事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia a treasure-trove of literature treasure 設立する hidden with no 証拠 of 所有権

BROWSE the 場所／位置 for other 作品 by this author (and our other authors) or get HELP Reading, Downloading and 変えるing とじ込み／提出するs) or SEARCH the entire 場所／位置 with Google 場所／位置 Search

肩書を与える: The Port Of 危険，危なくする
Author: Otis Adelbert Kline
* A 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBook *
eBook No.: 0601561h.html
Language: English
Date first 地位，任命するd:  Jun 2006
Most 最近の update: Dec 2017

This eBook was produced by Richard Scott, Colin Choat and Roy Glashan.

事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed 版s
which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice
is 含むd. We do NOT keep any eBooks in 同意／服従 with a particular
paper 版.

Copyright 法律s are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the
copyright 法律s for your country before downloading or redistributing this
とじ込み／提出する.

This eBook is made 利用できる at no cost and with almost no 制限s
どれでも. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the 条件
of the 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia License which may be 見解（をとる）d online at
http://gutenberg.逮捕する.au/licence.html

To 接触する 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia go to http://gutenberg.逮捕する.au

GO TO 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia HOME PAGE

The Port Of 危険，危なくする

by

Otis Adelbert Kline

Serialized as "Buccaneers Of Venus" in
Weird Tales, November 1932 ff. (6 parts)

Published in 調書をとる／予約する form by:
The Popular Fiction Publishing Company, New York, 1932
エース 調書をとる／予約するs, New York, 1949, as "The Port of 危険，危なくする"
The Grandon Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1949

This e-調書をとる／予約する 版: 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia, 2017

TABLE OF CONTENTS

"The Port of 危険，危なくする," エース 調書をとる／予約するs, New York, 1949

1. — THE THEFT OF VERNIA

Perhaps the furniture and decorations of the personal apartment of Robert Grandon would have appeared bizarre to earthly 注目する，もくろむs. Its パネル盤d 塀で囲むs were hung with strange 武器s and still stranger トロフィーs of the 戦場 and chase—prized treasures of a 兵士 and a hunter. 肌s of marmelots, fiercest cats of the Zorovian fern forests, and tremendous 耐える-like monsters known as ramphs, magnificent 見本／標本s all, were flung on the 床に打ち倒す. Cloud-filtered sunlight entered through two 巨大な windows that reached from 床に打ち倒す to 天井, 開始 on a 私的な balcony which overlooked the palace gardens.

A marmelot, carved from red 支持を得ようと努めるd and supporting a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 最高の，を越す of polished 水晶 formed a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in the 中心 of the room. Around it, in 議長，司会を務めるs carved in the 代表 of ひさまづくing 巨大（な）s 持つ／拘留するing scarlet cushions which formed both seats and 支援するs, were four men.

"The 力／強力にする of the Huitsen must be broken, and broken forever," cried Aardven, brawny, bull-necked 支配者 of Adonijar. And he banged his 抱擁する 握りこぶし on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する for 強調, 原因（となる）ing the kova cups to dance and 動揺させる.

Robert Grandon, former Chicago clubman who had fought his way to the 王位 of Reabon, mightiest empire of Venus, grimly nodded his assent, as did his two other guests, 広告, 支配者 of Tyrhana, and Zinlo, 支配者 of Olba. For the sake of privacy and 慰安, he had dispensed with the rigid 形式順守 of the 王位 room, and received them in his own 製図／抽選 room.

広告 of Tyrhana 一打／打撃d his square-削減（する）, jet 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd meditatively. Then he turned to Grandon. I 恐れる we have 乱すd you at a most inopportune time. A man about to start on a honeymoon should not be annoyed with 事件／事情／状勢s of 明言する／公表する. It was only after we learned of the 最新の 乱暴／暴力を加える （罪などを）犯すd by the yellow 著作権侵害者s, that Aardvan and I, who were を待つing Zinlo's return to Olba, decided to hurry here in one of his swift airships.

"When he heard that one of my ships of war, 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なうd by a 嵐／襲撃する and half 沈むing, was 始める，決める upon by these yellow fiends, part of its 乗組員 大虐殺d and the 残り／休憩（する） carried off 囚人s, and my daughter Narine taken to I know not what 運命／宿命, we felt that something must be done, and done quickly."

"And I heartily agree with you," said Grandon. "The 皇室の 海軍 of Reabon is at your 処分. Do you have any 計画（する） of 活動／戦闘 to 示唆する?"

"I felt sure you would come in with us," said 広告, "特に after my talk with Zinlo this morning. As I have intimated 以前, we must make our 計画（する）s in secret, and carry them out as unobtrusively as possible. The Huitsenni have 秘かに調査するs everywhere. They have the treasure to 雇う the vile 反逆者s の中で our people who will sell their 栄誉（を受ける） for personal 伸び（る）s, but because of their peculiar physical 特徴 they can do no eavesdropping の中で us themselves.".

"We should have two main 客観的なs: to 沈む or 逮捕（する） every 著作権侵害者 ship that sails the seas of Zorovia, and to find and take the secret port of Huitsen. It is a port of 行方不明の ships and treasure, of slaves who were once 国民s of our own and other lands, a port of 危険，危なくする to every man, woman, and child on this 惑星."

"Have you any idea where to look for this hidden port?" asked Grandon.

"We have no 限定された knowledge of its 場所, but the belief that it lies to the south has arisen from the fact that 著作権侵害者 (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs, leaving a scene of 略奪する, have almost invariably been 観察するd to sail southward."

"I believe my flyers can 位置を示す it," said Zinlo, toying with his kova cup.

"It's a big world," にわか景気d the gruff Aardvan, "and it will take a 取引，協定 of 飛行機で行くing, sailing, and marching to 調査する it all."

"Perhaps Mernerum will help us," 示唆するd 広告.

"I take it," replied Grandon, "that you are unaware of the 緊張するd, or rather 厳しいd relations between Mernerum and Reabon. This morning I ordered 外交関係 厳しいd with Zanaloth of Mernerum, because of his affront to my wife when she passed through his dominions some time ago."

"We can do 井戸／弁護士席 enough without that dissolute, old rake," said Zinlo. "But we're keeping you from that honeymoon trip, Grandon. I understand that your 探検隊／遠征隊 was ready to march when 広告 and Aardvan arrived."

"We'll give it up," Grandon 保証するd them. "I'm sure Vernia won't mind for such, a worthy 原因（となる）."

"See here," 広告 抗議するd. We don't want any such sacrifice. 許す us to take a few of your ships for the 現在の, and perhaps some 軍人s and 軍需品s in 事例／患者 a 上陸 party is 要求するd. Go on your honeymoon. Later, when we've discovered the port of 危険，危なくする, we'll 通知する you, and let you in at the kill."

"But your daughter has been stolen. Every man on this 惑星, worthy of the 指名する, should be willing to 補助装置 in the search."

広告 sighed 深く，強烈に, musingly. "式のs," he replied, "I 恐れる all search for her will be vain. She has been gone for so long now that I can only hope to avenge her. But, of course, I, her father, shall continue to search." He arose, and continued: "My friends and 同盟（する）s, we have 課すd long enough on this 患者, young bridegroom. I'm sure you will all agree with me when I say that we don't want his help until after the honeymoon. Let him lend us a few ships and men now, and we'll call on him later."

"Those are 正確に my 感情s," roared the 深い-発言する／表明するd Aardvan, also rising.

"And 地雷," echoed Zinlo. "And so, Grandon, we'll go 負かす／撃墜する and join the group outside that's waiting to see you off. By the way, where are you bound?"

"It was a 投げ上げる／ボディチェックする-up whether to go to the wild mountain fastness of Uxpo, or enjoy the bathing, fishing, and boating of the Azpok coast. But the seashore won, and we chose a （軍の）野営地，陣営ing-place on a wild and unfrequented part of the coast."

"Splendid! We'll see you outside."

A half-hour later, 速度(を上げる）d by an 巨大な multitude that had lined the streets of Reabon to see them off, Grandon and his young bride, Vernia, Princess of Reabon, stepped into the waiting, one-wheeled モーター 乗り物, and with their guard of Fighting Traveks, left for the coast.

In the 皇室の テント of scarlet silk, decked with cloth-of-gold insignia and 辛勝する／優位d with golden fringe, Grandon opened his 注目する，もくろむs as the first faint dawnlight appeared, for he had planned an 早期に morning fishing-trip. He arose and dressed silently, so as not to 乱す the slumber of his bride, but she heard the slight clank of his sword as he was about to step through the doorway, and wakened.

"（頭が）ひょいと動く."

He turned as she softly pronounced the 指名する by which he had been known to his friends on Earth, the 指名する he had taught her to call him and which he loved to hear her say with her quaint, Reabonian accent.

With three steps he was at her 病人の枕元. She smiled up at him the pink and white oval of her 直面する でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd in the wealth of golden ringlets that all but 隠すd her silken pillow. Then she held up both 武器.

"Would you leave without kissing me good-bye?" she asked reproachfully.

Contritely, he knelt beside the bed and took her in his 武器.

"I did not wish to 乱す your morning sleep my dear," he said, and 追加するd: "I was only going out for a little while—to have a try at a 殺し屋-norgal. I'm told they bite best at daybreak."

She took his 直面する between her palms, drew it 負かす／撃墜する to hers, and their lips met.

"Never leave me," she said, "without first kissing me good-bye. Who knows how long any 分離 may be? Even though we may 推定する／予想する to be parted for but a few moments, the 手渡す of Providence may 介入する and separate us for a long time—perhaps for eternity."

He buried his 直面する in the soft curve of her neck as she ran her fingers through his 黒人／ボイコット curls. Nor did he dream, as he held her thus for a few moments, how soon the 悲惨な prophecy in her words was to be 実行するd.

"Ill be 支援する in a jiffy," he said, as he stood 築く a few moments later.

She watched him, love and pride in her 注目する，もくろむs, as he strode through the door. Handsome, strong, and gentle, he was an emperor—every インチ of him.

Throwing a shimmering 包む of scarlet 構成要素 around her, she went to the door of her テント to watch him 出発／死. Two guards saluted stiffly as she appeared. They were members of a company of Grandon's 割れ目 軍隊／機動隊s, the Fighting Traveks from Uxpo. Each was 武装した with a tork, a 早い 解雇する／砲火／射撃 武器 that 発射 needle-like glass 発射物s, a scarbo a cutting and thrusting 武器 with a basket hilt and a blade curved like that of a scimitar, and a long-bladed spear.

Vernia watched him for a few moments as he stood beside his small fishing- boat in earnest conversation with Huba, mojak or captain of the company of Traveks who were guarding the （軍の）野営地，陣営. Six men stood on each 味方する of the little （手先の）技術, 持つ／拘留するing it's nose into the breakers. In the prow of the boat was Kantar the Gunner, carefully 保護物，者ing his mattork—a 武器 似ているing a tork, but of かなり heavier caliber and longer 範囲, and 機動力のある on a tripod —from the spray that was breaking over the 屈服する, by 持つ／拘留するing a waterproof silk cover over it.

The 残り／休憩（する） of the 乗組員 consisted of six oarsmen, a man who had 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the sail, and another who held the tiller.

Having finished his conversation with Huba, Grandon leaped into the （手先の）技術 and the twelve men who were standing in the water 開始する，打ち上げるd her. When they reached water up to their necks, they let go, and the rowers plied their oars vigorously. Presently the sail went up, and the little boat tacked into the 微風 which was just lively enough to 動かす the 霧 that hung low over the surface of the Azpok.

The princess watched the boat until the もやs had swallowed it up, then turned and re-entered her テント. But scarcely, it seemed, had she crept once more beneath her warm covers, and の近くにd her 注目する，もくろむs in sleep, before there sounded outside the 割れ目 of a mattork, the shouts of men, and the clank of 武器s, followed by a fusillade of 発射s that told her the （軍の）野営地，陣営 was 存在 attacked by a かなりの 団体／死体 of 武装した men.

Jumping out of bed, Vernia called to the guard outside.

"What is it?" she asked. "What has happened?"

"著作権侵害者s, Your Majesty!" replied the guard excitedly. "We are attacked by the raiders of the coast."

She dressed as 速く as possible, buckling the jeweled belt which held her small tork and scarbo around her slender waist. 一方／合間, the sounds of fighting drew closer and closer to the scarlet テント.

As soon as she was dressed, Vernia drew her scarbo and stepped fearlessly from the テント. Descended from a thousand fighting Torrogos, or Emperors, of Reabon, she was fully as 勇敢に立ち向かう as her mighty husband, even though she 欠如（する）d his strength and 技術 in swordsmanship. With flashing 注目する，もくろむs she 調査するd the scene before her. Tugging at their 錨，総合司会者s, いっそう少なく than a ４半期/4分の1 of a mile from land, were a 得点する／非難する／２０ of 大型船s which she 即時に 認めるd from pictures she had seen as the ships of the dreaded yellow 著作権侵害者s, the 天罰（を下す） of the Azpok Ocean. Their peculiar sails 支店ing out on either 味方する of the mast like the wings of bats 即時に identified them. And coming 速く shoreward were no いっそう少なく than fifty boats 負担d with 武装した men, each 開始するing a mattork in the 屈服する. But this was not all, for converging on the （軍の）野営地，陣営 from both 味方するs and the 後部 was an 巨大な horde of yelling, 狙撃 著作権侵害者s. Already, more than a third of the Fighting Traveks had fallen, and the tork and mattork 解雇する／砲火／射撃 from all directions was 速く decimating the 階級s of those who remained.

A dozen of the boats were sent 負かす／撃墜する by Huba's mattork gunners before the 上陸-party reached the shore. As their prows grounded, the remaining 著作権侵害者s leaped out and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d the （軍の）野営地，陣営, and it was the signal for a general 前進する from all directions.

The （軍の）野営地，陣営 had been guarded by two hundred men, but by the time of the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, a scant forty remained. They formed a hollow square around the Princess, and met the shock of the attack with a 抵抗 worthy of the traditions of the Fighting Traveks, though it was obvious from the beginning that there could be but one 結果.

In the 手渡す-to-手渡す fighting that followed there was no 報告（する）／憶測 of tork or mattork—only the 衝突／不一致 of blades, the war-cries of the 闘士，戦闘機s, the groans of the 負傷させるd, and the shrieks of the dying. Vernia and Huba fought bravely with the others, time and again leaping into the gaps left by fallen men until the line could be の近くにd. But they were 行うing a hopeless fight, and presently only the Princess and the mojak were left, fighting 支援する to 支援する. The latter, 戦う／戦いing three adversaries at once, was suddenly 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する by a blow from one of the 著作権侵害者s, and Vernia was left alone. When a man leaped in from behind, pinioning her 武器, her 武器s were quickly taken from her.

The 略奪するing of the （軍の）野営地，陣営 was already in 進歩 as she was dragged kicking and struggling, into one of the 著作権侵害者 boats. Everything in the （軍の）野営地，陣営 was 掴むd in the way of booty except the 団体／死体s of the fallen Traveks, and even these were stripped of their 着せる／賦与するing, 武器s, and accouterments. The 著作権侵害者s also took with them all of their own dead and 負傷させるd.

列／漕ぐ／騒動d to the largest of the 略奪者s' 大型船s, Vernia was carried 船内に and taken before an officer whose insignia 布告するd him romojak, or 指揮官, of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い. Like most of the members of his race, he was short, scarcely taller than the Princess herself, but with an exceptionally long 団体／死体 and 武器. His 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, yellow 直面する was seamed and wrinkled, and his 平等に 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 注目する，もくろむs, wide open and 星／主役にするing, were without irises. The pupils were perpendicular slits that opened and の近くにd like those of felines. His short nose 似ているd the tip of a pig's snout, and there were no teeth in the chinless mouth beneath it, from the corners of which drooled saliva reddened by the juice of the kerra, the spores of a 麻薬, fungoid growth chewed almost incessantly by the yellow 著作権侵害者s. Nor was there a 調印する of 耐えるd, eyebrows, or hair on the 直面する or 長，率いる, the 肌 of his 団体／死体 存在 covered with a greasy exudation, evidently nature's 保護 for these 全く hairless people. 裁判官d by the 基準s of his hairless, toothless race, he was probably not unhandsome. But to Vernia, 直面するing him as his 囚人, he was a monstrosity.

"I 推定する you are the Torroga of Reabon," he said in Patoa, with the peculiar pronunciation that a 欠如（する） of teeth induces.

"You have already 推定するd too much," replied Vernia, spiritedly. "For this day's work, I can 約束 you the annihilation of the Yellow 著作権侵害者s."

The gums of the romojak showed in a toothless grin. He expectorated a red stream of kerra juice, then turned to a short, 屈服する-legged, マリファナ-bellied mojak who stood beside him.

"Do you hear that, San Thoy?" he mouthed sneeringly. "I, Thid Yet, Romojak of the 海軍s of Huitsen, have 推定するd too much!"

The mojak duplicated his kerra-stained grin.

"The Huitsenni never 推定する too much," he replied.

"井戸／弁護士席 said, San Thoy," 認可するd the romojak. Then he 演説（する）／住所d Vernia once more. "Your Majesty, the Huitsenni 推定する often, but never too much. Have they ever been beaten in 戦う／戦い? Has one of them ever been led to your 法廷，裁判所, a 囚人? Have their cities ever been 設立する by 追求するing 戦う／戦い (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs? Your Majesty is aware that history can answer but one word to these questions, and that word is: `No'."

"There is only one 推論する／理由 why it must be so answered," replied Vernia. "Cowardice. You never attack unless your 圧倒的な numbers 保証する you of victory. For this 推論する／理由 you never lose 戦う／戦いs or 囚人s. Your cities have not been 設立する because you are adepts at flight from an enemy. In this there is nothing of which to be proud."

"Your Majesty calls it `cowardice'," said Thid Yet, "but we of the Huitsenni have a better word. We call it `cleverness'. However, I am not here to bandy words with you, nor 論争 条件. You are my 囚人, 逮捕（する）d not for myself, but for another. If you are reasonably docile and do not 試みる／企てる to escape, you will be 扱う／治療するd with gentleness and 儀礼. If not— whatever misfortune 生じるs will be upon your own 長，率いる." He turned to the greasy, マリファナ-bellied mojak beside him. "Take her to her cabin, San Thoy."

2. — GRANDON PURSUES

Far out into the morning もやs that shrouded the surface of the blue-gray Azpok, Grandon sailed in search of the largest and most ferocious of all Zorovian game fish—the 殺し屋-norgal. Fishing for the norgal was 王室の sport indeed, and fraught with 広大な／多数の／重要な danger to the fisherman. 追跡（する）ing a 十分な-grown man-eating tiger with a lariat could be no more dangerous, and as often as not, the man who 欠如（する）d 技術 fell a prey to the fish.

Grandon had never seen a 殺し屋-norgal, and so when he felt a sharp 強く引っ張る at his trolling-line, and a magnificent 見本／標本 broke water, leaping high in the 空気／公表する and shaking its 長，率いる to dislodge the hook, he had one of the greatest thrills that had ever come to him, intrepid adventurer though he was. Its 団体／死体, covered with glistening blue 規模s and bristling with sharp spines, was about twenty-five feet in length. Its enormous jaws, when distended, 明らかにする／漏らすd 列／漕ぐ／騒動 upon 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of sharp, 支援する-curved teeth in a maw large enough to take in a dozen men at a 選び出す／独身 snap.

Kantar the Gunner jerked the oily cover from his mattork, but before be could bring it to 耐える on the 抱擁する fish, it dived out of sight.

Grandon kept a taut line on his quarry while the 乗組員 skillfully 作戦行動d the little （手先の）技術 to follow its eccentric and exceedingly swift 動議s as it dragged the boat さらに先に and さらに先に out to sea. After more than an hour of this, the struggles of the monster became slower, 示すing that it was beginning to tire. During this time, it did not once expose itself to the deadly 目的（とする） of the watchful Kantar.

Suddenly, without 警告, the line slackened, and although Grandon reeled in with all his might, he was unable to pull it taut. He thought at first that the fish had become unhooked, but the flash of a dorsal fin, for a moment 明白な above the waves and coming 速く に向かって the boat, showed him the true 状況／情勢. Kantar's mattork spoke, and the fin disappeared, but it was not evident whether he had 登録（する）d a 攻撃する，衝突する.

One of the older sailors, an experienced norgal fisherman, said:

"Beware, Majesty. The 殺し屋 is about to strike."

Dropping his 取り組む, Grandon 掴むd an eighteen foot lance which lay along the gunwale beside him, and 均衡を保った it expectantly. He had not long to wait, for the enormous jaws suddenly 現れるd from the water not ten feet from him. He 急落（する），激減（する）d the keen point 負かす／撃墜する the cavernous maw, and Kantar's mattork spoke again and again, while the mighty jaws ground the 厚い 軸 of 堅い serali 支持を得ようと努めるd into 後援s. 投げつけるing the useless butt from him, Grandon whipped out his sword, but he sheathed it again as the 広大な／多数の／重要な spiny 団体／死体 turned over and floated belly up after a few convulsive flops. The 血 which 注ぐd out through one of the gills showed that the lance point had 設立する the heart, and several 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 穴を開けるs through the 長，率いる attested the marksmanship of Kantar.

The sailors were making the prize 急速な／放蕩な, chattering and laughing all the while, when the keen-eared Kantar suddenly cried: "Listen, I hear 狙撃!"

Every 発言する／表明する was 即時に hushed, and there （機の）カム, distinctly now, the sounds of a terrific 砲撃 from the north.

"The （軍の）野営地，陣営 is attacked," cried an old sailor.

"To the oars," ordered Grandon, "and （人が）群がる all the sail on at once. 削減（する） that fish loose. We must get there as soon as possible."

The 抱擁する, spiny carcass was cast 流浪して, and sails and oars were speedily put into use. Yet, it seemed to Grandon that the swift little boat, which 公正に／かなり leaped over the waves under this 二塁打 propulsion moved with snail-like slowness.

Before they had gotten half-way 支援する to （軍の）野営地，陣営, the sounds of 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing 中止するd, and Grandon, goaded by horrible 恐れるs for Vernia's safety, ガス／煙d and fretted at the 無（不）能 to make better 速度(を上げる） or see through the もやs that made about two hundred yards the 限界 of visibility.

But when the prow of the little boat grounded on the beach, and leaping out, Grandon discovered the 血まみれの shambles that had been his （軍の）野営地，陣営, strewn with the naked 団体／死体s of his Traveks his grief and 怒り／怒る knew no bounds.

"All dead," he said to Kantar, who stood respectfully beside him. "My noble Traveks 虐殺（する）d, and Vernia stolen. Who can have done this horrid 行為? And what 動機? Reabon is at peace with all nations. The （軍の）野営地，陣営 was not rich in 略奪する."

"There is Zanaloth of Mernerum," replied Kantar. "You have 厳しいd 外交関係 with him. Perhaps this is his answer."

"If Zanaloth has done this," said Grandon, "he shall have war, and that speedily—such a war as this 惑星 has never seen. I will wipe Mernerum off the 直面する of the globe, nor will Zanaloth live long to gloat over his evil 行為s. But it cannot be Zanaloth. The fact that he once affronted the Princess of Reabon when she passed through his country made it imperative that I 切断する 外交関係 until 十分な 陳謝 had been made. I might have 宣言するd war, but did not. Zanaloth should be thankful for this, as the armies of Reabon could 鎮圧する a dozen Mernerums."

Walking の中で his dead Traveks and sorrowfully murmuring the 指名するs of those he 認めるd, Grandon presently 設立する his mojak.

"My faithful friend," he said, sadly. "Huba, comrade of many a 戦う／戦い and bivouac." He knelt and laid his 手渡す on the 血-smeared brow of the young officer. "Why, his 長，率いる is warm!" he exclaimed. "Perhaps a 誘発する of life remains! Fetch water and a flask of kova, quickly, Kantar."

The gunner sped away to the boat from which he brought 支援する a flask of the aromatic and 刺激するing kova from the 準備／条項 basket and a 保釈（金）ing-scoop of sea-water.

There was a 抱擁する gash in the fallen mojak's scalp, and the entire upper part of his 直面する was covered with 血. With 手渡すs as gentle as those of a woman, Grandon bathed away the 血. Then, as the eyelids of his friend flickered, he raised the 長，率いる and held the flask of kova to the mouth, 軍隊ing a small 量 of the liquid between the clenched teeth.

Huba swallowed convulsively, opened his 注目する，もくろむs, and looked at Grandon with dull wonder in his gaze.

"You, Majesty!" he said weakly. "I thought I had been taken to the bosom of Thorth."

"You （機の）カム 近づく it," replied Grandon, "but the scarbo 削減（する） was a ちらりと見ることing one. Where is my wife?"

"The 悪口を言う／悪態d Huitsenni attacked the （軍の）野営地，陣営," answered Huba. "My valiant Traveks fought 井戸／弁護士席, but were 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する to the last man. Her Majesty fought with us. When all had been killed around us, she and I fought the greasy yellow horde, 支援する to 支援する. Then I was 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する, and knew no more. What a 勇敢に立ち向かう little thing she is!" He sank 支援する, exhausted.

"Then those yellow fiends have her," said Grandon. "Their 秘かに調査するs have worked 速く it seems, and they were swift at 報復. Where have they taken her? How can I follow?"

"I do not know," replied Huba, "nor do I believe anyone does, other than the 著作権侵害者s themselves. They （警察の）手入れ，急襲 the coasts or attack merchant or fishing ships, then disappear. As they always attack with immensely superior 軍隊s, they are never 敗北・負かすd. They always carry away their own dead and 負傷させるd, and take care that 非，不，無 of their 犠牲者s are left alive to tell of their dastardly work. But a few times, men who have been left for dead have 生き返らせるd, even as I was 生き返らせるd, and thus some description of them and their 行為s has, from time to time, reached civilization. (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs of the 広大な／多数の／重要な nations have scoured the seas, looking for their ships and their 要塞／本拠地s, but have 設立する neither. Like the 勝利，勝つd of heaven, no one knows whence they come or where they go."

"I'll find Vernia if I have to search every インチ of this 惑星," said Grandon.

"One thing only I 解任する, which may be of 援助, Majesty," said Huba. "Unfortunately I was unable to see the 著作権侵害者s leave, but every ーするつもりであるd 犠牲者 who has ever escaped them has 報告（する）／憶測d that they sail southward."

Grandon turned to the mojo of the boat 乗組員.

"除去する all but two pairs of oars," he said, "and 準備する to 押し進める off. I will sail southward. One man, only, will I take with me. Who would be the man?"

From the 負傷させるd Huba to the last of the seamen, all volunteered. After some 審議, Grandon selected Kantar the Gunner as his companion.

"You will be needed in Reabon," he told Huba. "Go at once to the 資本／首都. Tell Vordeen to 動員する the army and 二塁打 the coast guard and the guard on the Mernerum 国境. Tell him, also, to divide our war (n)艦隊／(a)素早い into such sized 騎兵大隊s as he みなすs advisable and 割り当てる patrol zones to each 騎兵大隊 so that no part of the Azpok Ocean nor any of its shore line will be left unsearched. Have these patrol (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs search every ship 遭遇（する）d, except those of Tyrhana, Adonijar and Olba. 別れの（言葉，会）."

The seamen echoed Huba's cry of: "別れの（言葉，会）, Majesty," as Grandon leaped into the boat and 掴むd the tiller. Kantar, already at the oars, struck out savagely as soon as the men who 押すd them off had got beyond their depth, and a little later, the two raised the sail and tacked into the 微風, which had grown かなり stronger. The 霧, too, was rising so that visibility became almost normal.

For most of the morning they zig-zagged southward; but presently the 勝利，勝つd veered around, 除去するing the necessity for tacking, and 大いに 加速するing their 進歩.

At noon each took a turn at the tiller, while the other ate his frugal lunch of 乾燥した，日照りのd mushrooms and smoked frella meat washed 負かす／撃墜する with 草案s of kova.

Kantar had just finished his lunch, and was の近くにing the watertight コンテナ when with an exclamation of surprise, he suddenly leaned over the gunwale and scooped something from the surface of the water with his 手渡す. It was an empty half of a spore pod, red inside and 黒人／ボイコット outside.

"What have you there?" asked Grandon.

"A kerra pod," replied the gunner.

"And what, pray, is that?"

"The kerra, Majesty," replied the gunner, "is chewed almost universally by the toothless yellow 著作権侵害者s. Where there are kerra spore pods, one may be sure the Huitsenni have been. It is said that they are never willingly without a 供給（する） of this habit-forming 麻薬, which they 絶えず mumble except when eating or sleeping. I think from the finding of this kerra pod, that we are on the 権利 追跡する—that the Huitsenni have passed this way not so long ago."

"And do you think there is a 可能性 of our 追いつくing them today?"

"I believe, Sire, that there is. This little boat is one of the fleetest on the Azpok—and much swifter than the large ships of war used by the 著作権侵害者s in their （警察の）手入れ，急襲s. They had not long been away from （軍の）野営地，陣営 when we arrived, so I look for their 外見 on the horizon some time this afternoon if they 終始一貫して follow their southward course."

That afternoon, Grandon 絶えず 緊張するd his 注目する，もくろむs toward the south, but saw only such 海洋 monsters of the Azpok as rose to the 最高の，を越す from time to time, or flew above the surface. There was a 広大な／多数の／重要な variety of web-winged reptiles of diverse 形態／調整s and colors, some as small as sea-gulls, and other 肉親，親類d and 種類 up to the enormous ormf, whose wingspread was fully fifty feet from tip to tip, and whose 広大な／多数の／重要な, saw-toothed beak with a pelican-like pouch beneath it was large enough to take in a 十分な-grown man at a 選び出す／独身 snap. There was also a 広大な／多数の／重要な profusion of large, white birds with 麻薬中毒の 法案s and red-tipped wings which, like the 飛行機で行くing reptiles, dipped to the surface of the water from time to time for their prey, or dived beneath it, 現れるing therefrom with squirming, wriggling fish or other 海洋 inhabitants in their beaks.

One 抱擁する ormf circled above the little （手先の）技術 for several hours, and Kantar 用意が出来ている to use his mattork in 事例／患者 of attack. But the monster evidently decided that the creatures in the boat were too dangerous for it to 攻撃する，非難する, and 急に上がるd lazily away.

Although they did not sight the ships of the 著作権侵害者s that afternoon, Grandon was encouraged by seeing, from time to time, empty kerra pods on the water, which 示すd that they were on the 権利 追跡する.

"The ships of the accursed Huitsenni," said Kantar as 不明瞭 fell, "must be swifter than I thought, or we should have sighted them before this."

Scarcely had he spoken when a sparkle of dancing lights appeared just above the southern horizon.

"I see lights to the south," said Grandon. "What are they?"

"The ships of Huitsen," replied Kantar, excitedly. "Those are their mast lights. We will 追いつく them すぐに, now."

"And can you tell which is the 旗艦?" asked Grandon. "It will probably be on the ship of the leader that Her Majesty is 限定するd."

"I will be able to tell which is the 旗艦 when we get closer," replied Kantar, "by her lights."

"Good. As soon as you can do so, steer for the 旗艦. Make no noise, and perhaps we can get 船内に without 存在 seen. If we can do that—"

His speech was suddenly interrupted by a terrific shock, as the little boat, traveling through the inky 不明瞭 in which naught was 明白な except the dancing mast lights of the 著作権侵害者s, suddenly rammed a 抱擁する, solid 反対する, throwing both men into the 底（に届く） of the boat.

The 衝撃 was followed by a terrific roar, and the 前線 end of the fishing boat was 解除するd out of the water as easily as if it had been a floating 半導体素子, while Grandon and Kantar unable to see what they had struck, clung to such solid 反対するs as they could しっかり掴む and breathlessly を待つd the next move of the unseen monster.

3. — THE CUNNING OF SAN THOY

As San Thoy led Vernia to the cabin which had been 割り当てるd to her, his 広大な／多数の／重要な 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 注目する，もくろむs, with their cat-like pupils, appraised her in a manner which made her fearful.

"Beauteous white princess," he said, when they were out of earshot of Thid Yet and the group of 著作権侵害者s surrounding him, "you are surrounded by enemies, yet San Thoy would be your friend."

重さを計るing his look and words for a moment, Vernia asked:

"Just what do you mean?"

The slit pupils of his 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd, and this did not escape the 観察 of the Princess as he replied:

"I mean what I say, Majesty, in all 誠実. For the 広大な／多数の／重要な 尊敬（する）・点 and 賞賛 I 耐える his Majesty, your husband, I would befriend you."

"You know my husband?"

"Only through the echoes of his mighty 偉業／利用するs, which have 侵入するd even to Huitsen," he replied. "But one 勇敢に立ち向かう man admires another, and feels a 確かな kinship with him. For his sake 同様に as for your own, I would be of 援助 to you."

"In what way?"

"If you will give me your 十分な 信用 and co-操作／手術, I can help you to escape. If not, you will すぐに be sold into slavery to a human monster whose 虐待 of the women who 落ちる into his lascivious clutches has made him 悪名高い throughout the length and breadth of Zorovia."

"Who?"

"I am under orders not to divulge his 指名する, but we of the Huitsenni were 申し込む／申し出d an enormous sum in treasure and slaves for your 安全な 配達／演説／出産 to him. It was for this 推論する／理由 and no other that our Rogo decided to 勇敢に立ち向かう the 怒り／怒る of that mighty 闘士，戦闘機, your husband, and send a (n)艦隊／(a)素早い to 逮捕（する） you at the wild and lonely 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where the 秘かに調査するs of this licentious potentate had ascertained that you were but indifferently guarded."

"It seems strange that this dissolute 君主, whose 指名する I believe I can guess, did not send his own ruffians instead of 雇うing the Huitsenni," said Vernia.

"He 恐れるd the 力／強力にする of Reabon," replied San Thoy. "Any 証拠 which his own men might have left as to their presence on Reabonian 国／地域 would have led to war and the 必然的な 解散 of his empire. For who can stand against the mighty hosts of Reabon? But who could 非難する his perfectly 合法的な 活動／戦闘 were he to buy a beautiful white slave-girl from the Huitsenni? And even though she should 持続する that she were the Torroga of Reabon, what 負わせる has the word of a slave? A thousand beautiful slave-girls might make the same 主張 for their own advantage and 進歩, and he would be 合法的に 特権d to disbelieve them. The man who ordered your 逮捕（する）, Majesty, is as clever as he is lecherous."

Vernia, who was familiar with the international 法律s of Venus, knew 十分な 井戸／弁護士席 that no man could be held responsible under those 法律s for 購入（する）ing a slave. She knew, also, that it would be difficult to 設立する the fact in an international 法廷，裁判所 that he was cognizant of the 身元 of that slave, whose word would have no 合法的な 負わせる, and could be 疑問d by him with impunity.

"Just what," she asked, "is your price?"

"My price is but a trifle," he 答える／応じるd. "In fact, it is scarcely 価値（がある） について言及するing."

"指名する it."

"I should prefer to 救助（する） you first."

They were standing before the door to the cabin to which he had led her, and which he had not yet 打ち明けるd. Suddenly both saw Thid Yet, Romojak of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing a curve in the deck and coming toward them.

Quickly 打ち明けるing the door, San Thoy said:

"The Romojak comes. Go into your cabin, and I will call later."

Vernia stepped into a tiny cabin which 含む／封じ込めるd a sleeping shelf that 事業／計画（する）d from the 塀で囲む like the nest of a 洞穴 swallow, a small （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and a stool, both fastened to the 床に打ち倒す. A ewer and a small bowl for washing were 始める，決める in a niche in the 塀で囲む.

As the door の近くにd and the lock clicked behind her, she heard the approaching Thid Yet say:

"By what devious 大勝する did you take the 囚人 to her cabin, San Thoy, that she but entered it?"

"I stood and talked to her for a moment, to 元気づける her," replied San Thoy 謙虚に.

"To 元気づける her? Hal So this little beauty has 誘発するd your libidinous fancy! But it was to be 推定する／予想するd. Understand me, once and for all, San Thoy. This is no ありふれた slave-girl. Her 身代金 is the price of a mighty empire, and she must be 配達するd 無事の. Let me but 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う you, and you shall die —very slowly and very painfully—mojak though you be."

"You misapprehend, Excellency," 抗議するd San Thoy. "Because I have spent my hard earned treasure for a few slaves in the past, I pray you misjudge not my 意向s toward this one. I was moved to pity for her, that was all."

"You pity? Pah! Into your cabin with you, and lay our course that we may reach Huitsen as soon as possible. And do not forget my 警告."

A moment later, Vernia heard the door of the cabin which was next to hers, 激突する with unnecessary 暴力／激しさ, and after laving her 直面する and 手渡すs with scented water from the ewer, she lay 負かす／撃墜する on her sleeping-shelf to 残り／休憩（する）, and to 打ち勝つ the giddiness which the 激しく揺するing of the ship was beginning to induce. But bad as were the qualms of seasickness, they were as nothing as compared to her mental anguish, for she felt that only a 奇蹟 could save her. Although she had never been deceived by San Thoy's protestations of friendship, she had been half ready to believe that an 申し込む／申し出 of treasure might 勝利，勝つ his help. But the words of the Romojak had 完全に dissipated even that わずかな／ほっそりした hope.

Late that afternoon, San Thoy himself brought her food and a bowl of kova. Because of her sea-sickness she could not eat the food, but she drank the hot, steaming kova. すぐに thereafter, she began to feel unaccountably drowsy, and soon fell into a 深い sleep.

When she awakened, Vernia felt the （手先の）技術 beneath her lurching and pitching violently. She put out a 手渡す for the light switch, but there was 非，不，無. Instead, her 手渡す 遭遇（する）d the wet gunwale of a small boat, in the 底（に届く） of which she was lying. She sat up, and the salt spray ぱらぱら雨d her 直面する. Far away, she saw a number of mast lights twinkling in the 不明瞭. A short bulky 人物／姿／数字 ぼんやり現れるd up before her.

"Who are you?" she asked in terror. "Where are you taking me?"

"Have no 恐れる, Majesty" mouthed the 人物／姿／数字. "It is San Thoy that has 救助（する）d you."

"You drugged me."

"For your own sake, Majesty. You might さもなければ have made an 激しい抗議 when I （機の）カム to carry you off, thus 誘発するing the ship and 敗北・負かすing your 救助（する）."

"And you will take me 支援する to Reabon at once?"

"In the morning. Tonight we must 捜し出す 避難所. The surface of the Azpok 群れているs with 猛烈な／残忍な and mighty monsters, which by day 捜し出す their dark lairs in the ocean's depths. Night travel in a small boat is 極端に dangerous. Hark! I hear the breakers now. The island is not far off."

Steering 完全に by the sounds that （機の）カム to him—for nothing was 明白な in the pitchy blackness—San Thoy brought the little 帆船 through にわか景気ing breakers which evidently covered a 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 or sunken 暗礁, and into comparatively 静める water. It was not long after that the keel rasped on a gravelly shore.

Leaping into the shallow water, the 著作権侵害者 dragged the boat high up on the beach. Then he furled the sail, and taking Vernia by the 手渡す said:

"Come. I will take you to a place where you may spend the night 安全に. In the morning, I will call for you and take you to Reabon."

"You will be 井戸／弁護士席 rewarded," replied Vernia. "I will 二塁打 the 身代金 which was 申し込む／申し出d for me and 追加する to it a thousand kantols of land, and purple of a nobleman for life."

"Your Majesty is generous," said San Thoy, "but then I have 削減（する） myself off from my own people, 所有物／資産／財産, and position, ーするために 影響 your 救助（する）."

He led her up a 狭くする winding path, where leaves, dripping with the night dew, 小衝突d her 直面する and 団体／死体. Presently they （機の）カム to a small （疑いを）晴らすing.

San Thoy fumbled with a latch for a moment, and then opened a door. He 解放（する）d Vernia's 手渡す, and struck a light with the small 炎上 製造者 which he carried. When he had lighted a たいまつ that hung from a bracket on the 塀で囲む, Vernia saw that they were in a tiny cabin which 含む／封じ込めるd a sleeping shelf, a 天然のまま （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, three 議長，司会を務めるs, some utensils, and a place for cooking beside which 燃料 was piled.

"I will light the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 for you, that you may 乾燥した，日照りの your 着せる／賦与するing," said San Thoy. "Then I will brew kova."

Vernia seated herself on one of the 議長，司会を務めるs, and watched the 幅の広い, greasy 支援する of the 著作権侵害者 as he squatted before the 解雇する／砲火／射撃. When he had it 炎ing brightly, he took a kettle and went outside for water. Returning, he dropped in some kova roots which he 設立する on a shelf beside the fireplace, and soon had it boiling. As Vernia watched, she wondered if his 意向s were as magnanimous as he pretended, or if he were as perfidious as the words of his 指揮官 暗示するd. So far, his impassive features had betrayed nothing. Only time would tell.

Presently, he placed a 議長，司会を務める before the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 for her, that she might 乾燥した，日照りの her 着せる／賦与するs, and 注ぐd her a bowl of steaming kova. While she slowly sipped the hot, 刺激するing （水以外の）飲料, he 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd off bowl after bowl until the マリファナ was empty and another had been 始める，決める to brewing. She noticed that with each bowl, the slits in his 一連の会議、交渉／完成する 注目する，もくろむs became more bestial. San Thoy was drunk.

When the second マリファナ of kova was ready, the 著作権侵害者 申し込む／申し出d to refill Vernia's bowl, but she 拒絶する／低下するd. He leered a little as he refilled his own, and it was not long before the second had gone the way of the first. Then San Thoy 抽出するd a kerra pod from his belt pouch, and, breaking it open, emptied the red contents into his toothless mouth.

For a while he mumbled the 麻薬, expectorating thin streams of scarlet juice into the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 from time to time, and muttering drunkenly to himself as they hissed の中で the hot embers.

Presently he arose, and unclasping a belt which held his tork, scarbo, and knife, hung it on a peg on the 塀で囲む. Then he stretched his 武器 and yawned hideously, the red juice trickling from the corners of his flabby mouth, and staining his greasy chin.

"My dear," he said thickly, "it is time to retire. May your humble servant 補助装置 you to disrobe?"

With this he lurched unsteadily toward her.

Panic stricken, Vernia jumped up and placed the 議長，司会を務める between herself and the 前進するing 著作権侵害者.

"支援する!" she said. "Go 支援する! Don't you dare touch me!"

"There, there," he said, still 前進するing. "Do not be 脅すd. I will not 傷つける you."

Only the 議長，司会を務める and two feet of space separated them now. Suddenly 掴むing the 議長，司会を務める, he 投げつけるd it to one 味方する and flung out both 武器 to しっかり掴む her. She leaped 支援する, and his 武器 embraced empty 空気／公表する. But now she was cornered. She looked longingly at the 武器s hanging on the peg, but between her and them was San Thoy.

Half crouching, 武器 spread, he 前進するd toward her. Suddenly he sprang like a beast of prey. Then like 鎮圧するing 禁止（する）d of steel his greasy 武器 encircled her. His grinning, lecherous features were の近くに to hers, leering 負かす／撃墜する at her.

"Little she-marmelot!" he said. "Think you that you can resist San Thoy, who has subdued a thousand slave-girls?"

She struggled 猛烈に, striking and clawing at the bestial 直面する, squirming and kicking with all her strength, but to no avail.

With a laugh of exultation, he 選ぶd her up, and carrying her to the sleeping shelf, flung her 負かす／撃墜する upon it.

4. — A TREACHEROUS SHOAL

The monster with which Grandon's fishing boat had 衝突する／食い違うd in the 不明瞭 was evidently not of the belligerent type, for it 潜水するd, nearly 押し寄せる／沼地ing them, before they 達成するd an even keel.

