Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 4, 1925 — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

306 Thus shouting, they threaded their wav through the palace corridors, hunting, ever hunting. Many a biack ant-man they slew, and many 2 familar spot they traversed, but not a sign did they find of Lilla or of her abdducters. The roval palace of Kuana is set upon the crest of Capitol Hill. in the midst of the group of monumental white buildings which comprise the iar-famed University of Cupia. Its ntain elevation locks to the southward across the plaza to the helds and stadium and hills bevond. Surrounding the univer- Sity group and the palace and the plaza, are the lesser buildings of Kuana, built in stucco in graceful lines, with high-pitched, red-tiled roofs, a style of architecture quite unlike that emploved by the ant-men, whose houses are square and chunky affairs, resembling exaggerated piles of tov build- ing blocks. Because the palace stands upen the sum- mit of a hill, the ground entrances lead into what are practically its ceilars; hence the interminable labyrinthine corridors which the earth-man and his supporters now threaded. Every turn, every door. every side hallway had to be approached with utmost caution, to avoid a surprise attack: and at each intersecting or forking ccrri- dor, the party divided, so as to defend their flanks. Thus the numbers with Cabot rapidly dwindled, and soon he found himself search- ing through the passageways alone. Now he had to proceed with even greater cau- tion. No Cupians did he meet, but time and again, after rounding some tum or mounting some stair, he found himself face to face with a Formian. Usually he was quicker on the draw, for the human hand has a craft unequalled by the claw of an insect, even though the insect may possess a superior brain. Only one Formian whom he encountered fired first, and that one missed, fortunately for Myles. Thus, step by step, the earth-man emereed from the subterranean depths of the palace cellars to the upper levels. He had just annihilated one more black antagonist, when he saw approaching him a Cupian in a toga which bore the insignia of the palace guards. Here indeed was a ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. victim greatly to his taste, for he had tired of killing ants, and longed to get his hands on some one closer to King Yuri. But just as he was about to fire the other spoke, ‘‘ Stop, Cabot! Do you not know Nan-nan of the Caves of Kar?” Cabot lowered his weapon in surprise. ‘What are you doing here? And in that garb!” he exclaimed. ‘tI scarcely recognize vou without your red-embroidered robe.” The young priest smiled. “Great are the ramifications of the lost religion,”’ said he. ‘ For instance, I might tell vou who it was that loosed your pet woofus in the arena this morning when you appealed unto the God of Minos. But, for the present, my duty is merely to lead you to the pmncess. Follow me.” And back he led Myles Cabot, down again into the depths from which the earth- man had so laboriously fought his way. Finally they halted, and the priest said, ‘“ There are reasons why I cannot lead you farther. But you can find the route from here to the princess without difficulty. First right, then left, then straight ahead. And may the Great Builder go with vou! I cannot, for I have other work to do.” And he passed Cabot and vanished down the Jong corridor. Taking a firm grip on his revolver, Myles strode around the first turn to the right, then around the first turn to the Icft, and then pressed on until he found the way blocked by a thick heavy curtain. This he flung to one side, and stepped boldly into the room beyond. The room beyond was circular, about one parastad in diameter. Its roof was vaulted and lit by a single large vapor lamp. A continuous stretch of crimson curtains lined the walls. At the opposite side of the room from that at which he had entered there Was a small raised platform. And on this platform stocd King Yuri, with Lilla held close in his arms. He was making ardent love to her, which she seemed too tired and beaten to resist. Yuri’s torn toga, and the deep scratches on one of his arms showed onlv too clearly the handiwork of the purple beast on the stands of the stadium. “Stop!” thundered Cabot, covering the king with his revolver. GIOok