The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1914-05-28
CHAPTER XVIII.

the long. straight tunnel that led to
the lofty hidden exit beyond the city.
Jane Porter was still unconscious.
At the crest of the great bowlder he
halted to cast backward glance to-
ward the city. Coming across the
plain he saw a band of the hideous
men Of Opar. For a moment he hest
tated. Should he descend and make a
race for the distant cliffs, or should he
hide here until night? And then a
glance at the girls white face deter
mined him. He could not keep her
here and permit her enemies to get
between them and liberty. For aught
he knew they might have been follow
ed through the tunnels, and to have
foes before and behind would result
in almost certain capture since he
could not fight his way through the
enemy burdened as he was with the
unconscious girl.
To descend the steep face of the
bowlder with Jane Porter was no easy
task, but by binding her across his
shoulders with the grass rope he sue
ceeded in reaching the ground In safe
ty before the Oparians arrived at the
great rock. AS the descent had been
made upon the side away from the
city, the searching party saw nothing
of it, nor did they dream that their
prey was SO close before them.
By keeping the kopje between them
and their pursuers Tarzan of the Apes
managed to cover nearly a mile before
the men of Opar rounded the granite
sentinel and saw the fugitives before
them. With loud cries of savage de-
light they broke into q mad run. think
ing doubtless that they would soon
overhaul the burdened runner, but
they both underestimated the powers
Of the ape-man and overestimated the
possibilities of their own short, crook
ed legs.
BY maintaining an easy trot Tarzan
kept the distance between them al
ways the same. Occasionally he would
glance at the face 80 near his own.
Had it not been for the faint beating
of the heart pressed so close against
his own he would not have known that
she was alive. SO white and drawn
was the poor. tired face.
And thus they came to the nat top
ped mountain and the barrier clins.
During the last mile Tarxan had let
himself out, running like a deer that
he might have ample time to descend
the face Of the cliffs before the Opari-
ans could reach the summit and hurl
rocks down upon them. And 80 1t was
that he was half mile down the
mountainside ere the fierce little men
came painting to the edge.
With cries of rage and disappoint'
ment they ranged along the clin top
shaking their cudgels and dancing uT
and down in q perfect passion OF an
ger. But this time they did not pur-
sue beyond the boundary of their OWL
country. Whether 1t was because they
recalled the futility Of their formel
long and irksome search or after wit
Messing the ease with which the ape
man swung along before them and the
last burst of speed they realized the
utter hopelessness Of further pursuit.
II Is difficult to say, but as Tarzan
reached the woods that began at the
base OF the foothills which skirted the
barrier cliffs they turned their races
once more toward Opar.
Just within the forests edge, wnert
he could yet watch the clif tops. Tar
zan laid his burden upon the grass
and, going to the nearby r1vuiet
brought water with which he batnec
her face and hands, but even this dc
not revive her. and, greatly worried
he gathered the girl into his strong
arms once more and hurried on TOWARD
the west.
Late in the afternoon Jane Porter
regained consciousness. She dlo mo-
open her eyes at once. She was trying
to recall the scenes that she had las
witnessed. All! She remembered now
The altar, the terrible priestess, the 0e
scending knife. She gave a little snua
dor. for she thought that either tnil
WAS death or that the knife had buried
,teolf in her heart and she was expe
,,onc,ne the brief delirium preceding
death.
And when finally she mustered cour
900 to omen her eyes the sight that met
them confirmed her fears, Tor she saw
that she was being borne through 9
Ieafy paradise in the arms Of her dead
love. "If this be DEATH" she murmur
ed, "thank God that am deadr'
"You spoke, Janev' cried Tarzan
"You are regaining consciousnessw
Eyes, Tarzan of the Apes" she re
piled. And for the first time in months
a smile Of peace and happiness lighted
her face.
sThank God!' cried the ape-man,
coming to the ground in a little grassy
clearing beside the stream. 81 was in
time after ALL"
In time? What do you meanl" she