Part 2 (2/2)

'Whoever called it into being kne to cut it short at will,'

answered Conan 'So I know there was so planned and diabolical about it Someone called it forth, someone banished it when the as co hailed as the deliverer of the people from the wrath of the Gods By Crom, I sense a black, subtle brain behind all this What of this stranger who ives counsel to Tarascus?'

'He wears a veil,' answered Pallantides; 'they say he is a foreigner; a stranger froia!' repeated Conan scowling 'A stranger from hell, more like!--Ha! What is that?'

'The trumpets of the Nemedians!' exclaimed Pallantides 'And hark, how our own blare upon their heels! Dawn is breaking, and the captains arethe hosts for the onset! Mitra be with thes'

'Sendwith alacrity and casting off his velvet night-gars at the prospect of action 'Go to the captains and see that all is in readiness I will be with you as soon as I don my armor'

Many of Conan's ere inexplicable to the civilized people he ruled, and one of the alone in his cha in the arht after a few hours' sleep He cast a swift glance over the ca andlines of tents Stars still gli pink streaainst the silken folds

Pallantides turned toward a smaller tent near by, where slept the royal squires These were tu out already, roused by the trumpets And as Pallantides called to them to hasten, he was frozen speechless by a deep fierce shout and the i's tent, followed by the heart-stopping crash of a falling body There sounded a low laugh that turned the general's blood to ice

Echoing the cry, Pallantides wheeled and rushed back into the pavilion

He cried out again as he saw Conan's powerful frareat two-handed sword lay near his hand, and a shattered tent-pole seemed to shohere his stroke had fallen

Pallantides' sas out, and he glared about the tent, but nothingand himself it was empty, as it had been when he left it

'Your Majesty!' Pallantides threw hiiant

Conan's eyes were open; they blazed up at hinition His lips writhed, but no sound came forth He seemed unable to move

Voices sounded without Pallantides rose swiftly and stepped to the door The royal squires and one of the knights who guarded the tent stood there

'We heard a sound within,' said the knight apologetically 'Is all ith the king?'

Pallantides regarded hily

'None has entered or left the pavilion this night?'

'None save yourself, ht, and Pallantides could not doubt his honesty

'The king stumbled and dropped his sword,' said Pallantides briefly

'Return to your post'

As the knight turned away, the general covertly motioned to the five royal squires, and when they had followed hiht of the king stretched upon the carpet, but Pallantides' quick gesture checked their exclaain Conan made an effort to speak The veins in his temples and the cords in his neck swelled with his efforts, and he lifted his head clear of the ground Voice ca--the thing in the corner!_'

Pallantides lifted his head and looked fearfully about hiht, the velvet shadows that lurked along the walls of the pavilion That was all

'There is nothing here, your Majesty,' he said