The planet of peril
"But the girls," asked Grandon, "where are they? And where is Tholto?"
His question was partly answered by the sudden appearance of Rotha from
the entrance of a near-by cave. With a smothered cry of thanksgiving
she flung herself into the strong arms of Oro, who swung her off her
feet in his exuberance of joy.
"Where is Vernia?" Grandon asked her. "Tell me quickly--is she safe?"
Rotha hesitated as if fearful that he would strike her for her answer.
"She is in that cave--with Tholto."
The cave she indicated was a short distance from the one she had just
vacated. Grandon swung his spiked club free and, snatching a blazing
brand from the fire, entered, followed by Oro and several others.
A solitary figure sat, cross-legged in the middle of the floor. It was
Tholto. He waited their coming with bowed head.
"What have you done with her, false friend?" demanded Grandon.
Tholto removed his helmet and cast it to the floor.
"Kill me, Grandon of Terra," he said sadly, in a tone totally unlike
that of Tholto the braggart. "I bare my head to a just executioner. I am
not fit to live."
"Answer my question, accursed slave. Where is our Torrogina?"
"I do not know. I left her here for a short time while I went for a
drink or two of wine. When I returned she was gone. My head was reeling
from the drink when I entered. Many years have passed since I tasted
liquor and I overestimated my capacity. I sank to the floor and dreamed
a horrible dream in which I saw her torn to pieces by a huge animal.
She is dead--dead, and I am the cause."
"The fool is drunk," said Oro. "Pay no attention to his ravings. She is
probably concealed somewhere near by."
After binding Tholto and setting a man to guard him, they searched
the cave, calling loudly to Vernia, but there was no reply. Rotha was
positive that she had not left the cave previous to Tholto's entrance,
as the mouth was only a few steps from the place where she had served
drinks to the men, and she could not have missed seeing her.
Grandon's attention was attracted by a yawning hole about three feet
in diameter, which had previously escaped his observation, as it was
partly concealed by a section of jutting rock. He substituted a torch
for the nearly consumed fire brand and entered on hands and knees
followed by Oro. The opening grew larger as they progressed, until they
could stand erect.
Presently they emerged in the open air. They were in a fern forest, not
more than a hundred feet from the camp, having come completely through
the hill that screened it from the coast.
Oro stooped and, with a muttered exclamation, picked up some strips
which had been torn from a sack and knotted together.
"She came this way," he said, excitedly, "for here are the strips with
which Tholto bound her."
His words were followed by a cry of horror from Grandon which brought
Oro to his side.
"The dream of Tholto," he said, brokenly. "It is a reality. Look!"
On the ground before them was a pool of freshly congealed blood. Beside
it lay a small Albine gauntlet--the gauntlet of Vernia!
* * * * *
As Grandon sorrowfully retraced his steps followed by the horrified
Oro, he pressed the little Albine gauntlet to his lips and a great lump
rose in his throat. Vernia dead! It was unbelievable, yet he had seen
the evidence with his own eyes. He passed through the cave with the
feeling of one walking in a dream, trying to persuade himself that it
was all a fearful nightmare from which he should presently awaken.
With a dazed feeling of unreality he sat down before the fire, obsessed
by horrid visions of a slender young body, mangled and bleeding in the
cruel jaws of some jungle beast. All night long he sat there, staring
at the licking flames, unmindful of what went on around him.
Tholto and his stupefied companions, disarmed and bound by Grandon's
men, lay in a long row under the watchful eyes of four guards. The
others slept, with the exception of Oro, who sat across the fire
with Rotha, replenishing it from time to time. The two conversed in
awed whispers, speculating on the possible fate of the culprits and
wondering what their young commander would do or whither he would lead
them since Vernia was dead.
The dawn found Grandon gazing at a heap of smoking embers. His four
weary guards wakened their slumbering companions and lay down for a
well-earned rest. The stupefied drinkers slept on, oblivious of the
sounds that went on about them, as the awakened men prepared the simple
breakfast of hot roots and stewed mushrooms.
Marsh-men are expert fishermen, and four of them rigged some crude
but efficient tackle by tearing up several food sacks for line, using
thorns for hooks and stones for sinkers. They fished along the shore
only a few yards from the camp and soon had caught more than the entire
company could possibly eat. The fish were boiled in the same manner
as the roots and mushrooms, and made a most pleasing addition to the
morning meal.
When all was ready, Oro fearfully approached his young commander with
a shell of steaming roots, another of mushrooms, and a toothsome fish.
Mechanically, Grandon took the food and tried to eat, but it seemed
that every morsel choked him. He rose unsteadily to his feet, as his
legs were cramped and numb.
As he made his way among the men, some of them cringed as if afraid he
might vent his wrath and disappointment on them. They could not fully
understand the working of a mind which, being furious, discriminated as
to who should suffer. Among their own people an enraged chief was a man
to be shunned, for he would be likely to attack the person nearest him.
Grandon walked straight to where Tholto lay, bound and helpless. He
called two of the men.
