\"Onlypeace，\"answeredtheape—man。
Againtheapesconferred。AtlengthKarnathspokeagain。
\"Comeinpeace，then，TarzanoftheApes，\"hesaid。
AndsoTarzanoftheApesdroppedlightlytotheturfintothemidstofthefierceandhideoushorde——hehadcompletedthecycleofevolution，andhadreturnedtobeonceagainabruteamongbrutes。
Therewerenogreetingssuchaswouldhavetakenplaceamongmenafteraseparationoftwoyears。Themajorityoftheapeswentonaboutthelittleactivitiesthattheadventoftheape—manhadinterrupted，payingnofurtherattentiontohimthanasthoughhehadnotbeengonefromthetribeatall。
Oneortwoyoungbullswhohadnotbeenoldenoughtorememberhimsidleduponallfourstosniffathim，andonebaredhisfangsandgrowledthreateningly——hewishedtoputTarzanimmediatelyintohisproperplace。HadTarzanbackedoff，growling，theyoungbullwouldquiteprobablyhavebeensatisfied，butalwaysafterTarzan’sstationamonghisfellowapeswouldhavebeenbeneaththatofthebullwhichhadmadehimstepaside。
ButTarzanoftheApesdidnotbackoff。Instead，heswunghisgiantpalmwithalltheforceofhismightymuscles，and，catchingtheyoungbullalongsidethehead，senthimsprawlingacrosstheturf。Theapewasupandathimagaininasecond，andthistimetheyclosedwithtearingfingersandrendingfangs——oratleastthathadbeentheintentionoftheyoungbull;butscarcelyhadtheygonedown，growlingandsnapping，thantheape—man’sfingersfoundthethroatofhisantagonist。
Presentlytheyoungbullceasedtostruggle，andlayquitestill。
ThenTarzanreleasedhisholdandarose——hedidnotwishtokill，onlytoteachtheyoungape，andotherswhomightbewatching，thatTarzanoftheApeswasstillmaster。
Thelessonserveditspurpose——theyoungapeskeptoutofhisway，asyoungapesshouldwhentheirbetterswereabout，andtheoldbullsmadenoattempttoencroachuponhisprerogatives。Forseveraldaystheshe—apeswithyoungremainedsuspiciousofhim，andwhenheventuredtoonearrusheduponhimwithwidemouthsandhideousroars。
ThenTarzandiscreetlyskippedoutofharm’sway，forthatalsoisacustomamongtheapes——onlymadbullswillattackamother。Butafterawhileeventheybecameaccustomedtohim。
Hehuntedwiththemasindaysgoneby，andwhentheyfoundthathissuperiorreasonguidedhimtothebestfoodsources，andthathiscunningropeensnaredtoothsomegamethattheyseldomifevertasted，theycameagaintolookuptohimastheyhadinthepastafterhehadbecometheirking。
Andsoitwasthatbeforetheylefttheamphitheatertoreturntotheirwanderingstheyhadoncemorechosenhimastheirleader。
Theape—manfeltquitecontentedwithhisnewlot。Hewasnothappy——thathenevercouldbeagain，buthewasatleastasfarfromeverythingthatmightremindhimofhispastmiseryashecouldbe。Longsincehehadgivenupeveryintentionofreturningtocivilization，andnowhehaddecidedtoseenomorehisblackfriendsoftheWaziri。Hehadforeswornhumanityforever。Hehadstartedlifeanape——asanapehewoulddie。
Hecouldnot，however，erasefromhismemorythefactthatthewomanhelovedwaswithinashortjourneyofthestamping—groundofhistribe;norcouldhebanishthehauntingfearthatshemightbeconstantlyindanger。
ThatshewasillyprotectedhehadseeninthebriefinstantthathadwitnessedClayton’sinefficiency。
ThemoreTarzanthoughtofit，themorekeenlyhisconscienceprickedhim。
FinallyhecametoloathehimselfforpermittinghisownselfishsorrowandjealousytostandbetweenJanePorterandsafety。
Asthedayspassedthethingpreyedmoreandmoreuponhismind，andhehadaboutdeterminedtoreturntothecoastandplacehimselfonguardoverJanePorterandClayton，whennewsreachedhimthatalteredallhisplansandsenthimdashingmadlytowardtheeastinrecklessdisregardofaccidentanddeath。
