 Tarzan and the Diamond of Arshere. While attempting to steal the father of diamonds from the ceremonial hall of the temple of Achu, Tom and Larsen see the fire blasts suspended above them and hear it prophesy their death. In fleeing from the guardian apes, they run into Tarzan and Donal, who are returning from a conference with Tira, Queen of the Hesseher. Magra and Helen are taken to a secret chamber in the temple where they find Brian Gregory in a helpless state of suspended animation. Later, Su-10, King of Hesseheria, informs Helen that she is to be the next Queen of Arshere, while Magra is to become the wife of Hakeru. Tarzan and his companions get the father of diamonds and return with it to Queen Tira, who sets them on their way through a secret passage to the room in which Helen and Magra are held. In this chamber, the four men, Magra and Helen, are surprised by the arrival of the Hesseherian guards. Here they come, Hesseherians. Magra, Helen, behind that stone bench. Tom, Donal, Larsen, here to the wall. Look out for those swords. Hey ye, they've been wearing armor and chains. Like a swarm of angry hornets, the Hesseherians crowd into the chamber. In an instant, the room is filled with fighting, struggling men. So closely packed they are unable to use their bronze sword and walk up. Tarzan grabs the form of Hesseherian, lifts him high above his head, tashes him into the faces of his followers. They topple like straw before the storm, only to return an added number to swarm over the eight man and his companions like X. Magra and Helen, protected by the stone seat, watch in terrified silence. He does not see several Hesseherians creeping along the wall on the outer fringe of the battle toward them, until... is covered by a cloud of struggling, plowing men. Larsen, nearest to the fort of Helen and Magra, turns at the stream. With a bellow of rage, he leaps over the stone bench, full on the back of the foremost Hesseherian. Tarzan, like an angered bull, holds off the touching hands of his attackers. Over his shoulder, he sees the guard behind Larsen, lifting his bronze sword. Behind you, Larsen tracks off a side. Too late, the heavy bronze sword plunges to the hilt in the loyal suede's back. With a choking cry, Larsen staggers forward, drops to hands and knees, slumps down at the feet of Helen Gregory. There. Captain! She's fighting! Hakeiru, in with thy men! Ten waki fas tu! Let the strangers arise! What is the meaning of this? How come ye here, Tarzan of the apes? We came for Magra and Helen. What else would bring us here? And how came ye to this chamber? Eh, from this ceremonial chamber, they ran across a corridor and stairs which led us to this room. And did ye know the women were here? Eh, not until we entered that door through which your Majesty has just come. Oh, Larsen. Why are the women unhappy? Why do they weep? Because your men killed one of our friends, Tarzan. There be none to weep for those of mine ye killed or maimed, and they be many. Thy friends shall be given burial fitting to us here. Thou, Hakeiru, see to that. Thy word, O su-ten, is law. And ye others shall be placed where ye can do no further harm. The women, do they go with us? Think ye so? Nay, they remain here. Hakeiru, place the men in the chamber of Menat. Tom, Dono, we're not leaving without Helen and Magra. Wait, Tarzan, Hakeiru has just made me a sign. Wait, I say! Go, Hakeiru. Take these men under strong guard. Hearing is obeying, O King. Come quietly, O Tarzan. It is better so. No ye young women. The wedding ceremony takeeth place with the rising of the next sun. Now but a short space of time hence. Slaves shall be sent to do thy bidding and to prepare ye. No, you! Peace! All right, tongue. I go now to make ready for our wedding. Meanwhile, Tarzan, Dono and Tom are being led by Hakeiru and a strong guard to a dark cavern-like dungeon far beneath the temple of Maachu. And rather fight than be led like a dog on a leash, Dono. No way, Tarzan. Wow, see. And had it not been for Hakeiru, I should have agreed with you up there in that room. But Hakeiru made me a very peculiar sign. Abu! Here is thy chamber, O Tarzan. It is the chamber of Minot. Death. I like not to place thee here. I obey the King. The door may not be opened from within. Yet there is a way out. I may not speak too long. There may be spies among my men. I shall return