Fortenminutestheygropedslowlyalongawindingpassage，untilatlengththeycametoacloseddoor。Hereheheardherfumblingwithakey，andpresentlycamethesoundofametalboltgratingagainstmetal。Thedoorswunginonscrapinghinges，andtheyentered。
\"Youwillbesafehereuntiltomorrownight，\"shesaid。
Thenshewentout，and，closingthedoor，lockeditbehindher。
WhereTarzanstooditwasdarkasErebus。Notevenhistrainedeyescouldpenetratetheutterblackness。
Cautiouslyhemovedforwarduntilhisout—stretchedhandtouchedawall，thenveryslowlyhetraveledaroundthefourwallsofthechamber。
Apparentlyitwasabouttwentyfeetsquare。Thefloorwasofconcrete，thewallsofthedrymasonrythatmarkedthemethodofconstructionaboveground。Smallpiecesofgraniteofvarioussizeswereingeniouslylaidtogetherwithoutmortartoconstructtheseancientfoundations。
ThefirsttimearoundthewallsTarzanthoughthedetectedastrangephenomenonforaroomwithnowindowsbutasingledoor。Againhecreptcarefullyaroundclosetothewall。No，hecouldnotbemistaken！Hepausedbeforethecenterofthewalloppositethedoor。Foramomenthestoodquitemotionless，thenhemovedafewfeettooneside。
Againhereturned，onlytomoveafewfeettotheotherside。
Oncemorehemadetheentirecircuitoftheroom，feelingcarefullyeveryfootofthewalls。Finallyhestoppedagainbeforetheparticularsectionthathadarousedhiscuriosity。
Therewasnodoubtofit！Adistinctdraftoffreshairwasblowingintothechamberthroughtheintersectionofthemasonryatthatparticularpoint——andnowhereelse。
Tarzantestedseveralpiecesofthegranitewhichmadeupthewallatthisspot，andfinallywasrewardedbyfindingonewhichliftedoutreadily。Itwasabouttenincheswide，withafacesomethreebysixinchesshowingwithinthechamber。
Onebyonetheape—manliftedoutsimilarlyshapedstones。
Thewallatthispointwasconstructedentirely，itseemed，ofthesealmostperfectslabs。Inashorttimehehadremovedsomedozen，whenhereachedintotestthenextlayerofmasonry。Tohissurprise，hefeltnothingbehindthemasonryhehadremovedasfarashislongarmcouldreach。
Itwasamatterofbutafewminutestoremoveenoughofthewalltopermithisbodytopassthroughtheaperture。
Directlyaheadofhimhethoughthediscernedafaintglow——scarcelymorethanalessimpenetrabledarkness。
Cautiouslyhemovedforwardonhandsandknees，untilataboutfifteenfeet，ortheaveragethicknessofthefoundationwalls，thefloorendedabruptlyinasuddendrop。Asfaroutashecouldreachhefeltnothing，norcouldhefindthebottomoftheblackabyssthatyawnedbeforehim，though，clingingtotheedgeofthefloor，heloweredhisbodyintothedarknesstoitsfulllength。
Finallyitoccurredtohimtolookup，andthereabovehimhesawthrougharoundopeningatinycircularpatchofstarrysky。Feelingupalongthesidesoftheshaftasfarashecouldreach，theape—mandiscoveredthatsomuchofthewallashecouldfeelconvergedtowardthecenteroftheshaftasitrose。Thisfactprecludedpossibilityofescapeinthatdirection。
Ashesatspeculatingonthenatureandusesofthisstrangepassageanditsterminalshaft，themoontoppedtheopeningabove，lettingafloodofsoft，silverylightintotheshadowyplace。InstantlythenatureoftheshaftbecameapparenttoTarzan，forfarbelowhimhesawtheshimmeringsurfaceofwater。Hehadcomeuponanancientwell——butwhatwasthepurposeoftheconnectionbetweenthewellandthedungeoninwhichhehadbeenhidden？
Asthemooncrossedtheopeningoftheshaftitslightfloodedthewholeinterior，andthenTarzansawdirectlyacrossfromhimanotheropeningintheoppositewall。
Hewonderedifthismightnotbethemouthofapassageleadingtopossibleescape。Itwouldbeworthinvestigating，atleast，andthishedeterminedtodo。
