change in government here, but the natural assumption was that another faction of the nobility had come into power. If these people are of the nobility, our friend Spike must be at least an archbishop.'
'They are not of the nobility,' said Wood. 'They are from the lowest dregs of society. They overthrew the king and the nobility a few months ago. I guess they are pretty well ruining the country.'
'That accounts for it,' said Tarzan. 'Well, I guess my friend, Valthor, can't help me much.'
'Valthor?' exclaimed Wood. 'Do you know him? Why say, he's the only friend I have here.'
'Where is he? He'll help us,' said Tarzan.
'Not where he is, he won't. He and I were fellow slaves at the elephant stables.'
'Valthor a slave!'
'Yes, and lucky to be that,' Wood assured him. 'They killed off all the other members of the nobility they caught –except a few that joined 'em. The rest escaped into the mountains. Every one liked Valthor so much that they didn't kill him.'
'It is a good thing that I didn't take any chances when I came here,' remarked the ape-man. 'They'd heard these rumors in Cathne; so I came in after dark to investigate before I tried to find Valthor or made myself known.'
There was a rap on the door. 'What do you want?' asked Tarzan.
'Turn the king over to the queen and we won't harm you,' said a voice.
Phoros commenced to wriggle and squirm on the floor, shaking his head vigorously. Tarzan grinned.
'Wait until we talk it over,' he said; then, to Wood, 'Take the gag out of his mouth.'
As soon as the gag was removed Phoros choked and spluttered before he could articulate an understandable word, so frightened and excited was he. 'Don't let her have me,' he finally managed to say. 'She'll kill me.'
'I think you have it coming to you,' said Wood.
'Maybe we can reach a bargain,' suggested Tarzan.
'Anything, anything you want,' cried Phoros.
'Our freedom and a safe escort to The Pass of the Warriors,' demanded the ape-man.
'It is yours,' promised Phoros.
'And the big diamond,' added Wood.
'And the big diamond,' agreed Phoros.
'How do we know you'll do as you agree?' asked Tarzan.
'You have my word for it,' Phoros assured him.
'I don't think it's worth much. I'd have to have something more.'
'Well, what?'
'We'd want to take you with us and keep you close to me where I could kill you if the bargain were not kept.'
'That too. I agree to everything, only don't let her get her hands on me.'
'There is one more thing,' added Tarzan. 'Valthor's freedom.'
'Granted.'
'And now that you've got all that arranged,' said Wood, 'how in Hell are we going to get out of here with that old virago holding the fort with the guard out there? Have you ever been to a coronation, Tarzan?'
The ape-man shook his head.
'Well, take Phorsie out there, my friend, and you'll see a king crowned.'
'I don't know what you're talking about, but I don't intend taking him out of here until I have some assurance that his promises will be carried out.' He turned to Phoros. 'What can you suggest? Will the guard obey you?'
'I don't know. They're afraid of her. Everybody's afraid of her, and Dyaus knows they have reason.'
'We seem to be getting nowhere with great facility,' commented Wood.
Tarzan crossed to Phoros and removed his bonds. 'Come to the door,' he directed, 'and explain my proposition to your wife.'
Phoros approached the door. 'Listen, dear,' he said ingratiatingly.
'Listen nothing, you beast, you murderer,' she screamed back at him. 'Just let me get my hands on you- that's all I ask.'
'But darling, I was drunk. I didn't mean to do it. Listen to reason. Let me take these people out of the country with an escort of warriors and they won't kill me.'
'Don't 'darling' me, you, you-'
'But, my own little Menofra, listen to reason. Send for Kandos, and let us all talk it over.'
'Go in there, you cowards, and drag them out,' Menofra shouted to the guardsmen.
'Stay out there!' screamed Phoros. 'I am king. Those are the king's commands.'
'I'm queen,' yelled Menofra. 'I tell you to go in and rescue the king.'
'I'm all right,' shouted Phoros. 'I don't want to be rescued.'
'I think,' said the officer of the guard, 'that the best thing to do is summon Kandos. This is no matter for a simple officer of the guard to decide.'
'That's right,' encouraged the king; 'send for Kandos'
They heard the officer dispatch a warrior to summon Kandos, and they heard the queen grumbling and scolding and threatening.
Wood stepped to the door. 'Menofra!' he called. 'I have an idea that perhaps you hadn't thought of. Let Phoros accompany us to the border; then when he comes back you'll have him. That will save a lot of trouble for all concerned.'
Phoros looked troubled. He hadn't thought of that either. Menofra did not answer immediately; then she said, 'He might trick me in some way.'
'How can he trick you?' demanded Wood.
'I don't know, but he'd find a way. He has been tricking people all his life.'
'He couldn't. You'd have the army. What could he do?'
'Well, perhaps it's worth thinking about,' admitted the queen; 'but I don't know that I could wait. I'd like to get my hands on him right now. Did you see what he did to me?'
'Yes. It was terrible,' sympathized Wood.
It was not long before the warrior returned with Kandos. Menofra greeted him with a volley of vituperation as soon as he came in sight, and it was some time before he could quiet her and get the story. Then he led her away where none could overhear, and they whispered together for sometime. When they had finished, Kandos approached the door.
'It is all arranged,' he announced. 'The queen has given her permission. The party will start shortly after sunrise. It is still dark, and the trail is not safe by night. Just as soon as you and the escort have had your breakfasts you may go in peace. Have we your promise that you will not harm the king.'
'You have,' said Tarzan.
'Very well,' said Kandos. 'I am going now to arrange for the escort.'
'And don't forget our breakfasts!' called Wood.
'I most certainly will not,' promised Kandos.
Chapter 23. Sentenced
STANLEY WOOD WAS in high spirits. 'It commences to look as though our troubles were about over,' he said. He laid a hand on Gonfala's tenderly. 'You've been through a lot, but I can promise you that when we get to civilization you'll be able to understand for the first time in your life what perfect peace and security mean.'
'Yes,' said Tarzan, 'the perfect peace and security of automobile accidents, railroad wrecks, aeroplane crashes, robbers, kidnapers, war, and pestilence.'
Wood laughed. 'But no lions, leopards, buffaloes, wild elephants, snakes, nor tsetse flies, not to mention shiftas and cannibals.'
'I think,' said Gonfala, 'that neither one of you paints a very pretty picture. You make one almost afraid of life. But after all it is not so much peace and security that I want as freedom. You know, all my life I have been a
