"We are well rid of him," said Gregory.
Tarzan ordered the natives to load all of the supplies and equipment on board the galley, and when they had done so he dismissed them.
"You may wait here for us if you wish," he said, "or you may go back to your own country. Eventually you will be punished for what you have done."
Bending to their oars, the slaves drove the galley up stream, as the members of the party momentarily relaxed from the nervous strain of the past hours. Lavac sat in the bow, looking forward, so that he would not see d'Arnot and Helen sitting close to one another. Magra sat beside Tarzan. All were quiet, grateful for the peace and restfulness of the river. For a tune, at least, their way seemed assured as far as Thobos, for they would pass Ashair by night. What their reception in Thobos would be was uncertain. Even Thetan could assure them of nothing more than that he would intercede with his uncle, the King, in their behalf; but he thought that the fact that Tarzan had saved his life and that they were all enemies of the Asharians would go a long way toward insuring them a friendly attitude on the part of King Herat.
Magra sighed and turned to Tarzan. "You have all been so splendid to me," she said, "although you knew that I was an accomplice of Thorne. I want you to know that I am loyal to you now."
Tarzan made no reply. His attention was centered on another matter. The galley was too heavily laden. Its gunwales were almost awash as it moved slowly up the narrow gorge.
"Well have to put some of this stuff ashore in that ravine where we found Helen," he said. "If we ran into swift water in the river or any sort of a blow on the lake, we'd founder."
"Look!" cried Lavac. "Here comes a galley."
"An Asharian!" exclaimed Thetan, "and there are others right behind it."
"Six of 'em," said Levac.
"Good Lord!" exclaimed Gregory. "We'd better turn back."
"They'd overtake us in no time," said Thetan. "We're in for it."
Tarzan smiled. "There is nothing to do, then, but fight," he said.
"We haven't a chance, have we?" asked Magra.
"It doesn't look like it," replied d'Arnot.
"If there is such a thing as a jinx," said Helen, "we certainly have one camping on our trail."
The narrow gorge echoed to the war cries of the Asha-rians, as their galleys bore down on their hapless victims. Gregory's party met them with gunfire and arrows, while the short Asharian spears hurtled about them. As the men had leaped to their feet to fire over the heads of the slaves, the galley tipped dangerously, shipping water and spoiling their aim. A spear struck one of the oarsmen; and as he lurched forward, dead, his oar fouled that of another slave; and a moment later the galley swung broadside across the river as the leading Asharian galley, sped down stream by forty oars, bore down upon it. There was a crash of splintering wood as the prow of the enemy rammed the Gregory galley amidships. Already listing crazily, she careened to the impact; and as the water poured over her port gunwale, she began to sink, leaving her passengers floundering in the river and her slaves screaming in their chains; then the other galleys moved in to pick up the survivors.
D'Arnot and Helen were dragged into the galley farthest up stream, which immediately set out for Ashair. The other members of the party had drifted down stream before they were finally picked up by a second galley. Tarzan had swum beside Magra, encouraging and supporting her, while Gregory, Lavac, and Ogabi remained nearby. Night was falling, and it would soon be dark in the narrow gorge. When they were in the craft, they saw that Thetan was already there, having been picked up before they were; but Helen and d'Arnot were not there; and the boat in which they were prisoners was out of sight around a bend in the river.
"Did you see anything of Helen?" asked Gregory, but no one had.
"I could almost wish that she drowned," he added. "God! Why did I ever undertake this stupid venture?"
"It would have been better had we all drowned," said Thetan. "There is no hope for those who fall into the hands of the Asharians."
"All that has happened to us so far," said Tarzan, "is that we have gotten wet. Wait until something really bad happens before you give up hope."
"But look at what lies ahead of us!" exclaimed Lavac.
"I do not know what lies ahead of us, and neither do you," the ape-man reminded him; "therefore we might as well anticipate the best as the worst."
"A most excellent philosophy," commented Gregory, "but a strain on one's credulity."
"I think it is good," said Magra.
