. It will never give us up."</p> + +<p>"We can live in the trees for a long time if necessary," replied Tarzan, +"and sometime the thing will leave."</p> + +<p>The girl shook her head. "Never," she said, "and then there are the +Tor-o-don. They will come and kill us and after eating a little will +throw the balance to the gryf—the gryf and Tor-o-don are friends, +because the Tor-o-don shares his food with the gryf."</p> + +<p>"You may be right," said Tarzan; "but even so I don't intend waiting +here for someone to come along and eat part of me and then feed the +balance to that beast below. If I don't get out of this place whole it +won't be my fault. Come along now and we'll make a try at it," and so +saying he moved off through the tree tops with Pan-at-lee close behind. +Below them, on the ground, moved the horned dinosaur and when they +reached the edge of the forest where there lay fifty yards of open +ground to cross to the foot of the cliff he was there with them, at the +bottom of the tree, waiting.</p> + +<p>Tarzan looked ruefully down and scratched his head.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Jungle_Craft" id="Jungle_Craft" />7 - Jungle Craft</h2> + + +<p>Presently he looked up and at Pan-at-lee. "Can you cross the gorge +through the trees very rapidly?" he questioned.</p> + +<p>"Alone?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"I can follow wherever you can lead," she said then.</p> + +<p>"Across and back again?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then come, and do exactly as I bid." He started back again through the +trees, swiftly, swinging monkey-like from limb to limb, following a +zigzag course that he tried to select with an eye for the difficulties +of the trail beneath. Where the underbrush was heaviest, where fallen +trees blocked the way, he led the footsteps of the creature below them; +but all to no avail. When they reached the opposite side of the gorge +the gryf was with them.</p> + +<p>"Back again," said Tarzan, and, turning, the two retraced their +high-flung way through the upper terraces of the ancient forest of +Kor-ul-gryf. But the result was the same—no, not quite; it was worse, +for another gryf had joined the first and now two waited beneath the +tree in which they stopped.</p> + +<p>The cliff looming high above them with its innumerable cave mouths +seemed to beckon and to taunt them. It was so near, yet eternity yawned +between. The body of the Tor-o-don lay at the cliff's foot where it had +fallen. It was in plain view of the two in the tree. One of the gryfs +walked over and sniffed about it, but did not offer to devour it. Tarzan +had examined it casually as he had passed earlier in the morning. He +guessed that it represented either a very high order of ape or a very +low order of man—something akin to the Java man, perhaps; a truer +example of the pithecanthropi than either the Ho-don or the Waz-don; +possibly the precursor of them both. As his eyes wandered idly over the +scene below his active brain was working out the details of the plan +that he had made to permit Pan-at-lee's escape from the gorge. His +thoughts were interrupted by a strange cry from above them in the gorge.</p> + +<p>"Whee-oo! Whee-oo!" it sounded, coming closer.</p> + +<p>The gryfs below raised their heads and looked in the direction of the +interruption. One of them made a low, rumbling sound in its throat. It +was not a bellow and it did not indicate anger. Immediately the +"Whee-oo!" responded. The gryfs repeated the rumbling and at intervals +the "Whee-oo!" was repeated, coming ever closer.</p> + +<p>Tarzan looked at Pan-at-lee. "What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," she replied. "Perhaps a strange bird, or another horrid +beast that dwells in this frightful place."</p> + +<p>"Ah," exclaimed Tarzan; "there it is. Look!"</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee voiced a cry of despair. "A Tor-o-don!"</p> + +<p>The creature, walking erect and carrying a stick in one hand, advanced +at a slow, lumbering gait. It walked directly toward the gryfs who moved +aside, as though afraid. Tarzan watched intently. The Tor-o-don was now +quite close to one of the triceratops. It swung its head and snapped at +him viciously. Instantly the Tor-o-don sprang in and commenced to +belabor the huge beast across the face with his stick. To the ape-man's +amazement the gryf, that might have annihilated the comparatively puny +Tor-o-don instantly in any of a dozen ways, cringed like a whipped cur.</p> + +<p>"Whee-oo! Whee-oo!" shouted the Tor-o-don and the gryf came slowly +toward him. A whack on the median horn brought it to a stop. Then the +Tor-o-don walked around behind it, clambered up its tail and seated +himself astraddle of the huge back. "Whee-oo!" he shouted and prodded +the beast with a sharp point of his stick. The gryf commenced to move +off.</p> + +<p>So rapt had Tarzan been in the scene below him that he had given no +thought to escape, for he realized that for him and Pan-at-lee time had +in these brief moments turned back countless ages to spread before their +eyes a page of the dim and distant past. They two had looked upon the +first man and his primitive beasts of burden.</p> + +<p>And now the ridden gryf halted and looked up at them, bellowing. It was +sufficient. The creature had warned its master of their presence. +Instantly the Tor-o-don urged the beast close beneath the tree which +held them, at the same time leaping to his feet upon the horny back. +Tarzan saw the bestial face, the great fangs, the mighty muscles. From +the loins of such had sprung the human race—and only from such could it +have sprung, for only such as this might have survived the horrid +dangers of the age that was theirs.</p> + +<p>The Tor-o-don beat upon his breast and growled horribly—hideous, +uncouth, beastly. Tarzan rose to his full height upon a swaying +branch—straight and beautiful as a demigod—unspoiled by the taint of +civilization—a perfect specimen of what the human race might have been +had the laws of man not interfered with the laws of nature.</p> + +<p>The Present fitted an arrow to his bow and drew the shaft far back. The +Past basing its claims upon brute strength sought to reach the other and +drag him down; but the loosed arrow sank deep into the savage heart and +the Past sank back into the oblivion that had claimed his kind.</p> + +<p>"Tarzan-jad-guru!" murmured Pan-at-lee, unknowingly giving him out of +the fullness of her admiration the same title that the warriors of her +tribe had bestowed upon him.</p> + +<p>The ape-man turned to her. "Pan-at-lee," he said, "these beasts may keep +us treed here indefinitely. I doubt if we can escape together, but I +have a plan. You remain here, hiding yourself in the foliage, while I +start back across the gorge in sight of them and yelling to attract +their attention. Unless they have more brains than I suspect they will +follow me. When they are gone you make for the cliff. Wait for me in the +cave not longer than today. If I do not come by tomorrow's sun you will +have to start back for Kor-ul-ja alone. Here is a joint of deer meat for +you." He had severed one of the deer's hind legs and this he passed up +to her.</p> + +<p>"I cannot desert you," she said simply; "it is not the way of my people +to desert a friend and ally. Om-at would never forgive me."</p> + +<p>"Tell Om-at that I commanded you to go," replied Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"It is a command?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"It is! Good-bye, Pan-at-lee. Hasten back to Om-at—you are a fitting +mate for the chief of Kor-ul-ja." He moved off slowly through the trees.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Tarzan-jad-guru!" she called after him. "Fortunate are my +Om-at and his Pan-at-lee in owning such a friend."</p> + +<p>Tarzan, shouting aloud, continued upon his way and the great gryfs, +lured by his voice, followed beneath. His ruse was evidently proving +successful and he was filled with elation as he led the bellowing beasts +farther and farther from Pan-at-lee. He hoped that she would take +advantage of the opportunity afforded her for escape, yet at the same +time he was filled with concern as to her ability to survive the dangers +which lay between Kor-ul-gryf and Kor-ul-ja. There were lions and +Tor-o-dons and the unfriendly tribe of Kor-ul-lul to hinder her +progress, though the distance in itself to the cliffs of her people was +not great.</p> + +<p>He realized her bravery and understood the resourcefulness that she must +share in common with all primitive people who, day by day, must contend +face to face with nature's law of the survival of the fittest, unaided +by any of the numerous artificial protections that civilization has +thrown around its brood of weaklings.</p> + +<p>Several times during this crossing of the gorge Tarzan endeavored to +outwit his keen pursuers, but all to no avail. Double as he would he +could not throw them off his track and ever as he changed his course +they changed theirs to conform. Along the verge of the forest upon the +southeastern side of the gorge he sought some point at which the trees +touched some negotiable portion of the cliff, but though he traveled far +both up and down the gorge he discovered no such easy avenue of escape. +The ape-man finally commenced to entertain an idea of the hopelessness +of his case and to realize to the full why the Kor-ul-gryf had been +religiously abjured by the races of Pal-ul-don for all these many ages.</p> + +<p>Night was falling and though since early morning he had sought +diligently a way out of this cul-de-sac he was no nearer to liberty than +at the moment the first bellowing gryf had charged him as he stooped +over the carcass of his kill: but with the falling of night came renewed +hope for, in common with the great cats, Tarzan was, to a greater or +lesser extent, a nocturnal beast. It is true he could not see by night +as well as they, but that lack was largely recompensed for by the +keenness of his scent and the highly developed sensitiveness of his +other organs of perception. As the blind follow and interpret their +Braille characters with deft fingers, so Tarzan reads the book of the +jungle with feet and hands and eyes and ears and nose; each contributing +its share to the quick and accurate translation of the text.</p> + +<p>But again he was doomed to be thwarted by one vital weakness—he did not +know the gryf, and before the night was over he wondered if the things +never slept, for wheresoever he moved they moved also, and always they +barred his road to liberty. Finally, just before dawn, he relinquished +his immediate effort and sought rest in a friendly tree crotch in the +safety of the middle terrace.</p> + +<p>Once again was the sun high when Tarzan awoke, rested and refreshed. +Keen to the necessities of the moment he made no effort to locate his +jailers lest in the act he might apprise them of his movements. Instead +he sought cautiously and silently to melt away among the foliage of the +trees. His first move, however, was heralded by a deep bellow from +below.</p> + +<p>Among the numerous refinements of civilization that Tarzan had failed to +acquire was that of profanity, and possibly it is to be regretted since +there are circumstances under which it is at least a relief to pent +emotion. And it may be that in effect Tarzan resorted to profanity if +there can be physical as well as vocal swearing, since immediately the +bellow announced that his hopes had been again frustrated, he turned +quickly and seeing the hideous face of the gryf below him seized a large +fruit from a nearby branch and hurled it viciously at the horned snout. +The missile struck full between the creature's eyes, resulting in a +reaction that surprised the ape-man; it did not arouse the beast to a +show of revengeful rage as Tarzan had expected and hoped; instead the +creature gave a single vicious side snap at the fruit as it bounded from +his skull and then turned sulkily away, walking off a few steps.</p> + +<p>There was that in the act that recalled immediately to Tarzan's mind +similar action on the preceding day when the Tor-o-don had struck one of +the creatures across the face with his staff, and instantly there sprung +to the cunning and courageous brain a plan of escape from his +predicament that might have blanched the cheek of the most heroic.</p> + +<p>The gambling instinct is not strong among creatures of the wild; the +chances of their daily life are sufficient stimuli for the beneficial +excitement of their nerve centers. It has remained for civilized man, +protected in a measure from the natural dangers of existence, to invent +artificial stimulants in the form of cards and dice and roulette wheels. +Yet when necessity bids there are no greater gamblers than the savage +denizens of the jungle, the forest, and the hills, for as lightly as you +roll the ivory cubes upon the green cloth they will gamble with +death—their own lives the stake.</p> + +<p>And so Tarzan would gamble now, pitting the seemingly wild deductions of +his shrewd brain against all the proofs of the bestial ferocity of his +antagonists that his experience of them had adduced—against all the +age-old folklore and legend that had been handed down for countless +generations and passed on to him through the lips of Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>Yet as he worked in preparation for the greatest play that man can make +in the game of life, he smiled; nor was there any indication of haste or +excitement or nervousness in his demeanor.</p> + +<p>First he selected a long, straight branch about two inches in diameter +at its base. This he cut from the tree with his knife, removed the +smaller branches and twigs until he had fashioned a pole about ten feet +in length. This he sharpened at the smaller end. The staff finished to +his satisfaction he looked down upon the triceratops.</p> + +<p>"Whee-oo!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Instantly the beasts raised their heads and looked at him. From the +throat of one of them came faintly a low rumbling sound.</p> + +<p>"Whee-oo!" repeated Tarzan and hurled the balance of the carcass of the +deer to them.</p> + +<p>Instantly the gryfs fell upon it with much bellowing, one of them +attempting to seize it and keep it from the other: but finally the +second obtained a hold and an instant later it had been torn asunder and +greedily devoured. Once again they looked up at the ape-man and this +time they saw him descending to the ground.</p> + +<p>One of them started toward him. Again Tarzan repeated the weird cry of +the Tor-o-don. The gryf halted in his track, apparently puzzled, while +Tarzan slipped lightly to the earth and advanced toward the nearer +beast, his staff raised menacingly and the call of the first-man upon +his lips.</p> + +<p>Would the cry be answered by the low rumbling of the beast of burden or +the horrid bellow of the man-eater? Upon the answer to this question +hung the fate of the ape-man.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee was listening intently to the sounds of the departing gryfs +as Tarzan led them cunningly from her, and when she was sure that they +were far enough away to insure her safe retreat she dropped swiftly from +the branches to the ground and sped like a frightened deer across the +open space to the foot of the cliff, stepped over the body of the +Tor-o-don who had attacked her the night before and was soon climbing +rapidly up the ancient stone pegs of the deserted cliff village. In the +mouth of the cave near that which she had occupied she kindled a fire +and cooked the haunch of venison that Tarzan had left her, and from one +of the trickling streams that ran down the face of the escarpment she +obtained water to satisfy her thirst.</p> + +<p>All day she waited, hearing in the distance, and sometimes close at +hand, the bellowing of the gryfs which pursued the strange creature that +had dropped so miraculously into her life. For him she felt the same +keen, almost fanatical loyalty that many another had experienced for +Tarzan of the Apes. Beast and human, he had held them to him with bonds +that were stronger than steel—those of them that were clean and +courageous, and the weak and the helpless; but never could Tarzan claim +among his admirers the coward, the ingrate or the scoundrel; from such, +both man and beast, he had won fear and hatred.</p> + +<p>To Pan-at-lee he was all that was brave and noble and heroic and, too, +he was Om-at's friend—the friend of the man she loved. For any one of +these reasons Pan-at-lee would have died for Tarzan, for such is the +loyalty of the simple-minded children of nature. It has remained for +civilization to teach us to weigh the relative rewards of loyalty and +its antithesis. The loyalty of the primitive is spontaneous, +unreasoning, unselfish and such was the loyalty of Pan-at-lee for the +Tarmangani.</p> + +<p>And so it was that she waited that day and night, hoping that he would +return that she might accompany him back to Om-at, for her experience +had taught her that in the face of danger two have a better chance than +one. But Tarzan-jad-guru had not come, and so upon the following morning +Pan-at-lee set out upon her return to Kor-ul-ja.</p> + +<p>She knew the dangers and yet she faced them with the stolid indifference +of her race. When they directly confronted and menaced her would be time +enough to experience fear or excitement or confidence. In the meantime +it was unnecessary to waste nerve energy by anticipating them. She moved +therefore through her savage land with no greater show of concern than +might mark your sauntering to a corner drug-store for a sundae. But this +is your life and that is Pan-at-lee's and even now as you read this +Pan-at-lee may be sitting upon the edge of the recess of Om-at's cave +while the ja and jato roar from the gorge below and from the ridge +above, and the Kor-ul-lul threaten upon the south and the Ho-don from +the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho far below, for Pan-at-lee still lives and +preens her silky coat of jet beneath the tropical moonlight of +Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>But she was not to reach Kor-ul-ja this day, nor the next, nor for many +days after though the danger that threatened her was neither Waz-don +enemy nor savage beast.</p> + +<p>She came without misadventure to the Kor-ul-lul and after descending its +rocky southern wall without catching the slightest glimpse of the +hereditary enemies of her people, she experienced a renewal of +confidence that was little short of practical assurance that she would +successfully terminate her venture and be restored once more to her own +people and the lover she had not seen for so many long and weary moons.</p> + +<p>She was almost across the gorge now and moving with an extreme caution +abated no wit by her confidence, for wariness is an instinctive trait of +the primitive, something which cannot be laid aside even momentarily if +one would survive. And so she came to the trail that follows the +windings of Kor-ul-lul from its uppermost reaches down into the broad +and fertile Valley of Jad-ben-Otho.</p> + +<p>And as she stepped into the trail there arose on either side of her from +out of the bushes that border the path, as though materialized from thin +air, a score of tall, white warriors of the Ho-don. Like a frightened +deer Pan-at-lee cast a single startled look at these menacers of her +freedom and leaped quickly toward the bushes in an effort to escape; but +the warriors were too close at hand. They closed upon her from every +side and then, drawing her knife she turned at bay, metamorphosed by the +fires of fear and hate from a startled deer to a raging tiger-cat. They +did not try to kill her, but only to subdue and capture her; and so it +was that more than a single Ho-don warrior felt the keen edge of her +blade in his flesh before they had succeeded in overpowering her by +numbers. And still she fought and scratched and bit after they had taken +the knife from her until it was necessary to tie her hands and fasten a +piece of wood between her teeth by means of thongs passed behind her +head.</p> + +<p>At first she refused to walk when they started off in the direction of +the valley but after two of them had seized her by the hair and dragged +her for a number of yards she thought better of her original decision +and came along with them, though still as defiant as her bound wrists +and gagged mouth would permit.</p> + +<p>Near the entrance to Kor-ul-lul they came upon another body of their +warriors with which were several Waz-don prisoners from the tribe of +Kor-ul-lul. It was a raiding party come up from a Ho-don city of the +valley after slaves. This Pan-at-lee knew for the occurrence was by no +means unusual. During her lifetime the tribe to which she belonged had +been sufficiently fortunate, or powerful, to withstand successfully the +majority of such raids made upon them, but yet Pan-at-lee had known of +friends and relatives who had been carried into slavery by the Ho-don +and she knew, too, another thing which gave her hope, as doubtless it +did to each of the other captives—that occasionally the prisoners +escaped from the cities of the hairless whites.</p> + +<p>After they had joined the other party the entire band set forth into the +valley and presently, from the conversation of her captors, Pan-at-lee +knew that she was headed for A-lur, the City of Light; while in the cave +of his ancestors, Om-at, chief of the Kor-ul-ja, bemoaned the loss of +both his friend and she that was to have been his mate.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_lur" id="A_lur" />8 - A-lur</h2> + + +<p>As the hissing reptile bore down upon the stranger swimming in the open +water near the center of the morass on the frontier of Pal-ul-don it +seemed to the man that this indeed must be the futile termination of an +arduous and danger-filled journey. It seemed, too, equally futile to pit +his puny knife against this frightful creature. Had he been attacked on +land it is possible that he might as a last resort have used his +Enfield, though he had come thus far through all these weary, +danger-ridden miles without recourse to it, though again and again had +his life hung in the balance in the face of the savage denizens of +forest, jungle, and steppe. For whatever it may have been for which he +was preserving his precious ammunition he evidently held it more sacred +even than his life, for as yet he had not used a single round and now +the decision was not required of him, since it would have been +impossible for him to have unslung his Enfield, loaded and fired with +the necessary celerity while swimming.</p> + +<p>Though his chance for survival seemed slender, and hope at its lowest +ebb, he was not minded therefore to give up without a struggle. Instead +he drew his blade and awaited the oncoming reptile. The creature was +like no living thing he ever before had seen although possibly it +resembled a crocodile in some respects more than it did anything with +which he was familiar.</p> + +<p>As this frightful survivor of some extinct progenitor charged upon him +with distended jaws there came to the man quickly a full consciousness +of the futility of endeavoring to stay the mad rush or pierce the +armor-coated hide with his little knife. The thing was almost upon him +now and whatever form of defense he chose must be made quickly. There +seemed but a single alternative to instant death, and this he took at +almost the instant the great reptile towered directly above him.</p> + +<p>With the celerity of a seal he dove headforemost beneath the oncoming +body and at the same instant, turning upon his back, he plunged his +blade into the soft, cold surface of the slimy belly as the momentum of +the hurtling reptile carried it swiftly over him; and then with powerful +strokes he swam on beneath the surface for a dozen yards before he rose. +A glance showed him the stricken monster plunging madly in pain and rage +upon the surface of the water behind him. That it was writhing in its +death agonies was evidenced by the fact that it made no effort to pursue +him, and so, to the accompaniment of the shrill screaming of the dying +monster, the man won at last to the farther edge of the open water to +take up once more the almost superhuman effort of crossing the last +stretch of clinging mud which separated him from the solid ground of +Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>A good two hours it took him to drag his now weary body through the +clinging, stinking muck, but at last, mud covered and spent, he dragged +himself out upon the soft grasses of the bank. A hundred yards away a +stream, winding its way down from the distant mountains, emptied into +the morass, and, after a short rest, he made his way to this and seeking +a quiet pool, bathed himself and washed the mud and slime from his +weapons, accouterments, and loin cloth. Another hour was spent beneath +the rays of the hot sun in wiping, polishing, and oiling his Enfield +though the means at hand for drying it consisted principally of dry +grasses. It was afternoon before he had satisfied himself that his +precious weapon was safe from any harm by dirt, or dampness, and then he +arose and took up the search for the spoor he had followed to the +opposite side of the swamp.</p> + +<p>Would he find again the trail that had led into the opposite side of the +morass, to be lost there, even to his trained senses? If he found it not +again upon this side of the almost impassable barrier he might assume +that his long journey had ended in failure. And so he sought up and down +the verge of the stagnant water for traces of an old spoor that would +have been invisible to your eyes or mine, even had we followed directly +in the tracks of its maker.</p> + +<p>As Tarzan advanced upon the gryfs he imitated as closely as he could +recall them the methods and mannerisms of the Tor-o-don, but up to the +instant that he stood close beside one of the huge creatures he realized +that his fate still hung in the balance, for the thing gave forth no +sign, either menacing or otherwise. It only stood there, watching him +out of its cold, reptilian eyes and then Tarzan raised his staff and +with a menacing "Whee-oo!" struck the gryf a vicious blow across the +face.</p> + +<p>The creature made a sudden side snap in his direction, a snap that did +not reach him, and then turned sullenly away, precisely as it had when +the Tor-o-don commanded it. Walking around to its rear as he had seen +the shaggy first-man do, Tarzan ran up the broad tail and seated himself +upon the creature's back, and then again imitating the acts of the +Tor-o-don he prodded it with the sharpened point of his staff, and thus +goading it forward and guiding it with blows, first upon one side and +then upon the other, he started it down the gorge in the direction of +the valley.</p> + +<p>At first it had been in his mind only to determine if he could +successfully assert any authority over the great monsters, realizing +that in this possibility lay his only hope of immediate escape from his +jailers. But once seated upon the back of his titanic mount the ape-man +experienced the sensation of a new thrill that recalled to him the day +in his boyhood that he had first clambered to the broad head of Tantor, +the elephant, and this, together with the sense of mastery that was +always meat and drink to the lord of the jungle, decided him to put his +newly acquired power to some utilitarian purpose.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee he judged must either have already reached safety or met with +death. At least, no longer could he be of service to her, while below +Kor-ul-gryf, in the soft green valley, lay A-lur, the City of Light, +which, since he had gazed upon it from the shoulder of Pastar-ul-ved, +had been his ambition and his goal.</p> + +<p>Whether or not its gleaming walls held the secret of his lost mate he +could not even guess but if she lived at all within the precincts of +Pal-ul-don it must be among the Ho-don, since the hairy black men of +this forgotten world took no prisoners. And so to A-lur he would go, and +how more effectively than upon the back of this grim and terrible +creature that the races of Pal-ul-don held in such awe?</p> + +<p>A little mountain stream tumbles down from Kor-ul-gryf to be joined in +the foothills with that which empties the waters of Kor-ul-lul into the +valley, forming a small river which runs southwest, eventually entering +the valley's largest lake at the City of A-lur, through the center of +which the stream passes. An ancient trail, well marked by countless +generations of naked feet of man and beast, leads down toward A-lur +beside the river, and along this Tarzan guided the gryf. Once clear of +the forest which ran below the mouth of the gorge, Tarzan caught +occasional glimpses of the city gleaming in the distance far below him.</p> + +<p>The country through which he passed was resplendent with the riotous +beauties of tropical verdure. Thick, lush grasses grew waist high upon +either side of the trail and the way was broken now and again by patches +of open park-like forest, or perhaps a little patch of dense jungle +where the trees overarched the way and trailing creepers depended in +graceful loops from branch to branch.</p> + +<p>At times the ape-man had difficulty in commanding obedience upon the +part of his unruly beast, but always in the end its fear of the +relatively puny goad urged it on to obedience. Late in the afternoon as +they approached the confluence of the stream they were skirting and +another which appeared to come from the direction of Kor-ul-ja the +ape-man, emerging from one of the jungle patches, discovered a +considerable party of Ho-don upon the opposite bank. Simultaneously they +saw him and the mighty creature he bestrode. For a moment they stood in +wide-eyed amazement and then, in answer to the command of their leader, +they turned and bolted for the shelter of the nearby wood.</p> + +<p>The ape-man had but a brief glimpse of them but it was sufficient +indication that there were Waz-don with them, doubtless prisoners taken +in one of the raids upon the Waz-don villages of which Ta-den and Om-at +had told him.</p> + +<p>At the sound of their voices the gryf had bellowed terrifically and +started in pursuit even though a river intervened, but by dint of much +prodding and beating, Tarzan had succeeded in heading the animal back +into the path though thereafter for a long time it was sullen and more +intractable than ever.</p> + +<p>As the sun dropped nearer the summit of the western hills Tarzan became +aware that his plan to enter A-lur upon the back of a gryf was likely +doomed to failure, since the stubbornness of the great beast was +increasing momentarily, doubtless due to the fact that its huge belly +was crying out for food. The ape-man wondered if the Tor-o-dons had any +means of picketing their beasts for the night, but as he did not know +and as no plan suggested itself, he determined that he should have to +trust to the chance of finding it again in the morning.</p> + +<p>There now arose in his mind a question as to what would be their +relationship when Tarzan had dismounted. Would it again revert to that +of hunter and quarry or would fear of the goad continue to hold its +supremacy over the natural instinct of the hunting flesh-eater? Tarzan +wondered but as he could not remain upon the gryf forever, and as he +preferred dismounting and putting the matter to a final test while it +was still light, he decided to act at once.</p> + +<p>How to stop the creature he did not know, as up to this time his sole +desire had been to urge it forward. By experimenting with his staff, +however, he found that he could bring it to a halt by reaching forward +and striking the thing upon its beaklike snout. Close by grew a number +of leafy trees, in any one of which the ape-man could have found +sanctuary, but it had occurred to him that should he immediately take to +the trees it might suggest to the mind of the gryf that the creature +that had been commanding him all day feared him, with the result that +Tarzan would once again be held a prisoner by the triceratops.</p> + +<p>And so, when the gryf halted, Tarzan slid to the ground, struck the +creature a careless blow across the flank as though in dismissal and +walked indifferently away. From the throat of the beast came a low +rumbling sound and without even a glance at Tarzan it turned and entered +the river where it stood drinking for a long time.</p> + +<p>Convinced that the gryf no longer constituted a menace to him the +ape-man, spurred on himself by the gnawing of hunger, unslung his bow +and selecting a handful of arrows set forth cautiously in search of +food, evidence of the near presence of which was being borne up to him +by a breeze from down river.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later he had made his kill, again one of the Pal-ul-don +specimens of antelope, all species of which Tarzan had known since +childhood as Bara, the deer, since in the little primer that had been +the basis of his education the picture of a deer had been the nearest +approach to the likeness of the antelope, from the giant eland to the +smaller bushbuck of the hunting grounds of his youth.</p> + +<p>Cutting off a haunch he cached it in a nearby tree, and throwing the +balance of the carcass across his shoulder trotted back toward the spot +at which he had left the gryf. The great beast was just emerging from +the river when Tarzan, seeing it, issued the weird cry of the Tor-o-don. +The creature looked in the direction of the sound voicing at the same +time the low rumble with which it answered the call of its master. Twice +Tarzan repeated his cry before the beast moved slowly toward him, and +when it had come within a few paces he tossed the carcass of the deer to +it, upon which it fell with greedy jaws.</p> + +<p>"If anything will keep it within call," mused the ape-man as he returned +to the tree in which he had cached his own portion of his kill, "it is +the knowledge that I will feed it." But as he finished his repast and +settled himself comfortably for the night high among the swaying +branches of his eyrie he had little confidence that he would ride into +A-lur the following day upon his prehistoric steed.</p> + +<p>When Tarzan awoke early the following morning he dropped lightly to the +ground and made his way to the stream. Removing his weapons and loin +cloth he entered the cold waters of the little pool, and after his +refreshing bath returned to the tree to breakfast upon another portion +of Bara, the deer, adding to his repast some fruits and berries which +grew in abundance nearby.</p> + +<p>His meal over he sought the ground again and raising his voice in the +weird cry that he had learned, he called aloud on the chance of +attracting the gryf, but though he waited for some time and continued +calling there was no response, and he was finally forced to the +conclusion that he had seen the last of his great mount of the preceding +day.</p> + +<p>And so he set his face toward A-lur, pinning his faith upon his +knowledge of the Ho-don tongue, his great strength and his native wit.</p> + +<p>Refreshed by food and rest, the journey toward A-lur, made in the cool +of the morning along the bank of the joyous river, he found delightful +in the extreme. Differentiating him from his fellows of the savage +jungle were many characteristics other than those physical and mental. +Not the least of these were in a measure spiritual, and one that had +doubtless been as strong as another in influencing Tarzan's love of the +jungle had been his appreciation of the beauties of nature. The apes +cared more for a grubworm in a rotten log than for all the majestic +grandeur of the forest giants waving above them. The only beauties that +Numa acknowledged were those of his own person as he paraded them before +the admiring eyes of his mate, but in all the manifestations of the +creative power of nature of which Tarzan was cognizant he appreciated +the beauties.</p> + +<p>As Tarzan neared the city his interest became centered upon the +architecture of the outlying buildings which were hewn from the +chalklike limestone of what had once been a group of low hills, similar +to the many grass-covered hillocks that dotted the valley in every +direction. Ta-den's explanation of the Ho-don methods of house +construction accounted for the ofttimes remarkable shapes and +proportions of the buildings which, during the ages that must have been +required for their construction, had been hewn from the limestone hills, +the exteriors chiseled to such architectural forms as appealed to the +eyes of the builders while at the same time following roughly the +original outlines of the hills in an evident desire to economize both +labor and space. The excavation of the apartments within had been +similarly governed by necessity.</p> + +<p>As he came nearer Tarzan saw that the waste material from these building +operations had been utilized in the construction of outer walls about +each building or group of buildings resulting from a single hillock, and +later he was to learn that it had also been used for the filling of +inequalities between the hills and the forming of paved streets +throughout the city, the result, possibly, more of the adoption of an +easy method of disposing of the quantities of broken limestone than by +any real necessity for pavements.</p> + +<p>There were people moving about within the city and upon the narrow +ledges and terraces that broke the lines of the buildings and which +seemed to be a peculiarity of Ho-don architecture, a concession, no +doubt, to some inherent instinct that might be traced back to their +early cliff-dwelling progenitors.</p> + +<p>Tarzan was not surprised that at a short distance he aroused no +suspicion or curiosity in the minds of those who saw him, since, until +closer scrutiny was possible, there was little to distinguish him from a +native either in his general conformation or his color. He had, of +course, formulated a plan of action and, having decided, he did not +hesitate in the carrying out his plan.</p> + +<p>With the same assurance that you might venture upon the main street of a +neighboring city Tarzan strode into the Ho-don city of A-lur. The first +person to detect his spuriousness was a little child playing in the +arched gateway of one of the walled buildings. "No tail! no tail!" it +shouted, throwing a stone at him, and then it suddenly grew dumb and its +eyes wide as it sensed that this creature was something other than a +mere Ho-don warrior who had lost his tail. With a gasp the child turned +and fled screaming into the courtyard of its home.</p> + +<p>Tarzan continued on his way, fully realizing that the moment was +imminent when the fate of his plan would be decided. Nor had he long to +wait since at the next turning of the winding street he came face to +face with a Ho-don warrior. He saw the sudden surprise in the latter's +eyes, followed instantly by one of suspicion, but before the fellow +could speak Tarzan addressed him.</p> + +<p>"I am a stranger from another land," he said; "I would speak with +Ko-tan, your king."</p> + +<p>The fellow stepped back, laying his hand upon his knife. "There are no +strangers that come to the gates of A-lur," he said, "other than as +enemies or slaves."</p> + +<p>"I come neither as a slave nor an enemy," replied Tarzan. "I come +directly from Jad-ben-Otho. Look!" and he held out his hands that the +Ho-don might see how greatly they differed from his own, and then +wheeled about that the other might see that he was tailless, for it was +upon this fact that his plan had been based, due to his recollection of +the quarrel between Ta-den and Om-at, in which the Waz-don had claimed +that Jad-ben-Otho had a long tail while the Ho-don had been equally +willing to fight for his faith in the taillessness of his god.</p> + +<p>The warrior's eyes widened and an expression of awe crept into them, +though it was still tinged with suspicion. "Jad-ben-Otho!" he murmured, +and then, "It is true that you are neither Ho-don nor Waz-don, and it is +also true that Jad-ben-Otho has no tail. Come," he said, "I will take +you to Ko-tan, for this is a matter in which no common warrior may +interfere. Follow me," and still clutching the handle of his knife and +keeping a wary side glance upon the ape-man he led the way through +A-lur.</p> + +<p>The city covered a large area. Sometimes there was a considerable +distance between groups of buildings, and again they were quite close +together. There were numerous imposing groups, evidently hewn from the +larger hills, often rising to a height of a hundred feet or more. As +they advanced they met numerous warriors and women, all of whom showed +great curiosity in the stranger, but there was no attempt to menace him +when it was found that he was being conducted to the palace of the king.</p> + +<p>They came at last to a great pile that sprawled over a considerable +area, its western front facing upon a large blue lake and evidently hewn +from what had once been a natural cliff. This group of buildings was +surrounded by a wall of considerably greater height than any that Tarzan +had before seen. His guide led him to a gateway before which waited a +dozen or more warriors who had risen to their feet and formed a barrier +across the entrance-way as Tarzan and his party appeared around the +corner of the palace wall, for by this time he had accumulated such a +following of the curious as presented to the guards the appearance of a +formidable mob.</p> + +<p>The guide's story told, Tarzan was conducted into the courtyard where he +was held while one of the warriors entered the palace, evidently with +the intention of notifying Ko-tan. Fifteen minutes later a large warrior +appeared, followed by several others, all of whom examined Tarzan with +every sign of curiosity as they approached.</p> + +<p>The leader of the party halted before the ape-man. "Who are you?" he +asked, "and what do you want of Ko-tan, the king?"</p> + +<p>"I am a friend," replied the ape-man, "and I have come from the country +of Jad-ben-Otho to visit Ko-tan of Pal-ul-don."</p> + +<p>The warrior and his followers seemed impressed. Tarzan could see the +latter whispering among themselves.</p> + +<p>"How come you here," asked the spokesman, "and what do you want of +Ko-tan?"</p> + +<p>Tarzan drew himself to his full height. "Enough!" he cried. "Must the +messenger of Jad-ben-Otho be subjected to the treatment that might be +accorded to a wandering Waz-don? Take me to the king at once lest the +wrath of Jad-ben-Otho fall upon you."</p> + +<p>There was some question in the mind of the ape-man as to how far he +might carry his unwarranted show of assurance, and he waited therefore +with amused interest the result of his demand. He did not, however, have +long to wait for almost immediately the attitude of his questioner +changed. He whitened, cast an apprehensive glance toward the eastern sky +and then extended his right palm toward Tarzan, placing his left over +his own heart in the sign of amity that was common among the peoples of +Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>Tarzan stepped quickly back as though from a profaning hand, a feigned +expression of horror and disgust upon his face.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" he cried, "who would dare touch the sacred person of the +messenger of Jad-ben-Otho? Only as a special mark of favor from +Jad-ben-Otho may even Ko-tan himself receive this honor from me. Hasten! +Already now have I waited too long! What manner of reception the Ho-don +of A-lur would extend to the son of my father!"</p> + +<p>At first Tarzan had been inclined to adopt the role of Jad-ben-Otho +himself but it occurred to him that it might prove embarrassing and +considerable of a bore to be compelled constantly to portray the +character of a god, but with the growing success of his scheme it had +suddenly occurred to him that the authority of the son of Jad-ben-Otho +would be far greater than that of an ordinary messenger of a god, while +at the same time giving him some leeway in the matter of his acts and +demeanor, the ape-man reasoning that a young god would not be held so +strictly accountable in the matter of his dignity and bearing as an +older and greater god.</p> + +<p>This time the effect of his words was immediately and painfully +noticeable upon all those near him. With one accord they shrank back, +the spokesman almost collapsing in evident terror. His apologies, when +finally the paralysis of his fear would permit him to voice them, were +so abject that the ape-man could scarce repress a smile of amused +contempt.</p> + +<p>"Have mercy, O Dor-ul-Otho," he pleaded, "on poor old Dak-lot. Precede +me and I will show you to where Ko-tan, the king, awaits you, trembling. +Aside, snakes and vermin," he cried pushing his warriors to right and +left for the purpose of forming an avenue for Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Come!" cried the ape-man peremptorily, "lead the way, and let these +others follow."</p> + +<p>The now thoroughly frightened Dak-lot did as he was bid, and Tarzan of +the Apes was ushered into the palace of Ko-tan, King of Pal-ul-don.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Blood_Stained_Altars" id="Blood_Stained_Altars" />9 - Blood-Stained Altars</h2> + + +<p>The entrance through which he caught his first glimpse of the interior +was rather beautifully carved in geometric designs, and within the walls +were similarly treated, though as he proceeded from one apartment to +another he found also the figures of animals, birds, and men taking +their places among the more formal figures of the mural decorator's art. +Stone vessels were much in evidence as well as ornaments of gold and the +skins of many animals, but nowhere did he see an indication of any woven +fabric, indicating that in that respect at least the Ho-don were still +low in the scale of evolution, and yet the proportions and symmetry of +the corridors and apartments bespoke a degree of civilization.</p> + +<p>The way led through several apartments and long corridors, up at least +three flights of stone stairs and finally out upon a ledge upon the +western side of the building overlooking the blue lake. Along this +ledge, or arcade, his guide led him for a hundred yards, to stop at last +before a wide entrance-way leading into another apartment of the palace.</p> + +<p>Here Tarzan beheld a considerable concourse of warriors in an enormous +apartment, the domed ceiling of which was fully fifty feet above the +floor. Almost filling the chamber was a great pyramid ascending in broad +steps well up under the dome in which were a number of round apertures +which let in the light. The steps of the pyramid were occupied by +warriors to the very pinnacle, upon which sat a large, imposing figure +of a man whose golden trappings shone brightly in the light of the +afternoon sun, a shaft of which poured through one of the tiny apertures +of the dome.</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan!" cried Dak-lot, addressing the resplendent figure at the +pinnacle of the pyramid. "Ko-tan and warriors of Pal-ul-don! Behold the +honor that Jad-ben-Otho has done you in sending as his messenger his own +son," and Dak-lot, stepping aside, indicated Tarzan with a dramatic +sweep of his hand.</p> + +<p>Ko-tan rose to his feet and every warrior within sight craned his neck +to have a better view of the newcomer. Those upon the opposite side of +the pyramid crowded to the front as the words of the old warrior reached +them. Skeptical were the expressions on most of the faces; but theirs +was a skepticism marked with caution. No matter which way fortune jumped +they wished to be upon the right side of the fence. For a moment all +eyes were centered upon Tarzan and then gradually they drifted to +Ko-tan, for from his attitude would they receive the cue that would +determine theirs. But Ko-tan was evidently in the same quandary as +they—the very attitude of his body indicated it—it was one of +indecision and of doubt.</p> + +<p>The ape-man stood erect, his arms folded upon his broad breast, an +expression of haughty disdain upon his handsome face; but to Dak-lot +there seemed to be indications also of growing anger. The situation was +becoming strained. Dak-lot fidgeted, casting apprehensive glances at +Tarzan and appealing ones at Ko-tan. The silence of the tomb wrapped the +great chamber of the throneroom of Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>At last Ko-tan spoke. "Who says that he is Dor-ul-Otho?" he asked, +casting a terrible look at Dak-lot.</p> + +<p>"He does!" almost shouted that terrified noble.</p> + +<p>"And so it must be true?" queried Ko-tan.</p> + +<p>Could it be that there was a trace of irony in the chief's tone? Otho +forbid! Dak-lot cast a side glance at Tarzan—a glance that he intended +should carry the assurance of his own faith; but that succeeded only in +impressing the ape-man with the other's pitiable terror.</p> + +<p>"O Ko-tan!" pleaded Dak-lot, "your own eyes must convince you that +indeed he is the son of Otho. Behold his godlike figure, his hands, and +his feet, that are not as ours, and that he is entirely tailless as is +his mighty father."</p> + +<p>Ko-tan appeared to be perceiving these facts for the first time and +there was an indication that his skepticism was faltering. At that +moment a young warrior who had pushed his way forward from the opposite +side of the pyramid to where he could obtain a good look at Tarzan +raised his voice.</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan," he cried, "it must be even as Dak-lot says, for I am sure now +that I have seen Dor-ul-Otho before. Yesterday as we were returning with +the Kor-ul-lul prisoners we beheld him seated upon the back of a great +gryf. We hid in the woods before he came too near, but I saw enough to +make sure that he who rode upon the great beast was none other than the +messenger who stands here now."</p> + +<p>This evidence seemed to be quite enough to convince the majority of the +warriors that they indeed stood in the presence of deity—their faces +showed it only too plainly, and a sudden modesty that caused them to +shrink behind their neighbors. As their neighbors were attempting to do +the same thing, the result was a sudden melting away of those who stood +nearest the ape-man, until the steps of the pyramid directly before him +lay vacant to the very apex and to Ko-tan. The latter, possibly +influenced as much by the fearful attitude of his followers as by the +evidence adduced, now altered his tone and his manner in such a degree +as might comport with the requirements if the stranger was indeed the +Dor-ul-Otho while leaving his dignity a loophole of escape should it +appear that he had entertained an impostor.