 Wong Tai rescues Jeannette Burton from the Chamber of Serpents in the city of Thor and conceals her in his own quarters in the palace. While in the Shaan's palace in Rautor, Darno, the Shaan and Ukoff find that the renegades Temur and Poltar have fled, intending to deliver the Shaan's war plans to Atea. Meanwhile, Tarzan and O'Rourke and Kailuk have eluded the pursuing Torians and are making their way through the deserted streets of Thor toward the elephant paddocks. A distant gong sounds. Kailuk explains that it is the lion gong warning Torians from the streets. Atea is preparing to release her savage hunting lions. While seeking an unguarded section of the paddock wall, Tarzan and his companions are suddenly confronted by a huge lion. With a roar the half-starved beast launches itself in a rushing charge straight at Kailuk. The Rautorian glances over his shoulder at the distant buildings, his only refuge. Don't run, Kailuk! You can't make it! The fierce challenge of the bully brings out the mingle with the lion's roar. Tarzan, quick as a leopard, springs forward to thrust Kailuk out of the path of Numa's hurtling charge. Before the great jungle cat can turn and gather himself for a second charge, the eight-man lands full upon the brute's back. Mordred bronze arm encircles the tawny fruit. Raised from behind, Numa roars furiously. His mighty talent pours beat and slice the air as Tarzan's keen knife buries itself again and again in the unprotected left side. Finally, with the last choking cough, Numa sinks lifeless to the ground. From there at the end of the straight, guards, plenty of them. Yes, it's our friend Mungo and a company of his men. Come on, round this corner, then over the paddock wall. Hurry! Quick, Kailuk, my lad. Don't stand looking at Tarzan. I know just how you feel. He did the same for me once. Come on, or them fellas will be on your neck. Here, over the wall, Kailuk. Up, O'Rourke. Sure, and he'll have to give me a hand. Drop down inside, before those men reach the corner. I will listen. Out of the frying pan into the fire. Here comes that big, devil, Black Maluk. His trumpet insurer will bring the guards. Tantor. Tanpanda. Oh, Maluk. Tanpanda. Don't be quiet. Come on, into the shed before the elephant men come. Ah, big gurry. And that was a narrow escape, Melch. Fate and I feel as if I'd been dragged through a rough north wall. You can rest now, O'Rourke. Mungo and his men have passed. Later, when the hunt for us is quite a down and it's quite dark, I'll go to the jewel pits. Ah, you men will go to the jewel pits. He'll not believe in Terry O'Rourke out of your plans. Nor Kailuk Tarzan of the Apes. For delivering him from the fangs of the land, Kailuk orshoe his life. When the time comes, he will repay the debt. You owe me nothing, Kailuk. Your friendship is enough. I'll get some rest, both of you. Rest, did he say? With guards and lions prowling the streets looking for us? Them elephant men are liable to make four out of two and two and stick their yellow faces in here while we're asleep. Not likely. Tantor warn us. If anyone comes to the shed, it would probably be Mungo since Black Maluk seems to be his mountain. I'll sleep if you can. I'll watch. Meanwhile, Atea, eagerly awaiting word that Tarzan and his companions have been run to earth and killed by her hunting lions, restlessly paces the floor of her apartment. The bland, inscrutable Wong Tai watches her and listens as she boasts of the savage infallibility of her tawny hunters. No, Wong Tai. The hunting lions of Tor have never failed to accomplish that for which they are kept. And yet the illustrious one has seen Tarzan kill the great guardian lion of the treasure world with nothing but a knife? A strong, fearless man may accomplish such a feat once, even twice through a fortunate accident. However, the beast was not the hunter. No, my friend. I'll soon be well rid of this Tarzan, this king of the apes. I was a fool to allow myself to be humiliated by him as long as I did. Well, as far as Jeanette Burton is concerned, it is finished. And soon we'll be with Tarzan and his companions. None have ever escaped alive from the chamber of servants, nor yet from Torledo the hunting lion. And Mungo, heaven-born. What of Mungo? Will he not be greatly disappointed in not being a medium to which Tarzan will have met his death? Thereby winning Jeanette Burton as his mate? Mungo would soon have tired of her. I shall fight instead a Rattori and slave, and have his choice of my serving women. Speaking of your women, Majesty, has the key to the treasure vault been found yet? No, that key has been stolen. And when I find the thief, you won't hide. I, heaven-born. Did I not