tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第24节
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ears。
Finding that the tree would not fall to his pushing； Tantor was but
enraged the more。 He looked up at the two perched high above him； his
red…rimmed eyes blazing with insane hatred； and then he wound his trunk
about the bole of the tree； spread his giant feet wide apart and tugged to
uproot the jungle giant。 A huge creature was Tantor； an enormous bull in
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the full prime of all his stupendous strength。 Mightily he strove until
presently； to Tarzan's consternation； the great tree gave slowly at the roots。
The ground rose in little mounds and ridges about the base of the bole； the
tree tiltedin another moment it would be uprooted and fall。
The ape…man whirled La to his back and just as the tree inclined
slowly in its first movement out of the perpendicular； before the sudden
rush of its final collapse； he swung to the branches of a lesser neighbor。
It was a long and perilous leap。 La closed her eyes and shuddered； but
when she opened them again she found herself safe and Tarzan whirling
onward through the forest。 Behind them the uprooted tree crashed
heavily to the ground； carrying with it the lesser trees in its path and then
Tantor； realizing that his prey had escaped him； set up once more his
hideous trumpeting and followed at a rapid charge upon their trail。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
14
A Priestess But Yet a Woman
At first La closed her eyes and clung to Tarzan in terror； though she
made no outcry； but presently she gained sufficient courage to look about
her； to look down at the ground beneath and even to keep her eyes open
during the wide； perilous swings from tree to tree； and then there came
over her a sense of safety because of her confidence in the perfect physical
creature in whose strength and nerve and agility her fate lay。 Once she
raised her eyes to the burning sun and murmured a prayer of thanks to her
pagan god that she had not been permitted to destroy this godlike man； and
her long lashes were wet with tears。 A strange anomaly was La of Opar
a creature of circumstance torn by conflicting emotions。 Now the cruel
and bloodthirsty creature of a heartless god and again a melting woman
filled with compassion and tenderness。 Sometimes the incarnation of
jealousy and revenge and sometimes a sobbing maiden； generous and
forgiving； at once a virgin and a wanton； but alwaysa woman。 Such was
La。
She pressed her cheek close to Tarzan's shoulder。 Slowly she turned
her head until her hot lips were pressed against his flesh。 She loved him
and would gladly have died for him； yet within an hour she had been ready
to plunge a knife into his heart and might again within the coming hour。
A hapless priest seeking shelter in the jungle chanced to show himself
to enraged Tantor。 The great beast turned to one side； bore down upon
the crooked； little man； snuffed him out and then； diverted from his course；
blundered away toward the south。 In a few minutes even the noise of his
trumpeting was lost in the distance。
Tarzan dropped to the ground and La slipped to her feet from his back。
〃Call your people together；〃 said Tarzan。
〃They will kill me；〃 replied La。
〃They will not kill you；〃 contradicted the ape…man。 〃No one will kill
you while Tarzan of the Apes is here。 Call them and we will talk with
them。〃
La raised her voice in a weird； flutelike call that carried far into the
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jungle on every side。 From near and far came answering shouts in the
barking tones of the Oparian priests： 〃We come！ We come！〃 Again and
again； La repeated her summons until singly and in pairs the greater
portion of her following approached and halted a short distance away from
the High Priestess and her savior。 They came with scowling brows and
threatening mien。 When all had come Tarzan addressed them。
〃Your La is safe；〃 said the ape…man。 〃Had she slain me she would
now herself be dead and many more of you； but she spared me that I might
save her。 Go your way with her back to Opar； and Tarzan will go his way
into the jungle。 Let there be peace always between Tarzan and La。 What
is your answer？〃
The priests grumbled and shook their heads。 They spoke together
and La and Tarzan could see that they were not favorably inclined toward
the proposition。 They did not wish to take La back and they did wish to
complete the sacrifice of Tarzan to the Flaming God。 At last the ape…man
became impatient。
〃You will obey the commands of your queen；〃 he said； 〃and go back to
Opar with her or Tarzan of the Apes will call together the other creatures
of the jungle and slay you all。 La saved me that I might save you and her。
I have served you better alive than I could have dead。 If you are not all
fools you will let me go my way in peace and you will return to Opar with
La。 I know not where the sacred knife is； but you can fashion another。
Had I not taken it from La you would have slain me and now your god
must be glad that I took it since I have saved his priestess from love…mad
Tantor。 Will you go back to Opar with La； promising that no harm shall
befall her？〃
The priests gathered together in a little knot arguing and discussing。
They pounded upon their breasts with their fists； they raised their hands
and eyes to their fiery god； they growled and barked among themselves
until it became evident to Tarzan that one of their number was preventing
the acceptance of his proposal。 This was the High Priest whose heart was
filled with jealous rage because La openly acknowledged her love for the
stranger； when by the worldly customs of their cult she should have
belonged to him。 Seemingly there was to be no solution of the problem
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until another priest stepped forth and； raising his hand； addressed La。
〃Cadj； the High Priest；〃 he announced； 〃would sacrifice you both to
the Flaming God； but all of us except Cadj would gladly return to Opar
with our queen。〃
〃You are many against one；〃 spoke up Tarzan。 〃Why should you not
have your will？ Go your way with La to Opar and if Cadj interferes slay
him。〃
The priests of Opar welcomed this suggestion with loud cries of
approval。 To them it appeared nothing short of divine inspiration。 The
influence of ages of unquestioning obedience to high priests had made it
seem impossible to them to question his authority； but when they realized
that they could force him to their will they were as happy as children with
new toys。
They rushed forward and seized Cadj。 They talked in loud menacing
tones into his ear。 They threatened him with bludgeon and knife until at
last he acquiesced in their demands； though sullenly； and then Tarzan
stepped close before Cadj。
〃Priest；〃 he said； 〃La goes back to her temple under the protection of
her priests and the threat of Tarzan of the Apes that whoever harms her
shall die。 Tarzan will go again to Opar before the next rains and if harm
has befallen La； woe betide Cadj； the High Priest。〃
Sullenly Cadj promised not to harm his queen。
〃Protect her；〃 cried Tarzan to the other Oparians。 〃Protect her so that
when Tarzan comes again he will find La there to greet him。〃
〃La will be there to greet thee；〃 exclaimed the High Priestess； 〃and La
will wait； longing； always longing； until you come again。 Oh； tell me
that you will come！〃
〃Who knows？〃 asked the ape…man as he swung quickly into the trees
and raced off toward the east。
For a moment La stood looking
