Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-02

this river to the sea and then follow the
coast to Thuria.
Two hundred and forty miles of Wild
mountain and primeval jungle, or un-
tracked plain. of nameless rivers. of deadly
swamps and savage forests lay ahead OF
me. yet never had been more eager for an
adventure than now. for never had more
depended upon haste and success.
l do not know how long time that
journey required. and only half did | appre-
ciate the varied wonders that each new
march unfolded before me. for my mind
and heart were filled with but a single
image--that of a perfect girl whose great,
dark eyes looked bravely forth from A
frame of raven hair.
1t was not until I had passed the high
peak and found the river that my eyes first
discovered the pendent world. the tiny satel-
lite which hangs low over the surface of
Pellucidar, casting its perpetual shadow al
ways upon the same spot-the area that is
known here as the Land of Awful Shadow,
in which dwells the tribe Of Thuria.
From the distance and the elevation of
the highlands where i stood the Pelluci-
, darian monday moon showed half In sun
shine and half in shadow. while directly be-
meath it was plainly visible the round dark
spot upon the surface of Pellucidar where
the sun has never shone. From where
stood the moon appeared to hang so low
above the ground as almost to touch it ; but
later / was to learn that it floats a mile
above the surface-which seems indeed
quite close for a moon.
Above me hung another world. could
see its mountains and valleys. oceans. lakes
and rivers: its broad, grassy plains and
dense forests. But too great was the dis.
tance and too deep the shadow of its under
side for me to distinguish any movement as
of animal life.
Instantly a great curiosity was awakened
,itI,t Tba tai.
| of this planet, so tantalizingly close. raised
| in my mind were numerous and unanswer.
| able?
Here I saw chance to give time to Pellu.
| cidar. using this mighty clock. revolving
| perpetually in the heavens to record the
| passage of the hours for the earth below
Here should be located an observa tory
| from which might be flashed by wireless tc
every corner of the empire the correct time
| once each day. That this time would
| be easily measured I had no doubt since SC
| plain were the landmarks upon the under
| surface Of the satellite that it would be bu
necessary to erect a simple instrument ant
| mark the instant of passage Of a giver
landmark across the instrument.
| But then was not the time for dreaming
I must devote my mind to the purpose o.
| nv Journey So hastened onward beneath
| the great shadow. AS | advanced i coult
| not but note the changing nature Of tn,
| vegetation and the paling of its hues
| The river led me short distance within
| the shadow before 1t emptied into th
| Solar Az. Then I continued in a southerl,
| direction along the coast toward the village
of Thuria. where hoped to find Goork ant
| deliver to him my credentials.
had progressed no great distance from
the mouth of the river when I discernet
| wing some distance at sea a great island
| This 7 assumed to be the stronghold o
| Hooia, nor did I doubt that upon 1t evel
now was Dian.
The way was most difficult, since shortl
| after leaving the river, I encountered loft
| cliffs splt by numerous long, narrow f1ords
| each of which necessitated a consider bl
| detour As the crow flies it is about twent
miles from the mouth of the river to Thuris
| hut before | had covered half of 1t I wa
tagged. There was no familiar fruit o
vegetable growing upon the rocky soil O
the cliff tops, and ! would have Jared i
for food had not hare broken cover almos
beneath my nose.
CONTINUED TOMORROW