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in revenge upon the lion； but now that he saw the old
man lying helpless and dying before him something akin
to pity touched his savage heart。 In his youth he
would have slain the witch…doctor without the slightest
compunction； but civilization had had its softening
effect upon him even as it does upon the nations and
races which it touches； though it had not yet gone far
enough with Tarzan to render him either cowardly or
effeminate。 He saw an old man suffering and dying； and
he stooped and felt of his wounds and stanched the flow
of blood。
〃Who are you？〃 asked the old man in a trembling voice。
〃I am TarzanTarzan of the Apes；〃 replied the ape…man
and not without a greater touch of pride than he would
have said； 〃I am John Clayton； Lord Greystoke。〃
The witch…doctor shook convulsively and closed his
eyes。 When he opened them again there was in them a
resignation to whatever horrible fate awaited him at
the hands of this feared demon of the woods。 〃Why do
you not kill me？〃 he asked。
〃Why should I kill you？〃 inquired Tarzan。
〃You have not harmed me； and anyway you are already dying。
Numa； the lion； has killed you。〃
〃You would not kill me？〃 Surprise and incredulity were
in the tones of the quavering old voice。
〃I would save you if I could；〃 replied Tarzan； 〃but
that cannot be done。 Why did you think I would kill
you？〃
For a moment the old man was silent。 When he spoke it
was evidently after some little effort to muster his
courage。 〃I knew you of old；〃 he said； 〃when you
ranged the jungle in the country of Mbonga； the chief。
I was already a witch…doctor when you slew Kulonga and
the others； and when you robbed our huts and our poison
pot。 At first I did not remember you； but at last I
didthe white…skinned ape that lived with the hairy
apes and made life miserable in the village of Mbonga；
the chiefthe forest godthe Munango…Keewati for whom
we set food outside our gates and who came and ate it。
Tell me before I dieare you man or devil？〃
Tarzan laughed。 〃I am a man；〃 he said。
The old fellow sighed and shook his head。 〃You have
tried to save me from Simba；〃 he said。 〃For that I
shall reward you。 I am a great witch…doctor。 Listen
to me； white man！ I see bad days ahead of you。 It is
writ in my own blood which I have smeared upon my palm。
A god greater even than you will rise up and strike you
down。 Turn back； Munango…Keewati！ Turn back before it
is too late。 Danger lies ahead of you and danger lurks
behind； but greater is the danger before。 I see〃
He paused and drew a long； gasping breath。 Then he
crumpled into a little； wrinkled heap and died。
Tarzan wondered what else he had seen。
It was very late when the ape…man re…entered the boma
and lay down among his black warriors。 None had seen
him go and none saw him return。 He thought about the
warning of the old witch…doctor before he fell asleep
and he thought of it again after he awoke； but he did
not turn back for he was unafraid； though had he known
what lay in store for one he loved most in all the
world he would have flown through the trees to her side
and allowed the gold of Opar to remain forever hidden
in its forgotten storehouse。
Behind him that morning another white man pondered
something he had heard during the night and very nearly
did he give up his project and turn back upon his
trail。 It was Werper； the murderer； who in the still
of the night had heard far away upon the trail ahead of
him a sound that had filled his cowardly soul with
terrora sound such as he never before had heard in
all his life； nor dreamed that such a frightful thing
could emanate from the lungs of a God…created creature。
He had heard the victory cry of the bull ape as Tarzan
had screamed it forth into the face of Goro； the moon；
and he had trembled then and hidden his face； and now
in the broad light of a new day he trembled again as he
recalled it； and would have turned back from the
nameless danger the echo of that frightful sound seemed
to portend； had he not stood in even greater fear of
Achmet Zek； his master。
And so Tarzan of the Apes forged steadily ahead toward
Opar's ruined ramparts and behind him slunk Werper；
jackal…like； and only God knew what lay in store for
each。
At the edge of the desolate valley； overlooking the
golden domes and minarets of Opar； Tarzan halted。
By night he would go alone to the treasure vault；
reconnoitering； for he had determined that caution
should mark his every move upon this expedition。
With the coming of night he set forth； and Werper； who
had scaled the cliffs alone behind the ape…man's party；
and hidden through the day among the rough boulders of
the mountain top； slunk stealthily after him。 The
boulder…strewn plain between the valley's edge and the
mighty granite kopje； outside the city's walls； where
lay the entrance to the passage…way leading to the
treasure vault； gave the Belgian ample cover as he
followed Tarzan toward Opar。
He saw the giant ape…man swing himself nimbly up the
face of the great rock。 Werper； clawing fearfully
during the perilous ascent； sweating in terror； almost
palsied by fear； but spurred on by avarice； following
upward； until at last he stood upon the summit of the
rocky hill。
Tarzan was nowhere in sight。 For a time Werper hid
behind one of the lesser boulders that were scattered
over the top of the hill； but； seeing or hearing
nothing of the Englishman； he crept from his place of
concealment to undertake a systematic search of his
surroundings； in the hope that he might discover the
location of the treasure in ample time to make his
escape before Tarzan returned； for it was the Belgian's
desire merely to locate the gold； that； after Tarzan
had departed； he might come in safety with his
followers and carry away as much as he could transport。
He found the narrow cleft leading downward into the
heart of the kopje along well…worn； granite steps。 He
advanced quite to the dark mouth of the tunnel into
which the runway disappeared； but here he halted；
fearing to enter； lest he meet Tarzan returning。
The ape…man； far ahead of him； groped his way along the
rocky passage； until he came to the ancient wooden
door。 A moment later he stood within the treasure
chamber； where； ages since； long…dead hands had ranged
the lofty rows of precious ingots for the rulers of
that great continent which now lies submerged beneath
the waters of the Atlantic。
No sound broke the stillness of the subterranean vault。
There was no evidence that another had discovered the
forgotten wealth since last the ape…man had visited its
hiding place。
Satisfied； Tarzan turned and retraced his steps toward
the summit of the kopje。 Werper； from the concealment
of a jutting； granite shoulder； watched him pass up
from the shadows of the stairway and advance toward the
edge of th