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 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 jealou