, nor could I forever carry that
bale of skins about upon my head without arousing suspicion. However
it seemed likely that it would carry me once more safely through the
crowded passages and chambers of the upper levels, and so I set out
with Perry and Ghak--the stench of the illy cured pelts fairly choking
me.

Together we repaired to the first tier of corridors beneath the main
floor of the buildings, and here Perry and Ghak halted to await me.
The buildings are cut out of the solid limestone formation. There is
nothing at all remarkable about their architecture. The rooms are
sometimes rectangular, sometimes circular, and again oval in shape.
The corridors which connect them are narrow and not always straight.
The chambers are lighted by diffused sunlight reflected through tubes
similar to those by which the avenues are lighted. The lower the tiers
of chambers, the darker. Most of the corridors are entirely unlighted.
The Mahars can see quite well in semidarkness.

Down to the main floor we encountered many Mahars, Sagoths, and slaves;
but no attention was paid to us as we had become a part of the domestic
life of the building. There was but a single entrance leading from the
place into the avenue and this was well guarded by Sagoths--this
doorway alone were we forbidden to pass. It is true that we were not
supposed to enter the deeper corridors and apartments except on special
occasions when we were instructed to do so; but as we were considered a
lower order without intelligence there was little reason to fear that
we could accomplish any harm by so doing, and so we were not hindered
as we entered the corridor which led below.

Wrapped in a skin I carried three swords, and the two bows, and the
arrows which Perry and I had fashioned. As many slaves bore
skin-wrapped burdens to and fro my load attracted no comment. Where I
left Ghak and Perry there were no other creatures in sight, and so I
withdrew one sword from the package, and leaving the balance of the
weapons with Perry, started on alone toward the lower levels.

Having come to the apartment in which the three Mahars slept I entered
silently on tiptoe, forgetting that the creatures were without the
sense of hearing. With a quick thrust through the heart I disposed of
the first but my second thrust was not so fortunate, so that before I
could kill the next of my victims it had hurled itself against the
third, who sprang quickly up, facing me with