But they were not yet out of danger. Kantar the Gunner suddenly called to Grandon that the boat had sprung a 漏れる as a result of the 衝突／不一致, and was filling 速く.

"Then steer for the ship in the 中心 of the 騎兵大隊, and let us hope that it's the 旗艦," said Grandon. "I'll 列／漕ぐ／騒動 and 保釈（金）. It's our only chance."

With the strong 一打／打撃s of Grandon 補助装置ing the sail of the swift little 大型船, they were able to 伸び（る） 速く on the ship which was at the apex of the wedge-形態／調整d 騎兵大隊. As they drew 近づく it, Kantar called:

"It is the 旗艦, Majesty."

"Good. 保存する 絶対の silence 今後," replied Grandon. "If possible, we must get 船内に her without 存在 （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd."

Presently they （機の）カム の近くに enough to hear the sounds of conversation and people moving about. Yet, their boat went unnoticed because the mast lights of the 旗艦 cast little 照明 in their direction. The powerful サーチライト beams of the ship were directed ahead, as were those of the ships which 側面に位置するd it on either 味方する.

And they （機の）カム up under the 厳しい of the 著作権侵害者 大型船 without attracting attention. By this time their boat was half-filled with water, and にもかかわらず Grandon's 保釈（金）ing was likely to 沈む at any moment.

Hanging from two pulleys high above them were the two chains with which the rudder was turned from the steersman's cabin in the 前線 of the ship.

"You climb one chain," directed Grandon, "while I go up the other. We are of nearly the same 負わせる, so if we climb at the same time each will counterbalance the other, and the steersman may not notice anything amiss."

Leaping out の上に the rudder, Grandon 掴むd the chain on the 味方する opposite them. At the same moment, Kantar しっかり掴むd the chain next to the boat, and the two went up, を引き渡す 手渡す. Just as Kantar left the little boat, the gunwales went under, and before they had gotten half-way up the chains her masthead disappeared from 見解（をとる）. They had reached the 旗艦 just in time.

Together the two men went over the railing, each 製図／抽選 his scarbo as he did so. A 選び出す／独身 watchman stood between them, but before he had time even to touch a 武器, a thrust from one 味方する and a 削減（する） from the other, laid him low.

The two heaved the 団体／死体 overboard.

"Now," said Grandon grimly, "we'll search the ship."

But scarcely had the words left his mouth when there was a cry from the masthead.

"Enemies on board! Two tall strangers on the after deck. They have 殺害された the guard."

The 警戒／見張り leveled his tork at them, and a 弾丸 後援d the deck between them. He continued to 解雇する／砲火／射撃, but fortunately the light was not good. The two men quickly 設立する a 一時的な 避難 by dodging into an empty 後部 cabin.

"This is a 罠（にかける）," said Grandon. "We can't remain here."

"And yet it would make a good place to take a stand," replied Kantar.

But the 決定／判定勝ち（する） was not left to them, for the door suddenly burst open, and a yellow 著作権侵害者 leaped in, yelling like a demon. In one 手渡す he しっかり掴むd a long, 激しい knife, and in the other a scarbo which he sought to use.

Grandon quickly silenced him with a thrust to the throat, but his place was すぐに taken by two more. Others 圧力（をかける）d behind, eager for a chance at the 侵入者s.

Grandon and Kantar, however, were a pair difficult to best with blades of any sort, and it was not long before the 床に打ち倒す in 前線 of them was piled high with 団体／死体s of their 敵s. But suddenly a 発言する／表明する called an order from without, and the men, in the 厚い of the 戦う／戦い, turned and withdrew without a sound, leaving the two alone in the room.

As Kantar turned with a 尋問 look in his 注目する，もくろむs, Grandon saw a small glass globe 投げつけるd into the room. 衝突，墜落ing against the 塀で囲む behind them, it 粉々にするd into a thousand tiny fragments. In a moment, Grandon was conscious of an intensely acrid odor. The room whirled. Kantar slid to the 床に打ち倒す. The room whirled. Then blackness.

The 影響s of the gas in the tiny globe were evidently but momentary, for when Grandon once more 回復するd his senses he was 存在 解除するd from the cabin 床に打ち倒す by two 著作権侵害者s. The dead 団体／死体s of their yellow 対抗者s had been 除去するd, and Kantar was 存在 led out of the room, without his 武器s, and with his 手渡すs tied behind his 支援する. Grandon moved his 武器, and 設立する them securely fastened.

An officer in the uniform of a mojak ordered them brought 今後 and into a large cabin at the 前線 of the ship. An officer whose uniform 布告するd him Romojak of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い was seated at a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, sipping kova.

"Whom have we here, San Thoy?" asked the Romojak, as the two 囚人s were brought before him. "It appears that we have 逮捕（する）d a 王室の 囚人, if the taller one rightfully wears the scarlet."

"He does, Excellency," replied San Thoy, "for I 認める him from his description as Grandon of Terra, Torrogo of Reabon."

"Small wonder, then, that our 軍人s were mowed 負かす／撃墜する like frella grass at 収穫," said the Romojak. "Few men can 直面する him with a scarbo and live!" He arose and 屈服するd to Grandon. "I am 栄誉（を受ける）d, Your Majesty," he said, "by your 予期しない visit to my humble ship. Now that you are here, I 信用 that you and your 軍人 will remain as our guests."

"Who are you, you yellow knave?" 需要・要求するd Grandon, "and what have you done with the Torroga of Reabon?"

The Romojak returned his haughty look.

"I am Thid Yet, Romojak of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs of Huitsen," he answered with 誇張するd deference, "and Your 皇室の Majesty, of the Torroga of Reabon, I know 絶対 nothing. If you 捜し出す her here, you have been misinformed as to her どの辺に."

"I see that you are as 技術d in the art of lying as in that of 誘拐," said Grandon. "But listen to me. You Huitsenni have gone unpunished for many 世代s. You shall not escape this time. 反して Huitsen is now an unsavory word, when the (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs of Reabon have done, it will be but a stinking memory—except on one 条件."

"Your 脅しs do not impress me but," said Thid Yet, "I will 問い合わせ the 条件 out of 儀礼.

"That you すぐに place my wife, my 軍人, and myself 安全に 支援する on Reabonian 国／地域."

"I can only repeat," said Thid Yet, "that I know nothing whatever of the どの辺に of your wife. As for placing you and your 兵士 安全に 支援する upon Reabonian 国／地域, we shall be delighted to do this for you. This, however, would entail some expense and no slight danger to us, and as you （機の）カム 船内に our ship unbidden, we feel that it is only fair that we should be reimbursed to the slight extent of, say, a hundred thousand white slaves, young and strong, and a million keds of gold."

"What! You asked the price of an empire to 始める，決める us 岸に," exclaimed Kantar, "and a hundred thousand slaves besides?"

"One does not 始める，決める a Torrogo of Reabon 岸に every day," replied Thid Yet with a toothless grin.

"始める，決める my wife 岸に with us, 無事の, and I will 支払う／賃金 you two million keds of gold," said Grandon. "The second million is in lieu of the hundred thousand slaves, a 商品／必需品 in which I do not care to traffic."

Thid Yet grinned again.

"I'm afraid I shall have to ask you to be our guests for an 不明確な／無期限の period of time. Show them to the guest 議会s, San Thoy."

Grandon and Kantar were hustled out of the cabin, and along the deck to a hatchway 主要な into the 持つ／拘留する. 負かす／撃墜する this they were lowered like freight, and each was 掴むd by a grinning yellow buccaneer.

"To the guest 議会s," ordered San Thoy, and strolled away.

The two new guards hustled the 囚人s along a dimly lighted passageway, threw them with their 手渡すs still bound behind them, into a small, evil-smelling room, and の近くにd and bolted the door after them.

Flung violently into the room, Grandon's 長，率いる 衝突する／食い違うd with one of the stalwart ribs which を締めるd the ship's 味方するs, dazing him momentarily. He was brought 支援する to 十分な consciousness by Kantar calling to him.

"Are you 傷つける Majesty?"

"A bit dazed," replied Grandon, "but I'll be all 権利 in a moment. And you?"

"Only bruised a little."

"Then come over here and let me see if I can loose your 社債s. We must get out some way and search the ship."

Soon the two men were seated on the damp, filthy 床に打ち倒す, 支援する to 支援する, and Grandon was working 猛烈に at the 社債s which held Kantar's wrists. 開始 the tight knots which the yellow sailors had tied would have been no 平易な 仕事 even with his 注目する，もくろむs to guide him and his 手渡すs 解放する／自由な. But he worked 根気よく, doggedly, until at length a knot was opened. Soon a second 産する／生じるd, and Kantar, with an exclamation of 救済, chafed his numbed wrists for a moment, then 速く began the 仕事 of 解放（する）ing Grandon's 手渡すs. This took いっそう少なく time, as the gunner could work with his 手渡すs in 前線 of him.

When Grandon had 回復するd the 循環／発行部数 to his wrists, he tried the door. It was of 厚い planking, and bolted so tightly that he could not budge it, but the planks, after having been fastened together, had evidently shrunk a little, as there were 狭くする 割れ目s between them and on each 味方する between door and でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる.

Kantar 診察するd the lock, and said:

"If I only had a knife I could 解除する that bolt and open the door."

"Unfortunately," replied Grandon, "we have no knife, nor have we anything which will answer for one. It is possible, however, that we can get the guard to open the door."

"How?"

"By pretending that one of us is 殺人，大当り the other. Dead 囚人s are of no use to the Huitsenni. Let us first make believe that we are quarreling. You will 嘘（をつく） on the 床に打ち倒す with your 手渡すs behind you as if they were still bound. First we will quarrel, then you will 強くたたく on the 床に打ち倒す with your 手渡すs and shout that you are 存在 kicked to death. Let us try it."

Kantar accordingly took his place on the 床に打ち倒す, while Grandon stood where he would be behind the door when it was opened, and looked out into the hallway. As soon as the guard approached, he raised his 発言する／表明する and began 乱用ing Kantar with choice Patoan epithets, 告発する／非難するing him of having gotten him into the 捨てる, and 脅すing to kill him then and there.

Kantar replied, 明らかに pleading for 温和／情状酌量, and Grandon saw the guard pause outside and listen with a 幅の広い grin on his 直面する. But when Kantar began 強くたたくing on the 床に打ち倒す with the palm of his 手渡す and shouting that he was 存在 killed, the 表現 on the guard's 直面する grew serious, and he quickly opened the door.

Scarcely had he stepped inside when Grandon sprang. 掴むing him from behind with a strangle 持つ／拘留する, he jerked the guard backward, shutting off his 勝利，勝つd. At the same time, Kantar stood up and 静かに 奪うd him of his 武器s.

"の近くに the door, Kantar, until we talk to this fellow," said Grandon.

"Now," said the Earthman, when the gunner had 従うd, "we want to know where her Majesty of Reabon is 拘留するd. If you go with us 静かに and show us the place, you will live. If not, you will die. Nod your 長，率いる if you agree."

The guard, whose 発言する／表明する was 完全に shut off, nodded weakly, and Grandon 緩和するd the 持つ／拘留する on his throat, permitting him to breathe once more.

"Give me the scarbo, Kantar," said Grandon, "and 保持する the tork and knife for yourself. Keep a good 持つ／拘留する on the fellow's harness, and do not hesitate to use your knife if he makes one move to betray us."

"In such an event I will use it with 広大な／多数の／重要な 楽しみ, Majesty," said Kantar grimly.

Carefully 開始 the door, Grandon peered out. There was no one in the hallway.

"Where is the other guard?" he asked their 捕虜.

"He patrols the 今後 回廊（地帯）, Majesty," replied the guard respectfully. "It is connected with this one by two smaller 回廊（地帯）s that 支店 around the central hatchway. He does not come into this 回廊（地帯） except at my call."

"Good. Then lead us to the Princess by the safest 大勝する. And remember, if we are discovered through fault of yours, you die."

Thus admonished, the 完全に cowed guard led them to a ladder which descended into the 回廊（地帯） from the 味方する, and with Kantar gripping his harness with one 手渡す and his keen knife with the other, softly 上がるd. They （機の）カム on deck 近づく the 厳しい and 静かに made their way 今後, keeping in the 影をつくる／尾行する of the cabins in order not to be 観察するd by the 警戒／見張り at the masthead.

They had covered about half the distance to the 今後 cabin for which they were 長，率いるd, when Grandon suddenly noticed a short, 厚い-始める，決める individual who had 明らかに just 現れるd from one of the cabins, carrying a bundle in his 武器 and hurrying toward one of the four small boats slung on this 味方する of the （手先の）技術.

After placing the bundle, which was nearly as long as himself, in the boat, the fellow, whom Grandon now 認めるd as San Thoy, climbed in himself and 速く lowered the little （手先の）技術 to the water by means of the two ropes which passed through pulleys 一時停止するd on davits. He and his two companions flattened themselves against the cabin 塀で囲む until the small boat had disappeared from 見解（をとる） over the rail—then went 今後 once more.

Presently their conductor stopped before a door and whispered:

"This is her cabin."

While Kantar watched their guide, Grandon tried the cabin door, and finding it 打ち明けるd, stepped inside. By the rays of the tiny 総計費 light which illuminated the little room, he could see at a ちらりと見ること that it was 砂漠d. His brow clouded, and it would have gone ill with the yellow man who had led him to this cabin had he not noticed something on the 床に打ち倒す which glinted in the light. He 選ぶd it up, and 認めるd it 即時に as one of the jewels from Vernia's coiffure.

Stepping out of the cabin once more, he 掴む the guard's shoulder in a 支配する of アイロンをかける.

"She is not here," he said, 厳しく, and raised his scarbo as if he were about to lay the fellow's 長，率いる open.

"Spare me, Majesty," implored the yellow man. "This was her cabin. I 断言する it."

"Then how do you explain her absence: Speak quickly if you would live?"

"I see it all, Majesty," said the guard suddenly. "We are too late!"

"Too late? What do you mean?"

"Your Majesty saw San Thoy with the bundle—San Thoy the debauched —who spends all his 収入s for beautiful slave girls. He would dare much to 所有する the most beautiful woman of Zorovia."

"Then we will follow San Thoy," said Grandon, "and you will go with us. Perhaps you can give us an idea where he has gone. To the nearest boat, Kantar, and use your tork if the 警戒／見張り sees us."

"He will not see us, Majesty," said the guard. "Of that I am sure, as San Thoy must have seen to it that he is either drugged or dead—probably the latter."

True to the 予測 of the yellow guard, there was no alarm from the masthead, nor from any other part of the ship as they lowered the boat to the water and cast off. It was equipped with a small sail, which they raised as soon as the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い was far enough away to make it improbable that it would be 観察するd.

"Now," said Grandon, "which way do you think San Thoy sailed?"

"I can not be sure," replied the guard, "But the nearest land is the Island of the Valkars. It has a small cove, accessible in a small boat, where the Huitsenni often stop for fresh water, and where hey have 築くd a small but strong 避難所 into which they may retire if surprised by a large 軍隊 of the terrible inhabitants of the place. It may be that he has gone to this 避難所 for the night, ーするつもりであるing to 乗る，着手する for some safer place tomorrow."

"Can you guide us to it?"

"I can but try, Majesty. I am no 航海士 like San Thoy, who can probably 勝利，勝つ 安全に across the shoals into the cove without even the 援助（する） of a light. But the island is a large one, and I know the general direction. If I steer 適切に we should reach some part of its rugged coast in a short time."

"Then," said Kantar, grimly, "see that you steer 適切に if you would live to see tomorrow's light."

The mast lights of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い were twinkling faintly in the distance as the yellow man took the tiller, and swinging it around 始める，決める his course. After taking the 警戒 of 安全な・保証するing his 囚人's ankles with a piece of rope, Kantar sat 負かす／撃墜する a short distance ahead of him and managed to sail, while Grandon kept watch in the 前線 of the （手先の）技術.

They had not traveled far before the にわか景気 of breakers sounded ahead.

"There is the Island of the Valkars," said the 囚人, "But I know not how to find the cove. If we should try to land anywhere else we would be almost 確かな either to be dashed to pieces on the rugged shore or sunk by the jagged teeth of one of the many hidden 暗礁s which circle the island. If we do land in safety, we may be 始める，決める upon in the 不明瞭 by the Valkars, and carried away to be devoured."

"What are these Valkars?" asked Grandon.

"I, who have sailed every ocean of Zorovia, have never seen creatures more horrible." said the yellow man. Endowed with human 知能, they 製造（する） and use 武器s and 器具／実施するs of metal, yet they are not human, nor even mammalian. They are amphibians. Twice we fought them off when we landed for water. I was a member of the 上陸 party. Although we より数が多いd them each time, we lost several men in each 約束／交戦. Some were torn to pieces and devoured before our 注目する，もくろむs. Others of our 殺害された and 負傷させるd were carried away.

"But that was not all. After our ship had left the island に引き続いて the first 約束／交戦 with the Valkars, those of our men who had been stabbed, 削減（する）, bitten, or scratched in the 戦う／戦い, though ever so わずかに, began dying horrible deaths. Our mojak, who was wiser than most, had one of our Valkar 囚人s 殺害された, and によれば an 古代の custom, ordered every man who had received so much as a scratch to either drink a 減少（する） of its 血 or eat a mouthful of its flesh. The men who 従うd with this order in time lived, but we did not know the 推論する／理由 until later.

"We took two 逮捕（する）d Valkars to Huitsen, where they were 診察するd by our most learned scientists. They 設立する that these creatures secrete a venom from （分泌する為の）腺s in their mouths, and before going into 戦う／戦い, smear their 武器s and claws with it. In their 血, however, is a 実体, a small 量 of which 中和する／阻止するs the 影響 of the venom. Because they were venomous, they 明らかに thought we were, also, and it was evidently for that 推論する／理由 that some of our men were torn to pieces on the 戦場 and their fragments 分配するd の中で and devoured by our enemies."

While they were talking, Grandon had been 緊張するing his 注目する，もくろむs into the 不明瞭 before them. Suddenly he exclaimed:

"I see a light dead ahead!"

"Then I have steered better than I could have hoped," said the yellow 著作権侵害者, "for it must be the light from the cabin in the cove. We will be there すぐに if we can pass through the shoals 無傷の."

He 始める，決める his course dead ahead, asking Grandon to watch the light and direct him, as he was unable to see it from the 厳しい on account of the sail. This Grandon did, and was 大いに mystified as he watched, for although the light had seemed to be not more than a mile away when he first saw it, and they continued to sail 速く toward it, it did not 増加する in brightness or 明らかな nearness. It seemed to have an unnatural, phosphorescent gleam, also, that would scarcely be 推定する／予想するd to come from a cabin light.

The breakers roared louder and louder as they 進歩d. Suddenly their 船体 ちらりと見ることd from a 潜水するd 激しく揺する, 捨てるd a second, and 粉砕するd, 長，率いる on, into a third. There was a （判決などを）下すing 衝突，墜落 as the little （手先の）技術 swung half around, buffeted by the waves for a moment before a 抱擁する roller （海，煙などが）飲み込むd her.

Just beyond the 背信の shoal, two men struggled 猛烈に in the boiling, seething water, in an 成果／努力 to reach the shore. But the third had gone 負かす／撃墜する, never to rise again.

5. — THE TOAD PEOPLE

Panting ひどく from his exertions, San Thoy leaned gloatingly over Vernia, lying where he had thrown her on the sleeping shelf. But his look of exultation suddenly turned to one of amazement. She had drawn 支援する her feet and 工場／植物d the heel in his solar plexus with such 軍隊 that he staggered 支援する across the little cabin, gasping for breath, until tripped by a 議長，司会を務める and thrown to the 床に打ち倒す.

She did not wait to see what he would do, but sprang to her feet and dashed out of the cabin. But San Thoy was 異常に agile for a man of his rotund build, and she had not taken ten steps beyond the door of the cabin before he was up and after her.

Bounding off into the 不明瞭 with no sense of direction, and no thought in mind save that of escaping the pursuer from whose clutches she had just broken, Vernia suddenly became conscious of many pairs of gleaming 注目する，もくろむs. 反映するing the light from the open door, they seemed to be looking at her from the surrounding 不明瞭.

With a little 叫び声をあげる of terror, she 停止（させる）d in her 跡をつけるs, and San Thoy, uttering a cry of 勝利, leaped 今後 to 再度捕まえる her. But a keen barbed hook on the end of a long 政治家 suddenly 発射 out from the 不明瞭 at his 権利, and as it pierced his shoulder, his shout of 勝利 became an agonized shriek. It jerked him backward, so that his feet flew from under him and he sat 負かす／撃墜する with かなりの 暴力／激しさ.

At the same time, a 激しい 団体／死体 （機の）カム hurtling through the 空気／公表する and landed on two webbed feet in 前線 of Vernia. It was about the 高さ of a large man, and stood 築く on two 屈服するd 脚s with its toes turned so far outward that the two feet, with the heels together, were almost in line. The 団体／死体 was 厚い and 激しい, and covered with 規模s in 前線. On the 支援する and 味方するs these 規模s were interspersed with 抱擁する bumps, which were also in 証拠 on the 支援するs of the upper and lower 四肢s and on the 長，率いる. The mouth was an enormous slit which reached nearly from ear to ear, 武装した with saw-like 山の尾根s of jaw bone in lieu of teeth. The 注目する，もくろむs were large and 始める，決める in bony sockets that protruded above the cheek bones. Like the feet, the 手渡すs were webbed and 武装した with sharp claws.

Thus the creature which stood before Vernia might have been nothing more than a very large and ferocious looking toad. But the fact that it carried 武器s—a 政治家 with a hook on the end like that which had impaled San Thoy, and a mace with a curved 法案 which hung by a thong from its wrist —and that it wore a belt in which a large knife was thrust, made it evident that this was no ありふれた toad. It was infinitely more formidable and terrible than a creature with the mind 同様に as the 団体／死体 of a toad could have been. Its use of 武器s was 証拠 of an 知能 which was at least equal to that of the most 原始の men.

The creature uttered a hoarse croaking cry, and threw a 冷淡な scaly arm around Vernia's waist, slinging her over its shoulder with an 緩和する that bespoke enormous strength. After struggling 猛烈に for a moment, she realized the futility of 試みる／企てるing to 炭坑，オーケストラ席 her strength against that of the monster, and lay still.

As if it had been a signal or a call, the sound made by her captor brought a 得点する／非難する／２０ of the creatures circling around them, all 武装した like the first. The beast that had 逮捕（する）d San Thoy unhooked him without any attention to his cries of anguish, and threw him, writhing and moaning, over its warty shoulder. Then the entire group, led by Vernia's captor, marched away.

As it was pitch dark after they left the 周辺 of the lighted cabin, Vernia was unable to see where they were going. She 裁判官d, however, from the movements of her captor, that they were 横断するing some exceedingly rugged country. Presently, this gave way to marshy lowlands through which the toad men leaped and splashed, then to firmer ground covered with tall, coarse grass that 小衝突d against Vernia as she was carried through it.

When the coming of the 夜明け made it possible for her to see, she 設立する herself in the 中央 of a city of low, moss-covered 塚s. In each of these 塚s, a 穴を開ける on the ground level, about three feet in 直径, served as a doorway, and from most of the doorways the 抱擁する 問い合わせing 注目する，もくろむs of the inhabitants peeped 慎重に out at the 囚人s as they were 存在 brought in.

Many of the other creatures which were moving about the place paused to 星／主役にする at Vernia, as if they had never seen any one of her race before. San Thoy, it appeared, was of a race which they had 以前 seen. At least he did not attract nearly so much attention.

A shallow, 不振の stream with muddy 底（に届く） meandered through the 中心 of the village, and seated on its banks or partly 潜水するd in its leisurely flowing water, a number of the creatures dozed languidly.

The adult creatures on the bank and in the water, Vernia noticed, were all 女性（の）s—smaller than the males, and if possible more hideous. But hopping and はうing around them, and swimming in the muddy water, were hundreds of youngsters, 明らかに newly hatched, and 非，不，無 over eight インチs tall.

Her captor chancing to walk やめる 近づく the bank with her, Vernia saw, with some surprise, that the placidly dozing 女性（の）s were there for a 目的 that of ハッチング their young; for she saw one of the large lumps on the 支援する of the nearest 女性（の） burst open, and an 幼児, after 宙返り／暴落するing out into the mud, made straight for the water and dove in. Its mother paid no attention whatever to the 出来事/事件, nor did she so much as turn to look at her offspring. Several other lumps on her 支援する had already burst open, and she was waiting for the 残り／休憩（する） to do the same.

Presently her captor left the bank of the stream, and after threading many pathways between the 非常に／多数の 塚s, stopped before a 塚 which was much larger than any of the others and appeared to be in the very heart of the city. It had a number of 入り口s but her captor chose the largest, and stopping, walked through it into a large, domelike room which was lighted by a peculiar, phosphorescent radiance that gave everything a 恐ろしい greenish 色合い. This peculiar light （機の）カム from 巨大な writhing glow-worms 一時停止するd on chains 総計費. The 空気／公表する of the place was filled with a musty stench, 類似の to that which Vernia had noticed outside, but here so strong as to be almost overpowering.

Her captor swung her 負かす／撃墜する from his warty shoulders, and 始める，決める her on her feet. Then she was whirled around to 直面する a creature much more repulsive looking than the one that had 逮捕（する）d her. It was squatting on the slimy cap of a gray toadstool 始める，決める against the 後部 塀で囲む, 星／主役にするing at her with its goggling, gold-rimmed 注目する，もくろむs. Its scaly hide draped its 団体／死体 in wrinkled 倍のs, and there was about it a look of 乾燥した，日照りのd-up emaciation, as if it were very old and partly mummified.

One taloned 手渡す held a 抱擁する mace with a curved 法案. The other toyed with the hilt of a long, curved knife that hung from a 大規模な chain girdling the monster's middle.

On either 味方する of the fungoid 王位 占領するd by the hideous creature was a yellow man of Huitsen, standing with 倍のd 武器 in the 態度 of a slave. These two 著作権侵害者s, 捕虜s of the toad people and evidently in 出席 to the repulsive thing which seemed to be in 当局, were やめる filthy, and 着せる／賦与するd in a few tattered rags which had once been 衣料品s. Both leered at the beautiful 捕虜 with their cat-like 注目する，もくろむs, and grinned toothlessly.

After 星／主役にするing at her for fully five minutes, the squat monster on the toadstool rolled its gold rimmed 注目する，もくろむs toward the yellow man who stood at its 権利, and emitted a 早い succession of hoarse, にわか景気ing croaks.

Much to Vernia's surprise the man replied in a human approximation of the same sounds—evidently the language of the toad people. Then he 演説（する）／住所d Vernia. "His Majesty wishes to know your 指名する, and whence you （機の）カム," he said in Patoa.

Vernia raised her eyebrows: "His Majesty! Do you 言及する to that croaking monster?"

"I 言及する to Grunk, Rogo of the Valkars. On this island his wish is 法律. It will be wise for you to answer his question."

"Tell him that I am Vernia, Torroga of Reabon," she directed, "and that he will be richly rewarded if I am returned, 無事の, to my people."

For several minutes the toad 支配者 and the yellow man carried on a croaking conversation. Then the latter 演説（する）／住所d Vernia once more.

"His Majesty knows nothing of rewards, nor is he 関心d with them," said he. "It was difficult for me to 伝える the idea to him in the Valkar language, and even then it did not impress him. He is 利益／興味d in you for one 推論する／理由, and that is because you are the first human 女性（の） his 軍人s have ever 逮捕（する）d. A number of the Huitsenni, who stop at this island for fresh water, have been 逮捕（する）d and enslaved from time to time by the toad people. As we are more skillful than they in 採掘 and smelting metals and the 製造（する） of 武器s, 道具s, chains, and ornaments, they 始める，決める us at these 仕事s. They 認める, also that some of us have superior cunning, I, Hui Sen, and my brother, Lui Sen, are 保持するd for that 推論する／理由 as counsellors for the rogo. We try to do our work 井戸／弁護士席, for as long as we 証明する useful we will be kept alive. But if our work displeases Grunk, we will either be killed and eaten by the Valkars or fed to Sistabez."

"And who is Sistabez?"

"The deity of the Toad People. They think him a god, though he is only a snake—an 巨大な serpent who must be at least a thousand years old, for he has 生き延びるd many 世代 of Valkars. As far 支援する as Valkar tradition goes, Sistabez has lived in his 洞穴 in the 山腹, 現れるing at 正規の／正選手 intervals when hungry. At such times living sacrifices are fed to him in order to keep him from （警察の）手入れ，急襲ing the village, which he has done several times when sacrifices were not brought 敏速に.

"いつかs he devours but one 犠牲者. At other times he is not 満足させるd with いっそう少なく than three or four. When he is seen 現れるing from his 洞穴, guards sound the alarm, and a 犠牲者 is chained to a 火刑／賭ける in his path. A second 犠牲者 is chained さらに先に 負かす／撃墜する the pathway, and a third still さらに先に. He may devour only the first, or perhaps the first and second, but いつかs he comes on and devours the third. If he turns 支援する to his 洞穴 then, all is 井戸／弁護士席. If not, a fourth 犠牲者 is chained in his pathway. Never has he been known to devour more than four 犠牲者s at one meal, but woe be to the Valkars if he becomes angry, for then he will wantonly 殺す hundreds before returning to his lair."

Once more, Hui Sen turned and deferentially 演説（する）／住所d Grunk in the croaking language. For some time the Rogo of the Valkars made no reply, but continued to 星／主役にする at Vernia with his 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, gold-rimmed 注目する，もくろむs. Then, 明らかに having come to some 決定／判定勝ち（する）, he croaked an order to the yellow slave.

"His Majesty," said Hui Sen, "has decided to 保持する you alive that you may serve the 目的 for which 女性（の）s were created, and thus multiply the number of his slaves. Later, he will make some mental 実験（する）s の中で the slaves, to 決定する who shall be your mate."

Up to this moment, Vernia had 願望（する）d to live, hoping in the 直面する of despair that she might some day be 回復するd to Grandon. But as the significance of Hui Sen's words sank into her brain, her one 願望（する） was for 迅速な death. The hilt of her captor's knife 事業／計画（する）d invitingly before her. Suddenly turning, she whipped it from the sheath and drew it 支援する to 急落（する），激減（する） it into her bosom. But Lui Sen, standing beside the 王位, while いっそう少なく talkative than his brother, was more 観察するing, and the first to perceive her 意向. With a cat-like spring he alighted in 前線 of her, 掴むd her wrist, and wrenched the knife from her しっかり掴む. Then the Rogo croaked an order, and Vernia's captor dragged her out of the hut.

She was led through the village of moss covered 塚s, toward a large 塚 in the 中央 of an 広範囲にわたる enclosure, surrounded by a paling of metal 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s and guarded by 武装した Valkars. After 交流ing croaks with her conductor, one of the guards opened a gate and she was 押し進めるd into the enclosure. Here, several hundred Huitsenni slaves were at work, (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むing, sharpening, and polishing 武器s for their batrachian masters under the 監督 of 武装した Valkar overseers. The (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むs were hollowed 石／投石するs in which were beds of live coals. The bellows were the 肺s of 抱擁する Valkars, who blew through reed tubes which entered 穴を開けるs in the 底（に届く）s of the (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むs. The anvils were large, 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd 石／投石するs, at which the yellow 労働者s squatted as they 大打撃を与えるd out hooks, mace 長，率いるs, and knife blades.

The place was a bedlam—the clanking of metal, the roar of 炎上s, the croaks of the overseers, and the chatter of the slaves. The 床に打ち倒す of the enclosure was littered with filth and everywhere spattered with red kerra juice. The Valkars, though they did not use the 麻薬 themselves evidently believed that it made their human slaves more efficient, and kept them 井戸／弁護士席 供給（する）d with the pods 含む／封じ込めるing the red spores, which they mumbled from morning to night, and spat unbelievable 量s of reddened saliva all about them.

Other 労働者s were sharpening the knife blades, hook points and barbs, and mace 法案s, with rough 石／投石するs, and still others were polishing them with sand. The metal parts then went to the assemblers, where the knives and maces were fitted with 木造の 扱うs, and the hooks with long 軸s.

Sickened by the squalor of the place and 圧倒するd with horror at thought of the 運命／宿命 which Grunk, Rogo of the Valkars, planned for her, Vernia shrank 支援する against the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s of the enclosure. The yellow ex-著作権侵害者s seemed fully aware of Grunk's 意向s with regard to her, and raised lascivious 注目する，もくろむs from their work to drink in her beauty, the while they bandied coarse jests, and 推測するd as to who would be the lucky slave to draw this prize of feminine pulchritude for whom mighty emperors had 競うd in vain.

やめる 近づく her, a group of Huitsenni was 組み立てる／集結するing knives, 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing them into a central pile when finished. With one of these in her 所有／入手, she could 速く 敗北・負かす the 目的 of Grunk. It was only a few steps to the pile. Would they divine her 目的?

She decided that a circuitous 大勝する would be the least likely to make them 怪しげな. So she 始める，決める off first in the opposite direction, pausing to watch さまざまな groups of 労働者s as if 大いに 利益／興味d in what they were doing. The coarse jokes of each group 沈下するd as she drew 近づく each in turn. They were more than a little awed by the imminence of the Torroga of Reabon. And there were a number of egotistical creatures の中で them who strove to impress her with 試みる／企てるs at dignity and gentle 耐えるing.

Last of all, she approached the group of 労働者s surrounding the 速く 開始するing pile of knives. Casually, she 選ぶd up one of the finished 武器s as if to 診察する it. With a swift movement, she raised it aloft, 均衡を保った above her breast.

A greasy yellow 手渡す reached over her shoulder—掴むd her wrist and shook the knife from her しっかり掴む. Then a coarse laugh grated in her ear.

She spun around to 直面する the filthy and ragged Hui Sen. Evidently he had been stealthily に引き続いて her for some time.

"Come," he grinned toothlessly, 保持するing a tight 支配する on her wrist. "From now on you belong to me, for I am the Rogo's choice."

6. — THE DECEPTIVE LIGHT

As Grandon struggled in the seething water, he strove to look about him for some 調印する of Kantar the Gunner. But save for that phosphorescent luminescence which had 誘惑するd them の上に the 激しく揺するs, all was blackness.

"Kantar!" he shouted. "Kantar! Where are you?"

A big roller caught him unawares. Part of it he 吸い込むd. Strangling and choking, he 努力するd to rid his 拷問d 肺s of the smarting brine. All the time he was 存在 carried 速く toward that deceptive phosphorescence. The roar of the breakers grew deafening. He realized, then, that if Kantar had been within fifty feet of him when he shouted, he probably would not have heard his cry.

Presently his 手渡すs struck a sloping ledge of sharp 珊瑚. He drew himself up の上に it, and stood 築く. But a 巨大（な） comber knocked him flat, cutting his 手渡すs, 直面する, and 団体／死体 on the jagged 珊瑚. After that he はうd 今後 painfully. At length the 珊瑚 was 取って代わるd by rugged bits of 石／投石する, and finally by a はっきりと slanting beach where 共同のd sawtoothed reeds grew の中で outcroppings of 火山の 激しく揺する. For some time he 残り／休憩（する）d on a 厚板 of water- worn 溶岩, panting ひどく from his exertions. His 削減（する）s and scratches were （判決などを）下すd doubly painful by the salt water.

Presently he stood up. The phosphorescent light was not more than five hundred feet away, and it seemed to be slowly moving toward him in a rather erratic fashion. It lit up the waving reeds and brackish pools with a pale greenish white luminescence. As he watched, it stopped behind a clump of tall reeds.

Suddenly, between himself and the light he saw a human form sloshing through the pools. There was something familiar about the bedraggled 人物／姿／数字, and he 認めるd the gunner.

"Kantar!" he shouted, running 今後.

The 人物／姿／数字 splashed onward, unable to hear him because of the roar of the breakers. At a distance of a few feet he again shouted: "Kantar!" at the 最高の，を越す of his 発言する／表明する.

The gunner turned.

"Majesty!" he exclaimed. "I had thought you 溺死するd with that yellow 著作権侵害者. 賞賛する Thorth, you are alive!"

"We must find that but of the Huitsenni, quickly," said Grandon as he （機の）カム up. "Have you any idea where to look for it?"

"Our guide said there would be a light," replied Kantar. "I was about to 調査／捜査する this one."

"I saw it moving a moment ago," said Grandon. "I 疑問 that the cabin would be built in a salt 沼, or that a light in it would move about as this one has. Perhaps it is a light carried by one of the creatures the 著作権侵害者s called 'Valkars.' But it will do no 害（を与える） to 調査／捜査する."

慎重に they crept 今後 through the 沼, bending 負かす／撃墜する below the level of the waving reeds so that they would not be seen. Presently Kantar laid a 手渡す on Grandon's, arm, and exclaimed: "I see it, Majesty! Why, it's an enormous worm!"

Looking through the place where the gunner had parted the reeds, the Earthman saw a fat, grub-like creature about five feet in length. Its entire 団体／死体 glowed with a greenish white light. Leisurely it moved の中で the reeds, browsing on the water 工場／植物s that grew in the 底（に届く）s of the brackish pools.

乱すd at its feeding by the sound, the creature 後部d its luminous 長，率いる and 秘かに調査するd them. Arching its neck, it gnashed its mandibles threateningly.

"I wonder if that thing would 向こうずね as brightly dead as alive," said Grandon. "If so, it would be useful to us."

For answer, Kantar elevated the muzzle of his tork, and 圧力（をかける）ing the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing button, deftly sprayed a line of the needlelike 発射物s across the luminous throat.

削減（する） off as cleanly as if by a sword blade in the 手渡すs of an 専門家, the 長，率いる fell from the 団体／死体, which すぐに began writhing and thrashing about in the 急ぐs and shallow water.

"Neatly done, Gunner," commented Grandon. "Why the thing appears to be 向こうずねing more than ever! Now for a couple of たいまつs."

So 説, he whipped out his scarbo, and 前進するing to where the headless thing squirmed and floundered in the reeds, 削減（する） off two sections, each about a foot in length. Then, with two sharpened reeds which the thrust into the sections for 扱うs, he made a pair of たいまつs, each of which was 有能な of lighting up the 地形 for at least fifty feet in every direction.

Grandon passed one たいまつ to Kantar, and 持つ／拘留するing the other above his 長，率いる, 始める，決める off along the shore line in the hope of coming upon the cabin which their yellow 囚人 bad 述べるd, and where he believed they would find Vernia in the 力／強力にする of the unscrupulous San Thoy. But though they traveled as 速く as the rugged character of the shore line would 許す for the 残り／休憩（する） of the night, morning 夜明けd without their having reached their 客観的な.

With his scarbo, Grandon speared a large, spiny fish, left by the ebbing tide in a small pool. They cooked a 部分 of it over a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 of 乾燥した，日照りの reeds 点火（する）d by Grandon's 炎上 製造者. It was 堅い, bony, and rather tasteless, but a welcome meal, にもかかわらず, to the two hungry men.

As soon as they had breakfast, they 始める，決める off once more along the shore line. すぐに thereafter, the character of the 地形 underwent a decided change. The ground sloped 上向き, and instead of 沼 behind them, there was now a belt of fern forest. And the flat beach gave way to rugged 激しく揺する ledges, then 非常に高い cliffs, 着せる／賦与するd to their very 辛勝する／優位s with tree ferns, bush ferns, and many creeping and climbing varieties, 同様に as a few 種類 of cycads and other 原始の types. Here there grew in 豊富 the large Zorovian water ferns, the ribs of which 含む／封じ込める water, （疑いを）晴らす, 冷淡な, and 甘い as any that may be 設立する on Venus. They paused, and broke off enough fronds to assuage their かわき and fill their canteens. Then they 圧力（をかける）d onward.

Soon they （機の）カム, やめる 突然に, upon a small natural harbor. The 入り口 was a 狭くする channel which zigzagged between tall cliffs, and the little inland bay, 保護するd from 勝利，勝つd and waves by this natural 障壁, was as smooth as glass.

"This must be the cove 述べるd by our 囚人," said Grandon, excitedly. "The cabin should not be far off."

"I see it, Majesty," cried sharp-注目する，もくろむd gunner, "over 近づく the 中心 of the bay. It's partly hidden by the tree ferns."

"Sure enough! Come on."

Grandon led the way at so swift a pace now, that the tired gunner was sorely put to it to keep up with him. As they 近づくd the cabin, the sight of the small boat which had been left there by San Thoy 原因（となる）d Grandon to hurry faster than ever, for he now felt 肯定的な that he should find Vernia and her captor in the cabin. But within いっそう少なく than a hundred feet of the cabin, he stopped suddenly.

"We must approach with 警告を与える, Gunner," he said. "The yellow beast is probably 武装した with a tork, and it wouldn't be healthy for us if he saw or heard us coming. Better go in from two different directions, too, so if he gets one of us the other will have a chance at him."

They separated accordingly, and circling the cabin, crept 慎重に up to it from opposite directions. The first to reach the 前線 of the little building, Grandon saw the door standing wide open. With drawn scarbo, he leaped through, then stopped in amazement, for a 選び出す／独身 ちらりと見ること around the room told him that it was 砂漠d.

The gunner was only a few steps behind Grandon.

"Gone?" he asked.

"So it seems. But where?"

Hanging on a peg at one 味方する of the room was a belt 含む／封じ込めるing a scarbo, tork, and knife. Grandon's shoulder struck the hanging scarbo, and it clanked against the tork.

"What's this?" he exclaimed, 解除するing the belt from the peg. "Why, these are the 武器s of San Thoy! His 指名する is engraved on the belt buckle in Patoan characters."

"I 裁判官 that he would not willingly have left without them."

"No, not willingly."

"Then who could have carried them off, and what has become of Her Majesty, your wife?"

"Who but the Valkars, those toad-like monsters that our 囚人 述べるd. We must find the 追跡する. I'll take San Thoy's 武器s and give the other scarbo to you. Then we'll both be fully 武装した."

Soon Grandon, who had learned his woodcraft from the Fighting Traveks, his 猛烈な／残忍な mountaineer 支配するs of Uxpo, and learned it 井戸／弁護士席, discovered 血 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs about a hundred feet from the door of the hut. And in the soft leaf mold were the small 足跡s of a woman, the large prints of a man, and the still larger 跡をつけるs of webbed and clawed feet. Kantar who was born and bred in the mountain fastnesses of Uxpo, read the 調印するs as quickly as did the Earthman.

"She ran out here to escape the yellow 著作権侵害者," he said.

"And both were carried off by the Valkars," finished Grandon. "血 was 流出／こぼすd. I 信用 that it was not hers."

"It starts at the point where San Thoy was 解除するd off his feet."

"True enough. Let us hope for the best. And now to the 追跡する."

It was not difficult for the two trained woodsmen to follow the 井戸／弁護士席- 示すd 追跡する of the toad people. It led them through the belt of 厚い fern forest that fringed the shore, and across a 範囲 of rugged and sparsely wooded hills, into a 暗い／優うつな and 背信の 押し寄せる／沼地. Here Grandon, at almost the first step, sank into a quagmire up to his chin. It would speedily have の近くにd over his 長，率いる, had not Kantar been there to 延長する a helping 手渡す. Even then, it was with the greatest difficulty that the gunner 後継するd in 製図／抽選 him out of the 粘着するing, sticky mess.

After this misadventure, Grandon took more care where he stepped, quickly learning that a piece of ground which was 安全な for a web-footed Valkar might be 極端に perilous for a man. He chafed at the 延期する occasioned by the necessity of 実験（する）ing each bit of 国／地域 before stepping on it, but was constrained by the obvious verity that if he did not travel with 警告を与える his travels would soon be 終結させるd.

