Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-07
CHAPTER IX-(Continued)

KEPT close to the edge of the forest, in
L the very midst of which the hill seemed
to rise. Though I carefully scanned the
of any other entrance than that to which
my guide had led me.
After some little time the roar of the
sea broke upon my ears Shortly after |
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.
was Just about to Chamber 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 | CHANGED to
see a canoe rounding the end of the island
I threw myself down behind a large boulder
where l could watch the dugout and its
occupants without myself being seen.
They padded 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 | was
1t 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.
mass of rock would soon hide them
from my view; but so keen was the ex-
citement of the instant that / could not
refrain from crawling forward to point
where I could watch the dashing of the
small craft to pieces on the Jagged rocks
that loomed before her. although ! riskeo
discovery from above to accomplish my
design.
When I had reached a point where l
could again see the dugout | was Just IN
time to see 1t glide unharmed between two
needle-polnted sentinels OF granite and noat
quietly upon the unruffied bosom OF t'hy
cove.
Ayain l crouched behind a boulder to
oh.arya what would next transpire; nor
Ala 7 have long to wait. The dugout, which
conta tined but two men, was drawn close
~ The rocky wall A 1ber rope, one end
=, which was tied to the boat, was made
fast about a projection of the clin race.
rhsr the two men commenced the ascent
of the almost perpendicular wall toward
InoLed on in amazement, for. splendid climb
w. .Sovgh the cave men of Pellucidar are
tha aummit several hundred feet above.
| avar before bad seen SO remarkable a
| faat nerformed. Upward they moved with
out a nause. to disappear at last over the
| summit. a..
WHEN 7 felt reasonably sure that they
had gone for while at least crawieo
| from my hiding place ana AT tne I,sk oi
broken neck leaped and scrampiea 10 'he
snot where their canoe was mooreo'
7, ,hev had scaled that cliff could and
| l.. oo,idn't I should die In the attempt.
| p,, wben I turned to the accomplish
| -. -, the task | found 1t easier than
| had imagined 1t would be, since l imme,
/ a,a,aIv discovered that shallow hand ano
s,ot holds had been scooped in the clin
| rocLy face forming crude ladcer IRON
| the base to the summit
Al last I reached the top and very glad
| uas foo Cautiously / raised my heat
| urt, nv ewes we're above the clin crest
pa,nra me spread a rough mesa, LIBERAL,
snr,nk,ed with large boulders. There wa!
No Village in sight nor any living creature
drew myself to level ground and stoot
erect few trees grew among the boulders
| Very carefully advanced from tree TO tre'
and boulder to boulder toward the islant
| end of the mesa. l stopped oiteh 10 liste'
end Iook cautiously about me in every di
| rection.
| How I wished that had my revolver
"a r;ea, I would not have to worm IN,
80 like a scared cat toward Hooja's vii
,aga nor did | relish doing SO now; bu
| Mans life might hinge upon the success
| =, NV venture and so l could not afford L
,ala CHANGES To have met suddenly will
dscoyery and had a score or more of arme,
warriors upon me might have been YER,
Grand and heroic but 1t would have imme
diately nut an end to all my earthly activ
| ,ties. nor have accomplished aught In tn
service of Dian.
Wsli. must have Travelled nearly mil
Iaorosa thai mssa without seeing = sign Q
4 ~ ono, when ali Of = spddens as \ crep
n - fho 49, ~ , r. &, - Z >,f 4 '.->