The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-06-11

At last I was forced to rise for air.
and as cast q terrified glance In the
direction Of the Mahars and the thip-
dars / was almost stunned to see that
not q single one remained. upon the
rocks where had last seen them, nor
AZ searched tho temple with my eyes
could 1 discern any within It.
For a moment I was puzzled to ac-
count for the thing. until I realized
that the reptiles, being deaf, could not
have been disturbed by the noise my
body made when 1t hit the water, and
that as there Is no such thing as time
within Pellucidar there was no telling
how long 1 had been beneath the sur
face.
Several times called to ia, but he
must have left after I tumbled into
the tank, for received no response to
my cries.
Doubtless he had felt as certain OF
my doom when he saw me topple
from our hiding place as I had, and
lest he too should be discovered had
FASTENED from the temple and back
to his village.
know that there must be some
entrance to the building beside the
seem reasonable TO believe that the
thousands of slaves which were
brought here to feed the Mahars the
human flesh they craved would all be
carried through the air. and 30 / con-
tinued my search until at last II
was rewarded by the discovery OF
several loose granite blocks in the
masonry at one end OF the temple.
A little effort proved sufficient to
dislodge enough Of these stones 20
permit me to crawl through into the
.la ri N
1 had scurried across the intervening
space to the dense jungle beyond.
Here I sank painting and trembling
upon the matted grasses beneath the
giant trees. for I felt that I had es-
capped from the grinning fangs OF
death out of the depths Of my own
grave.
must have fallen asleep from ex-
haustion. When awoke I was very
searching for fruit for while | set
of through the Jungle to find the
beach.
knew that tho island was not so
large but that could easily find the
sea, IL l did but move in a straight
line. but there came the difficulty as
there was no way In which l could
direct my course and hold 1t. the sun,
OF course. being always directly above
my head and the trees SO thickly set
that could see no distant object
which might serve to guide me In "A
straight line.
As II was must have walked for a
great distance. since | ate four times
and slept twice before l reached the
sea; but at last l did SO. and my
pleasure at the sight of It was greatly
enhanced by the chance discovery OF
n hidden canoe among the bushes
through which l had stumbled Jus,
prior to coming upon the beach.
I can tell you that It did not take
me long to pull that awkward craft
down to the water and shove 1t far
out from shore. My experience with
ia had taught me that II were &c
steal another canoe ! must be quick
about II and get far beyond the
owners reach as soon as possible.
must have come out upon the OPP
posite side of the island from that al
which ia and had entered II. for the
mainland was nowhere In sight. Fol
long time padded round thu
shore. though we'll out. before I saw
the mainland in the distance.
At the sight Of II ] lost no time ir
directing my course toward II. for
had long since made up my mind to
return to Phutra and give myself VI
that might be once more with
Perry and Ghak the Hairy One.
Had Perry been dead ] should
gladly have pitted my strength anC
wit against the savage and primer, la
world In which found myself,
could have lived In seclusion within
some rocky cave until ] had founC
the means TO outfit myself with tn,
crude weapons Of the Stone Age. anc
then set out in search OF her whos'
image had now become the constan
companion Of my waking hours. an'
the central and beloved figure OF III!
dreams.
But, TO the best OF my knowledge
Perry still lived and II was my duty
and my wish to be again with him
that We might share the dangers anC
vicissitudes Of the strange world W.
had discovered.
Chance carried me to the YER!
beach upon which had discovered
Jas canoe. and a short time later
was scrambling up the steep bank I,
retrace my steps from the plain o
Phutra.
But my troubles came when I en-
tered the canyon beyond the summit
for here found that several OF then
centred at the point where ] crossed
|, the divide, and which one had ira
!, versed to reach the pass I could no
for the life OF me remember.
! by tho time I had eaten eigh
r meals and slept twice l was con
WINGED that was upon the wron
trail, for between Phutra and tn
inland sea had not slept at all an
had eaten but once.
= TO rctrace my steps to the SUNNI
:, Of the divide and explore anothe
: canyon seemed the only solution OF m
problem. but sudden widening an
: ievelncss OF the canyon just before N
q seemed to suggest that 1t was abou
to open into level country, an,
= with the lure OF discovery stron
Z upon mc. ] decided To proceed but
= short distance further before
turned back.
d The next turn OF the canyon brougl
e me to its mouth. and before me
t. saw narrow plain leading down
$ an ocean. At my right the side {
the canyon continued to the water
II edge, tho valley lying to my left an
I the foot OF II running gradually I'M
II the sea, where It formed a broa
L. level beach.
Presently ] stood upon the beac
o looking out over the wide and lone
u sea, across whose forbldding bose