Adventure Magazine Cover — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘ 156 One after another shook their heads. With some terror now mingled into the as- tonishment of his visage, the leader looked again at the lake. “We do not know how to do this, Esrun,”’ he said. There was something terrible in the sim- plicity of his utterance—in the confession of this man who could receive thoughts with- out sending them. Here was a child playing with vast forces of the intellect; a primitive barbarian who infringed upon secret things before which civilized science stood hesitant! “Very well.” He glanced at his companions, who nodded assent. They, too, had caught the message. “Esrun commands us to speak. I obey!’ “We have cleared the temple of the bodies of the barbarians who were destroyed by the sacred vapors. We have taken their weap- ons, such as remained. We have preserved the life of this white man who led them. According to your orders, we have brought him here unharmed. We await your orders.” He remained silent, gazing at the lake. --One would have said that the mysterious Esrun was now reduced to dire straits; the - temple priests and novices having perished, telepathic communication was established with bestial creatures such as these, in- capable of sending forth a thought! At this instant, however, was afforded an instance of the remarkable powers of that terrible being who dwelt in a cavern of the lake. One of the five men rose to his feet, while the others darted at him glances of surprize. ‘Very well,” he said. “TI obey.” He advanced to the group of horses, now cropping at the purplish-green grass, and unlashed the figure of the captive. Seizing the latter’s arm, he drew the helpless man from the saddle and left him sitting in the grass. He then rejoined his companions. After an instant the leader again turned to‘his four comrades. “Esrun commands us to return home. You have heard?” “We have heard,” was the mutter. The five rose. They gave a last curious look at the grass, at the saffron beds, at the water and the gloomy crags which rose from it. Theh they went to the horses. With grunts and savage exclamations’§ they hurled themselves into their saddles, lashed the unwilling brutes fiercely and rode rapidly away, delighted to be gone. With them Suddenly his face cleared. Adventure went the horse which the captive had ridden. ' The captive himself remained sitting in the grass. Before the five riders had gained the mouth of the long and tortuous defile which gave access to the outer world, they drew rein swiftly and bunched together. Leaving the defile and advancing to the lake had ap- peared a second group of horsemen—again five in number, a captive in the center of the group. This captive, unlike the first, was not shrouded; not, at first sight, did he appear to be bound. Upon closer view, however, it proved that from each hand, from each foot, and from about his neck, ran a cord which connected him to one of the five Mongols around him. Thus he was more securely bound than with chains, for, with one simul- taneous movement of their ponies, these five Mongols could disjoint his entire body. This man was Day, the American. Naked to the waist, sun-blackened, bearded, his torso showed plain evidences of privation, suffering, torture. Yet from his haggard features, his eyes gleamed out boldly as ever; and his enormous frame, instead of being depleted and weakened by his experi- ences, appeared to be hardened into the con-. sistency of iron. These five Mongols saluted the five who had brought the first captive. They be- longed to a different branch of the Darkan tribe, but they too were among the number of those who had exterminated Kilgore’s band at one stroke. Gases from the sub- terranean rifts at the eastern side of the lake, confined in hide bags and loosened down- wind, had wiped out the Sikhs to a man. Yet these barbarians of the white steppes were not the first to make use of such weapons. The Mongols among whom, Day rode did not pause to speak with their fellows, but pursued their course toward the lake. At sight of the other party their fears had van- ished altogether. They stared about them curiously, discussed thé half-dozen hobbled racing dromedaries who were grazing in the valley, became more at their ease. Once, when Day made an abrupt movement, the five made their horses suddenly jump away, his arms and legs extended horribly, his head jerked forward, Day uttered a groan. The five grinned and loosened the cords. He settled again in the saddle, motionless. Gomichbook (@)