BeforeTarzanhadreturnedtothetribe，acertainyoungbull，notbeingabletosecureamatefromamonghisownpeople，had，accordingtocustom，faredforththroughthewildjungle，likesomeknight—errantofold，towinafairladyfromsomeneighboringcommunity。
Hehadbutjustreturnedwithhisbride，andwasnarratinghisadventuresquicklybeforeheshouldforgetthem。Amongotherthingshetoldofseeingagreattribeofstrange—lookingapes。
\"Theywereallhairy—facedbullsbutone，\"hesaid，\"andthatonewasashe，lighterincoloreventhanthisstranger，\"
andhechuckedathumbatTarzan。
Theape—manwasallattentioninaninstant。Heaskedquestionsasrapidlyastheslow—wittedanthropoidcouldanswerthem。
\"Werethebullsshort，withcrookedlegs？\"
\"Theywere。\"
\"DidtheyweartheskinsofNumaandSheetaabouttheirloins，andcarrysticksandknives？\"
\"Theydid。\"
\"Andweretheremanyyellowringsabouttheirarmsandlegs？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Andthesheone——wasshesmallandslender，andverywhite？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Didsheseemtobeoneofthetribe，orwassheaprisoner？\"
\"Theydraggedheralong——sometimesbyanarm——sometimesbythelonghairthatgrewuponherhead;andalwaystheykickedandbeather。Oh，butitwasgreatfuntowatchthem。\"
\"God！\"mutteredTarzan。
\"Whereweretheywhenyousawthem，andwhichwayweretheygoing？\"continuedtheape—man。
\"Theywerebesidethesecondwaterbackthere，\"andhepointedtothesouth。\"Whentheypassedmetheyweregoingtowardthemorning，upwardalongtheedgeofthewater。\"
\"Whenwasthis？\"askedTarzan。
\"Halfamoonsince。\"
Withoutanotherwordtheape—mansprangintothetreesandfledlikeadisembodiedspiriteastwardinthedirectionoftheforgottencityofOpar。
Chapter24
HowTarzanCameAgaintoOparWhenClaytonreturnedtotheshelterandfoundJanePorterwasmissing，hebecamefranticwithfearandgrief。
HefoundMonsieurThuranquiterational，thefeverhavinglefthimwiththesurprisingsuddennesswhichisoneofitspeculiarities。TheRussian，weakandexhausted，stilllayuponhisbedofgrasseswithintheshelter。
WhenClaytonaskedhimaboutthegirlheseemedsurprisedtoknowthatshewasnotthere。
\"Ihaveheardnothingunusual，\"hesaid。\"ButthenIhavebeenunconsciousmuchofthetime。\"
Haditnotbeenfortheman’sveryevidentweakness，Claytonshouldhavesuspectedhimofhavingsinisterknowledgeofthegirl’swhereabouts;buthecouldseethatThuranlackedsufficientvitalityeventodescend，unaided，fromtheshelter。Hecouldnot，inhispresentphysicalcondition，haveharmedthegirl，norcouldhehaveclimbedtherudeladderbacktotheshelter。
UntildarktheEnglishmansearchedthenearbyjungleforatraceofthemissingoneorasignofthetrailofherabductor。
Butthoughthespoorleftbythefiftyfrightfulmen，unversedinwoodcraftastheywere，wouldhavebeenasplaintothedensestdenizenofthejungleasacitystreettotheEnglishman，yethecrossedandrecrossedittwentytimeswithoutobservingtheslightestindicationthatmanymenhadpassedthatwaybutafewshorthourssince。
Ashesearched，Claytoncontinuedtocallthegirl’snamealoud，buttheonlyresultofthiswastoattractNuma，thelion。Fortunatelythemansawtheshadowyformwormingitswaytowardhimintimetoclimbintothebranchesofatreebeforethebeastwascloseenoughtoreachhim。Thisputanendtohissearchforthebalanceoftheafternoon，asthelionpacedbackandforthbeneathhimuntildark。
