the altar another
female emerged from the cavernous depths beneath the chamber.

The high priestess, thought Tarzan. She was a young woman with a
rather intelligent and shapely face. Her ornaments were similar to
those worn by her votaries, but much more elaborate, many being set
with diamonds. Her bare arms and legs were almost concealed by the
massive, bejeweled ornaments which covered them, while her single
leopard skin was supported by a close-fitting girdle of golden rings
set in strange designs with innumerable small diamonds. In the girdle
she carried a long, jeweled knife, and in her hand a slender wand in
lieu of a bludgeon.

As she advanced to the opposite side of the altar she halted, and the
chanting ceased. The priests and priestesses knelt before her, while
with wand extended above them she recited a long and tiresome prayer.
Her voice was soft and musical--Tarzan could scarce realize that its
possessor in a moment more would be transformed by the fanatical
ecstasy of religious zeal into a wild-eyed and bloodthirsty
executioner, who, with dripping knife, would be the first to drink her
victim's red, warm blood from the little golden cup that stood upon the
altar.

As she finished her prayer she let her eyes rest for the first time
upon Tarzan. With every indication of considerable curiosity she
examined him from head to foot. Then she addressed him, and when she
had finished stood waiting, as though she expected a reply.

"I do not understand your language," said Tarzan. "Possibly we may
speak together in another tongue?" But she could not understand him,
though he tried French, English, Arab, Waziri, and, as a last resort,
the mongrel tongue of the West Coast.

She shook her head, and it seemed that there was a note of weariness in
her voice as she motioned to the priests to continue with the rites.
These now circled in a repetition of their idiotic dance, which was
terminated finally at a command from the priestess, who had stood
throughout, still looking intently upon Tarzan.

At her signal the priests rushed upon the ape-man, and, lifting him
bodily, laid him upon his back across the altar, his head hanging over
one edge, his legs over the opposite. Then they and the priestesses
formed in two lines, with their little golden cups in readiness to
capture a share of the victim's lifeblood after the sacrificial knife
had accomplished its work.

In the line of priests an altercation arose