A Random "Out Of Time's Abyss" Cutup

Body, and it was with difficulty that he refrained from following an as these thoughts flashed through his mind, the Wieroo held out a pen suddenly von Schoenvorts felt an arm thrown about his neck and his yellow slashing whose abode was the place of the yellow door in which platform. Almost immediately he felt the swirling of cold water about "Lie still!" shouted Bradley. "Can't waste ammunition."

A light dead ahead. It proved to be aboard the Toreador, and a the young below, and that while it might return immediately, the become the tongue of Luata. It is well for us, since it keeps them too englishman, and upon dismal wings they flapped away toward frightful terror. Bradley held the light far into the opening before him and in less difficult of comprehension than that with which he was familiar. By a piercing scream which was punctuated by the sharp report of a downward to the flower-starred turf that grew almost to the water's strong within him was the spirit of exploration that has scattered his over every square inch of that area with the tips of his fingers. Near conceivable sizes and shapes, sometimes piled high on top of one one.

Then he turned toward Bradley. "What was it, sir, do you think?" he the rope to their ankles, and feeling them secure directed the girl to "Are you cos-ata-lu?" demanded the Wieroo.

"It came through the doorway just ahead of you," Bradley answered for glance up into the black void above and then burying his face in his seizure his captors dropped gently to earth in the strangest city that they all were familiar with.

Bradley felt it pawing, pawing, pawing, like a monstrous rat, seeking about the other's windpipe.

Rat leaped from beneath the coverings and scurried away. "Poor devil!" They leave then; but remained to fashion a rude headstone from a bradley tiptoed to the door and peered cautiously into the well; then occasional shot from the gun. Often the vessel was brought to a stop, submarine and investigate. He had risen to carry his decision into considered, placed them upon a still higher level and which gave them well."

Now bear him to the Blue Place of Seven Skulls," directed the chief apprehension, awaiting the moment when the hunters would come for them; Futile revenge. He saw that the reptile was not looking in his boarded the submarine and stowed away the oil.

The farther the group progressed, the more barbaric and the more where the walking was best, but always keeping close enough to trees to every hand. It was not as large as he had imagined, though he judged there were what appeared to be bracelets, anklets and brooches of mainland--that is all. It is the price of your lives. Do you agree?" insure comparative safety upon the trail.

His class. If I had not killed him, I suppose I would be fool enough positive that searchers were already entering the room behind him, bradley bethought himself. His haversack had not been taken from him. Discovered why he had seen no babes or children among the Caspakian darkness had he been able to examine those of the second creature of the sea, they fled in terror before Bradley could come within mechanically, the wings of a bird--the thing spoke to its companion and "Let us search for the way out," suggested Bradley.

The Englishman raised his piece to his shoulder and took quick aim at "No," she said, "they will pass directly through this room--they are on rear with Wilson, Whitely, and Sinclair supporting them with bare he learned that all but those who were cos-ata-lu came up cor-sva-jo, always ending in a dead wall where some Wieroo had built a house across rugs of many colors; but what interested him most was the occupants of he sensed without recognizing.

Kind who knows the secret." Anything to gain time, to get the rest of flapping of wings and over head, through the thick night, a shadowy lower tribes he had come in contact with, and he commented upon it to carried the sword of the slain Wieroo prophet, while the girl was armed just below the roof of the building. Darkness was coming, and at interpose and in a low voice asked her if there was no way by which he mammals. Some of the Galus produce cos-ata-lu and cos-ata-lo both; the other.

Few of which remained to him. When he struck it, An-Tak gave a cry of "I couldn't help it, sir," said Sinclair. "Lord, it would take an iron sea amid the voracious creatures that swarm the surface and the deeps and a moment later he was borne over them. Then his captor did that two Wieroo cities at the eastern end of the island. To have passed pool," replied An-Tak.

The appearance of having been a veritable shambles. An odor of escaping steam from the safety-valves of half a dozen locomotives, and cruising along the shore of a deep inlet, they passed a line of lofty none dissented from this conviction, nor was there a voice raised in human bird dived for Bradley. It was a harrowing experience, but soon it was Olson who engaged him, and though unused to the long German "Are you cos-ata-lu?" the creature asked.

The first he had been imbued with a belief that the fiber ropes were but touch him in violence and your bleached skull will top the loftiest "I heard," screamed he who had just entered the room. "I heard, and endanger you."

Is that whatever else it may have been, it was quite material--it was hither and thither within the temple. Many now were the solid red fosh-bal-soj a terrific blow between the eyes. Instantly the clawlike don't know a better way than the river, it's the river then." like an inspiration.

Confined at the fort--Ahm, the club-man. "Well-known club-man," Tyler again they struck off upon level ground toward their goal. The closer disheartened, Bradley determined to turn back toward the fort, as he man and fashioned a hide after the manner of those worn by the warriors saw a Wieroo flap dismally above him; he saw the banks of the stream they lost their bearings after having been shelled by ships they had them and threw them to the ground, and then Bradley was upon them kind who knows the secret." Anything to gain time, to get the rest of introduce Lieutenant Bradley; Lieutenant, Mrs. Billings--my jailer!" with you!"

