Hefeltquitesurethatthesacrificewouldgoonfromthepointwhereithadbeeninterruptedifthehighpriestesshadherway，thoughhewasequallypositivethattheywouldfindTarzanoftheApesunboundandwithalongdaggerinhishandamuchlesstractablevictimthanTarzandisarmedandbound。
Thegirlstoodlookingathimforalongmomentbeforeshespoke。
\"Youareaverywonderfulman，\"shesaid。\"YouaresuchamanasIhaveseeninmydaydreamseversinceI
wasalittlegirl。YouaresuchamanasIimaginetheforbearsofmypeoplemusthavebeen——thegreatraceofpeoplewhobuiltthismightycityintheheartofasavageworldthattheymightwrestfromthebowelsoftheearththefabulouswealthforwhichtheyhadsacrificedtheirfar—distantcivilization。
\"Icannotunderstandwhyyoucametomyrescueinthefirstplace，andnowIcannotunderstandwhy，havingmewithinyourpower，youdonotwishtoberevengeduponmeforhavingsentencedyoutodeath——forhavingalmostputyoutodeathwithmyownhand。\"
\"Ipresume，\"repliedtheape—man，\"thatyoubutfollowedtheteachingsofyourreligion。IcannotblameYOUforthat，nomatterwhatImaythinkofyourcreed。Butwhoareyou——whatpeoplehaveIfallenamong？\"
\"IamLa，highpriestessoftheTempleoftheSun，inthecityofOpar。Wearedescendantsofapeoplewhocametothissavageworldmorethantenthousandyearsagoinsearchofgold。Theircitiesstretchedfromagreatseaundertherisingsuntoagreatseaintowhichthesundescendsatnighttocoolhisflamingbrow。Theywereveryrichandverypowerful，buttheylivedonlyafewmonthsoftheyearintheirmagnificentpalaceshere;therestofthetimetheyspentintheirnativeland，far，fartothenorth。
\"Manyshipswentbackandforthbetweenthisnewworldandtheold。Duringtherainyseasontherewerebutfewoftheinhabitantsremainedhere，onlythosewhosuperintendedtheworkingoftheminesbytheblackslaves，andthemerchantswhohadtostaytosupplytheirwants，andthesoldierswhoguardedthecitiesandthemines。
\"Itwasatoneofthesetimesthatthegreatcalamityoccurred。
Whenthetimecamefortheteemingthousandstoreturnnonecame。
Forweeksthepeoplewaited。Thentheysentoutagreatgalleytolearnwhynoonecamefromthemothercountry，butthoughtheysailedaboutformanymonths，theywereunabletofindanytraceofthemightylandthathadforcountlessagesbornetheirancientcivilization——ithadsunkintothesea。
\"Fromthatdaydatedthedownfallofmypeople。
Disheartenedandunhappy，theysoonbecameapreytotheblackhordesofthenorthandtheblackhordesofthesouth。
Onebyonethecitiesweredesertedorovercome。Thelastremnantwasfinallyforcedtotakeshelterwithinthismightymountainfortress。Slowlywehavedwindledinpower，incivilization，inintellect，innumbers，untilnowwearenomorethanasmalltribeofsavageapes。
\"Infact，theapeslivewithus，andhaveformanyages。
Wecallthemthefirstmen——wespeaktheirlanguagequiteasmuchaswedoourown;onlyintheritualsofthetempledowemakeanyattempttoretainourmothertongue。Intimeitwillbeforgotten，andwewillspeakonlythelanguageoftheapes;intimewewillnolongerbanishthoseofourpeoplewhomatewithapes，andsointimeweshalldescendtotheverybeastsfromwhichagesagoourprogenitorsmayhavesprung。\"
\"Butwhyareyoumorehumanthantheothers？\"askedtheman。
