Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-31
CHAPTER V-(ContinuedD

AS WE neared the spot where hoped to
"A find the little valley l became more
and more confident of success. Every land
mark was familiar to me- and was sure
now that | knew the exact location of the
cave.
1t was at about this time that I sighted
a number of the half-naked warriors of the
human race of Pellucidar. They were
marching across our front. At sight or us
they halted. That there would be a fight
| could not doubt. These Sagoths would
never permit an opportunity for the capture
of slaves for their Mahar masters to escape
them.
/ saw that the men were armed with
bows and arrows. long lances and swords, so
| guessed that they must have been men,
bers of the federation. for only my people
had been thus equippedy Before Perry
and | came the men of Pellucidar had only
the crudest weapons wherewith to slay one
another.
The Sagoths too were evidently expecting
battle With savage shouts they rushed
forward toward the human warriors.
Then strange thing happened. The
leader of the human beings stepped for
ward with uprased hands. The Sagoths
ceased their war-cries and advanced slowly
to meet him. There was long parley
during which 7 could see that | was often
the subject of their discourse. The Sagoths
leader pointed in the direction in which
had told him the valley lay Evidently
he was explaining the nature of our ex-
pedition to the leader of the warriors. II
was all a puzzle to me.
What human being could be upon such
excellent terms with the goriamen?
couldn't imagine. | tried to get
good look at the fellow. but the Sagoths
had left me in the rear with a guard when
they had advanced to battle and the dis
tance was too great for me to recognize the
features of any of the human beings.
Finally the parley was concluded and
the men continued on their way while the
Sagoths returned to where | stood with
my guard. 1t was time for eating, we
stopped where we were and made our meal.
The Sagoths didn't tell me who it was they
had met and I did not ask, though | must
confess that was quite curious.
They permitted me to sleep at this halt
Afterward we took up the last leg of our
tourney | found the valley without diff
Guilty and led my guard directly to the
cave At its mouth the Sagoths halted and
/ entered alone.
noticed as felt about the floor in
the dim light that there was pile OF
fresh-turned rubble there. Presently my
hands came TO the spot where the great
secret had been buried. There was cavity
where I had carefully smoothed the earth
over the hiding-pace of the document-the
manuscript was gone
ErantlcalIy ! SedTCncu tflt WHole M
terror of the cave several times over, but
without other result than complete con-
frmation of my worst fears. Some one had
been here ahead of me and stolen the great
secret
The one thing within Pellucidar which
might free Dian and me was gone, nor was
II likely that should ever learn its where
abouts If a Mabar had found it, which
was quite improbable, the chances were
that the dominant race would never divulge
the fact that they had recovered the precious
document IL a cave man had happened
upon it he would have no conception OF ITS
meaning or value, and as consequence II
would be lost or destroyed in short order.
With bowed head and broken hopes
came out of the cave and told the Sagoth
chieftian what ! had discovered. 1t didn't
mean much to the fellow, who doubtless
had hut little better idea of the contents of
the document l had been sent to fetch to
his masters than would the cave man who
in all probability had discovered it.
The Sagoth knew only that / had failed
in nv mission so he took advantage OF the
fact to make the return journey TO Phutra
as disagreeable as possible l did not rebel,
though / had with me the means to destroy
them ALL did not dare rebel because OF
the consequences to Dian. l intended de-
manding her release on the grounds that
she was in no way guilty of the theft, and
that NV failure to recover the document
SNSN
7 had had in offering to do so. The Mahars
might keep me In slavery II they chose, but
Dian should be returned safely to her
people.
was full of my scheme when we entered
Phutra and was conducted directly to the
great audience chamber. The Mahars lis
tened to the report of the Sagoth chieftain'
and so difficult is it to judge their emotions
from their almost expressionless coante-
nances that / was at loss to know how
terrible might be tfer wrath as they learned
that their great secret, upon which rested
the fate of their race might now be ire
trievably lost.
presently l could see that she who pre-
sided was communicating something to the
Sa goth interpreter-doubtless something to
he transmitted to me which might give me
Sorewarning of the fate which lay In store
for me. One thing I had decided definitely:
II they would not free Dian should turn
loose upon Phutra with my little arsenal.
Alone might even win to freedom, and II
| could learn whore Dian. ~ Imprisoned
! 4 would be worth the attoR' - free her,