Nor was the 背信の 地盤 the 単独の menace the 押し寄せる／沼地 held for the two. They were 絶えず compelled to be on the 警戒／見張り for venomous snakes which はうd across their pathway, and tremendous whistling serpents that dangled from tree 四肢s, waiting for unsuspecting 犠牲者s on which to 減少（する）, then 鎮圧する the life out of them with their 巨大な muscular coils. In 新規加入, they were compelled to 避ける the 抱擁する saurians which made the morass their habitation. Some of these were herbivores, and 害のない unless 乱すd, but others, the mighty carnivores which fed on these and any other smaller bits of flesh that （機の）カム their way, would make short work of them if they 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd this pair of tender, two-legged animals was crossing their feeding ground. Annoying, too, were the constant attacks of biting and stinging insect pests which buzzed in 厚い clouds about them.

Both men heaved a sigh of 救済 when they presently reached higher arid drier ground, for though the tall grass through which the path 負傷させる might harbor even more dangerous enemies than they had seen in the 押し寄せる／沼地, they were at least sure of their 地盤, and soon left the 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of their insect tormentors behind.

They had traveled about a mile into this grassy savanna, when Grandon suddenly caught his companion by the arm.

"静かな!" he said. "I hear something coming!"

Unmistakably there （機の）カム to the ears of both the sound of someone or something スピード違反 through the tall grass, then a shriek of 苦痛 or terror, and a hoarse にわか景気ing croak.

"Come on," cried Grandon. "It sounds like a human 存在 attacked by some 猛烈な／残忍な beast."

They had only taken a few steps in the direction of the sounds when there hove into 見解（をとる）, running for his life, a short, bandy-legged yellow man. Although Grandon and Kantar had never seen a Valkar, both 即時に identified the hideous, warty creature which followed in swift 追跡, from the description their former 囚人 had given them. It was 速く 縮めるing the distance between itself and its shrieking quarry, and the long 政治家 it carried, tipped with a barbed hook, was 延長するd to transfix its 犠牲者.

Kantar elevated the muzzle of his tork.

"Don't shoot," 警告するd Grandon. "The sound may betray us, and bring a horde of these creatures. You 得る，とらえる the yellow man, and I'll take the Valkar."

Whipping out his scarbo, the Earthman accordingly crouched in the grass at one 味方する of the part, while Kantar, 類似して 武装した, 隠すd himself on the other 味方する.

Just as he （機の）カム opposite them, the 逃亡者／はかないもの was caught by the barbed hook. He uttered an agonized shriek as it pierced his arm. But before his pursuer could jerk him backward, Kantar's scarbo had 削減（する） through the 軸. And Grandon, blade in 手渡す, had leaped at the Valkar.

Although he was taken by surprise, the toad man was remarkably quick. Dropping his useless 軸, he snatched his long knife from his belt, and raised it to parry the 削減（する） which Grandon 目的（とする）d at his 長，率いる. It turned the blade of the scarbo so that, in descending it only 削減（する） a small slice from the scaly shoulder. At the same instant, with 雷 quickness, he struck the Earthman with the mace in his left 手渡す.

The blow took Grandon by surprise, and the 麻薬中毒の 法案 bit into his 権利 shoulder, which he had instinctively raised to 保護する his 直面する, （打撃，刑罰などを）与えるing a painful 負傷させる. With a croak of 勝利 the monster jerked the Earthman toward him, 意図 on finishing him with the knife. But at that instant, Grandon drew 支援する his lowered scarbo, then thrust 上向き with all his might. The blade, driven with terrific 軍隊, entered the silver-gray throat, and passing 上向き through the 長，率いる, （機の）カム out between the bulging 注目する，もくろむs. With a hoarse death croak, the Valkar sank to the ground, kicking convulsively.

Kantar （機の）カム running up, dragging his yellow 囚人, from whose arm he had 抽出するd the barbed hook.

"Why, you are bleeding, Majesty!" he exclaimed.

"Only a flesh 負傷させる," replied Grandon. "I'll be all 権利." The gunner 新たな展開d the small cup from the 最高の，を越す of his kova flask, and held it to the bleeding throat of the dying Valkar. In an instant it was filled with 血. He stood up and proffered the cup to Grandon.

"You must drink this quickly, Majesty," he said, "or your 負傷させる may 証明する 致命的な."

"What's the 事柄 with you?" 需要・要求するd the Earthman. "Have you gone crazy?"

"Drink quickly, I beg of you. It is the only antidote for the venom with which these monsters smear their 武器s."

"権利. I had forgotten what our 囚人 told us." He took the proffered cup, and with a wry 直面する, drained it. The 負傷させるd yellow man whose wrist Kantar was 持つ／拘留するing, had 一方／合間 crouched 負かす／撃墜する, and was lapping at the bleeding throat of the Valkar.

"Let me 貯蔵所d your 負傷させる, Majesty," said the gunner.

"No. It is not large, and will の近くに itself. 一方／合間 let us 診察する the 囚人." He glared at the diminutive yellow man, who now stood with 屈服するd 長，率いる, his wrist still clutched by Kantar. "Are you San Thoy?" he asked.

"No, Majesty," replied the 囚人, who, 公式文書，認めるing the scarlet of Grandon's attire was aware that he stood before 王族. "San Thoy is a 広大な／多数の／重要な mojak, while I, as your Majesty may see by the remains of my raiment, am only a ありふれた sailor."

Your 指名する, sailor."

"So Lan, Majesty, late of the ship, Sagana, of the 皇室の 海軍 of Huitsen. I was 逮捕（する）d by the Valkars three endirs ago with a dozen of my mates when we were sent 岸に for fresh water. Today I escaped from the 刑務所，拘置所 構内／化合物, but this Valkar hunter saw me, and would have 殺害された me or taken me 支援する a 囚人 had not you come up."

"Saw you ought of San Thoy?"

"He, and a beautiful white princess, who some say was Vernia of Reabon, were brought in 囚人s this morning."

"Where are they now?"

"The white princess was brought to the slave 構内／化合物 の直前に I made my escape. It was the attention she attracted, both from the slaves and the Valkars, which made it possible for me to get away undetected."

"And what do these Valkars ーするつもりである to do with her? 持つ／拘留する her for 身代金?"

No, Majesty. They care nothing for money, or any other things of 広大な／多数の／重要な 価値（がある）. But I heard that Grunk, their Rogo, who has never before 逮捕（する）d a human 女性（の）, planned to keep her for the 目的 of 産む／飼育するing a race of slaves."

"Enough! Lead us at once to this 構内／化合物. 成し遂げる your 仕事 faithfully, take me to a 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where I can 始める，決める 注目する，もくろむs on my wife, and you will be permitted to escape again. But remember, one 調印する of treachery, and you die."

"Your wife! Then you are the famed Grandon of Terra, the hero from the 惑星 Mignor, who won the most beautiful woman on Zorovia!" He dropped to his 膝s, and with both 手渡すs 延長するd, palms downward, 圧力（をかける）d his forehead to the ground. "I do homage to so mighty a swordsman and so famed a 支配者," he muttered.

"Up, and 中止する this mummery, or by the bones of Thorth, I'll 分裂（する） your 長，率いる, and go on without a guide. Vernia of Reabon will take her own life rather than 服従させる／提出する to the dictates of this reptilian rogo. As it is, we may be too late."

The 著作権侵害者 緊急発進するd あわてて to his feet.

"I'll guide you, Majesty, and quickly," he 約束d, "but we must circle the Valkar village to reach the 構内／化合物. さもなければ we should not be permitted to go far."

He 始める，決める off at once through the tall, rustling grass, with Grandon, scarbo in 手渡す, just behind him, and Kantar bringing up the 後部. After a short walk Grandon heard, only a little way ahead of them, the chatter of human conversation and the croaking of Valkars, punctuated by the sharp clanking of metal.

So Lan turned. "The 構内／化合物 is just ahead," he whispered. "Those are the sounds made by the metal 労働者s and their overseers."

The three crept 慎重に 今後 now. So Lan, parting the grass, pointed to an enclosure by a paling of metal 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s, in the 中心 of which was a large, moss-covered 塚.

Grandon's heart gave a 広大な／多数の／重要な bound as he saw Vernia standing beside a pile of knives. Then he cried out in anguish, and would have leaped 今後 had not Kantar 拘留するd him, as he saw her snatch the knife and 試みる／企てる to 急落（する），激減（する） it into her bosom. But it was 即時に shaken from her しっかり掴む by one of the yellow slaves who had しっかり掴むd her wrist. Fortunately, Grandon's involuntary cry had not been heard over that bedlam of sound, and so the three men still crouched there, undetected.

"What are we to do now Majesty?" asked Kantar.

"I don't know, Gunner. Let me think—let me 計画（する）. A sudden 急ぐ and a にわか雨 of tork 弾丸s might be best. And yet, it might mean the death of Vernia. We must try to think of a better 計画／陰謀."

He turned to the yellow man who still crouched in the grass beside him. "You may go now, So Lan. You have earned your freedom."

"Your Majesty has saved the life of So Lan," replied the 著作権侵害者, "and he is not ungrateful. 許す him to remain 近づく you, that he may be of 援助 in the 救助（する） of Her Majesty, your wife."

"How? You are 非武装の. But wait. Perhaps we can use you, for you could pass unnoticed の中で the slaves where one of us would be 即時に （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd."

"I but を待つ Your Majesty's 命令（する）s," replied So Lan, 屈服するing low.

7. — HUMAN SACRIFICE

Vernia strove to wrench her arm 解放する／自由な, but she was helpless in the 支配する of the filthy and ragged Hui Sen. He grinned the hideous, toothless grin of the Huitsenni, and 押し進めるd a fresh quid of kerra spores into his cheek as he dragged her toward the gate.

"Where are you taking me?" she 需要・要求するd.

"First to the burrow of His Majesty, Grunk, Rogo of the Valkars, that he may give you his 命令（する）s in person. Then, if he does not change his mind, which he いつかs does, but which I hope will not be the 事例／患者 in this instance, I will take you to my own burrow."

"Suppose that I should 申し込む／申し出 you the wealth and position of a prince —make you rich and powerful beyond your fondest dreams. Would you help me to escape?"

That would be impossible, Majesty. I am not so strong a swimmer that I could reach your country from here, and the Valkars would not give us time to build a boat."

"But there is a small 帆船, 準備／条項d and ready, in the harbor where your boats stop for fresh water. If we could reach it and get away by night, surely you are enough of a 航海士 to sail it to Reabon. And what I 約束, I will 成し遂げる."

"We will speak of this later, Majesty," replied Hui Sen. "Just now I must take you before the Rogo." He entered into a short, croaking conversation with the Valkar guard at the gate, who then swung it open, permitting them to pass.

As they threaded their way between the moss-covered 塚s toward the burrow of Grunk, Hui Sen looked 慎重に about him as if fearful of 存在 overheard, then said: "I cannot 否定する, Majesty, that the 駅／配置する and wealth of a prince would be a 広大な／多数の／重要な 誘惑 to me, for I have lived in squalor these many years. And while living thus, my only solace has been in dreams of splendor and 力／強力にする. But the 危険 would be tremendous. To pass the Valkar guards would not be 平易な. To cross the 押し寄せる／沼地 without a Valkar guide would be next to impossible. Were it not for that 押し寄せる／沼地, my people would long ago have 皆殺しにするd the Valkars. There is also the 可能性 that the boat might not be there, in which event the Valkars would be sure to find us, and I, at least, would be horribly punished. 追加するd to these, and by far not the least of the considerations, would be the fact that I should lose you as my mate."

"On that 得点する／非難する／２０, at least, you may 始める，決める yourself at 残り／休憩（する）," said Vernia. "Does the hahoe take the mate of the marmelot, or the awoo the mate of the ramph? Grandon of Terra is my mate, and sooner or later he will find this island, wipe the Valkars from the 直面する of the 惑星, and all with them who have 申し込む／申し出d me 侮辱／冷遇."

"Grandon of Terra will not find this place," said Hui Sen, confidently. "You cannot 脅す me with his 指名する, mighty as I know it to be."

"You will remember, also," continued Vernia, "that the mate of the marmelot is not without claws. I 約束 you that, if you 申し込む／申し出 me any 侮辱／冷遇, I will 殺す you at the first 適切な時期, and myself, also. Sleeping or waking, your life will never be 安全な, if you drag me off to your stinking burrow."

"That I know you would do," replied Hui Sen, seemingly impressed, "for the women of Reabon were ever jealous of their 栄誉（を受ける）. Night and day, I would always be on my guard, unless, perchance, you should learn to love me."

"Love you? Why, you greasy yellow beast! You unspeakable filth! Sooner would I love a warty Valkar." This was said with flashing 注目する，もくろむs, and an imperious mien that humbled the yellow man.

"I mean no 罪／違反, Majesty," he whined. "Even a worm may look at a 星／主役にする with the hope that, inaccessible as it seems, it 向こうずねs 好意的に upon him. But here we are at the burrow of the Rogo."

They were about to enter when Hui Sen 停止（させる）d and cocked his 長，率いる to one 味方する at the sound of a distant ululation, long drawn out, and exceedingly mournful.

"What was that?" asked Vernia.

"The cry of the guards," replied Hui Sen. "Sistabez, the 広大な／多数の／重要な serpent, has come out of his 洞穴."

The howling grew in 容積／容量 as thousands of Valkar throats all over the village took it up. At this instant, Grunk, Rogo of the Valkars, 現れるd from his burrow, …を伴ってd by Lui Sen and his two 巨大な Valkar guards, both of which, with their noses elevated and their mouths open from ear to ear, were howling lustily. The din had now grown so loud that speech was impossible, but Grunk, after 星／主役にするing fixedly at Vernia and Hui Sen for a moment with his 広大な／多数の／重要な, gold-rimmed 注目する，もくろむs, made a 調印する that they should follow him, and strode off between the moss-covered 塚s toward the place from which the howling had first come. 裁判官ing from the 暴徒 of Valkars, male and 女性（の）, old and young which was 長，率いるing in the same direction, it was evident that the entire village had turned out.

The hurrying, jostling （人が）群がる respectfully made way for the Rogo and his party, and they soon reached the 辛勝する／優位 of the village. Here a 狭くする path led up a rugged hillside, strewn with 玉石s and sparsely dotted with low-growing shrubs. At intervals of about a hundred feet along this path, 激しい アイロンをかける 火刑／賭けるs had been driven into the ground.

To the farthest of these 火刑／賭けるs, a luckless yellow slave had already been fastened. Another was 存在 安全な・保証するd to the next 火刑／賭ける, and two guards were marching a third up to the next.

Suddenly every 発言する／表明する was hushed, and Vernia saw an enormous and hideous 長，率いる 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a curve in the rugged hillside. It was about ten feet in length, and six in width at its broadest point 次第に減少するing 負かす／撃墜する to a square muzzle about two feet across. This 大規模な 長，率いる was 後部d on a 厚い neck fully four feet in 直径, to a 高さ of about twenty feet above the ground. Behind it 追跡するd a tremendous length of sinuous 団体／死体. In color it was muddy green above, and the under 規模s were a greenish lemon-yellow.

Languidly, unhurriedly, the monster glided 負かす／撃墜する the path, 調査するing the 巨大な （人が）群がる of Valkars and yellow slaves before it with 明らかな 無関心／冷淡. Presently, as it （機の）カム to the first slave that had been bound in its path, it paused, and leisurely arched its neck. The other two slaves had, 一方／合間, been tethered and left to their 運命／宿命. All three unfortunates struggled 猛烈に, and cried out for mercy, but as the serpent 均衡を保った over the first wretch, he 中止するd his struggles and importunities.

There was a quick, downward dart of that 大規模な 長，率いる, so swift that the 注目する，もくろむ could scarcely follow, and a 選び出す／独身 shriek from the 犠牲者 as the 巨大な jaws の近くにd upon him, breaking his 社債s like cobwebs. Then a 重要な lump slid 負かす／撃墜する the serpent's throat to disappear in its tremendous coils.

Leisurely the snake はうd 今後 once more, 掴むd and swallowed its next shrieking 犠牲者. It paused for a moment, but as it moved on toward the third 犠牲者, a fourth was quickly chained in its path.

"Sistabez is hungry today," Hui Sen said to Vernia.

The snake swallowed the third 犠牲者, and continued on toward the fourth.

"He is very hungry," said Hui Sen.

As it moved 今後 this time, the serpent's red forked tongue darted from its mouth, appearing and disappearing with the rapidity of 雷.

"He grows angry," cried Hui Sen, in alarm.

At this instant, Grunk turned and croaked something to two guards, who （機の）カム toward Vernia.

"What did he say?" she asked Hui Sen.

"He said," replied that worthy, "that Sistabez was angry because he had withheld the fair white 囚人 from him. He ordered the guards to tie you to the fifth 火刑／賭ける."

With a sudden wrench, Vernia 解放する／自由なd her wrist from the しっかり掴む of the yellow man, than turned to 逃げる. But before she had taken ten steps the Valkar guards had her. The fourth 犠牲者 shrieked his last as she was dragged to the 火刑／賭ける and securely bound. The two guards 退却／保養地d precipitately as the serpent 前進するd, this time traveling more 速く than before, its tongue flashing like red forked 雷.

8. — THE WRATH OF THE SERPENT

CROUCHING IN THE grass 近づく the slave 構内／化合物 with Kantar and So Lan, Grandon saw the yellow slave who had 妨げるd Vernia from taking her own life, lead her through the gate.

"Where is he taking her?" he asked So Lan.

"They walk toward the burrow of Grunk," replied So Lan. "I think she will be taken before the Rogo of the Valkars."

"And then?"

"Grunk will probably decide which of the slaves is to take her to his burrow."

"I believe so, Majesty. No alarm has been sounded, so I take it that I have not yet been 行方不明になるd. The Valkar that was 追求するing me was a hunter I had 遭遇（する）d at some distance from the village."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. Suppose you—but wait! What is that howling sound?"

"The guards are 警告 the Valkars that Sistabez, the 広大な／多数の／重要な serpent, has awakened, and is 現れるing from his den. No need to go into the village now, for everyone will …に出席する the sacrifice."

"Sistabez?"

"A 抱擁する snake worshipped by the Valkars as a god. When he comes 前へ／外へ, they chain slaves in his pathway, in order that he may not （警察の）手入れ，急襲 the village. 自然に they value their own lives above those of their 囚人s."

"And Vernia is a 囚人! Can you get us quickly to this place of sacrifice?"

"We will have to circle the village, Majesty. It will take やめる a while."

Then hurry."

"This way." So Lan dashed off through the tall grass with Grandon and Kantar at his heels.

Before they had gone far, it was obvious to Grandon that the Valkars would reach the place of sacrifice long before they would. ガス／煙ing at the 延期する, he kept 勧めるing the little yellow man to his best paces, but though he was willing enough, his short 脚s would not carry him nearly so 急速な／放蕩な as the two impatient white men could travel.

The howling from the village was deafening for some time, but to Grandon's surprise, it suddenly 中止するd altogether.

"Sistabez has reached the place of sacrifice," panted So Lan. "The Valkars always やめる their howling when he is ready to take his first 犠牲者."

Grandon, who could 抑制する his impatience no longer, now thrust his puffing and nearly exhausted guide out of the way, and dashed 今後 at 最高の，を越す 速度(を上げる）. He needed no guide a moment later, for the shriek of the snake's first 犠牲者 rang in his ears. Closely followed by Kantar, he bounded straight toward that sound. A short time later he heard, much closer, the cry of the second 犠牲者, then, still closer, the third, and finally the fourth.

A moment later, he bounded out into the open space at the base of the hill, in 前線 of which the Valkars had 組み立てる／集結するd. Vernia had just been bound to the 火刑／賭ける, and the two Valkars who had tied her were 逃げるing for their lives as the 広大な／多数の／重要な serpent 前進するd toward her.

"Try to keep the （人が）群がる 支援する, Gunner," he shouted to Kantar as he whipped out his scarbo and sprinted for the 火刑／賭ける. The two Valkars who had bound Vernia tried to stop him, but he elevated the muzzle of his tork, and sprayed them with needle-like 弾丸s. One of them fell, gasping and kicking his last for Grandon had 負担d the 武器 with a clip of 発射物s he had 設立する in the belt pouch of San Thoy, which 含む／封じ込めるd enough 毒（薬） to kill a dozen men. He 派遣（する）d the other toad man with his scarbo.

A few swift strides carried him to Vernia's 味方する, and two 一打／打撃s of his scarbo 解放する／自由なd her. She was so 打ち勝つ by the ordeal through which she had just passed that she swooned, and would have fallen, had not Grandon sheathed his scarbo and caught her up in his 武器.

All this took place in いっそう少なく than a minute, and during this time the tork of the gunner had been popping to good 目的 as attested by the （犯罪の）一味 of fallen Valkars which had been bold enough to 急ぐ him. Now, as Grandon dashed 支援する into the tall grass with Vernia in his 武器, Kantar ran behind him to cover his 退却／保養地.

The serpent, 一方／合間, had not shown any 利益／興味 in these 訴訟／進行s, but had はうd on past the 火刑／賭ける to 掴む and swallow the two Valkars that still lay kicking on the ground.

"What 肉親，親類d of 弾丸s are you using?" Grandon asked the gunner, as they 急落（する），激減（する）d into the grass.

"Deadly," he replied.

"Put in a clip of solid 弾丸s for a moment," directed Grandon, "and give the big snake a half dozen or so in the neck."

Kantar chuckled as he 速く carried out the Earthman's 指示／教授／教育s. "A good idea, Majesty," he said. "It will give the ugly toads something to do besides chasing us."

Kantar was the best marksman in the Reabonian army, either with a tork or mattork, and it was child's play for him to quickly place the 弾丸s as he had been directed. The 影響 on the 抱擁する serpent was instantaneous. With its forked tongue playing so 速く that the 注目する，もくろむ could scarcely follow, and an angry hissing sound that was almost like the roar of steam escaping from a locomotive, it coiled and struck again and again into the closely packed （人が）群がる of Valkars, a tremendous living engine of 破壊. Before, it had only been 満足させるing its hunger. Now it was taking swift and horrible （死傷者）数 of those creatures which it believed 責任がある its 傷つけるs.

With his own tork, Grandon, 一方／合間, 発射 負かす／撃墜する a 得点する／非難する／２０ of Valkars that had followed them, giving the gunner time to reload with the deadly 発射物s. As they hurried 今後 once more, they were joined by So Lan, who had 武装した himself with a hook, mace, and knife taken from one of the fallen Valkars.

"Take care not to scratch yourself or anyone else with those 武器s," 警告するd Kantar, as they trotted through the grass. "We have no Valkar 血 for an antidote, now.

"I have seen to that," replied So Lan. He raised the flap of his belt pouch, and 公表する／暴露するd a slice of still quivering flesh. "This will serve all of us if need arise."

It was evident that the Valkars were 井戸／弁護士席 占領するd with their own troubles, as 非，不，無 appeared to （性的に）いたずらする them for some time. They soon 設立する the path which led from the village to the 押し寄せる／沼地, and had followed this for about a mile, when Vernia, still in her husband's 武器, 回復するd consciousness, and 需要・要求するd to be 始める，決める on her feet.

"I can carry you all the way to the boat, if need be," Grandon 抗議するd.

"No, （頭が）ひょいと動く. You must save your strength, for we will have need of it. I can walk 同様に as any of you, now. Besides, your 手渡すs must be 解放する／自由な to しっかり掴む your 武器s. The Valkars may catch up with us at any time."

"I rather think they're pretty 井戸／弁護士席 占領するd with their own troubles, 権利 now. But try it for a while if you must. I can carry you again if you tire."

They 始める，決める off at a 急速な／放蕩な walk, but had not gone far when Kantar, who was at the 後部, softly called: "Majesty."

Grandon turned. "What is it?"

"Something に引き続いて us. I see the grass waving."

"We'll make a stand," Grandon decided, "and give them a warm 歓迎会 if they're Valkars."

A moment later, a short yellow man appeared in the pathway. He was followed by five more. Grandon 認めるd the leader as San Thoy, and whipping out his scarbo, 前進するd toward him, ignoring the others.

"So," he 雷鳴d, "you are the yellow filth who 誘拐するd my wife!"

San Thoy cringed, then dropped to his 膝s with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward, as Grandon towered above him with upraised scarbo.

"No, no, Majesty! Spare me! There is a 誤解! I tried to 救助（する） Her Majesty. We stopped at the cabin to wait for daylight, that I might take her to the Reabonian coast."

"Ah! Then you did not with your unwelcome 前進するs, 運動 her 前へ／外へ into the night to be 逮捕（する）d by the Valkars?" turned to Kantar. "Lend this rakehell of Huitsen your blade, Gunner, that I may settle accounts with him."

San Thoy 地震d with 恐れる.

"But I am no swordsman, Majesty," he whined, "to …に反対する the mightiest blade on Zorovia. It would be 殺人. Besides, as Thorth is my 証言，証人／目撃する, I do not 解任する 申し込む／申し出ing any affront to her Gracious Majesty. My 長，率いる became so addled with kova that I did not know I had been 負傷させるd and 逮捕（する）d by the Valkars until this morning."

"I perceive," said Grandon, contemptuously, "that you are a liar and a coward 同様に as a rogue. What shall I do with the vermin Gunner?"

"Strike off his 長，率いる, sire, and leave his foul remains to the ジャングル scavengers."

"権利. It is the least that he deserves."

San Thoy cringed, 推定する／予想するing the death blow as Grandon raised his blade. But it did not 落ちる, for at this moment Vernia caught his arm.

"Please, （頭が）ひょいと動く, I can't let you do it," she said. "Spare him for my sake."

"It is for your sake that I would put an end to him," replied Grandon. "To 許す him to live after—"

"Please. Remember Tholto, the marshman. You would have 殺害された him for a 類似の 罪／違反, but spared him because I requested it. And he afterward saved my 栄誉（を受ける） when I was in the 力／強力にする of Zanaloth of Mernerum. Later, he saved both our lives."

"True," replied Grandon, "But this vile creature is no more like Tholto than a Valkar is like me. Yet, because it is your request, I can not do さもなければ than spare him." He 拒絶するd the groveling San Thoy with his foot. "Get up," he 命令（する）d, "and remember that you are indebted to the Torroga of Reabon for your worthless life."

"Then may we …を伴って Your Majesties through the 押し寄せる／沼地 to the coast?" asked one of the escaped slaves who had come up with San Thoy. "We could not find the way, unaided, and we are not 武装した against the monsters we should be sure to 遭遇（する）."

"We are not anxious for such company," replied Grandon, "but you may follow behind us."

They 始める，決める off once more, Grandon 主要な, closely followed by Vernia, So Lan, and Kantar. At a respectful distance behind tramped San Thoy and his 禁止（する）d.

A short march took them to the 背信の 押し寄せる／沼地, where Grandon was able to make much better time than on his previous trip through it, by backtracking in his own footsteps. But their 進歩 was slow at best, and it was not long before there （機の）カム an imploring cry from San Thoy.

"The Valkars are coming! Give us 援助（する）! Save us!"

"They don't deserve it," said Grandon, "but after all, they are human 存在s, and 非武装の and in danger. Bring your comrades 今後, San Thoy," he called, "and you, Gunner, guard the 後部. If you can't 扱う things, let me know, and I'll come 支援する with you."

Kantar stood aside until San Thoy and his comrades had time to の近くに in behind So Lan. Then he fell in behind the last man, and as they marched 今後, ちらりと見ることd 支援する from time to time to 公式文書，認める the proximity of the enemy. He soon saw that the Valkars were 伸び（る）ing 速く on them, and also that they were not keeping to the 追跡する, but were spreading out in a 三日月 形態／調整d line, evidently with the 意向 of surrounding them. After communicating this 知能 to Grandon, he began 選ぶing off with his tork such Valkars as （機の）カム 危険に の近くに.

Presently, when the dull-witted Valkars began to realize that to expose themselves to the gunner's deadly 目的（とする） meant sure death, they took advantage of cover. This slowed them a bit, but still their pace was swifter than that of Grandon's party, as their webbed feet gave them かなりの advantage in traveling over the swampy ground. Soon the two horns of their 三日月 caught up with Grandon, who began using his tork as frequently as Kantar, though with not やめる such deadly precision. With sword or scarbo he had not met his equal on all Zorovia, but there was only one Kantar the Gunner, and Grandon, though an excellent 発射, 屈服するd to his uncanny 技術 with the 武器.

Between the two of them, Grandon and Kantar managed to keep their enemies at bay until they reached the more solid 地盤 of the sparsely wooded hills. But in the 合間, the horns of the 三日月 had の近くにd in 前線 of them. On the firmer ground, however, their 速度(を上げる） 越えるd that of the Valkars, and since they no longer 恐れるd those behind them, but only those in 前線 and at the 味方するs, he changed his 形式, 集まりing the 非，不，無-combatants in the 中心, while he and the gunner 範囲d on each 味方する.

Only a few of the Valkars had 後継するd in getting ahead of them, and these succumbed to the marksmanship of the two men. Then Grandon ordered a swift 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 across the hill that 直面するd them, and beyond which was the 厚い fern forest that fringed the bay. When he reached the brow of the hill, he ちらりと見ることd 支援する and saw that several hundred Valkars had already 現れるd from the 押し寄せる／沼地, while at least a thousand 群れているd through the muck and water behind them. But the sight of this 広大な 軍隊 did not 狼狽 him, for he knew that his party could easily outrun them on the 会社／堅い ground that lay ahead, and that they would have ample time to 開始する，打ち上げる the little boat which San Thoy had moored 近づく the cabin.

They dashed 負かす／撃墜する the rugged hillside, and 急落（する），激減（する）d into the fern forest, just as the 前線 lines of their pursuers swept over the brow of the hill. But Grandon had scarcely taken fifty steps into the forest 影をつくる／尾行するs, when a 激しい 団体／死体 fell on his 支援する from the 支店s above, knocking him to the ground. It was quickly followed by a half dozen more, and though the Earthman managed to struggle to his feet, his 武器 were pinioned behind him, and his 武器s taken away. He had led his party 直接／まっすぐに into an 待ち伏せ／迎撃する of yellow 著作権侵害者s. Kantar, he 観察するd, had been served in like manner.

Suddenly then, as if by 魔法, a whole army of Huitsenni appeared, stepping from behind tree trunks, bushes, and 激しく揺するs, and dropping from the dense 絡まる of 支店s 総計費. The little party was 完全に surrounded and hopelessly より数が多いd.

Waddling toward them through the 階級s of the 著作権侵害者s, who respectfully made way for him, Grandon now 認めるd Thid Yet, Romojak of the 海軍s of Huitsen.

Thid Yet expectorated a red stream of kerra juice, and grinned toothlessly, as he 屈服するd before Grandon and Vernia.

"I am gratified that we arrived in time to save Your Majesties from the Valkars," he said. "Guest 議会s have been 用意が出来ている for you and your 軍人 船内に my 旗艦." His 注目する，もくろむs next fell on the cowering San Thoy. "So, 反逆者, we 会合，会う again. I 疑問 not that His Majesty of Huitsen will contrive exquisite 拷問s for you when he has heard the story of your perfidy. 掴む him, men." His ちらりと見ること next fell on So Lan and the other 非武装の yellow men who formed the balance of the party. "Who are you?" he asked.

"We are from さまざまな 乗組員s, Excellency, sent 岸に for water, and 逮捕（する）d in 約束／交戦s with the Valkars, who held us as dives," replied So Lan.

"So? Then 報告（する）／憶測 to my mojo who will 割り当てる you to new 寝台／地位s."

At this moment, one of Thid Yet's 援助（する）s ran up to 発表する that the Valkars were attacking in 軍隊.

"Tell the mattork 乗組員s to make a stand at the 辛勝する／優位 of the 支持を得ようと努めるd and mow them 負かす／撃墜する without mercy," 命令（する）d Thid Yet. "These warty monsters need a lesson, and now is the time to read them one they will not soon forget."

As they marched toward the harbor, Grandon heard the 動揺させる of mattork 解雇する／砲火／射撃, which continued for several minutes. Then it suddenly stopped, and he 結論するd that the Valkars, seeing that they had run into an 待ち伏せ／迎撃する, bad 退却／保養地d. This he afterward learned was really the 事例／患者.

They 設立する the beach lined with the small boats of the Huitsenni, while the 著作権侵害者 (n)艦隊／(a)素早い 棒 at 錨，総合司会者 いっそう少なく than a ４半期/4分の1 of a mile from the 入り口 to the cove. Grandon, Vernia, Kantar, and San Thoy were 列／漕ぐ／騒動d to the 旗艦 in the boat of Thid Yet. 支援する on the deck of the 大型船 once more, the Romojak gave swift orders.

"Return Her Majesty of Reabon to her former ４半期/4分の1s, and keep her door 絶えず guarded," he told his mojo. "His Majesty, here, together with his 軍人 and our 背信の mojak, will have to be put in アイロンをかけるs, and 限定するd below decks. And keep two 武装した guards 絶えず before their door. They escaped too easily the last time."

Vernia was led away to her cabin, and the three men were fitted with 厚い metal collars, to which 激しい chains were 大（公）使館員d, linking them together. Then they were lowered 負かす／撃墜する a hatchway, and marched along a 回廊（地帯）, to be thrust into a small and exceedingly filthy room. The door of 激しい serali planks was 閉めだした, and Grandon heard two guards take their places before it.

Soon the 錨，総合司会者s were hoisted and the sails unfurled. With the 旗艦 in the lead, the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い once more sailed southward.

9. — THE SECRET GATE

The room in which Grandon, Kantar, and San Thoy had been 限定するd on the 著作権侵害者 ship was すぐに below the deck, hence 解放する／自由な from the bilge water which swished in the 持つ／拘留する below, though not far from the 不快な／攻撃 odor which arose from it. Light filtered 負かす／撃墜する to them through the loosely fitted deck planking, and also shone through several small 穴を開けるs, each about two インチs in 直径, which were bored high up in the ship's 味方する, evidently to serve as （法などの）抜け穴s through which torks might be 解雇する／砲火／射撃d. But they also 行為／法令／行動するd, to some extent, as ventilators, making it possible for the 囚人s to breathe the fresh sea 空気／公表する by 圧力（をかける）ing their noses to them, and admitting enough light to partly 追い散らす the cheerless gloom of the 湿気の多い and stuffy 内部の.

The chains with which the three men were fastened together by their metal collars, were about five feet in length, the gunner 存在 in the middle, and Grandon and San Thoy at either end. After they had 匂いをかぐd the fresh 空気／公表する for some time, the three sat 負かす／撃墜する, as if by 相互の 同意, 残り／休憩（する）ing their 支援するs against the rough 塀で囲む.

"井戸／弁護士席, Gunner, it looks as if Thid Yet has us in a tight place this time," said Grandon.

"We have been in tighter, Majesty," replied Kantar.

"True. But this 協定 現在のs a rather knotty problem. In the first place, there are two guards outside the door now instead of one. In the second place, the wily Romojak has chained us to that carrion," 示すing San Thoy, "who will surely make an 激しい抗議 if we 試みる／企てる an escape. Of course we can throttle him, or dash his brains out against the 塀で囲む, but it would be difficult to 殺す him so 静かに that the guards outside the door would not hear, and at least 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う something amiss."

San Thoy 転換d his quid of kerra spores and spat through a 割れ目.

"May I remind Your Majesty," he said, "that I am as anxious to escape from Thid Yet as you? I am to be 殺害された by slow 拷問 upon my arrival in Huitsen."

"True," replied Grandon. "Perhaps you will be worthy of our 信用／信任 on that 得点する／非難する／２０, if on no other."

At this moment one of the guards opened the door to 収容する／認める a menial from the galley. This greasy and profusely perspiring individual carried a tray on which were three large eating bowls and three smaller drinking bowls. These he 始める，決める before the 囚人s, and あわてて withdrew, as if fearful that they might attack him.

When the door had の近くにd behind him, San Thoy quickly rolled up his red quid and stuck it to the 支援する of his left 手渡す. Then with his 権利 he dipped into his eating bowl, feeding greedily and from time to time taking copious 草案s from his drinking bowl to wash 負かす／撃墜する the food which he could only mumble.

Grandon 診察するd the mixture in the bowl before him. It smelled savory enough, and upon tasting it, he 設立する that it was a mixture of flaked fish and chopped mushrooms, stewed together in a sauce that was 高度に spiced and やめる peppery. His drinking bowl 含む／封じ込めるd freshly brewed kova, わずかに weak, but palatable.

"Not bad for 刑務所，拘置所 fare," he commented to the gunner, who he noticed had begun to make good 進歩 with his meal.

"It's the one good thing about these yellow vermin which I am willing to 譲歩する. They can certainly cook," replied Kantar.

"We are fortunate in 存在 拘留するd with 王族," said San Thoy, smacking his lips. "We should not さもなければ be so 井戸／弁護士席 fed." His meal over, he deftly flipped the red quid from the 支援する of his left 手渡す into his toothless mouth, and 再開するd his mumbling.

For many days the three men were kept in their stuffy 刑務所，拘置所. They were fed three times a day, but さもなければ saw nothing of their captors. By peering through the （法などの）抜け穴s they could amuse themselves in the daytime by watching such birds, fish, and reptiles as （機の）カム within their line of 見通し.

During this period, however, they had not been idle in 試みる／企てるing to find some way of escape. It was the gunner whose ingenuity 工夫するd the means for the first step in this direction. Although he had been 武装解除するd, he had not been 奪うd of his small packet of 道具s, 一般的に carried by every man of his profession, which were for the 目的 of taking apart and 組み立てる／集結するing mattorks that some times jammed or failed in other ways to work 適切に and 滑らかに. These 道具s, like those used by terrestrial watchmakers, were small and 罰金, as the 機械装置s on which they were used were 極端に delicate.

He began on the lock which held Grandon's metal collar around his neck. The 仕事 seemed hopeless at first, for the Huitsenni were 技術d in the 捏造／製作 of such things as fetters, 武器s, and 器具s of 拷問. But after many days of 患者 work, he 結局 had the satisfaction of springing the clasp, making it possible for the Earthman to 除去する his collar by 簡単に bending it 支援する on the hinge. Grandon then worked on the gunner's collar under his direction, and not 存在 mechanically inclined, took かなりの time in 達成するing the same 好意 for his henchman.

This done, Grandon 示唆するd that the gunner open the lock on San Thoy's collar. The 仕事 did not please him, but he was too 井戸／弁護士席 trained a 兵士 to quarrel with the orders of his 君主, and so carried out his distasteful 義務 without a murmur.

They had got this far with their 計画（する）s for escape, and were considering what their next move should be, when Kantar, who had been standing with his 注目する，もくろむ to a （法などの）抜け穴, suddenly 知らせるd the Earthman that he saw land.

Grandon leaped to a 穴を開ける beside him, and peered out. He saw that the ship was entering what appeared to be the 狭くする channel of a fjord. The rugged cliffs, sparsely 覆う？ in places with stunted conifers, towered to a tremendous 高さ above the placid water, which calmly 反映するd their beetling frowns. Sharp 命令（する）s and the creaking of pulleys were heard above them as the sails were lowered. Then oars 動揺させるd, and splashed into the water, thrust through the 列／漕ぐ／騒動ing 穴を開けるs beneath them.

San Thoy had told Grandon and Kantar that Huitsen, the 資本／首都 city of the Huitsenni, could be reached from the sea only by way of a hidden passage through 非常に高い cliffs. If he had spoken truth, then this was the beginning of that passageway, and the time left to them for 解放する／自由なing themselves and Vernia, and 試みる／企てるing to escape, was short indeed. The 著作権侵害者 himself 確認するd this a moment later, as he too sprang up to peer through a （法などの）抜け穴.

"This is the way to the secret gate," he said. "Watch, and you will see how it is opened."

Grandon's first thought was that they must すぐに 試みる／企てる escape, for once in the 悪名高い port of 危険，危なくする, this would undoubtedly 証明する impossible. Yet a 無分別な 試みる／企てる now seemed 平等に hopeless. He had counted on 不明瞭 as an 同盟（する）, but it was yet 中央の-afternoon, and the probability was that the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い would ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる ere the 黒人／ボイコット, moonless night of Venus should descend. He had 推定する／予想するd to strike that very evening, when the cook's helper would bring them their repast. Leaving San Thoy to を取り引きする the helper, he and the gunner had planned to spring upon the two guards who stood outside the door. Could the 行為 have been 遂行するd without 広大な／多数の／重要な noise, the 残り／休憩（する） would not have been impracticable; for under cover of 不明瞭 it would have been possible to 救助（する） Vernia from her cabin, steal a boat, and be off.

But now, it seemed, they must make new 計画（する）s.

"How soon will we ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる, San Thoy?" he asked.

"In a very short time now, Majesty," was the reply.

"Before dark?"

"Oh, long before."

Grandon pondered for a moment. Then he spoke to Kantar. "We'll have to think up a new 計画／陰謀, Gunner. And when the time comes, we'll have to think 急速な／放蕩な."

"I will look for a 調印する from you when the time does come," replied Kantar.

"And I, also, Majesty," echoed San Thoy. Then he exclaimed: "See! They are 開始 the secret 入り口!"

The channel had 狭くするd now, so much that it seemed the ship's oars would be 粉々にするd against the jagged cliffs. And straight ahead was what appeared to be a solid 塀で囲む of 激しく揺する, barring their その上の 進歩. Astounded, Grandon saw that a crooked 割れ目 延長するing medially from 最高の，を越す to 底（に届く） was slowly 広げるing as the two halves of the 塀で囲む ahead, each of which must have 重さを計るd thousands of トンs, moved apart and slid into the cliffs on each 味方する.

The ship nosed through the 開始 and into a dark cavern. The lights flashed on, and 明らかにする／漏らすd a stalactite-festooned 天井 over 長，率いる, while the 頂点（に達する）s of white stalagmites, 事業／計画（する）ing above the surface of the water, made it obvious that the 床に打ち倒す of the 洞穴 had not always been flooded. Save for the gong which timed the 一打／打撃s of the rowers, and the splashing of the oars, the place was as 静かな as a tomb, its placid waters gleaming mirror-like ahead of the ship, and rippling in the spreading wake like molten jet 発射 with silver reflections.

Presently daylight appeared ahead, and the ship's lights were turned off. A moment later they 現れるd through a high, arched 開始 into a canal. The straight banks were lined with masonry, evidently to 妨げる the salt water from seeping through and spoiling the 刈るs of edible mushrooms, food ferns, and kerra ferns which were cultivated in 整然とした fields on either 味方する. Those who worked in these fields, San Thoy said, were slaves who 代表するd most of the races and 国籍s of Zorovia, some 逮捕（する）d in 沿岸の （警察の）手入れ，急襲s, but most taken from ships that had fallen prey to the yellow 著作権侵害者s.

速く propelled by the lusty 一打／打撃s of the rowers, and again 補佐官d by the bat-wing sails, which had been 広げるd as soon as the 洞穴 mouth was left behind, the ship glided into a circular land-locked harbor, lined with ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるs built of serali 支持を得ようと努めるd and 始める，決める on pilings of the same 堅い 構成要素.

Behind the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるs were 倉庫／問屋s of white 石／投石する, and beyond these, at the far 味方する, Grandon could see the conical roofs and upper structures of what appeared to be a large and populous city, principally composed of 半端物, 蜂の巣- 形態／調整d buildings unlike anything he had ever seen or heard of, either on Earth or Venus.

Thousands of queer, bat-winged （手先の）技術 of the 著作権侵害者s were moored at the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるs, and many more 棒 at 錨，総合司会者 in the harbor. There were also a large number of merchant and fishing ships 逮捕（する）d by the Huitsenni, and brought in as prizes. Some of these were を受けるing alterations 存在 fitted with the bat-wing sails, and さもなければ 変えるd for the use of the yellow men.