Quicklyreturningtothewallhehaddemolishedtoexplorewhatlaybeyondit，hecarriedthestonesintothepassagewayandreplacedthemfromthatside。Thedeepdepositofdustwhichhehadnoticedupontheblocksashehadfirstremovedthemfromthewallhadconvincedhimthatevenifthepresentoccupantsoftheancientpilehadknowledgeofthishiddenpassagetheyhadmadenouseofitforperhapsgenerations。
Thewallreplaced，Tarzanturnedtotheshaft，whichwassomefifteenfeetwideatthispoint。Toleapacrosstheinterveningspacewasasmallmattertotheape—man，andamomentlaterhewasproceedingalonganarrowtunnel，movingcautiouslyforfearofbeingprecipitatedintoanothershaftsuchashehadjustcrossed。
HehadadvancedsomehundredfeetwhenhecametoaflightofstepsleadingdownwardintoStygiangloom。
Sometwentyfeetbelow，thelevelfloorofthetunnelrecommenced，andshortlyafterwardhisprogresswasstoppedbyaheavywoodendoorwhichwassecuredbymassivewoodenbarsuponthesideofTarzan’sapproach。Thisfactsuggestedtotheape—manthathemightsurelybeinapassagewayleadingtotheouterworld，forthebolts，barringprogressfromtheoppositeside，tendedtosubstantiatethishypothesis，unlessitweremerelyaprisontowhichitled。
Alongthetopsofthebarsweredeeplayersofdust——afurtherindicationthatthepassagehadlainlongunused。Ashepushedthemassiveobstacleaside，itsgreathingesshriekedoutinweirdprotestagainstthisunaccustomeddisturbance。
ForamomentTarzanpausedtolistenforanyresponsivenotewhichmightindicatethattheunusualnightnoisehadalarmedtheinmatesofthetemple;butasheheardnothingheadvancedbeyondthedoorway。
Carefullyfeelingabout，hefoundhimselfwithinalargechamber，alongthewallsofwhich，anddownthelengthofthefloor，werepiledmanytiersofmetalingotsofanoddthoughuniformshape。Tohisgropinghandstheyfeltnotunlikedouble—headedbootjacks。Theingotswerequiteheavy，andbutfortheenormousnumberofthemhewouldhavebeenpositivethattheyweregold;butthethoughtofthefabulouswealththesethousandsofpoundsofmetalwouldhaverepresentedweretheyinrealitygold，almostconvincedhimthattheymustbeofsomebasermetal。
Atthefarendofthechamberhediscoveredanotherbarreddoor，andagainthebarsupontheinsiderenewedthehopethathewastraversinganancientandforgottenpassagewaytoliberty。Beyondthedoorthepassageranstraightasawarspear，anditsoonbecameevidenttotheape—manthatithadalreadyledhimbeyondtheouterwallsofthetemple。Ifhebutknewthedirectionitwasleadinghim！Iftowardthewest，thenhemustalsobebeyondthecity’souterwalls。
Withincreasinghopesheforgedaheadasrapidlyashedared，untilattheendofhalfanhourhecametoanotherflightofstepsleadingupward。Atthebottomthisflightwasofconcrete，butasheascendedhisnakedfeetfeltasuddenchangeinthesubstancetheyweretreading。
Thestepsofconcretehadgivenplacetostepsofgranite。
Feelingwithhishands，theape—mandiscoveredthattheselatterwereevidentlyhewedfromrock，fortherewasnocracktoindicateajoint。
Forahundredfeetthestepswoundspirallyup，untilatasuddenturningTarzancameintoanarrowcleftbetweentworockywalls。Abovehimshonethestarrysky，andbeforehimasteepinclinereplacedthestepsthathadterminatedatitsfoot。UpthispathwayTarzanhastened，andatitsupperendcameoutupontheroughtopofahugegranitebowlder。
AmileawaylaytheruinedcityofOpar，itsdomesandturretsbathedinthesoftlightoftheequatorialmoon。
Tarzandroppedhiseyestotheingothehadbroughtawaywithhim。Foramomentheexamineditbythemoon’sbrightrays，thenheraisedhisheadtolookoutupontheancientpilesofcrumblinggrandeurinthedistance。
\"Opar，\"hemused，\"Opar，theenchantedcityofadeadandforgottenpast。Thecityofthebeautiesandthebeasts。
Cityofhorrorsanddeath;but——cityoffabulousriches。\"
Theingotwasofvirgingold。
