Tarzan and the Ant Men · Chapter
XV explained
Tarzan and Komodoflorensal escape their prison chamber by descending a makeshift ladder of hooked rods down the interior shaft of the dome.
What happens
Tarzan and Komodoflorensal escape their prison chamber by descending a makeshift ladder of hooked rods down the interior shaft of the dome. They enter a storage room filled with confiscated wine, then discover a chamber with six dead bodies. Tarzan plans to escape that night before they are sent to the quarries, but finds the roof inaccessible, forcing them to cross through the dome.
Themes in this chapter
Survival and Adaptation
Tarzan adapts to the Minunian environment, using hooked rods to create a ladder and planning a daring escape.
Deception and Manipulation
Tarzan and Komodoflorensal arrange the rods to appear undisturbed, deceiving their captors.
Characters to notice
- Tarzan
Leads the escape attempt, crafting a ladder of hooked rods and descending the dome shaft.
- Komodoflorensal
Accompanies Tarzan, expresses doubt but follows with faith.
- Zoanthrohago
Mentioned as the one who is done with the prisoners, ordering them to the quarry.
Key passages
“I shall go first, Komodoflorensal. Come to the edge of the embrasure and when you hear me whistle once, follow me.”
Tarzan tells Komodoflorensal to wait for a whistle signal before descending.
Tarzan coordinates their escape with a simple signal.
“We haven't started yet; but we are going to now. Come!”
Tarzan declares the real escape is about to begin.
Tarzan's determination to proceed despite the dangers.
“Because, since they expect to remove us to the quarries tomorrow, it follows that we must escape tonight.”
Tarzan reasons that their imminent transfer forces an immediate escape.
Tarzan's strategic thinking under pressure.