Part 34 (1/2)

”It was not not they that destroyed our boat?” It was half question, half assertion

He shook his head, grimly taciturn

Every step of the way across thatterror for Olivia, but no black shapes stole subtly fro ruins, and at last they reached the foot of the crags, which rose stark and gloomily majestic above the a place sheltered by a broad ledge, nowhere near any trees

194

”Lie down and sleep if you can, Olivia,” he said ”I'll keep watch”

But no sleep ca the distant ruins and the wooded rim until the stars paled, the east whitened, and dawn in rose and gold struck fire frorass-blades

She rose stiffly, her ht In the ination Conan strode over to her, and his words electrified her

”Just before dawn I heard the creak of tie and oars A shi+p has put in and anchored at the beach not far away probably the shi+p whose sailyesterday We'll go up the cliffs and spy on her”

Up they went, and lying on their bellies a up beyond the trees to the west

”An Hyrkanian craft, fro,” muttered Conan ”I wonder if the crew ”

A distantto the southern edge of the cliffs, they saw athe western rim of the plateau, and stand there a space in debate There wasof swords, and loud rough argument Then the whole band started across the plateau toward the ruins, at a slant that would take them close by the foot of the cliffs

”Pirates!” whispered Conan, a grialley they've captured Here crawl a these rocks

”Don't show yourself unless I call to you,” he instructed, having secreted her to his satisfaction a the crest of the cliffs ”I's If I succeed in my plan, all will be well, and we'll sail aith them If I don't succeed well, hide yourself in the rocks until they're gone, for no devils on this island are as cruel as these sea-wolves”

And tearing hi quickly down the cliffs

Looking fearfully from her eyrie, Olivia saw the band had neared the foot of the cliffs Even as she looked, Conan stepped out froave back with yells of lare at this figure

195which had appeared so suddenly from the rocks There were some seventy of them, a wild horde made up of men from many nations: Kothians, Zamorians, Brythunians, Corinthians, Shemites Their features reflected the wildness of their natures Many bore the scars of the lash or the branding-iron There were cropped ears, slit noses, gaping eye-sockets, stuman as well as scars of battle Most of theold-braided jackets, satin girdles, silken breeches, tattered, stained with tar and blood, vied with pieces of silver-chased ars, and in the hilts of their daggers

Over against this bizarrecontrast with his hard bronzed limbs and clean-cut vital features

”Who are you?” they roared

”Conan the Cie of a lion ”One of the Free Companions I mean to try my luck with the Red Brotherhood Who's your chief?”

”I, by Ishtar!” bellowed a bull-like voice, as a huge figure swaggered forward: a giant, naked to the waist, where his capacious belly was girdled by a wide sash that upheld voluminous silken pantaloons His head was shaven except for a scalp-lock, his mustaches drooped over a rat-trap mouth Green She straight sword in his hand

Conan stared and glared

”Sergius of Khrosha, by Croiant, his s with hate ”Did you think I had forgot? Ha! Sergius never forgets an ene you up by the heels and skin you alive At hi-belly,” sneered Conan with bitter scorn ”You were always a coward, you Kothic cur”

”Coward! To uard, you northern dog! I'll cut out your heart!”