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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
moments to come。 Yet stern in her resolve was La。 The infidel should
die！ The scorner of her love should pay the price upon the fiery altar。
She saw them lay the perfect body there upon the rough branches。 She
saw the High Priest； he to whom custom would unite her bent； crooked；
gnarled； stunted； hideousadvance with the flaming torch and stand
awaiting her command to apply it to the faggots surrounding the sacrificial
pyre。 His hairy； bestial face was distorted in a yellow…fanged grin of
anticipatory enjoyment。 His hands were cupped to receive the life blood
of the victimthe red nectar that at Opar would have filled the golden
sacrificial goblets。
La approached with upraised knife； her face turned toward the rising
sun and upon her lips a prayer to the burning deity of her people。 The
High Priest looked questioningly toward herthe brand was burning close
to his hand and the faggots lay temptingly near。 Tarzan closed his eyes and
awaited the end。 He knew that he would suffer； for he recalled the faint
memories of past burns。 He knew that he would suffer and die； but he
did not flinch。 Death is no great adventure to the jungle bred who walk
hand…in…hand with the grim specter by day and lie down at his side by
night through all the years of their lives。 It is doubtful that the ape…man
even speculated upon what came after death。 As a matter of fact as his
end approached； his mind was occupied by thoughts of the pretty pebbles
he had lost； yet his every faculty still was open to what passed around him。
He felt La lean over him and he opened his eyes。 He saw her white；
drawn face and he saw tears blinding her eyes。 〃Tarzan； my Tarzan！〃 she
moaned； 〃tell me that you love methat you will return to Opar with me
and you shall live。 Even in the face of the anger of my people I will save
you。 This last chance I give you。 What is your answer？〃
At the last moment the woman in La had triumphed over the High
Priestess of a cruel cult。 She saw upon the altar the only creature that
ever had aroused the fires of love within her virgin breast； she saw the
beast…faced fanatic who would one day be her mate； unless she found
another less repulsive； standing with the burning torch ready to ignite the
pyre； yet with all her mad passion for the ape…man she would give the
word to apply the flame if Tarzan's final answer was unsatisfactory。 With
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
heaving bosom she leaned close above him。 〃Yes or no？〃 she whispered。
Through the jungle； out of the distance； came faintly a sound that
brought a sudden light of hope to Tarzan's eyes。 He raised his voice in a
weird scream that sent La back from him a step or two。 The impatient
priest grumbled and switched the torch from one hand to the other at the
same time holding it closer to the tinder at the base of the pyre。
〃Your answer！〃 insisted La。 〃What is your answer to the love of La
of Opar？〃
Closer came the sound that had attracted Tarzan's attention and now
the others heard itthe shrill trumpeting of an elephant。 As La looked
wide…eyed into Tarzan's face； there to read her fate for happiness or
heartbreak； she saw an expression of concern shadow his features。 Now；
for the first time； she guessed the meaning of Tarzan's shrill screamhe
had summoned Tantor； the elephant； to his rescue！ La's brows contracted
in a savage scowl。 〃You refuse La！〃 she cried。 〃Then die！ The torch！〃
she commanded； turning toward the priest。
Tarzan looked up into her face。 〃Tantor is coming；〃 he said。 〃I
thought that he would rescue me； but I know now from his voice that he
will slay me and you and all that fall in his path； searching out with the
cunning of Sheeta； the panther； those who would hide from him； for Tantor
is mad with the madness of love。〃
La knew only too well the insane ferocity of a bull elephant in MUST。
She knew that Tarzan had not exaggerated。 She knew that the devil in
the cunning； cruel brain of the great beast might send it hither and thither
hunting through the forest for those who escaped its first charge； or the
beast might pass on without returningno one might guess which。
〃I cannot love you； La；〃 said Tarzan in a low voice。 〃I do not know
why； for you are very beautiful。 I could not go back and live in OparI
who have the whole broad jungle for my range。 No； I cannot love you
but I cannot see you die beneath the goring tusks of mad Tantor。 Cut my
bonds before it is too late。 Already he is almost upon us。 Cut them and I
may yet save you。〃
A little spiral of curling smoke rose from one corner of the pyrethe
flames licked upward； crackling。 La stood there like a beautiful statue of
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despair gazing at Tarzan and at the spreading flames。 In a moment they
would reach out and grasp him。 From the tangled forest came the sound
of cracking limbs and crashing trunksTantor was coming down upon
them； a huge Juggernaut of the jungle。 The priests were becoming
uneasy。 They cast apprehensive glances in the direction of the
approaching elephant and then back at La。
〃Fly！〃 she commanded them and then she stooped and cut the bonds
securing her prisoner's feet and hands。 In an instant Tarzan was upon the
ground。 The priests screamed out their rage and disappointment。 He
with the torch took a menacing step toward La and the ape…man。 〃Traitor！〃
He shrieked at the woman。 〃For this you too shall die！〃 Raising his
bludgeon he rushed upon the High Priestess； but Tarzan was there before
her。 Leaping in to close quarters the ape…man seized the upraised weapon
and wrenched it from the hands of the frenzied fanatic and then the priest
closed upon him with tooth and nail。