\"Forsomereasonthewomenhavenotrevertedtosavagerysorapidlyasthemen。Itmaybebecauseonlythelowertypesofmenremainedhereatthetimeofthegreatcatastrophe，whilethetempleswerefilledwiththenoblestdaughtersoftherace。Mystrainhasremainedclearerthantherestbecauseforcountlessagesmyforemotherswerehighpriestesses——thesacredofficedescendsfrommothertodaughter。Ourhusbandsarechosenforusfromthenoblestintheland。Themostperfectman，mentallyandphysically，isselectedtobethehusbandofthehighpriestess。\"
\"FromwhatIsawofthegentlemenabove，\"saidTarzan，withagrin，\"thereshouldbelittletroubleinchoosingfromamongthem。\"
Thegirllookedathimquizzicallyforamoment。
\"Donotbesacrilegious，\"shesaid。\"Theyareveryholymen——theyarepriests。\"
\"Thenthereareotherswhoarebettertolookupon？\"heasked。
\"Theothersareallmoreuglythanthepriests，\"shereplied。
Tarzanshudderedatherfate，foreveninthedimlightofthevaulthewasimpressedbyherbeauty。
\"Buthowaboutmyself？\"heaskedsuddenly。\"Areyougoingtoleadmetoliberty？\"
\"YouhavebeenchosenbyTheFlamingGodashisown，\"
sheansweredsolemnly。\"NotevenIhavethepowertosaveyou——shouldtheyfindyouagain。ButIdonotintendthattheyshallfindyou。Youriskedyourlifetosavemine。
Imaydonolessforyou。Itwillbenoeasymatter——itmayrequiredays;butintheendIthinkthatIcanleadyoubeyondthewalls。Come，theywilllookhereformepresently，andiftheyfindustogetherweshallbothbelost——theywouldkillmedidtheythinkthatIhadprovedfalsetomygod。\"
\"Youmustnottaketherisk，then，\"hesaidquickly。\"Iwillreturntothetemple，andifIcanfightmywaytofreedomtherewillbenosuspicionthrownuponyou。\"
Butshewouldnothaveitso，andfinallypersuadedhimtofollowher，sayingthattheyhadalreadyremainedinthevaulttoolongtopreventsuspicionfromfallinguponhereveniftheyreturnedtothetemple。
\"Iwillhideyou，andthenreturnalone，\"shesaid，\"tellingthemthatIwaslongunconsciousafteryoukilledTha，andthatIdonotknowwhitheryouescaped。\"
Andsosheledhimthroughwindingcorridorsofgloom，untilfinallytheycametoasmallchamberintowhichalittlelightfilteredthroughastonegratingintheceiling。
\"ThisistheChamberoftheDead，\"shesaid。\"Nonewillthinkofsearchinghereforyou——theywouldnotdare。Iwillreturnafteritisdark。BythattimeImayhavefoundaplantoeffectyourescape。\"
Shewasgone，andTarzanoftheApeswasleftaloneintheChamberoftheDead，beneaththelong—deadcityofOpar。
Chapter21
TheCastawaysClaytondreamedthathewasdrinkinghisfillofwater，pure，delightfuldraftsoffreshwater。Withastarthegainedconsciousnesstofindhimselfwetthroughbytorrentsofrainthatwerefallinguponhisbodyandhisupturnedface。Aheavytropicalshowerwasbeatingdownuponthem。Heopenedhismouthanddrank。Presentlyhewassorevivedandstrengthenedthathewasenabledtoraisehimselfuponhishands。AcrosshislegslayMonsieurThuran。AfewfeetaftJanePorterwashuddledinapitifullittleheapinthebottomoftheboat——shewasquitestill。Claytonknewthatshewasdead。
AfterinfinitelaborhereleasedhimselffromThuran’spinioningbody，andwithrenewedstrengthcrawledtowardthegirl。
Heraisedherheadfromtheroughboardsoftheboat’sbottom。
Theremightbelifeinthatpoor，starvedframeevenyet。