</p> + +<p>"If indeed you are the Dor-ul-Otho," he said, addressing Tarzan, "you +will know that our doubts were but natural since we have received no +sign from Jad-ben-Otho that he intended honoring us so greatly, nor how +could we know, even, that the Great God had a son? If you are he, all +Pal-ul-don rejoices to honor you; if you are not he, swift and terrible +shall be the punishment of your temerity. I, Ko-tan, King of Pal-ul-don, +have spoken."</p> + +<p>"And spoken well, as a king should speak," said Tarzan, breaking his +long silence, "who fears and honors the god of his people. It is well +that you insist that I indeed be the Dor-ul-Otho before you accord me +the homage that is my due. Jad-ben-Otho charged me specially to +ascertain if you were fit to rule his people. My first experience of you +indicates that Jad-ben-Otho chose well when he breathed the spirit of a +king into the babe at your mother's breast."</p> + +<p>The effect of this statement, made so casually, was marked in the +expressions and excited whispers of the now awe-struck assemblage. At +last they knew how kings were made! It was decided by Jad-ben-Otho while +the candidate was still a suckling babe! Wonderful! A miracle! and this +divine creature in whose presence they stood knew all about it. +Doubtless he even discussed such matters with their god daily. If there +had been an atheist among them before, or an agnostic, there was none +now, for had they not looked with their own eyes upon the son of god?</p> + +<p>"It is well then," continued the ape-man, "that you should assure +yourself that I am no impostor. Come closer that you may see that I am +not as are men. Furthermore it is not meet that you stand upon a higher +level than the son of your god." There was a sudden scramble to reach +the floor of the throneroom, nor was Ko-tan far behind his warriors, +though he managed to maintain a certain majestic dignity as he descended +the broad stairs that countless naked feet had polished to a gleaming +smoothness through the ages. "And now," said Tarzan as the king stood +before him, "you can have no doubt that I am not of the same race as +you. Your priests have told you that Jad-ben-Otho is tailless. Tailless, +therefore, must be the race of gods that spring from his loins. But +enough of such proofs as these! You know the power of Jad-ben-Otho; how +his lightnings gleaming out of the sky carry death as he wills it; how +the rains come at his bidding, and the fruits and the berries and the +grains, the grasses, the trees and the flowers spring to life at his +divine direction; you have witnessed birth and death, and those who +honor their god honor him because he controls these things. How would it +fare then with an impostor who claimed to be the son of this +all-powerful god? This then is all the proof that you require, for as he +would strike you down should you deny me, so would he strike down one +who wrongfully claimed kinship with him."</p> + +<p>This line of argument being unanswerable must needs be convincing. There +could be no questioning of this creature's statements without the tacit +admission of lack of faith in the omnipotence of Jad-ben-Otho. Ko-tan +was satisfied that he was entertaining deity, but as to just what form +his entertainment should take he was rather at a loss to know. His +conception of god had been rather a vague and hazy affair, though in +common with all primitive people his god was a personal one as were his +devils and demons. The pleasures of Jad-ben-Otho he had assumed to be +the excesses which he himself enjoyed, but devoid of any unpleasant +reaction. It therefore occurred to him that the Dor-ul-Otho would be +greatly entertained by eating—eating large quantities of everything +that Ko-tan liked best and that he had found most injurious; and there +was also a drink that the women of the Ho-don made by allowing corn to +soak in the juices of succulent fruits, to which they had added certain +other ingredients best known to themselves. Ko-tan knew by experience +that a single draught of this potent liquor would bring happiness and +surcease from worry, while several would cause even a king to do things +and enjoy things that he would never even think of doing or enjoying +while not under the magical influence of the potion, but unfortunately +the next morning brought suffering in direct ratio to the joy of the +preceding day. A god, Ko-tan reasoned, could experience all the pleasure +without the headache, but for the immediate present he must think of the +necessary dignities and honors to be accorded his immortal guest.</p> + +<p>No foot other than a king's had touched the surface of the apex of the +pyramid in the throneroom at A-lur during all the forgotten ages through +which the kings of Pal-ul-don had ruled from its high eminence. So what +higher honor could Ko-tan offer than to give place beside him to the +Dor-ul-Otho? And so he invited Tarzan to ascend the pyramid and take his +place upon the stone bench that topped it. As they reached the step +below the sacred pinnacle Ko-tan continued as though to mount to his +throne, but Tarzan laid a detaining hand upon his arm.</p> + +<p>"None may sit upon a level with the gods," he admonished, stepping +confidently up and seating himself upon the throne. The abashed Ko-tan +showed his embarrassment, an embarrassment he feared to voice lest he +incur the wrath of the king of kings.</p> + +<p>"But," added Tarzan, "a god may honor his faithful servant by inviting +him to a place at his side. Come, Ko-tan; thus would I honor you in the +name of Jad-ben-Otho."</p> + +<p>The ape-man's policy had for its basis an attempt not only to arouse the +fearful respect of Ko-tan but to do it without making of him an enemy at +heart, for he did not know how strong a hold the religion of the Ho-don +had upon them, for since the time that he had prevented Ta-den and Om-at +from quarreling over a religious difference the subject had been utterly +taboo among them. He was therefore quick to note the evident though +wordless resentment of Ko-tan at the suggestion that he entirely +relinquish his throne to his guest. On the whole, however, the effect +had been satisfactory as he could see from the renewed evidence of awe +upon the faces of the warriors.</p> + +<p>At Tarzan's direction the business of the court continued where it had +been interrupted by his advent. It consisted principally in the settling +of disputes between warriors. There was present one who stood upon the +step just below the throne and which Tarzan was to learn was the place +reserved for the higher chiefs of the allied tribes which made up +Ko-tan's kingdom. The one who attracted Tarzan's attention was a +stalwart warrior of powerful physique and massive, lion-like features. +He was addressing Ko-tan on a question that is as old as government and +that will continue in unabated importance until man ceases to exist. It +had to do with a boundary dispute with one of his neighbors.</p> + +<p>The matter itself held little or no interest for Tarzan, but he was +impressed by the appearance of the speaker and when Ko-tan addressed him +as Ja-don the ape-man's interest was permanently crystallized, for +Ja-don was the father of Ta-den. That the knowledge would benefit him in +any way seemed rather a remote possibility since he could not reveal to +Ja-don his friendly relations with his son without admitting the falsity +of his claims to godship.</p> + +<p>When the affairs of the audience were concluded Ko-tan suggested that +the son of Jad-ben-Otho might wish to visit the temple in which were +performed the religious rites coincident to the worship of the Great +God. And so the ape-man was conducted by the king himself, followed by +the warriors of his court, through the corridors of the palace toward +the northern end of the group of buildings within the royal enclosure.</p> + +<p>The temple itself was really a part of the palace and similar in +architecture. There were several ceremonial places of varying sizes, the +purposes of which Tarzan could only conjecture. Each had an altar in the +west end and another in the east and were oval in shape, their longest +diameter lying due east and west. Each was excavated from the summit of +a small hillock and all were without roofs. The western altars +invariably were a single block of stone the top of which was hollowed +into an oblong basin. Those at the eastern ends were similar blocks of +stone with flat tops and these latter, unlike those at the opposite ends +of the ovals were invariably stained or painted a reddish brown, nor did +Tarzan need to examine them closely to be assured of what his keen +nostrils already had told him—that the brown stains were dried and +drying human blood.</p> + +<p>Below these temple courts were corridors and apartments reaching far +into the bowels of the hills, dim, gloomy passages that Tarzan glimpsed +as he was led from place to place on his tour of inspection of the +temple. A messenger had been dispatched by Ko-tan to announce the coming +visit of the son of Jad-ben-Otho with the result that they were +accompanied through the temple by a considerable procession of priests +whose distinguishing mark of profession seemed to consist in grotesque +headdresses; sometimes hideous faces carved from wood and entirely +concealing the countenances of their wearers, or again, the head of a +wild beast cunningly fitted over the head of a man. The high priest +alone wore no such head-dress. He was an old man with close-set, cunning +eyes and a cruel, thin-lipped mouth.</p> + +<p>At first sight of him Tarzan realized that here lay the greatest danger +to his ruse, for he saw at a glance that the man was antagonistic toward +him and his pretensions, and he knew too that doubtless of all the +people of Pal-ul-don the high priest was most likely to harbor the +truest estimate of Jad-ben-Otho, and, therefore, would look with +suspicion on one who claimed to be the son of a fabulous god.</p> + +<p>No matter what suspicion lurked within his crafty mind, Lu-don, the high +priest of A-lur, did not openly question Tarzan's right to the title of +Dor-ul-Otho, and it may be that he was restrained by the same doubts +which had originally restrained Ko-tan and his warriors—the doubt that +is at the bottom of the minds of all blasphemers even and which is based +upon the fear that after all there may be a god. So, for the time being +at least Lu-don played safe. Yet Tarzan knew as well as though the man +had spoken aloud his inmost thoughts that it was in the heart of the +high priest to tear the veil from his imposture.</p> + +<p>At the entrance to the temple Ko-tan had relinquished the guidance of +the guest to Lu-don and now the latter led Tarzan through those portions +of the temple that he wished him to see. He showed him the great room +where the votive offerings were kept, gifts from the barbaric chiefs of +Pal-ul-don and from their followers. These things ranged in value from +presents of dried fruits to massive vessels of beaten gold, so that in +the great main storeroom and its connecting chambers and corridors was +an accumulation of wealth that amazed even the eyes of the owner of the +secret of the treasure vaults of Opar.</p> + +<p>Moving to and fro throughout the temple were sleek black Waz-don slaves, +fruits of the Ho-don raids upon the villages of their less civilized +neighbors. As they passed the barred entrance to a dim corridor, Tarzan +saw within a great company of pithecanthropi of all ages and of both +sexes, Ho-don as well as Waz-don, the majority of them squatted upon the +stone floor in attitudes of utter dejection while some paced back and +forth, their features stamped with the despair of utter hopelessness.</p> + +<p>"And who are these who lie here thus unhappily?" he asked of Lu-don. It +was the first question that he had put to the high priest since entering +the temple, and instantly he regretted that he had asked it, for Lu-don +turned upon him a face upon which the expression of suspicion was but +thinly veiled.</p> + +<p>"Who should know better than the son of Jad-ben-Otho?" he retorted.</p> + +<p>"The questions of Dor-ul-Otho are not with impunity answered with other +questions," said the ape-man quietly, "and it may interest Lu-don, the +high priest, to know that the blood of a false priest upon the altar of +his temple is not displeasing in the eyes of Jad-ben-Otho."</p> + +<p>Lu-don paled as he answered Tarzan's question. "They are the offerings +whose blood must refresh the eastern altars as the sun returns to your +father at the day's end."</p> + +<p>"And who told you," asked Tarzan, "that Jad-ben-Otho was pleased that +his people were slain upon his altars? What if you were mistaken?"</p> + +<p>"Then countless thousands have died in vain," replied Lu-don.</p> + +<p>Ko-tan and the surrounding warriors and priests were listening +attentively to the dialogue. Some of the poor victims behind the barred +gateway had heard and rising, pressed close to the barrier through which +one was conducted just before sunset each day, never to return.</p> + +<p>"Liberate them!" cried Tarzan with a wave of his hand toward the +imprisoned victims of a cruel superstition, "for I can tell you in the +name of Jad-ben-Otho that you are mistaken."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Forbidden_Garden" id="The_Forbidden_Garden" />10 - The Forbidden Garden</h2> + + +<p>Lu-don paled. "It is sacrilege," he cried; "for countless ages have the +priests of the Great God offered each night a life to the spirit of +Jad-ben-Otho as it returned below the western horizon to its master, and +never has the Great God given sign that he was displeased."</p> + +<p>"Stop!" commanded Tarzan. "It is the blindness of the priesthood that +has failed to read the messages of their god. Your warriors die beneath +the knives and clubs of the Waz-don; your hunters are taken by ja and +jato; no day goes by but witnesses the deaths of few or many in the +villages of the Ho-don, and one death each day of those that die are the +toll which Jad-ben-Otho has exacted for the lives you take upon the +eastern altar. What greater sign of his displeasure could you require, O +stupid priest?"</p> + +<p>Lu-don was silent. There was raging within him a great conflict between +his fear that this indeed might be the son of god and his hope that it +was not, but at last his fear won and he bowed his head. "The son of +Jad-ben-Otho has spoken," he said, and turning to one of the lesser +priests: "Remove the bars and return these people from whence they +came."</p> + +<p>He thus addressed did as he was bid and as the bars came down the +prisoners, now all fully aware of the miracle that had saved them, +crowded forward and throwing themselves upon their knees before Tarzan +raised their voices in thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>Ko-tan was almost as staggered as the high priest by this ruthless +overturning of an age-old religious rite. "But what," he cried, "may we +do that will be pleasing in the eyes of Jad-ben-Otho?" turning a look of +puzzled apprehension toward the ape-man.</p> + +<p>"If you seek to please your god," he replied, "place upon your altars +such gifts of food and apparel as are most welcome in the city of your +people. These things will Jad-ben-Otho bless, when you may distribute +them among those of the city who need them most. With such things are +your storerooms filled as I have seen with mine own eyes, and other +gifts will be brought when the priests tell the people that in this way +they find favor before their god," and Tarzan turned and signified that +he would leave the temple.</p> + +<p>As they were leaving the precincts devoted to the worship of their +deity, the ape-man noticed a small but rather ornate building that stood +entirely detached from the others as though it had been cut from a +little pinnacle of limestone which had stood out from its fellows. As +his interested glance passed over it he noticed that its door and +windows were barred.</p> + +<p>"To what purpose is that building dedicated?" he asked of Lu-don. "Who +do you keep imprisoned there?"</p> + +<p>"It is nothing," replied the high priest nervously, "there is no one +there. The place is vacant. Once it was used but not now for many +years," and he moved on toward the gateway which led back into the +palace. Here he and the priests halted while Tarzan with Ko-tan and his +warriors passed out from the sacred precincts of the temple grounds.</p> + +<p>The one question which Tarzan would have asked he had feared to ask for +he knew that in the hearts of many lay a suspicion as to his +genuineness, but he determined that before he slept he would put the +question to Ko-tan, either directly or indirectly—as to whether there +was, or had been recently within the city of A-lur a female of the same +race as his.</p> + +<p>As their evening meal was being served to them in the banquet hall of +Ko-tan's palace by a part of the army of black slaves upon whose +shoulders fell the burden of all the heavy and menial tasks of the city, +Tarzan noticed that there came to the eyes of one of the slaves what was +apparently an expression of startled recognition, as he looked upon the +ape-man for the first time in the banquet hall of Ko-tan. And again +later he saw the fellow whisper to another slave and nod his head in his +direction. The ape-man did not recall ever having seen this Waz-don +before and he was at a loss to account for an explanation of the +fellow's interest in him, and presently the incident was all but +forgotten.</p> + +<p>Ko-tan was surprised and inwardly disgusted to discover that his godly +guest had no desire to gorge himself upon rich foods and that he would +not even so much as taste the villainous brew of the Ho-don. To Tarzan +the banquet was a dismal and tiresome affair, since so great was the +interest of the guests in gorging themselves with food and drink that +they had no time for conversation, the only vocal sounds being confined +to a continuous grunting which, together with their table manners +reminded Tarzan of a visit he had once made to the famous Berkshire herd +of His Grace, the Duke of Westminster at Woodhouse, Chester.</p> + +<p>One by one the diners succumbed to the stupefying effects of the liquor +with the result that the grunting gave place to snores, so presently +Tarzan and the slaves were the only conscious creatures in the banquet +hall.</p> + +<p>Rising, the ape-man turned to a tall black who stood behind him. "I +would sleep," he said, "show me to my apartment."</p> + +<p>As the fellow conducted him from the chamber the slave who had shown +surprise earlier in the evening at sight of him, spoke again at length +to one of his fellows. The latter cast a half-frightened look in the +direction of the departing ape-man. "If you are right," he said, "they +should reward us with our liberty, but if you are wrong, O Jad-ben-Otho, +what will be our fate?"</p> + +<p>"But I am not wrong!" cried the other.</p> + +<p>"Then there is but one to tell this to, for I have heard that he looked +sour when this Dor-ul-Otho was brought to the temple and that while the +so-called son of Jad-ben-Otho was there he gave this one every cause to +fear and hate him. I mean Lu-don, the high priest."</p> + +<p>"You know him?" asked the other slave.</p> + +<p>"I have worked in the temple," replied his companion.</p> + +<p>"Then go to him at once and tell him, but be sure to exact the promise +of our freedom for the proof."</p> + +<p>And so a black Waz-don came to the temple gate and asked to see Lu-don, +the high priest, on a matter of great importance, and though the hour +was late Lu-don saw him, and when he had heard his story he promised him +and his friend not only their freedom but many gifts if they could prove +the correctness of their claims.</p> + +<p>And as the slave talked with the high priest in the temple at A-lur the +figure of a man groped its way around the shoulder of Pastar-ul-ved and +the moonlight glistened from the shiny barrel of an Enfield that was +strapped to the naked back, and brass cartridges shed tiny rays of +reflected light from their polished cases where they hung in the +bandoliers across the broad brown shoulders and the lean waist.</p> + +<p>Tarzan's guide conducted him to a chamber overlooking the blue lake +where he found a bed similar to that which he had seen in the villages +of the Waz-don, merely a raised dais of stone upon which was piled great +quantities of furry pelts. And so he lay down to sleep, the question +that he most wished to put still unasked and unanswered.</p> + +<p>With the coming of a new day he was awake and wandering about the palace +and the palace grounds before there was sign of any of the inmates of +the palace other than slaves, or at least he saw no others at first, +though presently he stumbled upon an enclosure which lay almost within +the center of the palace grounds surrounded by a wall that piqued the +ape-man's curiosity, since he had determined to investigate as fully as +possible every part of the palace and its environs.</p> + +<p>This place, whatever it might be, was apparently without doors or +windows but that it was at least partially roofless was evidenced by the +sight of the waving branches of a tree which spread above the top of the +wall near him. Finding no other method of access, the ape-man uncoiled +his rope and throwing it over the branch of the tree where it projected +beyond the wall, was soon climbing with the ease of a monkey to the +summit.</p> + +<p>There he found that the wall surrounded an enclosed garden in which grew +trees and shrubs and flowers in riotous profusion. Without waiting to +ascertain whether the garden was empty or contained Ho-don, Waz-don, or +wild beasts, Tarzan dropped lightly to the sward on the inside and +without further loss of time commenced a systematic investigation of the +enclosure.</p> + +<p>His curiosity was aroused by the very evident fact that the place was +not for general use, even by those who had free access to other parts of +the palace grounds and so there was added to its natural beauties an +absence of mortals which rendered its exploration all the more alluring +to Tarzan since it suggested that in such a place might he hope to come +upon the object of his long and difficult search.</p> + +<p>In the garden were tiny artificial streams and little pools of water, +flanked by flowering bushes, as though it all had been designed by the +cunning hand of some master gardener, so faithfully did it carry out the +beauties and contours of nature upon a miniature scale.</p> + +<p>The interior surface of the wall was fashioned to represent the white +cliffs of Pal-ul-don, broken occasionally by small replicas of the +verdure-filled gorges of the original.</p> + +<p>Filled with admiration and thoroughly enjoying each new surprise which +the scene offered, Tarzan moved slowly around the garden, and as always +he moved silently. Passing through a miniature forest he came presently +upon a tiny area of flowerstudded sward and at the same time beheld +before him the first Ho-don female he had seen since entering the +palace. A young and beautiful woman stood in the center of the little +open space, stroking the head of a bird which she held against her +golden breastplate with one hand. Her profile was presented to the +ape-man and he saw that by the standards of any land she would have been +accounted more than lovely.</p> + +<p>Seated in the grass at her feet, with her back toward him, was a female +Waz-don slave. Seeing that she he sought was not there and apprehensive +that an alarm be raised were he discovered by the two women, Tarzan +moved back to hide himself in the foliage, but before he had succeeded +the Ho-don girl turned quickly toward him as though apprised of his +presence by that unnamed sense, the manifestations of which are more or +less familiar to us all.</p> + +<p>At sight of him her eyes registered only her surprise though there was +no expression of terror reflected in them, nor did she scream or even +raise her well-modulated voice as she addressed him.</p> + +<p>"Who are you," she asked, "who enters thus boldly the Forbidden Garden?"</p> + +<p>At sound of her mistress' voice the slave maiden turned quickly, rising +to her feet. "Tarzan-jad-guru!" she exclaimed in tones of mingled +astonishment and relief.</p> + +<p>"You know him?" cried her mistress turning toward the slave and +affording Tarzan an opportunity to raise a cautioning finger to his lips +lest Pan-at-lee further betray him, for it was Pan-at-lee indeed who +stood before him, no less a source of surprise to him than had his +presence been to her.</p> + +<p>Thus questioned by her mistress and simultaneously admonished to silence +by Tarzan, Pan-at-lee was momentarily silenced and then haltingly she +groped for a way to extricate herself from her dilemma. "I thought—" +she faltered, "but no, I am mistaken—I thought that he was one whom I +had seen before near the Kor-ul-gryf."</p> + +<p>The Ho-don looked first at one and then at the other an expression of +doubt and questioning in her eyes. "But you have not answered me," she +continued presently; "who are you?"</p> + +<p>"You have not heard then," asked Tarzan, "of the visitor who arrived at +your king's court yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"You mean," she exclaimed, "that you are the Dor-ul-Otho?" And now the +erstwhile doubting eyes reflected naught but awe.</p> + +<p>"I am he," replied Tarzan; "and you?"</p> + +<p>"I am O-lo-a, daughter of Ko-tan, the king," she replied.</p> + +<p>So this was O-lo-a, for love of whom Ta-den had chosen exile rather than +priesthood. Tarzan had approached more closely the dainty barbarian +princess. "Daughter of Ko-tan," he said, "Jad-ben-Otho is pleased with +you and as a mark of his favor he has preserved for you through many +dangers him whom you love."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand," replied the girl but the flush that mounted to +her cheek belied her words. "Bu-lat is a guest in the palace of Ko-tan, +my father. I do not know that he has faced any danger. It is to Bu-lat +that I am betrothed."</p> + +<p>"But it is not Bu-lat whom you love," said Tarzan.</p> + +<p>Again the flush and the girl half turned her face away. "Have I then +displeased the Great God?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Tarzan; "as I told you he is well satisfied and for your +sake he has saved Ta-den for you."</p> + +<p>"Jad-ben-Otho knows all," whispered the girl, "and his son shares his +great knowledge."</p> + +<p>"No," Tarzan hastened to correct her lest a reputation for omniscience +might prove embarrassing. "I know only what Jad-ben-Otho wishes me to +know."</p> + +<p>"But tell me," she said, "I shall be reunited with Ta-den? Surely the +son of god can read the future."</p> + +<p>The ape-man was glad that he had left himself an avenue of escape. "I +know nothing of the future," he replied, "other than what Jad-ben-Otho +tells me. But I think you need have no fear for the future if you remain +faithful to Ta-den and Ta-den's friends."</p> + +<p>"You have seen him?" asked O-lo-a. "Tell me, where is he?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Tarzan, "I have seen him. He was with Om-at, the gund of +Kor-ul-ja."</p> + +<p>"A prisoner of the Waz-don?" interrupted the girl.</p> + +<p>"Not a prisoner but an honored guest," replied the ape-man.</p> + +<p>"Wait," he exclaimed, raising his face toward the heavens; "do not +speak. I am receiving a message from Jad-ben-Otho, my father."</p> + +<p>The two women dropped to their knees, covering their faces with their +hands, stricken with awe at the thought of the awful nearness of the +Great God. Presently Tarzan touched O-lo-a on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Rise," he said. "Jad-ben-Otho has spoken. He has told me that this +slave girl is from the tribe of Kor-ul-ja, where Ta-den is, and that she +is betrothed to Om-at, their chief. Her name is Pan-at-lee."</p> + +<p>O-lo-a turned questioningly toward Pan-at-lee. The latter nodded, her +simple mind unable to determine whether or not she and her mistress were +the victims of a colossal hoax. "It is even as he says," she whispered.</p> + +<p>O-lo-a fell upon her knees and touched her forehead to Tarzan's feet. +"Great is the honor that Jad-ben-Otho has done his poor servant," she +cried. "Carry to him my poor thanks for the happiness that he has +brought to O-lo-a."</p> + +<p>"It would please my father," said Tarzan, "if you were to cause +Pan-at-lee to be returned in safety to the village of her people."</p> + +<p>"What cares Jad-ben-Otho for such as she?" asked O-lo-a, a slight trace +of hauteur in her tone.</p> + +<p>"There is but one god," replied Tarzan, "and he is the god of the +Waz-don as well as of the Ho-don; of the birds and the beasts and the +flowers and of everything that grows upon the earth or beneath the +waters. If Pan-at-lee does right she is greater in the eyes of +Jad-ben-Otho than would be the daughter of Ko-tan should she do wrong."</p> + +<p>It was evident that O-lo-a did not quite understand this interpretation +of divine favor, so contrary was it to the teachings of the priesthood +of her people. In one respect only did Tarzan's teachings coincide with +her belief—that there was but one god. For the rest she had always been +taught that he was solely the god of the Ho-don in every sense, other +than that other creatures were created by Jad-ben-Otho to serve some +useful purpose for the benefit of the Ho-don race. And now to be told by +the son of god that she stood no higher in divine esteem than the black +handmaiden at her side was indeed a shock to her pride, her vanity, and +her faith. But who could question the word of Dor-ul-Otho, especially +when she had with her own eyes seen him in actual communion with god in +heaven?</p> + +<p>"The will of Jad-ben-Otho be done," said O-lo-a meekly, "if it lies +within my power. But it would be best, O Dor-ul-Otho, to communicate +your father's wish directly to the king."</p> + +<p>"Then keep her with you," said Tarzan, "and see that no harm befalls +her."</p> + +<p>O-lo-a looked ruefully at Pan-at-lee. "She was brought to me but +yesterday," she said, "and never have I had slave woman who pleased me +better. I shall hate to part with her."</p> + +<p>"But there are others," said Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied O-lo-a, "there are others, but there is only one +Pan-at-lee."</p> + +<p>"Many slaves are brought to the city?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied.</p> + +<p>"And many strangers come from other lands?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She shook her head negatively. "Only the Ho-don from the other side of +the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho," she replied, "and they are not strangers."</p> + +<p>"Am I then the first stranger to enter the gates of A-lur?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Can it be," she parried, "that the son of Jad-ben-Otho need question a +poor ignorant mortal like O-lo-a?"</p> + +<p>"As I told you before," replied Tarzan, "Jad-ben-Otho alone is +all-knowing."</p> + +<p>"Then if he wished you to know this thing," retorted O-lo-a quickly, +"you would know it."</p> + +<p>Inwardly the ape-man smiled that this little heathen's astuteness should +beat him at his own game, yet in a measure her evasion of the question +might be an answer to it. "There have been other strangers here then +recently?" he persisted.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you what I do not know," she replied. "Always is the +palace of Ko-tan filled with rumors, but how much fact and how much +fancy how may a woman of the palace know?"</p> + +<p>"There has been such a rumor then?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"It was only rumor that reached the Forbidden Garden," she replied.</p> + +<p>"It described, perhaps, a woman of another race?" As he put the question +and awaited her answer he thought that his heart ceased to beat, so +grave to him was the issue at stake.</p> + +<p>The girl hesitated before replying, and then. "No," she said, "I cannot +speak of this thing, for if it be of sufficient importance to elicit the +interest of the gods then indeed would I be subject to the wrath of my +father should I discuss it."</p> + +<p>"In the name of Jad-ben-Otho I command you to speak," said Tarzan. "In +the name of Jad-ben-Otho in whose hands lies the fate of Ta-den!"</p> + +<p>The girl paled. "Have mercy!" she cried, "and for the sake of Ta-den I +will tell you all that I know."</p> + +<p>"Tell what?" demanded a stern voice from the shrubbery behind them. The +three turned to see the figure of Ko-tan emerging from the foliage. An +angry scowl distorted his kingly features but at sight of Tarzan it gave +place to an expression of surprise not unmixed with fear. "Dor-ul-Otho!" +he exclaimed, "I did not know that it was you," and then, raising his +head and squaring his shoulders he said, "but there are places where +even the son of the Great God may not walk and this, the Forbidden +Garden of Ko-tan, is one."</p> + +<p>It was a challenge but despite the king's bold front there was a note of +apology in it, indicating that in his superstitious mind there +flourished the inherent fear of man for his Maker. "Come, Dor-ul-Otho," +he continued, "I do not know all this foolish child has said to you but +whatever you would know Ko-tan, the king, will tell you. O-lo-a, go to +your quarters immediately," and he pointed with stern finger toward the +opposite end of the garden.</p> + +<p>The princess, followed by Pan-at-lee, turned at once and left them.</p> + +<p>"We will go this way," said Ko-tan and preceding, led Tarzan in another +direction. Close to that part of the wall which they approached Tarzan +perceived a grotto in the miniature cliff into the interior of which +Ko-tan led him, and down a rocky stairway to a gloomy corridor the +opposite end of which opened into the palace proper. Two armed warriors +stood at this entrance to the Forbidden Garden, evidencing how jealously +were the sacred precincts of the place guarded.</p> + +<p>In silence Ko-tan led the way back to his own quarters in the palace. A +large chamber just outside the room toward which Ko-tan was leading his +guest was filled with chiefs and warriors awaiting the pleasure of their +ruler. As the two entered, an aisle was formed for them the length of +the chamber, down which they passed in silence.</p> + +<p>Close to the farther door and half hidden by the warriors who stood +before him was Lu-don, the high priest. Tarzan glimpsed him but briefly +but in that short period he was aware of a cunning and malevolent +expression upon the cruel countenance that he was subconsciously aware +boded him no good, and then with Ko-tan he passed into the adjoining +room and the hangings dropped.</p> + +<p>At the same moment the hideous headdress of an under priest appeared in +the entrance of the outer chamber. Its owner, pausing for a moment, +glanced quickly around the interior and then having located him whom he +sought moved rapidly in the direction of Lu-don. There was a whispered +conversation which was terminated by the high priest.</p> + +<p>"Return immediately to the quarters of the princess," he said, "and see +that the slave is sent to me at the temple at once." The under priest +turned and departed upon his mission while Lu-don also left the +apartment and directed his footsteps toward the sacred enclosure over +which he ruled.</p> + +<p>A half-hour later a warrior was ushered into the presence of Ko-tan. +"Lu-don, the high priest, desires the presence of Ko-tan, the king, in +the temple," he announced, "and it is his wish that he come alone."</p> + +<p>Ko-tan nodded to indicate that he accepted the command which even the +king must obey. "I will return presently, Dor-ul-Otho," he said to +Tarzan, "and in the meantime my warriors and my slaves are yours to +command."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Sentence_of_Death" id="The_Sentence_of_Death" />11 - The Sentence of Death</h2> + + +<p>But it was an hour before the king re-entered the apartment and in the +meantime the ape-man had occupied himself in examining the carvings upon +the walls and the numerous specimens of the handicraft of Pal-ul-donian +artisans which combined to impart an atmosphere of richness and luxury +to the apartment.</p> + +<p>The limestone of the country, close-grained and of marble whiteness yet +worked with comparative ease with crude implements, had been wrought by +cunning craftsmen into bowls and urns and vases of considerable grace +and beauty. Into the carved designs of many of these virgin gold had +been hammered, presenting the effect of a rich and magnificent +cloisonne. A barbarian himself the art of barbarians had always appealed +to the ape-man to whom they represented a natural expression of man's +love of the beautiful to even a greater extent than the studied and +artificial efforts of civilization. Here was the real art of old +masters, the other the cheap imitation of the chromo.</p> + +<p>It was while he was thus pleasurably engaged that Ko-tan returned. As +Tarzan, attracted by the movement of the hangings through which the king +entered, turned and faced him he was almost shocked by the remarkable +alteration of the king's appearance. His face was livid; his hands +trembled as with palsy, and his eyes were wide as with fright. His +appearance was one apparently of a combination of consuming anger and +withering fear. Tarzan looked at him questioningly.</p> + +<p>"You have had bad news, Ko-tan?" he asked.</p> + +<p>The king mumbled an unintelligible reply. Behind there thronged into the +apartment so great a number of warriors that they choked the +entrance-way. The king looked apprehensively to right and left. He cast +terrified glances at the ape-man and then raising his face and turning +his eyes upward he cried: "Jad-ben-Otho be my witness that I do not this +thing of my own accord." There was a moment's silence which was again +broken by Ko-tan. "Seize him," he cried to the warriors about him, "for +Lu-don, the high priest, swears that he is an impostor."</p> + +<p>To have offered armed resistance to this great concourse of warriors in +the very heart of the palace of their king would have been worse than +fatal. Already Tarzan had come far by his wits and now that within a few +hours he had had his hopes and his suspicions partially verified by the +vague admissions of O-lo-a he was impressed with the necessity of +inviting no mortal risk that he could avoid.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" he cried, raising his palm against them. "What is the meaning of +this?"</p> + +<p>"Lu-don claims he has proof that you are not the son of Jad-ben-Otho," +replied Ko-tan. "He demands that you be brought to the throneroom to +face your accusers. If you are what you claim to be none knows better +than you that you need have no fear in acquiescing to his demands, but +remember always that in such matters the high priest commands the king +and that I am only the bearer of these commands, not their author."</p> + +<p>Tarzan saw that Ko-tan was not entirely convinced of his duplicity as +was evidenced by his palpable design to play safe.</p> + +<p>"Let not your warriors seize me," he said to Ko-tan, "lest Jad-ben-Otho, +mistaking their intention, strike them dead." The effect of his words +was immediate upon the men in the front rank of those who faced him, +each seeming suddenly to acquire a new modesty that compelled him to +self-effacement behind those directly in his rear—a modesty that became +rapidly contagious.</p> + +<p>The ape-man smiled. "Fear not," he said, "I will go willingly to the +audience chamber to face the blasphemers who accuse me."</p> + +<p>Arrived at the great throneroom a new complication arose. Ko-tan would +not acknowledge the right of Lu-don to occupy the apex of the pyramid +and Lu-don would not consent to occupying an inferior position while +Tarzan, to remain consistent with his high claims, insisted that no one +should stand above him, but only to the ape-man was the humor of the +situation apparent.</p> + +<p>To relieve the situation Ja-don suggested that all three of them occupy +the throne, but this suggestion was repudiated by Ko-tan who argued that +no mortal other than a king of Pal-ul-don had ever sat upon the high +eminence, and that furthermore there was not room for three there.</p> + +<p>"But who," said Tarzan, "is my accuser and who is my judge?"</p> + +<p>"Lu-don is your accuser," explained Ko-tan.</p> + +<p>"And Lu-don is your judge," cried the high priest.</p> + +<p>"I am to be judged by him who accuses me then," said Tarzan. "It were +better to dispense then with any formalities and ask Lu-don to sentence +me." His tone was ironical and his sneering face, looking straight into +that of the high priest, but caused the latter's hatred to rise to still +greater proportions.</p> + +<p>It was evident that Ko-tan and his warriors saw the justice of Tarzan's +implied objection to this unfair method of dispensing justice. "Only +Ko-tan can judge in the throneroom of his palace," said Ja-don, "let him +hear Lu-don's charges and the testimony of his witnesses, and then let +Ko-tan's judgment be final."</p> + +<p>Ko-tan, however, was not particularly enthusiastic over the prospect of +sitting in trial upon one who might after all very possibly be the son +of his god, and so he temporized, seeking for an avenue of escape. "It +is purely a religious matter," he said, "and it is traditional that the +kings of Pal-ul-don interfere not in questions of the church."</p> + +<p>"Then let the trial be held in the temple," cried one of the chiefs, for +the warriors were as anxious as their king to be relieved of all +responsibility in the matter. This suggestion was more than satisfactory +to the high priest who inwardly condemned himself for not having thought +of it before.</p> + +<p>"It is true," he said, "this man's sin is against the temple. Let him be +dragged thither then for trial."</p> + +<p>"The son of Jad-ben-Otho will be dragged nowhere," cried Tarzan. "But +when this trial is over it is possible that the corpse of Lu-don, the +high priest, will be dragged from the temple of the god he would +desecrate. Think well, then, Lu-don before you commit this folly."</p> + +<p>His words, intended to frighten the high priest from his position failed +utterly in consummating their purpose. Lu-don showed no terror at the +suggestion the ape-man's words implied.</p> + +<p>"Here is one," thought Tarzan, "who, knowing more of his religion than +any of his fellows, realizes fully the falsity of my claims as he does +the falsity of the faith he preaches."</p> + +<p>He realized, however, that his only hope lay in seeming indifference to +the charges. Ko-tan and the warriors were still under the spell of their +belief in him and upon this fact must he depend in the final act of the +drama that Lu-don was staging for his rescue from the jealous priest +whom he knew had already passed sentence upon him in his own heart.</p> + +<p>With a shrug he descended the steps of the pyramid. "It matters not to +Dor-ul-Otho," he said, "where Lu-don enrages his god, for Jad-ben-Otho +can reach as easily into the chambers of the temple as into the +throneroom of Ko-tan."</p> + +<p>Immeasurably relieved by this easy solution of their problem the king +and the warriors thronged from the throneroom toward the temple grounds, +their faith in Tarzan increased by his apparent indifference to the +charges against him. Lu-don led them to the largest of the altar courts.</p> + +<p>Taking his place behind the western altar he motioned Ko-tan to a place +upon the platform at the left hand of the altar and directed Tarzan to a +similar place at the right.</p> + +<p>As Tarzan ascended the platform his eyes narrowed angrily at the sight +which met them. The basin hollowed in the top of the altar was filled +with water in which floated the naked corpse of a new-born babe. "What +means this?" he cried angrily, turning upon Lu-don.</p> + +<p>The latter smiled malevolently. "That you do not know," he replied, "is +but added evidence of the falsity of your claim. He who poses as the son +of god did not know that as the last rays of the setting sun flood the +eastern altar of the temple the lifeblood of an adult reddens the white +stone for the edification of Jad-ben-Otho, and that when the sun rises +again from the body of its maker it looks first upon this western altar +and rejoices in the death of a new-born babe each day, the ghost of +which accompanies it across the heavens by day as the ghost of the adult +returns with it to Jad-ben-Otho at night.</p> + +<p>"Even the little children of the Ho-don know these things, while he who +claims to be the son of Jad-ben-Otho knows them not; and if this proof +be not enough, there is more. Come, Waz-don," he cried, pointing to a +tall slave who stood with a group of other blacks and priests on the +temple floor at the left of the altar.</p> + +<p>The fellow came forward fearfully. "Tell us what you know of this +creature," cried Lu-don, pointing to Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"I have seen him before," said the Waz-don. "I am of the tribe of +Kor-ul-lul, and one day recently a party of which I was one encountered +a few of the warriors of the Kor-ul-ja upon the ridge which separates +our villages. Among the enemy was this strange creature whom they called +Tarzan-jad-guru; and terrible indeed was he for he fought with the +strength of many men so that it required twenty of us to subdue him. But +he did not fight as a god fights, and when a club struck him upon the +head he sank unconscious as might an ordinary mortal.</p> + +<p>"We carried him with us to our village as a prisoner but he escaped +after cutting off the head of the warrior we left to guard him and +carrying it down into the gorge and tying it to the branch of a tree +upon the opposite side."</p> + +<p>"The word of a slave against that of a god!" cried Ja-don, who had shown +previously a friendly interest in the pseudo godling.</p> + +<p>"It is only a step in the progress toward truth," interjected Lu-don. +"Possibly the evidence of the only princess of the house of Ko-tan will +have greater weight with the great chief from the north, though the +father of a son who fled the holy offer of the priesthood may not +receive with willing ears any testimony against another blasphemer."</p> + +<p>Ja-don's hand leaped to his knife, but the warriors next him laid +detaining fingers upon his arms. "You are in the temple of Jad-ben-Otho, +Ja-don," they cautioned and the great chief was forced to swallow +Lu-don's affront though it left in his heart bitter hatred of the high +priest.</p> + +<p>And now Ko-tan turned toward Lu-don. "What knoweth my daughter of this +matter?" he asked. "You would not bring a princess of my house to +testify thus publicly?"</p> + +<p>"No," replied Lu-don, "not in person, but I have here one who will +testify for her." He beckoned to an under priest. "Fetch the slave of +the princess," he said.</p> + +<p>His grotesque headdress adding a touch of the hideous to the scene, the +priest stepped forward dragging the reluctant Pan-at-lee by the wrist.</p> + +<p>"The Princess O-lo-a was alone in the Forbidden Garden with but this one +slave," explained the priest, "when there suddenly appeared from the +foliage nearby this creature who claims to be the Dor-ul-Otho. When the +slave saw him the princess says that she cried aloud in startled +recognition and called the creature by name—Tarzan-jad-guru—the same +name that the slave from Kor-ul-lul gave him. This woman is not from +Kor-ul-lul but from Kor-ul-ja, the very tribe with which the Kor-ul-lul +says the creature was associating when he first saw him. And further the +princess said that when this woman, whose name is Pan-at-lee, was +brought to her yesterday she told a strange story of having been rescued +from a Tor-o-don in the Kor-ul-gryf by a creature such as this, whom she +spoke of then as Tarzan-jad-guru; and of how the two were pursued in the +bottom of the gorge by two monster gryfs, and of how the man led them +away while Pan-at-lee escaped, only to be taken prisoner in the +Kor-ul-lul as she was seeking to return to her own tribe.</p> + +<p>"Is it not plain now," cried Lu-don, "that this creature is no god. Did +he tell you that he was the son of god?" he almost shouted, turning +suddenly upon Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>The girl shrank back terrified. "Answer me, slave!" cried the high +priest.</p> + +<p>"He seemed more than mortal," parried Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>"Did he tell you that he was the son of god? Answer my question," +insisted Lu-don.</p> + +<p>"No," she admitted in a low voice, casting an appealing look of +forgiveness at Tarzan who returned a smile of encouragement and +friendship.</p> + +<p>"That is no proof that he is not the son of god," cried Ja-don. "Dost +think Jad-ben-Otho goes about crying 'I am god! I am god!' Hast ever +heard him Lu-don? No, you have not. Why should his son do that which the +father does not do?"</p> + +<p>"Enough," cried Lu-don. "The evidence is clear. The creature is an +impostor and I, the head priest of Jad-ben-Otho in the city of A-lur, do +condemn him to die." There was a moment's silence during which Lu-don +evidently paused for the dramatic effect of his climax. "And if I am +wrong may Jad-ben-Otho pierce my heart with his lightnings as I stand +here before you all."</p> + +<p>The lapping of the wavelets of the lake against the foot of the palace +wall was distinctly audible in the utter and almost breathless silence +which ensued. Lu-don stood with his face turned toward the heavens and +his arms outstretched in the attitude of one who bares his breast to the +dagger of an executioner. The warriors and the priests and the slaves +gathered in the sacred court awaited the consuming vengeance of their +god.</p> + +<p>It was Tarzan who broke the silence. "Your god ignores you Lu-don," he +taunted, with a sneer that he meant to still further anger the high +priest, "he ignores you and I can prove it before the eyes of your +priests and your people."</p> + +<p>"Prove it, blasphemer! How can you prove it?"</p> + +<p>"You have called me a blasphemer," replied Tarzan, "you have proved to +your own satisfaction that I am an impostor, that I, an ordinary mortal, +have posed as the son of god. Demand then that Jad-ben-Otho uphold his +godship and the dignity of his priesthood by directing his consuming +fires through my own bosom."</p> + +<p>Again there ensued a brief silence while the onlookers waited for Lu-don +to thus consummate the destruction of this presumptuous impostor.</p> + +<p>"You dare not," taunted Tarzan, "for you know that I would be struck +dead no quicker than were you."</p> + +<p>"You lie," cried Lu-don, "and I would do it had I not but just received +a message from Jad-ben-Otho directing that your fate be different."