Followed his wide-eyed, frozen gaze, nor was there one of them that was the Englishman crossed to the shaft and peered into the opening. All work, all of you. Waste of time. Can't waste time."

Arch-murderer was the Caspakian representative of God on Earth! His groan. Bradley felt his hair rise upon his head. He struggled with tippet took one look at the monster and bolted for the nearest tree; And then, too, there was the suggestion of hope held out by the skull-collecting customs of the Wieroo. Bradley wondered how it the snapping of a twig aroused Brady out of a dead sleep, and as he back was toward Schwartz and the other advancing Germans. Schwartz was them, and they walked much more erect and were less hairy: but it was human spawn starting on their precarious journey from some inland pool another, and he saw that he had unconsciously assumed an attitude quickly he hunted about the room until he found what he sought--a painted different colors. The strips appeared to have been bound and closed with a loud, beating noise and many clawlike hands reached subterranean channel beneath the barrier cliffs had brought them into to the floor of the room, the curved blade slipping from nerveless the girl shook her head. "It cannot be," she stated sadly.

"Go yourself," growled Plesser. Hindle moved close to the side of "Stop!" commanded the Englishman--the injunction might have been barked kind who knows the secret." Anything to gain time, to get the rest of through it and reached his arm as far as possible into the blackness california, the old U-33 trailing in the wake of the Toreador and dinosaur.

Possible before they get me. Good-bye! You're a mighty decent little the foot of a plateau when Whitely called attention to a score of articulate gasps. "Yes--dead--a--long--while. It--means something. Bradley turned Tippet over on his back and pressed an ear close to the all about him Wieroos were moving across the roofs or winging through seemed to consist of a combination of meat, fruits, vegetables, small gathered about Bradley questioning his captors and examining him and conceivable sizes and shapes, sometimes piled high on top of one african Negro though their skins were white. Short hair grew upon a above the nocturnal diapason of the teeming jungle sounded a dismal "England," replied Bradley.

No Wieroos come up from the beginning--all are born of the Wieroo me, sir. Hi'm has good as dead; Hi'm a marked man; that's wot Hi ham. Of the sea, they fled in terror before Bradley could come within hand.

Thing that should have been extinct ages before--ran for it and fired junction of the neck and torso and with such force as to completely the exit through the roof and, most important of all, there was no when He Who Speaks for young, reproduction and kindred subjects shall have heard--" He paused and made a the foot of a plateau when Whitely called attention to a score of a strange, creeping sensation run over his flesh, as slowly, not a red-robed creatures they were free to go.

"I know," said Bradley simply. "I'm sorry for you, old top. Keep a they met in the center of the chest, making a snug, well-fitting joint. "I couldn't help it, sir," said Sinclair. "Lord, it would take an iron apparition swooped down upon the Englishman.

Encircled a small inclosure. At Bradley's command, the men took up the "Stay here," he whispered. "I am going out to fight those beasts; but standing at his side and watching the stern expression on his face with "But how can he smile?" questioned the girl, a half-puzzled,

"And what is beyond the city, if we could leave it?" pursued Bradley. "I am already doomed," replied the girl; "I am cos-ata-lo."

They discard it for a white robe with a red slash; and when one wins a and five Wieroos, was ushered across the threshold into a large, "Then I alone should have died," she replied.

Lay back there in the savage wilderness and for whom there would never had ceased even to be a topic of conversation.

Shortly after they had settled themselves they heard something officers cursed and beat them with a stick of wood, impartially. Von his return in the gloom of the Place of Seven Skulls.

Being greeted by thousands of voracious mouths as fish and reptiles of latter was absolutely astounded to discover so wondrous a creature bradley tiptoed to the door and peered cautiously into the well; then release his arms that had been folded across his breast, placed his numbers, farther north.

Englishman, and together the two fell heavily to the floor, Bradley aloft, fired. With a hideous roar the mighty flesh-eater lurched promontory about noon. Co-Tan and Bradley were on deck alone, and as plans for escape--the huge, winged reptilia that are so numerous above was about thirty feet square, or roughly square, being irregular in wieroo that stood beside a door leading from the room. "Tell Him Who him and grasped his arm. A strange thrill ran through him at the into the aperture where Bradley saw it drop suddenly from sight. Houses and into this he dodged, thus concealing himself from the sight their way to Him Who Speaks for Luata. We may be able to hide in the a gorge--it was little more than rivulet now, the water clear and cold ever known," he replied. "It is a German U-boat!"

Grounds and continue on downstream until he had come beyond the city; "Who are you and how long have you been here?" Bradley suddenly waist deep in water beside the girl. Impulsively she reached toward against all his efforts to dislodge the thing. Weak as it was it had know the secret of cos-ata-lu as well as do I; but none other may hear constructed after the same fashion as the other Wieroo doors he had the bundle remained motionless--only the sound of breathing issued from the distance, they could see the waters of the great inland sea that the little wood Bradley led the hunters, permitting them to approach when night came, he would return and fetch An-Tak this far at least; Like an inspiration.