Still peering through his （法などの）抜け穴, Grandon saw that the 旗艦 was 近づくing the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. Soon the long oars beneath him were drawn in, and ropes were cast to waiting Huitsenni, who made them 急速な／放蕩な.

From almost 直接／まっすぐに above Grandon's 長，率いる, a gangplank was lowered striking the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる with a 激しい thud. 負かす／撃墜する the plank walked Thid Yet, Romojak of the 海軍s of Huitsen, 護衛するing Vernia. The princess looked deathly pale, but showed no other 調印する of 恐れる. With her 長，率いる held proudly 築く, and graceful carriage, she showed only disdain for her squat, greasy captor, slouching along beside her. Behind them strode a guard of six 著作権侵害者s, drawn scarbos in their 手渡すs.

A 広大な／多数の／重要な 板材ing one-wheeled 乗り物, its cab supported on an inner idling-wheel at its 中心, rumbled up to the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. These 乗り物s were ありふれた everywhere on Zorovia, but the beasts that drew this one were not. Hitched, one before and one behind the 広大な／多数の／重要な wheel, they were larger than Norman Horses, covered with long white curly hair of silky texture, and each 武装した with three 新たな展開d horns, one curving 今後 from the tip of the nose, and the other two arching above the 注目する，もくろむs. Their ankles, also were 武装した with sharp bony 刺激（する）s, 事業／計画（する）ing toward the 前線 on the forelegs, and toward the 支援する on the hind 脚s. Their hoofs were 分裂（する） into three sections, each of which was 武装した with a claw.

Thid Yet 補助装置d Vernia to enter the 乗り物, then clambered up after. The drivers shouted to their beasts, and the 抱擁する wheel 板材d away.

"Where are they taking her?" Grandon asked San Thoy.

"To the palace, no 疑問," the yellow man replied, "where we, too, will be taken すぐに."

"If my 計画（する） 作品 I'll go to the palace, but not as a 囚人," Grandon told his two companions. "We will 達成する at least 一時的な liberty if you throw off your collars when I raise my 権利 手渡す, then follow me."

Grandon saw the 略奪する from his （軍の）野営地，陣営, and the 武器s and accouterments of his Fighting Traveks, carried 岸に. Then the door of their 刑務所，拘置所 was flung open, and a self-important mojo, …を伴ってd by four guards, all carrying their scarbos in their 手渡すs, ordered them out.

They were 勧めるd up a companionway, and on reaching the deck, were 軍隊d into a line of yellow men who, laden with their 略奪する, were hurrying 岸に.

They had reached the 中心 of the swaying gangplank when Grandon suddenly raised his 権利 手渡す. 同時に, the three 囚人s threw off the collars which their captors had, up until then, believed to be locked. Before they could 行為／法令／行動する, the Earthman had turned and dived into the water beneath, 速く followed by his two companions.

10. — THE PORT OF PERIL

限定するd in the 同一の cabin from which she had すぐに before been stolen by San Thoy, Vernia hoped against hope that Grandon would find some way to 救助（する） her. But as the 著作権侵害者s sailed southward, day after day, and no word of any 肉親，親類d （機の）カム from him hope began to fade.

Day and night, two 武装した guards were kept 絶えず before her door, the only 出口 from her cabin. At first she 試みる／企てるd to question them, but they would not answer. Then she tried quizzing the slave who brought her meals. He was ready enough to converse about her 願望（する）s in the way of food, but when she tried interrogating him about Grandon or about their 目的地, he always professed ignorance.

Thus was her mind 重荷（を負わせる）d with 二塁打 苦悩—for 恐れる that Grandon might be 拷問d or 殺害された, and the certainly that each day was bringing her nearer to the lascivious monster who had 賄賂d the Huitsenni to 逮捕（する） her. Although no について言及する of his 指名する had passed the lips of any of the 著作権侵害者s in her presence she was 肯定的な that the instigator of the 陰謀（を企てる） was 非，不，無 other than the 楽しみ-bloated tyrant, Zanaloth, Torrogo of Mernerum-Zanaloth, at the mere について言及する of whose 指名する comely maidens would shudder, whose scarlet 控訴 was 悪名高い throughout all Zorovia, and whose 支配するs with sweethearts, sisters, daughters, or wives of more than ordinary beauty lived in constant dread that their loved ones might be 召喚するd to the seraglio of the tyrant.

Her days she spent in gazing out through the small window of her cabin, her nights in restless turning and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing upon her sleeping shelf. But a day （機の）カム when the shutter of her window was の近くにd so that she could not see out. Her cabin door, also, was locked. Evidently, she thought, something was about to take place on or 近づく the ship which the Huitsenni did not wish her to see. A short time later she heard the noises of the bat-wing sails 存在 lowered and the oars shipped.

For some time she heard only the sound of 命令（する）s and the splashing of oars. Presently the oars were unshipped, and there was the grating shock of the 大型船 grinding its 味方する against some solid 反対する. Then （機の）カム the tramp of many feet on the deck.

すぐに thereafter, her door was 打ち明けるd and flung open. Thid Yet stood before her. "Come," he said. "We have arrived in Huitsen."

In Huitsen! Then the 推論する／理由 for the の近くにd shutter and locked door was 明らかな. They had not let her see the 隠すd 入り口 to this hidden lair of the yellow 著作権侵害者s because she would not be 推定する／予想するd to remain here 永久的に—because she was to be sold into slavery outside the domains of the Huitsenni.

She stepped out of the cabin. There was nothing else for her to do. Thid Yet led her toward the gangplank, and a guard of six 著作権侵害者s fell in behind them. She ちらりと見ることd around, hoping to catch sight of Grandon or Kantar. 隠すing, as best she could, her 失望 at not seeing them, she walked across the plank with her captor.

The one-wheeled cart was no novelty to Vernia. She had seen many like it in her own country. But the fearsome, three-horned white beasts that were hitched to it were creatures she had never seen or heard of before.

"Zandars," said Thid Yet, 公式文書，認めるing her look of surprise. "They make strong beasts of 重荷（を負わせる） and admirable chargers for our 軍人s to ride. We get them from the White Ibbits who 住む the Mountains of Eternal Snow, far to the south. Let me help you."

The Romojak climbed in with her, and the 激しい 乗り物 trundled away. The six guards trotted beside it, three on a 味方する.

横断するing a 狭くする passageway between two 石／投石する 倉庫／問屋s, they 現れるd on a 幅の広い thoroughfare of 激しい serali planking like that of which the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる was 建設するd. The hoofs of the zandars echoed hollowly as from a 橋（渡しをする）, and the large 選び出す／独身 wheel of the cart made a sound much like the continuous rolling of 雷鳴. This thoroughfare, like those which crossed it at さまざまな intervals, was lined with tall, 蜂の巣-形態／調整d buildings with oval windows and doorways. Like the 倉庫／問屋s, these buildings were of 石／投石する.

Yellow children, all of them naked and bald-長，率いるd scampered from in 前線 of the 乗り物 and then paused to 星／主役にする at them with their queer, cat-like 注目する，もくろむs. Bald housewives, unclad save for short leathern aprons which depended from their ample waists, paused in their work to gaze at them through oval windows or from the doorsteps of their conical houses. Beside each doorstep, Vernia noticed that a 穴を開ける had been 削減（する） in the planking, and many of the women held lines which hung 負かす／撃墜する into these 穴を開けるs. She could not imagine what they were doing until one 女性（の） suddenly jerked up a flopping, silvery 規模d fish. She 裁判官d from this and the hollow sound of the planking that this section of the city was built over the inland sea.

There were few men about at this time of day, but those lolled against the houses or squatted on the doorsteps, squinting apathetically up at the passing 乗り物. The entire hairless, toothless 全住民, male and 女性（の） from the tiniest child playing naked in the street to the oldest crone fishing beside her doorstep, mumbled kerra spores and expectorated enormous 量s of the red juice.

The 乗り物 速く drew 近づく to a 非常に高い structure which would have made a hundred of any of the lesser buildings around it. Like them, however, it was 蜂の巣-形態／調整d, and built of 石／投石する.

They rumbled through an 巨大な oval doorway and 停止（させる）d. Thid Yet clambered 負かす／撃墜する, and 補助装置d Vernia to alight. They were in an enclosed 法廷，裁判所 の上に which several oval doors opened. Each doorway was guarded by two 兵士s.

"This is the palace of Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen," said Thid

Yet. "He has 命令（する）d that you be brought into his presence before we take you to our rendezvous with Zan—" He checked himself 突然の, and a look of vexation crossed his greasy features, as if he had unthinkingly について言及するd some forbidden thing.

"Whether you finish the 指名する or leave it unspoken does not 事柄," said Vernia. "I have known all along that the man who 申し込む／申し出d your Rogo such a fabulous sum for me that he dared the wrath of the mighty 闘士，戦闘機 who is my husband, and the 力／強力にする of unbeaten Reabon, to 誘拐する me, could be 非，不，無 other than Zanaloth of Mernerum."

"After all, what does it 事柄, Zanaloth or another? You will know soon enough in any event. But come. His Majesty is 推定する／予想するing you, and may grow impatient."

Thid Yet 行為／行うd her through the nearest doorway, the six 著作権侵害者s 落ちるing in behind them, and the two guards saluting the Romojak as they entered. It led の上に a gently sloping ramp which spiraled 上向き. The ramp was 覆うd with 黒人／ボイコット 石／投石する dotted with golden studs, which 妨げるd the sandals of 登山者s from slipping as they 上がるd. At intervals of about fifty feet on either 味方する were 始める，決める ornate golden 大型船s, half filled with sand. Even had Thid Yet not 利用するd these 自由に on their way up, Vernia would have 認めるd their 目的 by the fact that the sand was stained with 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs of kerra juice.

After a かなりの climb they （機の）カム to a level passageway which led them to a large oval doorway hung with scarlet curtains and guarded by two yellow 軍人s. The guards saluted smartly at sight of the Romojak with his 囚人, and drew 支援する the scarlet hangings.

Vernia was 勧めるd into a circular room about two hundred feet in 直径, and so tremendously high that it had the 外見 of a 軸, rather than a room. Its 塀で囲むs were of iridescent 水晶 封鎖するs which 反映するd in many lovely hues the light that entered through four 巨大な oval windows 始める，決める in the 最高の，を越す of the conical ドーム. At intervals of about fifteen feet it was circled by 狭くする balconies, the 取調べ／厳しく尋問する work of which was plated with gold and 砕くd with sparkling jewels. Behind the balconies many oval doorways led to apartments on the さまざまな levels. On these balconies were seated several hundred women and children, evidently members of the 王室の 世帯. The 床に打ち倒す was a 選び出す／独身 巨大な mirror which 反映するd every 詳細（に述べる） so 明確に and faithfully that when Vernia looked 負かす／撃墜する, it seemed that she was standing over a 軸 of a depth equal to the 高さ of the one which towered above her.

Vernia was led to the 中心 of this magnificent hall where a circular divan, 削減（する） from a 選び出す／独身 封鎖する of （疑いを）晴らす 水晶, supported a scarlet cushion at a 高さ of about four feet above the 床に打ち倒す. Squatting, crossed-legged, in the middle of this cushion was an 極端に corpulent yellow man, who, except for the scarlet cincture about his loins, was 覆う？ 完全に in 宝石類 jewels 炎d from the （犯罪の）一味s which all but 隠すd his pudgy fingers and toes, and flashed from his golden anklets, bracelets, armlets, and necklaces. Two 巨大な diamonds stretched the 高く弓形に打ち返すs of his ears almost to his shoulders, and a large ruby sparkled on each of his 幅の広い nostrils. His bald 長，率いる was the only unadorned part of his anatomy, but shone as brightly as if it, too, had been burnished by the 王室の lapidary.

Behind the 王位 stood two muscular guards, each leaning on a 抱擁する, two 手渡すd scarbo that reached from the 床に打ち倒す to his chin. And 支援する of these in a 半分-circle were 範囲d purple-覆う？ nobles and courtiers, beside each of which stood a jar of sand. At each 味方する of the 王位 stood six slave-girls. Two held golden, jewel-encrusted cuspidors which the one at the 権利 or the left 延長するd, depending on which way the 君主 turned his 長，率いる when he wished to expectorate. Other girls bore the trays of newly opened kerra pods, ready for chewing, and still others, jeweled cups and マリファナs of kova which were kept hot by small aromatic oil-燃やすing lamps 燃やすing beneath them. And a young girl, scarcely more than half-grown, held a bundle of scarlet napkins, with one of which she wiped the 王室の chins from time to time—there were four of them—then passed the 国／地域d cloths to an attendant.

As Thid Yet （機の）カム before the 王位 with his beautiful 囚人, he 屈服するd low with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward, the 全世界の／万国共通の Zorovian salute to 王族. Then he 謙虚に waited for the 支配者 to speak.

Vernia however, remained proudly 築く, returning the appraising look of the creature on the 王位 with one of withering disdain.

Yin Yin Rogo of Huitsen, spat into the jeweled cuspidor tendered by the girl at his 権利, submitted to having his 多重の chins wiped, and then turned his cat-like 注目する，もくろむs on his Romojak.

"Are you 肯定的な that this slender beauty, just budded into womanhood, is the Torroga of Reabon?" he asked.

"I am 肯定的な, Majesty," the Romojak replied. "She answers every description, and wears the scarlet and insignia of her 皇室の house."

Yin Yin turned to a purple-覆う？ noble who stood 近づく at 手渡す.

"Fetch the 絵," he 命令（する）d.

The man sped away, and 消えるd through one of the 非常に／多数の doorways to return a moment later followed by two slaves who bore a life size portrait of Vernia. She 即時に 認めるd it as having been taken from one of her war 大型船s, all of which carried such 絵s before which every sailor and officers 屈服するd each morning in 記念品 of his 忠義 and submission to his 皇室の 支配者.

Yin Yin ordered the 絵 始める，決める up a little to one 味方する then gazed alternately at the portrait and the living 初めの who stood before him, for some time.

Presently he said: "It is indeed Vernia of Reabon, for she is, if anything, more beautiful than her picture. You have done 井戸／弁護士席, Thid Yet. For this we reward you with a thousand kantols of land and a thousand keds of gold. We are just."

"Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen, is the fountainhead of 司法（官）," intoned the courtiers.

"May it please Your Majesty, I also 逮捕（する）d her husband, the mighty 闘士，戦闘機 known as 'Grandon of Terra'," said Thid Yet proudly.

"So I have heard," replied the 君主. "For this 行為 we reward you with a hundred strong slaves to work your land. We are just."

"Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen, is the living source of 司法（官）," chorused the courtiers.

"I have heard, also," continued Yin Yin, "that Grandon of Terra has escaped."

Thid Yet looked dumfounded, but at this news Vernia's heart gave a 広大な／多数の／重要な leap of joy.

"He escaped," the Rogo went on, "before he reached the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. Hence you, and you alone, are responsible. For this carelessness we commend you to the 専門家 offices of our headsman." One of the guards behind the 王位 here shouldered his 広大な／多数の／重要な, two 手渡すd scarbo, and stepped 今後, but the Rogo held up his 手渡す. "Wait, Ez 貯蔵所," he 命令（する）d. "Be not so impetuous." He turned again to Thid Yet. "If you bring me not Grandon of Terra before ten days have passed, then 服従させる／提出する your neck to Ez 貯蔵所. We are just but we are 慈悲の."

"Both just and 慈悲の is Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen," cried the courtiers.

The 君主 moved a finger. Ez 貯蔵所 returned to his 地位，任命する. He moved another finger. Two of the six guards who had followed Thid Yet and Vernia stepped up beside the Romojak. Then the three 屈服するd low before the 王位 with 権利 手渡すs 延長するd palms downward, and wheeling, left the room.

Yin Yin, 一方／合間, refreshed himself with a cup of steaming kova, and stuffed his mouth with fresh kerra spores. He mumbled them for some time in silence, ogling Vernia the while, then spat, and said: "We do not wonder that a 確かな torrogo, who shall be nameless, 申し込む／申し出d us the price of an empire for you. You are more than 価値（がある） it."

"I care not for your compliments, you yellow filth," retorted Vernia spiritedly.

"Nor we for your 侮辱s, my little beauty," replied Yin

Yin. "You are now but a chattel, a rather spirited chattel to be sure, a 正規の／正選手 she-marmelot of a chattel, but we like you that way. We have subdued many such."

"To your everlasting dishonor, and their endless shame."

Yin Yin grinned. "That is a point on which you will find many who will 同意しない with you. We will not argue it. We never argue, for argument with us is always futile. It would be 不公平な for us to argue." He turned to the noble who had brought him the picture. "Let me see our 契約 with—with this nameless torrogo," he 命令（する）d.

"指名する Zanaloth of Mernerum, or keep him nameless. It is all one to me," said Vernia.

"Who told you that?" he asked, はっきりと.

"You could never guess, and I shall never tell you," replied Vernia, defiantly.

"Ali 井戸／弁護士席. It doesn't 事柄. You will know soon enough." He took a scroll which the noble 延長するd to him, and perused it for some time. "Hum. It is as I thought. This 契約 says we shall 会合，会う him before the harbor of the Island of the Valkars, one ship of his and one of ours, on the morning of the fourteenth day of the ninth endir in the four thousand and tenth year of Thorth. He will have, on the day previous, landed the slaves and treasure on the island, where the 恐れる of the Valkars will 妨げる the former 試みる／企てるing to escape beyond the lines of the few guards who will be left to defend them.

"When our 指揮官 has 満足させるd himself that the slaves and treasure agreed upon have been left on the island, he will 配達する to the Torrogo of Mernerum, or his スパイ／執行官, the person of Her 皇室の Majesty, Vernia of Reabon.

"It does not say `無事の', nor is there anything in this 契約 to 妨げる our taking this Vernia of Reabon to be our handmaiden until such time as it may be necessary for her to sail for the rendezvous with Zanaloth."

He moved a finger, and two of the four guards who stood behind Vernia stepped up beside her.

"Take her to the seraglio," he 命令（する）d, "and tell Ufa to 準備する her this night for the 王室の visit; for it may be that we will 栄誉（を受ける） her with the light of our presence. We are generous."

"His Majesty, Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen, is most generous," chorused the courtiers, as Vernia her heart 沈むing within her, was led away.

11. — THE SEA RATS

As soon As Grandon's 手渡すs struck water, after he had dived from the gangplank, he turned them so that his 勢い carried him underneath the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. A moment later, his 長，率いる bobbed to the surface, and he had the satisfaction of seeing that Kantar and San Thoy had followed his example, as both （機の）カム up やめる 近づく him. From above （機の）カム the 動揺させる of tork 解雇する／砲火／射撃, the 弾丸s cutting into the water where the three 逃亡者／はかないものs had disappeared.

"You know this place," Grandon said to the yellow man. "Where can we hide?"

"First we must get behind the 倉庫／問屋," replied San Thoy. "Follow me."

He struck out, and にもかかわらず his portliness, 証明するd to be an excellent swimmer. Grandon later learned that this was a racial and not an individual characteristic, as all Huitsenni, 存在 後部d on the water, swam fully as 井戸／弁護士席 as they walked, if not a shade better. Just now, however, he was sorely put to it to keep pace with the rotund 著作権侵害者, while Kantar, the slowest of the three, 追跡するd behind them.

San Thoy 速く led them through a dark and 狭くする passage between two 石／投石する 塀で囲むs—the 創立／基礎s of two 倉庫／問屋s. Above him, Grandon could hear shouts, 悪口を言う／悪態s, 命令（する）s, and men running on the planking.

Once through the passage, the 著作権侵害者 waited for the others to come up with him. Here it was so murky that Grandon could barely see the 直面するs of his companions.

"They will send boats and 急速な／放蕩な swimmers," whispered San Thoy, "but if we are 静かな, it may be that we can elude them. It will soon be dark, and the 不明瞭 will be our 同盟（する）. Follow closely behind me, and do not splash or talk."

Once more they 始める，決める off, with the 著作権侵害者 in the lead. They were in a wilderness of 地位，任命するs, the piling that supported the planking of the street level, which was about fifteen feet above their 長，率いるs. The 列／漕ぐ／騒動s of piles were broken at intervals of about fifty feet by the circular 創立／基礎s of houses. Many of the fishing 穴を開けるs in 前線 of these dwellings were open, admitting かなりの daylight. And Grandon noticed that boats were moored in 前線 of all of them, while 深く，強烈に notched 政治家s 事業／計画（する）ing 負かす／撃墜する through the 穴を開けるs formed ladders by which they could be reached from above.

San Thoy, however, 避けるd the 前線s of the houses with their fishing 穴を開けるs, and followed the 小道／航路s at the 支援するs of the buildings, where it was so dark that 反対するs were 明白な for only a few feet in any direction.

They had not gone far when it became obvious that a 一致した 追跡 had begun. 武装した Huitsenni everywhere were 群れているing 負かす／撃墜する the notched 政治家s into the boats. Soon they were 列／漕ぐ／騒動ing about in all directions, flashing their lights, poking their oars into dark corners, and sending swimmers with knives gripped in their toothless gums, to 調査する the 狭くする places where the boats could not enter.

At first, it was not so difficult for San Thoy to 避ける the 捜査員s, but as they became more 非常に／多数の his cunning was put more and more to the 実験（する）. Time and again the three 逃亡者／はかないものs were compelled to hide behind pilings while boatloads of 捜査員s passed within a few feet of them. Although he had no 適切な時期 to question him, Grandon 裁判官d that he was making for some 限定された hiding place, because, にもかかわらず the many 新たな展開s and turns to which he was 軍隊d by their pursuers, he continued to lead his companions always in the same general direction.

Presently, however, the three （機の）カム to a place where it seemed that they would be able to 前進する no さらに先に. 完全に surrounded by the man hunters, and likely to be 秘かに調査するd at any moment, they took 避難 in the dark 影をつくる／尾行するs of a cluster of piling. Lights flashed all about them, and when the beams （機の）カム uncomfortably の近くに, they 潜水するd until they had passed.

One by one, however, the boats 徐々に drew off, until but one remained. It 含む／封じ込めるd two 著作権侵害者s, naked save for leather breech clouts. One of them, having flashed his light の中で the piles, 軽く押す／注意を引くd his companion and said something that Grandon and the two with him were unable to hear. But his 活動／戦闘s were eloquent of his meaning, for the next moment he and his fellow, with long knives gripped in their mouths, slid into the water, and silently swam toward the place of 避難 占領するd by the 逃亡者／はかないものs.

So 静かに had the 著作権侵害者s entered the water, and so noiselessly were they approaching the clump of piling, that had it not been for their light, which shown from the prow of the boat, the 逃亡者／はかないものs would not have been aware of their coming. As it was, they were 警告するd, but it seemed that there was little they could do, as not one of them was 武装した. To stand and fight seemed foolhardy, and to 試みる／企てる to escape, worse than useless, for by shouting, the two man-hunters could quickly draw hundreds of their companions to 削減（する） off their escape.

In this 窮地, Grandon, as was his wont, thought 速く and 行為／法令／行動するd with celerity. As he saw it, there was but one way out, and if that failed they were doomed. Accordingly, he whispered 早い 指示／教授／教育s to his two companions and they took their places.

As the two 著作権侵害者s stealthily approached the clump of piles, they suddenly saw, 直接／まっすぐに in the path of the light from their boat, the 直面する of San Thoy. He gave one 脅すd look at them, and turned, swimming 速く in the opposite direction. With grunts of satisfaction, the two swimmers struck out after him, 自然に taking the shortest and most direct 大勝する, which lay between two large 地位，任命するs about five feet apart. Their cat-like 注目する，もくろむs gleamed with excitement of the chase. But just as they reached the space between the two large 地位，任命するs, two white 武器 発射 out from behind them, and jerked the long knives from their mouths. Two keen blades flashed aloft, and 速く descended. Two greasy 死体s slipped from sight into the 黒人／ボイコット depths.

Grandon and Kantar, treading water, thrust the blades into their belts as San Thoy returned, grinning 概して.

"Now," he said, "we can travel by boat."

The three 逃亡者／はかないものs quickly clambered 船内に. The two six-pronged fishing spears lay along the gunwale, and in 支援する of the boat was a pile of 逮捕するs.

Beneath these, Grandon and Kantar crept. San Thoy 除去するd his insignia which 布告するd him a mojak of the 王室の 海軍, stripping himself 負かす／撃墜する to his breech-clout. Then, looking much like one of the fishermen of Huitsen, he 列／漕ぐ／騒動d away.

Grandon lay in the 底（に届く） of the boat beside Kantar, covered by 逮捕するs which were eloquently redolent of 最近の 接触する with 消滅した／死んだ fish, for what he 裁判官d to be about half an hour. Then San Thoy stopped, 安全な・保証するd the boat to a pile, and 解除するing the 逮捕するs, said: "Come. Follow me, and make no noise."

He let himself 静かに into the water, and the two followed him. Grandon saw that they were not far from the 後部 of one of the conical houses, and that several other boats were moored nearby.

San Thoy led them to a point 直接／まっすぐに behind the house, and only a few feet from its circular 石／投石する 塀で囲むs. Then he said: "しっかり掴む my belt, breathe 深く，強烈に, and 準備する to 潜水する."

With Grandon on one 味方する and Kantar on the other, he then dived. 開始 his 注目する，もくろむs under water, 'Grandon saw a light 微光ing some distance below them. They swam straight toward it. Soon they were in 前線 of an oval door of 厚い glass でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd with metal, and looking into a small 議会, beyond which was another 類似の door through which the light streamed. San Thoy 掴むd a knocker which hung behind the door, and struck it three times. A 直面する appeared, でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れるd in the oval door beyond—the 直面する of a yellow man. San Thoy signaled to him with one 手渡す, その結果 he pulled a lever, and the door before them opened. 速く they were carried in by a sudden 急ぐ of water, and the door の近くにd behind them. Now they were in a 狭くする 議会, 完全に filled with water. Grandon was growing 空気／公表する-hungry, 猛烈に so, and he saw from Kanar's 表現 that he was in like 事例／患者. But San Thoy did not appear in the least discommoded by 持つ／拘留するing his breath for so long.

The man behind the second door scrutinized the three for a moment, then 交流d several more 調印するs with San Thoy, and pulled a second lever. At this, パネル盤s in the 塀で囲むs on both 味方するs of them slid 支援する, 明らかにする／漏らすing a large 審査するd 開始, and the water receded so 速く that both Grandon and Kantar, taken unawares, sprawled on the 床に打ち倒す. They sprang to their feet, thankfully 吸い込むing 広大な／多数の／重要な lungfuls of the moist 空気／公表する. Then the inner door opened, and the man who stood beside it bade them enter.

They stepped inside, and as the guard の近くにd the door after them, San Thoy 演説（する）／住所d him.

"Greetings, warder and brother Chispok. Are the brothers in secret 開会／開廷／会期?"

"They are in secret 開会／開廷／会期, O mojak of the brotherhood," replied the yellow man.

Grandon was astounded to hear these two Huitsenni 演説（する）／住所ing each other as brother Chispoks; for he knew that a chispok was a large, scaly rodent 住むing the sea shore or salt 沼s, and spending a かなりの 株 of its time in the water, literally a ネズミ of the sea. It was a hideous creature, closely 似ているing its land cousin, the chipsa, and its 指名する was formed from the two words, "chispa" and "pok", the latter word meaning "the sea". Thus were formed the 指名するs "Azpok", or "Sea of Az," and "Ropok", or "Sea of Ro". To be called a chispa or a chispok in Reabon, or almost any other civilized country of Zorovia, was a deadly 侮辱. But here were two men saluting each other as brother Chispoks, without 罪／違反.

San Thoy continued his conversation with the guard.

"I have brought two 新採用するs for our just and sacred 原因（となる）, who （機の）カム from the far land of Reabon," said San Thoy. "Your 指名する, brother warder?"

"Fo San, brother mojak."

"And I am San Thoy. These are Grandon of Terra, Rogo of Uxpo and Torrogo of Reabon; and Kantar the Gunner, a 国民 of Uxpo."

Fo San, 明らかに 公式文書，認めるing Grandon's sodden and bedraggled scarlet cincture for the first time, 屈服するd low with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward.

"The humble warder of the Chispoks salutes Your Majesty, the glory of whose 行為s of valor has 侵入するd even to this remote corner of the world," he said.

Grandon returned the salute, and he and the gunner were 招待するd to seat themselves.

"によれば the 支配するs of the order, you must を待つ me here," said San Thoy. "I will go and speak to the romojak of the order. I am mojak of a 宿泊する at the other end of the city. In the 合間, refreshments will be brought to you."

He walked to an oval metal door at the other end of the 議会, and gave three sharp 非難するs. It swung open, and before it の近くにd behind him, Grandon heard him 交流 greetings with a yellow man on the other 味方する.

A few minutes later, a boy （機の）カム in, carrying a tray on which were bowls of steaming kova, 取調べ／厳しく尋問するd fish, and stewed mushrooms. Grandon and Kantar did 十分な 司法（官） to the refreshments. While they sat there, eating and drinking, two members of the order were 認める to the 議会, and passed through into the room beyond.

すぐに after they had eaten and drunk their fill, San Thoy returned.

"I have spoken to Han Lay, Romojak of the order," he said, "and he and the brethren of this 宿泊する have 同意d to 収容する／認める you to our order, or, if you are unwilling to become members of the Chispoks, to 許す you to 出発／死 in peace as you （機の）カム."

"What are the 必要物／必要条件s?" asked Grandon.

"You are to do all in your 力／強力にする to 補助装置 in the 倒す of the 現在の 政権 in Huitsen," said San Thoy. "You are その上の to make solemn 誓い that you will （判決などを）下す 援助 to any brother Chispok in danger, even as you would have him （判決などを）下す 援助 unto you."

"I can see no 反対s to these 必要物／必要条件s," replied Grandon. "In fact, I rather like the idea of 補助装置ing to 倒す the 現在の 政権, which certainly has not 行為／行うd itself in a friendly manner toward me. What say you, Gunner?"

"I would 喜んで become a Chispok, or even a こそこそ動くing hahoe, did Your Majesty recommend it," replied Kantar.

"Then lead on," Grandon told San Thoy. "The sooner we can become Chispoks, and get 負かす／撃墜する to the real 商売／仕事 at 手渡す, the better."

Once more San Thoy gave three sharp 非難するs at the door. It was flung open by a 屈服するing yellow man, and they 設立する themselves in a short, 狭くする hallway. At the other end of this, a second door opened at the same signal, and they entered a circular room about twenty-five feet in 直径. Squatting on low 石／投石する （法廷の）裁判s around the 塀で囲む were about sixty Huitsenni. A man, older and more corpulent than the others, sat cross-legged on a 演壇 in the 中心 of the room. San Thoy 行為／行うd his two companions before this individual, introducing Grandon and Kantar as he had in the antechamber, to Han Lay, remojak of the 宿泊する.

Han Lay rose, and 屈服するd low, before Grandon with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward.

"The order of Chispoks is supremely 栄誉（を受ける）d," he said, "in that Your 皇室の and Illustrious Majesty has 同意d to become one of us. We labor in a 原因（となる） just now, which we have 推論する／理由 to believe is your own, and feel that with so mighty a 闘士，戦闘機 and so sagacious a general on our 味方する, our 原因（となる） is all but won."

"May I 問い合わせ to what 原因（となる） you 言及する," asked Grandon, "and why you consider your 原因（となる） my own?"

"We Chispoks have 秘かに調査するs everywhere," replied Han Lay. "We are at 現在の, 努力するing to 倒す Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen. Our 秘かに調査するs 知らせる us that he has not only kidnapped Her Majesty, your wife, for the 目的 of selling her into slavery, but that, during the time she is to be kept in this city, he ーするつもりであるs 軍隊ing her into his own seraglio."

"What!" Grandon's 直面する went deathly pale, and upon his features there （機の）カム a look which made even the 勇敢に立ち向かう Kantar feel anxious. Only twice before had he seen that look on the 直面する of the Earthman, and each time enemies had fallen before his flashing blade like frella grass at 収穫.

"If you will but take me within sight of this filthy beast you call Yin Yin," said Grandon, "I will pierce his putrid heart, even though a thousand guardsmen surround him."

Han Lay grinned.

"That, Your Majesty, is 正確に what we ーするつもりである that you shall do," he said. "The Rogo of Huitsen is so 堅固に guarded that 非，不，無 of our 暗殺者s has been able to reach him, but we have every 約束 in your ability. When you have sworn the 誓いs of our order, the brothers will 行為／行う you to the palace. Others will 密輸する you into a 議会 where, sooner or later, you will 会合，会う Yin Yin, 直面する to 直面する.

"治める the 誓い quickly, then," replied Grandon, "that I may be on my way."

ひさまづくing, and with their 権利 手渡すs 延長するd, palms downward, toward a small image of Thorth, which Han Lay held up before them, Grandon and Kantar swore the secret and terrible 誓い of the Chispoks.

The 誓い 結論するd, they arose, and the brethren （人が）群がるd around them to 延長する fraternal greetings. But at this moment there （機の）カム a sudden and 予期しない interruption. One of the metal doors was thrown violently open, and a mojak with scarbo in 手渡す and tork elevated to cover the group, burst into the room, followed by a horde of 武装した 軍人s.

The Chispoks were 非武装の, save for their knives, hence at the mercy of the fully 武装した invaders, all of whom had torks and scarbos.

"You are all under 逮捕（する） for 背信 against His Majesty, Yin Yin of Huitsen," 布告するd the mojak. "Throw 負かす／撃墜する your knives and 前進する, one at a time, to have your wrists bound. Resist, and you are dead men."

Grandon noticed that Han Lay was 辛勝する／優位ing toward a metal 棒 which 事業／計画（する）d through the 床に打ち倒す of the 演壇. A moment later he stepped on it. There followed a sudden roar of 急ぐing waters, which, in a 簡潔な／要約する instant （海，煙などが）飲み込むd both the Chispoks and the Rogo's men, and filled the room to the 天井. Choking and strangling, Grandon was swept off his feet. Then his 長，率いる 衝突する／食い違うd with something hard and metallic, and he lost consciousness.

12. — IN THE SERAGLIO

After the two guards led Vernia from the presence of Yin Yin, they 行為／行うd her through a 一連の hallways to a spiral ramp, which they 軍隊d her to climb to a 高さ of what she 裁判官d to be about six stories above the 床に打ち倒す level of the 王位 room. Here, after threading several more hallways, they （機の）カム to a metal door, on either 味方する of which stood a tall, thin yellow man leaning on an 巨大な scarbo. These were the first thin Huitsenni she had ever seen, and the sight astounded her, for she had believed that all of them, both men and women, were short and corpulent.

As Vernia and her two guards （機の）カム to a stop before the door, one of those who stood beside it tapped on its metal surface with the hilt of his 抱擁する scarbo. It was 即時に flung open, and a yellow man, taller than those who stood beside the door, and so 老年の that his 直面する was a 網状組織 of wrinkles, stood before them. He wore the purple cincture, showing that he was of the nobility, and his accouterments 炎d with jewels. Seeing that Vernia wore the scarlet of 王族, he 屈服するd low with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward. Then he 演説（する）／住所d the guard on her left.

"Whom have we here, and what are the 命令（する）s?"

"O, 売春婦 Sen, Lord of the Seraglio, this is Vernia, Torroga of Reabon. It is the 命令（する） of His Majesty that Ufa be 教えるd to 準備する her this night for the 王室の visit, for it may be that our gracious 君主 will 栄誉（を受ける） her with the light of his presence."

"His Majesty is 慈悲の, just and generous, and we delight to do his bidding," 答える／応じるd 売春婦 Sen. Then he clapped his 手渡すs, and two more tall, slender Huitsenni （機の）カム 今後. They took the place of the two 軍人s who stood beside her, and the latter turned and marched off 負かす／撃墜する the hall.

"Enter, Your Majesty," 売春婦 Sen 招待するd with a ceremonious 屈服する. The strangely angular creatures at Vernia's 味方するs 掴むd her 武器 to drag her 今後. But she shook them off and entered, herself. There was nothing else to do. Then the metal door clanged shut behind her.

売春婦 Sen led the way across this room through another oval 入り口, and 負かす／撃墜する a hallway into an 巨大な 議会 two stories in 高さ, and 形態／調整d like a 三日月 the far end of which was 明白な from where they stood. On the inner 味方する of the 三日月, 非常に／多数の doors led out to little balconies which evidently overlooked the 王位 room, for Vernia could see the iridescent 水晶 塀で囲むs of the 巨大な 軸 beyond. On the outer 味方する of the 三日月 other doors led to sleeping apartments.

In the 巨大な room were gathered no いっそう少なく than a thousand girls and young women. の中で them were 代表するd all the races of Zorovia with which Vernia was familiar, and several of which she had never heard. It was 著名な, too, that every girl, 裁判官d by the 基準s of her race, was beautiful.

Save for the tall, lean guards who stood at the doorways, and at 正規の／正選手 intervals around the 塀で囲むs, there were no men 現在の, and Vernia was beginning to 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う that even these were not men. Young slave girls padded softly about on the 厚い rugs, carrying trays of sweetmeats, マリファナs and tiny bowls of kova, jars and 瓶／封じ込めるs of cosmetics, 徹底的に捜すs, 小衝突s, bangles, and such other feminine 半端物s and ends as the pampered inmates of the seraglio 要求するd. Birds sang in gold and 水晶 cages that swung from the 天井, and fountains splashed musically into limpid pools in which swam curious, brilliantly colored fish of many 形態／調整s and hues. In lieu of flowers, for such things are unknown on Zorovia, there were potted fungi of ornate 形態／調整s and rich shades, which filled the 空気／公表する with 甘い, 激しい perfume. These fungi, Vernia afterward learned, had been brought to their 現在の 明言する／公表する of perfection through careful selective 産む／飼育するing and crossing by hundreds of 世代s of 技術d botanists. There were also many rare and beautiful varieties of ferns, cycads, and 共同のd grasses.

Many of the inmates lolled about on low divans, chatting, sipping kova, and nibbling at sweetmeats. Others were having their hair 徹底的に捜すd, their nails polished, or cosmetics 適用するd by slave girls. A few were stringing beads or doing embroidery work, and the 残りの人，物 strolled about the place or gathered in little groups, laughing and talking.

With a pompous dignity which showed that he took かなりの pride in the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 責任／義務 reposed in him by the Rogo, 売春婦 Sen 選ぶd his way の中で the divans, ottomans, fountains, potted 工場／植物s, and concubines, while Vernia, に引き続いて with her two guards, felt as if on parade. It was plain to her that she was すぐに the 中心 toward which all 注目する，もくろむs gravitated, 同様に as the 支配する of many 発言／述べるs and discussions. The さまざまな members of this assorted aggregation of feminine pulchritude showed different reactions as Vernia, who was far more beautiful than any of them, passed. Some gazed in open 賞賛, some cast lowering ちらりと見ることs that plainly denoted jealousy, others appeared coldly indifferent, and a small 残りの人，物, evidently mindful of the 運命／宿命 ーするつもりであるd for her, looked 同情的な. Accustomed to 存在 星／主役にするd at, she passed の中で them with 平易な grace and 静かな dignity, ignoring them as 完全に as if they had been so many articles of furniture. But she could not help overhearing what some of them said. Many exclaimed at her beauty. Others, the jealous ones, made spiteful 発言／述べるs. And she heard one girl say: "Another princess, and as 広大な／多数の／重要な a beauty as the first It seems that the Rogo has lately spread his 逮捕するs for naught but 王族."

Having passed about half way around the 三日月, 売春婦 Sen led Vernia into a 私的な 控訴, where a young girl sat having her hair done by an old and 極端に ugly yellow woman. The girl, she noticed, wore the scarlet of 王族. She was small, shapely, 黒人／ボイコット-haired and brown-注目する，もくろむd.

売春婦 Sen 演説（する）／住所d the old woman.

"I bring another 広大な／多数の／重要な lady for your ministrations, Ufa. She is Vernia, Torroga of Reabon. It is the will of His Majesty that she be 用意が出来ている for the 王室の visit this night."

The old trot grinned. "We all love and obey our generous and gracious 君主," she replied, "and Ufa will 発揮する herself to the 最大の that this damsel may be pleasing to his Majesty's 注目する，もくろむs; though, in truth, her natural beauty makes the 仕事 an 平易な one."

売春婦 Sen went out, の近くにing the door after him.

The old hag grinned hideously at Vernia.

"Be seated, my pretty one," she said, "until I have finished with my little white bird."

Vernia seated herself on a nearby divan, and a young slave girl brought her a steaming マリファナ of kova and a tiny golden drinking bowl, which she placed 近づく her on a small taboret. The girl who was having her hair done smiled and spoke to her.

"I am Narine of Tyrhana, Your Majesty," she said, "and, like you, a 囚人 here. Shall we be friends? I've heard so much about your remarkable adventures, and your gallant husband, Grandon of Terra, that I feel as if I almost know you."

Vernia returned her friendly smile. "I who am friendless in this place," she replied, "would welcome the chance to acquire almost any friend, but in any 事例／患者, I should be, glad for the friendship of the daughter of 広告 of Tyrhana, comrade of my father on many of his adventurous 追跡（する）ing excursions, his 信頼できる 同盟（する） when seven 広大な／多数の／重要な nations 連合させるd and sought to break the 海軍の 力／強力にする of Reabon, and now the 同盟（する） of my husband. You are the Torrogina?"

"No, I am but the Torrogini. My 年上の sister, Loralie, is the 栄冠を与える Princess. Perhaps you have heard of her 約束／交戦 to Zinlo, Torrogo of Olba."

"I have. He visited Grandon of Terra a short time ago, and told us about their romance, but he did not について言及する that she was the Torrogina. You know they both traveled to this 惑星 from Mignor at the same time, Grandon alighting in Uxpo, and Zinlo, who on Mignor was known as Harry Thorne, in Olba. But tell me, how do you happen to be here? Can it be that some lascivious torrogo has 申し込む／申し出d the price of an empire for your 誘拐?"

"I think not, as I 推定する／予想する to be sold into slavery today to the Rogo of the White Ibbits a race of hairy barbarians who 住む the Mountains of Eternal Snow 近づく the south 政治家. It seems that Yin Yin buys large 量s of zandars from this savage chieftain, and that the latter has a 証拠不十分 for comely virgins. Yin Yin has kept me here, 無事の, for the past ten days, for the 単独の 推論する／理由 that he believes I will bring him a tremendous price in zandars from this antarctic 支配者.

"But you asked how I happened to be here. About an endir ago I left Tyrhana in one of my father's 戦艦s to visit my cousin, Tinia, daughter of Aardvan of Adonijar. Three days out, a tremendous 嵐／襲撃する （機の）カム up, carrying our masts and sails and more than half the 乗組員 overboard, destroying the steering apparatus and nearly filling the 持つ／拘留する with water. In this helpless 条件 we drifted for many days. Then we sighted a (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of 著作権侵害者 大型船s. After a 簡潔な／要約する 小競り合い with the few 軍人s who were left behind on our ship, they boarded us and took all who remained alive 囚人s. I was brought here, either to be sold or impressed into the seraglio of Yin Yin. He has seen fit to 申し込む／申し出 me to the barbarian for a fabulous number of zandars. I have sought to 賄賂 Yin Yin to return me to my father, but he would not. Perhaps I can 賄賂 the hairy chieftain. If not, why then I will die by my own 手渡す, for the women of Tyrhana have ever preferred death to dishonor."

Vernia, in her turn, 関係のある what had befallen her since her 逮捕（する） by the Huitsenni.

In the 合間, Ufa finished with Narine's coiffure. Then she 行為／行うd Vernia into a magnificent bath of 黒人／ボイコット and yellow marble where she bathed in scented water, and was massaged with aromatic oils by two slave girls under the 監督 of the efficient Ufa. After this, another slave girl brought splendid 衣料品s ふさわしい to her 階級, and helped her to dress.

