Only may the High Priestess of the Flaming
Godperform the act of sacrifice.
A Bolgani is never a traitor, replied the
gorilla-man. It will not be long nowbefore the smoke hides us from the
Bolgani.
I shall not go a step withoutyou, Tarzan of the
Apes, she said. Jane Clayton looked up, and recoiling in revulsionshrunk away.
Tarzan stepped forward a little ahead of the others, andraised his hand for silence.
Did you see the white women that he brought to the camplast night?
Yet again and again do youpersist in defiling the
sacred knife with your unworthyhand. If this is another of yourtricks you will not
live to play another joke upon Cadj.
You arepowerful creatures and should be ferocious
fighters. The Gomangani will break and run atthe first assault. La, your High
Priestess and your queen, is here, he criedto the Oparians upon the wall. He brought
but one white woman, replied the other.
There are but five of us and we ask your
protection.
Try not my patiencetoo far or you shall indeed know
the feel of the sacredknife.
Icant understand it, he said, and then, suddenly,
Whereare Flora and Lady Greystoke?
That the trail was leadingtoward the inner courts
of the temple Tarzan was convinced.
Did you see the white women that he brought to the
camplast night? Bluber wrung his hands, and the sweat of fear rolled downhis oily
face.
Flora and I will remain at the back of the camp,
nearthat large tree. Cat-like they ran up the rough wall in the faceof the menacing
bludgeons above.
A Bolgani is never a traitor, replied the
gorilla-man.
Without waiting to note the effect of his act he
turnedagain and continued in pursuit of Cadj. They wont kill you like a white man,
said Kraski. After awhile the gate will open theywill come out.
See; the wind is from the opposite side of the
village.
By now the air was filled with the hoarse cries of
fightingmen and the report of rifles.
There is one exit that is unguarded,probably
because they do not dream that we would use it. You do not know what you are talking
about, replied theape-man.
I am an Englishwoman, called Flora in
reply.
Once again have you gone too far, Cadj, she
criedbitterly. Instantly a shower of missiles fell upon them, and thenTarzan called
to his followers to charge.
Roaring andgrowling, the Bolgani and the Gomangani
leaped forward tothe attack.
He lickedhis thick lips and, coming closer, reached
out and touchedher. I shall remain a moment with the Gomangani, and attempt topunish
these fellows. You arepowerful creatures and should be ferocious fighters. They have
a number of rifles, commented Lady Greystoke;that looks rather bad for us. Therefore
you must select a ruler from anotherrace than your own.
He swung the sacrificial knife high above his
head.
I am Cadj, High Priest of the Flaming God, and this
ishis temple.