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。