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Tarzan many times。
In answer to her cry a babel of voices broke from the
surrounding chambers and corridors。
〃Come； Guardian Priests！〃 she cried。 〃The infidels
have profaned the holiest of the holies。 Come！ Strike
terror to their hearts； defend La and her altar； wash
clean the temple with the blood of the polluters。〃
Tarzan understood； though Werper did not。 The former
glanced at the Belgian and saw that he was unarmed。
Stepping quickly to La's side the ape…man seized her in
his strong arms and though she fought with all the mad
savagery of a demon； he soon disarmed her； handing her
long； sacrificial knife to Werper。
〃You will need this；〃 he said； and then from each
doorway a horde of the monstrous； little men of Opar
streamed into the temple。
They were armed with bludgeons and knives； and
fortified in their courage by fanatical hate and
frenzy。 Werper was terrified。 Tarzan stood eyeing the
foe in proud disdain。 Slowly he advanced toward the
exit he had chosen to utilize in making his way from
the temple。 A burly priest barred his way。 Behind the
first was a score of others。 Tarzan swung his heavy
spear； clublike； down upon the skull of the priest。
The fellow collapsed； his head crushed。
Again and again the weapon fell as Tarzan made his way
slowly toward the doorway。 Werper pressed close
behind； casting backward glances toward the shrieking；
dancing mob menacing their rear。 He held the
sacrificial knife ready to strike whoever might come
within its reach； but none came。 For a time he
wondered that they should so bravely battle with the
giant ape…man； yet hesitate to rush upon him； who was
relatively so weak。 Had they done so he knew that he
must have fallen at the first charge。 Tarzan had
reached the doorway over the corpses of all that had
stood to dispute his way； before Werper guessed at the
reason for his immunity。 The priests feared the
sacrificial knife！ Willingly would they face death and
welcome it if it came while they defended their High
Priestess and her altar； but evidently there were
deaths； and deaths。 Some strange superstition must
surround that polished blade； that no Oparian cared to
chance a death thrust from it； yet gladly rushed to the
slaughter of the ape…man's flaying spear。
Once outside the temple court； Werper communicated his
discovery to Tarzan。 The ape…man grinned； and let
Werper go before him； brandishing the jeweled and holy
weapon。 Like leaves before a gale； the Oparians
scattered in all directions and Tarzan and the Belgian
found a clear passage through the corridors and
chambers of the ancient temple。
The Belgian's eyes went wide as they passed through the
room of the seven pillars of solid gold。 With ill…concealed
avarice he looked upon the age…old； golden tablets
set in the walls of nearly every room and down
the sides of many of the corridors。 To the ape…man all
this wealth appeared to mean nothing。
On the two went； chance leading them toward the broad
avenue which lay between the stately piles of the
half…ruined edifices and the inner wall of the city。
Great apes jabbered at them and menaced them； but Tarzan
answered them after their own kind； giving back taunt
for taunt； insult for insult； challenge for challenge。
Werper saw a hairy bull swing down from a broken column
and advance； stiff…legged and bristling； toward the
naked giant。 The yellow fangs were bared； angry snarls
and barkings rumbled threateningly through the thick
and hanging lips。
The Belgian watched his companion。 To his horror； he
saw the man stoop until his closed knuckles rested upon
the ground as did those of the anthropoid。 He saw him
circle； stiff…legged about the circling ape。 He heard
the same bestial barkings and growlings issue from the
human throat that were coming from the mouth of the
brute。 Had his eyes been closed he could not have
known but that two giant apes were bridling for combat。
But there was no battle。 It ended as the majority of
such jungle encounters endone of the boasters loses
his nerve； and becomes suddenly interested in a blowing
leaf； a beetle； or the lice upon his hairy stomach。
In this instance it was the anthropoid that retired in
stiff dignity to inspect an unhappy caterpillar； which
he presently devoured。 For a moment Tarzan seemed
inclined to pursue the argument。 He swaggered
truculently； stuck out his chest； roared and advanced
closer to the bull。 It was with difficulty that Werper
finally persuaded him to leave well enough alone and
continue his way from the ancient city of the Sun
Worshipers。
The two searched for nearly an hour before they found
the narrow exit through the inner wall。 From there the
well…worn trail led them beyond the outer fortification
to the desolate valley of Opar。
Tarzan had no idea； in so far as Werper could discover；
as to where he was or whence he came。 He wandered
aimlessly about； searching for food； which he
discovered beneath small rocks； or hiding in the shade
of the scant brush which dotted the ground。
The Belgian was horrified by the hideous menu of his
companion。 Beetles； rodents and caterpillars were
devoured with seeming relish。 Tarzan was indeed an ape
again。
At last Werper succeeded in leading his companion
toward the distant hills which mark the northwestern
boundary of the valley； and together the two set out in
the direction of the Greystoke bungalow。
What purpose prompted the Belgian in leading the victim
of his treachery and greed back toward his former home
it is difficult to guess； unless it was that without
Tarzan there could be no ransom for Tarzan's wife。
That night they camped in the valley beyond the hills；
and as they sat before a little fire where cooked a
wild pig that had fallen to one of Tarzan's arrows； the
latter sat lost in speculation。 He seemed continually
to be trying to grasp some mental image which as
constantly eluded him。
At last he opened the leathern pouch which hung at his
side。 From it he poured into the palm of his hand a
quantity of glittering gems。 The firelight playing
upon them conjured a multitude of scintillating rays；
and as the wide eyes of the Belgian looked on in rapt
fascination； the man's expression at last acknowledged
a tangible purpose in courting the society of the ape…man。
9
The Theft of the Jewels
For two days Werper sought for the party that had
accompanied him from the camp to the barrier cliffs；
but not until late in the afternoon of the second day
did he find clew to its whereabouts； and then in such
gruesome form that he was totally unnerved by the
sight。
In an open glade he came upon the bodies of three of
the blacks； terribly mutilated； nor did it require
considerable deductive power to explain their murder。
Of the little party only these three had not been
slaves。 The others； evidently tempted to hope for
freedom from their cruel Arab master； had taken
advantage of their separation from the main camp； to
slay the three representatives of the hated power which
held them in slavery； and vanish into the jungle。
Cold sweat exuded from Werper's forehead as he
contemplated the fate which chance had permitted him to
escape； for had he been present when the conspiracy
bore fruit； he； too； must have been of the garnered。
Tarzan showed not the slightest surprise or interest in
the discovery。 Inherent in him was a calloused
familiarity with violent death。 The refinements of his
recent civilization expunged by the force of the sad
calamity which had befallen him； left only the
primitive sensibilities which his childhood's training
had imprinted indelibly upon the fabric of his mind。
The training of Kala； the examples and precepts of
Kerchak； of Tublat； and of Terkoz now formed the basis
of his every th