</p> + +<p>A chorus of admiring and reverential "Ahs" arose from the priesthood. +Ko-tan and his warriors were in a state of mental confusion. Secretly +they hated and feared Lu-don, but so ingrained was their sense of +reverence for the office of the high priest that none dared raise a +voice against him.</p> + +<p>None? Well, there was Ja-don, fearless old Lion-man of the north. "The +proposition was a fair one," he cried. "Invoke the lightnings of +Jad-ben-Otho upon this man if you would ever convince us of his guilt."</p> + +<p>"Enough of this," snapped Lu-don. "Since when was Ja-don created high +priest? Seize the prisoner," he cried to the priests and warriors, "and +on the morrow he shall die in the manner that Jad-ben-Otho has willed."</p> + +<p>There was no immediate movement on the part of any of the warriors to +obey the high priest's command, but the lesser priests on the other +hand, imbued with the courage of fanaticism leaped eagerly forward like +a flock of hideous harpies to seize upon their prey.</p> + +<p>The game was up. That Tarzan knew. No longer could cunning and diplomacy +usurp the functions of the weapons of defense he best loved. And so the +first hideous priest who leaped to the platform was confronted by no +suave ambassador from heaven, but rather a grim and ferocious beast +whose temper savored more of hell.</p> + +<p>The altar stood close to the western wall of the enclosure. There was +just room between the two for the high priest to stand during the +performance of the sacrificial ceremonies and only Lu-don stood there +now behind Tarzan, while before him were perhaps two hundred warriors +and priests.</p> + +<p>The presumptuous one who would have had the glory of first laying +arresting hands upon the blasphemous impersonator rushed forward with +outstretched hand to seize the ape-man. Instead it was he who was +seized; seized by steel fingers that snapped him up as though he had +been a dummy of straw, grasped him by one leg and the harness at his +back and raised him with giant arms high above the altar. Close at his +heels were others ready to seize the ape-man and drag him down, and +beyond the altar was Lu-don with drawn knife advancing toward him.</p> + +<p>There was no instant to waste, nor was it the way of the ape-man to +fritter away precious moments in the uncertainty of belated decision. +Before Lu-don or any other could guess what was in the mind of the +condemned, Tarzan with all the force of his great muscles dashed the +screaming hierophant in the face of the high priest, and, as though the +two actions were one, so quickly did he move, he had leaped to the top +of the altar and from there to a handhold upon the summit of the temple +wall. As he gained a footing there he turned and looked down upon those +beneath. For a moment he stood in silence and then he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Who dare believe," he cried, "that Jad-ben-Otho would forsake his son?" +and then he dropped from their sight upon the other side.</p> + +<p>There were two at least left within the enclosure whose hearts leaped +with involuntary elation at the success of the ape-man's maneuver, and +one of them smiled openly. This was Ja-don, and the other, Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>The brains of the priest that Tarzan had thrown at the head of Lu-don +had been dashed out against the temple wall while the high priest +himself had escaped with only a few bruises, sustained in his fall to +the hard pavement. Quickly scrambling to his feet he looked around in +fear, in terror and finally in bewilderment, for he had not been a +witness to the ape-man's escape. "Seize him," he cried; "seize the +blasphemer," and he continued to look around in search of his victim +with such a ridiculous expression of bewilderment that more than a +single warrior was compelled to hide his smiles beneath his palm.</p> + +<p>The priests were rushing around wildly, exhorting the warriors to pursue +the fugitive but these awaited now stolidly the command of their king or +high priest. Ko-tan, more or less secretly pleased by the discomfiture +of Lu-don, waited for that worthy to give the necessary directions which +he presently did when one of his acolytes excitedly explained to him the +manner of Tarzan's escape.</p> + +<p>Instantly the necessary orders were issued and priests and warriors +sought the temple exit in pursuit of the ape-man. His departing words, +hurled at them from the summit of the temple wall, had had little effect +in impressing the majority that his claims had not been disproven by +Lu-don, but in the hearts of the warriors was admiration for a brave man +and in many the same unholy gratification that had risen in that of +their ruler at the discomfiture of Lu-don.</p> + +<p>A careful search of the temple grounds revealed no trace of the quarry. +The secret recesses of the subterranean chambers, familiar only to the +priesthood, were examined by these while the warriors scattered through +the palace and the palace grounds without the temple. Swift runners were +dispatched to the city to arouse the people there that all might be upon +the lookout for Tarzan the Terrible. The story of his imposture and of +his escape, and the tales that the Waz-don slaves had brought into the +city concerning him were soon spread throughout A-lur, nor did they lose +aught in the spreading, so that before an hour had passed the women and +children were hiding behind barred doorways while the warriors crept +apprehensively through the streets expecting momentarily to be pounced +upon by a ferocious demon who, bare-handed, did victorious battle with +huge gryfs and whose lightest pastime consisted in tearing strong men +limb from limb.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Giant_Stranger" id="The_Giant_Stranger" />12 - The Giant Stranger</h2> + + +<p>And while the warriors and the priests of A-lur searched the temple and +the palace and the city for the vanished ape-man there entered the head +of Kor-ul-ja down the precipitous trail from the mountains, a naked +stranger bearing an Enfield upon his back. Silently he moved downward +toward the bottom of the gorge and there where the ancient trail +unfolded more levelly before him he swung along with easy strides, +though always with the utmost alertness against possible dangers. A +gentle breeze came down from the mountains behind him so that only his +ears and his eyes were of value in detecting the presence of danger +ahead. Generally the trail followed along the banks of the winding +brooklet at the bottom of the gorge, but in some places where the waters +tumbled over a precipitous ledge the trail made a detour along the side +of the gorge, and again it wound in and out among rocky outcroppings, +and presently where it rounded sharply the projecting shoulder of a +cliff the stranger came suddenly face to face with one who was ascending +the gorge.</p> + +<p>Separated by a hundred paces the two halted simultaneously. Before him +the stranger saw a tall white warrior, naked but for a loin cloth, cross +belts, and a girdle. The man was armed with a heavy, knotted club and a +short knife, the latter hanging in its sheath at his left hip from the +end of one of his cross belts, the opposite belt supporting a leathern +pouch at his right side. It was Ta-den hunting alone in the gorge of his +friend, the chief of Kor-ul-ja. He contemplated the stranger with +surprise but no wonder, since he recognized in him a member of the race +with which his experience of Tarzan the Terrible had made him familiar +and also, thanks to his friendship for the ape-man, he looked upon the +newcomer without hostility.</p> + +<p>The latter was the first to make outward sign of his intentions, raising +his palm toward Ta-den in that gesture which has been a symbol of peace +from pole to pole since man ceased to walk upon his knuckles. +Simultaneously he advanced a few paces and halted.</p> + +<p>Ta-den, assuming that one so like Tarzan the Terrible must be a +fellow-tribesman of his lost friend, was more than glad to accept this +overture of peace, the sign of which he returned in kind as he ascended +the trail to where the other stood. "Who are you?" he asked, but the +newcomer only shook his head to indicate that he did not understand.</p> + +<p>By signs he tried to carry to the Ho-don the fact that he was following +a trail that had led him over a period of many days from some place +beyond the mountains and Ta-den was convinced that the newcomer sought +Tarzan-jad-guru. He wished, however, that he might discover whether as +friend or foe.</p> + +<p>The stranger perceived the Ho-don's prehensile thumbs and great toes and +his long tail with an astonishment which he sought to conceal, but +greater than all was the sense of relief that the first inhabitant of +this strange country whom he had met had proven friendly, so greatly +would he have been handicapped by the necessity for forcing his way +through a hostile land.</p> + +<p>Ta-den, who had been hunting for some of the smaller mammals, the meat +of which is especially relished by the Ho-don, forgot his intended sport +in the greater interest of his new discovery. He would take the stranger +to Om-at and possibly together the two would find some way of +discovering the true intentions of the newcomer. And so again through +signs he apprised the other that he would accompany him and together +they descended toward the cliffs of Om-at's people.</p> + +<p>As they approached these they came upon the women and children working +under guard of the old men and the youths—gathering the wild fruits and +herbs which constitute a part of their diet, as well as tending the +small acres of growing crops which they cultivate. The fields lay in +small level patches that had been cleared of trees and brush. Their farm +implements consisted of metal-shod poles which bore a closer resemblance +to spears than to tools of peaceful agriculture. Supplementing these +were others with flattened blades that were neither hoes nor spades, but +instead possessed the appearance of an unhappy attempt to combine the +two implements in one.</p> + +<p>At first sight of these people the stranger halted and unslung his bow +for these creatures were black as night, their bodies entirely covered +with hair. But Ta-den, interpreting the doubt in the other's mind, +reassured him with a gesture and a smile. The Waz-don, however, gathered +around excitedly jabbering questions in a language which the stranger +discovered his guide understood though it was entirely unintelligible to +the former. They made no attempt to molest him and he was now sure that +he had fallen among a peaceful and friendly people.</p> + +<p>It was but a short distance now to the caves and when they reached these +Ta-den led the way aloft upon the wooden pegs, assured that this +creature whom he had discovered would have no more difficulty in +following him than had Tarzan the Terrible. Nor was he mistaken for the +other mounted with ease until presently the two stood within the recess +before the cave of Om-at, the chief.</p> + +<p>The latter was not there and it was mid-afternoon before he returned, +but in the meantime many warriors came to look upon the visitor and in +each instance the latter was more thoroughly impressed with the friendly +and peaceable spirit of his hosts, little guessing that he was being +entertained by a ferocious and warlike tribe who never before the coming +of Ta-den and Tarzan had suffered a stranger among them.</p> + +<p>At last Om-at returned and the guest sensed intuitively that he was in +the presence of a great man among these people, possibly a chief or +king, for not only did the attitude of the other black warriors indicate +this but it was written also in the mien and bearing of the splendid +creature who stood looking at him while Ta-den explained the +circumstances of their meeting. "And I believe, Om-at," concluded the +Ho-don, "that he seeks Tarzan the Terrible."</p> + +<p>At the sound of that name, the first intelligible word that had fallen +upon the ears of the stranger since he had come among them, his face +lightened. "Tarzan!" he cried, "Tarzan of the Apes!" and by signs he +tried to tell them that it was he whom he sought.</p> + +<p>They understood, and also they guessed from the expression of his face +that he sought Tarzan from motives of affection rather than the reverse, +but of this Om-at wished to make sure. He pointed to the stranger's +knife, and repeating Tarzan's name, seized Ta-den and pretended to stab +him, immediately turning questioningly toward the stranger.</p> + +<p>The latter shook his head vehemently and then first placing a hand above +his heart he raised his palm in the symbol of peace.</p> + +<p>"He is a friend of Tarzan-jad-guru," exclaimed Ta-den.</p> + +<p>"Either a friend or a great liar," replied Om-at.</p> + +<p>"Tarzan," continued the stranger, "you know him? He lives? O God, if I +could only speak your language." And again reverting to sign language he +sought to ascertain where Tarzan was. He would pronounce the name and +point in different directions, in the cave, down into the gorge, back +toward the mountains, or out upon the valley below, and each time he +would raise his brows questioningly and voice the universal "eh?" of +interrogation which they could not fail to understand. But always Om-at +shook his head and spread his palms in a gesture which indicated that +while he understood the question he was ignorant as to the whereabouts +of the ape-man, and then the black chief attempted as best he might to +explain to the stranger what he knew of the whereabouts of Tarzan.</p> + +<p>He called the newcomer Jar-don, which in the language of Pal-ul-don +means "stranger," and he pointed to the sun and said as. This he +repeated several times and then he held up one hand with the fingers +outspread and touching them one by one, including the thumb, repeated +the word adenen until the stranger understood that he meant five. Again +he pointed to the sun and describing an arc with his forefinger starting +at the eastern horizon and terminating at the western, he repeated again +the words as adenen. It was plain to the stranger that the words meant +that the sun had crossed the heavens five times. In other words, five +days had passed. Om-at then pointed to the cave where they stood, +pronouncing Tarzan's name and imitating a walking man with the first and +second fingers of his right hand upon the floor of the recess, sought to +show that Tarzan had walked out of the cave and climbed upward on the +pegs five days before, but this was as far as the sign language would +permit him to go.</p> + +<p>This far the stranger followed him and, indicating that he understood he +pointed to himself and then indicating the pegs leading above announced +that he would follow Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"Let us go with him," said Om-at, "for as yet we have not punished the +Kor-ul-lul for killing our friend and ally."</p> + +<p>"Persuade him to wait until morning," said Ta-den, "that you may take +with you many warriors and make a great raid upon the Kor-ul-lul, and +this time, Om-at, do not kill your prisoners. Take as many as you can +alive and from some of them we may learn the fate of Tarzan-jad-guru."</p> + +<p>"Great is the wisdom of the Ho-don," replied Om-at. "It shall be as you +say, and having made prisoners of all the Kor-ul-lul we shall make them +tell us what we wish to know. And then we shall march them to the rim of +Kor-ul-gryf and push them over the edge of the cliff."</p> + +<p>Ta-den smiled. He knew that they would not take prisoner all the +Kor-ul-lul warriors—that they would be fortunate if they took one and +it was also possible that they might even be driven back in defeat, but +he knew too that Om-at would not hesitate to carry out his threat if he +had the opportunity, so implacable was the hatred of these neighbors for +each other.</p> + +<p>It was not difficult to explain Om-at's plan to the stranger or to win +his consent since he was aware, when the great black had made it plain +that they would be accompanied by many warriors, that their venture +would probably lead them into a hostile country and every safeguard that +he could employ he was glad to avail himself of, since the furtherance +of his quest was the paramount issue.</p> + +<p>He slept that night upon a pile of furs in one of the compartments of +Om-at's ancestral cave, and early the next day following the morning +meal they sallied forth, a hundred savage warriors swarming up the face +of the sheer cliff and out upon the summit of the ridge, the main body +preceded by two warriors whose duties coincided with those of the point +of modern military maneuvers, safeguarding the column against the danger +of too sudden contact with the enemy.</p> + +<p>Across the ridge they went and down into the Kor-ul-lul and there almost +immediately they came upon a lone and unarmed Waz-don who was making his +way fearfully up the gorge toward the village of his tribe. Him they +took prisoner which, strangely, only added to his terror since from the +moment that he had seen them and realized that escape was impossible, he +had expected to be slain immediately.</p> + +<p>"Take him back to Kor-ul-ja," said Om-at, to one of his warriors, "and +hold him there unharmed until I return."</p> + +<p>And so the puzzled Kor-ul-lul was led away while the savage company +moved stealthily from tree to tree in its closer advance upon the +village. Fortune smiled upon Om-at in that it gave him quickly what he +sought—a battle royal, for they had not yet come in sight of the caves +of the Kor-ul-lul when they encountered a considerable band of warriors +headed down the gorge upon some expedition.</p> + +<p>Like shadows the Kor-ul-ja melted into the concealment of the foliage +upon either side of the trail. Ignorant of impending danger, safe in the +knowledge that they trod their own domain where each rock and stone was +as familiar as the features of their mates, the Kor-ul-lul walked +innocently into the ambush. Suddenly the quiet of that seeming peace was +shattered by a savage cry and a hurled club felled a Kor-ul-lul.</p> + +<p>The cry was a signal for a savage chorus from a hundred Kor-ul-ja +throats with which were soon mingled the war cries of their enemies. The +air was filled with flying clubs and then as the two forces mingled, the +battle resolved itself into a number of individual encounters as each +warrior singled out a foe and closed upon him. Knives gleamed and +flashed in the mottling sunlight that filtered through the foliage of +the trees above. Sleek black coats were streaked with crimson stains.</p> + +<p>In the thick of the fight the smooth brown skin of the stranger mingled +with the black bodies of friend and foe. Only his keen eyes and his +quick wit had shown him how to differentiate between Kor-ul-lul and +Kor-ul-ja since with the single exception of apparel they were +identical, but at the first rush of the enemy he had noticed that their +loin cloths were not of the leopard-matted hides such as were worn by +his allies.</p> + +<p>Om-at, after dispatching his first antagonist, glanced at Jar-don. "He +fights with the ferocity of jato," mused the chief. "Powerful indeed +must be the tribe from which he and Tarzan-jad-guru come," and then his +whole attention was occupied by a new assailant.</p> + +<p>The fighters surged to and fro through the forest until those who +survived were spent with exhaustion. All but the stranger who seemed not +to know the sense of fatigue. He fought on when each new antagonist +would have gladly quit, and when there were no more Kor-ul-lul who were +not engaged, he leaped upon those who stood pantingly facing the +exhausted Kor-ul-ja.</p> + +<p>And always he carried upon his back the peculiar thing which Om-at had +thought was some manner of strange weapon but the purpose of which he +could not now account for in view of the fact that Jar-don never used +it, and that for the most part it seemed but a nuisance and needless +encumbrance since it banged and smashed against its owner as he leaped, +catlike, hither and thither in the course of his victorious duels. The +bow and arrows he had tossed aside at the beginning of the fight but the +Enfield he would not discard, for where he went he meant that it should +go until its mission had been fulfilled.</p> + +<p>Presently the Kor-ul-ja, seemingly shamed by the example of Jar-don +closed once more with the enemy, but the latter, moved no doubt to +terror by the presence of the stranger, a tireless demon who appeared +invulnerable to their attacks, lost heart and sought to flee. And then +it was that at Om-at's command his warriors surrounded a half-dozen of +the most exhausted and made them prisoners.</p> + +<p>It was a tired, bloody, and elated company that returned victorious to +the Kor-ul-ja. Twenty of their number were carried back and six of these +were dead men. It was the most glorious and successful raid that the +Kor-ul-ja had made upon the Kor-ul-lul in the memory of man, and it +marked Om-at as the greatest of chiefs, but that fierce warrior knew +that advantage had lain upon his side largely because of the presence of +his strange ally. Nor did he hesitate to give credit where credit +belonged, with the result that Jar-don and his exploits were upon the +tongue of every member of the tribe of Kor-ul-ja and great was the fame +of the race that could produce two such as he and Tarzan-jad-guru.</p> + +<p>And in the gorge of Kor-ul-lul beyond the ridge the survivors spoke in +bated breath of this second demon that had joined forces with their +ancient enemy.</p> + +<p>Returned to his cave Om-at caused the Kor-ul-lul prisoners to be brought +into his presence singly, and each he questioned as to the fate of +Tarzan. Without exception they told him the same story—that Tarzan had +been taken prisoner by them five days before but that he had slain the +warrior left to guard him and escaped, carrying the head of the +unfortunate sentry to the opposite side of Kor-ul-lul where he had left +it suspended by its hair from the branch of a tree. But what had become +of him after, they did not know; not one of them, until the last +prisoner was examined, he whom they had taken first—the unarmed +Kor-ul-lul making his way from the direction of the Valley of +Jad-ben-Otho toward the caves of his people.</p> + +<p>This one, when he discovered the purpose of their questioning, bartered +with them for the lives and liberty of himself and his fellows. "I can +tell you much of this terrible man of whom you ask, Kor-ul-ja," he said. +"I saw him yesterday and I know where he is, and if you will promise to +let me and my fellows return in safety to the caves of our ancestors I +will tell you all, and truthfully, that which I know."</p> + +<p>"You will tell us anyway," replied Om-at, "or we shall kill you."</p> + +<p>"You will kill me anyway," retorted the prisoner, "unless you make me +this promise; so if I am to be killed the thing I know shall go with +me."</p> + +<p>"He is right, Om-at," said Ta-den, "promise him that they shall have +their liberty."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Om-at. "Speak Kor-ul-lul, and when you have told me +all, you and your fellows may return unharmed to your tribe."</p> + +<p>"It was thus," commenced the prisoner. "Three days since I was hunting +with a party of my fellows near the mouth of Kor-ul-lul not far from +where you captured me this morning, when we were surprised and set upon +by a large number of Ho-don who took us prisoners and carried us to +A-lur where a few were chosen to be slaves and the rest were cast into a +chamber beneath the temple where are held for sacrifice the victims that +are offered by the Ho-don to Jad-ben-Otho upon the sacrificial altars of +the temple at A-lur.</p> + +<p>"It seemed then that indeed was my fate sealed and that lucky were those +who had been selected for slaves among the Ho-don, for they at least +might hope to escape—those in the chamber with me must be without hope.</p> + +<p>"But yesterday a strange thing happened. There came to the temple, +accompanied by all the priests and by the king and many of his warriors, +one whom all did great reverence, and when he came to the barred gateway +leading to the chamber in which we wretched ones awaited our fate, I saw +to my surprise that it was none other than that terrible man who had so +recently been a prisoner in the village of Kor-ul-lul—he whom you call +Tarzan-jad-guru but whom they addressed as Dor-ul-Otho. And he looked +upon us and questioned the high priest and when he was told of the +purpose for which we were imprisoned there he grew angry and cried that +it was not the will of Jad-ben-Otho that his people be thus sacrificed, +and he commanded the high priest to liberate us, and this was done.</p> + +<p>"The Ho-don prisoners were permitted to return to their homes and we +were led beyond the City of A-lur and set upon our way toward +Kor-ul-lul. There were three of us, but many are the dangers that lie +between A-lur and Kor-ul-lul and we were only three and unarmed. +Therefore none of us reached the village of our people and only one of +us lives. I have spoken."</p> + +<p>"That is all you know concerning Tarzan-jad-guru?" asked Om-at.</p> + +<p>"That is all I know," replied the prisoner, "other than that he whom +they call Lu-don, the high priest at A-lur, was very angry, and that one +of the two priests who guided us out of the city said to the other that +the stranger was not Dor-ul-Otho at all; that Lu-don had said so and +that he had also said that he would expose him and that he should be +punished with death for his presumption. That is all they said within my +hearing.</p> + +<p>"And now, chief of Kor-ul-ja, let us depart."</p> + +<p>Om-at nodded. "Go your way," he said, "and Ab-on, send warriors to guard +them until they are safely within the Kor-ul-lul.</p> + +<p>"Jar-don," he said beckoning to the stranger, "come with me," and rising +he led the way toward the summit of the cliff, and when they stood upon +the ridge Om-at pointed down into the valley toward the City of A-lur +gleaming in the light of the western sun.</p> + +<p>"There is Tarzan-jad-guru," he said, and Jar-don understood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Masquerader" id="The_Masquerader" />13 - The Masquerader</h2> + + +<p>As Tarzan dropped to the ground beyond the temple wall there was in his +mind no intention to escape from the City of A-lur until he had +satisfied himself that his mate was not a prisoner there, but how, in +this strange city in which every man's hand must be now against him, he +was to live and prosecute his search was far from clear to him.</p> + +<p>There was only one place of which he knew that he might find even +temporary sanctuary and that was the Forbidden Garden of the king. There +was thick shrubbery in which a man might hide, and water and fruits. A +cunning jungle creature, if he could reach the spot unsuspected, might +remain concealed there for a considerable time, but how he was to +traverse the distance between the temple grounds and the garden unseen +was a question the seriousness of which he fully appreciated.</p> + +<p>"Mighty is Tarzan," he soliloquized, "in his native jungle, but in the +cities of man he is little better than they."</p> + +<p>Depending upon his keen observation and sense of location he felt safe +in assuming that he could reach the palace grounds by means of the +subterranean corridors and chambers of the temple through which he had +been conducted the day before, nor any slightest detail of which had +escaped his keen eyes. That would be better, he reasoned, than crossing +the open grounds above where his pursuers would naturally immediately +follow him from the temple and quickly discover him.</p> + +<p>And so a dozen paces from the temple wall he disappeared from sight of +any chance observer above, down one of the stone stairways that led to +the apartments beneath. The way that he had been conducted the previous +day had followed the windings and turnings of numerous corridors and +apartments, but Tarzan, sure of himself in such matters, retraced the +route accurately without hesitation.</p> + +<p>He had little fear of immediate apprehension here since he believed that +all the priests of the temple had assembled in the court above to +witness his trial and his humiliation and his death, and with this idea +firmly implanted in his mind he rounded the turn of the corridor and +came face to face with an under priest, his grotesque headdress +concealing whatever emotion the sight of Tarzan may have aroused.</p> + +<p>However, Tarzan had one advantage over the masked votary of Jad-ben-Otho +in that the moment he saw the priest he knew his intention concerning +him, and therefore was not compelled to delay action. And so it was that +before the priest could determine on any suitable line of conduct in the +premises a long, keen knife had been slipped into his heart.</p> + +<p>As the body lunged toward the floor Tarzan caught it and snatched the +headdress from its shoulders, for the first sight of the creature had +suggested to his ever-alert mind a bold scheme for deceiving his +enemies.</p> + +<p>The headdress saved from such possible damage as it must have sustained +had it fallen to the floor with the body of its owner, Tarzan +relinquished his hold upon the corpse, set the headdress carefully upon +the floor and stooping down severed the tail of the Ho-don close to its +root. Near by at his right was a small chamber from which the priest had +evidently just emerged and into this Tarzan dragged the corpse, the +headdress, and the tail.</p> + +<p>Quickly cutting a thin strip of hide from the loin cloth of the priest, +Tarzan tied it securely about the upper end of the severed member and +then tucking the tail under his loin cloth behind him, secured it in +place as best he could. Then he fitted the headdress over his shoulders +and stepped from the apartment, to all appearances a priest of the +temple of Jad-ben-Otho unless one examined too closely his thumbs and +his great toes.</p> + +<p>He had noticed that among both the Ho-don and the Waz-don it was not at +all unusual that the end of the tail be carried in one hand, and so he +caught his own tail up thus lest the lifeless appearance of it dragging +along behind him should arouse suspicion.</p> + +<p>Passing along the corridor and through the various chambers he emerged +at last into the palace grounds beyond the temple. The pursuit had not +yet reached this point though he was conscious of a commotion not far +behind him. He met now both warriors and slaves but none gave him more +than a passing glance, a priest being too common a sight about the +palace.</p> + +<p>And so, passing the guards unchallenged, he came at last to the inner +entrance to the Forbidden Garden and there he paused and scanned quickly +that portion of the beautiful spot that lay before his eyes. To his +relief it seemed unoccupied and congratulating himself upon the ease +with which he had so far outwitted the high powers of A-lur he moved +rapidly to the opposite end of the enclosure. Here he found a patch of +flowering shrubbery that might safely have concealed a dozen men.</p> + +<p>Crawling well within he removed the uncomfortable headdress and sat down +to await whatever eventualities fate might have in store for him the +while he formulated plans for the future. The one night that he had +spent in A-lur had kept him up to a late hour, apprising him of the fact +that while there were few abroad in the temple grounds at night, there +were yet enough to make it possible for him to fare forth under cover of +his disguise without attracting the unpleasant attention of the guards, +and, too, he had noticed that the priesthood constituted a privileged +class that seemed to come and go at will and unchallenged throughout the +palace as well as the temple. Altogether then, he decided, night +furnished the most propitious hours for his investigation—by day he +could lie up in the shrubbery of the Forbidden Garden, reasonably free +from detection. From beyond the garden he heard the voices of men +calling to one another both far and near, and he guessed that diligent +was the search that was being prosecuted for him.</p> + +<p>The idle moments afforded him an opportunity to evolve a more +satisfactory scheme for attaching his stolen caudal appendage. He +arranged it in such a way that it might be quickly assumed or discarded, +and this done he fell to examining the weird mask that had so +effectively hidden his features.</p> + +<p>The thing had been very cunningly wrought from a single block of wood, +very probably a section of a tree, upon which the features had been +carved and afterward the interior hollowed out until only a +comparatively thin shell remained. Two-semicircular notches had been +rounded out from opposite sides of the lower edge. These fitted snugly +over his shoulders, aprons of wood extending downward a few inches upon +his chest and back. From these aprons hung long tassels or switches of +hair tapering from the outer edges toward the center which reached below +the bottom of his torso. It required but the most cursory examination to +indicate to the ape-man that these ornaments consisted of human scalps, +taken, doubtless, from the heads of the sacrifices upon the eastern +altars. The headdress itself had been carved to depict in formal design +a hideous face that suggested both man and gryf. There were the three +white horns, the yellow face with the blue bands encircling the eyes and +the red hood which took the form of the posterior and anterior aprons.</p> + +<p>As Tarzan sat within the concealing foliage of the shrubbery meditating +upon the hideous priest-mask which he held in his hands he became aware +that he was not alone in the garden. He sensed another presence and +presently his trained ears detected the slow approach of naked feet +across the sward. At first he suspected that it might be one stealthily +searching the Forbidden Garden for him but a little later the figure +came within the limited area of his vision which was circumscribed by +stems and foliage and flowers. He saw then that it was the princess +O-lo-a and that she was alone and walking with bowed head as though in +meditation—sorrowful meditation for there were traces of tears upon her +lids.</p> + +<p>Shortly after his ears warned him that others had entered the +garden—men they were and their footsteps proclaimed that they walked +neither slowly nor meditatively. They came directly toward the princess +and when Tarzan could see them he discovered that both were priests.</p> + +<p>"O-lo-a, Princess of Pal-ul-don," said one, addressing her, "the +stranger who told us that he was the son of Jad-ben-Otho has but just +fled from the wrath of Lu-don, the high priest, who exposed him and all +his wicked blasphemy. The temple, and the palace, and the city are being +searched and we have been sent to search the Forbidden Garden, since +Ko-tan, the king, said that only this morning he found him here, though +how he passed the guards he could not guess."</p> + +<p>"He is not here," said O-lo-a. "I have been in the garden for some time +and have seen nor heard no other than myself. However, search it if you +will."</p> + +<p>"No," said the priest who had before spoken, "it is not necessary since +he could not have entered without your knowledge and the connivance of +the guards, and even had he, the priest who preceded us must have seen +him."</p> + +<p>"What priest?" asked O-lo-a.</p> + +<p>"One passed the guards shortly before us," explained the man.</p> + +<p>"I did not see him," said O-lo-a.</p> + +<p>"Doubtless he left by another exit," remarked the second priest.</p> + +<p>"Yes, doubtless," acquiesced O-lo-a, "but it is strange that I did not +see him." The two priests made their obeisance and turned to depart.</p> + +<p>"Stupid as Buto, the rhinoceros," soliloquized Tarzan, who considered +Buto a very stupid creature indeed. "It should be easy to outwit such as +these."</p> + +<p>The priests had scarce departed when there came the sound of feet +running rapidly across the garden in the direction of the princess to an +accompaniment of rapid breathing as of one almost spent, either from +fatigue or excitement.</p> + +<p>"Pan-at-lee," exclaimed O-lo-a, "what has happened? You look as +terrified as the doe for which you were named!"</p> + +<p>"O Princess of Pal-ul-don," cried Pan-at-lee, "they would have killed +him in the temple. They would have killed the wondrous stranger who +claimed to be the Dor-ul-Otho."</p> + +<p>"But he escaped," said O-lo-a. "You were there. Tell me about it."</p> + +<p>"The head priest would have had him seized and slain, but when they +rushed upon him he hurled one in the face of Lu-don with the same ease +that you might cast your breastplates at me, and then he leaped upon the +altar and from there to the top of the temple wall and disappeared +below. They are searching for him, but, O Princess, I pray that they do +not find him."</p> + +<p>"And why do you pray that?" asked O-lo-a. "Has not one who has so +blasphemed earned death?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, but you do not know him," replied Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>"And you do, then?" retorted O-lo-a quickly. "This morning you betrayed +yourself and then attempted to deceive me. The slaves of O-lo-a do not +such things with impunity. He is then the same Tarzan-jad-guru of whom +you told me? Speak woman and speak only the truth."</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee drew herself up very erect, her little chin held high, for +was not she too among her own people already as good as a princess? +"Pan-at-lee, the Kor-ul-ja does not lie," she said, "to protect +herself."</p> + +<p>"Then tell me what you know of this Tarzan-jad-guru," insisted O-lo-a.</p> + +<p>"I know that he is a wondrous man and very brave," said Pan-at-lee, "and +that he saved me from the Tor-o-don and the gryf as I told you, and that +he is indeed the same who came into the garden this morning; and even +now I do not know that he is not the son of Jad-ben-Otho for his courage +and his strength are more than those of mortal man, as are also his +kindness and his honor: for when he might have harmed me he protected +me, and when he might have saved himself he thought only of me. And all +this he did because of his friendship for Om-at, who is gund of +Kor-ul-ja and with whom I should have mated had the Ho-don not captured +me."</p> + +<p>"He was indeed a wonderful man to look upon," mused O-lo-a, "and he was +not as are other men, not alone in the conformation of his hands and +feet or the fact that he was tailless, but there was that about him +which made him seem different in ways more important than these."</p> + +<p>"And," supplemented Pan-at-lee, her savage little heart loyal to the man +who had befriended her and hoping to win for him the consideration of +the princess even though it might not avail him; "and," she said, "did +he not know all about Ta-den and even his whereabouts. Tell me, O +Princess, could mortal know such things as these?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he saw Ta-den," suggested O-lo-a.</p> + +<p>"But how would he know that you loved Ta-den," parried Pan-at-lee. "I +tell you, my Princess, that if he is not a god he is at least more than +Ho-don or Waz-don. He followed me from the cave of Es-sat in Kor-ul-ja +across Kor-ul-lul and two wide ridges to the very cave in Kor-ul-gryf +where I hid, though many hours had passed since I had come that way and +my bare feet left no impress upon the ground. What mortal man could do +such things as these? And where in all Pal-ul-don would virgin maid find +friend and protector in a strange male other than he?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps Lu-don may be mistaken—perhaps he is a god," said O-lo-a, +influenced by her slave's enthusiastic championing of the stranger."</p> + +<p>"But whether god or man he is too wonderful to die," cried Pan-at-lee. +"Would that I might save him. If he lived he might even find a way to +give you your Ta-den, Princess."</p> + +<p>"Ah, if he only could," sighed O-lo-a, "but alas it is too late for +tomorrow I am to be given to Bu-lot."</p> + +<p>"He who came to your quarters yesterday with your father?" asked +Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>"Yes; the one with the awful round face and the big belly," exclaimed +the Princess disgustedly. "He is so lazy he will neither hunt nor fight. +To eat and to drink is all that Bu-lot is fit for, and he thinks of +naught else except these things and his slave women. But come, +Pan-at-lee, gather for me some of these beautiful blossoms. I would have +them spread around my couch tonight that I may carry away with me in the +morning the memory of the fragrance that I love best and which I know +that I shall not find in the village of Mo-sar, the father of Bu-lot. I +will help you, Pan-at-lee, and we will gather armfuls of them, for I +love to gather them as I love nothing else—they were Ta-den's favorite +flowers."</p> + +<p>The two approached the flowering shrubbery where Tarzan hid, but as the +blooms grew plentifully upon every bush the ape-man guessed there would +be no necessity for them to enter the patch far enough to discover him. +With little exclamations of pleasure as they found particularly large or +perfect blooms the two moved from place to place upon the outskirts of +Tarzan's retreat.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look, Pan-at-lee," cried O-lo-a presently; "there is the king of +them all. Never did I see so wonderful a flower—No! I will get it +myself—it is so large and wonderful no other hand shall touch it," and +the princess wound in among the bushes toward the point where the great +flower bloomed upon a bush above the ape-man's head.</p> + +<p>So sudden and unexpected her approach that there was no opportunity to +escape and Tarzan sat silently trusting that fate might be kind to him +and lead Ko-tan's daughter away before her eyes dropped from the +high-growing bloom to him. But as the girl cut the long stem with her +knife she looked down straight into the smiling face of Tarzan-jad-guru.</p> + +<p>With a stifled scream she drew back and the ape-man rose and faced her.</p> + +<p>"Have no fear, Princess," he assured her. "It is the friend of Ta-den +who salutes you," raising her fingers to his lips.</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee came now excitedly forward. "O Jad-ben-Otho, it is he!"</p> + +<p>"And now that you have found me," queried Tarzan, "will you give me up +to Lu-don, the high priest?"</p> + +<p>Pan-at-lee threw herself upon her knees at O-lo-a's feet. "Princess! +Princess!" she beseeched, "do not discover him to his enemies."</p> + +<p>"But Ko-tan, my father," whispered O-lo-a fearfully, "if he knew of my +perfidy his rage would be beyond naming. Even though I am a princess +Lu-don might demand that I be sacrificed to appease the wrath of +Jad-ben-Otho, and between the two of them I should be lost."</p> + +<p>"But they need never know," cried Pan-at-lee, "that you have seen him +unless you tell them yourself for as Jad-ben-Otho is my witness I will +never betray you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell me, stranger," implored O-lo-a, "are you indeed a god?"</p> + +<p>"Jad-ben-Otho is not more so," replied Tarzan truthfully.</p> + +<p>"But why do you seek to escape then from the hands of mortals if you are +a god?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"When gods mingle with mortals," replied Tarzan, "they are no less +vulnerable than mortals. Even Jad-ben-Otho, should he appear before you +in the flesh, might be slain."</p> + +<p>"You have seen Ta-den and spoken with him?" she asked with apparent +irrelevancy.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have seen him and spoken with him," replied the ape-man. "For +the duration of a moon I was with him constantly."</p> + +<p>"And—" she hesitated—"he—" she cast her eyes toward the ground and a +flush mantled her cheek—"he still loves me?" and Tarzan knew that she +had been won over.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "Ta-den speaks only of O-lo-a and he waits and hopes for +the day when he can claim her."</p> + +<p>"But tomorrow they give me to Bu-lot," she said sadly.</p> + +<p>"May it be always tomorrow," replied Tarzan, "for tomorrow never comes."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but this unhappiness will come, and for all the tomorrows of my +life I must pine in misery for the Ta-den who will never be mine."</p> + +<p>"But for Lu-don I might have helped you," said the ape-man. "And who +knows that I may not help you yet?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, if you only could, Dor-ul-Otho," cried the girl, "and I know that +you would if it were possible for Pan-at-lee has told me how brave you +are, and at the same time how kind."</p> + +<p>"Only Jad-ben-Otho knows what the future may bring," said Tarzan. "And +now you two go your way lest someone should discover you and become +suspicious."</p> + +<p>"We will go," said O-lo-a, "but Pan-at-lee will return with food. I hope +that you escape and that Jad-ben-Otho is pleased with what I have done." +She turned and walked away and Pan-at-lee followed while the ape-man +again resumed his hiding.</p> + +<p>At dusk Pan-at-lee came with food and having her alone Tarzan put the +question that he had been anxious to put since his conversation earlier +in the day with O-lo-a.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," he said, "what you know of the rumors of which O-lo-a spoke +of the mysterious stranger which is supposed to be hidden in A-lur. Have +you too heard of this during the short time that you have been here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Pan-at-lee, "I have heard it spoken of among the other +slaves. It is something of which all whisper among themselves but of +which none dares to speak aloud. They say that there is a strange she +hidden in the temple and that Lu-don wants her for a priestess and that +Ko-tan wants her for a wife and that neither as yet dares take her for +fear of the other."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where she is hidden in the temple?" asked Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"No," said Pan-at-lee. "How should I know? I do not even know that it is +more than a story and I but tell you that which I have heard others +say."</p> + +<p>"There was only one," asked Tarzan, "whom they spoke of?"</p> + +<p>"No, they speak of another who came with her but none seems to know what +became of this one."</p> + +<p>Tarzan nodded. "Thank you Pan-at-lee," he said. "You may have helped me +more than either of us guess."</p> + +<p>"I hope that I have helped you," said the girl as she turned back toward +the palace.</p> + +<p>"And I hope so too," exclaimed Tarzan emphatically.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Temple_of_the_Gryf" id="The_Temple_of_the_Gryf" />14 - The Temple of the Gryf</h2> + + +<p>When night had fallen Tarzan donned the mask and the dead tail of the +priest he had slain in the vaults beneath the temple. He judged that it +would not do to attempt again to pass the guard, especially so late at +night as it would be likely to arouse comment and suspicion, and so he +swung into the tree that overhung the garden wall and from its branches +dropped to the ground beyond.</p> + +<p>Avoiding too grave risk of apprehension the ape-man passed through the +grounds to the court of the palace, approaching the temple from the side +opposite to that at which he had left it at the time of his escape. He +came thus it is true through a portion of the grounds with which he was +unfamiliar but he preferred this to the danger of following the beaten +track between the palace apartments and those of the temple. Having a +definite goal in mind and endowed as he was with an almost miraculous +sense of location he moved with great assurance through the shadows of +the temple yard.</p> + +<p>Taking advantage of the denser shadows close to the walls and of what +shrubs and trees there were he came without mishap at last to the ornate +building concerning the purpose of which he had asked Lu-don only to be +put off with the assertion that it was forgotten—nothing strange in +itself but given possible importance by the apparent hesitancy of the +priest to discuss its use and the impression the ape-man had gained at +the time that Lu-don lied.</p> + +<p>And now he stood at last alone before the structure which was three +stories in height and detached from all the other temple buildings. It +had a single barred entrance which was carved from the living rock in +representation of the head of a gryf, whose wide-open mouth constituted +the doorway. The head, hood, and front paws of the creature were +depicted as though it lay crouching with its lower jaw on the ground +between its outspread paws. Small oval windows, which were likewise +barred, flanked the doorway.</p> + +<p>Seeing that the coast was clear, Tarzan stepped into the darkened +entrance where he tried the bars only to discover that they were +ingeniously locked in place by some device with which he was unfamiliar +and that they also were probably too strong to be broken even if he +could have risked the noise which would have resulted. Nothing was +visible within the darkened interior and so, momentarily baffled, he +sought the windows. Here also the bars refused to yield up their secret, +but again Tarzan was not dismayed since he had counted upon nothing +different.</p> + +<p>If the bars would not yield to his cunning they would yield to his giant +strength if there proved no other means of ingress, but first he would +assure himself that this latter was the case. Moving entirely around the +building he examined it carefully. There were other windows but they +were similarly barred. He stopped often to look and listen but he saw no +one and the sounds that he heard were too far away to cause him any +apprehension.</p> + +<p>He glanced above him at the wall of the building. Like so many of the +other walls of the city, palace, and temple, it was ornately carved and +there were too the peculiar ledges that ran sometimes in a horizontal +plane and again were tilted at an angle, giving ofttimes an impression +of irregularity and even crookedness to the buildings. It was not a +difficult wall to climb, at least not difficult for the ape-man.</p> + +<p>But he found the bulky and awkward headdress a considerable handicap and +so he laid it aside upon the ground at the foot of the wall. Nimbly he +ascended to find the windows of the second floor not only barred but +curtained within. He did not delay long at the second floor since he had +in mind an idea that he would find the easiest entrance through the roof +which he had noticed was roughly dome shaped like the throneroom of +Ko-tan. Here there were apertures. He had seen them from the ground, and +if the construction of the interior resembled even slightly that of the +throneroom, bars would not be necessary upon these apertures, since no +one could reach them from the floor of the room.