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Chapter 20 · Tarzan and the Lost Empire

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  Chapter twenty of Tarzan and the Lost Empire by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This LibriVox
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  recording is in the public domain. Tarzan and the Lost Empire, Chapter twenty.
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  From the far end of the garden, above the din of breaking battle,
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  rose a savage cry, a new note that attracted the startled attention of
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  the contestants upon both sides. Tarzan's head snapped to attention. His nostrils sniffed
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  the air. Recognition, hope, surprise, increduity surged through his consciousness as
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  he stood there with flashing eyes, looking out over the heads of his adversaries.
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  In increasing volume, the savage roar rolled into the Garden of Caesar.
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  The legionaries turned to face the vanguard of an army led by a horde of
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  Ebon warriors, glistening giants, from whose proud heads floated white feather bonnets,
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  and from whose throats issued the savage war cry that had filled the heart of
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  Tarzan. The Waziri had come at their head. Tarzan saw Muviro, and
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  with him was Leukati. But what the ape man did not see, and
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  what none of those in the Garden of Caesar saw until later, was the
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  horde of warriors from the outer villages of Castra Sanguinarius, that following the Wazirri
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  into the city, were already overrunning the palace, seeking the vengeance that had
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  so long been denied them. As the last of the legionaries in the garden
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  threw down their arms and begged Tarzan's protection, Muviro ran to the ape man
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  and, kneeling at his feet, kissed his hand, and at the same
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  instant, a little monkey dropped from an overhanging tree on to Tarzan's shoulder.
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  The gods of our ancestors have been good to the Wazirri, said Muviro.
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  Otherwise we should have been too late. I was puzzled as to how you
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  found me, said Tarzan, until I saw in Kima. Yes, it
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  was in Kima, said Muviro. He came back to the country of the
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  Waziri, to the land of Tarzan, and led us here. Many times
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  we would have turned back, thinking that he was mad, but he urged
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  us on and we followed him. And now the big Banna can come back
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  with us to the home of his own people. No, said Tarzan,
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  shaking his head. I cannot come yet. The son of my good friend
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  is still in this valley, but you are just in time to help me
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  rescue him. Nor is there any time to lose. Legionaries, throwing down
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  their arms, were running from the palace, from which came the shrieks and
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  groans of the dying and the savage hoots and cries of the avenging Horde.
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  Proclaras stepped to Tarzan's side. Barbarians of the outer villages are attacking the city,
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  murdering all who fall into their hands. He cried. We must gather
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  what men we can and make us stand against them. Will these blacks who
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  have just come fight with us against them? They will fight as I direct,
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  replied Tarzan, But I think it will not be necessary to make war
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  upon the barbarians. Leukiti, where are the white officers who command the barbarians?
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  Once they neared the palace, replied Lukiti. The warriors became so excited
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  that they broke away from their white leaders and followed their own chieftain. Go
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  and fetch their greatest chief, directed Tarzan. During the half hour that followed,
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  Tarzan and his lieutenants were busy reorganizing their forces, into which were incorporated
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  the legionaries, who had surrendered to them in caring for the wounded and planning
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  for the future. From the palace came the hoarse cries of the hooting blacks,
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  and Tarzan had about abandoned hope that Leukti would be able to persuade a
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  chief to come to him. When Lukiti turned accompanied by two warriors from the
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  outer villages, whose bearing and ornaments proclaim them chieftains. You are, the
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  man called Tazan, demanded one of the chiefs. The ape man nodded,
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  I am, he said, we have been looking for you. This bigigo
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  said that you have promised that no more shall our people be taken into slavery,
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  and no longer shall our warriors be condemned to the arena. How can
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  you, who are yourself a barbarian, guarantee this to us? If I
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  cannot guarantee it, you have the power to enforce it yourself, replied the
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  ape man. And I, with my Wazirri will aid you. But now
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  you must gather your warriors. Let no one be killed from now on who
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  does not oppose you. Gather your warriors and take them into the avenue before
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  the palace, and then come with your sub chiefs to the throne room of
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  Caesar. There we shall demand and receive justice, not for the moment,
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  but for all time. Go Eventually, the looting horde of Blacks was quieted
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  by their chiefs and withdrawn to the Via principalace. Waziri warriors manned the shattered
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  gait of Caesar's palace and lined the quarter to the throne room and the aisle
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  to the foot of the throne. They formed a half circle about the throne
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  itself, and upon the throne of Caesar sat Tarzan of the Apes, with
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  Proclarus and Electa, and Cassius, Hasta and Cecilius, Mattellus and Muvira about
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  him, while little n Chima sat upon his shoulder and complained bitterly. Fort
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  and Keima, as usual, was frightened and cold and hungry. Some legionaries
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  to fetch Sublattis and Fastus. Tarzan directed Proclarus, for this business must be
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  get tended too quickly, as within the hour I march on Castro Mare.
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  Flush with excitement, the legionaries that had been sent to fetch Subladis and Fastus
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  rushed into the throne room. Subladus is dead, they cried, Fastus is
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  dead. The barbarians have slain them. The chambers and corridors above are filled
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  with the bodies of senators, nobles and officers of the legion. Are none
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  left alive, demanded Proclarus. Paling Yes, replied one of the legionaries.
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  There were many barricaded in another apartment who withstood the onslaught of the blacks.
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  We explained to them that they are now safe, and they are coming to
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  the throne room. And up the aisle marched the remnants of the wedding guests.
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  The sweat and blood upon the men, evidencing the dire straits from which
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  they had been delivered. The women, still nervous and hysterical, leading them,
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  came Dion Splendidis, and at the sight of him, de Lecta gave
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  a cry of relief and pleasure, and ran down the steps of the throne
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  and along the isle to meet him. Tarzan's face lighted with real when he
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  saw the old senator. For his weeks in the home of Festivits and his
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  long incarceration with Maximus Proclarus in the dungeons of the Colosseum had familiarized him with
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  the politics of castor Sanguinarius, and now the presence of Dion Splendidas was all
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  that he needed to complete the plans that the tyranny and cruelty of Subladus had
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  forced upon him. He rose from the throne and raised his hand for silence.
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  The hum of voices ceased. Caesar is dead, but upon some one
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  of you must fall the mantle of Caesar. Long live Tarzan, Long live
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  the new Caesar, cried one of the gladiators, and instantly every sanguinarian in
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  the room took up the cry. The ape man smiled and shook his head.
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  No, he said, not I. But there is one here to
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  whom I offered the Imperial Diadem upon the condition that he full fill the promises
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  I have made to the barbarians of the outer villages. Dion Splendidus, will
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  you accept the Imperial purple with the understanding that the men of the outer villages
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  shall be forever free, that no longer shall their girls or their boys be
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  pressed into slavery, or their warriors forced to do battle in the arena.
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  Dion Splendidas bowed his head in assent, and thus did Tarzan refuse the diadem
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  and create a Caesar end of chapter twenty