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+<pre>
+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Pellucidar
+by Edgar Rice Burroughs
+(#2 in the At the Earth's Core Series by Edgar Rice Burroughs)
+
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+Title: Pellucidar
+
+Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs
+
+Release Date: July, 1996 [Etext #605]
+[Yes, we are about one year ahead of schedule]
+[The actual date this file first posted = 10/30/01]
+
+Edition: 11
+
+Language: English
+
+The Project Gutenberg Etext of Pellucidar
+by Edgar Rice Burroughs
+******This file should be named pellu11.txt or pellu11.zip******
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+Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, pellu12.txt
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+Created by Judith Boss, Omaha, Nebraska
+</pre>
+
+<div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h1>PELLUCIDAR</h1>
+<br /><br />
+<div class="center">By</div>
+<br /><br />
+<h2>Edgar Rice Burroughs</h2>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<br />
+<div class="center">
+<table summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr>
+ <td class="right"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span></td>
+ <td> </td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td> </td>
+ <td><a href="#prologue">PROLOGUE</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">I</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapteri">LOST ON PELLUCIDAR</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">II</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterii">TRAVELING WITH TERROR</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">III</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapteriii">SHOOTING THE CHUTES—AND AFTER</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">IV</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapteriv">FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">V</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterv">SURPRISES</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">VI</td>
+ <td><a href="#chaptervi">A PENDENT WORLD</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">VII</td>
+ <td><a href="#chaptervii">FROM PLIGHT TO PLIGHT</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">VIII</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterviii">CAPTIVE</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">IX</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterix">HOOJA'S CUTTHROATS APPEAR</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">X</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterx">THE RAID ON THE CAVE-PRISON</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">XI</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterxi">ESCAPE</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">XII</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterxii">KIDNAPED!</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">XIII</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterxiii">RACING FOR LIFE</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">XIV</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterxiv">GORE AND DREAMS</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+ <td class="right">XV</td>
+ <td><a href="#chapterxv">CONQUEST AND PEACE</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="prologue" id="prologue">PROLOGUE</a></h2>
+
+<p>Several years had elapsed since I had found the opportunity to do
+any big-game hunting; for at last I had my plans almost perfected
+for a return to my old stamping-grounds in northern Africa, where
+in other days I had had excellent sport in pursuit of the king of
+beasts.</p>
+
+<p>The date of my departure had been set; I was to leave in two weeks.
+No schoolboy counting the lagging hours that must pass before the
+beginning of "long vacation" released him to the delirious joys of
+the summer camp could have been filled with greater impatience
+or keener anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>And then came a letter that started me for Africa twelve days ahead
+of my schedule.</p>
+
+<p>Often am I in receipt of letters from strangers who have found
+something in a story of mine to commend or to condemn. My interest
+in this department of my correspondence is ever fresh. I opened
+this particular letter with all the zest of pleasurable anticipation
+with which I had opened so many others. The postmark (Algiers)
+had aroused my interest and curiosity, especially at this time,
+since it was Algiers that was presently to witness the termination
+of my coming sea voyage in search of sport and adventure.</p>
+
+<p>Before the reading of that letter was completed lions and lion-hunting
+had fled my thoughts, and I was in a state of excitement bordering
+upon frenzy.</p>
+
+<p>It—well, read it yourself, and see if you, too, do not find food
+for frantic conjecture, for tantalizing doubts, and for a great
+hope.</p>
+
+<p>Here it is:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>DEAR SIR: I think that I have run across one of the most remarkable
+coincidences in modern literature. But let me start at the beginning:</p>
+
+<p>I am, by profession, a wanderer upon the face of the earth. I have
+no trade—nor any other occupation.</p>
+
+<p>My father bequeathed me a competency; some remoter ancestors lust
+to roam. I have combined the two and invested them carefully and
+without extravagance.</p>
+
+<p>I became interested in your story, At the Earth's Core, not so much
+because of the probability of the tale as of a great and abiding
+wonder that people should be paid real money for writing such
+impossible trash. You will pardon my candor, but it is necessary
+that you understand my mental attitude toward this particular
+story—that you may credit that which follows.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly thereafter I started for the Sahara in search of a rather
+rare species of antelope that is to be found only occasionally
+within a limited area at a certain season of the year. My chase
+led me far from the haunts of man.</p>
+
+<p>It was a fruitless search, however, in so far as antelope is
+concerned; but one night as I lay courting sleep at the edge of a
+little cluster of date-palms that surround an ancient well in the
+midst of the arid, shifting sands, I suddenly became conscious of
+a strange sound coming apparently from the earth beneath my head.</p>
+
+<p>It was an intermittent ticking!</p>
+
+<p>No reptile or insect with which I am familiar reproduces any such
+notes. I lay for an hour—listening intently.</p>
+
+<p>At last my curiosity got the better of me. I arose, lighted my
+lamp and commenced to investigate.</p>
+
+<p>My bedding lay upon a rug stretched directly upon the warm sand.
+The noise appeared to be coming from beneath the rug. I raised
+it, but found nothing—yet, at intervals, the sound continued.</p>
+
+<p>I dug into the sand with the point of my hunting-knife. A few inches
+below the surface of the sand I encountered a solid substance that
+had the feel of wood beneath the sharp steel.</p>
+
+<p>Excavating about it, I unearthed a small wooden box. From this
+receptacle issued the strange sound that I had heard.</p>
+
+<p>How had it come here?</p>
+
+<p>What did it contain?</p>
+
+<p>In attempting to lift it from its burying place I discovered that
+it seemed to be held fast by means of a very small insulated cable
+running farther into the sand beneath it.</p>
+
+<p>My first impulse was to drag the thing loose by main strength;
+but fortunately I thought better of this and fell to examining the
+box. I soon saw that it was covered by a hinged lid, which was
+held closed by a simple screwhook and eye.</p>
+
+<p>It took but a moment to loosen this and raise the cover, when, to
+my utter astonishment, I discovered an ordinary telegraph instrument
+clicking away within.</p>
+
+<p>"What in the world," thought I, "is this thing doing here?"</p>
+
+<p>That it was a French military instrument was my first guess; but
+really there didn't seem much likelihood that this was the correct
+explanation, when one took into account the loneliness and remoteness
+of the spot.</p>
+
+<p>As I sat gazing at my remarkable find, which was ticking and
+clicking away there in the silence of the desert night, trying to
+convey some message which I was unable to interpret, my eyes fell
+upon a bit of paper lying in the bottom of the box beside the
+instrument. I picked it up and examined it. Upon it were written
+but two letters:</p>
+
+<div class="center">D.I.</div>
+
+<p>They meant nothing to me then. I was baffled.</p>
+
+<p>Once, in an interval of silence upon the part of the receiving
+instrument, I moved the sending-key up and down a few times.
+Instantly the receiving mechanism commenced to work frantically.</p>
+
+<p>I tried to recall something of the Morse Code, with which I had
+played as a little boy—but time had obliterated it from my memory.
+I became almost frantic as I let my imagination run riot among the
+possibilities for which this clicking instrument might stand.</p>
+
+<p>Some poor devil at the unknown other end might be in dire need of
+succor. The very franticness of the instrument's wild clashing
+betokened something of the kind.</p>
+
+<p>And there sat I, powerless to interpret, and so powerless to help!</p>
+
+<p>It was then that the inspiration came to me. In a flash there
+leaped to my mind the closing paragraphs of the story I had read
+in the club at Algiers:</p>
+
+<p>Does the answer lie somewhere upon the bosom of the broad Sahara,
+at the ends of two tiny wires, hidden beneath a lost cairn?</p>
+
+<p>The idea seemed preposterous. Experience and intelligence combined
+to assure me that there could be no slightest grain of truth or
+possibility in your wild tale—it was fiction pure and simple.</p>
+
+<p>And yet where WERE the other ends of those wires?</p>
+
+<p>What was this instrument—ticking away here in the great Sahara—but
+a travesty upon the possible!</p>
+
+<p>Would I have believed in it had I not seen it with my own eyes?</p>
+
+<p>And the initials—D.I.—upon the slip of paper!</p>
+
+<p>David's initials were these—David Innes.</p>
+
+<p>I smiled at my imaginings. I ridiculed the assumption that there
+was an inner world and that these wires led downward through the
+earth's crust to the surface of Pellucidar. And yet—</p>
+
+<p>Well, I sat there all night, listening to that tantalizing clicking,
+now and then moving the sending-key just to let the other end know
+that the instrument had been discovered. In the morning, after
+carefully returning the box to its hole and covering it over with
+sand, I called my servants about me, snatched a hurried breakfast,
+mounted my horse, and started upon a forced march for Algiers.</p>
+
+<p>I arrived here today. In writing you this letter I feel that I am
+making a fool of myself.</p>
+
+<p>There is no David Innes.</p>
+
+<p>There is no Dian the Beautiful.</p>
+
+<p>There is no world within a world.</p>
+
+<p>Pellucidar is but a realm of your imagination—nothing more.</p>
+
+<p>BUT—</p>
+
+<p>The incident of the finding of that buried telegraph instrument
+upon the lonely Sahara is little short of uncanny, in view of your
+story of the adventures of David Innes.</p>
+
+<p>I have called it one of the most remarkable coincidences in
+modern fiction. I called it literature before, but—again pardon
+my candor—your story is not.</p>
+
+<p>And now—why am I writing you?</p>
+
+<p>Heaven knows, unless it is that the persistent clicking of that
+unfathomable enigma out there in the vast silences of the Sahara
+has so wrought upon my nerves that reason refuses longer to function
+sanely.</p>
+
+<p>I cannot hear it now, yet I know that far away to the south, all
+alone beneath the sands, it is still pounding out its vain, frantic
+appeal.</p>
+
+<p>It is maddening</p>
+
+<p>It is your fault—I want you to release me from it.</p>
+
+<p>Cable me at once, at my expense, that there was no basis of fact
+for your story, At the Earth's Core.</p>
+
+<p>Very respectfully yours,</p>
+
+<div class="right">COGDON NESTOR,<br />
+
+and Club,<br />
+
+Algiers.<br />
+
+June 1st,—.</div>
+</blockquote>
+
+
+<p>Ten minutes after reading this letter I had cabled Mr. Nestor as
+follows:</p>
+
+
+<blockquote><p>Story true. Await me Algiers.</p></blockquote>
+
+
+<p>As fast as train and boat would carry me, I sped toward my destination.
+For all those dragging days my mind was a whirl of mad conjecture,
+of frantic hope, of numbing fear.</p>
+
+<p>The finding of the telegraph-instrument practically assured me that
+David Innes had driven Perry's iron mole back through the earth's
+crust to the buried world of Pellucidar; but what adventures had
+befallen him since his return?</p>
+
+<p>Had he found Dian the Beautiful, his half-savage mate, safe among
+his friends, or had Hooja the Sly One succeeded in his nefarious
+schemes to abduct her?</p>
+
+<p>Did Abner Perry, the lovable old inventor and paleontologist,
+still live?</p>
+
+<p>Had the federated tribes of Pellucidar succeeded in overthrowing
+the mighty Mahars, the dominant race of reptilian monsters, and
+their fierce, gorilla-like soldiery, the savage Sagoths?</p>
+
+<p>I must admit that I was in a state bordering upon nervous prostration
+when I entered the -and-Club, in Algiers, and inquired for Mr.
+Nestor. A moment later I was ushered into his presence, to find
+myself clasping hands with the sort of chap that the world holds
+only too few of.</p>
+
+<p>He was a tall, smooth-faced man of about thirty, clean-cut, straight,
+and strong, and weather-tanned to the hue of a desert Arab. I
+liked him immensely from the first, and I hope that after our three
+months together in the desert country—three months not entirely
+lacking in adventure—he found that a man may be a writer of
+"impossible trash" and yet have some redeeming qualities.</p>
+
+<p>The day following my arrival at Algiers we left for the south,
+Nestor having made all arrangements in advance, guessing, as he
+naturally did, that I could be coming to Africa for but a single
+purpose—to hasten at once to the buried telegraph-instrument and
+wrest its secret from it.</p>
+
+<p>In addition to our native servants, we took along an English
+telegraph-operator named Frank Downes. Nothing of interest enlivened
+our journey by rail and caravan till we came to the cluster of
+date-palms about the ancient well upon the rim of the Sahara.</p>
+
+<p>It was the very spot at which I first had seen David Innes. If he
+had ever raised a cairn above the telegraph instrument no sign of
+it remained now. Had it not been for the chance that caused Cogdon
+Nestor to throw down his sleeping rug directly over the hidden
+instrument, it might still be clicking there unheard—and this
+story still unwritten.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached the spot and unearthed the little box the instrument
+was quiet, nor did repeated attempts upon the part of our telegrapher
+succeed in winning a response from the other end of the line.
+After several days of futile endeavor to raise Pellucidar, we had
+begun to despair. I was as positive that the other end of that
+little cable protruded through the surface of the inner world as
+I am that I sit here today in my study—when about midnight of the
+fourth day I was awakened by the sound of the instrument.</p>
+
+<p>Leaping to my feet I grasped Downes roughly by the neck and dragged
+him out of his blankets. He didn't need to be told what caused
+my excitement, for the instant he was awake he, too, heard the
+long-hoped for click, and with a whoop of delight pounced upon the
+instrument.</p>
+
+<p>Nestor was on his feet almost as soon as I. The three of us huddled
+about that little box as if our lives depended upon the message it
+had for us.</p>
+
+<p>Downes interrupted the clicking with his sending-key. The noise
+of the receiver stopped instantly.</p>
+
+<p>"Ask who it is, Downes," I directed.</p>
+
+<p>He did so, and while we awaited the Englishman's translation of
+the reply, I doubt if either Nestor or I breathed.</p>
+
+<p>"He says he's David Innes," said Downes. "He wants to know who we
+are."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell him," said I; "and that we want to know how he is—and all
+that has befallen him since I last saw him."</p>
+
+<p>For two months I talked with David Innes almost every day, and
+as Downes translated, either Nestor or I took notes. From these,
+arranged in chronological order, I have set down the following
+account of the further adventures of David Innes at the earth's
+core, practically in his own words.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapteri" id="chapteri">CHAPTER I</a></h2>
+
+<h3>LOST ON PELLUCIDAR</h3>
+
+<p>The Arabs, of whom I wrote you at the end of my last letter (Innes
+began), and whom I thought to be enemies intent only upon murdering
+me, proved to be exceedingly friendly—they were searching for
+the very band of marauders that had threatened my existence. The
+huge rhamphorhynchus-like reptile that I had brought back with me
+from the inner world—the ugly Mahar that Hooja the Sly One had
+substituted for my dear Dian at the moment of my departure—filled
+them with wonder and with awe.</p>
+
+<p>Nor less so did the mighty subterranean prospector which had carried
+me to Pellucidar and back again, and which lay out in the desert
+about two miles from my camp.</p>
+
+<p>With their help I managed to get the unwieldy tons of its great
+bulk into a vertical position—the nose deep in a hole we had dug
+in the sand and the rest of it supported by the trunks of date-palms
+cut for the purpose.</p>
+
+<p>It was a mighty engineering job with only wild Arabs and their
+wilder mounts to do the work of an electric crane—but finally it
+was completed, and I was ready for departure.</p>
+
+<p>For some time I hesitated to take the Mahar back with me. She
+had been docile and quiet ever since she had discovered herself
+virtually a prisoner aboard the "iron mole." It had been, of course,
+impossible for me to communicate with her since she had no auditory
+organs and I no knowledge of her fourth-dimension, sixth-sense
+method of communication.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally I am kind-hearted, and so I found it beyond me to leave
+even this hateful and repulsive thing alone in a strange and hostile
+world. The result was that when I entered the iron mole I took
+her with me.</p>
+
+<p>That she knew that we were about to return to Pellucidar was
+evident, for immediately her manner changed from that of habitual
+gloom that had pervaded her, to an almost human expression of
+contentment and delight.</p>
+
+<p>Our trip through the earth's crust was but a repetition of my
+two former journeys between the inner and the outer worlds. This
+time, however, I imagine that we must have maintained a more
+nearly perpendicular course, for we accomplished the journey in a
+few minutes' less time than upon the occasion of my first journey
+through the five-hundred-mile crust. just a trifle less than
+seventy-two hours after our departure into the sands of the Sahara,
+we broke through the surface of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>Fortune once again favored me by the slightest of margins, for when
+I opened the door in the prospector's outer jacket I saw that we
+had missed coming up through the bottom of an ocean by but a few
+hundred yards.</p>
+
+<p>The aspect of the surrounding country was entirely unfamiliar
+to me—I had no conception of precisely where I was upon the one
+hundred and twenty-four million square miles of Pellucidar's vast
+land surface.</p>
+
+<p>The perpetual midday sun poured down its torrid rays from zenith,
+as it had done since the beginning of Pellucidarian time—as it
+would continue to do to the end of it. Before me, across the wide
+sea, the weird, horizonless seascape folded gently upward to meet
+the sky until it lost itself to view in the azure depths of distance
+far above the level of my eyes.</p>
+
+<p>How strange it looked! How vastly different from the flat and puny
+area of the circumscribed vision of the dweller upon the outer
+crust!</p>
+
+<p>I was lost. Though I wandered ceaselessly throughout a lifetime,
+I might never discover the whereabouts of my former friends of this
+strange and savage world. Never again might I see dear old Perry,
+nor Ghak the Hairy One, nor Dacor the Strong One, nor that other
+infinitely precious one—my sweet and noble mate, Dian the Beautiful!</p>
+
+<p>But even so I was glad to tread once more the surface of Pellucidar.
+Mysterious and terrible, grotesque and savage though she is in many
+of her aspects, I can not but love her. Her very savagery appealed
+to me, for it is the savagery of unspoiled Nature.</p>
+
+<p>The magnificence of her tropic beauties enthralled me. Her mighty
+land areas breathed unfettered freedom.</p>
+
+<p>Her untracked oceans, whispering of virgin wonders unsullied by
+the eye of man, beckoned me out upon their restless bosoms.</p>
+
+<p>Not for an instant did I regret the world of my nativity. I was
+in Pellucidar. I was home. And I was content.</p>
+
+<p>As I stood dreaming beside the giant thing that had brought
+me safely through the earth's crust, my traveling companion, the
+hideous Mahar, emerged from the interior of the prospector and
+stood beside me. For a long time she remained motionless.</p>
+
+<p>What thoughts were passing through the convolutions of her reptilian
+brain?</p>
+
+<p>I do not know.</p>
+
+<p>She was a member of the dominant race of Pellucidar. By a strange
+freak of evolution her kind had first developed the power of reason
+in that world of anomalies.</p>
+
+<p>To her, creatures such as I were of a lower order. As Perry had
+discovered among the writings of her kind in the buried city of
+Phutra, it was still an open question among the Mahars as to whether
+man possessed means of intelligent communication or the power of
+reason.</p>
+
+<p>Her kind believed that in the center of all-pervading solidity
+there was a single, vast, spherical cavity, which was Pellucidar.
+This cavity had been left there for the sole purpose of providing
+a place for the creation and propagation of the Mahar race.
+Everything within it had been put there for the uses of the Mahar.</p>
+
+<p>I wondered what this particular Mahar might think now. I found
+pleasure in speculating upon just what the effect had been upon her
+of passing through the earth's crust, and coming out into a world
+that one of even less intelligence than the great Mahars could
+easily see was a different world from her own Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>What had she thought of the outer world's tiny sun?</p>
+
+<p>What had been the effect upon her of the moon and myriad stars of
+the clear African nights?</p>
+
+<p>How had she explained them?</p>
+
+<p>With what sensations of awe must she first have watched the sun
+moving slowly across the heavens to disappear at last beneath the
+western horizon, leaving in his wake that which the Mahar had never
+before witnessed—the darkness of night? For upon Pellucidar there
+is no night. The stationary sun hangs forever in the center of
+the Pellucidarian sky—directly overhead.</p>
+
+<p>Then, too, she must have been impressed by the wondrous mechanism
+of the prospector which had bored its way from world to world and
+back again. And that it had been driven by a rational being must
+also have occurred to her.</p>
+
+<p>Too, she bad seen me conversing with other men upon the earth's
+surface. She had seen the arrival of the caravan of books and arms,
+and ammunition, and the balance of the heterogeneous collection which
+I had crammed into the cabin of the iron mole for transportation
+to Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>She had seen all these evidences of a civilization and brain-power
+transcending in scientific achievement anything that her race had
+produced; nor once had she seen a creature of her own kind.</p>
+
+<p>There could have been but a single deduction in the mind of the
+Mahar—there were other worlds than Pellucidar, and the gilak was
+a rational being.</p>
+
+<p>Now the creature at my side was creeping slowly toward the nearby
+sea. At my hip hung a long-barreled six-shooter—somehow I had
+been unable to find the same sensation of security in the newfangled
+automatics that had been perfected since my first departure from
+the outer world—and in my hand was a heavy express rifle.</p>
+
+<p>I could have shot the Mahar with ease, for I knew intuitively that
+she was escaping—but I did not.</p>
+
+<p>I felt that if she could return to her own kind with the story of
+her adventures, the position of the human race within Pellucidar
+would be advanced immensely at a single stride, for at once man
+would take his proper place in the considerations of the reptilia.</p>
+
+<p>At the edge of the sea the creature paused and looked back at me.
+Then she slid sinuously into the surf.</p>
+
+<p>For several minutes I saw no more of her as she luxuriated in the
+cool depths.</p>
+
+<p>Then a hundred yards from shore she rose and there for another
+short while she floated upon the surface.</p>
+
+<p>Finally she spread her giant wings, flapped them vigorously a score
+of times and rose above the blue sea. A single time she circled
+far aloft—and then straight as an arrow she sped away.</p>
+
+<p>I watched her until the distant haze enveloped her and she had
+disappeared. I was alone.</p>
+
+<p>My first concern was to discover where within Pellucidar I might
+be—and in what direction lay the land of the Sarians where Ghak
+the Hairy One ruled.</p>
+
+<p>But how was I to guess in which direction lay Sari?</p>
+
+<p>And if I set out to search—what then?</p>
+
+<p>Could I find my way back to the prospector with its priceless
+freight of books, firearms, ammunition, scientific instruments,
+and still more books—its great library of reference works upon
+every conceivable branch of applied sciences?</p>
+
+<p>And if I could not, of what value was all this vast storehouse
+of potential civilization and progress to be to the world of my
+adoption?</p>
+
+<p>Upon the other hand, if I remained here alone with it, what could
+I accomplish single-handed?</p>
+
+<p>Nothing.</p>
+
+<p>But where there was no east, no west, no north, no south, no stars,
+no moon, and only a stationary midday sun, how was I to find my
+way back to this spot should ever I get out of sight of it?</p>
+
+<p>I didn't know.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time I stood buried in deep thought, when it occurred
+to me to try out one of the compasses I had brought and ascertain
+if it remained steadily fixed upon an unvarying pole. I reentered
+the prospector and fetched a compass without.</p>
+
+<p>Moving a considerable distance from the prospector that the needle
+might not be influenced by its great bulk of iron and steel I turned
+the delicate instrument about in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>Always and steadily the needle remained rigidly fixed upon a point
+straight out to sea, apparently pointing toward a large island some
+ten or twenty miles distant. This then should be north.</p>
+
+<p>I drew my notebook from my pocket and made a careful topographical
+sketch of the locality within the range of my vision. Due north
+lay the island, far out upon the shimmering sea.</p>
+
+<p>The spot I had chosen for my observations was the top of a large,
+flat boulder which rose six or eight feet above the turf. This
+spot I called Greenwich. The boulder was the "Royal Observatory."</p>
+
+<p>I had made a start! I cannot tell you what a sense of relief was
+imparted to me by the simple fact that there was at least one spot
+within Pellucidar with a familiar name and a place upon a map.</p>
+
+<p>It was with almost childish joy that I made a little circle in my
+notebook and traced the word Greenwich beside it.</p>
+
+<p>Now I felt I might start out upon my search with some assurance of
+finding my way back again to the prospector.</p>
+
+<p>I decided that at first I would travel directly south in the hope
+that I might in that direction find some familiar landmark. It
+was as good a direction as any. This much at least might be said
+of it.</p>
+
+<p>Among the many other things I had brought from the outer world were
+a number of pedometers. I slipped three of these into my pockets
+with the idea that I might arrive at a more or less accurate mean
+from the registrations of them all.</p>
+
+<p>On my map I would register so many paces south, so many east, so
+many west, and so on. When I was ready to return I would then do
+so by any route that I might choose.</p>
+
+<p>I also strapped a considerable quantity of ammunition across my
+shoulders, pocketed some matches, and hooked an aluminum frypan
+and a small stew-kettle of the same metal to my belt.</p>
+
+<p>I was ready—ready to go forth and explore a world!</p>
+
+<p>Ready to search a land area of 124,110,000 square miles for my
+friends, my incomparable mate, and good old Perry!</p>
+
+<p>And so, after locking the door in the outer shell of the prospector,
+I set out upon my quest. Due south I traveled, across lovely
+valleys thick-dotted with grazing herds.</p>
+
+<p>Through dense primeval forests I forced my way and up the slopes
+of mighty mountains searching for a pass to their farther sides.</p>
+
+<p>Ibex and musk-sheep fell before my good old revolver, so that I
+lacked not for food in the higher altitudes. The forests and the
+plains gave plentifully of fruits and wild birds, antelope, aurochsen,
+and elk.</p>
+
+<p>Occasionally, for the larger game animals and the gigantic beasts
+of prey, I used my express rifle, but for the most part the revolver
+filled all my needs.</p>
+
+<p>There were times, too, when faced by a mighty cave bear, a saber-toothed
+tiger, or huge felis spelaea, black-maned and terrible, even my
+powerful rifle seemed pitifully inadequate—but fortune favored
+me so that I passed unscathed through adventures that even the
+recollection of causes the short hairs to bristle at the nape of
+my neck.</p>
+
+<p>How long I wandered toward the south I do not know, for shortly
+after I left the prospector something went wrong with my watch, and
+I was again at the mercy of the baffling timelessness of Pellucidar,
+forging steadily ahead beneath the great, motionless sun which
+hangs eternally at noon.</p>
+
+<p>I ate many times, however, so that days must have elapsed, possibly
+months with no familiar landscape rewarding my eager eyes.</p>
+
+<p>I saw no men nor signs of men. Nor is this strange, for Pellucidar,
+in its land area, is immense, while the human race there is very
+young and consequently far from numerous.</p>
+
+<p>Doubtless upon that long search mine was the first human foot to
+touch the soil in many places—mine the first human eye to rest
+upon the gorgeous wonders of the landscape.</p>
+
+<p>It was a staggering thought. I could not but dwell upon it often
+as I made my lonely way through this virgin world. Then, quite
+suddenly, one day I stepped out of the peace of manless primality
+into the presence of man—and peace was gone.</p>
+
+<p>It happened thus:</p>
+
+<p>I had been following a ravine downward out of a chain of lofty hills
+and had paused at its mouth to view the lovely little valley that
+lay before me. At one side was tangled wood, while straight ahead
+a river wound peacefully along parallel to the cliffs in which the
+hills terminated at the valley's edge.</p>
+
+<p>Presently, as I stood enjoying the lovely scene, as insatiate for
+Nature's wonders as if I had not looked upon similar landscapes
+countless times, a sound of shouting broke from the direction of
+the woods. That the harsh, discordant notes rose from the throats
+of men I could not doubt.</p>
+
+<p>I slipped behind a large boulder near the mouth of the ravine and
+waited. I could hear the crashing of underbrush in the forest,
+and I guessed that whoever came came quickly—pursued and pursuers,
+doubtless.</p>
+
+<p>In a short time some hunted animal would break into view, and a
+moment later a score of half-naked savages would come leaping after
+with spears or club or great stone-knives.</p>
+
+<p>I had seen the thing so many times during my life within Pellucidar
+that I felt that I could anticipate to a nicety precisely what I
+was about to witness. I hoped that the hunters would prove friendly
+and be able to direct me toward Sari.</p>
+
+<p>Even as I was thinking these thoughts the quarry emerged from the
+forest. But it was no terrified four-footed beast. Instead, what
+I saw was an old man—a terrified old man!</p>
+
+<p>Staggering feebly and hopelessly from what must have been some very
+terrible fate, if one could judge from the horrified expressions
+he continually cast behind him toward the wood, he came stumbling
+on in my direction.</p>
+
+<p>He had covered but a short distance from the forest when I beheld
+the first of his pursuers—a Sagoth, one of those grim and terrible
+gorilla-men who guard the mighty Mahars in their buried cities,
+faring forth from time to time upon slave-raiding or punitive
+expeditions against the human race of Pellucidar, of whom the
+dominant race of the inner world think as we think of the bison or
+the wild sheep of our own world.</p>
+
+<p>Close behind the foremost Sagoth came others until a full dozen
+raced, shouting after the terror-stricken old man. They would be
+upon him shortly, that was plain.</p>
+
+<p>One of them was rapidly overhauling him, his back-thrown spear-arm
+testifying to his purpose.</p>
+
+<p>And then, quite with the suddenness of an unexpected blow, I realized
+a past familiarity with the gait and carriage of the fugitive.</p>
+
+<p>Simultaneously there swept over me the staggering fact that the
+old man was—PERRY! That he was about to die before my very eyes
+with no hope that I could reach him in time to avert the awful
+catastrophe—for to me it meant a real catastrophe!</p>
+
+<p>Perry was my best friend.</p>
+
+<p>Dian, of course, I looked upon as more than friend. She was my
+mate—a part of me.</p>
+
+<p>I had entirely forgotten the rifle in my hand and the revolvers at
+my belt; one does not readily synchronize his thoughts with the
+stone age and the twentieth century simultaneously.</p>
+
+<p>Now from past habit I still thought in the stone age, and in my
+thoughts of the stone age there were no thoughts of firearms.</p>
+
+<p>The fellow was almost upon Perry when the feel of the gun in my hand
+awoke me from the lethargy of terror that had gripped me. From behind
+my boulder I threw up the heavy express rifle—a mighty engine of
+destruction that might bring down a cave bear or a mammoth at a
+single shot—and let drive at the Sagoth's broad, hairy breast.</p>
+
+<p>At the sound of the shot he stopped stock-still. His spear dropped
+from his hand.</p>
+
+<p>Then he lunged forward upon his face.</p>
+
+<p>The effect upon the others was little less remarkable. Perry
+alone could have possibly guessed the meaning of the loud report
+or explained its connection with the sudden collapse of the Sagoth.
+The other gorilla-men halted for but an instant. Then with renewed
+shrieks of rage they sprang forward to finish Perry.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time I stepped from behind my boulder, drawing one of
+my revolvers that I might conserve the more precious ammunition of
+the express rifle. Quickly I fired again with the lesser weapon.</p>
+
+<p>Then it was that all eyes were directed toward me. Another Sagoth
+fell to the bullet from the revolver; but it did not stop his
+companions. They were out for revenge as well as blood now, and
+they meant to have both.</p>
+
+<p>As I ran forward toward Perry I fired four more shots, dropping
+three of our antagonists. Then at last the remaining seven wavered.
+It was too much for them, this roaring death that leaped, invisible,
+upon them from a great distance.</p>
+
+<p>As they hesitated I reached Perry's side. I have never seen such
+an expression upon any man's face as that upon Perry's when he
+recognized me. I have no words wherewith to describe it. There
+was not time to talk then—scarce for a greeting. I thrust the
+full, loaded revolver into his hand, fired the last shot in my own,
+and reloaded. There were but six Sagoths left then.</p>
+
+<p>They started toward us once more, though I could see that they were
+terrified probably as much by the noise of the guns as by their
+effects. They never reached us. Halfway the three that remained
+turned and fled, and we let them go.</p>
+
+<p>The last we saw of them they were disappearing into the tangled
+undergrowth of the forest. And then Perry turned and threw his
+arms about my neck and, burying his old face upon my shoulder, wept
+like a child.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterii" id="chapterii">CHAPTER II</a></h2>
+
+<h3>TRAVELING WITH TERROR</h3>
+
+<p>We made camp there beside the peaceful river. There Perry told me
+all that had befallen him since I had departed for the outer crust.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed that Hooja had made it appear that I had intentionally
+left Dian behind, and that I did not purpose ever returning to
+Pellucidar. He told them that I was of another world and that I
+had tired of this and of its inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>To Dian he had explained that I had a mate in the world to which I
+was returning; that I had never intended taking Dian the Beautiful
+back with me; and that she had seen the last of me.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly afterward Dian had disappeared from the camp, nor had Perry
+seen or heard aught of her since.</p>
+
+<p>He had no conception of the time that had elapsed since I had
+departed, but guessed that many years had dragged their slow way
+into the past.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja, too, had disappeared very soon after Dian had left. The
+Sarians, under Ghak the Hairy One, and the Amozites under Dacor
+the Strong One, Dian's brother, had fallen out over my supposed
+defection, for Ghak would not believe that I had thus treacherously
+deceived and deserted them.</p>
+
+<p>The result had been that these two powerful tribes had fallen upon
+one another with the new weapons that Perry and I had taught them
+to make and to use. Other tribes of the new federation took sides
+with the original disputants or set up petty revolutions of their
+own.</p>
+
+<p>The result was the total demolition of the work we had so well
+started.</p>
+
+<p>Taking advantage of the tribal war, the Mahars had gathered their
+Sagoths in force and fallen upon one tribe after another in rapid
+succession, wreaking awful havoc among them and reducing them for
+the most part to as pitiable a state of terror as that from which
+we had raised them.</p>
+
+<p>Alone of all the once-mighty federation the Sarians and the Amozites
+with a few other tribes continued to maintain their defiance of
+the Mahars; but these tribes were still divided among themselves,
+nor had it seemed at all probable to Perry when he had last been
+among them that any attempt at reamalgamation would be made.</p>
+
+<p>"And thus, your majesty," he concluded, "has faded back into the
+oblivion of the Stone Age our wondrous dream and with it has gone
+the First Empire of Pellucidar."</p>
+
+<p>We both had to smile at the use of my royal title, yet I was indeed
+still "Emperor of Pellucidar," and some day I meant to rebuild what
+the vile act of the treacherous Hooja had torn down.</p>
+
+<p>But first I would find my empress. To me she was worth forty
+empires.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you no clue as to the whereabouts of Dian?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"None whatever," replied Perry. "It was in search of her that I
+came to the pretty pass in which you discovered me, and from which,
+David, you saved me.</p>
+
+<p>"I knew perfectly well that you had not intentionally deserted
+either Dian or Pellucidar. I guessed that in some way Hooja the
+Sly One was at the bottom of the matter, and I determined to go to
+Amoz, where I guessed that Dian might come to the protection of her
+brother, and do my utmost to convince her, and through her Dacor
+the Strong One, that we had all been victims of a treacherous plot
+to which you were no party.</p>
+
+<p>"I came to Amoz after a most trying and terrible journey, only to
+find that Dian was not among her brother's people and that they
+knew naught of her whereabouts.</p>
+
+<p>"Dacor, I am sure, wanted to be fair and just, but so great were
+his grief and anger over the disappearance of his sister that he
+could not listen to reason, but kept repeating time and again that
+only your return to Pellucidar could prove the honesty of your
+intentions.</p>
+
+<p>"Then came a stranger from another tribe, sent I am sure at the
+instigation of Hooja. He so turned the Amozites against me that
+I was forced to flee their country to escape assassination.</p>
+
+<p>"In attempting to return to Sari I became lost, and then the Sagoths
+discovered me. For a long time I eluded them, hiding in caves and
+wading in rivers to throw them off my trail.</p>
+
+<p>"I lived on nuts and fruits and the edible roots that chance threw
+in my way.</p>
+
+<p>"I traveled on and on, in what directions I could not even guess;
+and at last I could elude them no longer and the end came as I had
+long foreseen that it would come, except that I had not foreseen
+that you would be there to save me."</p>
+
+<p>We rested in our camp until Perry had regained sufficient strength
+to travel again. We planned much, rebuilding all our shattered
+air-castles; but above all we planned most to find Dian.</p>
+
+<p>I could not believe that she was dead, yet where she might be in
+this savage world, and under what frightful conditions she might
+be living, I could not guess.</p>
+
+<p>When Perry was rested we returned to the prospector, where he fitted
+himself out fully like a civilized human being—under-clothing, socks,
+shoes, khaki jacket and breeches and good, substantial puttees.</p>
+
+<p>When I had come upon him he was clothed in rough sadak sandals,
+a gee-string and a tunic fashioned from the shaggy hide of a thag.
