EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
had left and the dungeon was in darkness again, the young officer spoke.
“I see now why I am here,” said "Praeclarus, “but even when they set upon me and arrested me in the vestibule of my home, I had guessed as much, after piecing together the insinuations of Fastus at the banquet this evening.”
“I have been fearful that by befriending me you would bring disaster upon yourself,” said Tarzan.
“Do not reproach yourself,” said Praeclarus. “Fastus of Sublatus would have found another excuse. I have been doomed from the moment that the attention of Fastus fixed itself upon Dilecta. To attain his end it was necessary that I be destroyed. That is all, my friend, but yet I wonder who it could have been that betrayed me.”
“It was I,” said a voice out of the darkness. “Who is that that speaks?” demanded Praeclarus.
“It is Mpingu,” said Tarzan. “He was arrested with me when we were on the way to the home of Dion Splendidus to meet you.”
“To meet me!” exclaimed Praeclarus.
“I lied,” said Mpingu, “but they made me.”
“Who made you?” demanded Praeclarus.
“The officers of Caesar and Caesar’s son,” replied Mpingu. “They dragged me to the palace of the Emperor and held me down upon my back and brought tongs to tear out my tongue and hot irons to burn out my eyes. Oh, master, what else could I do? I am only a poor slave and I was afraid and Caesar is very terrible.”
“I understand,” said Praeclarus. “I do not blame you, Mpingu.”
“They promised to give me my liberty,” said the black, “but instead they have chained me in this dungeon. Doubtless I shall die in the arena, but that I do not fear. It was the tongs and the red-hot irons that made me a coward. Nothing else could have forced me to betray the friend of my master.”
There was little comfort upon the cold, hard stones of the dungeon floor, but Tarzan, inured to hardship from birth, slept soundly until the coming of the jailer with food awak-
116
