my strength to do it. My free hand I held above my head, palm out, in
token of the peacefulness of my mission.

In the foreground I saw the youth who had discovered us, and I could
tell from the way he carried himself that he was quite overcome by his
own importance. The warriors about him were all fine looking fellows,
though shorter and squatter than the Sarians or the Amozites. Their
color, too, was a bit lighter, owing, no doubt, to the fact that much
of their lives is spent within the shadow of the world that hangs
forever above their country.

A little in advance of the others was a bearded fellow tricked out in
many ornaments. I didn't need to ask to know that he was the
chieftain--doubtless Goork, father of Kolk. Now to him I addressed
myself.

"I am David," I said, "Emperor of the Federated Kingdoms of Pellucidar.
Doubtless you have heard of me?"

He nodded his head affirmatively.

"I come from Sari," I continued, "where I just met Kolk, the son of
Goork. I bear a token from Kolk to his father, which will prove that I
am a friend."

Again the warrior nodded. "I am Goork," he said. "Where is the token?"

"Here," I replied, and fished into the game-bag where I had placed it.

Goork and his people waited in silence. My hand searched the inside of
the bag.

It was empty!

The token had been stolen with my arms!

CHAPTER VIII

CAPTIVE

When Goork and his people saw that I had no token they commenced to
taunt me.

"You do not come from Kolk, but from the Sly One!" they cried. "He has
sent you from the island to spy upon us. Go away, or we will set upon
you and kill you."

I explained that all my belongings had been stolen from me, and that
the robber must have taken the token too; but they didn't believe me.
As proof that I was one of Hooja's people, they pointed to my weapons,
which they said were ornamented like those of the is-land clan.
Further, they said that no good man went in company with a jalok--and
that by this line of reason-ing I certainly was a bad man.

I saw that they were not naturally a war-like tribe, for they preferred
that I leave in peace rather than force them to attack me, whereas the
Sarians would have killed a suspicious stranger first and inquired into
his purposes later.

I think Raja sensed their antagonism, for he kept tugging at his leash
and growling ominously. They were a bit in awe of him, and kept at a
safe distance. It was evident that they