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CHAPTER XIV - AT GHEK'S COMMAND
Turan the panthan chafed in his chains. Time dragged; silence and monotony
prolonged minutes into hours. Uncertainty of the fate of the woman he loved
turned each hour into an eternity of hell. He listened impatiently for the sound of
approaching footsteps that he might see and speak to some living creature and
learn, perchance, some word of Tara of Helium. After torturing hours his ears
were rewarded by the rattle of harness and arms. Men were coming! He waited
breathlessly. Perhaps they were his executioners; but he would welcome them
notwithstanding. He would question them. But if they knew naught of Tara he
would not divulge the location of the hiding place in which he had left her.
Now they came--a half-dozen warriors and an officer, escorting an unarmed man;
a prisoner, doubtless. Of this Turan was not left long in doubt, since they brought
the newcomer and chained him to an adjoining ring. Immediately the panthan
commenced to question the officer in charge of the guard.
"Tell me," he demanded, "why I have been made prisoner, and if other strangers
were captured since I entered your city."
"
"
"
"
What other prisoners?" asked the officer.
A woman, and a man with a strange head," replied Turan.
It is possible," said the officer; "but what were their names?"
The woman was Tara, Princess of Helium, and the man was Ghek, a kaldane, of
Bantoom."
"
"
"
These were your friends?" asked the officer.
Yes," replied Turan.
It is what I would know," said the officer, and with a curt command to his men to
follow him he turned and left the cell.
"Tell me of them!" cried Turan after him. "Tell me of Tara of Helium! Is she safe?"
but the man did not answer and soon the sound of their departure died in the
distance.
"
Tara of Helium was safe, but a short time since," said the prisoner chained at
Turan's side.
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