Nobs had followed us into the bog and had done fairly well at
first, but when he neared us he too sank to his belly and could
only flounder about. We were in this predicament when Du-seen and
his followers approached the edge of the horrible swamp. I saw that
Al-tan was with him and many other Kro-lu warriors. The alliance
against Jor the chief had, therefore, been consummated, and this
horde was already marching upon the Galu city. I sighed as I
thought how close I had been to saving not only Ajor but her father
and his people from defeat and death.
Beyond the swamp was a dense wood. Could we have reached this,
we would have been safe; but it might as well have been a hundred
miles away as a hundred yards across that hidden lake of sticky mud.
Upon the edge of the swamp Du-seen and his horde halted to revile
us. They could not reach us with their hands; but at a command from
Du-seen they fitted arrows to their bows, and I saw that the end
had come. Ajor huddled close to me, and I took her in my arms. "I
love you, Tom," she said, "only you." Tears came to my eyes then,
not tears of self-pity for my predicament, but tears from a heart
filled with a great love--a heart that sees the sun of its life
and its love setting even as it rises.
The renegade Galus and their Kro-lu allies stood waiting for the
word from Du-seen that would launch that barbed avalanche of death
upon us, when there broke from the wood beyond the swamp the sweetest
music that ever fell upon the ears of man--the sharp staccato of at
least two score rifles fired rapidly at will.
Pages:
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155