+Now he wore real clothing again for the first time since the
+ape-folk had stripped us of our apparel that long-gone day that
+had witnessed our advent within Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>With a bandoleer of cartridges across his shoulder, two six-shooters
+at his hips, and a rifle in his hand he was a much rejuvenated
+Perry.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed he was quite a different person altogether from the rather
+shaky old man who had entered the prospector with me ten or
+eleven years before, for the trial trip that had plunged us into
+such wondrous adventures and into such a strange and hitherto
+undreamed-of-world.</p>
+
+<p>Now he was straight and active. His muscles, almost atrophied from
+disuse in his former life, had filled out.</p>
+
+<p>He was still an old man of course, but instead of appearing ten
+years older than he really was, as he had when we left the outer
+world, he now appeared about ten years younger. The wild, free
+life of Pellucidar had worked wonders for him.</p>
+
+<p>Well, it must need have done so or killed him, for a man of Perry's
+former physical condition could not long have survived the dangers
+and rigors of the primitive life of the inner world.</p>
+
+<p>Perry had been greatly interested in my map and in the "royal
+observatory" at Greenwich. By use of the pedometers we had retraced
+our way to the prospector with ease and accuracy.</p>
+
+<p>Now that we were ready to set out again we decided to follow
+a different route on the chance that it might lead us into more
+familiar territory.</p>
+
+<p>I shall not weary you with a repetition of the countless adventures
+of our long search. Encounters with wild beasts of gigantic size
+were of almost daily occurrence; but with our deadly express rifles
+we ran comparatively little risk when one recalls that previously
+we had both traversed this world of frightful dangers inadequately
+armed with crude, primitive weapons and all but naked.</p>
+
+<p>We ate and slept many times—so many that we lost count—and so I
+do not know how long we roamed, though our map shows the distances
+and directions quite accurately. We must have covered a great many
+thousand square miles of territory, and yet we had seen nothing
+in the way of a familiar landmark, when from the heights of
+a mountain-range we were crossing I descried far in the distance
+great masses of billowing clouds.</p>
+
+<p>Now clouds are practically unknown in the skies of Pellucidar. The
+moment that my eyes rested upon them my heart leaped. I seized
+Perry's arm and, pointing toward the horizonless distance, shouted:</p>
+
+<p>"The Mountains of the Clouds!"</p>
+
+<p>"They lie close to Phutra, and the country of our worst enemies,
+the Mahars," Perry remonstrated.</p>
+
+<p>"I know it," I replied, "but they give us a starting-point from
+which to prosecute our search intelligently. They are at least a
+familiar landmark.</p>
+
+<p>"They tell us that we are upon the right trail and not wandering
+far in the wrong direction.</p>
+
+<p>"Furthermore, close to the Mountains of the Clouds dwells a good
+friend, Ja the Mezop. You did not know him, but you know all that
+he did for me and all that he will gladly do to aid me.</p>
+
+<p>"At least he can direct us upon the right direction toward Sari."</p>
+
+<p>"The Mountains of the Clouds constitute a mighty range," replied
+Perry. "They must cover an enormous territory. How are you
+to find your friend in all the great country that is visible from
+their rugged flanks?"</p>
+
+<p>"Easily," I answered him, "for Ja gave me minute directions. I
+recall almost his exact words:</p>
+
+<p>"'You need merely come to the foot of the highest peak of the
+Mountains of the Clouds. There you will find a river that flows
+into the Lural Az.</p>
+
+<p>"'Directly opposite the mouth of the river you will see three large
+islands far out—so far that they are barely discernible. The one
+to the extreme left as you face them from the mouth of the river
+is Anoroc, where I rule the tribe of Anoroc.'"</p>
+
+<p>And so we hastened onward toward the great cloud-mass that was to
+be our guide for several weary marches. At last we came close to
+the towering crags, Alp-like in their grandeur.</p>
+
+<p>Rising nobly among its noble fellows, one stupendous peak reared
+its giant head thousands of feet above the others. It was he whom
+we sought; but at its foot no river wound down toward any sea.</p>
+
+<p>"It must rise from the opposite side," suggested Perry, casting
+a rueful glance at the forbidding heights that barred our further
+progress. "We cannot endure the arctic cold of those high flung
+passes, and to traverse the endless miles about this interminable
+range might require a year or more. The land we seek must lie
+upon the opposite side of the mountains."</p>
+
+<p>"Then we must cross them," I insisted.</p>
+
+<p>Perry shrugged.</p>
+
+<p>"We can't do it, David," he repeated, "We are dressed for the
+tropics. We should freeze to death among the snows and glaciers
+long before we had discovered a pass to the opposite side."</p>
+
+<p>"We must cross them," I reiterated. "We will cross them."</p>
+
+<p>I had a plan, and that plan we carried out. It took some time.</p>
+
+<p>First we made a permanent camp part way up the slopes where there
+was good water. Then we set out in search of the great, shaggy
+cave bear of the higher altitudes.</p>
+
+<p>He is a mighty animal—a terrible animal. He is but little larger
+than his cousin of the lesser, lower hills; but he makes up for it
+in the awfulness of his ferocity and in the length and thickness
+of his shaggy coat. It was his coat that we were after.</p>
+
+<p>We came upon him quite unexpectedly. I was trudging in advance
+along a rocky trail worn smooth by the padded feet of countless
+ages of wild beasts. At a shoulder of the mountain around which
+the path ran I came face to face with the Titan.</p>
+
+<p>I was going up for a fur coat. He was coming down for breakfast.
+Each realized that here was the very thing he sought.</p>
+
+<p>With a horrid roar the beast charged me.</p>
+
+<p>At my right the cliff rose straight upward for thousands of feet.</p>
+
+<p>At my left it dropped into a dim, abysmal canon.</p>
+
+<p>In front of me was the bear.</p>
+
+<p>Behind me was Perry.</p>
+
+<p>I shouted to him in warning, and then I raised my rifle and fired
+into the broad breast of the creature. There was no time to take
+aim; the thing was too close upon me.</p>
+
+<p>But that my bullet took effect was evident from the howl of rage
+and pain that broke from the frothing jowls. It didn't stop him,
+though.</p>
+
+<p>I fired again, and then he was upon me. Down I went beneath his
+ton of maddened, clawing flesh and bone and sinew.</p>
+
+<p>I thought my time had come. I remember feeling sorry for poor old
+Perry, left all alone in this inhospitable, savage world.</p>
+
+<p>And then of a sudden I realized that the bear was gone and that I
+was quite unharmed. I leaped to my feet, my rifle still clutched
+in my hand, and looked about for my antagonist.</p>
+
+<p>I thought that I should find him farther down the trail, probably
+finishing Perry, and so I leaped in the direction I supposed him
+to be, to find Perry perched upon a projecting rock several feet
+above the trail. My cry of warning had given him time to reach
+this point of safety.</p>
+
+<p>There he squatted, his eyes wide and his mouth ajar, the picture
+of abject terror and consternation.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is he?" he cried when he saw me. "Where is he?"</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't he come this way?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing came this way," replied the old man. "But I heard his
+roars—he must have been as large as an elephant."</p>
+
+<p>"He was," I admitted; "but where in the world do you suppose he
+disappeared to?"</p>
+
+<p>Then came a possible explanation to my mind. I returned to the
+point at which the bear had hurled me down and peered over the edge
+of the cliff into the abyss below.</p>
+
+<p>Far, far down I saw a small brown blotch near the bottom of the
+canon. It was the bear.</p>
+
+<p>My second shot must have killed him, and so his dead body, after
+hurling me to the path, had toppled over into the abyss. I shivered
+at the thought of how close I, too, must have been to going over
+with him.</p>
+
+<p>It took us a long time to reach the carcass, and arduous labor to
+remove the great pelt. But at last the thing was accomplished,
+and we returned to camp dragging the heavy trophy behind us.</p>
+
+<p>Here we devoted another considerable period to scraping and curing
+it. When this was done to our satisfaction we made heavy boots,
+trousers, and coats of the shaggy skin, turning the fur in.</p>
+
+<p>From the scraps we fashioned caps that came down around our ears,
+with flaps that fell about our shoulders and breasts. We were now
+fairly well equipped for our search for a pass to the opposite side
+of the Mountains of the Clouds.</p>
+
+<p>Our first step now was to move our camp upward to the very edge
+of the perpetual snows which cap this lofty range. Here we built
+a snug, secure little hut, which we provisioned and stored with
+fuel for its diminutive fireplace.</p>
+
+<p>With our hut as a base we sallied forth in search of a pass across
+the range.</p>
+
+<p>Our every move was carefully noted upon our maps which we now kept
+in duplicate. By this means we were saved tedious and unnecessary
+retracing of ways already explored.</p>
+
+<p>Systematically we worked upward in both directions from our base,
+and when we had at last discovered what seemed might prove a feasible
+pass we moved our belongings to a new hut farther up.</p>
+
+<p>It was hard work—cold, bitter, cruel work. Not a step did we take
+in advance but the grim reaper strode silently in our tracks.</p>
+
+<p>There were the great cave bears in the timber, and gaunt, lean
+wolves—huge creatures twice the size of our Canadian timber-wolves.
+Farther up we were assailed by enormous white bears—hungry,
+devilish fellows, who came roaring across the rough glacier tops
+at the first glimpse of us, or stalked us stealthily by scent when
+they had not yet seen us.</p>
+
+<p>It is one of the peculiarities of life within Pellucidar that man
+is more often the hunted than the hunter. Myriad are the huge-bellied
+carnivora of this primitive world. Never, from birth to death,
+are those great bellies sufficiently filled, so always are their
+mighty owners prowling about in search of meat.</p>
+
+<p>Terribly armed for battle as they are, man presents to them
+in his primal state an easy prey, slow of foot, puny of strength,
+ill-equipped by nature with natural weapons of defense.</p>
+
+<p>The bears looked upon us as easy meat. Only our heavy rifles saved
+us from prompt extinction. Poor Perry never was a raging lion at
+heart, and I am convinced that the terrors of that awful period
+must have caused him poignant mental anguish.</p>
+
+<p>When we were abroad pushing our trail farther and farther toward
+the distant break which, we assumed, marked a feasible way across
+the range, we never knew at what second some great engine of
+clawed and fanged destruction might rush upon us from behind, or
+lie in wait for us beyond an ice-hummock or a jutting shoulder of
+the craggy steeps.</p>
+
+<p>The roar of our rifles was constantly shattering the world-old
+silence of stupendous canons upon which the eye of man had never
+before gazed. And when in the comparative safety of our hut we
+lay down to sleep the great beasts roared and fought without the
+walls, clawed and battered at the door, or rushed their colossal
+frames headlong against the hut's sides until it rocked and trembled
+to the impact.</p>
+
+<p>Yes, it was a gay life.</p>
+
+<p>Perry had got to taking stock of our ammunition each time we returned
+to the hut. It became something of an obsession with him.</p>
+
+<p>He'd count our cartridges one by one and then try to figure how
+long it would be before the last was expended and we must either
+remain in the hut until we starved to death or venture forth, empty,
+to fill the belly of some hungry bear.</p>
+
+<p>I must admit that I, too, felt worried, for our progress was
+indeed snail-like, and our ammunition could not last forever. In
+discussing the problem, finally we came to the decision to burn
+our bridges behind us and make one last supreme effort to cross
+the divide.</p>
+
+<p>It would mean that we must go without sleep for a long period, and
+with the further chance that when the time came that sleep could
+no longer be denied we might still be high in the frozen regions
+of perpetual snow and ice, where sleep would mean certain death,
+exposed as we would be to the attacks of wild beasts and without
+shelter from the hideous cold.</p>
+
+<p>But we decided that we must take these chances and so at last we
+set forth from our hut for the last time, carrying such necessities
+as we felt we could least afford to do without. The bears seemed
+unusually troublesome and determined that time, and as we clambered
+slowly upward beyond the highest point to which we had previously
+attained, the cold became infinitely more intense.</p>
+
+<p>Presently, with two great bears dogging our footsteps we entered
+a dense fog,</p>
+
+<p>We had reached the heights that are so often cloud-wrapped for long
+periods. We could see nothing a few paces beyond our noses.</p>
+
+<p>We dared not turn back into the teeth of the bears which we could
+hear grunting behind us. To meet them in this bewildering fog
+would have been to court instant death.</p>
+
+<p>Perry was almost overcome by the hopelessness of our situation.
+He flopped down on his knees and began to pray.</p>
+
+<p>It was the first time I had heard him at his old habit since my
+return to Pellucidar, and I had thought that he had given up his
+little idiosyncrasy; but he hadn't. Far from it.</p>
+
+<p>I let him pray for a short time undisturbed, and then as I was about
+to suggest that we had better be pushing along one of the bears in
+our rear let out a roar that made the earth fairly tremble beneath
+our feet.</p>
+
+<p>It brought Perry to his feet as if he had been stung by a wasp,
+and sent him racing ahead through the blinding fog at a gait that
+I knew must soon end in disaster were it not checked.</p>
+
+<p>Crevasses in the glacier-ice were far too frequent to permit
+of reckless speed even in a clear atmosphere, and then there were
+hideous precipices along the edges of which our way often led us.
+I shivered as I thought of the poor old fellow's peril.</p>
+
+<p>At the top of my lungs I called to him to stop, but he did not
+answer me. And then I hurried on in the direction he had gone,
+faster by far than safety dictated.</p>
+
+<p>For a while I thought I heard him ahead of me, but at last, though
+I paused often to listen and to call to him, I heard nothing more,
+not even the grunting of the bears that had been behind us. All
+was deathly silence—the silence of the tomb. About me lay the
+thick, impenetrable fog.</p>
+
+<p>I was alone. Perry was gone—gone forever, I had not the slightest
+doubt.</p>
+
+<p>Somewhere near by lay the mouth of a treacherous fissure, and far
+down at its icy bottom lay all that was mortal of my old friend,
+Abner Perry. There would his body he preserved in its icy sepulcher
+for countless ages, until on some far distant day the slow-moving
+river of ice had wound its snail-like way down to the warmer level,
+there to disgorge its grisly evidence of grim tragedy, and what in
+that far future age, might mean baffling mystery.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapteriii" id="chapteriii">CHAPTER III</a></h2>
+
+<h3>SHOOTING THE CHUTES—AND AFTER</h3>
+
+<p>Through the fog I felt my way along by means of my compass. I no
+longer heard the bears, nor did I encounter one within the fog.</p>
+
+<p>Experience has since taught me that these great beasts are as
+terror-stricken by this phenomenon as a landsman by a fog at sea,
+and that no sooner does a fog envelop them than they make the best
+of their way to lower levels and a clear atmosphere. It was well
+for me that this was true.</p>
+
+<p>I felt very sad and lonely as I crawled along the difficult footing.
+My own predicament weighed less heavily upon me than the loss of
+Perry, for I loved the old fellow.</p>
+
+<p>That I should ever win the opposite slopes of the range I began
+to doubt, for though I am naturally sanguine, I imagine that the
+bereavement which had befallen me had cast such a gloom over my
+spirits that I could see no slightest ray of hope for the future.</p>
+
+<p>Then, too, the blighting, gray oblivion of the cold, damp clouds
+through which I wandered was distressing. Hope thrives best in
+sunlight, and I am sure that it does not thrive at all in a fog.</p>
+
+<p>But the instinct of self-preservation is stronger than hope. It
+thrives, fortunately, upon nothing. It takes root upon the brink
+of the grave, and blossoms in the jaws of death. Now it flourished
+bravely upon the breast of dead hope, and urged me onward and upward
+in a stern endeavor to justify its existence.</p>
+
+<p>As I advanced the fog became denser. I could see nothing beyond
+my nose. Even the snow and ice I trod were invisible.</p>
+
+<p>I could not see below the breast of my bearskin coat. I seemed to
+be floating in a sea of vapor.</p>
+
+<p>To go forward over a dangerous glacier under such conditions was
+little short of madness; but I could not have stopped going had I
+known positively that death lay two paces before my nose. In the
+first place, it was too cold to stop, and in the second, I should
+have gone mad but for the excitement of the perils that beset each
+forward step.</p>
+
+<p>For some time the ground had been rougher and steeper, until I
+had been forced to scale a considerable height that had carried me
+from the glacier entirely. I was sure from my compass that I was
+following the right general direction, and so I kept on.</p>
+
+<p>Once more the ground was level. From the wind that blew about me
+I guessed that I must be upon some exposed peak of ridge.</p>
+
+<p>And then quite suddenly I stepped out into space. Wildly I turned
+and clutched at the ground that had slipped from beneath my feet.</p>
+
+<p>Only a smooth, icy surface was there. I found nothing to clutch
+or stay my fall, and a moment later so great was my speed that
+nothing could have stayed me.</p>
+
+<p>As suddenly as I had pitched into space, with equal suddenness did
+I emerge from the fog, out of which I shot like a projectile from
+a cannon into clear daylight. My speed was so great that I could
+see nothing about me but a blurred and indistinct sheet of smooth
+and frozen snow, that rushed past me with express-train velocity.</p>
+
+<p>I must have slid downward thousands of feet before the steep incline
+curved gently on to a broad, smooth, snow-covered plateau. Across
+this I hurtled with slowly diminishing velocity, until at last
+objects about me began to take definite shape.</p>
+
+<p>Far ahead, miles and miles away, I saw a great valley and mighty
+woods, and beyond these a broad expanse of water. In the nearer
+foreground I discerned a small, dark blob of color upon the shimmering
+whiteness of the snow.</p>
+
+<p>"A bear," thought I, and thanked the instinct that had impelled
+me to cling tenaciously to my rifle during the moments of my awful
+tumble.</p>
+
+<p>At the rate I was going it would be but a moment before I should be
+quite abreast the thing; nor was it long before I came to a sudden
+stop in soft snow, upon which the sun was shining, not twenty paces
+from the object of my most immediate apprehension.</p>
+
+<p>It was standing upon its hind legs waiting for me. As I scrambled
+to my feet to meet it, I dropped my gun in the snow and doubled up
+with laughter.</p>
+
+<p>It was Perry.</p>
+
+<p>The expression upon his face, combined with the relief I felt at
+seeing him again safe and sound, was too much for my overwrought
+nerves.</p>
+
+<p>"David!" he cried. "David, my boy! God has been good to an old
+man. He has answered my prayer."</p>
+
+<p>It seems that Perry in his mad flight had plunged over the brink
+at about the same point as that at which I had stepped over it
+a short time later. Chance had done for us what long periods of
+rational labor had failed to accomplish.</p>
+
+<p>We had crossed the divide. We were upon the side of the Mountains
+of the Clouds that we had for so long been attempting to reach.</p>
+
+<p>We looked about. Below us were green trees and warm jungles. In
+the distance was a great sea.</p>
+
+<p>"The Lural Az," I said, pointing toward its blue-green surface.</p>
+
+<p>Somehow—the gods alone can explain it—Perry, too, had clung to
+his rifle during his mad descent of the icy slope. For that there
+was cause for great rejoicing.</p>
+
+<p>Neither of us was worse for his experience, so after shaking the
+snow from our clothing, we set off at a great rate down toward the
+warmth and comfort of the forest and the jungle.</p>
+
+<p>The going was easy by comparison with the awful obstacles we had
+had to encounter upon the opposite side of the divide. There were
+beasts, of course, but we came through safely.</p>
+
+<p>Before we halted to eat or rest, we stood beside a little mountain
+brook beneath the wondrous trees of the primeval forest in an
+atmosphere of warmth and comfort. It reminded me of an early June
+day in the Maine Woods.</p>
+
+<p>We fell to work with our short axes and cut enough small trees to
+build a rude protection from the fiercer beasts. Then we lay down
+to sleep.</p>
+
+<p>How long we slept I do not know. Perry says that inasmuch as there
+is no means of measuring time within Pellucidar, there can be no
+such thing as time here, and that we may have slept an outer earthly
+year, or we may have slept but a second.</p>
+
+<p>But this I know. We had stuck the ends of some of the saplings
+into the ground in the building of our shelter, first stripping
+the leaves and branches from them, and when we awoke we found that
+many of them had thrust forth sprouts.</p>
+
+<p>Personally, I think that we slept at least a month; but who may
+say? The sun marked midday when we closed our eyes; it was still in
+the same position when we opened them; nor had it varied a hair's
+breadth in the interim.</p>
+
+<p>It is most baffling, this question of elapsed time within Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>Anyhow, I was famished when we awoke. I think that it was the pangs
+of hunger that awoke me. Ptarmigan and wild boar fell before my
+revolver within a dozen moments of my awakening. Perry soon had
+a roaring fire blazing by the brink of the little stream.</p>
+
+<p>It was a good and delicious meal we made. Though we did not eat the
+entire boar, we made a very large hole in him, while the ptarmigan
+was but a mouthful.</p>
+
+<p>Having satisfied our hunger, we determined to set forth at once in
+search of Anoroc and my old friend, Ja the Mezop. We each thought
+that by following the little stream downward, we should come upon
+the large river which Ja had told me emptied into the Lural Az
+opposite his island.</p>
+
+<p>We did so; nor were we disappointed, for at last after a pleasant
+journey—and what journey would not be pleasant after the hardships
+we had endured among the peaks of the Mountains of the Clouds—we
+came upon a broad flood that rushed majestically onward in the
+direction of the great sea we had seen from the snowy slopes of
+the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>For three long marches we followed the left bank of the growing
+river, until at last we saw it roll its mighty volume into the vast
+waters of the sea. Far out across the rippling ocean we described
+three islands. The one to the left must be Anoroc.</p>
+
+<p>At last we had come close to a solution of our problem—the road
+to Sari.</p>
+
+<p>But how to reach the islands was now the foremost question in our
+minds. We must build a canoe.</p>
+
+<p>Perry is a most resourceful man. He has an axiom which carries the
+thought-kernel that what man has done, man can do, and it doesn't
+cut any figure with Perry whether a fellow knows how to do it or
+not.</p>
+
+<p>He set out to make gunpowder once, shortly after our escape from
+Phutra and at the beginning of the confederation of the wild tribes
+of Pellucidar. He said that some one, without any knowledge of the
+fact that such a thing might be concocted, had once stumbled upon
+it by accident, and so he couldn't see why a fellow who knew all
+about powder except how to make it couldn't do as well.</p>
+
+<p>He worked mighty hard mixing all sorts of things together, until
+finally he evolved a substance that looked like powder. He had
+been very proud of the stuff, and had gone about the village of
+the Sarians exhibiting it to every one who would listen to him, and
+explaining what its purpose was and what terrific havoc it would
+work, until finally the natives became so terrified at the stuff
+that they wouldn't come within a rod of Perry and his invention.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, I suggested that we experiment with it and see what it
+would do, so Perry built a fire, after placing the powder at a safe
+distance, and then touched a glowing ember to a minute particle
+of the deadly explosive. It extinguished the ember.</p>
+
+<p>Repeated experiments with it determined me that in searching for
+a high explosive, Perry had stumbled upon a fire-extinguisher that
+would have made his fortune for him back in our own world.</p>
+
+<p>So now he set himself to work to build a scientific canoe. I had
+suggested that we construct a dugout, but Perry convinced me that
+we must build something more in keeping with our positions of
+supermen in this world of the Stone Age.</p>
+
+<p>"We must impress these natives with our superiority," he explained.
+"You must not forget, David, that you are emperor of Pellucidar.
+As such you may not with dignity approach the shores of a foreign
+power in so crude a vessel as a dugout."</p>
+
+<p>I pointed out to Perry that it wasn't much more incongruous for
+the emperor to cruise in a canoe, than it was for the prime minister
+to attempt to build one with his own hands.</p>
+
+<p>He had to smile at that; but in extenuation of his act he assured
+me that it was quite customary for prime ministers to give their
+personal attention to the building of imperial navies; "and this,"
+he said, "is the imperial navy of his Serene Highness, David I,
+Emperor of the Federated Kingdoms of Pellucidar."</p>
+
+<p>I grinned; but Perry was quite serious about it. It had always seemed
+rather more or less of a joke to me that I should be addressed as
+majesty and all the rest of it. Yet my imperial power and dignity
+had been a very real thing during my brief reign.</p>
+
+<p>Twenty tribes had joined the federation, and their chiefs had sworn
+eternal fealty to one another and to me. Among them were many
+powerful though savage nations. Their chiefs we had made kings;
+their tribal lands kingdoms.</p>
+
+<p>We had armed them with bows and arrows and swords, in addition to
+their own more primitive weapons. I had trained them in military
+discipline and in so much of the art of war as I had gleaned from
+extensive reading of the campaigns of Napoleon, Von Moltke, Grant,
+and the ancients.</p>
+
+<p>We had marked out as best we could natural boundaries dividing
+the various kingdoms. We had warned tribes beyond these boundaries
+that they must not trespass, and we had marched against and severely
+punished those who had.</p>
+
+<p>We had met and defeated the Mahars and the Sagoths. In short, we had
+demonstrated our rights to empire, and very rapidly were we being
+recognized and heralded abroad when my departure for the outer
+world and Hooja's treachery had set us back.</p>
+
+<p>But now I had returned. The work that fate had undone must be done
+again, and though I must need smile at my imperial honors, I none
+the less felt the weight of duty and obligation that rested upon
+my shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the imperial navy progressed toward completion. She was a
+wondrous craft, but I had my doubts about her. When I voiced them
+to Perry, he reminded me gently that my people for many generations
+had been mine-owners, not ship-builders, and consequently I couldn't
+be expected to know much about the matter.</p>
+
+<p>I was minded to inquire into his hereditary fitness to design
+battleships; but inasmuch as I already knew that his father had been
+a minister in a backwoods village far from the coast, I hesitated
+lest I offend the dear old fellow.</p>
+
+<p>He was immensely serious about his work, and I must admit that in
+so far as appearances went he did extremely well with the meager
+tools and assistance at his command. We had only two short axes
+and our hunting-knives; yet with these we hewed trees, split them
+into planks, surfaced and fitted them.</p>
+
+<p>The "navy" was some forty feet in length by ten feet beam. Her
+sides were quite straight and fully ten feet high—"for the purpose,"
+explained Perry, "of adding dignity to her appearance and rendering
+it less easy for an enemy to board her."</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, I knew that he had had in mind the safety
+of her crew under javelin-fire—the lofty sides made an admirable
+shelter. Inside she reminded me of nothing so much as a floating
+trench. There was also some slight analogy to a huge coffin.</p>
+
+<p>Her prow sloped sharply backward from the water-line—quite like a
+line of battleship. Perry had designed her more for moral effect
+upon an enemy, I think, than for any real harm she might inflict,
+and so those parts which were to show were the most imposing.</p>
+
+<p>Below the water-line she was practically non-existent. She should
+have had considerable draft; but, as the enemy couldn't have seen
+it, Perry decided to do away with it, and so made her flat-bottomed.
+It was this that caused my doubts about her.</p>
+
+<p>There was another little idiosyncrasy of design that escaped
+us both until she was about ready to launch—there was no method
+of propulsion. Her sides were far too high to permit the use of
+sweeps, and when Perry suggested that we pole her, I remonstrated
+on the grounds that it would be a most undignified and awkward
+manner of sweeping down upon the foe, even if we could find or
+wield poles that would reach to the bottom of the ocean.</p>
+
+<p>Finally I suggested that we convert her into a sailing vessel. When
+once the idea took hold Perry was most enthusiastic about it, and
+nothing would do but a four-masted, full-rigged ship.</p>
+
+<p>Again I tried to dissuade him, but he was simply crazy over the
+psychological effect which the appearance of this strange and mighty
+craft would have upon the natives of Pellucidar. So we rigged her
+with thin hides for sails and dried gut for rope.</p>
+
+<p>Neither of us knew much about sailing a full-rigged ship; but that
+didn't worry me a great deal, for I was confident that we should
+never be called upon to do so, and as the day of launching approached
+I was positive of it.</p>
+
+<p>We had built her upon a low bank of the river close to where it
+emptied into the sea, and just above high tide. Her keel we had
+laid upon several rollers cut from small trees, the ends of the
+rollers in turn resting upon parallel tracks of long saplings. Her
+stern was toward the water.</p>
+
+<p>A few hours before we were ready to launch her she made quite an
+imposing picture, for Perry had insisted upon setting every shred
+of "canvas." I told him that I didn't know much about it, but I was
+sure that at launching the hull only should have been completed,
+everything else being completed after she had floated safely.</p>
+
+<p>At the last minute there was some delay while we sought a name
+for her. I wanted her christened the Perry in honor both of her
+designer and that other great naval genius of another world, Captain
+Oliver Hazard Perry, of the United States Navy. But Perry was too
+modest; he wouldn't hear of it.</p>
+
+<p>We finally decided to establish a system in the naming of the fleet.
+Battleships of the first-class should bear the names of kingdoms
+of the federation; armored cruisers the names of kings; cruisers the
+names of cities, and so on down the line. Therefore, we decided to
+name the first battleship Sari, after the first of the federated
+kingdoms.</p>
+
+<p>The launching of the Sari proved easier than I contemplated. Perry
+wanted me to get in and break something over the bow as she floated
+out upon the bosom of the river, but I told him that I should feel
+safer on dry land until I saw which side up the Sari would float.</p>
+
+<p>I could see by the expression of the old man's face that my words
+had hurt him; but I noticed that he didn't offer to get in himself,
+and so I felt less contrition than I might otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>When we cut the ropes and removed the blocks that held the Sari in
+place she started for the water with a lunge. Before she hit it
+she was going at a reckless speed, for we had laid our tracks quite
+down to the water, greased them, and at intervals placed rollers
+all ready to receive the ship as she moved forward with stately
+dignity. But there was no dignity in the Sari.</p>
+
+<p>When she touched the surface of the river she must have been going
+twenty or thirty miles an hour. Her momentum carried her well out
+into the stream, until she came to a sudden halt at the end of the
+long line which we had had the foresight to attach to her bow and
+fasten to a large tree upon the bank.</p>
+
+<p>The moment her progress was checked she promptly capsized. Perry
+was overwhelmed. I didn't upbraid him, nor remind him that I had
+"told him so."</p>
+
+<p>His grief was so genuine and so apparent that I didn't have the
+heart to reproach him, even were I inclined to that particular sort
+of meanness.</p>
+
+<p>"Come, come, old man!" I cried. "It's not as bad as it looks.
+Give me a hand with this rope, and we'll drag her up as far as we
+can; and then when the tide goes out we'll try another scheme. I
+think we can make a go of her yet."</p>
+
+<p>Well, we managed to get her up into shallow water. When the tide
+receded she lay there on her side in the mud, quite a pitiable
+object for the premier battleship of a world—"the terror of the
+seas" was the way Perry had occasionally described her.</p>
+
+<p>We had to work fast; but before the tide came in again we had
+stripped her of her sails and masts, righted her, and filled her
+about a quarter full of rock ballast. If she didn't stick too fast
+in the mud I was sure that she would float this time right side
+up.</p>
+
+<p>I can tell you that it was with palpitating hearts that we sat upon
+the riverbank and watched that tide come slowly in. The tides
+of Pellucidar don't amount to much by comparison with our higher
+tides of the outer world, but I knew that it ought to prove ample
+to float the Sari.</p>
+
+<p>Nor was I mistaken. Finally we had the satisfaction of seeing
+the vessel rise out of the mud and float slowly upstream with the
+tide. As the water rose we pulled her in quite close to the bank
+and clambered aboard.</p>
+
+<p>She rested safely now upon an even keel; nor did she leak, for she
+was well calked with fiber and tarry pitch. We rigged up a single
+short mast and light sail, fastened planking down over the ballast
+to form a deck, worked her out into midstream with a couple of
+sweeps, and dropped our primitive stone anchor to await the turn
+of the tide that would bear us out to sea.</p>
+
+<p>While we waited we devoted the time to the construction of an
+upper deck, since the one immediately above the ballast was some
+seven feet from the gunwale. The second deck was four feet above
+this. In it was a large, commodious hatch, leading to the lower
+deck. The sides of the ship rose three feet above the upper deck,
+forming an excellent breastwork, which we loopholed at intervals
+that we might lie prone and fire upon an enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Though we were sailing out upon a peaceful mission in search of
+my friend Ja, we knew that we might meet with people of some other
+island who would prove unfriendly.</p>
+
+<p>At last the tide turned. We weighed anchor. Slowly we drifted
+down the great river toward the sea.</p>
+
+<p>About us swarmed the mighty denizens of the primeval deep—plesiosauri
+and ichthyosauria with all their horrid, slimy cousins whose names
+were as the names of aunts and uncles to Perry, but which I have
+never been able to recall an hour after having heard them.</p>
+
+<p>At last we were safely launched upon the journey to which we had
+looked forward for so long, and the results of which meant so much
+to me.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapteriv" id="chapteriv">CHAPTER IV</a></h2>
+
+<h3>FRIENDSHIP AND TREACHERY</h3>
+
+<p>The Sari proved a most erratic craft. She might have done well
+enough upon a park lagoon if safely anchored, but upon the bosom
+of a mighty ocean she left much to be desired.</p>
+
+<p>Sailing with the wind she did her best; but in quartering or when
+close-hauled she drifted terribly, as a nautical man might have
+guessed she would. We couldn't keep within miles of our course,
+and our progress was pitifully slow.</p>
+
+<p>Instead of making for the island of Anoroc, we bore far to the
+right, until it became evident that we should have to pass between
+the two right-hand islands and attempt to return toward Anoroc from
+the opposite side.</p>
+
+<p>As we neared the islands Perry was quite overcome by their beauty.
