Then his attention was drawn
to the outer edge of the vestibule. Above it appeared the shaggy
face of one of Es-sat's warriors. Tarzan sprang to intercept the
man; but Ta-den was there ahead of him. "Back!" cried the Ho-don
to the newcomer. "It is gund-bar." The fellow looked scrutinizingly
at the two fighters, then turned his face downward toward his fellows.
"Back!" he cried, "it is gund-bar between Es-sat and Om-at." Then
he looked back at Ta-den and Tarzan. "Who are you?" he asked.
"We are Om-at's friends," replied Ta-den.
The fellow nodded. "We will attend to you later," he said and
disappeared below the edge of the recess.
The battle upon the ledge continued with unabated ferocity, Tarzan
and Ta-den having difficulty in keeping out of the way of the
contestants who tore and beat at each other with hands and feet and
lashing tails. Es-sat was unarmed--Pan-at-lee had seen to that--but
at Om-at's side swung a sheathed knife which he made no effort to
draw. That would have been contrary to their savage and primitive
code for the chief-battle must be fought with nature's weapons.
Sometimes they separated for an instant only to rush upon each other
again with all the ferocity and nearly the strength of mad bulls.
Presently one of them tripped the other but in that viselike embrace
one could not fall alone--Es-sat dragged Om-at with him, toppling
upon the brink of the niche.
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