ThefabulouswealthofthefabledcityhadbeenalmostconstantlyinhismindsinceWazirihadrecountedthestrangeadventuresoftheformerexpeditionwhichhadstumbleduponthevastruinsbychance。ThelureofadventuremayhavebeenquiteaspowerfulafactorinurgingTarzanoftheApestoundertakethejourneyasthelureofgold，butthelureofgoldwasthere，too，forhehadlearnedamongcivilizedmensomethingofthemiraclesthatmaybewroughtbythepossessorofthemagicyellowmetal。WhathewoulddowithagoldenfortuneintheheartofsavageAfricaithadnotoccurredtohimtoconsider——itwouldbeenoughtopossessthepowertoworkwonders，eventhoughheneverhadanopportunitytoemployit。
SooneglorioustropicalmorningWaziri，chiefoftheWaziri，setoutattheheadoffiftyclean—limbedebonwarriorsinquestofadventureandofriches。TheyfollowedthecoursewhicholdWazirihaddescribedtoTarzan。Fordaystheymarched——uponeriver，acrossalowdivide;downanotherriver;upathird，untilattheendofthetwenty—fifthdaytheycampeduponamountainside，fromthesummitofwhichtheyhopedtocatchtheirfirstviewofthemarvelouscityoftreasure。
Earlythenextmorningtheywereclimbingthealmostperpendicularcragswhichformedthelast，butgreatest，naturalbarrierbetweenthemandtheirdestination。
ItwasnearlynoonbeforeTarzan，whoheadedthethinlineofclimbingwarriors，scrambledoverthetopofthelastcliffandstooduponthelittleflattable—landofthemountaintop。
Oneitherhandtoweredmightypeaksthousandsoffeethigherthanthepassthroughwhichtheywereenteringtheforbiddenvalley。Behindhimstretchedthewoodedvalleyacrosswhichtheyhadmarchedformanydays，andattheoppositesidethelowrangewhichmarkedtheboundaryoftheirowncountry。
Butbeforehimwastheviewthatcenteredhisattention。
Herelayadesolatevalley——ashallow，narrowvalleydottedwithstuntedtreesandcoveredwithmanygreatbowlders。
Andonthefarsideofthevalleylaywhatappearedtobeamightycity，itsgreatwalls，itsloftyspires，itsturrets，minarets，anddomesshowingredandyellowinthesunlight。
Tarzanwasyettoofarawaytonotethemarksofruin——tohimitappearedawonderfulcityofmagnificentbeauty，andinimaginationhepeopleditsbroadavenuesanditshugetempleswithathrongofhappy，activepeople。
Foranhourthelittleexpeditionresteduponthemountain—
top，andthenTarzanledthemdownintothevalleybelow。
Therewasnotrail，butthewaywaslessarduousthantheascentoftheoppositefaceofthemountainhadbeen。
Onceinthevalleytheirprogresswasrapid，sothatitwasstilllightwhentheyhaltedbeforethetoweringwallsoftheancientcity。
Theouterwallwasfiftyfeetinheightwhereithadnotfallenintoruin，butnowhereasfarastheycouldseehadmorethantenortwentyfeetoftheuppercoursesfallenaway。
Itwasstillaformidabledefense。OnseveraloccasionsTarzanhadthoughtthathediscernedthingsmovingbehindtheruinedportionsofthewallneartothem，asthoughcreatureswerewatchingthemfrombehindthebulwarksoftheancientpile。Andoftenhefeltthesensationofunseeneyesuponhim，butnotoncecouldhebesurethatitwasmorethanimagination。
Thatnighttheycampedoutsidethecity。Once，atmidnight，theywereawakenedbyashrillscreamfrombeyondthegreatwall。
Itwasveryhighatfirst，descendinggraduallyuntilitendedinaseriesofdismalmoans。Ithadastrangeeffectupontheblacks，almostparalyzingthemwithterrorwhileitlasted，anditwasanhourbeforethecampsettleddowntosleeponcemore。Inthemorningtheeffectsofitwerestillvisibleinthefearful，sidelongglancesthattheWaziricontinuallycastatthemassiveandforbiddingstructurewhichloomedabovethem。
ItrequiredconsiderableencouragementandurgingonTarzan’sparttopreventtheblacksfromabandoningtheventureonthespotandhasteningbackacrossthevalleytowardthecliffstheyhadscaledthedaybefore。Butatlength，bydintofcommands，andthreatsthathewouldenterthecityalone，theyagreedtoaccompanyhim。