+When we were directly between two of them he fairly went into
+raptures; nor could I blame him.</p>
+
+<p>The tropical luxuriance of the foliage that dripped almost to the
+water's edge and the vivid colors of the blooms that shot the green
+made a most gorgeous spectacle.</p>
+
+<p>Perry was right in the midst of a flowery panegyric on the wonders
+of the peaceful beauty of the scene when a canoe shot out from the
+nearest island. There were a dozen warriors in it; it was quickly
+followed by a second and third.</p>
+
+<p>Of course we couldn't know the intentions of the strangers, but we
+could pretty well guess them.</p>
+
+<p>Perry wanted to man the sweeps and try to get away from them, but
+I soon convinced him that any speed of which the Sari was capable
+would be far too slow to outdistance the swift, though awkward,
+dugouts of the Mezops.</p>
+
+<p>I waited until they were quite close enough to hear me, and then I
+hailed them. I told them that we were friends of the Mezops, and
+that we were upon a visit to Ja of Anoroc, to which they replied
+that they were at war with Ja, and that if we would wait a minute
+they'd board us and throw our corpses to the azdyryths.</p>
+
+<p>I warned them that they would get the worst of it if they didn't
+leave us alone, but they only shouted in derision and paddled swiftly
+toward us. It was evident that they were considerably impressed by
+the appearance and dimensions of our craft, but as these fellows
+know no fear they were not at all awed.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing that they were determined to give battle, I leaned over the
+rail of the Sari and brought the imperial battle-squadron of the
+Emperor of Pellucidar into action for the first time in the history
+of a world. In other and simpler words, I fired my revolver at
+the nearest canoe.</p>
+
+<p>The effect was magical. A warrior rose from his knees, threw his
+paddle aloft, stiffened into rigidity for an instant, and then
+toppled overboard.</p>
+
+<p>The others ceased paddling, and, with wide eyes, looked first at
+me and then at the battling sea-things which fought for the corpse
+of their comrade. To them it must have seemed a miracle that I
+should be able to stand at thrice the range of the most powerful
+javelin-thrower and with a loud noise and a smudge of smoke slay
+one of their number with an invisible missile.</p>
+
+<p>But only for an instant were they paralyzed with wonder. Then,
+with savage shouts, they fell once more to their paddles and forged
+rapidly toward us.</p>
+
+<p>Again and again I fired. At each shot a warrior sank to the bottom
+of the canoe or tumbled overboard.</p>
+
+<p>When the prow of the first craft touched the side of the Sari
+it contained only dead and dying men. The other two dugouts were
+approaching rapidly, so I turned my attention toward them.</p>
+
+<p>I think that they must have been commencing to have some doubts—those
+wild, naked, red warriors—for when the first man fell in the
+second boat, the others stopped paddling and commenced to jabber
+among themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The third boat pulled up alongside the second and its crews joined
+in the conference. Taking advantage of the lull in the battle, I
+called out to the survivors to return to their shore.</p>
+
+<p>"I have no fight with you," I cried, and then I told them who I
+was and added that if they would live in peace they must sooner or
+later join forces with me.</p>
+
+<p>"Go back now to your people," I counseled them, "and tell them
+that you have seen David I, Emperor of the Federated Kingdoms of
+Pellucidar, and that single-handed he has overcome you, just as
+be intends overcoming the Mahars and the Sagoths and any other
+peoples of Pellucidar who threaten the peace and welfare of his
+empire."</p>
+
+<p>Slowly they turned the noses of their canoes toward land. It was
+evident that they were impressed; yet that they were loath to give
+up without further contesting my claim to naval supremacy was
+also apparent, for some of their number seemed to be exhorting the
+others to a renewal of the conflict.</p>
+
+<p>However, at last they drew slowly away, and the Sari, which had not
+decreased her snail-like speed during this, her first engagement,
+continued upon her slow, uneven way.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Perry stuck his head up through the hatch and hailed me.</p>
+
+<p>"Have the scoundrels departed?" he asked. "Have you killed them
+all?"</p>
+
+<p>"Those whom I failed to kill have departed, Perry," I replied.</p>
+
+<p>He came out on deck and, peering over the side, descried the lone
+canoe floating a short distance astern with its grim and grisly
+freight. Farther his eyes wandered to the retreating boats.</p>
+
+<p>"David," said he at last, "this is a notable occasion. It is a great
+day in the annals of Pellucidar. We have won a glorious victory.</p>
+
+<p>"Your majesty's navy has routed a fleet of the enemy thrice its
+own size, manned by ten times as many men. Let us give thanks."</p>
+
+<p>I could scarce restrain a smile at Perry's use of the pronoun "we,"
+yet I was glad to share the rejoicing with him as I shall always
+be glad to share everything with the dear old fellow.</p>
+
+<p>Perry is the only male coward I have ever known whom I could respect
+and love. He was not created for fighting; but I think that if
+the occasion should ever arise where it became necessary he would
+give his life cheerfully for me—yes, I KNOW it.</p>
+
+<p>It took us a long time to work around the islands and draw in close
+to Anoroc. In the leisure afforded we took turns working on our
+map, and by means of the compass and a little guesswork we set down
+the shoreline we had left and the three islands with fair accuracy.</p>
+
+<p>Crossed sabers marked the spot where the first great naval engagement
+of a world had taken place. In a notebook we jotted down, as had
+been our custom, details that would be of historical value later.</p>
+
+<p>Opposite Anoroc we came to anchor quite close to shore. I knew
+from my previous experience with the tortuous trails of the island
+that I could never find my way inland to the hidden tree-village
+of the Mezop chieftain, Ja; so we remained aboard the Sari, firing
+our express rifles at intervals to attract the attention of the
+natives.</p>
+
+<p>After some ten shots had been fired at considerable intervals a body
+of copper-colored warriors appeared upon the shore. They watched
+us for a moment and then I hailed them, asking the whereabouts of
+my old friend Ja.</p>
+
+<p>They did not reply at once, but stood with their heads together
+in serious and animated discussion. Continually they turned their
+eyes toward our strange craft. It was evident that they were greatly
+puzzled by our appearance as well as unable to explain the source
+of the loud noises that had attracted their attention to us. At
+last one of the warriors addressed us.</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you who seek Ja?" he asked. "What would you of our chief?"</p>
+
+<p>"We are friends," I replied. "I am David. Tell Ja that David,
+whose life be once saved from a sithic, has come again to visit
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"If you will send out a canoe we will come ashore. We cannot bring
+our great warship closer in."</p>
+
+<p>Again they talked for a considerable time. Then two of them entered
+a canoe that several dragged from its hiding-place in the jungle
+and paddled swiftly toward us.</p>
+
+<p>They were magnificent specimens of manhood. Perry had never seen
+a member of this red race close to before. In fact, the dead men
+in the canoe we had left astern after the battle and the survivors
+who were paddling rapidly toward their shore were the first he ever
+had seen. He had been greatly impressed by their physical beauty
+and the promise of superior intelligence which their well-shaped
+skulls gave.</p>
+
+<p>The two who now paddled out received us into their canoe with
+dignified courtesy. To my inquiries relative to Ja they explained
+that he had not been in the village when our signals were heard,
+but that runners had been sent out after him and that doubtless he
+was already upon his way to the coast.</p>
+
+<p>One of the men remembered me from the occasion of my former visit
+to the island; he was extremely agreeable the moment that he came
+close enough to recognize me. He said that Ja would be delighted to
+welcome me, and that all the tribe of Anoroc knew of me by repute,
+and had received explicit instructions from their chieftain that
+if any of them should ever come upon me to show me every kindness
+and attention.</p>
+
+<p>Upon shore we were received with equal honor. While we stood
+conversing with our bronze friends a tall warrior leaped suddenly
+from the jungle.</p>
+
+<p>It was Ja. As his eyes fell upon me his face lighted with pleasure.
+He came quickly forward to greet me after the manner of his tribe.</p>
+
+<p>Toward Perry he was equally hospitable. The old man fell in love
+with the savage giant as completely as had I. Ja conducted us along
+the maze-like trail to his strange village, where he gave over one
+of the tree-houses for our exclusive use.</p>
+
+<p>Perry was much interested in the unique habitation, which resembled
+nothing so much as a huge wasp's nest built around the bole of a
+tree well above the ground.</p>
+
+<p>After we had eaten and rested Ja came to see us with a number of
+his head men. They listened attentively to my story, which included
+a narrative of the events leading to the formation of the federated
+kingdoms, the battle with the Mahars, my journey to the outer world,
+and my return to Pellucidar and search for Sari and my mate.</p>
+
+<p>Ja told me that the Mezops had heard something of the federation
+and had been much interested in it. He had even gone so far as to
+send a party of warriors toward Sari to investigate the reports,
+and to arrange for the entrance of Anoroc into the empire in case
+it appeared that there was any truth in the rumors that one of
+the aims of the federation was the overthrow of the Mahars.</p>
+
+<p>The delegation had met with a party of Sagoths. As there had been
+a truce between the Mahars and the Mezops for many generations,
+they camped with these warriors of the reptiles, from whom they
+learned that the federation had gone to pieces. So the party
+returned to Anoroc.</p>
+
+<p>When I showed Ja our map and explained its purpose to him, he was
+much interested. The location of Anoroc, the Mountains of the
+Clouds, the river, and the strip of seacoast were all familiar to
+him.</p>
+
+<p>He quickly indicated the position of the inland sea and close beside
+it, the city of Phutra, where one of the powerful Mahar nations had
+its seat. He likewise showed us where Sari should be and carried
+his own coastline as far north and south as it was known to him.</p>
+
+<p>His additions to the map convinced us that Greenwich lay upon
+the verge of this same sea, and that it might be reached by water
+more easily than by the arduous crossing of the mountains or the
+dangerous approach through Phutra, which lay almost directly in
+line between Anoroc and Greenwich to the northwest.</p>
+
+<p>If Sari lay upon the same water then the shoreline must bend far
+back toward the southwest of Greenwich—an assumption which, by
+the way, we found later to be true. Also, Sari was upon a lofty
+plateau at the southern end of a mighty gulf of the Great Ocean.</p>
+
+<p>The location which Ja gave to distant Amoz puzzled us, for it
+placed it due north of Greenwich, apparently in mid-ocean. As Ja
+had never been so far and knew only of Amoz through hearsay, we
+thought that he must be mistaken; but he was not. Amoz lies directly
+north of Greenwich across the mouth of the same gulf as that upon
+which Sari is.</p>
+
+<p>The sense of direction and location of these primitive Pellucidarians
+is little short of uncanny, as I have had occasion to remark in
+the past. You may take one of them to the uttermost ends of his
+world, to places of which he has never even heard, yet without
+sun or moon or stars to guide him, without map or compass, he will
+travel straight for home in the shortest direction.</p>
+
+<p>Mountains, rivers, and seas may have to be gone around. but never
+once does his sense of direction fail him—the homing instinct is
+supreme.</p>
+
+<p>In the same remarkable way they never forget the location of any
+place to which they have ever been, and know that of many of which
+they have only heard from others who have visited them.</p>
+
+<p>In short, each Pellucidarian is a walking geography of his own
+district and of much of the country contiguous thereto. It always
+proved of the greatest aid to Perry and me; nevertheless we were
+anxious to enlarge our map, for we at least were not endowed with
+the homing instinct.</p>
+
+<p>After several long councils it was decided that, in order to expedite
+matters, Perry should return to the prospector with a strong party
+of Mezops and fetch the freight I had brought from the outer world.
+Ja and his warriors were much impressed by our firearms, and were
+also anxious to build boats with sails.</p>
+
+<p>As we had arms at the prospector and also books on boat-building
+we thought that it might prove an excellent idea to start these
+naturally maritime people upon the construction of a well built
+navy of staunch sailing-vessels. I was sure that with definite
+plans to go by Perry could oversee the construction of an adequate
+flotilla.</p>
+
+<p>I warned him, however, not to be too ambitious, and to forget about
+dreadnoughts and armored cruisers for a while and build instead a
+few small sailing-boats that could be manned by four or five men.</p>
+
+<p>I was to proceed to Sari, and while prosecuting my search for Dian
+attempt at the same time the rehabilitation of the federation.
+Perry was going as far as possible by water, with the chances that
+the entire trip might be made in that manner, which proved to be
+the fact.</p>
+
+<p>With a couple of Mezops as companions I started for Sari. In order
+to avoid crossing the principal range of the Mountains of the Clouds
+we took a route that passed a little way south of Phutra. We had
+eaten four times and slept once, and were, as my companions told
+me, not far from the great Mahar city, when we were suddenly
+confronted by a considerable band of Sagoths.</p>
+
+<p>They did not attack us, owing to the peace which exists between
+the Mahars and the Mezops, but I could see that they looked upon
+me with considerable suspicion. My friends told them that I was
+a stranger from a remote country, and as we had previously planned
+against such a contingency I pretended ignorance of the language
+which the human beings of Pellucidar employ in conversing with
+the gorilla-like soldiery of the Mahars.</p>
+
+<p>I noticed, and not without misgivings, that the leader of the Sagoths
+eyed me with an expression that betokened partial recognition.
+I was sure that he had seen me before during the period of my
+incarceration in Phutra and that he was trying to recall my identity.</p>
+
+<p>It worried me not a little. I was extremely thankful when we bade
+them adieu and continued upon our journey.</p>
+
+<p>Several times during the next few marches I became acutely conscious
+of the sensation of being watched by unseen eyes, but I did not
+speak of my suspicions to my companions. Later I had reason to
+regret my reticence, for—</p>
+
+<p>Well, this is how it happened:</p>
+
+<p>We had killed an antelope and after eating our fill I had lain down
+to sleep. The Pellucidarians, who seem seldom if ever to require
+sleep, joined me in this instance, for we had had a very trying
+march along the northern foothills of the Mountains of the Clouds,
+and now with their bellies filled with meat they seemed ready for
+slumber.</p>
+
+<p>When I awoke it was with a start to find a couple of huge Sagoths
+astride me. They pinioned my arms and legs, and later chained my
+wrists behind my back. Then they let me up.</p>
+
+<p>I saw my companions; the brave fellows lay dead where they had
+slept, javelined to death without a chance at self-defense.</p>
+
+<p>I was furious. I threatened the Sagoth leader with all sorts of
+dire reprisals; but when he heard me speak the hybrid language that
+is the medium of communication between his kind and the human race
+of the inner world he only grinned, as much as to say, "I thought
+so!"</p>
+
+<p>They had not taken my revolvers or ammunition away from me because
+they did not know what they were; but my heavy rifle I had lost.
+They simply left it where it had lain beside me.</p>
+
+<p>So low in the scale of intelligence are they, that they had not
+sufficient interest in this strange object even to fetch it along
+with them.</p>
+
+<p>I knew from the direction of our march that they were taking me
+to Phutra. Once there I did not need much of an imagination to
+picture what my fate would be. It was the arena and a wild thag or
+fierce tarag for me—unless the Mahars elected to take me to the
+pits.</p>
+
+<p>In that case my end would be no more certain, though infinitely
+more horrible and painful, for in the pits I should be subjected
+to cruel vivisection. From what I had once seen of their methods
+in the pits of Phutra I knew them to be the opposite of merciful,
+whereas in the arena I should be quickly despatched by some savage
+beast.</p>
+
+<p>Arrived at the underground city, I was taken immediately before
+a slimy Mahar. When the creature had received the report of the
+Sagoth its cold eyes glistened with malice and hatred as they were
+turned balefully upon me.</p>
+
+<p>I knew then that my identity had been guessed. With a show of
+excitement that I had never before seen evinced by a member of the
+dominant race of Pellucidar, the Mahar hustled me away, heavily
+guarded, through the main avenue of the city to one of the principal
+buildings.</p>
+
+<p>Here we were ushered into a great hall where presently many Mahars
+gathered.</p>
+
+<p>In utter silence they conversed, for they have no oral speech since
+they are without auditory nerves. Their method of communication
+Perry has likened to the projection of a sixth sense into a fourth
+dimension, where it becomes cognizable to the sixth sense of their
+audience.</p>
+
+<p>Be that as it may, however, it was evident that I was the subject
+of discussion, and from the hateful looks bestowed upon me not a
+particularly pleasant subject.</p>
+
+<p>How long I waited for their decision I do not know, but it must
+have been a very long time. Finally one of the Sagoths addressed
+me. He was acting as interpreter for his masters.</p>
+
+<p>"The Mahars will spare your life," he said, "and release you on
+one condition."</p>
+
+<p>"And what is that condition?" I asked, though I could guess its
+terms.</p>
+
+<p>"That you return to them that which you stole from the pits of
+Phutra when you killed the four Mahars and escaped," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>I had thought that that would be it. The great secret upon which
+depended the continuance of the Mahar race was safely hid where
+only Dian and I knew.</p>
+
+<p>I ventured to imagine that they would have given me much more than
+my liberty to have it safely in their keeping again; but after
+that—what?</p>
+
+<p>Would they keep their promises?</p>
+
+<p>I doubted it. With the secret of artificial propagation once more
+in their hands their numbers would soon be made so to overrun the
+world of Pellucidar that there could be no hope for the eventual
+supremacy of the human race, the cause for which I so devoutly
+hoped, for which I had consecrated my life, and for which I was
+not willing to give my life.</p>
+
+<p>Yes! In that moment as I stood before the heartless tribunal I felt
+that my life would be a very little thing to give could it save
+to the human race of Pellucidar the chance to come into its own by
+insuring the eventual extinction of the hated, powerful Mahars.</p>
+
+<p>"Come!" exclaimed the Sagoths. "The mighty Mahars await your
+reply."</p>
+
+<p>"You may say to them," I answered, "that I shall not tell them
+where the great secret is hid."</p>
+
+<p>When this had been translated to them there was a great beating of
+reptilian wings, gaping of sharp-fanged jaws, and hideous hissing.
+I thought that they were about to fall upon me on the spot, and so
+I laid my hands upon my revolvers; but at length they became more
+quiet and presently transmitted some command to my Sagoth guard,
+the chief of which laid a heavy hand upon my arm and pushed me
+roughly before him from the audience-chamber.</p>
+
+<p>They took me to the pits, where I lay carefully guarded. I was
+sure that I was to be taken to the vivisection laboratory, and
+it required all my courage to fortify myself against the terrors
+of so fearful a death. In Pellucidar, where there is no time,
+death-agonies may endure for eternities.</p>
+
+<p>Accordingly, I had to steel myself against an endless doom, which
+now stared me in the face!</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterv" id="chapterv">CHAPTER V</a></h2>
+
+<h3>SURPRISES</h3>
+
+<p>But at last the allotted moment arrived—the moment for which I
+had been trying to prepare myself, for how long I could not even
+guess. A great Sagoth came and spoke some words of command to
+those who watched over me. I was jerked roughly to my feet and
+with little consideration hustled upward toward the higher levels.</p>
+
+<p>Out into the broad avenue they conducted me, where, amid huge
+throngs of Mahars, Sagoths, and heavily guarded slaves, I was led,
+or, rather, pushed and shoved roughly, along in the same direction
+that the mob moved. I had seen such a concourse of people once
+before in the buried city of Phutra; I guessed, and rightly, that
+we were bound for the great arena where slaves who are condemned
+to death meet their end.</p>
+
+<p>Into the vast amphitheater they took me, stationing me at the
+extreme end of the arena. The queen came, with her slimy, sickening
+retinue. The seats were filled. The show was about to commence.</p>
+
+<p>Then, from a little doorway in the opposite end of the structure,
+a girl was led into the arena. She was at a considerable distance
+from me. I could not see her features.</p>
+
+<p>I wondered what fate awaited this other poor victim and myself,
+and why they had chosen to have us die together. My own fate, or
+rather, my thought of it, was submerged in the natural pity I felt
+for this lone girl, doomed to die horribly beneath the cold, cruel
+eyes of her awful captors. Of what crime could she be guilty that
+she must expiate it in the dreaded arena?</p>
+
+<p>As I stood thus thinking, another door, this time at one of the
+long sides of the arena, was thrown open, and into the theater of
+death slunk a mighty tarag, the huge cave tiger of the Stone Age.
+At my sides were my revolvers. My captors had not taken them from
+me, because they did not yet realize their nature. Doubtless they
+thought them some strange manner of war-club, and as those who are
+condemned to the arena are permitted weapons of defense, they let
+me keep them.</p>
+
+<p>The girl they had armed with a javelin. A brass pin would have been
+almost as effective against the ferocious monster they had loosed
+upon her.</p>
+
+<p>The tarag stood for a moment looking about him—first up at the
+vast audience and then about the arena. He did not seem to see me
+at all, but his eyes fell presently upon the girl. A hideous roar
+broke from his titanic lungs—a roar which ended in a long-drawn
+scream that is more human than the death-cry of a tortured woman—more
+human but more awesome. I could scarce restrain a shudder.</p>
+
+<p>Slowly the beast turned and moved toward the girl. Then it was
+that I came to myself and to a realization of my duty. Quickly and
+as noiselessly as possible I ran down the arena in pursuit of the
+grim creature. As I ran I drew one of my pitifully futile weapons.
+Ah! Could I but have had my lost express-gun in my hands at that
+moment! A single well-placed shot would have crumbled even this
+great monster. The best I could hope to accomplish was to divert
+the thing from the girl to myself and then to place as many bullets
+as possible in it before it reached and mauled me into insensibility
+and death.</p>
+
+<p>There is a certain unwritten law of the arena that vouchsafes freedom
+and immunity to the victor, be he beast or human being—both of
+whom, by the way, are all the same to the Mahar. That is, they
+were accustomed to look upon man as a lower animal before Perry
+and I broke through the Pellucidarian crust, but I imagine that
+they were beginning to alter their views a trifle and to realize
+that in the gilak—their word for human being—they had a highly
+organized, reasoning being to contend with.</p>
+
+<p>Be that as it may, the chances were that the tarag alone would
+profit by the law of the arena. A few more of his long strides,
+a prodigious leap, and he would be upon the girl. I raised
+a revolver and fired. The bullet struck him in the left hind leg.
+It couldn't have damaged him much; but the report of the shot
+brought him around, facing me.</p>
+
+<p>I think the snarling visage of a huge, enraged, saber-toothed tiger
+is one of the most terrible sights in the world. Especially if
+he be snarling at you and there be nothing between the two of you
+but bare sand.</p>
+
+<p>Even as he faced me a little cry from the girl carried my eyes
+beyond the brute to her face. Hers was fastened upon me with an
+expression of incredulity that baffles description. There was both
+hope and horror in them, too.</p>
+
+<p>"Dian!" I cried. "My Heavens, Dian!"</p>
+
+<p>I saw her lips form the name David, as with raised javelin she
+rushed forward upon the tarag. She was a tigress then—a primitive
+savage female defending her loved one. Before she could reach the
+beast with her puny weapon, I fired again at the point where the
+tarag's neck met his left shoulder. If I could get a bullet through
+there it might reach his heart. The bullet didn't reach his heart,
+but it stopped him for an instant.</p>
+
+<p>It was then that a strange thing happened. I heard a great hissing
+from the stands occupied by the Mahars, and as I glanced toward
+them I saw three mighty thipdars—the winged dragons that guard the
+queen, or, as Perry calls them, pterodactyls—rise swiftly from
+their rocks and dart lightning-like, toward the center of the arena.
+They are huge, powerful reptiles. One of them, with the advantage
+which his wings might give him, would easily be a match for a cave
+bear or a tarag.</p>
+
+<p>These three, to my consternation, swooped down upon the tarag as
+he was gathering himself for a final charge upon me. They buried
+their talons in his back and lifted him bodily from the arena as
+if he had been a chicken in the clutches of a hawk.</p>
+
+<p>What could it mean?</p>
+
+<p>I was baffled for an explanation; but with the tarag gone I lost
+no time in hastening to Dian's side. With a little cry of delight
+she threw herself into my arms. So lost were we in the ecstasy of
+reunion that neither of us—to this day—can tell what became of
+the tarag.</p>
+
+<p>The first thing we were aware of was the presence of a body of
+Sagoths about us. Gruffly they commanded us to follow them. They
+led us from the arena and back through the streets of Phutra to the
+audience chamber in which I had been tried and sentenced. Here we
+found ourselves facing the same cold, cruel tribunal.</p>
+
+<p>Again a Sagoth acted as interpreter. He explained that our lives
+bad been spared because at the last moment Tu-al-sa had returned
+to Phutra, and seeing me in the arena had prevailed upon the queen
+to spare my life.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is Tu-al-sa?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"A Mahar whose last male ancestor was—ages ago—the last of the
+male rulers among the Mahars," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Why should she wish to have my life spared?"</p>
+
+<p>He shrugged his shoulders and then repeated my question to the
+Mahar spokesman. When the latter had explained in the strange
+sign-language that passes for speech between the Mahars and their
+fighting men the Sagoth turned again to me:</p>
+
+<p>"For a long time you had Tu-al-sa in your power," he explained.
+"You might easily have killed her or abandoned her in a strange
+world—but you did neither. You did not harm her, and you brought
+her back with you to Pellucidar and set her free to return to
+Phutra. This is your reward."</p>
+
+<p>Now I understood. The Mahar who had been my involuntary companion
+upon my return to the outer world was Tu-al-sa. This was the first
+time that I had learned the lady's name. I thanked fate that I
+had not left her upon the sands of the Sahara—or put a bullet in
+her, as I had been tempted to do. I was surprised to discover that
+gratitude was a characteristic of the dominant race of Pellucidar.
+I could never think of them as aught but cold-blooded, brainless
+reptiles, though Perry had devoted much time in explaining to me
+that owing to a strange freak of evolution among all the genera
+of the inner world, this species of the reptilia had advanced to
+a position quite analogous to that which man holds upon the outer
+crust.</p>
+
+<p>He had often told me that there was every reason to believe from their
+writings, which he had learned to read while we were incarcerated
+in Phutra, that they were a just race, and that in certain branches
+of science and arts they were quite well advanced, especially in
+genetics and metaphysics, engineering and architecture.</p>
+
+<p>While it had always been difficult for me to look upon these things
+as other than slimy, winged crocodiles—which, by the way, they do
+not at all resemble—I was now forced to a realization of the fact
+that I was in the hands of enlightened creatures—for justice and
+gratitude are certain hallmarks of rationality and culture.</p>
+
+<p>But what they purposed for us further was of most imminent interest
+to me. They might save us from the tarag and yet not free us.
+They looked upon us yet, to some extent, I knew, as creatures of
+a lower order, and so as we are unable to place ourselves in the
+position of the brutes we enslave—thinking that they are happier
+in bondage than in the free fulfilment of the purposes for which
+nature intended them—the Mahars, too, might consider our welfare
+better conserved in captivity than among the dangers of the savage
+freedom we craved. Naturally, I was next impelled to inquire their
+further intent.</p>
+
+<p>To my question, put through the Sagoth interpreter, I received the
+reply that having spared my life they considered that Tu-al-sa's
+debt of gratitude was canceled. They still had against me, however,
+the crime of which I had been guilty—the unforgivable crime of
+stealing the great secret. They, therefore, intended holding Dian
+and me prisoners until the manuscript was returned to them.</p>
+
+<p>They would, they said, send an escort of Sagoths with me to fetch
+the precious document from its hiding-place, keeping Dian at Phutra
+as a hostage and releasing us both the moment that the document
+was safely restored to their queen.</p>
+
+<p>There was no doubt but that they had the upper hand. However,
+there was so much more at stake than the liberty or even the lives
+of Dian and myself, that I did not deem it expedient to accept
+their offer without giving the matter careful thought.</p>
+
+<p>Without the great secret this maleless race must eventually become
+extinct. For ages they had fertilized their eggs by an artificial
+process, the secret of which lay hidden in the little cave of
+a far-off valley where Dian and I had spent our honeymoon. I was
+none too sure that I could find the valley again, nor that I cared
+to. So long as the powerful reptilian race of Pellucidar continued
+to propagate, just so long would the position of man within the
+inner world be jeopardized. There could not be two dominant races.</p>
+
+<p>I said as much to Dian.</p>
+
+<p>"You used to tell me," she replied, "of the wonderful things you
+could accomplish with the inventions of your own world. Now you
+have returned with all that is necessary to place this great power
+in the hands of the men of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>"You told me of great engines of destruction which would cast a
+bursting ball of metal among our enemies, killing hundreds of them
+at one time.</p>
+
+<p>"You told me of mighty fortresses of stone which a thousand men
+armed with big and little engines such as these could hold forever
+against a million Sagoths.</p>
+
+<p>"You told me of great canoes which moved across the water without
+paddles, and which spat death from holes in their sides.</p>
+
+<p>"All these may now belong to the men of Pellucidar. Why should we
+fear the Mahars?</p>
+
+<p>"Let them breed! Let their numbers increase by thousands. They
+will be helpless before the power of the Emperor of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>"But if you remain a prisoner in Phutra, what may we accomplish?</p>
+
+<p>"What could the men of Pellucidar do without you to lead them?</p>
+
+<p>"They would fight among themselves, and while they fought the
+Mahars would fall upon them, and even though the Mahar race should
+die out, of what value would the emancipation of the human race be
+to them without the knowledge, which you alone may wield, to guide
+them toward the wonderful civilization of which you have told me
+so much that I long for its comforts and luxuries as I never before
+longed for anything.</p>
+
+<p>"No, David; the Mahars cannot harm us if you are at liberty. Let
+them have their secret that you and I may return to our people,
+and lead them to the conquest of all Pellucidar."</p>
+
+<p>It was plain that Dian was ambitious, and that her ambition had not
+dulled her reasoning faculties. She was right. Nothing could be
+gained by remaining bottled up in Phutra for the rest of our lives.</p>
+
+<p>It was true that Perry might do much with the contents of the
+prospector, or iron mole, in which I had brought down the implements
+of outer-world civilization; but Perry was a man of peace. He
+could never weld the warring factions of the disrupted federation.
+He could never win new tribes to the empire. He would fiddle around
+manufacturing gun-powder and trying to improve upon it until some
+one blew him up with his own invention. He wasn't practical. He
+never would get anywhere without a balance-wheel—without some one
+to direct his energies.</p>
+
+<p>Perry needed me and I needed him. If we were going to do anything
+for Pellucidar we must be free to do it together.</p>
+
+<p>The outcome of it all was that I agreed to the Mahars' proposition.
+They promised that Dian would be well treated and protected from
+every indignity during my absence. So I set out with a hundred
+Sagoths in search of the little valley which I had stumbled upon
+by accident, and which I might and might not find again.</p>
+
+<p>We traveled directly toward Sari. Stopping at the camp where I had
+been captured I recovered my express rifle, for which I was very
+thankful. I found it lying where I had left it when I had been
+overpowered in my sleep by the Sagoths who bad captured me and
+slain my Mezop companions.</p>
+
+<p>On the way I added materially to my map, an occupation which did
+not elicit from the Sagoths even a shadow of interest. I felt
+that the human race of Pellucidar had little to fear from these
+gorilla-men. They were fighters—that was all. We might even use
+them later ourselves in this same capacity. They had not sufficient
+brain power to constitute a menace to the advancement of the human
+race.</p>
+
+<p>As we neared the spot where I hoped to find the little valley
+I became more and more confident of success. Every landmark was
+familiar to me, and I was sure now that I knew the exact location
+of the cave.</p>
+
+<p>It was at about this time that I sighted a number of the half-naked
+warriors of the human race of Pellucidar. They were marching across
+our front. At sight of us they halted; that there would be a fight
+I could not doubt. These Sagoths would never permit an opportunity
+for the capture of slaves for their Mahar masters to escape them.</p>
+
+<p>I saw that the men were armed with bows and arrows, long lances
+and swords, so I guessed that they must have been members of the
+federation, for only my people had been thus equipped. Before
+Perry and I came the men of Pellucidar had only the crudest weapons
+wherewith to slay one another.</p>
+
+<p>The Sagoths, too, were evidently expecting battle. With savage
+shouts they rushed forward toward the human warriors.</p>
+
+<p>Then a strange thing happened. The leader of the human beings
+stepped forward with upraised hands. The Sagoths ceased their
+war-cries and advanced slowly to meet him. There was a long parley
+during which I could see that I was often the subject of their
+discourse. The Sagoths' leader pointed in the direction in which
+I had told him the valley lay. Evidently he was explaining the
+nature of our expedition to the leader of the warriors. It was
+all a puzzle to me.</p>
+
+<p>What human being could be upon such excellent terms with the
+gorilla-men?</p>
+
+<p>I couldn't imagine. I tried to get a good look at the fellow,
+but the Sagoths had left me in the rear with a guard when they
+had advanced to battle, and the distance was too great for me to
+recognize the features of any of the human beings.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the parley was concluded and the men continued on their
+way while the Sagoths returned to where I stood with my guard. It
+was time for eating, so we stopped where we were and made our meal.
+The Sagoths didn't tell me who it was they had met, and I did not
+ask, though I must confess that I was quite curious.</p>
+
+<p>They permitted me to sleep at this halt. Afterward we took up the
+last leg of our journey. I found the valley without difficulty
+and led my guard directly to the cave. At its mouth the Sagoths
+halted and I entered alone.</p>
+
+<p>I noticed as I felt about the floor in the dim light that there
+was a pile of fresh-turned rubble there. Presently my hands came
+to the spot where the great secret had been buried. There was a
+cavity where I had carefully smoothed the earth over the hiding-place
+of the document—the manuscript was gone!</p>
+
+<p>Frantically I searched the whole interior of the cave several times
+over, but without other result than a complete confirmation of
+my worst fears. Someone had been here ahead of me and stolen the
+great secret.</p>
+
+<p>The one thing within Pellucidar which might free Dian and me was
+gone, nor was it likely that I should ever learn its whereabouts.
+If a Mahar had found it, which was quite improbable, the chances
+were that the dominant race would never divulge the fact that they
+had recovered the precious document. If a cave man had happened
+upon it he would have no conception of its meaning or value, and
+as a consequence it would be lost or destroyed in short order.</p>
+
+<p>With bowed head and broken hopes I came out of the cave and told
+the Sagoth chieftain what I had discovered. It didn't mean much
+to the fellow, who doubtless had but little better idea of the
+contents of the document I had been sent to fetch to his masters
+than would the cave man who in all probability had discovered it.</p>
+
+<p>The Sagoth knew only that I had failed in my mission, so he took
+advantage of the fact to make the return journey to Phutra as
+disagreeable as possible. I did not rebel, though I had with me
+the means to destroy them all. I did not dare rebel because of
+the consequences to Dian. I intended demanding her release on the
+grounds that she was in no way guilty of the theft, and that my
+failure to recover the document had not lessened the value of the
+good faith I had had in offering to do so. The Mahars might keep
+me in slavery if they chose, but Dian should be returned safely to
+her people.</p>
+
+<p>I was full of my scheme when we entered Phutra and I was conducted
+directly to the great audience-chamber. The Mahars listened to the
+report of the Sagoth chieftain, and so difficult is it to judge
+their emotions from their almost expressionless countenance, that
+I was at a loss to know how terrible might be their wrath as they
+learned that their great secret, upon which rested the fate of
+their race, might now be irretrievably lost.</p>
+
+<p>Presently I could see that she who presided was communicating
+something to the Sagoth interpreter—doubtless something to be
+transmitted to me which might give me a forewarning of the fate
+which lay in store for me. One thing I had decided definitely: If
+they would not free Dian I should turn loose upon Phutra with my
+little arsenal. Alone I might even win to freedom, and if I could
+learn where Dian was imprisoned it would be worth the attempt to
+free her. My thoughts were interrupted by the interpreter.</p>
+
+<p>"The mighty Mahars," he said, "are unable to reconcile your statement
+that the document is lost with your action in sending it to them
+by a special messenger. They wish to know if you have so soon
+forgotten the truth or if you are merely ignoring it."</p>
+
+<p>"I sent them no document," I cried. "Ask them what they mean."</p>
+
+<p>"They say," he went on after conversing with the Mahar for a moment,
+"that just before your return to Phutra, Hooja the Sly One came,
+bringing the great secret with him. He said that you had sent him
+ahead with it, asking him to deliver it and return to Sari where
+you would await him, bringing the girl with him."</p>
+
+<p>"Dian?" I gasped. "The Mahars have given over Dian into the keeping
+of Hooja."</p>
+
+<p>"Surely," he replied. "What of it? She is only a gilak," as you
+or I would say, "She is only a cow."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chaptervi" id="chaptervi">CHAPTER VI</a></h2>
+
+<h3>A PENDENT WORLD</h3>
+
+<p>The Mahars set me free as they had promised, but with strict
+injunctions never to approach Phutra or any other Mahar city. They
+also made it perfectly plain that they considered me a dangerous
+creature, and that having wiped the slate clean in so far as they
+were under obligations to me, they now considered me fair prey.
+Should I again fall into their hands, they intimated it would go
+ill with me.</p>
+
+<p>They would not tell me in which direction Hooja had set forth with
+Dian, so I departed from Phutra, filled with bitterness against
+the Mahars, and rage toward the Sly One who had once again robbed
+me of my greatest treasure.</p>
+
+<p>At first I was minded to go directly back to Anoroc; but upon second
+thought turned my face toward Sari, as I felt that somewhere in
+that direction Hooja would travel, his own country lying in that
+general direction.</p>
+
+<p>Of my journey to Sari it is only necessary to say that it was
+fraught with the usual excitement and adventure, incident to all
+travel across the face of savage Pellucidar. The dangers, however,
+were greatly reduced through the medium of my armament. I often
+wondered how it had happened that I had ever survived the first ten
+years of my life within the inner world, when, naked and primitively
+armed, I had traversed great areas of her beast-ridden surface.</p>
+
+<p>With the aid of my map, which I had kept with great care during my
+march with the Sagoths in search of the great secret, I arrived at
+Sari at last. As I topped the lofty plateau in whose rocky cliffs
+the principal tribe of Sarians find their cave-homes, a great hue
+and cry arose from those who first discovered me.</p>
+
+<p>Like wasps from their nests the hairy warriors poured from their
+caves. The bows with their poison-tipped arrows, which I had
+taught them to fashion and to use, were raised against me. Swords
+of hammered iron—another of my innovations—menaced me, as with
+lusty shouts the horde charged down.</p>
+
+<p>It was a critical moment. Before I should be recognized I might
+be dead. It was evident that all semblance of intertribal relationship
+had ceased with my going, and that my people had reverted to their
+former savage, suspicious hatred of all strangers. My garb must
+have puzzled them, too, for never before of course had they seen
+a man clothed in khaki and puttees.</p>
+
+<p>Leaning my express rifle against my body I raised both hands aloft.