ThebowlderonwhichTarzanfoundhimselflaywelloutintheplainbetweenthecityandthedistantcliffsheandhisblackwarriorshadscaledthemorningprevious。Todescenditsroughandprecipitousfacewasataskofinfinitelaborandconsiderableperileventotheape—man;butatlasthefeltthesoftsoilofthevalleybeneathhisfeet，andwithoutabackwardglanceatOparheturnedhisfacetowardtheguardiancliffs，andatarapidtrotsetoffacrossthevalley。
Thesunwasjustrisingashegainedthesummitoftheflatmountainatthevalley’swesternboundary。Farbeneathhimhesawsmokearisingabovethetree—topsoftheforestatthebaseofthefoothills。
\"Man，\"hemurmured。\"Andtherewerefiftywhowentforthtotrackmedown。Canitbethey？\"
Swiftlyhedescendedthefaceofthecliff，and，droppingintoanarrowravinewhichleddowntothefarforest，hehastenedonwardinthedirectionofthesmoke。Strikingtheforest’sedgeaboutaquarterofamilefromthepointatwhichtheslendercolumnaroseintothestillair，hetooktothetrees。CautiouslyheapproacheduntiltheresuddenlyburstuponhisviewarudeBOMA，inthecenterofwhich，squattedabouttheirtinyfires，sathisfiftyblackWaziri。
Hecalledtothemintheirowntongue:
\"Arise，mychildren，andgreetthyking！\"
Withexclamationsofsurpriseandfearthewarriorsleapedtotheirfeet，scarcelyknowingwhethertofleeornot。
ThenTarzandroppedlightlyfromanoverhangingbranchintotheirmidst。Whentheyrealizedthatitwasindeedtheirchiefintheflesh，andnomaterializedspirit，theywentmadwithjoy。
\"Wewerecowards，oh，Waziri，\"criedBusuli。\"Weranawayandleftyoutoyourfate;butwhenourpanicwasoverwesworetoreturnandsaveyou，oratleasttakerevengeuponyourmurderers。Wewerebutnowpreparingtoscaletheheightsoncemoreandcrossthedesolatevalleytotheterriblecity。\"
\"Haveyouseenfiftyfrightfulmenpassdownfromthecliffsintothisforest，mychildren？\"askedTarzan。
\"Yes，Waziri，\"repliedBusuli。\"Theypasseduslateyesterday，aswewereabouttoturnbackafteryou。Theyhadnowoodcraft。
Weheardthemcomingforamilebeforewesawthem，andaswehadotherbusinessinhandwewithdrewintotheforestandletthempass。Theywerewaddlingrapidlyalonguponshortlegs，andnowandthenonewouldgouponallfourslikeBolgani，thegorilla。Theywereindeedfiftyfrightfulmen，Waziri。\"
WhenTarzanhadrelatedhisadventuresandtoldthemoftheyellowmetalhehadfound，notonedemurredwhenheoutlinedaplantoreturnbynightandbringawaywhattheycouldcarryofthevasttreasure;andsoitwasthatasduskfellacrossthedesolatevalleyofOparfiftyebonwarriorstrailedatasmarttrotoverthedryanddustygroundtowardthegiantbowlderthatloomedbeforethecity。
Ifithadseemedadifficulttasktodescendthefaceofthebowlder，Tarzansoonfoundthatitwouldbenexttoimpossibletogethisfiftywarriorstothesummit。Finallythefeatwasaccomplishedbydintofherculeaneffortsuponthepartoftheape—man。Tenspearswerefastenedendtoend，andwithoneendofthisremarkablechainattachedtohiswaist，Tarzanatlastsucceededinreachingthesummit。
Oncethere，hedrewuponeofhisblacks，andinthiswaytheentirepartywasfinallylandedinsafetyuponthebowlder’stop。ImmediatelyTarzanledthemtothetreasurechamber，wheretoeachwasallottedaloadoftwoingots，foreachabouteightypounds。
Bymidnighttheentirepartystoodoncemoreatthefootofthebowlder，butwiththeirheavyloadsitwasmid—
forenooneretheyreachedthesummitofthecliffs。
Fromthereonthehomewardjourneywasslow，astheseproudfightingmenwereunaccustomedtothedutiesofporters。
Buttheyboretheirburdensuncomplainingly，andattheendofthirtydaysenteredtheirowncountry。
Here，insteadofcontinuingontowardthenorthwestandtheirvillage，Tarzanguidedthemalmostdirectlywest，untilonthemorningofthethirty—thirddayhebadethembreakcampandreturntotheirownvillage，leavingthegoldwheretheyhadstackeditthepreviousnight。
