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

Wrapped In a skin, carried three
swords and the two bows, with the
arrows which Perry and I had fash
ioned. As many slaves bore skin
wrapped burdens to and fro. my load
attracted no comment.
Where left Ghak and Perry there
were no other creatures In sight, and
30 l withdrew one sword from the
package. and, leaving the balance OF
the weapons with Perry, started on
alone toward the lower levels for
my dangerous enterprise.
Having come to the apartments I'm
which the three Mahars slept, 1 en-
tered silently on tiptoe. forgetting
that tho creatures were without the
sense OF hearing.
With quick thrust through the
aeart | disposed OF the first, but my
second thrust was not so fortunate, 10
that before I could kill tho next OF
my victims IL had hurled itself against
the third, who sprang quickly up. fac
Ing me with Wide. distended jaws.
iut Fighting Is not the occupation
whivh the race OF Mahars loves, and
when tho thing saw that I already
had despatched two OF its compan-
Ions, apd that my sword was red with
their blood. II made a dash u escape
by mo into the corridor which led to
the regions above.
But | was too quick for II. and so.
half hopping. half dying. 1t scurried
down another corridor. with me close
upon its heels.
Its escape meant the utter ruin of
our plan. and In all probability my in
slant death. This thought lent wings
To my feet; but even at my best I
could do no more than hold my own
with tho leaping thing before me.
or sudden IL turned into an
apartment on the right OF the cor
ridor. and an instant later as l
rushed In I found myself facing two
OF the Mahars
The one that had been there when
we entered had been occupied with u
number OF metal vessels, into which,
had been put powders and liquids, as
l Judged from tho array OF f,aska
standing about upon the bench where
II had been working.
In an instant ! realized what 7 had
STUN bled upon. II was the very room
for tho finding of which Perry had
given mo minute directions II was
the buried chamber in which was
hidden the Great Secret, OF this hor-
rible race Of Mahars.
And on the bench beside the TASKS
lay tho skin bound book which held
tho only copy of the thing I was To-
! three Mahars In their sleep.
There was, no exit from the room
, other than the doorway In which I
now stood facing the two frightful
reptiles.
Cornered. I knew that they would
night like demons. and they were well
equipped to fight IL they were forced
to fight.
|. Together they launched themselves
upon me. and though l ran one of
, them through the heart on the in.
slant the other fastened Its cleaning
, fangs abpnt my sword arm above the
| elbow. and then with her sharp
, talons, commenced to rake me about
the body. evidently intent upon dis
emboweling me.
. l saw that u was useless to hops
that ] might relense' my arm from
, that powerful. viselike grip which
\ seemed to be severing my arm from
/, my body. The pain I suffered was
intense. but 1t only served to spur me
, to greater efforts to overcome my
antagonist.
/ Back and forth across the floor we
: struggedA-the Mahar dealing mo
, terrific. cutting blows with her fore
4 rect, while | attempted to protect
4. my body with my left hand. at the
, same time watching for an oppor-
, tunity to transfer my blade from my
. now useless sword hand to its rapidly
I weakening mate.
At last | was successful. and with
: what seemed to me my last ounce of
b strength ! ran the blade through the
ugly body OF my foe
, Soundiess, as 1t had fought, u died.
| and though weak from pain and loss OF
= blood. 1t was with an emotion OF tri-
!. umphant pride that l stepped across
l it's Convuisivcly stifrening corpse to
D snatch up the most potent secret OF
this horrible world.
y a single glance told me that II tai
2 lied to "A nicely with perry's deJcrip.
o ton as he had read II from the ancient
r records Of the Mahars.
And as I grasped II did think Of
4 what II meant to the human race OF
: Pell,icidar-did there Hash through my
! mind the thought that countless gen,
a erations OF my own kind yet unborn,
: would have reason to worship me for
I the thing that ! had accomplished FOR
= them? pid !? | did not.
| thotfght of beautiful. oval face
I gazing out OF limpid eyes. through q
y waving mass Of Jet black hair.
4 y. For an instant ! stood there think
o INK OF Dian the Beautiful. and then
9 with sigh, I tucked the book In the
ana turnSH F1 leave the apartment.
u At the bottom of the corridor which
n leads aloft from the lower chambers
y whstlcd In accordance with the pre-
arranged signal which was to an
q nounce TO Perry and Ghak that had
= been successful. n moment later they
r. stood beside me. and to my surprise
saw that Ilooja the Sly One accom-
i panied them.
n HE joined u.s." exclaimed Perry
n "and would not be denied. The fellow
j. IL fox. He scents escape. and rather
q than be thwarted Of our chance now
a told him that | would bring him 4
y you and let you decide whether h,
might accompany us"
;, had no love for ilooja and no con
q fidencc in him. was sure that II h
n thought IT would profit him he woul,
betray us: but | saw no way out OF i
i now, aud the fact that I had kille.
y four Nahars Instead of only the tire,
+ | had expected to made II possible 4
J. include the fellow In our scheme o.
q escape.
< VERY we'll" said; you may come
= with us, Hoojl; but at the Arst init
3. nation Of trclchcry | shall run m!
n sword through YOU. Do you under
stand?"
y lie said that he did.
- Spuua finn later NO had rep,nvas