Pellucidar Djvu
Pellucidar Djvu
Pellucidar Djvu
i ~~
fh
‘mal Ts A aba
} i rae iy y my syd
“a is ae
: Veet ace
Yaris biter
YT) ay , ou reat
i ial
mit wt :
anata
He tin
Arty ae
iy
ps,
SGNV'SI
avannThid
AVGNAlYANNG
J° AdIdWNe MAD
of Mh.
wN
puny WK
Saeaire j ai =
0 4 ) 7
nn A SOA He
| eae MRIYPA 39 WLCY Ferd Fo oa
WN vy, DUONY / : . IS BI SO
: vA Ss > \\ a —_ ) ; ; - : me : ras a ee an
Heres Den OCAYNYIYY OR Sr DO eo as RS
Br OS 8 z fo enw YS IE AN eas
er)
GNYIS! HINON*
ZV Wan
iva
F ALID SVHVW at AH?
ZN LUD HWW |
: AID YVHVW |
ee © © AUD BVHYI
ALID uvHW®
PELLUCIDAR
PRINTED IN U.S.A,
we «
PROLOG
Here it is:
PELLUCIDAR
D. I.
PELLUCIDAR
But—
It is maddening!
It was the very spot at which I first had seen David Innes.
If he had ever raised a cairn above the telegraph instrument |
no sign of it remained now. Had it not been for the chance
that caused Cogdon Nestor to throw down his sleeping rug
10
-PELLUCIDAR
the other end of the line. After several days of futile endeavor
to raise Pellucidar, we had begun to despair. I was as —
Il
CHAPTER I
LOST ON PELLUCIDAR
12
PELLUCIDAR
~to leave even this hateful and repulsive thing alone in a
strange and hostile world. The result was that when I entered
the iron mole I took her with me.
aie
Dacor the Strong One, nor that other infinitely precious one—
my sweet and noble mate, Dian the Beautiful! |
I do not know.
14
PELLUCIDAR
What had been the effect upon her of the moon and
myriad stars of the clear African nights?
I could have shot the Mahar with ease, for I knew in-
tuitively that she was escaping—but I did not.
I felt that if she could return to her own kind with the
15
Then a hundred yards from shore she rose and there for
‘another short while she floated upon the surface.
And if I could not, of what value was all this vast store-
house of potential civilization and progress to be to the
world of my adoption?
Nothing.
I didn’t know.
16
PELLUCIDAR
pole. I reentered the prospector and fetched a compass
without.
17
And so, after locking the door in the outer shell of the
prospector, I set out upon my quest. Due south I traveled,
across lovely valleys thick-dotted with grazing herds.
-Doubtless upon that long search mine was the first human
foot to touch the soil in many places—mine the first human
eye to rest upon the gorgeous wonders of the landscape.
18
PELLUCIDAR
It happened thus:
19
Now from past habit I still thought in the stone age, and
in my thoughts of the stone age there were no thoughts of
firearms.
The fellow was almost upon Perry when the feel of the
gun in my hand awoke me from the lethargy of terror that
had gripped me. From behind my boulder I threw up the
heavy express rifle—a mighty engine of destruction that
might bring down a cave bear or a mammoth at a single
shot—and let drive at the Sagoth’s broad, hairy breast.
The effect upon the others was little less remarkable. Perry
20:
PELLUCIDAR
Then it was that all eyes were directed toward me. An-
other Sagoth fell to the bullet from the revolver; but it did
not stop his companions. They were out for revenge as well
as blood now, and they meant to have both.
21
CHAPTER II
Hooja, too, had disappeared very soon after Dian had left.
The Sarians, under Ghak the Hairy One, and the Amozites
under Dacor the Strong One, Dian’s brother, had fallen out
Over my supposed defection, for Ghak would not believe
that I had thus treacherously deceived and deserted them.
The result had been that these two powerful tribes had
fallen upon one another with the new weapons that Perry
and I had taught them to make and to use. Other tribes of
the new federation took sides with the original disputants
or set up petty revolutions of their own. ;
22
. PELLUCIDAR
23
“TI lived on nuts and fruits and the edible roots that
chance threw in my way.
I could not believe that she was dead, yet where she
might be in this savage world, and under what frightful
conditions she might be living, I could not guess.
24
PELLUCIDAR
25
“They tell us that we are upon the right trail and not
wandering far in the wrong direction.
26
PELLUCIDAR
Perry shrugged.
But that my bullet took effect was evident from the howl
of rage and pain that broke from the frothing jowls. It didnt
stop him, though.
bill
There he squatted, his eyes wide and his mouth ajar, the
picture of abject terror and consternation.
“Nothing came this way,” replied the old man. “But I heard
his roars—he must have been as large as an elephant.”
Far, far down I saw a small brown blotch near the bottom
of the cafion. It was the bear.
My second shot must have killed him, and so his dead body,
after hurling me to the path, had toppled over into the
abyss. I shivered at the thought of how close I, too, must
have been to going over with him. —
28
PELLUCIDAR
Our first step now was to move our camp upward to the
very edge of the perpetual snows which cap this lofty range.