\"Andyou，Waziri？\"theyasked。
\"Ishallremainhereforafewdays，mychildren，\"hereplied。
\"Nowhastenbacktothywivesandchildren。\"
WhentheyhadgoneTarzangathereduptwooftheingotsand，springingintoatree，ranlightlyabovethetangledandimpenetrablemassofundergrowthforacoupleofhundredyards，toemergesuddenlyuponacircularclearingaboutwhichthegiantsofthejungleforesttoweredlikeaguardianhost。
Inthecenterofthisnaturalamphitheater，wasalittleflat—toppedmoundofhardearth。
HundredsoftimesbeforehadTarzanbeentothissecludedspot，whichwassodenselysurroundedbythornbushesandtangledvinesandcreepersofhugegirththatnotevenSheeta，theleopard，couldwormhissinuouswaywithin，norTantor，withhisgiantstrength，forcethebarrierswhichprotectedthecouncilchamberofthegreatapesfromallbuttheharmlessdenizensofthesavagejungle。
FiftytripsTarzanmadebeforehehaddepositedalltheingotswithintheprecinctsoftheamphitheater。Thenfromthehollowofanancient，lightning—blastedtreeheproducedtheveryspadewithwhichhehaduncoveredthechestofProfessorArchimedesQ。Porterwhichhehadonce，apelike，buriedinthisselfsamespot。Withthishedugalongtrench，intowhichhelaidthefortunethathisblackshadcarriedfromtheforgottentreasurevaultsofthecityofOpar。
Thatnighthesleptwithintheamphitheater，andearlythenextmorningsetouttorevisithiscabinbeforereturningtohisWaziri。Findingthingsashehadleftthem，hewentforthintothejungletohunt，intendingtobringhispreytothecabinwherehemightfeastincomfort，spendingthenightuponacomfortablecouch。
Forfivemilestowardthesouthheroamed，towardthebanksofafair—sizedriverthatflowedintotheseaaboutsixmilesfromhiscabin。Hehadgoneinlandabouthalfamilewhentherecamesuddenlytohistrainednostrilstheonescentthatsetsthewholesavagejungleaquiver——Tarzansmelledman。
Thewindwasblowingofftheocean，soTarzanknewthattheauthorsofthescentwerewestofhim。MixedwiththemanscentwasthescentofNuma。Manandlion。
\"Ihadbetterhasten，\"thoughttheape—man，forhehadrecognizedthescentofwhites。\"Numamaybea—hunting。\"
Whenhecamethroughthetreestotheedgeofthejunglehesawawomankneelinginprayer，andbeforeherstoodawild，primitive—lookingwhiteman，hisfaceburiedinhisarms。
Behindthemanamangylionwasadvancingslowlytowardthiseasyprey。Theman’sfacewasaverted;thewoman’sbowedinprayer。Hecouldnotseethefeaturesofeither。
AlreadyNumawasabouttospring。Therewasnotasecondtospare。Tarzancouldnotevenunslinghisbowandfitanarrowintimetosendoneofhisdeadlypoisonedshaftsintotheyellowhide。Hewastoofarawaytoreachthebeastintimewithhisknife。Therewasbutasinglehope——alonealternative。Andwiththequicknessofthoughttheape—manacted。
Abrawnyarmflewback——forthebriefestfractionofaninstantahugespearpoisedabovethegiant’sshoulder——andthenthemightyarmshotout，andswiftdeathtorethroughtheinterveningleavestoburyitselfintheheartoftheleapinglion。Withoutasoundherolledoverattheveryfeetofhisintendedvictims——dead。
Foramomentneitherthemannorthewomanmoved。Thenthelatteropenedhereyestolookwithwonderuponthedeadbeastbehindhercompanion。AsthatbeautifulheadwentupTarzanoftheApesgaveagaspofincredulousastonishment。
Washemad？Itcouldnotbethewomanheloved！
But，indeed，itwasnoneother。
Andthewomanrose，andthemantookherinhisarmstokissher，andofasuddentheape—mansawredthroughabloodymistofmurder，andtheoldscaruponhisforeheadburnedscarletagainsthisbrownhide。
Therewasaterribleexpressionuponhissavagefaceashefittedapoisonedshafttohisbow。Anuglylightgleamedinthosegrayeyesashesightedfullatthebackoftheunsuspectingmanbeneathhim。