支援する in the boudoir, Vernia had her hair done by Ufa.

Presently Narine （機の）カム in, and slave girls brought their evening meal. The repast was a sumptuous one, consisting of nearly a hundred tastily 用意が出来ている dishes, from which they chose what they 手配中の，お尋ね者. The napery was of scarlet silk, each piece embroidered with the coat of 武器 of the Rogo of Huitsen, and the service was of gold, 類似して decked.

After they had dined, Ufa led them to another, larger room, the 歓迎会 room of the 控訴, where a slave girl served them with kova. Then she 出発／死d, leaving them to their own 装置s.

With Ufa and the other slaves about, Vernia had kept the thought which was uppermost in her mind, escape, 完全に out of the conversation. But now that she and Princess Narine were alone, she hoped that the Tyrhanian princess, having been in Huitsen for some time, might have acquired some knowledge which they could turn to their 目的.

"Don't you think," she said, as Narine filled her jeweled cup with steaming kova, "that you, with the wealth of Tyrhana behind you, could find someone in this palace, who, for a 約束 of 広大な riches, would 密輸する us away in a small boat? Once at sea, we should be almost 確かな to 遭遇（する） one of the many ships that must, by now, be searching for both of us."

Narine sipped her kova thoughtfully. "I have tried that," she replied, "and everywhere met with rebuffs. Every person I have tried to 賄賂 has 知らせるd against me, and Yin Yin lost no time in letting me know that I was only wasting my breath."

"Can it be," asked Vernia, "that these people so love their tyrannous Rogo that not one of them would betray him for the wealth of an empire?"

"On the contrary," Narine replied "I believe that every 支配する, from the most exalted noble to the lowest slave, 恐れるs and hates him. Yet no man dares speak his mind, for 恐れる his fellow is a 秘かに調査する, or will turn 密告者 to その上の his own ends."

"What of the man who has 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the seraglio? 売春婦 Sen, I believed they called him."

"The man, did you say?" Narine smiled. "売春婦 Sen is no man, but like these other angular creatures who stand about leaning on 抱擁する scarbos, is but a eunuch."

"A eunuch wearing the purple? That is strange. And I noticed that 非，不，無 of them were short and fat like the Huitsenni, although さもなければ 似ているing them."

"They are all sons of slave women, mostly of the white races, so Ufa told me," Narine replied. "Some of them, I understand, are Yin Yin's own sons. 売春婦 Sen is Yin Yin's uncle, though the Rogo does not 認める the 関係, and was 認めるd the purple by Yin Yin's grandfather. He has been Lord of the Seraglio for three 世代s of 王族."

"Indeed! And does he love these yellow 支配者s who are the 原因（となる） of his affliction and that of his fellows, so 井戸／弁護士席 that he could not be 賄賂d to serve us?"

"I 疑問 that he loves his master any more than the others, yet I could not 賄賂 him. I tried the first day I was brought here."

"Then there is no way we can help ourselves?"

"There is but one," replied Narine. "It is a desperate way, to be put into practice only as a last 訴える手段／行楽地. But it is efficient. Look."

She 新たな展開d a 血-red jewel from a （犯罪の）一味 on her finger, and Vernia saw a few white 水晶s reposing in a tiny hollow beneath it.

"One of these 水晶s 解散させるd on the tongue brings death, sudden, sure, and painless," Narine told her. Then as she returned the jewel to its place, she said: "Yin Yin is careful to keep all 武器s out of the seraglio with the exception of 抱擁する scarbos carried by the eunuchs. If he but knew the secret of this （犯罪の）一味, then would my last hope indeed be gone."

"I, too, have managed to 保存する the means to a quick way out, if worse comes to worst." Vernia drew a small, keen knife from beneath her 衣料品s and held it up. "This is from the belt of one of the guards who brought me to the seraglio. I managed to 移転 it to these 着せる／賦与するs after my bath, but it was difficult with the old hag and the slave girls watching."

Scarcely had she spoken, when there was a slight rustle of the hangings behind her. Then a fat, ひどく jeweled 手渡す reached over her shoulder and snatched the knife from her, and Yin Yin himself with a wheezy chuckle, waddled into the room. Still chuckling, and before she could 妨げる him, he 掴むd Narine's slender wrist, and 新たな展開d the （犯罪の）一味 with the 血-red jewel from her finger. Then he dropped both articles into his belt pouch, 注ぐd himself a cup of kova, and sat 負かす／撃墜する ひどく.

"My, me!" he whispered, grinning toothlessly. "What desperate characters we have been entertaining unawares! 毒（薬）! 武器s! 贈収賄! I'm surprised. I'm astounded. I'm shocked."

He 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd off his kova and refilled the jeweled cup.

Narine said nothing, but there was a look of horror in her brown 注目する，もくろむs.

Vernia, 静める mistress of emotions, regarded him with regal hauteur. "I perceive," she said, 演説（する）／住所ing Narine, "that the Rogo of Huitsen has a multitude of low 占領／職業s. Not content with 存在 a mere どろぼう, robber, and defiler of womanhood, he is also that most contemptible of creatures, a 秘かに調査する."

Yin Yin 始める，決める 負かす／撃墜する his cup with a grunt of surprise, and his cat-like 注目する，もくろむs 狭くするd. "Have a care, slave, how you speak of your master," he snarled, "or he may decide to have you whipped."

Still looking at Narine, Vernia replied. "観察する, Your Highness, how manly and chivalrous is the Rogo of Huitsen. Ah, what a different song he will sing when Grandon of Terra has him by the throat! He has a throat, I am sure, though it is 隠すd beneath his multiplicity of chins."

"It may be, Your Majesty," replied Narine, taking the cue, "that he has a throat but is ashamed of it."

"Or what is more likely, Your Highness," Vernia 答える／応じるd, "he is afraid some honest man will slit it."

Yin Yin, arrayed in all his finery, had come to play the lover. But the most ardent wooer can seldom withstand ridicule, and if he be short-tempered and accustomed to having his every wish regarded as 法律, it is more likely that 怒り／怒る will quickly （人が）群がる the gentler passions from his bosom. Knowing this, Vernia had deliberately 始める，決める out to bait him. It was evident, at first, that she had 後継するd even beyond her 期待s, for the bloated 直面する of the 君主 grew livid. A greenish glitter （機の）カム to his cat-like 注目する，もくろむs, and he muttered horrible 脅しs. But Yin Yin, although 甚だしい／１２ダース and sensual, was a master of intrigue and an adept in cunning. And not many moments elapsed before he saw through the ruse. Suddenly he 中止するd his muttering and began laughing uproariously—laughing until the 涙／ほころびs coursed 負かす／撃墜する his puffy cheeks. After all, was he not 完全にする master of the 状況／情勢? And mere words, no 事柄 what their 重荷（を負わせる）, could not 負傷させる him.

With a pudgy finger he wiped the 涙／ほころびs from his cheeks. Then he gulped 負かす／撃墜する his kova 取って代わるd the cup on the taboret, and shook that same fat finger at Vernia.

"Bones of Thorth, but you will be the death of me yet with your subtle humor," he wheezed. "A wittier pair of young ladies I have not seen in many a year—I who see thousands 年一回の, who come and go with the seasons."

From that moment on, he 保持するd his good humor, nor could they with their keenest sallies or deepest 侮辱s 侵入する the armor of jollity which he had assumed. A greasy, 楽しみ-bloated, jewel-bedizened monstrosity, he sat there, chuckling, 誇るing, and drinking cup after cup of steaming kova until the マリファナ was empty and a slave girl was 召喚するd with more.

The girl had just 出発／死d when there was the 雷鳴 of many hoofs on the planking of the street below. Yin Yin, with a maudlin smirk, 演説（する）／住所d Narine. "If the Torrogini of Tyrhana will look over the balcony," he said, "it is possible that she will catch a glimpse of her 未来 master. My ears tell me that Heg, Rogo of the Ibbits, has arrived with his savage riders, and ten thousand zandars for which I have 申し込む／申し出d to forego the 楽しみ of taming that little she-marmelot, the daughter of 広告 of Tyrhana."

Both girls 急ぐd to the nearest window, and stepping out on the balcony peered over. In the 中庭 below them was an 巨大な concourse of riders, 機動力のある on zandars, wearing cloaks and hoods of zandar 肌s, and carrying long lances in their 手渡すs. But such lances! Each had about fifteen feet of stout 木造の 軸, and a spiral 長，率いる about two feet in length, connected to a globular metal knob. Vernia, herself a leader of 軍人s, was puzzled as to how these strange lances could be used, as it appeared that the spiral 長，率いるs, instead of 侵入するing 深く，強烈に when thrust at an enemy, would only spring 支援する at the arm that drove them. The riders also carried scarbos and knives, but she saw no torks or 証拠 of 小火器 of any 肉親，親類d.

The 直面するs and 団体／死体s of the riders were so muffled in their hoods and cloaks as to be invisible from above. The 大多数 kept to their saddles, but about twenty of them dismounted and entered the palace. And looking out beyond the 中庭, Vernia saw by the light of the street lamps that an entire street, reaching from the palace to one of the city gates, was filled by an 巨大な herd of milling, bellowing zandars, kept in 形式 by 機動力のある Ibbits who prodded the recalcitrant beasts with the butts of their queer, spiral-pointed lances.

Turning away from the balcony, the two girls re-entered the room. Yin Yin, now evidently 井戸／弁護士席 under the 影響（力） of the kova he had 消費するd, was mumbling kerra spores and expectorating the red juice into one of the sand jars. His 多重の chins stood much in need of the attentions of the 王室の chin-wiper, but he seemed too far gone in drink to notice this 詳細（に述べる）. He looked up suddenly as three sharp 非難するs sounded at a 味方する door.

"Come," he said, thickly.

売春婦 Sen, Lord of the Seraglio, entered, and 屈服するd low with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward.

"Your Majesty," he said, "Heg, Rogo of the Ibbits, has arrived, and を待つs your 楽しみ at the outer door of the seraglio."

"Send him here by way of the 選び出す／独身 回廊（地帯）, and see that two eunuchs …に出席する him to this door," Yin Yin 命令（する）d. "There let him wait within call. It may be that this barbarian, when 直面するd with so much beauty at one time, will become difficult to manage."

"I 急いで to obey," replied 売春婦 Sen, with another 屈服する and 出発／死d.

A few moments later the same door opened, and there entered a 存在 who elicited from Vernia an involuntary gasp of amazement. With his hood of zandar thrown 支援する and his 広大な／多数の／重要な cloak of the same 構成要素 caught at his shoulders, Heg, Rogo of the Ibbits, was a most remarkable sight. He was tall, 非常に高い 長，率いる and shoulders above Yin Yin, and symmetrically built so far as human 基準s go, with the exception of his 武器, which were not only tremendously muscled, but as long as those of an ape. His features, too, were 正規の／正選手, and his teeth even and white. Save for his scarlet cincture, and the gold and jewel studded ひもで縛るs which supported his knife and scarbo, he wore no 着せる／賦与するing beneath his cloak, nor did he appear to need any. For his entire 団体／死体, from 長，率いる to foot, not excepting his whole 直面する, was covered with short, white fur.

Yin Yin rose, as is the 全世界の／万国共通の custom in Zorovia when 王族 receives 王族, and the two 交流d salutations with 権利 手渡すs 延長するd palms downward. Then he ceremoniously 現在のd the savage chieftain to "Her 皇室の Majesty, Vernia, Torroga of Reabon," and "Her 皇室の Highness, Narine, Torrogini of Tyrhana," Neither Vernia nor Narine 定評のある the introduction, but this seemed to make no difference to the two 支配者s, who 敏速に seated themselves beside the taboret.

Yin Yin 注ぐd kova for himself and his guest, and they drank. Then he said: "井戸／弁護士席, Heg, have you brought the zandars?"

"Aye, Yin Yin," was the reply. "Ten thousand of the most powerful and spirited beasts in my rogat are even now pawing the planks of your city in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of my best herdsmen."

"You are 満足させるd with the 取引?"

Heg looked at Narine appraisingly. She shuddered under his gaze, but this did not seem to impress him. He had evidently seen many other maidens 類似して 脅すd.

"I am やめる 満足させるd, Yin Yin," he answered. "Come, look at the splendid zandars I have brought you, and see if you can find it in your heart to tell me that you are not pleased."

He rose, and led the way to the balcony, Yin Yin waddling after him.

"What think you of those beasts?" he asked. "And all for one little slave girl."

Yin Yin rubbed his pudgy 手渡すs together as the two turned away from the balcony and stepped 支援する into the room. "They are indeed 罰金 animals," he 認める, "and I 宣言する myself 満足させるd, but speak not disparagingly of the little slave girl. Remember, she is the daughter of a mighty torrogo, and it cost me many men and much treasure to bring her here. Moreover, she has beauty far above the 普通の／平均（する）."

"What of this other?" asked Heg, as they sat 負かす／撃墜する once more beside the kova. "She also has 広大な／多数の／重要な beauty, and I would buy her from you. In fact, each of these reaches the pinnacle of beauty for her type, the one brunette and the other blonde."

"Your r taste in feminine charms is admirable," said Yin Yin, "同様に it may be, seeing the number of famous beauties you have had from me. But you have always 規定するd maids, and she of the golden curls is the bride of a torrogo, as you may have surmised from her 肩書を与える."

"Maid or matron, I care not. For beauty such as hers, I will break my 支配する. Ten thousand zandars more will be yours magnificent as those I have brought you, in 交流 for the golden-haired one."

"Nay, Heg. She is not for sale. All the zandars in your rogat, or all the countless millions that roam the antarctic wastes could not buy her, for she has already been sold for the value of a dozen kingdoms. It but remains for me to 配達する her and collect my price."

But Heg was not easily turned from his 目的. Having seen Vernia, he meant to have her, arguing, 脅すing, pleading, and 徐々に 増加するing his 申し込む／申し出s, while the two drank cup after cup and マリファナ after マリファナ of kova. He at length avowed his 乗り気 to fill all the streets of Huitsen, packed solidly to the doorways, with zandars, if Yin Yin would only sell him this delectable bit of femininity that, as he 表明するd it, he might turn at will from the dark beauty of the one to the blonde glory of the other.

一方／合間 the two girls, who had retired to a corner of the room, whispered together.

"Never in my wildest fancies," said Vernia "did I ever dream that I should become the 支配する of such haggling as this—to be sold, 申し込む／申し出d for sale, or bidden for, like a beast of 重荷（を負わせる）."

"It all seems like a wild nightmare too horrible to be real," replied Narine. "Think of it! I have been sold by a greasy rodent to a fur-covered savage—I the daughter of 広告 of Tyrhana! Oh that I had kept the secret of the （犯罪の）一味 損なわれていない! Now I 恐れる that death will come too late to save my 栄誉（を受ける）."

"My deepest 悔いる is that I, too, betrayed my secret by 陳列する，発揮するing my knife. I could at least have had the 楽しみ of sheathing it in the foul heart of Yin Yin before 雇うing it to still for ever the （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing of my own. I have but one hope on which to lean and that is a slender one. Grandon of Terra is 解放する／自由な somewhere in this city, or was when I last heard of him. Though he and Kantar the Gunner, his friend and 軍人, were 非武装の, they may have 設立する a way to 得る 武器s. If so, it will take more guards than Yin Yin 所有するs to keep them from the palace, for they must know that I have been brought here."

"It is indeed a slender hope," sighed Narine; "for even though your gallant husband could 勝利，勝つ his way to this place, there would be no way out. It would be but a death 罠（にかける） for all of us."

"In that 事例／患者," Vernia replied, "I should die contented, for there would be hordes of enemies to …を伴って us into the 広大な／多数の／重要な beyond and stand before the judgment 王位 of Thorth."

As the two Rogos reached an 前進するd 明言する／公表する of inebriation, their haggling became louder and louder, until it appeared that a quarrel was 切迫した. Suddenly, the 手渡す of the savage chieftain flew to the hilt of his scarbo, and he sprang to his feet, overturning a taboret. "Sell me this fair-haired beauty, and 指名する your own price," he shouted, "but sell her to me you shall or by the 血 of Thorth I'll 殺す you and take her for nothing."

Yin Yin looked at him in drunken wonderment for a moment, as if he could not believe his own 注目する，もくろむs. Then he clapped his 手渡すs. 即時に the door through which the hairy one had come, flew open, and two eunuchs ran into the room, 明らかにするd blades in their 手渡すs.

At this, Heg's bravado 即時に 沈下するd. Letting his furry 手渡す 減少（する） from his hilt, he said: "What's this? You call the guard? I did but jest, my friend." "Your jest as you call it, has gone far enough," wheezed Yin Yin. "We will, however, let it pass as such, and so end the 会議／協議会. Take your slave girl and be gone, for the torroga of Reabon and I would be alone." He turned his cat-like 注目する，もくろむs on Vernia, and leered drunkenly. "Wouldn't we, my pretty?"

"It grows late, and I must indeed be going," replied Heg. Striding across the room, he suddenly 掴むd Narine's wrist and jerked her to her feet. She 叫び声をあげるd, and 試みる／企てるd to 解放する／自由な her arm from his 残虐な しっかり掴む, but he only laughed at her struggles. "Come, my little beauty," he said, dragging her across the room. "We have outworn our welcome."

One of the eunuchs held the door open, and the other stood aside from them to pass out. Yin Yin, a kerra-stained grin on his porcine features, rose ponderously, and waddled unsteadily toward Vernia, drunkenly oblivious to her 表現 of 恐れる and loathing.

13. — GRANDON MEETS THE ROGO

After Grandon struck his 長，率いる and lost consciousness in the water-filled 宿泊する room of the Chispoks, his senses returned slowly. At first it seemed that he was in a 広大な hall—that a gigantic 人物／姿／数字 was bending over him, shouting something which he could hear only as a faint sound in the distance, and that other 巨大な 人物／姿／数字s were moving about the room.

But 徐々に, as he became more 合理的な／理性的な, the room and everything in it assumed their proper 割合s. He saw that he was lying on a sleeping shelf in a room much smaller than that in which he had lost consciousness, and that the supposed 巨大（な） was Kantar the Gunner, leaning over him. The other occupants of the room were Han Lay, San Thoy, and a half dozen Chispoks.

"Speak to me, Majesty," Kantar was 説. "Only let me know that you —"

"I'm all 権利, Gunner. Let me up." With the astounded and delighted Kantar's arm beneath his shoulders, he sat up. His 長，率いる swam dizzily, but 徐々に it （疑いを）晴らすd. "Where are we?" he asked.

Han Lay, who had hurried to his 病人の枕元 as soon as he saw him sit up, 屈服するd and said: "Perhaps I can explain better than the 軍人, Your Majesty. You 解任する that we were attacked by the Rogo's 兵士s in the 宿泊する room?"

"I remember that, and the flood afterward. Then I must have struck my 長，率いる for all went 黒人／ボイコット."

"I tried to help you," continued Han Lay, "but as you were not 推定する／予想するing the sudden 急ぐ of waters you were swept off your feet and carried away before I could reach you. Your 長，率いる 衝突する／食い違うd with the end of a doorway. All the Chispoks, of course, knew how to get out, for we had rehearsed it many times. San Thoy helped your 軍人 to escape through the secret door, and I dragged you out the same way. The last man out の近くにd it."

"Then the Rogo's 軍人s did not escape?"

"Not one man. But of course it was necessary for us to destroy the building, for there will be an 調査, and we have other buildings 類似して equipped. All this was 用意が出来ている for in 前進する. The pulling of a lever in this house 始める，決める off a tremendous 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of 爆発性の which blew the place to 原子s. We brought you here to my home, in my boat."

Grandon stood up to 実験（する） the strength of his 脚s. Although the dizziness 攻撃する，非難するd him for a second time, he was able to stay on his feet.

"許す me to thank you for saving my life," he said. "It may be that some day I shall find a way to 返す you."

"You can best 返す me by carrying out the 計画（する）s we 輪郭（を描く）d before you took the 誓い of our fraternity."

"I'll 喜んで do that, and more," replied Grandon. "Give me my 指示／教授／教育s, and let me start."

"You will have little to do until the brothers who will 密輸する you into the palace bring you 直面する to 直面する with Yin Yin. If you 後継する in 殺すing him and 救助（する）ing Her Majesty, your wife, the Chispoks will not only 保証（人） to help you escape from the palace by the way you entered, but will その上の 約束 to 行為／行う you out of Huitsen and place you 船内に a seaworthy （手先の）技術 on the Azpok, with 準備／条項s and water 十分な to last you until you reach the shores of your own land. Is this agreeable?"

"Perfectly," Grandon replied. "But I would be fair with you as you have been with us. What of the secret way into Huitsen which I and my 軍人 now know? Would you 推定する／予想する us to keep this secret from the 残り／休憩（する） of Zorovia, in spite of the relentless （警察の）手入れ，急襲s and 行為／法令／行動するs of outlawry which will no 疑問 continue to be （罪などを）犯すd by your people?"

"We have 供給するd against that, also," replied Han Lay, "for we are aware that any one of the twelve 広大な／多数の／重要な nations of Zorovia, knowing where we are, could easily wipe out Huitsen. However, 許す me to point out that, even though you saw the secret passageway and how it was operated, you were not navigating the ship; hence you have no idea just where it is. You saw that the 入り口 was through a fjord, but there are countless thousands of fjords on this coast, many of which look like this one. All we will need to do will be to blindfold you and those who are to go with you until you are at sea and out of sight of land. The brothers will then direct you how to sail to reach your own country, but you will not be able to find our particular fjord again in many years of careful searching, unless it be by 事故 or unusual good luck.

"I might say, その上の, that in the event of the Chispoks 後継するing to the point of taking over the 政府, piracy will be stopped, peace 条約s will be 調印するd with all the 広大な／多数の／重要な nations of Zorovia, and Huitsen will be thrown open to the ships of the world. It was for this 原則 that the Chispoks were 組織するd. The Huitsenni have been 著作権侵害者s for countless 世代s. Once our nation was as 広大な／多数の／重要な and powerful as any on Zorovia, but now we are の中で the least of 力／強力にするs. Why? The Chispoks 持つ／拘留する that 商業 has made other nations greater than our own. By the very nature of our 暮らし we are debarred from 平和的な 貿易（する）ing, or 商業 of any 肉親，親類d with the exception of an 時折の kidnapping for some lascivious 支配者, infrequent 身代金 money for 豊富な or 影響力のある people 逮捕（する）d on the high seas and the little we can get for our plunder in 貿易（する） and goods from these shady and しっかり掴むing merchants who run the 二塁打 危険 of 取引，協定ing with us—first because they 恐れる we may betray them, and second because they may be apprehended and punished by their own people. 自然に they exact exorbitant 利益（をあげる）s, and our illgotten plunder never brings us a tenth of its real 価値（がある） in 交流.

"The Chispoks are sick of piracy, of this secret slinking from the sight of other nations as the hahoe slinks from the path of the mighty marmelot. We are 疲れた／うんざりした of the constant 流血／虐殺 which is a part of our 貿易（する）. And it is our ambition to place Huitsen on a 平和的な 地盤 with all Zorovia, to turn our 著作権侵害者 大型船s into merchantmen, to have our people received with friendship and good will whenever they 始める，決める foot on a foreign shore."

"A worthy ambition, and I'll do all I can to その上の it," said Grandon.

"Good. And now do you feel strong enough to leave for the palace?"

"Perfectly."

Han Lay led Grandon and Kantar to his 私的な 兵器庫, from which each selected a scarbo, knife tork and 弾薬／武器. When both were 武装した he walked with them to the door, and said: "The six brothers here will take you to the palace. They have 指示／教授／教育s, and you may 信用 them 暗黙に."

Looking out, Grandon saw that the six Chispoks, attired as fishermen, were standing in a semicircle, which 審査するd the door and the fishing 穴を開ける beside it, from 見解（をとる）.

"Crouch behind the men and descend the ladder," Han Lay said. "There are two boats moored. Each of you is to get into one and 包む himself in a fishing 逮捕する. 別れの（言葉，会）, and may Thorth guide and keep you."

Grandon did as directed, and Kantar followed の近くに behind him. Scarcely had they 設立するd themselves in the boats, when three pseudo-fishermen descended into each, and 列／漕ぐ／騒動d away.

Lying in the 底（に届く） of the boat, looking up through the meshes of the 逮捕する, Grandon could see but little. The light from the street lamps shone faintly through the interstices in the planking above his 長，率いる, and by means of it he could barely make out the 輪郭（を描く）s of piling and the 創立／基礎s of the buildings they passed. At times the rowers saluted, and were saluted by the 乗組員s of other small fishing boats, but さもなければ they 持続するd 無傷の silence.

Presently Grandon saw an 巨大な 石／投石する 創立／基礎 ぼんやり現れるing ahead of them and stretching to the 権利 and left さらに先に than he could see, in so wide an arc that he knew it must be the base of some tremendous building. Then the prow of the boat in which he 棒 slid up on a low ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる. A moment later he heard another prow grind up beside it. Then one of the pseudo-fishermen spoke.

"Greetings, thalput of the 王室の kitchens"

"Greetings, fishermen," was the reply. Have you brought the fish, as ordered?"

"The fish are here in the 逮捕するs."

"Then bring them and follow me."

Still wrapped in the 逮捕する, Grandon was swung up to the shoulders of the three men, who walked across a low ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れる and entered a large oval door. After に引き続いて a dimly lighted passageway for some distance, they suddenly turned aside into a 狭くする doorway. A moment later, the other three strode in after them, and the door was softly の近くにd. Grandon was 始める，決める on his feet, and the 倍のs of the 逮捕する were unwound from his 団体／死体. As soon as Kantar was 類似して 解放する／自由なd, the six fishermen took their 逮捕するs and 出発／死d, の近くにing the door after them.

They were in a tiny room, faintly lighted by a 選び出す／独身 薄暗い bulb that shone from the 中心 of the 天井. The place had metal 塀で囲むs and was 明らかにする of furniture. No 出口 was 明白な save the door through which they had come. But he who had been 演説（する）／住所d as the kitchen thalput, 圧力（をかける）d one of a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 of studs, その結果 a パネル盤 slid 支援する, 明らかにする／漏らすing the 底（に届く） of a 狭くする spiral stairway, as dimly lighted as the room in which they stood.

"Follow me," he whispered, "and make no sound. Take care that your 武器s do not clink against the 塀で囲むs."

As soon as Grandon and Kantar had stepped inside, the thalput 圧力（をかける）d a stud, and the パネル盤 の近くにd behind them. Then he led the way up the spiral stairway. At intervals of about fifteen feet thereafter, they passed 事情に応じて変わる パネル盤s, above each of which was fastened a 薄暗い bulb. When they had reached the ninth パネル盤, the thalput stopped before it. He 圧力（をかける）d a stud, and the パネル盤 slid 支援する, 明らかにする／漏らすing a dark 開始 behind scarlet hangings. From behind these （機の）カム the sound of spirited haggling. The thalput 圧力（をかける）d a lower stud, and the パネル盤 slid 支援する once more without a sound, shutting off the noise of 発言する／表明するs beyond. Then he 演説（する）／住所d Grandon:

"In yonder room," he said, "you will find Her Majesty, your wife, the Rogo of Huitsen, and the Rogo of the Ibbits. I gather from the conversation that the savage chieftain is trying to 説得する Yin Yin to sell your wife to him. I leave you here to lay your 計画（する）s as may seem best to you. If you 後継する, you will find me at the foot of the steps, and the boats and fishermen will be ready to 伝える you hence: 別れの（言葉，会）, brother Chispoks, and may Thorth guide your scarbos! Death to the tyrant!"

As the thalput began his 降下／家系 of the stair, Grandon said: "My 計画（する）s are made, Gunner, and I want you to carry out your part as ordered, without giving 注意する to what may follow. I will go in and engage those two drunken rogos in 戦闘. It will be your part to 救助（する） my wife while I am so doing. My 肯定的な 指示／教授／教育s to you are that, no 事柄 what 半端物s I may have to fight, no 事柄 if you see me 落ちる and at the mercy of my enemies, you must not join in the fight. Instead bend every 成果／努力 toward 救助（する）ing Her Majesty. 伝える her 負かす／撃墜する the stairway as soon as possible, and do not wait for me. Take one of the boats, and be off すぐに, to the place of 避難 which the Chispoks have 用意が出来ている for us. If I live I will follow. If not, our 長，指導者 反対する will have been 遂行するd—the 救助（する） of my wife; and you will do your best to get her 安全に 支援する to Reabon. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly. But to see Your Majesty go 負かす／撃墜する and not—"

"What! I was under the impression that a 兵士 was with me."

"But, Majesty—"

"A 兵士 obeys orders 暗黙に."

"Yes, Majesty."

"You will so obey."

"I will so obey, Majesty."

"Good. Wait here until you hear the 衝突／不一致 of blades. Then enter, and carry out your 指示／教授／教育s to the letter."

"To the letter, Majesty."

Grandon 圧力（をかける）d the upper stud and the パネル盤 slid open. A woman's 叫び声をあげる and a man's 発言する／表明する 説: "Come my little beauty, we have outworn our welcome," spurred him to instant 活動／戦闘. Leaping through the パネル盤, he flung the scarlet hangings wide, and stepped into the room, 明らかにするd blade in 手渡す.

At a ちらりと見ること, he saw that he would have four swordsmen to 競う with instead of two. One eunuch held a door open while another stood opposite him. A tall hairy fellow with a white fur cloak was dragging a pretty, brown-注目する，もくろむd girl toward the door. And the fat, greasy Rogo of Huitsen was waddling toward Vernia, grinning drunkenly.

At the sight of Grandon, Vernia cried: "（頭が）ひょいと動く! My dearest I knew you would come!"

Yin Yin turned and whipped out his scarbo. Heg, Rogo of the Ibbits, dropped the arm of the brown-注目する，もくろむd girl, and also drew his blade, leaping toward Grandon. The two eunuchs caught up their 激しい 武器s and followed. There was a 衝突／不一致 of steel on steel. Yin Yin parried once and struck once. Then his 長，率いる flew from his shoulders, thudded to the 床に打ち倒す, and rolled beneath the divan. For an instant the headless 団体／死体 stood there, 血 spouting from the neck as from a fountain. Then it 崩壊（する）d, a quivering 塚 of flabby flesh.

Grandon turned to 直面する three blades. The brown-注目する，もくろむd princess, 一方／合間, had run across the room to stand beside Vernia. Instead of waiting on guard, the Earthman attacked with a brilliant 陳列する，発揮する of that swordsmanship which had made him famous throughout all Zorovia. Before his 猛烈な／残忍な 猛攻撃, the three gave way. His blade seemed to be everywhere at once, flashing with the 速度(を上げる） of 雷.

Heg was 武装解除するd, almost with the second 削除する he made at Grandon, his 武器 飛行機で行くing behind a divan. But he leaped nimbly 支援する, then 製図／抽選 his knife, strove to encircle the Earthman, evidently for the 目的 of knifing him in the 支援する. Grandon guessed his 意向, but was now so beset by the two eunuchs with their long, two-手渡すd scarbos, that he could give the hairy chieftain but scant attention. Once when he thought the savage Rogo was just behind him, he 削除するd 支援する for an instant with his scarbo, but the blade 遭遇（する）d only empty 空気／公表する, and he （機の）カム 近づく having his 長，率いる 分裂（する） open by the nearest eunuch. He stepped aside just in time, and as the 激しい blade 衝突，墜落d to the 床に打ち倒す, its wielder received a thrust in the throat and followed his master into the 広大な／多数の／重要な beyond. With this fellow out of the way, Grandon quickly 性質の／したい気がして of the other with a 脚 削減（する） followed by a swift neck blow that sent the 長，率いる of the slave to keep company with that of the master.

Whirling to 直面する his furry enemy, Grandon was astounded to see that save for himself and three 死体s, the room was 砂漠d. He 即時に （機の）カム to the 結論 that Kantar had 救助（する）d both Vernia and the strange, 黒人／ボイコット-haired princess. But what he wondered had become of this furry fellow from the antarctic? Puzzled, he was about to return to the パネル盤 開始 when he heard a cry—the 発言する／表明する of Vernia.

"（頭が）ひょいと動く! The window! Quickly!"

He leaped through the window, and peered over the balcony railing. Below him he saw the hairy chieftain dropping with ape-like agility from balcony to balcony, using one arm to swing himself 負かす／撃墜する and 持つ／拘留するing Vernia with the other. The 中庭 below was packed with furry 軍人s 機動力のある on zandars. One saddled beast was 存在 led to a point just under the lowest balcony.

Sheathing his 血まみれの scarbo, and unmindful of the dizzy 高さ, Grandon swung himself over the railing, and began dropping from balcony to balcony. But before he was half way 負かす／撃墜する, the furry rogo was in the saddle, with Vernia, wrapped in a zandar cloak and swung across the 屈服する. He gave a few swift orders, then galloped off. With the exception of one man, the entire cavalcade followed him. That man sat his 開始する beneath the lowest balcony, evidently left there to 殺す Grandon, for his long lance with its queer, corkscrew 長，率いる was わずかに pointed at the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where the Earthman would すぐに alight.

14. — KANTAR'S BLUNDER

Although Kantar, as soon as he followed Grandon through the パネル盤 開始, saw that his 君主 was beset by 圧倒的な 半端物s, and would have liked nothing better than to join in the swordplay, he was constrained by the strict orders which the Earthman had given him. His part was to get Vernia out of the palace as quickly as possible.

Peering through the 狭くする slit between two hangings, he saw the headless yellow 団体／死体 with a scarlet cincture, which identified it as that of Yin Yin. Only a few インチs in 前線 of him he noticed a jeweled 手渡す and a わずかな／ほっそりした, white arm. It did not occur to him that there could be any woman other than Vernia in the room. But the thought did come to him that she would surely 辞退する to leave Grandon—that if he should 勧める her to go she would undoubtedly countermand the 肯定的な 指示／教授／教育s which had been given to him. He decided to carry her off, and explain afterward.

He thought he could tell 正確に where she stood by the position of her 手渡す and arm, and 行為／法令／行動するd accordingly. Suddenly jerking the silken hanging from the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 on which it was draped, he wrapped it around the slender 人物／姿／数字, and turning, 急落（する），激減（する）d through the パネル盤 開始. Then, carrying his precious 重荷（を負わせる） in his 武器, he dashed 負かす／撃墜する the winding stairway. Muffled sounds of terror （機の）カム from the bundle but he spoke reassuringly: "Be not afraid, Majesty. It is I, Kantar the Gunner. His Majesty ordered me to carry you hence quickly. Friends are waiting to help us out of the city."

The cries and struggles 沈下するd and Kantar quickly reached the 底（に届く） of the stairway. Here he 設立する the thalput waiting as he had 約束d.

"Is Yin Yin dead?" he asked.

"His 長，率いる and 団体／死体 just parted company," replied Kantar. "Thorth be 賞賛するd! The tyrant is no morel And his Majesty of Reabon?"

"Still fighting when I left. He ordered me to proceed without him, and said that on no account should I wait for him, but should take Her Majesty away from here at once."

"That scarcely comports with our 計画（する）s, but he has earned the 権利 to be obeyed by all Chispoks. And I'll be on the 警戒／見張り to help him if he comes later. Follow me."

He opened the パネル盤 which led into the small metal-塀で囲むd room, and there stood the six pseudo-fishermen with their 逮捕するs. 速く they wrapped a 逮捕する around Kantar's bundle, and another around the gunner. Then shouldering their 重荷（を負わせる）s as before, they とじ込み／提出するd out into the passageway, the thalput at their heels.

Kantar heard someone coming, and wondered how the two 十分な 逮捕するs passing out of the palace would be explained. But the thalput was equal to the occasion.

"Take your stale fish and 料金d them to the ormfs," he cried in a loud 発言する／表明する, "and the next time you try to 軍隊 such trash on the thalput of the 王室の kitchen, I'll see that His Majesty learns of it."

A moment later the two bundles were lowered into the boats, the rowers took their places, and the thalput 押し進めるd them off. For some time Kantar lay there looking up at the monotonous scenery of planking, piling, and 石／投石する 創立／基礎s. They 横断するd a 狭くする passage between two 石／投石する 塀で囲むs, and すぐに thereafter 発射 out under the sky. The gunner 認めるd the harbor of Huitsen.

A few 一打／打撃s of the oars took them と一緒に an 錨，総合司会者d boat about twenty-five feet long. It had a small, low cabin, and was fitted with two bat-wing sails. The two bundles were passed up to a stocky yellow man, who carried them, one at a time, into the cabin.

A 薄暗い light illuminated the little room, and as Kantar looked up at the man who deposited him there, he 認めるd San Thoy.

"Both of you must stay wrapped like this for some time," said the former mojak. "Where is Grandon of Terra?"

"Dead or alive, I know not," replied Kantar. "But he slew Yin Yin, and by his 命令（する） I left him there, still fighting, to bring Her Majesty here."

"The fact that he slew Yin Yin places me doubly in his 負債," said San Thoy. "We will wait here for him a while, but we must start in time to get out under cover of 不明瞭, or I 恐れる we shall not get on without him."

"I 信用 that you and Her Majesty will make yourselves as comfortable as possible while I go to keep watch on the deck. Under no circumstances must you make a noise or 暴露する yourselves. Yin Yin's 軍人s may board us at any time, and were they to discover our secret we should all die."

He went outside, and remained for some time in low conversation with the six men. Presently Kantar heard another boat come と一緒に, and scarcely dared to breath for 恐れる it 含む／封じ込めるd 軍人s.

There was the sound of some one coming up over the 味方する, and whispering. Then San Thoy （機の）カム into the cabin.

"It is useless to wait longer," he said. "A brother just （機の）カム to 知らせる us that Grandon of Terra is believed to have been carried off by the Ibbits; whether dead or alive, they know not. We will start."

"I'm sure that we will be carrying out his wishes by doing so," replied Kantar.

San Thoy went out on deck, and 問題／発行するd a few 命令（する）s. The bat-wing sails were unfurled and the 錨，総合司会者 hoisted. To 加速する their 進歩, for the 勝利，勝つd was not strong here in the harbor, the men used oars, while San Thoy went 今後 to operate the steering 装置, which was 形態／調整d like an eight-pointed 星／主役にする with a knob on each point and 一時停止するd horizontally above the compass. The two rowboats in which the men had come were 牽引するd behind.

Presently Kantar knew by the 見えなくなる of the 微風 and the faint echoes which followed every sound, that they had entered the subterranean lake. A little later he heard a 発言する／表明する which seemed to come from above him.

"売春婦, there. Who goes?"

"Gar Zin, the fisherman," replied San Thoy, "to catch a 殺し屋-norgal for the 王室の （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する."

"A moment, Gar Zin. It seems your 発言する／表明する has altered かなり. I'll just descend and have a closer look at you."

"As you please, Excellency," San Thoy replied with 熟考する／考慮するd carelessness. "We'll have a bowl of kova in my cabin." He clapped his 手渡すs. "売春婦, Lin Fan. 準備する kova in the cabin at once for His Excellency, Yin Fu, 後見人 of the Gate."

One of the men hurried into the cabin. Peering through the meshes of his 逮捕する, Kantar saw the man enter. But he did not approach the small fish-oil stove that was fastened to one 塀で囲む. Instead, he crouched beside the door, a knife gleaming in his 手渡す.

From outside （機の）カム the squeak of pulleys and the thud of feet on the deck. Evidently some one had been lowered to the boat from a 駅／配置する high above it.

"Welcome to my humble ship, Excellency," said San Thoy.

"Umph. It is as I thought. You are not Gar Zin, my old friend. Who are you, and what are you up to?"

San Thoy assumed a confidential トン. "Shh! Not so loud, Excellency. 私的な 商売／仕事 for his Majesty. Come into the cabin and we'll discuss it over a bowl of kova."

"I'll come into the cabin, 権利 enough, but I want 非，不，無 of your kova. Lead on."

After you, Excellency."

"I said, lead on!" There was the sound of a scarbo 存在 whipped from its sheath. "I'll keep this point at your 支援する, and at the first 調印する of treachery, you die."

"As you wish, Excellency." San Thoy's トン was exceedingly humble.

Peering through the meshes, Kantar saw San Thoy enter the cabin, followed by a large yellow man who wore the purple cloak and 向こうずねing helmet of conical 形態／調整. In his 手渡す he carried a scarbo, the point of which was directed at San Thoy's 支援する.

Just as Yin Fu stepped through the door San Thoy threw himself 直面する downward on the 床に打ち倒す. At the same moment, a knife flashed from beside the door, and the 後見人 of the gate 崩壊（する）d with a grunt of anguish.

San Thoy leaped to his feet. For a moment he bent and held his を引き渡す the heart of the fallen noble. Then he 除去するd the purple cloak and helmet, and donned them. Going out on deck, he shouted in excellent imitation Yin Fu's 発言する／表明する: "It's all 権利, 軍人s. Open the gate. I'm going out with my old friend, Gar Zin, to drink a bowl or two with him, and have a try at norgal. Look 井戸／弁護士席 to your 仕事s until I return."

There followed a whirring of hidden 機械／機構, and a 事情に応じて変わる sound as of 石／投石する over metal. Then the rowers bent to their oars. San Thoy, 一方／合間, discarded the helmet and cloak in the cabin, and hurried out to take his place on the steermen's seat. Soon the boat began 激しく揺するing with かなりの 暴力／激しさ. すぐに thereafter the rowers 中止するd their 成果／努力s, and Kantar knew that they were now afloat on the' open Azpok, and 急落（する），激減（する）ing 今後 under the impetus of a stiff 微風.

Presently San Thoy gave the steersman's seat to another, and entered the cabin. "We'll have to put out the light for awhile," he said. "They will use a glass on us from the shore, and we don't want them to know in which direction we are going. At least you will not have to stay trussed up in these 逮捕するs any longer, and I can 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of that," pointing to the 死体 of Yin Fu. He looked around the cabin for a moment as if to 直す／買収する，八百長をする the 場所 of everything in his mind. Then he put out the light, and the gunner heard him dragging his grisly 重荷（を負わせる） out of the cabin, heard a splash, and knew that the remains of Yin Fu had gone to 料金d the denizens of the Azpok.

Kantar quickly rolled out of his 逮捕する, and went over to where his precious bundle lay. "If you don't mind, I'll help you out of this, Your Majesty," he said. "I'm sure you will be more comfortable."

"I'm sure I shall," was the reply. "You have been very 肉親，親類d."

The gunner was startled at the sound of the 発言する／表明する. It did not sound like that of Vernia. But he thought she might have taken 冷淡な from this unwonted （危険などに）さらす. Then, too, her 発言する／表明する would sound 異なって, muffled in the hanging.

"You have been very 勇敢に立ち向かう Majesty," he replied, as he unwound the 逮捕する. "Perhaps this silk around you will 追加する to your 慰安. The 微風 is 冷気／寒がらせる."

He adjusted the silken drape around the shapely shoulders. A soft 手渡す touched his and thrilled him unaccountably. It gave him rather a 有罪の feeling, that thrill, but he could no more help it than he could help breathing.

"売春婦, Gunner. Can you help me with the boat? The 乗組員 is leaving."

"Coming, San Thoy," was the reply. He felt his way to the door in the pitch blackness, then stepped out on deck. Outside it was fully as dark as in the cabin. Nothing whatever was 明白な except the 時折の glint of a 星／主役にする through a rent in the ever-現在の cloud envelope.

A 手渡す was laid on his arm. "Let me guide you," said San Thoy, whose cat- like pupils enabled him to see by the faint flashes of starlight. "Sit here, so, and take these ropes in your 手渡すs. Now pull the 権利 or left rope, or both, as I may direct. I will steer.

"Where are the brothers?" asked Kantar.