Forfifteenminutestheymarchedalongthefaceofthewallbeforetheydiscoveredameansofingress。Thentheycametoanarrowcleftabouttwentyincheswide。Within，aflightofconcretesteps，wornhollowbycenturiesofuse，rosebeforethem，todisappearatasharpturningofthepassageafewyardsahead。
IntothisnarrowalleyTarzanmadehisway，turninghisgiantshoulderssidewaysthattheymightenteratall。
Behindhimtrailedhisblackwarriors。Attheturninthecleftthestairsended，andthepathwaslevel;butitwoundandtwistedinaserpentinefashion，untilsuddenlyatasharpangleitdeboucheduponanarrowcourt，acrosswhichloomedaninnerwallequallyashighastheouter。Thisinnerwallwassetwithlittleroundtowersalternatingalongitsentiresummitwithpointedmonoliths。Inplacesthesehadfallen，andthewallwasruined，butitwasinamuchbetterstateofpreservationthantheouterwall。
Anothernarrowpassageledthroughthiswall，andatitsendTarzanandhiswarriorsfoundthemselvesinabroadavenue，ontheoppositesideofwhichcrumblingedificesofhewngraniteloomeddarkandforbidding。Uponthecrumblingdebrisalongthefaceofthebuildingstreeshadgrown，andvineswoundinandoutofthehollow，staringwindows;butthebuildingdirectlyoppositethemseemedlessovergrownthantheothers，andinamuchbetterstateofpreservation。Itwasamassivepile，surmountedbyanenormousdome。Ateithersideofitsgreatentrancestoodrowsoftallpillars，eachcappedbyahuge，grotesquebirdcarvedfromthesolidrockofthemonoliths。
Astheape—manandhiscompanionsstoodgazinginvaryingdegreesofwondermentatthisancientcityinthemidstofsavageAfrica，severalofthembecameawareofmovementwithinthestructureatwhichtheywerelooking。
Dim，shadowyshapesappearedtobemovingaboutinthesemi—darknessoftheinterior。Therewasnothingtangiblethattheeyecouldgrasp——onlyanuncannysuggestionoflifewhereitseemedthatthereshouldbenolife，forlivingthingsseemedoutofplaceinthisweird，deadcityofthelong—deadpast。
TarzanrecalledsomethingthathehadreadinthelibraryatParisofalostraceofwhitementhatnativelegenddescribedaslivingintheheartofAfrica。Hewonderedifhewerenotlookingupontheruinsofthecivilizationthatthisstrangepeoplehadwroughtamidthesavagesurroundingsoftheirstrangeandsavagehome。Coulditbepossiblethatevennowaremnantofthatlostraceinhabitedtheruinedgrandeurthathadoncebeentheirprogenitor？Againhebecameconsciousofastealthymovementwithinthegreattemplebeforehim。
\"Come！\"hesaid，tohisWaziri。\"Letushavealookatwhatliesbehindthoseruinedwalls。\"
Hismenwereloathtofollowhim，butwhentheysawthathewasbravelyenteringthefrowningportaltheytrailedafewpacesbehindinahuddledgroupthatseemedthepersonificationofnervousterror。Asingleshrieksuchastheyhadheardthenightbeforewouldhavebeensufficienttohavesentthemallracingmadlyforthenarrowcleftthatledthroughthegreatwallstotheouterworld。
AsTarzanenteredthebuildinghewasdistinctlyawareofmanyeyesuponhim。Therewasarustlingintheshadowsofanear—bycorridor，andhecouldhaveswornthathesawahumanhandwithdrawnfromanembrasurethatopenedabovehimintothedomelikerotundainwhichhefoundhimself。
Thefloorofthechamberwasofconcrete，thewallsofsmoothgranite，uponwhichstrangefiguresofmenandbeastswerecarved。Inplacestabletsofyellowmetalhadbeensetinthesolidmasonryofthewalls。
