tarzan the terrible-第44章

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ad…ben…lul　and　A…lur。

The　moon　had　set　and　the　eastern　horizon　still　gave　no　hint　of　approaching　day　as　a　long　file　of　warriors　wound　stealthily　through　the　darkness　into　the　city　of　A…lur。　Their　plans　were　all　laid　and　there　seemed　no　likelihood　of　their　miscarriage。　A　messenger　had　been　dispatched　to　Ta…den　whose　forces　lay　northwest　of　the　city。　Tarzan；　with　a　small　contingent；　was　to　enter　the　temple　through　the　secret　passageway；　the　location　of　which　he　alone　knew；　while　Ja…don；　with　the　greater　proportion　of　the　warriors；　was　to　attack　the　palace　gates。

The　ape…man；　leading　his　little　band；　moved　stealthily　through　the　winding　alleys　of　A…lur；　arriving　undetected　at　the　building　which　hid　the　entrance　to　the　secret　passageway。　This　spot　being　best　protected　by　the　fact　that　its　existence　was　unknown　to　others　than　the　priests；　was　unguarded。　To　facilitate　the　passage　of　his　little　company　through　the　narrow　winding；　uneven　tunnel；　Tarzan　lighted　a　torch　which　had　been　brought　for　the　purpose　and　preceding　his　warriors　led　the　way　toward　the　temple。

That　he　could　accomplish　much　once　he　reached　the　inner　chambers　of　the　temple　with　his　little　band　of　picked　warriors　the　ape…man　was　confident　since　an　attack　at　this　point　would　bring　confusion　and　consternation　to　the　easily　overpowered　priests；　and　permit　Tarzan　to　attack　the　palace　forces　in　the　rear　at　the　same　time　that　Ja…don　engaged　them　at　the　palace　gates；　while　Ta…den　and　his　forces　swarmed　the　northern　walls。　Great　value　had　been　placed　by　Ja…don　on　the　moral　effect　of　the　Dor…ul…Otho's　mysterious　appearance　in　the　heart　of　the　temple　and　he　had　urged　Tarzan　to　take　every　advantage　of　the　old　chieftain's　belief　that　many　of　Lu…don's　warriors　still　wavered　in　their　allegiance　between　the　high　priest　and　the　Dor…ul…Otho；　being　held　to　the　former　more　by　the　fear　which　he　engendered　in　the　breasts　of　all　his　followers　than　by　any　love　or　loyalty　they　might　feel　toward　him。

There　is　a　Pal…ul…donian　proverb　setting　forth　a　truth　similar　to　that　contained　in　the　old　Scotch　adage　that　〃The　best　laid　schemes　o'　mice　and　men　gang　aft　a…gley。〃　Freely　translated　it　might　read；　〃He　who　follows　the　right　trail　sometimes　reaches　the　wrong　destination；〃　and　such　apparently　was　the　fate　that　lay　in　the　footsteps　of　the　great　chieftain　of　the　north　and　his　godlike　ally。

Tarzan；　more　familiar　with　the　windings　of　the　corridors　than　his　fellows　and　having　the　advantage　of　the　full　light　of　the　torch；　which　at　best　was　but　a　dim　and　flickering　affair；　was　some　distance　ahead　of　the　others；　and　in　his　keen　anxiety　to　close　with　the　enemy　he　gave　too　little　thought　to　those　who　were　to　support　him。　Nor　is　this　strange；　since　from　childhood　the　ape…man　had　been　accustomed　to　fight　the　battles　of　life　single…handed　so　that　it　had　become　habitual　for　him　to　depend　solely　upon　his　own　cunning　and　prowess。

And　so　it　was　that　he　came　into　the　upper　corridor　from　which　opened　the　chambers　of　Lu…don　and　the　lesser　priests　far　in　advance　of　his　warriors；　and　as　he　turned　into　this　corridor　with　its　dim　cressets　flickering　somberly；　he　saw　another　enter　it　from　a　corridor　before　hima　warrior　half　carrying；　half　dragging　the　figure　of　a　woman。　Instantly　Tarzan　recognized　the　gagged　and　fettered　captive　whom　he　had　thought　safe　in　the　palace　of　Ja…don　at　Ja…lur。

The　warrior　with　the　woman　had　seen　Tarzan　at　the　same　instant　that　the　latter　had　discovered　him。　He　heard　the　low　beastlike　growl　that　broke　from　the　ape…man's　lips　as　he　sprang　forward　to　wrest　his　mate　from　her　captor　and　wreak　upon　him　the　vengeance　that　was　in　the　Tarmangani's　savage　heart。　Across　the　corridor　from　Pan…sat　was　the　entrance　to　a　smaller　chamber。　Into　this　he　leaped　carrying　the　woman　with　him。