Here we built a snug, secure little hut, which we provisioned
and stored with fuel for its diminutive fireplace.
Our every move was carefully noted upon our maps which
we now kept in duplicate. By this means we were saved
tedious and unnecessary retracing of ways already explored.
There were the great cave bears in the timber, and gaunt,
lean wolves—huge creatures twice the size of our Canadian
timber-wolves. Farther up we were assailed by enormous
white bears—hungry, devilish fellows, who came roaring
across the rough glacier tops at the first glimpse of us, or
stalked us stealthily by scent when they had not yet seen us.
29
I must admit that I, too, felt worried, for our progress was
indeed snail-like, and our ammunition could not last for-
ever. In discussing the problem, finally we came to the de-
cision to burn our bridges behind us and make one last
supreme effort to cross the divide.
30
PELLUCIDAR
It was the first time I had heard him at his old habit since
my return to Pellucidar, and I had thought that he had given
up his litte idiosyncrasy; but he hadn’t. Far from it.
3l
sure, and far down at its icy bottom lay all that was mortal
of my old friend, Abner Perry. There would his body lie
preserved in its icy sepulcher for countless ages, until on
some far distant day the slow-moving river of ice had wound
its snail-like way down to the warmer level, there to dis-
gorge its grisly evidence of grim tragedy, and what in that
far future age, might mean baffiing mystery.
CHAPTER It
SHOOTING THE CHUTES—AND AFTER
32
PELLUCIDAR
For some time the ground had been rougher and steeper,
until I had been forced to scale a considerable height that
had carried me from the glacier entirely. I was sure from my
compass that I was following the right general] direction, and
so I kept on.
Once more the ground was level. From the wind that blew .
about me I guessed that I must be upon some exposed peak
of ridge.
Far ahead, miles and miles away, I saw a great valley and
33
It seems that Perry in his mad flight had plunged over the
brink at about the same point as that at which I had stepped
over it a short time later. Chance had done for us what long
periods of rational labor had failed to accomplish.
34
PELLUCIDAR
We fell to work with our short axes and cut enough small
trees to build a rude protection from the fiercer beasts. Then
we lay down to sleep.
35
But how to reach the islands was now the foremost ques-
tion in our minds. We must build a canoe.
36
PELLUCIDAR
S. :
He had to smile at that; but in extenuation of his act he
assured me that it was quite customary for prime ministers
to give their personal attention to the building of imperial
navies; “and this,” he said, “is the imperial navy of his Serene
Highness, David 1, Emperor of the Federated Kingdoms of
Pellucidar.”
37
But now I had returned. The work that fate had undone
must be done again, and though I must need smile at my im-
perial honors, I none the less felt the weight of duty and
obligation that rested upon my shoulders.
em. .
The “navy” was some forty feet in length by ten feet beam.
Her sides were quite straight and fully ten feet high—“for
the purpose,” explained Perry, “of adding dignity to her ap-
eee and rendering it less easy for an enemy to board
er.
38
PELLUCIDAR
39
both of her designer and that other great naval genius of an-
other world, Captain Oliver Hazard Perry, of the United
States Navy. But Perry was too modest; he wouldn’t hear of it.
When we cut the ropes and removed the blocks that held.
the Sari in place she started for the water with a lunge.
Before she hit it she was going at a reckless speed, for we
had laid our tracks quite down to the water, greased
them, and at intervals placed rollers all ready to receive the
ship as she moved forward with stately dignity. But there
was no dignity in the Sari.
When she touched the surface of the river she must have
been going twenty or thirty miles an hour. Her momentum
carried her well out into the stream, until she came to a
sudden halt at the end of the long line which we had had
the foresight to attach to her bow and fasten to a large tree
upon the bank
40
PELLUCIDAR
as we can; and then when the tide goes out well try an-
other scheme. I think we can make a go of her yet.”
She rested safely now upon an even keel; nor did she leak,
for she was well calked with fiber and tarry pitch. We
rigged up a single short mast and light sail, fastened planking
down over the ballast to form a deck, -worked her out into
midstream with a couple of sweeps, and dropped our primi-
tive stone anchor to await the turn of the tide that would
bear us out to sea.
While we waited we devoted the time to the construction
of an upper deck, since the one immediately above the ballast
was some seven feet from the gunwale. The second deck was
four feet above this. In it was a large, commodious hatch,
leading to the lower deck. The sides of the ship rose three
feet above the upper deck, forming an excellent breastwork,
which we loopholed at intervals that we might lie prone
and fire upon an enemy.
41
CHAPTER IV
THe Sari proved a most erratic craft. She might have done
well enough upon a park lagoon if safely anchored, but upon |
the bosom of a mighty ocean she left much to be desired.
Sailing with the wind she did her best; but in quartering or
when close-hauled she drifted terribly, as a nautical man
might have guessed she would. We couldn’t keep within
miles of our course, and our progress was pitifully slow.
42
PELLUCIDAR
Perry wanted to man the sweeps and try to get away from
them, but I soon convinced him that any speed of which
the Sari was capable would be far too slow to outdistance the
swift, though awkward, dugouts of the Mezops.
