Part 3 (2/2)
As Tarzan and Om-at clambered back to the vestibule of Pan-at-lee's cave and took their stand beside Ta-den in readiness for whatever eventuality ht follow the death of Es-sat, the sun that topped the eastern hills touched also the figure of a sleeper upon a distant, thorn-covered steppe awakening hi a faint and rapidly disappearing spoor
For a tined in the Kor-ul-JA The tribes that had been their chief, now at one another, and now at Om-at and the tho stood upon his either side Presently Om-at spoke ”I aund of Kor-ul-JA?”
He waited for a taker of his challenge One or two of the larger young bucks fidgeted restlessly and eyed hiund,” he said with finality ”Now tell me, where are Pan-at-lee, her father, and her brothers?”
An old warrior spoke ”Pan-at-lee should be in her cave Who should know that better than you who are there now? Her father and her brothers were sent to watch Kor-ul-lul; but neither of these questions arouse any tumult in our breasts There is one that does: Can Oainst his own people with a Ho-don and that terrible man at his side-that terrible ers over to your people to be slain as is the way of the Waz-don and then und”
Neither Tarzan nor Ta-den spoke then, they but stood watching Ohost of a smile upon the lips of the ape-man Ta-den, at least, knew that the old warrior had spoken the truth-the Waz-don entertain no strangers and take no prisoners of an alien race
Then spoke Oe,” he said ”Even the old hills of Pal-ul-don appear never twice alike-the brilliant sun, a passing cloud, theseasons, the sharp clearness following a store in our hills Froe in each of us Change, then, is one of Jad-ben-Otho's laws
”And now I, Oers who are brave er be slain by the Waz-don of Kor-ul-JA!”
There were growls andthe warriors as each eyed the others to see ould take the initiative against Os,” adund ”I a me chief Some of you helped Es-sat to drive me from the cave ofOnly these thound and if there be any who doubts it let hier”
Tarzan was pleased Here was a man after his own heart He ade and he was a sufficiently good judge of men to know that he had listened to no idle bluff-Om-at would back up his words to the death, if necessary, and the chances were that he would not be the one to die Evidently the majority of the Kor-ul-jaians entertained the saund,” said Ohts ”Your wives and daughters will be safe-they were not safe while Es-sat ruled Go now to your crops and your hunting I leave to search for Pan-at-lee Ab-on will be gund while I a when I return-and may Jad-ben-Otho smile upon you”
He turned toward Tarzan and the Ho-don ”And you,my people; the cave of my ancestors is yours, do what you will”
”I,” said Tarzan, ”will go with Om-at to search for Pan-at-lee”
”And I,” said Ta-den
Om-at smiled ”Good!” he exclaiether upon Tarzan's business and Ta-den's Where first shall we search?” He turned toward his warriors ”Who knohere she one to her cave with the others the previous evening-there was no clew, no suggestion as to her whereabouts
”Shohere she sleeps,” said Tarzan; ”let s to her-an article of her apparel-then, doubtless, I can help you”
Two young warriors clie upon which Om-at stood They were In-sad and O-dan It was the latter who spoke
”Gund of Kor-ul-JA,” he said, ”ould go with you to search for Pan-at-lee”
It was the first acknowledg it the tenseness that had prevailed seemed to relax-the warriors spoke aloud instead of in whispers, and the wo of a sudden storlad to follow Some came to talk with Om-at and to look athered their hunters and discussed the business of the day The women and children prepared to descend to the fields with the youths and the old uard theo with us,” announced Om-at, ”we shall not need more Tarzan, coh why you should wish to know I cannot guess-she is not there I have looked for myself”
The two entered the cave where Om-at led the way to the apartht