| 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 |
| 1 | 20 | 40 | 59 | 79 |
|
www.freeclassicebooks.com
greater speed, and most nobly did the wondrous creature respond to my
demands. If ever a four-footed creature approximated flying, it was Ace that day.
Du-seen, intent upon his brutal design, had as yet not noticed us. He was within
a pace of Ajor when Ace and I dashed between them, and I, leaning down to the
left, swept my little barbarian into the hollow of an arm and up on the withers of
my glorious Ace. We had snatched her from the very clutches of Du-seen, who
halted, mystified and raging. Ajor, too, was mystified, as we had come up from
diagonally behind her so that she had no idea that we were near until she was
swung to Ace's back. The little savage turned with drawn knife to stab me,
thinking that I was some new enemy, when her eyes found my face and she
recognized me. With a little sob she threw her arms about my neck, gasping:
"My Tom! My Tom!"
And then Ace sank suddenly into thick mud to his belly, and Ajor and I were
thrown far over his head. He had run into one of those numerous springs which
cover Caspak. Sometimes they are little lakes, again but tiny pools, and often
mere quagmires of mud, as was this one overgrown with lush grasses which
effectually hid its treacherous identity. It is a wonder that Ace did not break a
leg, so fast he was going when he fell; but he didn't, though with four good legs he
was unable to wallow from the mire. Ajor and I had sprawled face down in the
covering grasses and so had not sunk deeply; but when we tried to rise, we found
that there was not footing, and presently we saw that Du-seen and his followers
were coming down upon us. There was no escape. It was evident that we were
doomed.
"Slay me!" begged Ajor. "Let me die at thy loved hands rather than beneath the
knife of this hateful thing, for he will kill me. He has sworn to kill me. Last night
he captured me, and when later he would have his way with me, I struck him
with my fists and with my knife I stabbed him, and then I escaped, leaving him
raging in pain and thwarted desire. Today they searched for me and found me;
and as I fled, Du-seen ran after me crying that he would slay me. Kill me, my
Tom, and then fall upon thine own spear, for they will kill you horribly if they
take you alive."
I couldn't kill her--not at least until the last moment; and I told her so, and that I
loved her, and that until death came, I would live and fight for her.
Nobs had followed us into the bog and had done fairly well at first, but when he
neared us he too sank to his belly and could only flounder about. We were in this
predicament when Du-seen and his followers approached the edge of the horrible
swamp. I saw that Al-tan was with him and many other Kro-lu warriors. The
alliance against Jor the chief had, therefore, been consummated, and this horde
7
5
Page
Quick Jump
|