In the leading galley, Helen and d'Arnot sat huddled together, shivering with cold.
"I wonder what became of the others," said the girl.
"I don't know, dear," replied d'Arnot; "but thank God that you and I were not separated."
"Yes," she whispered, and then, "I suppose this is the end; but we shall go together."
"Keep a stiff upper lip, darling. Don't give up hope; they haven't harmed us yet."
"Poor Dad," said Helen. "Do you suppose he and all the others drowned?"
"They may have been picked up, too," encouraged d'Arnot.
"Little good it will do any of us," continued the girl. "No wonder poor Brian never returned from Ashair. What was that?"
An eerie scream shattered the silence of the night, reverberating weirdly in the narrow gorge.
Chapter 17
Atan Thome AND Lal Taask were taking their ease on the terrace of Atka's palace, overlooking the lake. They were treated like guests, but they knew that they were prisoners. Lal Taask would have given his soul to be well out of the country; but Atan Thome still harbored dreams of The Father of Diamonds, which he pictured as a stone as large as a football. He often amused himself by trying to compute its value; then he translated it into pounds sterling and bought yachts and castles and great country estates. He gave the most marvellous dinners that Paris had ever known, and was fawned upon by the world's most beautiful women, whom he covered with furs and jewels. But the walls of Ashair still rose about him; and, towering above those, the walls of Tuen-Baka.
As they sat there, the noble Akamen joined them. "Your enemies have probably been captured by this time," he said.
"What will happen to them?" asked Lal Taask. He was thinking of what might be going to happen to him sooner or later.
"They shall know the wrath of Brulor," replied Akamen.
"Who is Brulor?" asked Thorne.
"Brulor is our god, The Father of Diamonds," explained the Asharian. "His temple lies at the bottom of Lake Horus , guarded by the priests of Brulor and the waters of sacred Horus."
"But I thought that The Father of Diamonds was a diamond," exclaimed Atan Thome, terrified by the suggestion that it was a man.
"What do you know of The Father of Diamonds?" demanded Akamen.
"Nothing," said Thorne, hastily. "I have just heard the term."
"Well," said Akamen, "it's something we are not supposed to discuss with barbarians; but I don't mind telling you that The Father of Diamonds is the name given both to Brulor and The Father of Diamonds that reposes in the casket on the altar before his throne in the temple."
Atan Thome breathed a sigh of relief. So there was a Father of Diamonds after all. Suddenly there came faintly to their ears a weird scream from far down the lake toward the tunnel that leads to the outside world and carries the waters of Horus down to the sea thousands of miles away.
"I wonder what that was," said Akamen. "It sounded almost human."
"Are there any apes around here?" asked Thorne.
"No," replied Akamen; "why?"
"That sounded a little like an ape," said Atan Thome.
"It will be very dark inside there," said Tarzan, as the galley in which he and his fellow prisoners were being taken to Ashair approached the mouth of the tunnel leading to Lake Horus . He spoke in English. "Each of you pick a couple of men; and when I say 'Kreegah,' throw them overboard. If we act very quickly, taking them off their guard, we can do it; and as soon as you have two overboa
rd, go after more. I can't tell either Thetan or Ogabi now, as the Asharians understand Swahili; but as soon as I give you the signal, I shall tell them."
"And then what?" asked Lavac.
"Why, we'll take the boat, of course," said Gregory.
"We're likely to be killed," said Lavac, "but that's all right with me."
As the galley neared the tunnel, a warrior in the bow lighted a torch, for within the tunnel there would not be even the sky to guide the helmsman. Tarzan regretted the torch, but he did not give up his plan. Perhaps it might be more difficult now, but he felt that it still had an excellent chance to succeed.
Suddenly the ape-man sprang to his feet, and as he hurled a warrior into the water his "Kre-e-gah!" rang through the tunnel.
"Overboard with them!" he shouted, and Thetan and Ogabi grasped the intent of his plan instantly.
