The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-01-02

turn the ape-man's misfortune to his
own advantage. t1
II cannot tell you from whence you
came" he said; "but this 1 can tell
you-if we do not get out of this hor-
rible place we shall both be slain upon
this bloody altar. The woman was
about to plunge her knife into my
heart when the lion interrupted the
fiendish ritual. Come! Let us find
way out of their damnable temple"
Tarzan turned again toward La.
"Why," he asked, "would you have
killed this man? Are you hungry?"
The high priestess cried out in dis
gust, raised her slender arm, and
pointed toward the sun.
1--WE were offering up his soul as
gift to the Flaming God" she said.
Tarzan looked puzzled. He was
again an ape, and apes do not under
stand such matters as souls and Flam-
ing Gods.
do you wish to dieT he asked
Werper.
The Belgian assured him, with tears
in his eyes, that he did not wish to
die.
Every well, then; you shall not" said
Tarzan. Come! We will go. This
She would kill you and keep me for
herself. 1t is no place, anyway, for
Mangani. l should soon die, shut up
behind these stone walls"
He turned toward La. 1--WE are 60
ing now" he said.
The woman rushed forward and
seized the ape-man's hands In hers.
do not leave me !' she cried. "Stay
and you shall be high priest. La loves
you. All Opar shall be yours. Stay.
Tarzan of the Apes, and let love re-
ward you"
The ape-man pushed the kneeling
woman aside. "Tarzan does not desire
you" he said, simply. and stepping to
Werper's side he cut the Belgians
bonds and motioned him to follow.
Panting-her face convulsed with
rage, La sprang to her feet.
Stay, you shall" she screamed.
La will have you-if she cannot have
you alive. she will have you dead" and
raising her face to the sun she gave
voice to the same hideous shrek that
Werper had heard once before and
Tarzan many times.
In answer to her cry a babel of
voices broke from the surrounding
chambers and corridors.
Come. guardian priests !" she cried.
1.-THE infidels have profaned the hottest
of the HOLES. Comet Strike terror to
their hearts; defend La and her altar
wash clean the temple with the blood
of the polluters !"
Tarzan understood, though Werper
did not. The former glanced at the
Belgian and saw that he was unarmed.
Stepping quickly to Las side the ape
man seized her in his strong arms
and though she fought with all the
mad savagery of a demon, he soon
disarmed her, handing her long, sacri-
fetal knife to Werper.
"You will need this" he said, and
then from each doorway horde of the
monstrous, little men of Opar streamed
into the temple.
They were armed with bludgeons
and knives, and fortified in their cour-
age by fanatical hate and frenzy. Wer-
per was terrified Tarzan stood eyeihg
the foe in proud disdain. Slowly he
advanced toward the exit he had
chosen to utilize in making his way
from the temple. A burly priest
barred his way. Behind the first was
score of others. Tarzan swung his
heavy spear, clublike, down upon the
skull of the priest. The fellow col
lapsed, his head crushed.
Again and again the weapon fell as
TarZan made his way slowly toward
the doorway. Werper pressed close
behind, casting backward glances to-
ward the shrieking, dancing mob men
acing their rear. He held the sacri-
fetal knife ready to strike whoever
might come within its reach; but none
came. For a time he wondered that
they should so bravely battle with the
giant ape-man, yet hesitate to rush
upon him, who was relatively so weak.
Tarzan had reached the doorway over
the corpses of all that had stood to
N'HPutO way ptiOAC WeTDtT
guessed at the reason for his immuni-
ty. The priests feared the sacrificial
knife! Willingly would they face
death and welcome 1t If it came while
they defended their high priestess and
her altar; hut evidently there were
deaths. and deaths. Some strange
superstition must surround that pol
ished blade, that no Oparian cared to
chance a death thrust from it, yet
gladly rushed to the slaughter of the
ape-man's flying spear,
Once outside the temple court. Wer-
per communicated his discovery to
Tarzan. The ape-man grinned. and
let Werper go before him, brandishing
the jeweled and holy weapon. Like
leaves before a gale, the Oparians
scattered in all directions and Tarzan
and the Belgian found clear passage
through the corridors and chambers of
the ancient temple.
On the two went, chance leading
them toward the broad avenue which