Hecouldnotquiteabandonallhope，andsoheseizedawater—soakedragandsqueezedthepreciousdropsbetweentheswollenlipsofthehideousthingthathadbutafewshortdaysbeforeglowedwiththeresplendentlifeofhappyyouthandgloriousbeauty。
Forsometimetherewasnosignofreturninganimation，butatlasthiseffortswererewardedbyaslighttremorofthehalf—closedlids。Hechafedthethinhands，andforcedafewmoredropsofwaterintotheparchedthroat。Thegirlopenedhereyes，lookingupathimforalongtimebeforeshecouldrecallhersurroundings。
\"Water？\"shewhispered。\"Arewesaved？\"
\"Itisraining，\"heexplained。\"Wemayatleastdrink。
Alreadyithasrevivedusboth。\"
\"MonsieurThuran？\"sheasked。\"Hedidnotkillyou。Ishedead？\"
\"Idonotknow，\"repliedClayton。\"Ifhelivesandthisrainreviveshim——\"Buthestoppedthere，rememberingtoolatethathemustnotaddfurthertothehorrorswhichthegirlalreadyhadendured。
Butsheguessedwhathewouldhavesaid。
\"Whereishe？\"sheasked。
ClaytonnoddedhisheadtowardtheprostrateformoftheRussian。Foratimeneitherspoke。
\"IwillseeifIcanrevivehim，\"saidClaytonatlength。
\"No，\"shewhispered，extendingadetaininghandtowardhim。
\"Donotdothat——hewillkillyouwhenthewaterhasgivenhimstrength。Ifheisdying，lethimdie。Donotleavemealoneinthisboatwiththatbeast。\"
Claytonhesitated。HishonordemandedthatheattempttoreviveThuran，andtherewasthepossibility，too，thattheRussianwasbeyondhumanaid。Itwasnotdishonorabletohopeso。Ashesatfightingouthisbattlehepresentlyraisedhiseyesfromthebodyoftheman，andastheypassedabovethegunwaleoftheboathestaggeredweaklytohisfeetwithalittlecryofjoy。
\"Land，Jane！\"healmostshoutedthroughhiscrackedlips。
\"ThankGod，land！\"
Thegirllooked，too，andthere，notahundredyardsaway，shesawayellowbeach，and，beyond，theluxuriousfoliageofatropicaljungle。
\"Nowyoumayrevivehim，\"saidJanePorter，forshe，too，hadbeenhauntedwiththepangsofconsciencewhichhadresultedfromherdecisiontopreventClaytonfromofferingsuccortotheircompanion。
ItrequiredthebetterpartofhalfanhourbeforetheRussianevincedsufficientsymptomsofreturningconsciousnesstoopenhiseyes，anditwassometimelaterbeforetheycouldbringhimtoarealizationoftheirgoodfortune。
Bythistimetheboatwasscrapinggentlyuponthesandybottom。
Betweentherefreshingwaterthathehaddrunkandthestimulusofrenewedhope，Claytonfoundstrengthtostaggerthroughtheshallowwatertotheshorewithalinemadefasttotheboat’sbow。Thishefastenedtoasmalltreewhichgrewatthetopofalowbank，forthetidewasatflood，andhefearedthattheboatmightcarrythemallouttoseaagainwiththeebb，sinceitwasquitelikelythatitwouldbebeyondhisstrengthtogetJanePortertotheshoreforseveralhours。
Nexthemanagedtostaggerandcrawltowardthenear—
byjungle，wherehehadseenevidencesofprofusionoftropicalfruit。HisformerexperienceinthejungleofTarzanoftheApeshadtaughthimwhichofthemanygrowingthingswereedible，andafternearlyanhourofabsencehereturnedtothebeachwithalittlearmfuloffood。
Therainhadceased，andthehotsunwasbeatingdownsomercilesslyuponherthatJanePorterinsistedonmakinganimmediateattempttogaintheland。StillfurtherinvigoratedbythefoodClaytonhadbrought，thethreewereabletoreachthehalfshadeofthesmalltreetowhichtheirboatwasmoored。
