t day dated the downfall of my people. Disheartened and
unhappy, they soon became a prey to the black hordes of the north and
the black hordes of the south. One by one the cities were deserted or
overcome. The last remnant was finally forced to take shelter within
this mighty mountain fortress. Slowly we have dwindled in power, in
civilization, in intellect, in numbers, until now we are no more than a
small tribe of savage apes.

"In fact, the apes live with us, and have for many ages. We call them
the first men--we speak their language quite as much as we do our own;
only in the rituals of the temple do we make any attempt to retain our
mother tongue. In time it will be forgotten, and we will speak only
the language of the apes; in time we will no longer banish those of our
people who mate with apes, and so in time we shall descend to the very
beasts from which ages ago our progenitors may have sprung."

"But why are you more human than the others?" asked the man.

"For some reason the women have not reverted to savagery so rapidly as
the men. It may be because only the lower types of men remained here
at the time of the great catastrophe, while the temples were filled
with the noblest daughters of the race. My strain has remained clearer
than the rest because for countless ages my foremothers were high
priestesses--the sacred office descends from mother to daughter. Our
husbands are chosen for us from the noblest in the land. The most
perfect man, mentally and physically, is selected to be the husband of
the high priestess."

"From what I saw of the gentlemen above," said Tarzan, with a grin,
"there should be little trouble in choosing from among them."

The girl looked at him quizzically for a moment.

"Do not be sacrilegious," she said. "They are very holy men--they are
priests."

"Then there are others who are better to look upon?" he asked.

"The others are all more ugly than the priests," she replied.

Tarzan shuddered at her fate, for even in the dim light of the vault he
was impressed by her beauty.

"But how about myself?" he asked suddenly. "Are you going to lead me
to liberty?"

"You have been chosen by The Flaming God as his own," she answered
solemnly. "Not even I have the power to save you--should they find you
again. But I do not intend that they shall find you. You risked your
life to save mine. I may do no less for you. It will be no easy
matter--it may require days; but i