Frothing with rage was the baffled Lu-don as he realized how neatly the stranger she had turned his own tables upon him.He could of course escape the Temple of the Gryf in which her quick wit had temporarily imprisoned him; but during the delay, however brief, Ja-don would find time to steal her from the temple and deliver her to Ko-tan.But he would have her yet--that the high priest swore in the names of Jad-ben-Otho and all the demons of his faith.He hated Ko-tan.Secretly he had espoused the cause of Mo-sar, in whom he would have a willing tool.Perhaps, then, this would give him the opportunity he had long awaited--a pretext for inciting the revolt that would dethrone Ko-tan and place Mo-sar in power--with Lu-don the real ruler of Pal-ul-don.He licked his thin lips as he sought the window through which Tarzan had entered and now Lu-don's only avenue of escape.Cautiously he made his way across the floor, feeling before him with his hands, and when they discovered that the trap was set for him an ugly snarl broke from the priest's lips."The she-devil!" he muttered; "but she shall pay, she shall pay--ah, Jad-ben-Otho;
how she shall pay for the trick she has played upon Lu-don!"
He crawled through the window and climbed easily downward to the ground.Should he pursue Ja-don and the woman, chancing an encounter with the fierce chief, or bide his time until treachery and intrigue should accomplish his design? He chose the latter solution, as might have been expected of such as he.
Going to his quarters he summoned several of his priests--those who were most in his confidence and who shared his ambitions for absolute power of the temple over the palace--all men who hated Ko-tan.
"The time has come," he told them, "when the authority of the temple must be placed definitely above that of the palace.
Ko-tan must make way for Mo-sar, for Ko-tan has defied your high priest.Go then, Pan-sat, and summon Mo-sar secretly to the temple, and you others go to the city and prepare the faithful warriors that they may be in readiness when the time comes."
For another hour they discussed the details of the coup d'etat that was to overthrow the government of Pal-ul-don.
One knew a slave who, as the signal sounded from the temple gong, would thrust a knife into the heart of Ko-tan, for the price of liberty.Another held personal knowledge of an officer of the palace that he could use to compel the latter to admit a number of Lu-don's warriors to various parts of the palace.With Mo-sar as the cat's paw, the plan seemed scarce possible of failure and so they separated, going upon their immediate errands to palace and to city.
As Pan-sat entered the palace grounds he was aware of a sudden commotion in the direction of the pal-e-don-so and a few minutes later Lu-don was surprised to see him return to the apartments of the high priest, breathless and excited.
"What now, Pan-sat?" cried Lu-don."Are you pursued by demons?"
"O master, our time has come and gone while we sat here planning.
Ko-tan is already dead and Mo-sar fled.His friends are fighting with the warriors of the palace but they have no head, while Ja-don leads the others.I could learn but little from frightened slaves who had fled at the outburst of the quarrel.One told me that Bu-lot had slain the king and that he had seen Mo-sar and the assassin hurrying from the palace."
"Ja-don," muttered the high priest."The fools will make him king if we do not act and act quickly.Get into the city, Pan-sat--let your feet fly and raise the cry that Ja-don has killed the king and is seeking to wrest the throne from O-lo-a.Spread the word as you know best how to spread it that Ja-don has threatened to destroy the priests and hurl the altars of the temple into Jad-ben-lul.Rouse the warriors of the city and urge them to attack at once.Lead them into the temple by the secret way that only the priests know and from here we may spew them out upon the palace before they learn the truth.Go, Pan-sat, immediately--delay not an instant."
"But stay," he called as the under priest turned to leave the apartment; "saw or heard you anything of the strange white woman that Ja-don stole from the Temple of the Gryf where we have had her imprisoned?"
"Only that Ja-don took her into the palace where he threatened the priests with violence if they did not permit him to pass,"
replied Pan-sat."This they told me, but where within the palace she is hidden I know not."
"Ko-tan ordered her to the Forbidden Garden," said Lu-don, "doubtless we shall find her there.And now, Pan-sat, be upon your errand."
In a corridor by Lu-don's chamber a hideously masked priest leaned close to the curtained aperture that led within.Were he listening he must have heard all that passed between Pan-sat and the high priest, and that he had listened was evidenced by his hasty withdrawal to the shadows of a nearby passage as the lesser priest moved across the chamber toward the doorway.Pan-sat went his way in ignorance of the near presence that he almost brushed against as he hurried toward the secret passage that leads from the temple of Jad-ben-Otho, far beneath the palace, to the city beyond, nor did he sense the silent creature following in his footsteps.
