tarzan and the jewels of opar()-第8节
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was safe。 For several minutes he dared not move； but clung； weak and
sweating； where he lay。 At last； cautiously； he drew himself well within
the tunnel； and again he lay at full length upon the floor； fighting to regain
control of his shattered nerves。
When his knees struck the edge of the tunnel he had dropped the
candle。 Presently； hoping against hope that it had fallen upon the floor of
the passageway； rather than back into the depths of the well； he rose upon
all fours and commenced a diligent search for the little tallow cylinder；
which now seemed infinitely more precious to him than all the fabulous
wealth of the hoarded ingots of Opar。
And when； at last； he found it； he clasped it to him and sank back
sobbing and exhausted。 For many minutes he lay trembling and broken；
but finally he drew himself to a sitting posture； and taking a match from
his pocket； lighted the stump of the candle which remained to him。 With
the light he found it easier to regain control of his nerves； and presently he
was again making his way along the tunnel in search of an avenue of
escape。 The horrid cry that had come down to him from above through
the ancient well…shaft still haunted him； so that he trembled in terror at
even the sounds of his own cautious advance。
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
He had gone forward but a short distance； when； to his chagrin； a wall
of masonry barred his farther progress； closing the tunnel completely from
top to bottom and from side to side。 What could it mean？ Werper was
an educated and intelligent man。 His military training had taught him to
use his mind for the purpose for which it was intended。 A blind tunnel
such as this was senseless。 It must continue beyond the wall。 Someone；
at some time in the past； had had it blocked for an unknown purpose of his
own。 The man fell to examining the masonry by the light of his candle。
To his delight he discovered that the thin blocks of hewn stone of which it
was constructed were fitted in loosely without mortar or cement。 He
tugged upon one of them； and to his joy found that it was easily removable。
One after another he pulled out the blocks until he had opened an aperture
large enough to admit his body； then he crawled through into a large； low
chamber。 Across this another door barred his way； but this； too； gave
before his efforts； for it was not barred。 A long； dark corridor showed
before him； but before he had followed it far； his candle burned down until
it scorched his fingers。 With an oath he dropped it to the floor； where it
sputtered for a moment and went out。
Now he was in total darkness； and again terror rode heavily astride his
neck。 What further pitfalls and dangers lay ahead he could not guess； but
that he was as far as ever from liberty he was quite willing to believe； so
depressing is utter absence of light to one in unfamiliar surroundings。
Slowly he groped his way along； feeling with his hands upon the
tunnel's walls； and cautiously with his feet ahead of him upon the floor
before he could take a single forward step。 How long he crept on thus he
could not guess； but at last； feeling that the tunnel's length was
interminable； and exhausted by his efforts； by terror； and loss of sleep； he
determined to lie down and rest before proceeding farther。
When he awoke there was no change in the surrounding blackness。
He might have slept a second or a dayhe could not know； but that he had
slept for some time was attested by the fact that he felt refreshed and
hungry。
Again he commenced his groping advance； but this time he had gone
but a short distance when he emerged into a room； which was lighted
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Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
through an opening in the ceiling； from which a flight of concrete steps led
downward to the floor of the chamber。
Above him； through the aperture； Werper could see sunlight glancing
from massive columns； which were twined about by clinging vines。 He
listened； but he heard no sound other than the soughing of the wind
through leafy branches； the hoarse cries of birds； and the chattering of
monkeys。
Boldly he ascended the stairway； to find himself in a circular court。
Just before him stood a stone altar； stained with rusty…brown discolorations。
At the time Werper gave no thought to an explanation of these stainslater
their origin became all too hideously apparent to him。
Beside the opening in the floor； just behind the altar； through which he
had entered the court from the subterranean chamber below； the Belgian
discovered several doors leading from the enclosure upon the level of the
floor。 Above； and circling the courtyard； was a series of open balconies。
Monkeys scampered about the deserted ruins； and gaily plumaged birds
flitted in and out among the columns and the galleries far above； but no
sign of human presence was discernible。 Werper felt relieved。 He
sighed； as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders。 He
took a step toward one of the exits； and then he halted； wide…eyed in
astonishment and terror； for almost at the same instant a dozen doors
opened in the courtyard wall and a horde of frightful men rushed in upon
him。
They were the priests of the Flaming God of Oparthe same； shaggy；
knotted； hideous little men who had dragged Jane Clayton to the sacrificial
altar at this very spot years before。 Their long arms； their short and
crooked legs； their close…set； evil eyes； and their low； receding foreheads
gave them a bestial appearance that sent a qualm of paralyzing fright
through the shaken nerves of the Belgian。
With a scream he turned to flee back into the lesser terrors of the
gloomy corridors and apartments from which he had just emerged； but the
frightful men anticipated his intentions。 They blocked the way； they
seized him； and though he fell； groveling upon his knees before them；
begging for his life； they bound him and hurled him to the floor of the
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inner temple。
The rest was but a repetition of what Tarzan and Jane Clayton had
passed through。 The priestesses came； and with them La； the High
Priestess。 Werper was raised and laid across the altar。 Cold sweat
exuded from his every pore as La raised the cruel； sacrificial knife above
him。 The death chant fell upon his tortured ears。 His staring eyes
wandered to the golden goblets from which the hideous votaries would
soon quench their inhuman thirst in his own； warm life…blood。
He wished that he might be granted the brief respite of
unconsciousness before the final plunge of the keen bladeand then there
was a frightful roar that sounded almost in his ears。 The High Priestess
lowered her dagger。 Her eyes went wide in horror。 The priestesses； her
votaresses； screamed and fled madly toward the exits。 The priests roared
out their rage and terror according to the temper of their courage。 Werper
strained his neck about to catch a sight of the cause of their panic； and
when； at last he saw it； he too went cold in dread； for what his eyes beheld
was the figure of a huge lion standing in the center of the temple； and
already a single victim lay mangled beneath his cruel paws。
Again the lord of the wilderness roared； turning his baleful gaze upon
the altar。 La staggered forward； reeled； and fell across Werper in a
swoon。
