按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
security at the shaft's top； then he swung out over the black
depths beneath。 The moment his full weight came upon the
rope he felt it slip from above。 He waited there in awful
suspense as it dropped in little jerks； inch by inch。
The stone was being dragged up the outside of the masonry
surrounding the top of the shaftwould it catch at the very edge；
or would his weight drag it over to fall upon him as he hurtled
into the unknown depths below？
Chapter 25
Through the Forest Primeval
For a brief； sickening moment Tarzan felt the slipping of
the rope to which he clung； and heard the scraping of
the block of stone against the masonry above。
Then of a sudden the rope was stillthe stone had caught at
the very edge。 Gingerly the ape…man clambered up the frail rope。
In a moment his head was above the edge of the shaft。
The court was empty。 The inhabitants of Opar were viewing
the sacrifice。 Tarzan could hear the voice of La from the
nearby sacrificial court。 The dance had ceased。 It must be
almost time for the knife to fall； but even as he thought these
things he was running rapidly toward the sound of the high
priestess' voice。
Fate guided him to the very doorway of the great roofless chamber。
Between him and the altar was the long row of priests and
priestesses； awaiting with their golden cups the spilling
of the warm blood of their victim。 La's hand was descending
slowly toward the bosom of the frail； quiet figure that lay
stretched upon the hard stone。 Tarzan gave a gasp that was
almost a sob as he recognized the features of the girl he loved。
And then the scar upon his forehead turned to a flaming band of
scarlet； a red mist floated before his eyes； and； with the
awful roar of the bull ape gone mad； he sprang like a huge
lion into the midst of the votaries。
Seizing a cudgel from the nearest priest； he laid about him like
a veritable demon as he forged his rapid way toward the altar。
The hand of La had paused at the first noise of interruption。
When she saw who the author of it was she went white。
She had never been able to fathom the secret of the
strange white man's escape from the dungeon in which she
had locked him。 She had not intended that he should ever
leave Opar； for she had looked upon his giant frame and
handsome face with the eyes of a woman and not those
of a priestess。
In her clever mind she had concocted a story of wonderful
revelation from the lips of the flaming god himself；
in which she had been ordered to receive this white
stranger as a messenger from him to his people on earth。
That would satisfy the people of Opar； she knew。 The man
would be satisfied； she felt quite sure； to remain and be her
husband rather than to return to the sacrificial altar。
But when she had gone to explain her plan to him he
had disappeared； though the door had been tightly locked
as she had left it。 And now he had returnedmaterialized
from thin airand was killing her priests as though they
had been sheep。 For the moment she forgot her victim；
and before she could gather her wits together again the
huge white man was standing before her； the woman who had
lain upon the altar in his arms。
〃One side； La；〃 he cried。 〃You saved me once； and so I
would not harm you； but do not interfere or attempt to
follow； or I shall have to kill you also。〃
As he spoke he stepped past her toward the entrance to the
subterranean vaults。
〃Who is she？〃 asked the high priestess； pointing at
the unconscious woman。
〃She is mine；〃 said Tarzan of the Apes。
For a moment the girl of Opar stood wide…eyed and staring。
Then a look of hopeless misery suffused her eyes
tears welled into them； and with a little cry she sank to
the cold floor； just as a swarm of frightful men dashed past
her to leap upon the ape…man。
But Tarzan of the Apes was not there when they reached
out to seize him。 With a light bound he had disappeared
into the passage leading to the pits below； and when his
pursuers came more cautiously after they found the chamber
empty； they but laughed and jabbered to one another； for
they knew that there was no exit from the pits other than the
one through which he had entered。 If he came out at all he
must come this way； and they would wait and watch for him above。
And so Tarzan of the Apes； carrying the unconscious Jane
Porter； came through the pits of Opar beneath the temple of
The Flaming God without pursuit。 But when the men of
Opar had talked further about the matter； they recalled to
mind that this very man had escaped once before into the
pits； and； though they had watched the entrance he had
not come forth； and yet today he had come upon them from
the outside。 They would again send fifty men out into the
valley to find and capture this desecrater of their temple。
After Tarzan reached the shaft beyond the broken wall；
he felt so positive of the successful issue of his flight that
he stopped to replace the tumbled stones； for he was not
anxious that any of the inmates should discover this
forgotten passage； and through it come upon the treasure chamber。
It was in his mind to return again to Opar and bear away
a still greater fortune than he had already buried in the
amphitheater of the apes。
On through the passageways he trotted； past the first door
and through the treasure vault； past the second door and
into the long； straight tunnel that led to the lofty hidden
exit beyond the city。 Jane Porter was still unconscious。
At the crest of the great bowlder he halted to cast a
backward glance toward the city。 Coming across the plain
he saw a band of the hideous men of Opar。 For a moment
he hesitated。 Should he descend and make a race for the distant
cliffs； or should he hide here until night？ And then a glance at
the girl's white face determined him。 He could not keep her
here and permit her enemies to get between them and liberty。
For aught he knew they might have been followed
through the tunnels； and to have foes before and behind
would result in almost certain capture； since he could not
fight his way through the enemy burdened as he was with
the unconscious girl。
To descend the steep face of the bowlder with Jane
Porter was no easy task； but by binding her across his
shoulders with the grass rope he succeeded in reaching the
ground in safety before the Oparians arrived at the great rock。
As the descent had been made upon the side away from the city；
the searching party saw nothing of it； nor did they dream
that their prey was so close before them。
By keeping the KOPJE between them and their pursuers；
Tarzan of the Apes managed to cover nearly a mile before
the men of Opar rounded the granite sentinel and saw
the fugitive before them。 With loud cries of savage delight；
they broke into a mad run； thinking doubtless that they
would soon overhaul the burdened runner； but they