Evenafterthebeasthadleft，Claytondarednotdescendintotheawfulblacknessbeneathhim，andsohespentaterrifyingandhideousnightinthetree。Thenextmorninghereturnedtothebeach，relinquishingthelasthopeofsuccoringJanePorter。
Duringtheweekthatfollowed，MonsieurThuranrapidlyregainedhisstrength，lyingintheshelterwhileClaytonhuntedfoodforboth。Themenneverspokeexceptasnecessitydemanded。ClaytonnowoccupiedthesectionoftheshelterwhichhadbeenreservedforJanePorter，andonlysawtheRussianwhenhetookfoodorwatertohim，orperformedtheotherkindlyofficeswhichcommonhumanityrequired。
WhenThuranwasagainabletodescendinsearchoffood，Claytonwasstrickenwithfever。Fordayshelaytossingindeliriumandsuffering，butnotoncedidtheRussiancomenearhim。FoodtheEnglishmancouldnothaveeaten，buthiscravingforwateramountedpracticallytotorture。
Betweentherecurrentattacksofdelirium，weakthoughhewas，hemanagedtoreachthebrookonceadayandfillatinycanthathadbeenamongthefewappointmentsofthelifeboat。
Thuranwatchedhimontheseoccasionswithanexpressionofmalignantpleasure——heseemedreallytoenjoythesufferingofthemanwho，despitethejustcontemptinwhichheheldhim，hadministeredtohimtothebestofhisabilitywhilehelaysufferingthesameagonies。
AtlastClaytonbecamesoweakthathewasnolongerabletodescendfromtheshelter。ForadayhesufferedforwaterwithoutappealingtotheRussian，butfinally，unabletoendureitlonger，heaskedThurantofetchhimadrink。
TheRussiancametotheentrancetoClayton’sroom，adishofwaterinhishand。Anastygrincontortedhisfeatures。
\"Hereiswater，\"hesaid。\"Butfirstletmeremindyouthatyoumalignedmebeforethegirl——thatyoukepthertoyourself，andwouldnotshareherwithme——\"
Claytoninterruptedhim。\"Stop！\"hecried。Stop！
Whatmannerofcurareyouthatyoutraducethecharacterofagoodwomanwhomwebelievedead！God！Iwasafoolevertoletyoulive——youarenotfittoliveeveninthisvileland。\"
\"Hereisyourwater，\"saidtheRussian。\"Allyouwillget，\"andheraisedthebasintohislipsanddrank;whatwaslefthethrewoutuponthegroundbelow。Thenheturnedandleftthesickman。
Claytonrolledover，and，buryinghisfaceinhisarms，gaveupthebattle。
ThenextdayThurandeterminedtosetouttowardthenorthalongthecoast，forheknewthateventuallyhemustcometothehabitationsofcivilizedmen——atleasthecouldbenoworseoffthanhewashere，and，furthermore，theravingsofthedyingEnglishmanweregettingonhisnerves。
SohestoleClayton’sspearandsetoffuponhisjourney。
Hewouldhavekilledthesickmanbeforehelefthaditnotoccurredtohimthatitwouldreallyhavebeenakindnesstodoso。
Thatsamedayhecametoalittlecabinbythebeach，andhisheartfilledwithrenewedhopeashesawthisevidenceoftheproximityofcivilization，forhethoughtitbuttheoutpostofanearbysettlement。Hadheknowntowhomitbelonged，andthatitsownerwasatthatverymomentbutafewmilesinland，NikolasRokoffwouldhavefledtheplaceashewouldapestilence。Buthedidnotknow，andsoheremainedforafewdaystoenjoythesecurityandcomparativecomfortsofthecabin。Thenhetookuphisnorthwardjourneyoncemore。
InLordTennington’scamppreparationsweregoingforwardtobuildpermanentquarters，andthentosendoutanexpeditionofafewmentothenorthinsearchofrelief。
Asthedayshadpassedwithoutbringingthelonged—forsuccor，hopethatJanePorter，Clayton，andMonsieurThuranhadbeenrescuedbegantodie。NoonespokeofthematterlongertoProfessorPorter，andhewassoimmersedinhisscientificdreamingthathewasnotawareoftheelapseoftime。
