Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-04-29

| ing glimpse of her as she was being
! conducted to the great audience cham
Der where l had had my first meeting
with Lorquas Ptomcl.
had observed on the two occasions
when had seen her that the prisoner
exchanged words with her guards, and
this convinced me that they spoke, or
at least could make themselves I'M
derstood by common language. With
this added incentive nearly drove
Sofa distracted by my opportunities
to hasten on my education. and with
in few more days had mastered the
Marian tongue sufficiently well to en-
able me to carry on passable con-
versation and to fully understand
practically all that i heard.
At this time our sleeping quarters
were occupied by three or four females
and n couple of the recently Matched
young, beside Sofa and her youthful
ward, myself. and Woola the hound.
After they had retired for the night
It was customary for the adults to
carry on a desultory conversation for
short time before Iapsing into sleep,
and now that I could understand their
language I was always a keen listener,
although I never proffered any re-
marks myself.
On the night following the prisoners
visit to the audience chamber the con-
versation finally fell upon this subject,
and I was all ears on the instant
Sarkoja, one of the older women
who shared our domiclIe. had been
present at the audience as one of
the captIve's guards. and 1t was to-
ward her the uuestioners turned.
"when." asked one of the women.
will we enjoy the death throes of the
red one, or does Lorquas Ptomel, Jed.
intend holding her for ransom7"
"They have decided to carry her
with us back to Thank, and exhibit
her last agonies at the great games
before Tai Hajus" replied Sarkoja.
"What will be the manner OF her
going out?" inquired Sofa. "She Is
very small and very beautiful; had
hoped that they would hold her fer
ransom"
One thing this episode accomplished
was to assure me of Sola's frlendli-
ness toward the poor girl, and also to
convince me that had been extreme
ly fortunate In falling into her hands
rather than those of some of the other
females. knew that she was fond Of
me, and now that her remarks showed
that she hated cruelty and barbaiity
l was confident that / could depend
upon her to aid me and the girl cnY-
tive to escape. provided of course that
such n thing was within the range Of
possibilities.
Early the next morning / was astir.
Considerable freedom was allowed mr.,
as Sofa had informed me that SO lotg
as did not attempt to leave the city
was free to go and come as pleased.
She had warned me, however, againBt
venturing forth unarmed, as this city,
like all other deserted metropolises of
an ancient Marian civilization, was
peopled by the great white apes of my
| second days adventure.
On this morning had chosen a new
street to explore when suddenly
found myself at the limits of the city.
longed to explore the country before
me, and, like the pioneer stock from
which 1 sprang. to view what the land
scape beyond the encircling hills might
out my view.
As / approached the boundary line
Woola ran anxiously before me, and
thrust his body against my legs. His
expression was pleading rather than
ferocious, nor did he bare his great
tusks or utter his fearful cultural
warnings. Denied the friendship and
companionship of my kind, / had de-
veloped considerable affection FOR
Woola and Sofa, for the normal earth
ly man must have some outlet for his
natural affections, and so l decided
UPON an appeal to a like instinct in
this great brute, sure that I would
rot be disappointed.
1 had never petted nor fondled him,
but now l sat upon the ground and
putting my arms around his heavy
neck l stroked and coaxed him, talk
Ing in my newly acquired Marian
tongue as ! would have to my hound
at home, as i would have talked to
any other friend among the lower an
imals. His response to my manifes-
tation of affection was remarkable to
a degree; he stretched his great mouth
to its full width, barring the entire
expanse of his upper rows of tusks
and wrlnkling his folds of flesh. II
you have ever seen a collie smile you
may have some idea of Woola's facial
| distortion.
There was no further question of
authority between us; Woola WAS my
devoted slave from that moment
hence, and /, his only and undisputefd
master. My walk to the hills occ,i-
pied but few minutes. and I found
nothing of particular interest to ire
ward me. But the walk had heen
lerge with importance to me- for II