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Sometimes the incarnation of jealousy and revenge and
sometimes a sobbing maiden； generous and forgiving； at
once a virgin and a wanton； but alwaysa woman。
Such was La。
She pressed her cheek close to Tarzan's shoulder。
Slowly she turned her head until her hot lips were
pressed against his flesh。 She loved him and would
gladly have died for him； yet within an hour she had
been ready to plunge a knife into his heart and might
again within the coming hour。
A hapless priest seeking shelter in the jungle chanced
to show himself to enraged Tantor。 The great beast
turned to one side； bore down upon the crooked； little
man； snuffed him out and then； diverted from his
course； blundered away toward the south。 In a few
minutes even the noise of his trumpeting was lost in
the distance。
Tarzan dropped to the ground and La slipped to her feet
from his back。 〃Call your people together；〃 said Tarzan。
〃They will kill me；〃 replied La。
〃They will not kill you；〃 contradicted the ape…man。
〃No one will kill you while Tarzan of the Apes is here。
Call them and we will talk with them。〃
La raised her voice in a weird； flutelike call that
carried far into the jungle on every side。 From near
and far came answering shouts in the barking tones of
the Oparian priests： 〃We come！ We come！〃 Again and
again； La repeated her summons until singly and in
pairs the greater portion of her following approached
and halted a short distance away from the High
Priestess and her savior。 They came with scowling
brows and threatening mien。 When all had come Tarzan
addressed them。
〃Your La is safe；〃 said the ape…man。 〃Had she slain me
she would now herself be dead and many more of you； but
she spared me that I might save her。 Go your way with
her back to Opar； and Tarzan will go his way into the
jungle。 Let there be peace always between Tarzan and
La。 What is your answer？〃
The priests grumbled and shook their heads。 They spoke
together and La and Tarzan could see that they were not
favorably inclined toward the proposition。 They did
not wish to take La back and they did wish to complete
the sacrifice of Tarzan to the Flaming God。 At last
the ape…man became impatient。
〃You will obey the commands of your queen；〃 he said；
〃and go back to Opar with her or Tarzan of the Apes
will call together the other creatures of the jungle
and slay you all。 La saved me that I might save you
and her。 I have served you better alive than I could
have dead。 If you are not all fools you will let me go
my way in peace and you will return to Opar with La。
I know not where the sacred knife is； but you can fashion
another。 Had I not taken it from La you would have
slain me and now your god must be glad that I took it
since I have saved his priestess from love…mad Tantor。
Will you go back to Opar with La； promising that no
harm shall befall her？〃
The priests gathered together in a little knot arguing
and discussing。 They pounded upon their breasts with
their fists； they raised their hands and eyes to their
fiery god； they growled and barked among themselves
until it became evident to Tarzan that one of their
number was preventing the acceptance of his proposal。
This was the High Priest whose heart was filled with
jealous rage because La openly acknowledged her love
for the stranger； when by the worldly customs of their
cult she should have belonged to him。 Seemingly there
was to be no solution of the problem until another
priest stepped forth and； raising his hand； addressed
La。
〃Cadj； the High Priest；〃 he announced； 〃would sacrifice
you both to the Flaming God； but all of us except Cadj
would gladly return to Opar with our queen。〃
〃You are many against one；〃 spoke up Tarzan。
〃Why should you not have your will？ Go your way with
La to Opar and if Cadj interferes slay him。〃
The priests of Opar welcomed this suggestion with loud
cries of approval。 To them it appeared nothing short
of divine inspiration。 The influence of ages of
unquestioning obedience to high priests had made it
seem impossible to them to question his authority； but
when they realized that they could force him to their
will they were as happy as children with new toys。
They rushed forward and seized Cadj。 They talked in
loud menacing tones into his ear。 They threatened him
with bludgeon and knife until at last he acquiesced in
their demands； though sullenly； and then Tarzan stepped
close before Cadj。
〃Priest；〃 he said； 〃La goes back to her temple under
the protection of her priests and the threat of Tarzan
of the Apes that whoever harms her shall die。 Tarzan
will go again to Opar before the next rains and if harm
has befallen La； woe betide Cadj； the High Priest。〃
Sullenly Cadj promised not to harm his queen。
〃Protect her；〃 cried Tarzan to the other Oparians。
〃Protect her so that when Tarzan comes again he will
find La there to greet him。〃
〃La will be there to greet thee；〃 exclaimed the High
Priestess； 〃and La will wait； longing； always longing；
until you come again。 Oh； tell me that you will come！〃
〃Who knows？〃 asked the ape…man as he swung quickly into
the trees and raced off toward the east。
For a moment La stood looking after him； then her head
drooped； a sigh escaped her lips and like an old woman
she took up the march toward distant Opar。
Through the trees raced Tarzan of the Apes until the
darkness of night had settled upon the jungle； then he
lay down and slept； with no thought beyond the morrow
and with even La but the shadow of a memory within his
consciousness。
But a few marches to the north Lady Greystoke looked
forward to the day when her mighty lord and master
should discover the crime of Achmet Zek； and be
speeding to rescue and avenge； and even as she pictured
the coming of John Clayton； the object of her thoughts
squatted almost naked； beside a fallen log； beneath
which he was searching with grimy fingers for a chance
beetle or a luscious grub。
Two days elapsed following the theft of the jewels
before Tarzan gave them a thought。 Then； as they
chanced to enter his mind； he conceived a desire to
play with them again； and； having nothing better to do
than satisfy the first whim which possessed him； he
rose and started across the plain from the forest in
which he had spent the preceding day。
Though no mark showed where the gems had been buried；
and though the spot resembled the balance of an
unbroken stretch several miles in length； where the
reeds terminated at the edge of the meadowland； yet the
ape…man moved with unerring precision directly to the
place where he had hid his treasure。
With his hunting knife he upturned the loose earth；
beneath which the pouch should be； but； though he
excavated to a greater distance than the depth of the
original hole there was no sign of pouch or jewels。
Tarzan's bro