almost upon
us. Cut them and I may yet save you."

A little spiral of curling smoke rose from one corner of the pyre--the
flames licked upward, crackling. La stood there like a beautiful
statue of 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 trunks--Tantor 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 brow--only haughty disdain for her priests and admiration for
the man she loved so hopelessly filled her thoughts.

Suddenly upon this scene burst the mad bull--a 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 upo