The ape-man pushed the kneeling woman aside. "Tarzan does notdesire you," he exclaimed, simply, and stepping to Werper's side he cutthe Belgian's bonds and motioned him to follow.

Panting--her face convulsed with rage, La sprang to her feet.

"Stay, you shall!" she screamed. "La will have you--if she cannothave you alive, she will have you dead," and raising her face tothe sun she gave voice to the same hideous shriek that Werper hadheard once before and Tarzan many times.

In answer to her cry a babel of voices broke from the surroundingchambers and corridors.

"Come, Guardian Priests!" she cried. "The infidels have profanedthe holiest of the holies. Come! Strike terror to their hearts;defend La and her altar; wash clean the temple with the blood ofthe polluters."

Tarzan understood, though Werper did not. The former glancedat the Belgian and saw that he was unarmed. Stepping quickly toLa's side the ape-man seized her inside his strong arms and though shefought with all the mad savagery of a demon, he soon disarmed her,handing her long, sacrificial knife to Werper.