" There was a moment's silence during
which Lu-don evidently paused for the dramatic effect of his
climax. "And if I am wrong may Jad-ben-Otho pierce my heart with
his lightnings as I stand here before you all."
The lapping of the wavelets of the lake against the foot of the
palace wall was distinctly audible in the utter and almost breathless
silence which ensued. Lu-don stood with his face turned toward the
heavens and his arms outstretched in the attitude of one who bares
his breast to the dagger of an executioner. The warriors and the
priests and the slaves gathered in the sacred court awaited the
consuming vengeance of their god.
It was Tarzan who broke the silence. "Your god ignores you Lu-don,"
he taunted, with a sneer that he meant to still further anger the
high priest, "he ignores you and I can prove it before the eyes of
your priests and your people."
"Prove it, blasphemer! How can you prove it?"
"You have called me a blasphemer," replied Tarzan, "you have proved
to your own satisfaction that I am an impostor, that I, an ordinary
mortal, have posed as the son of god. Demand then that Jad-ben-Otho
uphold his godship and the dignity of his priesthood by directing
his consuming fires through my own bosom."
Again there ensued a brief silence while the onlookers waited for
Lu-don to thus consummate the destruction of this presumptuous
impostor.
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