13

Condemned To Torture and Death




La had followed her company and when she saw them clawing and
biting at Tarzan, she raised her voice and cautioned them not to
kill him. She saw that he was weakening and that soon the greater
numbers would prevail over him, nor had she long to wait before
the mighty jungle creature lay helpless and bound at her feet.

"Bring him to the place at which we stopped," she commanded and
they carried Tarzan back to the little clearing and threw him down
beneath a tree.

"Build me a shelter!" ordered La. "We shall stop here tonight
and tomorrow in the face of the Flaming God, La will offer up the
heart of this defiler of the temple. Where is the sacred knife?
Who took it from him?"

But no one had seen it and each was positive in his assurance
that the sacrificial weapon had not been upon Tarzan's person when
they captured him. The ape-man looked upon the menacing creatures
which surrounded him and snarled his defiance. He looked upon La
and smiled. In the face of death he was unafraid.

"Where is the knife?" La asked him.