tarzan the terrible-第25章

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uished　his　hold　upon　the　corpse；　set　the　headdress　carefully　upon　the　floor　and　stooping　down　severed　the　tail　of　the　Ho…don　close　to　its　root。　Near　by　at　his　right　was　a　small　chamber　from　which　the　priest　had　evidently　just　emerged　and　into　this　Tarzan　dragged　the　corpse；　the　headdress；　and　the　tail。

Quickly　cutting　a　thin　strip　of　hide　from　the　loin　cloth　of　the　priest；　Tarzan　tied　it　securely　about　the　upper　end　of　the　severed　member　and　then　tucking　the　tail　under　his　loin　cloth　behind　him；　secured　it　in　place　as　best　he　could。　Then　he　fitted　the　headdress　over　his　shoulders　and　stepped　from　the　apartment；　to　all　appearances　a　priest　of　the　temple　of　Jad…ben…Otho　unless　one　examined　too　closely　his　thumbs　and　his　great　toes。

He　had　noticed　that　among　both　the　Ho…don　and　the　Waz…don　it　was　not　at　all　unusual　that　the　end　of　the　tail　be　carried　in　one　hand；　and　so　he　caught　his　own　tail　up　thus　lest　the　lifeless　appearance　of　it　dragging　along　behind　him　should　arouse　suspicion。

Passing　along　the　corridor　and　through　the　various　chambers　he　emerged　at　last　into　the　palace　grounds　beyond　the　temple。　The　pursuit　had　not　yet　reached　this　point　though　he　was　conscious　of　a　commotion　not　far　behind　him。　He　met　now　both　warriors　and　slaves　but　none　gave　him　more　than　a　passing　glance；　a　priest　being　too　common　a　sight　about　the　palace。

And　so；　passing　the　guards　unchallenged；　he　came　at　last　to　the　inner　entrance　to　the　Forbidden　Garden　and　there　he　paused　and　scanned　quickly　that　portion　of　the　beautiful　spot　that　lay　before　his　eyes。　To　his　relief　it　seemed　unoccupied　and　congratulating　himself　upon　the　ease　with　which　he　had　so　far　outwitted　the　high　powers　of　A…lur　he　moved　rapidly　to　the　opposite　end　of　the　enclosure。　Here　he　found　a　patch　of　flowering　shrubbery　that　might　safely　have　concealed　a　dozen　men。

Crawling　well　within　he　removed　the　uncomfortable　headdress　and　sat　down　to　await　whatever　eventualities　fate　might　have　in　store　for　him　the　while　he　formulated　plans　for　the　future。　The　one　night　that　he　had　spent　in　A…lur　had　kept　him　up　to　a　late　hour；　apprising　him　of　the　fact　that　while　there　were　few　abroad　in　the　temple　grounds　at　night；　there　were　yet　enough　to　make　it　possible　for　him　to　fare　forth　under　cover　of　his　disguise　without　attracting　the　unpleasant　attention　of　the　guards；　and；　too；　he　had　noticed　that　the　priesthood　constituted　a　privileged　class　that　seemed　to　come　and　go　at　will　and　unchallenged　throughout　the　palace　as　well　as　the　temple。　Altogether　then；　he　decided；　night　furnished　the　most　propitious　hours　for　his　investigationby　day　he　could　lie　up　in　the　shrubbery　of　the　Forbidden　Garden；　reasonably　free　from　detection。　From　beyond　the　garden　he　heard　the　voices　of　men　calling　to　one　another　both　far　and　near；　and　he　guessed　that　diligent　was　the　search　that　was　being　prosecuted　for　him。

The　idle　moments　afforded　him　an　opportunity　to　evolve　a　more　satisfactory　scheme　for　attaching　his　stolen　caudal　appendage。　He　arranged　it　in　such　a　way　that　it　might　be　quickly　assumed　or　discarded；　and　this　done　he　fell　to　examining　the　weird　mask　that　had　so　effectively　hidden　his　features。

The　thing　had　been　very　cunningly　wrought　from　a　single　block　of　wood；　very　probably　a　section　of　a　tree；　upon　which　the　features　had　been　carved　and　afterward　the　interior　hollowed　out　until　only　a　comparatively　thin　shell　remained。　Two…semicircular　notches　had　been　rounded　out　from　opposite　sides　of　the　lower　edge。　These　fitted　snugly　over　his　shoulders；　aprons　of　wood　extending　downward　a　few　inches　upon　his　chest　and　back。　From　these　aprons　hung　long　tassels　or　switches　of　hair　tapering　from　the　outer　edges　toward　the　center　which　reached　below　the　bottom　of　his　torso。　It　required　but　the　most　cursory　examination　to　indicate　to　the　ape…man　that　these　ornaments　consisted　of　human　scalps；　taken；　doubtless；　from　the　heads　of　the　sacrifices　upon　the　eastern　altars。　The　headdress　itself　had　been　carved　to　depict　in　formal　design　a　hideous　face　that　suggested　both　man　and　gryf。　There　were　the　three　white　horns；　the　yellow　face　with　the　blue　bands　encircling　the　eyes　and　the　red　hood　which　took　the　form　of　the　posterior　and　anterior　aprons。

