Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-22
CHAPTER V
Through the Golden Cliffs

TIOW long I slept upon the floor of the
IL storeroom I do not know. but 1t must
have been many hours
was awakened with n start by cries of
alarm, and scarce were my eyes opened
nor had yet sufficiently collected my wits
to quite realize where ] was, when fus-
lllade Of shots rang out, reverberating
through the subterranenn corridors in a SER
les of deafening echoes,
In an instant I was upon my feet a
dozen lesser therns confronted us from a
large doorway at the opposite end of the
storeroom from that which we had entered.
About me lay the bodies of my companions,
with the exception of Thuvia and Tars
TarSas who. like myself. had been asleep
upon the floor and thus escaped the first
raking fire.
As l gained my feet the therns lowered
their wicked rifles. their faces distorted in
mingled chagrin, CONSERVATION and alarm.
Instantly / rose to the occasion.
What means thls?" l cried In tones
of fierce anger. rs Sator Throg to be
murdered by his own vassals?"
Have mercy o master OF the tenth
cycle" :" cried one Of the fellows. while the
others edged toward the doorway as though
t. attempt surreptitious escape from the
presence of the mighty one.
ASK them their mission here" whispered
Thuva at my elbow.
What do you here, fellows?" cried
Two from the outer world are at large
within the domnions of the therns. We
sought them at the command of the father
OF therns One was white with black hair.
the other huge green warrior"
Here the fellow cast suspicious glance
toward Tars Tarkas.
Here, then, is one Of them" spoke
Thuvia, indicating the Thark, "and IL you
Will look upon this dead man by the door
perhaps you will recognize the other. It
: "a fn-G Gat IL
70 accomplish what the lesser therns OF the
guard were unable TO dove have killed
one and captured the other For this has
sRtor Throg given us our liberty And now
IN your stupidity have you come and killed
all but myself, and like TO have killed tbe
mighty sator Throg hir sef."
The men looked very sheepish and very
scared.
Had they not better throw these bodies
n the plant men and then return to their
quarters o mighty one?' asked Thuvia of
Yes; do as Thuvia bids you" I said.
AS the men picked up the bodies noticed
that the one who stopped TO gather up the
late Sator Throg started as his close
scrutiny fell upon the upturned face. and
then the fellow stole a furtlve, sneaking
his eye.
That he susplcioned something Of the
truth could have sworn, but that It was
oHty suspicion Which ne dld not dare
voice was evidenced by his silence.
Again, as he bore the body from the
room, he shot quick but searching glance
toward me, and then his eyes fell once
more upon the bald and shiny dome Of the
dead man in his arms. The last fieeting
glimpse that l obtained Of his profile as
he passed from my sight without the
chamber revealed a cunning smile of
triumph upon his lips.
only Tars Tarkas, Thuyia, and I were
LEFT, The fatal craftsmanship OF the therns
had snatched from our companions what
ever slender chance they had OF gaining
the perilous freedom of the world.
So soon as the last OF the gruesoms pro-
cession had disappeared the girl urged us
to take up our flight once more.
She, too, had noted the questioning atti-
tude of the thern who had borne Sator
Throg away
1t bodies no good for us, o prince :" she
said. For, even though this fellow dared
not chance accusing you In error, there be
those above with power sufficient to de-
mand closer scrutiny, and that. prince
would indeed prove fatal"
shrugged my shoulders. II seemed that
In any event the outcome OF our plight
must end in death l was refreshed from
my sleep, but still weak from loss OF blood
My wounds were painful No medicinal
aid seemed possible How lOnged for the
almost miraculous healing power of the
strange salves and lotions OF the green
nartisn women In an hour they would
have had me as new.
l was discouraged, Never had a feeling
IF such utter hopelessness come over me In
The face OF danger Then the long how-
ng yellow locks Of the holy thern, caught
BY some Yagrant draft. blew about my
face
Might they no, stin open the way e fEss-