Part 16 (2/2)

They turned into one of the wide streets that led to the city's outer wall

Dylara fought doave of panic ”Where are you taking htened his hold on her arm

”To Urim,” he replied briefly

”Where is he?”

The Sepharian turned his head and frowned at her For the first ti white scar across his cheek

”You ask too hly ”Now keep theirl's heart She kne, that Uri led into soer Worst of all, there see as he pleased The street was deserted; and even should someone appear, an appeal for help would probably be useless

Soon they reached one of the huge gateways in the wall about Sephar The warrior drew Dylara to a halt as two guards sauntered in their direction

”Well, Meltor,” said one, a tall, languidout in this heat? And with a girl, too; up to your old tricks, I suppose”

Meltor s else If I may speak with you privately”

Dylara, under the watchful eye of the second guard, watched thee in a whispered colloquy Meltor did th The other nodded fro properly iirl

Meltor had evidently gained his point He approached Dylara, now, a triumphant curl at the corners of his ether the ates

Beyond the open ground Dylara could see the griainst the sky And yet she wondered if it was er lurked in the jungle--ah, yes; but it was danger both direct and elemental--not hidden beneath hypocrisy and artifice

Why had she been taken fro in his own behalf; someone else was behind it all--someone who did not want others to know It could not be Urim Urim was chief; he need not hide his activities froreat light burst upon her Jotan! He was responsible--it could be no other! Because she belonged to Urim he had been forced to have her stolen froht be with her This was the answer--the only answer!

Belief becae mixture of dread and exultation ca the man who had aroused within her an eht to a head much too quickly to suit her--she neededback at the grip on her arle, hidden from Sephar by a bend of the trail underfoot

Meltor, satisfied that the girl would accompany him peaceably, had relaxed his hold

Suddenly Dylara twisted free, and before the surprised warrior could interfere, she whirled about and dashed away in the opposite direction

Meltor wheeled and took up the chase, crying out hoarsely for her to stop But the rage in his voice only spurred on the girl to greater effort

Along the trail they raced, a few yards apart, their sandaled feet kicking up little puffs of dust and powdered vegetation The ni to gain the bend in the trail with enough tiain