on the altar the only creature
that ever had aroused the fires of love within her virgin breast; she
saw the beast-faced fanatic who would one day be her mate, unless she
found another less repulsive, standing with the burning torch ready to
ignite the pyre; yet with all her mad passion for the ape-man she would
give the word to apply the flame if Tarzan's final answer was
unsatisfactory. With heaving bosom she leaned close above him. "Yes
or no?" she whispered.

Through the jungle, out of the distance, came faintly a sound that
brought a sudden light of hope to Tarzan's eyes. He raised his voice
in a weird scream that sent La back from him a step or two. The
impatient priest grumbled and switched the torch from one hand to the
other at the same time holding it closer to the tinder at the base of
the pyre.

"Your answer!" insisted La. "What is your answer to the love of La of
Opar?"

Closer came the sound that had attracted Tarzan's attention and now the
others heard it--the shrill trumpeting of an elephant. As La looked
wide-eyed into Tarzan's face, there to read her fate for happiness or
heartbreak, she saw an expression of concern shadow his features. Now,
for the first time, she guessed the meaning of Tarzan's shrill
scream--he had summoned Tantor, the elephant, to his rescue! La's
brows contracted in a savage scowl. "You refuse La!" she cried. "Then
die! The torch!" she commanded, turning toward the priest.

Tarzan looked up into her face. "Tantor is coming," he said. "I
thought that he would rescue me; but I know now from his voice that he
will slay me and you and all that fall in his path, searching out with
the cunning of Sheeta, the panther, those who would hide from him, for
Tantor is mad with the madness of love."

La knew only too well the insane ferocity of a bull elephant in MUST.
She knew that Tarzan had not exaggerated. She knew that the devil in
the cunning, cruel brain of the great beast might send it hither and
thither hunting through the forest for those who escaped its first
charge, or the beast might pass on without returning--no one might
guess which.

"I cannot love you, La," said Tarzan in a low voice. "I do not know
why, for you are very beautiful. I could not go back and live in
Opar--I who have the whole broad jungle for my range. No, I cannot
love you but I cannot see you die beneath the goring tusks of mad
Tantor. Cut my bonds before it is too late. Already he is