The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-17
CHAPTER THREE

Upon the timeless seas Of Pellu-
~ cidar voyage may last for an
hour or a year--taht depends not
upon its duration, but upon the i'm
portant occurrences which mark its
course.
Curving upward along the in
side of the arc Of a great circle,
the Korsar feet plowed the rest
less sea. Favorable winds carried
the ships onward. The MONDAY sun
hung perpetually at zenith. Men
ate when they were hungry, slept
when they were tired, or slept
against the time when sleep might
be denied them, for the people of
Pellucidar soon endowed with a
faculty that permits them to store
sleep, as it were, in times of ease,
against the more strenuous periods
of hunting and warfare when there
is no opportunity for sleep. Sim
Harry, they eat with unbelievable
irregularity.
Tanar had slept and eaten sew
eral times since his encounter with
Bohar, whom he had seen upon va
rious occasions since without an
actual meeting. The Bloody. One
seemed to be hiding his time.
Stellara had kept to her cabin
with the old woman, who Tanar
sWmised was her mother. He won
dered if Stellara would look like the
mother or The Cid when she was
older, and he shuddered when he
considered either eventuality.
AS he stood thus musing, Tanar's
attention was attracted by the ac-
lions of the men of the lower deck.
He saw them looking across the
port bow and upward and, follow
ing the direction Of their eyes with
his, he saw the rare phenomena Of a
cloud in the brilliant sky.
Some one must have notified The
Cid at about the same time, for
he came from his cabin and looked
long and searchingly at the heavens.
In his loud voice, The Cid bel
lowed commands and his wild crew
scrambled to their stations like
monkeys, swarming aloft or stand
ing by on deck ready to do his
bidding.
Down came the great sails and
reefed were the lesser ones, and
throughout the fleet. scattered over
the surface Of the shining sea, the
example of the commander was
followed
The cloud was increasing in size
and coming rapidly nearer. No
longer was it small white cloud
that first had attracted their at
teption, but large, bulging,
ominous, black mass that frowned
down upon the ocean, turning it a
Sullen gray where the shadow lay.
The wind, that had been blow
ing gently, ceased suddenly. The
ship fell off and rolled in the
trough OF the sea. The silence that
followed cast a spell of terror over
the ships company.
n
TANAR, watching, saw the
i change. If those rough, sea-
faring men blanched before the
threat of the great cloud, the dan
ger must be great indeed.
The Sarians were mountain peo-
pie. Tanar knew little of the sea,
but If Tanar feared anything on
Pollucidar, it was the sea. The sight,
therefore, Of these savage Korsar
sailors cringing in terror was far,
from reasslring.
Some one had come to the rail
and was standing at his side.
When that has passed" said a
voice, there will be fewer ships in
the fleet of KorSar and fewer men
to go home to their women"
He turned and saw Stellara look
ing upward to the cloud.
you do not seem afraid" he
said.
Nor you," replied the girl. 1--WE
seem the only people aboard who
are not afraid"
Look down at the prisoners" he
told her. They show no fear"
"Why?" she asked.
They are Pollucidarlans, he re-
piled, proudly.
1--WE are all of Pollucidar," she re-
minded him.
II refer to the Empire" he said.
why are you not afraid?" she
asked. Are you so much drawer
than the Korsars?" There was no
sarcasm in her tone.
Il am very much afraid" replied
Tanar. Mine are mountain peo-
ple-we know little of the sea or
its ways"
uHaMgnaaaH.uHlu..u... .uu.uu.nuuIuua