The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-03-12
CHAPTER XII.
A Priestess but Yet q Woman.

A Priestess but Vet q Woman.
AT first La closed her eyes and chung
to Tarzan in terror, though she made
no cutlery; but presently she gained
sufficient courage to look about her,
to look down at the ground beneath.
and even to keep her eyes open DUR
ing the wide, perilous swings from tree
to tree. and then there came over her
a sense of safety because of her con-
fidence in the perfect physical crea-
ture in whose strength and nerve and
agility her fate lay. A strange anon
ally was La of Opar-a creature OF
circumstance torn by conflicting emo
tions. Now the cruel and bloodthirsty
creature of heartless god and again
"a melting woman filled with compass
sion and tenderness. Sometimes the
incarnation of jealousy and revenge
and sometimes sobbing maiden, gen.
erous and forgiving; at once virgin
and wanton; but always-a woman.
Such was La.
A hapless priest seeking shelter in
the jungle CHANGED to show himself to
enraged Tantor. The great beast
turned to one side, bore down upon
the crooked little man, snuffed him
out, and then, diverted from his
course, Numbered away toward the
south. In few minutes even the
noise of his trumpeting was lost in
the distance.
Tarzan dropped to the ground and
La slipped to her feet from his back.
"Call your people together" said Tar
Zan.
"They will kill me-" replied La.
"They will not kill yOu," contra
dicted the ape-man. mo one will kill
you while Tarzan of the Apes Is here.
Call them and we will talk with them"
La raised her voice in weird, flute
like call that carried far into the
jungle on every side. From near and
far came answering shouts in the bark
ing tones of the Oparian priests: 1--WE
come! We comet" Again and again.
La repeated her summons until singly
and in pairs the greater portion of her
following approached and halted a
short distance, away from the high
priestess and her savior. They came
with scowling brows and threatening
mien. When all had come TarZan ad-
dressed them.
"Your La is SAFE" said the ape-man.
"Had she slain me she would now her
self be dead and many more of you;
but she spared me that might save
her. Go your way with her back to
Opar, and Tarzan will go his way into
the jungle. Let there be peace al
ways between Tarzan and La. What
is your answer?"
The priests grumbled and shook
their heads. They spoke together and
La and Tarzan could see that they
were not favorably inclined toward
the proposition. They did not wish to
take La back and they did wish to
complete the sacrifice of Tarzan to
the Flaming God. At last the ape-man
became impatient.
'You will obey the commands OF
your queen" he said, "and go back to
Opar with her or Tarzan Of the Apes
will call together the other creatures
of the jungle and STAY you all. La
saved me that I might save you and
her. I know not where the sacred
knife is; but you can fashion another.
Had l not taken it from La you would
have slain me and now your god must
be glad that took it since l have
saved his priestess from love-mad Tan
tor. viii you go back to Opar with
La, promising that no harm shall be-
fall herr"
The priests gathered together In a
little knot arguing and discussing. It
became evident to Tarzan that one
of their number was preventing the
acceptance of his proposal. This was
the high priest. whose heart was filled
with jealous rage because La openly
acknowledged her love for the stran-
ger, when by the world customs of
their cult she should have belonged to
him. Seemingly there was to be no
solution of the problem, until another
priest stepped forward and, raising
his hand, addressed La.