tarzan and the jewels of opar-第8章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
For a long distance the passage went straight as an
arrow。 The floor was slippery； as though at times the
rising waters of the well overflowed and flooded it。
This； in itself； retarded Tarzan's pace； for it was
with difficulty that he kept his footing。
The foot of a stairway ended the passage。 Up this he
made his way。 It turned back and forth many times；
leading； at last； into a small； circular chamber；
the gloom of which was relieved by a faint light which
found ingress through a tubular shaft several feet in
diameter which rose from the center of the room's
ceiling； upward to a distance of a hundred feet or
more； where it terminated in a stone grating through
which Tarzan could see a blue and sun…lit sky。
Curiosity prompted the ape…man to investigate his
surroundings。 Several metal…bound； copper…studded
chests constituted the sole furniture of the round
room。 Tarzan let his hands run over these。 He felt
of the copper studs； he pulled upon the hinges； and at
last； by chance； he raised the cover of one。
An exclamation of delight broke from his lips at sight
of the pretty contents。 Gleaming and glistening in the
subdued light of the chamber； lay a great tray full of
brilliant stones。 Tarzan； reverted to the primitive by
his accident； had no conception of the fabulous value
of his find。 To him they were but pretty pebbles。
He plunged his hands into them and let the priceless gems
filter through his fingers。 He went to others of the
chests； only to find still further stores of precious
stones。 Nearly all were cut； and from these he
gathered a handful and filled the pouch which dangled at
his sidethe uncut stones he tossed back into the chests。
Unwittingly； the ape…man had stumbled upon the
forgotten jewel…room of Opar。 For ages it had lain
buried beneath the temple of the Flaming God； midway of
one of the many inky passages which the superstitious
descendants of the ancient Sun Worshipers had either
dared not or cared not to explore。
Tiring at last of this diversion； Tarzan took up his way
along the corridor which led upward from the jewel…room
by a steep incline。 Winding and twisting； but always
tending upward； the tunnel led him nearer and
nearer to the surface； ending finally in a low…ceiled
room； lighter than any that he had as yet discovered。
Above him an opening in the ceiling at the upper end of
a flight of concrete steps revealed a brilliant sunlit
scene。 Tarzan viewed the vine…covered columns in mild
wonderment。 He puckered his brows in an attempt to
recall some recollection of similar things。 He was not
sure of himself。 There was a tantalizing suggestion
always present in his mind that something was eluding
himthat he should know many things which he did not know。
His earnest cogitation was rudely interrupted by a
thunderous roar from the opening above him。 Following
the roar came the cries and screams of men and women。
Tarzan grasped his spear more firmly and ascended the
steps。 A strange sight met his eyes as he emerged from
the semi…darkness of the cellar to the brilliant light
of the temple。
The creatures he saw before him he recognized for what
they weremen and women； and a huge lion。 The men and
women were scuttling for the safety of the exits。
The lion stood upon the body of one who had been less fortunate
than the others。 He was in the center of the temple。
Directly before Tarzan； a woman stood beside a
block of stone。 Upon the top of the stone lay
stretched a man； and as the ape…man watched the scene；
he saw the lion glare terribly at the two who remained
within the temple。 Another thunderous roar broke from
the savage throat； the woman screamed and swooned
across the body of the man stretched prostrate upon the
stone altar before her。
The lion advanced a few steps and crouched。 The tip of
his sinuous tail twitched nervously。 He was upon the
point of charging when his eyes were attracted toward
the ape…man。
Werper； helpless upon the altar； saw the great
carnivore preparing to leap upon him。 He saw the
sudden change in the beast's expression as his eyes
wandered to something beyond the altar and out of the
Belgian's view。 He saw the formidable creature rise to
a standing position。 A figure darted past Werper。
He saw a mighty arm upraised； and a stout spear shoot
forward toward the lion； to bury itself in the broad chest。
He saw the lion snapping and tearing at the weapon's
shaft； and he saw； wonder of wonders； the naked giant
who had hurled the missile charging upon the great
beast； only a long knife ready to meet those ferocious
fangs and talons。
The lion reared up to meet this new enemy。 The beast
was growling frightfully； and then upon the startled
ears of the Belgian； broke a similar savage growl from
the lips of the man rushing upon the beast。
By a quick side step； Tarzan eluded the first swinging
clutch of the lion's paws。 Darting to the beast's
side； he leaped upon the tawny back。 His arms
encircled the maned neck； his teeth sank deep into the
brute's flesh。 Roaring； leaping； rolling and
struggling； the giant cat attempted to dislodge this
savage enemy； and all the while one great； brown fist
was driving a long keen blade repeatedly into the
beast's side。
