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turned into this corridor with its dim cressets flickering somberly； he saw another enter it from a corridor before hima warrior half carrying； half dragging the figure of a woman。 Instantly Tarzan recognized the gagged and fettered captive whom he had thought safe in the palace of Ja…don at Ja…lur。
The warrior with the woman had seen Tarzan at the same instant that the latter had discovered him。 He heard the low beastlike growl that broke from the ape…man's lips as he sprang forward to wrest his mate from her captor and wreak upon him the vengeance that was in the Tarmangani's savage heart。 Across the corridor from Pan…sat was the entrance to a smaller chamber。 Into this he leaped carrying the woman with him。
Close behind came Tarzan of the Apes。 He had cast aside his torch and drawn the long knife that had been his father's。 With the impetuosity of a charging bull he rushed into the chamber in pursuit of Pan…sat to find himself； when the hangings dropped behind him； in utter darkness。 Almost immediately there was a crash of stone on stone before him followed a moment later by a similar crash behind。 No other evidence was necessary to announce to the ape…man that he was again a prisoner in Lu…don's temple。
He stood perfectly still where he had halted at the first sound of the descending stone door。 Not again would he easily be precipitated to the gryf pit； or some similar danger； as had occurred when Lu…don had trapped him in the Temple of the Gryf。 As he stood there his eyes slowly grew accustomed to the darkness and he became aware that a dim light was entering the chamber through some opening； though it was several minutes before he discovered its source。 In the roof of the chamber he finally discerned a small aperture； possibly three feet in diameter and it was through this that what was really only a lesser darkness rather than a light was penetrating its Stygian blackness of the chamber in which he was imprisoned。
Since the doors had fallen he had heard no sound though his keen ears were constantly strained in an effort to discover a clue to the direction taken by the abductor of his mate。 Presently he could discern the outlines of his prison cell。 It was a small room； not over fifteen feet across。 On hands and knees； with the utmost caution； he examined the entire area of the floor。 In the exact center； directly beneath the opening in the roof； was a trap； but otherwise the floor was solid。 With this knowledge it was only necessary to avoid this spot in so far as the floor was concerned。 The walls next received his attention。 There were only two openings。 One the doorway through which he had entered； and upon the opposite side that through which the warrior had borne Jane Clayton。 These were both closed by the slabs of stone which the fleeing warrior had released as he departed。
Lu…don； the high priest； licked his thin lips and rubbed his bony white hands together in gratification as Pan…sat bore Jane Clayton into his presence and laid her on the floor of the chamber before him。
〃Good； Pan…sat！〃 he exclaimed。 〃You shall be well rewarded for this service。 Now； if we but had the false Dor…ul…Otho in our power all Pal…ul…don would be at our feet。〃
〃Master； I have him！〃 cried Pan…sat。
〃What！〃 exclaimed Lu…don； 〃you have Tarzan…jad…guru？ You have slain him perhaps。 Tell me； my wonderful Pan…sat； tell me quickly。 My breast is bursting with a desire to know。〃
〃I have taken him alive； Lu…don； my master；〃 replied Pan…sat。 〃He is in the little chamber that the ancients built to trap those who were too powerful to take alive in personal encounter。〃
〃You have done well； Pan…sat； I〃
A frightened priest burst into the apartment。 〃Quick； master； quick；〃 he cried； 〃the corridors are filled with the warriors of Ja…don。〃
〃You are mad；〃 cried the high priest。 〃My warriors hold the palace and the temple。〃
〃I speak the truth； master；〃 replied the priest； 〃there are warriors in the corridor approaching this very chamber； and they come from the direction of the secret passage which leads hither from the city。〃
〃It may be even as he says；〃 exclaimed Pan…sat。 〃It was from that direction that Tarzan…jad…guru was coming when I discovered and trapped him。 He was leading his warriors to the very holy of holies。〃
Lu…don ran quickly to the doorway and looked out into the corridor。 At a glance he saw that the fears of the frightened priest were well founded。 A dozen warriors were moving along the corridor toward him but they seemed confused and far from sure of themselves。 The high priest guessed that deprived of the leadership of Tarzan they were little better than lost in the unknown mazes of the subterranean precincts of the temple。
Stepping back into the apartment he seized a leathern thong that depended from the ceiling。 He pulled upon it sharply and through the temple boomed the deep tones of a metal gong。 Five times the clanging notes rang through the corridors； then he turned toward the two priests。 〃Bring the woman and follow me；〃 he directed。
Crossing the chamber he passed through a small doorway； the others lifting Jane Clayton from the floor and following him。 Through a narrow corridor and up a flight of steps they went； turning to right and left and doubling back through a maze of winding passageways which terminated in a spiral staircase that gave forth at the surface of the ground within the largest of the inner altar courts close beside the eastern altar。
From all directions now； in the corridors below and the grounds above； came the sound of hurrying footsteps。 The five strokes of the great gong had summoned the faithful to the defense of Lu…don in his private chambers。 The priests who knew the way led the less familiar warriors to the spot and presently those who had accompanied Tarzan found themselves not only leaderless but facing a vastly superior force。 They were brave men but under the circumstances they were helpless and so they fell back the way they had come； and when they reached the narrow confines of the smaller passageway their safety was assured since only one foeman could attack them at a time。 But their plans were frustrated and possibly also their entire cause lost； so heavily had Ja…don banked upon the success of their venture。
With the clanging of the temple gong Ja…don assumed that Tarzan and his party had struck their initial blow and so he launched his attack upon the palace gate。 To the ears of Lu…don in the inner temple court came the savage war cries that announced the beginning of the battle。 Leaving Pan…sat and the other priest to guard the woman he hastened toward the palace personally to direct his force and as he passed through the temple grounds he dispatched a messenger to learn the outcome of the fight in the corridors below； and other messengers to spread the news among his followers that the false Dor…ul…Otho was a prisoner in the temple。
As the din of battle rose above A…lur； Lieutenant Erich Obergatz turned upon his bed of soft hides and sat up。 He rubbed his eyes and looked about him。 It was still dark without。
〃I am Jad…ben…Otho；〃 he cried； 〃who dares disturb my slumber？〃
A slave squatting upon the floor at the foot of his couch shudd