"They were leaving when I called you. They will reach the two boats, and return to Huitsen by a roundabout way known only to the Chispoks."

"I 信用 that they will not lose their lives for this night's work."

"There is little danger. Their part in the 事件／事情／状勢 is not known. Also it is possible that the Chispoks may be in 力／強力にする when they return."

"But what of you?"

"I will …を伴って you 支援する to Reabon. In Huitsen I am a 逃亡者／はかないもの, but in your country I feel that I shall be welcome after this night's work. Later, if and when the Chispoks assume 支配（する）／統制する of Huitsen, I shall return."

"No one will be more welcome," replied the gunner, "unless it be Grandon of Terra himself."

They sailed on and on into the moonless Zorovian night, and Kantar, who was aware of the almost uncanny 技術 with which the Huitsenni navigated their boats, did not 疑問 that they were 長，率いるing in the 権利 direction.

Presently San Thoy said: "We could have a light now, as we are out of sight from shore, But it is scarcely 価値（がある） while, as morning will soon 夜明け."

A few moments later a faint 血-orange 色合い 示すd the 輪郭（を描く）s of the eastern horizon, 速く followed by the 十分な 炎 of cloud-filtered morning light.

"There are 準備／条項s and kova in the cabin," said San Thoy. "Perhaps you will 準備する breakfast for Her Majesty. It is best that I continue to steer for yet a while. The 微風 is やめる 安定した now, so you may 攻撃する the ropes."

"If my nose doesn't deceive me," replied the gunner, who was closer to the cabin than San Thoy, "breakfast is already 存在 用意が出来ている. However, I'll go and 補助装置."

Making the two ropes 急速な／放蕩な, he got up and went to the cabin. Pausing to make obeisance to his Torroga, he gasped in sudden astonishment at sight of a slender, dark-haired girl bending over the fish-oil burner, from the 最高の，を越す of which （機の）カム the fragrant aroma of brewing kova and the savory odor of a 井戸／弁護士席- seasoned meat and mushroom stew. As the morning was 冷気／寒がらせる, the girl still wore the silken curtain draped around her, 隠すing her 衣料品s but not the graceful lines of her わずかな／ほっそりした 団体／死体.

"Bones of Thorth!" he exclaimed. "Who are you?"

She looked up, her 直面する わずかに 紅潮／摘発するd by the heat from the stove, and Kantar gasped again; for never, he thought, had he seen a 直面する so beautiful. At first her 注目する，もくろむs flashed imperiously, almost 怒って, at the abruptness and bluntness of his question. But suddenly the icy look melted, was 取って代わるd by a winning smile.

"My 指名する is Narine," she replied. "And you, I believe, are Kantar the Gunner."

Kantar's wonder 深くするd. For a moment he was wholly under the （一定の）期間 of those big brown 注目する，もくろむs. Then he remembered his 義務—the 信用 with which his 君主 had 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d him.

"Where is Her Majesty of Reabon?" he asked. "And how did you get on this boat?"

"Her Majesty," replied Narine, "was watching the brilliant swordplay of her valiant husband when I last saw her. As for your other question, who should know more about how I got here than you, who brought me?"

"I brought you!" His heart sank. "Then I have failed in my 信用."

即時に she saw the look of dejection on his 直面する, and answered with one of sympathy.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I see now that there has been a dreadful mistake. Would that I had known this when you 掴むd me there in the seraglio! Her Majesty had について言及するd your 指名する to me. We had planned to escape together. But 自然に I did not know His Majesty's 計画（する）s—or yours. When you told me your 指名する and asked me to be 静かな I believed that it was your 意向 to 救助（する） me—that Grandon of Terra would look out for his own."

"So he would, ordinarily;" replied Kantar. "But he was sorely beset. My orders were to bring away his wife; to stay out of the fight for that 単独の 目的, no 事柄 how the 半端物s went against him. And I brought you!"

"I'm terribly sorry—" she began.

"Sorry! You should have known. Didn't I 演説（する）／住所 you as `Your Majesty'? Did not that tell you whom I believed I was carrying?"

"Truly it did not. I thought you had taken me for a torroga instead of —that is—"

"I take you for a torroga?" He laughed mirthlessly. "You, a mere slip of a girl?"

"I'm eighteen," she retorted.

"So? And what of it? I would never take you for a torroga."

For a moment the 影をつくる／尾行する of a smile hovered on her features. But it only 怒り／怒るd him the more. He had made a mistake, a most horrible mistake which he felt that Grandon, if still alive, could never 容赦—a mistake, moreover, for which he felt 肯定的な he could never 許す himself. A thousand 恐れるs 攻撃する，非難するd him. 拷問ing pictures flashed through his mind. Grandon dead, his 長，率いる adorned a pike before the Ibbit palace, or if alive, a slave of the savage chieftain from the Mountains of Eternal Snow. Vernia the plaything of this barbarous rogo, or, if she had been left in the seraglio, of Yin Yin's 後継者! For a moment he struggled to master his unreasoning 怒り／怒る against this girl who had been the unwitting 原因（となる） of his 失敗 to keep 信用. Then he said: "From what country do you あられ／賞賛する?"

"From Tyrhana," she replied. "Won't you sit 負かす／撃墜する at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and let me serve you?"

"Why, yes," he answered. "I'll 収容する／認める that I'm hungry, thirsty, and 疲れた／うんざりした."

She 始める，決める food and drink before him. He sipped his kova. "You brew an excellent bowl," he told her, and tasting his stew: "This food is not half bad."

She smiled. "The Tyrhanians are a 海上の people," she replied, "and should know how to 準備する seamen's rations.

"I forgot," he said. "San Thoy must be hungry. Ill take food and drink to him before I begin."

"No, let me. I've been 残り／休憩（する）ing all night, and I'll 自白する that I tasted the stew and the kova." She 始める，決める the things on a tray and went out, while the gunner 演説（する）／住所d himself to his provender. Presently she returned, 注ぐd herself a bowl of kova, and took a helping of stew. Then she sat 負かす／撃墜する opposite him.

"A lovely morning." she 発言／述べるd.

"Is it?" he replied, absently. "I've been thinking about you, wondering what I'm going to do with you."

"Indeed!"

"Yes. You see I 港／避難所't time to take you all the way to Tyrhana. I must go 支援する to Huitsen, to do what I can to help their Majesties of Reabon, if indeed they are not beyond all human help."

"Perhaps I could get you some 援助 from Tyrhana. You see," she 示唆するd, "my father—that is—"

"No use," he replied. "Tyrhana is on the opposite 味方する of the world. By the time we went there and returned—"

"But Tyrhana has 広大な／多数の／重要な (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs, even now, scouring every sea on the globe in search of—a lost princess."

"A lost princess!"

"Yes. Some time ago the Torrogini 始める，決める sail in one of her father's 戦艦s. She has not been heard from since. 自然に, the Torrogo, who loves his daughters beyond all else is bending every 成果／努力 to find her."

"自然に," replied Kantar. "But the chances are much against our 会合 any of his ships on the 幅の広い Azpok."

"You forget," reminded Narine, "that Tyrhana has the mightiest 海軍 on all Zorovia."

"Reabon has a 海軍 second only to that of Tyrhana," replied Kantar, "and her ships are now scouring the Azpok; Yet I do not place much 依存 on the chance of 会合 any of them. Besides—"

He was interrupted by a shout from San Thoy. "Gunner. Bring the glass. I believe we are 追求するd."

Kantar snatched the 秘かに調査する-glass from the rack behind him, and hurried out on deck. He saw a ship coming from the 南西, and a sail ぼんやり現れるing above the southeast horizon. Quickly 焦点（を合わせる）ing the glass on the sail, he saw a 警戒／見張り at the masthead, his glass trained 直接／まっすぐに on them. A glimpse at the other ship was 十分な to show him that they were 存在 chased from this ４半期/4分の1. Even as he looked, two mattork 乗組員s were going into 活動／戦闘 on the 今後 deck. A moment later, a 爆撃する 叫び声をあげるd 総計費, and another 爆発するd in the water about two hundred feet behind them.

"Poor marksmanship," he commented coolly. "But I suppose they'll get the 範囲 presently. Would that I had a mattork with which to reply!"

"We have two," said San Thoy, "one fore and one aft. Pull up the （犯罪の）一味 in the after-deck."

Kantar hurried 支援する and did as requested. The square of the deck to which the （犯罪の）一味 was 大（公）使館員d （機の）カム up and 攻撃するd 今後. It was plated beneath with metal, forming a 弾丸-proof 保護物，者. And behind this 保護物，者 there appeared a shiny new mattork 機動力のある on its tripod, with 事例／患者s for the 発射物 clips and gas clips.

Quickly the gunner opened the breech, 挿入するing a gas clip and a 爆撃する clip 示すd "爆発性の." There were other 爆撃する clips 示すd "solid," but for the 現在の, he ignored these. の近くにing the breech, he knelt, and taking careful 目的（とする）, 圧力（をかける）d the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing button. One of the mattork 乗組員s on the approaching ship disappeared a moment later, as if by 魔法.

The 爆撃するs from the other mattork, 同様に as from the heavier turret mattorks of the 追求するing （手先の）技術, were 叫び声をあげるing around them in 広大な numbers, and kicking up tremendous geysers in the sea on all 味方するs. He heard a 発言する／表明する at his 味方する: "May I help you?" Turning, he looked in the wistful brown 注目する，もくろむs of Narine. She did not appear to realize their danger, for there was no trace of 恐れる in her 表現. "I can 手渡す you the clips."

"Get 支援する into the cabin, you little fool!" he told her. Not waiting to see if she would obey, he once more turned his attention to the enemy. A second 井戸／弁護士席-placed 発射 wiped out the other mattork 乗組員, and he 公式文書，認めるd with grim satisfaction that no more （機の）カム out on the deck. Perhaps the 著作権侵害者s realized now with whom they had to 取引，協定. The heavier turret mattorks, though their 発射物s could do incalculably greater 損失, could not be 目的（とする）d nearly so 正確に as the はしけ deck 武器s such as he used.

By this time the other 著作権侵害者 ship was in 十分な 見解（をとる）. Evidently its 指揮官 had seen what happened on the other 大型船, for he ordered out only one deck mattork 乗組員. The gunner quickly obliterated it, and had the satisfaction of seeing that this 指揮官, also, was wise enough to use only his turret mattorks thereafter.

"Splendid 狙撃." Again he heard that 発言する／表明する behind him.

He turned savagely. "I thought I told you—"

"Very 井戸／弁護士席. I'll go. You needn't glare at me so. Besides, if one of those big 爆撃するs should strike us, the cabin would be no safer than the deck. I'll go 今後 and talk to San Thoy, who can't be more disagreeable."

Kantar 除去するd the clip of 爆発性の 爆撃するs and 挿入するd one of solid 発射. He would try to let some water into these ships. That would slow them up. He took 目的（とする）, and held his finger on the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing button. The 武器 注ぐd 前へ／外へ a 安定した stream of 発射物s. When the clip was empty, he 挿入するd another, and riddled the other ship below the water line. The enemy 爆撃するs were 叫び声をあげるing closer, and in larger numbers. Only one 爆撃する, he knew, 適切に placed, would 完全に destroy their little （手先の）技術.

Suddenly he heard their own 今後 mattork go into 活動／戦闘. Looking 支援する over the low roof of the cabin, he saw that San Thoy was still steering. Then he knew that Narine was operating that mattork. Moreover, she was using 爆発性の 爆撃するs, and had 得点する／非難する／２０d several 攻撃する，衝突するs.

Having 穴をあけるd both ships below their water lines, Kantar decided to try to 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なう their masts. Accordingly he reloaded, this time with 爆発性の 爆撃するs. As he bent to his 仕事, his 手渡すs worked almost mechanically. He was thinking, not of their danger, not even of Grandon and Vernia. Strange to say, the thought that 支配するd his mind at the moment was, that Narine was very beautiful.

He was suddenly 解任するd to stark reality as a solid 発射物 struck their own mast, carrying it overboard, and leaving them at the mercy of their pursuers.

15. — BEASTS OF THE ANTARCTIC

Although he plainly saw the Ibbit 軍人 left to 殺す him by the savage chieftain who had 誘拐するd Vernia, Grandon continued to 減少（する） 速く from balcony to balcony as if contemptuous of his furry enemy. As his feet struck the lowest balcony, the long lance with its corkscrew 長，率いる was thrust at him, and he now saw its 目的 and how deadly it could be, for the 軍人 pulled a small lever like a 誘発する／引き起こす, as he thrust, and the 長，率いる whirled so 速く that its 輪郭（を描く）s blurred.

He leaped lightly aside just in time to 避ける that whirling deadly point. Then before the Ibbit could draw it 支援する for a second thrust, he whipped out his scarbo, and 延長するing the point, dived straight over the railing at his enemy.

Taken 完全に by surprise at this daring and desperate move of the Earthman, the furry 闘士，戦闘機 tried to dodge the 速く descending point. But he moved too late. With the 十分な 負わせる of Grandon behind it, the blade of the scarbo was driven through his 団体／死体 up to the hilt, and he 肺d out of the saddle.

Grandon and the 死体 of his would-be slayer struck the ground together. 身を引くing his scarbo, the Earthman sprang to his feet. To his びっくり仰天, he saw that the blade had been snapped off about ten インチs from the hilt. Then he noticed that his 'fallen 敵 wore a scarbo, and quickly appropriated it. He also took his 抱擁する cloak and hood of zandar fur, his long fur boots and gauntlets, and his lance.

By this time Heg, Rogo of the Ibbits and his 軍人s, were half-way to the city gate. Grandon knew that the only possible way to catch them would be for him to 開始する and ride the strange and formidable looking beast whose rider he had just 殺害された. The creature was evidently 井戸／弁護士席 trained; for にもかかわらず the fight which had brought it a change of masters, it kept its place beneath the balcony, complacently chewing its cud.

On Earth Grandon had been accounted a good rider, but here were beast and 器具／備品 both of which were new to him. The savage-looking 開始する was saddled, but wore neither bridle nor halter. He had no idea how it could be guided, started, or stopped, but there was nothing for him except to climb into the saddle and 調査／捜査する: This he did.

"Go ahead," he said, in Patoa. Without moving, the beast continued its contented cud-chewing. Instinctively, he dug his heels into its 味方するs as if he had worn 刺激（する）s. So suddenly that he was almost unseated, the zandar sprang 今後. But it was going in the wrong direction. How to turn it was the next problem. He tried slapping its neck, first on one 味方する, then on the other, without 影響. Then he tried 圧力（をかける）ing alternately with the 権利 and left 膝s with no result. Baffled, he しっかり掴むd the creature's mane, 決定するd to spring from the saddle and follow the Ibbits on foot. 即時に the beast slowed 負かす／撃墜する and stopped.

If he could only find out how to turn the creature! Once more he dug his heels into its 味方するs and the animal sprang 今後. He heard someone shout, and turned to see who it was. A group of Huitsenni had discovered the dead Ibbit beneath the balcony. But when he turned, he 前進するd his 権利 foot and drew 支援する his left. 即時に the zandar whirled to the left. Quickly he returned his feet to the normal position, その結果 the beast settled 負かす／撃墜する to a straight course. He 前進するd his left foot and drew 支援する his 権利, and the zandar turned to the 権利. Now able to guide his strange 開始する, he 始める，決める off in swift 追跡 of the Ibbits.

The hoofs of his スピード違反 zandar （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 a rumbling tattoo on the planking of the 幅の広い street, and he dug his heels into its 味方するs to 勧める it to greater 成果／努力s. The Ibbits, he 観察するd, had been stopped at the city gate. The mojak of the guard was evidently 怪しげな because of their abrupt 出発.

Grandon wondered if the 団体／死体 of Yin Yin had been discovered. Probably not, he thought, as the room in which he had been 殺害された was segregated from the others; and of those who had 証言，証人／目撃するd his death, there had been 非，不，無 left alive to carry the news. It would be discovered 結局, of course. But in the 合間, the Ibbits might be 井戸／弁護士席 away from the city.

He was about a ４半期/4分の1 of a mile from the party of Ibbits he was 努力する／競うing to catch when he saw the gates thrown open. A moment later, the にわか景気 of a mattork sounded from the direction of the palace, and a 爆撃する 叫び声をあげるd over his 長，率いる. Then he knew that the 団体／死体 of Yin Yin had been discovered. The 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing of the mattork was evidently a signal to the mojak of the guard, who threw a party of his 軍人s in 前線 of the Ibbits and tried to の近くに the gates.

即時に, the Ibbits couched their long lances, and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d. There was a popping of tork 解雇する／砲火／射撃 from the thin line of guards, but they were swept away like straw before a 強風. Some were trampled underfoot, some were 血の塊／突き刺すd by the horns of the 非難する beasts, and the 残り／休憩（する） impaled and swung off their feet on the long lances, to be thrown over the 長，率いる of the first-line riders and trampled beneath the hoofs of the cavalcade that followed.

In his 苦悩 to catch that 非難する column, Grandon dug his heels into the ribs of his 開始する with all his might. But the beast, evidently traveling at its 最大の 速度(を上げる） already, did not 答える／応じる in any way except to grunt 怒って.

He arrived at the gate about a hundred yards behind the last Ibbit in the column, in a あられ／賞賛する of mattork 爆撃するs from the palace. A 選び出す／独身 man 閉めだした his way—the mojak. Evidently all the others had been 殺害された.

Elevating the muzzle of his tork, the officer sent a 弾丸 uncomfortably の近くに to Grandon's ear. Couching his lance, he pulled 支援する the lever, and the corkscrew 長，率いる began 回転するing with terrific 速度(を上げる）. It struck the mojak in the middle, and 即時に 演習d through him, up to the knob. Not knowing how to 解放（する） his 武器 from the 団体／死体, Grandon dropped it, and stooping from the saddle, caught up another which was lying beside a dead Ibbit. With this he 実験d as he hurried 今後 to join the furry savages. He 設立する that when the lever was pulled 支援する, the 長，率いる 回転するd clockwise, literally screwing itself into its 犠牲者. When the lever was perpendicular to the 軸, it stopped, but when it was 押し進めるd 今後, the 長，率いる すぐに 回転するd in a 反対する-clockwise direction, thus 速く unscrewing itself from anything in which it might be embedded. This explained how the Ibbits were able to impale their 犠牲者s and then hurl them over their 長，率いるs without losing their lances.

The last faint glow from the city lights was disappearing as Grandon caught up with the 後部 guard of the Ibbits. Now, at intervals of about fifty feet in the column, riders lighted たいまつs. Muffled up as he was, however, with the hood throwing his features into 影をつくる／尾行する, Grandon did not 恐れる 承認 unless the sound of his 発言する／表明する or his accent should make someone 怪しげな. Suddenly a rider beside him turned and put him to the 実験（する）: "Did you 殺す the strange 軍人?" he asked.

Grandon pretended to be 掴むd with a fit of coughing. Then, in the rasping トンs of a man whose 声の cords have not yet 回復するd from such an attack, he replied: "I ran him through the heart. He will trouble us no more."

"Good!" exclaimed the rider, evidently unsuspicious. "His Majesty was worried about that fellow. He 恐れるd that he would find a way to follow, and come upon him by stealth. You will be 井戸／弁護士席 rewarded."

Grandon smiled to himself, and made no その上の comment. Far up hear the 前線 of the column he saw a rider carrying a fur-covered bundle which he believed to be Vernia. But he did not みなす it advisable to ride too 近づく the Rogo just yet. There might be questions to answer, and he felt sure that, sooner or later, his 発言する／表明する would betray him unless he could manage to keep from speaking.

Presently they entered a belt of tall trees, 原始の conifers, where the 追跡する began to slant はっきりと 上向き. Here the beasts slowed 負かす／撃墜する to a walk, though they did not seem 大いに inconvenienced by the steepness of the ascent.

As they climbed higher and higher, the 空気／公表する kept growing colder, until Grandon, who had been uncomfortably warm in his furs when on the low ground, was now thankful for them. Soon he noticed that the ground was 砕くd with a white 実体. It was snow, the first he had seen on Venus. Also, he began to be aware of furtive, slinking forms flitting の中で the tree trunks, trotting beside the cavalcade. Their 注目する，もくろむs glowed weirdly green in the torchlight, but it was some time before he could make out what they were. Then one, bolder than the 残り／休憩（する）, approached to within fifty feet of the riders, and he got a good look at it. It was a white awoo. Some time later he caught sight of a white marmelot, 涙／ほころびing at the carcass of some beast it had 殺害された. And he began to wonder if all creatures, here in the Zorovian antarctic, were white.

The snow grew deeper as they 前進するd, and the trees more stunted. Presently they crossed a 狭くする 山の尾根 and とじ込み／提出するd out の上に level ground—a snow-covered 高原, its 荒涼とした surface swept by a 激しく 冷淡な 勝利，勝つd laden with 砕くd ice 粒子s that pricked the 肌 like needles. Here, にもかかわらず the 深い snow, the zandars made good 進歩. This was their natural habitat, and they were equipped for it. Their 幅の広い, three-toed feet kept them from 沈むing 深く，強烈に, and with their 厚い, silky coats, Grandon 裁判官d that they were more comfortable than in the lower, warmer country.

All through the night, the shaggy beasts kept up their tireless pace. But when morning 夜明けd, the cavalcade 停止（させる）d in a little clump of stunted trees that afforded some 保護 from the 勝利，勝つd, for 残り／休憩（する） and refreshment.

The zandars, with their saddles still on them, were turned loose to 転換 for themselves. Grandon saw them 熱望して devouring a 種類 of purple moss that grew on 最高の，を越す of the snow and sent long, thread-like roots to the 国／地域, far below. They also browsed on such aromatic shoots as they were able to reach on the lower 支店s of the trees.

Soon the Ibbits had a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 crackling. Then two 抱擁する マリファナs were 始める，決める upon it and snow was shoveled into them to melt. As soon as 十分な water was thus 得るd, （土地などの）細長い一片s of frozen meat were dropped into the larger of the two マリファナs, and chopped kova roots into the smaller. Vernia was placed 近づく the 解雇する／砲火／射撃. The rogo sat 近づく her, 努力するing to engage her in conversation, but without success. On the other 味方する of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 the 軍人s sprawled in a semicircle, chatting, laughing, and 熱望して watching the 操作／手術s of two of their number who were 事実上の／代理 as cooks.

With the coming of the 夜明け, Grandon had been 特に careful to keep his hood pulled 今後, so that his features would not be noticed. Now, as he sat の中で the 軍人s, he kept his 長，率いる 屈服するd as an 付加 警戒.

Presently the two cooks went の中で the men, serving the stewed meat and steaming bowls of kova. Grandon 設立する the meat 堅い and rather tasteless, but welcome, にもかかわらず, after his long ride. The kova was 井戸／弁護士席 brewed, and refreshing.

After they had eaten and drunk, the 軍人s stretched out in the snow to sleep. Grandon, perforce, followed their example for 恐れる of becoming 目だつ, but managed to turn his 長，率いる so that he could watch Vernia and the Rogo. The chieftain, after unsuccessfully 勧めるing his fair 囚人 to get some 残り／休憩（する）, lay 負かす／撃墜する himself. As soon as it appeared that he was asleep, Grandon drew 支援する his hood, then raised one arm to attract the attention of Vernia, who sat 星／主役にするing moodily into the 解雇する／砲火／射撃. Her 注目する，もくろむs attracted by the 動議 of the arm, she ちらりと見ることd toward him, then smothered an exclamation of surprise and 楽しみ. 即時に he whipped the hood 支援する over his 直面する and lowered his arm.

Now, seeing that she was covertly watching him, he began slowly rolling away from the others, and 動議d to her to 辛勝する／優位 away from beside the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 at the same time. He hoped that if they could get away from the sleepers with 十分な stealth they could catch two of the grazing zandars, and put a かなりの distance between themselves and the Ibbits before the ruse would be discovered.

But his 計画（する）s were suddenly upset by an agonized bellowing from one of the zandars, followed by a tremendous hissing sound which brought every 軍人 to his feet. Grandon sprang 築く with the others, and saw a monster with a gigantic, lizard-like 団体／死体 to which was 大（公）使館員d a scaly serpentine neck and 長，率いる, biting 巨大な mouthfuls of flesh from the zandar it had just struck 負かす／撃墜する, and which it was 持つ／拘留するing beneath one 抱擁する 前線 claw. Save for its color —for its 団体／死体 was 完全に covered by gleaming white 規模s—it might have been a silticum—one of those dangerous lizards he had first 遭遇（する）d in the fern forests of Reabon.

"A posilticum! A posilticum!" shouted the 軍人s. Catching up their spiral-pointed spears, they 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d the monster.

Like the others, Grandon caught up his lance, and was about to join them in their attack on the monster, when another idea suddenly （機の）カム to him. He noticed that the Rogo of the Ibbits, although he had sprung to his feet, had not moved from his place beside Vernia. The chieftain noticed his hesitation at the same time, and cried: "What! Does a 軍人 of 地雷 恐れる a posilticum? Go at once with the others, or stay to receive your Rogo's blade."

Nothing could have ふさわしい Grandon better. Flinging 負かす／撃墜する his lance, he whipped out his scarbo and leaped across the dying embers of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃. The chieftain was evidently a good scarboman as Ibbits go, for it appeared that he thought to make short work of Grandon as he struck out with his own blade. It was a 削減（する） for the 長，率いる, which the Earthman parried. 反対するing with the same 一打／打撃, he 設立する the blade of the Rogo there to 会合，会う his. Leaping 支援する to 避ける a 水平の blow at the neck, he suddenly changed from the 井戸／弁護士席-設立するd Zorovian practice of using the scarbo as a cutting 武器, and 現在のd his point, 肺ing for the breast of the barbarian.

Heg was not 用意が出来ている for this 革新. Nor had he time to come on guard after the terrific 削除する he had directed at Grandon's neck. The Earthman's blade tore through his heart, and he 倒れるd backward, dead.

A quick ちらりと見ること around showed Grandon that his duel with the furry Rogo had not been 観察するd by the others, all of whom were skipping about the posilticum, 肺ing at it with their spiral lances, and leaping 支援する to 避ける the darting of its 抱擁する and terrible 長，率いる. The noise they made the hissing of the posilticum, the bellowing of 脅すd zandars, and the shouts of the Ibbits, had 溺死するd all sound of the 衝突／不一致ing scarbos.

"Come," said Grandon, きれいにする and sheathing his blade and catching up his lance. "Now is our chance."

手渡す in 手渡す, he and Vernia ran to where a group of 脅すd zandars cowered together as if for 相互の 保護. He helped her to 開始する one of the shaggy beasts, and gave her swift 指示／教授／教育s for riding it. Then he leaped to the 支援する of another, and they were off.

As soon as they left the 避難所 of the trees, the 冷淡な 勝利，勝つd and stinging snow 粒子s buffeted them unmercifully. They had not been gone more than a few minutes when a terrific blizzard swept 負かす／撃墜する on them. Grandon laid their course in the direction he 裁判官d to be northwest, ーするつもりであるing to circle Huitsen and make for the shore of the Azpok. He believed that a half-day's ride would take them to the 辛勝する／優位 of the 高原, and that by descending for a few miles they could find 救済 from the 冷淡な and snow.

But they 棒 more than a half-day without seeing any 調印する of the slope for which they were searching. Then a 法外な cliff, the 首脳会議 of which was invisible in the whirling cloud of snowflakes, suddenly ぼんやり現れるd ahead. They 棒 up to its base, and, skirting it for some distance, （機の）カム at length to a dark 開始 in the 激しく揺する, half の近くにd by a snow drift. By this time, the zandars, which had traveled nearly all night and half the day with only an hour's 残り／休憩（する）, began to 妨げる, and Grandon 裁判官d that it was best to 許す them to 残り／休憩（する）, and at the same time take advantage of this natural 避難所.

He accordingly dismounted, and leaving Vernia to watch the two beasts, 削減（する） a path through the snow into the 洞穴 with the 援助（する） of the whirling spiral point of his lance. Then, lighting his small 炎上-製造者, and keeping the lance in 準備完了 for an attack by a possible unseen enemy, he 調査するd the place. He 設立する himself in a room about twenty feet wide and fifty feet long, evidently chiseled from the 激しく揺する by some 先史の race, as it had the 外見 of having been untenanted for ages. Mixed with the dust and litter of the ages, which まき散らすd the 床に打ち倒す, were a few partly calcined bones and some fragments of pottery, which showed that the 原始のs who had once lived here were 熟知させるd with the use of 解雇する／砲火／射撃.

Having 満足させるd himself that the place was untenanted, Grandon went 支援する for Vernia and the two beasts. The zandars seemed glad for this 避難所 from the 嵐／襲撃する, and lay 負かす／撃墜する すぐに, to 残り／休憩（する） and chew their ends.

集会 some bits of 乾燥した，日照りのd 支持を得ようと努めるd from the 破片 on the 床に打ち倒す, Grandon made a small cooking 解雇する／砲火／射撃 近づく the 入り口. As he had no large マリファナs, he 取調べ／厳しく尋問するd some of the frozen meat from the saddlebags over the coals, and they made kova in the two 巡査 drinking bowls which were part of the 器具／備品 in the saddlebags of the Ibbits.

Having eaten and drunk, they snuggled themselves in their furs, and it was not long before both, 疲れた／うんざりした with the long ordeal through which they had passed, were asleep.

Vernia was the first to waken. She made two 発見s in 早い succession—first that a new day had 夜明けd, and second that their 開始するs were not in the 洞穴.

"（頭が）ひょいと動く!" she cried. "The zandars are gone!"

He sat up and yawned. "Yes dear, Oh, the zandars. They've probably gone out to get their breakfast. I'll go and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する them up."

"I'll help you."

"No, you'd better stay here where it's 安全な and warm."

"But I'll be all 権利, （頭が）ひょいと動く. I have my furs."

Together they went outside, after Grandon did a little 予選 shoveling with his lance. The 嵐／襲撃する had passed, 後継するd by a 静める, bitter 冷淡な that was even more 侵入するing than the 勝利，勝つd of the day before.

"No 跡をつけるs," said Grandon. "They must have left before the blizzard was over. Looks as if we're in for it."

"Oh, （頭が）ひょいと動く, what will we do?"

"Nothing to do but strike out on foot, if we can't find them. But we may 同様に have a look around first. You wait here, and I'll follow the cliff toward the south for a little way. I noticed やめる a bit of purple moss growing there yesterday, and those beasts may have remembered, and gone 支援する for it."

"Just in 事例／患者 they went the other way, I'll take a look in that direction," said Vernia.

"Better wait here. It will be safer."

"I don't see why. I won't go far, and I feel the need of a tramp before breakfast. Besides, the beasts may have gone toward the north, in which 事例／患者 we will save time by searching in both directions at once. Go ahead, and don't worry about me."

"井戸／弁護士席, if you must. But don't go far, and don't be long."

She watched him for a moment as he strode off along the cliff, then turned and started in the opposite direction. She had gone only a short distance when her attention was attracted by what looked like the prickly segment of a 種類 of Zorovian cactus 事業／計画（する）ing from behind a bend in the 塀で囲む.

Puzzled, she walked 今後 to 調査／捜査する, but scarcely had she 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd the bend, ere an 巨大な white monster with eight bristly white 脚s ending in green claws, and a long, 共同のd tail, darted out and 掴むd her with a pair of 抱擁する green chelae, much like the pincers of a lobster. It was one of these that she had mistaken for a segment of cactus. Running 速く backward, it carried her into a large 洞穴.

Through the 中心 of the 洞穴, from 味方する to 味方する, was stretched an 巨大な web of rope-厚い 立ち往生させるs, coated with a gleaming, sticky-looking 実体. And 一時停止するd in one corner of this hung one of the zandars. Beside the helpless beast was a ball about ten feet in 直径, woven of the same gleaming 立ち往生させるs. The other zandar hung in a 類似の meshwork, 近づく the 中心 of the web.

So suddenly had it happened that Vernia had time to utter but one smothered 叫び声をあげる of terror as she was dragged into the 洞穴. Nor could she make any move to defend herself. The 抱擁する chelae held her like the jaws of a vise, their coarse, spiny hairs piercing her flesh through the 激しい cloak she wore.

持つ／拘留するing her thus, the monster stopped, and standing on four 脚s, used the other four to draw a sticky white cord from beneath its abdomen and 速く weave it around her, until she was scarcely able to move a finger. Then it ran up the web to the corner where the zandar hung beside the white ball and fastened her next to the helpless beast.

Having shaken the web several times to make sure that she was fastened securely, the gigantic strid, or spinner-scorpion, for such she 認めるd it to be, returned to the zandar 近づく the 中心, and settled 負かす／撃墜する over it to 料金d. As the wretched beast made no 激しい抗議, it was evident that it had either been 麻ひさせるd by the terrible telson, the poisonous sting at the end of the 共同のd tail, or 殺害された by the 巨大な chelae.

For some time, Vernia watched the monster at its 血まみれの feast. Then her attention was attracted by a rustling sound やめる 近づく her. She turned, and saw that it （機の）カム from the white ball beside which she was 一時停止するd.

Presently there was a sound as of 涙／ほころびing fabric. A 穴を開ける appeared in the ball, and out of it （機の）カム a pair of wiggling, hairy chelae, small replicas of those of the mother scorpion. They were followed by an 装甲の 長，率いる in which were 始める，決める three pairs of glowing 注目する，もくろむs, blinking dully out at the world for the first time. It was then that Vernia realized what was in 蓄える／店 for her. The monster had 一時停止するd both her and the zandar beside its cocoon as food for her young when they should break through the 爆撃する.

Even as this horrible 現実化 （機の）カム to her, the first young strid 軍隊d its way through the 開始, and （機の）カム ambling across the web toward her on its eight hairy 脚s.

16. — ZINLO OF OLBA

With its mast 発射 away, the little 帆船 in which 棒 Kantar the Gunner, Narine of Tyrhana, and San Thoy of Huitsen, would not 答える／応じる to the rudder, but （機の）カム about and drifted broadside to the waves, 激しく揺するing precariously while mattork 爆撃するs 爆発するd all around it. The two 追求するing 著作権侵害者 ships now bore 負かす／撃墜する on the helpless boat.

にもかかわらず the 増加するd difficulty of 目的（とする）ing his 武器, occasioned by the erratic 急落（する），激減（する）ing of the little （手先の）技術, the skillful gunner 後継するd in 粉々にするing a few spars and 損失ing the 船の索具 of one of their pursuers with his 爆発性の 弾丸s. But as the two ships drew closer, he 中止するd 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing, knowing that in 降伏する now lay their only hope of life. Abandoning his 武器, he hurried 今後, where he 設立する Narine still 努力するing to manage the other mattork.

"Stop 狙撃," he said, "or the 著作権侵害者s will blow us to pieces. They are bound to 攻撃する，衝突する us when they get a little closer."

"I hope they do," she replied as she 解雇する／砲火／射撃d another 発射, which, on account of the 激しく揺するing of the boat, went wide of the 示す. "To me death is より望ましい to 落ちるing again into their 手渡すs."

As if in answer to her wish, a 爆撃する struck them aft, the next moment, 完全に 破壊するing the 厳しい. Kantar and Narine were both 投げつけるd against the cabin by the 軍隊 of the concussion, and San Thoy 発射 from his steersman's seat to a point on the deck やめる 近づく them. The 持つ／拘留する filled almost 即時に, and the boat 急落（する），激減（する）d beneath the waves.

As they went 負かす／撃墜する, Kantar 掴むd Narine's wrist. A moment later they （機の）カム up, struggling and sputtering in the water.

"Let me go," she 需要・要求するd, as soon as she could get her breath. "I can take care of myself."

The gunner 放棄するd her wrist, and grinning maliciously, said: "井戸／弁護士席, you had your wish. I hope you are enjoying the consequences."

Without replying, she turned and swam for a bit of 難破 larger than the others that bobbed around them. It had once been part of the after deck. Kantar looked around for San Thoy, and seeing him 粘着するing to a 激しい beam which could easily support him in the water, he leisurely followed Narine. The 著作権侵害者 ship 中止するd 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing, and one of them was now only three hundred yards distant.

Swimming up beside the girl's bit of 難破, Kantar 残り／休憩（する）d an arm upon it.

"May I 株 this luxurious float with you?" he asked, smiling.

"If you will try to be agreeable," she answered. "But one more word of sarcasm, and I'll—"

"You'll what?"

"Duck you."

"Try it."

She did, 軍隊ing his 長，率いる, unresisting, under water. She held it there until she considered that his 罰 had been 十分な, then 除去するd her 手渡す. But he didn't come up. Instead, his 直面する remained under water, and he floated limply there beside the 難破. She pulled his hair, but got no 返答. Alarmed, she moved closer, and 解除するd his 長，率いる from the water.

The gunner, who had been shamming, peered at her beneath lowered lids —saw the びっくり仰天 in her pretty 直面する—saw her red lips so の近くに to his. A maddening 願望（する） from them 打ち勝つ him.

"Kantar!" she cried. "Oh, what have I done?"

Suddenly, he swept her to him, 鎮圧するd her lips to his.

She trembled there in his embrace for a moment, then broke from him, her 直面する scarlet.

"You would dare!" she exclaimed. "Oh, you beast! You are worse than the Huitsenni, 非，不，無 of whom has 投機・賭けるd to so affront me."

"Narine," he pleaded, "I love you. I must tell you this before I go to my death at the 手渡すs of those yellow 著作権侵害者s, for they will surely 殺す me after what I have done. Your lips drew me—twin lodestones I could not resist. If you cannot return my love, can you at least 許す me?"

Her look 軟化するd. "The 著作権侵害者s have lowered a boat," she said, "so I must put maidenly modesty aside and answer you 簡潔に and truthfully. I do love you, my 勇敢に立ち向かう gunner. I have loved you from the moment I first saw you, there in the cabin of the little fishing boat. But even had I hope of life and freedom, I could never marry you."

"There is another man?"

"Yes. My father. He would never 同意."

"Perhaps he could be brought to 推論する／理由."

"Impossible. You see my older sister disappointed him in his 計画（する）s for a matrimonial 同盟, and fell in love, but he will not be turned again from his 目的. Her disappointed lover has agreed to solace himself with me. My father will not give in so easily a second time.

"But all this talk is futile. We are once more in the 力／強力にする of the Huitsenni, and only they may decide our 運命／宿命. Here is the boat. 別れの（言葉，会）, my gunner, and may Thorth guide and keep you."

"Ill never give you up," he cried.

Yellow 手渡すs 掴むd them, dragged them into the boat. Then Kantar suddenly saw what he had no 適切な時期 to see before. When the boat had gone 負かす／撃墜する, Narine's improvised cloak had floated from her. Later, all but her 長，率いる, 武器, and shoulders had been under water. But now he 観察するd that she wore scarlet of 王族, and on the golden breast 保護物，者s he saw the insignia of an 皇室の princess of Tyrhana. All the hopes which her words had 誘発するd died in his heart. For Kantar was but a ありふれた 兵士. His father had been an officer in the Uxponian army, but without even the purple of nobility.

Narine saw the despair in his 注目する，もくろむs, and guessed his thoughts. She smiled a little wistful smile.

"I understand now," said the gunner. Then he resolutely turned his 長，率いる away, and meekly permitted his captors to 貯蔵所d his wrists. A moment later, San Thoy also was dragged out of the water.

速く the rowers propelled the boat 支援する to the ship. The 囚人s were hoisted 船内に. Narine was hurried away by the mojak of the 大型船. And with kicks and cuffs, Kantar and San Thoy, bound 手渡す and foot, were thrown into an evil-smelling room in the 持つ／拘留する, やめる 類似の to the one in which they had been 限定するd with Grandon when first taken to Huitsen. すぐに Kantar 始める，決める about trying to loose the 社債s of his companion.

But his tedious labors were suddenly interrupted by an 爆発 which tore a 穴を開ける in the planking above their 長，率いるs. There followed the 早い にわか景気ing of mattorks, the 叫び声をあげるing of 発射物s, and the almost continuous bursting of 爆撃するs.

"Our captors must have 設立する new 犠牲者s," said Kantar, springing to his feet.

"裁判官ing by the number of 爆撃するs which are striking this ship, I would say that they are more likely to become the 犠牲者s," replied San Thoy, also getting to his feet.

Both men hopped to the 味方する of the boat—they could not walk because of their bound feet—and peered through the （法などの）抜け穴s.

"Bones of Thorth!" exclaimed San Thoy. "There are ships floating in the 空気／公表する!"

Looking out, Kantar saw a (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of 空中の 戦艦s. They were 形態／調整d like duck-boats, surmounted by 激しい transparent turrets 開始するing 激しい mattorks, and flew without wings, rudders or プロペラs.

"They are Olban airships," he said. "I once saw a (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of them in Reabon."

"Never before have I seen or heard of such marvelous （手先の）技術 above the Azpok," said San Thoy.

"It's strange that they should be here. I wonder—ah! I have it. Zinlo, Torrogo of Olba, is fiance of Loralie, the Torrogina of Tyrhana. 自然に he would, on 存在 advised of the 見えなくなる of her younger sister, 補助装置 in the search for her. And just as 自然に, he would attack the ships of the Huitsenni, who are enemies to all Zorovia, wherever he should find them."

For several minutes the 砲撃 became more 激しい, and Kantar was much 関心d for Narine's safety. Then a 抱擁する 影をつくる／尾行する darkened the waters before them, the 砲撃 中止するd, and there was the noise of grappling hooks 捨てるing across the 後援d decks. These sounds were 後継するd by the tramping of many feet above them, the 衝突／不一致ing of 武器 intermingled with the spitting of tork 解雇する／砲火／射撃, and a medley of shouts, groans, and shrieks.

"The Olbans have boarded us," said Kantar. "I 信用 they arrive in time to save Narine."

The fighting was soon over. And presently the gunner heard the tramp of 軍人s, evidently searching the ship, passing their door. "売春婦, Olbans," he called, "open the door."

"Who is it?" a 発言する／表明する asked, 慎重に.

"A 軍人 of Reabon and a fellow 囚人," he replied.

The door was unbolted and flung open. Three Olban 軍人s, with the muzzles of their torks elevated, peered in, while a fourth flashed a light about the room. Seeing the two bound men, they entered and quickly 解放（する）d them.

"Have they 設立する the princess?" Kantar 問い合わせd, rubbing his numbed wrists. "Is she 安全な?"

"What princess?" asked the 兵士 who had 除去するd his 社債s. "We know naught of a princess."

"Why, Narine, Torrogini of Tyrhana," replied the gunner. "She was 逮捕（する）d and brought 船内に with us."

"Ha! It is as His Majesty 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd," cried another 兵士. "From a distance we saw them 沈む a small boat, and later lower a boat to bring away three people from the 難破. Yet their mojak has stoutly 否定するd that he had 囚人s 船内に. Come. The Torrogo must hear of this at once."

With the four Olbans, they hurried to the deck. A group of Huitsenni 囚人s 密談する／（身体を）寄せ集めるd, weaponless, in the 厳しい, under the watchful 注目する，もくろむs of several guards. 軍人s were heaving the 団体／死体s of the 殺害された overboard and Olban 外科医s were tending the 負傷させるd, both friend and 敵. 大（公）使館員d to the 味方する of the 大型船 by hooks and chains was an 巨大な 空中の 戦艦 with twelve gun turrets. A 始める，決める of collapsible アルミ stairs led from an open door in one of these turrets to the deck of the ship. On the opposite 味方する, another 空中の 戦艦 was 類似して fastened. A (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of a dozen more airships floated 総計費, and Kantar saw that the other 著作権侵害者 ship had also been boarded by the 乗組員s of two 空中の 戦艦s, and its men subdued.