grant you the authority to come and go where you would in the palace in search of this strangely missing key? Yes, Majesty. You did grab this person such authority, but in the excitement of the past day or two, the matter has been overlooked. This one shall make it his immediate business to begin the search. Who comes? Enter. Now, Mungo, you bring news of Tarzan? The hunting lions have brought him down? Torledo found Tarzan, nor Ruk and Kailuk the Rattorian. Torledo is dead. Tarzan killed him. What? Tarzan and the apes killed the hunting lion? But that is impossible, Mungo. No, Mungo, see, Tarzan killed Torledo with knife. But you have captured him and his companions? No, they escaped after Tarzan killed Torledo. Where did this happen? By elephant paddocks. Ah, the elephant paddocks. Have you have set for them in the paddocks, Mungo? Haru, yes, no, find them. Find them, Mungo. If you wish to live beyond tomorrow's sunset, search every building in Tor, every room in every building. Find them. And when you do, bring me proof of their death. Go. Haru, got there. You were right, Wontae, and his Tarzan of the apes is unconquerable. Ah, by Pantu, with such a man as king of Tor, but die he must and will. If he will not remain here with me, he shall not leave Tor alive. It is not in aptly written illustrious one that he who overcomes others is strong, but he who overcomes himself is mighty as still. Then you believe, Wontae, that I have not overcome myself? His person believes nothing, Majesty. He merely expressed a loud thought. And now with the permission of the presence, this one will retire and commence his search for the missing key to the treasure vault? Yes, go, Wontae. I wish to be alone. Leaving Artaea's apartment, the Wiley Chinese hastens back through the dimly lighted deserted corridors of the palace to his own quarters where Jeanette Burton, weekful and anxious, awaits word of Tarzan and his two companions. Oh, thank heaven you've come back, Dr. Wong. What have you learned of Tarry and the others? Safe, all of them. They have so far escaped the capture as death. And as I surmised, have not left the city. But come, I shall tell you as we go. Go? Where are we going at this time of the night? To inspect our illustrious Queen's treasure vault. And there is no time like the present. But must I go with you? Suppose we're seen. Everyone but a few of the palace guards sleep. They will not see us. If they should, I have full authority to come and go as I please. But, but Dr. Wong, I don't want to. You have made a bargain, my dear. You will keep it. Come now, hurry. We must be back here by daylight. Meanwhile, in the little shed at the rear of Black Maluk's corral in the elephant paddocks, Tarzan and his two companions discuss plans for the release of the jewel pit slaves. Oh, what with them hungry lions prowling the streets and mongoing his men on the watch for us. We are going to have a sway at time. Get and hold of them jewel pits, you know, Tarzan, my lad. Therefore, I suggest that you and Kailuk wait right here. I'll get the slaves and pick you up on the way back to the palace. Ah, you're stepping out of line again, my friend. That suggestion's been vetoed by both Kailuk and myself. And we won't go over it again. Oh, Rook is right, Tarzan. We will all go. Once in the jewel pits three can work more surely and quickly than one. All right, have it your way. Well, watch the plan of action in the jewel pits. In general, we release the slaves to know where the keys to those chains are. Sure, and I've seen them there often enough. They hang from the doors of the slave sheds. Right. In case we're surprised by the guards, get those keys and unlock each man as you come to him. While Kailuk and I hold off the guard. Once the shed full of them slaves are let loose, they can arm themselves with the weapons of the guards or anything else handy, eh? Right. We cross the city to the jewel pits as we came here to Tarzan by way of the house tops. Not unless we have to. Now will be Numa, our fairs, hunting lions and a few guards. Yes, everyone else will be dead to the world in sleep. If we can keep out of the way of them lions, we can easily avoid the guards. It should be near midnight now. We'll get over the paddock wall just back of this shed, the same place we got in. It's time to go. Ready? Holy Saint Patrick. It is as dark out here as the inside that shed. Be gaudy, I don't like... Look out Tarzan, the guards. Big gaudy, the devils were sneaking up on us. Here they come. Back to the wall, Iraq. Kailuk leading his guards. Go with the shout of savage joy. His great sword raised high from the death blow springs directly toward the waiting ape man.