+It was the peace-sign that is recognized everywhere upon the surface
+of Pellucidar. The charging warriors paused and surveyed me. I
+looked for my friend Ghak, the Hairy One, king of Sari, and presently
+I saw him coming from a distance. Ah, but it was good to see his
+mighty, hairy form once more! A friend was Ghak—a friend well worth
+the having; and it had been some time since I had seen a friend.</p>
+
+<p>Shouldering his way through the throng of warriors, the mighty
+chieftain advanced toward me. There was an expression of puzzlement
+upon his fine features. He crossed the space between the warriors
+and myself, halting before me.</p>
+
+<p>I did not speak. I did not even smile. I wanted to see if Ghak,
+my principal lieutenant, would recognize me. For some time he
+stood there looking me over carefully. His eyes took in my large
+pith helmet, my khaki jacket, and bandoleers of cartridges, the two
+revolvers swinging at my hips, the large rifle resting against my
+body. Still I stood with my hands above my head. He examined my
+puttees and my strong tan shoes—a little the worse for wear now.
+Then he glanced up once more to my face. As his gaze rested there
+quite steadily for some moments I saw recognition tinged with awe
+creep across his countenance.</p>
+
+<p>Presently without a word he took one of my hands in his and dropping
+to one knee raised my fingers to his lips. Perry had taught them
+this trick, nor ever did the most polished courtier of all the
+grand courts of Europe perform the little act of homage with greater
+grace and dignity.</p>
+
+<p>Quickly I raised Ghak to his feet, clasping both his hands in mine.
+I think there must have been tears in my eyes then—I know I felt
+too full for words. The king of Sari turned toward his warriors.</p>
+
+<p>"Our emperor has come back," he announced. "Come hither and—"</p>
+
+<p>But he got no further, for the shouts that broke from those savage
+throats would have drowned the voice of heaven itself. I had never
+guessed how much they thought of me. As they clustered around,
+almost fighting for the chance to kiss my hand, I saw again the
+vision of empire which I had thought faded forever.</p>
+
+<p>With such as these I could conquer a world. With such as these I
+WOULD conquer one! If the Sarians had remained loyal, so too would
+the Amozites be loyal still, and the Kalians, and the Suvians,
+and all the great tribes who had formed the federation that was to
+emancipate the human race of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>Perry was safe with the Mezops; I was safe with the Sarians; now
+if Dian were but safe with me the future would look bright indeed.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take long to outline to Ghak all that had befallen
+me since I had departed from Pellucidar, and to get down to the
+business of finding Dian, which to me at that moment was of even
+greater importance than the very empire itself.</p>
+
+<p>When I told him that Hooja had stolen her, he stamped his foot in
+rage.</p>
+
+<p>"It is always the Sly One!" he cried. "It was Hooja who caused
+the first trouble between you and the Beautiful One.</p>
+
+<p>"It was Hooja who betrayed our trust, and all but caused our
+recapture by the Sagoths that time we escaped from Phutra.</p>
+
+<p>"It was Hooja who tricked you and substituted a Mahar for Dian when
+you started upon your return journey to your own world.</p>
+
+<p>"It was Hooja who schemed and lied until he had turned the kingdoms
+one against another and destroyed the federation.</p>
+
+<p>"When we had him in our power we were foolish to let him live.
+Next time—"</p>
+
+<p>Ghak did not need to finish his sentence.</p>
+
+<p>"He has become a very powerful enemy now," I replied. "That he is
+allied in some way with the Mahars is evidenced by the familiarity of
+his relations with the Sagoths who were accompanying me in search
+of the great secret, for it must have been Hooja whom I saw conversing
+with them just before we reached the valley. Doubtless they told
+him of our quest and he hastened on ahead of us, discovered the
+cave and stole the document. Well does he deserve his appellation
+of the Sly One."</p>
+
+<p>With Ghak and his head men I held a number of consultations. The
+upshot of them was a decision to combine our search for Dian with
+an attempt to rebuild the crumbled federation. To this end twenty
+warriors were despatched in pairs to ten of the leading kingdoms,
+with instructions to make every effort to discover the whereabouts
+of Hooja and Dian, while prosecuting their missions to the chieftains
+to whom they were sent.</p>
+
+<p>Ghak was to remain at home to receive the various delegations which
+we invited to come to Sari on the business of the federation. Four
+hundred warriors were started for Anoroc to fetch Perry and the
+contents of the prospector, to the capitol of the empire, which
+was also the principal settlements of the Sarians.</p>
+
+<p>At first it was intended that I remain at Sari, that I might be in
+readiness to hasten forth at the first report of the discovery of
+Dian; but I found the inaction in the face of my deep solicitude
+for the welfare of my mate so galling that scarce had the several
+units departed upon their missions before I, too, chafed to be
+actively engaged upon the search.</p>
+
+<p>It was after my second sleep, subsequent to the departure
+of the warriors, as I recall that I at last went to Ghak with the
+admission that I could no longer support the intolerable longing
+to be personally upon the trail of my lost love.</p>
+
+<p>Ghak tried to dissuade me, though I could tell that his heart was
+with me in my wish to be away and really doing something. It was
+while we were arguing upon the subject that a stranger, with hands
+above his head, entered the village. He was immediately surrounded
+by warriors and conducted to Ghak's presence.</p>
+
+<p>The fellow was a typical cave man—squat muscular, and hairy, and
+of a type I had not seen before. His features, like those of all
+the primeval men of Pellucidar, were regular and fine. His weapons
+consisted of a stone ax and knife and a heavy knobbed bludgeon of
+wood. His skin was very white.</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you?" asked Ghak. "And whence come you?"</p>
+
+<p>"I am Kolk, son of Goork, who is chief of the Thurians," replied the
+stranger. "From Thuria I have come in search of the land of Amoz,
+where dwells Dacor, the Strong One, who stole my sister, Canda,
+the Graceful One, to be his mate.</p>
+
+<p>"We of Thuria had heard of a great chieftain who has bound together
+many tribes, and my father has sent me to Dacor to learn if there
+be truth in these stories, and if so to offer the services of Thuria
+to him whom we have heard called emperor."</p>
+
+<p>"The stories are true," replied Ghak, "and here is the emperor of
+whom you have heard. You need travel no farther."</p>
+
+<p>Kolk was delighted. He told us much of the wonderful resources of
+Thuria, the Land of Awful Shadow, and of his long journey in search
+of Amoz.</p>
+
+<p>"And why," I asked, "does Goork, your father, desire to join his
+kingdom to the empire?"</p>
+
+<p>"There are two reasons," replied the young man. "Forever have the
+Mahars, who dwell beyond the Lidi Plains which lie at the farther
+rim of the Land of Awful Shadow, taken heavy toll of our people,
+whom they either force into lifelong slavery or fatten for their
+feasts. We have heard that the great emperor makes successful war
+upon the Mahars, against whom we should be glad to fight.</p>
+
+<p>"Recently has another reason come. Upon a great island which lies
+in the Sojar Az, but a short distance from our shores, a wicked
+man has collected a great band of outcast warriors of all tribes.
+Even are there many Sagoths among them, sent by the Mahars to aid
+the Wicked One.</p>
+
+<p>"This band makes raids upon our villages, and it is constantly
+growing in size and strength, for the Mahars give liberty to any of
+their male prisoners who will promise to fight with this band against
+the enemies of the Mahars. It is the purpose of the Mahars thus
+to raise a force of our own kind to combat the growth and menace
+of the new empire of which I have come to seek information. All
+this we learned from one of our own warriors who had pretended
+to sympathize with this band and had then escaped at the first
+opportunity."</p>
+
+<p>"Who could this man be," I asked Ghak, "who leads so vile a movement
+against his own kind?"</p>
+
+<p>"His name is Hooja," spoke up Kolk, answering my question.</p>
+
+<p>Ghak and I looked at each other. Relief was written upon his
+countenance and I know that it was beating strongly in my heart.
+At last we had discovered a tangible clue to the whereabouts of
+Hooja—and with the clue a guide!</p>
+
+<p>But when I broached the subject to Kolk he demurred. He had come
+a long way, he explained, to see his sister and to confer with Dacor.
+Moreover, he had instructions from his father which he could not
+ignore lightly. But even so he would return with me and show me
+the way to the island of the Thurian shore if by doing so we might
+accomplish anything.</p>
+
+<p>"But we cannot," he urged. "Hooja is powerful. He has thousands
+of warriors. He has only to call upon his Mahar allies to receive
+a countless horde of Sagoths to do his bidding against his human
+enemies.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us wait until you may gather an equal horde from the kingdoms
+of your empire. Then we may march against Hooja with some show of
+success.</p>
+
+<p>"But first must you lure him to the mainland, for who among you
+knows how to construct the strange things that carry Hooja and his
+band back and forth across the water?</p>
+
+<p>"We are not island people. We do not go upon the water. We know
+nothing of such things."</p>
+
+<p>I couldn't persuade him to do more than direct me upon the way.
+I showed him my map, which now included a great area of country
+extending from Anoroc upon the east to Sari upon the west, and from
+the river south of the Mountains of the Clouds north to Amoz. As
+soon as I had explained it to him he drew a line with his finger,
+showing a seacoast far to the west and south of Sari, and a great
+circle which he said marked the extent of the Land of Awful Shadow
+in which lay Thuria.</p>
+
+<p>The shadow extended southeast of the coast out into the sea halfway
+to a large island, which he said was the seat of Hooja's traitorous
+government. The island itself lay in the light of the noonday sun.
+Northwest of the coast and embracing a part of Thuria lay the Lidi
+Plains, upon the northwestern verge of which was situated the
+Mahar city which took such heavy toll of the Thurians.</p>
+
+<p>Thus were the unhappy people now between two fires, with Hooja upon
+one side and the Mahars upon the other. I did not wonder that they
+sent out an appeal for succor.</p>
+
+<p>Though Ghak and Kolk both attempted to dissuade me, I was determined
+to set out at once, nor did I delay longer than to make a copy of
+my map to be given to Perry that he might add to his that which
+I had set down since we parted. I left a letter for him as well,
+in which among other things I advanced the theory that the Sojar
+Az, or Great Sea, which Kolk mentioned as stretching eastward
+from Thuria, might indeed be the same mighty ocean as that which,
+swinging around the southern end of a continent ran northward along
+the shore opposite Phutra, mingling its waters with the huge gulf
+upon which lay Sari, Amoz, and Greenwich.</p>
+
+<p>Against this possibility I urged him to hasten the building of
+a fleet of small sailing-vessels, which we might utilize should I
+find it impossible to entice Hooja's horde to the mainland.</p>
+
+<p>I told Ghak what I had written, and suggested that as soon as he
+could he should make new treaties with the various kingdoms of the
+empire, collect an army and march toward Thuria—this of course
+against the possibility of my detention through some cause or
+other.</p>
+
+<p>Kolk gave me a sign to his father—a lidi, or beast of burden,
+crudely scratched upon a bit of bone, and beneath the lidi a
+man and a flower; all very rudely done perhaps, but none the less
+effective as I well knew from my long years among the primitive
+men of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>The lidi is the tribal beast of the Thurians; the man and the
+flower in the combination in which they appeared bore a double
+significance, as they constituted not only a message to the effect
+that the bearer came in peace, but were also Kolk's signature.</p>
+
+<p>And so, armed with my credentials and my small arsenal, I set out
+alone upon my quest for the dearest girl in this world or yours.</p>
+
+<p>Kolk gave me explicit directions, though with my map I do not believe
+that I could have gone wrong. As a matter of fact I did not need
+the map at all, since the principal landmark of the first half
+of my journey, a gigantic mountainpeak, was plainly visible from
+Sari, though a good hundred miles away.</p>
+
+<p>At the southern base of this mountain a river rose and ran in
+a westerly direction, finally turning south and emptying into the
+Sojar Az some forty miles northeast of Thuria. All that I had to
+do was follow this river to the sea and then follow the coast to
+Thuria.</p>
+
+<p>Two hundred and forty miles of wild mountain and primeval jungle, of
+untracked plain, of nameless rivers, of deadly swamps and savage
+forests lay ahead of me, yet never had I been more eager for
+an adventure than now, for never had more depended upon haste and
+success.</p>
+
+<p>I do not know how long a time that journey required, and only half
+did I appreciate the varied wonders that each new march unfolded
+before me, for my mind and heart were filled with but a single
+image—that of a perfect girl whose great, dark eyes looked bravely
+forth from a frame of raven hair.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until I had passed the high peak and found the river
+that my eyes first discovered the pendent world, the tiny satellite
+which hangs low over the surface of Pellucidar casting its perpetual
+shadow always upon the same spot—the area that is known here as
+the Land of Awful Shadow, in which dwells the tribe of Thuria.</p>
+
+<p>From the distance and the elevation of the highlands where I stood
+the Pellucidarian noonday moon showed half in sunshine and half in
+shadow, while directly beneath it was plainly visible the round
+dark spot upon the surface of Pellucidar where the sun has never
+shone. From where I stood the moon appeared to hang so low above
+the ground as almost to touch it; but later I was to learn that
+it floats a mile above the surface—which seems indeed quite close
+for a moon.</p>
+
+<p>Following the river downward I soon lost sight of the tiny planet
+as I entered the mazes of a lofty forest. Nor did I catch another
+glimpse of it for some time—several marches at least. However, when
+the river led me to the sea, or rather just before it reached the
+sea, of a sudden the sky became overcast and the size and luxuriance
+of the vegetation diminished as by magic—as if an omnipotent hand
+had drawn a line upon the earth, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Upon this side shall the trees and the shrubs, the grasses and
+the flowers, riot in profusion of rich colors, gigantic size and
+bewildering abundance; and upon that side shall they be dwarfed
+and pale and scant."</p>
+
+<p>Instantly I looked above, for clouds are so uncommon in the skies
+of Pellucidar—they are practically unknown except above the
+mightiest mountain ranges—that it had given me something of a start
+to discover the sun obliterated. But I was not long in coming to
+a realization of the cause of the shadow.</p>
+
+<p>Above me hung another world. I could see its mountains and
+valleys, oceans, lakes, and rivers, its broad, grassy plains and
+dense forests. But too great was the distance and too deep the
+shadow of its under side for me to distinguish any movement as of
+animal life.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly a great curiosity was awakened within me. The questions
+which the sight of this planet, so tantalizingly close, raised in
+my mind were numerous and unanswerable.</p>
+
+<p>Was it inhabited?</p>
+
+<p>If so, by what manner and form of creature?</p>
+
+<p>Were its people as relatively diminutive as their little world, or
+were they as disproportionately huge as the lesser attraction of
+gravity upon the surface of their globe would permit of their being?</p>
+
+<p>As I watched it, I saw that it was revolving upon an axis that lay
+parallel to the surface of Pellucidar, so that during each revolution
+its entire surface was once exposed to the world below and once
+bathed in the heat of the great sun above. The little world had
+that which Pellucidar could not have—a day and night, and—greatest
+of boons to one outer-earthly born—time.</p>
+
+<p>Here I saw a chance to give time to Pellucidar, using this
+mighty clock, revolving perpetually in the heavens, to record the
+passage of the hours for the earth below. Here should be located
+an observatory, from which might be flashed by wireless to every
+corner of the empire the correct time once each day. That this
+time would be easily measured I had no doubt, since so plain were
+the landmarks upon the under surface of the satellite that it would
+be but necessary to erect a simple instrument and mark the instant
+of passage of a given landmark across the instrument.</p>
+
+<p>But then was not the time for dreaming; I must devote my mind to
+the purpose of my journey. So I hastened onward beneath the great
+shadow. As I advanced I could not but note the changing nature
+of the vegetation and the paling of its hues.</p>
+
+<p>The river led me a short distance within the shadow before it emptied
+into the Sojar Az. Then I continued in a southerly direction along
+the coast toward the village of Thuria, where I hoped to find Goork
+and deliver to him my credentials.</p>
+
+<p>I had progressed no great distance from the mouth of the river when
+I discerned, lying some distance at sea, a great island. This I
+assumed to be the stronghold of Hooja, nor did I doubt that upon
+it even now was Dian.</p>
+
+<p>The way was most difficult, since shortly after leaving the river
+I encountered lofty cliffs split by numerous long, narrow fiords,
+each of which necessitated a considerable detour. As the crow
+flies it is about twenty miles from the mouth of the river to
+Thuria, but before I had covered half of it I was fagged. There
+was no familiar fruit or vegetable growing upon the rocky soil of
+the cliff-tops, and I would have fared ill for food had not a hare
+broken cover almost beneath my nose.</p>
+
+<p>I carried bow and arrows to conserve my ammunition-supply, but so
+quick was the little animal that I had no time to draw and fit a
+shaft. In fact my dinner was a hundred yards away and going like
+the proverbial bat when I dropped my six-shooter on it. It was
+a pretty shot and when coupled with a good dinner made me quite
+contented with myself.</p>
+
+<p>After eating I lay down and slept. When I awoke I was scarcely
+so self-satisfied, for I had not more than opened my eyes before
+I became aware of the presence, barely a hundred yards from me, of
+a pack of some twenty huge wolf-dogs—the things which Perry insisted
+upon calling hyaenodons—and almost simultaneously I discovered
+that while I slept my revolvers, rifle, bow, arrows, and knife had
+been stolen from me.</p>
+
+<p>And the wolf-dog pack was preparing to rush me.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chaptervii" id="chaptervii">CHAPTER VII</a></h2>
+
+<h3>FROM PLIGHT TO PLIGHT</h3>
+
+<p>I have never been much of a runner; I hate running. But if ever a
+sprinter broke into smithereens all world's records it was I that
+day when I fled before those hideous beasts along the narrow spit
+of rocky cliff between two narrow fiords toward the Sojar Az. Just
+as I reached the verge of the cliff the foremost of the brutes was
+upon me. He leaped and closed his massive jaws upon my shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>The momentum of his flying body, added to that of my own, carried
+the two of us over the cliff. It was a hideous fall. The cliff
+was almost perpendicular. At its foot broke the sea against a
+solid wall of rock.</p>
+
+<p>We struck the cliff-face once in our descent and then plunged into
+the salt sea. With the impact with the water the hyaenodon released
+his hold upon my shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>As I came sputtering to the surface I looked about for some tiny
+foot- or hand-hold where I might cling for a moment of rest and
+recuperation. The cliff itself offered me nothing, so I swam toward
+the mouth of the fiord.</p>
+
+<p>At the far end I could see that erosion from above had washed down
+sufficient rubble to form a narrow ribbon of beach. Toward this
+I swam with all my strength. Not once did I look behind me, since
+every unnecessary movement in swimming detracts so much from one's
+endurance speed. Not until I had drawn myself safely out upon the
+beach did I turn my eyes back toward the sea for the hyaenodon.
+He was swimming slowly and apparently painfully toward the beach
+upon where I stood.</p>
+
+<p>I watched him for a long time, wondering, why it was that such a
+doglike animal was not a better swimmer. As he neared me I realized
+that he was weakening rapidly. I had gathered a handful of stones
+to be ready for his assault when he landed, but in a moment I let
+them fall from my hands. It was evident that the brute either was
+no swimmer or else was severely injured, for by now he was making
+practically no headway. Indeed, it was with quite apparent
+difficulty that he kept his nose above the surface of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>He was not more than fifty yards from shore when he went under. I
+watched the spot where he had disappeared, and in a moment I saw
+his head reappear. The look of dumb misery in his eyes struck a
+chord in my breast, for I love dogs. I forgot that he was a vicious,
+primordial wolf-thing—a man-eater, a scourge, and a terror. I
+saw only the sad eyes that looked like the eyes of Raja, my dead
+collie of the outer world.</p>
+
+<p>I did not stop to weigh and consider. In other words, I did not stop
+to think, which I believe must be the way of men who do things—in
+contradistinction to those who think much and do nothing. Instead, I
+leaped back into the water and swam out toward the drowning beast.
+At first he showed his teeth at my approach, but just before
+I reached him he went under for the second time, so that I had to
+dive to get him.</p>
+
+<p>I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck, and though he weighed as
+much as a Shetland pony, I managed to drag him to shore and well
+up upon the beach. Here I found that one of his forelegs was
+broken—the crash against the cliff-face must have done it.</p>
+
+<p>By this time all the fight was out of him, so that when I had
+gathered a few tiny branches from some of the stunted trees that
+grew in the crevices of the cliff, and returned to him he permitted
+me to set his broken leg and bind it in splints. I had to tear
+part of my shirt into bits to obtain a bandage, but at last the
+job was done. Then I sat stroking the savage head and talking to
+the beast in the man-dog talk with which you are familiar, if you
+ever owned and loved a dog.</p>
+
+<p>When he is well, I thought, he probably will turn upon me and attempt
+to devour me, and against that eventuality I gathered together a
+pile of rocks and set to work to fashion a stone-knife. We were
+bottled up at the head of the fiord as completely as if we had been
+behind prison bars. Before us spread the Sojar Az, and elsewhere
+about us rose unscalable cliffs.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately a little rivulet trickled down the side of the rocky
+wall, giving us ample supply of fresh water—some of which I kept
+constantly beside the hyaenodon in a huge, bowl-shaped shell, of
+which there were countless numbers among the rubble of the beach.</p>
+
+<p>For food we subsisted upon shellfish and an occasional bird that
+I succeeded in knocking over with a rock, for long practice as a
+pitcher on prep-school and varsity nines had made me an excellent
+shot with a hand-thrown missile.</p>
+
+<p>It was not long before the hyaenodon's leg was sufficiently mended
+to permit him to rise and hobble about on three legs. I shall
+never forget with what intent interest I watched his first attempt.
+Close at my hand lay my pile of rocks. Slowly the beast came to
+his three good feet. He stretched himself, lowered his head, and
+lapped water from the drinking-shell at his side, turned and looked
+at me, and then hobbled off toward the cliffs.</p>
+
+<p>Thrice he traversed the entire extent of our prison, seeking, I
+imagine, a loop-hole for escape, but finding none he returned in my
+direction. Slowly he came quite close to me, sniffed at my shoes,
+my puttees, my hands, and then limped off a few feet and lay down
+again.</p>
+
+<p>Now that he was able to get around, I was a little uncertain as
+to the wisdom of my impulsive mercy.</p>
+
+<p>How could I sleep with that ferocious thing prowling about the
+narrow confines of our prison?</p>
+
+<p>Should I close my eyes it might be to open them again to the feel of
+those mighty jaws at my throat. To say the least, I was uncomfortable.</p>
+
+<p>I have had too much experience with dumb animals to bank very
+strongly on any sense of gratitude which may be attributed to them
+by inexperienced sentimentalists. I believe that some animals
+love their masters, but I doubt very much if their affection is
+the outcome of gratitude—a characteristic that is so rare as to
+be only occasionally traceable in the seemingly unselfish acts of
+man himself.</p>
+
+<p>But finally I was forced to sleep. Tired nature would be put off
+no longer. I simply fell asleep, willy nilly, as I sat looking
+out to sea. I had been very uncomfortable since my ducking in the
+ocean, for though I could see the sunlight on the water halfway
+toward the island and upon the island itself, no ray of it fell upon
+us. We were well within the Land of Awful Shadow. A perpetual
+half-warmth pervaded the atmosphere, but clothing was slow in
+drying, and so from loss of sleep and great physical discomfort, I
+at last gave way to nature's demands and sank into profound slumber.</p>
+
+<p>When I awoke it was with a start, for a heavy body was upon me. My
+first thought was that the hyaenodon had at last attacked me, but
+as my eyes opened and I struggled to rise, I saw that a man was
+astride me and three others bending close above him.</p>
+
+<p>I am no weakling—and never have been. My experience in the hard
+life of the inner world has turned my thews to steel. Even such
+giants as Ghak the Hairy One have praised my strength; but to it
+is added another quality which they lack—science.</p>
+
+<p>The man upon me held me down awkwardly, leaving me many openings—one
+of which I was not slow in taking advantage of, so that almost
+before the fellow knew that I was awake I was upon my feet with
+my arms over his shoulders and about his waist and had hurled him
+heavily over my head to the hard rubble of the beach, where he lay
+quite still.</p>
+
+<p>In the instant that I arose I had seen the hyaenodon lying asleep
+beside a boulder a few yards away. So nearly was he the color of
+the rock that he was scarcely discernible. Evidently the newcomers
+had not seen him.</p>
+
+<p>I had not more than freed myself from one of my antagonists before
+the other three were upon me. They did not work silently now, but
+charged me with savage cries—a mistake upon their part. The fact
+that they did not draw their weapons against me convinced me that
+they desired to take me alive; but I fought as desperately as if
+death loomed immediate and sure.</p>
+
+<p>The battle was short, for scarce had their first wild whoop
+reverberated through the rocky fiord, and they had closed upon me,
+than a hairy mass of demoniacal rage hurtled among us.</p>
+
+<p>It was the hyaenodon!</p>
+
+<p>In an instant he had pulled down one of the men, and with a single
+shake, terrier-like, had broken his neck. Then he was upon another.
+In their efforts to vanquish the wolf-dog the savages forgot all
+about me, thus giving me an instant in which to snatch a knife
+from the loin-string of him who had first fallen and account for
+another of them. Almost simultaneously the hyaenodon pulled down
+the remaining enemy, crushing his skull with a single bite of those
+fearsome jaws.</p>
+
+<p>The battle was over—unless the beast considered me fair prey, too.
+I waited, ready for him with knife and bludgeon—also filched from
+a dead foeman; but he paid no attention to me, falling to work
+instead to devour one of the corpses.</p>
+
+<p>The beast bad been handicapped but little by his splinted leg; but
+having eaten he lay down and commenced to gnaw at the bandage.
+I was sitting some little distance away devouring shellfish, of
+which, by the way, I was becoming exceedingly tired.</p>
+
+<p>Presently, the hyaenodon arose and came toward me. I did not move.
+He stopped in front of me and deliberately raised his bandaged leg
+and pawed my knee. His act was as intelligible as words—he wished
+the bandage removed.</p>
+
+<p>I took the great paw in one hand and with the other hand untied and
+unwound the bandage, removed the splints and felt of the injured
+member. As far as I could judge the bone was completely knit. The
+joint was stiff; when I bent it a little the brute winced—but he
+neither growled nor tried to pull away. Very slowly and gently I
+rubbed the joint and applied pressure to it for a few moments.</p>
+
+<p>Then I set it down upon the ground. The hyaenodon walked around
+me a few times, and then lay down at my side, his body touching
+mine. I laid my hand upon his head. He did not move. Slowly, I
+scratched about his ears and neck and down beneath the fierce jaws.
+The only sign he gave was to raise his chin a trifle that I might
+better caress him.</p>
+
+<p>That was enough! From that moment I have never again felt suspicion
+of Raja, as I immediately named him. Somehow all sense of loneliness
+vanished, too—I had a dog! I had never guessed precisely what it
+was that was lacking to life in Pellucidar, but now I knew it was
+the total absence of domestic animals.</p>
+
+<p>Man here had not yet reached the point where he might take the time
+from slaughter and escaping slaughter to make friends with any of
+the brute creation. I must qualify this statement a trifle and say
+that this was true of those tribes with which I was most familiar.
+The Thurians do domesticate the colossal lidi, traversing the
+great Lidi Plains upon the backs of these grotesque and stupendous
+monsters, and possibly there may also be other, far-distant peoples
+within the great world, who have tamed others of the wild things
+of jungle, plain or mountain.</p>
+
+<p>The Thurians practice agriculture in a crude sort of way. It is
+my opinion that this is one of the earliest steps from savagery to
+civilization. The taming of wild beasts and their domestication
+follows.</p>
+
+<p>Perry argues that wild dogs were first domesticated for hunting
+purposes; but I do not agree with him. I believe that if their
+domestication were not purely the result of an accident, as, for
+example, my taming of the hyaenodon, it came about through the
+desire of tribes who had previously domesticated flocks and herds
+to have some strong, ferocious beast to guard their roaming
+property. However, I lean rather more strongly to the theory of
+accident.</p>
+
+<p>As I sat there upon the beach of the little fiord eating my unpalatable
+shell-fish, I commenced to wonder how it had been that the four
+savages had been able to reach me, though I had been unable to
+escape from my natural prison. I glanced about in all directions,
+searching for an explanation. At last my eyes fell upon the bow
+of a small dugout protruding scarce a foot from behind a large
+boulder lying half in the water at the edge of the beach.</p>
+
+<p>At my discovery I leaped to my feet so suddenly that it brought
+Raja, growling and bristling, upon all fours in an instant. For
+the moment I had forgotten him. But his savage rumbling did not
+cause me any uneasiness. He glanced quickly about in all directions
+as if searching for the cause of my excitement. Then, as I walked
+rapidly down toward the dugout, he slunk silently after me.</p>
+
+<p>The dugout was similar in many respects to those which I had seen
+in use by the Mezops. In it were four paddles. I was much delighted,
+as it promptly offered me the escape I had been craving.</p>
+
+<p>I pushed it out into water that would float it, stepped in and
+called to Raja to enter. At first he did not seem to understand
+what I wished of him, but after I had paddled out a few yards
+he plunged through the surf and swam after me. When he had come
+alongside I grasped the scruff of his neck, and after a considerable
+struggle, in which I several times came near to overturning the
+canoe, I managed to drag him aboard, where he shook himself vigorously
+and squatted down before me.</p>
+
+<p>After emerging from the fiord, I paddled southward along the coast,
+where presently the lofty cliffs gave way to lower and more level
+country. It was here somewhere that I should come upon the
+principal village of the Thurians. When, after a time, I saw in
+the distance what I took to be huts in a clearing near the shore, I
+drew quickly into land, for though I had been furnished credentials
+by Kolk, I was not sufficiently familiar with the tribal characteristics
+of these people to know whether I should receive a friendly welcome
+or not; and in case I should not, I wanted to be sure of having
+a canoe hidden safely away so that I might undertake the trip to
+the island, in any event—provided, of course, that I escaped the
+Thurians should they prove belligerent.</p>
+
+<p>At the point where I landed the shore was quite low. A forest of
+pale, scrubby ferns ran down almost to the beach. Here I dragged
+up the dugout, hiding it well within the vegetation, and with some
+loose rocks built a cairn upon the beach to mark my cache. Then
+I turned my steps toward the Thurian village.</p>
+
+<p>As I proceeded I began to speculate upon the possible actions of
+Raja when we should enter the presence of other men than myself. The
+brute was padding softly at my side, his sensitive nose constantly
+atwitch and his fierce eyes moving restlessly from side to
+side—nothing would ever take Raja unawares!</p>
+
+<p>The more I thought upon the matter the greater became my
+perturbation. I did not want Raja to attack any of the people upon
+whose friendship I so greatly depended, nor did I want him injured
+or slain by them.</p>
+
+<p>I wondered if Raja would stand for a leash. His head as he paced
+beside me was level with my hip. I laid my hand upon it caressingly.
+As I did so he turned and looked up into my face, his jaws parting
+and his red tongue lolling as you have seen your own dog's beneath
+a love pat.</p>
+
+<p>"Just been waiting all your life to be tamed and loved, haven't
+you, old man?" I asked. "You're nothing but a good pup, and the
+man who put the hyaeno in your name ought to be sued for libel."</p>
+
+<p>Raja bared his mighty fangs with upcurled, snarling lips and licked
+my hand.</p>
+
+<p>"You're grinning, you old fraud, you!" I cried. "If you're not,
+I'll eat you. I'll bet a doughnut you're nothing but some kid's
+poor old Fido, masquerading around as a real, live man-eater."</p>
+
+<p>Raja whined. And so we walked on together toward Thuria—I talking
+to the beast at my side, and he seeming to enjoy my company no
+less than I enjoyed his. If you don't think it's lonesome wandering
+all by yourself through savage, unknown Pellucidar, why, just
+try it, and you will not wonder that I was glad of the company of
+this first dog—this living replica of the fierce and now extinct
+hyaenodon of the outer crust that hunted in savage packs the great
+elk across the snows of southern France, in the days when the mastodon
+roamed at will over the broad continent of which the British Isles
+were then a part, and perchance left his footprints and his bones
+in the sands of Atlantis as well.</p>
+
+<p>Thus I dreamed as we moved on toward Thuria. My dreaming was rudely
+shattered by a savage growl from Raja. I looked down at him. He
+had stopped in his tracks as one turned to stone. A thin ridge
+of stiff hair bristled along the entire length of his spine. His
+yellow green eyes were fastened upon the scrubby jungle at our
+right.</p>
+
+<p>I fastened my fingers in the bristles at his neck and turned my
+eyes in the direction that his pointed. At first I saw nothing.
+Then a slight movement of the bushes riveted my attention. I
+thought it must be some wild beast, and was glad of the primitive
+weapons I had taken from the bodies of the warriors who had attacked
+me.</p>
+
+<p>Presently I distinguished two eyes peering at us from the vegetation.
+I took a step in their direction, and as I did so a youth arose
+and fled precipitately in the direction we had been going. Raja
+struggled to be after him, but I held tightly to his neck, an act
+which he did not seem to relish, for he turned on me with bared
+fangs.</p>
+
+<p>I determined that now was as good a time as any to discover just
+how deep was Raja's affection for me. One of us could be master,
+and logically I was the one. He growled at me. I cuffed him
+sharply across the nose. He looked it me for a moment in surprised
+bewilderment, and then he growled again. I made another feint at
+him, expecting that it would bring him at my throat; but instead
+he winced and crouched down.</p>
+
+<p>Raja was subdued!</p>
+
+<p>I stooped and patted him. Then I took a piece of the rope that
+constituted a part of my equipment and made a leash for him.</p>
+
+<p>Thus we resumed our journey toward Thuria. The youth who had seen
+us was evidently of the Thurians. That he had lost no time in
+racing homeward and spreading the word of my coming was evidenced
+when we had come within sight of the clearing, and the village—the
+first real village, by the way, that I had ever seen constructed
+by human Pellucidarians. There was a rude rectangle walled with
+logs and boulders, in which were a hundred or more thatched huts
+of similar construction. There was no gate. Ladders that could
+be removed by night led over the palisade.</p>
+
+<p>Before the village were assembled a great concourse of warriors.
+Inside I could see the heads of women and children peering over the
+top of the wall; and also, farther back, the long necks of lidi,
+topped by their tiny heads. Lidi, by the way, is both the singular
+and plural form of the noun that describes the huge beasts of
+burden of the Thurians. They are enormous quadrupeds, eighty or
+a hundred feet long, with very small heads perched at the top of
+very long, slender necks. Their heads are quite forty feet from
+the ground. Their gait is slow and deliberate, but so enormous
+are their strides that, as a matter of fact, they cover the ground
+quite rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>Perry has told me that they are almost identical with the fossilized
+remains of the diplodocus of the outer crust's Jurassic age. I
+have to take his word for it—and I guess you will, unless you know
+more of such matters than I.</p>
+
+<p>As we came in sight of the warriors the men set up a great jabbering.
+Their eyes were wide in astonishment—only, I presume, because
+of my strange garmenture, but as well from the fact that I came
+in company with a jalok, which is the Pellucidarian name of the
+hyaenodon.</p>
+
+<p>Raja tugged at his leash, growling and showing his long white fangs.
