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Tarzan was not surprised that at a short distance he aroused no suspicion or curiosity in the minds of those who saw him； since； until closer scrutiny was possible； there was little to distinguish him from a native either in his general conformation or his color。 He had； of course； formulated a plan of action and； having decided； he did not hesitate in the carrying out his plan。
With the same assurance that you might venture upon the main street of a neighboring city Tarzan strode into the Ho…don city of A…lur。 The first person to detect his spuriousness was a little child playing in the arched gateway of one of the walled buildings。 〃No tail！ no tail！〃 it shouted； throwing a stone at him； and then it suddenly grew dumb and its eyes wide as it sensed that this creature was something other than a mere Ho…don warrior who had lost his tail。 With a gasp the child turned and fled screaming into the courtyard of its home。
Tarzan continued on his way； fully realizing that the moment was imminent when the fate of his plan would be decided。 Nor had he long to wait since at the next turning of the winding street he came face to face with a Ho…don warrior。 He saw the sudden surprise in the latter's eyes； followed instantly by one of suspicion； but before the fellow could speak Tarzan addressed him。
〃I am a stranger from another land；〃 he said； 〃I would speak with Ko…tan； your king。〃
The fellow stepped back； laying his hand upon his knife。 〃There are no strangers that come to the gates of A…lur；〃 he said； 〃other than as enemies or slaves。〃
〃I come neither as a slave nor an enemy；〃 replied Tarzan。 〃I come directly from Jad…ben…Otho。 Look！〃 and he held out his hands that the Ho…don might see how greatly they differed from his own； and then wheeled about that the other might see that he was tailless； for it was upon this fact that his plan had been based； due to his recollection of the quarrel between Ta…den and Om…at； in which the Waz…don had claimed that Jad…ben…Otho had a long tail while the Ho…don had been equally willing to fight for his faith in the taillessness of his god。
The warrior's eyes widened and an expression of awe crept into them； though it was still tinged with suspicion。 〃Jad…ben…Otho！〃 he murmured； and then； 〃It is true that you are neither Ho…don nor Waz…don； and it is also true that Jad…ben…Otho has no tail。 Come；〃 he said； 〃I will take you to Ko…tan； for this is a matter in which no common warrior may interfere。 Follow me；〃 and still clutching the handle of his knife and keeping a wary side glance upon the ape…man he led the way through A…lur。
The city covered a large area。 Sometimes there was a considerable distance between groups of buildings； and again they were quite close together。 There were numerous imposing groups； evidently hewn from the larger hills； often rising to a height of a hundred feet or more。 As they advanced they met numerous warriors and women； all of whom showed great curiosity in the stranger； but there was no attempt to menace him when it was found that he was being conducted to the palace of the king。
They came at last to a great pile that sprawled over a considerable area； its western front facing upon a large blue lake and evidently hewn from what had once been a natural cliff。 This group of buildings was surrounded by a wall of considerably greater height than any that Tarzan had before seen。 His guide led him to a gateway before which waited a dozen or more warriors who had risen to their feet and formed a barrier across the entrance…way as Tarzan and his party appeared around the corner of the palace wall； for by this time he had accumulated such a following of the curious as presented to the guards the appearance of a formidable mob。
The guide's story told； Tarzan was conducted into the courtyard where he was held while one of the warriors entered the palace； evidently with the intention of notifying Ko…tan。 Fifteen minutes later a large warrior appeared； followed by several others； all of whom examined Tarzan with every sign of curiosity as they approached。
The leader of the party halted before the ape…man。 〃Who are you？〃 he asked； 〃and what do you want of Ko…tan； the king？〃
〃I am a friend；〃 replied the ape…man； 〃and I have come from the country of Jad…ben…Otho to visit Ko…tan of Pal…ul…don。〃
The warrior and his followers seemed impressed。 Tarzan could see the latter whispering among themselves。
〃How come you here；〃 asked the spokesman； 〃and what do you want of Ko…tan？〃
Tarzan drew himself to his full height。 〃Enough！〃 he cried。 〃Must the messenger of Jad…ben…Otho be subjected to the treatment that might be accorded to a wandering Waz…don？ Take me to the king at once lest the wrath of Jad…ben…Otho fall upon you。〃
There was some question in the mind of the ape…man as to how far he might carry his unwarranted show of assurance； and he waited therefore with amused interest the result of his demand。 He did not； however； have long to wait for almost immediately the attitude of his questioner changed。 He whitened； cast an apprehensive glance toward the eastern sky and then extended his right palm toward Tarzan； placing his left over his own heart in the sign of amity that was common among the peoples of Pal…ul…don。
Tarzan stepped quickly back as though from a profaning hand； a feigned expression of horror and disgust upon his face。
〃Stop！〃 he cried； 〃who would dare touch the sacred person of the messenger of Jad…ben…Otho？ Only as a special mark of favor from Jad…ben…Otho may even Ko…tan himself receive this honor from me。 Hasten！ Already now have I waited too long！ What manner of reception the Ho…don of A…lur would extend to the son of my father！〃
At first Tarzan had been inclined to adopt the role of Jad…ben…Otho himself but it occurred to him that it might prove embarrassing and considerable of a bore to be compelled constantly to portray the character of a god； but with the growing success of his scheme it had suddenly occurred to him that the authority of the son of Jad…ben…Otho would be far greater than that of an ordinary messenger of a god； while at the same time giving him some leeway in the matter of his acts and demeanor； the ape…man reasoning that a young god would not be held so strictly accountable in the matter of his dignity and bearing as an older and greater god。
This time the effect of his words was immediately and painfully noticeable upon all those near him。 With one accord they shrank back； the spokesman almost collapsing in evident terror。 His apologies； when finally the paralysis of his fear would permit him to voice them； were so abject that the ape…man could scarce repress a smile of amused contempt。
〃Have mercy； O Dor…ul…Otho；〃 he pleaded； 〃on poor old Dak…lot。 Precede me and I will show you to where Ko…tan； the king； awaits you； trembling。 Aside； snakes and vermin；〃 he cried pushing his warriors to right and left for the purpose of forming an avenue for Tarzan。
〃Come！〃 cried the ape…man peremptorily； 〃lead the way； and let these others follow。〃
The now thoroughly frightened Dak…lot did as he was bid； and Tarzan of the Apes was ushered into the palace of Kotan； King of Pal…ul…don。
9
Blood…Stained Altars
THE entrance through which he caught his first glimpse of the interior was rather beautifully carved in geometric designs； and within the walls were similarly treated； though as he proceeded from one apartment to another he found also the figures of animals； birds； and men taking their places among the more formal figures of the mural decorator's art。 Stone vessels were much in evidence as well as ornaments of gold and the skins of many animals； but nowhere did he see an indication of any woven fabric； indicating that in that respect at least the Ho…don were still low in the scale of evolution； and yet the proportions and symmetry of the corridors and apartments bespoke a degree of civilization。
The way led through several apartments and long corridors； up at least three flights of stone stairs and finally out upon a ledge upon the western side of the building overlooking the blue lake。 Along this ledge； or arcade； his guide led him for a hundred yards； to stop at last before a wide entrance…wa