tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第23节
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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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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。 Seizing the stocky； stunted body in
his mighty hands Tarzan raised the creature high above his head； hurling
him at his fellows who were now gathered ready to bear down upon their
erstwhile captive。 La stood proudly with ready knife behind the ape…man。
No faint sign of fear marked her perfect browonly haughty disdain for
her priests and admiration for the man she loved so hopelessly filled her
thoughts。
Suddenly upon this scene burst the mad bulla huge tusker； his little
eyes inflamed with insane rage。 The priests stood for an instant paralyzed
with terror； but Tarzan turned and gathering La in his arms raced for the
nearest tree。 Tantor bore down upon him trumpeting shrilly。 La clung
with both white arms about the ape…man's neck。 She felt him leap into the
air and marveled at his strength and his ability as； burdened with her
weight； he swung nimbly into the lower branches of a large tree and
quickly bore her upward beyond reach of the sinuous trunk of the
pachyderm。
Momentarily baffled here； the huge elephant wheeled and bore down
upon the hapless priests who had now scattered； terror…stricken； in every
direction。 The nearest he gored and threw high among the branches of a
tree。 One he seized in the coils of his trunk and broke upon a huge bole；
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dropping the mangled pulp to charge； trumpeting； after another。 Two he
trampled beneath his huge feet and by then the others had disappeared into
the jungle。 Now Tantor turned his attention once more to Tarzan for one
of the symptoms of madness is a revulsion of affectionobjects of sane
love become the objects of insane hatred。 Peculiar in the unwritten
annals of the jungle was the proverbial love that had existed between the
ape…man and the tribe of Tantor。 No elephant in all the jungle would
harm the Tarmanganithe white…ape； but with the madness of MUST upon
him the great bull sought to destroy his long…time play…fellow。
Back to the tree where La and Tarzan perched came Tantor； the
elephant。 He reared up with his forefeet against the bole and reached
high toward them with his long trunk； but Tarzan had foreseen this and
clambered beyond the bull's longest reach。 Failure but tended to further
enrage the mad creature。 He bellowed and trumpeted and screamed until
the earth shook to the mighty volume of his noise。 He put his head
against the tree and pushed and the tree bent before his mighty strength；
yet still it held。
The actions of Tarzan were peculiar in the extreme。 Had Numa； or
Sabor； or Sheeta； or any other beast of the jungle been seeking to destroy
him； the ape…man would have danced about hurling missiles and
invectives at his assailant。 He would have insulted and taunted them；
reviling in the jungle Billingsgate he knew so well； but now he sat silent
out of Tantor's reach and upon his handsome face was an expression of
deep sorrow and pity； for of all the jungle folk Tarzan loved Tantor the best。
Could he have slain him he would not have thought of doing so。 His one
idea was to escape； for he knew that with the passing of the MUST Tantor
would be sane again and that once more he might stretch at full length
upon that mighty back and make foolish speech into those great； flapping
ears。
Finding that the tree would not fall to his pushi
