prisoner except for the few short weeks after you took me away from the Kaji and before Spike and Troll got me. Perhaps you can imagine then how much I want freedom, no matter how many dangers I have to take along with it. It seems the most wonderful thing in the world.'
'It is,' said Tarzan.
'Well, love has its points, too,' suggested Wood.
'Yes,' agreed Gonfala, 'but not without freedom.'
'You're going to have them both,' Wood promised.
'With limitations, you'll find, Gonfala,' warned Tarzan with a smile.
'Just now I'm interested in food,' said Gonfala.
'And I think it's coming.' Wood nodded toward the door. Some one was fumbling with the key. Presently the door opened far enough to permit two pots to be shoved inside the room; then it was closed with a bang.
'They are taking no chances,' commented Wood as he crossed the room and carried the two vessels back to his companions. One contained a thick stew; the other, water.
'What, no hardware?' inquired Wood.
'Hardware? What is that?' asked Gonfala; 'something to eat?'
'Something to eat with-forks, spoons. No forks, no spoons, no Emily Post-how embarrassing!'
'Here,' said Tarzan, and handed his hunting knife to Gonfala. They took turns spearing morsels of meat with it and drinking the juice and the water directly from the pots, sharing the food with Phoros.
'Not half bad,' commented Wood. 'What is it, Phoros?'
'Young wether. There is nothing tastier. I am surprised that Menofra did not send us old elephant hide to chew on. Perhaps she is relenting.' Then he shook his head. 'No, Menofra never relents-at least not where I am concerned. That woman is so ornery she thinks indigestion is an indulgence.'
'My!' said Gonfala, drowsily. 'I am so sleepy I can't keep my eyes open.'
'Same here,' said Wood.
Phoros looked at the others and yawned. Tarzan stood up and shook himself.
'You, too?' asked Photos.
The ape-man nodded. Phoros' lids drooped. 'The old she-devil,' he muttered. 'We've all been drugged-maybe poisoned.'
Tarzan watched his companions fall into a stupor one by one. He tried to fight off the effects of the drug. He wondered if any of them would awaken again; then he sagged to one knee and rolled over on the floor, unconscious.
* * *
The room was decorated with barbaric splendor. Mounted heads of animals and men adorned the walls. There were crude murals done in colors that had faded into softness, refined by age. Skins of animals and rugs of wool covered the floor, the benches, and a couch on which Menofra lay, her body raised on one elbow, her bandaged head supported by one huge palm. Four warriors stood by the only door; at Menofra's feet lay Gonfala and Wood, still unconscious; at her side stood Kandos; at the foot of the couch, bound and unconscious, lay Phoros.
'You sent the wild-man to the slave pen as I directed?' asked Menofra.
Kandos nodded. 'Yes, queen; and because he seemed so strong I had him chained to a stanchion.'
'That is well,' said Menofra. 'Even a fool does the right thing occasionally.'
'Thank you, queen,' said Kandos.
'Don't thank me; you make me sick. You are a liar and a cheat and a traitor. Phoros befriended you, yet you turned against him. How much more quickly would you turn against me who has never befriended you and whom you hate! But you won't, because you are a coward; and don't even think of it. If I ever get the idea for a moment that you might be thinking of turning against me I'll have your head hanging on this wall in no time. The man is coming to.'
They looked down at Wood whose eyes were opening slowly and whose arms and legs were moving a little as though experimenting with the possibilities of self-control. He was the first to regain consciousness. He opened his eyes and looked about him. He saw Gonfala lying beside him. Her rising and falling bosom assured him that she lived. He looked up at Kandos and the queen.
'So this is the way you keep your word?' he accused; then he looked about for Tarzan. 'Where is the other?'
'He is quite safe,' said Kandos. 'The queen in her mercy has not killed any of you.'
'What are you going to do with us?' demanded Wood.
'The wild-man goes to the arena,' replied Menofra. 'You and the girl will not be killed immediately-not until you have served my purpose.'
'And what is that?'
'You shall know presently. Kandos, send for a priest; Phoros will soon awaken.'
Gonfala opened her eyes and sat up. 'What has happened?' she asked. 'Where are we?'
'We are still prisoners,' Wood told her. 'These people have double-crossed us.'
'Civilization seems very far away,' she said and tears came to her eyes.
He took her hand. 'You must be brave, dear.'
'I am tired of being brave; I have been brave for so long. I should like so much to cry, Stanlee.'
Now Phoros regained consciousness, and looked first at one and then at another. When his eyes fell on Menofra he winced.
'Ah, the rat has awakened,' said the queen.
'You have rescued me, my dear!' said Phoros.
'You may call it that, if you wish,' said Menofra coldly; 'but I should call it by another name, as you will later.'
'Now, my darling, let us forget the past-let bygones be bygones. Kandos, remove my bonds. How does it look to see the king trussed up like this?'
'It looks all right to me,' Menofra assured him, 'but how would you like to be trussed up? It could be done with red hot chains, you know. In fact, it has been done. It's not a bad idea; I am glad you suggested it.'
'But, Menofra, my dear wife, you wouldn't do that to me?'
'Oh, you think not? But you would try to kill me with your sword so that you could take this wench here to wife. Well, I'm not going to have you trussed up with red hot chains-not yet. First I am going to remove temptation from your path without removing the object of your temptation. I am going to let you see what you might have enjoyed.'
There was a rap on the door, and one of the warriors said, 'The priest is here.'
'Let him in,' ordered Menofra.
Wood had helped Gonfala to her feet, and the two were seated on a bench, mystified listeners to Menofra's cryptic speech. When the priest had entered the room and bowed before the queen she pointed to them.
'Marry these two,' she commanded.
Wood and Gonfala looked at one another in astonishment. 'There's a catch in this somewhere,' said the former. 'The old termagant's not doing this because she loves us, but I'm not looking any gift horse in the mouth.'
'It's what we've been waiting and hoping for,' said Gonfala, 'but I wish it could have happened under different conditions. There is something sinister in this. I don't believe that any good thought could come out of that woman's mind.'
The marriage ceremony was extremely simple, but very impressive. It laid upon the couple the strictest obligations of fidelity and condemned to death and damned through eternity whomever might cause either to be unfaithful to the other.
During the ceremony Menofra wore a sardonic smile, while Phoros had difficulty in hiding his chagrin and anger. When it was concluded, the queen turned to her mate. 'You know the laws of our people,' she said. 'King or commoner, whoever comes between these two must die. You know that don't you, Phoros? You know you've lost her, don't you-forever? You would try to kill me, would you? Well, I'm going to let you live-I'm going to let you live with this wench; but watch your step, Phoros; for I'll be watching you.' She turned to the guard. 'Now take them away. Take this man to the slave pen, and see that nothing happens to him, and take Phoros and the wench to the