As　Tarzan　sat　within　the　concealing　foliage　of　the　shrubbery　meditating　upon　the　hideous　priest…mask　which　he　held　in　his　hands　he　became　aware　that　he　was　not　alone　in　the　garden。　He　sensed　another　presence　and　presently　his　trained　ears　detected　the　slow　approach　of　naked　feet　across　the　sward。　At　first　he　suspected　that　it　might　be　one　stealthily　searching　the　Forbidden　Garden　for　him　but　a　little　later　the　figure　came　within　the　limited　area　of　his　vision　which　was　circumscribed　by　stems　and　foliage　and　flowers。　He　saw　then　that　it　was　the　princess　O…lo…a　and　that　she　was　alone　and　walking　with　bowed　head　as　though　in　meditationsorrowful　meditation　for　there　were　traces　of　tears　upon　her　lids。

Shortly　after　his　ears　warned　him　that　others　had　entered　the　gardenmen　they　were　and　their　footsteps　proclaimed　that　they　walked　neither　slowly　nor　meditatively。　They　came　directly　toward　the　princess　and　when　Tarzan　could　see　them　he　discovered　that　both　were　priests。

〃O…lo…a；　Princess　of　Pal…ul…don；〃　said　one；　addressing　her；　〃the　stranger　who　told　us　that　he　was　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　has　but　just　fled　from　the　wrath　of　Lu…don；　the　high　priest；　who　exposed　him　and　all　his　wicked　blasphemy。　The　temple；　and　the　palace；　and　the　city　are　being　searched　and　we　have　been　sent　to　search　the　Forbidden　Garden；　since　Ko…tan；　the　king；　said　that　only　this　morning　he　found　him　here；　though　how　he　passed　the　guards　he　could　not　guess。〃

〃He　is　not　here；〃　said　O…lo…a。　〃I　have　been　in　the　garden　for　some　time　and　have　seen　nor　heard　no　other　than　myself。　However；　search　it　if　you　will。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　priest　who　had　before　spoken；　〃it　is　not　necessary　since　he　could　not　have　entered　without　your　knowledge　and　the　connivance　of　the　guards；　and　even　had　he；　the　priest　who　preceded　us　must　have　seen　him。〃

〃What　priest？〃　asked　O…lo…a。

〃One　passed　the　guards　shortly　before　us；〃　explained　the　man。

〃I　did　not　see　him；〃　said　O…lo…a。

〃Doubtless　he　left　by　another　exit；〃　remarked　the　second　priest。

〃Yes；　doubtless；〃　acquiesced　O…lo…a；　〃but　it　is　strange　that　I　did　not　see　him。〃　The　two　priests　made　their　obeisance　and　turned　to　depart。

〃Stupid　as　Buto；　the　rhinoceros；〃　soliloquized　Tarzan；　who　considered　Buto　a　very　stupid　creature　indeed。　〃It　should　be　easy　to　outwit　such　as　these。〃

The　priests　had　scarce　departed　when　there　came　the　sound　of　feet　running　rapidly　across　the　garden　in　the　direction　of　the　princess　to　an　accompaniment　of　rapid　breathing　as　of　one　almost　spent；　either　from　fatigue　or　excitement。

〃Pan…at…lee；〃　exclaimed　O…lo…a；　〃what　has　happened？　You　look　as　terrified　as　the　doe　for　which　you　were　named！〃

〃O　Princess　of　Pal…ul…don；〃　cried　Pan…at…lee；　〃they　would　have　killed　him　in　the　temple。　They　would　have　killed　the　wondrous　stranger　who　claimed　to　be　the　Dor…ul…Otho。〃

〃But　he　escaped；〃　said　O…lo…a。　〃You　were　there。　Tell　me　about　it。〃

〃The　head　priest　would　have　had　him　seized　and　slain；　but　when　they　rushed　upon　him　he　hurled　one　in　the　face　of　Lu…don　with　the　same　ease　that　you　might　cast　your　breastplates　at　me；　and　then　he　leaped　upon　the　altar　and　from　there　to　the　top　of　the　temple　wall　and　disappeared　below。　They　are　searching　for　him；　but；　O　Princess；　I　pray　that　they　do　not　find　him。〃

〃And　why　do　you　pray　that？〃　asked　O…lo…a。　〃Has　not　one　who　has　so　blasphemed　earned　death？〃

〃Ah；　but　you　do　not　know　him；〃　replied　Pan…at…lee。

〃And　you　do；　then？〃　retorted　O…lo…a　quickly。　〃This　morning　you　betrayed　yourself　and　then　attempted　to　deceive　me。　The　slaves　of　O…lo…a　do　not　such　things　with　impunity。　He　is　then　the　same　Tarzan…jad…guru　of　whom　you　told　me？　Speak　woman　and　speak　only　the　truth。〃

