Part 42 (1/2)

Encouraged by aid froained their fading morale and renewed the attack with reckless fury

The end had come Bitter was the realization to Tharn who, until now, had been certain nothing could prevent his e that wily old Pryak had outwitted the turmoil, have turned his back on friends and supporters to seek out Dylara's cell and escape with her froone as it was born; and the Cro-Magnard sought to rally his shaken followers to the task of cutting a pathway back to the street Once outside, sole--a far cry froan to appear, however, that leaving the palace was to be infinitely ain hispriests at the foot of the staircase Steadily the nurew less; and while they took ave, there were too many to outlast

Suddenly there rose above the pandee cries froh struck by an unseen spear His eyes ith incredulous astonishs broke an answering shout that paled to insignificance the tu into the hall below, ca-men, naked except for panther- and leopard-skins about their loins Splendid, beautifully proportioned barbarians they were, heavy war-spears gripped in powerful right hands, sun-bronzed skins rippling under the play of corded ure of a man such as never before had been seen within Sephar's borders Four inches above six feet he stood, slim of hip and broad of shoulder--a wealth of black hair held from his eyes by a strip of cured snakeskin

”Father!” burst from Tharn's lips

At sound of his cry, the leader of the newcomers looked sharply in his direction

”Kill!” shouted young Tharn, bringing one hand out in a sweeping gesture toward the frozen ranks of priests

In response, the Cro-Magnards threw themselves at the white-clad eneer, leaped into action, shouting words of instruction and encouragement to his friends

The end came quickly Torn at from two sides, the priests broke and fled in all directions, the cave-inal defenders thren their weapons and surrendered on the spot

Now careet his son Behind him crowded others of the tribe, wide s for you,up; it was not until yesterday that one of us found where you and a girl had followed a ga to this place”

”You could not have arrived at a better tiround,resemblance of father to son when both snard leader, ”ere ale But no one was about the openings in the walls, and as your trail led straight toward one of them, we decided to follow it

Then, too, all of us were curious to see what e caves

”No one tried to stop us In fact,no one at all I was beginning to wonder if ere the only ones here until we heard sounds of fighting co from here The rest you know”

His son nodded ”Soon I shall tell you what I have gone through since I last saw you But first I have soo about telling his father? He hoped Dylara would not exhibit that temper of hers the first time she lancing sharply at the face of his son

”I have taken a mate!” There--it was out!

His father never batted an eye

”Where is she?”

”Somewhere in this place A prisoner, I suppose Katon, here, may be able to find her She--she may not seem pleased that I have come for her”