The effect was magical. A warrior rose from his knees, threw
his paddle aloft, stiffened into rigidity for an instant, and
then toppled overboard.
43
When the prow of the first craft touched the side of the
Sari it contained only dead and dying men. The other two
dugouts were approaching rapidly, so I turned my at-
tention toward them.
24
PELLUCIDAR
Crossed sabers marked the spot where the first great naval
engagement of a world had taken place. In a note-book we
jotted down, as had been our custom, details that would
be of historical value later.
They did not reply at once, but stood with their heads
together in serious and animated discussion. Continually they
turned their eyes toward our strange craft. It was evident that
45
“Who are you who seek JaP” he asked. “What would you
of our chief?”
It was Ja. As his eyes fell upon me his face lighted with
- 46
PELLUCIDAR
47
If Sari lay upon the same water then the shore-line must
bend far back toward the southwest of Greenwich—an assump-
tion which, by the way, we found later to be true. Also, Sari
was upon a lofty plateau at the southern end of a mighty
gulf of the Great Ocean.
48
PELLUCIDAR
They did not attack us, owing to the peace which exists
between the Mahars and the Mezops, but I could see that
they looked upon me with considerable suspicion. My friends
told them that I was a stranger from a remote country, and
as we had previously planned against such a contingency I
pretended ignorance of the language which the human beings
of Pellucidar employ in conversing with the gorilla-like soldi-
ery of the Mahars.
49
50
FLELLUUCINAR
“That you return to them that which you stole from the
pits of Phutra when you killed the four Mahars and es-
caped,” he replied.
I had thought that that would be it. The great secret upon
which depended the continuance of the Mahar race was
safely hid where only Dian and J knew.
your reply.”
52
CHAPTER V
SURPRISES
But aT Last the allotted moment arrived—the moment for
which I had been trying to prepare myself, for how long I
could not even guess. A great Sagoth came and spoke some
words of command to those who watched over me. I was
jerked roughly to my feet and with little consideration
hustled upward toward the higher levels.
' Out into the broad avenue they conducted me, where,
amid huge throngs of Mahars, Sagoths, and heavily guarded
slaves, I was led, or, rather, pushed and shoved roughly, along
in the same direction that the mob moved. I had seen such
a concourse of people once before in the buried city of
Phutra; I guessed, and rightly, that we were bound for the
great arena where slaves who are condemned to death meet
their end.
Oo
had not taken them from me, because they did not yet realize
their nature. Doubtless they thought them some strange
manner of war-club, and as those who are condemned to the
arena are permitted weapons of defense, they let me keep
them.
Slowly the beast turned and moved toward the girl. Then
it was that I came to myself and to a realization of my duty.
Quickly and as noiselessly as possible I ran down the arena
in pursuit of the grim creature. As I ran I drew one of my
pitifully futile weapons. Ah! Could I but have had my lost
_express-gun in my hands at that moment! A single well-placed
shot would have crumbled even this great monster. The best I
could hope to accomplish was to divert the thing from the girl
to myself and then to place as many bullets as possible in it
before it reached and mauled me into insensibility and death.
54
FLLLYUUIYAR
hind leg. It couldn’t have damaged him much; but the report
of the shot brought him around, facing me.
I saw her lips form the name David, as with raised javelin
she rushed forward upon the tarag. She was a tigress then—
a primitive savage female defending her loved one. Before
she could reach the beast with her puny weapon, I fired
again at the point where the tarag’s neck met his left shoulder
If I could get a bullet through there it might reach his heart.
The bullet didn’t reach his heart, but it stopped him for an
instant.
ayo)
56
PELLUCIDAR
There was no doubt but that they had the upper hand.
However, there was so much more at stake than the liberty
or even the lives of Dian and myself, that I did not deem it
expedient to accept their offer without giving the matter care-
ful thought.
o7
little cave of a far-off valley where Dian and I had spent our
honeymoon. I was none too sure that I could find the valley
again, nor that I cared to. So long as the powerful reptilian
race of Pellucidar continued to propagate, just so long would
the position of man within the inner world be jeopardized.
There could not be two dominant races.
“You used to tell me,” she replied, “of the wonderful things
you could accomplish with the inventions of your own world.
Now you have returned with all that is necessary to place
this great power in the hands of the men of Pellucidar.
08
PELLUCIDAR
It was plain that Dian was ambitious, and that her am-
bition had not dulled her reasoning faculties. She was right.
Nothing could be gained by remaining bottled up in Phutra
for the rest of our lives.
o9
I saw that the men were armed with bows and arrows,
long Jances and swords, so I guessed that they must have
been members of the federation, for only my people had been
thus equipped. Before Perry and I came the men of Pel-
lucidar had only the crudest weapons wherewith to slay one
another.
60
_PELLUCIDAR
The one thing within Pellucidar which might free Dian and
me was gone, nor was it likely that I should ever learn its
whereabouts. If a Mahar had found it, which was quite im-
probable, the chances were that the dominant race would
never divulge the fact that they had recovered the precious
document. If a cave man had happened upon it he would
have no conception of its meaning or value, and as a con-
sequence it would be lost or destroyed in short order.