Here，thoroughlyexhausted，theythrewthemselvesdowntorest，sleepinguntildark。
Foramonththeyliveduponthebeachincomparativesafety。
Astheirstrengthreturnedthetwomenconstructedarudeshelterinthebranchesofatree，highenoughfromthegroundtoinsuresafetyfromthelargerbeastsofprey。
Bydaytheygatheredfruitsandtrappedsmallrodents;atnighttheylaycoweringwithintheirfrailshelterwhilesavagedenizensofthejunglemadehideousthehoursofdarkness。
Theysleptuponlittersofjunglegrasses，andforcoveringatnightJanePorterhadonlyanoldulsterthatbelongedtoClayton，thesamegarmentthathehadwornuponthatmemorabletriptotheWisconsinwoods。Claytonhaderectedafrailpartitionofboughstodividetheirarborealshelterintotworooms——oneforthegirlandtheotherforMonsieurThuranandhimself。
FromthefirsttheRussianhadexhibitedeverytraitofhistruecharacter——selfishness，boorishness，arrogance，cowardice，andlust。TwicehadheandClaytoncometoblowsbecauseofThuran’sattitudetowardthegirl。
Claytondarednotleaveheralonewithhimforaninstant。
TheexistenceoftheEnglishmanandhisfianceewasonecontinualnightmareofhorror，andyettheylivedoninhopeofultimaterescue。
JanePorter’sthoughtsoftenrevertedtoherotherexperienceonthissavageshore。Ah，iftheinvincibleforestgodofthatdeadpastwerebutwiththemnow。Nolongerwouldtherebeaughttofearfromprowlingbeasts，orfromthebestialRussian。ShecouldnotwellrefrainfromcomparingthescantprotectionaffordedherbyClaytonwithwhatshemighthaveexpectedhadTarzanoftheApesbeenforasingleinstantconfrontedbythesinisterandmenacingattitudeofMonsieurThuran。Once，whenClaytonhadgonetothelittlestreamforwater，andThuranhadspokencoarselytoher，shevoicedherthoughts。
\"Itiswellforyou，MonsieurThuran，\"shesaid，\"thatthepoorMonsieurTarzanwhowaslostfromtheshipthatbroughtyouandMissStrongtoCapeTownisnotherenow。\"
\"Youknewthepig？\"askedThuran，withasneer。
\"Iknewtheman，\"shereplied。\"Theonlyrealman，I
think，thatIhaveeverknown。\"
TherewassomethinginhertoneofvoicethatledtheRussiantoattributetoheradeeperfeelingforhisenemythanfriendship，andhegraspedatthesuggestiontobefurtherrevengeduponthemanwhomhesupposeddeadbybesmirchinghismemorytothegirl。
\"Hewasworsethanapig，\"hecried。\"Hewasapoltroonandacoward。Tosavehimselffromtherighteouswrathofthehusbandofawomanhehadwronged，heperjuredhissoulinanattempttoplacetheblameentirelyuponher。
Notsucceedinginthis，heranawayfromFrancetoescapemeetingthehusbanduponthefieldofhonor。ThatiswhyhewasonboardtheshipthatboreMissStrongandmyselftoCapeTown。IknowwhereofIspeak，forthewomaninthecaseismysister。SomethingmoreIknowthatIhavenevertoldanother——yourbraveMonsieurTarzanleapedoverboardinanagonyoffearbecauseIrecognizedhim，andinsistedthathemakereparationtomethefollowingmorning——wecouldhavefoughtwithknivesinmystateroom。\"
JanePorterlaughed。\"YoudonotforamomentimaginethatonewhohasknownbothMonsieurTarzanandyoucouldeverbelievesuchanimpossibletale？\"
\"Thenwhydidhetravelunderanassumedname？\"askedMonsieurThuran。