Whenheapproachedclosertooneofthesetabletshesawthatitwasofgold，andboremanyhieroglyphics。Beyondthisfirstchambertherewereothers，andbackofthemthebuildingbranchedoutintoenormouswings。Tarzanpassedthroughseveralofthesechambers，findingmanyevidencesofthefabulouswealthoftheoriginalbuilders。Inoneroomweresevenpillarsofsolidgold，andinanothertheflooritselfwasofthepreciousmetal。Andallthewhilethatheexplored，hisblackshuddledclosetogetherathisback，andstrangeshapeshovereduponeitherhandandbeforethemandbehind，yetnevercloseenoughthatanymightsaythattheywerenotalone。
Thestrain，however，wastellinguponthenervesoftheWaziri。
TheybeggedTarzantoreturntothesunlight。Theysaidthatnogoodcouldcomeofsuchanexpedition，fortheruinswerehauntedbythespiritsofthedeadwhohadonceinhabitedthem。
\"Theyarewatchingus，Oking，\"whisperedBusuli。\"Theyarewaitinguntiltheyhaveledusintotheinnermostrecessesoftheirstronghold，andthentheywillfalluponusandtearustopieceswiththeirteeth。Thatisthewaywithspirits。
Mymother’suncle，whoisagreatwitchdoctor，hastoldmeallaboutitmanytimes。\"
Tarzanlaughed。\"Runbackintothesunlight，mychildren，\"
hesaid。\"IwilljoinyouwhenIhavesearchedthisoldruinfromtoptobottom，andfoundthegold，orfoundthatthereisnone。Atleastwemaytakethetabletsfromthewalls，thoughthepillarsaretooheavyforustohandle;butthereshouldbegreatstoreroomsfilledwithgold——goldthatwecancarryawayuponourbackswithease。Runonnow，outintothefreshairwhereyoumaybreatheeasier。\"
Someofthewarriorsstartedtoobeytheirchiefwithalacrity，butBusuliandseveralothershesitatedtoleavehim——hesitatedbetweenloveandloyaltyfortheirking，andsuperstitiousfearoftheunknown。Andthen，quiteunexpectedly，thatoccurredwhichdecidedthequestionwithoutthenecessityforfurtherdiscussion。
Outofthesilenceoftheruinedtemplethererang，closetotheirears，thesamehideousshriektheyhadheardthepreviousnight，andwithhorrifiedcriestheblackwarriorsturnedandfledthroughtheemptyhallsoftheage—oldedifice。
BehindthemstoodTarzanoftheApeswheretheyhadlefthim，agrimsmileuponhislips——waitingfortheenemyhefullyexpectedwasabouttopounceuponhim。Butagainsilencereigned，exceptforthefaintsuggestionofthesoundofnakedfeetmovingstealthilyinnear—byplaces。
ThenTarzanwheeledandpassedonintothedepthsofthetemple。
Fromroomtoroomhewent，untilhecametooneatwhicharude，barreddoorstillstood，andasheputhisshoulderagainstittopushitin，againtheshriekofwarningrangoutalmostbesidehim。Itwasevidentthathewasbeingwarnedtorefrainfromdesecratingthisparticularroom。
Orcoulditbethatwithinlaythesecrettothetreasurestores？
Atanyrate，theveryfactthatthestrange，invisibleguardiansofthisweirdplacehadsomereasonforwishinghimnottoenterthisparticularchamberwassufficienttotrebleTarzan’sdesiretodoso，andthoughtheshriekingwasrepeatedcontinuously，hekepthisshouldertothedooruntilitgavebeforehisgiantstrengthtoswingopenuponcreakingwoodenhinges。
Withinallwasblackasthetomb。Therewasnowindowtoletinthefaintestrayoflight，andasthecorridoruponwhichitopenedwasitselfinsemi—darkness，eventheopendoorshednorelievingrayswithin。Feelingbeforehimuponthefloorwiththebuttofhisspear，TarzanenteredtheStygiangloom。
Suddenlythedoorbehindhimclosed，andatthesametimehandsclutchedhimfromeverydirectionoutofthedarkness。
Theape—manfoughtwithallthesavagefuryofself—
preservationbackedbytheherculeanstrengththatwashis。
Butthoughhefelthisblowsland，andhisteethsinkintosoftflesh，thereseemedalwaystwonewhandstotaketheplaceofthosethathefoughtoff。Atlasttheydraggedhimdown，andslowly，veryslowly，theyovercamehimbythemereweightoftheirnumbers。Andthentheyboundhim——hishandsbehindhisbackandhisfeettrusseduptomeetthem。
Hehadheardnosoundexcepttheheavybreathingofhisantagonists，andthenoiseofthebattle。Heknewnotwhatmannerofcreatureshadcapturedhim，butthattheywerehumanseemedevidentfromthefactthattheyhadboundhim。