62
PELLUCIDAR
CHAPTER VI
A PENDENT WORLD
With the aid of my map, which I had kept with great care
during my march with the Sagoths in search of the great
secret, I arrived at Sari at last. As I topped the lofty plateau
in whose rocky cliffs the principal tribe of Sarians find their
cave-homes, a great hue and cry arose from those who first
discovered me.
Like wasps from their nests the hairy warriors poured from
théir caves. The bows with their poison-tipped arrows, which
I had taught them to fashion and to use, were raised against
63
Dak
PELLUCIDAR
Perry was safe with the Mezops; I was safe with the
Sarians; now if Dian were but safe with me the future would
look bright indeed.
It did not take long to outline to Ghak all that had be-
fallen me since I had departed from Pellucidar, and to get
down to the business of finding Dian, which to me at that
moment was of even greater importance than the very
empire itself.
“It is always the Sly One!” he cried. “It was Hooja who
caused the first trouble between you and the Beautiful One.
“Jt was Hooja who betrayed our trust, and all but caused
our recapture by the Sagoths that time we escaped from
Phutra.
“It was Hooja who schemed and lied until he had turned
the kingdoms one against another and destroyed the fed-
eration.
65
66
PELLUCIDAR
67
“But first must you lure him to the mainland, for who
among you knows how to construct the strange things that
carry Hooja and his band back and forth across the water?
68
PELLUCIDAR
69
The lidi is the tribal beast of the Thurians; the man and |
the flower in the combination in which they appeared bore
a double significance, as they constituted not only a message
-to the effect that the bearer came in peace, but were also
Kolk’s signature.
It was not until I had passed the high peak and found
the river that my eyes first discovered the pendent world,
the tiny satellite which hangs iow over the surface of Pellu-'
cidar casting its perpetual shadow always upon the same spot—
the area that is known here as the Land of Awful Shadow,
in which dwells the tribe of Thuria. __.
70
PELLUCIDAR
“Upon this side shall the trees and the shrubs, the grasses
and the flowers, riot in profusion of rich colors, gigantic size
and bewildering abundance; and upon that side shall they
be dwarfed and pale and scant.”
Was it inhabitedP
71
But then was not the time for dreaming; I must devote
my mind to the purpose cf my journey. So I hastened on-
ward beneath the great shadow. As I advanced I could not
but note the changing nature of the vegetation and the -
paling of its hues.
The way was most difficult, since shortly after leaving the
river I encountered lofty cliffs split by numerous long, narrow
fiords, each of which necessitated a considerable detour. As
_the crow flies it is about twenty miles from-~the mouth of the
river to Thuria, but before I had covered half of it I was
fagged. There was no familiar fruit or vegetable growing upon
the rocky soil of the cliff-tops, and I would have fared ill for
food had not a hare broken cover almost beneath my nose.
PELLUCIDAR
supply, but so quick was the little animal that I had no time
to draw and fit a shaft. In fact my dinner was a hundred
yards away and going like the proverbial] bat when I dropped
mv six-shooter on it. It was a pretty shot and when coupled
with a good dinner made me quite contented with myself.
CHAPTER VH
73
At the far end I could see that erosion from above had
washed down sufficient rubble to form a narrow ribbon of
beach. Toward this I swam with all my strength. Not once
did I look behind me, since every unnecessary movement in
swimming detracts so much from one’s endurance and speed.
Not until I had drawn myself safely out upon the beach
did I turn my eyes back toward the sea for the hyaenodon.
He was swimming slowly and apparently painfully toward
the beach upon which I stood.
74
PELLUCIDAR
By this time all the fight was out of him, so that when I
had gathered a few tiny branches from some of the stunted
trees that grew in the crevices of the cliff, and returned to
him he permitted me to set his broken leg and bind it in
splints. I had to tear part of my shirt into bits to obtain a
bandage, but at last the job was done. Then I sat stroking
the savage head and talking to the beast in the man-dog talk
with which you are familiar, if you ever owned and loved
a dog.
79
76
PELLUCIDAR
The battle was short, for scarce had their first wild whoop
reverberated through the rocky fiord, and they had closed
upon me, than a hairy mass of demoniacal rage hurtled
among us.
T7
his bandaged leg and pawed my knee. His act was as intel-
ligible as words—he wished the bandage removed.
I took the great paw in one hand and with the other hand
untied and unwound the bandage, removed the splints and
felt of the injured member. As far as I could judge the bone
was completely knit. The joint was stiff; when I bent it a little
the brute winced—but he neither growled nor tried to pull
away. Very slowly and gently I rubbed the joint and ap-
plied pressure to it for a few moments.
Man here had not yet reached the point where he might
take the time from slaughter and escaping slaughter to make
friends with any of the brute creation. I must qualify this
statement a trifle and say that this was true of those tribes
with which I was most familiar. The Thurians do domesti-
cate the colossal lidi, traversing the great Lidi Plains upon
the backs of these grotesque and stupendous monsters, and
possibly there may also be other, far-distant peoples within
this great world, who have tamed others of the wild things
of jungle, plain or mountain.