Chaos and confusion reigned aboard the galley, as the five desperate and determined men fell upon the Asharian warriors, throwing or pushing them overboard. The astonished Asharians were so taken by surprise that they at first fell easy victims to the plan, but later those who had escaped the first sudden rush of the prisoners, rallied and put up a defense that threatened the success of the ape-man's bold plan.
Magra, seated amidships, was in the center of the melee. Crouched between two galley slaves, she watched the savage scene with fascinated, fearless eyes. The flaring torch in the bow of the galley painted the scene in dancing high lights and deep shadows against a background of Stygian gloom, a moving picture of embattled souls upon the brink of Hell; and through it moved, with the strength, the agility, and the majesty of a great lion, the godlike figure of the Lord of the Jungle. She saw, too, the threat of defeat that she was helpless to avert; and then she heard Thetan shout, "Help us, slaves, and win your freedom!"
Almost as one man the slaves rose in their chains and lashed out at their former masters with oars or fists. Screaming, cursing men were hurled into the black waters. A warrior lunged at Tarzan's back with his sword; but Magra caught his ankle and tripped him, and he fell between two slaves, who pitched him overboard.
As the yells and screams echoed through the tunnel, Helen pressed closer to d'Arnot. "They are fighting back there," she said.
"Yes," replied the Frenchman. "The first scream was Tarzan's warning "kreegah"; so you may rest assured that they are fighting."
"At least we know that they were not all drowned," said the girl. "Perhaps Dad is still alive, but what chance have they against all those warriors?"
"There is always a chance for the side upon which Tar-zan fights," replied d'Arnot. "I'd feel much better on your account if you were back there in the galley that he's in."
"If you were there, too," she said; "otherwise I'd rather be here."
He pressed her closer to him. "What an ironical fate that we could only have met and loved under circumstances such as these. For me, it is worth the price, no matter what that price may be. But for you—well, I wish you had never come to Africa ."
"Is that the gallant Frenchman?" she teased.
"You know what I mean."
"Yes; but you are still glad that I came to Africa , and so am I—no matter what happens."
Back in the rearmost galley, the last of their adversaries disposed of, the little company took stock of their losses. "Where is Ogabi?" asked Tarzan.
"An Asharian dragged him overboard," said Magra, "poor fellow."
"He was well avenged," said Lavac.
"Only Helen and d'Arnot are missing now," said Gregory. "If they weren't drowned, they must be in one of the galleys ahead of us. Is there no way in which we might rescue them?"
"There are five galleys ahead of us," said Thetan. "We are only four men. We would stand no chance against five galleys of Asharian warriors. The only possible hope that we may entertain of saving them is in enlisting my King's aid, but I have already told you that the Thobo-tians have never been able to enter Ashair. About the best we may hope to do is to save ourselves, and that may not be so easy if any of the galleys ahead of us are lying in wait for us. We'll have to put out our torch and take a chance in the darkness."
When the galley finally reached the end of the runnel and the lake spread before them, a seemingly vast expanse of water beneath the dim light of the stars, they saw the glimmering torches of five galleys far to their left and just beyond them the lights of Ashair. No galley had lain in wait for them, and the way to Thobos lay open to them.
It was shortly after dawn that they approached the quay at Thobos. A company of warriors stood ready to receive them, and even though Thetan stood in full view of them in the bow of the galley, their attitude was no less belligerent.
"They don't seem very friendly," remarked Magra. "Perhaps we ate jumping from the frying pan into the fire."
"Who comes?" demanded one of the warriors.
"Thetan, nephew of King Herat," replied Thetan.
"We recognize Thetan, but the others are strangers," said the warrior.
"They are friends," explained Thetan.
"They are strangers, and strangers may only enter Thobos as prisoners," insisted the warrior. "If they would land without battle, let them throw down their arms."
Under these conditions, the party was allowed to land; but they were immediately surrounded by scowling warriors. "You know, Thetan," said the leader, "that it is against the law to bring strangers to Thobos; and therefore, even though you be nephew to him, I must arrest you with the others and take you all before King Herat."
