CHAPTER XI
ESCAPE
Dian glanced downward and shuddered. Her tribe were hill people--they were
not accustomed to swimming other than in quiet rivers and placid lakelets. It
was not the steep that appalled her. It was the ocean--vast, mysterious,
terrible.
To dive into it from this great height was beyond her. I couldn't wonder,
either. To have attempted it myself seemed too preposterous even for thought.
Only one consideration could have prompted me to leap headforemost from that
giddy height--suicide; or at least so I thought at the moment.
"Quick!" I urged Dian. "You cannot dive; but I can hold them
until you reach safety."
"And you?" she asked once more. "Can you dive when they come
too close? Otherwise you could not escape if you waited here until I reached the
bottom."
I saw that she would not leave me unless she thought that I could make that
frightful dive as we had seen Juag make it. I glanced once downward; then with a
mental shrug I assured her that I would dive the moment that she reached the
boat. Satisfied, she began the descent carefully, yet swiftly. I watched her for
a moment, my heart in my mouth lest some slight misstep or the slipping of a
finger-hold should pitch her to a frightful death upon the rocks below.
Then I turned toward the advancing Hoojans-- "Hoosiers," Perry
dubbed them--even going so far as to christen this island where Hooja held sway
Indiana; it is so marked now upon our maps. They were coming on at a great rate.
I raised my revolver, took deliberate aim at the foremost warrior, and pulled
the trigger. With the bark of the gun the fellow lunged forward. His head
doubled beneath him. He rolled over and over two or three times before he came
to a stop, to lie very quietly in the thick grass among the brilliant wild
flowers.
Those behind him halted. One of them hurled a javelin toward me, but it fell
short--they were just beyond javelin-range. There were two armed with bows and
arrows; these I kept my eyes on. All of them appeared awe-struck and frightened
by the sound and effect of the firearm. They kept looking from the corpse to me
and jabbering among themselves.
I took advantage of the lull in hostilities to throw a quick glance over the
edge toward Dian. She was half-way down the cliff and progressing finely. Then I
turned back toward the enemy. One of the bowmen was fitting an arrow to his bow.
I raised my hand.
"Stop!" I cried. "Whoever shoots at me or advances toward me I
shall kill as I killed him!"
I pointed at the dead man. The fellow lowered his bow. Again there was
animated discussion. I could see that those who were not armed with bows were
urging something upon the two who were.
At last the majority appeared to prevail, for simultaneously the two archers
raised their weapons. At the same instant I fired at one of them, dropping him
in his tracks. The other, however, launched his missile, but the report of my
gun had given him such a start that the arrow flew wild above my head. A second
after and he, too, was sprawled upon the sward with a round hole between his
eyes. It had been a rather good shot.
I glanced over the edge again. Dian was almost at the bottom. I could see
Juag standing just beneath her with his hands upstretched to assist her.
A sullen roar from the warriors recalled my attention toward them. They stood
shaking their fists at me and yelling insults. From the direction of the village
I saw a single warrior coming to join them. He was a huge fellow, and when he
strode among them I could tell by his bearing and their deference toward him
that he was a chieftain. He listened to all they had to tell of the happenings
of the last few minutes; then with a command and a roar he started for me with
the whole pack at his heels. All they had needed had arrived-- namely, a brave
leader.
I had two unfired cartridges in the chambers of my gun. I let the big warrior
have one of them, thinking that his death would stop them all. But I guess they
were worked up to such a frenzy of rage by this time that nothing would have
stopped them. At any rate, they only yelled the louder as he fell and increased
their speed toward me. I dropped another with my remaining cartridge.
Then they were upon me--or almost. I thought of my promise to Dian--the awful
abyss was behind me --a big devil with a huge bludgeon in front of me. I grasped
my six-shooter by the barrel and hurled it squarely in his face with all my
strength.
Then, without waiting to learn the effect of my throw, I wheeled, ran the few
steps to the edge, and leaped as far out over that frightful chasm as I could. I
know something of diving, and all that I know I put into that dive, which I was
positive would be my last.
