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she spoke。
〃You are a very wonderful man；〃 she said。 〃You are
such a man as I have seen in my daydreams ever since I
was a little girl。 You are such a man as I imagine the
forbears of my people must have beenthe great race of people
who built this mighty city in the heart of a savage world that
they might wrest from the bowels of the earth the fabulous
wealth for which they had sacrificed their far…distant civilization。
〃I cannot understand why you came to my rescue in the
first place； and now I cannot understand why； having me
within your power； you do not wish to be revenged upon
me for having sentenced you to deathfor having almost
put you to death with my own hand。〃
〃I presume；〃 replied the ape…man； 〃that you but followed
the teachings of your religion。 I cannot blame YOU for that；
no matter what I may think of your creed。 But who are you
what people have I fallen among？〃
〃I am La； high priestess of the Temple of the Sun； in the
city of Opar。 We are descendants of a people who came to
this savage world more than ten thousand years ago in search
of gold。 Their cities stretched from a great sea under the
rising sun to a great sea into which the sun descends at night
to cool his flaming brow。 They were very rich and very
powerful； but they lived only a few months of the year in
their magnificent palaces here； the rest of the time they
spent in their native land； far； far to the north。
〃Many ships went back and forth between this new world
and the old。 During the rainy season there were but few
of the inhabitants remained here； only those who
superintended the working of the mines by the black slaves；
and the merchants who had to stay to supply their wants；
and the soldiers who guarded the cities and the mines。
〃It was at one of these times that the great calamity occurred。
When the time came for the teeming thousands to return none came。
For weeks the people waited。 Then they sent out a great galley
to learn why no one came from the mother country； but though
they sailed about for many months； they were unable to find
any trace of the mighty land that had for countless ages
borne their ancient civilizationit had sunk into the sea。
〃From that day dated the downfall of my people。
Disheartened and unhappy； they soon became a prey to the
black hordes of the north and the black hordes of the south。
One by one the cities were deserted or overcome。 The last
remnant was finally forced to take shelter within this mighty
mountain fortress。 Slowly we have dwindled in power； in
civilization； in intellect； in numbers； until now we are no
more than a small tribe of savage apes。
〃In fact； the apes live with us； and have for many ages。
We call them the first menwe speak their language quite
as much as we do our own； only in the rituals of the temple
do we make any attempt to retain our mother tongue。 In time
it will be forgotten； and we will speak only the language
of the apes； in time we will no longer banish those of our
people who mate with apes； and so in time we shall descend
to the very beasts from which ages ago our progenitors may
have sprung。〃
〃But why are you more human than the others？〃 asked
the man。
〃For some reason the women have not reverted to savagery
so rapidly as the men。 It may be because only the
lower types of men remained here at the time of the great
catastrophe； while the temples were filled with the noblest
daughters of the race。 My strain has remained clearer
than the rest because for countless ages my foremothers were
high priestessesthe sacred office descends from mother
to daughter。 Our husbands are chosen for us from the noblest
in the land。 The most perfect man； mentally and physically；
is selected to be the husband of the high priestess。〃
〃From what I saw of the gentlemen above；〃 said Tarzan；
with a grin； 〃there should be little trouble in choosing from
among them。〃
The girl looked at him quizzically for a moment。
〃Do not be sacrilegious；〃 she said。 〃They are very holy
menthey are priests。〃
〃Then there are others who are better to look upon？〃 he asked。
〃The others are all more ugly than the priests；〃 she replied。
Tarzan shuddered at her fate； for even in the dim light of
the vault he was impressed by her beauty。
〃But how about myself？〃 he asked suddenly。 〃Are you
going to lead me to liberty？〃
〃You have been chosen by The Flaming God as his own；〃
she answered solemnly。 〃Not even I have the power to
save youshould they find you again。 But I do not intend
that they shall find you。 You risked your life to save mine。
I may do no less for you。 It will be no easy matterit may
require days； but in the end I think that I can lead you beyond
the walls。 Come； they will look here for me presently； and
if they find us together we shall both be lostthey would
kill me did they think that I had proved false to my god。〃
〃You must not take the risk； then；〃 he said quickly。 〃I will
return to the temple； and if I can fight my way to freedom
there will be no suspicion thrown upon you。〃
But she would not have it so； and finally persuaded him
to follow her； saying that they had already remained in the
vault too long to prevent suspicion from falling upon her
even if they returned to the temple。
〃I will hide you； and then return alone；〃 she said； 〃telling
them that I was long unconscious after you killed Tha； and
that I do not know whither you escaped。〃
And so she led him through winding corridors of gloom；
until finally they came to a small chamber into which a little
light filtered through a stone grating in the ceiling。
〃This is the Chamber of the Dead；〃 she said。 〃None will
think of searching here for youthey would not dare。 I will
return after it is dark。 By that time I may have found a
plan to effect your escape。〃
She was gone； and Tarzan of the Apes was left alone in
the Chamber of the Dead； beneath the long…dead city of Opar。
Chapter 21
The Castaways
Clayton dreamed that he was drinking his fill of water；
pure； delightful drafts of fresh water。 With a start he
gained consciousness to find himself wet through by
torrents of rain that were falling upon his body and his
upturned face。 A heavy tropical shower was beating down
upon them。 He opened his mouth and drank。 Presently he
was so revived and strengthened that he was enabled to
raise himself upon his hands。 Across his legs lay
Monsieur Thuran。 A few feet aft Jane Porter was huddled
in a pitiful little heap in the bottom of the boatshe
was quite still。 Clayton knew that she was dead。
After infinite labor he released himself from Thuran's
pinioning body； and with renewed strength crawled toward the girl。
He raised her head from the rough boards of the boat's bottom。
There might be life in that poor； starved frame even yet。
He could not quite abandon