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ay leading into another apartment of the palace。
Here Tarzan beheld a considerable concourse of warriors in an enormous apartment； the domed ceiling of which was fully fifty feet above the floor。 Almost filling the chamber was a great pyramid ascending in broad steps well up under the dome in which were a number of round apertures which let in the light。 The steps of the pyramid were occupied by warriors to the very pinnacle； upon which sat a large； imposing figure of a man whose golden trappings shone brightly in the light of the afternoon sun； a shaft of which poured through one of the tiny apertures of the dome。
〃Ko…tan！〃 cried Dak…lot； addressing the resplendent figure at the pinnacle of the pyramid。 〃Ko…tan and warriors of Pal…ul…don！ Behold the honor that Jad…ben…Otho has done you in sending as his messenger his own son；〃 and Dak…lot； stepping aside； indicated Tarzan with a dramatic sweep of his hand。
Ko…tan rose to his feet and every warrior within sight craned his neck to have a better view of the newcomer。 Those upon the opposite side of the pyramid crowded to the front as the words of the old warrior reached them。 Skeptical were the expressions on most of the faces； but theirs was a skepticism marked with caution。 No matter which way fortune jumped they wished to be upon the right side of the fence。 For a moment all eyes were centered upon Tarzan and then gradually they drifted to Ko…tan； for from his attitude would they receive the cue that would determine theirs。 But Ko…tan was evidently in the same quandary as theythe very attitude of his body indicated itit was one of indecision and of doubt。
The ape…man stood erect； his arms folded upon his broad breast； an expression of haughty disdain upon his handsome face； but to Dak…lot there seemed to be indications also of growing anger。 The situation was becoming strained。 Dak…lot fidgeted； casting apprehensive glances at Tarzan and appealing ones at Ko…tan。 The silence of the tomb wrapped the great chamber of the throneroom of Pal…ul…don。
At last Ko…tan spoke。 〃Who says that he is Dor…ul…Otho？〃 he asked； casting a terrible look at Dak…lot。
〃He does！〃 almost shouted that terrified noble。
〃And so it must be true？〃 queried Ko…tan。
Could it be that there was a trace of irony in the chief's tone？ Otho forbid！ Dak…lot cast a side glance at Tarzana glance that he intended should carry the assurance of his own faith； but that succeeded only in impressing the ape…man with the other's pitiable terror。
〃O Ko…tan！〃 pleaded Dak…lot； 〃your own eyes must convince you that indeed he is the son of Otho。 Behold his godlike figure； his hands； and his feet； that are not as ours； and that he is entirely tailless as is his mighty father。〃
Ko…tan appeared to be perceiving these facts for the first time and there was an indication that his skepticism was faltering。 At that moment a young warrior who had pushed his way forward from the opposite side of the pyramid to where he could obtain a good look at Tarzan raised his voice。
〃Ko…tan；〃 he cried； 〃it must be even as Dak…lot says； for I am sure now that I have seen Dor…ul…Otho before。 Yesterday as we were returning with the Kor…ul…lul prisoners we beheld him seated upon the back of a great gryf。 We hid in the woods before he came too near； but I saw enough to make sure that he who rode upon the great beast was none other than the messenger who stands here now。〃
This evidence seemed to be quite enough to convince the majority of the warriors that they indeed stood in the presence of deitytheir faces showed it only too plainly； and a sudden modesty that caused them to shrink behind their neighbors。 As their neighbors were attempting to do the same thing； the result was a sudden melting away of those who stood nearest the ape…man； until the steps of the pyramid directly before him lay vacant to the very apex and to Ko…tan。 The latter； possibly influenced as much by the fearful attitude of his followers as by the evidence adduced； now altered his tone and his manner in such a degree as might comport with the requirements if the stranger was indeed the Dor…ul…Otho while leaving his dignity a loophole of escape should it appear that he had entertained an impostor。
〃If indeed you are the Dor…ul…Otho；〃 he said； addressing Tarzan； 〃you will know that our doubts were but natural since we have received no sign from Jad…ben…Otho that he intended honoring us so greatly； nor how could we know； even； that the Great God had a son？ If you are he； all Pal…ul…don rejoices to honor you； if you are not he； swift and terrible shall be the punishment of your temerity。 I； Ko…tan； King of Pal…ul…don； have spoken。〃
〃And spoken well； as a king should speak；〃 said Tarzan； breaking his long silence； 〃who fears and honors the god of his people。 It is well that you insist that I indeed be the Dor…ul…Otho before you accord me the homage that is my due。 Jad…ben…Otho charged me specially to ascertain if you were fit to rule his people。 My first experience of you indicates that Jad…ben…Otho chose well when he breathed the spirit of a king into the babe at your mother's breast。〃
The effect of this statement； made so casually； was marked in the expressions and excited whispers of the now awe…struck assemblage。 At last they knew how kings were made！ It was decided by Jad…ben…Otho while the candidate was still a suckling babe！ Wonderful！ A miracle！ and this divine creature in whose presence they stood knew all about it。 Doubtless he even discussed such matters with their god daily。 If there had been an atheist among them before； or an agnostic； there was none now； for had they not looked with their own eyes upon the son of god？
〃It is well then；〃 continued the ape…man； 〃that you should assure yourself that I am no impostor。 Come closer that you may see that I am not as are men。 Furthermore it is not meet that you stand upon a higher level than the son of your god。〃 There was a sudden scramble to reach the floor of the throne…room； nor was Ko…tan far behind his warriors； though he managed to maintain a certain majestic dignity as he descended the broad stairs that countless naked feet had polished to a gleaming smoothness through the ages。 〃And now；〃 said Tarzan as the king stood before him； 〃you can have no doubt that I am not of the same race as you。 Your priests have told you that Jad…ben…Otho is tailless。 Tailless； therefore； must be the race of gods that spring from his loins。 But enough of such proofs as these！ You know the power of Jad…ben…Otho； how his lightnings gleaming out of the sky carry death as he wills it； how the rains come at his bidding； and the fruits and the berries and the grains； the grasses； the trees and the flowers spring to life at his divine direction； you have witnessed birth and death； and those who honor their god honor him because he controls these things。 How would it fare then with an impostor who claimed to be the son of this all…powerful god？ This then is all the proof that you require； for as he would strike you down should you deny me； so would he strike down one who wrongfully claimed kinship with him。〃
This line of argument being unanswerable must needs be convincing。 There could be no questioning of this creature's statements without the tacit admission of lack of faith in the omnipotence of Jad…ben…Otho。 Ko…tan was satisfied that he was entertaining deity； but as to just what form his entertainment should take he was rather at a loss to know。 His conception of god had been rather a vague and hazy affair； though in common with all primitive people his god was a personal one as were his devils and demons。 The pleasures of Jad…ben…Otho he had assumed to be the excesses which he himself enjoyed； but devoid of any unpleasant reaction。 It therefore occurred to him that the Dor…ul…Otho would be greatly entertained by eatingeating large quantities of everything that Ko…tan liked best and that he had found most injurious； and there was also a drink that the women of the Ho…don made by allowing corn to soak in the juices of succulent fruits； to which they had added certain other ingredients best known to themselves。 Ko…tan knew by experience that a single draught of this potent liquor would bring happiness and