For a couple of hundred feet I fell in horizontal position. The momentum I
gained was terrific. I could feel the air almost as a solid body, so swiftly I
hurtled through it. Then my position gradually changed to the vertical, and with
hands outstretched I slipped through the air, cleaving it like a flying arrow.
Just before I struck the water a perfect shower of javelins fell all about. My
enemies bad rushed to the brink and hurled their weapons after me. By a miracle
I was untouched.
In the final instant I saw that I had cleared the rocks and was going to
strike the water fairly. Then I was in and plumbing the depths. I suppose I
didn't really go very far down, but it seemed to me that I should never stop.
When at last I dared curve my hands upward and divert my progress toward the sur-
face, I thought that I should explode for air before I ever saw the sun again
except through a swirl of water. But at last my bead popped above the waves, and
I filled my lungs with air.
Before me was the boat, from which Juag and Dian were clambering. I couldn't
understand why they were deserting it now, when we were about to set out for the
mainland in it; but when I reached its side I under- stood. Two heavy javelins,
missing Dian and Juag by but a hair's breadth, had sunk deep into the bottom of
the dugout in a straight line with the grain of the wood, and split her almost
in two from stem to stern. She was useless.
Juag was leaning over a near-by rock, his hand out- stretched to aid me in
clambering to his side; nor did I lose any time in availing myself of his
proffered assistance. An occasional javelin was still dropping perilously close
to us, so we hastened to draw as close as possible to the cliffside, where we
were comparatively safe from the missiles.
Here we held a brief conference, in which it was decided that our only hope
now lay in making for the opposite end of the island as quickly as we could, and
utilizing the boat that I had hidden there, to continue our journey to the
mainland.
Gathering up three of the least damaged javelins that had fallen about us, we
set out upon our journey, keeping well toward the south side of the island,
which Juag said was less frequented by the Hoojans than the central portion
where the river ran. I think that this ruse must have thrown our pursuers off
our track, since we saw nothing of them nor heard any sound of pursuit during
the greater portion of our march the length of the island.
But the way Juag had chosen was rough and round- about, so that we consumed
one or two more marches in covering the distance than if we had followed the
river. This it was which proved our undoing.
Those who sought us must have sent a party up the river immediately after we
escaped; for when we came at last onto the river-trail not far from our
destination, there can be no doubt but that we were seen by Hoojans who were
just ahead of us on the stream. The result was that as we were passing through a
clump of bush a score of warriors leaped out upon us, and before we could scarce
strike a blow in defense, had disarmed and bound us.
For a time thereafter I seemed to be entirely bereft of hope. I could see no
ray of promise in the future-- only immediate death for Juag and me, which
didn't concern me much in the face of what lay in store for Dian.
Poor child! What an awful life she had led! From the moment that I had first
seen her chained in the slave caravan of the Mahars until now, a prisoner of a
no less cruel creature, I could recall but a few brief intervals of peace and
quiet in her tempestuous existence. Before I had known her, Jubal the Ugly One
had pursued her across a savage world to make her his mate. She had eluded him,
and finally I had slain him; but terror and privations, and exposure to fierce
beasts had haunted her footsteps during all her lonely flight from him. And when
I had returned to the outer world the old trials had recommenced with Hooja in
Jubal's role. I could almost have wished for death to vouchsafe her that peace
which fate seemed to deny her in this life.
I spoke to her on the subject, suggesting that we expire together.
"Do not fear, David," she replied. "I shall end my life before
ever Hooja can harm me; but first I shall see that Hooja dies."
She drew from her breast a little leathern thong, to the end of which was
fastened a tiny pouch.
"What have you there?" I asked.
"Do you recall that time you stepped upon the thing you call viper in
your world?" she asked.
I nodded.