Occasionallyhewouldremarkthatwithinafewdaystheyshouldcertainlyseeasteamerdropanchorofftheirshore，andthatthentheyshouldallbereunitedhappily。
Sometimeshespokeofitasatrain，andwonderedifitwerebeingdelayedbysnowstorms。
\"IfIdidn’tknowthedearoldfellowsowellbynow，\"
TenningtonremarkedtoMissStrong，\"Ishouldbequitecertainthathewas——er——notquiteright，don’tyouknow。\"
\"Ifitwerenotsopatheticitwouldberidiculous，\"saidthegirl，sadly。\"I，whohaveknownhimallmylife，knowhowheworshipsJane;buttoothersitmustseemthatheisperfectlycalloustoherfate。Itisonlythatheissoabsolutelyimpracticalthathecannotconceiveofsorealathingasdeathunlessnearlycertainproofofitisthrustuponhim。\"
\"You’dneverguesswhathewasaboutyesterday，\"
continuedTennington。\"IwascominginalonefromalittlehuntwhenImethimwalkingrapidlyalongthegametrailthatIwasfollowingbacktocamp。Hishandswereclaspedbeneaththetailsofhislongblackcoat，andhistophatwassetfirmlydownuponhishead，aswitheyesbentuponthegroundhehastenedon，probablytosomesuddendeathhadInotinterceptedhim。
\"`Why，whereintheworldareyoubound，professor？’I
askedhim。`Iamgoingintotown，LordTennington，’hesaid，asseriouslyaspossible，`tocomplaintothepostmasterabouttheruralfreedeliveryservicewearesufferingfromhere。
Why，sir，Ihaven’thadapieceofmailinweeks。ThereshouldbeseverallettersformefromJane。ThemattermustbereportedtoWashingtonatonce。’
\"Andwouldyoubelieveit，MissStrong，\"continuedTennington，\"Ihadtheverydeuceofajobtoconvincetheoldfellowthattherewasnotonlynoruralfreedelivery，butnotown，andthathewasnotevenonthesamecontinentasWashington，norinthesamehemisphere。
\"Whenhedidrealizehecommencedtoworryabouthisdaughter——Ithinkitisthefirsttimethathereallyhasappreciatedourpositionhere，orthefactthatMissPortermaynothavebeenrescued。\"
\"Ihatetothinkaboutit，\"saidthegirl，\"andyetIcanthinkofnothingelsethantheabsentmembersofourparty。\"
\"Letushopeforthebest，\"repliedTennington。\"Youyourselfhavesetuseachasplendidexampleofbravery，forinawayyourlosshasbeenthegreatest。\"
\"Yes，\"shereplied;\"IcouldhavelovedJanePorternomorehadshebeenmyownsister。\"
Tenningtondidnotshowthesurprisehefelt。Thatwasnotatallwhathemeant。HehadbeenmuchwiththisfairdaughterofMarylandsincethewreckoftheLADYALICE，andithadrecentlycometohimthathehadgrownmuchmorefondofherthanwouldprovegoodforthepeaceofhismind，forherecalledalmostconstantlynowtheconfidencewhichMonsieurThuranhadimpartedtohimthatheandMissStrongwereengaged。Hewonderedif，afterall，Thuranhadbeenquiteaccurateinhisstatement。Hehadneverseentheslightestindicationonthegirl’spartofmorethanordinaryfriendship。
\"AndtheninMonsieurThuran’sloss，iftheyarelost，youwouldsufferaseverebereavement，\"heventured。
Shelookedupathimquickly。\"MonsieurThuranhadbecomeaverydearfriend，\"shesaid。\"Ilikedhimverymuch，thoughIhaveknownhimbutashorttime。\"
\"Thenyouwerenotengagedtomarryhim？\"heblurtedout。
\"Heavens，nol！\"shecried。\"Ididnotcareforhimatallinthatway。\"
TherewassomethingthatLordTenningtonwantedtosaytoHazelStrong——hewantedverybadlytosayit，andtosayitatonce;butsomehowthewordsstuckinhisthroat。
Hestartedlamelyacoupleoftimes，clearedhisthroat，becameredintheface，andfinallyendedbyremarkingthathehopedthecabinswouldbefinishedbeforetherainyseasoncommenced。
But，thoughhedidnotknowit，hehadconveyedtothegirltheverymessageheintended，anditleftherhappy——