Foraninstantheglancedalongthepolishedshaft，drawingthebowstringfarback，thatthearrowmightpiercethroughtheheartforwhichitwasaimed。
Buthedidnotreleasethefatalmessenger。Slowlythepointofthearrowdrooped;thescaruponthebrownforeheadfaded;thebowstringrelaxed;andTarzanoftheApes，withbowedhead，turnedsadlyintothejungletowardthevillageoftheWaziri。
Chapter23
TheFiftyFrightfulMenForseverallongminutesJanePorterandWilliamCecilClaytonstoodsilentlylookingatthedeadbodyofthebeastwhosepreytheyhadsonarrowlyescapedbecoming。
Thegirlwasthefirsttospeakagainafterheroutbreakofimpulsiveavowal。
\"Whocouldithavebeen？\"shewhispered。
\"Godknows！\"wastheman’sonlyreply。
\"Ifitisafriend，whydoeshenotshowhimself？\"
continuedJane。\"Wouldn’titbewelltocallouttohim，andatleastthankhim？\"
MechanicallyClaytondidherbidding，buttherewasnoresponse。
JanePortershuddered。\"Themysteriousjungle，\"shemurmured。
\"Theterriblejungle。Itrenderseventhemanifestationsoffriendshipterrifying。\"
\"Wehadbestreturntotheshelter，\"saidClayton。\"Youwillbeatleastalittlesaferthere。Iamnoprotectionwhatever，\"headdedbitterly。
\"Donotsaythat，William，\"shehastenedtourge，acutelysorryforthewoundherwordshadcaused。\"Youhavedonethebestyoucould。Youhavebeennoble，andself—
sacrificing，andbrave。Itisnofaultofyoursthatyouarenotasuperman。ThereisonlyoneothermanIhaveeverknownwhocouldhavedonemorethanyou。Mywordswereillchosenintheexcitementofthereaction——Ididnotwishtowoundyou。AllthatIwishisthatwemaybothunderstandonceandforallthatIcannevermarryyou——thatsuchamarriagewouldbewicked。\"
\"IthinkIunderstand，\"hereplied。\"Letusnotspeakofitagain——atleastuntilwearebackincivilization。\"
ThenextdayThuranwasworse。Almostconstantlyhewasinastateofdelirium。Theycoulddonothingtorelievehim，norwasClaytonover—anxioustoattemptanything。Onthegirl’saccounthefearedtheRussian——inthebottomofhishearthehopedthemanwoulddie。Thethoughtthatsomethingmightbefallhimthatwouldleaveherentirelyatthemercyofthisbeastcausedhimgreateranxietythantheprobabilitythatalmostcertaindeathawaitedhershouldshebeleftentirelyaloneupontheoutskirtsofthecruelforest。
TheEnglishmanhadextractedtheheavyspearfromthebodyofthelion，sothatwhenhewentintotheforesttohuntthatmorninghehadafeelingofmuchgreatersecuritythanatanytimesincetheyhadbeencastuponthesavageshore。
Theresultwasthathepenetratedfartherfromtheshelterthaneverbefore。
Toescapeasfaraspossiblefromthemadravingsofthefever—strickenRussian，JanePorterhaddescendedfromthesheltertothefootofthetree——shedarednotventurefarther。
Here，besidethecrudeladderClaytonhadconstructedforher，shesatlookingouttosea，inthealwayssurvivinghopethatavesselmightbesighted。
Herbackwastowardthejungle，andsoshedidnotseethegrassespart，orthesavagefacethatpeeredfrombetween。
Little，bloodshot，close—seteyesscannedherintently，rovingfromtimetotimeabouttheopenbeachforindicationsofthepresenceofothersthanherself。Presentlyanotherheadappeared，andthenanotherandanother。Themaninthesheltercommencedtoraveagain，andtheheadsdisappearedassilentlyandassuddenlyastheyhadcome。
Butsoontheywerethrustforthoncemore，asthegirlgavenosignofperturbationatthecontinuedwailingofthemanabove。
Onebyonegrotesqueformsemergedfromthejungletocreepstealthilyupontheunsuspectingwoman。Afaintrustlingofthegrassesattractedherattention。Sheturned，andatthesightthatconfrontedherstaggeredtoherfeetwithalittleshriekoffear。Thentheycloseduponherwitharush。Liftingherbodilyinhislong，gorilla—likearms，oneofthecreaturesturnedandboreherintothejungle。
Afilthypawcoveredhermouthtostifleherscreams。
