the pain of many
fiery needles.

Gerry crumpled soundlessly to the ground. He could see and hear what
went on, but otherwise he was paralyzed and incapable of sound or
movement. For a moment he thought that Closana was behind some form of
treachery. Then dark figures swarmed around him, lifting him from the
ground, and he saw the dim light gleaming on gray scales. The Scaly Ones
had penetrated to the innermost sanctuary of the City of Larr!

Gerry's head fell back as they lifted him, and he could see that Closana
was equally helpless in the grip of more of the raiders. A section of
grass and bushes was swung back on a hidden trap door, revealing a
flight of moss-covered stone steps leading downward. The two prisoners
were carried down, and the door dropped hollowly into place above them.

* * * * *

They were in a narrow and very ancient stone passage. Moss and lichens
covered the walls, moisture dripped from the ceiling. On the floor in
the midst of another group of the Scaly Ones lay Angus McTavish,
evidently also a victim of the paralyzing gas. Olga Stark stood nearby,
her long dark hair loose about her shoulders and an expression of savage
triumph in her eyes.

"Tie them securely!" she snapped to the officer in command of the Scaly
Men. His long-nosed, brutish face creased in a grim smile.

"It shall be done, Mistress!"

Closana was stripped to her loin-cloth. A cloth gag was twisted into her
mouth, her arms were tied behind her back. Gerry and Angus were treated
in the same way. Control of his muscles was returning swiftly to Gerry
Norton now, as the effects of the gas wore off, but he was already
secured and helpless.

Grim rage filled Gerry then, but even greater than that emotion was his
utter amazement. The thing was completely beyond his understanding. This
was no routine raid of the Scaly Ones against the people of Larr, but a
definite attempt to capture _him_! Strangest of all was the part played
by Olga Stark, who acted as though she was in command of the Scaly Men.
It just wasn't possible--but it was happening.

The three prisoners were pulled to their feet. Guards gripped their
elbows. At the first bend in the passage a small waterfall came down
from above and formed a gurgling stream that ran in a deep gutter at one
side. The air was hot, and moist, and heavy with the scent of running
water and fungus growths. Other jets of water came down from above to
add to t