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in unfamiliar surroundings。
Slowly he groped his way along； feeling with his hands
upon the tunnel's walls； and cautiously with his feet
ahead of him upon the floor before he could take a
single forward step。 How long he crept on thus he
could not guess； but at last； feeling that the tunnel's
length was interminable； and exhausted by his efforts；
by terror； and loss of sleep； he determined to lie down
and rest before proceeding farther。
When he awoke there was no change in the surrounding
blackness。 He might have slept a second or a dayhe
could not know； but that he had slept for some time was
attested by the fact that he felt refreshed and hungry。
Again he commenced his groping advance； but this time
he had gone but a short distance when he emerged into a
room； which was lighted through an opening in the
ceiling； from which a flight of concrete steps led
downward to the floor of the chamber。
Above him； through the aperture； Werper could see
sunlight glancing from massive columns； which were
twined about by clinging vines。 He listened； but he
heard no sound other than the soughing of the wind
through leafy branches； the hoarse cries of birds；
and the chattering of monkeys。
Boldly he ascended the stairway； to find himself in a
circular court。 Just before him stood a stone altar；
stained with rusty…brown discolorations。 At the time
Werper gave no thought to an explanation of these
stainslater their origin became all too hideously
apparent to him。
Beside the opening in the floor； just behind the altar；
through which he had entered the court from the
subterranean chamber below； the Belgian discovered
several doors leading from the enclosure upon the level
of the floor。 Above； and circling the courtyard； was a
series of open balconies。 Monkeys scampered about the
deserted ruins； and gaily plumaged birds flitted in and
out among the columns and the galleries far above； but
no sign of human presence was discernible。 Werper felt
relieved。 He sighed； as though a great weight had been
lifted from his shoulders。 He took a step toward one
of the exits； and then he halted； wide…eyed in
astonishment and terror； for almost at the same instant
a dozen doors opened in the courtyard wall and a horde
of frightful men rushed in upon him。
They were the priests of the Flaming God of Oparthe
same； shaggy； knotted； hideous little men who had
dragged Jane Clayton to the sacrificial altar at this
very spot years before。 Their long arms； their short
and crooked legs； their close…set； evil eyes； and their
low； receding foreheads gave them a bestial appearance
that sent a qualm of paralyzing fright through the
shaken nerves of the Belgian。
With a scream he turned to flee back into the lesser
terrors of the gloomy corridors and apartments from
which he had just emerged； but the frightful men
anticipated his intentions。 They blocked the way；
they seized him； and though he fell； groveling upon his
knees before them； begging for his life； they bound him
and hurled him to the floor of the inner temple。
The rest was but a repetition of what Tarzan and Jane
Clayton had passed through。 The priestesses came；
and with them La； the High Priestess。 Werper was raised
and laid across the altar。 Cold sweat exuded from his
every pore as La raised the cruel； sacrificial knife
above him。 The death chant fell upon his tortured
ears。 His staring eyes wandered to the golden goblets
from which the hideous votaries would soon quench their
inhuman thirst in his own； warm life…blood。
He wished that he might be granted the brief respite of
unconsciousness before the final plunge of the keen
bladeand then there was a frightful roar that sounded
almost in his ears。 The High Priestess lowered her
dagger。 Her eyes went wide in horror。 The
priestesses； her votaresses； screamed and fled madly
toward the exits。 The priests roared out their rage
and terror according to the temper of their courage。
Werper strained his neck about to catch a sight of the
cause of their panic； and when； at last he saw it； he
too went cold in dread； for what his eyes beheld was
the figure of a huge lion standing in the center of the
temple； and already a single victim lay mangled beneath
his cruel paws。
Again the lord of the wilderness roared； turning his
baleful gaze upon the altar。 La staggered forward；
reeled； and fell across Werper in a swoon。
6
The Arab Raid
After their first terror had subsided subsequent to the
shock of the earthquake； Basuli and his warriors
hastened back into the passageway in search of Tarzan
and two of their own number who were also missing。
They found the way blocked by jammed and distorted
rock。 For two days they labored to tear a way through
to their imprisoned friends； but when； after Herculean
efforts； they had unearthed but a few yards of the
choked passage； and discovered the mangled remains of
one of their fellows they were forced to the conclusion
that Tarzan and the second Waziri also lay dead beneath
the rock mass farther in； beyond human aid； and no
longer susceptible of it。
Again and again as they labored they called aloud the
names of their master and their comrade； but no
answering call rewarded their listening ears。 At last
they gave up the search。 Tearfully they cast a last
look at the shattered tomb of their master； shouldered
the heavy burden of gold that would at least furnish
comfort； if not happiness； to their bereaved and
beloved mistress； and made their mournful way back
across the desolate valley of Opar； and downward
through the forests beyond toward the distant bungalow。
And as they marched what sorry fate was already drawing
down upon that peaceful； happy home！
From the north came Achmet Zek； riding to the summons
of his lieutenant's letter。 With him came his horde of
renegade Arabs； outlawed marauders； these； and equally
degraded blacks； garnered from the more debased and
ignorant tribes of savage cannibals through whose
countries the raider passed to and fro with perfect
impunity。
Mugambi； the ebon Hercules； who had shared the dangers
and vicissitudes of his beloved Bwana； from Jungle
Island； almost to the headwaters of the Ugambi；
was the first to note the bold approach of the
sinister caravan。
He it was whom Tarzan had left in charge of the
warriors who remained to guard Lady Greystoke； nor
could a braver or more loyal guardian have been found
in any clime or upon any soil。 A giant in stature；
a savage； fearless warrior； the huge black possessed also
soul and judgment in proportion to his bulk and his ferocity。
Not once since his master had departed had he been
beyond sight or sound of the bungalow； except when Lady
Greystoke chose to canter across the broad plain； or
relieve the monotony of her loneliness by a brief
hunting excursion。 On such occasions Mugambi； mounted
upon a wiry Arab； had ridden close at her horse's
heels。
The raiders were still a long way off when the
warrior's keen eyes discovered them。 For a time he
stood scrutinizing the advancing party in silence；
then he turned and ran rapidly in the direction of the
native huts which lay a few hundred yards below the bungalow。
Here he called out to the lolling warriors。 He issued
orders rapidly。 In compliance with them the men seized
upon their weapons and their shields。 Some ran to call
in the workers from the fields and to warn the tenders
of the flocks and herds。 The majority followed Mugambi
back toward the bungalow。
The dust of the raiders was still a long distance away。
Mugambi could not know positively that it hid an enemy；
but he had spent a lifetime of savage life in savage
Africa； and he had seen parties before come thus
unheralded。 Sometimes they had come in peace and
sometimes they had come in