78
PELLUCIDAR
719
80
PELLUCIDAR
81
Perry has told me that they are almost identical with the
fossilized remains of the diplodocus of the outer crust’s Jurassic
age. I have to take his word for it~and I guess you will,
unless you know more of such matters than I.
PELLUCIDAR
It was empty!
CHAPTER VIII
CAPTIVE
Wuen Goork and his people saw that I had no token they
commenced to taunt me.
“You do not come from Kolk, but from the Sly One!” they
cried. “He has sent you from the island to spy upon us. Go
away, or we will set upon you and kill you.”
83
EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
I saw that they were not naturally a war-like tribe, for they
preferred that I leave in peace rather than force them to
attack me, whereas the Sarians would have killed a sus-
picious stranger first and inquired into his purposes later.
84
PELLUCIDAR
I did not know for certain that Dian was there; but I
surmised as much. Nor could I guess what obstacles might
confront me in an effort to rescue her. For a time I loitered
about after I had the canoe at the waters edge, hoping
against hope that Raja would return; but he did not, so I
shoved the awkward craft through the surf and leaped into it.
85
86
PELLUCIDAR
I asked them what they intended doing with me; but, like
our own North American Indians when questioned by a
white man, they pretended not to understand me. One of them
swung me to his shoulder as lightly as if I had been a
shoat. He was a huge creature, as were his fellows, standing
87
fully seven feet upon his short legs and weighing consider-
ably more than a quarter of a ton.
88
PELLUCIDAR
89
“If you hate Hooja,” I suggested, “why not let me, who
hate him, too, go and punish him?”
90
PELLUCIDAR
91
CHAPTER IX
92
PELLUCIDAR
bred look to his laurels. The result in this instance was that
before I had more than assimilated the gist of the word which
had been brought to the fields, I was alone, watching my
erstwhile co-workers speeding villageward.
second line. Still farther in the rear all the women and young
children were clustered into a single group under the pro-_
tection of the remaining twenty fighting males and all the
old males.
But it was the work of the first two lines that interested me.
The forces of Hooja—a great horde of savage Sagoths and
primeval cave men—were working their way up the steep
cliff-face, their agility but slightly less than that of my cap-
tors who had clambered so nimbly aloft—even he who was
burdened by my weight.
94
PELLUCIDAR
95
96
PELLUCIDAR
- once more upon my oft-interrupted way toward my goal.
Whether I should find Dian at the end of my journey or no
I could not even surmise; but I was none the less impatient
to be off, for if only the worst lay in store for me I wished to
know even the worst at once.
97
After this came other parties, and two or three groups who
passed out of the forest and up the cliff-face to enter the
same cave. I could not understand it. All who had come out
had emerged from the same cave. All who returned re-
entered it. No other cave gave evidence of habitation, and
no cave but one of extraordinary size could have accom-
modated all the people whom I had seen pass in and out of
its mouth.
For a long time IJ sat and watched the coming and going
of great numbers of the cave-folk. Not once did one leave the
cliff by any other opening save that from which I had seen
the first party come, nor did any re-enter the cliff through
another aperture.
The mystery was solved. The cave was but the mouth of a
passage that led upward through the cliff to the summit of the
aill, It served merely as an avenue from their lofty citadel
‘o the valley below.
98
PELLUCIDAR
After some little time the roar of the sea broke upon my
ears. Shortly after I came upon the broad ocean which breaks
at this point at the very foot of the great hill where Hooja
had found safe refuge for himself and his villains.
99
When I felt reasonably sure that they had gone for a while
at least I crawled from my hiding-place and at the risk of a
broken neck leaped and scrambled to the spot where their
canoe was moored.
100
PELLUCIDAR
CHAPTER X
His HEAD was turned over his shoulder as I first saw him—
he was looking back toward the village. As I leaped for him
his eyes fell upon me. Never in my life have I seen a more
surprised mortal than this poor cave man. Before he could
utter a single scream of warning or alarm I had my fingers
on his throat and had dragged him behind the boulder,
where I proceeded to sit upon him, while I figured out what
I had best do with him.
101
He smiled in recollection.
“It would have been the same had there been ten warriors.
from Gombul. I slew them, winning my freedom. Look!”
“I was discovered and captured, but Hooja did not kill me.
I am the chief's son, and through me he hoped to win my
father’s warriors back to the village to help him in a great
war he says that he will soon commence.
102
PELLUCIDAR
brought me thither, and that she was Dacor’s sister and would
find a way to help me. _
103
104
eS ea —_ —EE —
PELLUCIDAR
Dian’s side. 7
I heard the sound of a scuffle in the next cave. Then my
fingers sank into loose rock and earth in the side of the cave.
In an instant I realized why I had been unable to find the
opening while I had been lightly feeling the surface. of the
walls—Dian had blocked up the hole she had made lest it
arouse suspicion and lead to an early discovery of Juags
escape.
_ Janded head first on all fours, but I came quickly and was on
happened.
105
I could just see Dian in the darkness, but I knew that she
could not see my features or recognize me; and I enjoyed
in anticipation, even while I was fighting for her life and
mine, her dear joy when she should discover that it was I
who was her deliverer.
