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diameter lying due east and west。 Each was excavated from the summit of a small hillock and all were without roofs。 The western altars invariably were a single block of stone the top of which was hollowed into an oblong basin。 Those at the eastern ends were similar blocks of stone with flat tops and these latter； unlike those at the opposite ends of the ovals were invariably stained or painted a reddish brown； nor did Tarzan need to examine them closely to be assured of what his keen nostrils already had told himthat the brown stains were dried and drying human blood。
Below these temple courts were corridors and apartments reaching far into the bowels of the hills； dim； gloomy passages that Tarzan glimpsed as he was led from place to place on his tour of inspection of the temple。 A messenger had been dispatched by Ko…tan to announce the coming visit of the son of Jad…ben…Otho with the result that they were accompanied through the temple by a considerable procession of priests whose distinguishing mark of profession seemed to consist in grotesque headdresses； sometimes hideous faces carved from wood and entirely concealing the countenances of their wearers； or again； the head of a wild beast cunningly fitted over the head of a man。 The high priest alone wore no such head…dress。 He was an old man with close…set； cunning eyes and a cruel； thin…lipped mouth。
At first sight of him Tarzan realized that here lay the greatest danger to his ruse； for he saw at a glance that the man was antagonistic toward him and his pretensions； and he knew too that doubtless of all the people of Pal…ul…don the high priest was most likely to harbor the truest estimate of Jad…ben…Otho； and； therefore； would look with suspicion on one who claimed to be the son of a fabulous god。
No matter what suspicion lurked within his crafty mind； Lu…don； the high priest of A…lur； did not openly question Tarzan's right to the title of Dor…ul…Otho； and it may be that he was restrained by the same doubts which had originally restrained Ko…tan and his warriorsthe doubt that is at the bottom of the minds of all blasphemers even and which is based upon the fear that after all there may be a god。 So； for the time being at least Lu…don played safe。 Yet Tarzan knew as well as though the man had spoken aloud his inmost thoughts that it was in the heart of the high priest to tear the veil from his imposture。
At the entrance to the temple Ko…tan had relinquished the guidance of the guest to Lu…don and now the latter led Tarzan through those portions of the temple that he wished him to see。 He showed him the great room where the votive offerings were kept； gifts from the barbaric chiefs of Pal…ul…don and from their followers。 These things ranged in value from presents of dried fruits to massive vessels of beaten gold； so that in the great main storeroom and its connecting chambers and corridors was an accumulation of wealth that amazed even the eyes of the owner of the secret of the treasure vaults of Opar。
Moving to and fro throughout the temple were sleek black Waz…don slaves； fruits of the Ho…don raids upon the villages of their less civilized neighbors。 As they passed the barred entrance to a dim corridor； Tarzan saw within a great company of pithecanthropi of all ages and of both sexes； Ho…don as well as Waz…don； the majority of them squatted upon the stone floor in attitudes of utter dejection while some paced back and forth； their features stamped with the despair of utter hopelessness。
〃And who are these who lie here thus unhappily？〃 he asked of Lu…don。 It was the first question that he had put to the high priest since entering the temple； and instantly he regretted that he had asked it； for Lu…don turned upon him a face upon which the expression of suspicion was but thinly veiled。
〃Who should know better than the son of Jad…ben…Otho？〃 he retorted。
〃The questions of Dor…ul…Otho are not with impunity answered with other questions；〃 said the ape…man quietly； 〃and it may interest Lu…don； the high priest； to know that the blood of a false priest upon the altar of his temple is not displeasing in the eyes of Jad…ben…Otho。〃
Lu…don paled as he answered Tarzan's question。 〃They are the offerings whose blood must refresh the eastern altars as the sun returns to your father at the day's end。〃
〃And who told you；〃 asked Tarzan； 〃that Jad…ben…Otho was pleased that his people were slain upon his altars？ What if you were mistaken？〃
〃Then countless thousands have died in vain；〃 replied Ludon。
Ko…tan and the surrounding warriors and priests were listening attentively to the dialogue。 Some of the poor victims behind the barred gateway had heard and rising； pressed close to the barrier through which one was conducted just before sunset each day； never to return。
〃Liberate them！〃 cried Tarzan with a wave of his hand toward the imprisoned victims of a cruel superstition； 〃for I can tell you in the name of Jad…ben…Otho that you are mistaken。〃
10
The Forbidden Garden
LU…DON paled。 〃It is sacrilege；〃 he cried； 〃for countless ages have the priests of the Great God offered each night a life to the spirit of Jad…ben…Otho as it returned below the western horizon to its master； and never has the Great God given sign that he was displeased。〃
〃Stop！〃 commanded Tarzan。 〃It is the blindness of the priesthood that has failed to read the messages of their god。 Your warriors die beneath the knives and clubs of the Wazdon； your hunters are taken by ja and jato； no day goes by but witnesses the deaths of few or many in the villages of the Ho…don； and one death each day of those that die are the toll which Jad…ben…Otho has exacted for the lives you take upon the eastern altar。 What greater sign of his displeasure could you require； O stupid priest？〃
Lu…don was silent。 There was raging within him a great conflict between his fear that this indeed might be the son of god and his hope that it was not； but at last his fear won and he bowed his head。 〃The son of Jad…ben…Otho has spoken；〃 he said； and turning to one of the lesser priests： 〃Remove the bars and return these people from whence they came。〃
He thus addressed did as he was bid and as the bars came down the prisoners； now all fully aware of the miracle that had saved them； crowded forward and throwing themselves upon their knees before Tarzan raised their voices in thanksgiving。
Ko…tan was almost as staggered as the high priest by this ruthless overturning of an age…old religious rite。 〃But what；〃 he cried； 〃may we do that will be pleasing in the eyes of Jad…ben…Otho？〃 turning a look of puzzled apprehension toward the ape…man。
〃If you seek to please your god；〃 he replied； 〃place upon your altars such gifts of food and apparel as are most welcome in the city of your people。 These things will Jad…ben…Otho bless； when you may distribute them among those of the city who need them most。 With such things are your storerooms filled as I have seen with mine own eyes； and other gifts will be brought when the priests tell the people that in this way they find favor before their god；〃 and Tarzan turned and signified that he would leave the temple。
As they were leaving the precincts devoted to the wor