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chant and steps； and then suddenly； and in perfect unison；
they turned toward their victim with upraised bludgeons
and emitting fearful howls； the while they contorted their
features into the most diabolical expressions； they rushed
upon him。
At the same instant a female figure dashed into the midst
of the bloodthirsty horde； and； with a bludgeon similar to
their own； except that it was wrought from gold； beat back
the advancing men。
Chapter 20
La
For a moment Tarzan thought that by some strange freak
of fate a miracle had saved him； but when he realized the
ease with which the girl had； single…handed； beaten off
twenty gorilla…like males； and an instant later； as he saw
them again take up their dance about him while she addressed
them in a singsong monotone； which bore every evidence of
rote； he came to the conclusion that it was all but a part
of the ceremony of which he was the central figure。
After a moment or two the girl drew a knife from her girdle；
and； leaning over Tarzan； cut the bonds from his legs。
Then； as the men stopped their dance； and approached； she
motioned to him to rise。 Placing the rope that had been
about his legs around his neck； she led him across the
courtyard； the men following in twos。
Through winding corridors she led； farther and farther
into the remoter precincts of the temple； until they came to a
great chamber in the center of which stood an altar。 Then it
was that Tarzan translated the strange ceremony that had
preceded his introduction into this holy of holies。
He had fallen into the hands of descendants of the ancient
sun worshippers。 His seeming rescue by a votaress of the
high priestess of the sun had been but a part of the mimicry
of their heathen ceremonythe sun looking down upon him
through the opening at the top of the court had claimed him
as his own； and the priestess had come from the inner
temple to save him from the polluting hands of worldlings
to save him as a human offering to their flaming deity。
And had he needed further assurance as to the correctness
of his theory he had only to cast his eyes upon the brownish…
red stains that caked the stone altar and covered the floor
in its immediate vicinity； or to the human skulls which
grinned from countless niches in the towering walls。
The priestess led the victim to the altar steps。 Again the
galleries above filled with watchers； while from an arched
doorway at the east end of the chamber a procession of females
filed slowly into the room。 They wore； like the men；
only skins of wild animals caught about their waists with
rawhide belts or chains of gold； but the black masses of their
hair were incrusted with golden headgear composed of many
circular and oval pieces of gold ingeniously held together to
form a metal cap from which depended at each side of
the head； long strings of oval pieces falling to the waist。
The females were more symmetrically proportioned than
the males； their features were much more perfect； the shapes
of their heads and their large； soft； black eyes denoting far
greater intelligence and humanity than was possessed by
their lords and masters。
Each priestess bore two golden cups； and as they formed in
line along one side of the altar the men formed opposite them；
advancing and taking each a cup from the female opposite。
Then the chant began once more； and presently from
a dark passageway beyond the altar another female
emerged from the cavernous depths beneath the chamber。
The high priestess； thought Tarzan。 She was a young woman
with a rather intelligent and shapely face。 Her ornaments
were similar to those worn by her votaries； but much more
elaborate； many being set with diamonds。 Her bare arms
and legs were almost concealed by the massive； bejeweled
ornaments which covered them； while her single leopard
skin was supported by a close…fitting girdle of golden rings
set in strange designs with innumerable small diamonds。
In the girdle she carried a long； jeweled knife； and in her
hand a slender wand in lieu of a bludgeon。
As she advanced to the opposite side of the altar she
halted； and the chanting ceased。 The priests and priestesses
knelt before her； while with wand extended above them she
recited a long and tiresome prayer。 Her voice was soft and
musicalTarzan could scarce realize that its possessor
in a moment more would be transformed by the fanatical
ecstasy of religious zeal into a wild…eyed and bloodthirsty
executioner； who； with dripping knife； would be the first to
drink her victim's red； warm blood from the little golden cup
that stood upon the altar。
As she finished her prayer she let her eyes rest for the first
time upon Tarzan。 With every indication of considerable
curiosity she examined him from head to foot。 Then she
addressed him； and when she had finished stood waiting； as
though she expected a reply。
〃I do not understand your language；〃 said Tarzan。
〃Possibly we may speak together in another tongue？〃
But she could not understand him； though he tried French；
English； Arab； Waziri； and； as a last resort； the mongrel
tongue of the West Coast。
She shook her head； and it seemed that there was a note of
weariness in her voice as she motioned to the priests to
continue with the rites。 These now circled in a repetition of
their idiotic dance； which was terminated finally at a command
from the priestess； who had stood throughout； still
looking intently upon Tarzan。
At her signal the priests rushed upon the ape…man； and；
lifting him bodily； laid him upon his back across the altar；
his head hanging over one edge； his legs over the opposite。
Then they and the priestesses formed in two lines； with
their little golden cups in readiness to capture a share of the
victim's lifeblood after the sacrificial knife had accomplished
its work。
In the line of priests an altercation arose as to who
should have first place。 A burly brute with all the refined
intelligence of a gorilla stamped upon his bestial face was
attempting to push a smaller man to second place； but the
smaller one appealed to the high priestess； who in a cold
peremptory voice sent the larger to the extreme end of the line。
Tarzan could hear him growling and rumbling as he went
slowly to the inferior station。
Then the priestess； standing above him； began reciting
what Tarzan took to be an invocation； the while she slowly
raised her thin； sharp knife aloft。 It seemed ages to the
ape…man before her arm ceased its upward progress and the
knife halted high above his unprotected breast。
Then it started downward； slowly at first； but as the
incantation increased in rapidity； with greater speed。 At the
end of the line Tarzan could still hear the grumbling of the
disgruntled priest。 The man's voice rose louder and louder。
A priestess near him spoke in sharp tones of rebuke。 The kn