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As they crossed the garden, Smith-Oldwick refilled the magazine of his pistol and

inserted a cartridge in the chamber. The girl moved silently at Tarzan's left,

between him and the aviator. Suddenly the ape-man stopped and turned toward

the city, his mighty frame, clothed in the yellow tunic of Herog's soldiery, plainly

visible to the others beneath the light of the stars. They saw him raise his head

and they heard break from his lips the plaintive note of a lion calling to his

fellows. Smith-Oldwick felt a distinct shudder pass through his frame, while

Otobu, rolling the whites of his eyes in terrified surprise, sank tremblingly to his

knees. But the girl thrilled and she felt her heart beat in a strange exultation, and

then she drew nearer to the beast-man until her shoulder touched his arm. The

act was involuntary and for a moment she scarce realized what she had done,

and then she stepped silently back, thankful that the light of the stars was not

sufficient to reveal to the eyes of her companions the flush which she felt

mantling her cheek. Yet she was not ashamed of the impulse that had prompted

her, but rather of the act itself which she knew, had Tarzan noticed it, would

have been repulsive to him.

From the open gate of the city of maniacs came the answering cry of a lion. The

little group waited where they stood until presently they saw the majestic

proportions of the black lion as he approached them along the trail. When he had

rejoined them Tarzan fastened the fingers of one hand in the black mane and

started on once more toward the forest. Behind them, from the city, rose a

bedlam of horrid sounds, the roaring of lions mingling with the raucous voices of

the screaming parrots and the mad shrieks of the maniacs. As they entered the

Stygian darkness of the forest the girl once again involuntarily shrank closer to

the ape-man, and this time Tarzan was aware of the contact.

Himself without fear, he yet instinctively appreciated how terrified the girl must

be. Actuated by a sudden kindly impulse he found her hand and took it in his

own and thus they continued upon their way, groping through the blackness of

the trail. Twice they were approached by forest lions, but upon both occasions the

deep growls of Numa of the pit drove off their assailants. Several times they were

compelled to rest, for Smith-Oldwick was constantly upon the verge of

exhaustion, and toward morning Tarzan was forced to carry him on the steep

ascent from the bed of the valley.

234

Tarzan the Untamed