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thing had not seen her, or at least was only suspicious that some creature lay hid
among the weeds. If she could allay this suspicion by remaining motionless the
creature might believe that he had been mistaken and return to his work; but,
alas, such was not to be the case. She saw the thing call the attention of others to
her and almost immediately four or five of them started to move in her direction.
It was impossible now to escape discovery. Her only hope lay in flight. If she could
elude them and reach the hills and the flier ahead of them she might escape, and
that could be accomplished in but one way--flight, immediate and swift. Leaping
to her feet she darted along the base of the wall which she must skirt to the
opposite side, beyond which lay the hill that was her goal. Her act was greeted by
strange whistling sounds from the things behind her, and casting a glance over
her shoulder she saw them all in rapid pursuit.
There were also shrill commands that she halt, but to these she paid no
attention. Before she had half circled the enclosure she discovered that her
chances for successful escape were great, since it was evident to her that her
pursuers were not so fleet as she. High indeed then were her hopes as she came
in sight of the hill, but they were soon dashed by what lay before her, for there, in
the fields that lay between, were fully a hundred creatures similar to those behind
her and all were on the alert, evidently warned by the whistling of their fellows.
Instructions and commands were shouted to and fro, with the result that those
before her spread roughly into a great half circle to intercept her, and when she
turned to the right, hoping to elude the net, she saw others coming from fields
beyond, and to the left the same was true. But Tara of Helium would not admit
defeat. Without once pausing she turned directly toward the center of the
advancing semi-circle, beyond which lay her single chance of escape, and as she
ran she drew her long, slim dagger. Like her valiant sire, if die she must, she
would die fighting. There were gaps in the thin line confronting her and toward
the widest of one of these she directed her course. The things on either side of the
opening guessed her intent for they closed in to place themselves in her path.
This widened the openings on either side of them and as the girl appeared almost
to rush into their arms she turned suddenly at right angles, ran swiftly in the
new direction for a few yards, and then dashed quickly toward the hill again. Now
only a single warrior, with a wide gap on either side of him, barred her clear way
to freedom, though all the others were speeding as rapidly as they could to
intercept her. If she could pass this one without too much delay she could
escape, of that she was certain. Her every hope hinged on this. The creature
before her realized it, too, for he moved cautiously, though swiftly, to intercept
her, as a Rugby fullback might maneuver in the realization that he alone stood
between the opposing team and a touchdown.
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