\"Idonotbelieveyou，\"shecried，butneverthelesstheseedofsuspicionwassown，forsheknewthatHazelStronghadknownherforestgodonlyasJohnCaldwell，ofLondon。
Ascantfivemilesnorthoftheirrudeshelter，allunknowntothem，andpracticallyasremoteasthoughseparatedbythousandsofmilesofimpenetrablejungle，laythesnuglittlecabinofTarzanoftheApes。Whilefartherupthecoast，afewmilesbeyondthecabin，incrudebutwell—builtshelters，livedalittlepartyofeighteensouls——theoccupantsofthethreeboatsfromtheLADYALICEfromwhichClayton’sboathadbecomeseparated。
Overasmoothseatheyhadrowedtothemainlandinlessthanthreedays。Noneofthehorrorsofshipwreckhadbeentheirs，andthoughdepressedbysorrow，andsufferingfromtheshockofthecatastropheandtheunaccustomedhardshipsoftheirnewexistencetherewasnonemuchtheworsefortheexperience。
Allwerebuoyedbythehopethatthefourthboathadbeenpickedup，andthatathoroughsearchofthecoastwouldbequicklymade。AsallthefirearmsandammunitionontheyachthadbeenplacedinLordTennington’sboat，thepartywaswellequippedfordefense，andforhuntingthelargergameforfood。
ProfessorArchimedesQ。Porterwastheironlyimmediateanxiety。
Fullyassuredinhisownmindthathisdaughterhadbeenpickedupbyapassingsteamer，hegaveoverthelastvestigeofapprehensionconcerningherwelfare，anddevotedhisgiantintellectsolelytotheconsiderationofthosemomentousandabstrusescientificproblemswhichheconsideredtheonlyproperfoodforthoughtinoneofhiserudition。Hismindappearedblanktotheinfluenceofallextraneousmatters。
\"Never，\"saidtheexhaustedMr。SamuelT。Philander，toLordTennington，\"neverhasProfessorPorterbeenmoredifficult——er——Imightsay，impossible。Why，onlythismorning，afterIhadbeenforcedtorelinquishmysurveillanceforabriefhalfhourhewasentirelymissinguponmyreturn。
And，blessme，sir，wheredoyouimagineIdiscoveredhim？
Ahalfmileoutintheocean，sir，inoneofthelifeboats，rowingawayfordearlife。Idonotknowhowheattainedeventhatmagnificentdistancefromshore，forhehadbutasingleoar，withwhichhewasblissfullyrowingaboutincircles。
\"Whenoneofthesailorshadtakenmeouttohiminanotherboattheprofessorbecamequiteindignantatmysuggestionthatwereturnatoncetoland。`Why，Mr。Philander，’
hesaid，`Iamsurprisedthatyou，sir，amanoflettersyourself，shouldhavethetemeritysotointerrupttheprogressofscience。IhadaboutdeducedfromcertainastronomicphenomenaIhavehadunderminuteobservationduringthepastseveraltropicnightsanentirelynewnebularhypothesiswhichwillunquestionablystartlethescientificworld。IwishtoconsultaveryexcellentmonographonLaplace’shypothesis，whichIunderstandisinacertainprivatecollectioninNewYorkCity。Yourinterference，Mr。Philander，willresultinanirreparabledelay，forIwasjustrowingovertoobtainthispamphlet。’AnditwaswiththegreatestdifficultythatI
persuadedhimtoreturntoshore，withoutresortingtoforce，\"
concludedMr。Philander。
MissStrongandhermotherwereverybraveunderthestrainofalmostconstantapprehensionoftheattacksofsavagebeasts。NorweretheyquiteabletoacceptsoreadilyastheothersthetheorythatJane，Clayton，andMonsieurThuranhadbeenpickedupsafely。
