Stepping back into the apartment he seized a leathern thong that
depended from the ceiling. He pulled upon it sharply and through
the temple boomed the deep tones of a metal gong. Five times the
clanging notes rang through the corridors, then he turned toward
the two priests. "Bring the woman and follow me," he directed.
Crossing the chamber he passed through a small doorway, the others
lifting Jane Clayton from the floor and following him. Through a
narrow corridor and up a flight of steps they went, turning to right
and left and doubling back through a maze of winding passageways
which terminated in a spiral staircase that gave forth at the
surface of the ground within the largest of the inner altar courts
close beside the eastern altar.
From all directions now, in the corridors below and the grounds
above, came the sound of hurrying footsteps. The five strokes of
the great gong had summoned the faithful to the defense of Lu-don
in his private chambers. The priests who knew the way led the less
familiar warriors to the spot and presently those who had accompanied
Tarzan found themselves not only leaderless but facing a vastly
superior force. They were brave men but under the circumstances
they were helpless and so they fell back the way they had come,
and when they reached the narrow confines of the smaller passageway
their safety was assured since only one foeman could attack them
at a time.
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