106
PELLUCIDAR
her better than all else which two worlds had to offer. We
couldn’t devote much time, though, to the happiness of love-
making, for we were in the midst of enemies who might
discover us at any moment.
107
PELLUCIDAR
And Juag?
There was but one hope. That was to get Dian started for
the bottom without delay. I took her in my arms just for an
instant—I felt, somehow, that it might be for the last time.
For the life of me I couldn’t see how both of us could escape.
109
to climb down.”
CHAPTER XI
ESCAPE
110
- PELLUCIDAR
“And you?” she asked once more. “Can you dive when
they come too close? Otherwise you could not escape if you
waited here until I reached the bottom.”
1 saw that she would not leave me unless she thought that
I could make that frightful dive as we had seen Juag make it.
[ glanced once downward; then with a mental shrug I as-
sured her that I would dive the moment that she reached the
boat. Satisfied, she began the descent carefully, yet swiftly.
1 watched her for a moment, my heart in my mouth lest
some slight misstep or the slipping of a finger-hold should
pitch her to a frightful death upon the rocks below.
111
I glanced over the edge again. Dian was almost at the bot-
tom. I could see Juag standing just beneath her with his
hands upstretched to assist her:
112
PELLUCIDAR
In the final instant I saw that I had cleared the rocks and
was going to strike the water fairly. Then I was in and
plumbing the depths. I suppose I didn’t really go very far
down, but it seemed to me that I should never stop. When
at last I dared curve my hands upward and divert my
progress toward the surface, I thought that I should explode
for air before I ever saw the sun again except through a
swirl of water. But at last my head popped above the waves,
and J filled my lungs with air.
Before me was the boat, from which Juag and Dian were
clambering. I couldn’t understand why there were deserting it
now, when we were about to set out for the mainland in it;
but when I reached its side I understood. Two heavy javelins,
missing Dian and Juag by but a hair’s breadth, had sunk
deep into the bottom of the dugout in a straight line with the
grain of the wood, and split her almost in two from stem to
stern. She was useless. |
113
But the way Juag had chosen was rough and roundabout,
so that we consumed one or two more marches in covering
the distance than if we had followed the river. This it was
which proved our undoing.
Poor child! What an awful life she had led! From the
moment that I had first seen her chained in the slave caravan
of the Mahars until now, a prisoner of a no less cruel creature,
I could recall but a few brief intervals of peace and quiet
in her tempestuous existence. Before I had known her, Jubal
the Ugly One had pursued her across a savage world to make
her his mate. She had eluded him, and finally I had slain
him; but terror and privations, and exposure to fierce beasts
had haunted her footsteps during all her lonely flight from
him. And when I had returned to the outer world the old
trials had recommenced with Hooja in Jubal’s réle. I could
almost have wished for death to vouchsafe her that peace
which fate seemed to deny her in this life.
114
PELLUCIDAR
“Do you recall that time you stepped upon the thing you
call viper in your world?” she asked.
I nodded.
“The accident gave you the idea for the poisoned arrows
with which we fitted the warriors of the empire,” she con-
tinued. “And, too, it gave me an idea. For a long time I have
carried a vipers fang in my bosom. It has given me strength
to endure many dangers, for it has always assured me im-
munity from the ultimate insult. I am not ready to die yet.
First let Hooja embrace the viper’s fang.”
115
“Gr-gr-gr and all his people are your friends,” he said. “One
saw the warriors of the Sly One and followed them. He saw
them capture you, and then he flew to the village as fast as
he could go and told me all that he had seen. The rest you
know. You did much for Gr-gr-gr and Gr-gr-gr’s people. We
shall always do much for you.”
These two latter items were more in Juag’s line, but he kept
muttering about the sail and the wind for a long time. I
could see that he was not even half convinced that any such
ridiculous contraption could make a canoe move through the
water.
We hunted near the coast for a while, but were not re-
warded with any particular luck. Finally we decided to hide
116
PELLUCIDAR
117-
Dian had slipped behind me. She, too, could fight a thag;
should emergency require. Ah, such a girl! A rightful empress:
of a stone age by every standard which two worlds might
bring to measure her! j
118
PELLUCIDAR
CHAPTER XII
KIDNAPED[I =>;
The story of the tragedy was all too plain. A Thurian had
either been following us, or had accidentally espied Dian
and taken a fancy to her. While Juag and I had been en-
gaged with the thag, he had abducted her. I ran swiftly
back to where Juag was working over the kill. As I ap-
proached him I saw that something was wrong in this
quarter as well, for the islander was standing upon the
carcass of the thag, his javelin poised for a throw.
121
turned them loose upon the lidi and its master; but I could
not know, and so dared take no chances.
They did not give tongue until the lidi itself discovered
them and broke into a lumbering, awkward, but none the less
rapid gallop. Then the two hound-beasts commenced to bay,
starting with a low, plaintive note that rose, weird and
hideous, to terminate in a series of short, sharp yelps. I
feared that it might be the hunting-call of the pack; and if
this were true, there would be slight chance for either Dian
or her abductor—or myself, either, as far as that was con-
cerned. So I redoubled my efforts to keep pace with the
hunt; but I might as well have attempted to distance the
bird upon the wing; as I have often reminded you, I am no
runner. In that instance it was just as well that I am not, for
my very slowness of foot played into my hands; while had
I been fleeter, I might have lost Dian that time forever.
ran upon his left side, and unlike his mate, kept leaping for
the great beast’s shoulder. The man on the lidi’s back was
prodding at the hyaenodon with his long spear, but still.
