 Carried through a mountain on the surface of an underground river, Tarzan and his friends are captured by a band of yellow giants. Mounted on elephants, the entire company is transported to the distant city of Tor, where the captives are taken before Artea, queen of the yellow men. Their audience with Artea is interrupted by the arrival of Tongo, a chief of the claw men, several of whom have been killed by Tarzan's party. Artea informs Tarzan that the laws of Tor permit a chief to claim the right of avenging the death of any of his men by personal combat with the one who has slain them. She adds that Tongo has come to claim that right. Tarzan accepts the challenge and stands quietly awaiting the attack of the gigantic yellow claw man. For the roar of fury, Tongo, his great cudgel raised high above his head, leaps toward the ape man. Tarzan's answering challenge echoes through the vast chambers as he springs forward to meet the furious attack of the yellow savage. The head ends too big for him, Lieutenant. I'm going to give him a hand. No, no, no. Keep out. Lead him to Tarzan. Watch. In a hissing arc, the giant's cudgel descends toward Tarzan's head. Him and the ape man sidesteps the blow, causing Tongo to plunge awkwardly past him. Again and again, the giant rushes, his heavy club sweeping harmlessly through the air as Tarzan easily avoids each furious assault. And roughly the claw man changes his tactic. With a howl of gaffled rage, Tongo springs to the side of one of the watching yellow men, whips the long double-edged sword from its teeth at his side, and leaps back to renew the attack. Tarzan's hand drops to the long keen knife at his waist. Stepping lightly outside the sword's hissing arc, he springs in close, under Tongo's great yellow arms. His knife flashes twice, like lightning. He steps clear. Tongo's sword matters to the floor. His great yellow hands clawed his breast. Slowly he turns to Artea. With a weird death cry, he crashes forward on his face. The cats have killed Kenny if he didn't do it again. The venerable cues of his ordered ancestors. This man, Tarzan, is astonishing. Great Scott, don't know. He doesn't show even the slightest sign of fatigue. Is the man made of iron? I myself sometimes believe Tarzan to be almost superhuman, Major. Oh, he's wonderful, Tarzan. Tarzan, you have bested the mighty Tongo in single combat. You are in truth, the king. You have decided about us? Yes, I have decided. For the present, you and your friends will remain in Tor as the guests of Artea. We are to be prisoners then. We do not understand. Artea said, yes. We are free to come and go, as we please. Yes, Tarzan. We win, certainly. We have your permission to study the cultural aspect of your city. You may go where you please. Within the walls of Tor, you will not be molested by my subject. Now, now Mungo will take you to your quarters. But before he does so, Artea has something to show you. Mungo, see that one of the prisoners of that Tor is brought to the Hall of Pantu. Come, Tarzan. Uncle Jen, this place gives me the creeps. I'd rather be out in the jungle, away from that woman. She's a fiend. We've got to take things as they come. Stick close to us, genetic pusher. I don't trust a good-looking little she-devil. She don't believe you told the truth about Tarzan. I know she doesn't, Terry. But who I'm afraid of her. She looked at me as though she'd like to. Jealousy, my dear Jenner? Oh, no, Dr. Warren. Surely not that. A jealous woman always finds more than she looks for. Do you know, Monsieur le Docteur, where Artea is taking us? Probably to some dungeon. It would not surprise me. Hmm, je croquement, I believe not. But wait, those double doors, the guards are opening. As the heavy doors moved by two giant guards swing slowly open, the little company finds itself on the threshold of an enormous round chamber, a room hewn out of solid rock. It is brightly lighted by huge torches, facing the doorway and seated upon a massive black rock throne is a gigantic figure, utterly hideous, of burnished gold. The head is that of a lion, the body and legs, human. The feet terminate in two huge talent-like claws. The arms held straight out before the body, support between them an iron grill, like the barred gate of an ancient dungeon. Beneath the grill, in the rock floor, is a square section of massive stone blocks. Yes, and will you look at that day, then I don't know. Gold, bigari, or I'm blind. Impossible, Terry, it's too huge. Some other metal. Monsieur Roque is right, Major. You see the carved decoration and the inscription covering its breast? They are deeply engraved. I am of the opinion that figure is of solid gold. Gold, eh? I wonder where they get it. These people must be... Are not those large, gleaming stones about its throat diamond? Bigari Wong, he is so fortunate for the taking. Your words are like a page written