The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-20
cIAPTER THIRTY-TWo

Ia and David we're anxious to re-
a turn to their mates, but Tanar
and StelIara we're supremely happy
because they we're together, and
rura vas content merely to be near
Tanar. Sometimes she recalled
Balal, her brother, for he had been
kind to her, but Scury and Sloo and
Dhung she tried TO forget.
Thus they we're proceeding, q
happy and contented party, when,
with the suddenness and uneZpect-
edness Of lightning out Of a clear
sky, disaster overwhelmed them.
They had been passing through
a range Of low, rocky hills and were
descending a narrow gorge on the
Sari side Of the range when, turn
ing the shoulder of q hill, they
came face to face with a large party
of Korsars, fully a hundred strong.
The leaders saw and recognized
them instantly and a shout Of saw
age triumph that broke from their
lips was taken up by all their fell
lows
David, who was in the lead, saw
that resistance would be futile and
in the instant his plan was formed.
1--WE must separate" he said.
"Tanar, you and Stellara go to-
gether. ia, take Gura with you,
and I shall go in a different direc-
ton, for we must not all be cap
tured. One, at least, must escape
to return TO Sari. If it is not L,
then let the one who wins through
take this message to Ghak and
Perry.
TELL Perry that I am positive
that I have discovered that there
is polar opening in the outer crust
leading into Pellucidar and that If
he ever gets in radio communica-
ton with the outer world, he must
inform them of this fact. Tell Ghak
to rush his forces by sea on Korsar,
as well as by land. And now, good
by, and each for himself"
Turning in their tracks, the five
fled up the gorge, and, being far
more active and agile than the Kor-
sars. they outdistanced them, and
though the rattle Of musketry fol-
lowed them and bits of iron. and
stone fell about them, or Whizzed
past them, no one was struck.
Tanar and Stellara found and
followed a steep ravine that led up
ward to the right, and almost at
the same time ia and Gura di-
verged to the left up the course of
dry waterway, while David con-
tinued on back up the main gorge.
Almost at the summit and within
the reach of safety, Tanar and Stel-
lara found their way blocked by a
sheer cliff, which, while not more
than fifteen feet in height, was alb
solutely unscalable; nor could they
find footing upon the steep ravine
sides to the right or left, and as
they stood there in this cul-de-sac,
their backs to the wall, a party Of
twenty or thirty Korsars, toiling Ia
boriously up the ravine, cut OF their
retreat.
TTHERE was no place in which
4 Tanar and Stellara might
hide They we're compelled to
stand there in full view Of the first
Of the enemy that came within
sight of them, and thus with free
dom already within their grasp,
they fell again into the hands Of
the Korsars And Tanar was COM
PEELED to surrender without re-
sistance, because he did not dare
risk Stellara's life by drawing the
fire Of the enemy.
Many of the Korsars were for
dispatching Tanar Immediately, but
the officer in command forbade them,
for it was The Cid's orders that
any of the prisoners that. might be
recaptured we're to be returned
alive. "And Furthermore" he added,
"Bulf is particularly anxious to get
this Sarian back alive"
During the long march back to
Korsar, Tanar and Stellara we're
kept apart, though on several oc-
casions they were able to exchange
few words.
my poor Sariah," said Stellara
upon one of these. Il wish that
you never had met me, for only sor-
row and pain and death can come
of it,"
II do not care" replied Tanar,
eff I die tomorrow, or if they tor
ture me forever, for no price is too
high to pay for the happiness that
l have had with you, Stellara."
"Ah, but they will torture you
that is what wrings my heart" cried
the girl. "Take your life yourself,
Tanar. DO not let them get you. 1
know them and I know their meth
DDS, and would rather kill you
with my own hands than see you
fall into their clutches
1.-THE Cid is beast, and Buff is
worse than Bohar the Bloody. If
YOU die by your own hand, I shall
follow you shortly. And if there is
a life after this, as the ancestors OF