 Tarzan and his two companions, Terence O'Rourke and Caillouc, the Rattorian, escaped the public whipping post in the square before the Palace of Tor through the assistance of Wong Tai. They elued their pursuers and make their way toward the elephant paddocks. In the city of Rattore, Dorneau has freed himself from his bonds and has wounded Temur, the Rattorian traitor, in a sword duel. To prove his accusations against Temur, the Frenchman returns to the traitors apartment with the Charon of Rattore and Uka. In the city of Tor, Atea, white queen of the yellow men, charging Jeanette Burton with being the cause of all her ill fortune, orders the white girl to the Chamber of Serpents. Horrors struck, Jeanette watches a huge black king cobra, its beady, lidless eyes staring coldly into her own, glad swiftly toward her from its den across the room. Hissing angrily with hood extended, the deadly serpent weaving slowly from side to side pauses directly before Jeanette. Do not move, Jeanette. Be perfectly still. Doctor Wong! Doctor Wong! This is all right now, Jeanette. A moment while I unbother this door. There. Come now, my child, honey. That shot may have been heard. Now we re-fasten the door, so come now. Oh, that, that awful reptile. You were just in time. It was rather close, my dear. Atea dismissed me at once after you went out with your guard. I followed and shot the snake. But the pistol, where did you get it? I have never been without it since the fight in the arsenal in which your revered uncle, ah, yes. However, I found it among the arms of our friends at that time. Oh, thank heaven for that. But where are we going now? To my own private quarters here in the palace. You will be safe there. We are not far to go. An unused corridor leads directly to a secret door in the rear of my apartment. Yes. Here. Up these stairs. Doctor Wong, what has happened to Terry? He, Tarzan and Kylook are probably well concealed by this time. You need not worry about Orok as long as he is with Tarzan. But where could they hide without being found at once? I might make a close guess, my child. Tarzan is an intelligent animal. Oh, I do not say that in disparagement of his character. In fact, I greatly admire the man. Nevertheless, having lived his life among jungle beasts, his instincts would naturally be those of an animal. Then you think he's returned to the jungle? By no means. I would wager my place in the temple of heaven that Tarzan is still in tour. Where I am there, I would most certainly examine the elephant products with the minutest care. And here we are. This little door opens directly into my sleeping chamber. You will be safe here at least temporarily until Tarzan has put into execution his scheme of revolt among the pit slaves. Did Tarzan admit that he was at the bottom of that? Oh, no, my dear. As a matter of fact, he said nothing. But as I intimated, Tarzan is an extremely clever and resourceful animal. I suppose you told Artea. No, Jeanette, I fear I neglected to mention the perfectly obvious fact to her. Now I am going to leave you for a short time. Do not open that door to anyone. Where are you going, Dr. One? To ascertain if possible what has happened to our friend. In the city of Rattor, Darno has wounded the traitorous Temur in a sword duel and leaving him apparently helpless in his own quarters has exposed him to the Shah and Uqa. Returning to the traitor's apartment with the two Rattorians, they find the chamber deserted. But, but, Monsieur Lechon, it, it is impossible. He must be here somewhere, for he was wounded, not fatally. He there, my father, blood on the floor. He cannot have gone far. Find him, Uqa, also Poltar. Bring them to me in the council chamber. At once, my father. And to the Tart chiefs, you will transmit my orders to advance at once with the entire army. And we, we follow and overtake them as soon as you have found these traitors and they have been dealt with. I go, my father. Come, Poltar, no. In the council chamber, we shall await Uqa's return. The Attar Temur, a traitor, I would not have believed it nor of Poltar. They have both been close to my throne. You have fought the Tartians often, Monsieur Lechon. I often, and we have beaten them, though they are more numerous than we. But in the last three battles, they seem prepared and anticipated our tactics. In how many of these battles has Temur fought? In the last three only. He was too young to take part in previous engagements. My Rattor, you are right, young man. Temur has been in league with Attar since he became a Tart chieftain. I did not say so, Monsieur Lechon, but appearances are against him. But, pourquoi? What has he to gain? Vengeance instilled into his heart by