"Remove his armor," he said curtly.
The command was obeyed with celerity, while the soldiers crowded around
to see how the culprit was to be punished. All were positive that he
would be tortured to death, as would have been the case had he deserted
a commander among his own people or stolen the affianced of a chief.
"He is going to broil him alive," whispered one.
"No. He will hang him by his great toes head downward and stick him
full of thorns," said another. "It is much more slow and painful, and
he richly deserves it."
When his armor was removed the prisoner stood silently, almost
impassively, waiting his death sentence.
"I should kill you, Tholto," said Grandon, "yet I cannot bring myself
to slay a helpless prisoner. You have proved yourself a man without
a sense of honor or gratitude. As such, you are not fit to wear the
armor or bear the weapons of a soldier of Granterra. I found you a
naked, primitive savage, and return you thus to your native jungle. You
will have a fighting chance for life. It is a slender one, but must be
preferable to immediate death from your point of view. Go!"
Tholto, no less amazed than those about him at this unexpected
reprieve, climbed the rugged hillside and disappeared over the brow.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, most of the sleeping deserters had awakened. They looked
about them in astonishment, and several tried unsuccessfully to rise,
but the bonds held them.
"Are we to let them go, also?" asked Oro.
"Cut their bonds," said Grandon, "And see that all are thoroughly
awakened."
The men were forthwith released, and the more drowsy were shaken until
completely awake, after which they all stood before him, the deserters
unarmed, surrounded by the others.
"I extend complete amnesty to you who forsook your country in its
hour of need, foolishly following the leadership of Tholto, on one
condition. That is, that you promise to return at once to Granterra,
tell Joto all that has happened, and enlist your services with those
who are fighting for the supremacy of man in the valley of the sabits.
Do you promise?"
To a man they assented eagerly.
"Give them their weapons and provisions," ordered Grandon. "Let them
begin their journey now."
The craft was quickly loaded and pushed out to sea. When it had
departed Grandon called his men around him once more.
"The quest that we began with some scant hope of success has ended in
complete failure," he said sadly. "Last night when I learned of the
death of our beloved princess I was ready and willing to die. I wanted
to end my existence, as it has grown empty and unattractive for me. One
thought alone restrained me. I have a duty to perform. Far to the north
of us live a people who have been enslaved and driven from their homes
without just cause. They made me prince of their country, which they
call Uxpo, and I fought in their behalf until Providence intervened
and carried me away through a series of strange adventures. I cannot
command you to accompany me on the journey I will begin to-day. Neither
will I entreat you. If there be those among you who love adventure for
its own sake, I extend the invitation to come with me and share the
fortunes, or mayhap, the misfortunes of war. I make no promises, nor
do I offer any rewards, though if Uxpo should win to freedom those who
assisted in her deliverance will not go unremembered."
Oro was the first to speak.
"Where Grandon of Terra leads, Oro follows," he said warmly.
"He fought for the freedom of our country," said another. "It is only
fair that we should fight for his. I am at your service, Grandon of
Terra."
"And I--and I---" shouted the others in a chorus. "Lead us to Uxpo."
"Load the boat and make ready to push off," said Grandon. "We will
start at once. Some three or four days journey from here a great river
empties into the Azpok. By following it we will come to Uxpo."
The boat was soon loaded and ready. They pushed off, and with Oro at
the helm, began their coastwise cruise in search of the mouth of that
mighty stream on whose waters they hoped to travel to the captive
kingdom of their adored young commander.
CHAPTER XXV.
IN THE POWER OF DESTHO.
Prince Destho, now provisional emperor of Reabon, moved his slender,
leonine form to a more comfortable position on the scarlet cushions of
his throne and turned his pleasure-bloated countenance in the direction
of Zueppa, his scheming commander, as he smiled a twisted, doubting
smile.
"Do you expect me to believe such a wild tale as this, knave?" he
growled. "Authentic reports had it that she and her four guards were
devoured by a reptile nearly a year ago. You must have drunk overmuch
and befuddled your vision. You have taken some homely marsh-woman for
the beautiful princess."
"I swear by the sacred bones of Thorth that it is she and none other.
Having seen her daily at the Imperial Court of Reabon, how could I
forget her? And is it possible that, in all Zarovia, there could be
another with beauty such as hers?"
"Granted that the woman you found resembles the Princess of Reabon, how
could it be possible that if lost in the mountains of Uxpo she would
be discovered wandering on the edge of the great salt marsh along the
Azpok Ocean?"
"I can only recount the facts, your majesty, and let your own eyes bear
me witness when you see her. We were just preparing for our evening
meal when this girl suddenly appeared from the mouth of a near-by cave.
At sight of the men and torches she turned and attempted to escape, but
tripped over a creeper and two of our men caught her before she could
rise. As she was clad from head to foot in shining brown armor, I at
first took her for a youth, but upon removing her helmet, discovered
her identity, while concealing my own. After ordering the captain to
bring her here unharmed, I hurried ahead to apprise your majesty of the
good news."
"Do any of the men know who she is?"