JanePorter’sEsmeraldawasinaconstantstateoftearsatthecruelfatewhichhadseparatedherfromher\"po，li’lehoney。\"
LordTennington’sgreat—heartedgoodnatureneverdesertedhimforamoment。Hewasstillthejovialhost，seekingalwaysforthecomfortandpleasureofhisguests。Withthemenofhisyachtheremainedthejustbutfirmcommander——therewasneveranymorequestioninthejunglethantherehadbeenonboardtheLADYALICEastowhowasthefinalauthorityinallquestionsofimportance，andinallemergenciesrequiringcoolandintelligentleadership。
Couldthiswell—organizedandcomparativelysecurepartyofcastawayshaveseentheragged，fear—hauntedtrioafewmilessouthofthemtheywouldscarcelyhaverecognizedinthemtheformerlyimmaculatemembersofthelittlecompanythathadlaughedandplayedupontheLADYALICE。
ClaytonandMonsieurThuranwerealmostnaked，sotornhadtheirclothesbeenbythethornbushesandtangledvegetationofthemattedjunglethroughwhichtheyhadbeencompelledtoforcetheirwayinsearchoftheirevermoredifficultfoodsupply。
JanePorterhadofcoursenotbeensubjectedtothesestrenuousexpeditions，butherapparelwas，nevertheless，inasadstateofdisrepair。
Clayton，forlackofanybetteroccupation，hadcarefullysavedtheskinofeveryanimaltheyhadkilled。Bystretchingthemuponthestemsoftrees，anddiligentlyscrapingthem，hehadmanagedtosavetheminafaircondition，andnowthathisclotheswerethreateningtocoverhisnakednessnolonger，hecommencedtofashionarudegarmentofthem，usingasharpthornforaneedle，andbitsoftoughgrassandanimaltendonsinlieuofthread。
Theresultwhencompletedwasasleevelessgarmentwhichfellnearlytohisknees。Asitwasmadeupofnumeroussmallpeltsofdifferentspeciesofrodents，itpresentedaratherstrangeandwonderfulappearance，which，togetherwiththevilestenchwhichpermeatedit，rendereditanythingotherthanadesirableadditiontoawardrobe。Butthetimecamewhenforthesakeofdecencyhewascompelledtodonit，andeventhemiseryoftheirconditioncouldnotpreventJanePorterfromlaughingheartilyatsightofhim。
Later，Thuranalsofounditnecessarytoconstructasimilarprimitivegarment，sothat，withtheirbarelegsandheavilybeardedfaces，theylookednotunlikereincarnationsoftwoprehistoricprogenitorsofthehumanrace。Thuranactedlikeone。
Nearlytwomonthsofthisexistencehadpassedwhenthefirstgreatcalamitybefellthem。Itwasprefacedbyanadventurewhichcamenearterminatingabruptlythesufferingsoftwoofthem——terminatingtheminthegrimandhorriblemannerofthejungle，forever。
Thuran，downwithanattackofjunglefever，layintheshelteramongthebranchesoftheirtreeofrefuge。
Claytonhadbeenintothejungleafewhundredyardsinsearchoffood。AshereturnedJanePorterwalkedtomeethim。Behindtheman，cunningandcrafty，creptanoldandmangylion。Forthreedayshisancientthewsandsinewshadprovedinsufficientforthetaskofprovidinghiscavernousbellywithmeat。Formonthshehadeatenlessandlessfrequently，andfartherandfartherhadheroamedfromhisaccustomedhauntsinsearchofeasierprey。Atlasthehadfoundnature’sweakestandmostdefenselesscreature——inamomentmoreNumawoulddine。