"The accident gave you the idea for the poisoned arrows with which we
fitted the warriors of the empire," she continued. "And, too, it gave
me an idea. For a long time I have carried a viper's fang in my bosom. It has
given me strength to endure many dangers, for it has always assured me immunity
from the ultimate insult. I am not ready to die yet. First let Hooja embrace the
viper's fang."
So we did not die together, and I am glad now that we did not. It is always a
foolish thing to con- template suicide; for no matter how dark the future may
appear today, tomorrow may hold for us that which will alter our whole life in
an instant, revealing to us nothing but sunshine and happiness. So, for my part,
I shall always wait for tomorrow.
In Pellucidar, where it is always today, the wait may not be so long, and so
it proved for us. As we were passing a lofty, flat-topped hill through a park-
like wood a perfect network of fiber ropes fell suddenly about our guard,
enmeshing them. A moment later a horde of our friends, the hairy gorilla-men,
with the mild eyes and long faces of sheep leaped among them.
It was a very interesting fight. I was sorry that my bonds prevented me from
taking part in it, but I urged on the brutemen with my voice, and cheered old
Gr-gr-gr, their chief, each time that his mighty jaws crunched out the life of a
Hoojan. When the battle was over we found that a few of our captors had escaped,
but the majority of them lay dead about us. The gorilla-men paid no further
attention to them. Gr-gr-gr turned to me.
"Gr-gr-gr and all his people are your friends," he said. "One
saw the warriors of the Sly One and followed them. He saw them capture you, and
then he flew to the village as fast as he could go and told me all that he had
seen. The rest you know. You did much for Gr-gr-gr and Gr-gr-gr's people. We
shall always do much for you."
I thanked him; and when I had told him of our escape and our destination, he
insisted on accompanying us to the sea with a great number of his fierce males.
Nor were we at all loath to accept his escort. We found the canoe where I had
hidden it, and bidding Gr-gr-gr and his warriors farewell, the three of us
embarked for the mainland.
I questioned Juag upon the feasibility of attempting to cross to the mouth of
the great river of which he had told me, and up which he said we might paddle
almost to Sari; but he urged me not to attempt it, since we had but a single
paddle and no water or food. I had to admit the wisdom of his advice, but the
desire to explore this great waterway was strong upon me, arousing in me at last
a determination to make the attempt after first gaining the mainland and
rectify- ing our deficiencies.
We landed several miles north of Thuria in a little cove that seemed to offer
protection from the heavier seas which sometimes run, even upon these usually
pacific oceans of Pellucidar. Here I outlined to Dian and Juag the plans I had
in mind. They were to fit the canoe with a small sail, the purposes of which I
had to explain to them both--since neither had ever seen or heard of such a
contrivance before. Then they were to hunt for food which we could transport
with us, and prepare a receptacle for water.
These two latter items were more in Juag's line, but he kept muttering about
the sail and the wind for a long time. I could see that he was not even half
convinced that any such ridiculous contraption could make a canoe move through
the water.
We hunted near the coast for a while, but were pot rewarded with any
particular luck. Finally we decided to hide the canoe and strike inland in
search of game. At Juag's suggestion we dug a hole in the sand at the upper edge
of the beach and buried the craft, smooth- ing the surface over nicely and
throwing aside the excess material we had excavated. Then we set out away from
the sea. Traveling in Thuria is less arduous than under the midday sun which
perpetually glares down on the rest of Pellucidar's surface; but it has its
draw- backs, one of which is the depressing influence exerted by the everlasting
shade of the Land of Awful Shadow.
The farther inland we went the darker it became, until we were moving at last
through an endless twilight. The vegetation here was sparse and of a weird,
colorless nature, though what did grow was wondrous in shape and form. Often we
saw huge lidi, or beasts of burden, striding across the dim landscape, browsing
upon the grotesque vegetation or drinking from the slow and sullen rivers that
run down from the Lidi Plains to empty into the sea in Thuria.
