black form, between the terrible eyes.

Harry and I sprang forward.

As we did so the eyes closed and the reptile began to move backward
with incredible swiftness, lashing about on the ground before us with
other tentacles similar to the one that had captured Desiree.

I cried out to Harry to avoid them. He did not answer, but rushed
blindly forward.

Desiree's agonized shrieks rose to the pitch of madness.

The eyes were closed, leaving but a vague mark for our spears, and
besides, there was the danger of striking Desiree. We were barely able
to keep pace with the thing as it receded swiftly down the broad
passage. Desiree had twisted her body half round, and her face was
turned toward us, shadowy as a ghost. Then her head fell forward and
hung loosely and her lips were silent. She had fainted.

The thing moved swifter than ever; we were barely able to keep up with
it. Harry made a desperate leap forward.

I cried out a warning, but one of the writhing tentacles swept against
him and knocked him to the ground. He was up again on the instant and
came rushing up from behind.

Suddenly the passage broadened until the walls were no longer visible;
we had entered another cavern. I heard the sound of running water
somewhere ahead of us. The pace of the reptile had not slackened for
an instant.

Harry had again caught up with us, and as he ran at my side I saw him
raise his spear aloft; but I caught his arm and held it.

"Desiree!" I panted.

Her body covered the only part of the thing that presented a fair mark.
Harry swore, but his arm fell.

"To the side!" he gasped. "We can't get at it here!"

I saw his meaning and followed at his heels as he swerved suddenly to
the right and sprang forward in an attempt to get past the reptile's
head.

But in our eagerness we forgot caution and went too close. I felt one
of the snaky tentacles wrap itself round my legs and body, and raised
my voice in a warning to Harry, but too late. He, too, was ensnared,
and a moment later we had both been lifted bodily from the ground and
swung through the air to the side of Desiree. She was still
unconscious.

I writhed and twisted desperately, but that muscular coil held me
firmly as a band of steel, tight against the huge and hideous head.

Harry was on the other side of Desiree, not three feet from me. I
could see his muscles strain and pull in his violent efforts to tear
himself free. I had given it up.

Bu