The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1916-02-02


And 80 l felt certain that Tars Tar.
kas lay in the dark pits beneath some
nearby building, and that in that
direction / should find the trail OF
the three warriors leading to his cell.
Nor was wrong. At the bottom,
OF tho runway-or, rather, at tho
landing on tho floor below-I saw
that the shaft descended into the
pits beneath: and as I glanced down
the hickering light OF "a torch reveal
ed the presence OF tho three I was
trailing.
Down they went toward the pits
beneath the structure. and at a safe
distance behind L followed the flicker
OF their torch. The way led through
maze OF tortuous corridors. nm
lighted save for the light they car
ried.
We had gone perhaps n bunSrsd
yards when the party turned abrupt.
~ through doorway at their right.
! hastened on as rapidly as I dared
through the darkness until I reached
the point at which they had left the
corridor.
There. through an open door. I saw
mem removing tho chains from the
great Thark, Tars Tarkas. He had
peen chained to the wall.
Hustling him roughly be,va.,
them, they came Immediately from,
the chamber, so quickly, In fact. thst
was near to being apprehended.
but L managed to run along On.
corriuor In tho direction I had besn
going In my pursuit OF them Tar
enough to be within the radh,, q,
thelr meagre light as they emerged
from the cell
PRESENTLY 1 came TO a place WHARF
~, corrldors diverged from n com
mon point. I hastened along on. =,
them for some little distance ".
suddenly the faint light OF the torch
disappeared from about mo. 7 na,,ssg
listen TOT sounds OF the party he
hinu me, but the silence was as ,,tt.r
as the silence OF the tomb.
quickly / realized the WARRIOR. n.A
.aken one OF the other corridors with
,nelr prisoner. an so I haStened
. LICK win a FEELING of Considerable
roller TO take ND a much safer .nJ
moro desirable position behind tben,
~ was much slower work returnins
however. than II had been comins
Tor now the darkness was as utter =.
thu silence. -
After what seemed an eternitv ,o
me l reached the place and recos-
nlzed II by cropping across the an,
frances TO the several corridors untu
In not one. however, showed ths
faintest sign OF light.
Again l retraced my steps toward
inc parting OF the ways, when. to nv
surprise, | came upon the entrances
10 three dlverging corridors, any one
or which / might have trayerssd in
my hasty dash after the false clue I
had been following.
Here was a pretty fix indeed.
once back ut the point where the
rive passageways met, I might wait
with some assurance for the return
or the warriors with Tars Tarkaa.
MY knowledge OF their customs lent
color to tho belief that he was but
being escorted 20 the audlence-
him. N'N"
But unless could ind my way
back TO that point the chances were
most excellent that / would wander
for days through the awful blaoknes.
until overcome by thirst ana hunger
1 lay down 10 die. Or
What was that?
A faint shuffling sounded behind
me. and, as l cast a hasty glance over
my shoulder, my blood froze IN my
veins for the thing I saw there.
Grasping my long sword tightly IN
my hand. ! backed slowly along the
corridor away from the thing that
watched me, but ever as | retreated
the eyes advanced, nor was there ann
sound, not even the sound OF breath
Ing, except the occasional shuff1inE
sound as OF the dragging of a dead
limb that had first attracted my at
tention.
On and on l went. but could not
escape my sinister pursuer. Suddenly
i heard the shuffing noise at my
w y A.
of eyes. evidently approaching from
an intersecting corridor. As stsrted
70 renew my slow retreat heard the
noise repeated behind me, and then.
before ! could turn. l heard II again
at my left.
The things were all about me. They
had me surrounded at the intersec-
ton OF two corridors. Retreat was
cut OFT in all directions unless chose
to charge one of tho beasts. Even
then | had no doubt but that the
Others would hurl themselves upon
my back.
At length ! could endure II no
longer, and, taking a fresh grasp
upon my long sword / turned sud
denly and charged down upon one OF
my tormentors.
As | was almost upon II the thing
retreated before me. but a sound
from behind caused me to wheel In
time 10 see three pairs OF eyes rush
ing at me from the rear.
With cry of rage / turned to meet
the cowardly beasts. but as ad-
vanced they retreated as had their
fellow.
Another glance over my shoulder
discovered the first eyes sneaking on
me again
And again charged. only 20 se-
the eyes retreat before me and hear
the muffled rush OF the three at my
back.
At that moment caught another
glimpse from tho corner OF my eye OF
tho single pair of eyes at my back
making a sudden rush upon me.
turned 10 meet the charge: there was
n quick rush OF the three from the
other direction, but I determined to
pursue the single pair until should
have at least settled my account with
one OF the beasts, and thus be re-
leved OF the strain of meeting at
tacks from both directions.
I raised my sword-arm TO deal the
blow that should free me. and then
felt a heavy body upon my back
\ cold, moist. Shiny something fas-
toned itself upon my throat.
stumbled and went down.
ITO BE CSutinuodl Il "a