tarzan the terrible-第26章

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ove　nothing　elsethey　were　Ta…den's　favorite　flowers。〃

The　two　approached　the　flowering　shrubbery　where　Tarzan　hid；　but　as　the　blooms　grew　plentifully　upon　every　bush　the　ape…man　guessed　there　would　be　no　necessity　for　them　to　enter　the　patch　far　enough　to　discover　him。　With　little　exclamations　of　pleasure　as　they　found　particularly　large　or　perfect　blooms　the　two　moved　from　place　to　place　upon　the　outskirts　of　Tarzan's　retreat。

〃Oh；　look；　Pan…at…lee；〃　cried　O…lo…a　presently；　〃there　is　the　king　of　them　all。　Never　did　I　see　so　wonderful　a　flowerNo！　I　will　get　it　myselfit　is　so　large　and　wonderful　no　other　hand　shall　touch　it；〃　and　the　princess　wound　in　among　the　bushes　toward　the　point　where　the　great　flower　bloomed　upon　a　bush　above　the　ape…man's　head。

So　sudden　and　unexpected　her　approach　that　there　was　no　opportunity　to　escape　and　Tarzan　sat　silently　trusting　that　fate　might　be　kind　to　him　and　lead　Ko…tan's　daughter　away　before　her　eyes　dropped　from　the　high…growing　bloom　to　him。　But　as　the　girl　cut　the　long　stem　with　her　knife　she　looked　down　straight　into　the　smiling　face　of　Tarzan…jad…guru。

With　a　stifled　scream　she　drew　back　and　the　ape…man　rose　and　faced　her。

〃Have　no　fear；　Princess；〃　he　assured　her。　〃It　is　the　friend　of　Ta…den　who　salutes　you；〃　raising　her　fingers　to　his　lips。

Pan…at…lee　came　now　excitedly　forward。　〃O　Jad…ben…Otho；　it　is　he！〃

〃And　now　that　you　have　found　me；〃　queried　Tarzan；　〃will　you　give　me　up　to　Lu…don；　the　high　priest？〃

Pan…at…lee　threw　herself　upon　her　knees　at　O…lo…a's　feet。　〃Princess！　Princess！〃　she　beseeched；　〃do　not　discover　him　to　his　enemies。〃

〃But　Ko…tan；　my　father；〃　whispered　O…lo…a　fearfully；　〃if　he　knew　of　my　perfidy　his　rage　would　be　beyond　naming。　Even　though　I　am　a　princess　Lu…don　might　demand　that　I　be　sacrificed　to　appease　the　wrath　of　Jad…ben…Otho；　and　between　the　two　of　them　I　should　be　lost。〃

〃But　they　need　never　know；〃　cried　Pan…at…lee；　〃that　you　have　seen　him　unless　you　tell　them　yourself　for　as　Jad…ben…Otho　is　my　witness　I　will　never　betray　you。〃

〃Oh；　tell　me；　stranger；〃　implored　O…lo…a；　〃are　you　indeed　a　god？〃

〃Jad…ben…Otho　is　not　more　so；〃　replied　Tarzan　truthfully。

〃But　why　do　you　seek　to　escape　then　from　the　hands　of　mortals　if　you　are　a　god？〃　she　asked。

〃When　gods　mingle　with　mortals；〃　replied　Tarzan；　〃they　are　no　less　vulnerable　than　mortals。　Even　Jad…ben…Otho；　should　he　appear　before　you　in　the　flesh；　might　be　slain。〃

〃You　have　seen　Ta…den　and　spoken　with　him？〃　she　asked　with　apparent　irrelevancy。

〃Yes；　I　have　seen　him　and　spoken　with　him；〃　replied　the　ape…man。　〃For　the　duration　of　a　moon　I　was　with　him　constantly。〃

〃And〃　she　hesitated〃he〃　she　cast　her　eyes　toward　the　ground　and　a　flush　mantled　her　cheek〃he　still　loves　me？〃　and　Tarzan　knew　that　she　had　been　won　over。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃Ta…den　speaks　only　of　O…lo…a　and　he　waits　and　hopes　for　the　day　when　he　can　claim　her。〃

〃But　tomorrow　they　give　me　to　Bu…lot；〃　she　said　sadly。

〃May　it　be　always　tomorrow；〃　replied　Tarzan；　〃for　tomorrow　never　comes。〃

〃Ah；　but　this　unhappiness　will　come；　and　for　all　the　tomorrows　of　my　life　I　must　pine　in　misery　for　the　Ta…den　who　will　never　be　mine。〃

〃But　for　Lu…don　I　might　have　helped　you；〃　said　the　ape…man。　〃And　who　knows　that　I　may　not　help　you　yet？〃

〃Ah；　if　you　only　could；　Dor…ul…Otho；〃　cried　the　girl；　〃and　I　know　that　you　would　if　it　were　possible　for　Pan…at…lee　has　told　me　how　brave　you　are；　and　at　the　same　time　how　kind。〃

