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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
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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。
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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
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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。
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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