Part 16 (1/2)
”No,” said the priest who had before spoken, ”it is not necessary since he could not have entered without your knowledge and the connivance of the guards, and even had he, the priest who preceded us must have seen him”
”What priest?” asked O-lo-a
”One passed the guards shortly before us,” explained the man
”I did not see him,” said O-lo-a
”Doubtless he left by another exit,” remarked the second priest
”Yes, doubtless,” acquiesced O-lo-a, ”but it is strange that I did not see him” The two priests made their obeisance and turned to depart
”Stupid as Buto, the rhinoceros,” soliloquized Tarzan, who considered Buto a very stupid creature indeed ”It should be easy to outwit such as these”
The priests had scarce departed when there caarden in the direction of the princess to an acco as of one alue or excitement
”Pan-at-lee,” exclaimed O-lo-a, ”what has happened? You look as terrified as the doe for which you were named!”
”O Princess of Pal-ul-don,” cried Pan-at-lee, ”they would have killed hier who claimed to be the Dor-ul-Otho”
”But he escaped,” said O-lo-a ”You were there Tell me about it”
”The head priest would have had him seized and slain, but when they rushed upon him he hurled one in the face of Lu-don with the saht cast your breastplates at me, and then he leaped upon the altar and from there to the top of the te for him, but, O Princess, I pray that they do not find him”
”And why do you pray that?” asked O-lo-a ”Has not one who has so blasphemed earned death?”
”Ah, but you do not know him,” replied Pan-at-lee
”And you do, then?” retorted O-lo-a quickly ”Thisyou betrayed yourself and then attes with iuru of whom you told me? Speak woman and speak only the truth”
Pan-at-lee drew herself up very erect, her little chin held high, for was not she too aood as a princess? ”Pan-at-lee, the Kor-ul-JA does not lie,” she said, ”to protect herself”
”Then tell uru,” insisted O-lo-a
”I know that he is a wondrous man and very brave,” said Pan-at-lee, ”and that he saved me from the Tor-o-don and the GRYF as I told you, and that he is indeed the sa; and even now I do not know that he is not the son of Jad-ben-Otho for his courage and his strength are more than those of mortal ht have harht have saved hiht only of me And all this he did because of his friendshi+p for Ound of Kor-ul-JA and hom I should have mated had the Ho-don not captured me”
”He was indeed a wonderful man to look upon,” mused O-lo-a, ”and he was not as are other men, not alone in the conformation of his hands and feet or the fact that he was tailless, but there was that about him which made him seem different in ways more important than these”
”And,” supplee little heart loyal to theto win for hiht not avail him; ”and,” she said, ”did he not know all about Ta-den and even his whereabouts Tell s as these?”
”Perhaps he saw Ta-den,” suggested O-lo-a
”But hoould he know that you loved Ta-den,” parried Pan-at-lee ”I tell you, my Princess, that if he is not a God he is at least more than Ho-don or Waz-don He followed me from the cave of Es-sat in Kor-ul-JA across Kor-ul-lul and tide ridges to the very cave in Kor-ul-GRYF where I hid, though many hours had passed since I had coround What s as these? And where in all Pal-ul-don would virgin e male other than he?”
”Perhaps Lu-don may be mistaken-perhaps he is a God,” said O-lo-a, influenced by her slave's enthusiastic chaer
”But whether God or man he is too wonderful to die,” cried Pan-at-lee ”Would that I ive you your Ta-den, Princess”