They hurried 今後. On the foredeck stood a handsome young man of about the gunner's own age, whom Kantar 即時に 認めるd as Zinlo, Torrogo of Olba. He was 覆う？ in scarlet apparel, gold-trimmed and glittering with precious 石／投石するs. On his feet were sandals of soft frella hide, and his scarlet, turban-形態／調整d headpiece was decked with gold fringe and 始める，決める with a 抱擁する ruby that 炎d above the 中心 of his forehead. Beside him stood an 平等に youthful 兵士, whose insignia 布告するd him Romojak of the 空中の 海軍s of Olba.

On his 膝s before the young Torrogo was the mojak of the 大型船. As Kantar （機の）カム up with the others he was 説: "I 断言する to you, Majesty, by the 耐えるd and 団体／死体 of Thorth, by all I 持つ／拘留する sacred, that I have no 囚人s, white or yellow, on board."

"So. You 固執する in your falsehood." Zinlo frowned at the yellow man who groveled before him. Then his 注目する，もくろむs fell on Kantar and San Thoy.

"Whom have we here?" he asked one of the 軍人s who had 解放（する）d them.

The mojak looked around, and seeing who stood behind him, turned a pale, sickly yellow.

"They are two 囚人s we 設立する in a room below the deck, Your Majesty," replied the 軍人.

Kantar made obeisance, with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward.

"I am Kantar the Gunner, of Reabon, Your Majesty," he said, "and my companion is San Thoy, a former mojak in the 海軍 of Huitsen. If you don't mind, I would prefer to tell you our story after Her 皇室の Highness has been 設立する."

"Her 皇室の Highness?"

"I 言及する Your Majesty, to Narine, Torrogini of Tyrhana."

"Hal" Zinlo suddenly whipped out his scarbo and 現在のd its point to the breast of the 脅すd mojak. "Now, you yellow hahoe, we have caught you lying. Either you will tell us, this instant, where the Princess is 隠すd, or I will 殺す you, and if need be, 涙／ほころび this ship apart to find her."

"Mercy, Majesty! Have mercy!" quavered the mojak. "I will show you."

Rising, and 支援 away from the 王室の presence, he stooped and 掴むd a （犯罪の）一味 in the deck. Pulling this, he 解除するd a 罠（にかける） door from which a short ladder led 負かす／撃墜する into a small cabin. Lying on the sleeping shelf of the cabin was Narine, gagged, and bound 手渡す and foot.

Disdaining the ladder, Kantar dropped into the cabin, closely followed by the young Torrogo. Together they quickly unbound the princess and 除去するd her gag. She was limp, and 明らかに lifeless.

"Narine! Narine!" For the moment Kantar, who knelt beside the sleeping shelf, forgot the presence of Zinlo of Olba—forgot that the girl before him was an 皇室の princess.

Narine opened her 注目する，もくろむs and saw Kantar bending over her. But Zinlo she did not see. Her 権利 arm went around the gunner's neck—her 手渡す caressed his sandy hair. "I'm just a little faint, my gunner. That gag made breathing difficult. I could not have lasted much longer."

He caught up her left 手渡す, lying limply beside her, and covered it with kisses. "I'm glad, so glad, we （機の）カム in time."

"My lips, Gunner. Have they lost their allure so quickly?" She drew his 直面する 負かす／撃墜する to hers.

Zinlo raised a quizzical eyebrow. Then, with a 猛烈な／残忍な gesture, he waved off the gaping 軍人s who were peering 負かす／撃墜する at them.

"I heard 爆発s—men fighting on the decks. Tell me what happened," said Narine, a moment later.

"His 皇室の Majesty, Zinlo of Olba, 救助（する）d us," replied Kantar, suddenly remembering the presence of the Torrogo, and blushing furiously in consequence.

"What!" Narine sat up quickly, then seeing Zinlo, turned to 直面する him, her shapely 脚s dangling from the sleeping shelf.

"Your Majesty!" she cried in びっくり仰天. "I did not know you were here."

She rose and made the customary obeisance.

"I surmised as much, Your Highness," smiled Zinlo. Then he took her 延長するd 手渡す, and ひさまづくing, raised it to his lips. "Shall we 延期，休会する to more comfortable ４半期/4分の1s?"

"Let's. I've always 手配中の，お尋ね者 to ride in one of your Olban airships. What of my father and sister?"

"Both 井戸／弁護士席, but almost frantic with worry on account of you."

When they reached the deck, the young romojak, who had been standing beside Zinlo when Kantar first saw him, （機の）カム up and saluted.

"What is it, Lotar?" asked Zinlo.

"We have 性質の／したい気がして of all 囚人s in 一致 with Your Majesty's 命令（する）s," replied the romojak. "There remains, however, the yellow man we 設立する 拘留するd with this 軍人 of Reabon."

"Take him 船内に the 旗艦," said Zinlo, "and see that he has every 慰安."

Lotar saluted and withdrew. Then the three climbed the アルミ stairs, and after passing through a 狭くする hallway, entered the luxurious saloon of Zinlo's 旗艦. The young Torrogo placed cushioned 議長，司会を務めるs for both of them, and 召喚するd a slave. "Bring us kova," he 命令（する）d.

He drew up a 議長，司会を務める and sat 負かす／撃墜する. Then he noticed that Kantar, 適合するing to the usages of the 法廷，裁判所, had not seated himself because he was in the presence of 王族. "Sit, Gunner," he said. "We will have no 形式順守 here."

This was a 命令（する）, and Kantar, whose feeling of 当惑 had only わずかに 少なくなるd since the 出来事/事件 in the cabin, took the 議長，司会を務める which had been placed for him.

The slave bustled in with kova, and Zinlo himself served his guests in tiny bowls of gold lined with mother of pearl.

"Now," he said, "as soon as my Romojak comes 船内に, we'll 飛行機で行く to the 旗艦 of 広告 of Tyrhana. But in the 合間, Your Highness, suppose you tell me what you have been doing these many days."

"My father's 旗艦!" exclaimed Narine. "Where is he?"

"Only a little way from here," replied Zinlo, "and Loralie is with him. But let's hear that story."

速く, Narine sketched for him the story of her adventures—the 嵐／襲撃する, her 逮捕（する） by the Huitsenni, her sale to Heg and 救助（する） by Kantar, and their escape with the 援助（する） of San Thoy.

Zinlo frowned. "These yellow 著作権侵害者s must be wiped out," he said "and there is no better time than now to do it. But what of my friend Grandon and his beautiful bride?" he asked Kantar. "Do you think they were both carried off by the white-furred barbarians?"

"I think it probable," replied Kantar, "that her Majesty was carried off by Heg. It is possible that the Ibbits also took Grandon 囚人, but I think it more probable that he 設立する some way to follow the savages, in an 成果／努力 to 救助（する） his bride."

"I'll send a 騎兵大隊 after them," said Zinlo. "As I 裁判官 from what Her Highness just told me that the 資本／首都 of the furry Rogo is five days 旅行 from Huitsen, my swift airships can easily 追いつく them before they reach their 目的地."

At this moment, Lotar （機の）カム in and saluted.

"To the 旗艦 of 広告 of Tyrhana," 命令（する）d Zinlo. "Signal the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い to …に出席する us. You have placed the prize 乗組員s 船内に the two 著作権侵害者 大型船s?"

"Yes, Majesty." He saluted and withdrew.

A moment later the ship rose 滑らかに and 速く to a 高さ of about two thousand feet, then 発射 away toward the west at a tremendous 速度(を上げる）. Kantar, who had never ridden in one of these （手先の）技術 before, but had heard that the swiftest ones were 有能な of traveling at the 速度(を上げる） with which the 惑星 回転するd on its axis at the 赤道—だいたい a thousand miles an hour—にもかかわらず marveled at the 速度(を上げる） with which the ocean appeared to move beneath them as he watched through one of the 味方する windows. Sailing on the waves of the Azpok, he now saw 'six large 戦う／戦い (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs, all within a few miles of the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where their little （手先の）技術 had been sunk by the Huitsenni.

The airship reached a point over the 旗艦 of one of these (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs and 速く descended.

Narine placed a 手渡す on Zinlo's arm. "You won't tell my father?" she asked.

"About what?" Zinlo appeared puzzled.

She looked tenderly at Kantar. "About us. We know it is hopeless, our love, and have agreed to—to—"

"Try to forget," 示唆するd Zinlo.

"You're so helpful, my brother to be. But there in the cabin, for the moment, love mastered us."

"I understand, perfectly," said the young Torrogo.

"Of course. You and Loralie—"

"正確に／まさに."

"But my father will not be moved from his 目的 again. I know him 井戸／弁護士席 enough for that."

"Oh, I don't know. What has been done before can be done again. Perhaps I can do something."

"You are so 肉親，親類d. Now I know why Loralie just can't help loving you. But for the 現在の at least, you will say nothing?"

"In that cabin, I was deaf, dumb, and blind, as were my 軍人s who happened to be peering 負かす／撃墜する at us. But here we are at the 旗艦."

Kantar heard the clank of chains and the thud of grappling アイロンをかけるs. Then Zinlo rose, and they followed him 負かす／撃墜する the ladder to the deck of an 巨大な 戦艦 which flew the 旗 of 広告, Torrogo of Tyrhana.

Just as they reached the deck, the gunner saw two people 現れる from one of the cabins—a tall, straight, 運動競技の-appearing man about forty years of age, with a square-削減（する）, jet-黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd, and a girl who closely 似ているd Narine, though she appeared a trifle more 円熟した. Both wore the scarlet of 王族, and Kantar knew that they must be 広告 of Tyrhana and his daughter, Loralie.

Narine ran into the open 武器 of her father, then embraced her sister. All three shed 涙／ほころびs of joy, and Kantar, whose own 注目する，もくろむs were 洪水ing, saw that Zinlo was in like 事例／患者.

The gunner was 現在のd, and all were 勧めるd into 広告's sumptuous cabin where the customary kova was served.

After Narine had 関係のある the story of her adventures, Kantar was 圧力（をかける）d to tell his, and those of Grandon and Vernia with which he was 熟知させるd.

When the gunner had finished, 広告 echoed the 以前 表明するd 感情 of Zinlo. "We must wipe out the Huitsenni," he 宣言するd. "But first we must try to 救助（する） their Majesties of Reabon."

"I'm going to send a 騎兵大隊 after the Ibbits," said Zinlo.

"But suppose Grandon and his bride are still in Huitsen."

"I believe we can ascertain whether or not they are there," said Kantar.

"How?" asked 広告.

"The Chispoks. There must be some members の中で the 著作権侵害者s you have 逮捕（する）d. Land some of them 近づく the city under cover of 不明瞭. Let them 調査／捜査する, and 報告（する）／憶測 支援する to you."

"A splendid idea," said Zinlo. "And I would 示唆する a その上の 計画（する）. Suppose we form an 同盟 with the Chispoks, 倒す the 現在の 政権, if indeed they have not done so already, and put them in 力／強力にする. That would be better than indiscriminately wiping out the entire yellow race, all of whom are certainly not 責任がある the piratical 乱暴／暴力を加えるs of Yin Yin's men. The port of Huitsen could then be opened for 平和的な 貿易（する） with all Zorovia, and if the Huitsenni should ever again develop piratical leanings, we would know how to stop them."

"I'm sure the 同盟 can be arranged, Your Majesty," said Kantar. "Suppose we send for San Thoy."

Zinlo called a servant. "Tell my romojak to bring San Thoy, the yellow man, here," he directed.

In a few moments Lotar （機の）カム in, …を伴ってd by San Thoy. Kantar 現在のd the former mojak of the 海軍 of Huitsen to the assemblage. Then Zinlo 演説（する）／住所d Lotar. 簡潔に he told him why they 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd that Grandon and Vernia might be traveling southward with a party of Ibbits, and gave him his 指示／教授／教育s: "派遣（する） six ships," he 命令（する）d, "with orders to 飛行機で行く high above Huitsen, 深い enough in the first cloud stratum so they will not be seen from the city. Then; when they have their bearings, let them spread out, and 飛行機で行く southward until they come to a column of furry white savages riding on three-horned beasts. If Grandon of Terra and his bride are with this party, they must 救助（する） them as best they can, and bring them here at once."

Lotar saluted. "I 急いで to carry out Your Majesty's 命令（する）s," he replied, and hurried out.

As soon as Lotar had gone, San Thoy was quizzed about a possible 同盟 with the Chispoks. He not only felt 肯定的な that he could arrange this, but 明言する／公表するd that he had received secret 調印するs from several of the yellow sailors on board the 大型船 which he had been 救助（する）d, which 証明するd to him that they were members of the brotherhood. After a short 会議／協議会, he was 派遣（する）d in one of Zinlo's airships to visit both 逮捕（する）d 著作権侵害者 大型船s, and cull the Chispoks from の中で the 囚人s.

"What of our 同盟（する）s?" Zinlo asked 広告, after San Thoy had 出発／死d. "Shall we let them help in the 強襲，強姦 on Huitsen?"

広告 一打／打撃d his 黒人／ボイコット 耐えるd thoughtfully. "Hum. Let's see. We have two 騎兵大隊s here, of our own. Lying 近づく by are two from Adonijar, and a little さらに先に away, two from Reabon."

"In 新規加入 to their 戦艦s, the Reabonians have two 得点する／非難する／２０ 輸送（する）s, and as many 軍需品 ships, with a large army and 軍需品s and 器具／備品 for a land 不快な／攻撃," said Zinlo.

"I was thinking of that," said 広告. "How or where could they land their army?"

"The Chispoks know a secret way," said Kantar. "San Thoy or one of his fellows could guide them."

"Splendid. We can now 計画（する） a 部隊d 不快な／攻撃. The Reabonians will disembark at night, and guided by the Chispoks, will march on Huitsen, 用意が出来ている for an 不快な／攻撃 tomorrow at an hour we shall 始める，決める. You, Zinlo will 集まり your 空中の 戦艦s above the city to join in the attack at the same time, and to 伝える signals from one 軍隊 to another. 一方／合間, the 戦艦s of Tyrhana, Adonijar, and Reabon must find some way to get through the secret 入り口."

"I've thought of a 計画（する） for that, also, Your Majesty," said Kantar.

"Good. Let me hear it, my boy."

And so Kantar 関係のある to them a 計画（する） he had conceived on the 刺激（する） of the moment, whereby he believed they could not only get the gates opened for them, but keep them open for the 入り口 of the 戦う／戦い (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs of the three 広大な／多数の／重要な nations.

17. — THE DEATH SENTENCE

Some time after Grandon and Vernia separated at the mouth of the 洞穴 to look for their riding-beasts which had disappeared, and which they believed had 逸脱するd in search of food, there （機の）カム faintly to the ears of the Earthman a sound that 原因（となる）d him to stop, whirl around, and listen intently. So slight was the sound that he could not やめる make it out, yet it had a 質 which made him 怪しげな that Vernia had called him. Though he 緊張するd his ears to catch a possible repetition, 非，不，無 was audible.

Alarmed, he retraced his steps as 速く as possible, but the soft, newly fallen snow retarded his 進歩 かなり. ガス／煙ing impatiently at the 延期する, he floundered past the mouth of the 洞穴 in which they had passed the night, and anxiously took up Vernia's 追跡する, shouting her 指名する as he went. But there was no reply.

The 跡をつけるs led him の近くに to the 不規律な base of the cliff, and as Grandon つまずくd around a bend, he saw the same sight which Vernia had beheld only a short time before, and which had led to her entrapment—a bristly white and green 反対する curving outward from behind a 発射／推定, which looked like a segment of Zorovian cactus. Like her, he thought it part of some antarctic 工場／植物, and proceeded incautiously toward it. He （機の）カム to a sudden pause, however, and 現在のd the spiral point of his lance, as the 明らかな segment 解決するd itself into one of the chelae of an 巨大な white scorpion, which 発射 out from behind the 発射／推定, and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d 速く toward him.

Pointing his lance, Grandon pulled 支援する the lever which 始める，決める the spiral 長，率いる to whirling. Fearlessly, and without swerving or 努力するing to 避ける the 武器, the monster sprang at the Earthman with its 巨大な pincers 延長するd to 掴む him. 権利 in the thorax the lance point struck, and bored in up to the knob. Grandon was thrown backward by the 衝撃 of that 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, but by コースを変えるing the butt of his lance downward and 急落（する），激減（する）ing it through the snow until it struck frozen ground beneath, was able to 持つ／拘留する the scorpion away from him.

Then still 粘着するing to the 軸 with his left 手渡す, he drew his scarbo with his 権利, and struck at the nearest chela. It was やめる 堅い and horny, and the blade did not bite more than half-way through it. Clenching his teeth, he struck again with all his strength, and this time 後継するd in 厳しいing it 近づく the middle. Having mastered the art of it, he was able to 削減（する） off the other claw at the 握りこぶし 共同の with two sharp blows.

But no sooner had these menaces been 除去するd than he was 脅すd with another, even more dangerous. With 雷 swiftness, the monster suddenly elevated its long, 共同のd tail, and stabbed at him with the terrible telson with which the tip was 武装した.

避けるing the deadly thrust of the 毒（薬） sting by leaning sideways, Grandon 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスd at the thing with his scarbo. To his surprise, it was やめる brittle, and broke off with the first blow.

Although the monster was now unable to 負傷させる him except at very の近くに ４半期/4分の1s, it was not without 資源. It suddenly reached beneath its abdomen with its 真っ先の pair of hairy 脚s, and 製図／抽選 there—from a section of gleaming, sticky web as 厚い as a rope, it cast the 宙返り飛行 about him and dragged him 今後. He clung to the lance-軸 with all his might, and 後継するd in 厳しいing the sticky 宙返り飛行 with a 一打／打撃 of his scarbo. Not so a second 宙返り飛行, however, which it 突然に flung around him, breaking his 持つ／拘留する on the 軸, as it jerked him toward its ugly gaping mandibles with his 権利 arm bound to his 味方する.

He had 以前 差し控えるd from using his tork for 恐れる the sound would bring enemies but in this extremity he elevated the muzzle, depressed the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing-button, and sent a stream of 弾丸s straight into the gaping jaws. With muffled detonations the 発射物s 爆発するd in the 抱擁する, 装甲の 団体／死体. A half-dozen of them 十分であるd to blow the hard-爆撃するd cephalothorax to bits, and 減ずるd the segmented abdomen to a shapeless quivering 集まり.

Quickly 転換ing his scarbo to his left 手渡す, Grandon 削減（する） himself 解放する／自由な of the sticky 宙返り飛行 that encumbered him. Then, perceiving the yawning 洞穴 mouth, and 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うing that it was here that Vernia had been taken, he 急ぐd inside. にもかかわらず their wrappings, he was able to identify the two zandars, one hanging in the 中心 of the 抱擁する web, the other at the 辛勝する／優位 beside a large spherical cocoon. But what was the smaller 反対する beside the cocoon? His heart stood still as he 認めるd the slender form of Vernia, and saw that a young scorpion, which had evidently just 現れるd from the cocoon, was はうing toward her.

Although the newly hatched monster was not more than six feet from Vernia, and he could not shoot without 危うくするing her, he knew that there was nothing else to do. Accordingly, he brought his tork to 耐える on the hairy youngster, and 解雇する／砲火／射撃d. There was a muffled 爆発, and the menace was 除去するd. But now he saw another pair of chelae 現れるing from the cocoon. Again he 解雇する／砲火／射撃d, and the second young scorpion was blown to bits. He watched for a moment, but as no more appeared, decided that the other eggs had not yet hatched, and 始める，決める about trying to find a way to climb to where Vernia was 一時停止するd.

The stickiness of the web made this almost impossible, until he thought to 利用する the dust and 破片 which littered the door. Catching this up in 二塁打 handfuls, he flung it against the section of the web which he wished to climb, and 設立する, as he hoped, that it 妨げるd the adhesive surface of the 立ち往生させるs from 粘着するing to his 手渡すs and feet.

速く he climbed up to Vernia, 削減（する） the surrounding 立ち往生させるs, and as 速く descended to the 床に打ち倒す with his 重荷（を負わせる）. With his knife he quickly slit open the wrappings and 設立する his wife, limp, and 明らかに lifeless. He opened her 広大な／多数の／重要な fur cloak, and the sight of several scratches on her white 肌 engendered the 恐れる that she had been 毒（薬）d by the venom of the monster. But when he held his ear to her breast, he was relieved to hear her heart （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域ing.

With a handful of snow taken from the 洞穴 mouth, be touched her 寺s. The 冷淡な shock 生き返らせるd her. She looked about wildly for a moment; then, 認めるing Grandon, she relaxed contentedly in his 武器.

"Are you 傷つける dear?" he asked.

"Only a few scratches, （頭が）ひょいと動く," she replied. "It was the fright that made me swoon. When I saw that young strid coming toward me, as I hung there helpless, and realized that its 目的 was to devour me, I fainted. Let me 残り／休憩（する） for a little while, and I'll be ready to walk."

"Perhaps you won't need to walk," said Grandon. "One zandar appears to be alive. I'll see if I can 削減（する） it 負かす／撃墜する."

利用するing the dust as he had done before, Grandon 後継するd in making a path up the web for himself to where the zandar bung beside the 巨大な cocoon. With his scarbo, he first 削減（する） the 激しい, rope-like 立ち往生させるs above it. Then, as the 広大な／多数の／重要な 本体，大部分／ばら積みの of the beast swung downward, he 削減（する） the cross 立ち往生させるs in succession, and with each 削減（する）, the zandar descended a little その上の. When at last the beast was on the 床に打ち倒す, it was still helpless because of the 徹底的な manner in which it had been trussed: But its heaving 側面に位置するs showed that it was still very much alive, and not a little 脅すd by the experience it had just gone through. 雇うing his knife, Grandon quickly 削減（する） the 立ち往生させるs which held it, and it struggled to its feet, trembling and panting ひどく.

"It seems 損なわれない," said Vernia, who had 回復するd from her faintness and come over to watch the 訴訟／進行s.

"Its 脚s are sound, at any 率," replied Grandon.

The beast followed them docilely enough through the mouth of the 洞穴. Then, after helping Vernia into the saddle Grandon returned for a moment, to 適用する his 炎上-製造者 to the 底（に届く） of the web. It caught 解雇する／砲火／射撃 with a roar, and be 急落（する），激減（する）d out of the 洞穴 followed by a 大波ing cloud of 黒人／ボイコット, oily smoke.

"That will do for the 残り／休憩（する） of the ugly brood," he said as he （機の）カム up beside Vernia.

He was about to 開始する behind her, when he suddenly saw, riding 速く toward them, a large 禁止（する）d of 軍人s 機動力のある on zandars. They were not Ibbits, as he could see at a ちらりと見ること, but Huitsenni, and had evidently heard his tork 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and come to 調査／捜査する. 即時に the riders （軍隊を）展開する，配備するd in a wide 半分-circle, cutting off all 可能性 of escape across the snow. As they could not climb the sheer 直面する of the cliff behind them, nor retire into the 洞穴, which was now belching 広大な／多数の／重要な clouds of acrid smoke, they remained where they were, Vernia still in the saddle, and Grandon beside her.

Had he been alone, Grandon would have resisted 猛烈に, but he knew that if he should use his tork the enemy would 報復する in 肉親，親類d, and Vernia might be 負傷させるd or 殺害された. A moment more, and he was looking into the mouths of fully a hundred torks leveled at him by a closely packed semicircle of riders. Then the mojak in 命令（する） ordered a 停止（させる）, and called out to Grandon: "降伏する, in the 指名する of the Rogo of Huitsen, or we 解雇する／砲火／射撃."

Seeing that 抵抗 was useless, Grandon unbuckled the belt which 含む／封じ込めるd his 武器s, and flung it on the snow in 前線 of him. Then he clasped his 手渡すs behind his 長，率いる in 記念品 of 降伏する.

At the order of the mojak, two men descended and 速く bound him, 手渡す and foot. Then he was slung across the saddle-屈服する of one of the riders as if he had been a 解雇（する） of 穀物, and the cavalcade 棒 away. Vernia was not bound, but was permitted to 保持する her place in the saddle with a guard on each 味方する of her.

Several hours later, it seemed to Grandon that all of Huitsen had turned out to 星／主役にする at the two 囚人s that their riders were bringing in, so dense were the （人が）群がるs along the streets. Their captors took them straight to the palace, where they were 奪うd of their Ibbit furs, which were not needed here in the warm lowlands. Then the mojak, やめる 明白に proud of his success, led them to the 王位 room, each guarded by two of his 軍人s.

Up to the time they were 勧めるd into that 広大な room, Grandon had entertained the hope that one of the Chispoks had 後継するd Yin Yin, but his hopes were dashed as he 認めるd the individual who squatted in the 中心 of the 水晶 王位. It was the bestial Thid Yet, former Romojak of the 海軍s of Huitsen. Like his 前任者, he was surrounded by 非常に／多数の attendants and nobles, and his 甚だしい／１２ダース 団体／死体 was 負担d with flashing jewels. The porcine 君主 grinned toothlessly as they were brought before him.

"It is 明らかな that our men have 説得するd Your Majesties to avail yourselves once more of our cordial if humble 歓待," he said. "We are 栄誉（を受ける）d."

"Your Majesty's 軍人s have persuasive ways," replied Grandon. "Perhaps, now that you are Rogo, we can 説得する you to 許す us to 出発／死 to our own torrogat, where 義務 calls us."

"Perhaps," replied Thid Yet, dipping his thumb into a spore pod which one of the former slave girls of Yin Yin 現在のd and thrusting the red spores into his fat cheek. "Just what is your proposition?"

"Say, a million keds of gold."

"Humph! We are 申し込む／申し出d more for Her Majesty alone."

"Two million."

"Not enough."

"Three—"

"Wait," interrupted Thid Yet. "You but waste your breath. Her Majesty will remain here as was 以前 arranged, until it is time to take her to the rendezvous. Though she has been 奪うd of the 楽しみ of Yin Yin's company, we 信用 that we will make a 満足な 代用品，人."

"Why you—!" Grandon would have sprung at the throat of the man on the 王位 had he not been 掴むd by the guards.

"One moment, Majesty. 許す me to finish. We are grieved that we can not 完全に 従う with your request, yet we will in part 実行する it."

"In part?"

"Yes. We will 許す you to leave, but not for your own country. Although you left no 証言，証人／目撃するs we have かなりの 証拠 that it was you who beheaded our just and generous 前任者. We also remember that it was 予定 to you that we nearly lost our own 長，率いる. So we will 許す you to leave— will, in fact, 速度(を上げる） you on your way, for it would be dangerous to have you 近づく us. But instead of sending you to your own torrogat, we will 派遣（する） you to the Kingdom of Thorth."

Thorth 存在 the Kingdom of Heaven, he beckoned to one of the two brawny guards who stood behind the 王位—their 巨大な two-手渡すd scarbos much in 証拠. "Come, Ez 貯蔵所. Clip me the 長，率いる from this 罰金 fellow, and see that you 削減（する） it cleanly, as I would 保持する it for a souvenir."

Swinging the 激しい scarbo to his shoulder, the headsman marched 今後. Grandon was quickly 軍隊d to his 膝s by his two guards. Ez 貯蔵所 took a position beside him, 実験（する）d the keenness of his blade with his thumb, and carefully 手段d the distance and position of Grandon's neck, の近くにing one 注目する，もくろむ and squinting the other. Then, with the swift 保証／確信 of an 専門家, he raised his blade.

Vernia, who had been watching the scene, too horrified even to utter a sound, covered her 注目する，もくろむs with her 手渡すs. Then she suddenly went limp in the 手渡すs of her two guards.

18. — THE ALLIES ATTACK

In the 旗艦 of Zinlo of Olba 棒 Kantar the Gunner and Narine, looking 負かす／撃墜する at the city of Huitsen through several feet of the lowest cloud stratum. The ship was 飛行機で行くing in this stratum that it might remain invisible to the Huitsenni in the streets below, yet be able to keep watch. The 不快な／攻撃 which the 同盟（する）s had planned the day before was now scheduled to take place.

Ten thousand of Reabon's 勇敢に立ち向かう 軍人s, guided by the Chispoks that San Thoy had selected, were converging on the city in an 巨大な semicircle, and five thousand more, a 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 of Reabonian 大砲, had their mattorks ready to make 違反s in the 塀で囲むs and lay a 一斉射撃，（質問などの）連発／ダム in 前線 of the infantry as soon as the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 should 開始する or the enemy discover their presence.

Zinlo, who had been looking over the scene with his glass, said: "I wonder what has become of San Thoy and the two 著作権侵害者 大型船s he was so 肯定的な he could bring through the gate. I see no 調印する of them in the canal. And our (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs still ride at 錨，総合司会者 outside, waiting for our signal."

"Perhaps we should 飛行機で行く 負かす／撃墜する and 調査／捜査する," 示唆するd Narine.

"Hardly," replied Kantar. "They would be sure to see us and precipitate a 戦う／戦い before we are ready."

"There's nothing to do but wait," said Zinlo, impatiently.

一方／合間, San Thoy, standing in the 指揮官's cabin of the 真っ先の of the two ships which had been 変えるd to the 目的 of the 同盟（する）s, its 乗組員 augmented by a 禁止（する）d of Reabonian 軍人s who kept out of sight below decks, and which was just then entering the fjord which led to Huitsen, was 問題／発行するing swift orders to the mojak of the 大型船. "Put three men on each oar," he 命令（する）d. "The steel 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 which we are to 減少（する） between the 石／投石する gates to 妨げる their の近くにing after us, is dragging on the 底（に届く）."

"Can we not raise it a trifle?" asked the mojak.

"No, idiot. The 後見人s are already watching us. To touch those chains now would make them 怪しげな. Do as I say, and quickly, for the time for the 不快な／攻撃 is almost at 手渡す."

Under the 追加するd propulsion of the extra rowers, the boat moved slowly 今後, dragging the 激しい steel 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 which the smiths of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of Reabon had (1)偽造する／(2)徐々に進むd 特に for this occasion by working all the previous night. Behind it （機の）カム the second 著作権侵害者 ship, 乗組員を乗せた like the first by Chispoks culled from the two 乗組員s and a 隠すd 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 of Reabonian 軍人s. Its mojak, puzzled by the slow 進歩 of the ship ahead, ordered his rowers to 支援する water and wait until a suitable distance should be 設立するd between the two ships.

As San Thoy's 大型船 approached the 大規模な 石／投石する gates, they did not open. Instead, there （機の）カム a あられ／賞賛する from one of the 後見人s.

"What ails you? Why do you move so slowly?

"We were 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なうd in a 戦う／戦い with the Reabonian (n)艦隊／(a)素早い," replied San Thoy. "Our 持つ／拘留する is filling with water. Let us through quickly or we will 沈む and 封鎖する the channel."

There was some 延期する. Evidently the 後見人s were not 完全に 満足させるd with San Thoy's explanation. The mojak knew that they were 存在 支配するd to minute scrutiny from above.

"Fools!" he cried, at length. "Open the gate or the channel will be の近くにd to all our ships. We are 沈むing 速く. Besides, the enemy follows closely. Would you have them find us here?"

Evidently his words, or the fact that their 船の索具 and upper 作品 were 損失d by 爆撃する-解雇する／砲火／射撃, decided the 後見人's, for the gates slowly slid apart.

San Thoy snapped an order to the rowers. "Pull, men, with all your might."

The channel was やめる shallow here, and the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 dragged ひどく, but the men worked with a will. Soon the boat was half through the gateway. "Now," 命令（する）d San Thoy, "let go the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業."

The chains were 解放（する）d, and struck the water with a loud splash.

"売春婦, sailors. What was that you dropped?" one of the guards shouted from above.

解放する／自由なd from the 激しい drag of the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業, the ship 発射 今後 under the exertion of the rowers. At the same time, its mattorks were trained on the grotto above, where the guards manipulated the 機械／機構 that worked the gates and kept watch for ships. Without replying to the question of the guard, the Chispoks opened 解雇する／砲火／射撃.

The guards were 避難所d behind a 塀で囲む of 石／投石する, and in 新規加入, were 武装した with mattorks. These 即時に went into 活動／戦闘, replying to the guns of San Thoy's ship and riddling her upper 作品 with 爆撃するs.

The second ship had, 一方／合間, come up more slowly. 軍人s clung to her masts and 船の索具. As she （機の）カム halfway through the gate, she dropped 錨，総合司会者. The men in the 船の索具 flung grappling-hooks up over the 塀で囲むs, and 群れているd up the ropes. Many were 投げつけるd 支援する, but enough 後継するd in getting over to quickly 征服する／打ち勝つ the guards. Then a mojo with twenty men took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the gate, and the two ships passed on through the 巨大な 黒人／ボイコット cavern.

速く San Thoy ran to the foredeck of his （手先の）技術. With an 巨大な 小衝突 and a can of red pigment, he painted the word "open" in Patoa, so it could be seen from the 空気／公表する. A moment later his （手先の）技術 nosed out into the canal. He dropped 錨，総合司会者 about five hundred feet from the mouth of the 洞穴 and waited. Presently the other ship （機の）カム up and 錨，総合司会者d beside him.

A mojak with a company of 軍人s, whose 義務 it was to patrol the canal bank, （機の）カム hurrying up and あられ／賞賛するd him. "What was that 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing?" he asked.

"We were 追求するd by the Reabonians," San Thoy replied. "They nearly had us. We just got through the gates in time."

"But did they not see the gates? Perhaps the secret way is not known to them."

Perhaps, agreed San Thoy.

"You have lied to me," （刑事）被告 the mojak. "That 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing was inside the 洞穴."

"Go and see for yourself," 示唆するd San Thoy.

"I will. Let me take a boat."

"Not you. You are too uncivil."

"Then I'll take one by 軍隊."

"Try it." San Thoy waved his 手渡す, and fully two-得点する／非難する／２０ mattorks were trained on the mojak and his 軍人s. At this, the officer turned and whispered to a fat mojo who stood beside him. The fellow evidently counseled 退却／保養地, for they turned and marched away, leaving only a dozen men to watch the ships.

"They go to 警告する the city," said San Thoy's mojo.

"What 半端物s?" replied San Thoy. "The mojak will order an 調査. A 団体／死体 of 軍隊／機動隊s will be 動員するd and marched 支援する here. By that time our 同盟（する）s will have arrived, and the Reabonian army will be 嵐／襲撃するing the city. Zinlo must have seen our signal, long since, and 通知するd the (n)艦隊／(a)素早いs of Reabon, Tyrhana, and Adonijar."

Zinlo, in his 空中の 戦艦, had ordered his 指揮官 to 急に上がる to the southeast of the city of Huitsen. They were hovering just above the ship canal. Kantar and Narine were watching the landscape below through one of the keel windows.

"Look!" cried Narine. "A ship is coming out of the 洞穴."

Zinlo, who had been 協議するing with Lotar, 掴むd his glasses and leveled them on the ship.

"It's San Thoy," he 発表するd, "and the way is open. To the 旗艦 of 広告, Lotar."

The ship 発射 今後 with a tremendous burst of 速度(を上げる）. In いっそう少なく than a minute it was far out over the Azpok, where the ships of the 同盟（する）s waited. The 真っ先の of these was the 旗艦 of 広告 of Tyrhana.

With a swiftness that made Kantar's ears （犯罪の）一味, the airship dropped. It （機の）カム to a stop beside 広告's 旗艦 as lightly as if it had fallen into a bed of thistledown.

Zinlo opened a 味方する door. Not twenty feet from him, 広告 stood on the foredeck of his fighting-（手先の）技術.

"The way is open," 発表するd the Prince of Olba.

"Good! I'll see you in the palace of Huitsen," replied 広告. Then he waved his 手渡す to a sailor, who 即時に ran a pennant to the masthead. Almost すぐに, 類似の 旗s were hoisted by the other ships, showing that they had caught the signal. Then the sails were unfurled, and with the 援助 of a swift landward 微風, the 連合した flotillas 速く made their way toward the secret 入り口 to Huitsen.

Once more the 旗艦 of Zinlo darted 支援する above the city, this time just over the lowest cloud stratum. Here the 空気／公表する (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of Olba hovered, waiting orders. The Torrogo's signal man stood 前へ／外へ on the deck just in 前線 of the 今後 turret. In his 権利 手渡す he held an 巨大な red disk, and in his left, a yellow. He began making 動議s with one, then the other, then both, repeating them in 非常に／多数の combinations which were evidently understood by the mojaks of the other 戦艦s, as they すぐに moved from their places and formed an 巨大な circle which corresponded to the circumference of the city beneath. There they hovered, を待つing その上の orders.

Zinlo's own ship dropped once more into the lowest cloud stratum, high enough to be out of sight, but low enough so that he could watch 開発s. Presently another ship dropped 負かす／撃墜する beside him. He opened a 味方する door, and the 指揮官 of the ship did likewise.

"What news?" asked Zinlo.

"We caught up with the column of Ibbits, Your Majesty," replied the mojak. "Their Majesties of Reabon were not with them. The officer in 命令（する） swore that Grandon of Terra had 殺害された their Rogo and ridden away with his wife. He said they would have followed, but a blizzard obliterated the 追跡する, so they decided to continue southward, 耐えるing the 団体／死体 of their Rogo."

"Then what did you do?"

"We circled the 雪の降る，雪の多い plain in all directions, and presently 設立する a 追跡する. From the 跡をつけるs and kerra juice which spattered the snow, we knew it was the 追跡する of a party of Huitsenni, 機動力のある on zandars. It led us to the mouth of a 洞穴, before which an enormous white strid lay dead. Inside the 洞穴 we 設立する the smoldering remains of a web, the charred carcasses of three young strids, and a number of charred eggs.

"On coming out, however, we noticed and followed another 追跡する, which led from a 近づく-by 洞穴. It was the 追跡する of a man and woman. They had not returned to the 洞穴 from which they had come, neither were their remains in the 洞穴 of the strid; so we 裁判官d they had been 逮捕（する）d by the party of 機動力のある Huitsenni. The fact that the return 追跡する of the yellow men led straight 支援する to the city 確認するd our belief."

"You have done 井戸／弁護士席," said Zinlo. "Now take your 騎兵大隊 and get into the 形式 above. I'll signal you when to descend." He の近くにd the door.

Kantar, who had been listening to the conversation, said: "Your Majesty, I have a 好意 to ask."

"指名する it," replied Zinlo. "You will deserve any 好意 within my 力／強力にする to 会談する."

"I would be 始める，決める on one of the balconies of the palace of Huitsen, with two men to 補助装置 me."

"Impossible," replied Zinlo. "Our 計画（する）s would be betrayed, and we would lose every advantage which a surprise attack would bring us."

"I am 納得させるd, Majesty," said Kantar, "that their Majesties of Reabon are 囚人s in the palace. Grandon of Terra slew Yin Yin, Rogo of Huitsen. Under the circumstances, Yin Yin's 後継者 can do no いっそう少なく than order his 死刑執行. Perhaps he has already done so, in which event I shall be too late. But I would be there to 妨げる it, if I can."

"What could three men do?"

"If I could reach one of the inner balconies that overlook the 王位 room with a man or two to guard my 支援する and a tork in my 手渡すs, I could do much."

"You are 権利, Gunner. A tork in your 手渡すs is 価値（がある） a hundred in the 手渡すs of ordinary men. And, after all, we're more anxious to save Grandon and Vernia than to take the city." He called to Lotar. "Send me two 軍人s. Then you will 減少（する） suddenly beside one of the outer balconies of the palace. As soon as the 軍人s have disembarked, you will 速く return to this position."

"I hear and obey," replied Lotar.

Zinlo's orders were 速く carried out.

Kantar bent over Narine's 手渡す, but she snatched it 解放する／自由な, and threw her 武器 around his neck.

"It may be that you go to your death, my 勇敢に立ち向かう gunner," she cried. "持つ／拘留する me tight. Tell me again that you love me."

Zinlo 停止（させる）d the two 軍人s in the doorway. Then he coughed 慎重に.

"We have arrived at the palace, Gunner. Come quickly, or we shall be 発射 負かす／撃墜する."

A 味方する door was flung open. Her 注目する，もくろむs sparkling with love and pride, Narine watched Kantar and the two 軍人s leap to the balcony. Then the door was の近くにd, and before a 選び出す／独身 enemy mattork could be trained on it, the ship 発射 aloft and disappeared into the clouds.

Hovering there in the lower cloud stratum, Zinlo kept his glasses 焦点（を合わせる）d on the canal. Presently he cried: "There is 広告s 旗艦. Another follows, and another. It is time for the 不快な／攻撃."

He turned and gave swift orders to Lotar. The 旗艦 rose above the first cloud stratum where the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い waited, still in circular 形式. The signal man flashed his red and yellow disks. Then Zinlo's ship took a place in the circle and began spiraling downward. Behind it followed the entire 空気／公表する (n)艦隊／(a)素早い.

As soon as the 旗艦 was through the lower cloud stratum, its keel mattorks went into 活動／戦闘. The mattorks of the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い 即時に followed 控訴. There was a burst of 炎上 from the ground beneath them as the Reabonian 大砲 opened 解雇する／砲火／射撃, and 広大な／多数の／重要な 違反s began appearing in the city 塀で囲むs.

Then a long shout went up, and the long line of Reabonian infantry, which had been waiting in hiding, sprang 今後, the light glinting from the バーレル／樽s of its torks, and from its scarbos and long-bladed spears.

The ship canal was now filled with enemy 大型船s, に引き続いて one another in の近くに 形式. Entering the landlocked harbor were the two 逮捕（する）d 著作権侵害者 大型船s—the first 命令（する）d by San Thoy.

The 大型船s which were 錨，総合司会者d in the harbor すぐに opened 解雇する／砲火／射撃, concentrating on these two ships. San Thoy's 大型船 was riddled by 爆撃する-解雇する／砲火／射撃, and began to 沈む 速く. He 即時に ran it up beside an 錨，総合司会者d 大型船, and 主要な his mixed 乗組員 of white and yellow 軍人s, boarded the new （手先の）技術. Only a few sailors were 船内に, and these were quickly 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する.

In the 合間, the mighty 旗艦 of 広告 of Tyrhana had nosed into the harbor. The withering 爆破s from its 激しい mattorks literally blew some of the smaller 著作権侵害者 （手先の）技術 out of the water, and wrought havoc with the larger 大型船s.

It was closely followed by the 抱擁する 旗艦s of Reabon and Adonijar, whose powerful mattorks were 平等に efficient. And の近くに on the heels of these, （人が）群がるd the 戦艦s of the 連合した (n)艦隊／(a)素早い.

One by one, every 著作権侵害者 大型船 that 申し込む／申し出d 抵抗 was sunk or 逮捕（する）d. Soon the 同盟（する）s were in 完全にする 命令（する） of the harbor. This 遂行するd, they landed 軍人s under cover of a 激しい 一斉射撃，（質問などの）連発／ダム, took the ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるs and 倉庫／問屋s with 事実上 no 抵抗, and marched into the city.

In the 合間, the Reabonian infantry was 会合 with desperate 抵抗 around the city 塀で囲むs. Time and again, Grandon's 勇敢に立ち向かう 軍人s 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d into the 違反s made by their 大砲, only to be 投げつけるd 支援する by the desperate defenders.

Presently, however, a 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 of fighting Traveks, Grandon's 猛烈な／残忍な 軍人s from the mountain fastnesses of Uxpo, broke through and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d straight for the palace.

The 指揮官 of the Huitsenni had 心配するd just such an 緊急, and was 用意が出来ている to 会合，会う it. 機動力のある on zandars, 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing their torks and brandishing their 激しい scarbos, a yelling horde of reserves 雷鳴d straight at the 非難する Traveks.