〃Only　Jad…ben…Otho　knows　what　the　future　may　bring；〃　said　Tarzan。　〃And　now　you　two　go　your　way　lest　someone　should　discover　you　and　become　suspicious。〃

〃We　will　go；〃　said　O…lo…a；　〃but　Pan…at…lee　will　return　with　food。　I　hope　that　you　escape　and　that　Jad…ben…Otho　is　pleased　with　what　I　have　done。〃　She　turned　and　walked　away　and　Pan…at…lee　followed　while　the　ape…man　again　resumed　his　hiding。

At　dusk　Pan…at…lee　came　with　food　and　having　her　alone　Tarzan　put　the　question　that　he　had　been　anxious　to　put　since　his　conversation　earlier　in　the　day　with　O…lo…a。

〃Tell　me；〃　he　said；　〃what　you　know　of　the　rumors　of　which　O…lo…a　spoke　of　the　mysterious　stranger　which　is　supposed　to　be　hidden　in　A…lur。　Have　you　too　heard　of　this　during　the　short　time　that　you　have　been　here？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Pan…at…lee；　〃I　have　heard　it　spoken　of　among　the　other　slaves。　It　is　something　of　which　all　whisper　among　themselves　but　of　which　none　dares　to　speak　aloud。　They　say　that　there　is　a　strange　she　hidden　in　the　temple　and　that　Lu…don　wants　her　for　a　priestess　and　that　Ko…tan　wants　her　for　a　wife　and　that　neither　as　yet　dares　take　her　for　fear　of　the　other。〃

〃Do　you　know　where　she　is　hidden　in　the　temple？〃　asked　Tarzan。

〃No；〃　said　Pan…at…lee。　〃How　should　I　know？　I　do　not　even　know　that　it　is　more　than　a　story　and　I　but　tell　you　that　which　I　have　heard　others　say。〃

〃There　was　only　one；〃　asked　Tarzan；　〃whom　they　spoke　of？〃

〃No；　they　speak　of　another　who　came　with　her　but　none　seems　to　know　what　became　of　this　one。〃

Tarzan　nodded。　〃Thank　you　Pan…at…lee；〃　he　said。　〃You　may　have　helped　me　more　than　either　of　us　guess。〃

〃I　hope　that　I　have　helped　you；〃　said　the　girl　as　she　turned　back　toward　the　palace。

〃And　I　hope　so　too；〃　exclaimed　Tarzan　emphatically。



14

The　Temple　of　the　Gryf

WHEN　night　had　fallen　Tarzan　donned　the　mask　and　the　dead　tail　of　the　priest　he　had　slain　in　the　vaults　beneath　the　temple。　He　judged　that　it　would　not　do　to　attempt　again　to　pass　the　guard；　especially　so　late　at　night　as　it　would　be　likely　to　arouse　comment　and　suspicion；　and　so　he　swung　into　the　tree　that　overhung　the　garden　wall　and　from　its　branches　dropped　to　the　ground　beyond。

Avoiding　too　grave　risk　of　apprehension　the　ape…man　passed　through　the　grounds　to　the　court　of　the　palace；　approaching　the　temple　from　the　side　opposite　to　that　at　which　he　had　left　it　at　the　time　of　his　escape。　He　came　thus　it　is　true　through　a　portion　of　the　grounds　with　which　he　was　unfamiliar　but　he　preferred　this　to　the　danger　of　following　the　beaten　track　between　the　palace　apartments　and　those　of　the　temple。　Having　a　definite　goal　in　mind　and　endowed　as　he　was　with　an　almost　miraculous　sense　of　location　he　moved　with　great　assurance　through　the　shadows　of　the　temple　yard。

Taking　advantage　of　the　denser　shadows　close　to　the　walls　and　of　what　shrubs　and　trees　there　were　he　came　without　mishap　at　last　to　the　ornate　building　concerning　the　purpose　of　which　he　had　asked　Lu…don　only　to　be　put　off　with　the　assertion　that　it　was　forgottennothing　strange　in　itself　but　given　possible　importance　by　the　apparent　hesitancy　of　the　priest　to　discuss　its　use　and　the　impression　the　ape…man　had　gained　at　the　time　that　Lu…don　lied。

And　now　he　stood　at　last　alone　before　the　structure　which　was　three　stories　in　height　and　detached　from　all　the　other　temple　buildings。　It　had　a　single　barred　entrance　which　was　carved　from　the　living　rock　in　representation　of　the　head　of　a　gryf；　whose　wide…open　mouth　constituted　the　doorway。　The　head；　hood；　and　front　paws　of　the　creature　were　depicted　as　though　it　lay　crouching　with　its　lower　jaw　on　the　ground　between　its　outspread　paws。　Small　oval　windows；　which　were　likewise　barred；　flanked　the　doorway。