Close　behind　came　Tarzan　of　the　Apes。　He　had　cast　aside　his　torch　and　drawn　the　long　knife　that　had　been　his　father's。　With　the　impetuosity　of　a　charging　bull　he　rushed　into　the　chamber　in　pursuit　of　Pan…sat　to　find　himself；　when　the　hangings　dropped　behind　him；　in　utter　darkness。　Almost　immediately　there　was　a　crash　of　stone　on　stone　before　him　followed　a　moment　later　by　a　similar　crash　behind。　No　other　evidence　was　necessary　to　announce　to　the　ape…man　that　he　was　again　a　prisoner　in　Lu…don's　temple。

He　stood　perfectly　still　where　he　had　halted　at　the　first　sound　of　the　descending　stone　door。　Not　again　would　he　easily　be　precipitated　to　the　gryf　pit；　or　some　similar　danger；　as　had　occurred　when　Lu…don　had　trapped　him　in　the　Temple　of　the　Gryf。　As　he　stood　there　his　eyes　slowly　grew　accustomed　to　the　darkness　and　he　became　aware　that　a　dim　light　was　entering　the　chamber　through　some　opening；　though　it　was　several　minutes　before　he　discovered　its　source。　In　the　roof　of　the　chamber　he　finally　discerned　a　small　aperture；　possibly　three　feet　in　diameter　and　it　was　through　this　that　what　was　really　only　a　lesser　darkness　rather　than　a　light　was　penetrating　its　Stygian　blackness　of　the　chamber　in　which　he　was　imprisoned。

Since　the　doors　had　fallen　he　had　heard　no　sound　though　his　keen　ears　were　constantly　strained　in　an　effort　to　discover　a　clue　to　the　direction　taken　by　the　abductor　of　his　mate。　Presently　he　could　discern　the　outlines　of　his　prison　cell。　It　was　a　small　room；　not　over　fifteen　feet　across。　On　hands　and　knees；　with　the　utmost　caution；　he　examined　the　entire　area　of　the　floor。　In　the　exact　center；　directly　beneath　the　opening　in　the　roof；　was　a　trap；　but　otherwise　the　floor　was　solid。　With　this　knowledge　it　was　only　necessary　to　avoid　this　spot　in　so　far　as　the　floor　was　concerned。　The　walls　next　received　his　attention。　There　were　only　two　openings。　One　the　doorway　through　which　he　had　entered；　and　upon　the　opposite　side　that　through　which　the　warrior　had　borne　Jane　Clayton。　These　were　both　closed　by　the　slabs　of　stone　which　the　fleeing　warrior　had　released　as　he　departed。

Lu…don；　the　high　priest；　licked　his　thin　lips　and　rubbed　his　bony　white　hands　together　in　gratification　as　Pan…sat　bore　Jane　Clayton　into　his　presence　and　laid　her　on　the　floor　of　the　chamber　before　him。

〃Good；　Pan…sat！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃You　shall　be　well　rewarded　for　this　service。　Now；　if　we　but　had　the　false　Dor…ul…Otho　in　our　power　all　Pal…ul…don　would　be　at　our　feet。〃

〃Master；　I　have　him！〃　cried　Pan…sat。

〃What！〃　exclaimed　Lu…don；　〃you　have　Tarzan…jad…guru？　You　have　slain　him　perhaps。　Tell　me；　my　wonderful　Pan…sat；　tell　me　quickly。　My　breast　is　bursting　with　a　desire　to　know。〃

〃I　have　taken　him　alive；　Lu…don；　my　master；〃　replied　Pan…sat。　〃He　is　in　the　little　chamber　that　the　ancients　built　to　trap　those　who　were　too　powerful　to　take　alive　in　personal　encounter。〃

〃You　have　done　well；　Pan…sat；　I〃

A　frightened　priest　burst　into　the　apartment。　〃Quick；　master；　quick；〃　he　cried；　〃the　corridors　are　filled　with　the　warriors　of　Ja…don。〃

〃You　are　mad；〃　cried　the　high　priest。　〃My　warriors　hold　the　palace　and　the　temple。〃

〃I　speak　the　truth；　master；〃　replied　the　priest；　〃there　are　warriors　in　the　corridor　approaching　this　very　chamber；　and　they　come　from　the　direction　of　the　secret　passage　which　leads　hither　from　the　city。〃

〃It　may　be　even　as　he　says；〃　exclaimed　Pan…sat。　〃It　was　from　that　direction　that　Tarzan…jad…guru　was　coming　when　I　discovered　and　trapped　him。　He　was　leading　his　warriors　to　the　very　holy　of　holies。〃