+He would have liked nothing better than to be at the throats of
+the whole aggregation; but I held him in with the leash, though it
+took all my strength to do it. My free hand I held above my head,
+palm out, in token of the peacefulness of my mission.</p>
+
+<p>In the foreground I saw the youth who had discovered us, and
+I could tell from the way he carried himself that he was quite
+overcome by his own importance. The warriors about him were all
+fine looking fellows, though shorter and squatter than the Sarians
+or the Amozites. Their color, too, was a bit lighter, owing, no
+doubt, to the fact that much of their lives is spent within the
+shadow of the world that hangs forever above their country.</p>
+
+<p>A little in advance of the others was a bearded fellow tricked out
+in many ornaments. I didn't need to ask to know that he was the
+chieftain—doubtless Goork, father of Kolk. Now to him I addressed
+myself.</p>
+
+<p>"I am David," I said, "Emperor of the Federated Kingdoms of
+Pellucidar. Doubtless you have heard of me?"</p>
+
+<p>He nodded his head affirmatively.</p>
+
+<p>"I come from Sari," I continued, "where I just met Kolk, the son
+of Goork. I bear a token from Kolk to his father, which will prove
+that I am a friend."</p>
+
+<p>Again the warrior nodded. "I am Goork," he said. "Where is the
+token?"</p>
+
+<p>"Here," I replied, and fished into the game-bag where I had placed
+it.</p>
+
+<p>Goork and his people waited in silence. My hand searched the inside
+of the bag.</p>
+
+<p>It was empty!</p>
+
+<p>The token had been stolen with my arms!</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterviii" id="chapterviii">CHAPTER VIII</a></h2>
+
+<h3>CAPTIVE</h3>
+
+<p>When Goork and his people saw that I had no token they commenced
+to taunt me.</p>
+
+<p>"You do not come from Kolk, but from the Sly One!" they cried. "He
+has sent you from the island to spy upon us. Go away, or we will
+set upon you and kill you."</p>
+
+<p>I explained that all my belongings had been stolen from me, and that
+the robber must have taken the token too; but they didn't believe
+me. As proof that I was one of Hooja's people, they pointed to my
+weapons, which they said were ornamented like those of the island
+clan. Further, they said that no good man went in company with a
+jalok—and that by this line of reasoning I certainly was a bad
+man.</p>
+
+<p>I saw that they were not naturally a war-like tribe, for they
+preferred that I leave in peace rather than force them to attack
+me, whereas the Sarians would have killed a suspicious stranger
+first and inquired into his purposes later.</p>
+
+<p>I think Raja sensed their antagonism, for he kept tugging at
+his leash and growling ominously. They were a bit in awe of him,
+and kept at a safe distance. It was evident that they could not
+comprehend why it was that this savage brute did not turn upon me
+and rend me.</p>
+
+<p>I wasted a long time there trying to persuade Goork to accept me
+at my own valuation, but he was too canny. The best he would do
+was to give us food, which he did, and direct me as to the safest
+portion of the island upon which to attempt a landing, though even
+as he told me I am sure that he thought my request for information
+but a blind to deceive him as to my true knowledge of the insular
+stronghold.</p>
+
+<p>At last I turned away from them—rather disheartened, for I had
+hoped to be able to enlist a considerable force of them in an attempt
+to rush Hooja's horde and rescue Dian. Back along the beach toward
+the hidden canoe we made our way.</p>
+
+<p>By the time we came to the cairn I was dog-tired. Throwing myself
+upon the sand I soon slept, and with Raja stretched out beside me
+I felt a far greater security than I had enjoyed for a long time.</p>
+
+<p>I awoke much refreshed to find Raja's eyes glued upon me. The moment
+I opened mine he rose, stretched himself, and without a backward
+glance plunged into the jungle. For several minutes I could hear
+him crashing through the brush. Then all was silent.</p>
+
+<p>I wondered if he had left me to return to his fierce pack. A feeling
+of loneliness overwhelmed me. With a sigh I turned to the work of
+dragging the canoe down to the sea. As I entered the jungle where
+the dugout lay a hare darted from beneath the boat's side, and a
+well-aimed cast of my javelin brought it down. I was hungry—I
+had not realized it before—so I sat upon the edge of the canoe and
+devoured my repast. The last remnants gone, I again busied myself
+with preparations for my expedition to the island.</p>
+
+<p>I did not know for certain that Dian was there; but I surmised
+as much. Nor could I guess what obstacles might confront me in
+an effort to rescue her. For a time I loitered about after I had
+the canoe at the water's edge, hoping against hope that Raja would
+return; but be did not, so I shoved the awkward craft through the
+surf and leaped into it.</p>
+
+<p>I was still a little downcast by the desertion of my newfound
+friend, though I tried to assure myself that it was nothing but
+what I might have expected.</p>
+
+<p>The savage brute had served me well in the short time that we had
+been together, and had repaid his debt of gratitude to me, since he
+had saved my life, or at least my liberty, no less certainly than
+I had saved his life when he was injured and drowning.</p>
+
+<p>The trip across the water to the island was uneventful. I was
+mighty glad to be in the sunshine again when I passed out of the
+shadow of the dead world about halfway between the mainland and
+the island. The hot rays of the noonday sun did a great deal toward
+raising my spirits, and dispelling the mental gloom in which I had
+been shrouded almost continually since entering the Land of Awful
+Shadow. There is nothing more dispiriting to me than absence of
+sunshine.</p>
+
+<p>I had paddled to the southwestern point, which Goork said he
+believed to be the least frequented portion of the island, as he
+had never seen boats put off from there. I found a shallow reef
+running far out into the sea and rather precipitous cliffs running
+almost to the surf. It was a nasty place to land, and I realized
+now why it was not used by the natives; but at last I managed,
+after a good wetting, to beach my canoe and scale the cliffs.</p>
+
+<p>The country beyond them appeared more open and park-like than I
+had anticipated, since from the mainland the entire coast that is
+visible seems densely clothed with tropical jungle. This jungle,
+as I could see from the vantage-point of the cliff-top, formed but
+a relatively narrow strip between the sea and the more open forest
+and meadow of the interior. Farther back there was a range of low
+but apparently very rocky hills, and here and there all about were
+visible flat-topped masses of rock—small mountains, in fact—which
+reminded me of pictures I had seen of landscapes in New Mexico.
+Altogether, the country was very much broken and very beautiful.
+From where I stood I counted no less than a dozen streams winding
+down from among the table-buttes and emptying into a pretty river
+which flowed away in a northeasterly direction toward the opposite
+end of the island.</p>
+
+<p>As I let my eyes roam over the scene I suddenly became aware of
+figures moving upon the flat top of a far-distant butte. Whether
+they were beast or human, though, I could not make out; but at
+least they were alive, so I determined to prosecute my search for
+Hooja's stronghold in the general direction of this butte.</p>
+
+<p>To descend to the valley required no great effort. As I swung
+along through the lush grass and the fragrant flowers, my cudgel
+swinging in my hand and my javelin looped across my shoulders with
+its aurochs-hide strap, I felt equal to any emergency, ready for
+any danger.</p>
+
+<p>I had covered quite a little distance, and I was passing through
+a strip of wood which lay at the foot of one of the flat-topped
+hills, when I became conscious of the sensation of being watched.
+My life within Pellucidar has rather quickened my senses of sight,
+hearing, and smell, and, too, certain primitive intuitive or
+instinctive qualities that seem blunted in civilized man. But,
+though I was positive that eyes were upon me, I could see no sign
+of any living thing within the wood other than the many, gay-plumaged
+birds and little monkeys which filled the trees with life, color,
+and action.</p>
+
+<p>To you it may seem that my conviction was the result of an
+overwrought imagination, or to the actual reality of the prying
+eyes of the little monkeys or the curious ones of the birds; but
+there is a difference which I cannot explain between the sensation
+of casual observation and studied espionage. A sheep might gaze at
+you without transmitting a warning through your subjective mind,
+because you are in no danger from a sheep. But let a tiger gaze
+fixedly at you from ambush, and unless your primitive instincts
+are completely calloused you will presently commence to glance
+furtively about and be filled with vague, unreasoning terror.</p>
+
+<p>Thus was it with me then. I grasped my cudgel more firmly and
+unslung my javelin, carrying it in my left hand. I peered to left
+and right, but I saw nothing. Then, all quite suddenly, there fell
+about my neck and shoulders, around my arms and body, a number of
+pliant fiber ropes.</p>
+
+<p>In a jiffy I was trussed up as neatly as you might wish. One of
+the nooses dropped to my ankles and was jerked up with a suddenness
+that brought me to my face upon the ground. Then something heavy
+and hairy sprang upon my back. I fought to draw my knife, but
+hairy hands grasped my wrists and, dragging them behind my back,
+bound them securely.</p>
+
+<p>Next my feet were bound. Then I was turned over upon my back to
+look up into the faces of my captors.</p>
+
+<p>And what faces! Imagine if you can a cross between a sheep and a
+gorilla, and you will have some conception of the physiognomy of
+the creature that bent close above me, and of those of the half-dozen
+others that clustered about. There was the facial length and
+great eyes of the sheep, and the bullneck and hideous fangs of
+the gorilla. The bodies and limbs were both man and gorilla-like.</p>
+
+<p>As they bent over me they conversed in a monosyllabic tongue that
+was perfectly intelligible to me. It was something of a simplified
+language that had no need for aught but nouns and verbs, but such
+words as it included were the same as those of the human beings
+of Pellucidar. It was amplified by many gestures which filled in
+the speech-gaps.</p>
+
+<p>I asked them what they intended doing with me; but, like our own
+North American Indians when questioned by a white man, they pretended
+not to understand me. One of them swung me to his shoulder as
+lightly as if I had been a shoat. He was a huge creature, as were
+his fellows, standing fully seven feet upon his short legs and
+weighing considerably more than a quarter of a ton.</p>
+
+<p>Two went ahead of my bearer and three behind. In this order we
+cut to the right through the forest to the foot of the hill where
+precipitous cliffs appeared to bar our farther progress in this
+direction. But my escort never paused. Like ants upon a wall,
+they scaled that seemingly unscalable barrier, clinging, Heaven
+knows how, to its ragged perpendicular face. During most of the
+short journey to the summit I must admit that my hair stood on end.
+Presently, however, we topped the thing and stood upon the level
+mesa which crowned it.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately from all about, out of burrows and rough, rocky lairs,
+poured a perfect torrent of beasts similar to my captors. They
+clustered about, jabbering at my guards and attempting to get their
+hands upon me, whether from curiosity or a desire to do me bodily
+harm I did not know, since my escort with bared fangs and heavy
+blows kept them off.</p>
+
+<p>Across the mesa we went, to stop at last before a large pile of
+rocks in which an opening appeared. Here my guards set me upon
+my feet and called out a word which sounded like "Gr-gr-gr!" and
+which I later learned was the name of their king.</p>
+
+<p>Presently there emerged from the cavernous depths of the lair a
+monstrous creature, scarred from a hundred battles, almost hairless
+and with an empty socket where one eye had been. The other eye,
+sheeplike in its mildness, gave the most startling appearance to
+the beast, which but for that single timid orb was the most fearsome
+thing that one could imagine.</p>
+
+<p>I had encountered the black, hairless, long-tailed ape—things of
+the mainland—the creatures which Perry thought might constitute the
+link between the higher orders of apes and man—but these brute-men
+of Gr-gr-gr seemed to set that theory back to zero, for there was
+less similarity between the black ape-men and these creatures than
+there was between the latter and man, while both had many human
+attributes, some of which were better developed in one species and
+some in the other.</p>
+
+<p>The black apes were hairless and built thatched huts in their
+arboreal retreats; they kept domesticated dogs and ruminants, in
+which respect they were farther advanced than the human beings of
+Pellucidar; but they appeared to have only a meager language, and
+sported long, apelike tails.</p>
+
+<p>On the other hand, Gr-gr-gr's people were, for the most part, quite
+hairy, but they were tailless and had a language similar to that
+of the human race of Pellucidar; nor were they arboreal. Their
+skins, where skin showed, were white.</p>
+
+<p>From the foregoing facts and others that I have noted during my
+long life within Pellucidar, which is now passing through an age
+analogous to some pre-glacial age of the outer crust, I am constrained
+to the belief that evolution is not so much a gradual transition
+from one form to another as it is an accident of breeding, either by
+crossing or the hazards of birth. In other words, it is my belief
+that the first man was a freak of nature—nor would one have to
+draw over-strongly upon his credulity to be convinced that Gr-gr-gr
+and his tribe were also freaks.</p>
+
+<p>The great man-brute seated himself upon a flat rock—his throne,
+I imagine—just before the entrance to his lair. With elbows on
+knees and chin in palms he regarded me intently through his lone
+sheep-eye while one of my captors told of my taking.</p>
+
+<p>When all had been related Gr-gr-gr questioned me. I shall not
+attempt to quote these people in their own abbreviated tongue—you
+would have even greater difficulty in interpreting them than did
+I. Instead, I shall put the words into their mouths which will
+carry to you the ideas which they intended to convey.</p>
+
+<p>"You are an enemy," was Gr-gr-gr's initial declaration. "You belong
+to the tribe of Hooja."</p>
+
+<p>Ah! So they knew Hooja and he was their enemy! Good!</p>
+
+<p>"I am an enemy of Hooja," I replied. "He has stolen my mate and
+I have come here to take her away from him and punish Hooja."</p>
+
+<p>"How could you do that alone?"</p>
+
+<p>"I do not know," I answered, "but I should have tried had you not
+captured me. What do you intend to do with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"You shall work for us."</p>
+
+<p>"You will not kill me?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"We do not kill except in self-defense," he replied; "self-defense
+and punishment. Those who would kill us and those who do wrong
+we kill. If we knew you were one of Hooja's people we might kill
+you, for all Hooja's people are bad people; but you say you are an
+enemy of Hooja. You may not speak the truth, but until we learn
+that you have lied we shall not kill you. You shall work."</p>
+
+<p>"If you hate Hooja," I suggested, "why not let me, who hate him,
+too, go and punish him?"</p>
+
+<p>For some time Gr-gr-gr sat in thought. Then he raised his head
+and addressed my guard.</p>
+
+<p>"Take him to his work," he ordered.</p>
+
+<p>His tone was final. As if to emphasize it he turned and entered
+his burrow. My guard conducted me farther into the mesa, where
+we came presently to a tiny depression or valley, at one end of
+which gushed a warm spring.</p>
+
+<p>The view that opened before me was the most surprising that I have
+ever seen. In the hollow, which must have covered several hundred
+acres, were numerous fields of growing things, and working all
+about with crude implements or with no implements at all other than
+their bare hands were many of the brute-men engaged in the first
+agriculture that I had seen within Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>They put me to work cultivating in a patch of melons.</p>
+
+<p>I never was a farmer nor particularly keen for this sort of work,
+and I am free to confess that time never had dragged so heavily
+as it did during the hour or the year I spent there at that work.
+How long it really was I do not know, of course; but it was all
+too long.</p>
+
+<p>The creatures that worked about me were quite simple and friendly.
+One of them proved to be a son of Gr-gr-gr. He had broken some
+minor tribal law, and was working out his sentence in the fields.
+He told me that his tribe had lived upon this hilltop always, and
+that there were other tribes like them dwelling upon other hilltops.
+They had no wars and had always lived in peace and harmony, menaced
+only by the larger carnivora of the island, until my kind had come
+under a creature called Hooja, and attacked and killed them when
+they chanced to descend from their natural fortresses to visit
+their fellows upon other lofty mesas.</p>
+
+<p>Now they were afraid; but some day they would go in a body and fall
+upon Hooja and his people and slay them all. I explained to him
+that I was Hooja's enemy, and asked, when they were ready to go,
+that I be allowed to go with them, or, better still, that they
+let me go ahead and learn all that I could about the village where
+Hooja dwelt so that they might attack it with the best chance of
+success.</p>
+
+<p>Gr-gr-gr's son seemed much impressed by my suggestion. He said
+that when he was through in the fields he would speak to his father
+about the matter.</p>
+
+<p>Some time after this Gr-gr-gr came through the fields where we were,
+and his son spoke to him upon the subject, but the old gentleman
+was evidently in anything but a good humor, for he cuffed the
+youngster and, turning upon me, informed me that he was convinced
+that I had lied to him, and that I was one of Hooja's people.</p>
+
+<p>"Wherefore," he concluded, "we shall slay you as soon as the melons
+are cultivated. Hasten, therefore."</p>
+
+<p>And hasten I did. I hastened to cultivate the weeds which grew among
+the melon-vines. Where there had been one sickly weed before, I
+nourished two healthy ones. When I found a particularly promising
+variety of weed growing elsewhere than among my melons, I forthwith
+dug it up and transplanted it among my charges.</p>
+
+<p>My masters did not seem to realize my perfidy. They saw me always
+laboring diligently in the melon-patch, and as time enters not into
+the reckoning of Pellucidarians—even of human beings and much
+less of brutes and half brutes—I might have lived on indefinitely
+through this subterfuge had not that occurred which took me out of
+the melon-patch for good and all.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterix" id="chapterix">CHAPTER IX</a></h2>
+
+<h3>HOOJA'S CUTTHROATS APPEAR</h3>
+
+<p>I had built a little shelter of rocks and brush where I might crawl
+in and sleep out of the perpetual light and heat of the noonday
+sun. When I was tired or hungry I retired to my humble cot.</p>
+
+<p>My masters never interposed the slightest objection. As a matter
+of fact, they were very good to me, nor did I see aught while I
+was among them to indicate that they are ever else than a simple,
+kindly folk when left to themselves. Their awe-inspiring size,
+terrific strength, mighty fighting-fangs, and hideous appearance
+are but the attributes necessary to the successful waging of their
+constant battle for survival, and well do they employ them when
+the need arises. The only flesh they eat is that of herbivorous
+animals and birds. When they hunt the mighty thag, the prehistoric
+bos of the outer crust, a single male, with his fiber rope, will
+catch and kill the greatest of the bulls.</p>
+
+<p>Well, as I was about to say, I had this little shelter at the edge
+of my melon-patch. Here I was resting from my labors on a certain
+occasion when I heard a great hub-bub in the village, which lay
+about a quarter of a mile away.</p>
+
+<p>Presently a male came racing toward the field, shouting excitedly.
+As he approached I came from my shelter to learn what all the
+commotion might be about, for the monotony of my existence in the
+melon-patch must have fostered that trait of my curiosity from
+which it had always been my secret boast I am peculiarly free.</p>
+
+<p>The other workers also ran forward to meet the messenger, who quickly
+unburdened himself of his information, and as quickly turned and
+scampered back toward the village. When running these beast-men
+often go upon all fours. Thus they leap over obstacles that would
+slow up a human being, and upon the level attain a speed that
+would make a thoroughbred look to his laurels. The result in this
+instance was that before I had more than assimilated the gist of
+the word which had been brought to the fields, I was alone, watching
+my co-workers speeding villageward.</p>
+
+<p>I was alone! It was the first time since my capture that no beast-man
+had been within sight of me. I was alone! And all my captors were
+in the village at the opposite edge of the mesa repelling an attack
+of Hooja's horde!</p>
+
+<p>It seemed from the messenger's tale that two of Gr-gr-gr's great
+males had been set upon by a half-dozen of Hooja's cutthroats while
+the former were peaceably returning from the thag hunt. The two
+had returned to the village unscratched, while but a single one of
+Hooja's half-dozen had escaped to report the outcome of the battle
+to their leader. Now Hooja was coming to punish Gr-gr-gr's people.
+With his large force, armed with the bows and arrows that Hooja
+had learned from me to make, with long lances and sharp knives, I
+feared that even the mighty strength of the beastmen could avail
+them but little.</p>
+
+<p>At last had come the opportunity for which I waited! I was free to
+make for the far end of the mesa, find my way to the valley below,
+and while the two forces were engaged in their struggle, continue
+my search for Hooja's village, which I had learned from the beast-men
+lay farther on down the river that I had been following when taken
+prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>As I turned to make for the mesa's rim the sounds of battle came
+plainly to my ears—the hoarse shouts of men mingled with the
+half-beastly roars and growls of the brute-folk.</p>
+
+<p>Did I take advantage of my opportunity?</p>
+
+<p>I did not. Instead, lured by the din of strife and by the desire
+to deliver a stroke, however feeble, against hated Hooja, I wheeled
+and ran directly toward the village.</p>
+
+<p>When I reached the edge of the plateau such a scene met my astonished
+gaze as never before had startled it, for the unique battle-methods
+of the half-brutes were rather the most remarkable I had ever
+witnessed. Along the very edge of the cliff-top stood a thin line
+of mighty males—the best rope-throwers of the tribe. A few feet
+behind these the rest of the males, with the exception of about
+twenty, formed a second line. Still farther in the rear all the
+women and young children were clustered into a single group under
+the protection of the remaining twenty fighting males and all the
+old males.</p>
+
+<p>But it was the work of the first two lines that interested me.
+The forces of Hooja—a great horde of savage Sagoths and primeval
+cave men—were working their way up the steep cliff-face, their
+agility but slightly less than that of my captors who had clambered
+so nimbly aloft—even he who was burdened by my weight.</p>
+
+<p>As the attackers came on they paused occasionally wherever a
+projection gave them sufficient foothold and launched arrows and
+spears at the defenders above them. During the entire battle both
+sides hurled taunts and insults at one another—the human beings
+naturally excelling the brutes in the coarseness and vileness of
+their vilification and invective.</p>
+
+<p>The "firing-line" of the brute-men wielded no weapon other than
+their long fiber nooses. When a foeman came within range of them
+a noose would settle unerringly about him and be would be dragged,
+fighting and yelling, to the cliff-top, unless, as occasionally
+occurred, he was quick enough to draw his knife and cut the rope
+above him, in which event he usually plunged downward to a no less
+certain death than that which awaited him above.</p>
+
+<p>Those who were hauled up within reach of the powerful clutches of
+the defenders had the nooses snatched from them and were catapulted
+back through the first line to the second, where they were seized
+and killed by the simple expedient of a single powerful closing of
+mighty fangs upon the backs of their necks.</p>
+
+<p>But the arrows of the invaders were taking a much heavier toll
+than the nooses of the defenders and I foresaw that it was but a
+matter of time before Hooja's forces must conquer unless the brute-men
+changed their tactics, or the cave men tired of the battle.</p>
+
+<p>Gr-gr-gr was standing in the center of the first line. All about
+him were boulders and large fragments of broken rock. I approached
+him and without a word toppled a large mass of rock over the edge
+of the cliff. It fell directly upon the head of an archer, crushing
+him to instant death and carrying his mangled corpse with it to
+the bottom of the declivity, and on its way brushing three more of
+the attackers into the hereafter.</p>
+
+<p>Gr-gr-gr turned toward me in surprise. For an instant he appeared
+to doubt the sincerity of my motives. I felt that perhaps my time
+had come when he reached for me with one of his giant paws; but I
+dodged him, and running a few paces to the right hurled down another
+missile. It, too, did its allotted work of destruction. Then I
+picked up smaller fragments and with all the control and accuracy
+for which I had earned justly deserved fame in my collegiate days
+I rained down a hail of death upon those beneath me.</p>
+
+<p>Gr-gr-gr was coming toward me again. I pointed to the litter of
+rubble upon the cliff-top.</p>
+
+<p>"Hurl these down upon the enemy!" I cried to him. "Tell your
+warriors to throw rocks down upon them!"</p>
+
+<p>At my words the others of the first line, who had been interested
+spectators of my tactics, seized upon great boulders or bits of
+rock, whichever came first to their hands, and, without, waiting
+for a command from Gr-gr-gr, deluged the terrified cave men with
+a perfect avalanche of stone. In less than no time the cliff-face
+was stripped of enemies and the village of Gr-gr-gr was saved.</p>
+
+<p>Gr-gr-gr was standing beside me when the last of the cave men
+disappeared in rapid flight down the valley. He was looking at me
+intently.</p>
+
+<p>"Those were your people," he said. "Why did you kill them?"</p>
+
+<p>"They were not my people," I returned. "I have told you that before,
+but you would not believe me. Will you believe me now when I tell
+you that I hate Hooja and his tribe as much as you do? Will you
+believe me when I tell you that I wish to be the friend of Gr-gr-gr?"</p>
+
+<p>For some time he stood there beside me, scratching his head. Evidently
+it was no less difficult for him to readjust his preconceived
+conclusions than it is for most human beings; but finally the
+idea percolated—which it might never have done had he been a man,
+or I might qualify that statement by saying had he been some men.
+Finally he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"Gilak," he said, "you have made Gr-gr-gr ashamed. He would have
+killed you. How can he reward you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Set me free," I replied quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"You are free," he said. "You may go down when you wish, or you
+may stay with us. If you go you may always return. We are your
+friends."</p>
+
+<p>Naturally, I elected to go. I explained all over again to Gr-gr-gr
+the nature of my mission. He listened attentively; after I had
+done he offered to send some of his people with me to guide me to
+Hooja's village. I was not slow in accepting his offer.</p>
+
+<p>First, however, we must eat. The hunters upon whom Hooja's men had
+fallen had brought back the meat of a great thag. There would be
+a feast to commemorate the victory—a feast and dancing.</p>
+
+<p>I had never witnessed a tribal function of the brute-folk, though
+I had often heard strange sounds coming from the village, where I
+had not been allowed since my capture. Now I took part in one of
+their orgies.</p>
+
+<p>It will live forever in my memory. The combination of bestiality
+and humanity was oftentimes pathetic, and again grotesque or horrible.
+Beneath the glaring noonday sun, in the sweltering heat of the
+mesa-top, the huge, hairy creatures leaped in a great circle. They
+coiled and threw their fiber-ropes; they hurled taunts and insults
+at an imaginary foe; they fell upon the carcass of the thag and
+literally tore it to pieces; and they ceased only when, gorged,
+they could no longer move.</p>
+
+<p>I had to wait until the processes of digestion had released my
+escort from its torpor. Some had eaten until their abdomens were
+so distended that I thought they must burst, for beside the thag
+there had been fully a hundred antelopes of various sizes and varied
+degrees of decomposition, which they had unearthed from burial
+beneath the floors of their lairs to grace the banquet-board.</p>
+
+<p>But at last we were started—six great males and myself. Gr-gr-gr
+had returned my weapons to me, and at last I was once more upon
+my oft-interrupted way toward my goal. Whether I should find Dian
+at the end of my journey or no I could not even surmise; but I was
+none the less impatient to be off, for if only the worst lay in
+store for me I wished to know even the worst at once.</p>
+
+<p>I could scarce believe that my proud mate would still be alive in
+the power of Hooja; but time upon Pellucidar is so strange a thing
+that I realized that to her or to him only a few minutes might have
+elapsed since his subtle trickery had enabled him to steal her away
+from Phutra. Or she might have found the means either to repel
+his advances or escape him.</p>
+
+<p>As we descended the cliff we disturbed a great pack of large hyena-like
+beasts—hyaena spelaeus, Perry calls them—who were busy among the
+corpses of the cave men fallen in battle. The ugly creatures were
+far from the cowardly things that our own hyenas are reputed to
+be; they stood their ground with bared fangs as we approached them.
+But, as I was later to learn, so formidable are the brute-folk
+that there are few even of the larger carnivora that will not make
+way for them when they go abroad. So the hyenas moved a little
+from our line of march, closing in again upon their feasts when we
+had passed.</p>
+
+<p>We made our way steadily down the rim of the beautiful river which
+flows the length of the island, coming at last to a wood rather
+denser than any that I had before encountered in this country.
+Well within this forest my escort halted.</p>
+
+<p>"There!" they said, and pointed ahead. "We are to go no farther."</p>
+
+<p>Thus having guided me to my destination they left me. Ahead of me,
+through the trees, I could see what appeared to be the foot of a
+steep hill. Toward this I made my way. The forest ran to the very
+base of a cliff, in the face of which were the mouths of many
+caves. They appeared untenanted; but I decided to watch for a
+while before venturing farther. A large tree, densely foliaged,
+offered a splendid vantage-point from which to spy upon the cliff,
+so I clambered among its branches where, securely hidden, I could
+watch what transpired about the caves.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed that I had scarcely settled myself in a comfortable
+position before a party of cave men emerged from one of the smaller
+apertures in the cliff-face, about fifty feet from the base. They
+descended into the forest and disappeared. Soon after came several
+others from the same cave, and after them, at a short interval, a
+score of women and children, who came into the wood to gather fruit.
+There were several warriors with them—a guard, I presume.</p>
+
+<p>After this came other parties, and two or three groups who passed
+out of the forest and up the cliff-face to enter the same cave.
+I could not understand it. All who came out had emerged from the
+same cave. All who returned reentered it. No other cave gave
+evidence of habitation, and no cave but one of extraordinary size
+could have accommodated all the people whom I had seen pass in and
+out of its mouth.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time I sat and watched the coming and going of great
+numbers of the cave-folk. Not once did one leave the cliff by
+any other opening save that from which I had seen the first party
+come, nor did any re-enter the cliff through another aperture.</p>
+
+<p>What a cave it must be, I thought, that houses an entire tribe!
+But dissatisfied of the truth of my surmise, I climbed higher among
+the branches of the tree that I might get a better view of other
+portions of the cliff. High above the ground I reached a point
+whence I could see the summit of the hill. Evidently it was
+a flat-topped butte similar to that on which dwelt the tribe of
+Gr-gr-gr.</p>
+
+<p>As I sat gazing at it a figure appeared at the very edge. It was
+that of a young girl in whose hair was a gorgeous bloom plucked from
+some flowering tree of the forest. I had seen her pass beneath me
+but a short while before and enter the small cave that had swallowed
+all of the returning tribesmen.</p>
+
+<p>The mystery was solved. The cave was but the mouth of a passage
+that led upward through the cliff to the summit of the hill. It
+served merely as an avenue from their lofty citadel to the valley
+below.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had the truth flashed upon me than the realization came
+that I must seek some other means of reaching the village, for to
+pass unobserved through this well-traveled thoroughfare would be
+impossible. At the moment there was no one in sight below me, so
+I slid quickly from my arboreal watchtower to the ground and moved
+rapidly away to the right with the intention of circling the hill
+if necessary until I had found an unwatched spot where I might
+have some slight chance of scaling the heights and reaching the
+top unseen.</p>
+
+<p>I kept close to the edge of the forest, in the very midst of which
+the hill seemed to rise. Though I carefully scanned the cliff as
+I traversed its base, I saw no sign of any other entrance than that
+to which my guides had led me.</p>
+
+<p>After some little time the roar of the sea broke upon my ears.
+Shortly after I came upon the broad ocean which breaks at this
+point at the very foot of the great hill where Hooja had found safe
+refuge for himself and his villains.</p>
+
+<p>I was just about to clamber along the jagged rocks which lie at
+the base of the cliff next to the sea, in search of some foothold
+to the top, when I chanced to see a canoe rounding the end of the
+island. I threw myself down behind a large boulder where I could
+watch the dugout and its occupants without myself being seen.</p>
+
+<p>They paddled toward me for a while and then, about a hundred yards
+from me, they turned straight in toward the foot of the frowning
+cliffs. From where I was it seemed that they were bent upon
+self-destruction, since the roar of the breakers beating upon the
+perpendicular rock-face appeared to offer only death to any one
+who might venture within their relentless clutch.</p>
+
+<p>A mass of rock would soon hide them from my view; but so keen was
+the excitement of the instant that I could not refrain from crawling
+forward to a point whence I could watch the dashing of the small
+craft to pieces on the jagged rocks that loomed before her, although
+I risked discovery from above to accomplish my design.</p>
+
+<p>When I had reached a point where I could again see the dugout, I was
+just in time to see it glide unharmed between two needle-pointed
+sentinels of granite and float quietly upon the unruffled bosom of
+a tiny cove.</p>
+
+<p>Again I crouched behind a boulder to observe what would next transpire;
+nor did I have long to wait. The dugout, which contained but two
+men, was drawn close to the rocky wall. A fiber rope, one end of
+which was tied to the boat, was made fast about a projection of
+the cliff face.</p>
+
+<p>Then the two men commenced the ascent of the almost perpendicular
+wall toward the summit several hundred feet above. I looked on in
+amazement, for, splendid climbers though the cave men of Pellucidar
+are, I never before had seen so remarkable a feat performed.
+Upwardly they moved without a pause, to disappear at last over
+the summit.</p>
+
+<p>When I felt reasonably sure that they had gone for a while at least
+I crawled from my hiding-place and at the risk of a broken neck
+leaped and scrambled to the spot where their canoe was moored.</p>
+
+<p>If they had scaled that cliff I could, and if I couldn't I should
+die in the attempt.</p>
+
+<p>But when I turned to the accomplishment of the task I found it easier
+than I had imagined it would be, since I immediately discovered
+that shallow hand and foot-holds had been scooped in the cliff's
+rocky face, forming a crude ladder from the base to the summit.</p>
+
+<p>At last I reached the top, and very glad I was, too. Cautiously
+I raised my head until my eyes were above the cliff-crest. Before
+me spread a rough mesa, liberally sprinkled with large boulders.
+There was no village in sight nor any living creature.</p>
+
+<p>I drew myself to level ground and stood erect. A few trees grew
+among the boulders. Very carefully I advanced from tree to tree
+and boulder to boulder toward the inland end of the mesa. I stopped
+often to listen and look cautiously about me in every direction.</p>
+
+<p>How I wished that I had my revolvers and rifle! I would not have
+to worm my way like a scared cat toward Hooja's village, nor did I
+relish doing so now; but Dian's life might hinge upon the success
+of my venture, and so I could not afford to take chances. To
+have met suddenly with discovery and had a score or more of armed
+warriors upon me might have been very grand and heroic; but it would
+have immediately put an end to all my earthly activities, nor have
+accomplished aught in the service of Dian.</p>
+
+<p>Well, I must have traveled nearly a mile across that mesa without
+seeing a sign of anyone, when all of a sudden, as I crept around
+the edge of a boulder, I ran plump into a man, down on all fours
+like myself, crawling toward me.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterx" id="chapterx">CHAPTER X</a></h2>
+
+<h3>THE RAID ON THE CAVE-PRISON</h3>
+
+<p>His head was turned over his shoulder as I first saw him—he was
+looking back toward the village. As I leaped for him his eyes
+fell upon me. Never in my life have I seen a more surprised mortal
+than this poor cave man. Before he could utter a single scream
+of warning or alarm I had my fingers on his throat and had dragged
+him behind the boulder, where I proceeded to sit upon him, while
+I figured out what I had best do with him.</p>
+
+<p>He struggled a little at first, but finally lay still, and so I
+released the pressure of my fingers at his windpipe, for which I
+imagine he was quite thankful—I know that I should have been.</p>
+
+<p>I hated to kill him in cold blood; but what else I was to do with
+him I could not see, for to turn him loose would have been merely
+to have the entire village aroused and down upon me in a moment.
+The fellow lay looking up at me with the surprise still deeply
+written on his countenance. At last, all of a sudden, a look of
+recognition entered his eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"I have seen you before," he said. "I saw you in the arena at the
+Mahars' city of Phutra when the thipdars dragged the tarag from
+you and your mate. I never understood that. Afterward they put
+me in the arena with two warriors from Gombul."</p>
+
+<p>He smiled in recollection.</p>
+
+<p>"It would have been the same had there been ten warriors from
+Gombul. I slew them, winning my freedom. Look!"</p>
+
+<p>He half turned his left shoulder toward me, exhibiting the newly
+healed scar of the Mahars' branded mark.</p>
+
+<p>"Then," he continued, "as I was returning to my people I met some
+of them fleeing. They told me that one called Hooja the Sly One
+had come and seized our village, putting our people into slavery.