his Torian mother. She was captured by Tum Temur, his father in the raid upon Tor. Because of our beauty, Tum Temur made her his lawful wife. This ingrate is the offspring. And Poltar? Temur's protege. But here, the council chamber. As soon as Ukau returns with those two, and they have been fed to the lions, which were to have devoured you, we overtake the army. Then Poltar is a pure Rattorian, Monsieur Lechon? I, a strong warrior and an excellent chieftain, that he should turn traitor. I do not understand. Monsieur Lechon, it is only human to err. A man may unwittingly commit a grave mistake, which a vengeful person may use to force him into still others. What mean you, Poltar? At the time Ukau was captured by the Torian patrol, it was through a mistake made unknowingly by Poltar. At the command of Temur, he flashed a signal to your jungle patrol from a tower here in Rattor. A signal? A signal which Temur very probably knew would be intercepted by the Torian. By the ten names of the evil one. I'll know you all this. In their plotting, I overheard this incident discussed. Poltar advised, refusing to reveal our plans to Atea. Temur threatened him with exposure of that former mistake, warning him that it would mean his death. This Torian dog, the spy of Ateas. When Ukau brings him back. Temur and Poltar have vanished from the city. What? Both have passed through the gates mounted on fast riding elephants. They ride with your orders as advanced scout guards. They're captured as your task, Ukau. Do not return without them, or proof of their death. Go. Come, Poldano, we ride with my warriors to the attack upon Tor. Tarzan, Oruk and Kailuk, eluding their pursuers by way of the house tops, have come to within sight of the elephant paddocks of Tor. From the roofs they drop to a balcony, dense to the deserted street below. Faith, Melads, I'd rather be topside of them roofs than down here in the street. If we're not seen immediately, I'd be missing my guess. We can't stay up there and get to the paddocks too, Oruk. On the rooftops they can see us from the palace. Come on, keep close to the buildings. It is fortunate for us that the Torians were driven by the elephants to a zig refuge in the buildings near the square. Otherwise, we should long since have been retaken. And if we are lucky enough to get to the paddocks, how are we going to get inside? We can't pass through the gates in broad daylight. It won't be long before Dark Oruk. Tarzan is right. The sun is already low in the heavens and the paddocks, as you see, are not distant. Know what? That gong. What the devil does that man? Listen. Begoody. It is a fight or a fire. And his seldom an Oruk who's run from either festivity. The lion gong. It does not warn of battle or fire, Oruk. The lion gong? What does it mean? It is a warning Tarzan of the apes to clear these streets of all but armed guards and warriors. Atheist savage hunting lions are being released to prowl the streets of the city. Hunting lions. Turned out to run as dony. Faced his fine ideas, the lady at tears after having bad sex to her. It works in our favor, Oruk. The fewer people on the streets, the less chance of our being seen. Ah, you would look at it that way. And I don't know but what you write. I believe I'd rather take my chances with the lions than with the Torians. But I'll tell you, hunting lions are far more dangerous than those of the jungle, friends. The queen's lions are kept in a state of ravenous hunger. Never being more than half fed. Holy Saint Patrick. Listen to that, witches. Them fellas are no cubs. Atheist hunters are full-grown lions, Oruk. They are fed on the flesh of men, slaves. If we trans to meet one of them, we'll worry about that when and if Numa crosses our path, I look and is a worry I don't like to have on me mind. There's the paddocks and the gates are closed. We'll get over the wall in the rear of Black Maluk's corral. They won't look for us in the paddocks, much less in Tantor's feed shed. Come on, down this way. Another quarter of an hour and it would be dark. Are you waiting for that before we try getting over the fence? No. We'll be inside by dark. Here. See that white street down the wall where I'm pointing? Yes. Tantor's corral is on the other side. Come on. Straight for that spot. It's only a few steps. Between us and the paddock wall. Holy Saint Patrick. The brooks as big as a church and no tree to climb would incite. Let's get out of here. Stand still Oruk. I look. With a savage growl, the huge king of beasts gathers this great tawny body for the charge. His yellow green eyes fixed in a baleful glare upon Kailuk blaze hatefully. Suddenly with a roar of savage fury, Numa leaps straight for Kailuk.