Presentlytheyliftedhimfromthefloor，andhalfdragging，halfpushinghim，theybroughthimoutoftheblackchamberthroughanotherdoorwayintoaninnercourtyardofthetemple。Herehesawhiscaptors。Theremusthavebeenahundredofthem——short，stockymen，withgreatbeardsthatcoveredtheirfacesandfellupontheirhairybreasts。
Thethick，mattedhairupontheirheadsgrewlowovertheirrecedingbrows，andhungabouttheirshouldersandtheirbacks。Theircrookedlegswereshortandheavy，theirarmslongandmuscular。Abouttheirloinstheyworetheskinsofleopardsandlions，andgreatnecklacesoftheclawsofthesesameanimalsdependedupontheirbreasts。
Massivecircletsofvirgingoldadornedtheirarmsandlegs。
Forweaponstheycarriedheavy，knottedbludgeons，andinthebeltsthatconfinedtheirsinglegarmentseachhadalong，wicked—lookingknife。
Butthefeatureofthemthatmadethemoststartlingimpressionupontheirprisonerwastheirwhiteskins——neitherincolornorfeaturewasthereatraceofthenegroidaboutthem。
Yet，withtheirrecedingforeheads，wickedlittleclose—seteyes，andyellowfangs，theywerefarfromprepossessinginappearance。
Duringthefightwithinthedarkchamber，andwhiletheyhadbeendraggingTarzantotheinnercourt，nowordhadbeenspoken，butnowseveralofthemexchangedgrunting，monosyllabicconversationinalanguageunfamiliartotheape—man，andpresentlytheylefthimlyingupontheconcretefloorwhiletheytroopedoffontheirshortlegsintoanotherpartofthetemplebeyondthecourt。
AsTarzanlaythereuponhisbackhesawthatthetempleentirelysurroundedthelittleinclosure，andthatonallsidesitsloftywallsrosehighabovehim。Atthetopalittlepatchofblueskywasvisible，and，inonedirection，throughanembrasure，hecouldseefoliage，butwhetheritwasbeyondorwithinthetemplehedidnotknow。
Aboutthecourt，fromthegroundtothetopofthetemple，wereseriesofopengalleries，andnowandthenthecaptivecaughtglimpsesofbrighteyesgleamingfrombeneathmassesoftumblinghair，peeringdownuponhimfromabove。
Theape—mangentlytestedthestrengthofthebondsthatheldhim，andwhilehecouldnotbesureitseemedthattheywereofinsufficientstrengthtowithstandthestrainofhismightymuscleswhenthetimecametomakeabreakforfreedom;buthedidnotdaretoputthemtothecrucialtestuntildarknesshadfallen，orhefeltthatnospyingeyeswereuponhim。
Hehadlainwithinthecourtforseveralhoursbeforethefirstraysofsunlightpenetratedtheverticalshaft;
almostsimultaneouslyheheardthepatteringofbarefeetinthecorridorsabouthim，andamomentlatersawthegalleriesabovefillwithcraftyfacesasascoreormoreenteredthecourtyard。
Foramomenteveryeyewasbentuponthenoondaysun，andtheninunisonthepeopleinthegalleriesandthoseinthecourtbelowtookuptherefrainofalow，weirdchant。
PresentlythoseaboutTarzanbegantodancetothecadenceoftheirsolemnsong。Theycircledhimslowly，resemblingintheirmannerofdancinganumberofclumsy，shufflingbears;
butasyettheydidnotlookathim，keepingtheirlittleeyesfixeduponthesun。
Fortenminutesormoretheykeptuptheirmonotonouschantandsteps，andthensuddenly，andinperfectunison，theyturnedtowardtheirvictimwithupraisedbludgeonsandemittingfearfulhowls，thewhiletheycontortedtheirfeaturesintothemostdiabolicalexpressions，theyrusheduponhim。
Atthesameinstantafemalefiguredashedintothemidstofthebloodthirstyhorde，and，withabludgeonsimilartotheirown，exceptthatitwaswroughtfromgold，beatbacktheadvancingmen。
Chapter20
LaForamomentTarzanthoughtthatbysomestrangefreakoffateamiraclehadsavedhim，butwhenherealizedtheeasewithwhichthegirlhad，single—handed，beatenofftwentygorilla—likemales，andaninstantlater，ashesawthemagaintakeuptheirdanceabouthimwhilesheaddressedtheminasingsongmonotone，whichboreeveryevidenceofrote，hecametotheconclusionthatitwasallbutapartoftheceremonyofwhichhewasthecentralfigure。