The Uxponian mountaineers in the first line 即時に knelt and 現在のd their long-bladed spears, while their comrades すぐに behind them 解雇する／砲火／射撃d over their 長，率いるs at the 速く approaching enemy. The two 軍隊s met with a terrific shock in which 堅い spear-軸s were 後援d, scarbos flashed, and torks spat incessantly. In an instant the first line was a 血まみれの shambles of dead and 負傷させるd men and zandars. At this point, wave after wave met, until the pile of dead, inextricably mingled with 負傷させるd men and maimed and struggling beasts, was so high that neither 味方する could 前進する, both using it as a rampart over which to 解雇する／砲火／射撃 their torks.

The Reabonians, however, fighting shoulder to shoulder with their Uxponian brothers on either 味方する, had quickly 広げるd the 違反 made by the Traveks. Now they too, 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d into the city, soon enveloping the 機動力のある Huitsenni until all chance of 退却／保養地 for the yellow cavalry was lost. Seeing that その上の 抵抗 was hopeless, they threw 負かす／撃墜する their 武器, and clasped their 手渡すs behind their 長，率いるs in 記念品 of 降伏する.

Leaving a few of their comrades to guard the 囚人s and 援助（する） the 負傷させるd the Traveks again 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d 今後 with the Reabonians, helping to 運動 the yellow infantry toward the palace. "For Grandon and Vernia!" they shouted. "負かす／撃墜する with Huitsen!"

From beyond the palace, a tremendous 元気づける answered them, as the 連合した 軍人s from the 戦艦s drove the Huitsenni 支援する.

While his keel mattorks kept up a continuous 砲撃 of the yellow army beneath, Zinlo watched these beginnings of victory with satisfaction. Then he suddenly saw that for which he had been waiting. Out from those buildings surrounding and closest to the palace, and from the fishing 穴を開けるs in the 周辺, there appeared a 群れている of Huitsenni, 武装した and dressed like the others, with the exception that each man wore a white scarf knotted around his neck and thrown over his shoulders.

Part of this new 軍隊 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d straight for the palace, and the 残りの人，物 formed a 広大な／多数の／重要な 小競り合い line to 削減（する） off the approach of the 退却／保養地ing Huitsenni.

"It's the Chispoks!" cried Zinlo. "To the palace, Lotar."

19. — THE DUEL

支援する in the 王位 room of Thid Yet, Rogo of Huitsen, Grandon, who had been 軍隊d to his 膝s by his two burly guards を待つd the 一打／打撃 of Ez 貯蔵所, the headsman. He saw the 抱擁する blade flash 上向き, and 神経d himself for a mighty 成果／努力. As the two 手渡すd scarbo descended, he flung himself backward carrying both guards with him. The 激しい blade 衝突，墜落d to the polished glass door, and many tiny 割れ目s radiated from the point where it had struck.

Grandon 即時に flung his 権利 arm 今後 once more. The guard who clung to it tripped over the blade of Ez 貯蔵所, and losing his 持つ／拘留する, fell on his 直面する before the 王位. His 権利 arm now 解放する／自由な, Grandon snatched the scarbo which depended from the belt of the other guard, and ran him through.

At this, one of Vernia's guards sprang 今後 and struck at Grandon with his scarbo. The Earthman 味方する-stepped the blow and 反対するd with a 削除する to the 長，率いる that stretched his 対抗者 on the 床に打ち倒す. In the 合間, Ez 貯蔵所 had 回復するd his 武器, and made a terrific swing at Grandon's neck. Dodging beneath the blade, the Earthman stabbed 上向き and thrust him through the throat. Then, before anyone could stop him, he sprang straight for the 君主 who squatted on the 王位.

With 叫び声をあげるs of terror, the slave girls scattered. But Thid Yet whipped out his scarbo and leaped to his feet. He had not been Rogo long enough to become fat and flabby like Yin Yin from 平易な living, nor was he a coward, but にもかかわらず his 広大な／多数の／重要な girth, a trained fighting man in the 頂点（に達する） of 条件, and the 退役軍人 of many 手渡す-to-手渡す 遭遇（する）s which had made him the most 恐れるd duelist in Huitsen.

"Stand 支援する," he shouted to the nobles and 兵士s who had begun to （人が）群がる around. "Stand 支援する and watch your Rogo carve the heart from this white- skinned slave who dares to attack the 王位 of Huitsen."

To the courtiers of Huitsen their 支配者's word was 絶対 法律; so they fell 支援する and made room for the two combatants. Nor were any of them worried as to the 結果. Thid Yet had not time to select any favorites from の中で those who stood about his 王位, which he had 掴むd with the 援助 of the 海軍 派閥, nor had he, as yet, conferred any 栄誉（を受ける）s or, 昇進／宣伝s. If he were 殺害された, another would take his place, probably no better or no worse, and Grandon could easily be dealt with.

It was evident, as Thid Yet sprang 今後 to 会合，会う the Earthman, that にもかかわらず Grandon's 評判 as a swordsman, he was 肯定的な he could easily best him—that it would be an 適切な時期 to 追加する to his laurels and 納得させる the Huitsenni beyond all 疑問 that they were 支配するd by a 勇敢に立ち向かう man.

As their blades 衝突／不一致d, and Grandon felt the strength of his wrist and met the 雷 速度(を上げる） of his attack, he knew he had an 対抗者 worthy of his steel and that the 結果 was indeed doubtful. 血 was drawn on both 味方するs at the very start. First Thid Yet's point raked Grandon's cheek cutting a 深い gash. Then the Earthman 反対するd with a swift 長，率いる 削減（する）. The Rogo parried in time to save his 長，率いる, but not his ear, which was shorn off by the blow.

The 観客s cried out in delighted amazement at the swift and brilliant sword-play that followed. Trained from 幼少／幼藍期 in the use of the scarbo, these men of Huitsen knew that they were 証言，証人／目撃するing a duel the like of which they might never see again were they to live a dozen lifetimes. One after another, Grandon tried all the tricks he had learned from his old 盗品故買者ing master, Le Blanc, and from the 非常に／多数の scarbo 専門家s he had 遭遇（する）d. But thrust or 削減（する） as he would, the darting blade of Thid Yet was there to 会合，会う his, and to 反対する with a 雷 削除する or a swift riposte. Time and again Grandon received 負傷させるs which might have been 致命的な had he not 後継するd in parrying them or springing 支援する just in time. And for every 負傷させる he received, the yellow Rogo was dealt two, though he was 平等に successful in 避けるing a 致命的な 傷害.

Bathed in 血 and perspiration, the two contestants fought 支援する and 前へ／外へ over an area that had become slippery with their own 血の塊／突き刺す. Grandon's sword arm began to ache. His 長，率いる swam dizzily. Loss of 血 was beginning to 次第に損なう his strength. He wondered how Thid Yet, who appeared to be losing more 血 than he, could stand the terrific exertion. And wondering, he began to 保存する his strength, to fight a 防御の rather than an 不快な／攻撃 戦う／戦い, and to wait.

Presently the Earthman felt the arm of his adversary begin to 弱める. Still he fought 慎重に, reserving his strength for a final 成果／努力— waiting. Suddenly Thid Yet 延長するd his 武器 in a vicious but clumsy thrust at Grandon's left breast. With a quick parry, and a 狭くする moulinet ending in a swift, 製図／抽選 削減（する）, the Earthman brought his keen blade 負かす／撃墜する on his 対抗者's 延長するd wrist, shearing through muscle and bone. The scarbo of the Rogo clattered to the 床に打ち倒す, his 厳しいd 手渡す still 粘着するing to the 支配する.

Thid Yet uttered a grunt of surprise and 苦痛 and 星／主役にするd at his spurting wrist for a moment as if he could not believe what he saw. Then he clamped the fingers of his left 手渡す just behind the stump to stay the bleeding, and staggered backward, 崩壊（する）d against the base of his 王位.

In the uproar that followed, Grandon leaped 支援する to where Vernia, who had 回復するd consciousness すぐに after the duel 開始するd and watched it with bated breath, stood in the 保護／拘留 of her remaining guard. The fellow reached for his scarbo, but not quickly enough. He died with the blade half out of the scabbard and Grandon's point through his heart. With his left arm around his wife's slender waist, Grandon waved his 血まみれの scarbo, 脅迫的な the nobles and 軍人s who were （人が）群がるing around him.

One elevated his tork, but before he could use it, there was a 報告（する）／憶測 from an upper balcony, and he pitched 今後 on his 直面する. A 発言する／表明する rang out from above them. "支援する, all of you, and lay 負かす／撃墜する your 武器. The first to menace Their Majesties dies."

Looking up, Grandon saw Kantar standing on a balcony, his tork muzzle pointed over the railing. Behind him, two Olban 軍人s guarded the door.

A number of the nobles had 急ぐd to Thid Yet's 援助. Two of them helped him to the 王位, while a third tightly bound his wrist with a （土地などの）細長い一片 of silk torn from his own cloak. The cat-like 注目する，もくろむs of the Rogo glittered with 憎悪.

"Shoot them," he groaned. "殺す them all."

A noble reached for his tork, followed by two more. But as 速く as they went for their 武器s, the tork of the gunner spoke. One after another they sank to the 床に打ち倒す. The lesson was not lost on the others. Most of them quickly 従うd with Kantar's request by 開始 their belts and letting their 武器s 減少（する） to the 床に打ち倒す. Then they clasped their 手渡すs behind their 長，率いるs in 記念品 of 降伏する. A few guards who had 急ぐd in from the outer 回廊（地帯）s to learn the 原因（となる） of the 騒動, quickly followed their example.

"What's this?" cried Thid Yet. "Is my entire 法廷，裁判所 to be 逮捕（する）d by a 選び出す／独身 marksman?" He reached for his own tork. Then a 弾丸 演習d him neatly between the 注目する，もくろむs and he 低迷d 今後, dead.

This settled the 事柄 for those who had hesitated to obey the 命令（する）s of the sharp-狙撃 gunner. They all dropped their 武器s and clasped their 手渡すs behind their 長，率いるs.

Leaving one of his companions to cover the group while the other still watched the door, Kantar dropped from balcony to balcony until he reached the 床に打ち倒す. Scarcely had his feet touched its mirrored surface when a terrific 砲撃 開始するd outside. He ran over to where Grandon and Vernia stood, and made obeisance.

"What's all the 狙撃 about outside?" asked Grandon.

"Your Majesty's 軍人s are attacking the city," replied Kantar, "under cover of a 一斉射撃，（質問などの）連発／ダム from the 大砲. The 空気／公表する (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of Olba is also 砲撃するing the city, as are the ships of Reabon, Tyrhana, and Adonijar, which are now fighting their way into the harbor and coming up the canal."

"But you! Where did you come from with these Olban 軍人s? Did you 減少（する） from the sky?"

"In truth, I did, Majesty. Zinlo of Olba, at my request, dropped me on one of the outer balconies of the palace with these two 軍人s. His airship was not 解雇する／砲火／射撃d upon, as it （機の）カム and went so suddenly that the Huitsenni had no time to train their 激しい mattorks on it. I hoped to find you here, as a 騎兵大隊 sent to follow the party of Ibbits with whom Your Majesties were supposed to be traveling, returned to 報告（する）／憶測 that you were not with them. I 恐れるd that your lives would be put in jeopardy by the attack, and so （機の）カム before the 強襲，強姦. By arguing with our scarbos, we 納得させるd several yellow guards who 閉めだした our way that we had important 商売／仕事 with the Rogo of Huitsen. Then we （機の）カム to the inner balcony."

"You （機の）カム in the nick of time, Gunner," said Grandon, "and I'm eternally 感謝する. Now, let's get out of here."

The gunner signaled to the Olban 軍人 on the balcony. He called to his companion, and the two dropped from balcony to balcony under the 保護 of the watchful gunner's tork, until they reached the 床に打ち倒す.

"What shall we do with these 囚人s, Majesty?" asked Kantar, 示すing the group of 武装解除するd nobles, officers, and slaves who still stood with their 手渡すs clasped behind their 長，率いるs.

Grandon thought for a moment. "We'll take them with us," he decided. "It is the only way. Let the two Olban 軍人s 貯蔵所d their 手渡すs behind their 支援するs."

While the members of the group were 存在 bound with （土地などの）細長い一片s torn from their own 着せる／賦与するing, Grandon selected a tork and 弾薬／武器 belt from the pile of 武器s. He also 交流d his nicked and 血まみれの scarbo for a jewel-hilted 武器 which had belonged to one of the nobles. Vernia also 武装した herself, and the two 補助装置d Kantar to keep watch on the balconies and doorways. But it soon appeared that there was no need for this. Evidently the 雷鳴 of the 衝突 outside had 妨げるd the palace inmates from taking any 利益／興味 in what went on in the 王位 room.

As soon as the 囚人s had been bound, Grandon divided them into two groups, one to march before them, and one behind. Then, with Grandon and Kantar covering the group that marched before and the two Olbans walking backward with their torks trained on those who （機の）カム behind, they passed out into the 回廊（地帯） which led to the main gate.

They had scarcely moved twenty feet along this 回廊（地帯）, when a かなりの 団体／死体 of Huitsenni, wearing white scarves around their necks, 注ぐd in from a 味方する 回廊（地帯）. Grandon 即時に elevated his tork, but Kantar, 認めるing the white scarves as the symbol 以前 agreed upon, stayed his 手渡す.

"Don't shoot, Majesty," he said. "These are friends." He called to the 前進するing 軍人s. "売春婦, Chispoks. We are brothers and 同盟（する）s. Relieve us of these 囚人s."

"喜んで, brothers. We were sent by Han Lay to 救助（する） you, and 補助装置 in taking the palace but you have evidently been able to take care of yourselves."

"Is the palace taken?" Grandon asked the mojak of the 禁止（する）d.

The officer 屈服するd low. "No, Majesty. But it soon will be. Already a thousand of the brotherhood have come in through the boat 入り口s, and they are fighting their way to the 最高の，を越す. Five thousand more are 嵐／襲撃するing the gates on the street level, and the 残り／休憩（する） stand ready to 削減（する） off the 退却／保養地ing army of Thid Yet."

Then my 兵士s have broken through?"

"They have, Majesty, and 運動 the army of the 誤った Rogo before them like 脅すd frellas, while the 軍人s from the ships の近くに in from the other 味方する."

"The 誤った Rogo is now a dead Rogo," Grandon told him. "But where is Han Lay?"

"He was to lead the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 on the palace gate, so it is there he will be if he has not fallen."

"Then let us 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 through from the inside. It will make victory swifter and easier."

"But most of my men are fighting on the upper 床に打ち倒すs."

"Never mind. Can you spare twenty?"

"Assuredly. Fifty."

"Splendid! I will lead them." He turned to the two Olbans, who, relieved of their 囚人s, を待つd orders. "Guard Her Majesty 井戸／弁護士席," he 命令（する）d. Then to Kantar. "Come, Gunner."

Followed by the fifty men whom the mojak had 詳細（に述べる）d to …を伴って them, Grandon and Kantar led the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 through the 入り口, and straight into the melee where the palace guards strove with the Chispoks at the gate. For some minutes the guards, beset from both 味方するs, 申し込む／申し出d halfhearted 抵抗. Then one by one they threw 負かす／撃墜する their 武器s and clasped their 手渡すs behind their 長，率いるs. The attacking Chispoks 殺到するd in, with Han Lay at their 長，率いる.

"I rejoice to find you alive, Majesty," said Han Lay, （判決などを）下すing the 王室の salute to Grandon.

"And I, you, Your Majesty soon to be," replied Grandon, returning his salute.

Suddenly a string of 空中の 戦艦s dropped 負かす／撃墜する from the sky and circled the palace. 速く their mattorks silenced the 武器s of those who 解雇する／砲火／射撃d at them. Then they sailed up to the balconies at the さまざまな levels, and Olban 軍人s 注ぐd 負かす／撃墜する their アルミ stairways into the palace. The 主要な airship settled beside the palace gate. The steps dropped and 負かす／撃墜する them （機の）カム Zinlo and Narine.

Grandon and Zinlo saluted each other in the Zorovian fashion, then puzzled those who stood around them by enthusiastically shaking 手渡すs, a 純粋に earthly demonstration which was unknown on Venus.

"I see that you are in at the kill, in spite of the fact that we couldn't 通知する you," said Zinlo.

"Decidedly," replied Grandon. "Where are 広告 and Aardvan?"

"Coming. They have just 受託するd the 降伏する of the Romojak of Huitsen, and will be here in a moment."

Grandon 現在のd Han Lay to Zinlo and Narine. Then Vernia （機の）カム out, …を伴ってd by her two Olban guards, and to her he was also 現在のd.

A moment later, three men strode up to the palace gate, a half-dozen 軍人s making way for them through the 広大な multitude that had gathered there. They were 広告 of Tyrhana, Aardvan of Adonijar, and San Thoy. Grandon held a short 会議／協議会 with his 同盟（する）s. Then, …を伴ってd by Han Lay, he 機動力のある to the 最高の，を越す step of the アルミ stairs which led to Zinlo's 旗艦. It was a position from which he could 命令（する） a 見解（をとる） of the entire （人が）群がる, and be seen by them.

"People of Huitsen," he shouted. "First of all, I want to tell you, and I speak on に代わって of my 同盟（する）s 同様に as myself, that we are not here to exact 尊敬の印s or 賠償s, nor to gloat over a prostrate 敵. On the contrary, we wish to 設立する friendly relations with the people of Huitsen— relations that will last through the years. The officer and renowned 軍人 who stands here beside me is willing to 会合，会う the 条件s which will best foster these relations, すなわち, an 廃止 of piracy, the 解放する／自由なing of all slaves who have been acquired by buccaneering and 沿岸の （警察の）手入れ，急襲s, and the 入ること／参加（者） of Huitsen into 平和的な 商業 with the other nations of this 惑星.

"存在 in 十分な （許可，名誉などを）与える with these 政策s, we will 身を引く our 軍人s as soon as a 条約 is 結論するd with him, if you will acclaim him your Rogo. What is your 楽しみ?"

"Han Lay for Rogo," shouted a 軍人, and the shout was taken up by a thousand throats.

Presently Grandon held up his 手渡す for silence. When the clamor had 中止するd, he said: "Have you any other 候補者s to 提案する?"

No one spoke. He waited for a moment. "Then acclaim him," he cried.

"あられ／賞賛する Han Lay, Rogo of Huitsen!" roared the （人が）群がる, as with one 発言する／表明する.

When the shouting had 沈下するd to a murmur, Grandon turned to Han Lay, and said: "I have a suggestion, Your Majesty. There is one who, though he has his little 証拠不十分s, has been 大部分は instrumental in the consummation of this glorious victory. I 言及する to San Thoy, and recommend that he be 都合よく rewarded."

The new Rogo beckoned to San Thoy, who （機の）カム and made obeisance before him.

"Rise, San Thoy, Romojak of the 海軍s of Huitsen," said Han Lay.

Then he and Grandon descended the ladder, and まっただ中に the 元気づける of the populace, the 王室の group, …に出席するd by their officers and guards, went into the palace.

As they entered, Han Lay, who was walking beside Grandon, said: "What of this lascivious Rogo who was the 原因（となる） of Her Majesty's 誘拐? Can we be of 援助 in bringing him to 司法（官）?"

"You can, decidedly," replied Grandon. "I had already thought of a 計画（する）. I should like to borrow one of your largest 大型船s 完全にする with officers and 乗組員, with San Thoy in 命令（する）. Also if you can furnish me with a sculptor who can make a life-like image of one who will 提起する／ポーズをとる for him, say in wax, or some such 構成要素, I shall be able to 完全にする my 計画（する）s without 広大な／多数の／重要な difficulty."

"These are but trifles," 抗議するd Han Lay. "A ship will be put at your 処分 すぐに, and within the hour a dozen such sculptors as you 要求する will を待つ your 楽しみ."

"Excellent! As soon as I have had these scratches dressed, I'll explain my 計画（する） to you."

20. — RETRIBUTION AND REWARD

Ten days had elapsed since the 落ちる of Huitsen. On the day に引き続いて their victory, the ships and 軍人s of the 同盟（する）s had sailed away. Only a part of the Olban 空気／公表する (n)艦隊／(a)素早い remained, while Grandon, Vernia, Zinlo, Loralie, Kantar, and Narine stayed at the palace as the guests of the new Rogo. Now Han Lay stood on the palace steps, surrounded by his nobles and officers, to 企て，努力，提案 his friends 別れの（言葉，会）.

Zinlo's 旗艦 had descended to the ground, and two of its アルミ staircases had been lowered. Up one of these a number of Huitsenni struggled with two 激しい, 棺-like chests, and passed them to the waiting Olbans.

別れの（言葉，会）s were said, and, one by one, Han Lay's guests 機動力のある the other stairway. The stairs were raised, the doors were の近くにd, and the mighty airship 発射 skyward, while the people 元気づけるd and the palace mattorks 雷鳴d a 別れの（言葉，会） salute.

At an elevation of about two thousand feet, the 旗艦 darted seaward, followed by the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い, which had been hovering above the palace.

任命する／導入するd in his luxurious cabin, Zinlo's guests sipped kova and chatted gayly. Having seen to their 慰安s, the Torrogo of Olba climbed to the 今後 turret to 公式文書，認める their 進歩.

Presently Grandon joined him. "Are you sure we can catch San Thoy before he reaches the rendezvous," he asked.

"肯定的な,". Zinlo replied. "We have already covered half the distance."

"Marvelous! How 急速な／放蕩な will these things go, anyway?"

"Earth distance and time, about a thousand miles an hour. In Olba, the 速度(を上げる） is reckoned in rotations of the 惑星 at its 赤道, or fractions thereof. Our smallest and slowest ships make at least a ４半期/4分の1 of a rotation. This one can easily do a rotation."

"I thought the shoreline of Huitsen receded pretty 急速な／放蕩な, but I didn't know it was やめる that 迅速な. Look! We're passing over a (n)艦隊／(a)素早い, now."

"That's 広告 of Tyrhana, ready to attack Zanaloth from the south. See that (n)艦隊／(a)素早い over to the west? That's Aardvan spoiling for a fight. Your own ships are over at your 権利, and the (n)艦隊／(a)素早い that 始める，決める sail from Reabon under your orders should be within twenty-five miles of the north coast of the Island of the Valkars by now."

"Why, there's San Thoy's ship, already."

"権利. We'll 上がる and do a little scouting before we 減少（する） you off."

He gave several swift orders to his Romojak. Then the entire (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of 航空機 発射 skyward, and entered the lowest cloud stratum.

Looking 負かす／撃墜する through the thin 隠す of vapor, Grandon presently descried an island, the Island of the Valkars. 錨，総合司会者d off its tiny harbor was a 選び出す／独身 戦艦, 飛行機で行くing the 旗 of Mernerum. But behind a jutting promontory, only a little way off, fully fifty big 戦艦s lurked.

"It's just as you thought," said Zinlo, at sight of the 隠すd ships. "Either Zanaloth was afraid of treachery on the part of the Huitsenni, or he ーするつもりであるd treachery toward them. He （機の）カム 用意が出来ている for trouble, in any event."

They 巡航するd toward the north a few minutes longer, and Grandon saw another (n)艦隊／(a)素早い, consisting of fully a hundred splendid 戦艦s, the pride of Reabon's 海軍, sailing toward the island. Zinlo saw them, too, and すぐに gave orders to turn 支援する.

"All is ready," he said. "Now, if you still 主張する, I'll put you on San Thoy's ship, but I can't for the life of me see the sense of it. We've got them 瓶／封じ込めるd up, anyway, and it won't be much of a 職業 to lick them."

"I'll tell you why I 主張する on carrying out my 計画（する）," replied Grandon. "It's the only way I can make sure of 会合 my worst enemy 直面する to 直面する."

"I see. You want the 楽しみ of 殺人，大当り him, yourself. 井戸／弁護士席 I don't 非難する you."

They paused, at this moment, above the bat-winged 大型船 which Han Lay had lent to Grandon, and Zinlo gave orders for them to descend.

Lightly the airship dropped beside the 大型船. Grappling-アイロンをかけるs were 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd 船内に, and the two stairways let 負かす／撃墜する. Grandon bade his friends good-bye, and took Vernia in his 武器. She clung to him at the door—begged him not to go.

"You are putting your 長，率いる in the mouth of a marmelot," she said. "Why not 逮捕（する） him first, then を取り引きする him afterward? I'm afraid for you."

"And I," replied Grandon, "am afraid he might さもなければ escape me. This way, he will not."

As he descended the ladder, San Thoy stood on the deck to 迎える／歓迎する him, mumbling kerra spores and grinning toothlessly. In the 合間, the two casket-like chests which had been brought in the airship were lowered to the deck of the 大型船. The stairs were drawn up and the grappling アイロンをかけるs cast off.

Grandon waved 別れの（言葉，会） to his friends, and entered the cabin of the 屈服するing San Thoy.

Zanaloth, dissolute Torrogo of Mernerum, sat at the gold-topped （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in the luxurious cabin of his 旗艦, sipping kova. Oglo, Romojak of the 皇室の 海軍, stood at attention, を待つing his 楽しみ.

Presently the dissipated Torrogo turned his bloated countenance toward his 長，指導者 海軍の officer, and said: "The time is nearly at 手渡す, Oglo. Are you 肯定的な that everything is ready?"

"肯定的な, Your Majesty. A thousand 軍人s are 隠すd in the 持つ／拘留する, を待つing 指示／教授／教育s. Our (n)艦隊／(a)素早い lurks in 準備完了 to come to us under 十分な sail at the にわか景気 of the first mattork."

Zanaloth emptied his kova bowl and smacked his 厚い, 感覚的な lips. "Very good. Very good, indeed. If the 著作権侵害者s come in a 選び出す／独身 ship, as we agreed, we can 逮捕（する） it. If they mean treachery, and have other 大型船s standing by to attack us, they will be easily taken care of by our 戦う／戦い (n)艦隊／(a)素早い.

"Now let us review your 指示／教授／教育s, so there will be no mistakes. As soon as the 著作権侵害者s 陳列する，発揮する the 王室の 囚人, we will request that she be brought 船内に our 大型船. They, on their 味方する, will no 疑問 主張する that the gold be transferred to their ship. We will agree to this, and begin transferring the gold. But as soon as the Princess of Reabon is 安全に inside this cabin, I will enter in and の近くに the door. That will be your signal to attack. Let the 軍人s take the place of the gold-passers and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 into the other ship. See that you have plenty of grappling アイロンをかけるs 船内に her, so she cannot slip away from us. And don't forget to go into 活動／戦闘 すぐに with the mattorks, so the 戦う／戦い (n)艦隊／(a)素早い will know they are to start at once."

"To hear Your Majesty is to obey," replied Oglo.

"And remember. Every man 船内に the 著作権侵害者 大型船 must die. If need be, we will 沈む their ship, but first we must try to get 支援する what gold has been taken 船内に her. As for the slaves we are supposed to have put 岸に for them, the 著作権侵害者s will not live to look for them. We will have both the girl and the gold, and the Rogo of Huitsen will perhaps guess that he has been beaten at his own game, but he will have no proof."

"I will not forget Majesty."

"If your 長，率いる fails you in this, I 約束 it will no longer remain on your shoulders to trouble you. Go, now, and watch for that ship."

Oglo made 深遠な obeisance, and withdrew.

Zanaloth fidgeted impatiently. Presently he quaffed another bowl of kova and getting ponderously to his feet, paced the 床に打ち倒す.

Suddenly the door was flung open, and Oglo, 屈服するing on the threshold 発表するd breathlessly: "A sail, Majesty! A 著作権侵害者 sail!"

Zanaloth grunted. "So! They come to the rendezvous at last."

He squeezed his ample girth through the doorway, and walked 今後, Oglo に引き続いて at a respectful distance. Then he took the glass which his romojak obsequiously proffered, and 焦点（を合わせる）d it on the approaching 大型船. Traveling under 十分な sail before a stiff 微風, it was making かなりの 速度(を上げる）.

"Bones of Thorth!" he exclaimed. "We must save that splendid ship, if possible. It 飛行機で行くs over the water like an ormf. A few alterations, and it will never be 認めるd."

As if its 指揮官 had no 疑惑 of treachery, the 著作権侵害者 ship sailed 速く up to them, hove to, and dropped its 錨，総合司会者s. An officer （機の）カム out of a cabin, wearing the uniform of a romojak, and Zanaloth あられ／賞賛するd him.

"Are you Thid Yet, Romojak of Huitsen," he asked.

"No, I am San Thoy, Romojak of Huitsen," was the reply. "Thid Yet is dead, and I have come to keep the rendezvous in his place."

"You have brought the 王室の slave-girl?"

"We have, Your Majesty. And what of the gold?"

"We stand ready to 配達する it to you. But first let me see the 王室の 囚人."

"What of the slaves you were to place on the island for us?"

"They are there, under guard, を待つing your 楽しみ. But let us see your 囚人."

"Very 井戸／弁護士席, Majesty."

San Thoy went into a cabin, and remained for several minutes. Then he （機の）カム out, alone. "She has fainted, Your Majesty. Will you not come 船内に and see her?"

"Hal What's this? Perhaps you have not brought her, after all."

"井戸／弁護士席 then, if you 疑問 my word, I'll have her carried out, so you may 見解（をとる） her."

He raised his 手渡す, and a mojak entered the cabin. He （機の）カム out in a moment, followed by four Huitsenni, who bore a litter on which reposed the golden-haired, richly 覆う？ 人物／姿／数字 of a young woman.

Zanaloth 星／主役にするd until he was watery-注目する，もくろむd. Then he 焦点（を合わせる）d his glass on the recumbent 人物／姿／数字 and 星／主役にするd again.

"By the 血 and 団体／死体 of Thorth!" he exclaimed to Oglo. "It is she. It must be. For nowhere on Zorovia is there beauty such as hers." To San Thoy he called: "I am 満足させるd. Let us draw the ships together with grappling アイロンをかけるs. My men are ready to 荷を降ろす the gold."

アイロンをかけるs were quickly 投げつけるd from ship to ship, and the chains, drawn taut by 手渡す-turned winches, 徐々に drew the two 大型船s together. This 達成するd ギャング（団）-planks were dropped across, fore and aft, and Zanaloth's men began carrying 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業s of gold to the 著作権侵害者 ship from the after 持つ／拘留する, to be checked, 重さを計るd, and received by members of the yellow 乗組員.

For some time Zanaloth and San Thoy chatted across the rails. Then the latter said: "Nearly half the gold is 荷を降ろすd. Shall we 伝える Her Majesty to the ４半期/4分の1s you have 供給するd for her?"

This was 正確に what Zanaloth 手配中の，お尋ね者, but he did not wish to appear too eager. "At your convenience," he replied. "The cabin behind me has been 用意が出来ている for her."

San Thoy signaled to the officer who stood 近づく the recumbent 人物／姿／数字. The officer gave a 命令（する）, and four Huitsenni took up the litter, while four more （機の）カム out from the cabin and fell in behind them with a 激しい, ornate chest about seven feet in length.

"What is in that chest?" asked Zanaloth, suspiciously.

"A few of Her Majesty's 所持品," replied San Thoy. "Mostly wearing apparel and ornaments."

San Thoy himself crossed the ギャング（団）-plank ahead of the others.

"This cabin?" he asked, 示すing the door of Zanaloth's cabin.

"That is 権利. Just leave her in there, and I'll call the ship's doctor to …に出席する her in a moment."

Zanaloth drank in the beauty of the recumbent girlish form as it was borne past him. "How still she is!" he thought. "Perhaps she is dead, and they have tricked me." But a searching look at the red lips and pink cheeks 安心させるd him. "No 死体 could have such bloom of life and health as this," he 推論する／理由d.

Under the 監督 of their officer, the eight men placed the litter and the large chest in the cabin. Then they retired.

"You will excuse me," said Zanaloth, 正式に, "if I go to 診察する the 商品／売買する I have 購入（する）d at so high a price."

"Assuredly," replied San Thoy. "I will, in the 合間, take a closer look at the gold with which it was 購入（する）d." He 屈服するd low, with 権利 手渡す 延長するd palm downward, and turning, crossed the plank to his own ship.

Zanaloth watched his 幅の広い 支援する with a supercilious sneer, until he had reached his own 大型船. Then, with a 重要な ちらりと見ること at Oglo, he swung on his heel, and entering his cabin, slammed the door shut behind him. The にわか景気 of a mattork outside, 即時に followed his 活動／戦闘. It was 後継するd by shouts, 命令（する）s, shrieks, and groans, mingled with the popping of torks, the 衝突／不一致 of blades, the scurrying feet on deck, and the rumble of mattorks. He smiled cunningly as he thought of the splendid prize which his 隠すd 軍人s would take so easily, and of the very slight expense at which he had been to 安全な・保証する the golden-haired beauty who lay at his mercy on the `litter before him.

He crossed the room, and ひさまづくing, touched a rosy cheek. Then he drew 支援する his 手渡す with a sharp exclamation of surprise. The 直面する was as hard and 冷淡な as if it had been hewn from marble.

A 激しい 手渡す fell on his shoulder and の近くにd with a 支配する that made him wince. He was jerked to his feet, and spun around to 直面する a tall, handsome stranger, who wore the scarlet of 王族 and the insignia of the 皇室の house of Reabon.

"Who—who are you?" he stammered, his trembling 発言する／表明する barely audible above the din of 戦う／戦い outside.

"I am Grandon of Terra, Torrogo of Reabon, and husband of her whom you would have wronged—whose graven image you just now profaned by the touch of your filthy 手渡す."

Behind Grandon, the ornate chest under which the four Huitsenni had staggered stood with the lid thrown 支援する, empty. Zanaloth's gaze roved from this to the door, as he realized the manner in which Grandon had 伸び（る）d 接近 to his cabin. He leaped for the door, but 設立する it locked. Grandon reached in his belt-pouch and held up the 重要な.

"Wha-what do you want?" asked Zanaloth.

"I have come for your 長，率いる," replied the Earthman, whipping out his scarbo. "On guard, if you have the manhood left to defend it."

With trembling fingers, Zanaloth drew his own scarbo. In his 青年 he had been accounted an excellent scarboman. But that day was long past. Years of dissipation and luxurious living had made him short of breath and flabby of muscle. And he knew that there were few, if any, of the most 専門家 duelists on Zorovia who could 会合，会う Grandon of Terra, scarbo in 手渡す, and live to 誇る of it. Only a trick, a sudden, 予期しない move, might save him. He （機の）カム on guard, but before the blades had touched, lowered his point.

"You may choose between—" Grandon began. But just then Zanaloth raised his 武器 and 肺d at his 対抗者's unprotected 団体／死体. Grandon had no time to parry this vicious and 臆病な／卑劣な thrust. Barely in time to 回避する 災害, he 投げつけるd himself to one 味方する, so that the point only grazed him. Zanaloth automatically 回復するd his 姿勢 as Grandon now attacked. For a moment, it seemed to the Mernerumite that the blade of his 対抗者 had wrapped itself around his own. Then his 武器 was 新たな展開d from his しっかり掴む, and flew through the 空気／公表する alight in a corner of the cabin. Zanaloth started 支援する, his 注目する，もくろむs wide with terror, as the point of the Earthman 急落（する），激減（する）d straight for his breast. But Grandon stopped the thrust, and contented himself with 単に touching his antagonist.

The din of 戦う／戦い had 増加するd outside, but neither man 注意するd it.

"I 示唆する that you 選ぶ up your scarbo," said Grandon, "and that hereafter you keep a tighter 支配する on it."

Furtively watching his generous 対抗者, Zanaloth slunk to the corner and 回復するd his 武器. He knew that he could not hope to 勝利，勝つ this fight, that death had him 示すd for its own. 広大な／多数の／重要な beads of sweat standing out on his forehead betrayed the 恐れる that gripped his craven heart.

At his left 味方する, as at Grandon's, there hung a jeweled, gold-plated tork. Suddenly he lowered his left 手渡す, gripped the 武器, and was about to 圧力（をかける） the 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing-button when a 発射物 struck his wrist, numbing it, and 麻ひさせるing his fingers. With incredible swiftness, Grandon had again forestalled him.

Seeing that he had （判決などを）下すd the Mernerumite's tork 手渡す useless, Grandon lowered his own 武器. "Since you can no longer fight with the tork," he said, politely, "perhaps we had best 再開する with the scarbo." He 前進するd, and once more their blades met. "I advise you," continued Grandon, mechanically cutting, thrusting, and parrying, "to guard 井戸／弁護士席 your 長，率いる, as I have 約束d it to the Rogo of Huitsen. A little gift to recompense him for the loss of much gold and many slaves. But then the 長，率いる of a Torrogo is a rare and truly 王室の gift, even if its intrinsic 価値（がある） is trifling."

Zanaloth said nothing. He was fighting with all his strength, yet the Earthman was only playing with him. Suddenly Grandon's blade flashed in a swift moulinet, touched the Mernerumite's neck, and was 孤立した, without so much as 製図／抽選 血. But to Grandon's surprise, his antagonist dropped his 武器 and sank to the 床に打ち倒す, limp, and 明らかに lifeless.

For some time the Earthman stood there, waiting, 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うing a trick. But as his 対抗者 continued motionless, he bent and felt a flabby wrist, then held his を引き渡す the heart. There was no pulse. Zanaloth of Mernerum was dead, not 殺害された by the scarbo, but by a 武器 that is often more deadly, that always 拷問s before it kills—恐れる.

Grandon rose to his feet and sheathed his 無血の blade. Then, taking the 重要な from his belt pouch, he opened the cabin door and stepped out on deck. San Thoy was waiting there to 迎える／歓迎する him. The fighting had 中止するd, and the Huitsenni worked 味方する by 味方する with his own Fighting Traveks who had been 隠すd in the 持つ／拘留する of their ship. They were 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing the 死体s of the 殺害された Mernerumites overboard, tending the 負傷させるd, and guarding the 囚人s.

A large 空中の 戦艦 dropped beside them. Grappling-アイロンをかけるs were cast 船内に, and an アルミ stairway was lowered. Zinlo stood in the doorway.

"The 戦う／戦い (n)艦隊／(a)素早い of Mernerum has 降伏するd," he said. "Coming 船内に?"

"すぐに," replied Grandon. With one foot on the stairway, he turned to San Thoy. "Good-bye, my friend," he said. "Come and visit me in Reabon. Oh, by the way! You will find the gift I 約束d Han Lay on the 床に打ち倒す of Zanaloth's cabin. 現在の it to him with my compliments."

San Thoy 屈服するd low, and grinned toothlessly, as Grandon 機動力のある the stairs.

The next day, Grandon sat at the 水晶-topped （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in the 製図／抽選-room of his 私的な apartments in the 皇室の palace of Reabon.

Bonal, his torrango, or 首相, appeared in the doorway and made obeisance. "The messenger has arrived from Mernerum, Your Majesty," he 発表するd.

"I'll receive him here," replied Grandon. "And by the way, Bonal, ask Zinlo of Olba to come in now. I want him to be 現在の at the interview."

A few moments later, Bonal 発表するd: "His 皇室の Majesty, Zinlo of Olba, and Mojak Sed of the staff of Orthad, 最高の Romojak of Reabon."

Zinlo entered, followed by a young Reabonian officer. The Torroga of Olba took a seat at the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する, and the democratic Grandon 招待するd the young officer also to be seated, knowing it would not 感情を害する／違反する his 平等に democratic guest.

"You bring a message from Orthad?" Grandon asked.

"I do, Majesty. He 企て，努力，提案s me 知らせる you that we took Mernerum with 緩和する. The people were sick of the tyrannous Zanaloth, and most of them 現実に welcomed us. We were 延期するd only by the difficulties which arise in moving so large an army. The fighting was but desultory, and there were few 死傷者s."

"What was the 態度 of the nobles and 公式の／役人s?"

"They begged that Mernerum be 別館d to Reabon, or if this should not comport with Your Majesty's wishes, that you 指名する a competent Torrogo to 支配する them. So as soon as Kantar the Gunner arrived in the Olban airship, His Excellency 指名するd him Torrogo, in 一致 with Your Majesty's 命令（する）s. He was later acclaimed by the nobles, 軍人s, and people without a dissenting 発言する／表明する.

"What of the other 儀式?"

"It has been 成し遂げるd, Majesty. And Her Majesty 招待するs all to …に出席する the feast which will be held this evening."

"Did you bring with you a messenger from the new Torroga?"

"I did, Your Majesty. He を待つs your 許可 to 現在の his missive to 広告 of Tyrhana."

"Good. You may go now. And send this messenger to me."

The mojak arose, and making the customary obeisance, withdrew.

"Thus far," Grandon told Zinlo, "our 陰謀（を企てる） has worked out. It remains to be seen how 広告 of Tyrhana will take the news." He called a guard. "Have Bonal 勧める in Their Majesties of Tyrhana and Adonijar," he 命令（する）d.

"I can tell you how 広告 will take it," said Zinlo. "He'll take it as a marmelot takes a 非難する on the nose. But it was the only thing to do."

A moment later, 広告 and Aardvan were 勧めるd in by Bonal. A slave brought kova, and the four Torrogos were chatting merrily over their bowls when Bonal 発表するd: "A messenger from Her 皇室の Majesty for the Torrogo of Tyrhana."

"What's this?" exclaimed 広告. "I didn't know Zanaloth left a 未亡人. And why should she send a messenger to me?"

"Perhaps an interview with the messenger will explain," rumbled the 深い 発言する／表明する of Aardvan.

"True. Show him in, Bonal."

The messenger, who wore the uniform of a mojak of the 皇室の Guards of Mernerum, made obeisance to all four of the 支配者s. His puzzled look showed that he did not know which one to 演説（する）／住所.

"I am the Torrogo of Tyrhana," said 広告. "I believe your message is for me."

"It is, Your Majesty." The mojak took a small scroll from his belt pouch and 手渡すd it to 広告. "From Her 皇室の Majesty, the Torroga of Mernerum," he said.

広告 broke the 調印（する） and unrolled the missive. First he looked puzzled, then astounded, then ひどく angry. His 直面する purpled and his brow 契約d. "血 of Thorth!" he 爆発するd. "Narine has eloped with that young upstart of a gunner, and married him!"

"She could have done worse," soothed Grandon. "The gunner is now Torrogo of Mernerum."

"The little she-marmelot! The 反逆者! The ungrateful child! I'll disown her! I'll—I'll—"

"Tut, tut," said Aardvan. "I think she has made a splendid match."

"But what of Gadrimel? What of our 協定／条約 that my daughter and your son should 結婚する?"

"I don't like to について言及する this," replied Aardvan, "but Gadrimel 選ぶd up a slave-girl in Huitsen and brought her here with him. Zena, I believe he called her, an ex-concubine of Yin Yin's. I told him to get rid of her, and last night they both disappeared. Later, I learned that they had gone for a 巡航する in one of my ships."

"Um," grunted 広告, 非，不，無-committally.

"So you see," continued Aardvan, "their marriage would have been impossible, anyway. Besides, we need no marriage to comment the 会社／堅い friendship between us. And think, you will now have as an 付加 同盟（する） the 豊富な and powerful Torrogo of Mernerum, your son-in-法律."

"That's 権利, Your Majesty," said Zinlo. "許す the child, and let's pile into one of my ships and …に出席する the wedding feast tonight, all of us."

"What! You, too? This has all the （ーのために）とっておくs of a 共謀," said 広告.

Grandon filled the kova bowls all around, then took up his own, and said: "My friends, let us drink to the health and happiness of the charming young bride and the lucky bridegroom."

Zinlo and Aardvan drained their bowls.

広告 hesitated for a moment, then caught up his own bowl and emptied it with 明らかな gusto. "Our work is done," he said. "The 力／強力にする of the 著作権侵害者s is broken, and the port of 危険，危なくする is no more. Let us on to the wedding feast."

"The Port of 危険，危なくする,"
The Grandon Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1949

THE END

This 場所／位置 is 十分な of FREE ebooks - 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia