Edgar Rice Burroughs - Tarzan 14 -Tarzan the Invincible

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    Tarzan 14 -Tarzan the Invincible

    by

    Edgar Rice Burroughs

    Chapter 1: Little Nkima.I AM no historian, no chronicler of facts, and, furthermore, I hold a very definite conviction thatthere are certain subects !hich fiction !riters should leave alone, foremost amon" !hich arepolitics and reli"ion. #o!ever, it seems to me not unethical to pirate an idea occasionally fromone or the other, provided that the subect be handled in such a !ay as to impart a definiteimpression of fictioni$in".#ad the story that I am about to tell you broken in the ne!spapers of t!o certain %uropeanpo!ers, it mi"ht have precipitated another and a more terrible !orld !ar. &ut !ith that I am notparticularly concerned. 'hat interests me is that it is a "ood story that is particularly !ell adaptedto my re(uirements throu"h the fact that )ar$an of the Apes !as intimately connected !ith manyof its most thrillin" episodes.I am not "oin" to bore you !ith dry political history, so do not ta* your intellect needlessly by

    attemptin" to decode such fictitious names as I may use in describin" certain people and places,!hich, it seems to me, to the best interest of peace and disarmament, should remain inco"nito.)ake the story simply as another )ar$an story, in !hich, it is hoped, you !ill find entertainmentand rela*ation. If you find food for thou"ht in it, so much the better.+oubtless, very fe! of you sa!, and still fe!er !ill remember havin" seen, a ne!s dispatch thatappeared inconspicuously in the papers some time since, reportin" a rumor that rench Colonial)roops stationed in -omaliland, on the northeast coast of Africa, had invaded an Italian Africancolony. &ack of that ne!s item is a story of conspiracy, intri"ue, adventure and love a story ofscoundrels and of fools, of brave men, of beautiful !omen, a story of the beasts of the forest andthe un"le.If there !ere fe! !ho sa! the ne!spaper account of the invasion of Italian -omaliland upon thenortheast coast of Africa, it is e(ually a fact that none of you sa! a harro!in" incident thatoccurred in the interior some time previous to this affair. )hat it could possibly have any

    connection !hatsoever !ith %uropean international intri"ue, or !ith the fate of nations, seems noteven remotely possible, for it !as only a very little monkey fleein" throu"h the tree tops andscreamin" in terror. It !as little Nkima, and pursuin" him !as a lar"e, rude monkey a muchlar"er monkey than little Nkima.ortunately for the peace of %urope and the !orld, the speed of the pursuer !as in no senseproportionate to his unpleasant disposition, and so Nkima escaped him/ but for lon" after thelar"er monkey had "iven up the chase, the smaller one continued to flee throu"h the tree tops,screechin" at the top of his shrill little voice, for terror and fli"ht !ere the t!o maor activities oflittle Nkima.0erhaps it !as fati"ue, but more likely it !as a caterpillar or a birds nest that eventuallyterminated Nkimas fli"ht and left him scoldin" and chatterin" upon a s!ayin" bou"h, far abovethe floor of the un"le.)he !orld into !hich little Nkima had been born seemed a very terrible !orld, indeed, and hespent most of his !akin" hours scoldin" about it, in !hich respect he !as (uite as human as he!as simian. It seemed to little Nkima that the !orld !as populated !ith lar"e, fierce creatures thatliked monkey meat. )here !ere Numa, the lion, and -heeta, the panther, and #istah, the snake a triumvirate that rendered unsafe his entire !orld from the loftiest tree top to the "round. Andthen there !ere the "reat apes, and the lesser apes, and the baboons, and countless species ofmonkeys, all of !hich 2od had made lar"er than #e had made little Nkima, and all of !hichseemed to harbor a "rud"e a"ainst him.)ake, for e*ample, the rude creature !hich had ust been pursuin" him. Little Nkima had donenothin" more than thro! a stick at him !hile he !as asleep in the crotch of a tree, and ust forthat he had pursued little Nkima !ith un(uestionable homicidal intent I use the !ord !ithout

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    purposin" any reflection upon Nkima. It had never occurred to Nkima, as it never seems to occurto some people, that, like beauty, a sense of humor may sometimes be fatal.&roodin" upon the inustices of life, little Nkima !as very sad. &ut there !as another and morepoi"nant cause of sadness that depressed his little heart. Many, many moons a"o his master had"one a!ay and left him. )rue, he had left him in a nice, comfortable home !ith kind people !hofed him, but little Nkima missed the "reat )arman"ani, !hose naked shoulder !as the one harborof refu"e from !hich he could !ith perfect impunity hurl insults at the !orld. or a lon" time no!little Nkima had braved the dan"ers of the forest and the un"le in search of his beloved )ar$an.&ecause hearts are measured by content of love and loyalty, rather than by diameters in inches,the heart of little Nkima !as very lar"e so lar"e that the avera"e human bein" could hide his o!nheart and himself, as !ell, behind it and for a lon" time it had been ust one "reat ache in hisdiminutive breast. &ut fortunately for the little Manu his mind !as so ordered that it mi"ht easilybe distracted even from a "reat sorro!. A butterfly or a luscious "rub mi"ht suddenly claim hisattention from the depths of broodin", !hich !as !ell, since other!ise he mi"ht have "rievedhimself to death.

    And no!, therefore, as his melancholy thou"hts returned to contemplation of his loss, their trend!as suddenly altered by the shiftin" of a un"le bree$e that brou"ht to his keen ears a sound that!as not primarily of the un"le sounds that !ere a part of his hereditary instincts. It !as a discord.

    And !hat is it that brin"s discord into the un"le as !ell as into every else!here that it enters3Man. It !as the voices of men that Nkima heard.

    -ilently the little monkey "lided throu"h the trees into the direction from !hich the sounds hadcome/ and presently, as the sounds "re! louder, there came also that !hich !as the definite,final proof of the identity of the noise makers, as far as Nkima, or, for that matter, any other of the

    un"le folk, mi"ht be concerned the scent spoor.4ou have seen a do", perhaps your o!n do", half reco"ni$e you by si"ht/ but !as he everentirely satisfied until the evidence of his eyes had been tested and approved by his sensitivenostrils3

    And so it !as !ith Nkima. #is ears had su""ested the presence of men, and no! his nostrilsdefinitely assured him that men !ere near. #e did not think of them as men, but as "reat apes.)here !ere 2oman"ani, 2reat &lack Apes, Ne"roes, amon" them. )his his nose told him. Andthere !ere )arman"ani, also. )hese, !hich to Nkima !ould be 2reat 'hite Apes, !ere !hitemen.%a"erly his nostrils sou"ht for the familiar scent spoor of his beloved )ar$an, but it !as not there

    that he kne! even before he came !ithin si"ht of the stran"ers.)he camp upon !hich Nkima presently looked do!n from a nearby tree !as !ell established. Ithad evidently been there for a matter of days and mi"ht be e*pected to remain still lon"er. It !asno overni"ht affair. )here !ere the tents of the !hite men and the beyts of Arabs neatly arran"ed!ith almost military precision and behind these the shelters of the Ne"roes, li"htly constructed ofsuch materials as Nature had provided upon the spot.'ithin the open front of an Arab beyt sat several !hite bournoosed &eduins drinkin" theirinevitable coffee/ in the shade of a "reat tree before another tent four !hite men !ere en"rossedin a "ame of cards/ amon" the native shelters a "roup of stal!art 2alla !arriors !ere playin" atminkala. )here !ere blacks of other tribes too men of %ast Africa and of Central Africa, !ith asprinklin" of 'est Coast Ne"roes.It mi"ht have pu$$led an e*perienced African traveller or hunter to catalo" this motleya""re"ation of races and colors. )here !ere far too many blacks to ustify a belief that all !ere

    porters, for !ith all the impedimenta of the camp ready for transportation there !ould have beenbut a small fraction of a load for each of them, even after more than enou"h had been includedamon" the askari, !ho do not carry any loads beside their rifles and ammunition.)hen, too, there !ere more rifles than !ould have been needed to protect even a lar"er party.)here seemed, indeed, to be a rifle for every man. &ut these !ere minor details !hich made noimpression upon Nkima. All that impressed him !as the fact that here !ere many stran"e)arman"ani and 2oman"ani in the country of his master/ and as all stran"ers !ere, to Nkima,enemies, he !as perturbed. No! more than ever he !ished that he mi"ht find )ar$an.

    A s!arthy, turbaned %ast Indian sat cross le""ed upon the "round before a tent, apparentlysunk in meditation/ but could one have seen his dark, sensuous eyes, he !ould have discovered

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    that their "a$e !as far from introspective they !ere bent constantly upon another tent that stooda little apart from its fello!s and !hen a "irl emer"ed from this tent, 5a"hunath 6afar arose andapproached her. #e smiled an oily smile as he spoke to her, but the "irl did not smile as shereplied. -he spoke civilly, but she did not pause, continuin" her !ay to!ard the four men at cards.

    As she approached their table they looked up/ and upon the face of each !as reflected somepleasurable emotion, but !hether it !as the same in each, the masks that !e call faces, and!hich are trained to conceal our true thou"hts, did not divul"e. %vident it !as, ho!ever, that the"irl !as popular.7#ello, 8ora97 cried a lar"e, smooth faced fello!. 7#ave a "ood nap37 74es, Comrade,7 repliedthe "irl/ 7but I am tired of nappin". )his inactivity is "ettin" on my nerves.77Mine, too,7 a"reed the man.7#o! much lon"er !ill you !ait for the American, Comrade 8veri37 asked 5a"hunath 6afar.)he bi" man shru""ed. 7I need him,7 he replied. 7'e mi"ht easily carry on !ithout him, but for themoral effect upon the !orld of havin" a rich and hi"h born American identified actively !ith theaffair it is !orth !aitin".77Are you (uite sure of this "rin"o, 8veri37 asked a s!arthy youn" Me*ican sittin" ne*t to the bi",smooth faced man, !ho !as evidently the leader of the e*pedition.7I met him in Ne! 4ork and a"ain in -an rancisco,7 replied 8veri. 7#e has been very carefullychecked and favorably recommended.77I am al!ays suspicious of these fello!s !ho o!e everythin" they have to capitalism,7 declared

    5omero. 7It is in their blood at heart they hate the proletariat, ust as !e hate them.77)his fello! is different, Mi"uel,7 insisted 8veri. 7#e has been !on over so completely that he!ould betray his o!n father for the "ood of the cause and already he is betrayin" his country.7

    A sli"ht, involuntary sneer, that passed unnoticed by the others, curled the lip of 8ora +rinov asshe heard this description of the remainin" member of the party, !ho had not yet reached therende$vous.Mi"uel 5omero, the Me*ican, !as still unconvinced. 7I have no use for "rin"os of any sort,7 hesaid.8veri shru""ed his heavy shoulders. 7ur personal animosities are of no importance,7 he said,7as a"ainst the interests of the !orkers of the !orld. 'hen Colt arrives !e must accept him asone of us/ nor must !e for"et that ho!ever much !e may detest America and Americans nothin"of any moment may be accomplished in the !orld of today !ithout them and their filthy !ealth.77'ealth "round out of the blood and s!eat of the !orkin" class,7 "ro!led 5omero.

    7%*actly,7 a"reed 5a"hunath 6afar, 7but ho! appropriate that this same !ealth should be used toundermine and overthro! capitalistic America and brin" the !orkers eventually into their o!n.77)hat is precisely the !ay I feel about it,7 said 8veri. 7I !ould rather use American "old infurtherin" the cause than any other and after that &ritish.77&ut !hat do the puny resources of this sin"le American mean to us37 demanded 8ora. 7A merenothin" compared to !hat America is already pourin" into -oviet 5ussia. 'hat is his treasoncompared !ith the treason of those others !ho are already doin" more to hasten the day of !orldcommunism than the )hird Internationale itself it is nothin", not a drop in the bucket.77'hat do you mean, 8ora37 asked Mi"uel.7I mean the bankers, and manufacturers, and en"ineers of America, !ho are sellin" their o!ncountry and the !orld to us in the hope of addin" more "old to their already burstin" coffers. neof their most pious and lauded citi$ens is buildin" "reat factories for us in 5ussia, !here !e mayturn out tractors and tanks/ their manufacturers are vyin" !ith one another to furnish us !ith

    en"ines for countless thousands of airplanes/ their en"ineers are sellin" us their brains and theirskill to build a "reat modern manufacturin" city, in !hich ammunitions and en"ines of !ar may beproduced. )hese are the traitors, these are the men !ho are hastenin" the day !hen Mosco!shall dictate the policies of a !orld.774ou speak as thou"h you re"retted it,7 said a dry voice at her shoulder.)he "irl turned (uickly. 7h, it is you, -heykh Abu &atn37 she said, as she reco"ni$ed the s!art

    Arab !ho had strolled over from his coffee. 7ur o!n "ood fortune does not blind me to theperfidiousness of the enemy, nor cause me to admire treason in anyone, even thou"h I profit byit.77+oes that include me37 demanded 5omero, suspiciously.

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    8ora lau"hed. 74ou kno! better than that, Mi"uel,7 she said. 74ou are of the !orkin" class youare loyal to the !orkers of your o!n country but these others are of the capitalistic class/ their"overnment is a capitalistic "overnment that is so opposed to our beliefs that it has neverreco"ni$ed our "overnment/ yet, in their "reed, these s!ine are sellin" out their o!n kind andtheir o!n country for a fe! more rotten dollars. I loathe them.78veri lau"hed. 74ou are a "ood 5ed, 8ora,7 he cried/ 7you hate the enemy as much !hen hehelps us as !hen he hinders.77&ut hatin" and talkin" accomplish so little,7 said the "irl. 7I !ish !e mi"ht do somethin". -ittin"here in idleness seems so futile.77And !hat !ould you have us do37 demanded 8veri, "ood naturedly.7'e mi"ht at least make a try for the "old of par,7 she said. 7If ;itembo is ri"ht, there should beenou"h there to finance a do$en e*peditions such as you are plannin", and !e do not need this

    American !hat do they call them, cake eaters3 to assist us in that venture.77I have been thinkin" alon" similar lines,7 said 5a"hunath 6afar.8veri sco!led. 70erhaps some of the rest of you !ould like to run this e*pedition,7 he said,crustily. 7I kno! !hat I am doin" and I dont have to discuss all my plans !ith anyone. 'hen Ihave orders to "ive, Ill "ive them. ;itembo has already received his, and preparations have beenunder !ay for several days for the e*pedition to par.77)he rest of us are as much interested and are riskin" as much as you, 8veri,7 snapped 5omero.7'e !ere to !ork to"ether not as master and slaves.7

    74oull soon learn that I am master,7 snarled 8veri in an u"ly tone.74es,7 sneered 5omeo, 7the c$ar !as master, too, and bre"on. 4ou kno! !hat happened tothem378veri leaped to his feet and !hipped out a revolver, but as he levelled it at 5omero the "irl struckhis arm up and stepped bet!een them. 7Are you mad, 8veri37 she cried.7+o not interfere, 8ora/ this is my affair and it mi"ht as !ell be settled no! as later. I am chiefhere and I am not "oin" to have any traitors in my camp. -tand aside.77No97 said the "irl !ith finality. 7Mi"uel !as !ron" and so !ere you, but to shed blood our o!nblood no! !ould utterly ruin any chance !e have of success. It !ould so! the seed of fear andsuspicion and cost us the respect of the blacks, for they !ould kno! that there !as dissensionamon" us. urthermore, Mi"uel is not armed/ to shoot him !ould be co!ardly murder that !ouldlose you the respect of every decent man in the e*pedition.7 -he had spoken rapidly in 5ussian,a lan"ua"e that !as understood by only 8veri and herself, of those !ho !ere present/ then she

    turned a"ain to Mi"uel and addressed him in %n"lish. 74ou !ere !ron", Mi"uel,7 she said "ently.7)here must be one responsible head, and Comrade 8veri !as chosen for the responsibility. #ere"rets that he acted hastily. )ell him that you are sorry for !hat you said, and then the t!o of youshake hands and let us all for"et the matter.7or an instant 5omero hesitated/ then he e*tended his hand to!ard 8veri. 7I am sorry,7 he said.)he 5ussian took the proffered hand in his and bo!ed stiffly. 7Let us for"et it, Comrade,7 he said/but the sco!l !as still upon his face, thou"h no darker than that !hich clouded the Me*icans.Little Nkima ya!ned and s!un" by his tail from a branch far overhead. #is curiosity concernin"these enemies !as sated. )hey no lon"er afforded him entertainment, but he kne! that hismaster should kno! about their presence/ and that thou"ht, enterin" his little head, recalled hissorro! and his "reat yearnin" for )ar$an, to the end that he !as a"ain imbued !ith a "rimdetermination to continue his search for the ape man. 0erhaps in half an hour some trivialoccurrence mi"ht a"ain distract his attention, but for the moment it !as his life !ork. -!in"in"

    throu"h the forest, little Nkima held the fate of %urope in his pink palm, but he did not kno! it.)he afternoon !as !anin". In the distance a lion roared. An instinctive shiver ran up Nkimasspine. In reality, ho!ever, he !as not much afraid, kno!in", as he did, that no lion could reachhim in the tree tops.

    A youn" man marchin" near the head of a safari cocked his head and listened. 7Not so very fara!ay, )ony,7 he said.7No, sir/ much too close,7 replied the ilipino.74oull have to learn to cut out that sir stuff, )ony, before !e oin the others,7 admonished theyoun" man.)he ilipino "rinned. 7All ri"ht, Comrade,7 he assented. 7I "ot so used callin" everybody sir it

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    hard for me to chan"e.77Im afraid youre not a very "ood 5ed then, )ony.77h, yes I am,7 insisted the ilipino emphatically. 7'hy else am I here3 4ou think I like come this2od forsaken country full of lion, ant, snake, fly, mos(uito ust for the !alk3 No, I come lay do!nmy life for 0hilippine independence.77)hats noble of you all ri"ht, )ony,7 said the other "ravely/ 7but ust ho! is it "oin" to make the0hilippines free37

    Antonio Mori scratched his head. 7I dont kno!,7 he admitted/ 7but it make trouble for America.7#i"h amon" the tree tops a little monkey crossed their path. or a moment he paused and!atched them/ then he resumed his ourney in the opposite direction.

    A half hour later the lion roared a"ain, and so disconcertin"ly close and une*pected rose thevoice of thunder from the un"le beneath him that little Nkima nearly fell out of the tree throu"h!hich he !as passin". 'ith a scream of terror he scampered as hi"h aloft as he could "o andthere he sat, scoldin" an"rily.)he lion, a ma"nificent full maned male, stepped into the open beneath the tree in !hich thetremblin" Nkima clun". nce a"ain he raised his mi"hty voice until the "round itself trembled tothe "reat, rollin" volume of his challen"e. Nkima looked do!n upon him and suddenly ceased toscold. Instead he leaped about e*citedly, chatterin" and "rimacin". Numa, the lion, looked up/and then a stran"e thin" occurred. )he monkey ceased its chatterin" and voiced a lo!, peculiarsound. )he eyes of the lion, that had been "larin" balefully up!ard, took on a ne! and almost

    "entle e*pression. #e arched his back and rubbed his side lu*uriously a"ainst the bole of thetree, and from those sava"e a!s came a soft, purrin" sound. )hen little Nkima dropped (uicklydo!n!ard throu"h the folia"e of the tree, "ave a final nimble leap, and ali"hted upon the thickmane of the kin" of beasts.

    Chapter

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    influence, so that !arriors, !ho formerly mi"ht have been as subservient to his !ill as slaves,no! dared openly to (uestion his authority. )here had been no demur so lon" as the e*peditionentailed no "reater hardships than short marches, pleasant camps, and plenty of food, !ith 'estCoast blacks, and members of other tribes less !arlike than the &asembos, to act as porters,carry the loads, and do all of the heavy !ork/ but no!, !ith fi"htin" loomin" ahead, some of hispeople had desired to kno! ust !hat they !ere "oin" to "et out of it, havin", apparently, littlestomach for riskin" their hides for the "ratification of the ambitions or hatreds of either the !hite8veri or the black ;itembo.It !as for the purpose of mollifyin" these malcontents that ;itembo !as no! haran"uin" his!arriors, promisin" them loot on the one hand and ruthless punishment on the other as a choicebet!een obedience and mutiny. -ome of the re!ards he dan"led before their ima"inations mi"hthave caused 8veri and the other !hite members of the e*pedition considerable perturbationcould they have understood the &asembo dialect/ but perhaps a "reater ar"ument for obedienceto his commands !as the "enuine fear that most of his follo!ers still entertained for their pitilesschieftain.

    Amon" the other blacks of the e*pedition !ere outla! members of several tribes and aconsiderable number of porters hired in the ordinary manner to accompany !hat !as officiallydescribed as a scientific e*pedition.

    Abu &atn and his !arriors !ere animated to temporary loyalty to 8veri by t!o motives a lust forloot and hatred for all Nasrany as represented by the &ritish influence in %"ypt and out into the

    desert, !hich they considered their hereditary domain.)he members of other races accompanyin" 8veri !ere assumed to be motivated by noble,humanitarian aspirations/ but it !as, nevertheless, true that their leader spoke to them more oftenof the ac(uisition of personal riches and po!er than of the advancement of the brotherhood ofman or the ri"hts of the proletariat.It !as, then, such a loosely knit, but none the less formidable e*pedition, that set forth this lovelymornin" upon the sack of the treasure vaults of mysterious par.

    As 8ora +rinov !atched them depart, her beautiful, inscrutable eyes remained fi*ed steadfastlyupon the person of 0eter 8veri until he had disappeared from vie! alon" the river trail that ledinto the dark forest.'as it a maid !atchin" in trepidation the departure of her lover upon a mission frau"ht !ithdan"er, or 70erhaps he !ill not return,7 said an oily voice at her shoulder.)he "irl turned her head to look into the halfclosed eyes of 5a"hunath 6afar. 7#e !ill return,

    Comrade,7 she said. 70eter 8veri al!ays returns to me.774ou are very sure of him,7 said the man, !ith a leer.7It is !ritten,7 replied the "irl as she started to move to!ard her tent.7'ait,7 said 6afar.-he stopped and turned to!ard him. 7'hat do you !ant37 she asked.74ou,7 he replied. 7'hat do you see in that uncouth s!ine, 8ora3 'hat does he kno! of love orbeauty3 I can appreciate you, beautiful flo!er of the mornin". 'ith me you may attain thetranscendent bliss of perfect love, for I am an adept in the cult of love. A beast like 8veri !ouldonly de"rade you.7)he sickenin" dis"ust that the "irl felt she hid from the eyes of the man, for she reali$ed that thee*pedition mi"ht be "one for days and that durin" that time she and 6afar !ould be practicallyalone to"ether, e*cept for a handful of sava"e black !arriors !hose attitude to!ard a matter ofthis nature bet!een an alien !oman and an alien man she could not anticipate/ but she !as none

    the less determined to put a definite end to his advances.74ou are playin" !ith death, 6afar,7 she said (uietly. 7I am here upon no mission of love, and if8veri should learn of !hat you have said to me he !ould kill you. +o not speak to me a"ain onthis subect.77It !ill not be necessary,7 replied the #indu, eni"matically. #is halfclosed eyes !ere fi*ed steadilyupon those of the "irl. or perhaps less than half a minute the t!o stood thus, !hile there creptthrou"h 8ora +rinov a sense of "ro!in" !eakness, a reali$ation of approachin" capitulation. -hefou"ht a"ainst it, pittin" her !ill a"ainst that of the man. -uddenly she tore her eyes from his. -hehad !on, but victory left her !eak and tremblin" as mi"ht be one !ho had but ust e*perienced astubbornly contested physical encounter. )urnin" (uickly a!ay, she moved s!iftly to!ard her

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    tent, not darin" to look back for fear that she mi"ht a"ain encounter those t!in pools of viciousand mali"nant po!er that !ere the eyes of 5a"hunath 6afar/ and so she did not see the oily smileof satisfaction that t!isted the sensuous lips of the #indu, nor did she hear his !hisperedrepetition 7It !ill not be necessary.7

    As the e*pedition !ound alon" the trail that leads to the foot of the barrier cliffs that hem thelo!er frontier of the arid plateau beyond !hich stand the ancient ruins that are par, 'ayne Colt,far to the !est, pushed on to!ard the base camp of the conspirators. )o the south, a little monkeyrode upon the back of a "reat lion, shrillin" insults no! !ith perfect impunity at every un"lecreature that crossed their path/ !hile, !ith e(ual contempt for all lesser creatures, the mi"htycarnivore strode hau"htily do!n !ind, secure in the kno!led"e of his un(uestioned mi"ht. A herdof antelope, "ra$in" in his path, cau"ht the acrid scent of the cat and moved nervously about/ but!hen he came !ithin si"ht of them they trotted only a short distance to one side, makin" a pathfor him/ and, !hile he !as still in si"ht, they resumed their feedin", for Numa, the lion, had fed!ell and the herbivores kne!, as creatures of the !ild kno! many thin"s that are beyond the dullsensibilities of man, and felt no fear of Numa !ith a full belly.)o others, yet far off, came the scent of the lion/ and they, too, moved nervously, thou"h their fear!as less than bad been the first fear of the antelopes. )hese others !ere the "reat apes of thetribe of )o yat, !hose mi"hty bulls had little cause to fear even Numa himself, thou"h their shesand their balus mi"ht !ell tremble.

    As the cat approached, the Man"ani became more restless and more irritable. )o yat, the kin"

    ape, beat his breast and bared his "reat fi"htin" fan"s. 2a yat, his po!erful shoulders hunched,moved to the ed"e of the herd nearest the approachin" dan"er. 8u tho thumped a !arnin"menace !ith his calloused feet. )he shes called their balus to them, and many took to the lo!erbranches of the lar"er trees or sou"ht positions close to an arboreal avenue of escape.It !as at this moment that an almost naked !hite man dropped from the dense folia"e of a treeand ali"hted in their midst. )aut nerves and short tempers snapped. 5oarin" and snarlin", theherd rushed upon the rash and hated manthin". )he kin" ape !as in the lead.7)o yat has a short memory,7 said the man in the ton"ue of the Man"ani.or an instant the ape paused, surprised perhaps to hear the lan"ua"e of his kind issuin" fromthe lips of a manthin". 7I am )o yat97 he "ro!led. 7I kill.77I am )ar$an,7 replied the man, 7mi"hty hunter, mi"hty fi"hter. I come in peace.77;ill9 ;ill97 roared )o yat, and the other "reat bulls advanced, bare fan"ed, menacin"ly.78u tho9 2a yat97 snapped the man, 7it is I, )ar$an of the Apes7/ but the bulls !ere nervous and

    fri"htened no!, for the scent of Numa !as stron" in their nostrils, and the shock of )ar$anssudden appearance had plun"ed them into a panic.7;ill9 ;ill97 they bello!ed, thou"h as yet they did not char"e, but advanced slo!ly, !orkin"themselves into the necessary fren$y of ra"e that !ould terminate in a sudden, blood mad rushthat no livin" creature mi"ht !ithstand and !hich !ould leave nau"ht but torn and bloodyfra"ments of the obect of their !rath.

    And then a shrill scream broke from the lips of a "reat, hairy mother !ith a tiny balu on her back.7Numa97 she shrieked, and, turnin", fled into the safety of the folia"e of a nearby tree.Instantly the shes and balus remainin" upon the "round took to the trees. )he bulls turned theirattention for a moment from the man to the ne! menace. 'hat they sa! upset !hat littlee(uanimity remained to them. Advancin" strai"ht to!ard them, his round, yello! "reen eyesbla$in" in ferocity, !as a mi"hty, yello! lion/ and upon his back perched a little monkey,screamin" insults at them. )he si"ht !as too much for the apes of )o yat, and the kin" !as the

    first to break before it. 'ith a roar, the ferocity of !hich may have salved his self esteem, heleaped for the nearest tree/ and instantly the others broke and fled, leavin" the !hite "iant to facethe an"ry lion alone.'ith bla$in" eyes the kin" of beasts advanced upon the man, his head lo!ered and flattened, histail e*tended, the brush flickin". )he man spoke a sin"le !ord in a lo! tone that mi"ht havecarried but a fe! yards. Instantly the head of the lion came up, the horrid "lare died in his eyes/and at the same instant the little monkey, voicin" a shrill scream of reco"nition and deli"ht,leaped over Numas head and in three prodi"ious bounds !as upon the shoulder of the man, hislittle arms encirclin" the bron$ed neck.7Little Nkima97 !hispered )ar$an, the soft cheek of the monkey pressed a"ainst his o!n.

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    )he lion strode maestically for!ard. #e sniffed the bare le"s of the man, rubbed his head a"ainsthis side and lay do!n at his feet.76ad bal a97 "reeted the ape man.)he "reat apes of the tribe of )o yat !atched from the safety of the trees. )heir panic and theiran"er had subsided. 7It is )ar$an,7 said 8u tho.74es, it is )ar$an,7 echoed 2a yat.)o yat "rumbled. #e did not like )ar$an, but he feared him/ and no!, !ith this ne! evidence ofthe po!er of the "reat )arman"ani, he feared him even more.or a time )ar$an listened to the "lib chatterin" of little Nkima. #e learned of the stran"e)arman"ani and the many 2oman"ani !arriors !ho had invaded the domain of the Lord of the6un"le.)he "reat apes moved restlessly in the trees, !ishin" to descend/ but they feared Numa, and the"reat bulls !ere too heavy to travel in safety upon the hi"h flun" leafy trails alon" !hich thelesser apes mi"ht pass !ith safety, and so could not depart until Numa had "one.72o a!ay97 cried )o yat, the ;in". 72o a!ay, and leave the Man"ani in peace.77'e are "oin",7 replied the ape man, 7but you need not fear either )ar$an or the 2olden Lion.'e are your friends. I have told 6ad bal a that he is never to harm you. 4ou may descend.77'e shall stay in the trees until he has "one,7 said )o yat/ 7he mi"ht for"et.774ou are afraid,7 said )ar$an contemptuously. 78u tho or 2a yat !ould not be afraid.778u tho is afraid of nothin",7 boasted that "reat bull.

    'ithout a !ord 2a yat climbed ponderously from the tree in !hich he had taken refu"e and, ifnot !ith marked enthusiasm, at least !ith sli"ht hesitation, advanced to!ard )ar$an and 6ad bal a, the 2olden Lion. #is fello!s eyed him intently, momentarily e*pectin" to see him char"edand mauled by the yello! eyed destroyer that lay at )ar$ans feet !atchin" every move of thesha""y bull. )he Lord of the 6un"le also !atched "reat Numa, for none kne! better than he, thata lion, ho!ever accustomed to obey his master, is still a lion. )he years of their companionship,since 6ad bal a had been a little, spotted, fluffy ball, had never "iven him reason to doubt theloyalty of the carnivore, thou"h there had been times !hen he had found it both difficult anddan"erous to th!art some of the beasts more ferocious hereditary instincts.2a yat approached, !hile little Nkima scolded and chattered from the safety of his mastersshoulder/ and the lion, blinkin" la$ily, finally looked a!ay. )he dan"er, if there had been any, !asover it is the fi*ed, intent "a$e of the lion that bodes ill.)ar$an advanced and laid a friendly hand upon the shoulder of the ape. 7)his is 2a yat,7 he said

    addressin" 6ad bal a, 7friend of )ar$an/ do not harm him.7 #e did not speak in any lan"ua"e ofman. 0erhaps the medium of communication that he used mi"ht not properly be called alan"ua"e at all, but the lion and the "reat ape and the little Manu understood him.7)ell the Man"ani that )ar$an is the friend of little Nkima,7 shrilled the monkey. 7#e must not harmlittle Nkima.77It is as Nkima has said,7 the ape man assured 2a yat.7)he friends of )ar$an are the friends of 2a yat,7 replied the "reat ape.7It is !ell,7 said )ar$an, 7and no! I "o. )ell )o yat and the others !hat !e have said and tellthem also that there are stran"e men in this country !hich is )ar$ans. Let them !atch them, butdo not let the men see them, for these are bad men, perhaps, !ho carry the thunder sticks thathurl death !ith smoke and fire and a "reat noise. )ar$an "oes no! to see !hy these men are inhis country.78ora +rinov had avoided 6afar since the departure of the e*pedition to par. -carcely had she

    left her tent, fei"nin" a headache as an e*cuse, nor had the #indu made any attempt to invadeher privacy. )hus passed the first day. =pon the mornin" of the second 6afar summoned the headman of the askaris that had been left to "uard them and to procure meat.7)oday,7 said 5a"hunath 6afar, 7!ould be a "ood day to hunt. )he si"ns are propitious. 2o,therefore, into the forest, takin" all your men, and do not return until the sun is lo! in the !est. Ifyou do this there !ill be presents for you, besides all the meat you can eat from the carcasses ofyour kills. +o you understand3774es, &!ana,7 replied the black.7)ake !ith you the boy of the !oman. #e !ill not be needed here. My boy !ill remain to cook forus.7

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    70erhaps he !ill not come,7 su""ested the Ne"ro.74ou are many, he is only one/ but do not let the !oman kno! that you are takin" him.77'hat are the presents37 demanded the head man.7A piece of cloth and cartrid"es,7 replied 6afar.7And the curved s!ord that you carry !hen !e are on the march.77No,7 said 6afar.7)his is not a "ood day to hunt,7 replied the black, turnin" a!ay.7)!o pieces of cloth and fifty cartrid"es,7 su""ested 6afar.7And the curved s!ord,7 and thus, after much ha""lin", the bar"ain !as made.)he head man "athered his askaris and bade them prepare for the hunt, sayin" that the bro!nb!ana had so ordered, but he said nothin" about any presents. 'hen they !ere ready, hedispatched one to summon the !hite !omans servant.74ou are to accompany us on the hunt,7 he said to the boy.7'ho said so37 demanded 'amala.7)he bro!n b!ana,7 replied ;ahiya, the head man.'amala lau"hed. 7I take my orders from my mistress not from the bro!n b!ana.7;ahiya leaped upon him and clapped a rou"h palm across his mouth as t!o of his men sei$ed'amala upon either side. 74ou take your orders from ;ahiya,7 he said. #untin" spears !erepressed a"ainst the boys tremblin" body. 7'ill you "o upon the hunt !ith us37 demanded ;ahiya.7I "o,7 replied 'amala. 7I did but oke.7

    As 8veri led his e*pedition to!ard par, 'ayne Colt, impatient to oin the main body of theconspirators, ur"ed his men to "reater speed in their search for the camp. )he principalconspirators had entered Africa at different points that they mi"ht not arouse too much attentionby their numbers. 0ursuant to this plan Colt had landed on the !est coast and had travelledinland a short distance by train to railhead, from !hich point he had had a lon" and arduous

    ourney on foot/ so that no!, !ith his destination almost in si"ht, he !as an*ious to put a period tothis part of his adventure. )hen, too, he !as curious to meet the other principals in this ha$ardousundertakin", 0eter 8veri bein" the only one !ith !hom he !as ac(uainted.)he youn" American !as not unmindful of the "reat risks he !as invitin" in affiliatin" himself !ithan e*pedition !hich aimed at the peace of %urope and at the ultimate control of a lar"e section ofNortheastern Africa throu"h the disaffection by propa"anda of lar"e and !arlike native tribes,especially in vie! of the fact that much of their operation must be carried on !ithin &ritish territory,!here &ritish po!er !as considerably more than a mere "esture. &ut, bein" youn" and

    enthusiastic, ho!ever mis"uided, these contin"encies did not !ei"h heavily upon his spirits,!hich, far from bein" depressed, !ere upon the contrary ea"er and restless for action.)he tedium of the ourney from the coast had been unrelieved by pleasurable or ade(uatecompanionship, since the childish mentality of )ony could not rise above a muddy conception of0hilippine independence and a consideration of the fine clothes he !as "oin" to buy !hen, bysome va"uely visuali$ed economic process, he !as to obtain his share of the ord and5ockefeller fortunes.#o!ever, not!ithstandin" )onys mental shortcomin"s, Colt !as "enuinely fond of the youth andas bet!een the companionship of the ilipino or 8veri, he !ould have chosen the former, his briefac(uaintance !ith the 5ussian in Ne! 4ork and -an rancisco havin" convinced him that as aplayfello! he left everythin" to be desired/ nor had he any reason to anticipate that he !ould findany more con"enial associates amon" the conspirators.0loddin" do""edly on!ard, Colt !as only va"uely a!are of the no! familiar si"hts and sounds of

    the un"le, both of !hich by this time, it must be admitted, had considerably palled upon him.%ven had he taken particular note of the latter, it is to be doubted that his untrained ear !ouldhave cau"ht the persistent chatter of a little monkey that follo!ed in the trees behind him/ nor!ould this have particularly impressed him, unless he had been able to kno! that this particularlittle monkey rode upon the shoulder of a bron$ed Apollo of the forest, !ho moved silently in his!ake alon" a leafy hi"h!ay of the lo!er terraces.)ar$an had "uessed that perhaps this !hite man, upon !hose trail he had come une*pectedly,!as makin" his !ay to!ard the main camp of the party of stran"ers for !hich the Lord of the6un"le !as searchin"/ and so, !ith the persistence and patience of the sava"e stalker of the

    un"le, he follo!ed 'ayne Colt/ !hile little Nkima, ridin" upon his shoulder, berated his master for

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    not immediately destroyin" the )arman"ani and all his party, for little Nkima !as a bloodthirstysoul !hen the spillin" of blood !as to be accomplished by someone else.

    And !hile Colt impatiently ur"ed his men to "reater speed and )ar$an follo!ed and Nkimascolded, 5a"hunath 6afar approached the tent of 8ora +rinov. As his fi"ure darkened theentrance, castin" a shado! across the book she !as readin", the "irl looked up from the cotupon !hich she !as lyin".)he #indu smiled his oily, in"ratiatin" smile. 7I came to see if your headache !as better,7 he said.7)hank you, no,7 said the "irl coldly/ 7but perhaps !ith undisturbed rest I may be better soon.7I"norin" the su""estion, 6afar entered the tent and seated himself in a camp chair. 7I find itlonely,7 he said, 7since the others have "one. +o you not also377No,7 replied 8ora. 7I am (uite content to be alone and restin".774our headache developed very suddenly,7 said 6afar. 7A short time a"o you seemed (uite !elland animated.7)he "irl made no reply. -he !as !onderin" !hat had become of her boy, 'amala, and !hy hehad disre"arded her e*plicit instructions to permit no one to disturb her.0erhaps 5a"hunath 6afar read her thou"hts, for to %ast Indians are often attributed uncannypo!ers, ho!ever little !arranted such a belief may be. #o!ever that may be, his ne*t !ordssu""ested the possibility.7'amala has "one huntin" !ith the askaris,7 he said.7I "ave him no such permission,7 said 8ora.

    7I took the liberty of doin" so,7 said 6afar.74ou had no ri"ht,7 said the "irl an"rily, sittin" up upon the ed"e of her cot. 74ou have presumedalto"ether too far, Comrade 6afar.77'ait a moment, my dear,7 said the #indu soothin"ly. 7Let us not (uarrel. As you kno!, I love youand love does not find confirmation in cro!ds. 0erhaps I have presumed, but it !as only for thepurpose of "ivin" me an opportunity to plead my cause !ithout interruption/ and then, too, as youkno!, all is fair in love and !ar.77)hen !e may consider this as !ar,7 said the "irl, 7for it certainly is not love, either upon your sideor upon mine. )here is another !ord to describe !hat animates you, Comrade 6afar, and that!hich animates me no! is loathin". I could not abide you if you !ere the last man on earth, and!hen 8veri returns, I promise you that there shall be an accountin".77Lon" before 8veri returns I shall have tau"ht you to love me,7 said the #indu, passionately. #earose and came to!ard her. )he "irl leaped to her feet, lookin" about (uickly for a !eapon of

    defense. #er cartrid"e belt and revolver hun" over the chair in !hich 6afar had been sittin", andher rifle !as upon the opposite side of the tent.74ou are (uite unarmed,7 said the #indu/ 7I took particular note of that !hen I entered the tent.Nor !ill it do you any "ood to call for help/ for there is no one in camp but you, and me, and myboy and he kno!s that, if he values his life, he is not to come here unless I call him.774ou are a beast,7 said the "irl.7'hy not be reasonable, 8ora37 demanded 6afar. 7It !ould not harm you any to be kind to me,and it !ill make it very much easier for you. 8veri need kno! nothin" of it, and once !e are backin civili$ation a"ain, if you still feel that you do not !ish to remain !ith me I shall not try to holdyou/ but I am sure that I can teach you to love me and that !e shall be very happy to"ether.772et out97 ordered the "irl. )here !as neither fear nor hysteria in her voice. It !as very calm andlevel and controlled.)o a man not entirely blinded by passion, that mi"ht have meant somethin" it mi"ht have meant

    a "rim determination to carry self defense to the very len"th of death but 5a"hunath 6afar sa!only the !oman of his desire, and steppin" (uickly for!ard he sei$ed her.8ora +rinov !as youn" and lithe and stron", yet she !as no match for the burly #indu, !hoselayers of "reasy fat belied the "reat physical stren"th beneath them. -he tried to !rench herselffree and escape from the tent, but he held her and dra""ed her back. )hen she turned upon himin a fury and struck him repeatedly in the face, but he only enveloped her more closely in hisembrace and bore her back!ard upon the cot.

    Chapter >: ut of the 2rave.'A4N% CL)- "uide, !ho had been sli"htly in advance of the American, stopped suddenly and

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    looked back !ith a broad smile. )hen he pointed ahead. 7)he camp, &!ana97 he e*claimedtriumphantly.7)hank the Lord97 e*claimed Colt !ith a si"h of relief.7It is deserted,7 said the "uide.7It does look that !ay, doesnt it37 a"reed Colt. 7Lets have a look around,7 and, follo!ed by hismen, he moved in amon" the tents. #is tired porters thre! do!n their loads and, !ith the askaris,spra!led at full len"th beneath the shade of the trees, !hile Colt, follo!ed by )ony, commencedan investi"ation of the camp.

    Almost immediately the youn" Americans attention !as attracted by the violent shakin" of one ofthe tents. 7)here is someone or somethin" in there,7 he said to )ony, as he !alked briskly to!ardthe entrance.)he si"ht !ithin that met his eyes brou"ht a sharp eaculation to his lips a man and !omanstru""lin" upon the "round, the former chokin" the bare throat of his victim !hile the "irl struckfeebly at his face !ith clenched fists.-o en"rossed !as 6afar in his unsuccessful attempt to subdue the "irl that he !as una!are ofColts presence until a heavy hand fell upon his shoulder and he !as erked violently aside.Consumed by maniacal fury, he leaped to his feet and struck at the American only to be met !itha blo! that sent him reelin" back!ard. A"ain he char"ed and a"ain he !as struck heavily uponthe face. )his time he !ent to the "round, and as he sta""ered to his feet, Colt sei$ed him,!heeled him around and hurtled him throu"h the entrance of the tent, acceleratin" his departure

    !ith a !elltimed kick. 7If he tries to come back, )ony, shoot him,7 he snapped at the ilipino, andthen turned to assist the "irl to her feet. #alf carryin" her, he laid her on the cot and then, findin"!ater in a bucket, bathed her forehead, her throat and her !rists.utside the tent 5a"hunath 6afar sa! the porters and the askaris lyin" in the shade of a tree. #ealso sa! Antonio Mori !ith a determined sco!l upon his face and a revolver in his hand, and !ithan an"ry imprecation he turned and made his !ay to!ard his o!n tent, his face livid !ith an"erand murder in his heart.0resently 8ora +rinov opened her eyes and looked up into the solicitous face of 'ayne Colt,bendin" over her.rom the leafy seclusion of a tree above the camp, )ar$an of the Apes overlooked the scenebelo!. A sin"le, !hispered syllable had silenced Nkimas scoldin". )ar$an had noted the violentshakin" of the tent that had attracted Colts attention, and he had seen the precipitate eection ofthe #indu from its interior and the menacin" attitude of the ilipino preventin" 6afars return to the

    conflict. )hese matters !ere of little interest to the ape man. )he (uarrelin"s and defections ofthese people did not even arouse his curiosity. 'hat he !ished to learn !as the reason for theirpresence here, and for the purpose of obtainin" this information he had t!o plans. ne !as tokeep them under constant surveillance until their acts divul"ed that !hich he !ished to kno!. )heother !as to determine definitely the head of the e*pedition and then to enter the camp anddemand the information he desired. &ut this he !ould not do until he had obtained sufficientinformation to "ive him an advanta"e. 'hat !as "oin" on !ithin the tent he did not kno!, nor didhe care.or several seconds after she opened her eyes 8ora +rinov "a$ed intently into those of the manbent upon her. 74ou must be the American,7 she said finally.7I am 'ayne Colt,7 he replied, 7and I take it from the fact that you "uessed my identity that this isComrade 8veris camp.7-he nodded. 74ou came ust in time, Comrade Colt,7 she said.

    7)hank 2od for that,7 he said.7)here is no 2od,7 she reminded him.Colt #ushed. 7'e are creatures of heredity and habit,7 he e*plained.8ora +rinov smiled. 7)hat is true,7 she said, 7but it is our business to break a "reat many badhabits not only for ourselves, but for the entire !orld.7-ince he had laid her upon the cot, Colt had been (uietly appraisin" the "irl. #e had not kno!nthat there !as a !hite !oman in 8veris camp, but had he it is certain that he !ould not haveanticipated one at all like this "irl. #e !ould rather have visuali$ed a female a"itator capable ofaccompanyin" a band of men to the heart of Africa as a coarse and unkempt peasant !oman ofmiddle a"e/ but this "irl, from her head of "lorious, !avy hair to her small !ellshaped foot,

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    su""ested the antithesis of a peasant ori"in and, far from bein" unkempt, !as as tri" and smartas it !ere possible for a !oman to be under such circumstances and, in addition, she !as youn"and beautiful.7Comrade 8veri is absent from camp37 he asked.74es, he is a!ay on a short e*pedition.77And there is no one to introduce us to one another37 he asked, !ith a smile.7h, pardon me,7 she said. 7I am 8ora +rinov.77I had not anticipated such a pleasant surprise,7 said Colt. 7I e*pected to find nothin" butuninterestin" men like myself. And !ho !as the fello! I interrupted377)hat !as 5a"hunath 6afar, a #indu.77#e is one of us37 asked Colt.74es,7 replied the "irl, 7but not for lon" not after 0eter 8veri returns.774ou mean 377I mean that 0eter !ill kill him.7Colt shru""ed. 7It is !hat he deserves,7 he said. 70erhaps I should have done it.77No,7 said the "irl, 7leave that for 0eter.77'ere you left alone here in this camp !ithout any protection37 demanded Colt.7No. 0eter left my boy and ten askaris, but in some !ay 6afar "ot them all out of camp.774ou !ill be safe no!,7 he said. 7I shall see to that until Comrade 8veri returns. I am "oin" no! tomake my camp, and I shall send t!o of my askaris to stand "uard before your tent.7

    7)hat is "ood of you,7 she said, 7but I think no! that you are here it !ill not be necessary.77I shall do it any!ay,7 he said. 7I shall feel safer.77And !hen you have made camp, !ill you come and have supper !ith me37 she asked, and then,7h, I for"ot, 6afar has sent my boy a!ay, too. )here is no one to cook for me.77)hen, perhaps, you !ill dine !ith me,7 he said. 7My boy is a fairly "ood cook.77I shall be deli"hted, Comrade Colt,7 she replied.

    As the American left the tent, 8ora +rinov lay back upon the cot !ith halfclosed eyes. #o!different the man had been from !hat she had e*pected. 5ecallin" his features, and especiallyhis eyes, she found it difficult to believe that such a man could be a traitor to his father or to hiscountry, but then, she reali$ed, many a man has turned a"ainst his o!n for a principle. 'ith hero!n people it !as different. )hey had never had a chance. )hey had al!ays been "roundbeneath the heel of one tyrant or another. 'hat they !ere doin" they believed implicitly to be fortheir o!n and for their countrys "ood. Amon" those of them !ho !ere motivated by honest

    conviction there could not fairly be brou"ht any char"e of treason, and yet, 5ussian thou"h she!as to the core, she could not help but look !ith contempt upon the citi$ens of other countries!ho turned a"ainst their "overnments to aid the ambitions of a forei"n po!er. 'e may be !illin"to profit by the act of forei"n mercenaries and traitors, but !e cannot admire them.

    As Colt crossed from 8oras tent to !here his men lay to "ive the necessary instructions for themakin" of his camp, 5a"hunath 6afar !atched him from the interior of his o!n tent. A mali"nantsco!l clouded the countenance of the #indu, and hatred smoldered in his eyes.)ar$an, !atchin" from above, sa! the youn" American issuin" instructions to his men. )hepersonality of this youn" stran"er had impressed )ar$an favorably. #e liked him as !ell as hecould like any stran"er, for deeply in"rained in the fiber of the ape man !as the !ild beastsuspicion of all stran"ers and especially of all !hite stran"ers. As he !atched him no! nothin"else !ithin the ran"e of his vision escaped him. It !as thus that he sa! 5a"hunath 6afar emer"efrom his tent, carryin" a rifle. nly )ar$an and little Nkima sa! this, and only )ar$an placed any

    sinister interpretation upon it.5a"hunath 6afar !alked directly a!ay from camp and entered the un"le. -!in"in" silentlythrou"h the trees, )ar$an of the Apes follo!ed him. 6afar made a half circle of the camp ust!ithin the concealin" verdure of the un"le, and then he halted. rom !here he stood the entirecamp !as visible to him, but his o!n position !as concealed by folia"e.Colt !as !atchin" the disposition of his loads and the pitchin" of his tent. #is men !ere busy !iththe various duties assi"ned to them by their headman. )hey !ere tired and there !as littletalkin". or the most part they !orked in silence, and an unusual (uiet pervaded the scene a(uiet that !as suddenly and une*pectedly shattered by an an"uished scream and the report of arifle, blendin" so closely that it !as impossible to say !hich had preceded the other. A bullet

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    !hi$$ed by Colts head and nipped the lobe off the ear of one of his men standin" behind him.Instantly the peaceful activities of the camp !ere supplanted by pandemonium. or a momentthere !as a difference of opinion as to the direction from !hich the shot and the scream hadcome, and then Colt sa! a !isp of smoke risin" from the un"le ust beyond the ed"e of camp.7)here it is,7 he said, and started to!ard the point.)he headman of the askaris stopped him. 7+o not "o, &!ana,7 he said. 70erhaps it is an enemy.Let us fire into the un"le first.77No,7 said Colt, 7!e !ill investi"ate first. )ake some of your men in from the ri"ht, and Ill take therest in from the left. 'ell !ork around slo!ly throu"h the un"le until !e meet.774es, &!ana,7 said the headman, and callin" his men he "ave the necessary instructions.No sound of fli"ht or any su""estion of a livin" presence "reeted the t!o parties as they enteredthe un"le/ nor had they discovered any si"ns of a marauder !hen, a fe! moments later, theymade contact !ith one another. )hey !ere no! formed in a half circle that bent back into the

    un"le and, at a !ord from Colt, they advanced to!ard the camp.It !as Colt !ho found 5a"hunath 6afar lyin" dead ust at the ed"e of camp. #is ri"ht hand"rasped his rifle. 0rotrudin" from his heart !as the shaft of a sturdy arro!.)he Ne"roes "atherin" around the corpse looked at one another (uestionin"ly and then back intothe un"le and up into the trees. ne of them e*amined the arro!. 7It is not like any arro! I haveever seen,7 he said. 7It !as not made by the hand of man.7Immediately the blacks !ere filled !ith superstitious fears.

    7)he shot !as meant for the b!ana,7 said one/ 7therefore the demon !ho shot the arro! is afriend of our b!ana. 'e need not be afraid.7)his e*planation satisfied the blacks, but it did not satisfy 'ayne Colt. #e !as pu$$lin" over it ashe !alked back into camp, after "ivin" orders that the #indu be buried.8ora +rinov !as standin" in the entrance to her tent, and as she sa! him she came to meet him.7'hat !as it37 she asked. 7'hat happened377Comrade 8veri !ill not kill 5a"hunath 6afar,7 he said.7'hy37 she asked.7&ecause 5a"hunath 6afar is already dead.77'ho could have shot the arro!37 she asked, after he had told her of the manner of the #indusdeath.7I havent the remotest idea,7 he admitted. 7It is an absolute mystery, but it means that the camp isbein" !atched and that !e must be very careful not to "o into the un"le alone. )he men believe

    that the arro! !as fired to save me from an assassins bullet/ and !hile it is entirely possible that6afar may have been intendin" to kill me, I believe that if I had "one into the un"le alone insteadof him it !ould have been I that !ould be lyin" out there dead no!. #ave you been bothered at allby natives since you made camp here, or have you had any unpleasant e*periences !ith them atall377'e have not seen a native since !e entered this camp. 'e have often commented upon the factthat the country seems to be entirely deserted and uninhabited, not!ithstandin" the fact that it isfilled !ith "ame.77)his thin" may help to account for the fact that it is uninhabited,7 su""ested Colt, 7or ratherapparently uninhabited. 'e may have unintentionally invaded the country of some unusuallyferocious tribe that takes this means of ac(uaintin" ne!comers !ith the fact that they arepersona non "rata.774ou say one of our men !as !ounded37 asked 8ora.

    7Nothin" serious. #e ust had his ear nicked a little.77'as he near you377#e !as standin" ri"ht behind me,7 replied Colt.7I think there is no doubt that 6afar meant to kill you,7 said 8ora.70erhaps,7 said Colt, 7but he did not succeed. #e did not even kill my appetite/ and if I cansucceed in calmin" the e*citement of my boy, !e shall have supper presently.7rom a distance )ar$an and Nkima !atched the burial of 5a"hunath 6afar and a little later sa!the return of ;ahiya and his askaris !ith 8oras boy 'amala, !ho had been sent out of camp by6afar.7'here,7 said )ar$an to Nkima, 7are all the many )arman"ani and 2oman"ani that you told me

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    !ere in this camp377)hey have taken their thundersticks and "one a!ay,7 replied the little Manu. 7)hey are huntin"for Nkima.7)ar$an of the Apes smiled one of his rare smiles. 7'e shall have to hunt them do!n and find out!hat they are about, Nkima,7 he said.7&ut it "ro!s dark in the un"le soon,7 pleaded Nkima, 7and then !ill -abor, and -heeta, andNuma, and #istah be abroad, and they, too, search for little Nkima.7+arkness had fallen before Colts boy announced supper, and in the meantime )ar$an, chan"in"his plans, had returned to the trees above the camp. #e !as convinced that there !as somethin"irre"ular in the aims of the e*pedition !hose base he had discovered. #e kne! from the si$e ofthe camp that it had contained many men. 'here they had "one and for !hat purpose !erematters that he must ascertain. eelin" that this e*pedition, !hatever its purpose, mi"ht naturallybe a principal topic of conversation in the camp, he sou"ht a point of vanta"e !herefrom he mi"htoverhear the conversations that passed bet!een the t!o !hite members of the party beneathhim/ and so it !as that as 8ora +rinov and 'ayne Colt seated themselves at the supper table,)ar$an of the Apes crouched amid the folia"e of a "reat tree ust above them.74ou have passed throu"h a rather tryin" ordeal today,7 said Colt, 7but you do not appear to beany the !orse for it. I should think that your nerves !ould be shaken.77I have passed throu"h too much already in my life, Comrade Colt, to have any nerves left at all,7replied the "irl.

    7I suppose so,7 said Colt. 74ou must have passed throu"h the revolution in 5ussia.77I !as only a little "irl at the time,7 she e*plained, 7but I remember it (uite distinctly.7Colt !as "a$in" at her intently. 7rom your appearance,7 he ventured, 7I ima"ine that you !erenot by birth of the proletariat.77My father !as a laborer. #e died in e*ile under the )$arist re"ime. )hat !as ho! I learned tohate everythin" monarchistic and capitalistic. And !hen I !as offered this opportunity to oinComrade 8veri, I sa! another field in !hich to encompass my reven"e, !hile at the same timeadvancin" the interests of my class throu"hout the !orld.77'hen I last sa! 8veri in the =nited -tates,7 said Colt, 7he evidently had not formulated the planshe is no! carryin" out, as he never mentioned any e*pedition of this sort. 'hen I received ordersto oin him here, none of the details !as imparted to me/ and so I am rather in the dark as to !hathis purpose is.77It is only for "ood soldiers to obey,7 the "irl reminded him.

    74es, I kno! that,7 a"reed Colt, 7but at the same time even a poor soldier may act moreintelli"ently sometimes if he kno!s the obective.77)he "eneral plan, of course, is no secret to any of us here,7 said 8ora, 7and I shall betray noconfidence in e*plainin" it to you. It is a part of a lar"er plan to embroil the capitalistic po!ers in!ars and revolutions to such an e*tent that they !ill be helpless to unite a"ainst us.7ur emissaries have been laborin" for a lon" time to!ard the culmination of the revolution inIndia that !ill distract the attention and the armed forces of 2reat &ritain. 'e are not succeedin"so !ell in Me*ico as !e had planned, but there is still hope, !hile our prospects in the 0hilippinesare very bri"ht. )he conditions in China you !ell kno!. -he is absolutely helpless, and !e havehope that !ith our assistance she !ill eventually constitute a real menace to 6apan. Italy is a verydan"erous enemy, and it is lar"ely for the purpose of embroilin" her in !ar !ith rance that !eare here.77&ut ust ho! can that be accomplished in Africa37 asked Colt.

    7Comrade 8veri believes that it !ill be simple,7 said the "irl. 7)he suspicion and ealousy that e*istbet!een rance and Italy are !ell kno!n/ their race for naval supremacy amounts almost to ascandal. At the first overt act of either a"ainst the other, !ar mi"ht easily result, and a !arbet!een Italy and rance !ould embroil all of %urope.77&ut ust ho! can 8veri, operatin" in the !ilds of Africa, embroil Italy and rance in !ar37demanded the American.7)here is no! in 5ome a dele"ation of rench and Italian 5eds en"a"ed in this very business.)he poor men kno! only a part of the plan and, unfortunately for them, it !ill be necessary tomartyr them in the cause for the advancement of our !orld plan. )hey have been furnished !ithpapers outlinin" a plan for the invasion of Italian -omaliland by rench troops. At the proper time

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    one of Comrade 8veris secret a"ents in 5ome !ill reveal the plot to the ascist 2overnment/ andalmost simultaneously a considerable number of our o!n blacks, dis"uised in the uniforms ofrench native troops, led by the !hite men of our e*pedition, uniformed as rench officers, !illinvade Italian -omaliland.7In the meantime our a"ents are carryin" on in %"ypt and Abyssinia and amon" the native tribesof North Africa, and already !e have definite assurance that !ith the attention of rance and Italydistracted by !ar and 2reat &ritain embarrassed by a revolution in India the natives of North

    Africa !ill arise in !hat !ill amount almost to a holy !ar for the purpose of thro!in" off the yokeof forei"n domination and the establishment of autonomous soviet states throu"hout the entirearea.77A darin" and stupendous undertakin",7 e*claimed Colt, 7but one that !ill re(uire enormousresources in money as !ell as men.77It is Comrade 8veris pet scheme,7 said the "irl. 7I do not kno!, of course, all the details of hisor"ani$ation and backin"/ but I do kno! that !hile he is already !ell financed for the initialoperations, he is dependin" to a considerable e*tent upon this district for furnishin" most of thenecessary "old to carry on the tremendous operations that !ill be necessary to insure finalsuccess.77)hen I am afraid he is foredoomed to failure,7 said Colt, 7for he surely cannot find enou"h !ealthin this sava"e country to carry on any such stupendous pro"ram.77Comrade 8veri believes to the contrary,7 said 8ora/ 7in fact, the e*pedition that he is no!

    en"a"ed upon is for the purpose of obtainin" the treasure he seeks.7Above them, in the darkness, the silent fi"ure of the apeman lay stretched at ease upon a "reatbranch, his keen ears absorbin" all that passed bet!een them, !hile curled in sleep upon hisbron$ed back lay little Nkima, entirely oblivious of the fact that he mi"ht have listened to !ords!ell calculated to shake the foundations of or"ani$ed "overnment throu"hout the !orld.7And !here,7 demanded Colt, 7if it is no secret, does Comrade 8veri e*pect to find such a "reatstore of "old377In the famous treasure vaults of par,7 replied the "irl. 74ou certainly must have heard of them.774es,7 ans!ered Colt, 7but I never considered them other than purely le"endary. )he folk lore ofthe entire !orld is filled !ith these mythical treasure vaults.77&ut par is no myth,7 replied 8ora.If the startlin" information divul"ed to him affected )ar$an, it induced no out!ard manifestation.Listenin" in silence imperturbably, trained to the utmost refinement of self control, he mi"ht have

    been part and parcel of the "reat branch upon !hich he lay, or of the shado!y folia"e !hich hidhim from vie!.or a time Colt sat in silence, contemplatin" the stupendous possibilities of the plan that, he had

    ust heard unfolded. It seemed to him little short of the dream of a mad man, and he did notbelieve that it had the sli"htest chance for success. 'hat he did reali$e !as the eopardy in !hichit placed the members of the e*pedition, for he believed that there !ould be no escape for any ofthem once 2reat &ritain, rance, and Italy !ere apprised of their activities/ and, !ithoutconscious volition, his fears seemed centered upon the safety of the "irl. #e kne! the type ofpeople !ith !hom he !as !orkin" and so he kne! that it !ould be dan"erous to voice a doubt asto the practicability of the plan, for scarcely !ithout e*ception the a"itators !hom he had met hadfallen naturally into t!o separate cate"ories, the impractical visionary, !ho believed everythin"that he !anted to believe, and the shre!d knave, actuated by motives of avarice, !ho hoped toprofit either in po!er or riches by any chan"e that he mi"ht be instrumental in brin"in" about in

    the established order of thin"s. It seemed horrible that a youn" and beautiful "irl should havebeen enticed into such a desperate situation. -he seemed far too intelli"ent to be merely abrainless tool, and even his brief association !ith her made it most difficult for him to believe thatshe !as a knave.7)he undertakin" is certainly frau"ht !ith "rave dan"ers,7 he said, 7and as it is primarily a ob formen I cannot understand !hy you !ere permitted to face the dan"ers and hardships that must ofnecessity be entailed by the carryin" out of such a perilous campai"n.77)he life of a !oman is of no more value than that of a man,7 she declared, 7and I !as needed.)here is al!ays a "reat deal of important and confidential clerical !ork to be done !hichComrade 8veri can entrust only to one in !hom he has implicit confidence. #e reposes such trust

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    in me and, in addition, I am a trained typist and steno"rapher. )hose reasons in themselves aresufficient to e*plain !hy I am here, but another very important one is that I desire to be !ithComrade 8veri.7In the "irls !ords Colt sa! the admission of a romance/ but to his American mind this !as all the"reater reason !hy the "irl should not have been brou"ht alon", for he could not conceive of aman e*posin" the "irl he loved to such dan"ers.

    Above them )ar$an of the Apes moved silently. irst he reached over his shoulder and lifted littleNkima from his back. Nkima !ould have obected, but the veriest shado! of a !hisper silencedhim. )he ape man had various methods of dealin" !ith enemies methods that he had learnedand practiced lon" before he had been co"ni$ant of the fact that he !as not an ape. Lon" beforehe had ever seen another !hite man he had terrori$ed the 2oman"ani, the black men of theforest and the un"le, and had learned that a lon" step to!ard defeatin" an enemy may be takenby first demorali$in" its morale. #e kne! no! that these people !ere not only the invaders of hiso!n domain and, therefore, his o!n personal enemies, but that they threatened the peace of2reat &ritain, !hich !as dear to him, and of the rest of the civili$ed !orld, !ith !hich, at least,)ar$an had no (uarrels. It is true that he held civili$ation in "eneral in considerable contempt, butin even "reater contempt he held those !ho interfered !ith the ri"hts of others or !ith theestablished order of un"le or city.

    As )ar$an left the tree in !hich he had been hidin", the t!o belo! him !ere no more a!are of hisdeparture than they had been of his presence. Colt found himself attemptin" to fathom the

    mystery of love. #e kne! 8veri, and it appeared inconceivable to him that a "irl of 8ora +rinovstype could be attracted by a man of 8veris stamp. f course, it !as none of his affair, but itbothered him nevertheless because it seemed to constitute a reflection upon the "irl and to lo!erher in his estimation. #e !as disappointed in her, and Colt did not like to be disappointed inpeople to !hom he had been attracted.74ou kne! Comrade 8veri in America, did you not37 asked 8ora.74es,7 replied Colt.7'hat do you think of him37 she demanded.7I found him a very forceful character,7 replied Colt. 7I believe him to be a man !ho !ould carry onto a conclusion anythin" that he attempted. No better man could have been chosen for thismission.7If the "irl had hoped to surprise Colt into an e*pression of personal re"ard or dislike for 8veri, shehad failed, but if such !as the fact she !as too !ise to pursue the subect further. -he reali$ed

    that she !as dealin" !ith a man from !hom she !ould "et little information that he did not !ishher to have/ but on the other hand a man !ho mi"ht easily !rest information from others, for he!as that type !hich seemed to invite confidences, su""estin" as he did, in his attitude, hisspeech and his manner a sterlin" upri"htness of character that could not conceivably abuse atrust. -he rather liked this upstandin" youn" American, and the more she sa! of him the moredifficult she found it to believe that he had turned traitor to his family, his friends and his country.#o!ever, she kne! that many honorable men had sacrificed everythin" to a conviction and,perhaps, he !as one of these. -he hoped that this !as the e*planation.)heir conversation drifted to various subects to their lives and e*periences in their native lands to the happenin"s that had befallen them since they had entered Africa, and, finally, to thee*periences of the day. And !hile they talked, )ar$an of the Apes returned to the tree abovethem, but this time he did not come alone.7I !onder if !e shall ever kno!,7 she said, 7!ho killed 6afar.7

    7It is a mystery that is not lessened by the fact that none of the askaris could reco"ni$e the type ofarro! !ith !hich he !as slain, thou"h that, of course, mi"ht be accounted for by the fact thatnone of them are of this district.77It has considerably shaken the nerves of the men,7 said 8ora, 7and I sincerely hope that nothin"similar occurs a"ain. I have found that it does not take much to upset these natives, and !hilemost of them are brave in the face of kno!n dan"ers, they are apt to be entirely demorali$ed byanythin" borderin" on the supernatural.77I think they felt better !hen they "ot the #indu planted under "round,7 said Colt, 7thou"h some ofthem !ere not at all sure that he mi"ht not return any!ay.77)here is not much chance of that,7 reoined the "irl, lau"hin".

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    -he had scarcely ceased speakin" !hen the branches above them rustled, and a heavy bodyplun"ed do!n!ard to the table top bet!een them, crushin" the flimsy piece of furniture to earth.)he t!o spran" to their feet, Colt !hippin" out his revolver and the "irl stiflin" a cry as shestepped back. Colt felt the hairs rise upon his head and "oose flesh form upon his arms andback, for there bet!een them lay the dead body of 5a"hunath 6afar upon its back, the dead eyesrolled back!ard starin" up into the ni"ht.

    Chapter ?: Into the Lions +en.N;IMA !as an"ry. #e had been a!akened from the depth of a sound sleep, !hich !as badenou"h, but no! his master had set out upon such foolish errands throu"h the darkness of theni"ht that, min"led !ith Nkimas scoldin"s !ere the !himperin"s of fear, for in every shado! hesa! -heeta, the panther, lurkin" and in each "narled limb of the forest the likeness of #istah, thesnake. 'hile )ar$an had remained in the vicinity of the camp, Nkima had not been particularlyperturbed, and !hen he had returned to the tree !ith his burden the little Manu !as sure that he!as "oin" to remain there for the rest of the ni"ht/ but instead he had departed immediately andno! !as s!in"in" throu"h the black forest !ith an evident fi*ity of purpose that boded ill for eitherrest or safety for little Nkima durin" the remainder of the ni"ht.'hereas 8veri and his party had started slo!ly alon" !indin" un"le trails, )ar$an moved almostin an air line throu"h the un"le to!ard his destination, !hich !as the same as that of 8veri. )heresult !as that before 8veri reached the almost perpendicular cra" !hich formed the last and

    "reatest natural barrier to the forbidden valley of par, )ar$an and Nkima had disappearedbeyond the summit and !ere crossin" the desolate valley, upon the far side of !hich loomed the"reat !alls and lofty spires and turrets of ancient par. In the bri"ht li"ht of the African sun,domes and minarets shone red and "old above the city/ and once a"ain the ape mane*perienced the same feelin" that had impressed him upon the occasion, no! years "one, !henhis eyes had first ali"hted upon the splendid panorama of mystery that had unfolded before them.No evidence of ruin !as apparent at this "reat distance. nce a"ain, in ima"ination, he beheld acity of ma"nificent beauty, its streets and temples thron"ed !ith people/ and once a"ain his mindtoyed !ith the mystery of the citys ori"in, !hen back some!here in the dim vista of anti(uity arace of rich and po!erful people had conceived and built this endurin" monument to a vanishedcivili$ation. It !as possible to conceive that par mi"ht have e*isted !hen a "lorious civili$ationflourished upon the "reat continent of Atlantis, !hich, sinkin" beneath the !aves of the ocean, leftthis lost colony to death and decay.

    )hat its fe! inhabitants !ere direct descendants of its once po!erful builders seemed not unlikelyin vie! of the rites and ceremonies of the ancient reli"ion !hich they practiced, as !ell as by thefact that by scarcely any other hypothesis could the presence of a !hite skinned people beaccounted for in this remote inaccessible African vastness.)he peculiar la!s of heredity, !hich seemed operative in par as in no other portion of the !orld,su""ested an ori"in differin" materially from that of other men/ for it is a peculiar fact that the menof par bear little or no resemblance to the females of their kind. )he former are short, heavy set,hairy, almost apelike in their conformation and appearance, !hile the !omen are slender,smooth skinned and often beautiful. )here !ere certain physical and mental attributes of the menthat had su""ested to )ar$an the possibility that at some time in the past the colonists had, eitherby choice or necessity, interbred !ith the "reat apes of the district/ and he also !as a!are thato!in", to the scarcity of victims for the human sacrifice, !hich their ri"id !orship demanded it!as common practice amon" them to use for this purpose either males or females !ho deviated

    considerably from the standard time had established for each se*, !ith the result that throu"h thela!s of natural selection an over!helmin" maority of the males !ould be "rotes(ue and thefemales normal and beautiful.It !as !ith such reveries that the mind of the ape man !as occupied as he crossed the desolatevalley of par, !hich lay shimmerin" in the bri"ht sunli"ht that !as relieved only by the shade ofan occasional "narled and stunted tree. Ahead of him and to his ri"ht !as the small rocky hillock,upon the summit of !hich !as located the outer entrance to the treasure vaults of par. &ut !iththis he !as not no! interested, his sole obect bein" to fore!arn La of the approach of theinvaders that she mi"ht prepare her defense.It had been lon" since )ar$an had visited par/ but upon that last occasion, !hen he had

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    restored La to her loyal people and re established her supremacy follo!in" the defeat of theforces of Cad, the hi"h priest, and the death of the latter beneath the fan"s and talons of 6ad bal a, he had carried a!ay !ith him for the first time a conviction of the friendliness of all of thepeople of par. #e had for years kno!n that La !as secretly his friend, but her sava"e,"rotes(ue retainers al!ays heretofore had feared and hated him/ and so it !as no! that heapproached par as one mi"ht approach any citadel of ones friends, !ithout stealth and !ithoutany doubt but that he !ould be received in friendship.Nkima, ho!ever, !as not so sure. )he "loomy ruins terrified him. #e scolded and pleaded, but allto no avail/ and at last terror overcame his love and loyalty so that, as they !ere approachin" theouter !all, !hich loomed hi"h above them, he leaped from his masters shoulder and scampereda!ay from the ruins that confronted him, for deep in his little heart !as an abidin" fear of stran"eand unfamiliar places, that not even his confidence in )ar$an could overcome.Nkimas keen eyes had noted the rocky hillock !hich they had passed a short time before, and tothe summit of this he scampered as a comparatively safe haven from !hich to a!ait the return ofhis master from par.

    As )ar$an approached the narro! fissure !hich alone "ave entrance throu"h the massive outer!alls of par, he !as conscious, as he had been years before on the occasion of his firstapproach to the city, of unseen eyes upon him, and at any moment he e*pected to hear a"reetin" !hen the !atchers reco"ni$ed him.'ithout hesitation, ho!ever, and !ith no apprehensiveness, )ar$an entered the narro! cleft and

    descended a fli"ht of concrete steps that led to the !indin" passa"e throu"h the thick outer !all.)he narro! court, beyond !hich loomed the inner !all, !as silent and deserted/ nor !as thesilence broken as he crossed it to another narro! passa"e !hich led throu"h it/ at the end of thishe came to a broad avenue, upon the opposite side of !hich stood the crumblin" ruins of the"reat temple of par.In silence and solitude he entered the fro!nin" portal, flanked by its ro!s of stately pillars, fromthe capitals of !hich "rotes(ue birds "lared do!n upon him as they had stared throu"h all thecountless a"es since for"otten hands had carved them from the solid rock of the monoliths. nthrou"h the temple to!ard the inner courtyard, !here he kne! the activities of the city !erecarried on, )ar$an made his !ay in silence. 0erhaps another man !ould have "iven notice of hiscomin", voicin" a "reetin" to apprise them of his approach/ but )ar$an of the Apes in manyrespects is less man than beast. #e "oes the silent !ay of most beasts, !astin" no breath inuseless mouthin". #e had not sou"ht to approach par stealthily, and he kne! that he had not

    arrived unseen. 'hy a "reetin" !as delayed he did not kno!, unless it !as that, after carryin"!ord of his comin" to La, they !ere !aitin" for her instructions.)hrou"h the main corridor )ar$an made his !ay, notin" a"ain the tablets of "old !ith their ancientand lon" undeciphered hiero"lyphics. )hrou"h the chamber of the seven "olden pillars he passedand across the "olden floor of an adoinin" room, and still only silence and emptiness, yet !ithva"ue su""estions of fi"ures movin" in the "alleries that overlooked the apartment throu"h !hichhe !as passin"/ and then at last he came to a heavy door beyond !hich he !as sure he !ouldfind either priests or priestesses of this "reat temple of the lamin" 2od. earlessly he pushed itopen and stepped across the threshold, and in the same instant a knotted club descendedheavily upon his head, fellin" him senseless to the floor.Instantly he !as surrounded by a score of "narled and knotted men/ their matted beards fell lo!upon their hairy chests as they rolled for!ard upon their short, crooked le"s. )hey chattered inlo!, "ro!lin" "utturals as they bound their victims !rists and ankles !ith stout thon"s, and then

    they lifted him and carried him alon" other corridors and throu"h the crumblin" "lories ofma"nificent apartments to a "reat tiled room, at one end of !hich a youn" !oman sat upon amassive throne, restin" upon a dais a fe! feet above the level of the floor.-tandin" beside the "irl upon the throne !as another of the "narled and knotted men. =pon hisarms and le"s !ere bands of "old and about his throat many necklaces. =pon the floor beneaththese t!o !as a "atherin" of men and !omen the priests and priestesses of the lamin" 2od ofpar.)ar$ans captors carried their victim to the foot of the throne and tossed his body upon the tilefloor. Almost simultaneously the ape man re"ained consciousness and, openin" his eyes,looked about him.

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    7Is it he37 demanded the "irl upon the throne.ne of )ar$ans captors sa! that he had re"ained consciousness and !ith the help of othersdra""ed him rou"hly to his feet.7It is he, ah,7 e*claimed the man at her side.

    An e*pression of venomous hatred convulsed the face of the !oman. 72od has been "ood to #ishi"h priestess,7 she said. 7I have prayed for this day to come as I prayed for the other, and as theother came so has this.7)ar$an looked (uickly from the !oman to the man at her side. 7'hat is the meanin" of this,+ooth37 he demanded. 7'here is La3 'here is your hi"h priestess37)he "irl rose an"rily from her throne. 7;no!, man of the outer !orld, that I am hi"h priestess. I,ah, am hi"h priestess of the lamin" 2od.7)ar$an i"nored her. 7'here is La37 he demanded a"ain of +ooth.ah fle! into a fren$y of ra"e. 7-he is dead97 she screamed, advancin" to the ed"e of the dais asthou"h to leap upon )ar$an, the e!eled handle of her sacrificial knife "leamin" in the sunli"ht,!hich poured throu"h a "reat aperture !here a portion of the ancient roof of the throne room hadfallen in. 7-he is dead97 she repeated. 7+ead as you !ill be !hen ne*t !e honor the lamin" 2od!ith the life blood of a man. La !as !eak. -he loved you, and thus she betrayed her 2od, !hohad chosen you for sacrifice. &ut ah is stron" stron" !ith the hate she has nursed in herbreast since )ar$an and La stole the throne of par from her. )ake him a!ay97 she screamed tohis captors, 7and let me not see him a"ain until I behold him bound to the altar in the court of

    sacrifice.7)hey cut the bonds no! that secured )ar$ans ankles so that he mi"ht !alk/ but even thou"h his!rists !ere tied behind him it !as evident that they still held him in "reat fear, for they put ropesabout his neck and his arms and led him as man mi"ht lead a lion. +o!n into the familiardarkness of the pits of par they led him, li"htin" the !ay !ith torches/ and !hen finally they hadbrou"ht him to the dun"eon in !hich he !as to be confined it !as some time before they couldmuster sufficient coura"e to cut the bonds that held his !rists, and even then they did not do sountil they had a"ain bound his ankles securely so that they mi"ht escape from the chamber andbolt the door before he could release his feet and pursue them. )hus "reatly had the pro!ess of)ar$an impressed itself upon the brains of the crooked priests of par.)ar$an had been in the dun"eons of par before and, before, he had escaped/ and so he set to!ork immediately seekin" for a means of escape from his present predicament, for he kne! thatthe chances !ere that ah !ould not lon" delay the moment for !hich she had prayed the

    instant !hen she should plun"e the "leamin" sacrificial knife into his breast. @uickly removin" thethon"s from his ankles, )ar$an "roped his !ay carefully alon" the !alls of his cell until he hadmade a complete circuit of it/ then, similarly, he e*amined the floor. #e discovered that he !as ina rectan"ular chamber about ten feet lon" and ei"ht !ide and that by standin" upon his tiptoeshe could ust reach the ceilin". )he only openin" !as the door throu"h !hich he had entered, in!hich an aperture, protected by iron bars, "ave the cell its only ventilation but, as it opened upona dark corridor, admitted no li"ht. )ar$an e*amined the bolts and the hin"es of the door, but they!ere, as he had conectured, too substantial to be forced/ and then, for the first time, he sa! thata priest sat on "uard in the corridor !ithout, thus puttin" a definite end to any thou"hts ofsurreptitious escape.or three days and ni"hts priests relieved each other at intervals/ but upon the mornin" of thefourth day )ar$an discovered that the corridor !as empty, and once a"ain he turned his attentionactively to thou"hts of escape.

    It had so happened that at the time of )ar$ans capture his huntin" knife had been hidden by thetail of the leopard skin that formed his loin cloth/ and, in their e*citement, the i"norant, halfhumanpriests of par had overlooked it !hen they took his other !eapons a!ay from him. +oublythankful !as )ar$an for this "ood fortune, since, for sentimental reasons, he cherished thehuntin" knife of his lon" dead sire the knife that had started him upon the up!ard path toascendancy over the beasts of the un"le that day, lon" "one, !hen, more by accident thanintent, he had plun"ed it into the heart of &ol"ani, the "orilla. &ut for more practical reasons it!as, indeed, a "ift from the "ods, since it afforded him not only a !eapon of defense, but aninstrument !here!ith he mi"ht seek to make "ood his escape.4ears before had )ar$an of the Apes escaped from the pits of par, and so he !ell kne! the

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    construction of their massive !alls. 2ranite blocks of various si$es, hand he!n to fit !ithperfection, !ere laid in courses !ithout mortar, the one !all that he had passed throu"h havin"been fifteen feet in thickness. ortune had favored him upon that occasion in that he had beenplaced in a cell !hich, unkno!n to the present inhabitants of par, had a secret entrance, theopenin" of !hich !as closed by a sin"le layer of loosely laid courses that the ape man had beenable to remove !ithout "reat effort.Naturally he sou"ht for a similar condition in the cell in !hich he no! found himself, but hissearch !as not cro!ned !ith success. No sin"le stone could be bud"ed from its place, anchoredas each !as by the tremendous !ei"ht of the temple !alls they supported/ and so, perforce, heturned his attention to!ard the door.#e kne! that there !ere fe! locks in par since the present de"raded inhabitants of the city hadnot developed sufficient in"enuity either to repair old ones or construct ne!. )hose locks that hehad seen !ere ponderous affairs opened by hu"e keys and !ere, he "uessed, of an anti(uity thatreached back to the days of Atlantis/ but, for the most part, heavy bolts and bars secured suchdoors as mi"ht be fastened at all, and he "uessed that it !as such a crude contrivance thatbarred his !ay to freedom.2ropin" his !ay to the door, he e*amined the small openin" that let in air. It !as about shoulderhi"h and perhaps ten inches s(uare and !as e(uipped !ith four vertical iron bars half an inchs(uare, set an inch and a half apart too close to permit him to insert his hands bet!een them,but this fact did not entirely discoura"e the ape man. 0erhaps there !as another !ay.

    #is steel the!ed fin"ers closed upon the center of one of the bars. 'ith his left hand he clun" toanother, and bracin" one knee hi"h a"ainst the door he slo!ly fle*ed his ri"ht elbo!. 5ollin" likeplastic steel, the muscles of his forearm and his biceps s!elled, until "radually the bar bentin!ard to!ard him. )he ape man smiled as he took a ne! "rip upon the iron bar. )hen hesur"ed back!ard !ith all his !ei"ht and all the stren"th of that mi"hty arm, and the bar bent to a!ide = as he !renched it from its sockets. #e tried to insert his arm throu"h the ne! openin", butit still !as too small. A moment later another bar !as torn a!ay, and no!, his arm throu"h theaperture to its full len"th, he "roped for the bar or bolts that held him prisoner.

    At the fullest e*tent to !hich he could reach his fin"ertips do!n!ard a"ainst the door, he usttouched the top of the bar, !hich !as a timber about three inches in thickness. Its otherdimensions, ho!ever, he !as unable to ascertain, or !hether it !ould release by raisin" one endor must be dra!n back throu"h keepers. It !as most tantali$in"9 )o have freedom almost !ithinones "rasp and yet to be denied it !as maddenin".

    'ithdra!in" his arm from the aperture, he removed his huntin" knife from his scabbard and,a"ain reachin" out!ard, pressed the point of the blade, into the !ood of the bar. At first he triedliftin" the bar by this means, but his knife point only pulled out of the !ood. Ne*t, he attempted tomove the bar back!ard in a hori$ontal plane, and in this he !as successful. )hou"h the distancethat he moved it in one effort !as small, he !as satisfied, for he kne! that patience !ould !in itsre!ard. Never more than a (uarter of an inch, sometimes only a si*teenth of an inch at a time,)ar$an slo!ly !orked the bar back!ard. #e !orked methodically and carefully, never hurryin",never affected by nervous an*iety, althou"h he never kne! at !hat moment a sava"e !arriorpriest of par mi"ht make his rounds/ and at last his efforts !ere re!arded, and the door s!un"upon its hin"es.-teppin" (uickly out, )ar$an shot the bar behind him and, kno!in" no other avenue of escape,turned back up the corridor alon" !hich his captors had conducted him to his prison cell. aintlyin the distance he discerned a lessenin" darkness, and to!ard this he moved upon silent feet. As

    the li"ht increased sli"htly, he sa! that the corridor !as about ten feet !ide and that at irre"ularintervals it !as pierced by doors, all of !hich !ere closed and secured by bolts or bars.A hundred yards from the cell in !hich he had been incarcerated he crossed a transversedcorridor, and here he paused an instant to investi"ate !ith palpitatin" nostrils and keen eyes andears. In neither direction could he discern any li"ht, but faint sounds came to his ears indicatin"that life e*isted some!here behind the doors alon" this corridor, and his nostrils !ere assailed bya medley of scents the s!eet aroma of incense, the odor of human bodies and the acrid scent ofcarnivores/ but there !as nothin" there to attract his further investi"ation, so he continued on his!ay alon