Addedtotheweeksoftortureshehadalreadyundergone，theshockwasmorethanshecouldwithstand。Shatterednervescollapsed，andshelostconsciousness。
Whensheregainedhersensesshefoundherselfinthethickoftheprimevalforest。Itwasnight。Ahugefireburnedbrightlyinthelittleclearinginwhichshelay。Aboutitsquattedfiftyfrightfulmen。Theirheadsandfaceswerecoveredwithmattedhair。Theirlongarmsresteduponthebentkneesoftheirshort，crookedlegs。Theyweregnawing，likebeasts，uponuncleanfood。Apotboiledupontheedgeofthefire，andoutofitoneofthecreatureswouldoccasionallydragahunkofmeatwithasharpenedstick。
Whentheydiscoveredthattheircaptivehadregainedconsciousness，apieceofthisrepulsivestewwastossedtoherfromthefoulhandofanearbyfeaster。Itrolledclosetoherside，butsheonlyclosedhereyesasaqualmofnauseasurgedthroughher。
Formanydaystheytraveledthroughthedenseforest。Thegirl，footsoreandexhausted，washalfdragged，halfpushedthroughthelong，hot，tediousdays。Occasionally，whenshewouldstumbleandfall，shewascuffedandkickedbythenearestofthefrightfulmen。Longbeforetheyreachedtheirjourney’sendhershoeshadbeendiscarded——thesolesentirelygone。Herclothesweretorntomereshredsandtatters，andthroughthepitifulragsheroncewhiteandtenderskinshowedrawandbleedingfromcontactwiththethousandpitilessthornsandbramblesthroughwhichshehadbeendragged。
Thelasttwodaysofthejourneyfoundherinsuchutterexhaustionthatnoamountofkickingandabusecouldforcehertoherpoor，bleedingfeet。Outragednaturehadreachedthelimitofendurance，andthegirlwasphysicallypowerlesstoraiseherselfeventoherknees。
Asthebeastssurroundedher，chatteringthreateninglythewhiletheygoadedherwiththeircudgelsandbeatandkickedherwiththeirfistsandfeet，shelaywithclosedeyes，prayingforthemercifuldeaththatsheknewalonecouldgivehersurceasefromsuffering;butitdidnotcome，andpresentlythefiftyfrightfulmenrealizedthattheirvictimwasnolongerabletowalk，andsotheypickedherupandcarriedherthebalanceofthejourney。
Lateoneafternoonshesawtheruinedwallsofamightycityloomingbeforethem，butsoweakandsickwasshethatitinspirednotthefaintestshadowofinterest。
Wherevertheywerebearingher，therecouldbebutoneendtohercaptivityamongthesefiercehalfbrutes。
Atlasttheypassedthroughtwogreatwallsandcametotheruinedcitywithin。Intoacrumblingpiletheyboreher，andhereshewassurroundedbyhundredsmoreofthesamecreaturesthathadbroughther;butamongthemwerefemaleswholookedlesshorrible。Atsightofthemthefirstfainthopethatshehadentertainedcametomitigatehermisery。Butitwasshort—lived，forthewomenofferedhernosympathy，though，ontheotherhand，neitherdidtheyabuseher。
Aftershehadbeeninspectedtotheentiresatisfactionoftheinmatesofthebuildingshewasbornetoadarkchamberinthevaultsbeneath，andhereuponthebarefloorshewasleft，withametalbowlofwaterandanotheroffood。
Foraweekshesawonlysomeofthewomenwhosedutyitwastobringherfoodandwater。Slowlyherstrengthwasreturning——soonshewouldbeinfitconditiontoofferasasacrificetoTheFlamingGod。Fortunateindeeditwasthatshecouldnotknowthefateforwhichshewasdestined。
AsTarzanoftheApesmovedslowlythroughthejungleaftercastingthespearthatsavedClaytonandJanePorterfromthefangsofNuma，hismindwasfilledwithallthesorrowthatbelongstoafreshlyopenedheartwound。
Hewasgladthathehadstayedhishandintimetopreventtheconsummationofthethingthatinthefirstmadwaveofjealouswrathhehadcontemplated。OnlythefractionofasecondhadstoodbetweenClaytonanddeathatthehandsoftheape—man。IntheshortmomentthathadelapsedafterhehadrecognizedthegirlandhercompanionandtherelaxingofthetautmusclesthatheldthepoisonedshaftdirectedattheEnglishman’sheart，Tarzanhadbeenswayedbytheswiftandsavageimpulsesofbrutelife。
