who seem seldom if ever to require sleep,
joined me in this instance, for we had had a very trying march along
the northern foothills of the Mountains of the Clouds, and now with
their bellies filled with meat they seemed ready for slumber.

When I awoke it was with a start to find a couple of huge Sagoths
astride me. They pinioned my arms and legs, and later chained my
wrists behind my back. Then they let me up.

I saw my companions; the brave fellows lay dead where they had slept,
javelined to death without a chance at self-defense.

I was furious. I threatened the Sagoth leader with all sorts of dire
reprisals; but when he heard me speak the hybrid language that is the
medium of communication between his kind and the human race of the
inner world he only grinned, as much as to say, "I thought so!"

They had not taken my revolvers or ammunition away from me because they
did not know what they were; but my heavy rifle I had lost. They
simply left it where it had lain beside me.

So low in the scale of intelligence are they, that they had not
sufficient interest in this strange object even to fetch it along with
them.

I knew from the direction of our march that they were taking me to
Phutra. Once there I did not need much of an imagination to picture
what my fate would be. It was the arena and a wild thag or fierce tarag
for me--unless the Mahars elected to take me to the pits.

In that case my end would be no more certain, though infinitely more
horrible and painful, for in the pits I should be subjected to cruel
vivisection. From what I had once seen of their methods in the pits of
Phutra I knew them to be the opposite of merciful, whereas in the arena
I should be quickly despatched by some savage beast.

Arrived at the underground city, I was taken immediately before a slimy
Mahar. When the creature had received the report of the Sagoth its
cold eyes glistened with malice and hatred as they were turned
balefully upon me.

I knew then that my identity had been guessed. With a show of
excitement that I had never before seen evinced by a member of the
dominant race of Pellucidar, the Mahar hustled me away, heavily
guarded, through the main avenue of the city to one of the principal
buildings.

Here we were ushered into a great hall where presently many Mahars
gathered.

In utter silence they conversed, for they have no oral speech since
they are without auditory nerves. Their method of communicat