</p> + +<p>There was but a single question: would they be large enough to admit the +broad shoulders of the ape-man.</p> + +<p>He paused again at the third floor, and here, in spite of the hangings, +he saw that the interior was lighted and simultaneously there came to +his nostrils from within a scent that stripped from him temporarily any +remnant of civilization that might have remained and left him a fierce +and terrible bull of the jungles of Kerchak. So sudden and complete was +the metamorphosis that there almost broke from the savage lips the +hideous challenge of his kind, but the cunning brute-mind saved him this +blunder.</p> + +<p>And now he heard voices within—the voice of Lu-don he could have sworn, +demanding. And haughty and disdainful came the answering words though +utter hopelessness spoke in the tones of this other voice which brought +Tarzan to the pinnacle of frenzy.</p> + +<p>The dome with its possible apertures was forgotten. Every consideration +of stealth and quiet was cast aside as the ape-man drew back his mighty +fist and struck a single terrific blow upon the bars of the small window +before him, a blow that sent the bars and the casing that held them +clattering to the floor of the apartment within.</p> + +<p>Instantly Tarzan dove headforemost through the aperture carrying the +hangings of antelope hide with him to the floor below. Leaping to his +feet he tore the entangling pelt from about his head only to find +himself in utter darkness and in silence. He called aloud a name that +had not passed his lips for many weary months. "Jane, Jane," he cried, +"where are you?" But there was only silence in reply.</p> + +<p>Again and again he called, groping with outstretched hands through the +Stygian blackness of the room, his nostrils assailed and his brain +tantalized by the delicate effluvia that had first assured him that his +mate had been within this very room. And he had heard her dear voice +combatting the base demands of the vile priest. Ah, if he had but acted +with greater caution! If he had but continued to move with quiet and +stealth he might even at this moment be holding her in his arms while +the body of Lu-don, beneath his foot, spoke eloquently of vengeance +achieved. But there was no time now for idle self-reproaches.</p> + +<p>He stumbled blindly forward, groping for he knew not what till suddenly +the floor beneath him tilted and he shot downward into a darkness even +more utter than that above. He felt his body strike a smooth surface and +he realized that he was hurtling downward as through a polished chute +while from above there came the mocking tones of a taunting laugh and +the voice of Lu-don screamed after him: "Return to thy father, O +Dor-ul-Otho!"</p> + +<p>The ape-man came to a sudden and painful stop upon a rocky floor. +Directly before him was an oval window crossed by many bars, and beyond +he saw the moonlight playing on the waters of the blue lake below. +Simultaneously he was conscious of a familiar odor in the air of the +chamber, which a quick glance revealed in the semidarkness as of +considerable proportion.</p> + +<p>It was the faint, but unmistakable odor of the gryf, and now Tarzan +stood silently listening. At first he detected no sounds other than +those of the city that came to him through the window overlooking the +lake; but presently, faintly, as though from a distance he heard the +shuffling of padded feet along a stone pavement, and as he listened he +was aware that the sound approached.</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer it came, and now even the breathing of the beast was +audible. Evidently attracted by the noise of his descent into its +cavernous retreat it was approaching to investigate. He could not see it +but he knew that it was not far distant, and then, deafeningly there +reverberated through those gloomy corridors the mad bellow of the gryf.</p> + +<p>Aware of the poor eyesight of the beast, and his own eyes now grown +accustomed to the darkness of the cavern, the ape-man sought to elude +the infuriated charge which he well knew no living creature could +withstand. Neither did he dare risk the chance of experimenting upon +this strange gryf with the tactics of the Tor-o-don that he had found so +efficacious upon that other occasion when his life and liberty had been +the stakes for which he cast. In many respects the conditions were +dissimilar. Before, in broad daylight, he had been able to approach the +gryf under normal conditions in its natural state, and the gryf itself +was one that he had seen subjected to the authority of man, or at least +of a manlike creature; but here he was confronted by an imprisoned beast +in the full swing of a furious charge and he had every reason to suspect +that this gryf might never have felt the restraining influence of +authority, confined as it was in this gloomy pit to serve likely but the +single purpose that Tarzan had already seen so graphically portrayed in +his own experience of the past few moments.</p> + +<p>To elude the creature, then, upon the possibility of discovering some +loophole of escape from his predicament seemed to the ape-man the wisest +course to pursue. Too much was at stake to risk an encounter that might +be avoided—an encounter the outcome of which there was every reason to +apprehend would seal the fate of the mate that he had just found, only +to lose again so harrowingly. Yet high as his disappointment and chagrin +ran, hopeless as his present estate now appeared, there tingled in the +veins of the savage lord a warm glow of thanksgiving and elation. She +lived! After all these weary months of hopelessness and fear he had +found her. She lived!</p> + +<p>To the opposite side of the chamber, silently as the wraith of a +disembodied soul, the swift jungle creature moved from the path of the +charging Titan that, guided solely in the semi-darkness by its keen +ears, bore down upon the spot toward which Tarzan's noisy entrance into +its lair had attracted it. Along the further wall the ape-man hurried. +Before him now appeared the black opening of the corridor from which the +beast had emerged into the larger chamber. Without hesitation Tarzan +plunged into it. Even here his eyes, long accustomed to darkness that +would have seemed total to you or to me, saw dimly the floor and the +walls within a radius of a few feet—enough at least to prevent him +plunging into any unguessed abyss, or dashing himself upon solid rock at +a sudden turning.</p> + +<p>The corridor was both wide and lofty, which indeed it must be to +accommodate the colossal proportions of the creature whose habitat it +was, and so Tarzan encountered no difficulty in moving with reasonable +speed along its winding trail. He was aware as he proceeded that the +trend of the passage was downward, though not steeply, but it seemed +interminable and he wondered to what distant subterranean lair it might +lead. There was a feeling that perhaps after all he might better have +remained in the larger chamber and risked all on the chance of subduing +the gryf where there was at least sufficient room and light to lend to +the experiment some slight chance of success. To be overtaken here in +the narrow confines of the black corridor where he was assured the gryf +could not see him at all would spell almost certain death and now he +heard the thing approaching from behind. Its thunderous bellows fairly +shook the cliff from which the cavernous chambers were excavated. To +halt and meet this monstrous incarnation of fury with a futile whee-oo! +seemed to Tarzan the height of insanity and so he continued along the +corridor, increasing his pace as he realized that the gryf was +overhauling him.</p> + +<p>Presently the darkness lessened and at the final turning of the passage +he saw before him an area of moonlight. With renewed hope he sprang +rapidly forward and emerged from the mouth of the corridor to find +himself in a large circular enclosure the towering white walls of which +rose high upon every side—smooth perpendicular walls upon the sheer +face of which was no slightest foothold. To his left lay a pool of +water, one side of which lapped the foot of the wall at this point. It +was, doubtless, the wallow and the drinking pool of the gryf.</p> + +<p>And now the creature emerged from the corridor and Tarzan retreated to +the edge of the pool to make his last stand. There was no staff with +which to enforce the authority of his voice, but yet he made his stand +for there seemed naught else to do. Just beyond the entrance to the +corridor the gryf paused, turning its weak eyes in all directions as +though searching for its prey. This then seemed the psychological moment +for his attempt and raising his voice in peremptory command the ape-man +voiced the weird whee-oo! of the Tor-o-don. Its effect upon the gryf was +instantaneous and complete—with a terrific bellow it lowered its three +horns and dashed madly in the direction of the sound.</p> + +<p>To right nor to left was any avenue of escape, for behind him lay the +placid waters of the pool, while down upon him from before thundered +annihilation. The mighty body seemed already to tower above him as the +ape-man turned and dove into the dark waters.</p> + +<p>Dead in her breast lay hope. Battling for life during harrowing months +of imprisonment and danger and hardship it had fitfully flickered and +flamed only to sink after each renewal to smaller proportions than +before and now it had died out entirely leaving only cold, charred +embers that Jane Clayton knew would never again be rekindled. Hope was +dead as she faced Lu-don, the high priest, in her prison quarters in the +Temple of the Gryf at A-lur. Both time and hardship had failed to leave +their impress upon her physical beauty—the contours of her perfect +form, the glory of her radiant loveliness had defied them, yet to these +very attributes she owed the danger which now confronted her, for Lu-don +desired her. From the lesser priests she had been safe, but from Lu-don, +she was not safe, for Lu-don was not as they, since the high priestship +of Pal-ul-don may descend from father to son.</p> + +<p>Ko-tan, the king, had wanted her and all that had so far saved her from +either was the fear of each for the other, but at last Lu-don had cast +aside discretion and had come in the silent watches of the night to +claim her. Haughtily had she repulsed him, seeking ever to gain time, +though what time might bring her of relief or renewed hope she could not +even remotely conjecture. A leer of lust and greed shone hungrily upon +his cruel countenance as he advanced across the room to seize her. She +did not shrink nor cower, but stood there very erect, her chin up, her +level gaze freighted with the loathing and contempt she felt for him. He +read her expression and while it angered him, it but increased his +desire for possession. Here indeed was a queen, perhaps a goddess; fit +mate for the high priest.</p> + +<p>"You shall not!" she said as he would have touched her. "One of us shall +die before ever your purpose is accomplished."</p> + +<p>He was close beside her now. His laugh grated upon her ears. "Love does +not kill," he replied mockingly.</p> + +<p>He reached for her arm and at the same instant something clashed against +the bars of one of the windows, crashing them inward to the floor, to be +followed almost simultaneously by a human figure which dove headforemost +into the room, its head enveloped in the skin window hangings which it +carried with it in its impetuous entry.</p> + +<p>Jane Clayton saw surprise and something of terror too leap to the +countenance of the high priest and then she saw him spring forward and +jerk upon a leather thong that depended from the ceiling of the +apartment. Instantly there dropped from above a cunningly contrived +partition that fell between them and the intruder, effectively barring +him from them and at the same time leaving him to grope upon its +opposite side in darkness, since the only cresset the room contained was +upon their side of the partition.</p> + +<p>Faintly from beyond the wall Jane heard a voice calling, but whose it +was and what the words she could not distinguish. Then she saw Lu-don +jerk upon another thong and wait in evident expectancy of some +consequent happening. He did not have long to wait. She saw the thong +move suddenly as though jerked from above and then Lu-don smiled and +with another signal put in motion whatever machinery it was that raised +the partition again to its place in the ceiling.</p> + +<p>Advancing into that portion of the room that the partition had shut off +from them, the high priest knelt upon the floor, and down tilting a +section of it, revealed the dark mouth of a shaft leading below. +Laughing loudly he shouted into the hole: "Return to thy father, O +Dor-ul-Otho!"</p> + +<p>Making fast the catch that prevented the trapdoor from opening beneath +the feet of the unwary until such time as Lu-don chose the high priest +rose again to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Now, Beautiful One!" he cried, and then, "Ja-don! what do you here?"</p> + +<p>Jane Clayton turned to follow the direction of Lu-don's eyes and there +she saw framed in the entrance-way to the apartment the mighty figure of +a warrior, upon whose massive features sat an expression of stern and +uncompromising authority.</p> + +<p>"I come from Ko-tan, the king," replied Ja-don, "to remove the beautiful +stranger to the Forbidden Garden."</p> + +<p>"The king defies me, the high priest of Jad-ben-Otho?" cried Lu-don.</p> + +<p>"It is the king's command—I have spoken," snapped Ja-don, in whose +manner was no sign of either fear or respect for the priest.</p> + +<p>Lu-don well knew why the king had chosen this messenger whose heresy was +notorious, but whose power had as yet protected him from the +machinations of the priest. Lu-don cast a surreptitious glance at the +thongs hanging from the ceiling. Why not? If he could but maneuver to +entice Ja-don to the opposite side of the chamber!</p> + +<p>"Come," he said in a conciliatory tone, "let us discuss the matter," and +moved toward the spot where he would have Ja-don follow him.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing to discuss," replied Ja-don, yet he followed the +priest, fearing treachery.</p> + +<p>Jane watched them. In the face and figure of the warrior she found +reflected those admirable traits of courage and honor that the +profession of arms best develops. In the hypocritical priest there was +no redeeming quality. Of the two then she might best choose the warrior. +With him there was a chance—with Lu-don, none. Even the very process of +exchange from one prison to another might offer some possibility of +escape. She weighed all these things and decided, for Lu-don's quick +glance at the thongs had not gone unnoticed nor uninterpreted by her.</p> + +<p>"Warrior," she said, addressing Ja-don, "if you would live enter not +that portion of the room."</p> + +<p>Lu-don cast an angry glance upon her. "Silence, slave!" he cried.</p> + +<p>"And where lies the danger?" Ja-don asked of Jane, ignoring Lu-don.</p> + +<p>The woman pointed to the thongs. "Look," she said, and before the high +priest could prevent she had seized that which controlled the partition +which shot downward separating Lu-don from the warrior and herself.</p> + +<p>Ja-don looked inquiringly at her. "He would have tricked me neatly but +for you," he said; "kept me imprisoned there while he secreted you +elsewhere in the mazes of his temple."</p> + +<p>"He would have done more than that," replied Jane, as she pulled upon +the other thong. "This releases the fastenings of a trapdoor in the +floor beyond the partition. When you stepped on that you would have been +precipitated into a pit beneath the temple. Lu-don has threatened me +with this fate often. I do not know that he speaks the truth, but he +says that a demon of the temple is imprisoned there—a huge gryf."</p> + +<p>"There is a gryf within the temple," said Ja-don. "What with it and the +sacrifices, the priests keep us busy supplying them with prisoners, +though the victims are sometimes those for whom Lu-don has conceived +hatred among our own people. He has had his eyes upon me for a long +time. This would have been his chance but for you. Tell me, woman, why +you warned me. Are we not all equally your jailers and your enemies?"</p> + +<p>"None could be more horrible than Lu-don," she replied; "and you have +the appearance of a brave and honorable warrior. I could not hope, for +hope has died and yet there is the possibility that among so many +fighting men, even though they be of another race than mine, there is +one who would accord honorable treatment to a stranger within his +gates—even though she be a woman."</p> + +<p>Ja-don looked at her for a long minute. "Ko-tan would make you his +queen," he said. "That he told me himself and surely that were honorable +treatment from one who might make you a slave."</p> + +<p>"Why, then, would he make me queen?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Ja-don came closer as though in fear his words might be overheard. "He +believes, although he did not tell me so in fact, that you are of the +race of gods. And why not? Jad-ben-Otho is tailless, therefore it is not +strange that Ko-tan should suspect that only the gods are thus. His +queen is dead leaving only a single daughter. He craves a son and what +more desirable than that he should found a line of rulers for Pal-ul-don +descended from the gods?"</p> + +<p>"But I am already wed," cried Jane. "I cannot wed another. I do not want +him or his throne."</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan is king," replied Ja-don simply as though that explained and +simplified everything.</p> + +<p>"You will not save me then?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"If you were in Ja-lur," he replied, "I might protect you, even against +the king."</p> + +<p>"What and where is Ja-lur?" she asked, grasping at any straw.</p> + +<p>"It is the city where I rule," he answered. "I am chief there and of all +the valley beyond."</p> + +<p>"Where is it?" she insisted, and "is it far?"</p> + +<p>"No," he replied, smiling, "it is not far, but do not think of that—you +could never reach it. There are too many to pursue and capture you. If +you wish to know, however, it lies up the river that empties into +Jad-ben-lul whose waters kiss the walls of A-lur—up the western fork it +lies with water upon three sides. Impregnable city of Pal-ul-don—alone +of all the cities it has never been entered by a foeman since it was +built there while Jad-ben-Otho was a boy."</p> + +<p>"And there I would be safe?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," he replied.</p> + +<p>Ah, dead Hope; upon what slender provocation would you seek to glow +again! She sighed and shook her head, realizing the inutility of +Hope—yet the tempting bait dangled before her mind's eye—Ja-lur!</p> + +<p>"You are wise," commented Ja-don interpreting her sigh. "Come now, we +will go to the quarters of the princess beside the Forbidden Garden. +There you will remain with O-lo-a, the king's daughter. It will be +better than this prison you have occupied."</p> + +<p>"And Ko-tan?" she asked, a shudder passing through her slender frame.</p> + +<p>"There are ceremonies," explained Ja-don, "that may occupy several days +before you become queen, and one of them may be difficult of +arrangement." He laughed, then.</p> + +<p>"What?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Only the high priest may perform the marriage ceremony for a king," he +explained.</p> + +<p>"Delay!" she murmured; "blessed delay!" Tenacious indeed of life is Hope +even though it be reduced to cold and lifeless char—a veritable +phoenix.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_King_Is_Deadquot" id="The_King_Is_Deadquot" />15 - "The King Is Dead!"</h2> + + +<p>As they conversed Ja-don had led her down the stone stairway that leads +from the upper floors of the Temple of the Gryf to the chambers and the +corridors that honeycomb the rocky hills from which the temple and the +palace are hewn and now they passed from one to the other through a +doorway upon one side of which two priests stood guard and upon the +other two warriors. The former would have halted Ja-don when they saw +who it was that accompanied him for well known throughout the temple was +the quarrel between king and high priest for possession of this +beautiful stranger.</p> + +<p>"Only by order of Lu-don may she pass," said one, placing himself +directly in front of Jane Clayton, barring her progress. Through the +hollow eyes of the hideous mask the woman could see those of the priest +beneath gleaming with the fires of fanaticism. Ja-don placed an arm +about her shoulders and laid his hand upon his knife.</p> + +<p>"She passes by order of Ko-tan, the king," he said, "and by virtue of +the fact that Ja-don, the chief, is her guide. Stand aside!"</p> + +<p>The two warriors upon the palace side pressed forward. "We are here, +gund of Ja-lur," said one, addressing Ja-don, "to receive and obey your +commands."</p> + +<p>The second priest now interposed. "Let them pass," he admonished his +companion. "We have received no direct commands from Lu-don to the +contrary and it is a law of the temple and the palace that chiefs and +priests may come and go without interference."</p> + +<p>"But I know Lu-don's wishes," insisted the other.</p> + +<p>"He told you then that Ja-don must not pass with the stranger?"</p> + +<p>"No—but—"</p> + +<p>"Then let them pass, for they are three to two and will pass anyway—we +have done our best."</p> + +<p>Grumbling, the priest stepped aside. "Lu-don will exact an accounting," +he cried angrily.</p> + +<p>Ja-don turned upon him. "And get it when and where he will," he snapped.</p> + +<p>They came at last to the quarters of the Princess O-lo-a where, in the +main entrance-way, loitered a small guard of palace warriors and several +stalwart black eunuchs belonging to the princess, or her women. To one +of the latter Ja-don relinquished his charge.</p> + +<p>"Take her to the princess," he commanded, "and see that she does not +escape."</p> + +<p>Through a number of corridors and apartments lighted by stone cressets +the eunuch led Lady Greystoke halting at last before a doorway concealed +by hangings of jato skin, where the guide beat with his staff upon the +wall beside the door.</p> + +<p>"O-lo-a, Princess of Pal-ul-don," he called, "here is the stranger +woman, the prisoner from the temple."</p> + +<p>"Bid her enter," Jane heard a sweet voice from within command.</p> + +<p>The eunuch drew aside the hangings and Lady Greystoke stepped within. +Before her was a low-ceiled room of moderate size. In each of the four +corners a kneeling figure of stone seemed to be bearing its portion of +the weight of the ceiling upon its shoulders. These figures were +evidently intended to represent Waz-don slaves and were not without bold +artistic beauty. The ceiling itself was slightly arched to a central +dome which was pierced to admit light by day, and air. Upon one side of +the room were many windows, the other three walls being blank except for +a doorway in each. The princess lay upon a pile of furs which were +arranged over a low stone dais in one corner of the apartment and was +alone except for a single Waz-don slave girl who sat upon the edge of +the dais near her feet.</p> + +<p>As Jane entered O-lo-a beckoned her to approach and when she stood +beside the couch the girl half rose upon an elbow and surveyed her +critically.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful you are," she said simply.</p> + +<p>Jane smiled, sadly; for she had found that beauty may be a curse.</p> + +<p>"That is indeed a compliment," she replied quickly, "from one so radiant +as the Princess O-lo-a."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" exclaimed the princess delightedly; "you speak my language! I was +told that you were of another race and from some far land of which we of +Pal-ul-don have never heard."</p> + +<p>"Lu-don saw to it that the priests instructed me," explained Jane; "but +I am from a far country, Princess; one to which I long to return—and I +am very unhappy."</p> + +<p>"But Ko-tan, my father, would make you his queen," cried the girl; "that +should make you very happy."</p> + +<p>"But it does not," replied the prisoner; "I love another to whom I am +already wed. Ah, Princess, if you had known what it was to love and to +be forced into marriage with another you would sympathize with me."</p> + +<p>The Princess O-lo-a was silent for a long moment. "I know," she said at +last, "and I am very sorry for you; but if the king's daughter cannot +save herself from such a fate who may save a slave woman? for such in +fact you are."</p> + +<p>The drinking in the great banquet hall of the palace of Ko-tan, king of +Pal-ul-don had commenced earlier this night than was usual, for the king +was celebrating the morrow's betrothal of his only daughter to Bu-lot, +son of Mo-sar, the chief, whose great-grandfather had been king of +Pal-ul-don and who thought that he should be king, and Mo-sar was drunk +and so was Bu-lot, his son. For that matter nearly all of the warriors, +including the king himself, were drunk. In the heart of Ko-tan was no +love either for Mo-sar, or Bu-lot, nor did either of these love the +king. Ko-tan was giving his daughter to Bu-lot in the hope that the +alliance would prevent Mo-sar from insisting upon his claims to the +throne, for, next to Ja-don, Mo-sar was the most powerful of the chiefs +and while Ko-tan looked with fear upon Ja-don, too, he had no fear that +the old Lion-man would attempt to seize the throne, though which way he +would throw his influence and his warriors in the event that Mo-sar +declare war upon Ko-tan, the king could not guess.</p> + +<p>Primitive people who are also warlike are seldom inclined toward either +tact or diplomacy even when sober; but drunk they know not the words, if +aroused. It was really Bu-lot who started it.</p> + +<p>"This," he said, "I drink to O-lo-a," and he emptied his tankard at a +single gulp. "And this," seizing a full one from a neighbor, "to her son +and mine who will bring back the throne of Pal-ul-don to its rightful +owners!"</p> + +<p>"The king is not yet dead!" cried Ko-tan, rising to his feet; "nor is +Bu-lot yet married to his daughter—and there is yet time to save +Pal-ul-don from the spawn of the rabbit breed."</p> + +<p>The king's angry tone and his insulting reference to Bu-lot's well-known +cowardice brought a sudden, sobering silence upon the roistering +company. Every eye turned upon Bu-lot and Mo-sar, who sat together +directly opposite the king. The first was very drunk though suddenly he +seemed quite sober. He was so drunk that for an instant he forgot to be +a coward, since his reasoning powers were so effectually paralyzed by +the fumes of liquor that he could not intelligently weigh the +consequences of his acts. It is reasonably conceivable that a drunk and +angry rabbit might commit a rash deed. Upon no other hypothesis is the +thing that Bu-lot now did explicable. He rose suddenly from the seat to +which he had sunk after delivering his toast and seizing the knife from +the sheath of the warrior upon his right hurled it with terrific force +at Ko-tan. Skilled in the art of throwing both their knives and their +clubs are the warriors of Pal-ul-don and at this short distance and +coming as it did without warning there was no defense and but one +possible result—Ko-tan, the king, lunged forward across the table, the +blade buried in his heart.</p> + +<p>A brief silence followed the assassin's cowardly act. White with terror, +now, Bu-lot fell slowly back toward the doorway at his rear, when +suddenly angry warriors leaped with drawn knives to prevent his escape +and to avenge their king. But Mo-sar now took his stand beside his son.</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan is dead!" he cried. "Mo-sar is king! Let the loyal warriors of +Pal-ul-don protect their ruler!"</p> + +<p>Mo-sar commanded a goodly following and these quickly surrounded him and +Bu-lot, but there were many knives against them and now Ja-don pressed +forward through those who confronted the pretender.</p> + +<p>"Take them both!" he shouted. "The warriors of Pal-ul-don will choose +their own king after the assassin of Ko-tan has paid the penalty of his +treachery."</p> + +<p>Directed now by a leader whom they both respected and admired those who +had been loyal to Ko-tan rushed forward upon the faction that had +surrounded Mo-sar. Fierce and terrible was the fighting, devoid, +apparently, of all else than the ferocious lust to kill and while it was +at its height Mo-sar and Bu-lot slipped unnoticed from the banquet hall.</p> + +<p>To that part of the palace assigned to them during their visit to A-lur +they hastened. Here were their servants and the lesser warriors of their +party who had not been bidden to the feast of Ko-tan. These were +directed quickly to gather together their belongings for immediate +departure. When all was ready, and it did not take long, since the +warriors of Pal-ul-don require but little impedimenta on the march, they +moved toward the palace gate.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Mo-sar approached his son. "The princess," he whispered. "We +must not leave the city without her—she is half the battle for the +throne."</p> + +<p>Bu-lot, now entirely sober, demurred. He had had enough of fighting and +of risk. "Let us get out of A-lur quickly," he urged, "or we shall have +the whole city upon us. She would not come without a struggle and that +would delay us too long."</p> + +<p>"There is plenty of time," insisted Mo-sar. "They are still fighting in +the pal-e-don-so. It will be long before they miss us and, with Ko-tan +dead, long before any will think to look to the safety of the princess. +Our time is now—it was made for us by Jad-ben-Otho. Come!"</p> + +<p>Reluctantly Bu-lot followed his father, who first instructed the +warriors to await them just inside the gateway of the palace. Rapidly +the two approached the quarters of the princess. Within the entrance-way +only a handful of warriors were on guard. The eunuchs had retired.</p> + +<p>"There is fighting in the pal-e-don-so," Mo-sar announced in feigned +excitement as they entered the presence of the guards. "The king desires +you to come at once and has sent us to guard the apartments of the +princess. Make haste!" he commanded as the men hesitated.</p> + +<p>The warriors knew him and that on the morrow the princess was to be +betrothed to Bu-lot, his son. If there was trouble what more natural +than that Mo-sar and Bu-lot should be intrusted with the safety of the +princess. And then, too, was not Mo-sar a powerful chief to whose orders +disobedience might prove a dangerous thing? They were but common +fighting men disciplined in the rough school of tribal warfare, but they +had learned to obey a superior and so they departed for the banquet +hall—the place-where-men-eat.</p> + +<p>Barely waiting until they had disappeared Mo-sar crossed to the hangings +at the opposite end of the entrance-hall and followed by Bu-lot made his +way toward the sleeping apartment of O-lo-a and a moment later, without +warning, the two men burst in upon the three occupants of the room. At +sight of them O-lo-a sprang to her feet.</p> + +<p>"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded angrily.</p> + +<p>Mo-sar advanced and halted before her. Into his cunning mind had entered +a plan to trick her. If it succeeded it would prove easier than taking +her by force, and then his eyes fell upon Jane Clayton and he almost +gasped in astonishment and admiration, but he caught himself and +returned to the business of the moment.</p> + +<p>"O-lo-a," he cried, "when you know the urgency of our mission you will +forgive us. We have sad news for you. There has been an uprising in the +palace and Ko-tan, the king, has been slain. The rebels are drunk with +liquor and now on their way here. We must get you out of A-lur at +once—there is not a moment to lose. Come, and quickly!"</p> + +<p>"My father dead?" cried O-lo-a, and suddenly her eyes went wide. "Then +my place is here with my people," she cried. "If Ko-tan is dead I am +queen until the warriors choose a new ruler—that is the law of +Pal-ul-don. And if I am queen none can make me wed whom I do not wish to +wed—and Jad-ben-Otho knows I never wished to wed thy cowardly son. Go!" +She pointed a slim forefinger imperiously toward the doorway.</p> + +<p>Mo-sar saw that neither trickery nor persuasion would avail now and +every precious minute counted. He looked again at the beautiful woman +who stood beside O-lo-a. He had never before seen her but he well knew +from palace gossip that she could be no other than the godlike stranger +whom Ko-tan had planned to make his queen.</p> + +<p>"Bu-lot," he cried to his son, "take you your own woman and I will +take—mine!" and with that he sprang suddenly forward and seizing Jane +about the waist lifted her in his arms, so that before O-lo-a or +Pan-at-lee might even guess his purpose he had disappeared through the +hangings near the foot of the dais and was gone with the stranger woman +struggling and fighting in his grasp.</p> + +<p>And then Bu-lot sought to seize O-lo-a, but O-lo-a had her +Pan-at-lee—fierce little tiger-girl of the savage Kor-ul-ja—Pan-at-lee +whose name belied her—and Bu-lot found that with the two of them his +hands were full. When he would have lifted O-lo-a and borne her away +Pan-at-lee seized him around the legs and strove to drag him down. +Viciously he kicked her, but she would not desist, and finally, +realizing that he might not only lose his princess but be so delayed as +to invite capture if he did not rid himself of this clawing, scratching +she-jato, he hurled O-lo-a to the floor and seizing Pan-at-lee by the +hair drew his knife and—</p> + +<p>The curtains behind him suddenly parted. In two swift bounds a lithe +figure crossed the room and before ever the knife of Bu-lot reached its +goal his wrist was seized from behind and a terrific blow crashing to +the base of his brain dropped him, lifeless, to the floor. Bu-lot, +coward, traitor, and assassin, died without knowing who struck him down.</p> + +<p>As Tarzan of the Apes leaped into the pool in the gryf pit of the temple +at A-lur one might have accounted for his act on the hypothesis that it +was the last blind urge of self-preservation to delay, even for a +moment, the inevitable tragedy in which each some day must play the +leading role upon his little stage; but no—those cool, gray eyes had +caught the sole possibility for escape that the surroundings and the +circumstances offered—a tiny, moonlit patch of water glimmering through +a small aperture in the cliff at the surface of the pool upon its +farther side. With swift, bold strokes he swam for speed alone knowing +that the water would in no way deter his pursuer. Nor did it. Tarzan +heard the great splash as the huge creature plunged into the pool behind +him; he heard the churning waters as it forged rapidly onward in his +wake. He was nearing the opening—would it be large enough to permit the +passage of his body? That portion of it which showed above the surface +of the water most certainly would not. His life, then, depended upon how +much of the aperture was submerged. And now it was directly before him +and the gryf directly behind. There was no alternative—there was no +other hope. The ape-man threw all the resources of his great strength +into the last few strokes, extended his hands before him as a cutwater, +submerged to the water's level and shot forward toward the hole.</p> + +<p>Frothing with rage was the baffled Lu-don as he realized how neatly the +stranger she had turned his own tables upon him. He could of course +escape the Temple of the Gryf in which her quick wit had temporarily +imprisoned him; but during the delay, however brief, Ja-don would find +time to steal her from the temple and deliver her to Ko-tan. But he +would have her yet—that the high priest swore in the names of +Jad-ben-Otho and all the demons of his faith. He hated Ko-tan. Secretly +he had espoused the cause of Mo-sar, in whom he would have a willing +tool. Perhaps, then, this would give him the opportunity he had long +awaited—a pretext for inciting the revolt that would dethrone Ko-tan +and place Mo-sar in power—with Lu-don the real ruler of Pal-ul-don. He +licked his thin lips as he sought the window through which Tarzan had +entered and now Lu-don's only avenue of escape. Cautiously he made his +way across the floor, feeling before him with his hands, and when they +discovered that the trap was set for him an ugly snarl broke from the +priest's lips. "The she-devil!" he muttered; "but she shall pay, she +shall pay—ah, Jad-ben-Otho; how she shall pay for the trick she has +played upon Lu-don!"</p> + +<p>He crawled through the window and climbed easily downward to the ground. +Should he pursue Ja-don and the woman, chancing an encounter with the +fierce chief, or bide his time until treachery and intrigue should +accomplish his design? He chose the latter solution, as might have been +expected of such as he.</p> + +<p>Going to his quarters he summoned several of his priests—those who were +most in his confidence and who shared his ambitions for absolute power +of the temple over the palace—all men who hated Ko-tan.</p> + +<p>"The time has come," he told them, "when the authority of the temple +must be placed definitely above that of the palace. Ko-tan must make way +for Mo-sar, for Ko-tan has defied your high priest. Go then, Pan-sat, +and summon Mo-sar secretly to the temple, and you others go to the city +and prepare the faithful warriors that they may be in readiness when the +time comes."</p> + +<p>For another hour they discussed the details of the coup d'etat that was +to overthrow the government of Pal-ul-don. One knew a slave who, as the +signal sounded from the temple gong, would thrust a knife into the heart +of Ko-tan, for the price of liberty. Another held personal knowledge of +an officer of the palace that he could use to compel the latter to admit +a number of Lu-don's warriors to various parts of the palace. With +Mo-sar as the cat's paw, the plan seemed scarce possible of failure and +so they separated, going upon their immediate errands to palace and to +city.</p> + +<p>As Pan-sat entered the palace grounds he was aware of a sudden commotion +in the direction of the pal-e-don-so and a few minutes later Lu-don was +surprised to see him return to the apartments of the high priest, +breathless and excited.</p> + +<p>"What now, Pan-sat?" cried Lu-don. "Are you pursued by demons?"</p> + +<p>"O master, our time has come and gone while we sat here planning. Ko-tan +is already dead and Mo-sar fled. His friends are fighting with the +warriors of the palace but they have no head, while Ja-don leads the +others. I could learn but little from frightened slaves who had fled at +the outburst of the quarrel. One told me that Bu-lot had slain the king +and that he had seen Mo-sar and the assassin hurrying from the palace."</p> + +<p>"Ja-don," muttered the high priest. "The fools will make him king if we +do not act and act quickly. Get into the city, Pan-sat—let your feet +fly and raise the cry that Ja-don has killed the king and is seeking to +wrest the throne from O-lo-a. Spread the word as you know best how to +spread it that Ja-don has threatened to destroy the priests and hurl the +altars of the temple into Jad-ben-lul. Rouse the warriors of the city +and urge them to attack at once. Lead them into the temple by the secret +way that only the priests know and from here we may spew them out upon +the palace before they learn the truth. Go, Pan-sat, immediately—delay +not an instant."</p> + +<p>"But stay," he called as the under priest turned to leave the apartment; +"saw or heard you anything of the strange white woman that Ja-don stole +from the Temple of the Gryf where we have had her imprisoned?"</p> + +<p>"Only that Ja-don took her into the palace where he threatened the +priests with violence if they did not permit him to pass," replied +Pan-sat. "This they told me, but where within the palace she is hidden I +know not."</p> + +<p>"Ko-tan ordered her to the Forbidden Garden," said Lu-don, "doubtless we +shall find her there. And now, Pan-sat, be upon your errand."</p> + +<p>In a corridor by Lu-don's chamber a hideously masked priest leaned close +to the curtained aperture that led within. Were he listening he must +have heard all that passed between Pan-sat and the high priest, and that +he had listened was evidenced by his hasty withdrawal to the shadows of +a nearby passage as the lesser priest moved across the chamber toward +the doorway. Pan-sat went his way in ignorance of the near presence that +he almost brushed against as he hurried toward the secret passage that +leads from the temple of Jad-ben-Otho, far beneath the palace, to the +city beyond, nor did he sense the silent creature following in his +footsteps.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Secret_Way" id="The_Secret_Way" />16 - The Secret Way</h2> + + +<p>It was a baffled gryf that bellowed in angry rage as Tarzan's sleek +brown body cutting the moonlit waters shot through the aperture in the +wall of the gryf pool and out into the lake beyond. The ape-man smiled +as he thought of the comparative ease with which he had defeated the +purpose of the high priest but his face clouded again at the ensuing +remembrance of the grave danger that threatened his mate. His sole +object now must be to return as quickly as he might to the chamber where +he had last seen her on the third floor of the Temple of the Gryf, but +how he was to find his way again into the temple grounds was a question +not easy of solution.</p> + +<p>In the moonlight he could see the sheer cliff rising from the water for +a great distance along the shore—far beyond the precincts of the temple +and the palace—towering high above him, a seemingly impregnable barrier +against his return. Swimming close in, he skirted the wall searching +diligently for some foothold, however slight, upon its smooth, +forbidding surface. Above him and quite out of reach were numerous +apertures, but there were no means at hand by which he could reach them. +Presently, however, his hopes were raised by the sight of an opening +level with the surface of the water. It lay just ahead and a few strokes +brought him to it—cautious strokes that brought forth no sound from the +yielding waters. At the nearer side of the opening he stopped and +reconnoitered. There was no one in sight. Carefully he raised his body +to the threshold of the entrance-way, his smooth brown hide glistening +in the moonlight as it shed the water in tiny sparkling rivulets.</p> + +<p>Before him stretched a gloomy corridor, unlighted save for the faint +illumination of the diffused moonlight that penetrated it for but a +short distance from the opening. Moving as rapidly as reasonable caution +warranted, Tarzan followed the corridor into the bowels of the cave. +There was an abrupt turn and then a flight of steps at the top of which +lay another corridor running parallel with the face of the cliff. This +passage was dimly lighted by flickering cressets set in niches in the +walls at considerable distances apart. A quick survey showed the ape-man +numerous openings upon each side of the corridor and his quick ears +caught sounds that indicated that there were other beings not far +distant—priests, he concluded, in some of the apartments letting upon +the passageway.</p> + +<p>To pass undetected through this hive of enemies appeared quite beyond +the range of possibility. He must again seek disguise and knowing from +experience how best to secure such he crept stealthily along the +corridor toward the nearest doorway. Like Numa, the lion, stalking a +wary prey he crept with quivering nostrils to the hangings that shut off +his view from the interior of the apartment beyond. A moment later his +head disappeared within; then his shoulders, and his lithe body, and the +hangings dropped quietly into place again. A moment later there filtered +to the vacant corridor without a brief, gasping gurgle and again +silence. A minute passed; a second, and a third, and then the hangings +were thrust aside and a grimly masked priest of the temple of +Jad-ben-Otho strode into the passageway.</p> + +<p>With bold steps he moved along and was about to turn into a diverging +gallery when his attention was aroused by voices coming from a room upon +his left. Instantly the figure halted and crossing the corridor stood +with an ear close to the skins that concealed the occupants of the room +from him, and him from them. Presently he leaped back into the +concealing shadows of the diverging gallery and immediately thereafter +the hangings by which he had been listening parted and a priest emerged +to turn quickly down the main corridor. The eavesdropper waited until +the other had gained a little distance and then stepping from his place +of concealment followed silently behind.</p> + +<p>The way led along the corridor which ran parallel with the face of the +cliff for some little distance and then Pan-sat, taking a cresset from +one of the wall niches, turned abruptly into a small apartment at his +left. The tracker followed cautiously in time to see the rays of the +flickering light dimly visible from an aperture in the floor before him. +Here he found a series of steps, similar to those used by the Waz-don in +scaling the cliff to their caves, leading to a lower level.</p> + +<p>First satisfying himself that his guide was continuing upon his way +unsuspecting, the other descended after him and continued his stealthy +stalking. The passageway was now both narrow and low, giving but bare +headroom to a tall man, and it was broken often by flights of steps +leading always downward. The steps in each unit seldom numbered more +than six and sometimes there was only one or two but in the aggregate +the tracker imagined that they had descended between fifty and +seventy-five feet from the level of the upper corridor when the +passageway terminated in a small apartment at one side of which was a +little pile of rubble.</p> + +<p>Setting his cresset upon the ground, Pan-sat commenced hurriedly to toss +the bits of broken stone aside, presently revealing a small aperture at +the base of the wall upon the opposite side of which there appeared to +be a further accumulation of rubble. This he also removed until he had a +hole of sufficient size to permit the passage of his body, and leaving +the cresset still burning upon the floor the priest crawled through the +opening he had made and disappeared from the sight of the watcher hiding +in the shadows of the narrow passageway behind him.</p> + +<p>No sooner, however, was he safely gone than the other followed, finding +himself, after passing through the hole, on a little ledge about halfway +between the surface of the lake and the top of the cliff above. The +ledge inclined steeply upward, ending at the rear of a building which +stood upon the edge of the cliff and which the second priest entered +just in time to see Pan-sat pass out into the city beyond.</p> + +<p>As the latter turned a nearby corner the other emerged from the doorway +and quickly surveyed his surroundings. He was satisfied the priest who +had led him hither had served his purpose in so far as the tracker was +concerned. Above him, and perhaps a hundred yards away, the white walls +of the palace gleamed against the northern sky. The time that it had +taken him to acquire definite knowledge concerning the secret passageway +between the temple and the city he did not count as lost, though he +begrudged every instant that kept him from the prosecution of his main +objective. It had seemed to him, however, necessary to the success of a +bold plan that he had formulated upon overhearing the conversation +between Lu-don and Pan-sat as he stood without the hangings of the +apartment of the high priest.</p> + +<p>Alone against a nation of suspicious and half-savage enemies he could +scarce hope for a successful outcome to the one great issue upon which +hung the life and happiness of the creature he loved best. For her sake +he must win allies and it was for this purpose that he had sacrificed +these precious moments, but now he lost no further time in seeking to +regain entrance to the palace grounds that he might search out whatever +new prison they had found in which to incarcerate his lost love.</p> + +<p>He found no difficulty in passing the guards at the entrance to the +palace for, as he had guessed, his priestly disguise disarmed all +suspicion. As he approached the warriors he kept his hands behind him +and trusted to fate that the sickly light of the single torch which +stood beside the doorway would not reveal his un-Pal-ul-donian feet. As +a matter of fact so accustomed were they to the comings and goings of +the priesthood that they paid scant attention to him and he passed on +into the palace grounds without even a moment's delay.</p> + +<p>His goal now was the Forbidden Garden and this he had little difficulty +in reaching though he elected to enter it over the wall rather than to +chance arousing any suspicion on the part of the guards at the inner +entrance, since he could imagine no reason why a priest should seek +entrance there thus late at night.</p> + +<p>He found the garden deserted, nor any sign of her he sought. That she +had been brought hither he had learned from the conversation he had +overheard between Lu-don and Pan-sat, and he was sure that there had +been no time or opportunity for the high priest to remove her from the +palace grounds. The garden he knew to be devoted exclusively to the uses +of the princess and her women and it was only reasonable to assume +therefore that if Jane had been brought to the garden it could only have +been upon an order from Ko-tan. This being the case the natural +assumption would follow that he would find her in some other portion of +O-lo-a's quarters.</p> + +<p>Just where these lay he could only conjecture, but it seemed reasonable +to believe that they must be adjacent to the garden, so once more he +scaled the wall and passing around its end directed his steps toward an +entrance-way which he judged must lead to that portion of the palace +nearest the Forbidden Garden.</p> + +<p>To his surprise he found the place unguarded and then there fell upon +his ear from an interior apartment the sound of voices raised in anger +and excitement. Guided by the sound he quickly traversed several +corridors and chambers until he stood before the hangings which +separated him from the chamber from which issued the sounds of +altercation. Raising the skins slightly he looked within. There were two +women battling with a Ho-don warrior. One was the daughter of Ko-tan and +the other Pan-at-lee, the Kor-ul-ja.