Afteramomentortwothegirldrewaknifefromhergirdle，and，leaningoverTarzan，cutthebondsfromhislegs。
Then，asthemenstoppedtheirdance，andapproached，shemotionedtohimtorise。Placingtheropethathadbeenabouthislegsaroundhisneck，sheledhimacrossthecourtyard，themenfollowingintwos。
Throughwindingcorridorssheled，fartherandfartherintotheremoterprecinctsofthetemple，untiltheycametoagreatchamberinthecenterofwhichstoodanaltar。ThenitwasthatTarzantranslatedthestrangeceremonythathadprecededhisintroductionintothisholyofholies。
Hehadfallenintothehandsofdescendantsoftheancientsunworshippers。Hisseemingrescuebyavotaressofthehighpriestessofthesunhadbeenbutapartofthemimicryoftheirheathenceremony——thesunlookingdownuponhimthroughtheopeningatthetopofthecourthadclaimedhimashisown，andthepriestesshadcomefromtheinnertempletosavehimfromthepollutinghandsofworldlings——
tosavehimasahumanofferingtotheirflamingdeity。
Andhadheneededfurtherassuranceastothecorrectnessofhistheoryhehadonlytocasthiseyesuponthebrownish—
redstainsthatcakedthestonealtarandcoveredthefloorinitsimmediatevicinity，ortothehumanskullswhichgrinnedfromcountlessnichesinthetoweringwalls。
Thepriestessledthevictimtothealtarsteps。Againthegalleriesabovefilledwithwatchers，whilefromanarcheddoorwayattheeastendofthechamberaprocessionoffemalesfiledslowlyintotheroom。Theywore，likethemen，onlyskinsofwildanimalscaughtabouttheirwaistswithrawhidebeltsorchainsofgold;buttheblackmassesoftheirhairwereincrustedwithgoldenheadgearcomposedofmanycircularandovalpiecesofgoldingeniouslyheldtogethertoformametalcapfromwhichdependedateachsideofthehead，longstringsofovalpiecesfallingtothewaist。
Thefemalesweremoresymmetricallyproportionedthanthemales，theirfeaturesweremuchmoreperfect，theshapesoftheirheadsandtheirlarge，soft，blackeyesdenotingfargreaterintelligenceandhumanitythanwaspossessedbytheirlordsandmasters。
Eachpriestessboretwogoldencups，andastheyformedinlinealongonesideofthealtarthemenformedoppositethem，advancingandtakingeachacupfromthefemaleopposite。
Thenthechantbeganoncemore，andpresentlyfromadarkpassagewaybeyondthealtaranotherfemaleemergedfromthecavernousdepthsbeneaththechamber。
Thehighpriestess，thoughtTarzan。Shewasayoungwomanwitharatherintelligentandshapelyface。Herornamentsweresimilartothosewornbyhervotaries，butmuchmoreelaborate，manybeingsetwithdiamonds。Herbarearmsandlegswerealmostconcealedbythemassive，bejeweledornamentswhichcoveredthem，whilehersingleleopardskinwassupportedbyaclose—fittinggirdleofgoldenringssetinstrangedesignswithinnumerablesmalldiamonds。
Inthegirdleshecarriedalong，jeweledknife，andinherhandaslenderwandinlieuofabludgeon。
Assheadvancedtotheoppositesideofthealtarshehalted，andthechantingceased。Thepriestsandpriestesseskneltbeforeher，whilewithwandextendedabovethemsherecitedalongandtiresomeprayer。Hervoicewassoftandmusical——Tarzancouldscarcerealizethatitspossessorinamomentmorewouldbetransformedbythefanaticalecstasyofreligiouszealintoawild—eyedandbloodthirstyexecutioner，who，withdrippingknife，wouldbethefirsttodrinkhervictim’sred，warmbloodfromthelittlegoldencupthatstooduponthealtar。
AsshefinishedherprayershelethereyesrestforthefirsttimeuponTarzan。Witheveryindicationofconsiderablecuriositysheexaminedhimfromheadtofoot。Thensheaddressedhim，andwhenshehadfinishedstoodwaiting，asthoughsheexpectedareply。