Clayton，allunconsciousofthelurkingdeathbehindhim，strodeoutintotheopentowardJane。Hehadreachedherside，ahundredfeetfromthetanglededgeofjunglewhenpasthisshoulderthegirlsawthetawnyheadandthewickedyelloweyesasthegrassesparted，andthehugebeast，nosetoground，steppedsoftlyintoview。
Sofrozenwithhorrorwasshethatshecouldutternosound，butthefixedandterrifiedgazeofherfear—widenedeyesspokeasplainlytoClaytonaswords。Aquickglancebehindhimrevealedthehopelessnessoftheirsituation。
Thelionwasscarcethirtypacesfromthem，andtheywereequallyasfarfromtheshelter。Themanwasarmedwithastoutstick——asefficaciousagainstahungrylion，herealized，asatoypop—gunchargedwithatetheredcork。
Numa，ravenouswithhunger，hadlongsincelearnedthefutilityofroaringandmoaningashesearchedforprey，butnowthatitwasassurelyhisasthoughalreadyhehadfeltthesoftfleshbeneathhisstillmightypaw，heopenedhishugejaws，andgaveventtohislong—pentrageinaseriesofdeafeningroarsthatmadetheairtremble。
\"Run，Jane！\"criedClayton。\"Quick！Runfortheshelter！\"
Butherparalyzedmusclesrefusedtorespond，andshestoodmuteandrigid，staringwithghastlycountenanceatthelivingdeathcreepingtowardthem。
Thuran，atthesoundofthatawfulroar，hadcometotheopeningoftheshelter，andashesawthetableaubelowhimhehoppedupanddown，shriekingtotheminRussian。
\"Run！Run！\"hecried。\"Run，orIshallbeleftallaloneinthishorribleplace，\"andthenhebrokedownandcommencedtoweep。
Foramomentthisnewvoicedistractedtheattentionofthelion，whohaltedtocastaninquiringglanceinthedirectionofthetree。Claytoncouldendurethestrainnolonger。
Turninghisbackuponthebeast，heburiedhisheadinhisarmsandwaited。
Thegirllookedathiminhorror。Whydidhenotdosomething？Ifhemustdie，whynotdielikeaman——bravely;
beatingatthatterriblefacewithhispunystick，nomatterhowfutileitmightbe。WouldTarzanoftheApeshavedonethus？
Wouldhenotatleasthavegonedowntohisdeathfightingheroicallytothelast？
Nowthelionwascrouchingforthespringthatwouldendtheiryounglivesbeneathcruel，rending，yellowfangs。
JanePortersanktoherkneesinprayer，closinghereyestoshutoutthelasthideousinstant。Thuran，weakfromfever，fainted。
Secondsdraggedintominutes，longminutesintoaneternity，andyetthebeastdidnotspring。Claytonwasalmostunconsciousfromtheprolongedagonyoffright——hiskneestrembled——amomentmoreandhewouldcollapse。
JanePortercouldendureitnolonger。Sheopenedhereyes。
Couldshebedreaming？
\"William，\"shewhispered;\"look！\"
Claytonmasteredhimselfsufficientlytoraisehisheadandturntowardthelion。Anejaculationofsurpriseburstfromhislips。Attheirveryfeetthebeastlaycrumpledindeath。
Aheavywarspearprotrudedfromthetawnyhide。Ithadenteredthegreatbackabovetherightshoulder，and，passingentirelythroughthebody，hadpiercedthesavageheart。
JanePorterhadrisentoherfeet;asClaytonturnedbacktohershestaggeredinweakness。Heputouthisarmstosaveherfromfalling，andthendrewherclosetohim——pressingherheadagainsthisshoulder，hestoopedtokissherinthanksgiving。
Gentlythegirlpushedhimaway。
\"Pleasedonotdothat，William，\"shesaid。\"Ihavelivedathousandyearsinthepastbriefmoments。Ihavelearnedinthefaceofdeathhowtolive。Idonotwishtohurtyoumorethanisnecessary;butIcannolongerbeartoliveouttheimpossiblepositionIhaveattemptedbecauseofafalsesenseofloyaltytoanimpulsivepromiseImadeyou。