Raja kept springing up and snapping.
The effect of this was to turn the lidi toward the right,
and the longer I watched the procedure the more convinced’
I became that Raja and his mate were working together;
with some end in view, for the she-dog merely galloped:
steadily at the lidi’s right about opposite his rump.
122
PELLUCIDAR
turning the lidi back toward me, or at least Raja was. Just
why the female was keeping out of it I did not understand,
unless it was that she was not entirely clear in her own
mind as to precisely what her mate was attempting.
And this is just what happened. The lot of them were al-
most swallowed up in the twilight for a moment. Then they
reappeared again, but this time far to the right and circling
back in my general direction. I waited until I could get some
clear idea of the right spot to gain that I might intercept the
lidi; but even as I waited I saw the beast attempt to turn still
more to the right—a move that would have carried him far
to my left in a much more circumscribed circle than the
hyaenodons had mapped out for him. Then I saw the female
leap forward and head him; and when he would have gone
too far to the left, Raja sprang, snapping, at his shoulder
and held him straight.
123
Dian had seen and recognized me, and was trying to ex-
tricate herself from the grasp of her captor, who, handi-
capped by his strong and agile prisoner, was unable to wield
his lance effectively upon the two jaloks. At the same time
I was running swiftly toward them.
But as the Thurian came Raja loosened his hold upon the
lidi and dashed for him, with the female close after. When
the man saw them he yelled to me to help him, protesting
that we should both be killed if we did not fight together.
But I only laughed at him and ran toward Dian.
124
PELLUCIDAR
But eventually she tolerated Juag as she had Dian and me,
and the five of us set out toward the coast, for Juag had just
completed his labors on the thag when we arrived. We ate
some of the meat before starting, and gave the hounds
some. All that we could we carried upon our backs.
125
:
his swift mount. By holding one palm over her mouth he ~
I let her come alongside, and then Juag and I pulled her
in, she snapping and snarling at us as we did so; but, strange
to relate, she didn’t offer to attack us after we had ensconced
her safely in the bottom alongside Raja.
126
PELLUCIDAR
127
Our plight seemed hopeless to me, but I dared not let Dian
and Juag guess how utterly dismayed I was; though, as I
soon discovered, there was nothing to be gained by trying
to keep the worst from Juag—he knew it quite as well as I.
He had always known, from the legends of his people, the
dangers of the open sea beyond the sight of land. The
compass, since he had learned its uses from me, had been
all that he had to buoy his hope of eventual salvation from
the watery deep. He had seen how it had guided me
across the water to the very coast that I desired to reach,
and so he had implicit confidence in it. Now that it was
gone, his confidence had departed, also.
128
PELLUCIDAR
“We could do all this upon land,” she said. “But upon the
water that power is denied us. I do not know why; but I
have always heard that this is true—that only upon the
water may a Pellucidarian be lost. This is, I think, why we
all fear the great ocean so—even those who go upon its sur-
face in canoes. Juag has told us that they never go beyond
the sight of land.”
We had lowered the sail after the blow while we were dis-
cussing the best course to pursue. Our little craft had been
drifting idly, rising and falling with the great waves that
were now diminishing. Sometimes we were upon the crest—
again in the hollow. As Dian ceased speaking she let her
eyes range across the limitless expanse of billowing waters. We
rose to a great height upon the crest of a mighty wave. As
we topped it Dian gave an exclamation and pointed astern.
. Juag and I leaped to our feet; but our little craft had
now dropped to the trough, and we could see nothing but
walls of water close upon either hand. We waited for the next
wave to lift us, and when it did we strained our eyes in the
direction that Dian had indicated. Sure enough, scarce half
a mile away were several boats, and scattered far and wide
behind us as far as we could see were many others! We
could not make them out in the distance or in the brief
glimpse that we caught of them before we were plunged
again into the next wave cafion; but they were boats.
129
CHAPTER XI
“And they were blown out to sea by the great storm just
as we were, suggested Dian.
130
_ PELLUCIDAR
faster than they can paddle, we can get away from them
anyway, so we might as well wait.”
“We, too, are lost,” replied Juag. “We know not where the
land is. We are going back to look for it now.”
There wasn’t much wind at the time, and the heavy, lum-
bering dugout was slow in getting under way. I thought it
never would gain any momentum. And all the while Hooja’s
canoe was drawing rapidly nearer, propelled by the strong
131
132
PELLUCIDAR
133
They evidently had gone far to the left of our course, for
they were now almost behind us as we ran parallel to the
coast; but we were not much afraid of bemg overtaken in the
wind that was blowing. The gale kept on increasing, but it
was fitful, swooping down upon us in great gusts and then
going almost calm for an instant. It was after one of these
134
PELLUCIDAR
135
Pal
We were not far from shore in that mad flight from death.
