'I think we can get into Mafka's apartment,' said the apeman. 'I'm going now to find out.'
'Going!' exclaimed Wood. 'I'd like to know how.'
'Don't let anyone follow me,' cautioned the ape-man. 'I'll be back.'
The two Americans shook their heads skeptically as Tarzan turned away and crossed the room; then they saw him enter the fireplace and disappear.
'Well I'll be damned!' exclaimed van Eyk. 'Who is that guy, anyway?'
'An Englishman named Clayton,' replied Wood. 'At least that's all I know about him, and that came direct from him.'
'If there were such a bird as Tarzan of the Apes, I'd say this was he,' said van Eyk.
'That's what I thought when I first met him. Say, he flits through the trees like a regular Tarzan, kills his meat with a bow and arrow, and packs it back to camp on his shoulder through the trees.'
'And now look what he's done! Up the flue like a-a-well, like something, whatever it is goes up a flue.'
'Smoke,' suggested Wood; 'only he's coming back, and smoke doesn't-except occasionally.'
Tarzan followed the corridor as he had before until he came to the opening into Gonfala's chamber; then he retraced his steps a short distance and felt his way back again with his right hand touching the side of the passageway instead of his left as before; nor was he surprised to discover that the tunnel ran on past the apartment of Gonfala. It was what he had expected-what he had been banking his hopes upon.
Now, past the opening that led to Gonfala's room, he touched the left-hand wall again and, pacing off the distance roughly, came to another opening that he judged would be about opposite the center of the next apartment, which was one of Mafka's suite. He did not stop here, but went on until he had located three more openings. Here the corridor ended.
He stepped to the edge of the flue and looked down into the fireplace. It was night now, but a faint illumination came from the opening below him. It was a greenish glow, now all too familiar.
He listened. He heard the snores of a heavy sleeper. Was there another in the apartment below, or was the sleeper alone? His sensitive nostrils sought an answer.
With the dagger of Gonfala in one hand, Tarzan dropped lightly to the floor of the fireplace that opened into the room where the sleeper lay.
Chapter 10. Toward Freedom
BEFORE HIM WAS a large chamber with a single door, heavily bolted upon the inside. He who slept there quite evidently slept in fear. It was Mafka. He lay upon a narrow cot. Upon a table at one side rested the Gonfal and the great emerald of the Zuli and beside them a cutlass and a dagger. Similar weapons lay on a table at the other side of the cot. All were within easy reach of the sleeper. A single cresset burned upon one of the tables.
Tarzan crossed noiselessly to the side of the cot and removed the weapons; first upon one side; then the other. Next, he carried the great emerald and the Gonfal to the fireplace and put them upon the ledge at the mouth of the corridor; then he returned to the side of the cot. Mafka slept on, for the ape-man moved as silently as a ghost in the night.
He laid a hand upon the shoulder of the magician and shook him lightly. Mafka awoke with a start.
'Keep still and you will not be harmed.' Tarzan's voice was low, but it was the voice of authority that knew its power.
Mafka looked wildly about the apartment as though searching for help, but there was none.
'What do you want?' His voice trembled. 'Tell me what you want and it is yours, if you will not kill me.'
'I do not kill old men or women or children unless they force me to. As long as my life is safe, yours is.'
'Then why have you come here? What do you want?'
'Nothing that you can give me. What I want, I take.'
He turned Mafka over on his stomach and bound his wrists, his ankles, and his knees with strips torn from the bedding; then he gagged him so that he could not raise an alarm. He also blindfolded him that he might not see how entrance had been gained to his apartment.
These things done, he returned to the corridor and groped his way back to Gonfala's apartment, leaving the two great gems where he had first placed them. He was confident they would never be found by another than himself, so sure was he that these corridors were entirely unknown to the present occupants of the palace.
At the entrance to Gonfala's apartment he listened again, but his senses detected no presence in the room below. As he entered it, a quick glance assured him that it was vacant. A single small cresset lighted it dimly. A door at the far end of the room was ajar. He went to it and pushed it open.
As he did so, Gonfala sat up in her couch near the center of the room and faced him. 'You have come back! I hoped you would. You have chosen a good time.'
'I thought so-he sleeps.'
'Then you know?'
'I guessed.'
'But why have you come back?'
'Wood and his three friends are prisoners. They are all to be killed.'
'Yes, I know. It is by my orders.' A qualm of pain and self-disgust was registered in her expression.
'You can help them to escape. Will you?'
'It would do no good. He would only drag them back, and their punishment would be even worse than they can expect now. It is hopeless.'
'If Mafka did not interfere would the women obey you?'
'Yes.'
'And if you had the opportunity you would like to escape from Kaji?'
'Yes.'
'Where would you go?'
'To England.'
'Why to England?'
'One who was always good to me, but who is dead now, told me to go to England if ever I escaped. He gave me a letter to take with me.'
'Well, get your letter and get ready. You are going to escape. We will be back for you in a little while-Wood and his friends and I. But you will have to help. You will have to give the necessary orders to the women to let us all pass.'
She shook her head emphatically. 'It will do no good, I tell you. He will get us all.'
'Don't worry about that. Just give me your promise that you will do as I ask.'
'I'll promise, but it will mean death for me as well as for you.'
'Get ready, then; I'll be back with the others in a few minutes.'
He left her room, closing the door after him, and went at once to the corridor. A moment later he dropped into the room where Wood and his companions were imprisoned. It was very dark. He spoke to them in low tones, directing them to follow him. Soon they were all in the corridor.
Tarzan led the way to Mafka's room, the glow from the great gems lighting their way as they approached the end of the corridor.
Spike drew in his breath in astonishment. 'Gripes! The big rock!' he exclaimed.
Troll halted before the radiant stones and gazed at them in fascinated silence for a moment. 'This other-it must be the great emerald of the Zuli. Both of 'em! Lord! They must be worth millions.' He started to touch them, but drew back in terror. He knew the power that lay in them, and feared it.
Tarzan dropped over the ledge into the fireplace then, and the others followed him. As they gathered around Mafka's couch, Wood and his companions were speechless with astonishment when they saw the old magician lying bound and helpless.
'How did you do it?' exclaimed Wood.
'I took the gems away from him first. I think all his power lies in them. If I am right, we can get away from here. If I'm wrong-' The ape-man shrugged.