Lu…don　ran　quickly　to　the　doorway　and　looked　out　into　the　corridor。　At　a　glance　he　saw　that　the　fears　of　the　frightened　priest　were　well　founded。　A　dozen　warriors　were　moving　along　the　corridor　toward　him　but　they　seemed　confused　and　far　from　sure　of　themselves。　The　high　priest　guessed　that　deprived　of　the　leadership　of　Tarzan　they　were　little　better　than　lost　in　the　unknown　mazes　of　the　subterranean　precincts　of　the　temple。

Stepping　back　into　the　apartment　he　seized　a　leathern　thong　that　depended　from　the　ceiling。　He　pulled　upon　it　sharply　and　through　the　temple　boomed　the　deep　tones　of　a　metal　gong。　Five　times　the　clanging　notes　rang　through　the　corridors；　then　he　turned　toward　the　two　priests。　〃Bring　the　woman　and　follow　me；〃　he　directed。

Crossing　the　chamber　he　passed　through　a　small　doorway；　the　others　lifting　Jane　Clayton　from　the　floor　and　following　him。　Through　a　narrow　corridor　and　up　a　flight　of　steps　they　went；　turning　to　right　and　left　and　doubling　back　through　a　maze　of　winding　passageways　which　terminated　in　a　spiral　staircase　that　gave　forth　at　the　surface　of　the　ground　within　the　largest　of　the　inner　altar　courts　close　beside　the　eastern　altar。

From　all　directions　now；　in　the　corridors　below　and　the　grounds　above；　came　the　sound　of　hurrying　footsteps。　The　five　strokes　of　the　great　gong　had　summoned　the　faithful　to　the　defense　of　Lu…don　in　his　private　chambers。　The　priests　who　knew　the　way　led　the　less　familiar　warriors　to　the　spot　and　presently　those　who　had　accompanied　Tarzan　found　themselves　not　only　leaderless　but　facing　a　vastly　superior　force。　They　were　brave　men　but　under　the　circumstances　they　were　helpless　and　so　they　fell　back　the　way　they　had　come；　and　when　they　reached　the　narrow　confines　of　the　smaller　passageway　their　safety　was　assured　since　only　one　foeman　could　attack　them　at　a　time。　But　their　plans　were　frustrated　and　possibly　also　their　entire　cause　lost；　so　heavily　had　Ja…don　banked　upon　the　success　of　their　venture。

With　the　clanging　of　the　temple　gong　Ja…don　assumed　that　Tarzan　and　his　party　had　struck　their　initial　blow　and　so　he　launched　his　attack　upon　the　palace　gate。　To　the　ears　of　Lu…don　in　the　inner　temple　court　came　the　savage　war　cries　that　announced　the　beginning　of　the　battle。　Leaving　Pan…sat　and　the　other　priest　to　guard　the　woman　he　hastened　toward　the　palace　personally　to　direct　his　force　and　as　he　passed　through　the　temple　grounds　he　dispatched　a　messenger　to　learn　the　outcome　of　the　fight　in　the　corridors　below；　and　other　messengers　to　spread　the　news　among　his　followers　that　the　false　Dor…ul…Otho　was　a　prisoner　in　the　temple。

As　the　din　of　battle　rose　above　A…lur；　Lieutenant　Erich　Obergatz　turned　upon　his　bed　of　soft　hides　and　sat　up。　He　rubbed　his　eyes　and　looked　about　him。　It　was　still　dark　without。

〃I　am　Jad…ben…Otho；〃　he　cried；　〃who　dares　disturb　my　slumber？〃

A　slave　squatting　upon　the　floor　at　the　foot　of　his　couch　shuddered　and　touched　her　forehead　to　the　floor。　〃It　must　be　that　the　enemy　have　come；　O　Jad…ben…Otho。〃　She　spoke　soothingly　for　she　had　reason　to　know　the　terrors　of　the　mad　frenzy　into　which　trivial　things　sometimes　threw　the　Great　God。

A　priest　burst　suddenly　through　the　hangings　of　the　doorway　and　falling　upon　his　hands　and　knees　rubbed　his　forehead　against　the　stone　flagging。　〃O　Jad…ben…Otho；〃　he　cried；　〃the　warriors　of　Ja…don　have　attacked　the　palace　and　the　temple。　Even　now　they　are　fighting　in　the　corridors　near　the　quarters　of　Lu…don；　and　the　high　priest　begs　that　you　come　to　the　palace　and　encourage　your　faithful　warriors　by　your　presence。〃

Obergatz　sprang　to　his　feet。　〃I　am　Jad…ben…Otho；〃　he　screamed。　〃With　lightning　I　will　blast　the　blasphemers　who　dare　attack　the　holy　city　of　A…lur。〃

For　a　moment　he　rushed　aimlessly　and　madly　about　the　room；　while　the　priest　and　the　slave　remained　upon　hands　and　knees　with　their　foreheads　against　the　floor。

〃Come；〃　cried　Obergatz；　planting　a　vicious　kick　i