</p> + +<p>At the moment that Tarzan lifted the hangings, the warrior threw O-lo-a +viciously to the ground and seizing Pan-at-lee by the hair drew his +knife and raised it above her head. Casting the encumbering headdress of +the dead priest from his shoulders the ape-man leaped across the +intervening space and seizing the brute from behind struck him a single +terrible blow.</p> + +<p>As the man fell forward dead, the two women recognized Tarzan +simultaneously. Pan-at-lee fell upon her knees and would have bowed her +head upon his feet had he not, with an impatient gesture, commanded her +to rise. He had no time to listen to their protestations of gratitude or +answer the numerous questions which he knew would soon be flowing from +those two feminine tongues.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," he cried, "where is the woman of my own race whom Ja-don +brought here from the temple?"</p> + +<p>"She is but this moment gone," cried O-lo-a. "Mo-sar, the father of this +thing here," and she indicated the body of Bu-lot with a scornful +finger, "seized her and carried her away."</p> + +<p>"Which way?" he cried. "Tell me quickly, in what direction he took her."</p> + +<p>"That way," cried Pan-at-lee, pointing to the doorway through which +Mo-sar had passed. "They would have taken the princess and the stranger +woman to Tu-lur, Mo-sar's city by the Dark Lake."</p> + +<p>"I go to find her," he said to Pan-at-lee, "she is my mate. And if I +survive I shall find means to liberate you too and return you to Om-at."</p> + +<p>Before the girl could reply he had disappeared behind the hangings of +the door near the foot of the dais. The corridor through which he ran +was illy lighted and like nearly all its kind in the Ho-don city wound +in and out and up and down, but at last it terminated at a sudden turn +which brought him into a courtyard filled with warriors, a portion of +the palace guard that had just been summoned by one of the lesser palace +chiefs to join the warriors of Ko-tan in the battle that was raging in +the banquet hall.</p> + +<p>At sight of Tarzan, who in his haste had forgotten to recover his +disguising headdress, a great shout arose. "Blasphemer!" "Defiler of the +temple!" burst hoarsely from savage throats, and mingling with these +were a few who cried, "Dor-ul-Otho!" evidencing the fact that there were +among them still some who clung to their belief in his divinity.</p> + +<p>To cross the courtyard armed only with a knife, in the face of this +great throng of savage fighting men seemed even to the giant ape-man a +thing impossible of achievement. He must use his wits now and quickly +too, for they were closing upon him. He might have turned and fled back +through the corridor but flight now even in the face of dire necessity +would but delay him in his pursuit of Mo-sar and his mate.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" he cried, raising his palm against them. "I am the Dor-ul-Otho +and I come to you with a word from Ja-don, who it is my father's will +shall be your king now that Ko-tan is slain. Lu-don, the high priest, +has planned to seize the palace and destroy the loyal warriors that +Mo-sar may be made king—Mo-sar who will be the tool and creature of +Lu-don. Follow me. There is no time to lose if you would prevent the +traitors whom Lu-don has organized in the city from entering the palace +by a secret way and overpowering Ja-don and the faithful band within."</p> + +<p>For a moment they hesitated. At last one spoke. "What guarantee have +we," he demanded, "that it is not you who would betray us and by leading +us now away from the fighting in the banquet hall cause those who fight +at Ja-don's side to be defeated?"</p> + +<p>"My life will be your guarantee," replied Tarzan. "If you find that I +have not spoken the truth you are sufficient in numbers to execute +whatever penalty you choose. But come, there is not time to lose. +Already are the lesser priests gathering their warriors in the city +below," and without waiting for any further parley he strode directly +toward them in the direction of the gate upon the opposite side of the +courtyard which led toward the principal entrance to the palace ground.</p> + +<p>Slower in wit than he, they were swept away by his greater initiative +and that compelling power which is inherent to all natural leaders. And +so they followed him, the giant ape-man with a dead tail dragging the +ground behind him—a demi-god where another would have been ridiculous. +Out into the city he led them and down toward the unpretentious building +that hid Lu-don's secret passageway from the city to the temple, and as +they rounded the last turn they saw before them a gathering of warriors +which was being rapidly augmented from all directions as the traitors of +A-lur mobilized at the call of the priesthood.</p> + +<p>"You spoke the truth, stranger," said the chief who marched at Tarzan's +side, "for there are the warriors with the priests among them, even as +you told us."</p> + +<p>"And now," replied the ape-man, "that I have fulfilled my promise I will +go my way after Mo-sar, who has done me a great wrong. Tell Ja-don that +Jad-ben-Otho is upon his side, nor do you forget to tell him also that +it was the Dor-ul-Otho who thwarted Lu-don's plan to seize the palace."</p> + +<p>"I will not forget," replied the chief. "Go your way. We are enough to +overpower the traitors."</p> + +<p>"Tell me," asked Tarzan, "how I may know this city of Tu-lur?"</p> + +<p>"It lies upon the south shore of the second lake below A-lur," replied +the chief, "the lake that is called Jad-in-lul."</p> + +<p>They were now approaching the band of traitors, who evidently thought +that this was another contingent of their own party since they made no +effort either toward defense or retreat. Suddenly the chief raised his +voice in a savage war cry that was immediately taken up by his +followers, and simultaneously, as though the cry were a command, the +entire party broke into a mad charge upon the surprised rebels.</p> + +<p>Satisfied with the outcome of his suddenly conceived plan and sure that +it would work to the disadvantage of Lu-don, Tarzan turned into a side +street and pointed his steps toward the outskirts of the city in search +of the trail that led southward toward Tu-lur.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="By_Jad_bal_lul" id="By_Jad_bal_lul" />17 - By Jad-bal-lul</h2> + + +<p>As Mo-sar carried Jane Clayton from the palace of Ko-tan, the king, the +woman struggled incessantly to regain her freedom. He tried to compel +her to walk, but despite his threats and his abuse she would not +voluntarily take a single step in the direction in which he wished her +to go. Instead she threw herself to the ground each time he sought to +place her upon her feet, and so of necessity he was compelled to carry +her though at last he tied her hands and gagged her to save himself from +further lacerations, for the beauty and slenderness of the woman belied +her strength and courage. When he came at last to where his men had +gathered he was glad indeed to turn her over to a couple of stalwart +warriors, but these too were forced to carry her since Mo-sar's fear of +the vengeance of Ko-tan's retainers would brook no delays.</p> + +<p>And thus they came down out of the hills from which A-lur is carved, to +the meadows that skirt the lower end of Jad-ben-lul, with Jane Clayton +carried between two of Mo-sar's men. At the edge of the lake lay a fleet +of strong canoes, hollowed from the trunks of trees, their bows and +sterns carved in the semblance of grotesque beasts or birds and vividly +colored by some master in that primitive school of art, which +fortunately is not without its devotees today.</p> + +<p>Into the stern of one of these canoes the warriors tossed their captive +at a sign from Mo-sar, who came and stood beside her as the warriors +were finding their places in the canoes and selecting their paddles.</p> + +<p>"Come, Beautiful One," he said, "let us be friends and you shall not be +harmed. You will find Mo-sar a kind master if you do his bidding," and +thinking to make a good impression on her he removed the gag from her +mouth and the thongs from her wrists, knowing well that she could not +escape surrounded as she was by his warriors, and presently, when they +were out on the lake, she would be as safely imprisoned as though he +held her behind bars.</p> + +<p>And so the fleet moved off to the accompaniment of the gentle splashing +of a hundred paddles, to follow the windings of the rivers and lakes +through which the waters of the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho empty into the +great morass to the south. The warriors, resting upon one knee, faced +the bow and in the last canoe Mo-sar tiring of his fruitless attempts to +win responses from his sullen captive, squatted in the bottom of the +canoe with his back toward her and resting his head upon the gunwale +sought sleep.</p> + +<p>Thus they moved in silence between the verdure-clad banks of the little +river through which the waters of Jad-ben-lul emptied—now in the +moonlight, now in dense shadow where great trees overhung the stream, +and at last out upon the waters of another lake, the black shores of +which seemed far away under the weird influence of a moonlight night.</p> + +<p>Jane Clayton sat alert in the stern of the last canoe. For months she +had been under constant surveillance, the prisoner first of one ruthless +race and now the prisoner of another. Since the long-gone day that +Hauptmann Fritz Schneider and his band of native German troops had +treacherously wrought the Kaiser's work of rapine and destruction on the +Greystoke bungalow and carried her away to captivity she had not drawn a +free breath. That she had survived unharmed the countless dangers +through which she had passed she attributed solely to the beneficence of +a kind and watchful Providence.</p> + +<p>At first she had been held on the orders of the German High Command with +a view of her ultimate value as a hostage and during these months she +had been subjected to neither hardship nor oppression, but when the +Germans had become hard pressed toward the close of their unsuccessful +campaign in East Africa it had been determined to take her further into +the interior and now there was an element of revenge in their motives, +since it must have been apparent that she could no longer be of any +possible military value.</p> + +<p>Bitter indeed were the Germans against that half-savage mate of hers who +had cunningly annoyed and harassed them with a fiendishness of +persistence and ingenuity that had resulted in a noticeable loss in +morale in the sector he had chosen for his operations. They had to +charge against him the lives of certain officers that he had +deliberately taken with his own hands, and one entire section of trench +that had made possible a disastrous turning movement by the British. +Tarzan had out-generaled them at every point. He had met cunning with +cunning and cruelty with cruelties until they feared and loathed his +very name. The cunning trick that they had played upon him in destroying +his home, murdering his retainers, and covering the abduction of his +wife in such a way as to lead him to believe that she had been killed, +they had regretted a thousand times, for a thousandfold had they paid +the price for their senseless ruthlessness, and now, unable to wreak +their vengeance directly upon him, they had conceived the idea of +inflicting further suffering upon his mate.</p> + +<p>In sending her into the interior to avoid the path of the victorious +British, they had chosen as her escort Lieutenant Erich Obergatz who had +been second in command of Schneider's company, and who alone of its +officers had escaped the consuming vengeance of the ape-man. For a long +time Obergatz had held her in a native village, the chief of which was +still under the domination of his fear of the ruthless German +oppressors. While here only hardships and discomforts assailed her, +Obergatz himself being held in leash by the orders of his distant +superior but as time went on the life in the village grew to be a +veritable hell of cruelties and oppressions practiced by the arrogant +Prussian upon the villagers and the members of his native command—for +time hung heavily upon the hands of the lieutenant and with idleness +combining with the personal discomforts he was compelled to endure, his +none too agreeable temper found an outlet first in petty interference +with the chiefs and later in the practice of absolute cruelties upon +them.</p> + +<p>What the self-sufficient German could not see was plain to Jane +Clayton—that the sympathies of Obergatz' native soldiers lay with the +villagers and that all were so heartily sickened by his abuse that it +needed now but the slightest spark to detonate the mine of revenge and +hatred that the pig-headed Hun had been assiduously fabricating beneath +his own person.</p> + +<p>And at last it came, but from an unexpected source in the form of a +German native deserter from the theater of war. Footsore, weary, and +spent, he dragged himself into the village late one afternoon, and +before Obergatz was even aware of his presence the whole village knew +that the power of Germany in Africa was at an end. It did not take long +for the lieutenant's native soldiers to realize that the authority that +held them in service no longer existed and that with it had gone the +power to pay them their miserable wage. Or at least, so they reasoned. +To them Obergatz no longer represented aught else than a powerless and +hated foreigner, and short indeed would have been his shrift had not a +native woman who had conceived a doglike affection for Jane Clayton +hurried to her with word of the murderous plan, for the fate of the +innocent white woman lay in the balance beside that of the guilty +Teuton.</p> + +<p>"Already they are quarreling as to which one shall possess you," she +told Jane.</p> + +<p>"When will they come for us?" asked Jane. "Did you hear them say?"</p> + +<p>"Tonight," replied the woman, "for even now that he has none to fight +for him they still fear the white man. And so they will come at night +and kill him while he sleeps."</p> + +<p>Jane thanked the woman and sent her away lest the suspicion of her +fellows be aroused against her when they discovered that the two whites +had learned of their intentions. The woman went at once to the hut +occupied by Obergatz. She had never gone there before and the German +looked up in surprise as he saw who his visitor was.</p> + +<p>Briefly she told him what she had heard. At first he was inclined to +bluster arrogantly, with a great display of bravado but she silenced him +peremptorily.</p> + +<p>"Such talk is useless," she said shortly. "You have brought upon +yourself the just hatred of these people. Regardless of the truth or +falsity of the report which has been brought to them, they believe in it +and there is nothing now between you and your Maker other than flight. +We shall both be dead before morning if we are unable to escape from the +village unseen. If you go to them now with your silly protestations of +authority you will be dead a little sooner, that is all."</p> + +<p>"You think it is as bad as that?" he said, a noticeable alteration in +his tone and manner.</p> + +<p>"It is precisely as I have told you," she replied. "They will come +tonight and kill you while you sleep. Find me pistols and a rifle and +ammunition and we will pretend that we go into the jungle to hunt. That +you have done often. Perhaps it will arouse suspicion that I accompany +you but that we must chance. And be sure my dear Herr Lieutenant to +bluster and curse and abuse your servants unless they note a change in +your manner and realizing your fear know that you suspect their +intention. If all goes well then we can go out into the jungle to hunt +and we need not return.</p> + +<p>"But first and now you must swear never to harm me, or otherwise it +would be better that I called the chief and turned you over to him and +then put a bullet into my own head, for unless you swear as I have asked +I were no better alone in the jungle with you than here at the mercies +of these degraded blacks."</p> + +<p>"I swear," he replied solemnly, "in the names of my God and my Kaiser +that no harm shall befall you at my hands, Lady Greystoke."</p> + +<p>"Very well," she said, "we will make this pact to assist each other to +return to civilization, but let it be understood that there is and never +can be any semblance even of respect for you upon my part. I am drowning +and you are the straw. Carry that always in your mind, German."</p> + +<p>If Obergatz had held any doubt as to the sincerity of her word it would +have been wholly dissipated by the scathing contempt of her tone. And so +Obergatz, without further parley, got pistols and an extra rifle for +Jane, as well as bandoleers of cartridges. In his usual arrogant and +disagreeable manner he called his servants, telling them that he and the +white kali were going out into the brush to hunt. The beaters would go +north as far as the little hill and then circle back to the east and in +toward the village. The gun carriers he directed to take the extra +pieces and precede himself and Jane slowly toward the east, waiting for +them at the ford about half a mile distant. The blacks responded with +greater alacrity than usual and it was noticeable to both Jane and +Obergatz that they left the village whispering and laughing.</p> + +<p>"The swine think it is a great joke," growled Obergatz, "that the +afternoon before I die I go out and hunt meat for them."</p> + +<p>As soon as the gun bearers disappeared in the jungle beyond the village +the two Europeans followed along the same trail, nor was there any +attempt upon the part of Obergatz' native soldiers, or the warriors of +the chief to detain them, for they too doubtless were more than willing +that the whites should bring them in one more mess of meat before they +killed them.</p> + +<p>A quarter of a mile from the village, Obergatz turned toward the south +from the trail that led to the ford and hurrying onward the two put as +great a distance as possible between them and the village before night +fell. They knew from the habits of their erstwhile hosts that there was +little danger of pursuit by night since the villagers held Numa, the +lion, in too great respect to venture needlessly beyond their stockade +during the hours that the king of beasts was prone to choose for +hunting.</p> + +<p>And thus began a seemingly endless sequence of frightful days and +horror-laden nights as the two fought their way toward the south in the +face of almost inconceivable hardships, privations, and dangers. The +east coast was nearer but Obergatz positively refused to chance throwing +himself into the hands of the British by returning to the territory +which they now controlled, insisting instead upon attempting to make his +way through an unknown wilderness to South Africa where, among the +Boers, he was convinced he would find willing sympathizers who would +find some way to return him in safety to Germany, and the woman was +perforce compelled to accompany him.</p> + +<p>And so they had crossed the great thorny, waterless steppe and come at +last to the edge of the morass before Pal-ul-don. They had reached this +point just before the rainy season when the waters of the morass were at +their lowest ebb. At this time a hard crust is baked upon the dried +surface of the marsh and there is only the open water at the center to +materially impede progress. It is a condition that exists perhaps not +more than a few weeks, or even days at the termination of long periods +of drought, and so the two crossed the otherwise almost impassable +barrier without realizing its latent terrors. Even the open water in the +center chanced to be deserted at the time by its frightful denizens +which the drought and the receding waters had driven southward toward +the mouth of Pal-ul-don's largest river which carries the waters out of +the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho.</p> + +<p>Their wanderings carried them across the mountains and into the Valley +of Jad-ben-Otho at the source of one of the larger streams which bears +the mountain waters down into the valley to empty them into the main +river just below The Great Lake on whose northern shore lies A-lur. As +they had come down out of the mountains they had been surprised by a +party of Ho-don hunters. Obergatz had escaped while Jane had been taken +prisoner and brought to A-lur. She had neither seen nor heard aught of +the German since that time and she did not know whether he had perished +in this strange land, or succeeded in successfully eluding its savage +denizens and making his way at last into South Africa.</p> + +<p>For her part, she had been incarcerated alternately in the palace and +the temple as either Ko-tan or Lu-don succeeded in wresting her +temporarily from the other by various strokes of cunning and intrigue. +And now at last she was in the power of a new captor, one whom she knew +from the gossip of the temple and the palace to be cruel and degraded. +And she was in the stern of the last canoe, and every enemy back was +toward her, while almost at her feet Mo-sar's loud snores gave ample +evidence of his unconsciousness to his immediate surroundings.</p> + +<p>The dark shore loomed closer to the south as Jane Clayton, Lady +Greystoke, slid quietly over the stern of the canoe into the chill +waters of the lake. She scarcely moved other than to keep her nostrils +above the surface while the canoe was yet discernible in the last rays +of the declining moon. Then she struck out toward the southern shore.</p> + +<p>Alone, unarmed, all but naked, in a country overrun by savage beasts and +hostile men, she yet felt for the first time in many months a sensation +of elation and relief. She was free! What if the next moment brought +death, she knew again, at least a brief instant of absolute freedom. Her +blood tingled to the almost forgotten sensation and it was with +difficulty that she restrained a glad triumphant cry as she clambered +from the quiet waters and stood upon the silent beach.</p> + +<p>Before her loomed a forest, darkly, and from its depths came those +nameless sounds that are a part of the night life of the jungle—the +rustling of leaves in the wind, the rubbing together of contiguous +branches, the scurrying of a rodent, all magnified by the darkness to +sinister and awe-inspiring proportions; the hoot of an owl, the distant +scream of a great cat, the barking of wild dogs, attested the presence +of the myriad life she could not see—the savage life, the free life of +which she was now a part. And then there came to her, possibly for the +first time since the giant ape-man had come into her life, a fuller +realization of what the jungle meant to him, for though alone and +unprotected from its hideous dangers she yet felt its lure upon her and +an exaltation that she had not dared hope to feel again.</p> + +<p>Ah, if that mighty mate of hers were but by her side! What utter joy and +bliss would be hers! She longed for no more than this. The parade of +cities, the comforts and luxuries of civilization held forth no allure +half as insistent as the glorious freedom of the jungle.</p> + +<p>A lion moaned in the blackness to her right, eliciting delicious thrills +that crept along her spine. The hair at the back of her head seemed to +stand erect—yet she was unafraid. The muscles bequeathed her by some +primordial ancestor reacted instinctively to the presence of an ancient +enemy—that was all. The woman moved slowly and deliberately toward the +wood. Again the lion moaned; this time nearer. She sought a low-hanging +branch and finding it swung easily into the friendly shelter of the +tree. The long and perilous journey with Obergatz had trained her +muscles and her nerves to such unaccustomed habits. She found a safe +resting place such as Tarzan had taught her was best and there she +curled herself, thirty feet above the ground, for a night's rest. She +was cold and uncomfortable and yet she slept, for her heart was warm +with renewed hope and her tired brain had found temporary surcease from +worry.</p> + +<p>She slept until the heat of the sun, high in the heavens, awakened her. +She was rested and now her body was well as her heart was warm. A +sensation of ease and comfort and happiness pervaded her being. She rose +upon her gently swaying couch and stretched luxuriously, her naked limbs +and lithe body mottled by the sunlight filtering through the foliage +above combined with the lazy gesture to impart to her appearance +something of the leopard. With careful eye she scrutinized the ground +below and with attentive ear she listened for any warning sound that +might suggest the near presence of enemies, either man or beast. +Satisfied at last that there was nothing close of which she need have +fear she clambered to the ground. She wished to bathe but the lake was +too exposed and just a bit too far from the safety of the trees for her +to risk it until she became more familiar with her surroundings. She +wandered aimlessly through the forest searching for food which she found +in abundance. She ate and rested, for she had no objective as yet. Her +freedom was too new to be spoiled by plannings for the future. The +haunts of civilized man seemed to her now as vague and unattainable as +the half-forgotten substance of a dream. If she could but live on here +in peace, waiting, waiting for—him. It was the old hope revived. She +knew that he would come some day, if he lived. She had always known +that, though recently she had believed that he would come too late. If +he lived! Yes, he would come if he lived, and if he did not live she +were as well off here as elsewhere, for then nothing mattered, only to +wait for the end as patiently as might be.</p> + +<p>Her wanderings brought her to a crystal brook and there she drank and +bathed beneath an overhanging tree that offered her quick asylum in the +event of danger. It was a quiet and beautiful spot and she loved it from +the first. The bottom of the brook was paved with pretty stones and bits +of glassy obsidian. As she gathered a handful of the pebbles and held +them up to look at them she noticed that one of her fingers was bleeding +from a clean, straight cut. She fell to searching for the cause and +presently discovered it in one of the fragments of volcanic glass which +revealed an edge that was almost razor-like. Jane Clayton was elated. +Here, God-given to her hands, was the first beginning with which she +might eventually arrive at both weapons and tools—a cutting edge. +Everything was possible to him who possessed it—nothing without.</p> + +<p>She sought until she had collected many of the precious bits of +stone—until the pouch that hung at her right side was almost filled. +Then she climbed into the great tree to examine them at leisure. There +were some that looked like knife blades, and some that could easily be +fashioned into spear heads, and many smaller ones that nature seemed to +have intended for the tips of savage arrows.</p> + +<p>The spear she would essay first—that would be easiest. There was a +hollow in the bole of the tree in a great crotch high above the ground. +Here she cached all of her treasure except a single knifelike sliver. +With this she descended to the ground and searching out a slender +sapling that grew arrow-straight she hacked and sawed until she could +break it off without splitting the wood. It was just the right diameter +for the shaft of a spear—a hunting spear such as her beloved Waziri had +liked best. How often had she watched them fashioning them, and they had +taught her how to use them, too—them and the heavy war spears—laughing +and clapping their hands as her proficiency increased.</p> + +<p>She knew the arborescent grasses that yielded the longest and toughest +fibers and these she sought and carried to her tree with the spear shaft +that was to be. Clambering to her crotch she bent to her work, humming +softly a little tune. She caught herself and smiled—it was the first +time in all these bitter months that song had passed her lips or such a +smile.</p> + +<p>"I feel," she sighed, "I almost feel that John is near—my John—my +Tarzan!"</p> + +<p>She cut the spear shaft to the proper length and removed the twigs and +branches and the bark, whittling and scraping at the nubs until the +surface was all smooth and straight. Then she split one end and inserted +a spear point, shaping the wood until it fitted perfectly. This done she +laid the shaft aside and fell to splitting the thick grass stems and +pounding and twisting them until she had separated and partially cleaned +the fibers. These she took down to the brook and washed and brought back +again and wound tightly around the cleft end of the shaft, which she had +notched to receive them, and the upper part of the spear head which she +had also notched slightly with a bit of stone. It was a crude spear but +the best that she could attain in so short a time. Later, she promised +herself, she should have others—many of them—and they would be spears +of which even the greatest of the Waziri spear-men might be proud.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Lion_Pit_of_Tu_lur" id="The_Lion_Pit_of_Tu_lur" />18 - The Lion Pit of Tu-lur</h2> + + +<p>Though Tarzan searched the outskirts of the city until nearly dawn he +discovered nowhere the spoor of his mate. The breeze coming down from +the mountains brought to his nostrils a diversity of scents but there +was not among them the slightest suggestion of her whom he sought. The +natural deduction was therefore that she had been taken in some other +direction. In his search he had many times crossed the fresh tracks of +many men leading toward the lake and these he concluded had probably +been made by Jane Clayton's abductors. It had only been to minimize the +chance of error by the process of elimination that he had carefully +reconnoitered every other avenue leading from A-lur toward the southeast +where lay Mo-sar's city of Tu-lur, and now he followed the trail to the +shores of Jad-ben-lul where the party had embarked upon the quiet waters +in their sturdy canoes.</p> + +<p>He found many other craft of the same description moored along the shore +and one of these he commandeered for the purpose of pursuit. It was +daylight when he passed through the lake which lies next below +Jad-ben-lul and paddling strongly passed within sight of the very tree +in which his lost mate lay sleeping.</p> + +<p>Had the gentle wind that caressed the bosom of the lake been blowing +from a southerly direction the giant ape-man and Jane Clayton would have +been reunited then, but an unkind fate had willed otherwise and the +opportunity passed with the passing of his canoe which presently his +powerful strokes carried out of sight into the stream at the lower end +of the lake.</p> + +<p>Following the winding river which bore a considerable distance to the +north before doubling back to empty into the Jad-in-lul, the ape-man +missed a portage that would have saved him hours of paddling.</p> + +<p>It was at the upper end of this portage where Mo-sar and his warriors +had debarked that the chief discovered the absence of his captive. As +Mo-sar had been asleep since shortly after their departure from A-lur, +and as none of the warriors recalled when she had last been seen, it was +impossible to conjecture with any degree of accuracy the place where she +had escaped. The consensus of opinion was, however, that it had been in +the narrow river connecting Jad-ben-lul with the lake next below it, +which is called Jad-bal-lul, which freely translated means the lake of +gold. Mo-sar had been very wroth and having himself been the only one at +fault he naturally sought with great diligence to fix the blame upon +another.</p> + +<p>He would have returned in search of her had he not feared to meet a +pursuing company dispatched either by Ja-don or the high priest, both of +whom, he knew, had just grievances against him. He would not even spare +a boatload of his warriors from his own protection to return in quest of +the fugitive but hastened onward with as little delay as possible across +the portage and out upon the waters of Jad-in-lul.</p> + +<p>The morning sun was just touching the white domes of Tu-lur when +Mo-sar's paddlers brought their canoes against the shore at the city's +edge. Safe once more behind his own walls and protected by many +warriors, the courage of the chief returned sufficiently at least to +permit him to dispatch three canoes in search of Jane Clayton, and also +to go as far as A-lur if possible to learn what had delayed Bu-lot, +whose failure to reach the canoes with the balance of the party at the +time of the flight from the northern city had in no way delayed Mo-sar's +departure, his own safety being of far greater moment than that of his +son.</p> + +<p>As the three canoes reached the portage on their return journey the +warriors who were dragging them from the water were suddenly startled by +the appearance of two priests, carrying a light canoe in the direction +of Jad-in-lul. At first they thought them the advance guard of a larger +force of Lu-don's followers, although the correctness of such a theory +was belied by their knowledge that priests never accepted the risks or +perils of a warrior's vocation, nor even fought until driven into a +corner and forced to do so. Secretly the warriors of Pal-ul-don held the +emasculated priesthood in contempt and so instead of immediately taking +up the offensive as they would have had the two men been warriors from +A-lur instead of priests, they waited to question them.</p> + +<p>At sight of the warriors the priests made the sign of peace and upon +being asked if they were alone they answered in the affirmative.</p> + +<p>The leader of Mo-sar's warriors permitted them to approach. "What do you +here," he asked, "in the country of Mo-sar, so far from your own city?"</p> + +<p>"We carry a message from Lu-don, the high priest, to Mo-sar," explained +one.</p> + +<p>"Is it a message of peace or of war?" asked the warrior.</p> + +<p>"It is an offer of peace," replied the priest.</p> + +<p>"And Lu-don is sending no warriors behind you?" queried the fighting +man.</p> + +<p>"We are alone," the priest assured him. "None in A-lur save Lu-don knows +that we have come upon this errand."</p> + +<p>"Then go your way," said the warrior.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" asked one of the priests suddenly, pointing toward the +upper end of the lake at the point where the river from Jad-bal-lul +entered it.</p> + +<p>All eyes turned in the direction that he had indicated to see a lone +warrior paddling rapidly into Jad-in-lul, the prow of his canoe pointing +toward Tu-lur. The warriors and the priests drew into the concealment of +the bushes on either side of the portage.</p> + +<p>"It is the terrible man who called himself the Dor-ul-Otho," whispered +one of the priests. "I would know that figure among a great multitude as +far as I could see it."</p> + +<p>"You are right, priest," cried one of the warriors who had seen Tarzan +the day that he had first entered Ko-tan's palace. "It is indeed he who +has been rightly called Tarzan-jad-guru."</p> + +<p>"Hasten priests," cried the leader of the party. "You are two paddles in +a light canoe. Easily can you reach Tu-lur ahead of him and warn Mo-sar +of his coming, for he has but only entered the lake."</p> + +<p>For a moment the priests demurred for they had no stomach for an +encounter with this terrible man, but the warrior insisted and even went +so far as to threaten them. Their canoe was taken from them and pushed +into the lake and they were all but lifted bodily from their feet and +put aboard it. Still protesting they were shoved out upon the water +where they were immediately in full view of the lone paddler above them. +Now there was no alternative. The city of Tu-lur offered the only safety +and bending to their paddles the two priests sent their craft swiftly in +the direction of the city.</p> + +<p>The warriors withdrew again to the concealment of the foliage. If Tarzan +had seen them and should come hither to investigate there were thirty of +them against one and naturally they had no fear of the outcome, but they +did not consider it necessary to go out upon the lake to meet him since +they had been sent to look for the escaped prisoner and not to intercept +the strange warrior, the stories of whose ferocity and prowess doubtless +helped them to arrive at their decision to provoke no uncalled-for +quarrel with him.</p> + +<p>If he had seen them he gave no sign, but continued paddling steadily and +strongly toward the city, nor did he increase his speed as the two +priests shot out in full view. The moment the priests' canoe touched the +shore by the city its occupants leaped out and hurried swiftly toward +the palace gate, casting affrighted glances behind them. They sought +immediate audience with Mo-sar, after warning the warriors on guard that +Tarzan was approaching.</p> + +<p>They were conducted at once to the chief, whose court was a smaller +replica of that of the king of A-lur. "We come from Lu-don, the high +priest," explained the spokesman. "He wishes the friendship of Mo-sar, +who has always been his friend. Ja-don is gathering warriors to make +himself king. Throughout the villages of the Ho-don are thousands who +will obey the commands of Lu-don, the high priest. Only with Lu-don's +assistance can Mo-sar become king, and the message from Lu-don is that +if Mo-sar would retain the friendship of Lu-don he must return +immediately the woman he took from the quarters of the Princess O-lo-a."</p> + +<p>At this juncture a warrior entered. His excitement was evident. "The +Dor-ul-Otho has come to Tu-lur and demands to see Mo-sar at once," he +said.</p> + +<p>"The Dor-ul-Otho!" exclaimed Mo-sar.</p> + +<p>"That is the message he sent," replied the warrior, "and indeed he is +not as are the people of Pal-ul-don. He is, we think, the same of whom +the warriors that returned from A-lur today told us and whom some call +Tarzan-jad-guru and some Dor-ul-Otho. But indeed only the son of god +would dare come thus alone to a strange city, so it must be that he +speaks the truth."</p> + +<p>Mo-sar, his heart filled with terror and indecision, turned +questioningly toward the priests.</p> + +<p>"Receive him graciously, Mo-sar," counseled he who had spoken before, +his advice prompted by the petty shrewdness of his defective brain +which, under the added influence of Lu-don's tutorage leaned always +toward duplicity. "Receive him graciously and when he is quite convinced +of your friendship he will be off his guard, and then you may do with +him as you will. But if possible, Mo-sar, and you would win the undying +gratitude of Lu-don, the high-priest, save him alive for my master."</p> + +<p>Mo-sar nodded understandingly and turning to the warrior commanded that +he conduct the visitor to him.</p> + +<p>"We must not be seen by the creature," said one of the priests. "Give us +your answer to Lu-don, Mo-sar, and we will go our way."</p> + +<p>"Tell Lu-don," replied the chief, "that the woman would have been lost +to him entirely had it not been for me. I sought to bring her to Tu-lur +that I might save her for him from the clutches of Ja-don, but during +the night she escaped. Tell Lu-don that I have sent thirty warriors to +search for her. It is strange you did not see them as you came."</p> + +<p>"We did," replied the priests, "but they told us nothing of the purpose +of their journey."</p> + +<p>"It is as I have told you," said Mo-sar, "and if they find her, assure +your master that she will be kept unharmed in Tu-lur for him. Also tell +him that I will send my warriors to join with his against Ja-don +whenever he sends word that he wants them. Now go, for Tarzan-jad-guru +will soon be here."</p> + +<p>He signaled to a slave. "Lead the priests to the temple," he commanded, +"and ask the high priest of Tu-lur to see that they are fed and +permitted to return to A-lur when they will."</p> + +<p>The two priests were conducted from the apartment by the slave through a +doorway other than that at which they had entered, and a moment later +Tarzan-jad-guru strode into the presence of Mo-sar, ahead of the warrior +whose duty it had been to conduct and announce him. The ape-man made no +sign of greeting or of peace but strode directly toward the chief who, +only by the exertion of his utmost powers of will, hid the terror that +was in his heart at sight of the giant figure and the scowling face.</p> + +<p>"I am the Dor-ul-Otho," said the ape-man in level tones that carried to +the mind of Mo-sar a suggestion of cold steel; "I am Dor-ul-Otho, and I +come to Tu-lur for the woman you stole from the apartments of O-lo-a, +the princess."</p> + +<p>The very boldness of Tarzan's entry into this hostile city had had the +effect of giving him a great moral advantage over Mo-sar and the savage +warriors who stood upon either side of the chief. Truly it seemed to +them that no other than the son of Jad-ben-Otho would dare so heroic an +act. Would any mortal warrior act thus boldly, and alone enter the +presence of a powerful chief and, in the midst of a score of warriors, +arrogantly demand an accounting? No, it was beyond reason. Mo-sar was +faltering in his decision to betray the stranger by seeming +friendliness. He even paled to a sudden thought—Jad-ben-Otho knew +everything, even our inmost thoughts. Was it not therefore possible that +this creature, if after all it should prove true that he was the +Dor-ul-Otho, might even now be reading the wicked design that the +priests had implanted in the brain of Mo-sar and which he had +entertained so favorably? The chief squirmed and fidgeted upon the bench +of hewn rock that was his throne.</p> + +<p>"Quick," snapped the ape-man, "Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"She is not here," cried Mo-sar.</p> + +<p>"You lie," replied Tarzan.</p> + +<p>"As Jad-ben-Otho is my witness, she is not in Tu-lur," insisted the +chief. "You may search the palace and the temple and the entire city but +you will not find her, for she is not here."</p> + +<p>"Where is she, then?" demanded the ape-man. "You took her from the +palace at A-lur. If she is not here, where is she? Tell me not that harm +has befallen her," and he took a sudden threatening step toward Mo-sar, +that sent the chief shrinking back in terror.</p> + +<p>"Wait," he cried, "if you are indeed the Dor-ul-Otho you will know that +I speak the truth. I took her from the palace of Ko-tan to save her for +Lu-don, the high priest, lest with Ko-tan dead Ja-don seize her. But +during the night she escaped from me between here and A-lur, and I have +but just sent three canoes full-manned in search of her."</p> + +<p>Something in the chief's tone and manner assured the ape-man that he +spoke in part the truth, and that once again he had braved incalculable +dangers and suffered loss of time futilely.</p> + +<p>"What wanted the priests of Lu-don that preceded me here?" demanded +Tarzan chancing a shrewd guess that the two he had seen paddling so +frantically to avoid a meeting with him had indeed come from the high +priest at A-lur.</p> + +<p>"They came upon an errand similar to yours," replied Mo-sar; "to demand +the return of the woman whom Lu-don thought I had stolen from him, thus +wronging me as deeply, O Dor-ul-Otho, as have you."</p> + +<p>"I would question the priests," said Tarzan. "Bring them hither." His +peremptory and arrogant manner left Mo-sar in doubt as to whether to be +more incensed, or terrified, but ever as is the way with such as he, he +concluded that the first consideration was his own safety. If he could +transfer the attention and the wrath of this terrible man from himself +to Lu-don's priests it would more than satisfy him and if they should +conspire to harm him, then Mo-sar would be safe in the eyes of +Jad-ben-Otho if it finally developed that the stranger was in reality +the son of god. He felt uncomfortable in Tarzan's presence and this fact +rather accentuated his doubt, for thus indeed would mortal feel in the +presence of a god. Now he saw a way to escape, at least temporarily.</p> + +<p>"I will fetch them myself, Dor-ul-Otho," he said, and turning, left the +apartment. His hurried steps brought him quickly to the temple, for the +palace grounds of Tu-lur, which also included the temple as in all of +the Ho-don cities, covered a much smaller area than those of the larger +city of A-lur. He found Lu-don's messengers with the high priest of his +own temple and quickly transmitted to them the commands of the ape-man.</p> + +<p>"What do you intend to do with him?" asked one of the priests.</p> + +<p>"I have no quarrel with him," replied Mo-sar. "He came in peace and he +may depart in peace, for who knows but that he is indeed the +Dor-ul-Otho?"</p> + +<p>"We know that he is not," replied Lu-don's emissary. "We have every +proof that he is only mortal, a strange creature from another country. +Already has Lu-don offered his life to Jad-ben-Otho if he is wrong in +his belief that this creature is not the son of god. If the high priest +of A-lur, who is the highest priest of all the high priests of +Pal-ul-don is thus so sure that the creature in an impostor as to stake +his life upon his judgment then who are we to give credence to the +claims of this stranger? No, Mo-sar, you need not fear him. He is only a +warrior who may be overcome with the same weapons that subdue your own +fighting men. Were it not for Lu-don's command that he be taken alive I +would urge you to set your warriors upon him and slay him, but the +commands of Lu-don are the commands of Jad-ben-Otho himself, and those +we may not disobey."</p> + +<p>But still the remnant of a doubt stirred within the cowardly breast of +Mo-sar, urging him to let another take the initiative against the +stranger.</p> + +<p>"He is yours then," he replied, "to do with as you will. I have no +quarrel with him. What you may command shall be the command of Lu-don, +the high priest, and further than that I shall have nothing to do in the +matter."</p> + +<p>The priests turned to him who guided the destinies of the temple at +Tu-lur. "Have you no plan?" they asked. "High indeed will he stand in +the counsels of Lu-don and in the eyes of Jad-ben-Otho who finds the +means to capture this impostor alive."</p> + +<p>"There is the lion pit," whispered the high priest. "It is now vacant +and what will hold ja and jato will hold this stranger if he is not the +Dor-ul-Otho."</p> + +<p>"It will hold him," said Mo-sar; "doubtless too it would hold a gryf, +but first you would have to get the gryf into it."</p> + +<p>The priests pondered this bit of wisdom thoughtfully and then one of +those from A-lur spoke. "It should not be difficult," he said, "if we +use the wits that Jad-ben-Otho gave us instead of the worldly muscles +which were handed down to us from our fathers and our mothers and which +have not even the power possessed by those of the beasts that run about +on four feet."</p> + +<p>"Lu-don matched his wits with the stranger and lost," suggested Mo-sar. +"But this is your own affair. Carry it out as you see best."</p> + +<p>"At A-lur, Ko-tan made much of this Dor-ul-Otho and the priests +conducted him through the temple. It would arouse in his mind no +suspicion were you to do the same, and let the high priest of Tu-lur +invite him to the temple and gathering all the priests make a great show +of belief in his kinship to Jad-ben-Otho. And what more natural then +than that the high priest should wish to show him through the temple as +did Lu-don at A-lur when Ko-tan commanded it, and if by chance he should +be led through the lion pit it would be a simple matter for those who +bear the torches to extinguish them suddenly and before the stranger was +aware of what had happened, the stone gates could be dropped, thus +safely securing him."</p> + +<p>"But there are windows in the pit that let in light," interposed the +high priest, "and even though the torches were extinguished he could +still see and might escape before the stone door could be lowered."</p> + +<p>"Send one who will cover the windows tightly with hides," said the +priest from A-lur.</p> + +<p>"The plan is a good one," said Mo-sar, seeing an opportunity for +entirely eliminating himself from any suspicion of complicity, "for it +will require the presence of no warriors, and thus with only priests +about him his mind will entertain no suspicion of harm."</p> + +<p>They were interrupted at this point by a messenger from the palace who +brought word that the Dor-ul-Otho was becoming impatient and if the +priests from A-lur were not brought to him at once he would come himself +to the temple and get them. Mo-sar shook his head. He could not conceive +of such brazen courage in mortal breast and glad he was that the plan +evolved for Tarzan's undoing did not necessitate his active +participation.</p> + +<p>And so, while Mo-sar left for a secret corner of the palace by a +roundabout way, three priests were dispatched to Tarzan and with whining +words that did not entirely deceive him, they acknowledged his kinship +to Jad-ben-Otho and begged him in the name of the high priest to honor +the temple with a visit, when the priests from A-lur would be brought to +him and would answer any questions that he put to them.</p> + +<p>Confident that a continuation of his bravado would best serve his +purpose, and also that if suspicion against him should crystallize into +conviction on the part of Mo-sar and his followers that he would be no +worse off in the temple than in the palace, the ape-man haughtily +accepted the invitation of the high priest.</p> + +<p>And so he came into the temple and was received in a manner befitting +his high claims. He questioned the two priests of A-lur from whom he +obtained only a repetition of the story that Mo-sar had told him, and +then the high priest invited him to inspect the temple.</p> + +<p>They took him first to the altar court, of which there was only one in +Tu-lur. It was almost identical in every respect with those at A-lur. +There was a bloody altar at the east end and the drowning basin at the +west, and the grizzly fringes upon the headdresses of the priests +attested the fact that the eastern altar was an active force in the +rites of the temple. Through the chambers and corridors beneath they led +him, and finally, with torch bearers to light their steps, into a damp +and gloomy labyrinth at a low level and here in a large chamber, the air +of which was still heavy with the odor of lions, the crafty priests of +Tu-lur encompassed their shrewd design.