Chapter 18
HELEN AND D'ARNOT were imprisoned briefly in a dungeon of the palace at Ashair; then they were summoned to appear before the Queen. As they were led into the throne room, Helen exclaimed in amazement.
"Why, there are Thorne and Taask!" she whispered to d'Arnot, "there, at the side of the dais."
"So that is Thorne," said d'Arnot. "I'd like to get my hands on him. They don't seem to be prisoners. I wonder what it means."
"Silence!" ordered one of their guard. As they were led to the foot of the dais, Atka eyed them sternly. "Why came you to The Forbidden City?" she demanded.
"To find my brother, Brian Gregory," replied Helen.
"You lie!" snapped Atka. "You came to steal The Father of Diamonds."
"The girl is innocent, O Queen," said Thorne. "It was the man and his companions who sought The Father of Diamonds. If you will give the girl into my keeping, I will be responsible for her."
"The girl speaks the truth," cried d'Arnot. "She came solely to find her brother, but that man lies. It was he who came to steal The Father of Diamonds. Why else should he have come? He has no brother here. There is no other reason why he should have undertaken the expensive and dangerous journey to Ashair."
"You all lie," snapped Atka. "Send the girl to the temple as handmaiden to the priests. Imprison the men."
Suddenly, before they could prevent him, d'Arnot tore away from his guards and leaped upon Atan Thome, his strong fingers closing upon the Eurasian's throat to kill him.
"If it's the last thing in life I do!" he cried, but warriors leaped in and dragged him away before he could consummate his design.
"To the cages with him!" ordered Atka. "He shall spend the rest of his life looking at The Father of Diamonds he would have profaned."
"Good-by, Helen!" he called back as warriors dragged him from the throne room.
"Good-by, Paul!" That was all; but tears welled in her eyes as they strained after the man she loved, whom she believed she was looking upon for the last time.
As warriors seized Atan Thome and Lal Taask, Akamen stepped close to the Queen and whispered a few words to her. She nodded, and ordered the warriors to release the two men.
"I give these men into the keeping of Akamen," she said. "He shall be responsible for them. Take the girl away. Let the women purify her before she is taken to the priests."
Two warriors led d'Arnot down a long ramp to a crude elevator operated by slaves at a windlass on the
floor above. They entered the cage with him, and the descent began down a dark shaft.
"I hope you took a good look at the world before you were brought into the palace," remarked one of the warriors, "for it's the last you'll ever see of it."
"Why?" asked d'Arnot. "Where are you taking me?"
"To the temple of Brulor ," replied the warrior. "It lies at the bottom of Lake Horus , the sacred. You will spend the rest of your life there. It may be a short life, or it may be a long one. After you've spent a few weeks in the temple, you'll pray that it will be short."
D'Arnot could not judge the depth of the long shaft down which he was being lowered to what fate he could not guess. He might have descended two hundred feet or it might have been more. Whatever it was, he was convinced that there could be neither escape nor rescue. At the foot of the shaft, the warriors turned him over to two priests, who conducted him along a corridor that extended far out beneath the lake. At the end of the corridor, he was led into a large, oblong room, at the far end of which an old man sat upon an ornate throne. Surrounding him were priests and handmaidens, and before him an altar on which rested a large, jeweled casket.
Along both sides of the room were several cages, which reminded d'Arnot of the cages in the lion house of a zoo; but here there were no lions, only a few emaciated, almost naked men with unkempt hair and beards.
The priests led d'Arnot to the foot of the throne. "Here is a would-be profaner of The Father of Diamonds that Queen Atka has sent as an offering to Brulor," said one of the priests.
"We already have too many to feed," grumbled the old man. "Zytheb, put him in a cage."
A tall priest, carrying a great ring of keys at his belt, came forward and led the way to one of the cages, which he unlocked and motioned d'Arnot to enter. As the door clanged behind him, a sudden chill ran through the Frenchman's body as though he were entering his own tomb.
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