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thirst and from the cutting of the tight strands about
his wrists and ankles； but he made no complaint。
A jungle beast was Tarzan with the stoicism of the beast
and the intelligence of man。 He knew that his doom was
sealedthat no supplications would avail to temper the
severity of his end and so he wasted no breath in
pleadings； but waited patiently in the firm conviction
that his sufferings could not endure forever。
In the darkness La stooped above him。 In her hand was
a sharp knife and in her mind the determination to
initiate his torture without further delay。 The knife
was pressed against his side and La's face was close to
his when a sudden burst of flame from new branches
thrown upon the fire without； lighted up the interior
of the shelter。 Close beneath her lips La saw the
perfect features of the forest god and into her woman's
heart welled all the great love she had felt for Tarzan
since first she had seen him； and all the accumulated
passion of the years that she had dreamed of him。
Dagger in hand； La； the High Priestess； towered above
the helpless creature that had dared to violate the
sanctuary of her deity。 There should be no torture
there should be instant death。 No longer should the
defiler of the temple pollute the sight of the lord god
almighty。 A single stroke of the heavy blade and then
the corpse to the flaming pyre without。 The knife arm
stiffened ready for the downward plunge； and then La；
the woman； collapsed weakly upon the body of the man
she loved。
She ran her hands in mute caress over his naked flesh；
she covered his forehead； his eyes； his lips with hot
kisses； she covered him with her body as though to
protect him from the hideous fate she had ordained for
him； and in trembling； piteous tones she begged him for
his love。 For hours the frenzy of her passion
possessed the burning hand…maiden of the Flaming God；
until at last sleep overpowered her and she lapsed into
unconsciousness beside the man she had sworn to torture
and to slay。 And Tarzan； untroubled by thoughts of the
future； slept peacefully in La's embrace。
At the first hint of dawn the chanting of the priests
of Opar brought Tarzan to wakefulness。 Initiated in
low and subdued tones； the sound soon rose in volume to
the open diapason of barbaric blood lust。 La stirred。
Her perfect arm pressed Tarzan closer to hera smile
parted her lips and then she awoke； and slowly the
smile faded and her eyes went wide in horror as the
significance of the death chant impinged upon her
understanding。
〃Love me； Tarzan！〃 she cried。 〃Love me； and you shall
be saved。〃
Tarzan's bonds hurt him。 He was suffering the tortures
of long…restricted circulation。 With an angry growl he
rolled over with his back toward La。 That was her
answer！ The High Priestess leaped to her feet。 A hot
flush of shame mantled her cheek and then she went dead
white and stepped to the shelter's entrance。
〃Come； Priests of the Flaming God！〃 she cried；
〃and make ready the sacrifice。〃
The warped things advanced and entered the shelter。
They laid hands upon Tarzan and bore him forth； and as
they chanted they kept time with their crooked bodies；
swaying to and fro to the rhythm of their song of blood
and death。 Behind them came La； swaying too； but not
in unison with the chanted cadence。 White and drawn
was the face of the High Priestesswhite and drawn
with unrequited love and hideous terror of the moments
to come。 Yet stern in her resolve was La。 The infidel
should die！ The scorner of her love should pay the
price upon the fiery altar。 She saw them lay the
perfect body there upon the rough branches。 She saw
the High Priest； he to whom custom would unite her
bent； crooked； gnarled； stunted； hideousadvance with
the flaming torch and stand awaiting her command to
apply it to the faggots surrounding the sacrificial
pyre。 His hairy； bestial face was distorted in a
yellow…fanged grin of anticipatory enjoyment。 His
hands were cupped to receive the life blood of the
victimthe red nectar that at Opar would have filled
the golden sacrificial goblets。
La approached with upraised knife； her face turned
toward the rising sun and upon her lips a prayer to the
burning deity of her people。 The High Priest looked
questioningly toward herthe brand was burning close
to his hand and the faggots lay temptingly near。
Tarzan closed his eyes and awaited the end。 He knew
that he would suffer； for he recalled the faint
memories of past burns。 He knew that he would suffer
and die； but he did not flinch。 Death is no great
adventure to the jungle bred who walk hand…in…hand with
the grim specter by day and lie down at his side by
night through all the years of their lives。 It is
doubtful that the ape…man even speculated upon what
came after death。 As a matter of fact as his end
approached； his mind was occupied by thoughts of the
pretty pebbles he had lost； yet his every faculty still
was open to what passed around him。
He felt La lean over him and he opened his eyes。
He saw her white； drawn face and he saw tears blinding
her eyes。 〃Tarzan； my Tarzan！〃 she moaned； 〃tell me that
you love methat you will return to Opar with meand
you shall live。 Even in the face of the anger of my
people I will save you。 This last chance I give you。
What is your answer？〃
At the last moment the woman in La had triumphed over
the High Priestess of a cruel cult。 She saw upon the
altar the only creature that ever had aroused the fires
of love within her virgin breast； she saw the beast…faced
fanatic who would one day be her mate； unless she
found another less repulsive； standing with the burning
torch ready to ignite the pyre； yet with all her mad
passion for the ape…man she would give the word to
apply the flame if Tarzan's final answer was
unsatisfactory。 With heaving bosom she leaned close
above him。 〃Yes or no？〃 she whispered。
Through the jungle； out of the distance； came faintly a
sound that brought a sudden light of hope to Tarzan's
eyes。 He raised his voice in a weird scream that sent
La back from him a step or two。 The impatient priest
grumbled and switched the torch from one hand to the
other at the same time holding it closer to the tinder
at the base of the pyre。
〃Your answer！〃 insisted La。 〃What is your answer to
the love of La of Opar？〃
Closer came the sound that had attracted Tarzan's
attention and now the others heard itthe shrill
trumpeting of an elephant。 As La looked wide…eyed into
Tarzan's face； there to read her fate for happiness or
heartbreak； she saw an expression of concern shadow his
features。 Now； for the first time； she guessed the
meaning of Tarzan's shrill screamhe had summoned
Tantor； the elephant； to his rescue！ La's brows
contracted in a savage scowl。 〃You refuse La！〃
she cried。 〃Then die！ The torch！〃 she commanded；
turning toward the priest。
Tarzan looked up into her face。 〃Tantor is coming；〃
he said。 〃I thought that he would rescue me； but I know
now from his voice that he will slay me and you and all
that fall in his path； searching out with the cunning
of Sheeta； the panther； those who would hide from him；
for Tantor is mad with the madness of love。〃
La knew only too well the insane ferocity of a bull
elephant in MUST。 She knew that Tarzan had not
exaggerated。 She knew that the devil in the cunning；
cruel brain of the great beast might send it hither and
thither hunting through the forest for those who
escaped its first charge； or the beast might pass on
without returningno one might guess which。
〃I cannot love you； La；〃 said Tarzan in a low voice。
〃I do not know why； for you are very beautiful。
I could not go back and live in OparI who have the
whole broad jungle for my range。 No； I cannot love you
but I cannot see you die beneath the goring tusks of