This spot being best
protected by the fact that its existence was unknown to others
than the priests, was unguarded. To facilitate the passage of his
little company through the narrow winding, uneven tunnel, Tarzan
lighted a torch which had been brought for the purpose and preceding
his warriors led the way toward the temple.
That he could accomplish much once he reached the inner chambers
of the temple with his little band of picked warriors the ape-man
was confident since an attack at this point would bring confusion
and consternation to the easily overpowered priests, and permit
Tarzan to attack the palace forces in the rear at the same time
that Ja-don engaged them at the palace gates, while Ta-den and his
forces swarmed the northern walls. Great value had been placed by
Ja-don on the moral effect of the Dor-ul-Otho's mysterious appearance
in the heart of the temple and he had urged Tarzan to take every
advantage of the old chieftain's belief that many of Lu-don's
warriors still wavered in their allegiance between the high priest
and the Dor-ul-Otho, being held to the former more by the fear which
he engendered in the breasts of all his followers than by any love
or loyalty they might feel toward him.
There is a Pal-ul-donian proverb setting forth a truth similar to
that contained in the old Scotch adage that "The best laid schemes
o' mice and men gang aft a-gley.
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