Even as I paddled I found opportunity to glance occasionally
toward the natives. They were white, but hideously painted.
From their gestures and weapons I took them to be a most
ferocious race. I was rather glad that we had not succeeded
in landing among them.
CHAPTER XIV
136
PELLUCIDAR
The man with the glass had lowered it and was shouting to
us. I could not make out his words, but presently I saw that
' he was pointing aloft. When I looked I saw a pennant flut-
tering from the peak of the forward lateen yard—a red,
white, and blue pennant, with a single great white star in a
field of blue.
But still Hooja was coming nearer, nor could the leading
felucca overhaul him before he would be alongside or at least
within bow-shot.
137
In them were fully two hundred men, while but fifty lined
138
PELLUCIDAR
139
140
PELLUCIDAR
14]
EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS
142
PELLUCIDAR
143
144
PELLUCIDAR
146
PELLUCIDAR
“Ah, Perry! That is the day I look forward to! When you
and I can build sewing-machines instead of battleships,
harvesters of crops instead of harvesters of men, plow-shares
and telephones, schools and colleges, printing-presses and
147
paper! When our merchant marine shall ply the great Pelluci-
darian seas, and cargoes of silks and typewriters and books
shall forge their ways where only hideous saurians have
held sway since time began!”
CHAPTER XV
148
PELLUCIDAR
From the deck of the Amoz I scanned the shore through the
glasses that Perry had brought with him. When we were close
enough for the glasses to be of value 1 saw that there was in-
deed a vast concourse of warriors entirely encircling the
walled village of Goork, chief of the Thurians. As we ap-
proached smaller objects became distinguishable. It was
then that I discovered numerous flags and pennants floating
above the army of the besiegers.
149
PELLUCIDAR
land sea near which lay the Mahars’ buried city of Phutra.
At last the great army started upon its march. There were
warriors from every one of the federated kingdoms. All were
armed either with bow and arrows or muzzle-loaders, for
nearly the entire Mezop contingent had been enlisted for this
march, only sufficient having been left aboard the feluccas to
man them properly. I divided the forces into divisions, regi-
ments, battalions, companies, and even to platoons and sec-
tions, appointing the full complement of officers and non-
commissioned officers. On the long march I schooled them
in their duties, and as fast as one learned I sent him among
the others as a teacher.
151
em.
152 3 :
PELLUCIDAR
the ground about the entrance rose suddenly into the air, to
be followed by a terrific explosion and a burst of smoke and
flame that shot high in company with dirt, stone, and frag-
ments of cannon.
Perry had been working on two more of these giant bombs
as soon as the first was completed. Presently we launched
these into two of the other entrances. They were all that were
required, for almost immediately after the third explosion a
stream of Mahars broke from the exits furthest from us, rose
upon their wings, and soared northward. A hundred men on
lidi were despatched in pursuit, each lidi carrying two riflemen
in addition to its driver. Guessing that the inland sea, which
lay not far north of Phutra, was their destination, I took a
couple of regiments and followed.
The sight must have filled the Mahars with awe and con-
sternation, for never had they seen the like of these craft
before. For a time they seemed unable to do aught but gaze
- at the approaching fleet; but when the Mezops opened on
them with their muskets the reptiles swam rapidly in the di-
rection of the feluccas, evidently thinking that these would
prove the easier to overcome. The commander of the fleet per-
mitted them to approach within a hundred yards. Then he
153
But finally they rose far out beyond the fleet, and when
the feluccas came about and pursued them they left the water
and flew away toward the north.
“It will take a long time to solve this problem, but I think
that by teaching a number of them to read and write English
we shall then be able more quickly to give them a written
language of their own.”
154
PELLUCIDAR
The Luana group lies just beyond the range of vision from
the mainland. The largest island of it alone is visible from
Anoroc; but when we neared it we found that it comprised
many beautiful islands, and that they were thickly populated.
The Luanians had not, of course, been ignorant of all that
had been going on in the domains of their nearest and dearest
enemies. They knew of our feluccas and our guns, for several
of their raiding-parties had had a taste of both. But their
principal chief, an old man, had never seen either. So, when
he sighted us, he put out to overwhelm us, bringing with
him a.fleet of about a hundred large war-canoes, loaded to
capacity with javelin-armed warriors. It was pitiful, and I told
Ja as much. It seemed a shame to massacre these poor fel-
lows if there was any way out of it.
155
156
PELLUCIDAR
the Mahar city that had ravaged the Land of Awful Shadow
for so many ages. When we marched on to Thuria, Goork and
his people went mad with joy at the tidings we brought them.
157
We have just laws and only a few of them. Our people are
happy because they are always working at something which
they enjoy. There is no money, nor is any money value
placed upon any commodity. Perry and I were as one in
resolving that the root of all evil should not be introduced into
Pellucidar while we lived.
158
PELLUCIDAR
Around Sari and Amoz the men are domesticating the great
striped antelope, the meat of which is most delicious. ] am
sure that it will not be long before they will have them
broken to harness and saddle. The horses of Pellucidar are
far too diminutive for such uses, some species of them being
little larger than fox-terriers.
160
PELLUGIDAR