 Artaea, the white queen of Tor, offers Tarzan freedom for his companions if he will remain as her mate. Hoping to influence his decision, she shows him and Wong Tai the treasure cave of Tor. Toldo, an enormous lion chained to the floor, guards the treasure. Avarice, greed for power and envy of what he considers Tarzan's good fortune, causes Wong Tai to lead Artaea into the mistaken belief that the ape man is in love with Jeanette. Later, Artaea definitely states the condition under which Tarzan's companions may leave. The ape man must remain willingly, the alternative, death by sacrifice or torture for them all. To demonstrate what is in store for them, if Tarzan refuses, Artaea conducts the white group to a balcony overlooking a small arena. An unarmed yellow man is thrust into the enclosure. As he stands below them, smiling contemptuously up at Artaea, Toldo, the huge guardian lion of her treasure vault, bounds into the pit. As the white men stare, fascinated at the mighty beast, Artaea, unnoticed, pushes Jeanette over the low-storm rail. At the girl's scream, the yellow giant looks upward, Caesar falling toward him. He reaches out, catches her in his great arms. Placing her gently on the ground behind him, he turns to face Toldo. With a thunderous roar, the savage brute charges. The fierce challenge of the bull apes rings loud and clear above the voice of Toldo, as Tarzan springs over the low rail and drops like a plummet straight to the back of the charging brute. The ape man's steel-muscled arms wrap themselves like hiss to the snake about the tally neck. His legs clamp the great body in a vice-like grip. Toldo's mighty talon paws beat and slash the air as he bounds around the arena. Headlong, he throws himself against the wall, crashes to the ground and rolls in a vain attempt to rid himself of the clinging ape man. On the balcony, Artaea and the white men watch spellbound. In the pit, the yellow giant with Jeanette in his arms does his best to avoid the blind rushes of the furious Toldo. Present-blade Tarzan's left hand whips to the knife at his side. The long, keen blade flashes in the sunlight. Again and again, the deadly steel plungers deep into Toldo's unprotected left side. With a last gasping roar, the great beast lurches forward, stumbles, falls to the ground. Tarzan leaps upright, places a foot on the huge, tawny neck. It's all over. Your fall didn't hurt you. No, no, I'm all right. Thanks to this... I am Hooker, son of Sean Rattar, of the city of Rattar. My life is yours, oh mighty killer of beasts. Who are you? I am Tarzan of the Apes, king of the tribe of Kerchak. For such service, Tarzan of the Apes, there can be no reward but equal service in return. Hooker shall not forget... Tarzan, Tarzan, the lion, he did not reach you. No, darno, not a scratch. Yes, and when he fell with the brute, we thought he had his Tarzan. Our rook, Mungo, look to Lanaka Wango. Bring those three to the council chamber. Tarzan, look at that woman's face. She's furious. And here comes Mungo with his guard. Oh, what awful thing is she planning now? Into the arena stalks the giant Mungo, followed by a crowd of yellow guardsmen. They surround Tarzan, Jannet, and Uka, the Rhetorian. As the three are hurriedly conducted out of the pit, through a long passageway, up a short flight of broad stone steps and into the great audience chamber, the yellow men regard Tarzan with ill-concealed admiration and not a little awe. Never before have they witnessed the killing of a lion by a man, much less a man of Tarzan's to them small stature. Always here to fore, the sport had ended with Toldo's first charge. As the group halts before the throne upon which Artea has again seated herself, Tarzan, Jannet, and the Rhetorian are thrust forward to stand with Dano, O'Rourke, Ashley, and Wang under the blazing eyes of the Queen. I joked, Tarzan, that was a fight. We thought for a moment... Silence! Tarzan of the apes, you have killed the mighty Toldo, guardian of the treasure caves of Tor. In the judgment of Pantu and Artea, the punishment is death. Yet I would tempt the wrath of Pantu and save you from his embrace. What say you? Will you remain willingly as Artea's mate, or shall you die with your friends? Decide quickly, for my patience is like to be short. Well, Dano, I can see no other way out. May move you. Do you want to stay here, Tarzan, with her? That isn't the point. If I don't, you and your friends will be sacrificed or tortured. If only we had a chance to fight, it would not be so bad for us men. You men. It's always you men who must be making sacrifices for women. Uncle Jim and I are willing to take our medicine rather than have you give in to this woman's demand. But, Jannet, I am... Wait, let me finish. Uncle Jim and I will not accept your sacrifice. She's right, Tarzan old chap. We can't accept it, you know. It wouldn't be playing the game. Faith and you might include Terrence O'Rourke in the party. If Tarzan stays, I will stay. And you, Dr. Wong Tai? I... I have nothing to say, daughter of Tor. Dr. Wong! What's that? You are a wise and clever man, Wong Tai. So, Jannet Burton, you would rather die than leave Tarzan with me. Good. It shall be so. You shall not leave without him. You will all go together even to look out the