\"Thelastfewsecondsofmylifehavetaughtmethatitwouldbehideoustoattemptfurthertodeceivemyselfandyou，ortoentertainforaninstantlongerthepossibilityofeverbecomingyourwife，shouldweregaincivilization。\"
\"Why，Jane，\"hecried，\"whatdoyoumean？Whathasourprovidentialrescuetodowithalteringyourfeelingstowardme？
Youarebutunstrung——tomorrowyouwillbeyourselfagain。\"
\"IammorenearlymyselfthisminutethanIhavebeenforoverayear，\"shereplied。\"Thethingthathasjusthappenedhasagainforcedtomymemorythefactthatthebravestmanthateverlivedhonoredmewithhislove。UntilitwastoolateIdidnotrealizethatIreturnedit，andsoIsenthimaway。
Heisdeadnow，andIshallnevermarry。Icertainlycouldnotwedanotherlessbravethanhewithoutharboringconstantlyafeelingofcontemptfortherelativecowardiceofmyhusband。
Doyouunderstandme？\"
\"Yes，\"heanswered，withbowedhead，hisfacemantlingwiththeflushofshame。
Anditwasthenextdaythatthegreatcalamitybefell。
Chapter22
TheTreasureVaultsofOparItwasquitedarkbeforeLa，thehighpriestess，returnedtotheChamberoftheDeadwithfoodanddrinkforTarzan。
Sheborenolight，feelingwithherhandsalongthecrumblingwallsuntilshegainedthechamber。Throughthestonegratingabove，atropicmoonserveddimlytoilluminatetheinterior。
Tarzan，crouchingintheshadowsatthefarsideoftheroomasthefirstsoundofapproachingfootstepsreachedhim，cameforthtomeetthegirlasherecognizedthatitwasshe。
\"Theyarefurious，\"wereherfirstwords。\"Neverbeforehasahumansacrificeescapedthealtar。Alreadyfiftyhavegoneforthtotrackyoudown。Theyhavesearchedthetemple——allsavethissingleroom。\"
\"Whydotheyfeartocomehere？\"heasked。
\"ItistheChamberoftheDead。Herethedeadreturntoworship。
Seethisancientaltar？Itisherethatthedeadsacrificetheliving——iftheyfindavictimhere。Thatisthereasonourpeopleshunthischamber。Wereonetoenterheknowsthatthewaitingdeadwouldseizehimfortheirsacrifice。\"
\"Butyou？\"heasked。
\"Iamhighpriestess——Ialoneamsafefromthedead。
ItisIwhoatrareintervalsbringthemahumansacrificefromtheworldabove。Ialonemayenterhereinsafety。\"
\"Whyhavetheynotseizedme？\"heasked，humoringhergrotesquebelief。
Shelookedathimquizzicallyforamoment。Thenshereplied:
\"Itisthedutyofahighpriestesstoinstruct，tointerpret——
accordingtothecreedthatothers，wiserthanherself，havelaiddown;butthereisnothinginthecreedwhichsaysthatshemustbelieve。Themoreoneknowsofone’sreligionthelessonebelieves——noonelivingknowsmoreofminethanI。\"
\"Thenyouronlyfearinaidingmetoescapeisthatyourfellowmortalsmaydiscoveryourduplicity？\"
\"Thatisall——thedeadaredead;theycannotharm——orhelp。
Wemustthereforedependentirelyuponourselves，andthesoonerweactthebetteritwillbe。Ihaddifficultyineludingtheirvigilancebutnowinbringingyouthismorseloffood。Toattempttorepeatthethingdailywouldbetheheightoffolly。Come，letusseehowfarwemaygotowardlibertybeforeImustreturn。\"
Sheledhimbacktothechamberbeneaththealtarroom。
Heresheturnedintooneoftheseveralcorridorsleadingfromit。InthedarknessTarzancouldnotseewhichone。