What we sought was either a thag--a sort of gigantic elk--or one of the
larger species of antelope, the flesh of either of which dries nicely in the
sun. The bladder of the thag would make a fine water-bottle, and its skin, I
figured, would be a good sail. We traveled a considerable distance inland,
entirely crossing the Land of Awful Shadow and emerging at last upon that
portion of the Lidi Plains which lies in the pleasant sunlight. Above us the
pendent world revolved upon its axis, filling me especially--and Dian to an
almost equal state --with wonder and insatiable curiosity as to what strange
forms of life existed among the hills and valleys and along the seas and rivers,
which we could plainly see.
Before us stretched the horizonless expanses of vast Pellucidar, the Lidi
Plains rolling up about us, while hanging high in the heavens to the northwest
of us I thought I discerned the many towers which marked the entrances to the
distant Mahar city, whose in- habitants preyed upon the Thurians.
Juag suggested that we travel to the northeast, where, he said, upon the
verge of the plain we would find a wooded country in which game should be
plentiful. Acting upon his advice, we came at last to a forest- jungle, through
which wound innumerable game-paths. In the depths of this forbidding wood we
came upon the fresh spoor of thag.
Shortly after, by careful stalking, we came within javelin-range of a small
herd. Selecting a great bull, Juag and I hurled our weapons simultaneously, Dian
reserving hers for an emergency. The beast staggered to his feet, bellowing. The
rest of the herd was up and away in an instant, only the wounded bull remaining,
with lowered head and roving eyes searching for the foe.
Then Juag exposed himself to the view of the bull-- it is a part of the
tactics of the hunt--while I stepped to one side behind a bush. The moment that
the savage beast saw Juag he charged him. Juag ran straight away, that the bull
might be lured past my hiding-place. On he came--tons of mighty bestial strength
and rage.
Dian had slipped behind me. She, too, could fight a thag should emergency
require. Ah, such a girl! A rightful empress of a stone age by every standard
which two worlds might bring to measure her!
Crashing down toward us came the bull thag, bellowing and snorting, with the
power of a hundred outer-earthly bulls. When he was opposite me I sprang for the
heavy mane that covered his huge neck. To tangle my fingers in it was the work
of but an instant. Then I was running along at the beast's shoulder.
Now, the theory upon which this hunting custom is based is one long ago
discovered by experience, and that is that a thag cannot be turned from his
charge once he has started toward the object of his wrath, so long as he can
still see the thing he charges. He evidently believes that the man clinging to
his mane is attempting to restrain him from overtaking his prey, and so he pays
no attention to this enemy, who, of course, does not retard the mighty charge in
the least.
Once in the gait of the plunging bull, it was but a slight matter to vault to
his back, as cavalrymen mount their chargers upon the run. Juag was still
running in plain sight ahead of the bull. His speed was but a trifle less than
that of the monster that pursued him. These Pellucidarians are almost as fleet
as deer; because I am not is one reason that I am always chosen for the close-in
work of the thag-hunt. I could not keep in front of a charging thag long enough
to give the killer time to do his work. I learned that the first-- and
last--time I tried it.
Once astride the bull's neck, I drew my long stone knife and, setting the
point carefully over the brute's spine, drove it home with both hands. At the
same instant I leaped clear of the stumbling animal. Now, no vertebrate can
progress far with a knife through his spine, and the thag is no exception to the
rule.
The fellow was down instantly. As he wallowed Juag returned, and the two of
us leaped in when an opening afforded the opportunity and snatched our javelins
from his side. Then we danced about him, more like two savages than anything
else, until we got the opening we were looking for, when simultaneously, our
javelins pierced his wild heart, stilling it forever.
The thag had covered considerable ground from the point at which I had leaped
upon him. When, after dispatching him, I looked back for Dian, I could see
nothing of her. I called aloud, but receiving no reply, set out at a brisk trot
to where I had left her. I had no difficulty in finding the self-same bush
behind which we had hidden, but Dian was not there. Again and again I called, to
be rewarded only by silence. Where could she be? What could have become of her
in the brief interval since I had seen her standing just behind me?
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