</p> + +<p>The torches were suddenly extinguished. There was a hurried confusion of +bare feet moving rapidly across the stone floor. There was a loud crash +as of a heavy weight of stone falling upon stone, and then surrounding +the ape-man naught but the darkness and the silence of the tomb.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Diana_of_the_Jungle" id="Diana_of_the_Jungle" />19 - Diana of the Jungle</h2> + + +<p>Jane had made her first kill and she was very proud of it. It was not a +very formidable animal—only a hare; but it marked an epoch in her +existence. Just as in the dim past the first hunter had shaped the +destinies of mankind so it seemed that this event might shape hers in +some new mold. No longer was she dependent upon the wild fruits and +vegetables for sustenance. Now she might command meat, the giver of the +strength and endurance she would require successfully to cope with the +necessities of her primitive existence.</p> + +<p>The next step was fire. She might learn to eat raw flesh as had her lord +and master; but she shrank from that. The thought even was repulsive. +She had, however, a plan for fire. She had given the matter thought, but +had been too busy to put it into execution so long as fire could be of +no immediate use to her. Now it was different—she had something to cook +and her mouth watered for the flesh of her kill. She would grill it +above glowing embers. Jane hastened to her tree. Among the treasures she +had gathered in the bed of the stream were several pieces of volcanic +glass, clear as crystal. She sought until she had found the one in mind, +which was convex. Then she hurried to the ground and gathered a little +pile of powdered bark that was very dry, and some dead leaves and +grasses that had lain long in the hot sun. Near at hand she arranged a +supply of dead twigs and branches—small and large.</p> + +<p>Vibrant with suppressed excitement she held the bit of glass above the +tinder, moving it slowly until she had focused the sun's rays upon a +tiny spot. She waited breathlessly. How slow it was! Were her high hopes +to be dashed in spite of all her clever planning? No! A thin thread of +smoke rose gracefully into the quiet air. Presently the tinder glowed +and broke suddenly into flame. Jane clasped her hands beneath her chin +with a little gurgling exclamation of delight. She had achieved fire!</p> + +<p>She piled on twigs and then larger branches and at last dragged a small +log to the flames and pushed an end of it into the fire which was +crackling merrily. It was the sweetest sound that she had heard for many +a month. But she could not wait for the mass of embers that would be +required to cook her hare. As quickly as might be she skinned and +cleaned her kill, burying the hide and entrails. That she had learned +from Tarzan. It served two purposes. One was the necessity for keeping a +sanitary camp and the other the obliteration of the scent that most +quickly attracts the man-eaters.</p> + +<p>Then she ran a stick through the carcass and held it above the flames. +By turning it often she prevented burning and at the same time permitted +the meat to cook thoroughly all the way through. When it was done she +scampered high into the safety of her tree to enjoy her meal in quiet +and peace. Never, thought Lady Greystoke, had aught more delicious +passed her lips. She patted her spear affectionately. It had brought her +this toothsome dainty and with it a feeling of greater confidence and +safety than she had enjoyed since that frightful day that she and +Obergatz had spent their last cartridge. She would never forget that +day—it had seemed one hideous succession of frightful beast after +frightful beast. They had not been long in this strange country, yet +they thought that they were hardened to dangers, for daily they had had +encounters with ferocious creatures; but this day—she shuddered when +she thought of it. And with her last cartridge she had killed a black +and yellow striped lion-thing with great saber teeth just as it was +about to spring upon Obergatz who had futilely emptied his rifle into +it—the last shot—his final cartridge. For another day they had carried +the now useless rifles; but at last they had discarded them and thrown +away the cumbersome bandoleers, as well. How they had managed to survive +during the ensuing week she could never quite understand, and then the +Ho-don had come upon them and captured her. Obergatz had escaped—she +was living it all over again. Doubtless he was dead unless he had been +able to reach this side of the valley which was quite evidently less +overrun with savage beasts.</p> + +<p>Jane's days were very full ones now, and the daylight hours seemed all +too short in which to accomplish the many things she had determined +upon, since she had concluded that this spot presented as ideal a place +as she could find to live until she could fashion the weapons she +considered necessary for the obtaining of meat and for self-defense.</p> + +<p>She felt that she must have, in addition to a good spear, a knife, and +bow and arrows. Possibly when these had been achieved she might +seriously consider an attempt to fight her way to one of civilization's +nearest outposts. In the meantime it was necessary to construct some +sort of protective shelter in which she might feel a greater sense of +security by night, for she knew that there was a possibility that any +night she might receive a visit from a prowling panther, although she +had as yet seen none upon this side of the valley. Aside from this +danger she felt comparatively safe in her aerial retreat.</p> + +<p>The cutting of the long poles for her home occupied all of the daylight +hours that were not engaged in the search for food. These poles she +carried high into her tree and with them constructed a flooring across +two stout branches binding the poles together and also to the branches +with fibers from the tough arboraceous grasses that grew in profusion +near the stream. Similarly she built walls and a roof, the latter +thatched with many layers of great leaves. The fashioning of the barred +windows and the door were matters of great importance and consuming +interest. The windows, there were two of them, were large and the bars +permanently fixed; but the door was small, the opening just large enough +to permit her to pass through easily on hands and knees, which made it +easier to barricade. She lost count of the days that the house cost her; +but time was a cheap commodity—she had more of it than of anything +else. It meant so little to her that she had not even any desire to keep +account of it. How long since she and Obergatz had fled from the wrath +of the Negro villagers she did not know and she could only roughly guess +at the seasons. She worked hard for two reasons; one was to hasten the +completion of her little place of refuge, and the other a desire for +such physical exhaustion at night that she would sleep through those +dreaded hours to a new day. As a matter of fact the house was finished +in less than a week—that is, it was made as safe as it ever would be, +though regardless of how long she might occupy it she would keep on +adding touches and refinements here and there.</p> + +<p>Her daily life was filled with her house building and her hunting, to +which was added an occasional spice of excitement contributed by roving +lions. To the woodcraft that she had learned from Tarzan, that master of +the art, was added a considerable store of practical experience derived +from her own past adventures in the jungle and the long months with +Obergatz, nor was any day now lacking in some added store of useful +knowledge. To these facts was attributable her apparent immunity from +harm, since they told her when ja was approaching before he crept close +enough for a successful charge and, too, they kept her close to those +never-failing havens of retreat—the trees.</p> + +<p>The nights, filled with their weird noises, were lonely and depressing. +Only her ability to sleep quickly and soundly made them endurable. The +first night that she spent in her completed house behind barred windows +and barricaded door was one of almost undiluted peace and happiness. The +night noises seemed far removed and impersonal and the soughing of the +wind in the trees was gently soothing. Before, it had carried a mournful +note and was sinister in that it might hide the approach of some real +danger. That night she slept indeed.</p> + +<p>She went further afield now in search of food. So far nothing but +rodents had fallen to her spear—her ambition was an antelope, since +beside the flesh it would give her, and the gut for her bow, the hide +would prove invaluable during the colder weather that she knew would +accompany the rainy season. She had caught glimpses of these wary +animals and was sure that they always crossed the stream at a certain +spot above her camp. It was to this place that she went to hunt them. +With the stealth and cunning of a panther she crept through the forest, +circling about to get up wind from the ford, pausing often to look and +listen for aught that might menace her—herself the personification of a +hunted deer. Now she moved silently down upon the chosen spot. What +luck! A beautiful buck stood drinking in the stream. The woman wormed +her way closer. Now she lay upon her belly behind a small bush within +throwing distance of the quarry. She must rise to her full height and +throw her spear almost in the same instant and she must throw it with +great force and perfect accuracy. She thrilled with the excitement of +the minute, yet cool and steady were her swift muscles as she rose and +cast her missile. Scarce by the width of a finger did the point strike +from the spot at which it had been directed. The buck leaped high, +landed upon the bank of the stream, and fell dead. Jane Clayton sprang +quickly forward toward her kill.</p> + +<p>"Bravo!" A man's voice spoke in English from the shrubbery upon the +opposite side of the stream. Jane Clayton halted in her tracks—stunned, +almost, by surprise. And then a strange, unkempt figure of a man stepped +into view. At first she did not recognize him, but when she did, +instinctively she stepped back.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Obergatz!" she cried. "Can it be you?"</p> + +<p>"It can. It is," replied the German. "I am a strange sight, no doubt; +but still it is I, Erich Obergatz. And you? You have changed too, is it +not?"</p> + +<p>He was looking at her naked limbs and her golden breastplates, the loin +cloth of jato-hide, the harness and ornaments that constitute the +apparel of a Ho-don woman—the things that Lu-don had dressed her in as +his passion for her grew. Not Ko-tan's daughter, even, had finer +trappings.</p> + +<p>"But why are you here?" Jane insisted. "I had thought you safely among +civilized men by this time, if you still lived."</p> + +<p>"Gott!" he exclaimed. "I do not know why I continue to live. I have +prayed to die and yet I cling to life. There is no hope. We are doomed +to remain in this horrible land until we die. The bog! The frightful +bog! I have searched its shores for a place to cross until I have +entirely circled the hideous country. Easily enough we entered; but the +rains have come since and now no living man could pass that slough of +slimy mud and hungry reptiles. Have I not tried it! And the beasts that +roam this accursed land. They hunt me by day and by night."</p> + +<p>"But how have you escaped them?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I do not know," he replied gloomily. "I have fled and fled and fled. I +have remained hungry and thirsty in tree tops for days at a time. I have +fashioned weapons—clubs and spears—and I have learned to use them. I +have slain a lion with my club. So even will a cornered rat fight. And +we are no better than rats in this land of stupendous dangers, you and +I. But tell me about yourself. If it is surprising that I live, how much +more so that you still survive."</p> + +<p>Briefly she told him and all the while she was wondering what she might +do to rid herself of him. She could not conceive of a prolonged +existence with him as her sole companion. Better, a thousand times +better, to be alone. Never had her hatred and contempt for him lessened +through the long weeks and months of their constant companionship, and +now that he could be of no service in returning her to civilization, she +shrank from the thought of seeing him daily. And, too, she feared him. +Never had she trusted him; but now there was a strange light in his eye +that had not been there when last she saw him. She could not interpret +it—all she knew was that it gave her a feeling of apprehension—a +nameless dread.</p> + +<p>"You lived long then in the city of A-lur?" he said, speaking in the +language of Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>"You have learned this tongue?" she asked. "How?"</p> + +<p>"I fell in with a band of half-breeds," he replied, "members of a +proscribed race that dwells in the rock-bound gut through which the +principal river of the valley empties into the morass. They are called +Waz-ho-don and their village is partly made up of cave dwellings and +partly of houses carved from the soft rock at the foot of the cliff. +They are very ignorant and superstitious and when they first saw me and +realized that I had no tail and that my hands and feet were not like +theirs they were afraid of me. They thought that I was either god or +demon. Being in a position where I could neither escape them nor defend +myself, I made a bold front and succeeded in impressing them to such an +extent that they conducted me to their city, which they call Bu-lur, and +there they fed me and treated me with kindness. As I learned their +language I sought to impress them more and more with the idea that I was +a god, and I succeeded, too, until an old fellow who was something of a +priest among them, or medicine-man, became jealous of my growing power. +That was the beginning of the end and came near to being the end in +fact. He told them that if I was a god I would not bleed if a knife was +stuck into me—if I did bleed it would prove conclusively that I was not +a god. Without my knowledge he arranged to stage the ordeal before the +whole village upon a certain night—it was upon one of those numerous +occasions when they eat and drink to Jad-ben-Otho, their pagan deity. +Under the influence of their vile liquor they would be ripe for any +bloodthirsty scheme the medicine-man might evolve. One of the women told +me about the plan—not with any intent to warn me of danger, but +prompted merely by feminine curiosity as to whether or not I would bleed +if stuck with a dagger. She could not wait, it seemed, for the orderly +procedure of the ordeal—she wanted to know at once, and when I caught +her trying to slip a knife into my side and questioned her she explained +the whole thing with the utmost naivete. The warriors already had +commenced drinking—it would have been futile to make any sort of appeal +either to their intellects or their superstitions. There was but one +alternative to death and that was flight. I told the woman that I was +very much outraged and offended at this reflection upon my godhood and +that as a mark of my disfavor I should abandon them to their fate.</p> + +<p>"'I shall return to heaven at once!' I exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"She wanted to hang around and see me go, but I told her that her eyes +would be blasted by the fire surrounding my departure and that she must +leave at once and not return to the spot for at least an hour. I also +impressed upon her the fact that should any other approach this part of +the village within that time not only they, but she as well, would burst +into flames and be consumed.</p> + +<p>"She was very much impressed and lost no time in leaving, calling back +as she departed that if I were indeed gone in an hour she and all the +village would know that I was no less than Jad-ben-Otho himself, and so +they must thank me, for I can assure you that I was gone in much less +than an hour, nor have I ventured close to the neighborhood of the city +of Bu-lur since," and he fell to laughing in harsh, cackling notes that +sent a shiver through the woman's frame.</p> + +<p>As Obergatz talked Jane had recovered her spear from the carcass of the +antelope and commenced busying herself with the removal of the hide. The +man made no attempt to assist her, but stood by talking and watching +her, the while he continually ran his filthy fingers through his matted +hair and beard. His face and body were caked with dirt and he was naked +except for a torn greasy hide about his loins. His weapons consisted of +a club and knife of Waz-don pattern, that he had stolen from the city of +Bu-lur; but what more greatly concerned the woman than his filth or his +armament were his cackling laughter and the strange expression in his +eyes.</p> + +<p>She went on with her work, however, removing those parts of the buck she +wanted, taking only as much meat as she might consume before it spoiled, +as she was not sufficiently a true jungle creature to relish it beyond +that stage, and then she straightened up and faced the man.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Obergatz," she said, "by a chance of accident we have met +again. Certainly you would not have sought the meeting any more than I. +We have nothing in common other than those sentiments which may have +been engendered by my natural dislike and suspicion of you, one of the +authors of all the misery and sorrow that I have endured for endless +months. This little corner of the world is mine by right of discovery +and occupation. Go away and leave me to enjoy here what peace I may. It +is the least that you can do to amend the wrong that you have done me +and mine."</p> + +<p>The man stared at her through his fishy eyes for a moment in silence, +then there broke from his lips a peal of mirthless, uncanny laughter.</p> + +<p>"Go away! Leave you alone!" he cried. "I have found you. We are going to +be good friends. There is no one else in the world but us. No one will +ever know what we do or what becomes of us and now you ask me to go away +and live alone in this hellish solitude." Again he laughed, though +neither the muscles of his eyes or his mouth reflected any mirth—it was +just a hollow sound that imitated laughter.</p> + +<p>"Remember your promise," she said.</p> + +<p>"Promise! Promise! What are promises? They are made to be broken—we +taught the world that at Liege and Louvain. No, no! I will not go away. +I shall stay and protect you."</p> + +<p>"I do not need your protection," she insisted. "You have already seen +that I can use a spear."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said; "but it would not be right to leave you here alone—you +are but a woman. No, no; I am an officer of the Kaiser and I cannot +abandon you."</p> + +<p>Once more he laughed. "We could be very happy here together," he added.</p> + +<p>The woman could not repress a shudder, nor, in fact, did she attempt to +hide her aversion.</p> + +<p>"You do not like me?" he asked. "Ah, well; it is too sad. But some day +you will love me," and again the hideous laughter.</p> + +<p>The woman had wrapped the pieces of the buck in the hide and this she +now raised and threw across her shoulder. In her other hand she held her +spear and faced the German.</p> + +<p>"Go!" she commanded. "We have wasted enough words. This is my country +and I shall defend it. If I see you about again I shall kill you. Do you +understand?"</p> + +<p>An expression of rage contorted Obergatz' features. He raised his club +and started toward her.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" she commanded, throwing her spear-hand backward for a cast. "You +saw me kill this buck and you have said truthfully that no one will ever +know what we do here. Put these two facts together, German, and draw +your own conclusions before you take another step in my direction."</p> + +<p>The man halted and his club-hand dropped to his side. "Come," he begged +in what he intended as a conciliatory tone. "Let us be friends, Lady +Greystoke. We can be of great assistance to each other and I promise not +to harm you."</p> + +<p>"Remember Liege and Louvain," she reminded him with a sneer. "I am going +now—be sure that you do not follow me. As far as you can walk in a day +from this spot in any direction you may consider the limits of my +domain. If ever again I see you within these limits I shall kill you."</p> + +<p>There could be no question that she meant what she said and the man +seemed convinced for he but stood sullenly eyeing her as she backed from +sight beyond a turn in the game trail that crossed the ford where they +had met, and disappeared in the forest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Silently_in_the_Night" id="Silently_in_the_Night" />20 - Silently in the Night</h2> + + +<p>In A-lur the fortunes of the city had been tossed from hand to hand. The +party of Ko-tan's loyal warriors that Tarzan had led to the rendezvous +at the entrance to the secret passage below the palace gates had met +with disaster. Their first rush had been met with soft words from the +priests. They had been exhorted to defend the faith of their fathers +from blasphemers. Ja-don was painted to them as a defiler of temples, +and the wrath of Jad-ben-Otho was prophesied for those who embraced his +cause. The priests insisted that Lu-don's only wish was to prevent the +seizure of the throne by Ja-don until a new king could be chosen +according to the laws of the Ho-don.</p> + +<p>The result was that many of the palace warriors joined their fellows of +the city, and when the priests saw that those whom they could influence +outnumbered those who remained loyal to the palace, they caused the +former to fall upon the latter with the result that many were killed and +only a handful succeeded in reaching the safety of the palace gates, +which they quickly barred.</p> + +<p>The priests led their own forces through the secret passageway into the +temple, while some of the loyal ones sought out Ja-don and told him all +that had happened. The fight in the banquet hall had spread over a +considerable portion of the palace grounds and had at last resulted in +the temporary defeat of those who had opposed Ja-don. This force, +counseled by under priests sent for the purpose by Lu-don, had withdrawn +within the temple grounds so that now the issue was plainly marked as +between Ja-don on the one side and Lu-don on the other.</p> + +<p>The former had been told of all that had occurred in the apartments of +O-lo-a to whose safety he had attended at the first opportunity and he +had also learned of Tarzan's part in leading his men to the gathering of +Lu-don's warriors.</p> + +<p>These things had naturally increased the old warrior's former +inclinations of friendliness toward the ape-man, and now he regretted +that the other had departed from the city.</p> + +<p>The testimony of O-lo-a and Pan-at-lee was such as to strengthen +whatever belief in the godliness of the stranger Ja-don and others of +the warriors had previously entertained, until presently there appeared +a strong tendency upon the part of this palace faction to make the +Dor-ul-otho an issue of their original quarrel with Lu-don. Whether this +occurred as the natural sequence to repeated narrations of the ape-man's +exploits, which lost nothing by repetition, in conjunction with Lu-don's +enmity toward him, or whether it was the shrewd design of some wily old +warrior such as Ja-don, who realized the value of adding a religious +cause to their temporal one, it were difficult to determine; but the +fact remained that Ja-don's followers developed bitter hatred for the +followers of Lu-don because of the high priest's antagonism to Tarzan.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately however Tarzan was not there to inspire the followers of +Ja-don with the holy zeal that might have quickly settled the dispute in +the old chieftain's favor. Instead, he was miles away and because their +repeated prayers for his presence were unanswered, the weaker spirits +among them commenced to suspect that their cause did not have divine +favor. There was also another and a potent cause for defection from the +ranks of Ja-don. It emanated from the city where the friends and +relatives of the palace warriors, who were largely also the friends and +relatives of Lu-don's forces, found the means, urged on by the +priesthood, to circulate throughout the palace pernicious propaganda +aimed at Ja-don's cause.</p> + +<p>The result was that Lu-don's power increased while that of Ja-don waned. +Then followed a sortie from the temple which resulted in the defeat of +the palace forces, and though they were able to withdraw in decent order +withdraw they did, leaving the palace to Lu-don, who was now virtually +ruler of Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>Ja-don, taking with him the princess, her women, and their slaves, +including Pan-at-lee, as well as the women and children of his faithful +followers, retreated not only from the palace but from the city of A-lur +as well and fell back upon his own city of Ja-lur. Here he remained, +recruiting his forces from the surrounding villages of the north which, +being far removed from the influence of the priesthood of A-lur, were +enthusiastic partisans in any cause that the old chieftain espoused, +since for years he had been revered as their friend and protector.</p> + +<p>And while these events were transpiring in the north, Tarzan-jad-guru +lay in the lion pit at Tu-lur while messengers passed back and forth +between Mo-sar and Lu-don as the two dickered for the throne of +Pal-ul-don. Mo-sar was cunning enough to guess that should an open +breach occur between himself and the high priest he might use his +prisoner to his own advantage, for he had heard whisperings among even +his own people that suggested that there were those who were more than a +trifle inclined to belief in the divinity of the stranger and that he +might indeed be the Dor-ul-Otho. Lu-don wanted Tarzan himself. He wanted +to sacrifice him upon the eastern altar with his own hands before a +multitude of people, since he was not without evidence that his own +standing and authority had been lessened by the claims of the bold and +heroic figure of the stranger.</p> + +<p>The method that the high priest of Tu-lur had employed to trap Tarzan +had left the ape-man in possession of his weapons though there seemed +little likelihood of their being of any service to him. He also had his +pouch, in which were the various odds and ends which are the natural +accumulation of all receptacles from a gold meshbag to an attic. There +were bits of obsidian and choice feathers for arrows, some pieces of +flint and a couple of steel, an old knife, a heavy bone needle, and +strips of dried gut. Nothing very useful to you or me, perhaps; but +nothing useless to the savage life of the ape-man.</p> + +<p>When Tarzan realized the trick that had been so neatly played upon him +he had awaited expectantly the coming of the lion, for though the scent +of ja was old he was sure that sooner or later they would let one of the +beasts in upon him. His first consideration was a thorough exploration +of his prison. He had noticed the hide-covered windows and these he +immediately uncovered, letting in the light, and revealing the fact that +though the chamber was far below the level of the temple courts it was +yet many feet above the base of the hill from which the temple was hewn. +The windows were so closely barred that he could not see over the edge +of the thick wall in which they were cut to determine what lay close in +below him. At a little distance were the blue waters of Jad-in-lul and +beyond, the verdure-clad farther shore, and beyond that the mountains. +It was a beautiful picture upon which he looked—a picture of peace and +harmony and quiet. Nor anywhere a slightest suggestion of the savage men +and beasts that claimed this lovely landscape as their own. What a +paradise! And some day civilized man would come and—spoil it! Ruthless +axes would raze that age-old wood; black, sticky smoke would rise from +ugly chimneys against that azure sky; grimy little boats with wheels +behind or upon either side would churn the mud from the bottom of +Jad-in-lul, turning its blue waters to a dirty brown; hideous piers +would project into the lake from squalid buildings of corrugated iron, +doubtless, for of such are the pioneer cities of the world.</p> + +<p>But would civilized man come? Tarzan hoped not. For countless +generations civilization had ramped about the globe; it had dispatched +its emissaries to the North Pole and the South; it had circled +Pal-ul-don once, perhaps many times, but it had never touched her. God +grant that it never would. Perhaps He was saving this little spot to be +always just as He had made it, for the scratching of the Ho-don and the +Waz-don upon His rocks had not altered the fair face of Nature.</p> + +<p>Through the windows came sufficient light to reveal the whole interior +to Tarzan. The room was fairly large and there was a door at each end—a +large door for men and a smaller one for lions. Both were closed with +heavy masses of stone that had been lowered in grooves running to the +floor. The two windows were small and closely barred with the first iron +that Tarzan had seen in Pal-ul-don. The bars were let into holes in the +casing, and the whole so strongly and neatly contrived that escape +seemed impossible. Yet within a few minutes of his incarceration Tarzan +had commenced to undertake his escape. The old knife in his pouch was +brought into requisition and slowly the ape-man began to scrape and chip +away the stone from about the bars of one of the windows. It was slow +work but Tarzan had the patience of absolute health.</p> + +<p>Each day food and water were brought him and slipped quickly beneath the +smaller door which was raised just sufficiently to allow the stone +receptacles to pass in. The prisoner began to believe that he was being +preserved for something beside lions. However that was immaterial. If +they would but hold off for a few more days they might select what fate +they would—he would not be there when they arrived to announce it.</p> + +<p>And then one day came Pan-sat, Lu-don's chief tool, to the city of +Tu-lur. He came ostensibly with a fair message for Mo-sar from the high +priest at A-lur. Lu-don had decided that Mo-sar should be king and he +invited Mo-sar to come at once to A-lur and then Pan-sat, having +delivered the message, asked that he might go to the temple of Tu-lur +and pray, and there he sought the high priest of Tu-lur to whom was the +true message that Lu-don had sent. The two were closeted alone in a +little chamber and Pan-sat whispered into the ear of the high priest.</p> + +<p>"Mo-sar wishes to be king," he said, "and Lu-don wishes to be king. +Mo-sar wishes to retain the stranger who claims to be the Dor-ul-Otho +and Lu-don wishes to kill him, and now," he leaned even closer to the +ear of the high priest of Tu-lur, "if you would be high priest at A-lur +it is within your power."</p> + +<p>Pan-sat ceased speaking and waited for the other's reply. The high +priest was visibly affected. To be high priest at A-lur! That was almost +as good as being king of all Pal-ul-don, for great were the powers of +him who conducted the sacrifices upon the altars of A-lur.</p> + +<p>"How?" whispered the high priest. "How may I become high priest at +A-lur?"</p> + +<p>Again Pan-sat leaned close: "By killing the one and bringing the other +to A-lur," replied he. Then he rose and departed knowing chat the other +had swallowed the bait and could be depended upon to do whatever was +required to win him the great prize.</p> + +<p>Nor was Pan-sat mistaken other than in one trivial consideration. This +high priest would indeed commit murder and treason to attain the high +office at A-lur; but he had misunderstood which of his victims was to be +killed and which to be delivered to Lu-don. Pan-sat, knowing himself all +the details of the plannings of Lu-don, had made the quite natural error +of assuming that the ocher was perfectly aware that only by publicly +sacrificing the false Dor-ul-Otho could the high priest at A-lur bolster +his waning power and that the assassination of Mo-sar, the pretender, +would remove from Lu-don's camp the only obstacle to his combining the +offices of high priest and king. The high priest at Tu-lur thought that +he had been commissioned to kill Tarzan and bring Mo-sar to A-lur. He +also thought that when he had done these things he would be made high +priest at A-lur; but he did not know that already the priest had been +selected who was to murder him within the hour that he arrived at A-lur, +nor did he know that a secret grave had been prepared for him in the +floor of a subterranean chamber in the very temple he dreamed of +controlling.</p> + +<p>And so when he should have been arranging the assassination of his chief +he was leading a dozen heavily bribed warriors through the dark +corridors beneath the temple to slay Tarzan in the lion pit. Night had +fallen. A single torch guided the footsteps of the murderers as they +crept stealthily upon their evil way, for they knew that they were doing +the thing that their chief did not want done and their guilty +consciences warned them to stealth.</p> + +<p>In the dark of his cell the ape-man worked at his seemingly endless +chipping and scraping. His keen ears detected the coming of footsteps +along the corridor without—footsteps that approached the larger door. +Always before had they come to the smaller door—the footsteps of a +single slave who brought his food. This time there were many more than +one and their coming at this time of night carried a sinister +suggestion. Tarzan continued to work at his scraping and chipping. He +heard them stop beyond the door. All was silence broken only by the +scrape, scrape, scrape of the ape-man's tireless blade.</p> + +<p>Those without heard it and listening sought to explain it. They +whispered in low tones making their plans. Two would raise the door +quickly and the others would rush in and hurl their clubs at the +prisoner. They would take no chances, for the stories that had +circulated in A-lur had been brought to Tu-lur—stories of the great +strength and wonderful prowess of Tarzan-jad-guru that caused the sweat +to stand upon the brows of the warriors, though it was cool in the damp +corridor and they were twelve to one.</p> + +<p>And then the high priest gave the signal—the door shot upward and ten +warriors leaped into the chamber with poised clubs. Three of the heavy +weapons flew across the room toward a darker shadow that lay in the +shadow of the opposite wall, then the flare of the torch in the priest's +hand lighted the interior and they saw that the thing at which they had +flung their clubs was a pile of skins torn from the windows and that +except for themselves the chamber was vacant.</p> + +<p>One of them hastened to a window. All but a single bar was gone and to +this was tied one end of a braided rope fashioned from strips cut from +the leather window hangings.</p> + +<p>To the ordinary dangers of Jane Clayton's existence was now added the +menace of Obergatz' knowledge of her whereabouts. The lion and the +panther had given her less cause for anxiety than did the return of the +unscrupulous Hun, whom she had always distrusted and feared, and whose +repulsiveness was now immeasurably augmented by his unkempt and filthy +appearance, his strange and mirthless laughter, and his unnatural +demeanor. She feared him now with a new fear as though he had suddenly +become the personification of some nameless horror. The wholesome, +outdoor life that she had been leading had strengthened and rebuilt her +nervous system yet it seemed to her as she thought of him that if this +man should ever touch her she should scream, and, possibly, even faint. +Again and again during the day following their unexpected meeting the +woman reproached herself for not having killed him as she would ja or +jato or any other predatory beast that menaced her existence or her +safety. There was no attempt at self-justification for these sinister +reflections—they needed no justification. The standards by which the +acts of such as you or I may be judged could not apply to hers. We have +recourse to the protection of friends and relatives and the civil +soldiery that upholds the majesty of the law and which may be invoked to +protect the righteous weak against the unrighteous strong; but Jane +Clayton comprised within herself not only the righteous weak but all the +various agencies for the protection of the weak. To her, then, +Lieutenant Erich Obergatz presented no different problem than did ja, +the lion, other than that she considered the former the more dangerous +animal. And so she determined that should he ignore her warning there +would be no temporizing upon the occasion of their next meeting—the +same swift spear that would meet ja's advances would meet his.</p> + +<p>That night her snug little nest perched high in the great tree seemed +less the sanctuary that it had before. What might resist the sanguinary +intentions of a prowling panther would prove no great barrier to man, +and influenced by this thought she slept less well than before. The +slightest noise that broke the monotonous hum of the nocturnal jungle +startled her into alert wakefulness to lie with straining ears in an +attempt to classify the origin of the disturbance, and once she was +awakened thus by a sound that seemed to come from something moving in +her own tree. She listened intently—scarce breathing. Yes, there it was +again. A scuffing of something soft against the hard bark of the tree. +The woman reached out in the darkness and grasped her spear. Now she +felt a slight sagging of one of the limbs that supported her shelter as +though the thing, whatever it was, was slowly raising its weight to the +branch. It came nearer. Now she thought that she could detect its +breathing. It was at the door. She could hear it fumbling with the frail +barrier. What could it be? It made no sound by which she might identify +it. She raised herself upon her hands and knees and crept stealthily the +little distance to the doorway, her spear clutched tightly in her hand. +Whatever the thing was, it was evidently attempting to gain entrance +without awakening her. It was just beyond the pitiful little contraption +of slender boughs that she had bound together with grasses and called a +door—only a few inches lay between the thing and her. Rising to her +knees she reached out with her left hand and felt until she found a +place where a crooked branch had left an opening a couple of inches wide +near the center of the barrier. Into this she inserted the point of her +spear. The thing must have heard her move within for suddenly it +abandoned its efforts for stealth and tore angrily at the obstacle. At +the same moment Jane thrust her spear forward with all her strength. She +felt it enter flesh. There was a scream and a curse from without, +followed by the crashing of a body through limbs and foliage. Her spear +was almost dragged from her grasp, but she held to it until it broke +free from the thing it had pierced.</p> + +<p>It was Obergatz; the curse had told her that. From below came no further +sound. Had she, then, killed him? She prayed so—with all her heart she +prayed it. To be freed from the menace of this loathsome creature were +relief indeed. During all the balance of the night she lay there awake, +listening. Below her, she imagined, she could see the dead man with his +hideous face bathed in the cold light of the moon—lying there upon his +back staring up at her.</p> + +<p>She prayed that ja might come and drag it away, but all during the +remainder of the night she heard never another sound above the drowsy +hum of the jungle. She was glad that he was dead, but she dreaded the +gruesome ordeal that awaited her on the morrow, for she must bury the +thing that had been Erich Obergatz and live on there above the shallow +grave of the man she had slain.</p> + +<p>She reproached herself for her weakness, repeating over and over that +she had killed in self-defense, that her act was justified; but she was +still a woman of today, and strong upon her were the iron mandates of +the social order from which she had sprung, its interdictions and its +superstitions.</p> + +<p>At last came the tardy dawn. Slowly the sun topped the distant mountains +beyond Jad-in-lul. And yet she hesitated to loosen the fastenings of her +door and look out upon the thing below. But it must be done. She steeled +herself and untied the rawhide thong that secured the barrier. She +looked down and only the grass and the flowers looked up at her. She +came from her shelter and examined the ground upon the opposite side of +the tree—there was no dead man there, nor anywhere as far as she could +see. Slowly she descended, keeping a wary eye and an alert ear ready for +the first intimation of danger.</p> + +<p>At the foot of the tree was a pool of blood and a little trail of +crimson drops upon the grass, leading away parallel with the shore of +Jad-ben-lul. Then she had not slain him! She was vaguely aware of a +peculiar, double sensation of relief and regret. Now she would be always +in doubt. He might return; but at least she would not have to live above +his grave.</p> + +<p>She thought some of following the bloody spoor on the chance that he +might have crawled away to die later, but she gave up the idea for fear +that she might find him dead nearby, or, worse yet badly wounded. What +then could she do? She could not finish him with her spear—no, she knew +that she could not do that, nor could she bring him back and nurse him, +nor could she leave him there to die of hunger or of thirst, or to +become the prey of some prowling beast. It were better then not to +search for him for fear that she might find him.</p> + +<p>That day was one of nervous starting to every sudden sound. The day +before she would have said that her nerves were of iron; but not today. +She knew now the shock that she had suffered and that this was the +reaction. Tomorrow it might be different, but something told her that +never again would her little shelter and the patch of forest and jungle +that she called her own be the same. There would hang over them always +the menace of this man. No longer would she pass restful nights of deep +slumber. The peace of her little world was shattered forever.</p> + +<p>That night she made her door doubly secure with additional thongs of +rawhide cut from the pelt of the buck she had slain the day that she met +Obergatz. She was very tired for she had lost much sleep the night +before; but for a long time she lay with wide-open eyes staring into the +darkness. What saw she there? Visions that brought tears to those brave +and beautiful eyes—visions of a rambling bungalow that had been home to +her and that was no more, destroyed by the same cruel force that haunted +her even now in this remote, uncharted corner of the earth; visions of a +strong man whose protecting arm would never press her close again; +visions of a tall, straight son who looked at her adoringly out of +brave, smiling eyes that were like his father's. Always the vision of +the crude simple bungalow rather than of the stately halls that had been +as much a part of her life as the other. But he had loved the bungalow +and the broad, free acres best and so she had come to love them best, +too.</p> + +<p>At last she slept, the sleep of utter exhaustion. How long it lasted she +did not know; but suddenly she was wide awake and once again she heard +the scuffing of a body against the bark of her tree and again the limb +bent to a heavy weight. He had returned! She went cold, trembling as +with ague. Was it he, or, O God! had she killed him then and was this—? +She tried to drive the horrid thought from her mind, for this way, she +knew, lay madness.</p> + +<p>And once again she crept to the door, for the thing was outside just as +it had been last night. Her hands trembled as she placed the point of +her weapon to the opening. She wondered if it would scream as it fell.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Maniac" id="The_Maniac" />21 - The Maniac</h2> + + +<p>The last bar that would make the opening large enough to permit his body +to pass had been removed as Tarzan heard the warriors whispering beyond +the stone door of his prison. Long since had the rope of hide been +braided. To secure one end to the remaining bar that he had left for +this purpose was the work of but a moment, and while the warriors +whispered without, the brown body of the ape-man slipped through the +small aperture and disappeared below the sill.</p> + +<p>Tarzan's escape from the cell left him still within the walled area that +comprised the palace and temple grounds and buildings. He had +reconnoitered as best he might from the window after he had removed +enough bars to permit him to pass his head through the opening, so that +he knew what lay immediately before him—a winding and usually deserted +alleyway leading in the direction of the outer gate that opened from the +palace grounds into the city.</p> + +<p>The darkness would facilitate his escape. He might even pass out of the +palace and the city without detection. If he could elude the guard at +the palace gate the rest would be easy. He strode along confidently, +exhibiting no fear of detection, for he reasoned that thus would he +disarm suspicion. In the darkness he easily could pass for a Ho-don and +in truth, though he passed several after leaving the deserted alley, no +one accosted or detained him, and thus he came at last to the guard of a +half-dozen warriors before the palace gate. These he attempted to pass +in the same unconcerned fashion and he might have succeeded had it not +been for one who came running rapidly from the direction of the temple +shouting: "Let no one pass the gates! The prisoner has escaped from the +pal-ul-ja!"</p> + +<p>Instantly a warrior barred his way and simultaneously the fellow +recognized him. "Xot tor!" he exclaimed: "Here he is now. Fall upon him! +Fall upon him! Back! Back before I kill you."</p> + +<p>The others came forward. It cannot be said that they rushed forward. If +it was their wish to fall upon him there was a noticeable lack of +enthusiasm other than that which directed their efforts to persuade +someone else to fall upon him. His fame as a fighter had been too long a +topic of conversation for the good of the morale of Mo-sar's warriors. +It were safer to stand at a distance and hurl their clubs and this they +did, but the ape-man had learned something of the use of this weapon +since he had arrived in Pal-ul-don. And as he learned great had grown +his respect for this most primitive of arms. He had come to realize that +the black savages he had known had never appreciated the possibilities +of their knob sticks, nor had he, and he had discovered, too, why the +Pal-ul-donians had turned their ancient spears into plowshares and +pinned their faith to the heavy-ended club alone. In deadly execution it +was far more effective than a spear and it answered, too, every purpose +of a shield, combining the two in one and thus reducing the burden of +the warrior. Thrown as they throw it, after the manner of the +hammer-throwers of the Olympian games, an ordinary shield would prove +more a weakness than a strength while one that would be strong enough to +prove a protection would be too heavy to carry. Only another club, +deftly wielded to deflect the course of an enemy missile, is in any way +effective against these formidable weapons and, too, the war club of +Pal-ul-don can be thrown with accuracy a far greater distance than any +spear.</p> + +<p>And now was put to the test that which Tarzan had learned from Om-at and +Ta-den. His eyes and his muscles trained by a lifetime of necessity +moved with the rapidity of light and his brain functioned with an +uncanny celerity that suggested nothing less than prescience, and these +things more than compensated for his lack of experience with the war +club he handled so dexterously. Weapon after weapon he warded off and +always he moved with a single idea in mind—to place himself within +reach of one of his antagonists. But they were wary for they feared this +strange creature to whom the superstitious fears of many of them +attributed the miraculous powers of deity. They managed to keep between +Tarzan and the gateway and all the time they bawled lustily for +reinforcements. Should these come before he had made his escape the +ape-man realized that the odds against him would be unsurmountable, and +so he redoubled his efforts to carry out his design.</p> + +<p>Following their usual tactics two or three of the warriors were always +circling behind him collecting the thrown clubs when Tarzan's attention +was directed elsewhere. He himself retrieved several of them which he +hurled with such deadly effect as to dispose of two of his antagonists, +but now he heard the approach of hurrying warriors, the patter of their +bare feet upon the stone pavement and then the savage cries which were +to bolster the courage of their fellows and fill the enemy with fear.</p> + +<p>There was no time to lose. Tarzan held a club in either hand and, +swinging one he hurled it at a warrior before him and as the man dodged +he rushed in and seized him, at the same time casting his second club at +another of his opponents. The Ho-don with whom he grappled reached +instantly for his knife but the ape-man grasped his wrist. There was a +sudden twist, the snapping of a bone and an agonized scream, then the +warrior was lifted bodily from his feet and held as a shield between his +fellows and the fugitive as the latter backed through the gateway. +Beside Tarzan stood the single torch that lighted the entrance to the +palace grounds. The warriors were advancing to the succor of their +fellow when the ape-man raised his captive high above his head and flung +him full in the face of the foremost attacker. The fellow went down and +two directly behind him sprawled headlong over their companion as the +ape-man seized the torch and cast it back into the palace grounds to be +extinguished as it struck the bodies of those who led the charging +reinforcements.</p> + +<p>In the ensuing darkness Tarzan disappeared in the streets of Tu-lur +beyond the palace gate. For a time he was aware of sounds of pursuit but +the fact that they trailed away and died in the direction of Jad-in-lul +informed him that they were searching in the wrong direction, for he had +turned south out of Tu-lur purposely to throw them off his track. Beyond +the outskirts of the city he turned directly toward the northwest, in +which direction lay A-lur.