rhetoric and spy. Mungo! Orongolanok! Take them away! Guard them well. Stay! Wong Tai, you will remain here. I have need of your wise counsel. Take the others away, Mungo. Aruk! Monsieur le docteur Wong Tai, huh? He escapes the wrath of the queen. Monsieur le docteur? I wish I knew that. The head and Chinese seems to be in the good graces of her ladyship. But to the devil with him. He wouldn't stick with us. I can't imagine what's got into Dr. Wong. He's been so fine throughout all of our misfortune. He never complained. He always took things as they came. Now, at the crucial moment... Don't you give it a thought, O'Cushla. After all, he's a Chinese, an uncivilized head and woman. A cultured Oxford bread gentleman. It's impossible, Terry. I thought he'd be the last to work. Do you, Rene, Uncle Jim? Yes. Yes, it is. It's pretty much of a shock. He's not of our kind, Jeanette. Forget it. Faith, and do you see where Mungo and his men are leading us? Out over the storm bridge to the war. I believe we're going to the little house we were in first. If that's the case, perhaps we can manage to get out somehow. Never fear, Uncle Jim. Atea won't give us a chance. She'll probably have more guards around us than she has in her palace. Nevertheless, I'm thinking Tarzan will find a way out. I hope so. Will you look at him, talk into that big fella, Hukaror, whatever his name is, as though he were a long-lost brother. Faith, O'Cushla. It was lucky for you that that big fella was in the lion pit when he fell in. I didn't fall, Terry. Atea pushed me over that wall while you were all watching the lion and O'Cushla. Jeanette, do you see... Are you sure of that? I cannot mean to moisel that she deliberately pushed you over. That's exactly what I do mean, Lieutenant. She meant for that lion to kill me, just as surely she intended for him to finish Hukaror. Say, sir, huh? The shulming lady's idea is to put us aside one by one until number Tarzan is left. She no doubt believes he will then accept her so generous offer. Do you think he would, Lieutenant? Leave be, O'Cushla. You know well he wouldn't take up with Atea. He has no more use for her than... Well, then I have... Exactly, Monsam and Muzel. Tarzan will not accept. Willingly or otherwise, I know him. Back in the audience chamber, Wong Tai stands watching Atea from between narrowed eyes. Slowly she rises from the throne, turns to the Chinese. You are surprised, Wong Tai. You expected to die with those fools. No, honorable daughter of Thor. What? You do not think Atea was in earnest? I did not say that, my gracious queen. I said I did not expect to die by your most honorable command. And why not? Your life means nothing to me. Did I hear the illustrious Atea say that she had need for my counsel? Hmm. It may be that I have, we will see. Serve me well, Wong Tai, and you need have no fear for your life. Hail me and you perish in the arms of Panthu. My services or magnificent ones are ever at your disposal. Speak, O Queen. Where in do you seek counsel? Behind your calm exterior, Wong Tai, you are afraid. Why do you fear Atea? It is your beauty that makes me fear, O Queen. I see that men still know how to be guy-loss women with false words. You were afraid because my eyes were searching out your thoughts behind that inscrutable face. However, being only a woman, I forgive you the lie. I do not lie, O illustrious queen. You are more beautiful than... Than Jeanette Burton? Than the blush on her eyes, or the luster on a ming vase. You please me, Wong Tai, but enough of flattery for the present. You ask where in I seek your counsel. You shall learn at another time. It grows late. You will be given quarters in the palace near me. The freedom of Thor shall be yours. See that you do not abuse my confidence. Look to the nook, Atea. Whom mungo to qua? Arook! Go, Wong Tai. The guard will conduct you to your chamber. Accept my humble thanks, O daughter of Thor. Meanwhile, Tarzan and his companions crossed the long stone viaduct and gained the broad top of the outer wall. Hemmed in by their yellow guards, Tarzan and the giant uka walked shoulder to shoulder conversing in low tones. Behind them follows the closely guarded little group of captives. To them comes the far-off snarling voice of the distant jungle as night settles rapidly over forest and city. The ape man glances casually back over his shoulder, catches down O's eye and nods his head slightly. Arook, faites attention. Something is about to happen. Tarzan has just given me a sign to be prepared. Ready, we are, Lieutenant. For anything he starts, be gory. I'd give a good deal for me rifle or automatic. We'll do the best we can without him. Do not keep your eyes open, old girl. We're picking our cue from Tarzan. About to pass one of the square stone watchtowers on the outer edge of the wall, Tarzan stumbles, crashes headlong into mongo walking ahead of him. The giant chief topples over the low coping to the roof of a house inside the enclosure. Uka whirls on the astonished yellow man at his side. With a mighty shove, he thrusts the man into the crowd of encircling guards. Ashley and Orook leap forward. With a challenging cry of the great apes ringing out over the yellows of surprise and rage of the yellow men, Tarzan charges. Uka whirls.