happierthanshehadeverbeforebeeninallherlife。
Justthenfurtherconversationwasinterruptedbythesightofastrangeandterrible—lookingfigurewhichemergedfromthejunglejustsouthofthecamp。Tenningtonandthegirlsawitatthesametime。TheEnglishmanreachedforhisrevolver，butwhenthehalf—naked，beardedcreaturecalledhisnamealoudandcamerunningtowardthemhedroppedhishandandadvancedtomeetit。
Nonewouldhaverecognizedinthefilthy，emaciatedcreature，coveredbyasinglegarmentofsmallskins，theimmaculateMonsieurThuranthepartyhadlastseenuponthedeckoftheLADYALICE。
BeforetheothermembersofthelittlecommunitywereapprisedofhispresenceTenningtonandMissStrongquestionedhimregardingtheotheroccupantsofthemissingboat。
\"Theyarealldead，\"repliedThuran。\"Thethreesailorsdiedbeforewemadeland。MissPorterwascarriedoffintothejunglebysomewildanimalwhileIwaslyingdeliriouswithfever。Claytondiedofthesamefeverbutafewdayssince。
Andtothinkthatallthistimewehavebeenseparatedbybutafewmiles——scarcelyaday’smarch。Itisterrible！\"
HowlongJanePorterlayinthedarknessofthevaultbeneaththetempleintheancientcityofOparshedidnotknow。
Foratimeshewasdeliriouswithfever，butafterthispassedshecommencedslowlytoregainherstrength。
Everydaythewomanwhobroughtherfoodbeckonedtohertoarise，butformanydaysthegirlcouldonlyshakeherheadtoindicatethatshewastooweak。
Buteventuallyshewasabletogainherfeet，andthentostaggerafewstepsbysupportingherselfwithonehanduponthewall。Hercaptorsnowwatchedherwithincreasinginterest。Thedaywasapproaching，andthevictimwasgaininginstrength。
Presentlythedaycame，andayoungwomanwhomJanePorterhadnotseenbeforecamewithseveralotherstoherdungeon。
Heresomesortofceremonywasperformed——thatitwasofareligiousnaturethegirlwassure，andsoshetooknewheart，andrejoicedthatshehadfallenamongpeopleuponwhomtherefiningandsofteninginfluencesofreligionevidentlyhadfallen。Theywouldtreatherhumanely——ofthatshewasnowquitesure。
Andsowhentheyledherfromherdungeon，throughlong，darkcorridors，andupaflightofconcretestepstoabrilliantcourtyard，shewentwillingly，evengladly——forwasshenotamongtheservantsofGod？Itmightbe，ofcourse，thattheirinterpretationofthesupremebeingdifferedfromherown，butthattheyownedagodwassufficientevidencetoherthattheywerekindandgood。
Butwhenshesawastonealtarinthecenterofthecourtyard，anddark—brownstainsuponitandthenearbyconcreteofthefloor，shebegantowonderandtodoubt。Andastheystoopedandboundherankles，andsecuredherwristsbehindher，herdoubtswereturnedtofear。Amomentlater，asshewasliftedandplacedsupineacrossthealtar’stop，hopeleftherentirely，andshetrembledinanagonyoffright。
Duringthegrotesquedanceofthevotarieswhichfollowed，shelayfrozeninhorror，nordidsherequirethesightofthethinbladeinthehandsofthehighpriestessasitroseslowlyabovehertoenlightenherfurtherastoherdoom。
Asthehandbeganitsdescent，JanePorterclosedhereyesandsentupasilentprayertotheMakershewassosoontoface——thenshesuccumbedtothestrainuponhertirednerves，andswooned。
DayandnightTarzanoftheApesracedthroughtheprimevalforesttowardtheruinedcityinwhichhewaspositivethewomanhelovedlayeitheraprisonerordead。
Inadayandanighthecoveredthesamedistancethatthefiftyfrightfulmenhadtakenthebetterpartofaweektotraverse，forTarzanoftheApestraveledalongthemiddleterracehighabovethetangledobstaclesthatimpedeprogressupontheground。
