"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。