Seeing　that　the　coast　was　clear；　Tarzan　stepped　into　the　darkened　entrance　where　he　tried　the　bars　only　to　discover　that　they　were　ingeniously　locked　in　place　by　some　device　with　which　he　was　unfamiliar　and　that　they　also　were　probably　too　strong　to　be　broken　even　if　he　could　have　risked　the　noise　which　would　have　resulted。　Nothing　was　visible　within　the　darkened　interior　and　so；　momentarily　baffled；　he　sought　the　windows。　Here　also　the　bars　refused　to　yield　up　their　secret；　but　again　Tarzan　was　not　dismayed　since　he　had　counted　upon　nothing　different。

If　the　bars　would　not　yield　to　his　cunning　they　would　yield　to　his　giant　strength　if　there　proved　no　other　means　of　ingress；　but　first　he　would　assure　himself　that　this　latter　was　the　case。　Moving　entirely　around　the　building　he　examined　it　carefully。　There　were　other　windows　but　they　were　similarly　barred。　He　stopped　often　to　look　and　listen　but　he　saw　no　one　and　the　sounds　that　he　heard　were　too　far　away　to　cause　him　any　apprehension。

He　glanced　above　him　at　the　wall　of　the　building。　Like　so　many　of　the　other　walls　of　the　city；　palace；　and　temple；　it　was　ornately　carved　and　there　were　too　the　peculiar　ledges　that　ran　sometimes　in　a　horizontal　plane　and　again　were　tilted　at　an　angle；　giving　ofttimes　an　impression　of　irregularity　and　even　crookedness　to　the　buildings。　It　was　not　a　difficult　wall　to　climb；　at　least　not　difficult　for　the　ape…man。

But　he　found　the　bulky　and　awkward　headdress　a　considerable　handicap　and　so　he　laid　it　aside　upon　the　ground　at　the　foot　of　the　wall。　Nimbly　he　ascended　to　find　the　windows　of　the　second　floor　not　only　barred　but　curtained　within。　He　did　not　delay　long　at　the　second　floor　since　he　had　in　mind　an　idea　that　he　would　find　the　easiest　entrance　through　the　roof　which　he　had　noticed　was　roughly　dome　shaped　like　the　throneroom　of　Ko…tan。　Here　there　were　apertures。　He　had　seen　them　from　the　ground；　and　if　the　construction　of　the　interior　resembled　even　slightly　that　of　the　throneroom；　bars　would　not　be　necessary　upon　these　apertures；　since　no　one　could　reach　them　from　the　floor　of　the　room。

There　was　but　a　single　question：　would　they　be　large　enough　to　admit　the　broad　shoulders　of　the　ape…man。

He　paused　again　at　the　third　floor；　and　here；　in　spite　of　the　hangings；　he　saw　that　the　interior　was　lighted　and　simultaneously　there　came　to　his　nostrils　from　within　a　scent　that　stripped　from　him　temporarily　any　remnant　of　civilization　that　might　have　remained　and　left　him　a　fierce　and　terrible　bull　of　the　jungles　of　Kerchak。　So　sudden　and　complete　was　the　metamorphosis　that　there　almost　broke　from　the　savage　lips　the　hideous　challenge　of　his　kind；　but　the　cunning　brute…mind　saved　him　this　blunder。

And　now　he　heard　voices　withinthe　voice　of　Lu…don　he　could　have　sworn；　demanding。　And　haughty　and　disdainful　came　the　answering　words　though　utter　hopelessness　spoke　in　the　tones　of　this　other　voice　which　brought　Tarzan　to　the　pinnacle　of　frenzy。

The　dome　with　its　possible　apertures　was　forgotten。　Every　consideration　of　stealth　and　quiet　was　cast　aside　as　the　ape…man　drew　back　his　mighty　fist　and　struck　a　single　terrific　blow　upon　the　bars　of　the　small　window　before　him；　a　blow　that　sent　the　bars　and　the　casing　that　held　them　clattering　to　the　floor　of　the　apartment　within。

Instantly　Tarzan　dove　headforemost　through　the　aperture　carrying　the　hangings　of　antelope　hide　with　him　to　the　floor　below。　Leaping　to　his　feet　he　tore　the　entangling　pelt　from　about　his　head　only　to　find　himself　in　utter　darkness　and　in　silence。　He　called　aloud　a　name　that　had　not　passed　his　lips　for　many　weary　months。　〃Jane；　Jane；〃　he　cried；　〃where　are　you？〃　But　there　was　only　silence　in　reply。

Again　and　again　he　called；　groping　with　outstretched　hands　through　the　Stygian　blackness　of　the　room；　his　nostrils　assailed　and　his　brain　tantalized　by　the　delicate　effluvia　that　had　first　assured　him　that　his　mate　had　been　within　this　very　room。　And　he　had　heard　her　dear　voice　combatting　the　base　demands　of　the　vile　priest。　Ah；　if　he　had　but　acted　with　greater　caution！　If　h