ThestorytheyoungbullapehadtoldmadeitcleartohimthatthegirlcaptivehadbeenJanePorter，fortherewasnotanothersmallwhite\"she\"inallthejungle。The\"bulls\"hehadrecognizedfromtheape’scrudedescriptionasthegrotesqueparodiesuponhumanitywhoinhabittheruinsofOpar。
Andthegirl’sfatehecouldpictureasplainlyasthoughhewereaneyewitnesstoit。Whentheywouldlayheracrossthattrimaltarhecouldnotguess，butthatherdear，frailbodywouldeventuallyfinditswaytherehewasconfident。
But，finally，afterwhatseemedlongagestotheimpatientape—man，hetoppedthebarriercliffsthathemmedthedesolatevalley，andbelowhimlaythegrimandawfulruinsofthenowhideouscityofOpar。Atarapidtrothestartedacrossthedryanddusty，bowlder—strewngroundtowardthegoalofhisdesires。
Wouldhebeintimetorescue？Hehopedagainsthope。
Atleasthecouldberevenged，andinhiswrathitseemedtohimthathewasequaltothetaskofwipingouttheentirepopulationofthatterriblecity。Itwasnearlynoonwhenhereachedthegreatbowlderatthetopofwhichterminatedthesecretpassagetothepitsbeneaththecity。LikeacathescaledtheprecipitoussidesofthefrowninggraniteKOPJE。
Amomentlaterhewasrunningthroughthedarknessofthelong，straighttunnelthatledtothetreasurevault。
Throughthishepassed，thenonandonuntilatlasthecametothewell—likeshaftupontheoppositesideofwhichlaythedungeonwiththefalsewall。
Ashepausedamomentuponthebrinkofthewellafaintsoundcametohimthroughtheopeningabove。Hisquickearscaughtandtranslatedit——itwasthedanceofdeaththatprecededasacrifice，andthesingsongritualofthehighpriestess。Hecouldevenrecognizethewoman’svoice。
Coulditbethattheceremonymarkedtheverythinghehadsohastenedtoprevent？Awaveofhorrorsweptoverhim。
Washe，afterall，tobejustamomenttoolate？Likeafrighteneddeerheleapedacrossthenarrowchasmtothecontinuationofthepassagebeyond。Atthefalsewallhetorelikeonepossessedtodemolishthebarrierthatconfrontedhim——withgiantmusclesheforcedtheopening，thrustinghisheadandshouldersthroughthefirstsmallholehemade，andcarryingthebalanceofthewallwithhim，toclatterresoundinglyuponthecementfloorofthedungeon。
Withasingleleapheclearedthelengthofthechamberandthrewhimselfagainsttheancientdoor。Butherehestopped。
Themightybarsupontheothersidewereproofevenagainstsuchmusclesashis。Itneededbutamoment’sefforttoconvincehimofthefutilityofendeavoringtoforcethatimpregnablebarrier。Therewasbutoneotherway，andthatledbackthroughthelongtunnelstothebowlderamilebeyondthecity’swalls，andthenbackacrosstheopenashehadcometothecityfirstwithhisWaziri。
Herealizedthattoretracehisstepsandenterthecityfromabovegroundwouldmeanthathewouldbetoolatetosavethegirl，ifitwereindeedshewholayuponthesacrificialaltarabovehim。Butthereseemednootherway，andsoheturnedandranswiftlybackintothepassagewaybeyondthebrokenwall。Atthewellheheardagainthemonotonousvoiceofthehighpriestess，and，asheglancedaloft，theopening，twentyfeetabove，seemedsonearthathewastemptedtoleapforitinamadendeavortoreachtheinnercourtyardthatlaysonear。
Ifhecouldbutgetoneendofhisgrassropecaughtuponsomeprojectionatthetopofthattantalizingaperture！
Intheinstant’spauseandthoughtanideaoccurredtohim。
Hewouldattemptit。Turningbacktothetumbledwall，heseizedoneofthelarge，flatslabsthathadcomposedit。
Hastilymakingoneendofhisropefasttothepieceofgranite，hereturnedtotheshaft，and，coilingthebalanceoftheropeonthefloorbesidehim，theape—mantooktheheavyslabinbothhands，and，swingingitseveraltimestogetthedistanceandthedirectionfixed，helettheweightflyupataslightangle，sothat，insteadoffallingstraightbackintotheshaftagain，itgrazedthefaredge，tumblingoverintothecourtbeyond。
Tarzandraggedforamomentupontheslackendoftheropeuntilhefeltthatthestonewaslodgedwithfairsecurityattheshaft’stop，thenheswungoutovertheblackdepthsbeneath。Themomenthisfullweightcameupontheropehefeltitslipfromabove。Hewaitedthereinawfulsuspenseasitdroppedinlittlejerks，inchbyinch。
Thestonewasbeingdraggeduptheoutsideofthemasonrysurroundingthetopoftheshaft——woulditcatchattheveryedge，orwouldhisweightdragitovertofalluponhimashehurtledintotheunknowndepthsbelow？
Chapter25
ThroughtheForestPrimevalForabrief，sickeningmomentTarzanfelttheslippingoftheropetowhichheclung，andheardthescrapingoftheblockofstoneagainstthemasonryabove。
Thenofasuddentheropewasstill——thestonehadcaughtattheveryedge。Gingerlytheape—manclamberedupthefrailrope。
Inamomenthisheadwasabovetheedgeoftheshaft。
Thecourtwasempty。TheinhabitantsofOparwereviewingthesacrifice。TarzancouldhearthevoiceofLafromthenearbysacrificialcourt。Thedancehadceased。Itmustbealmosttimefortheknifetofall;butevenashethoughtthesethingshewasrunningrapidlytowardthesoundofthehighpriestess’voice。
Fateguidedhimtotheverydoorwayofthegreatrooflesschamber。
Betweenhimandthealtarwasthelongrowofpriestsandpriestesses，awaitingwiththeirgoldencupsthespillingofthewarmbloodoftheirvictim。La’shandwasdescendingslowlytowardthebosomofthefrail，quietfigurethatlaystretcheduponthehardstone。Tarzangaveagaspthatwasalmostasobasherecognizedthefeaturesofthegirlheloved。
Andthenthescaruponhisforeheadturnedtoaflamingbandofscarlet，aredmistfloatedbeforehiseyes，and，withtheawfulroarofthebullapegonemad，hespranglikeahugelionintothemidstofthevotaries。
Seizingacudgelfromthenearestpriest，helaidabouthimlikeaveritabledemonasheforgedhisrapidwaytowardthealtar。
ThehandofLahadpausedatthefirstnoiseofinterruption。
Whenshesawwhotheauthorofitwasshewentwhite。
Shehadneverbeenabletofathomthesecretofthestrangewhiteman’sescapefromthedungeoninwhichshehadlockedhim。ShehadnotintendedthatheshouldeverleaveOpar，forshehadlookeduponhisgiantframeandhandsomefacewiththeeyesofawomanandnotthoseofapriestess。
Inherclevermindshehadconcoctedastoryofwonderfulrevelationfromthelipsoftheflaminggodhimself，inwhichshehadbeenorderedtoreceivethiswhitestrangerasamessengerfromhimtohispeopleonearth。
ThatwouldsatisfythepeopleofOpar，sheknew。Themanwouldbesatisfied，shefeltquitesure，toremainandbeherhusbandratherthantoreturntothesacrificialaltar。
Butwhenshehadgonetoexplainherplantohimhehaddisappeared，thoughthedoorhadbeentightlylockedasshehadleftit。Andnowhehadreturned——materializedfromthinair——andwaskillingherpriestsasthoughtheyhadbeensheep。Forthemomentsheforgothervictim，andbeforeshecouldgatherherwitstogetheragainthehugewhitemanwasstandingbeforeher，thewomanwhohadlainuponthealtarinhisarms。
\"Oneside，La，\"hecried。\"Yousavedmeonce，andsoI
wouldnotharmyou;butdonotinterfereorattempttofollow，orIshallhavetokillyoualso。\"
Ashespokehesteppedpasthertowardtheentrancetothesubterraneanvaults。
\"Whoisshe？\"askedthehighpriestess，pointingattheunconsciouswoman。
\"Sheismine，\"saidTarzanoftheApes。
ForamomentthegirlofOparstoodwide—eyedandstaring。