\"Idonotunderstandyourlanguage，\"saidTarzan。
\"Possiblywemayspeaktogetherinanothertongue？\"
Butshecouldnotunderstandhim，thoughhetriedFrench，English，Arab，Waziri，and，asalastresort，themongreltongueoftheWestCoast。
Sheshookherhead，anditseemedthattherewasanoteofwearinessinhervoiceasshemotionedtotheprieststocontinuewiththerites。Thesenowcircledinarepetitionoftheiridioticdance，whichwasterminatedfinallyatacommandfromthepriestess，whohadstoodthroughout，stilllookingintentlyuponTarzan。
Athersignalthepriestsrushedupontheape—man，and，liftinghimbodily，laidhimuponhisbackacrossthealtar，hisheadhangingoveroneedge，hislegsovertheopposite。
Thentheyandthepriestessesformedintwolines，withtheirlittlegoldencupsinreadinesstocaptureashareofthevictim’slifebloodafterthesacrificialknifehadaccomplisheditswork。
Inthelineofpriestsanaltercationaroseastowhoshouldhavefirstplace。Aburlybrutewithalltherefinedintelligenceofagorillastampeduponhisbestialfacewasattemptingtopushasmallermantosecondplace，butthesmalleroneappealedtothehighpriestess，whoinacoldperemptoryvoicesentthelargertotheextremeendoftheline。
Tarzancouldhearhimgrowlingandrumblingashewentslowlytotheinferiorstation。
Thenthepriestess，standingabovehim，beganrecitingwhatTarzantooktobeaninvocation，thewhilesheslowlyraisedherthin，sharpknifealoft。Itseemedagestotheape—manbeforeherarmceaseditsupwardprogressandtheknifehaltedhighabovehisunprotectedbreast。
Thenitstarteddownward，slowlyatfirst，butastheincantationincreasedinrapidity，withgreaterspeed。AttheendofthelineTarzancouldstillhearthegrumblingofthedisgruntledpriest。Theman’svoiceroselouderandlouder。
Apriestessnearhimspokeinsharptonesofrebuke。TheknifewasquiteneartoTarzan’sbreastnow，butithaltedforaninstantasthehighpriestessraisedhereyestoshootherswiftdispleasureattheinstigatorofthissacrilegiousinterruption。
Therewasasuddencommotioninthedirectionofthedisputants，andTarzanrolledhisheadintheirdirectionintimetoseetheburlybruteofapriestleapuponthewomanoppositehim，dashingoutherbrainswithasingleblowofhisheavycudgel。ThenthathappenedwhichTarzanhadwitnessedahundredtimesbeforeamongthewilddenizensofhisownsavagejungle。HehadseenthethingfalluponKerchak，andTublat，andTerkoz;uponadozenoftheothermightybullapesofhistribe;anduponTantor，theelephant;therewasscarceanyofthemalesoftheforestthatdidnotattimesfallpreytoit。Thepriestwentmad，andwithhisheavybludgeonranamuckamonghisfellows。
Hisscreamsofragewerefrightfulashedashedhitherandthither，dealingterrificblowswithhisgiantweapon，orsinkinghisyellowfangsintothefleshofsomelucklessvictim。
AndduringitthepriestessstoodwithpoisedknifeaboveTarzan，hereyesfixedinhorroruponthemaniacalthingthatwasdealingoutdeathanddestructiontohervotaries。
Presentlytheroomwasemptiedexceptforthedeadanddyingonthefloor，thevictimuponthealtar，thehighpriestess，andthemadman。Asthecunningeyesofthelatterfelluponthewomantheylightedwithanewandsuddenlust。
Slowlyhecrepttowardher，andnowhespoke;butthistimetherefelluponTarzan’ssurprisedearsalanguagehecouldunderstand;thelastonethathewouldeverhavethoughtofemployinginattemptingtoconversewithhumanbeings——thelowgutturalbarkingofthetribeofgreatanthropoids——hisownmothertongue。Andthewomanansweredthemaninthesamelanguage。
Hewasthreatening——sheattemptingtoreasonwithhim，foritwasquiteevidentthatshesawthathewaspastherauthority。
Thebrutewasquiteclosenow——creepingwithclawlikehandsextendedtowardheraroundtheendofthealtar。
