Page:Tarzan and the Lost Empire.pdf/114

their home and give thought to what Caesar has said. In the course of a few days Fastus will come for his answer.”

By the light of the torch that illuminated the interior of the dungeon into which he was thrust by his captors, Tarzan saw a white man and several blacks chained to the walls. Among the blacks was Lukedi, but when he recognized Tarzan he evinced only the faintest sign of interest, so greatly had his confinement weighed upon his mind and altered him.

The ape-man was chained next to the only other white in the dungeon, and he could not help but notice the keen interest that this prisoner took in him from the moment that he entered until the soldiers withdrew, taking the torch with them, leaving the dungeon in darkness.

As had been his custom while he was in the home of Maximus Praeclarus, Tarzan had worn only his loin-cloth and leopard-skin, with a toga and sandals out of courtesy for Festivitas when he appeared in her presence. This evening, when he started out with Mpingu, he had worn the toga as a disguise, but in the scuffle that preceded his capture it had been torn from him, with the result that his appearance was sufficient to arouse the curiosity of his fellow prisoners, and as soon as the guards were out of hearing the man spoke to him.

“Can it be,” he asked, “that you are the white barbarian whose fame has penetrated even to the gloom and silence of the dungeon?”

“I am Tarzan of the Apes,” replied the ape-man.

“And you carried Sublatus out of his palace above your head and mocked at his soldiers!” exclaimed the other. “By the ashes of my imperial father, Sublatus will see that you die the death.”

Tarzan made no reply.

“They say you run through the trees like a monkey,” said the other. “How then did you permit yourself to be recaptured?”

“It was done by treachery,” replied Tarzan, “and the quickness with which they locked the shackles upon me. Without these,” and he shook the manacles upon his wrists,