</p> + +<p>In his path he knew lay Jad-bal-lul, the shore of which he was compelled +to skirt, and there would be a river to cross at the lower end of the +great lake upon the shores of which lay A-lur. What other obstacles lay +in his way he did not know but he believed that he could make better +time on foot than by attempting to steal a canoe and force his way up +stream with a single paddle. It was his intention to put as much +distance as possible between himself and Tu-lur before he slept for he +was sure that Mo-sar would not lightly accept his loss, but that with +the coming of day, or possibly even before, he would dispatch warriors +in search of him.</p> + +<p>A mile or two from the city he entered a forest and here at last he felt +such a measure of safety as he never knew in open spaces or in cities. +The forest and the jungle were his birthright. No creature that went +upon the ground upon four feet, or climbed among the trees, or crawled +upon its belly had any advantage over the ape-man in his native heath. +As myrrh and frankincense were the dank odors of rotting vegetation in +the nostrils of the great Tarmangani. He squared his broad shoulders and +lifting his head filled his lungs with the air that he loved best. The +heavy fragrance of tropical blooms, the commingled odors of the +myriad-scented life of the jungle went to his head with a pleasurable +intoxication far more potent than aught contained in the oldest vintages +of civilization.</p> + +<p>He took to the trees now, not from necessity but from pure love of the +wild freedom that had been denied him so long. Though it was dark and +the forest strange yet he moved with a surety and ease that bespoke more +a strange uncanny sense than wondrous skill. He heard ja moaning +somewhere ahead and an owl hooted mournfully to the right of him—long +familiar sounds that imparted to him no sense of loneliness as they +might to you or to me, but on the contrary one of companionship for they +betokened the presence of his fellows of the jungle, and whether friend +or foe it was all the same to the ape-man.</p> + +<p>He came at last to a little stream at a spot where the trees did not +meet above it so he was forced to descend to the ground and wade through +the water and upon the opposite shore he stopped as though suddenly his +godlike figure had been transmuted from flesh to marble. Only his +dilating nostrils bespoke his pulsing vitality. For a long moment he +stood there thus and then swiftly, but with a caution and silence that +were inherent in him he moved forward again, but now his whole attitude +bespoke a new urge. There was a definite and masterful purpose in every +movement of those steel muscles rolling softly beneath the smooth brown +hide. He moved now toward a certain goal that quite evidently filled him +with far greater enthusiasm than had the possible event of his return to +A-lur.</p> + +<p>And so he came at last to the foot of a great tree and there he stopped +and looked up above him among the foliage where the dim outlines of a +roughly rectangular bulk loomed darkly. There was a choking sensation in +Tarzan's throat as he raised himself gently into the branches. It was as +though his heart were swelling either to a great happiness or a great +fear.</p> + +<p>Before the rude shelter built among the branches he paused listening. +From within there came to his sensitive nostrils the same delicate aroma +that had arrested his eager attention at the little stream a mile away. +He crouched upon the branch close to the little door.</p> + +<p>"Jane," he called, "heart of my heart, it is I."</p> + +<p>The only answer from within was as the sudden indrawing of a breath that +was half gasp and half sigh, and the sound of a body falling to the +floor. Hurriedly Tarzan sought to release the thongs which held the door +but they were fastened from the inside, and at last, impatient with +further delay, he seized the frail barrier in one giant hand and with a +single effort tore it completely away. And then he entered to find the +seemingly lifeless body of his mate stretched upon the floor.</p> + +<p>He gathered her in his arms; her heart beat; she still breathed, and +presently he realized that she had but swooned.</p> + +<p>When Jane Clayton regained consciousness it was to find herself held +tightly in two strong arms, her head pillowed upon the broad shoulder +where so often before her fears had been soothed and her sorrows +comforted. At first she was not sure but that it was all a dream. +Timidly her hand stole to his cheek.</p> + +<p>"John," she murmured, "tell me, is it really you?"</p> + +<p>In reply he drew her more closely to him. "It is I," he replied. "But +there is something in my throat," he said haltingly, "that makes it hard +for me to speak."</p> + +<p>She smiled and snuggled closer to him. "God has been good to us, Tarzan +of the Apes," she said.</p> + +<p>For some time neither spoke. It was enough that they were reunited and +that each knew that the other was alive and safe. But at last they found +their voices and when the sun rose they were still talking, so much had +each to tell the other; so many questions there were to be asked and +answered.</p> + +<p>"And Jack," she asked, "where is he?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know," replied Tarzan. "The last I heard of him he was on the +Argonne Front."</p> + +<p>"Ah, then our happiness is not quite complete," she said, a little note +of sadness creeping into her voice.</p> + +<p>"No," he replied, "but the same is true in countless other English homes +today, and pride is learning to take the place of happiness in these."</p> + +<p>She shook her head, "I want my boy," she said.</p> + +<p>"And I too," replied Tarzan, "and we may have him yet. He was safe and +unwounded the last word I had. And now," he said, "we must plan upon our +return. Would you like to rebuild the bungalow and gather together the +remnants of our Waziri or would you rather return to London?"</p> + +<p>"Only to find Jack," she said. "I dream always of the bungalow and never +of the city, but John, we can only dream, for Obergatz told me that he +had circled this whole country and found no place where he might cross +the morass."</p> + +<p>"I am not Obergatz," Tarzan reminded her, smiling. "We will rest today +and tomorrow we will set out toward the north. It is a savage country, +but we have crossed it once and we can cross it again."</p> + +<p>And so, upon the following morning, the Tarmangani and his mate went +forth upon their journey across the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho, and ahead of +them were fierce men and savage beasts, and the lofty mountains of +Pal-ul-don; and beyond the mountains the reptiles and the morass, and +beyond that the arid, thorn-covered steppe, and other savage beasts and +men and weary, hostile miles of untracked wilderness between them and +the charred ruins of their home.</p> + +<p>Lieutenant Erich Obergatz crawled through the grass upon all fours, +leaving a trail of blood behind him after Jane's spear had sent him +crashing to the ground beneath her tree. He made no sound after the one +piercing scream that had acknowledged the severity of his wound. He was +quiet because of a great fear that had crept into his warped brain that +the devil woman would pursue and slay him. And so he crawled away like +some filthy beast of prey, seeking a thicket where he might lie down and +hide.</p> + +<p>He thought that he was going to die, but he did not, and with the coming +of the new day he discovered that his wound was superficial. The rough +obsidian-shod spear had entered the muscles of his side beneath his +right arm inflicting a painful, but not a fatal wound. With the +realization of this fact came a renewed desire to put as much distance +as possible between himself and Jane Clayton. And so he moved on, still +going upon all fours because of a persistent hallucination that in this +way he might escape observation. Yet though he fled his mind still +revolved muddily about a central desire—while he fled from her he still +planned to pursue her, and to his lust of possession was added a desire +for revenge. She should pay for the suffering she had inflicted upon +him. She should pay for rebuffing him, but for some reason which he did +not try to explain to himself he would crawl away and hide. He would +come back though. He would come back and when he had finished with her, +he would take that smooth throat in his two hands and crush the life +from her.</p> + +<p>He kept repeating this over and over to himself and then he fell to +laughing out loud, the cackling, hideous laughter that had terrified +Jane. Presently he realized his knees were bleeding and that they hurt +him. He looked cautiously behind. No one was in sight. He listened. He +could hear no indications of pursuit and so he rose to his feet and +continued upon his way a sorry sight—covered with filth and blood, his +beard and hair tangled and matted and filled with burrs and dried mud +and unspeakable filth. He kept no track of time. He ate fruits and +berries and tubers that he dug from the earth with his fingers. He +followed the shore of the lake and the river that he might be near +water, and when ja roared or moaned he climbed a tree and hid there, +shivering.</p> + +<p>And so after a time he came up the southern shore of Jad-ben-lul until a +wide river stopped his progress. Across the blue water a white city +glimmered in the sun. He looked at it for a long time, blinking his eyes +like an owl. Slowly a recollection forced itself through his tangled +brain. This was A-lur, the City of Light. The association of ideas +recalled Bu-lur and the Waz-ho-don. They had called him Jad-ben-Otho. He +commenced to laugh aloud and stood up very straight and strode back and +forth along the shore. "I am Jad-ben-Otho," he cried, "I am the Great +God. In A-lur is my temple and my high priests. What is Jad-ben-Otho +doing here alone in the jungle?"</p> + +<p>He stepped out into the water and raising his voice shrieked loudly +across toward A-lur. "I am Jad-ben-Otho!" he screamed. "Come hither +slaves and take your god to his temple." But the distance was great and +they did not hear him and no one came, and the feeble mind was +distracted by other things—a bird flying in the air, a school of +minnows swimming around his feet. He lunged at them trying to catch +them, and falling upon his hands and knees he crawled through the water +grasping futilely at the elusive fish.</p> + +<p>Presently it occurred to him that he was a sea lion and he forgot the +fish and lay down and tried to swim by wriggling his feet in the water +as though they were a tail. The hardships, the privations, the terrors, +and for the past few weeks the lack of proper nourishment had reduced +Erich Obergatz to little more than a gibbering idiot.</p> + +<p>A water snake swam out upon the surface of the lake and the man pursued +it, crawling upon his hands and knees. The snake swam toward the shore +just within the mouth of the river where tall reeds grew thickly and +Obergatz followed, making grunting noises like a pig. He lost the snake +within the reeds but he came upon something else—a canoe hidden there +close to the bank. He examined it with cackling laughter. There were two +paddles within it which he took and threw out into the current of the +river. He watched them for a while and then he sat down beside the canoe +and commenced to splash his hands up and down upon the water. He liked +to hear the noise and see the little splashes of spray. He rubbed his +left forearm with his right palm and the dirt came off and left a white +spot that drew his attention. He rubbed again upon the now thoroughly +soaked blood and grime that covered his body. He was not attempting to +wash himself; he was merely amused by the strange results. "I am turning +white," he cried. His glance wandered from his body now that the grime +and blood were all removed and caught again the white city shimmering +beneath the hot sun.</p> + +<p>"A-lur—City of Light!" he shrieked and that reminded him again of +Tu-lur and by the same process of associated ideas that had before +suggested it, he recalled that the Waz-ho-don had thought him +Jad-ben-Otho.</p> + +<p>"I am Jad-ben-Otho!" he screamed and then his eyes fell again upon the +canoe. A new idea came and persisted. He looked down at himself, +examining his body, and seeing the filthy loin cloth, now water soaked +and more bedraggled than before, he tore it from him and flung it into +the lake. "Gods do not wear dirty rags," he said aloud. "They do not +wear anything but wreaths and garlands of flowers and I am a god—I am +Jad-ben-Otho—and I go in state to my sacred city of A-lur."</p> + +<p>He ran his fingers through his matted hair and beard. The water had +softened the burrs but had not removed them. The man shook his head. His +hair and beard failed to harmonize with his other godly attributes. He +was commencing to think more clearly now, for the great idea had taken +hold of his scattered wits and concentrated them upon a single purpose, +but he was still a maniac. The only difference being that he was now a +maniac with a fixed intent. He went out on the shore and gathered +flowers and ferns and wove them in his beard and hair—blazing blooms of +different colors—green ferns that trailed about his ears or rose +bravely upward like the plumes in a lady's hat.</p> + +<p>When he was satisfied that his appearance would impress the most casual +observer with his evident deity he returned to the canoe, pushed it from +shore and jumped in. The impetus carried it into the river's current and +the current bore it out upon the lake. The naked man stood erect in the +center of the little craft, his arms folded upon his chest. He screamed +aloud his message to the city: "I am Jad-ben-Otho! Let the high priest +and the under priests attend upon me!"</p> + +<p>As the current of the river was dissipated by the waters of the lake the +wind caught him and his craft and carried them bravely forward. +Sometimes he drifted with his back toward A-lur and sometimes with his +face toward it, and at intervals he shrieked his message and his +commands. He was still in the middle of the lake when someone discovered +him from the palace wall, and as he drew nearer, a crowd of warriors and +women and children were congregated there watching him and along the +temple walls were many priests and among them Lu-don, the high priest. +When the boat had drifted close enough for them to distinguish the +bizarre figure standing in it and for them to catch the meaning of his +words Lu-don's cunning eyes narrowed. The high priest had learned of the +escape of Tarzan and he feared that should he join Ja-don's forces, as +seemed likely, he would attract many recruits who might still believe in +him, and the Dor-ul-Otho, even if a false one, upon the side of the +enemy might easily work havoc with Lu-don's plans.</p> + +<p>The man was drifting close in. His canoe would soon be caught in the +current that ran close to shore here and carried toward the river that +emptied the waters of Jad-ben-lul into Jad-bal-lul. The under priests +were looking toward Lu-don for instructions.</p> + +<p>"Fetch him hither!" he commanded. "If he is Jad-ben-Otho I shall know +him."</p> + +<p>The priests hurried to the palace grounds and summoned warriors. "Go, +bring the stranger to Lu-don. If he is Jad-ben-Otho we shall know him."</p> + +<p>And so Lieutenant Erich Obergatz was brought before the high priest at +A-lur. Lu-don looked closely at the naked man with the fantastic +headdress.</p> + +<p>"Where did you come from?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am Jad-ben-Otho," cried the German. "I came from heaven. Where is my +high priest?"</p> + +<p>"I am the high priest," replied Lu-don.</p> + +<p>Obergatz clapped his hands. "Have my feet bathed and food brought to +me," he commanded.</p> + +<p>Lu-don's eyes narrowed to mere slits of crafty cunning. He bowed low +until his forehead touched the feet of the stranger. Before the eyes of +many priests, and warriors from the palace he did it.</p> + +<p>"Ho, slaves," he cried, rising; "fetch water and food for the Great +God," and thus the high priest acknowledged before his people the +godhood of Lieutenant Erich Obergatz, nor was it long before the story +ran like wildfire through the palace and out into the city and beyond +that to the lesser villages all the way from A-lur to Tu-lur.</p> + +<p>The real god had come—Jad-ben-Otho himself, and he had espoused the +cause of Lu-don, the high priest. Mo-sar lost no time in placing himself +at the disposal of Lu-don, nor did he mention aught about his claims to +the throne. It was Mo-sar's opinion that he might consider himself +fortunate were he allowed to remain in peaceful occupation of his +chieftainship at Tu-lur, nor was Mo-sar wrong in his deductions.</p> + +<p>But Lu-don could still use him and so he let him live and sent word to +him to come to A-lur with all his warriors, for it was rumored that +Ja-don was raising a great army in the north and might soon march upon +the City of Light.</p> + +<p>Obergatz thoroughly enjoyed being a god. Plenty of food and peace of +mind and rest partially brought back to him the reason that had been so +rapidly slipping from him; but in one respect he was madder than ever, +since now no power on earth would ever be able to convince him that he +was not a god. Slaves were put at his disposal and these he ordered +about in godly fashion. The same portion of his naturally cruel mind met +upon common ground the mind of Lu-don, so that the two seemed always in +accord. The high priest saw in the stranger a mighty force wherewith to +hold forever his power over all Pal-ul-don and thus the future of +Obergatz was assured so long as he cared to play god to Lu-don's high +priest.</p> + +<p>A throne was erected in the main temple court before the eastern altar +where Jad-ben-Otho might sit in person and behold the sacrifices that +were offered up to him there each day at sunset. So much did the cruel, +half-crazed mind enjoy these spectacles that at times he even insisted +upon wielding the sacrificial knife himself and upon such occasions the +priests and the people fell upon their faces in awe of the dread deity.</p> + +<p>If Obergatz taught them not to love their god more he taught them to +fear him as they never had before, so that the name of Jad-ben-Otho was +whispered in the city and little children were frightened into obedience +by the mere mention of it. Lu-don, through his priests and slaves, +circulated the information that Jad-ben-Otho had commanded all his +faithful followers to flock to the standard of the high priest at A-lur +and that all others were cursed, especially Ja-don and the base impostor +who had posed as the Dor-ul-Otho. The curse was to take the form of +early death following terrible suffering, and Lu-don caused it to be +published abroad that the name of any warrior who complained of a pain +should be brought to him, for such might be deemed to be under +suspicion, since the first effects of the curse would result in slight +pains attacking the unholy. He counseled those who felt pains to look +carefully to their loyalty. The result was remarkable and +immediate—half a nation without a pain, and recruits pouring into A-lur +to offer their services to Lu-don while secretly hoping that the little +pains they had felt in arm or leg or belly would not recur in aggravated +form.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="A_Journey_on_a_Gryf" id="A_Journey_on_a_Gryf" />22 - A Journey on a Gryf</h2> + + +<p>Tarzan and Jane skirted the shore of Jad-bal-lul and crossed the river +at the head of the lake. They moved in leisurely fashion with an eye to +comfort and safety, for the ape-man, now that he had found his mate, was +determined to court no chance that might again separate them, or delay +or prevent their escape from Pal-ul-don. How they were to recross the +morass was a matter of little concern to him as yet—it would be time +enough to consider that matter when it became of more immediate moment. +Their hours were filled with the happiness and content of reunion after +long separation; they had much to talk of, for each had passed through +many trials and vicissitudes and strange adventures, and no important +hour might go unaccounted for since last they met.</p> + +<p>It was Tarzan's intention to choose a way above A-lur and the scattered +Ho-don villages below it, passing about midway between them and the +mountains, thus avoiding, in so far as possible, both the Ho-don and +Waz-don, for in this area lay the neutral territory that was uninhabited +by either. Thus he would travel northwest until opposite the Kor-ul-ja +where he planned to stop to pay his respects to Om-at and give the gund +word of Pan-at-lee, and a plan Tarzan had for insuring her safe return +to her people. It was upon the third day of their journey and they had +almost reached the river that passes through A-lur when Jane suddenly +clutched Tarzan's arm and pointed ahead toward the edge of a forest that +they were approaching. Beneath the shadows of the trees loomed a great +bulk that the ape-man instantly recognized.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" whispered Jane.</p> + +<p>"A gryf," replied the ape-man, "and we have met him in the worst place +that we could possibly have found. There is not a large tree within a +quarter of a mile, other than those among which he stands. Come, we +shall have to go back, Jane; I cannot risk it with you along. The best +we can do is to pray that he does not discover us."</p> + +<p>"And if he does?"</p> + +<p>"Then I shall have to risk it."</p> + +<p>"Risk what?"</p> + +<p>"The chance that I can subdue him as I subdued one of his fellows," +replied Tarzan. "I told you—you recall?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but I did not picture so huge a creature. Why, John, he is as big +as a battleship."</p> + +<p>The ape-man laughed. "Not quite, though I'll admit he looks quite as +formidable as one when he charges."</p> + +<p>They were moving away slowly so as not to attract the attention of the +beast.</p> + +<p>"I believe we're going to make it," whispered the woman, her voice tense +with suppressed excitement. A low rumble rolled like distant thunder +from the wood. Tarzan shook his head.</p> + +<p>"'The big show is about to commence in the main tent,'" he quoted, +grinning. He caught the woman suddenly to his breast and kissed her. +"One can never tell, Jane," he said. "We'll do our best—that is all we +can do. Give me your spear, and—don't run. The only hope we have lies +in that little brain more than in us. If I can control it—well, let us +see."</p> + +<p>The beast had emerged from the forest and was looking about through his +weak eyes, evidently in search of them. Tarzan raised his voice in the +weird notes of the Tor-o-don's cry, "Whee-oo! Whee-oo! Whee-oo!" For a +moment the great beast stood motionless, his attention riveted by the +call. The ape-man advanced straight toward him, Jane Clayton at his +elbow. "Whee-oo!" he cried again peremptorily. A low rumble rolled from +the gryf's cavernous chest in answer to the call, and the beast moved +slowly toward them.</p> + +<p>"Fine!" exclaimed Tarzan. "The odds are in our favor now. You can keep +your nerve?—but I do not need to ask."</p> + +<p>"I know no fear when I am with Tarzan of the Apes," she replied softly, +and he felt the pressure of her soft fingers on his arm.</p> + +<p>And thus the two approached the giant monster of a forgotten epoch until +they stood close in the shadow of a mighty shoulder. "Whee-oo!" shouted +Tarzan and struck the hideous snout with the shaft of the spear. The +vicious side snap that did not reach its mark—that evidently was not +intended to reach its mark—was the hoped-for answer.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Tarzan, and taking Jane by the hand he led her around +behind the monster and up the broad tail to the great, horned back. "Now +will we ride in the state that our forebears knew, before which the pomp +of modern kings pales into cheap and tawdry insignificance. How would +you like to canter through Hyde Park on a mount like this?"</p> + +<p>"I am afraid the Bobbies would be shocked by our riding habits, John," +she cried, laughingly.</p> + +<p>Tarzan guided the gryf in the direction that they wished to go. Steep +embankments and rivers proved no slightest obstacle to the ponderous +creature.</p> + +<p>"A prehistoric tank, this," Jane assured him, and laughing and talking +they continued on their way. Once they came unexpectedly upon a dozen +Ho-don warriors as the gryf emerged suddenly into a small clearing. The +fellows were lying about in the shade of a single tree that grew alone. +When they saw the beast they leaped to their feet in consternation and +at their shouts the gryf issued his hideous, challenging bellow and +charged them. The warriors fled in all directions while Tarzan belabored +the beast across the snout with his spear in an effort to control him, +and at last he succeeded, just as the gryf was almost upon one poor +devil that it seemed to have singled out for its special prey. With an +angry grunt the gryf stopped and the man, with a single backward glance +that showed a face white with terror, disappeared in the jungle he had +been seeking to reach.</p> + +<p>The ape-man was elated. He had doubted that he could control the beast +should it take it into its head to charge a victim and had intended +abandoning it before they reached the Kor-ul-ja. Now he altered his +plans—they would ride to the very village of Om-at upon the gryf, and +the Kor-ul-ja would have food for conversation for many generations to +come. Nor was it the theatric instinct of the ape-man alone that gave +favor to this plan. The element of Jane's safety entered into the matter +for he knew that she would be safe from man and beast alike so long as +she rode upon the back of Pal-ul-don's most formidable creature.</p> + +<p>As they proceeded slowly in the direction of the Kor-ul-ja, for the +natural gait of the gryf is far from rapid, a handful of terrified +warriors came panting into A-lur, spreading a weird story of the +Dor-ul-Otho, only none dared call him the Dor-ul-Otho aloud. Instead +they spoke of him as Tarzan-jad-guru and they told of meeting him +mounted upon a mighty gryf beside the beautiful stranger woman whom +Ko-tan would have made queen of Pal-ul-don. This story was brought to +Lu-don who caused the warriors to be hailed to his presence, when he +questioned them closely until finally he was convinced that they spoke +the truth and when they had told him the direction in which the two were +traveling, Lu-don guessed that they were on their way to Ja-lur to join +Ja-don, a contingency that he felt must be prevented at any cost. As was +his wont in the stress of emergency, he called Pan-sat into consultation +and for long the two sat in close conference. When they arose a plan had +been developed. Pan-sat went immediately to his own quarters where he +removed the headdress and trappings of a priest to don in their stead +the harness and weapons of a warrior. Then he returned to Lu-don.</p> + +<p>"Good!" cried the latter, when he saw him. "Not even your fellow-priests +or the slaves that wait upon you daily would know you now. Lose no time, +Pan-sat, for all depends upon the speed with which you strike +and—remember! Kill the man if you can; but in any event bring the woman +to me here, alive. You understand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, master," replied the priest, and so it was that a lone warrior set +out from A-lur and made his way northwest in the direction of Ja-lur.</p> + +<p>The gorge next above Kor-ul-ja is uninhabited and here the wily Ja-don +had chosen to mobilize his army for its descent upon A-lur. Two +considerations influenced him—one being the fact that could he keep his +plans a secret from the enemy he would have the advantage of delivering +a surprise attack upon the forces of Lu-don from a direction that they +would not expect attack, and in the meantime he would be able to keep +his men from the gossip of the cities where strange tales were already +circulating relative to the coming of Jad-ben-Otho in person to aid the +high priest in his war against Ja-don. It took stout hearts and loyal +ones to ignore the implied threats of divine vengeance that these tales +suggested. Already there had been desertions and the cause of Ja-don +seemed tottering to destruction.</p> + +<p>Such was the state of affairs when a sentry posted on the knoll in the +mouth of the gorge sent word that he had observed in the valley below +what appeared at a distance to be nothing less than two people mounted +upon the back of a gryf. He said that he had caught glimpses of them, as +they passed open spaces, and they seemed to be traveling up the river in +the direction of the Kor-ul-ja.</p> + +<p>At first Ja-don was inclined to doubt the veracity of his informant; +but, like all good generals, he could not permit even palpably false +information to go uninvestigated and so he determined to visit the knoll +himself and learn precisely what it was that the sentry had observed +through the distorting spectacles of fear. He had scarce taken his place +beside the man ere the fellow touched his arm and pointed. "They are +closer now," he whispered, "you can see them plainly." And sure enough, +not a quarter of a mile away Ja-don saw that which in his long +experience in Pal-ul-don he had never before seen—two humans riding +upon the broad back of a gryf.</p> + +<p>At first he could scarce credit even this testimony of his own eyes, but +soon he realized that the creatures below could be naught else than they +appeared, and then he recognized the man and rose to his feet with a +loud cry.</p> + +<p>"It is he!" he shouted to those about him. "It is the Dor-ul-Otho +himself."</p> + +<p>The gryf and his riders heard the shout though not the words. The former +bellowed terrifically and started in the direction of the knoll, and +Ja-don, followed by a few of his more intrepid warriors, ran to meet +him. Tarzan, loath to enter an unnecessary quarrel, tried to turn the +animal, but as the beast was far from tractable it always took a few +minutes to force the will of its master upon it; and so the two parties +were quite close before the ape-man succeeded in stopping the mad charge +of his furious mount.</p> + +<p>Ja-don and his warriors, however, had come to the realization that this +bellowing creature was bearing down upon them with evil intent and they +had assumed the better part of valor and taken to trees, accordingly. It +was beneath these trees that Tarzan finally stopped the gryf. Ja-don +called down to him.</p> + +<p>"We are friends," he cried. "I am Ja-don, Chief of Ja-lur. I and my +warriors lay our foreheads upon the feet of Dor-ul-Otho and pray that he +will aid us in our righteous fight with Lu-don, the high priest."</p> + +<p>"You have not defeated him yet?" asked Tarzan. "Why I thought you would +be king of Pal-ul-don long before this."</p> + +<p>"No," replied Ja-don. "The people fear the high priest and now that he +has in the temple one whom he claims to be Jad-ben-Otho many of my +warriors are afraid. If they but knew that the Dor-ul-Otho had returned +and that he had blessed the cause of Ja-don I am sure that victory would +be ours."</p> + +<p>Tarzan thought for a long minute and then he spoke. "Ja-don," he said, +"was one of the few who believed in me and who wished to accord me fair +treatment. I have a debt to pay to Ja-don and an account to settle with +Lu-don, not alone on my own behalf, but principally upon that of my +mate. I will go with you Ja-don to mete to Lu-don the punishment he +deserves. Tell me, chief, how may the Dor-ul-Otho best serve his +father's people?"</p> + +<p>"By coming with me to Ja-lur and the villages between," replied Ja-don +quickly, "that the people may see that it is indeed the Dor-ul-Otho and +that he smiles upon the cause of Ja-don."</p> + +<p>"You think that they will believe in me more now than before?" asked the +ape-man.</p> + +<p>"Who will dare doubt that he who rides upon the great gryf is less than +a god?" returned the old chief.</p> + +<p>"And if I go with you to the battle at A-lur," asked Tarzan, "can you +assure the safety of my mate while I am gone from her?"</p> + +<p>"She shall remain in Ja-lur with the Princess O-lo-a and my own women," +replied Ja-don. "There she will be safe for there I shall leave trusted +warriors to protect them. Say that you will come, O Dor-ul-Otho, and my +cup of happiness will be full, for even now Ta-den, my son, marches +toward A-lur with a force from the northwest and if we can attack, with +the Dor-ul-Otho at our head, from the northeast our arms should be +victorious."</p> + +<p>"It shall be as you wish, Ja-don," replied the ape-man; "but first you +must have meat fetched for my gryf."</p> + +<p>"There are many carcasses in the camp above," replied Ja-don, "for my +men have little else to do than hunt."</p> + +<p>"Good," exclaimed Tarzan. "Have them brought at once."</p> + +<p>And when the meat was-brought and laid at a distance the ape-man slipped +from the back of his fierce charger and fed him with his own hand. "See +that there is always plenty of flesh for him," he said to Ja-don, for he +guessed that his mastery might be short-lived should the vicious beast +become over-hungry.</p> + +<p>It was morning before they could leave for Ja-lur, but Tarzan found the +gryf lying where he had left him the night before beside the carcasses +of two antelope and a lion; but now there was nothing but the gryf.</p> + +<p>"The paleontologists say that he was herbivorous," said Tarzan as he and +Jane approached the beast.</p> + +<p>The journey to Ja-lur was made through the scattered villages where +Ja-don hoped to arouse a keener enthusiasm for his cause. A party of +warriors preceded Tarzan that the people might properly be prepared, not +only for the sight of the gryf but to receive the Dor-ul-Otho as became +his high station. The results were all that Ja-don could have hoped and +in no village through which they passed was there one who doubted the +deity of the ape-man.</p> + +<p>As they approached Ja-lur a strange warrior joined them, one whom none +of Ja-don's following knew. He said he came from one of the villages to +the south and that he had been treated unfairly by one of Lu-don's +chiefs. For this reason he had deserted the cause of the high priest and +come north in the hope of finding a home in Ja-lur. As every addition to +his forces was welcome to the old chief he permitted the stranger to +accompany them, and so he came into Ja-lur with them.</p> + +<p>There arose now the question as to what was to be done with the gryf +while they remained in the city. It was with difficulty that Tarzan had +prevented the savage beast from attacking all who came near it when they +had first entered the camp of Ja-don in the uninhabited gorge next to +the Kor-ul-ja, but during the march to Ja-lur the creature had seemed to +become accustomed to the presence of the Ho-don. The latter, however, +gave him no cause for annoyance since they kept as far from him as +possible and when he passed through the streets of the city he was +viewed from the safety of lofty windows and roofs. However tractable he +appeared to have become there would have been no enthusiastic seconding +of a suggestion to turn him loose within the city. It was finally +suggested that he be turned into a walled enclosure within the palace +grounds and this was done, Tarzan driving him in after Jane had +dismounted. More meat was thrown to him and he was left to his own +devices, the awe-struck inhabitants of the palace not even venturing to +climb upon the walls to look at him.</p> + +<p>Ja-don led Tarzan and Jane to the quarters of the Princess O-lo-a who, +the moment that she beheld the ape-man, threw herself to the ground and +touched her forehead to his feet. Pan-at-lee was there with her and she +too seemed happy to see Tarzan-jad-guru again. When they found that Jane +was his mate they looked with almost equal awe upon her, since even the +most skeptical of the warriors of Ja-don were now convinced that they +were entertaining a god and a goddess within the city of Ja-lur, and +that with the assistance of the power of these two, the cause of Ja-don +would soon be victorious and the old Lion-man set upon the throne of +Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>From O-lo-a Tarzan learned that Ta-den had returned and that they were +to be united in marriage with the weird rites of their religion and in +accordance with the custom of their people as soon as Ta-den came home +from the battle that was to be fought at A-lur.</p> + +<p>The recruits were now gathering at the city and it was decided that the +next day Ja-don and Tarzan would return to the main body in the hidden +camp and immediately under cover of night the attack should be made in +force upon Lu-don's forces at A-lur. Word of this was sent to Ta-den +where he awaited with his warriors upon the north side of Jad-ben-lul, +only a few miles from A-lur.</p> + +<p>In the carrying out of these plans it was necessary to leave Jane behind +in Ja-don's palace at Ja-lur, but O-lo-a and her women were with her and +there were many warriors to guard them, so Tarzan bid his mate good-bye +with no feelings of apprehension as to her safety, and again seated upon +the gryf made his way out of the city with Ja-don and his warriors.</p> + +<p>At the mouth of the gorge the ape-man abandoned his huge mount since it +had served its purpose and could be of no further value to him in their +attack upon A-lur, which was to be made just before dawn the following +day when, as he could not have been seen by the enemy, the effect of his +entry to the city upon the gryf would have been totally lost. A couple +of sharp blows with the spear sent the big animal rumbling and growling +in the direction of the Kor-ul-gryf nor was the ape-man sorry to see it +depart since he had never known at what instant its short temper and +insatiable appetite for flesh might turn it upon some of his companions.</p> + +<p>Immediately upon their arrival at the gorge the march on A-lur was +commenced.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Taken_Alive" id="Taken_Alive" />23 - Taken Alive</h2> + + +<p>As night fell a warrior from the palace of Ja-lur slipped into the +temple grounds. He made his way to where the lesser priests were +quartered. His presence aroused no suspicion as it was not unusual for +warriors to have business within the temple. He came at last to a +chamber where several priests were congregated after the evening meal. +The rites and ceremonies of the sacrifice had been concluded and there +was nothing more of a religious nature to make call upon their time +until the rites at sunrise.</p> + +<p>Now the warrior knew, as in fact nearly all Pal-ul-don knew, that there +was no strong bond between the temple and the palace at Ja-lur and that +Ja-don only suffered the presence of the priests and permitted their +cruel and abhorrent acts because of the fact that these things had been +the custom of the Ho-don of Pal-ul-don for countless ages, and rash +indeed must have been the man who would have attempted to interfere with +the priests or their ceremonies. That Ja-don never entered the temple +was well known, and that his high priest never entered the palace, but +the people came to the temple with their votive offerings and the +sacrifices were made night and morning as in every other temple in +Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>The warriors knew these things, knew them better perhaps than a simple +warrior should have known them. And so it was here in the temple that he +looked for the aid that he sought in the carrying out of whatever design +he had.</p> + +<p>As he entered the apartment where the priests were he greeted them after +the manner which was customary in Pal-ul-don, but at the same time he +made a sign with his finger that might have attracted little attention +or scarcely been noticed at all by one who knew not its meaning. That +there were those within the room who noticed it and interpreted it was +quickly apparent, through the fact that two of the priests rose and came +close to him as he stood just within the doorway and each of them, as he +came, returned the signal that the warrior had made.</p> + +<p>The three talked for but a moment and then the warrior turned and left +the apartment. A little later one of the priests who had talked with him +left also and shortly after that the other.</p> + +<p>In the corridor they found the warrior waiting, and led him to a little +chamber which opened upon a smaller corridor just beyond where it joined +the larger. Here the three remained in whispered conversation for some +little time and then the warrior returned to the palace and the two +priests to their quarters.</p> + +<p>The apartments of the women of the palace at Ja-lur are all upon the +same side of a long, straight corridor. Each has a single door leading +into the corridor and at the opposite end several windows overlooking a +garden. It was in one of these rooms that Jane slept alone. At each end +of the corridor was a sentinel, the main body of the guard being +stationed in a room near the outer entrance to the women's quarters.</p> + +<p>The palace slept for they kept early hours there where Ja-don ruled. The +pal-e-don-so of the great chieftain of the north knew no such wild +orgies as had resounded through the palace of the king at A-lur. Ja-lur +was a quiet city by comparison with the capital, yet there was always a +guard kept at every entrance to the chambers of Ja-don and his immediate +family as well as at the gate leading into the temple and that which +opened upon the city.</p> + +<p>These guards, however, were small, consisting usually of not more than +five or six warriors, one of whom remained awake while the others slept. +Such were the conditions then when two warriors presented themselves, +one at either end of the corridor, to the sentries who watched over the +safety of Jane Clayton and the Princess O-lo-a, and each of the +newcomers repeated to the sentinels the stereotyped words which +announced that they were relieved and these others sent to watch in +their stead. Never is a warrior loath to be relieved of sentry duty. +Where, under different circumstances he might ask numerous questions he +is now too well satisfied to escape the monotonies of that universally +hated duty. And so these two men accepted their relief without question +and hastened away to their pallets.</p> + +<p>And then a third warrior entered the corridor and all of the newcomers +came together before the door of the ape-man's slumbering mate. And one +was the strange warrior who had met Ja-don and Tarzan outside the city +of Ja-lur as they had approached it the previous day; and he was the +same warrior who had entered the temple a short hour before, but the +faces of his fellows were unfamiliar, even to one another, since it is +seldom that a priest removes his hideous headdress in the presence even +of his associates.</p> + +<p>Silently they lifted the hangings that hid the interior of the room from +the view of those who passed through the corridor, and stealthily slunk +within. Upon a pile of furs in a far corner lay the sleeping form of +Lady Greystoke. The bare feet of the intruders gave forth no sound as +they crossed the stone floor toward her. A ray of moonlight entering +through a window near her couch shone full upon her, revealing the +beautiful contours of an arm and shoulder in cameo-distinctness against +the dark furry pelt beneath which she slept, and the perfect profile +that was turned toward the skulking three.</p> + +<p>But neither the beauty nor the helplessness of the sleeper aroused such +sentiments of passion or pity as might stir in the breasts of normal +men. To the three priests she was but a lump of clay, nor could they +conceive aught of that passion which had aroused men to intrigue and to +murder for possession of this beautiful American girl, and which even +now was influencing the destiny of undiscovered Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>Upon the floor of the chamber were numerous pelts and as the leader of +the trio came close to the sleeping woman he stooped and gathered up one +of the smaller of these. Standing close to her head he held the rug +outspread above her face. "Now," he whispered and simultaneously he +threw the rug over the woman's head and his two fellows leaped upon her, +seizing her arms and pinioning her body while their leader stifled her +cries with the furry pelt. Quickly and silently they bound her wrists +and gagged her and during the brief time that their work required there +was no sound that might have been heard by occupants of the adjoining +apartments.</p> + +<p>Jerking her roughly to her feet they forced her toward a window but she +refused to walk, throwing herself instead upon the floor. They were very +angry and would have resorted to cruelties to compel her obedience but +dared not, since the wrath of Lu-don might fall heavily upon whoever +mutilated his fair prize.</p> + +<p>And so they were forced to lift and carry her bodily. Nor was the task +any sinecure since the captive kicked and struggled as best she might, +making their labor as arduous as possible. But finally they succeeded in +getting her through the window and into the garden beyond where one of +the two priests from the Ja-lur temple directed their steps toward a +small barred gateway in the south wall of the enclosure.</p> + +<p>Immediately beyond this a flight of stone stairs led downward toward the +river and at the foot of the stairs were moored several canoes. Pan-sat +had indeed been fortunate in enlisting aid from those who knew the +temple and the palace so well, or otherwise he might never have escaped +from Ja-lur with his captive. Placing the woman in the bottom of a light +canoe Pan-sat entered it and took up the paddle. His companions +unfastened the moorings and shoved the little craft out into the current +of the stream. Their traitorous work completed they turned and retraced +their steps toward the temple, while Pan-sat, paddling strongly with the +current, moved rapidly down the river that would carry him to the +Jad-ben-lul and A-lur.</p> + +<p>The moon had set and the eastern horizon still gave no hint of +approaching day as a long file of warriors wound stealthily through the +darkness into the city of A-lur. Their plans were all laid and there +seemed no likelihood of their miscarriage. A messenger had been +dispatched to Ta-den whose forces lay northwest of the city. Tarzan, +with a small contingent, was to enter the temple through the secret +passageway, the location of which he alone knew, while Ja-don, with the +greater proportion of the warriors, was to attack the palace gates.</p> + +<p>The ape-man, leading his little band, moved stealthily through the +winding alleys of A-lur, arriving undetected at the building which hid +the entrance to the secret passageway. This spot being best protected by +the fact that its existence was unknown to others than the priests, was +unguarded. To facilitate the passage of his little company through the +narrow winding, uneven tunnel, Tarzan lighted a torch which had been +brought for the purpose and preceding his warriors led the way toward +the temple.</p> + +<p>That he could accomplish much once he reached the inner chambers of the +temple with his little band of picked warriors the ape-man was confident +since an attack at this point would bring confusion and consternation to +the easily overpowered priests, and permit Tarzan to attack the palace +forces in the rear at the same time that Ja-don engaged them at the +palace gates, while Ta-den and his forces swarmed the northern walls. +Great value had been placed by Ja-don on the moral effect of the +Dor-ul-Otho's mysterious appearance in the heart of the temple and he +had urged Tarzan to take every advantage of the old chieftain's belief +that many of Lu-don's warriors still wavered in their allegiance between +the high priest and the Dor-ul-Otho, being held to the former more by +the fear which he engendered in the breasts of all his followers than by +any love or loyalty they might feel toward him.</p> + +<p>There is a Pal-ul-donian proverb setting forth a truth similar to that +contained in the old Scotch adage that "The best laid schemes o' mice +and men gang aft a-gley." Freely translated it might read, "He who +follows the right trail sometimes reaches the wrong destination," and +such apparently was the fate that lay in the footsteps of the great +chieftain of the north and his godlike ally.</p> + +<p>Tarzan, more familiar with the windings of the corridors than his +fellows and having the advantage of the full light of the torch, which +at best was but a dim and flickering affair, was some distance ahead of +the others, and in his keen anxiety to close with the enemy he gave too +little thought to those who were to support him. Nor is this strange, +since from childhood the ape-man had been accustomed to fight the +battles of life single-handed so that it had become habitual for him to +depend solely upon his own cunning and prowess.</p> + +<p>And so it was that he came into the upper corridor from which opened the +chambers of Lu-don and the lesser priests far in advance of his +warriors, and as he turned into this corridor with its dim cressets +flickering somberly, he saw another enter it from a corridor before +him—a warrior half carrying, half dragging the figure of a woman. +Instantly Tarzan recognized the gagged and fettered captive whom he had +thought safe in the palace of Ja-don at Ja-lur.</p> + +<p>The warrior with the woman had seen Tarzan at the same instant that the +latter had discovered him. He heard the low beastlike growl that broke +from the ape-man's lips as he sprang forward to wrest his mate from her +captor and wreak upon him the vengeance that was in the Tarmangani's +savage heart. Across the corridor from Pan-sat was the entrance to a +smaller chamber. Into this he leaped carrying the woman with him.</p> + +<p>Close behind came Tarzan of the Apes. He had cast aside his torch and +drawn the long knife that had been his father's. With the impetuosity of +a charging bull he rushed into the chamber in pursuit of Pan-sat to find +himself, when the hangings dropped behind him, in utter darkness. Almost +immediately there was a crash of stone on stone before him followed a +moment later by a similar crash behind. No other evidence was necessary +to announce to the ape-man that he was again a prisoner in Lu-don's +temple.</p> + +<p>He stood perfectly still where he had halted at the first sound of the +descending stone door. Not again would he easily be precipitated to the +gryf pit, or some similar danger, as had occurred when Lu-don had +trapped him in the Temple of the Gryf. As he stood there his eyes slowly +grew accustomed to the darkness and he became aware that a dim light was +entering the chamber through some opening, though it was several minutes +before he discovered its source. In the roof of the chamber he finally +discerned a small aperture, possibly three feet in diameter and it was +through this that what was really only a lesser darkness rather than a +light was penetrating its Stygian blackness of the chamber in which he +was imprisoned.