During the battle； La regained consciousness。
Spellbound； she stood above her victim watching the
spectacle。 It seemed incredible that a human being
could best the king of beasts in personal encounter and
yet before her very eyes there was taking place just
such an improbability。
At last Tarzan's knife found the great heart； and with
a final； spasmodic struggle the lion rolled over upon
the marble floor； dead。 Leaping to his feet the
conqueror placed a foot upon the carcass of his kill；
raised his face toward the heavens； and gave voice to
so hideous a cry that both La and Werper trembled as it
reverberated through the temple。
Then the ape…man turned； and Werper recognized him as
the man he had left for dead in the treasure room。
8
The Escape from Opar
Werper was astounded。 Could this creature be the same
dignified Englishman who had entertained him so
graciously in his luxurious African home？ Could this
wild beast； with blazing eyes； and bloody countenance；
be at the same time a man？ Could the horrid； victory
cry he had but just heard have been formed in human
throat？
Tarzan was eyeing the man and the woman； a puzzled
expression in his eyes； but there was no faintest tinge
of recognition。 It was as though he had discovered
some new species of living creature and was marveling
at his find。
La was studying the ape…man's features。 Slowly her
large eyes opened very wide。
〃Tarzan！〃 she exclaimed； and then； in the vernacular of
the great apes which constant association with the
anthropoids had rendered the common language of the
Oparians： 〃You have come back to me！ La has ignored the
mandates of her religion； waiting； always waiting for
Tarzanfor her Tarzan。 She has taken no mate； for in
all the world there was but one with whom La would
mate。 And now you have come back！ Tell me； O Tarzan；
that it is for me you have returned。〃
Werper listened to the unintelligible jargon。
He looked from La to Tarzan。 Would the latter understand
this strange tongue？ To the Belgian's surprise； the
Englishman answered in a language evidently identical
to hers。
〃Tarzan；〃 he repeated； musingly。 〃Tarzan。 The name
sounds familiar。〃
〃It is your nameyou are Tarzan；〃 cried La。
〃I am Tarzan？〃 The ape…man shrugged。 〃Well； it is a
good nameI know no other； so I will keep it； but I do
not know you。 I did not come hither for you。 Why I
came； I do not know at all； neither do I know from
whence I came。 Can you tell me？〃
La shook her head。 〃I never knew；〃 she replied。
Tarzan turned toward Werper and put the same question
to him； but in the language of the great apes。
The Belgian shook his head。
〃I do not understand that language；〃 he said in French。
Without effort； and apparently without realizing that
he made the change； Tarzan repeated his question in
French。 Werper suddenly came to a full realization of
the magnitude of the injury of which Tarzan was a
victim。 The man had lost his memoryno longer could
he recollect past events。 The Belgian was upon the
point of enlightening him； when it suddenly occurred to
him that by keeping Tarzan in ignorance； for a time at
least； of his true identity； it might be possible to
turn the ape…man's misfortune to his own advantage。
〃I cannot tell you from whence you came；〃 he said；
〃but this I can tell youif we do not get out of this
horrible place we shall both be slain upon this bloody
altar。 The woman was about to plunge her knife into my
heart when the lion interrupted the fiendish ritual。 Come！
Before they recover from their fright and reassemble；
let us find a way out of their damnable temple。〃
Tarzan turned again toward La。
〃Why；〃 he asked； 〃would you have killed this man？
Are you hungry？〃
The High Priestess cried out in disgust。
〃Did he attempt to kill you？〃 continued Tarzan。
The woman shook her head。
〃Then why should you have wished to kill him？〃 Tarzan
was determined to get to the bottom of the thing。
La raised her slender arm and pointed toward the sun。
〃We were offering up his soul as a gift to the Flaming
God；〃 she said。
Tarzan looked puzzled。 He was again an ape； and apes
do not understand such matters as souls and Flaming
Gods。
〃Do you wish to die？〃 he asked Werper。
The Belgian assured him； with tears in his eyes； that
he did not wish to die。
〃Very well then； you shall not；〃 said Tarzan。 〃Come！
We will go。 This SHE would kill you and keep me
for herself。 It is no place anyway for a Mangani。
I should soon die； shut up behind these stone walls。〃
He turned toward La。 〃We are going now；〃 he said。
The woman rushed forward and seized the ape…man's hands
in hers。
〃Do not leave me！〃 she cried。 〃Stay； and you shall be
High Priest。 La loves you。 All Opar shall be yours。
Slaves shall wait upon you。 Stay； Tarzan of the Apes；
and let love reward you。〃
The ape…man pushed the kneeling woman aside。 〃Tarzan
does not desire you；〃 he said； simply； and stepping to
Werper's side he cut the Belgian's bonds and motioned
him to follow。
Pantingher face convulsed with rage； La sprang to her
feet。
〃Stay； you shall！〃 she screamed。 〃La will have youif
she cannot have you alive； she will have you dead；〃 and
raising her face to the sun she gave voice to the same
hideous shriek that Werper had heard once before and
Tarzan many times。
In answer to her cry a babel of voices broke fr
