The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-05-14

and then suddenly and in perfect uni
son they turrNd toward their victim
with appraised bludgeons and emitting
fearful bowls, the while they contorted
their features into the most diabolical
expressions, they rushed upon him.
At the same instant female figure
dashed into the midst Of the blood
thirsty horde and, with a bludgeon
similar to their own, except that it was
wrought from gold, beat back the adj
vancing men.
After a moment or two the girl drew
a knife from her girdle and, leaning
over Tarzan, cut the bonds from his
legs. Then as the men stopped their
dance and approached she motiOned to
him to rise. Placing the rope that had
been about his legs around his neck,
she led him across the courtyard, the
men following in twos.
Through winding corridors she led,
farther and farther into the remoter
precincts of the temple until they came
to a great chamber in the center Of
which stood an altar Then it was that
Tarzan translated the strange ceremo-
ny that had preceded his introduction
into this holy of holies.
He had fallen into the hands Of de-
scendants of the ancient sun worship
ers. His seeming rescue by votaress
Of the high priestess Of the sun had
been but part Of the mimicry Of their
heather ceremony-the sun looking
down upon him through the opening at
the top Of the court had claimed him
as his own, and he,priestess had come
from the inner temple to save him
from the polluting hands Of worldlings
Ito save him as a human Offering to
their flaming deity.
And had he needed further assurance
as to the correctness Of his theory he
had only to cast his eyes upon the
brownish red stains that caked the
stone altar and covered the floor in its
immediate vicinity or to the human
skulls which grinned from countless
inches in the towering walls.
The priestess led the victim to the
altar steps. Again hesgalleries above
filed with watchers, while from an
arched doorway at the east end of the
chamber q procession Of females filed
slowly into the room. They wore, like
the men, only skins Of wild animals
caught about their waists with raw
hide belts Or chains Of gold, but the
black masses Of their hair were in
crusted with golden headgear composed
of many circular and oval pieces Of
gold ingeniously held together to form
a metal cap from which depended at
each side of the head long strings of
oval pieces falling to the waist.
Each priestess bore two golden cups,
and as they formed In line on either
side of the altar the men formed Opp0-
site them, advancing and taking each
cup from the female opposite. Then
the chant began once more, and pres
emily from dark passageway beyond
the altar another female emerged from
the cavernous depth beneath the cham
Der.
The high priestess, thought Tarzan.
She was young woman with a rather
intelligent and shapely face. Her or
naments were similar to those worn by
her votaries. but much more elaborate,
many being set with diamonds. In the
girdle she carried a long, jeweled knife,
and in her hand a slender wand In lieu
Of bludgeOn.
As she advanced to the opposite side
Of the altar she halted and the chant
ing ceased. The priests and priestesses
knelt before her, while with wand ex-
tended above them she recited long
and tiresOme prayer.
When she finished her prayer she let
her eyes rest for the first time upon
Tarzan. With every indication Of con-
siderable curiosity she examined him
from head to foot. Then she addressed
him and stood waiting, as though she
expected reply.
81 do not understand your language"
said Tarzan. Possibly we may speak
together in another tongue?" Bnt she
could not understand him. though he
tried French. English. Arabic, Waziri
and. as last resort the mongrel tongue
Of the West Coast.