+So I hurried hither to learn the truth, and, sure enough, here I
+found Hooja and his wicked men living in my village, and my father's
+people but slaves among them.</p>
+
+<p>"I was discovered and captured, but Hooja did not kill me. I am
+the chief's son, and through me he hoped to win my father's warriors
+back to the village to help him in a great war he says that he will
+soon commence.</p>
+
+<p>"Among his prisoners is Dian the Beautiful One, whose brother, Dacor
+the Strong One, chief of Amoz, once saved my life when he came to
+Thuria to steal a mate. I helped him capture her, and we are good
+friends. So when I learned that Dian the Beautiful One was Hooja's
+prisoner, I told him that I would not aid him if he harmed her.</p>
+
+<p>"Recently one of Hooja's warriors overheard me talking with
+another prisoner. We were planning to combine all the prisoners,
+seize weapons, and when most of Hooja's warriors were away, slay
+the rest and retake our hilltop. Had we done so we could have held
+it, for there are only two entrances—the narrow tunnel at one end
+and the steep path up the cliffs at the other.</p>
+
+<p>"But when Hooja heard what we had planned he was very angry, and
+ordered that I die. They bound me hand and foot and placed me in
+a cave until all the warriors should return to witness my death;
+but while they were away I heard someone calling me in a muffled
+voice which seemed to come from the wall of the cave. When I replied
+the voice, which was a woman's, told me that she had overheard all
+that had passed between me and those who had brought me thither,
+and that she was Dacor's sister and would find a way to help me.</p>
+
+<p>"Presently a little hole appeared in the wall at the point from which
+the voice had come. After a time I saw a woman's hand digging with
+a bit of stone. Dacor's sister made a hole in the wall between
+the cave where I lay bound and that in which she had been confined,
+and soon she was by my side and had cut my bonds.</p>
+
+<p>"We talked then, and I offered to make the attempt to take her away
+and back to the land of Sari, where she told me she would be able
+to learn the whereabouts of her mate. Just now I was going to the
+other end of the island to see if a boat lay there, and if the way
+was clear for our escape. Most of the boats are always away now,
+for a great many of Hooja's men and nearly all the slaves are upon
+the Island of Trees, where Hooja is having many boats built to
+carry his warriors across the water to the mouth of a great river
+which he discovered while he was returning from Phutra—a vast
+river that empties into the sea there."</p>
+
+<p>The speaker pointed toward the northeast. "It is wide and smooth
+and slow-running almost to the land of Sari," he added.</p>
+
+<p>"And where is Dian the Beautiful One now?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>I had released my prisoner as soon as I found that he was Hooja's
+enemy, and now the pair of us were squatting beside the boulder
+while he told his story.</p>
+
+<p>"She returned to the cave where she had been imprisoned," he
+replied, "and is awaiting me there."</p>
+
+<p>"There is no danger that Hooja will come while you are away?"</p>
+
+<p>"Hooja is upon the Island of Trees," he replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Can you direct me to the cave so that I can find it alone?" I
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>He said he could, and in the strange yet explicit fashion of the
+Pellucidarians he explained minutely how I might reach the cave
+where he had been imprisoned, and through the hole in its wall
+reach Dian.</p>
+
+<p>I thought it best for but one of us to return, since two could
+accomplish but little more than one and would double the risk of
+discovery. In the meantime he could make his way to the sea and
+guard the boat, which I told him lay there at the foot of the cliff.</p>
+
+<p>I told him to await us at the cliff-top, and if Dian came alone to
+do his best to get away with her and take her to Sari, as I thought
+it quite possible that, in case of detection and pursuit, it might
+be necessary for me to hold off Hooja's people while Dian made her
+way alone to where my new friend was to await her. I impressed
+upon him the fact that he might have to resort to trickery or even
+to force to get Dian to leave me; but I made him promise that he
+would sacrifice everything, even his life, in an attempt to rescue
+Dacor's sister.</p>
+
+<p>Then we parted—he to take up his position where he could watch the
+boat and await Dian, I to crawl cautiously on toward the caves.
+I had no difficulty in following the directions given me by Juag,
+the name by which Dacor's friend said he was called. There was the
+leaning tree, my first point he told me to look for after rounding
+the boulder where we had met. After that I crawled to the balanced
+rock, a huge boulder resting upon a tiny base no larger than the
+palm of your hand.</p>
+
+<p>From here I had my first view of the village of caves. A low bluff
+ran diagonally across one end of the mesa, and in the face of this
+bluff were the mouths of many caves. Zig-zag trails led up to them,
+and narrow ledges scooped from the face of the soft rock connected
+those upon the same level.</p>
+
+<p>The cave in which Juag had been confined was at the extreme end of
+the cliff nearest me. By taking advantage of the bluff itself,
+I could approach within a few feet of the aperture without being
+visible from any other cave. There were few people about at the
+time; most of these were congregated at the foot of the far end of
+the bluff, where they were so engrossed in excited conversation
+that I felt but little fear of detection. However I exercised
+the greatest care in approaching the cliff. After watching for a
+while until I caught an instant when every head was turned away
+from me, I darted, rabbitlike, into the cave.</p>
+
+<p>Like many of the man-made caves of Pellucidar, this one consisted
+of three chambers, one behind another, and all unlit except for what
+sunlight filtered in through the external opening. The result was
+gradually increasing darkness as one passed into each succeeding
+chamber.</p>
+
+<p>In the last of the three I could just distinguish objects, and that
+was all. As I was groping around the walls for the hole that should
+lead into the cave where Dian was imprisoned, I heard a man's voice
+quite close to me.</p>
+
+<p>The speaker had evidently but just entered, for he spoke in a loud
+tone, demanding the whereabouts of one whom he had come in search
+of.</p>
+
+<p>"Where are you, woman?" he cried. "Hooja has sent for you."</p>
+
+<p>And then a woman's voice answered him:</p>
+
+<p>"And what does Hooja want of me?"</p>
+
+<p>The voice was Dian's. I groped in the direction of the sounds,
+feeling for the hole.</p>
+
+<p>"He wishes you brought to the Island of Trees," replied the man;
+"for he is ready to take you as his mate."</p>
+
+<p>"I will not go," said Dian. "I will die first."</p>
+
+<p>"I am sent to bring you, and bring you I shall."</p>
+
+<p>I could hear him crossing the cave toward her.</p>
+
+<p>Frantically I clawed the wall of the cave in which I was in an
+effort to find the elusive aperture that would lead me to Dian's
+side.</p>
+
+<p>I heard the sound of a scuffle in the next cave. Then my fingers
+sank into loose rock and earth in the side of the cave. In an
+instant I realized why I had been unable to find the opening while
+I had been lightly feeling the surface of the walls—Dian had
+blocked up the hole she had made lest it arouse suspicion and lead
+to an early discovery of Juag's escape.</p>
+
+<p>Plunging my weight against the crumbling mass, I sent it crashing
+into the adjoining cavern. With it came I, David, Emperor of
+Pellucidar. I doubt if any other potentate in a world's history
+ever made a more undignified entrance. I landed head first on
+all fours, but I came quickly and was on my feet before the man in
+the dark guessed what had happened.</p>
+
+<p>He saw me, though, when I arose and, sensing that no friend came
+thus precipitately, turned to meet me even as I charged him. I had
+my stone knife in my hand, and he had his. In the darkness of the
+cave there was little opportunity for a display of science, though
+even at that I venture to say that we fought a very pretty duel.</p>
+
+<p>Before I came to Pellucidar I do not recall that I ever had seen
+a stone knife, and I am sure that I never fought with a knife of
+any description; but now I do not have to take my hat off to any
+of them when it comes to wielding that primitive yet wicked weapon.</p>
+
+<p>I could just see Dian in the darkness, but I knew that she could
+not see my features or recognize me; and I enjoyed in anticipation,
+even while I was fighting for her life and mine, her dear joy when
+she should discover that it was I who was her deliverer.</p>
+
+<p>My opponent was large, but he also was active and no mean knife-man.
+He caught me once fairly in the shoulder—I carry the scar yet,
+and shall carry it to the grave. And then he did a foolish thing,
+for as I leaped back to gain a second in which to calm the shock
+of the wound he rushed after me and tried to clinch. He rather
+neglected his knife for the moment in his greater desire to get
+his hands on me. Seeing the opening, I swung my left fist fairly
+to the point of his jaw.</p>
+
+<p>Down he went. Before ever he could scramble up again I was on him
+and had buried my knife in his heart. Then I stood up—and there
+was Dian facing me and peering at me through the dense gloom.</p>
+
+<p>"You are not Juag!" she exclaimed. "Who are you?"</p>
+
+<p>I took a step toward her, my arms outstretched.</p>
+
+<p>"It is I, Dian," I said. "It is David."</p>
+
+<p>At the sound of my voice she gave a little cry in which tears were
+mingled—a pathetic little cry that told me all without words how
+far hope had gone from her—and then she ran forward and threw
+herself in my arms. I covered her perfect lips and her beautiful
+face with kisses, and stroked her thick black hair, and told
+her again and again what she already knew—what she had known for
+years—that I loved her better than all else which two worlds had
+to offer. We couldn't devote much time, though, to the happiness
+of lovemaking, for we were in the midst of enemies who might
+discover us at any moment.</p>
+
+<p>I drew her into the adjoining cave. Thence we made our way to the
+mouth of the cave that had given me entrance to the cliff. Here I
+reconnoitered for a moment, and seeing the coast clear, ran swiftly
+forth with Dian at my side. We dodged around the cliff-end, then
+paused for an instant, listening. No sound reached our ears to
+indicate that any had seen us, and we moved cautiously onward along
+the way by which I had come.</p>
+
+<p>As we went Dian told me that her captors had informed her how close
+I had come in search of her—even to the Land of Awful Shadow—and
+how one of Hooja's men who knew me had discovered me asleep and
+robbed me of all my possessions. And then how Hooja had sent four
+others to find me and take me prisoner. But these men, she said,
+had not yet returned, or at least she had not heard of their
+return.</p>
+
+<p>"Nor will you ever," I responded, "for they have gone to that place
+whence none ever returns." I then related my adventure with these
+four.</p>
+
+<p>We had come almost to the cliff-edge where Juag should be awaiting
+us when we saw two men walking rapidly toward the same spot from
+another direction. They did not see us, nor did they see Juag,
+whom I now discovered hiding behind a low bush close to the verge
+of the precipice which drops into the sea at this point. As quickly
+as possible, without exposing ourselves too much to the enemy, we
+hastened forward that we might reach Juag as quickly as they.</p>
+
+<p>But they noticed him first and immediately charged him, for one
+of them had been his guard, and they had both been sent to search
+for him, his escape having been discovered between the time he
+left the cave and the time when I reached it. Evidently they had
+wasted precious moments looking for him in other portions of the
+mesa.</p>
+
+<p>When I saw that the two of them were rushing him, I called out to
+attract their attention to the fact that they had more than a single
+man to cope with. They paused at the sound of my voice and looked
+about.</p>
+
+<p>When they discovered Dian and me they exchanged a few words, and one
+of them continued toward Juag while the other turned upon us. As
+he came nearer I saw that he carried in his hand one of my six-shooters,
+but he was holding it by the barrel, evidently mistaking it for
+some sort of warclub or tomahawk.</p>
+
+<p>I could scarce refrain a grin when I thought of the wasted
+possibilities of that deadly revolver in the hands of an untutored
+warrior of the stone age. Had he but reversed it and pulled the
+trigger he might still be alive; maybe he is for all I know, since
+I did not kill him then. When he was about twenty feet from me
+I flung my javelin with a quick movement that I had learned from
+Ghak. He ducked to avoid it, and instead of receiving it in his
+heart, for which it was intended, he got it on the side of the
+head.</p>
+
+<p>Down he went all in a heap. Then I glanced toward Juag. He was
+having a most exciting time. The fellow pitted against Juag was a
+veritable giant; he was hacking and hewing away at the poor slave
+with a villainous-looking knife that might have been designed for
+butchering mastodons. Step by step, he was forcing Juag back
+toward the edge of the cliff with a fiendish cunning that permitted
+his adversary no chance to side-step the terrible consequences of
+retreat in this direction. I saw quickly that in another moment
+Juag must deliberately hurl himself to death over the precipice
+or be pushed over by his foeman.</p>
+
+<p>And as I saw Juag's predicament I saw, too, in the same instant,
+a way to relieve him. Leaping quickly to the side of the fellow
+I had just felled, I snatched up my fallen revolver. It was
+a desperate chance to take, and I realized it in the instant that
+I threw the gun up from my hip and pulled the trigger. There was
+no time to aim. Juag was upon the very brink of the chasm. His
+relentless foe was pushing him hard, beating at him furiously with
+the heavy knife.</p>
+
+<p>And then the revolver spoke—loud and sharp. The giant threw his
+hands above his head, whirled about like a huge top, and lunged
+forward over the precipice.</p>
+
+<p>And Juag?</p>
+
+<p>He cast a single affrighted glance in my direction—never before,
+of course, had he heard the report of a firearm—and with a howl
+of dismay he, too, turned and plunged headforemost from sight.
+Horror-struck, I hastened to the brink of the abyss just in time
+to see two splashes upon the surface of the little cove below.</p>
+
+<p>For an instant I stood there watching with Dian at my side. Then,
+to my utter amazement, I saw Juag rise to the surface and swim
+strongly toward the boat.</p>
+
+<p>The fellow had dived that incredible distance and come up unharmed!</p>
+
+<p>I called to him to await us below, assuring him that he need have
+no fear of my weapon, since it would harm only my enemies. He
+shook his head and muttered something which I could not hear at
+so great a distance; but when I pushed him he promised to wait for
+us. At the same instant Dian caught my arm and pointed toward the
+village. My shot had brought a crowd of natives on the run toward
+us.</p>
+
+<p>The fellow whom I had stunned with my javelin had regained consciousness
+and scrambled to his feet. He was now racing as fast as he could
+go back toward his people. It looked mighty dark for Dian and me
+with that ghastly descent between us and even the beginnings of
+liberty, and a horde of savage enemies advancing at a rapid run.</p>
+
+<p>There was but one hope. That was to get Dian started for the bottom
+without delay. I took her in my arms just for an instant—I felt,
+somehow, that it might be for the last time. For the life of me
+I couldn't see how both of us could escape.</p>
+
+<p>I asked her if she could make the descent alone—if she were not
+afraid. She smiled up at me bravely and shrugged her shoulders.
+She afraid! So beautiful is she that I am always having difficulty
+in remembering that she is a primitive, half-savage cave girl of the
+stone age, and often find myself mentally limiting her capacities
+to those of the effete and overcivilized beauties of the outer
+crust.</p>
+
+<p>"And you?" she asked as she swung over the edge of the cliff.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall follow you after I take a shot or two at our friends," I
+replied. "I just want to give them a taste of this new medicine
+which is going to cure Pellucidar of all its ills. That will stop
+them long enough for me to join you. Now hurry, and tell Juag to
+be ready to shove off the moment I reach the boat, or the instant
+that it becomes apparent that I cannot reach it.</p>
+
+<p>"You, Dian, must return to Sari if anything happens to me, that
+you may devote your life to carrying out with Perry the hopes and
+plans for Pellucidar that are so dear to my heart. Promise me,
+dear."</p>
+
+<p>She hated to promise to desert me, nor would she; only shaking her
+head and making no move to descend. The tribesmen were nearing
+us. Juag was shouting up to us from below. It was evident that
+he realized from my actions that I was attempting to persuade Dian
+to descend, and that grave danger threatened us from above.</p>
+
+<p>"Dive!" he cried. "Dive!"</p>
+
+<p>I looked at Dian and then down at the abyss below us. The cove
+appeared no larger than a saucer. How Juag ever had hit it I could
+not guess.</p>
+
+<p>"Dive!" cried Juag. "It is the only way—there is no time to climb
+down."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterxi" id="chapterxi">CHAPTER XI</a></h2>
+
+<h3>ESCAPE</h3>
+
+<p>Dian glanced downward and shuddered. Her tribe were hill people—they
+were not accustomed to swimming other than in quiet rivers and
+placid lakelets. It was not the steep that appalled her. It was
+the ocean—vast, mysterious, terrible.</p>
+
+<p>To dive into it from this great height was beyond her. I couldn't
+wonder, either. To have attempted it myself seemed too preposterous
+even for thought. Only one consideration could have prompted me
+to leap headforemost from that giddy height—suicide; or at least
+so I thought at the moment.</p>
+
+<p>"Quick!" I urged Dian. "You cannot dive; but I can hold them until
+you reach safety."</p>
+
+<p>"And you?" she asked once more. "Can you dive when they come too
+close? Otherwise you could not escape if you waited here until I
+reached the bottom."</p>
+
+<p>I saw that she would not leave me unless she thought that I could
+make that frightful dive as we had seen Juag make it. I glanced
+once downward; then with a mental shrug I assured her that I would
+dive the moment that she reached the boat. Satisfied, she began
+the descent carefully, yet swiftly. I watched her for a moment,
+my heart in my mouth lest some slight mis-step or the slipping of
+a finger-hold should pitch her to a frightful death upon the rocks
+below.</p>
+
+<p>Then I turned toward the advancing Hoojans—"Hoosiers," Perry dubbed
+them—even going so far as to christen this island where Hooja held
+sway Indiana; it is so marked now upon our maps. They were coming
+on at a great rate. I raised my revolver, took deliberate aim at
+the foremost warrior, and pulled the trigger. With the bark of
+the gun the fellow lunged forward. His head doubled beneath him.
+He rolled over and over two or three times before he came to a
+stop, to lie very quietly in the thick grass among the brilliant
+wild flowers.</p>
+
+<p>Those behind him halted. One of them hurled a javelin toward me,
+but it fell short—they were just beyond javelin-range. There were
+two armed with bows and arrows; these I kept my eyes on. All of
+them appeared awe-struck and frightened by the sound and effect of
+the firearm. They kept looking from the corpse to me and jabbering
+among themselves.</p>
+
+<p>I took advantage of the lull in hostilities to throw a quick glance
+over the edge toward Dian. She was halfway down the cliff and
+progressing finely. Then I turned back toward the enemy. One of
+the bowmen was fitting an arrow to his bow. I raised my hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop!" I cried. "Whoever shoots at me or advances toward me I
+shall kill as I killed him!"</p>
+
+<p>I pointed at the dead man. The fellow lowered his bow. Again
+there was animated discussion. I could see that those who were
+not armed with bows were urging something upon the two who were.</p>
+
+<p>At last the majority appeared to prevail, for simultaneously the
+two archers raised their weapons. At the same instant I fired
+at one of them, dropping him in his tracks. The other, however,
+launched his missile, but the report of my gun had given him such
+a start that the arrow flew wild above my head. A second after
+and he, too, was sprawled upon the sward with a round hole between
+his eyes. It had been a rather good shot.</p>
+
+<p>I glanced over the edge again. Dian was almost at the bottom. I
+could see Juag standing just beneath her with his hands upstretched
+to assist her.</p>
+
+<p>A sullen roar from the warriors recalled my attention toward them.
+They stood shaking their fists at me and yelling insults. From
+the direction of the village I saw a single warrior coming to join
+them. He was a huge fellow, and when he strode among them I could
+tell by his bearing and their deference toward him that he was a
+chieftain. He listened to all they had to tell of the happenings
+of the last few minutes; then with a command and a roar he started
+for me with the whole pack at his heels. All they had needed had
+arrived—namely, a brave leader.</p>
+
+<p>I had two unfired cartridges in the chambers of my gun. I let the
+big warrior have one of them, thinking that his death would stop
+them all. But I guess they were worked up to such a frenzy of rage
+by this time that nothing would have stopped them. At any rate,
+they only yelled the louder as he fell and increased their speed
+toward me. I dropped another with my remaining cartridge.</p>
+
+<p>Then they were upon me—or almost. I thought of my promise
+to Dian—the awful abyss was behind me—a big devil with a huge
+bludgeon in front of me. I grasped my six-shooter by the barrel
+and hurled it squarely in his face with all my strength.</p>
+
+<p>Then, without waiting to learn the effect of my throw, I wheeled,
+ran the few steps to the edge, and leaped as far out over that
+frightful chasm as I could. I know something of diving, and all
+that I know I put into that dive, which I was positive would be my
+last.</p>
+
+<p>For a couple of hundred feet I fell in horizontal position. The
+momentum I gained was terrific. I could feel the air almost as
+a solid body, so swiftly I hurtled through it. Then my position
+gradually changed to the vertical, and with hands outstretched
+I slipped through the air, cleaving it like a flying arrow. Just
+before I struck the water a perfect shower of javelins fell all
+about. My enemies bad rushed to the brink and hurled their weapons
+after me. By a miracle I was untouched.</p>
+
+<p>In the final instant I saw that I had cleared the rocks and was
+going to strike the water fairly. Then I was in and plumbing the
+depths. I suppose I didn't really go very far down, but it seemed
+to me that I should never stop. When at last I dared curve my hands
+upward and divert my progress toward the surface, I thought that
+I should explode for air before I ever saw the sun again except
+through a swirl of water. But at last my bead popped above the
+waves, and I filled my lungs with air.</p>
+
+<p>Before me was the boat, from which Juag and Dian were clambering.
+I couldn't understand why they were deserting it now, when we were
+about to set out for the mainland in it; but when I reached its
+side I understood. Two heavy javelins, missing Dian and Juag by
+but a hair's breadth, had sunk deep into the bottom of the dugout
+in a straight line with the grain of the wood, and split her almost
+in two from stem to stern. She was useless.</p>
+
+<p>Juag was leaning over a nearby rock, his hand outstretched to aid
+me in clambering to his side; nor did I lose any time in availing
+myself of his proffered assistance. An occasional javelin was
+still dropping perilously close to us, so we hastened to draw as
+close as possible to the cliffside, where we were comparatively
+safe from the missiles.</p>
+
+<p>Here we held a brief conference, in which it was decided that our
+only hope now lay in making for the opposite end of the island as
+quickly as we could, and utilizing the boat that I had hidden there,
+to continue our journey to the mainland.</p>
+
+<p>Gathering up three of the least damaged javelins that had fallen
+about us, we set out upon our journey, keeping well toward the
+south side of the island, which Juag said was less frequented by
+the Hoojans than the central portion where the river ran. I think
+that this ruse must have thrown our pursuers off our track, since
+we saw nothing of them nor heard any sound of pursuit during the
+greater portion of our march the length of the island.</p>
+
+<p>But the way Juag had chosen was rough and roundabout, so that we
+consumed one or two more marches in covering the distance than if
+we had followed the river. This it was which proved our undoing.</p>
+
+<p>Those who sought us must have sent a party up the river immediately
+after we escaped; for when we came at last onto the river-trail not
+far from our destination, there can be no doubt but that we were
+seen by Hoojans who were just ahead of us on the stream. The
+result was that as we were passing through a clump of bush a score
+of warriors leaped out upon us, and before we could scarce strike
+a blow in defense, had disarmed and bound us.</p>
+
+<p>For a time thereafter I seemed to be entirely bereft of hope. I
+could see no ray of promise in the future—only immediate death
+for Juag and me, which didn't concern me much in the face of what
+lay in store for Dian.</p>
+
+<p>Poor child! What an awful life she had led! From the moment that
+I had first seen her chained in the slave caravan of the Mahars
+until now, a prisoner of a no less cruel creature, I could recall
+but a few brief intervals of peace and quiet in her tempestuous
+existence. Before I had known her, Jubal the Ugly One had pursued
+her across a savage world to make her his mate. She had eluded
+him, and finally I had slain him; but terror and privations, and
+exposure to fierce beasts had haunted her footsteps during all
+her lonely flight from him. And when I had returned to the outer
+world the old trials had recommenced with Hooja in Jubal's role.
+I could almost have wished for death to vouchsafe her that peace
+which fate seemed to deny her in this life.</p>
+
+<p>I spoke to her on the subject, suggesting that we expire together.</p>
+
+<p>"Do not fear, David," she replied. "I shall end my life before
+ever Hooja can harm me; but first I shall see that Hooja dies."</p>
+
+<p>She drew from her breast a little leathern thong, to the end of
+which was fastened a tiny pouch.</p>
+
+<p>"What have you there?" I asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you recall that time you stepped upon the thing you call viper
+in your world?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>I nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"The accident gave you the idea for the poisoned arrows with which
+we fitted the warriors of the empire," she continued. "And, too,
+it gave me an idea. For a long time I have carried a viper's fang
+in my bosom. It has given me strength to endure many dangers, for
+it has always assured me immunity from the ultimate insult. I am
+not ready to die yet. First let Hooja embrace the viper's fang."</p>
+
+<p>So we did not die together, and I am glad now that we did not. It
+is always a foolish thing to contemplate suicide; for no matter
+how dark the future may appear today, tomorrow may hold for us
+that which will alter our whole life in an instant, revealing to
+us nothing but sunshine and happiness. So, for my part, I shall
+always wait for tomorrow.</p>
+
+<p>In Pellucidar, where it is always today, the wait may not be so long,
+and so it proved for us. As we were passing a lofty, flat-topped
+hill through a park-like wood a perfect network of fiber ropes fell
+suddenly about our guard, enmeshing them. A moment later a horde
+of our friends, the hairy gorilla-men, with the mild eyes and long
+faces of sheep leaped among them.</p>
+
+<p>It was a very interesting fight. I was sorry that my bonds
+prevented me from taking part in it, but I urged on the brutemen
+with my voice, and cheered old Gr-gr-gr, their chief, each time
+that his mighty jaws crunched out the life of a Hoojan. When the
+battle was over we found that a few of our captors had escaped,
+but the majority of them lay dead about us. The gorilla-men paid
+no further attention to them. Gr-gr-gr turned to me.</p>
+
+<p>"Gr-gr-gr and all his people are your friends," he said. "One
+saw the warriors of the Sly One and followed them. He saw them
+capture you, and then he flew to the village as fast as he could
+go and told me all that he had seen. The rest you know. You did
+much for Gr-gr-gr and Gr-gr-gr's people. We shall always do much
+for you."</p>
+
+<p>I thanked him; and when I had told him of our escape and our
+destination, he insisted on accompanying us to the sea with a great
+number of his fierce males. Nor were we at all loath to accept
+his escort. We found the canoe where I had hidden it, and bidding
+Gr-gr-gr and his warriors farewell, the three of us embarked for
+the mainland.</p>
+
+<p>I questioned Juag upon the feasibility of attempting to cross to
+the mouth of the great river of which he had told me, and up which
+he said we might paddle almost to Sari; but he urged me not to
+attempt it, since we had but a single paddle and no water or food.
+I had to admit the wisdom of his advice, but the desire to explore
+this great waterway was strong upon me, arousing in me at last a
+determination to make the attempt after first gaining the mainland
+and rectifying our deficiencies.</p>
+
+<p>We landed several miles north of Thuria in a little cove that
+seemed to offer protection from the heavier seas which sometimes
+run, even upon these usually pacific oceans of Pellucidar. Here I
+outlined to Dian and Juag the plans I had in mind. They were to
+fit the canoe with a small sail, the purposes of which I had to
+explain to them both—since neither had ever seen or heard of such
+a contrivance before. Then they were to hunt for food which we
+could transport with us, and prepare a receptacle for water.</p>
+
+<p>These two latter items were more in Juag's line, but he kept muttering
+about the sail and the wind for a long time. I could see that he
+was not even half convinced that any such ridiculous contraption
+could make a canoe move through the water.</p>
+
+<p>We hunted near the coast for a while, but were pot rewarded with any
+particular luck. Finally we decided to hide the canoe and strike
+inland in search of game. At Juag's suggestion we dug a hole
+in the sand at the upper edge of the beach and buried the craft,
+smoothing the surface over nicely and throwing aside the excess
+material we had excavated. Then we set out away from the sea.
+Traveling in Thuria is less arduous than under the midday sun which
+perpetually glares down on the rest of Pellucidar's surface; but
+it has its drawbacks, one of which is the depressing influence
+exerted by the everlasting shade of the Land of Awful Shadow.</p>
+
+<p>The farther inland we went the darker it became, until we were
+moving at last through an endless twilight. The vegetation here
+was sparse and of a weird, colorless nature, though what did grow
+was wondrous in shape and form. Often we saw huge lidi, or beasts
+of burden, striding across the dim landscape, browsing upon the
+grotesque vegetation or drinking from the slow and sullen rivers
+that run down from the Lidi Plains to empty into the sea in Thuria.</p>
+
+<p>What we sought was either a thag—a sort of gigantic elk—or one
+of the larger species of antelope, the flesh of either of which
+dries nicely in the sun. The bladder of the thag would make a
+fine water-bottle, and its skin, I figured, would be a good sail.
+We traveled a considerable distance inland, entirely crossing the
+Land of Awful Shadow and emerging at last upon that portion of
+the Lidi Plains which lies in the pleasant sunlight. Above us the
+pendent world revolved upon its axis, filling me especially—and
+Dian to an almost equal state—with wonder and insatiable curiosity
+as to what strange forms of life existed among the hills and valleys
+and along the seas and rivers, which we could plainly see.</p>
+
+<p>Before us stretched the horizonless expanses of vast Pellucidar, the
+Lidi Plains rolling up about us, while hanging high in the heavens
+to the northwest of us I thought I discerned the many towers which
+marked the entrances to the distant Mahar city, whose inhabitants
+preyed upon the Thurians.</p>
+
+<p>Juag suggested that we travel to the northeast, where, he said,
+upon the verge of the plain we would find a wooded country in which
+game should be plentiful. Acting upon his advice, we came at last
+to a forest-jungle, through which wound innumerable game-paths.
+In the depths of this forbidding wood we came upon the fresh spoor
+of thag.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after, by careful stalking, we came within javelin-range
+of a small herd. Selecting a great bull, Juag and I hurled our
+weapons simultaneously, Dian reserving hers for an emergency. The
+beast staggered to his feet, bellowing. The rest of the herd was
+up and away in an instant, only the wounded bull remaining, with
+lowered head and roving eyes searching for the foe.</p>
+
+<p>Then Juag exposed himself to the view of the bull—it is a part of
+the tactics of the hunt—while I stepped to one side behind a bush.
+The moment that the savage beast saw Juag he charged him. Juag ran
+straight away, that the bull might be lured past my hiding-place.
+On he came—tons of mighty bestial strength and rage.</p>
+
+<p>Dian had slipped behind me. She, too, could fight a thag should
+emergency require. Ah, such a girl! A rightful empress of a stone
+age by every standard which two worlds might bring to measure her!</p>
+
+<p>Crashing down toward us came the bull thag, bellowing and snorting,
+with the power of a hundred outer-earthly bulls. When he was
+opposite me I sprang for the heavy mane that covered his huge neck.
+To tangle my fingers in it was the work of but an instant. Then
+I was running along at the beast's shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>Now, the theory upon which this hunting custom is based is one
+long ago discovered by experience, and that is that a thag cannot
+be turned from his charge once he has started toward the object of
+his wrath, so long as he can still see the thing he charges. He
+evidently believes that the man clinging to his mane is attempting
+to restrain him from overtaking his prey, and so he pays no attention
+to this enemy, who, of course, does not retard the mighty charge
+in the least.</p>
+
+<p>Once in the gait of the plunging bull, it was but a slight matter
+to vault to his back, as cavalrymen mount their chargers upon the
+run. Juag was still running in plain sight ahead of the bull. His
+speed was but a trifle less than that of the monster that pursued
+him. These Pellucidarians are almost as fleet as deer; because I
+am not is one reason that I am always chosen for the close-in work
+of the thag-hunt. I could not keep in front of a charging thag
+long enough to give the killer time to do his work. I learned that
+the first—and last—time I tried it.</p>
+
+<p>Once astride the bull's neck, I drew my long stone knife and, setting
+the point carefully over the brute's spine, drove it home with
+both hands. At the same instant I leaped clear of the stumbling
+animal. Now, no vertebrate can progress far with a knife through
+his spine, and the thag is no exception to the rule.</p>
+
+<p>The fellow was down instantly. As he wallowed Juag returned, and
+the two of us leaped in when an opening afforded the opportunity
+and snatched our javelins from his side. Then we danced about him,
+more like two savages than anything else, until we got the opening
+we were looking for, when simultaneously, our javelins pierced
+his wild heart, stilling it forever.</p>
+
+<p>The thag had covered considerable ground from the point at which I
+had leaped upon him. When, after despatching him, I looked back for
+Dian, I could see nothing of her. I called aloud, but receiving no
+reply, set out at a brisk trot to where I had left her. I had no
+difficulty in finding the self-same bush behind which we had hidden,
+but Dian was not there. Again and again I called, to be rewarded
+only by silence. Where could she be? What could have become of
+her in the brief interval since I had seen her standing just behind
+me?</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterxii" id="chapterxii">CHAPTER XII</a></h2>
+
+<h3>KIDNAPED!</h3>
+
+<p>I searched about the spot carefully. At last I was rewarded by
+the discovery of her javelin, a few yards from the bush that had
+concealed us from the charging thag—her javelin and the indications
+of a struggle revealed by the trampled vegetation and the overlapping
+footprints of a woman and a man. Filled with consternation and
+dismay, I followed these latter to where they suddenly disappeared
+a hundred yards from where the struggle had occurred. There I saw
+the huge imprints of a lidi's feet.</p>
+
+<p>The story of the tragedy was all too plain. A Thurian had either
+been following us, or had accidentally espied Dian and taken a fancy
+to her. While Juag and I had been engaged with the thag, he had
+abducted her. I ran swiftly back to where Juag was working over
+the kill. As I approached him I saw that something was wrong in
+this quarter as well, for the islander was standing upon the carcass
+of the thag, his javelin poised for a throw.</p>
+
+<p>When I had come nearer I saw the cause of his belligerent attitude.
+Just beyond him stood two large jaloks, or wolf-dogs, regarding him
+intently—a male and a female. Their behavior was rather peculiar,
+for they did not seem preparing to charge him. Rather, they were
+contemplating him in an attitude of questioning.</p>
+
+<p>Juag heard me coming and turned toward me with a grin. These
+fellows love excitement. I could see by his expression that he was
+enjoying in anticipation the battle that seemed imminent. But he
+never hurled his javelin. A shout of warning from me stopped him,
+for I had seen the remnants of a rope dangling from the neck of
+the male jalok.</p>
+
+<p>Juag again turned toward me, but this time in surprise. I was
+abreast him in a moment and, passing him, walked straight toward
+the two beasts. As I did so the female crouched with bared fangs.
+The male, however, leaped forward to meet me, not in deadly charge,
+but with every expression of delight and joy which the poor animal
+could exhibit.</p>
+
+<p>It was Raja—the jalok whose life I had saved, and whom I then had
+tamed! There was no doubt that he was glad to see me. I now think
+that his seeming desertion of me had been but due to a desire to
+search out his ferocious mate and bring her, too, to live with me.</p>
+
+<p>When Juag saw me fondling the great beast he was filled with
+consternation, but I did not have much time to spare to Raja while
+my mind was filled with the grief of my new loss. I was glad to
+see the brute, and I lost no time in taking him to Juag and making
+him understand that Juag, too, was to be Raja's friend. With the
+female the matter was more difficult, but Raja helped us out by
+growling savagely at her whenever she bared her fangs against us.</p>
+
+<p>I told Juag of the disappearance of Dian, and of my suspicions as
+to the explanation of the catastrophe. He wanted to start right
+out after her, but I suggested that with Raja to help me it might
+be as well were he to remain and skin the thag, remove its bladder,
+and then return to where we had hidden the canoe on the beach. And
+so it was arranged that he was to do this and await me there for
+a reasonable time. I pointed to a great lake upon the surface of
+the pendent world above us, telling him that if after this lake
+had appeared four times I had not returned to go either by water
+or land to Sari and fetch Ghak with an army. Then, calling Raja
+after me, I set out after Dian and her abductor. First I took the
+wolf dog to the spot where the man had fought with Dian. A few
+paces behind us followed Raja's fierce mate. I pointed to the
+ground where the evidences of the struggle were plainest and where
+the scent must have been strong to Raja's nostrils.</p>
+
+<p>Then I grasped the remnant of leash that hung about his neck and
+urged him forward upon the trail. He seemed to understand. With
+nose to ground he set out upon his task. Dragging me after him,
+he trotted straight out upon the Lidi Plains, turning his steps
+in the direction of the Thurian village. I could have guessed as
+much!</p>
+
+<p>Behind us trailed the female. After a while she closed upon us,
+until she ran quite close to me and at Raja's side. It was not
+long before she seemed as easy in my company as did her lord and
+master.</p>
+
+<p>We must have covered considerable distance at a very rapid pace,
+for we had re-entered the great shadow, when we saw a huge lidi
+ahead of us, moving leisurely across the level plain. Upon its
+back were two human figures. If I could have known that the jaloks
+would not harm Dian I might have turned them loose upon the lidi
+and its master; but I could not know, and so dared take no chances.</p>
+
+<p>However, the matter was taken out of my hands presently when Raja
+raised his head and caught sight of his quarry. With a lunge that
+hurled me flat and jerked the leash from my hand, he was gone with
+the speed of the wind after the giant lidi and its riders. At his
+side raced his shaggy mate, only a trifle smaller than he and no
+whit less savage.</p>
+
+<p>They did not give tongue until the lidi itself discovered them and
+broke into a lumbering, awkward, but none the less rapid gallop.
