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shelter among the branches of their tree of refuge。
Clayton had been into the jungle a few hundred yards
in search of food。 As he returned Jane Porter walked
to meet him。 Behind the man； cunning and crafty；
crept an old and mangy lion。 For three days his ancient
thews and sinews had proved insufficient for the task of
providing his cavernous belly with meat。 For months he
had eaten less and less frequently； and farther and farther
had he roamed from his accustomed haunts in search of
easier prey。 At last he had found nature's weakest and
most defenseless creaturein a moment more Numa would dine。
Clayton； all unconscious of the lurking death behind him；
strode out into the open toward Jane。 He had reached her
side； a hundred feet from the tangled edge of jungle when
past his shoulder the girl saw the tawny head and the
wicked yellow eyes as the grasses parted； and the huge
beast； nose to ground； stepped softly into view。
So frozen with horror was she that she could utter no
sound； but the fixed and terrified gaze of her fear…widened
eyes spoke as plainly to Clayton as words。 A quick glance
behind him revealed the hopelessness of their situation。
The lion was scarce thirty paces from them； and they were
equally as far from the shelter。 The man was armed with
a stout stickas efficacious against a hungry lion；
he realized； as a toy pop…gun charged with a tethered cork。
Numa； ravenous with hunger； had long since learned the
futility of roaring and moaning as he searched for prey；
but now that it was as surely his as though already he had
felt the soft flesh beneath his still mighty paw； he opened his
huge jaws； and gave vent to his long…pent rage in a series of
deafening roars that made the air tremble。
〃Run； Jane！〃 cried Clayton。 〃Quick！ Run for the shelter！〃
But her paralyzed muscles refused to respond； and she stood
mute and rigid； staring with ghastly countenance at the
living death creeping toward them。
Thuran； at the sound of that awful roar； had come to
the opening of the shelter； and as he saw the tableau below
him he hopped up and down； shrieking to them in Russian。
〃Run！ Run！〃 he cried。 〃Run； or I shall be left all alone in
this horrible place；〃 and then he broke down and commenced to weep。
For a moment this new voice distracted the attention of the
lion； who halted to cast an inquiring glance in the direction
of the tree。 Clayton could endure the strain no longer。
Turning his back upon the beast； he buried his head in
his arms and waited。
The girl looked at him in horror。 Why did he not do
something？ If he must die； why not die like a manbravely；
beating at that terrible face with his puny stick； no matter how
futile it might be。 Would Tarzan of the Apes have done thus？
Would he not at least have gone down to his death fighting
heroically to the last？
Now the lion was crouching for the spring that would end
their young lives beneath cruel； rending； yellow fangs。
Jane Porter sank to her knees in prayer； closing her eyes
to shut out the last hideous instant。 Thuran； weak
from fever； fainted。
Seconds dragged into minutes； long minutes into an eternity；
and yet the beast did not spring。 Clayton was almost
unconscious from the prolonged agony of frighthis
knees trembleda moment more and he would collapse。
Jane Porter could endure it no longer。 She opened her eyes。
Could she be dreaming？
〃William；〃 she whispered； 〃look！〃
Clayton mastered himself sufficiently to raise his head and
turn toward the lion。 An ejaculation of surprise burst from
his lips。 At their very feet the beast lay crumpled in death。
A heavy war spear protruded from the tawny hide。 It had
entered the great back above the right shoulder； and； passing
entirely through the body； had pierced the savage heart。
Jane Porter had risen to her feet； as Clayton turned back
to her she staggered in weakness。 He put out his arms to
save her from falling； and then drew her close to
himpressing her head against his shoulder； he stooped
to kiss her in thanksgiving。
Gently the girl pushed him away。
〃Please do not do that； William；〃 she said。 〃I have lived a
thousand years in the past brief moments。 I have learned in
the face of death how to live。 I do not wish to hurt you more
than is necessary； but I can no longer bear to live out the
impossible position I have attempted because of a false sense
of loyalty to an impulsive promise I made you。
〃The last few seconds of my life have taught me that it
would be hideous to attempt further to deceive myself and
you； or to entertain for an instant longer the possibility of
ever becoming your wife； should we regain civilization。〃
〃Why； Jane；〃 he cried； 〃what do you mean？ What has our
providential rescue to do with altering your feelings toward me？
You are but unstrungtomorrow you will be yourself again。〃
〃I am more nearly myself this minute than I have been for
over a year；〃 she replied。 〃The thing that has just happened
has again forced to my memory the fact that the bravest man
that ever lived honored me with his love。 Until it was too
late I did not realize that I returned it； and so I sent him away。
He is dead now； and I shall never marry。 I certainly could
not wed another less brave than he without harboring constantly
a feeling of contempt for the relative cowardice of my husband。
Do you understand me？〃
〃Yes；〃 he answered； with bowed head； his face mantling
with the flush of shame。
And it was the next day that the great calamity befell。
Chapter 22
The Treasure Vaults of Opar
It was quite dark before La； the high priestess； returned to
the Chamber of the Dead with food and drink for Tarzan。
She bore no light； feeling with her hands along the
crumbling walls until she gained the chamber。 Through the
stone grating above； a tropic moon served dimly to illuminate
the interior。
Tarzan； crouching in the shadows at the far side of the
room as the first sound of approaching footsteps reached him；
came forth to meet the girl as he recognized that it was she。
〃They are furious；〃 were her first words。 〃Never before
has a human sacrifice escaped the altar。 Already fifty have
gone forth to track you down。 They have searched the
templeall save this single room。〃
〃Why do they fear to come here？〃 he asked。
〃It is the Chamber of the Dead。 Here the dead return to worship。
See this ancient altar？ It is here that the dead sacrifice the
livingif they find a victim here。 That is the reason
our people shun this chamber。 Were one to enter he knows
that the waiting dead would seize him for their sacrifice。〃
〃But you？〃 he asked。
〃I am high priestessI alone am safe from the dead。
It is I who at rare intervals bring them a human sacrifice
from the world above。 I alone may enter here in safety。〃
〃Why have they not seized me