As Tarzan sat with Gemnon and the latter's father and mother at dinner
that evening a slave entered the room to announce that a messenger had
come from the house of Thudos, the father of Doria, with an important
communication for Gemnon.
"Fetch him here," directed the young noble, and a moment later a tall
black was ushered into the apartment.
"Ah, Gemba!" exclaimed Gemnon in a kindly tone, "you have a message for
me?"
"Yes, master," replied the slave, "but it is important--and secret."
"You may speak before these others, Gemba," replied Gemnon. "What is
it?"
"Doria, the daughter of Thudos, my master, has sent me to tell you that
by a ruse the noble Erot gained entrance to her father's house and
spoke with her today. What he said to her was of no importance; only
the fact that he saw her is important."
"The jackal!" exclaimed Gemnon's father.
Gemnon paled. "That is all?" he inquired.
"That is all, master," replied Gemba.
Gemnon took a gold coin from his pocket pouch and handed it to the
black. "Return to your mistress, and tell her that I shall come and
speak with her father tomorrow."
After the slave had withdrawn Gemnon looked hopelessly at his father.
"What can I do?" he asked. "What can Thudos do? What can anyone do? We
are helpless."
"Perhaps I can do something," suggested Tarzan. "For the moment I seem
to hold the confidence of your Queen; when I see her I shall question
her, and if it is necessary I shall intercede in your behalf."
A new hope sprang to Gemnon's eyes. "If you will!" he cried. "She will
listen to you. I believe that you alone might save Doria; but remember
that the Queen must not see her, for should she, nothing can save
her--she will be either disfigured or killed."
Early the next morning a messenger from the palace brought a command
to Tarzan to visit the Queen at noon, with instructions to Gemnon to
accompany Tarzan with a strong guard as she feared treachery on the
part of Tarzan's enemies.
"They must be powerful enemies that dare attempt to thwart the wishes
of Nemone," commented Gemnon's father.
"There is only one in all Cathne who dares do that," replied Gemnon.
The older man nodded. "The old she-devil! Would but that Thoos
destroyed her! How shameful it is that Cathne should be ruled by a
slave woman!"
"I have seen Nemone look at her as though she wished to kill her," said
Tarzan.
"Yes, but she will never dare," prophesied Gemnon's father. "Between
the old witch and Tomos a threat of some sort is held over the Queen's
head so that she dares not destroy either one of them, yet I am sure
she hates them both; and it is seldom that she permits one to live whom
she hates."
"It is thought that they hold the secret of her birth, a secret that
would destroy her if it were announced to the people," explained
Gemnon; "but come, we have the morning to ourselves; I shall not visit
Thudos until after you have talked with Nemone; what shall we do in the
meantime?"
"I should like to visit the mines of Cathne," replied Tarzan; "shall we
have time?"
"Yes, we shall," replied Gemnon; "the Mine of the Rising Sun is not
far; and as there is little to see after you get there, the trip will
not take long."
On the road from Cathne to the nearer mine, Gemnon pointed out the
breeding plant where the war and hunting lions of Cathne are bred; but
they did not stop to visit the place, and presently they were winding
up the short mountain road to the Gold Mine of the Rising Sun.
As Gemnon had warned him, there was little of interest for Tarzan to
see. The workings were open, the mother lode lying practically upon
the surface of the ground; and so rich was it that only a few slaves
working with crude picks and bars were needed to supply the coffers of
Cathne with vast quantities of the precious metal. But it was not the
mines nor gold that had caused Tarzan to wish to visit the diggings. He
had promised Hafim that he would carry a message to his brother, Niaka;
and it was for this purpose that he had suggested the visit.
As he moved about among the slaves, ostensibly inspecting the lode, he
finally succeeded in separating himself sufficiently from Gemnon and
the warriors who guarded the workers to permit him to speak unnoticed
to one of the slaves.
"Which is Niaka?" he asked in Galla, lowering his voice to a whisper.
The black looked up in surprise, but at a warning gesture from Tarzan
bent his head again and answered in a whisper, "Niaka is the big man at
my right. He is headman; you see that he does not work."
Tarzan moved then in the direction of Niaka, and when he was close
stopped beside him and leaned as though inspecting the lode that was
uncovered at his feet. "Listen," he whispered. "I bring you a message,
but let no one know that I am talking to you. It is from your brother,
Hafim. He has escaped."
"How?" whispered Niaka.
Briefly, Tarzan explained.
"It was you, then, who saved him?"
The ape-man nodded.
"I am only a poor slave," said Niaka, "and you are a powerful noble, no
doubt; so I can never repay you. But should you ever need any service
that Niaka can render, you have but to command; with my life I would
serve you. In that little hut below the diggings I live with my woman;
because I am headman I am trusted and live thus alone. If you ever want
me you will find me there."
"I ask no return for what I did," replied Tarzan, "but I shall remember
where you live; one never knows what the future holds."
He moved away then and joined Gemnon; and presently the two turned back
toward the city, while in the palace of the Queen Tomos entered the
apartment of Nemone and knelt.
"What now?" she demanded. "Is the affair so urgent that I must be
interrupted at my toilet?"
"It is, majesty," replied the councillor, "and I beg that you send your
slaves away. What I have to say is for your ears alone."
There were four black girls working on Nemone's nails, one at each foot
and one at each hand, and a white girl arranging her hair. To the last
the Queen spoke, "Take the slaves away, Maluma, and send them to their
quarters; you may wait in the adjoining room."