+Then the two hound-beasts commenced to bay, starting with a low,
+plaintive note that rose, weird and hideous, to terminate in a series
+of short, sharp yelps. I feared that it might be the hunting-call
+of the pack; and if this were true, there would be slight chance
+for either Dian or her abductor—or myself, either, as far as
+that was concerned. So I redoubled my efforts to keep pace with
+the hunt; but I might as well have attempted to distance the bird
+upon the wing; as I have often reminded you, I am no runner. In
+that instance it was just as well that I am not, for my very
+slowness of foot played into my hands; while had I been fleeter,
+I might have lost Dian that time forever.</p>
+
+<p>The lidi, with the hounds running close on either side, had
+almost disappeared in the darkness that enveloped the surrounding
+landscape, when I noted that it was bearing toward the right. This
+was accounted for by the fact that Raja ran upon his left side,
+and unlike his mate, kept leaping for the great beast's shoulder.
+The man on the lidi's back was prodding at the hyaenodon with his
+long spear, but still Raja kept springing up and snapping.</p>
+
+<p>The effect of this was to turn the lidi toward the right, and the
+longer I watched the procedure the more convinced I became that
+Raja and his mate were working together with some end in view,
+for the she-dog merely galloped steadily at the lidi's right about
+opposite his rump.</p>
+
+<p>I had seen jaloks hunting in packs, and I recalled now what for the
+time I had not thought of—the several that ran ahead and turned
+the quarry back toward the main body. This was precisely what Raja
+and his mate were doing—they were turning the lidi back toward
+me, or at least Raja was. Just why the female was keeping out of
+it I did not understand, unless it was that she was not entirely
+clear in her own mind as to precisely what her mate was attempting.</p>
+
+<p>At any rate, I was sufficiently convinced to stop where I was and
+await developments, for I could readily realize two things. One
+was that I could never overhaul them before the damage was done if
+they should pull the lidi down now. The other thing was that if
+they did not pull it down for a few minutes it would have completed
+its circle and returned close to where I stood.</p>
+
+<p>And this is just what happened. The lot of them were almost,
+swallowed up in the twilight for a moment. Then they reappeared
+again, but this time far to the right and circling back in my
+general direction. I waited until I could get some clear idea of
+the right spot to gain that I might intercept the lidi; but even as
+I waited I saw the beast attempt to turn still more to the right—a
+move that would have carried him far to my left in a much more
+circumscribed circle than the hyaenodons had mapped out for him.
+Then I saw the female leap forward and head him; and when he would
+have gone too far to the left, Raja sprang, snapping at his shoulder
+and held him straight.</p>
+
+<p>Straight for me the two savage beasts were driving their quarry!
+It was wonderful.</p>
+
+<p>It was something else, too, as I realized while the monstrous beast
+neared me. It was like standing in the middle of the tracks in
+front of an approaching express-train. But I didn't dare waver;
+too much depended upon my meeting that hurtling mass of terrified
+flesh with a well-placed javelin. So I stood there, waiting to
+be run down and crushed by those gigantic feet, but determined to
+drive home my weapon in the broad breast before I fell.</p>
+
+<p>The lidi was only about a hundred yards from me when Raja gave a
+few barks in a tone that differed materially from his hunting-cry.
+Instantly both he and his mate leaped for the long neck of the
+ruminant.</p>
+
+<p>Neither missed. Swinging in mid-air, they hung tenaciously, their
+weight dragging down the creature's head and so retarding its speed
+that before it had reached me it was almost stopped and devoting
+all its energies to attempting to scrape off its attackers with
+its forefeet.</p>
+
+<p>Dian had seen and recognized me, and was trying to extricate herself
+from the grasp of her captor, who, handicapped by his strong and
+agile prisoner, was unable to wield his lance effectively upon the
+two jaloks. At the same time I was running swiftly toward them.</p>
+
+<p>When the man discovered me he released his hold upon Dian and sprang
+to the ground, ready with his lance to meet me. My javelin was no
+match for his longer weapon, which was used more for stabbing than
+as a missile. Should I miss him at my first cast, as was quite
+probable, since he was prepared for me, I would have to face his
+formidable lance with nothing more than a stone knife. The outlook
+was scarcely entrancing. Evidently I was soon to be absolutely at
+his mercy.</p>
+
+<p>Seeing my predicament, he ran toward me to get rid of one antagonist
+before he had to deal with the other two. He could not guess, of
+course, that the two jaloks were hunting with me; but he doubtless
+thought that after they had finished the lidi they would make after
+the human prey—the beasts are notorious killers, often slaying
+wantonly.</p>
+
+<p>But as the Thurian came Raja loosened his hold upon the lidi and
+dashed for him, with the female close after. When the man saw
+them he yelled to me to help him, protesting that we should both
+be killed if we did not fight together. But I only laughed at him
+and ran toward Dian.</p>
+
+<p>Both the fierce beasts were upon the Thurian simultaneously—he
+must have died almost before his body tumbled to the ground. Then
+the female wheeled toward Dian. I was standing by her side as
+the thing charged her, my javelin ready to receive her.</p>
+
+<p>But again Raja was too quick for me. I imagined he thought she was
+making for me, for he couldn't have known anything of my relations
+toward Dian. At any rate he leaped full upon her back and dragged
+her down. There ensued forthwith as terrible a battle as one would
+wish to see if battles were gaged by volume of noise and riotousness
+of action. I thought that both the beasts would be torn to shreds.</p>
+
+<p>When finally the female ceased to struggle and rolled over on her
+back, her forepaws limply folded, I was sure that she was dead.
+Raja stood over her, growling, his jaws close to her throat. Then
+I saw that neither of them bore a scratch. The male had simply
+administered a severe drubbing to his mate. It was his way of
+teaching her that I was sacred.</p>
+
+<p>After a moment he moved away and let her rise, when she set about
+smoothing down her rumpled coat, while he came stalking toward
+Dian and me. I had an arm about Dian now. As Raja came close I
+caught him by the neck and pulled him up to me. There I stroked
+him and talked to him, bidding Dian do the same, until I think he
+pretty well understood that if I was his friend, so was Dian.</p>
+
+<p>For a long time he was inclined to be shy of her, often baring his
+teeth at her approach, and it was a much longer time before the
+female made friends with us. But by careful kindness, by never
+eating without sharing our meat with them, and by feeding them from
+our hands, we finally won the confidence of both animals. However,
+that was a long time after.</p>
+
+<p>With the two beasts trotting after us, we returned to where we had
+left Juag. Here I had the dickens' own time keeping the female from
+Juag's throat. Of all the venomous, wicked, cruel-hearted beasts
+on two worlds, I think a female hyaenodon takes the palm.</p>
+
+<p>But eventually she tolerated Juag as she had Dian and me, and the
+five of us set out toward the coast, for Juag had just completed
+his labors on the thag when we arrived. We ate some of the meat
+before starting, and gave the hounds some. All that we could we
+carried upon our backs.</p>
+
+<p>On the way to the canoe we met with no mishaps. Dian told me that
+the fellow who had stolen her had come upon her from behind while
+the roaring of the thag had drowned all other noises, and that the
+first she had known he had disarmed her and thrown her to the back
+of his lidi, which had been lying down close by waiting for him.
+By the time the thag had ceased bellowing the fellow had got well
+away upon his swift mount. By holding one palm over her mouth he
+had prevented her calling for help.</p>
+
+<p>"I thought," she concluded, "that I should have to use the viper's
+tooth, after all."</p>
+
+<p>We reached the beach at last and unearthed the canoe. Then we
+busied ourselves stepping a mast and rigging a small sail—Juag
+and I, that is—while Dian cut the thag meat into long strips for
+drying when we should be out in the sunlight once more.</p>
+
+<p>At last all was done. We were ready to embark. I had no difficulty
+in getting Raja aboard the dugout; but Ranee—as we christened her
+after I had explained to Dian the meaning of Raja and its feminine
+equivalent—positively refused for a time to follow her mate aboard.
+In fact, we had to shove off without her. After a moment, however,
+she plunged into the water and swam after us.</p>
+
+<p>I let her come alongside, and then Juag and I pulled her in, she
+snapping and snarling at us as we did so; but, strange to relate,
+she didn't offer to attack us after we had ensconced her safely in
+the bottom alongside Raja.</p>
+
+<p>The canoe behaved much better under sail than I had hoped—infinitely
+better than the battleship Sari had—and we made good progress
+almost due west across the gulf, upon the opposite side of which
+I hoped to find the mouth of the river of which Juag had told me.</p>
+
+<p>The islander was much interested and impressed by the sail and its
+results. He had not been able to understand exactly what I hoped
+to accomplish with it while we were fitting up the boat; but when
+he saw the clumsy dugout move steadily through the water without
+paddles, he was as delighted as a child. We made splendid headway
+on the trip, coming into sight of land at last.</p>
+
+<p>Juag had been terror-stricken when he had learned that I intended
+crossing the ocean, and when we passed out of sight of land be was
+in a blue funk. He said that he had never heard of such a thing
+before in his life, and that always he had understood that those
+who ventured far from land never returned; for how could they find
+their way when they could see no land to steer for?</p>
+
+<p>I tried to explain the compass to him; and though he never really
+grasped the scientific explanation of it, yet he did learn to
+steer by it quite as well as I. We passed several islands on the
+journey—islands which Juag told me were entirely unknown to his
+own island folk. Indeed, our eyes may have been the first ever to
+rest upon them. I should have liked to stop off and explore them,
+but the business of empire would brook no unnecessary delays.</p>
+
+<p>I asked Juag how Hooja expected to reach the mouth of the river
+which we were in search of if he didn't cross the gulf, and the
+islander explained that Hooja would undoubtedly follow the coast
+around. For some time we sailed up the coast searching for the
+river, and at last we found it. So great was it that I thought it
+must be a mighty gulf until the mass of driftwood that came out upon
+the first ebb tide convinced me that it was the mouth of a river.
+There were the trunks of trees uprooted by the undermining of the
+river banks, giant creepers, flowers, grasses, and now and then
+the body of some land animal or bird.</p>
+
+<p>I was all excitement to commence our upward journey when there
+occurred that which I had never before seen within Pellucidar—a
+really terrific windstorm. It blew down the river upon us with
+a ferocity and suddenness that took our breaths away, and before
+we could get a chance to make the shore it became too late. The
+best that we could do was to hold the scudding craft before the
+wind and race along in a smother of white spume. Juag was terrified.
+If Dian was, she hid it; for was she not the daughter of a once
+great chief, the sister of a king, and the mate of an emperor?</p>
+
+<p>Raja and Ranee were frightened. The former crawled close to my
+side and buried his nose against me. Finally even fierce Ranee
+was moved to seek sympathy from a human being. She slunk to Dian,
+pressing close against her and whimpering, while Dian stroked her
+shaggy neck and talked to her as I talked to Raja.</p>
+
+<p>There was nothing for us to do but try to keep the canoe right side
+up and straight before the wind. For what seemed an eternity the
+tempest neither increased nor abated. I judged that we must have
+blown a hundred miles before the wind and straight out into an
+unknown sea!</p>
+
+<p>As suddenly as the wind rose it died again, and when it died it
+veered to blow at right angles to its former course in a gentle
+breeze. I asked Juag then what our course was, for he had had
+the compass last. It had been on a leather thong about his neck.
+When he felt for it, the expression that came into his eyes told
+me as plainly as words what had happened—the compass was lost!
+The compass was lost!</p>
+
+<p>And we were out of sight of land without a single celestial body to
+guide us! Even the pendent world was not visible from our position!</p>
+
+<p>Our plight seemed hopeless to me, but I dared not let Dian and Juag
+guess how utterly dismayed I was; though, as I soon discovered,
+there was nothing to be gained by trying to keep the worst from
+Juag—he knew it quite as well as I. He had always known, from
+the legends of his people, the dangers of the open sea beyond the
+sight of land. The compass, since he had learned its uses from
+me, had been all that he had to buoy his hope of eventual salvation
+from the watery deep. He had seen how it had guided me across
+the water to the very coast that I desired to reach, and so he had
+implicit confidence in it. Now that it was gone, his confidence
+had departed, also.</p>
+
+<p>There seemed but one thing to do; that was to keep on sailing
+straight before the wind—since we could travel most rapidly along
+that course—until we sighted land of some description. If it
+chanced to be the mainland, well and good; if an island—well, we
+might live upon an island. We certainly could not live long in
+this little boat, with only a few strips of dried thag and a few
+quarts of water left.</p>
+
+<p>Quite suddenly a thought occurred to me. I was surprised that it
+had not come before as a solution to our problem. I turned toward
+Juag.</p>
+
+<p>"You Pellucidarians are endowed with a wonderful instinct,"
+I reminded him, "an instinct that points the way straight to your
+homes, no matter in what strange land you may find yourself. Now
+all we have to do is let Dian guide us toward Amoz, and we shall
+come in a short time to the same coast whence we just were blown."</p>
+
+<p>As I spoke I looked at them with a smile of renewed hope; but there
+was no answering smile in their eyes. It was Dian who enlightened
+me.</p>
+
+<p>"We could do all this upon land," she said. "But upon the water
+that power is denied us. I do not know why; but I have always heard
+that this is true—that only upon the water may a Pellucidarian be
+lost. This is, I think, why we all fear the great ocean so—even
+those who go upon its surface in canoes. Juag has told us that
+they never go beyond the sight of land."</p>
+
+<p>We had lowered the sail after the blow while we were discussing the
+best course to pursue. Our little craft had been drifting idly,
+rising and falling with the great waves that were now diminishing.
+Sometimes we were upon the crest—again in the hollow. As Dian
+ceased speaking she let her eyes range across the limitless expanse
+of billowing waters. We rose to a great height upon the crest of
+a mighty wave. As we topped it Dian gave an exclamation and pointed
+astern.</p>
+
+<p>"Boats!" she cried. "Boats! Many, many boats!"</p>
+
+<p>Juag and I leaped to our feet; but our little craft had now dropped
+to the trough, and we could see nothing but walls of water close
+upon either hand. We waited for the next wave to lift us, and
+when it did we strained our eyes in the direction that Dian had
+indicated. Sure enough, scarce half a mile away were several boats,
+and scattered far and wide behind us as far as we could see were
+many others! We could not make them out in the distance or in the
+brief glimpse that we caught of them before we were plunged again
+into the next wave canon; but they were boats.</p>
+
+<p>And in them must be human beings like ourselves.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterxiii" id="chapterxiii">CHAPTER XIII</a></h2>
+
+<h3>RACING FOR LIFE</h3>
+
+<p>At last the sea subsided, and we were able to get a better view of
+the armada of small boats in our wake. There must have been two
+hundred of them. Juag said that he had never seen so many boats
+before in all his life. Where had they come from? Juag was first
+to hazard a guess.</p>
+
+<p>"Hooja," he said, "was building many boats to carry his warriors to
+the great river and up it toward Sari. He was building them with
+almost all his warriors and many slaves upon the Island of Trees.
+No one else in all the history of Pellucidar has ever built so many
+boats as they told me Hooja was building. These must be Hooja's
+boats."</p>
+
+<p>"And they were blown out to sea by the great storm just as we were,"
+suggested Dian.</p>
+
+<p>"There can be no better explanation of them," I agreed.</p>
+
+<p>"What shall we do?" asked Juag.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose we make sure that they are really Hooja's people," suggested
+Dian. "It may be that they are not, and that if we run away from
+them before we learn definitely who they are, we shall be running
+away from a chance to live and find the mainland. They may be a
+people of whom we have never even heard, and if so we can ask them
+to help us—if they know the way to the mainland."</p>
+
+<p>"Which they will not,' interposed Juag.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," I said, "it can't make our predicament any more trying to
+wait until we find out who they are. They are heading for us now.
+Evidently they have spied our sail, and guess that we do not belong
+to their fleet."</p>
+
+<p>"They probably want to ask the way to the mainland themselves,"
+said Juag, who was nothing if not a pessimist.</p>
+
+<p>"If they want to catch us, they can do it if they can paddle faster
+than we can sail," I said. "If we let them come close enough to
+discover their identity, and can then sail faster than they can
+paddle, we can get away from them anyway, so we might as well wait."</p>
+
+<p>And wait we did.</p>
+
+<p>The sea calmed rapidly, so that by the time the foremost canoe had
+come within five hundred yards of us we could see them all plainly.
+Every one was headed for us. The dugouts, which were of unusual
+length, were manned by twenty paddlers, ten to a side. Besides
+the paddlers there were twenty-five or more warriors in each boat.</p>
+
+<p>When the leader was a hundred yards from us Dian called our attention
+to the fact that several of her crew were Sagoths. That convinced
+us that the flotilla was indeed Hooja's. I told Juag to hail them
+and get what information he could, while I remained in the bottom
+of our canoe as much out of sight as possible. Dian lay down at
+full length in the bottom; I did not want them to see and recognize
+her if they were in truth Hooja's people.</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you?" shouted Juag, standing up in the boat and making a
+megaphone of his palms.</p>
+
+<p>A figure arose in the bow of the leading canoe—a figure that I
+was sure I recognized even before he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>"I am Hooja!" cried the man, in answer to Juag.</p>
+
+<p>For some reason he did not recognize his former prisoner and
+slave—possibly because he had so many of them.</p>
+
+<p>"I come from the Island of Trees," he continued. "A hundred of
+my boats were lost in the great storm and all their crews drowned.
+Where is the land? What are you, and what strange thing is that
+which flutters from the little tree in the front of your canoe?"</p>
+
+<p>He referred to our sail, flapping idly in the wind.</p>
+
+<p>"We, too, are lost," replied Juag. "We know not where the land
+is. We are going back to look for it now."</p>
+
+<p>So saying he commenced to scull the canoe's nose before the wind,
+while I made fast the primitive sheets that held our crude sail.
+We thought it time to be going.</p>
+
+<p>There wasn't much wind at the time, and the heavy, lumbering dugout
+was slow in getting under way. I thought it never would gain any
+momentum. And all the while Hooja's canoe was drawing rapidly
+nearer, propelled by the strong arms of his twenty paddlers. Of
+course, their dugout was much larger than ours, and, consequently,
+infinitely heavier and more cumbersome; nevertheless, it was
+coming along at quite a clip, and ours was yet but barely moving.
+Dian and I remained out of sight as much as possible, for the two
+craft were now well within bow-shot of one another, and I knew
+that Hooja had archers.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja called to Juag to stop when he saw that our craft was moving.
+He was much interested in the sail, and not a little awed, as I
+could tell by his shouted remarks and questions. Raising my head,
+I saw him plainly. He would have made an excellent target for one
+of my guns, and I had never been sorrier that I had lost them.</p>
+
+<p>We were now picking up speed a trifle, and he was not gaining upon
+us so fast as at first. In consequence, his requests that we stop
+suddenly changed to commands as he became aware that we were trying
+to escape him.</p>
+
+<p>"Come back!" he shouted. "Come back, or I'll fire!"</p>
+
+<p>I use the word fire because it more nearly translates into English
+the Pellucidarian word trag, which covers the launching of any
+deadly missile.</p>
+
+<p>But Juag only seized his paddle more tightly—the paddle that
+answered the purpose of rudder, and commenced to assist the wind
+by vigorous strokes. Then Hooja gave the command to some of his
+archers to fire upon us. I couldn't lie hidden in the bottom of
+the boat, leaving Juag alone exposed to the deadly shafts, so I
+arose and, seizing another paddle, set to work to help him. Dian
+joined me, though I did my best to persuade her to remain sheltered;
+but being a woman, she must have her own way.</p>
+
+<p>The instant that Hooja saw us he recognized us. The whoop of
+triumph he raised indicated how certain he was that we were about
+to fall into his hands. A shower of arrows fell about us. Then
+Hooja caused his men to cease firing—he wanted us alive. None of
+the missiles struck us, for Hooja's archers were not nearly the
+marksmen that are my Sarians and Amozites.</p>
+
+<p>We had now gained sufficient headway to hold our own on about
+even terms with Hooja's paddlers. We did not seem to be gaining,
+though; and neither did they. How long this nerve-racking experience
+lasted I cannot guess, though we had pretty nearly finished our
+meager supply of provisions when the wind picked up a bit and we
+commenced to draw away.</p>
+
+<p>Not once yet had we sighted land, nor could I understand it, since
+so many of the seas I had seen before were thickly dotted with
+islands. Our plight was anything but pleasant, yet I think that
+Hooja and his forces were even worse off than we, for they had no
+food nor water at all.</p>
+
+<p>Far out behind us in a long line that curved upward in the distance,
+to be lost in the haze, strung Hooja's two hundred boats. But
+one would have been enough to have taken us could it have come
+alongside. We had drawn some fifty yards ahead of Hooja—there
+had been times when we were scarce ten yards in advance and were
+feeling considerably safer from capture. Hooja's men, working in
+relays, were commencing to show the effects of the strain under
+which they had been forced to work without food or water, and I think
+their weakening aided us almost as much as the slight freshening
+of the wind.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja must have commenced to realize that he was going to lose
+us, for he again gave orders that we be fired upon. Volley after
+volley of arrows struck about us. The distance was so great by this
+time that most of the arrows fell short, while those that reached
+us were sufficiently spent to allow us to ward them off with our
+paddles. However, it was a most exciting ordeal.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja stood in the bow of his boat, alternately urging his men to
+greater speed and shouting epithets at me. But we continued to
+draw away from him. At last the wind rose to a fair gale, and we
+simply raced away from our pursuers as if they were standing still.
+Juag was so tickled that he forgot all about his hunger and thirst.
+I think that he had never been entirely reconciled to the heathenish
+invention which I called a sail, and that down in the bottom of
+his heart he believed that the paddlers would eventually overhaul
+us; but now he couldn't praise it enough.</p>
+
+<p>We had a strong gale for a considerable time, and eventually dropped
+Hooja's fleet so far astern that we could no longer discern them.
+And then—ah, I shall never forget that moment—Dian sprang to her
+feet with a cry of "Land!"</p>
+
+<p>Sure enough, dead ahead, a long, low coast stretched across our
+bow. It was still a long way off, and we couldn't make out whether
+it was island or mainland; but at least it was land. If ever
+shipwrecked mariners were grateful, we were then. Raja and Ranee
+were commencing to suffer for lack of food, and I could swear that
+the latter often cast hungry glances upon us, though I am equally
+sure that no such hideous thoughts ever entered the head of her
+mate. We watched them both most closely, however. Once while
+stroking Ranee I managed to get a rope around her neck and make her
+fast to the side of the boat. Then I felt a bit safer for Dian.
+It was pretty close quarters in that little dugout for three human
+beings and two practically wild, man-eating dogs; but we had to
+make the best of it, since I would not listen to Juag's suggestion
+that we kill and eat Raja and Ranee.</p>
+
+<p>We made good time to within a few miles of the shore. Then the wind
+died suddenly out. We were all of us keyed up to such a pitch of
+anticipation that the blow was doubly hard to bear. And it was a
+blow, too, since we could not tell in what quarter the wind might
+rise again; but Juag and I set to work to paddle the remaining
+distance.</p>
+
+<p>Almost immediately the wind rose again from precisely the opposite
+direction from which it had formerly blown, so that it was mighty
+hard work making progress against it. Next it veered again so that
+we had to turn and run with it parallel to the coast to keep from
+being swamped in the trough of the seas.</p>
+
+<p>And while we were suffering all these disappointments Hooja's
+fleet appeared in the distance!</p>
+
+<p>They evidently had gone far to the left of our course, for they were
+now almost behind us as we ran parallel to the coast; but we were
+not much afraid of being overtaken in the wind that was blowing. The
+gale kept on increasing, but it was fitful, swooping down upon us
+in great gusts and then going almost calm for an instant. It was
+after one of these momentary calms that the catastrophe occurred.
+Our sail hung limp and our momentum decreased when of a sudden
+a particularly vicious squall caught us. Before I could cut the
+sheets the mast had snapped at the thwart in which it was stepped.</p>
+
+<p>The worst had happened; Juag and I seized paddles and kept the
+canoe with the wind; but that squall was the parting shot of the
+gale, which died out immediately after, leaving us free to make
+for the shore, which we lost no time in attempting. But Hooja had
+drawn closer in toward shore than we, so it looked as if he might
+head us off before we could land. However, we did our best to
+distance him, Dian taking a paddle with us.</p>
+
+<p>We were in a fair way to succeed when there appeared, pouring
+from among the trees beyond the beach, a horde of yelling, painted
+savages, brandishing all sorts of devilish-looking primitive weapons.
+So menacing was their attitude that we realized at once the folly
+of attempting to land among them.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja was drawing closer to us. There was no wind. We could not
+hope to outpaddle him. And with our sail gone, no wind would help
+us, though, as if in derision at our plight, a steady breeze was
+now blowing. But we had no intention of sitting idle while our
+fate overtook us, so we bent to our paddles and, keeping parallel
+with the coast, did our best to pull away from our pursuers.</p>
+
+<p>It was a grueling experience. We were weakened by lack of food. We
+were suffering the pangs of thirst. Capture and death were close
+at hand. Yet I think that we gave a good account of ourselves
+in our final effort to escape. Our boat was so much smaller and
+lighter than any of Hooja's that the three of us forced it ahead
+almost as rapidly as his larger craft could go under their twenty
+paddles.</p>
+
+<p>As we raced along the coast for one of those seemingly interminable
+periods that may draw hours into eternities where the labor is
+soul-searing and there is no way to measure time, I saw what I took
+for the opening to a bay or the mouth of a great river a short
+distance ahead of us. I wished that we might make for it; but
+with the menace of Hooja close behind and the screaming natives
+who raced along the shore parallel to us, I dared not attempt it.</p>
+
+<p>We were not far from shore in that mad flight from death. Even
+as I paddled I found opportunity to glance occasionally toward
+the natives. They were white, but hideously painted. From their
+gestures and weapons I took them to be a most ferocious race. I
+was rather glad that we had not succeeded in landing among them.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja's fleet had been in much more compact formation when we
+sighted them this time than on the occasion following the tempest.
+Now they were moving rapidly in pursuit of us, all well within the
+radius of a mile. Five of them were leading, all abreast, and were
+scarce two hundred yards from us. When I glanced over my shoulder
+I could see that the archers had already fitted arrows to their
+bows in readiness to fire upon us the moment that they should draw
+within range.</p>
+
+<p>Hope was low in my breast. I could not see the slightest chance
+of escaping them, for they were over-hauling us rapidly now, since
+they were able to work their paddles in relays, while we three were
+rapidly wearying beneath the constant strain that had been put upon
+us.</p>
+
+<p>It was then that Juag called my attention to the rift in the
+shoreline which I had thought either a bay or the mouth of a great
+river. There I saw moving slowly out into the sea that which filled
+my soul with wonder.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterxiv" id="chapterxiv">CHAPTER XIV</a></h2>
+
+<h3>GORE AND DREAMS</h3>
+
+<p>It was a two-masted felucca with lateen sails! The craft was long
+and low. In it were more than fifty men, twenty or thirty of whom
+were at oars with which the craft was being propelled from the lee
+of the land. I was dumbfounded.</p>
+
+<p>Could it be that the savage, painted natives I had seen on shore
+had so perfected the art of navigation that they were masters of
+such advanced building and rigging as this craft proclaimed? It
+seemed impossible! And as I looked I saw another of the same type
+swing into view and follow its sister through the narrow strait
+out into the ocean.</p>
+
+<p>Nor were these all. One after another, following closely upon one
+another's heels, came fifty of the trim, graceful vessels. They
+were cutting in between Hooja's fleet and our little dugout,</p>
+
+<p>When they came a bit closer my eyes fairly popped from my head
+at what I saw, for in the eye of the leading felucca stood a man
+with a sea-glass leveled upon us. Who could they be? Was there
+a civilization within Pellucidar of such wondrous advancement as
+this? Were there far-distant lands of which none of my people had
+ever heard, where a race had so greatly outstripped all other races
+of this inner world?</p>
+
+<p>The man with the glass had lowered it and was shouting to us. I
+could not make out his words, but presently I saw that he was
+pointing aloft. When I looked I saw a pennant fluttering from the
+peak of the forward lateen yard—a red, white, and blue pennant,
+with a single great white star in a field of blue.</p>
+
+<p>Then I knew. My eyes went even wider than they had before. It
+was the navy! It was the navy of the empire of Pellucidar which I
+had instructed Perry to build in my absence. It was MY navy!</p>
+
+<p>I dropped my paddle and stood up and shouted and waved my hand.
+Juag and Dian looked at me as if I had gone suddenly mad. When I
+could stop shouting I told them, and they shared my joy and shouted
+with me.</p>
+
+<p>But still Hooja was coming nearer, nor could the leading felucca
+overhaul him before he would be alongside or at least within
+bow-shot.</p>
+
+<p>Hooja must have been as much mystified as we were as to the identity
+of the strange fleet; but when he saw me waving to them he evidently
+guessed that they were friendly to us, so he urged his men to
+redouble their efforts to reach us before the felucca cut him off.</p>
+
+<p>He shouted word back to others of his fleet—word that was passed
+back until it had reached them all—directing them to run alongside
+the strangers and board them, for with his two hundred craft
+and his eight or ten thousand warriors he evidently felt equal to
+overcoming the fifty vessels of the enemy, which did not seem to
+carry over three thousand men all told.</p>
+
+<p>His own personal energies he bent to reaching Dian and me first,
+leaving the rest of the work to his other boats. I thought that
+there could be little doubt that he would be successful in so far
+as we were concerned, and I feared for the revenge that he might
+take upon us should the battle go against his force, as I was sure
+it would; for I knew that Perry and his Mezops must have brought
+with them all the arms and ammunition that had been contained in
+the prospector. But I was not prepared for what happened next.</p>
+
+<p>As Hooja's canoe reached a point some twenty yards from us a great
+puff of smoke broke from the bow of the leading felucca, followed
+almost simultaneously by a terrific explosion, and a solid shot
+screamed close over the heads of the men in Hooja's craft, raising
+a great splash where it clove the water just beyond them.</p>
+
+<p>Perry had perfected gunpowder and built cannon! It was marvelous!
+Dian and Juag, as much surprised as Hooja, turned wondering eyes
+toward me. Again the cannon spoke. I suppose that by comparison
+with the great guns of modern naval vessels of the outer world it
+was a pitifully small and inadequate thing; but here in Pellucidar,
+where it was the first of its kind, it was about as awe-inspiring
+as anything you might imagine.</p>
+
+<p>With the report an iron cannonball about five inches in diameter
+struck Hooja's dugout just above the waterline, tore a great
+splintering hole in its side, turned it over, and dumped its
+occupants into the sea.</p>
+
+<p>The four dugouts that had been abreast of Hooja had turned to
+intercept the leading felucca. Even now, in the face of what must
+have been a withering catastrophe to them, they kept bravely on
+toward the strange and terrible craft.</p>
+
+<p>In them were fully two hundred men, while but fifty lined the gunwale
+of the felucca to repel them. The commander of the felucca, who
+proved to be Ja, let them come quite close and then turned loose
+upon them a volley of shots from small-arms.</p>
+
+<p>The cave men and Sagoths in the dugouts seemed to wither before
+that blast of death like dry grass before a prairie fire. Those
+who were not hit dropped their bows and javelins and, seizing
+upon paddles, attempted to escape. But the felucca pursued them
+relentlessly, her crew firing at will.</p>
+
+<p>At last I heard Ja shouting to the survivors in the dugouts—they
+were all quite close to us now—offering them their lives if they
+would surrender. Perry was standing close behind Ja, and I knew
+that this merciful action was prompted, perhaps commanded, by the
+old man; for no Pellucidarian would have thought of showing leniency
+to a defeated foe.</p>
+
+<p>As there was no alternative save death, the survivors surrendered
+and a moment later were taken aboard the Amoz, the name that I
+could now see printed in large letters upon the felucca's bow, and
+which no one in that whole world could read except Perry and I.</p>
+
+<p>When the prisoners were aboard, Ja brought the felucca alongside
+our dugout. Many were the willing hands that reached down to lift
+us to her decks. The bronze faces of the Mezops were broad with
+smiles, and Perry was fairly beside himself with joy.</p>
+
+<p>Dian went aboard first and then Juag, as I wished to help Raja and
+Ranee aboard myself, well knowing that it would fare ill with any
+Mezop who touched them. We got them aboard at last, and a great
+commotion they caused among the crew, who had never seen a wild
+beast thus handled by man before.</p>
+
+<p>Perry and Dian and I were so full of questions that we fairly burst,
+but we had to contain ourselves for a while, since the battle with
+the rest of Hooja's fleet had scarce commenced. From the small
+forward decks of the feluccas Perry's crude cannon were belching
+smoke, flame, thunder, and death. The air trembled to the roar
+of them. Hooja's horde, intrepid, savage fighters that they were,
+were closing in to grapple in a last death-struggle with the Mezops
+who manned our vessels.</p>
+
+<p>The handling of our fleet by the red island warriors of Ja's clan
+was far from perfect. I could see that Perry had lost no time
+after the completion of the boats in setting out upon this cruise.
+What little the captains and crews had learned of handling feluccas
+they must have learned principally since they embarked upon this
+voyage, and while experience is an excellent teacher and had done
+much for them, they still had a great deal to learn. In maneuvering
+for position they were continually fouling one another, and on two
+occasions shots from our batteries came near to striking our own
+ships.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner, however, was I aboard the flagship than I attempted to
+rectify this trouble to some extent. By passing commands by word
+of mouth from one ship to another I managed to get the fifty feluccas
+into some sort of line, with the flag-ship in the lead. In this
+formation we commenced slowly to circle the position of the enemy.
+The dugouts came for us right along in an attempt to board us, but
+by keeping on the move in one direction and circling, we managed
+to avoid getting in each other's way, and were enabled to fire our
+cannon and our small arms with less danger to our own comrades.</p>
+
+<p>When I had a moment to look about me, I took in the felucca on
+which I was. I am free to confess that I marveled at the excellent
+construction and stanch yet speedy lines of the little craft. That
+Perry had chosen this type of vessel seemed rather remarkable,
+for though I had warned him against turreted battleships, armor,
+and like useless show, I had fully expected that when I beheld
+his navy I should find considerable attempt at grim and terrible
+magnificence, for it was always Perry's idea to overawe these
+ignorant cave men when we had to contend with them in battle. But
+I had soon learned that while one might easily astonish them with
+some new engine of war, it was an utter impossibility to frighten
+them into surrender.</p>
+
+<p>I learned later that Ja had gone carefully over the plans of various
+craft with Perry. The old man had explained in detail all that the
+text told him of them. The two had measured out dimensions upon
+the ground, that Ja might see the sizes of different boats. Perry
+had built models, and Ja had had him read carefully and explain all
+that they could find relative to the handling of sailing vessels.