</p> + +<p>Since the doors had fallen he had heard no sound though his keen ears +were constantly strained in an effort to discover a clue to the +direction taken by the abductor of his mate. Presently he could discern +the outlines of his prison cell. It was a small room, not over fifteen +feet across. On hands and knees, with the utmost caution, he examined +the entire area of the floor. In the exact center, directly beneath the +opening in the roof, was a trap, but otherwise the floor was solid. With +this knowledge it was only necessary to avoid this spot in so far as the +floor was concerned. The walls next received his attention. There were +only two openings. One the doorway through which he had entered, and +upon the opposite side that through which the warrior had borne Jane +Clayton. These were both closed by the slabs of stone which the fleeing +warrior had released as he departed.</p> + +<p>Lu-don, the high priest, licked his thin lips and rubbed his bony white +hands together in gratification as Pan-sat bore Jane Clayton into his +presence and laid her on the floor of the chamber before him.</p> + +<p>"Good, Pan-sat!" he exclaimed. "You shall be well rewarded for this +service. Now, if we but had the false Dor-ul-Otho in our power all +Pal-ul-don would be at our feet."</p> + +<p>"Master, I have him!" cried Pan-sat.</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Lu-don, "you have Tarzan-jad-guru? You have slain him +perhaps. Tell me, my wonderful Pan-sat, tell me quickly. My breast is +bursting with a desire to know."</p> + +<p>"I have taken him alive, Lu-don, my master," replied Pan-sat. "He is in +the little chamber that the ancients built to trap those who were too +powerful to take alive in personal encounter."</p> + +<p>"You have done well, Pan-sat, I—"</p> + +<p>A frightened priest burst into the apartment. "Quick, master, quick," he +cried, "the corridors are filled with the warriors of Ja-don."</p> + +<p>"You are mad," cried the high priest. "My warriors hold the palace and +the temple."</p> + +<p>"I speak the truth, master," replied the priest, "there are warriors in +the corridor approaching this very chamber, and they come from the +direction of the secret passage which leads hither from the city."</p> + +<p>"It may be even as he says," exclaimed Pan-sat. "It was from that +direction that Tarzan-jad-guru was coming when I discovered and trapped +him. He was leading his warriors to the very holy of holies."</p> + +<p>Lu-don ran quickly to the doorway and looked out into the corridor. At a +glance he saw that the fears of the frightened priest were well founded. +A dozen warriors were moving along the corridor toward him but they +seemed confused and far from sure of themselves. The high priest guessed +that deprived of the leadership of Tarzan they were little better than +lost in the unknown mazes of the subterranean precincts of the temple.</p> + +<p>Stepping back into the apartment he seized a leathern thong that +depended from the ceiling. He pulled upon it sharply and through the +temple boomed the deep tones of a metal gong. Five times the clanging +notes rang through the corridors, then he turned toward the two priests. +"Bring the woman and follow me," he directed.</p> + +<p>Crossing the chamber he passed through a small doorway, the others +lifting Jane Clayton from the floor and following him. Through a narrow +corridor and up a flight of steps they went, turning to right and left +and doubling back through a maze of winding passageways which terminated +in a spiral staircase that gave forth at the surface of the ground +within the largest of the inner altar courts close beside the eastern +altar.</p> + +<p>From all directions now, in the corridors below and the grounds above, +came the sound of hurrying footsteps. The five strokes of the great gong +had summoned the faithful to the defense of Lu-don in his private +chambers. The priests who knew the way led the less familiar warriors to +the spot and presently those who had accompanied Tarzan found themselves +not only leaderless but facing a vastly superior force. They were brave +men but under the circumstances they were helpless and so they fell back +the way they had come, and when they reached the narrow confines of the +smaller passageway their safety was assured since only one foeman could +attack them at a time. But their plans were frustrated and possibly also +their entire cause lost, so heavily had Ja-don banked upon the success +of their venture.</p> + +<p>With the clanging of the temple gong Ja-don assumed that Tarzan and his +party had struck their initial blow and so he launched his attack upon +the palace gate. To the ears of Lu-don in the inner temple court came +the savage war cries that announced the beginning of the battle. Leaving +Pan-sat and the other priest to guard the woman he hastened toward the +palace personally to direct his force and as he passed through the +temple grounds he dispatched a messenger to learn the outcome of the +fight in the corridors below, and other messengers to spread the news +among his followers that the false Dor-ul-Otho was a prisoner in the +temple.</p> + +<p>As the din of battle rose above A-lur, Lieutenant Erich Obergatz turned +upon his bed of soft hides and sat up. He rubbed his eyes and looked +about him. It was still dark without.</p> + +<p>"I am Jad-ben-Otho," he cried, "who dares disturb my slumber?"</p> + +<p>A slave squatting upon the floor at the foot of his couch shuddered and +touched her forehead to the floor. "It must be that the enemy have come, +O Jad-ben-Otho." She spoke soothingly for she had reason to know the +terrors of the mad frenzy into which trivial things sometimes threw the +Great God.</p> + +<p>A priest burst suddenly through the hangings of the doorway and falling +upon his hands and knees rubbed his forehead against the stone flagging. +"O Jad-ben-Otho," he cried, "the warriors of Ja-don have attacked the +palace and the temple. Even now they are fighting in the corridors near +the quarters of Lu-don, and the high priest begs that you come to the +palace and encourage your faithful warriors by your presence."</p> + +<p>Obergatz sprang to his feet. "I am Jad-ben-Otho," he screamed. "With +lightning I will blast the blasphemers who dare attack the holy city of +A-lur."</p> + +<p>For a moment he rushed aimlessly and madly about the room, while the +priest and the slave remained upon hands and knees with their foreheads +against the floor.</p> + +<p>"Come," cried Obergatz, planting a vicious kick in the side of the slave +girl. "Come! Would you wait here all day while the forces of darkness +overwhelm the City of Light?"</p> + +<p>Thoroughly frightened as were all those who were forced to serve the +Great God, the two arose and followed Obergatz towards the palace.</p> + +<p>Above the shouting of the warriors rose constantly the cries of the +temple priests: "Jad-ben-Otho is here and the false Dor-ul-Otho is a +prisoner in the temple." The persistent cries reached even to the ears +of the enemy as it was intended that they should.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="The_Messenger_of_Death" id="The_Messenger_of_Death" />24 - The Messenger of Death</h2> + + +<p>The sun rose to see the forces of Ja-don still held at the palace gate. +The old warrior had seized the tall structure that stood just beyond the +palace and at the summit of this he kept a warrior stationed to look +toward the northern wall of the palace where Ta-den was to make his +attack; but as the minutes wore into hours no sign of the other force +appeared, and now in the full light of the new sun upon the roof of one +of the palace buildings appeared Lu-don, the high priest, Mo-sar, the +pretender, and the strange, naked figure of a man, into whose long hair +and beard were woven fresh ferns and flowers. Behind them were banked a +score of lesser priests who chanted in unison: "This is Jad-ben-Otho. +Lay down your arms and surrender." This they repeated again and again, +alternating it with the cry: "The false Dor-ul-Otho is a prisoner."</p> + +<p>In one of those lulls which are common in battles between forces armed +with weapons that require great physical effort in their use, a voice +suddenly arose from among the followers of Ja-don: "Show us the +Dor-ul-Otho. We do not believe you!"</p> + +<p>"Wait," cried Lu-don. "If I do not produce him before the sun has moved +his own width, the gates of the palace shall be opened to you and my +warriors will lay down their arms."</p> + +<p>He turned to one of his priests and issued brief instructions.</p> + +<p>The ape-man paced the confines of his narrow cell. Bitterly he +reproached himself for the stupidity which had led him into this trap, +and yet was it stupidity? What else might he have done other than rush +to the succor of his mate? He wondered how they had stolen her from +Ja-lur, and then suddenly there flashed to his mind the features of the +warrior whom he had just seen with her. They were strangely familiar. He +racked his brain to recall where he had seen the man before and then it +came to him. He was the strange warrior who had joined Ja-don's forces +outside of Ja-lur the day that Tarzan had ridden upon the great gryf +from the uninhabited gorge next to the Kor-ul-ja down to the capital +city of the chieftain of the north. But who could the man be? Tarzan +knew that never before that other day had he seen him.</p> + +<p>Presently he heard the clanging of a gong from the corridor without and +very faintly the rush of feet, and shouts. He guessed that his warriors +had been discovered and a fight was in progress. He fretted and chafed +at the chance that had denied him participation in it.</p> + +<p>Again and again he tried the doors of his prison and the trap in the +center of the floor, but none would give to his utmost endeavors. He +strained his eyes toward the aperture above but he could see nothing, +and then he continued his futile pacing to and fro like a caged lion +behind its bars.</p> + +<p>The minutes dragged slowly into hours. Faintly sounds came to him as of +shouting men at a great distance. The battle was in progress. He +wondered if Ja-don would be victorious and should he be, would his +friends ever discover him in this hidden chamber in the bowels of the +hill? He doubted it.</p> + +<p>And now as he looked again toward the aperture in the roof there +appeared to be something depending through its center. He came closer +and strained his eyes to see. Yes, there was something there. It +appeared to be a rope. Tarzan wondered if it had been there all the +time. It must have, he reasoned, since he had heard no sound from above +and it was so dark within the chamber that he might easily have +overlooked it.</p> + +<p>He raised his hand toward it. The end of it was just within his reach. +He bore his weight upon it to see if it would hold him. Then he released +it and backed away, still watching it, as you have seen an animal do +after investigating some unfamiliar object, one of the little traits +that differentiated Tarzan from other men, accentuating his similarity +to the savage beasts of his native jungle. Again and again he touched +and tested the braided leather rope, and always he listened for any +warning sound from above.</p> + +<p>He was very careful not to step upon the trap at any time and when +finally he bore all his weight upon the rope and took his feet from the +floor he spread them wide apart so that if he fell he would fall astride +the trap. The rope held him. There was no sound from above, nor any from +the trap below.</p> + +<p>Slowly and cautiously he drew himself upward, hand over hand. Nearer and +nearer the roof he came. In a moment his eyes would be above the level +of the floor above. Already his extended arms projected into the upper +chamber and then something closed suddenly upon both his forearms, +pinioning them tightly and leaving him hanging in mid-air unable to +advance or retreat.</p> + +<p>Immediately a light appeared in the room above him and presently he saw +the hideous mask of a priest peering down upon him. In the priest's +hands were leathern thongs and these he tied about Tarzan's wrists and +forearms until they were completely bound together from his elbows +almost to his fingers. Behind this priest Tarzan presently saw others +and soon several lay hold of him and pulled him up through the hole.</p> + +<p>Almost instantly his eyes were above the level of the floor he +understood how they had trapped him. Two nooses had lain encircling the +aperture into the cell below. A priest had waited at the end of each of +these ropes and at opposite sides of the chamber. When he had climbed to +a sufficient height upon the rope that had dangled into his prison below +and his arms were well within the encircling snares the two priests had +pulled quickly upon their ropes and he had been made an easy captive +without any opportunity of defending himself or inflicting injury upon +his captors.</p> + +<p>And now they bound his legs from his ankles to his knees and picking him +up carried him from the chamber. No word did they speak to him as they +bore him upward to the temple yard.</p> + +<p>The din of battle had risen again as Ja-don had urged his forces to +renewed efforts. Ta-den had not arrived and the forces of the old +chieftain were revealing in their lessened efforts their increasing +demoralization, and then it was that the priests carried Tarzan-jad-guru +to the roof of the palace and exhibited him in the sight of the warriors +of both factions.</p> + +<p>"Here is the false Dor-ul-Otho," screamed Lu-don.</p> + +<p>Obergatz, his shattered mentality having never grasped fully the meaning +of much that was going on about him, cast a casual glance at the bound +and helpless prisoner, and as his eyes fell upon the noble features of +the ape-man, they went wide in astonishment and fright, and his pasty +countenance turned a sickly blue. Once before had he seen Tarzan of the +Apes, but many times had he dreamed that he had seen him and always was +the giant ape-man avenging the wrongs that had been committed upon him +and his by the ruthless hands of the three German officers who had led +their native troops in the ravishing of Tarzan's peaceful home. +Hauptmann Fritz Schneider had paid the penalty of his needless +cruelties; Unter-lieutenant von Goss, too, had paid; and now Obergatz, +the last of the three, stood face to face with the Nemesis that had +trailed him through his dreams for long, weary months. That he was bound +and helpless lessened not the German's terror—he seemed not to realize +that the man could not harm him. He but stood cringing and jibbering and +Lu-don saw and was filled with apprehension that others might see and +seeing realize that this bewhiskered idiot was no god—that of the two +Tarzan-jad-guru was the more godly figure. Already the high priest noted +that some of the palace warriors standing near were whispering together +and pointing. He stepped closer to Obergatz. "You are Jad-ben-Otho," he +whispered, "denounce him!"</p> + +<p>The German shook himself. His mind cleared of all but his great terror +and the words of the high priest gave him the clue to safety.</p> + +<p>"I am Jad-ben-Otho!" he screamed.</p> + +<p>Tarzan looked him straight in the eye. "You are Lieutenant Obergatz of +the German Army," he said in excellent German. "You are the last of the +three I have sought so long and in your putrid heart you know that God +has not brought us together at last for nothing."</p> + +<p>The mind of Lieutenant Obergatz was functioning clearly and rapidly at +last. He too saw the questioning looks upon the faces of some of those +around them. He saw the opposing warriors of both cities standing by the +gate inactive, every eye turned upon him, and the trussed figure of the +ape-man. He realized that indecision now meant ruin, and ruin, death. He +raised his voice in the sharp barking tones of a Prussian officer, so +unlike his former maniacal screaming as to quickly arouse the attention +of every ear and to cause an expression of puzzlement to cross the +crafty face of Lu-don.</p> + +<p>"I am Jad-ben-Otho," snapped Obergatz. "This creature is no son of mine. +As a lesson to all blasphemers he shall die upon the altar at the hand +of the god he has profaned. Take him from my sight, and when the sun +stands at zenith let the faithful congregate in the temple court and +witness the wrath of this divine hand," and he held aloft his right +palm.</p> + +<p>Those who had brought Tarzan took him away then as Obergatz had +directed, and the German turned once more to the warriors by the gate. +"Throw down your arms, warriors of Ja-don," he cried, "lest I call down +my lightnings to blast you where you stand. Those who do as I bid shall +be forgiven. Come! Throw down your arms."</p> + +<p>The warriors of Ja-don moved uneasily, casting looks of appeal at their +leader and of apprehension toward the figures upon the palace roof. +Ja-don sprang forward among his men. "Let the cowards and knaves throw +down their arms and enter the palace," he cried, "but never will Ja-don +and the warriors of Ja-lur touch their foreheads to the feet of Lu-don +and his false god. Make your decision now," he cried to his followers.</p> + +<p>A few threw down their arms and with sheepish looks passed through the +gateway into the palace, and with the example of these to bolster their +courage others joined in the desertion from the old chieftain of the +north, but staunch and true around him stood the majority of his +warriors and when the last weakling had left their ranks Ja-don voiced +the savage cry with which he led his followers to the attack, and once +again the battle raged about the palace gate.</p> + +<p>At times Ja-don's forces pushed the defenders far into the palace ground +and then the wave of combat would recede and pass out into the city +again. And still Ta-den and the reinforcements did not come. It was +drawing close to noon. Lu-don had mustered every available man that was +not actually needed for the defense of the gate within the temple, and +these he sent, under the leadership of Pan-sat, out into the city +through the secret passageway and there they fell upon Ja-don's forces +from the rear while those at the gate hammered them in front.</p> + +<p>Attacked on two sides by a vastly superior force the result was +inevitable and finally the last remnant of Ja-don's little army +capitulated and the old chief was taken a prisoner before Lu-don. "Take +him to the temple court," cried the high priest. "He shall witness the +death of his accomplice and perhaps Jad-ben-Otho shall pass a similar +sentence upon him as well."</p> + +<p>The inner temple court was packed with humanity. At either end of the +western altar stood Tarzan and his mate, bound and helpless. The sounds +of battle had ceased and presently the ape-man saw Ja-don being led into +the inner court, his wrists bound tightly together before him. Tarzan +turned his eyes toward Jane and nodded in the direction of Ja-don. "This +looks like the end," he said quietly. "He was our last and only hope."</p> + +<p>"We have at least found each other, John," she replied, "and our last +days have been spent together. My only prayer now is that if they take +you they do not leave me."</p> + +<p>Tarzan made no reply for in his heart was the same bitter thought that +her own contained—not the fear that they would kill him but the fear +that they would not kill her. The ape-man strained at his bonds but they +were too many and too strong. A priest near him saw and with a jeering +laugh struck the defenseless ape-man in the face.</p> + +<p>"The brute!" cried Jane Clayton.</p> + +<p>Tarzan smiled. "I have been struck thus before, Jane," he said, "and +always has the striker died."</p> + +<p>"You still have hope?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"I am still alive," he said as though that were sufficient answer. She +was a woman and she did not have the courage of this man who knew no +fear. In her heart of hearts she knew that he would die upon the altar +at high noon for he had told her, after he had been brought to the inner +court, of the sentence of death that Obergatz had pronounced upon him, +and she knew too that Tarzan knew that he would die, but that he was too +courageous to admit it even to himself.</p> + +<p>As she looked upon him standing there so straight and wonderful and +brave among his savage captors her heart cried out against the cruelty +of the fate that had overtaken him. It seemed a gross and hideous wrong +that that wonderful creature, now so quick with exuberant life and +strength and purpose should be presently naught but a bleeding lump of +clay—and all so uselessly and wantonly. Gladly would she have offered +her life for his but she knew that it was a waste of words since their +captors would work upon them whatever it was their will to do—for him, +death; for her—she shuddered at the thought.</p> + +<p>And now came Lu-don and the naked Obergatz, and the high priest led the +German to his place behind the altar, himself standing upon the other's +left. Lu-don whispered a word to Obergatz, at the same time nodding in +the direction of Ja-don. The Hun cast a scowling look upon the old +warrior.</p> + +<p>"And after the false god," he cried, "the false prophet," and he pointed +an accusing finger at Ja-don. Then his eyes wandered to the form of Jane +Clayton.</p> + +<p>"And the woman, too?" asked Lu-don.</p> + +<p>"The case of the woman I will attend to later," replied Obergatz. "I +will talk with her tonight after she has had a chance to meditate upon +the consequences of arousing the wrath of Jad-ben-Otho."</p> + +<p>He cast his eyes upward at the sun. "The time approaches," he said to +Lu-don. "Prepare the sacrifice."</p> + +<p>Lu-don nodded to the priests who were gathered about Tarzan. They seized +the ape-man and lifted him bodily to the altar where they laid him upon +his back with his head at the south end of the monolith, but a few feet +from where Jane Clayton stood. Impulsively and before they could +restrain her the woman rushed forward and bending quickly kissed her +mate upon the forehead. "Good-bye, John," she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," he answered, smiling.</p> + +<p>The priests seized her and dragged her away. Lu-don handed the +sacrificial knife to Obergatz. "I am the Great God," cried the German, +"thus falleth the divine wrath upon all my enemies!" He looked up at the +sun and then raised the knife high above his head.</p> + +<p>"Thus die the blasphemers of God!" he screamed, and at the same instant +a sharp staccato note rang out above the silent, spell-bound multitude. +There was a screaming whistle in the air and Jad-ben-Otho crumpled +forward across the body of his intended victim. Again the same alarming +noise and Lu-don fell, a third and Mo-sar crumpled to the ground. And +now the warriors and the people, locating the direction of this new and +unknown sound turned toward the western end of the court.</p> + +<p>Upon the summit of the temple wall they saw two figures—a Ho-don +warrior and beside him an almost naked creature of the race of +Tarzan-jad-guru, across his shoulders and about his hips were strange +broad belts studded with beautiful cylinders that glinted in the mid-day +sun, and in his hands a shining thing of wood and metal from the end of +which rose a thin wreath of blue-gray smoke.</p> + +<p>And then the voice of the Ho-don warrior rang clear upon the ears of the +silent throng. "Thus speaks the true Jad-ben-Otho," he cried, "through +this his Messenger of Death. Cut the bonds of the prisoners. Cut the +bonds of the Dor-ul-Otho and of Ja-don, King of Pal-ul-don, and of the +woman who is the mate of the son of god."</p> + +<p>Pan-sat, filled with the frenzy of fanaticism saw the power and the +glory of the regime he had served crumpled and gone. To one and only one +did he attribute the blame for the disaster that had but just +overwhelmed him. It was the creature who lay upon the sacrificial altar +who had brought Lu-don to his death and toppled the dreams of power that +day by day had been growing in the brain of the under priest.</p> + +<p>The sacrificial knife lay upon the altar where it had fallen from the +dead fingers of Obergatz. Pan-sat crept closer and then with a sudden +lunge he reached forth to seize the handle of the blade, and even as his +clutching fingers were poised above it, the strange thing in the hands +of the strange creature upon the temple wall cried out its crashing word +of doom and Pan-sat the under priest, screaming, fell back upon the dead +body of his master.</p> + +<p>"Seize all the priests," cried Ta-den to the warriors, "and let none +hesitate lest Jad-ben-Otho's messenger send forth still other bolts of +lightning."</p> + +<p>The warriors and the people had now witnessed such an exhibition of +divine power as might have convinced an even less superstitious and more +enlightened people, and since many of them had but lately wavered +between the Jad-ben-Otho of Lu-don and the Dor-ul-Otho of Ja-don it was +not difficult for them to swing quickly back to the latter, especially +in view of the unanswerable argument in the hands of him whom Ta-den had +described as the Messenger of the Great God.</p> + +<p>And so the warriors sprang forward now with alacrity and surrounded the +priests, and when they looked again at the western wall of the temple +court they saw pouring over it a great force of warriors. And the thing +that startled and appalled them was the fact that many of these were +black and hairy Waz-don.</p> + +<p>At their head came the stranger with the shiny weapon and on his right +was Ta-den, the Ho-don, and on his left Om-at, the black gund of +Kor-ul-ja.</p> + +<p>A warrior near the altar had seized the sacrificial knife and cut +Tarzan's bonds and also those of Ja-don and Jane Clayton, and now the +three stood together beside the altar and as the newcomers from the +western end of the temple court pushed their way toward them the eyes of +the woman went wide in mingled astonishment, incredulity, and hope. And +the stranger, slinging his weapon across his back by a leather strap, +rushed forward and took her in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Jack!" she cried, sobbing on his shoulder. "Jack, my son!"</p> + +<p>And Tarzan of the Apes came then and put his arms around them both, and +the King of Pal-ul-don and the warriors and the people kneeled in the +temple court and placed their foreheads to the ground before the altar +where the three stood.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Home" id="Home" />25 - Home</h2> + + +<p>Within an hour of the fall of Lu-don and Mo-sar, the chiefs and +principal warriors of Pal-ul-don gathered in the great throneroom of the +palace at A-lur upon the steps of the lofty pyramid and placing Ja-don +at the apex proclaimed him king. Upon one side of the old chieftain +stood Tarzan of the Apes, and upon the other Korak, the Killer, worthy +son of the mighty ape-man.</p> + +<p>And when the brief ceremony was over and the warriors with upraised +clubs had sworn fealty to their new ruler, Ja-don dispatched a trusted +company to fetch O-lo-a and Pan-at-lee and the women of his own +household from Ja-lur.</p> + +<p>And then the warriors discussed the future of Pal-ul-don and the +question arose as to the administration of the temples and the fate of +the priests, who practically without exception had been disloyal to the +government of the king, seeking always only their own power and comfort +and aggrandizement. And then it was that Ja-don turned to Tarzan. "Let +the Dor-ul-Otho transmit to his people the wishes of his father," he +said.</p> + +<p>"Your problem is a simple one," said the ape-man, "if you but wish to do +that which shall be pleasing in the eyes of God. Your priests, to +increase their power, have taught you that Jad-ben-Otho is a cruel god, +that his eyes love to dwell upon blood and upon suffering. But the +falsity of their teachings has been demonstrated to you today in the +utter defeat of the priesthood.</p> + +<p>"Take then the temples from the men and give them instead to the women +that they may be administered in kindness and charity and love. Wash the +blood from your eastern altar and drain forever the water from the +western.</p> + +<p>"Once I gave Lu-don the opportunity to do these things but he ignored my +commands, and again is the corridor of sacrifice filled with its +victims. Liberate these from every temple in Pal-ul-don. Bring offerings +of such gifts as your people like and place them upon the altars of your +god. And there he will bless them and the priestesses of Jad-ben-Otho +can distribute them among those who need them most."</p> + +<p>As he ceased speaking a murmur of evident approval ran through the +throng. Long had they been weary of the avarice and cruelty of the +priests and now that authority had come from a high source with a +feasible plan for ridding themselves of the old religious order without +necessitating any change in the faith of the people they welcomed it.</p> + +<p>"And the priests," cried one. "We shall put them to death upon their own +altars if it pleases the Dor-ul-Otho to give the word."</p> + +<p>"No," cried Tarzan. "Let no more blood be spilled. Give them their +freedom and the right to take up such occupations as they choose."</p> + +<p>That night a great feast was spread in the pal-e-don-so and for the +first time in the history of ancient Pal-ul-don black warriors sat in +peace and friendship with white. And a pact was sealed between Ja-don +and Om-at that would ever make his tribe and the Ho-don allies and +friends.</p> + +<p>It was here that Tarzan learned the cause of Ta-den's failure to attack +at the stipulated time. A messenger had come from Ja-don carrying +instructions to delay the attack until noon, nor had they discovered +until almost too late that the messenger was a disguised priest of +Lu-don. And they had put him to death and scaled the walls and come to +the inner temple court with not a moment to spare.</p> + +<p>The following day O-lo-a and Pan-at-lee and the women of Ja-don's family +arrived at the palace at A-lur and in the great throneroom Ta-den and +O-lo-a were wed, and Om-at and Pan-at-lee.</p> + +<p>For a week Tarzan and Jane and Korak remained the guests of Ja-don, as +did Om-at and his black warriors. And then the ape-man announced that he +would depart from Pal-ul-don. Hazy in the minds of their hosts was the +location of heaven and equally so the means by which the gods traveled +between their celestial homes and the haunts of men and so no +questionings arose when it was found that the Dor-ul-Otho with his mate +and son would travel overland across the mountains and out of Pal-ul-don +toward the north.</p> + +<p>They went by way of the Kor-ul-ja accompanied by the warriors of that +tribe and a great contingent of Ho-don warriors under Ta-den. The king +and many warriors and a multitude of people accompanied them beyond the +limits of A-lur and after they had bid them good-bye and Tarzan had +invoked the blessings of God upon them the three Europeans saw their +simple, loyal friends prostrate in the dust behind them until the +cavalcade had wound out of the city and disappeared among the trees of +the nearby forest.</p> + +<p>They rested for a day among the Kor-ul-ja while Jane investigated the +ancient caves of these strange people and then they moved on, avoiding +the rugged shoulder of Pastar-ul-ved and winding down the opposite slope +toward the great morass. They moved in comfort and in safety, surrounded +by their escort of Ho-don and Waz-don.</p> + +<p>In the minds of many there was doubtless a question as to how the three +would cross the great morass but least of all was Tarzan worried by the +problem. In the course of his life he had been confronted by many +obstacles only to learn that he who will may always pass. In his mind +lurked an easy solution of the passage but it was one which depended +wholly upon chance.</p> + +<p>It was the morning of the last day that, as they were breaking camp to +take up the march, a deep bellow thundered from a nearby grove. The +ape-man smiled. The chance had come. Fittingly then would the +Dor-ul-Otho and his mate and their son depart from unmapped Pal-ul-don.</p> + +<p>He still carried the spear that Jane had made, which he had prized so +highly because it was her handiwork that he had caused a search to be +made for it through the temple in A-lur after his release, and it had +been found and brought to him. He had told her laughingly that it should +have the place of honor above their hearth as the ancient flintlock of +her Puritan grandsire had held a similar place of honor above the +fireplace of Professor Porter, her father.</p> + +<p>At the sound of the bellowing the Ho-don warriors, some of whom had +accompanied Tarzan from Ja-don's camp to Ja-lur, looked questioningly at +the ape-man while Om-at's Waz-don looked for trees, since the gryf was +the one creature of Pal-ul-don which might not be safely encountered +even by a great multitude of warriors. Its tough, armored hide was +impregnable to their knife thrusts while their thrown clubs rattled from +it as futilely as if hurled at the rocky shoulder of Pastar-ul-ved.</p> + +<p>"Wait," said the ape-man, and with his spear in hand he advanced toward +the gryf, voicing the weird cry of the Tor-o-don. The bellowing ceased +and turned to low rumblings and presently the huge beast appeared. What +followed was but a repetition of the ape-man's previous experience with +these huge and ferocious creatures.</p> + +<p>And so it was that Jane and Korak and Tarzan rode through the morass +that hems Pa-ul-don, upon the back of a prehistoric triceratops while +the lesser reptiles of the swamp fled hissing in terror. Upon the +opposite shore they turned and called back their farewells to Ta-den and +Om-at and the brave warriors they had learned to admire and respect. And +then Tarzan urged their titanic mount onward toward the north, +abandoning him only when he was assured that the Waz-don and the Ho-don +had had time to reach a point of comparative safety among the craggy +ravines of the foothills.</p> + +<p>Turning the beast's head again toward Pal-ul-don the three dismounted +and a sharp blow upon the thick hide sent the creature lumbering +majestically back in the direction of its native haunts. For a time they +stood looking back upon the land they had just quit—the land of +Tor-o-don and gryf; of ja and jato; of Waz-don and Ho-don; a primitive +land of terror and sudden death and peace and beauty; a land that they +all had learned to love.</p> + +<p>And then they turned once more toward the north and with light hearts +and brave hearts took up their long journey toward the land that is best +of all—home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="Glossary" id="Glossary" />Glossary</h2> + + +<p>From conversations with Lord Greystoke and from his notes, there have +been gleaned a number of interesting items relative to the language and +customs of the inhabitants of Pal-ul-don that are not brought out in the +story. For the benefit of those who may care to delve into the +derivation of the proper names used in the text, and thus obtain some +slight insight into the language of the race, there is appended an +incomplete glossary taken from some of Lord Greystoke's notes.</p> + +<p>A point of particular interest hinges upon the fact that the names of +all male hairless pithecanthropi begin with a consonant, have an even +number of syllables, and end with a consonant, while the names of the +females of the same species begin with a vowel, have an odd number of +syllables, and end with a vowel. On the contrary, the names of the male +hairy black pithecanthropi while having an even number of syllables +begin with a vowel and end with a consonant; while the females of this +species have an odd number of syllables in their names which begin +always with a consonant and end with a vowel.</p> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align='left'>A.</td><td align='left'>Light.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>ab.</td><td align='left'>Boy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ab-on.</td><td align='left'>Acting gund of Kor-ul-ja.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ad.</td><td align='left'>Three.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Adad.</td><td align='left'>Six.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Adadad.</td><td align='left'>Nine.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Adaden.</td><td align='left'>Seven.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Aden.</td><td align='left'>Four.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Adenaden.</td><td align='left'>Eight.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Adenen.</td><td align='left'>Five.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>A-lur.</td><td align='left'>City of light.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An.</td><td align='left'>Spear.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>An-un.</td><td align='left'>Father of Pan-at-lee.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>As.</td><td align='left'>The sun.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>At.</td><td align='left'>Tail.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bal.</td><td align='left'>Gold or golden.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bar.</td><td align='left'>Battle.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ben.</td><td align='left'>Great.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bu.</td><td align='left'>Moon.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bu-lot (moon face).</td><td align='left'>Son of chief Mo-sar.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Bu-lur (moon city).</td><td align='left'>The city of the Waz-ho-don.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dak.</td><td align='left'>Fat.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dak-at (fat tail).</td><td align='left'>Chief of a Ho-don village.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dak-lot.</td><td align='left'>One of Ko-tan's palace warriors.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dan.</td><td align='left'>Rock.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Den.</td><td align='left'>Tree.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Don.</td><td align='left'>Man.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dor.</td><td align='left'>Son.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Dor-ul-Otho</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>(son of god).</td><td align='left'>Tarzan.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>E.</td><td align='left'>Where.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ed.</td><td align='left'>Seventy.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>El.</td><td align='left'>Grace or graceful.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>En.</td><td align='left'>One.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Enen.</td><td align='left'>Two.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Es.</td><td align='left'>Rough.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Es-sat (rough skin).</td><td align='left'>Chief of Om-at's tribe of hairy blacks.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Et.</td><td align='left'>Eighty.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Fur.</td><td align='left'>Thirty.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ged.</td><td align='left'>Forty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Go.</td><td align='left'>Clear.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gryf.</td><td align='left'>"Triceratops. A genus of huge</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>herbivorous dinosaurs of the group</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Ceratopsia. The skull had two large</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>horns above the eyes, a median</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>horn on the nose, a horny beak, and a</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>great bony hood or transverse crest over</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>the neck. Their toes, five in front and</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>three behind, were provided with hoofs,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>and the tail was large and strong."</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Webster's Dict. The gryf of Pal-ul-don</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>is similar except that it is</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>omnivorous, has strong, powerfully</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>armed jaws and talons instead of hoofs.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>Coloration: face yellow with blue bands</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>encircling the eyes; hood red on top,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>yellow underneath; belly yellow; body a</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>dirty slate blue; legs same. Bony</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>protuberances yellow except along the</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>spine--these are red. Tail conforms with</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>body and belly. Horns, ivory.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Gund.</td><td align='left'>Chief.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Guru.</td><td align='left'>Terrible.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Het.</td><td align='left'>Fifty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ho.</td><td align='left'>White.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ho-don.</td><td align='left'>The hairless white men of Pal-ul-don.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Id.</td><td align='left'>Silver.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Id-an.</td><td align='left'>One of Pan-at-lee's two brothers.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In.</td><td align='left'>Dark.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In-sad.</td><td align='left'>Kor-ul-ja warrior accompanying Tarzan, Om-at,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>and Ta-den in search of Pan-at-lee.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>In-tan.</td><td align='left'>Kor-ul-lul left to guard Tarzan.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ja.</td><td align='left'>Lion.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad.</td><td align='left'>The</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad-bal-lul.</td><td align='left'>The golden lake.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad-ben-lul.</td><td align='left'>The big lake.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad-ben-Otho.</td><td align='left'>The Great God.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad-guru-don.</td><td align='left'>The terrible man.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad-in-lul.</td><td align='left'>The dark lake.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ja-don (the lion-man).</td><td align='left'>Chief of a Ho-don village and father of Ta-den.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad Pele ul</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jad-ben-Otho.</td><td align='left'>The valley of the Great God.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ja-lur (lion city).</td><td align='left'>Ja-don's capital.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jar.</td><td align='left'>Strange.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jar-don.</td><td align='left'>Name given Korak by Om-at.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Jato.</td><td align='left'>Saber-tooth hybrid.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ko.</td><td align='left'>Mighty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kor.</td><td align='left'>Gorge.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kor-ul-gryf.</td><td align='left'>Gorge of the gryf.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kor-ul-ja.</td><td align='left'>Name of Es-sat's gorge and tribe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Kor-ul-lul.</td><td align='left'>Name of another Waz-don gorge and tribe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ko-tan.</td><td align='left'>King of the Ho-don.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lav.</td><td align='left'>Run or running.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lee.</td><td align='left'>Doe.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lo.</td><td align='left'>Star.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lot.</td><td align='left'>Face.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lu.</td><td align='left'>Fierce.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lu-don (fierce man).</td><td align='left'>High priest of A-lur.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lul.</td><td align='left'>Water.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Lur.</td><td align='left'>City.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ma.</td><td align='left'>Child.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mo.</td><td align='left'>Short.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mo-sar (short nose).</td><td align='left'>Chief and pretender.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Mu.</td><td align='left'>Strong.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>No.</td><td align='left'>Brook.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>O.</td><td align='left'>Like or similar.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Od.</td><td align='left'>Ninety.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>O-dan.</td><td align='left'>Kor-ul-ja warrior accompanying Tarzan, Om-at,</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'></td><td align='left'>and Ta-den in search of Pan-at-lee.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Og.</td><td align='left'>Sixty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>O-lo-a</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>(like-star-light).</td><td align='left'>Ko-tan's daughter</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Om.</td><td align='left'>Long.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Om-at (long tail).</td><td align='left'>A black.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>On.</td><td align='left'>Ten.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Otho.</td><td align='left'>God.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pal.</td><td align='left'>Place; land; country.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pal-e-don-so</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>(place where men eat).</td><td align='left'>Banquet hall.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pal-ul-don</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>(land of man).</td><td align='left'>Name of the country.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pal-ul-ja.</td><td align='left'>Place of lions.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pan.</td><td align='left'>Soft.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pan-at-lee.</td><td align='left'>Om-at's sweetheart.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pan-sat (soft skin).</td><td align='left'>A priest.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pastar.</td><td align='left'>Father.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pastar-ul-ved.</td><td align='left'>Father of Mountains.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Pele.</td><td align='left'>Valley.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ro.</td><td align='left'>Flower.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sad.</td><td align='left'>Forest.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>San.</td><td align='left'>One hundred</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sar.</td><td align='left'>Nose.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sat.</td><td align='left'>Skin.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>So.</td><td align='left'>Eat.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sod.</td><td align='left'>Eaten.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Sog.</td><td align='left'>Eating.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Son.</td><td align='left'>Ate.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ta.</td><td align='left'>Tall.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ta-den (tall tree).</td><td align='left'>A white.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tan.</td><td align='left'>Warrior.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tarzan-jad-guru.</td><td align='left'>Tarzan the Terrible.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>To.</td><td align='left'>Purple.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ton.</td><td align='left'>Twenty.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tor.</td><td align='left'>Beast.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tor-o-don.</td><td align='left'>Beastlike man.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tu.</td><td align='left'>Bright.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Tu-lur (bright city).</td><td align='left'>Mo-sar's city.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ul.</td><td align='left'>Of.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Un.</td><td align='left'>Eye.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ut.</td><td align='left'>Corn.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Ved.</td><td align='left'>Mountain</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Waz.</td><td align='left'>Black.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Waz-don.</td><td align='left'>The hairy black men of Pal-ul-don.</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Waz-ho-don</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>(black white men).</td><td align='left'>A mixed race.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Xot.</td><td align='left'>One thousand.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Yo.</td><td align='left'>Friend.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'>Za.</td><td align='left'>Girl.</td></tr></table> + + + + +<pre>End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tarzan the Terrible by Edgar Rice +Burroughs</pre> + + +</body> +</html> |