Tarzanstrainedatthebondswhichheldhisarmspinionedbehindhim。Thewomandidnotsee——shehadforgottenherpreyinthehorrorofthedangerthatthreatenedherself。
AsthebruteleapedpastTarzantoclutchhisvictim，theape—mangaveonesuperhumanwrenchatthethongsthatheldhim。
Theeffortsenthimrollingfromthealtartothestonefloorontheoppositesidefromthatonwhichthepriestessstood;butashesprangtohisfeetthethongsdroppedfromhisfreedarms，andatthesametimeherealizedthathewasaloneintheinnertemple——thehighpriestessandthemadpriesthaddisappeared。
Andthenamuffledscreamcamefromthecavernousmouthofthedarkholebeyondthesacrificialaltarthroughwhichthepriestesshadenteredthetemple。Withoutevenathoughtforhisownsafety，orthepossibilityforescapewhichthisrapidseriesoffortuitouscircumstanceshadthrustuponhim，TarzanoftheApesansweredthecallofthewomanindanger。
Withalittleboundhewasatthegapingentrancetothesubterraneanchamber，andamomentlaterwasrunningdownaflightofage—oldconcretestepsthatledheknewnotwhere。
Thefaintlightthatfilteredinfromaboveshowedhimalarge，low—ceiledvaultfromwhichseveraldoorwaysledoffintoinkydarkness，buttherewasnoneedtothreadanunknownway，fortherebeforehimlaytheobjectsofhissearch——themadbrutehadthegirluponthefloor，andgorilla—likefingerswereclutchingfranticallyatherthroatasshestruggledtoescapethefuryoftheawfulthinguponher。
AsTarzan’sheavyhandfelluponhisshoulderthepriestdroppedhisvictim，andturneduponherwould—berescuer。
Withfoam—fleckedlipsandbaredfangsthemadsun—worshiperbattledwiththetenfoldpowerofthemaniac。Inthebloodlustofhisfurythecreaturehadundergoneasuddenreversiontotype，whichlefthimawildbeast，forgetfulofthedaggerthatprojectedfromhisbelt——thinkingonlyofnature’sweaponswithwhichhisbruteprototypehadbattled。
Butifhecouldusehisteethandhandstoadvantage，hefoundoneevenbetterversedintheschoolofsavagewarfaretowhichhehadreverted，forTarzanoftheApesclosedwithhim，andtheyfelltothefloortearingandrendingatoneanotherliketwobullapes;whiletheprimitivepriestessstoodflattenedagainstthewall，watchingwithwide，fear—
fascinatedeyesthegrowing，snappingbeastsatherfeet。
Atlastshesawthestrangercloseonemightyhanduponthethroatofhisantagonist，andasheforcedthebruteman’sheadfarbackrainblowafterblowupontheupturnedface。
Amomentlaterhethrewthestillthingfromhim，and，arising，shookhimselflikealion。Heplacedafootuponthecarcassbeforehim，andraisedhisheadtogivethevictorycryofhiskind，butashiseyesfellupontheopeningabovehimleadingintothetempleofhumansacrificehethoughtbetterofhisintendedact。
Thegirl，whohadbeenhalfparalyzedbyfearasthetwomenfought，hadjustcommencedtogivethoughttoherprobablefatenowthat，thoughreleasedfromtheclutchesofamadman，shehadfallenintothehandsofonewhombutamomentbeforeshehadbeenuponthepointofkilling。
Shelookedaboutforsomemeansofescape。Theblackmouthofadivergingcorridorwasnearathand，butassheturnedtodartintoittheape—man’seyesfelluponher，andwithaquickleaphewasatherside，andarestraininghandwaslaiduponherarm。
\"Wait！\"saidTarzanoftheApes，inthelanguageofthetribeofKerchak。
Thegirllookedathiminastonishment。
\"Whoareyou，\"shewhispered，\"whospeaksthelanguageofthefirstman？\"
\"IamTarzanoftheApes，\"heansweredinthevernacularoftheanthropoids。
\"Whatdoyouwantofme？\"shecontinued。\"ForwhatpurposedidyousavemefromTha？\"
\"Icouldnotseeawomanmurdered？\"Itwasahalfquestionthatansweredher。
\"Butwhatdoyouintendtodowithmenow？\"shecontinued。
\"Nothing，\"hereplied，\"butyoucandosomethingforme——youcanleadmeoutofthisplacetofreedom。\"Hemadethesuggestionwithouttheslightestthoughtthatshewouldaccede。