+The result of this was that Ja was the one who had chosen the
+felucca. It was well that Perry had had so excellent a balance
+wheel, for he had been wild to build a huge frigate of the Nelsonian
+era—he told me so himself.</p>
+
+<p>One thing that had inclined Ja particularly to the felucca was
+the fact that it included oars in its equipment. He realized the
+limitations of his people in the matter of sails, and while they
+had never used oars, the implement was so similar to a paddle that
+he was sure they quickly could master the art—and they did. As
+soon as one hull was completed Ja kept it on the water constantly,
+first with one crew and then with another, until two thousand red
+warriors had learned to row. Then they stepped their masts and a
+crew was told off for the first ship.</p>
+
+<p>While the others were building they learned to handle theirs. As
+each succeeding boat was launched its crew took it out and practiced
+with it under the tutorage of those who had graduated from the first
+ship, and so on until a full complement of men had been trained
+for every boat.</p>
+
+<p>Well, to get back to the battle: The Hoojans kept on coming at us,
+and as fast as they came we mowed them down. It was little else
+than slaughter. Time and time again I cried to them to surrender,
+promising them their lives if they would do so. At last there were
+but ten boatloads left. These turned in flight. They thought they
+could paddle away from us—it was pitiful! I passed the word from
+boat to boat to cease firing—not to kill another Hoojan unless they
+fired on us. Then we set out after them. There was a nice little
+breeze blowing and we bowled along after our quarry as gracefully
+and as lightly as swans upon a park lagoon. As we approached them
+I could see not only wonder but admiration in their eyes. I hailed
+the nearest dugout.</p>
+
+<p>"Throw down your arms and come aboard us," I cried, "and you shall
+not be harmed. We will feed you and return you to the mainland.
+Then you shall go free upon your promise never to bear arms against
+the Emperor of Pellucidar again!"</p>
+
+<p>I think it was the promise of food that interested them most.
+They could scarce believe that we would not kill them. But when I
+exhibited the prisoners we already had taken, and showed them that
+they were alive and unharmed, a great Sagoth in one of the boats
+asked me what guarantee I could give that I would keep my word.</p>
+
+<p>"None other than my word," I replied. "That I do not break."</p>
+
+<p>The Pellucidarians themselves are rather punctilious about this
+same matter, so the Sagoth could understand that I might possibly
+be speaking the truth. But he could not understand why we should
+not kill them unless we meant to enslave them, which I had as much
+as denied already when I had promised to set them free. Ja couldn't
+exactly see the wisdom of my plan, either. He thought that we
+ought to follow up the ten remaining dugouts and sink them all;
+but I insisted that we must free as many as possible of our enemies
+upon the mainland.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," I explained, "these men will return at once to Hooja's
+Island, to the Mahar cities from which they come, or to the countries
+from which they were stolen by the Mahars. They are men of two
+races and of many countries. They will spread the story of our
+victory far and wide, and while they are with us, we will let them
+see and hear many other wonderful things which they may carry back
+to their friends and their chiefs. It's the finest chance for free
+publicity, Perry," I added to the old man, "that you or I have seen
+in many a day."</p>
+
+<p>Perry agreed with me. As a matter of fact, he would have agreed
+to anything that would have restrained us from killing the poor
+devils who fell into our hands. He was a great fellow to invent
+gunpowder and fire-arms and cannon; but when it came to using these
+things to kill people, he was as tender-hearted as a chicken.</p>
+
+<p>The Sagoth who had spoken was talking to other Sagoths in his
+boat. Evidently they were holding a council over the question of
+the wisdom of surrendering.</p>
+
+<p>"What will become of you if you don't surrender to us?" I asked.
+"If we do not open up our batteries on you again and kill you all,
+you will simply drift about the sea helplessly until you die of
+thirst and starvation. You cannot return to the islands, for you
+have seen as well as we that the natives there are very numerous
+and warlike. They would kill you the moment you landed."</p>
+
+<p>The upshot of it was that the boat of which the Sagoth speaker was
+in charge surrendered. The Sagoths threw down their weapons, and
+we took them aboard the ship next in line behind the Amoz. First
+Ja had to impress upon the captain and crew of the ship that the
+prisoners were not to be abused or killed. After that the remaining
+dugouts paddled up and surrendered. We distributed them among
+the entire fleet lest there be too many upon any one vessel. Thus
+ended the first real naval engagement that the Pellucidarian seas
+had ever witnessed—though Perry still insists that the action in
+which the Sari took part was a battle of the first magnitude.</p>
+
+<p>The battle over and the prisoners disposed of and fed—and do not
+imagine that Dian, Juag, and I, as well as the two hounds were not
+fed also—I turned my attention to the fleet. We had the feluccas
+close in about the flag-ship, and with all the ceremony of a medieval
+potentate on parade I received the commanders of the forty-nine
+feluccas that accompanied the flag-ship—Dian and I together—the
+empress and the emperor of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>It was a great occasion. The savage, bronze warriors entered into
+the spirit of it, for as I learned later dear old Perry had left
+no opportunity neglected for impressing upon them that David was
+emperor of Pellucidar, and that all that they were accomplishing and
+all that he was accomplishing was due to the power, and redounded
+to the glory of David. The old man must have rubbed it in pretty
+strong, for those fierce warriors nearly came to blows in their
+efforts to be among the first of those to kneel before me and kiss
+my hand. When it came to kissing Dian's I think they enjoyed it
+more; I know I should have.</p>
+
+<p>A happy thought occurred to me as I stood upon the little deck of
+the Amoz with the first of Perry's primitive cannon behind me.
+When Ja kneeled at my feet, and first to do me homage, I drew from
+its scabbard at his side the sword of hammered iron that Perry
+had taught him to fashion. Striking him lightly on the shoulder I
+created him king of Anoroc. Each captain of the forty-nine other
+feluccas I made a duke. I left it to Perry to enlighten them as
+to the value of the honors I had bestowed upon them.</p>
+
+<p>During these ceremonies Raja and Ranee had stood beside Dian and me.
+Their bellies had been well filled, but still they had difficulty
+in permitting so much edible humanity to pass unchallenged. It was
+a good education for them though, and never after did they find it
+difficult to associate with the human race without arousing their
+appetites.</p>
+
+<p>After the ceremonies were over we had a chance to talk with Perry
+and Ja. The former told me that Ghak, king of Sari, had sent my
+letter and map to him by a runner, and that he and Ja had at once
+decided to set out on the completion of the fleet to ascertain the
+correctness of my theory that the Lural Az, in which the Anoroc
+Islands lay, was in reality the same ocean as that which lapped
+the shores of Thuria under the name of Sojar Az, or Great Sea.</p>
+
+<p>Their destination had been the island retreat of Hooja, and they
+had sent word to Ghak of their plans that we might work in harmony
+with them. The tempest that had blown us off the coast of the
+continent had blown them far to the south also. Shortly before
+discovering us they had come into a great group of islands, from
+between the largest two of which they were sailing when they saw
+Hooja's fleet pursuing our dugout.</p>
+
+<p>I asked Perry if he had any idea as to where we were, or in
+what direction lay Hooja's island or the continent. He replied
+by producing his map, on which he had carefully marked the newly
+discovered islands—there described as the Unfriendly Isles—which
+showed Hooja's island northwest of us about two points West.</p>
+
+<p>He then explained that with compass, chronometer, log and reel,
+they had kept a fairly accurate record of their course from the
+time they had set out. Four of the feluccas were equipped with
+these instruments, and all of the captains had been instructed in
+their use.</p>
+
+<p>I was very greatly surprised at the ease with which these savages
+had mastered the rather intricate detail of this unusual work, but
+Perry assured me that they were a wonderfully intelligent race,
+and had been quick to grasp all that he had tried to teach them.</p>
+
+<p>Another thing that surprised me was the fact that so much had been
+accomplished in so short a time, for I could not believe that I had
+been gone from Anoroc for a sufficient period to permit of building
+a fleet of fifty feluccas and mining iron ore for the cannon and
+balls, to say nothing of manufacturing these guns and the crude
+muzzle-loading rifles with which every Mezop was armed, as well as
+the gunpowder and ammunition they had in such ample quantities.</p>
+
+<p>"Time!" exclaimed Perry. "Well, how long were you gone from Anoroc
+before we picked you up in the Sojar Az?"</p>
+
+<p>That was a puzzler, and I had to admit it. I didn't know how much
+time had elapsed and neither did Perry, for time is nonexistent in
+Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>"Then, you see, David," he continued, "I had almost unbelievable
+resources at my disposal. The Mezops inhabiting the Anoroc
+Islands, which stretch far out to sea beyond the three principal
+isles with which you are familiar, number well into the millions,
+and by far the greater part of them are friendly to Ja. Men,
+women, and children turned to and worked the moment Ja explained
+the nature of our enterprise.</p>
+
+<p>"And not only were they anxious to do all in their power to hasten
+the day when the Mahars should be overthrown, but—and this counted
+for most of all—they are simply ravenous for greater knowledge
+and for better ways of doing things.</p>
+
+<p>"The contents of the prospector set their imaginations to working
+overtime, so that they craved to own, themselves, the knowledge
+which had made it possible for other men to create and build the
+things which you brought back from the outer world.</p>
+
+<p>"And then," continued the old man, "the element of time, or, rather,
+lack of time, operated to my advantage. There being no nights,
+there was no laying off from work—they labored incessantly stopping
+only to eat and, on rare occasions, to sleep. Once we had discovered
+iron ore we had enough mined in an incredibly short time to build
+a thousand cannon. I had only to show them once how a thing should
+be done, and they would fall to work by thousands to do it.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, no sooner had we fashioned the first muzzle-loader and they
+had seen it work successfully, than fully three thousand Mezops
+fell to work to make rifles. Of course there was much confusion
+and lost motion at first, but eventually Ja got them in hand,
+detailing squads of them under competent chiefs to certain work.</p>
+
+<p>"We now have a hundred expert gun-makers. On a little isolated
+isle we have a great powder-factory. Near the iron-mine, which is
+on the mainland, is a smelter, and on the eastern shore of Anoroc,
+a well equipped ship-yard. All these industries are guarded by
+forts in which several cannon are mounted and where warriors are
+always on guard.</p>
+
+<p>"You would be surprised now, David, at the aspect of Anoroc. I am
+surprised myself; it seems always to me as I compare it with the
+day that I first set foot upon it from the deck of the Sari that
+only a miracle could have worked the change that has taken place."</p>
+
+<p>"It is a miracle," I said; it is nothing short of a miracle to
+transplant all the wondrous possibilities of the twentieth century
+back to the Stone Age. It is a miracle to think that only five
+hundred miles of earth separate two epochs that are really ages
+and ages apart.</p>
+
+<p>"It is stupendous, Perry! But still more stupendous is the power
+that you and I wield in this great world. These people look upon
+us as little less than supermen. We must show them that we are
+all of that.</p>
+
+<p>"We must give them the best that we have, Perry."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," he agreed; "we must. I have been thinking a great deal
+lately that some kind of shrapnel shell or explosive bomb would
+be a most splendid innovation in their warfare. Then there are
+breech-loading rifles and those with magazines that I must hasten
+to study out and learn to reproduce as soon as we get settled down
+again; and—"</p>
+
+<p>"Hold on, Perry!" I cried. "I didn't mean these sorts of things
+at all. I said that we must give them the best we have. What we
+have given them so far has been the worst. We have given them war
+and the munitions of war. In a single day we have made their wars
+infinitely more terrible and bloody than in all their past ages
+they have been able to make them with their crude, primitive weapons.</p>
+
+<p>"In a period that could scarcely have exceeded two outer earthly
+hours, our fleet practically annihilated the largest armada of native
+canoes that the Pellucidarians ever before had gathered together.
+We butchered some eight thousand warriors with the twentieth-century
+gifts we brought. Why, they wouldn't have killed that many warriors
+in the entire duration of a dozen of their wars with their own
+weapons! No, Perry; we've got to give them something better than
+scientific methods of killing one another."</p>
+
+<p>The old man looked at me in amazement. There was reproach in his
+eyes, too.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, David!" he said sorrowfully. "I thought that you would be
+pleased with what I had done. We planned these things together,
+and I am sure that it was you who suggested practically all of it.
+I have done only what I thought you wished done and I have done it
+the best that I know how."</p>
+
+<p>I laid my hand on the old man's shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>"Bless your heart, Perry!" I cried. "You've accomplished miracles.
+You have done precisely what I should have done, only you've done
+it better. I'm not finding fault; but I don't wish to lose sight
+myself, or let you lose sight, of the greater work which must grow
+out of this preliminary and necessary carnage. First we must place
+the empire upon a secure footing, and we can do so only by putting
+the fear of us in the hearts of our enemies; but after that—</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, Perry! That is the day I look forward to! When you and I can
+build sewing-machines instead of battleships, harvesters of crops
+instead of harvesters of men, plow-shares and telephones, schools
+and colleges, printing-presses and paper! When our merchant marine
+shall ply the great Pellucidarian seas, and cargoes of silks and
+typewriters and books shall forge their ways where only hideous
+saurians have held sway since time began!"</p>
+
+<p>"Amen!" said Perry.</p>
+
+<p>And Dian, who was standing at my side, pressed my hand.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapterxv" id="chapterxv">CHAPTER XV</a></h2>
+
+<h3>CONQUEST AND PEACE</h3>
+
+<p>The fleet sailed directly for Hooja's island, coming to anchor at
+its northeastern extremity before the flat-topped hill that had
+been Hooja's stronghold. I sent one of the prisoners ashore to
+demand an immediate surrender; but as he told me afterward they
+wouldn't believe all that he told them, so they congregated on
+the cliff-top and shot futile arrows at us.</p>
+
+<p>In reply I had five of the feluccas cannonade them. When they
+scampered away at the sound of the terrific explosions, and at
+sight of the smoke and the iron balls I landed a couple of hundred
+red warriors and led them to the opposite end of the hill into the
+tunnel that ran to its summit. Here we met a little resistance;
+but a volley from the muzzle-loaders turned back those who disputed
+our right of way, and presently we gained the mesa. Here again we
+met resistance, but at last the remnant of Hooja's horde surrendered.</p>
+
+<p>Juag was with me, and I lost no time in returning to him and his
+tribe the hilltop that had been their ancestral home for ages
+until they were robbed of it by Hooja. I created a kingdom of
+the island, making Juag king there. Before we sailed I went to
+Gr-gr-gr, chief of the beast-men, taking Juag with me. There the
+three of us arranged a code of laws that would permit the brute-folk
+and the human beings of the island to live in peace and harmony.
+Gr-gr-gr sent his son with me back to Sari, capital of my empire,
+that he might learn the ways of the human beings. I have hopes of
+turning this race into the greatest agriculturists of Pellucidar.
+When I returned to the fleet I found that one of the islanders of
+Juag's tribe, who had been absent when we arrived, had just returned
+from the mainland with the news that a great army was encamped in
+the Land of Awful Shadow, and that they were threatening Thuria. I
+lost no time in weighing anchors and setting out for the continent,
+which we reached after a short and easy voyage.</p>
+
+<p>From the deck of the Amoz I scanned the shore through the glasses
+that Perry had brought with him. When we were close enough
+for the glasses to be of value I saw that there was indeed a vast
+concourse of warriors entirely encircling the walled-village of
+Goork, chief of the Thurians. As we approached smaller objects
+became distinguishable. It was then that I discovered numerous
+flags and pennants floating above the army of the besiegers.</p>
+
+<p>I called Perry and passed the glasses to him.</p>
+
+<p>"Ghak of Sari," I said.</p>
+
+<p>Perry looked through the lenses of a moment, and then turned to me
+with a smile.</p>
+
+<p>"The red, white, and blue of the empire," he said. "It is indeed
+your majesty's army."</p>
+
+<p>It soon became apparent that we had been sighted by those on shore,
+for a great multitude of warriors had congregated along the beach
+watching us. We came to anchor as close in as we dared, which with
+our light feluccas was within easy speaking-distance of the shore.
+Ghak was there and his eyes were mighty wide, too; for, as he told
+us later, though he knew this must be Perry's fleet it was so
+wonderful to him that he could not believe the testimony of his
+own eyes even while he was watching it approach.</p>
+
+<p>To give the proper effect to our meeting I commanded that each
+felucca fire twenty-one guns as a salute to His Majesty Ghak, King
+of Sari. Some of the gunners, in the exuberance of their enthusiasm,
+fired solid shot; but fortunately they had sufficient good judgment
+to train their pieces on the open sea, so no harm was done. After
+this we landed—an arduous task since each felucca carried but a
+single light dugout.</p>
+
+<p>I learned from Ghak that the Thurian chieftain, Goork, had been
+inclined to haughtiness, and had told Ghak, the Hairy One, that
+he knew nothing of me and cared less; but I imagine that the sight
+of the fleet and the sound of the guns brought him to his senses,
+for it was not long before he sent a deputation to me, inviting me
+to visit him in his village. Here he apologized for the treatment
+he had accorded me, very gladly swore allegiance to the empire,
+and received in return the title of king.</p>
+
+<p>We remained in Thuria only long enough to arrange the treaty with
+Goork, among the other details of which was his promise to furnish
+the imperial army with a thousand lidi, or Thurian beasts of burden,
+and drivers for them. These were to accompany Ghak's army back
+to Sari by land, while the fleet sailed to the mouth of the great
+river from which Dian, Juag, and I had been blown.</p>
+
+<p>The voyage was uneventful. We found the river easily, and sailed
+up it for many miles through as rich and wonderful a plain as I
+have ever seen. At the head of navigation we disembarked, leaving
+a sufficient guard for the feluccas, and marched the remaining
+distance to Sari.</p>
+
+<p>Ghak's army, which was composed of warriors of all the original
+tribes of the federation, showing how successful had been his
+efforts to rehabilitate the empire, marched into Sari some time
+after we arrived. With them were the thousand lidi from Thuria.</p>
+
+<p>At a council of the kings it was decided that we should at
+once commence the great war against the Mahars, for these haughty
+reptiles presented the greatest obstacle to human progress within
+Pellucidar. I laid out a plan of campaign which met with the
+enthusiastic indorsement of the kings. Pursuant to it, I at once
+despatched fifty lidi to the fleet with orders to fetch fifty cannon
+to Sari. I also ordered the fleet to proceed at once to Anoroc,
+where they were to take aboard all the rifles and ammunition that
+had been completed since their departure, and with a full complement
+of men to sail along the coast in an attempt to find a passage to
+the inland sea near which lay the Mahars' buried city of Phutra.</p>
+
+<p>Ja was sure that a large and navigable river connected the sea of
+Phutra with the Lural Az, and that, barring accident, the fleet
+would be before Phutra as soon as the land forces were.</p>
+
+<p>At last the great army started upon its march. There were warriors
+from every one of the federated kingdoms. All were armed either
+with bow and arrows or muzzle-loaders, for nearly the entire Mezop
+contingent had been enlisted for this march, only sufficient having
+been left aboard the feluccas to man them properly. I divided the
+forces into divisions, regiments, battalions, companies, and even
+to platoons and sections, appointing the full complement of officers
+and noncommissioned officers. On the long march I schooled them
+in their duties, and as fast as one learned I sent him among the
+others as a teacher.</p>
+
+<p>Each regiment was made up of about a thousand bowmen, and to each
+was temporarily attached a company of Mezop musketeers and a
+battery of artillery—the latter, our naval guns, mounted upon the
+broad backs of the mighty lidi. There was also one full regiment
+of Mezop musketeers and a regiment of primitive spearmen. The rest
+of the lidi that we brought with us were used for baggage animals
+and to transport our women and children, for we had brought them
+with us, as it was our intention to march from one Mahar city to
+another until we had subdued every Mahar nation that menaced the
+safety of any kingdom of the empire.</p>
+
+<p>Before we reached the plain of Phutra we were discovered by
+a company of Sagoths, who at first stood to give battle; but upon
+seeing the vast numbers of our army they turned and fled toward
+Phutra. The result of this was that when we came in sight of the
+hundred towers which mark the entrances to the buried city we found
+a great army of Sagoths and Mahars lined up to give us battle.</p>
+
+<p>At a thousand yards we halted, and, placing our artillery upon a
+slight eminence at either flank, we commenced to drop solid shot
+among them. Ja, who was chief artillery officer, was in command
+of this branch of the service, and he did some excellent work, for
+his Mezop gunners had become rather proficient by this time. The
+Sagoths couldn't stand much of this sort of warfare, so they charged
+us, yelling like fiends. We let them come quite close, and then
+the musketeers who formed the first line opened up on them.</p>
+
+<p>The slaughter was something frightful, but still the remnants of
+them kept on coming until it was a matter of hand-to-hand fighting.
+Here our spearmen were of value, as were also the crude iron swords
+with which most of the imperial warriors were armed.</p>
+
+<p>We lost heavily in the encounter after the Sagoths reached us;
+but they were absolutely exterminated—not one remained even as a
+prisoner. The Mahars, seeing how the battle was going, had hastened
+to the safety of their buried city. When we had overcome their
+gorilla-men we followed after them.</p>
+
+<p>But here we were doomed to defeat, at least temporarily; for no
+sooner had the first of our troops descended into the subterranean
+avenues than many of them came stumbling and fighting their way
+back to the surface, half-choked by the fumes of some deadly gas
+that the reptiles had liberated upon them. We lost a number of
+men here. Then I sent for Perry, who had remained discreetly in
+the rear, and had him construct a little affair that I had had in
+my mind against the possibility of our meeting with a check at the
+entrances to the underground city.</p>
+
+<p>Under my direction he stuffed one of his cannon full of powder,
+small bullets, and pieces of stone, almost to the muzzle. Then he
+plugged the muzzle tight with a cone-shaped block of wood, hammered
+and jammed in as tight as it could be. Next he inserted a long
+fuse. A dozen men rolled the cannon to the top of the stairs
+leading down into the city, first removing it from its carriage.
+One of them then lit the fuse and the whole thing was given a shove
+down the stairway, while the detachment turned and scampered to a
+safe distance.</p>
+
+<p>For what seemed a very long time nothing happened. We had commenced
+to think that the fuse had been put out while the piece was rolling
+down the stairway, or that the Mahars had guessed its purpose and
+extinguished it themselves, when the ground about the entrance
+rose suddenly into the air, to be followed by a terrific explosion
+and a burst of smoke and flame that shot high in company with dirt,
+stone, and fragments of cannon.</p>
+
+<p>Perry had been working on two more of these giant bombs as soon as
+the first was completed. Presently we launched these into two of
+the other entrances. They were all that were required, for almost
+immediately after the third explosion a stream of Mahars broke
+from the exits furthest from us, rose upon their wings, and soared
+northward. A hundred men on lidi were despatched in pursuit, each
+lidi carrying two riflemen in addition to its driver. Guessing
+that the inland sea, which lay not far north of Phutra, was their
+destination, I took a couple of regiments and followed.</p>
+
+<p>A low ridge intervenes between the Phutra plain where the city
+lies, and the inland sea where the Mahars were wont to disport
+themselves in the cool waters. Not until we had topped this ridge
+did we get a view of the sea.</p>
+
+<p>Then we beheld a scene that I shall never forget so long as I may
+live.</p>
+
+<p>Along the beach were lined up the troop of lidi, while a hundred
+yards from shore the surface of the water was black with the long
+snouts and cold, reptilian eyes of the Mahars. Our savage Mezop
+riflemen, and the shorter, squatter, white-skinned Thurian drivers,
+shading their eyes with their hands, were gazing seaward beyond
+the Mahars, whose eyes were fastened upon the same spot. My heart
+leaped when I discovered that which was chaining the attention of
+them all. Twenty graceful feluccas were moving smoothly across
+the waters of the sea toward the reptilian horde!</p>
+
+<p>The sight must have filled the Mahars with awe and consternation,
+for never had they seen the like of these craft before. For a time
+they seemed unable to do aught but gaze at the approaching fleet;
+but when the Mezops opened on them with their muskets the reptiles
+swam rapidly in the direction of the feluccas, evidently thinking
+that these would prove the easier to overcome. The commander of
+the fleet permitted them to approach within a hundred yards. Then
+he opened on them with all the cannon that could be brought to
+bear, as well as with the small arms of the sailors.</p>
+
+<p>A great many of the reptiles were killed at the first volley. They
+wavered for a moment, then dived; nor did we see them again for a
+long time.</p>
+
+<p>But finally they rose far out beyond the fleet, and when the
+feluccas came about and pursued them they left the water and flew
+away toward the north.</p>
+
+<p>Following the fall of Phutra I visited Anoroc, where I found
+the people busy in the shipyards and the factories that Perry had
+established. I discovered something, too, that he had not told
+me of—something that seemed infinitely more promising than the
+powder-factory or the arsenal. It was a young man poring over
+one of the books I had brought back from the outer world! He was
+sitting in the log cabin that Perry had had built to serve as his
+sleeping quarters and office. So absorbed was he that he did not
+notice our entrance. Perry saw the look of astonishment in my
+eyes and smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"I started teaching him the alphabet when we first reached the
+prospector, and were taking out its contents," he explained. "He
+was much mystified by the books and anxious to know of what use
+they were. When I explained he asked me to teach him to read, and
+so I worked with him whenever I could. He is very intelligent and
+learns quickly. Before I left he had made great progress, and as
+soon as he is qualified he is going to teach others to read. It
+was mighty hard work getting started, though, for everything had
+to be translated into Pellucidarian.</p>
+
+<p>"It will take a long time to solve this problem, but I think that
+by teaching a number of them to read and write English we shall
+then be able more quickly to give them a written language of their
+own."</p>
+
+<p>And this was the nucleus about which we were to build our great
+system of schools and colleges—this almost naked red warrior,
+sitting in Perry's little cabin upon the island of Anoroc, picking
+out words letter by letter from a work on intensive farming. Now
+we have—</p>
+
+<p>But I'll get to all that before I finish.</p>
+
+<p>While we were at Anoroc I accompanied Ja in an expedition to South
+Island, the southernmost of the three largest which form the Anoroc
+group—Perry had given it its name—where we made peace with the
+tribe there that had for long been hostile toward Ja. They were now
+glad enough to make friends with him and come into the federation.
+From there we sailed with sixty-five feluccas for distant Luana,
+the main island of the group where dwell the hereditary enemies of
+Anoroc.</p>
+
+<p>Twenty-five of the feluccas were of a new and larger type than
+those with which Ja and Perry had sailed on the occasion when they
+chanced to find and rescue Dian and me. They were longer, carried
+much larger sails, and were considerably swifter. Each carried
+four guns instead of two, and these were so arranged that one or
+more of them could be brought into action no matter where the enemy
+lay.</p>
+
+<p>The Luana group lies just beyond the range of vision from the
+mainland. The largest island of it alone is visible from Anoroc;
+but when we neared it we found that it comprised many beautiful
+islands, and that they were thickly populated. The Luanians had
+not, of course, been ignorant of all that had been going on in the
+domains of their nearest and dearest enemies. They knew of our
+feluccas and our guns, for several of their riding-parties had had
+a taste of both. But their principal chief, an old man, had never
+seen either. So, when he sighted us, he put out to overwhelm us,
+bringing with him a fleet of about a hundred large war-canoes,
+loaded to capacity with javelin-armed warriors. It was pitiful,
+and I told Ja as much. It seemed a shame to massacre these poor
+fellows if there was any way out of it.</p>
+
+<p>To my surprise Ja felt much as I did. He said he had always hated
+to war with other Mezops when there were so many alien races to
+fight against. I suggested that we hail the chief and request a
+parley; but when Ja did so the old fool thought that we were afraid,
+and with loud cries of exultation urged his warriors upon us.</p>
+
+<p>So we opened up on them, but at my suggestion centered our fire upon
+the chief's canoe. The result was that in about thirty seconds
+there was nothing left of that war dugout but a handful of splinters,
+while its crew—those who were not killed—were struggling in the
+water, battling with the myriad terrible creatures that had risen
+to devour them.</p>
+
+<p>We saved some of them, but the majority died just as had Hooja and
+the crew of his canoe that time our second shot capsized them.</p>
+
+<p>Again we called to the remaining warriors to enter into a parley
+with us; but the chief's son was there and he would not, now that
+he had seen his father killed. He was all for revenge. So we had
+to open up on the brave fellows with all our guns; but it didn't
+last long at that, for there chanced to be wiser heads among the
+Luanians than their chief or his son had possessed. Presently, an
+old warrior who commanded one of the dugouts surrendered. After
+that they came in one by one until all had laid their weapons upon
+our decks.</p>
+
+<p>Then we called together upon the flagship all our captains, to
+give the affair greater weight and dignity, and all the principal
+men of Luana. We had conquered them, and they expected either death
+or slavery; but they deserved neither, and I told them so. It is
+always my habit here in Pellucidar to impress upon these savage
+people that mercy is as noble a quality as physical bravery,
+and that next to the men who fight shoulder to shoulder with one,
+we should honor the brave men who fight against us, and if we are
+victorious, award them both the mercy and honor that are their due.</p>
+
+<p>By adhering to this policy I have won to the federation many great
+and noble peoples, who under the ancient traditions of the inner
+world would have been massacred or enslaved after we had conquered
+them; and thus I won the Luanians. I gave them their freedom, and
+returned their weapons to them after they had sworn loyalty to me
+and friendship and peace with Ja, and I made the old fellow, who
+had had the good sense to surrender, king of Luana, for both the
+old chief and his only son had died in the battle.</p>
+
+<p>When I sailed away from Luana she was included among the kingdoms
+of the empire, whose boundaries were thus pushed eastward several
+hundred miles.</p>
+
+<p>We now returned to Anoroc and thence to the mainland, where I again
+took up the campaign against the Mahars, marching from one great
+buried city to another until we had passed far north of Amoz into
+a country where I had never been. At each city we were victorious,
+killing or capturing the Sagoths and driving the Mahars further
+away.</p>
+
+<p>I noticed that they always fled toward the north. The Sagoth prisoners
+we usually found quite ready to transfer their allegiance to us,
+for they are little more than brutes, and when they found that we
+could fill their stomachs and give them plenty of fighting, they
+were nothing loath to march with us against the next Mahar city
+and battle with men of their own race.</p>
+
+<p>Thus we proceeded, swinging in a great half-circle north and west
+and south again until we had come back to the edge of the Lidi
+Plains north of Thuria. Here we overcame the Mahar city that had
+ravaged the Land of Awful Shadow for so many ages. When we marched
+on to Thuria, Goork and his people went mad with joy at the tidings
+we brought them.</p>
+
+<p>During this long march of conquest we had passed through seven
+countries, peopled by primitive human tribes who had not yet
+heard of the federation, and succeeded in joining them all to the
+empire. It was noticeable that each of these peoples had a Mahar
+city situated near by, which had drawn upon them for slaves and human
+food for so many ages that not even in legend had the population any
+folk-tale which did not in some degree reflect an inherent terror
+of the reptilians.</p>
+
+<p>In each of these countries I left an officer and warriors to train
+them in military discipline, and prepare them to receive the arms
+that I intended furnishing them as rapidly as Perry's arsenal
+could turn them out, for we felt that it would be a long, long time
+before we should see the last of the Mahars. That they had flown
+north but temporarily until we should be gone with our great army
+and terrifying guns I was positive, and equally sure was I that
+they would presently return.</p>
+
+<p>The task of ridding Pellucidar of these hideous creatures is one
+which in all probability will never be entirely completed, for
+their great cities must abound by the hundreds and thousands of
+the far-distant lands that no subject of the empire has ever laid
+eyes upon.</p>
+
+<p>But within the present boundaries of my domain there are now none
+left that I know of, for I am sure we should have heard indirectly
+of any great Mahar city that had escaped us, although of course
+the imperial army has by no means covered the vast area which I
+now rule.</p>
+
+<p>After leaving Thuria we returned to Sari, where the seat of government
+is located. Here, upon a vast, fertile plateau, overlooking the
+great gulf that runs into the continent from the Lural Az, we are
+building the great city of Sari. Here we are erecting mills and
+factories. Here we are teaching men and women the rudiments of
+agriculture. Here Perry has built the first printing-press, and
+a dozen young Sarians are teaching their fellows to read and write
+the language of Pellucidar.</p>
+
+<p>We have just laws and only a few of them. Our people are happy
+because they are always working at something which they enjoy.
+There is no money, nor is any money value placed upon any commodity.
+Perry and I were as one in resolving that the root of all evil
+should not be introduced into Pellucidar while we lived.</p>
+
+<p>A man may exchange that which he produces for something which he
+desires that another has produced; but he cannot dispose of the
+thing he thus acquires. In other words, a commodity ceases to have
+pecuniary value the instant that it passes out of the hands of its
+producer. All excess reverts to government; and, as this represents
+the production of the people as a government, government may dispose
+of it to other peoples in exchange for that which they produce.
+Thus we are establishing a trade between kingdoms, the profits
+from which go to the betterment of the people—to building factories
+for the manufacture of agricultural implements, and machinery for
+the various trades we are gradually teaching the people.</p>
+
+<p>Already Anoroc and Luana are vying with one another in the excellence
+of the ships they build. Each has several large shipyards. Anoroc
+makes gunpowder and mines iron ore, and by means of their ships
+they carry on a very lucrative trade with Thuria, Sari, and Amoz.
+The Thurians breed lidi, which, having the strength and intelligence
+of an elephant, make excellent draft animals.</p>
+
+<p>Around Sari and Amoz the men are domesticating the great striped
+antelope, the meat of which is most delicious. I am sure that it
+will not be long before they will have them broken to harness and
+saddle. The horses of Pellucidar are far too diminutive for such
+uses, some species of them being little larger than fox-terriers.</p>
+
+<p>Dian and I live in a great palace overlooking the gulf. There is
+no glass in our windows, for we have no windows, the walls rising
+but a few feet above the floor-line, the rest of the space being open
+to the ceilings; but we have a roof to shade us from the perpetual
+noon-day sun. Perry and I decided to set a style in architecture
+that would not curse future generations with the white plague, so
+we have plenty of ventilation. Those of the people who prefer,
+still inhabit their caves, but many are building houses similar to
+ours.</p>
+
+<p>At Greenwich we have located a town and an observatory—though
+there is nothing to observe but the stationary sun directly overhead.
+Upon the edge of the Land of Awful Shadow is another observatory,
+from which the time is flashed by wireless to every corner of the
+empire twenty-four times a day. In addition to the wireless, we
+have a small telephone system in Sari. Everything is yet in the
+early stages of development; but with the science of the outer-world
+twentieth century to draw upon we are making rapid progress, and
+with all the faults and errors of the outer world to guide us clear
+of dangers, I think that it will not be long before Pellucidar will
+become as nearly a Utopia as one may expect to find this side of
+heaven.</p>
+
+<p>Perry is away just now, laying out a railway-line from Sari to
+Amoz. There are immense anthracite coal-fields at the head of the
+gulf not far from Sari, and the railway will tap these. Some of
+his students are working on a locomotive now. It will be a strange
+sight to see an iron horse puffing through the primeval jungles of
+the stone age, while cave bears, saber-toothed tigers, mastodons
+and the countless other terrible creatures of the past look on from
+their tangled lairs in wide-eyed astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>We are very happy, Dian and I, and I would not return to the outer
+world for all the riches of all its princes. I am content here.
+Even without my imperial powers and honors I should be content,
+for have I not that greatest of all treasures, the love of a good
+woman—my wondrous empress, Dian the Beautiful?</p>
+
+<hr /> +
+</div>
+
+
+<pre>
+I have made the following changes to the text:
+
+ PAGE LINE ORIGINAL CHANGED TO
+ 27 33 sate state
+ 32 11 least last
+ 38 3 litte little
+ 39 20 dispress- distress-
+ 50 20 slides sides
+ 54 16 enmy enemy
+ 77 2 it if
+ 80 24 Sidi Lidi
+ 96 10 be bet
+ 101 33 the the and the
+ 107 15 Hoojas' Hooja's
+ 117 4 come came
+ 119 18 remarkably remarkable
+ 149 25 take takes
+ 151 6 Juang Juag
+ 173 29 contined continued
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs
+</pre>
+
+</body> +</html>
|