in Vermillion ink, my friend. Do you people know where we are? Fine, what do you mean? By the Kilkenny cats. I believe we're in the central rock tower. Tarzan of the ape, and you others. The chamber you are in needs the whole of sacrifice. It is here that we of Thor worship Pantu. And who or what is Pantu? Pantu is the god of fire. That golden figure is his image. Why did you bring us here, Athea? That you will see it presently when Moonwalk comes. This chamber, oh daughter of Thor, is a part of your palace? Yes, but it was not built by the hand of man. It has always stood here. My ancestors constructed the pallet around it because of the fires of Thor, which are far below these chambers. Athea, mengarathori. Mengarathori, mongo, enter and let your men place the spy of Rathor in the arms of Pantu. Tarzan of the apes, you asked why Athea brought you to the hall of Pantu. You shall see now. Make haste, mongo. What are they going to do with that man, Tarzan? They're chaining him to the grill. What horrible thing is Athea going to do now? I don't know. Wait, this looks Tarzan very much like a sacrifice. Athea, who is the man mongo has on that grill? A spy of Rathor, Tarzan of the ape. He was sent here to harm Athea and her people. It is the will of Pantu that he'd die. The Emmanuel is going to kill the poor devil without giving him a chance to fight for his life? Silence, you of the red hair. Oh, big gurry, me hair ain't red, and I'll not shut up. But by the saints of Old Isle, Ontario Rock will not stand by and see a man yell her head and are not killed without giving him a hand. Hold your tongue, Terri. Do you want to get us all killed? Those guards would overwhelm us in an instant. Remember, we are unarmed. If there were anything to be done, Monsieur Rock Tarzan would do it. Athea, if that man is to be murdered, must we stand by and look on? Who speaks of murder? The Rathorian has been condemned to death by sacrifice. Do what you like with your prisoners, Athea. They are nothing to me. But none of us are interested in watching the sacrifice of a helpless man to your heathen god. As long as we are free to come and go, they're going now. You will remain and watch Tarzan and all of you. I, Athea, wish it. Mungo! Suna Mungo! Tuktu, Tarzan, Mange! Aruk! At Athea's sharp command, Mungo growls a guckle order to his men. They move forward and quietly surround Tarzan and the party of whites. Before they realize what has happened, each one of the group is grasped from behind by two of the giant yellow guards. Tarzan, rising and pristing like a snake, is about to break loose from the bare-like embrace of the two holding him, when Mungo, at a sharp command from Athea, places the keen point of a broadsword firmly against the ape man's chest. It is not my wish to harm you, Tarzan of the Apes, yet if you resist further, I shall order Mungo to thrust home his sword and your friend will surely be given into the embrace of Panto. Ceng-ne-mul-mul-hum-tadan. Please, my friend, be not rash. Though I see this tasteful to us all, we must accept the inevitable. While counsel indeed, Wong-tai, if your friends follow it, no harm will come to them. Tarzan of the Apes, you and your friends are about to witness that which no other white man has ever seen. Watch closely. Quickly Athea moves to the side of the golden idol. Picking up a padded stick that lies on the black stone throne whereon the lion-headed god rests, she strikes three blows upon the deep-toned gong. A door in the wall of the chamber behind the idol opens. Twelve huge naked yellow-skinned fire-priest center, each bearing in his outstretched hands a blue flaming torch. Chanting softly, the priest circle the huge idol three times. At the completion of the last circle, Athea grasps an iron lever in the base of the throne and pulls it toward her. Beneath the grills, the center block and the square section of stones slides back with a dull grinding sound. A tremendous draft of air sweeps up through the hole in the floor made by the sliding stone. A deep roaring sound is heard far below in the depths of the earth. As it conjured up by magic, a monstrous column of blue flame rises through the hole to hungrily envelop the iron grill and the chain to figure reclining upon it. With a quick forward thrust of the lever, Athea closes the stone trap. The roaring column of flame vanishes. The twelve priests still chanting file out of the chamber. Silence. Look, Tarzan of the apes, and you, Jeanette Burton. Thus are they punished who disregard the laws of Torah and the will of Athea. Look, Wang, the fellows vanished all near the press. They say there's nothing left but a few ashes. A wee bit of a dust cloud. Dust to dust. Thus are those dealt with who disregard my will and will. It is the will of Athea, Tarzan of the apes, that you remain in Torah as king of the yellow men and the mate of Athea.