alone and show thee. Where does it lead? To death. For any other than thee. Enter and await my return. Oh, Lord Mese-mi, we are here. We are here. But this is a dark, dark hole. Hakeiru said this door could not be opened from within. But there must be a storm. I'm afraid you won't find it, Tom. Hakeiru would have no object in lying to me. No, you are right, of course. I merely wish to satisfy myself. However, do I not hear him tell you there is another way out? Yes. But he hadn't time to explore. Afraid of spies among his men. But Tarzan could not have understood what he said. Yet they might become suspicious if he carried on a lengthy conversation with Tarzan. Exactly what he feared, Tom. He said he would come back and show us the way. Providing his master the King has not become doubtful of his loyalty and given him other duties. Why do you say that, Tom? Did you not notice how closely Sudden guarded him when Hakeiru told Tarzan it would be better that we followed him quietly? The look of misgiving was quite apparent to me. I think you're right, Tom. I felt something like that when we went out. Bien. We shall do without Monsieur Hakeiru. If there is another door here, we shall find it. Strike another march, Tom. It is as black as pitch in here. Tom, you and Darno follow the wall that way. I'll go this way. We ought to meet opposite the door. If you find anything, call out. Watch out for open spits in the floor. It seems that our apartment is round or oval, but the wall currently... Darno, Tom, come over here. What do you make of this? What have you found, Munami? I don't know. This stone won't be about opposite the door. Projects outward like a smooth round boulder. What do you suppose it's here for? Wait a moment. Strange. It has a high polish, very smooth to the touch. It is swinging back into the wall. Probably the other opening Hakeiru mentioned. Get down here, Tarzan, and look inside. It seems to be the opening to a low, almost round tunnel. Meanwhile, several slave women are preparing Helen and Magra for the coming ceremony. They are bathed and anointed with strange scented oils, clothed in the short, white sleeveless tunics worn by the Hesseherian women. Jewels studded bands of beaten gold are fastened about their throats, arms, and ankles. Soft leather sandals cover their feet and are held in place by narrow, jeweled straps. Well, if it went for the thought of what's before me, Magra, I could almost admire myself in this costume. There is nothing enough of it to call a costume. If it were not for these heavy gold ornaments, I should be afraid of... Of catching cold. Well, I hope they leave us a blanket or two. Oh, I wish they... I wish I only knew what they'd done with Paul and Tarzan. Tarzan is so brave, so strong. They cannot hold him or harm him. It's easy to pull Larson. Oh, Larson. Oh, it was terrible. I can't even bear to think about it. I'd rather it had been me. Oh, the horrible thought of spending the rest of my life with that savage. Slaves have taken word to Su-Ten that he are prepared for the ceremony of Khashu, marriage. I am come Helen Gregory and Magra to escort you to the audience chamber. The king and his council of thirteen await you there. Oh, I can't do... I have to do something to... to stop it. Oh, what did I could, Helen Gregory? But the new day has come. It is the day of the unveiling of the father of diamonds. The day of thy marriage to Su-Ten. Come, we may tarry no longer. And Tarzan? Paul Dhanu? Atantum? They cannot help you. Come. It is written, and what is written will be. In the chamber of death, far beneath the temple of Ma'achu, Tarzan, Dhanu and Tome crouch before the round black opening, which the moving stone has disclosed. I'll go first, Hanno. You follow. Tome, you bring up the rear and stay close, Heather. Our carers said we might run into something unpleasant. Come on. If anything, it is blacker than this cavern. Our monami need the way. We shall follow. Tome, I am coming. What is that? The stone has rolled back into place behind me. We must go on. So great, Tarzan, did you hear that? What was it? I don't know. We'll find out soon enough, though. It seems to be getting a little lighter, Tarzan. Yes, we're coming to the end. And the tunnel is widening into a lighted chamber. Tome, depressed! Look! There! In that room! Moon, you Tarzan, it is! It is a saber-toothed tiger!