Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-09
liz RETURN OF TARZAN
BY EDGAR RICE BURROU G H s
Author OF ~rARzAN OF APES"


copyrisht 1914 By a. G. Meciurs = Co.
CHAPTER Xxx.
T.soR q moment Tarsan thought that BY
IL some strange freak OF fate miracle
had saved him, but when he realized the
ease with which the girl had. sinsle-
handed. beaten on 20 goriila-like males
and an instant later. as he saw them
again take up their dance about him
while she addressed them In singsona
monotone. which bore every evidence o.
rote. he came to the conclusion that u
waa All but part Of the ceremony Of
which he wns the central figure.
Afser q moment or two the girl dr1w
Knife from her girdie, 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
further and farther into the remoter pre-
cincts of the temple, until they came TO
a great chamber ~ the centre OF "Tlcn ,,.I'.
stood an altar Then II was that TAR
zan translated the stranEe ceremony tnat
had preceded his Introduction Into this
holy OF holies.
He had fallen into tne hands OF
deacendants OF the ancient sun wor-
shippers. His seeming rescue by Yo-
taress OF the high priestess OF the sun
had been but part OF the mlmiory OF
their heather ceremony--the sun looking
down upon him through the opening at
the top OF the court had claimed him its
his own, and the priesteBs had come from
the inner temple to save him from the
poliutlng hands of worldlings-to save
him as n human offering to their Tanning
deity.
And had he needed further assurance
aa TO the correctness OF his theory lie
had oniy 10 cast his eyes upon the brown-
ish-red stains that caked the stone altar
and covered the floor in Its immediate VI
cinlty. or TO the human skulls which
Rrinned from countless inches In the tow
erlng walls.
The prIestess led the victim to the altar
steps Again the galleries above hned
with watchers, while from an archeu
doorway at the east end of the chamber
a PROCESSION OF females filed slowly into
the room. They wore, like the men, only
skins OF Wild animals caught about their
waists with rawhide belts OF chains OF
gold; but the black masses OF their hair
were incrusted with golden headgeaTI
GOfn0ONt0
pieces OF gold ingeniously held together
to form metal cap from which de-
pended, at each side OF the head. long
strings OF oval pieces falling to tne
waist.
The females were more symmetrically
proportioned than the males, their fea.
turcH were much more perfect, the shapcH
OF their heads and their large, soft, blac!S
eyes denoting far greater Intelligence ana
humanity than was possessed by their
lords and masters.
Each priestess bore two golden cups.
and as they formed In line along one side
OF the altar the men formed opposite
them, advancing and taking each cup
from the female opposite. Then the
chant began once more. and presently
from q dark pRssageway beyond the al-
tar another female emerged from the
cavernous depths beneath the chamber.
The high prieBtesB. thought Tarzan. She
was a young woman with a rather IN
teliigent and shapely face. Her orna-
ments were similar to those worn by her
Votnries. but much moro elaborate. many
being set with diamonds. Her bare arms
and legs were almost concealed by the
massive. beJeweled ornaments which Gov
cred them, while her single leopard skin
was supported by close-htting girdle
OF golden rings set In strange designs
with innumernble small diamonds. IN
the girdle she carried long, Jeweied
knife, and In her hand slender wand
In lieu OF bludgeon.
As she advanced to the opposite side OF
the altar she halted. and the chanting
ceased The priests and priestesses knelt
before her, while with wand extended
above them she recited n long and tire
some prayer. Her voice was soft and mu-
sical. Tarzan could scarce realize that Its
possessor in a moment more would be
transformed by the fanatical ecstasy OF
-Na iV,tn a Nxgill-zyaH and htOOd
thirsty executicHsr, who. with dripping
knife, would be the first to drink her
victims red, warm blood from the little
golden cup that stood upon the altar
As she finished her prayer she let her
eyes rest for the first time upon Tarzan.
With every Indication OF considerable
curiosity she examined him from head to
foot Then she addressed him. and when
she had finished she stood waiting, as
though she expected a reply.
II do not speak your language. said
Tarzan. Possibly we may speak to-
gether in another tongue7' But she could
not understand him, though he tried
French. English, Arab. Waziri' and. as
last resort, the mongrel tongue Of the
West Coast.
She shook her head. and Il seemed that
there was q note of WEAKNESS In her voice
e. she notioned to the priests to continue
with the rites. These now circled in a
repetition OF their tdiouc dance. which was
terminated finally at n command from
tho priesteHs. who had stood throughout
still looking intently upon Tarzan.
At her signal the priests rushed upon
the ape-man. and. lifting him bodily. laid
him upon his back across the altar, his
head hanging over one edge, his legs over
the opposite. Then they and the priest.
esses formed In two lines. with their little
golden cups In readiness to capture q
share OF the Victims lifeblood after the
aacrihclal knife had accomplished Ia
work.
In the line OF priests an alteration
arose as to who should have first place
A burly brute with all the refined intelll-
gence OF a gorilla stamped upon hls
bestial face was attempting to push q
smaller man 10 second place. but the
smaller one appealed TO the high priest.
ess who, in cold. peFemptory voice sent
the larger 20 the extreme end OF the line
Tarzan could hear him growing and