Hehadseenthewomanhecraved——hiswoman——hismate——inthearmsofanother。Therehadbeenbutonecourseopentohim，accordingtothefiercejunglecodethatguidedhiminthisotherexistence;butjustbeforeithadbecometoolatethesoftersentimentsofhisinherentchivalryhadrisenabovetheflamingfiresofhispassionandsavedhim。
Athousandtimeshegavethanksthattheyhadtriumphedbeforehisfingershadreleasedthatpolishedarrow。
AshecontemplatedhisreturntotheWaziritheideabecamerepugnant。Hedidnotwishtoseeahumanbeingagain。
Atleasthewouldrangealonethroughthejungleforatime，untilthesharpedgeofhissorrowhadbecomeblunted。Likehisfellowbeasts，hepreferredtosufferinsilenceandalone。
Thatnighthesleptagainintheamphitheateroftheapes，andforseveraldayshehuntedfromthere，returningatnight。
Ontheafternoonofthethirddayhereturnedearly。
Hehadlainstretcheduponthesoftgrassofthecircularclearingforbutafewmomentswhenheheardfartothesouthafamiliarsound。Itwasthepassingthroughthejungleofabandofgreatapes——hecouldnotmistakethat。
Forseveralminuteshelaylistening。Theywerecominginthedirectionoftheamphitheater。
Tarzanaroselazilyandstretchedhimself。Hiskeenearsfollowedeverymovementoftheadvancingtribe。Theywereupwind，andpresentlyhecaughttheirscent，thoughhehadnotneededthisaddedevidencetoassurehimthathewasright。
AstheycameclosertotheamphitheaterTarzanoftheApesmeltedintothebranchesupontheothersideofthearena。
Therehewaitedtoinspectthenewcomers。Norhadhelongtowait。
Presentlyafierce，hairyfaceappearedamongthelowerbranchesoppositehim。Thecruellittleeyestookintheclearingataglance，thentherewasachatteredreportreturnedtothosebehind。Tarzancouldhearthewords。
Thescoutwastellingtheothermembersofthetribethatthecoastwasclearandthattheymightentertheamphitheaterinsafety。
Firsttheleaderdroppedlightlyuponthesoftcarpetofthegrassyfloor，andthen，onebyone，nearlyahundredanthropoidsfollowedhim。Therewerethehugeadultsandseveralyoung。Afewnursingbabesclungclosetotheshaggynecksoftheirsavagemothers。
Tarzanrecognizedmanymembersofthetribe。Itwasthesameintowhichhehadcomeasatinybabe。Manyoftheadultshadbeenlittleapesduringhisboyhood。Hehadfrolickedandplayedaboutthisveryjunglewiththemduringtheirbriefchildhood。Hewonderediftheywouldrememberhim——thememoryofsomeapesisnotoverlong，andtwoyearsmaybeaneternitytothem。
Fromthetalkwhichheoverheardhelearnedthattheyhadcometochooseanewking——theirlatechiefhadfallenahundredfeetbeneathabrokenlimbtoanuntimelyend。
Tarzanwalkedtotheendofanoverhanginglimbinplainviewofthem。Thequickeyesofafemalecaughtsightofhimfirst。Withabarkinggutturalshecalledtheattentionoftheothers。Severalhugebullsstooderecttogetabetterviewoftheintruder。Withbaredfangsandbristlingneckstheyadvancedslowlytowardhim，withdeep—throated，ominousgrowls。
\"Karnath，IamTarzanoftheApes，\"saidtheape—maninthevernacularofthetribe。\"Yourememberme。TogetherweteasedNumawhenwewerestilllittleapes，throwingsticksandnutsathimfromthesafetyofhighbranches。\"
Thebrutehehadaddressedstoppedwithalookofhalf—
comprehending，dullwondermentuponhissavageface。
\"AndMagor，\"continuedTarzan，addressinganother，\"doyounotrecallyourformerking——hewhoslewthemightyKerchak？
Lookatme！AmInotthesameTarzan——mightyhunter——invinciblefighter——thatyouallknewformanyseasons？\"
Theapesallcrowdedforwardnow，butmoreincuriositythanthreatening。Theymutteredamongthemselvesforafewmoments。
\"Whatdoyouwantamongusnow？\"askedKarnath。
