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seized him； and though he fell； groveling upon his knees before them；
begging for his life； they bound him and hurled him to the floor of the
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inner temple。
The rest was but a repetition of what Tarzan and Jane Clayton had
passed through。 The priestesses came； and with them La； the High
Priestess。 Werper was raised and laid across the altar。 Cold sweat
exuded from his every pore as La raised the cruel； sacrificial knife above
him。 The death chant fell upon his tortured ears。 His staring eyes
wandered to the golden goblets from which the hideous votaries would
soon quench their inhuman thirst in his own； warm life…blood。
He wished that he might be granted the brief respite of
unconsciousness before the final plunge of the keen bladeand then there
was a frightful roar that sounded almost in his ears。 The High Priestess
lowered her dagger。 Her eyes went wide in horror。 The priestesses； her
votaresses； screamed and fled madly toward the exits。 The priests roared
out their rage and terror according to the temper of their courage。 Werper
strained his neck about to catch a sight of the cause of their panic； and
when； at last he saw it； he too went cold in dread； for what his eyes beheld
was the figure of a huge lion standing in the center of the temple； and
already a single victim lay mangled beneath his cruel paws。
Again the lord of the wilderness roared； turning his baleful gaze upon
the altar。 La staggered forward； reeled； and fell across Werper in a
swoon。
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6
The Arab Raid
After their first terror had subsided subsequent to the shock of the
earthquake； Basuli and his warriors hastened back into the passageway in
search of Tarzan and two of their own number who were also missing。
They found the way blocked by jammed and distorted rock。 For two
days they labored to tear a way through to their imprisoned friends； but
when； after Herculean efforts； they had unearthed but a few yards of the
choked passage； and discovered the mangled remains of one of their
fellows they were forced to the conclusion that Tarzan and the second
Waziri also lay dead beneath the rock mass farther in； beyond human aid；
and no longer susceptible of it。
Again and again as they labored they called aloud the names of their
master and their comrade； but no answering call rewarded their listening
ears。 At last they gave up the search。 Tearfully they cast a last look at
the shattered tomb of their master； shouldered the heavy burden of gold
that would at least furnish comfort； if not happiness； to their bereaved and
beloved mistress； and made their mournful way back across the desolate
valley of Opar； and downward through the forests beyond toward the
distant bungalow。
And as they marched what sorry fate was already drawing down upon
that peaceful； happy home！
From the north came Achmet Zek； riding to the summons of his
lieutenant's letter。 With him came his horde of renegade Arabs； outlawed
marauders； these； and equally degraded blacks； garnered from the more
debased and ignorant tribes of savage cannibals through whose countries
the raider passed to and fro with perfect impunity。
Mugambi； the ebon Hercules； who had shared the dangers and
vicissitudes of his beloved Bwana； from Jungle Island； almost to the
headwaters of the Ugambi； was the first to note the bold approach of the
sinister caravan。
He it was whom Tarzan had left in charge of the warriors who
remained to guard Lady Greystoke； nor could a braver or more loyal
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guardian have been found in any clime or upon any soil。 A giant in
stature； a savage； fearless warrior； the huge black possessed also soul and
judgment in proportion to his bulk and his ferocity。
Not once since his master had departed had he been beyond sight or
sound of the bungalow； except when Lady Greystoke chose to canter
across the broad plain； or relieve the monotony of her loneliness by a brief
hunting excursion。 On such occasions Mugambi； mounted upon a wiry
Arab； had ridden close at her horse's heels。
The raiders were still a long way off when the warrior's keen eyes
discovered them。 For a time he stood scrutinizing the advancing party in
silence； then he turned and ran rapidly in the direction of the native huts
which lay a few hundred yards below the bungalow。
Here he called out to the lolling warriors。 He issued orders rapidly。
In compliance with them the men seized upon their weapons and their
shields。 Some ran to call in the workers from the fields and to warn the
tenders of the flocks and herds。 The majority followed Mugambi back
toward the bungalow。
The dust of the raiders was still a long distance away。 Mugambi could
not know positively that it hid an enemy； but he had spent a lifetime of
savage life in savage Africa； and he had seen parties before come thus
unheralded。 Sometimes they had come in peace and sometimes they had
come in warone could never tell。 It was well to be prepared。 Mugambi
did not like the haste with which the strangers advanced。
The Greystoke bungalow was not well adapted for defense。 No
palisade surrounded it； for； situated as it was； in the heart of loyal Waziri；
its master had anticipated no possibility of an attack in force by any enemy。
Heavy； wooden shutters there were to close the window apertures against
hostile arrows； and these Mugambi was engaged in lowering when Lady
Greystoke appeared upon the veranda。
〃Why； Mugambi！〃 she exclaimed。 〃What has happened？ Why are
you lowering the shutters？〃
Mugambi po