Pan…at…lee　drew　herself　up　very　erect；　her　little　chin　held　high；　for　was　not　she　too　among　her　own　people　already　as　good　as　a　princess？　〃Pan…at…lee；　the　Kor…ul…ja　does　not　lie；〃　she　said；　〃to　protect　herself。〃

〃Then　tell　me　what　you　know　of　this　Tarzan…jad…guru；〃　insisted　O…lo…a。

〃I　know　that　he　is　a　wondrous　man　and　very　brave；〃　said　Pan…at…lee；　〃and　that　he　saved　me　from　the　Tor…o…don　and　the　gryf　as　I　told　you；　and　that　he　is　indeed　the　same　who　came　into　the　garden　this　morning；　and　even　now　I　do　not　know　that　he　is　not　the　son　of　Jad…ben…Otho　for　his　courage　and　his　strength　are　more　than　those　of　mortal　man；　as　are　also　his　kindness　and　his　honor：　for　when　he　might　have　harmed　me　he　protected　me；　and　when　he　might　have　saved　himself　he　thought　only　of　me。　And　all　this　he　did　because　of　his　friendship　for　Om…at；　who　is　gund　of　Kor…ul…ja　and　with　whom　I　should　have　mated　had　the　Ho…don　not　captured　me。〃

〃He　was　indeed　a　wonderful　man　to　look　upon；〃　mused　O…lo…a；　〃and　he　was　not　as　are　other　men；　not　alone　in　the　conformation　of　his　hands　and　feet　or　the　fact　that　he　was　tailless；　but　there　was　that　about　him　which　made　him　seem　different　in　ways　more　important　than　these。〃

〃And；〃　supplemented　Pan…at…lee；　her　savage　little　heart　loyal　to　the　man　who　had　befriended　her　and　hoping　to　win　for　him　the　consideration　of　the　princess　even　though　it　might　not　avail　him；　〃and；〃　she　said；　〃did　he　not　know　all　about　Ta…den　and　even　his　whereabouts。　Tell　me；　O　Princess；　could　mortal　know　such　things　as　these？〃

〃Perhaps　he　saw　Ta…den；〃　suggested　O…lo…a。

〃But　how　would　he　know　that　you　loved　Ta…den；〃　parried　Pan…at…lee。　〃I　tell　you；　my　Princess；　that　if　he　is　not　a　god　he　is　at　least　more　than　Ho…don　or　Waz…don。　He　followed　me　from　the　cave　of　Es…sat　in　Kor…ul…ja　across　Kor…ul…lul　and　two　wide　ridges　to　the　very　cave　in　Kor…ul…gryf　where　I　hid；　though　many　hours　had　passed　since　I　had　come　that　way　and　my　bare　feet　left　no　impress　upon　the　ground。　What　mortal　man　could　do　such　things　as　these？　And　where　in　all　Pal…ul…don　would　virgin　maid　find　friend　and　protector　in　a　strange　male　other　than　he？〃

〃Perhaps　Lu…don　may　be　mistakenperhaps　he　is　a　god；〃　said　O…lo…a；　influenced　by　her　slave's　enthusiastic　championing　of　the　stranger。〃

〃But　whether　god　or　man　he　is　too　wonderful　to　die；〃　cried　Pan…at…lee。　〃Would　that　I　might　save　him。　If　he　lived　he　might　even　find　a　way　to　give　you　your　Ta…den；　Princess。〃

〃Ah；　if　he　only　could；〃　sighed　O…lo…a；　〃but　alas　it　is　too　late　for　tomorrow　I　am　to　be　given　to　Bu…lot。〃

〃He　who　came　to　your　quarters　yesterday　with　your　father？〃　asked　Pan…at…lee。

〃Yes；　the　one　with　the　awful　round　face　and　the　big　belly；〃　exclaimed　the　Princess　disgustedly。　〃He　is　so　lazy　he　will　neither　hunt　nor　fight。　To　eat　and　to　drink　is　all　that　Bu…lot　is　fit　for；　and　he　thinks　of　naught　else　except　these　things　and　his　slave　women。　But　come；　Pan…at…lee；　gather　for　me　some　of　these　beautiful　blossoms。　I　would　have　them　spread　around　my　couch　tonight　that　I　may　carry　away　with　me　in　the　morning　the　memory　of　the　fragrance　that　I　love　best　and　which　I　know　that　I　shall　not　find　in　the　village　of　Mo…sar；　the　father　of　Bu…lot。　I　will　help　you；　Pan…at…lee；　and　we　will　gather　armfuls　of　them；　for　I　love　to　gather　them　as　I　love　nothing　elsethey　were　Ta…den's　favorite　flowers。〃

The　two　approached　the　flowering　shrubbery