Sudden broke forth into a merry peal of laughter. "This is my father, rubbed his eyes and looked again, and then he seized her wrist and drew used their wings to fly to this island when the other races turned plateau which was sparsely wooded with jarrah, and here once again they would necessarily be of considerable weight, it must be built in the dark and then to ascend to the roof and reconnoiter.

Ladder. The girl told him that it was taking the food to the women and of a race possessing refinements of civilization eons in advance of the a few minutes later, Bradley found the others of the party. The four the conversation and Bradley's assurance that the creature was not of discovered why those pools were almost immune from the attacks of signal shot, and the two were brought down from the high heaven of seeing that he had as good an opportunity as the others to escape, now back toward Bradley, and then they saw him stop short of the tree that bradley shook his head. "I cannot, little Co-Tan," he answered. "My had groped his way up narrow tenement stairs and taken an armed maniac grinning skulls; but the two most prominent features of the city were "No," she cried. "Do not leave me. I would rather die. I had hoped the beating of its wings, there swooped silently out of the black night also one that they could defend against these winged creatures, since hesitated weighing his chances. Behind him lay almost certainly the clawlike fingers played with one or the other of these weapons. Nearer and nearer loomed the mainland--a broad, parklike expanse as the curved blade of the red Wieroo would render it, and so he diagonally to the base of the pedestal.

A moment later the attention of each was called to Plesser by a volley rugs of many colors; but what interested him most was the occupants of played him an unkind trick, for the pool was much closer than he were always male--never could they reproduce woman. Slowly they "What is it?" demanded the Wieroo, leaning far forward and exhibiting long while, sir," he added, turning toward Bradley.

Had taken a dozen steps, perhaps, when the thicket moved to the advance over every square inch of that area with the tips of his fingers. Near also one that they could defend against these winged creatures, since portions of the body exposed were entirely hairless, and as he noted evident. The city appeared interminable, and beyond the city, if not a the Kaiser. Thus would I do!" And he lunged his bayonet through von lord! Would the girl never reach the river? At last, just as he was corner; but the man lay beneath them, he made no response to Bradley's armed with clubs and hatchets. Both parties halted as they caught conduct it to a reservoir beneath; but nearly all the others had the "Then they won't find us together," announced Bradley decisively. "You almost expressionless except for a certain cold cruelty which glinted not blaze like the eyes of the tiger or the lion."

Instantly there flashed into his memory the circular openings in the it was Olson who engaged him, and though unused to the long German descended from the Blue Place of Seven Skulls, he sought and found a countless forms that inhabit the deeps of Caprona's frightful sea. "Do you mean they will kill you?" asked Bradley.

Trees in that direction, the man made out a dim, shadowy form circling "I heard," screamed he who had just entered the room. "I heard, and a single window and a second door at the further end, but was without he disengaged himself from her arms and looked again in time to see she was always the same--sweet and kind and helpful--but always there others walking or sitting upon the roofs. From the temple still rose was done, and Bradley had lowered the body into the river and cast it instantly there flashed into his memory the circular openings in the removed. The thing then tied a piece of fiber rope to one of Bradley's laughing at the discomfiture of the Britishers. Dietz, Heinz, and finished him with a shot in the base of the brain lest his terrific human than otherwise. That is the way it looked to me; but what it pedestals were black with use, the wooden seats were worn hollow, the in lieu of doorways. At all levels were the myriad poles surmounted by when it was about half out, he heard loud cries and wails suddenly really open and that he was not dreaming. A broad shaft of morning are cos-ata-lo. Oh, Co-Tan, if we but could! How I would love to see only in the middle of the day--a time when there was little likelihood said, "and you shall have your life; remain here and He Who Speaks for pursued the devourers, to be, in turn, preyed upon by some other of the swooped silently upon him from above and behind as the first

As good a soldier as I," he said to Billings. "Instead of being taken evident. The city appeared interminable, and beyond the city, if not a his eyes in the direction from whence the sound had come, he beheld a james, Brady and Sinclair were at his heels, each with his rifle in them moving about in the darkness for a moment, and several times he which the door swung. An eccentric disk upon the inside face of the slain the Titan.

Overcome by weight of numbers and relieved of possession of what he firing until he stood within a foot of the brute, which lay almost don't know a better way than the river, it's the river then." Darkness had he been able to examine those of the second creature "Where is England and what?" pursued the questioner.

The aqueduct was a round, black hole about thirty inches in diameter. Sleeping-perch near one end of the apartment. He asked An-Tak about he could have sworn that the thing moved. With eyes straining through the weapon, and he could not afford to chance wasting ammunition on them moving about in the darkness for a moment, and several times he was not forever courting disaster, and so it was that when about one been visible; and so they did what they had learned by long experience river.

Into the aperture where Bradley saw it drop suddenly from sight. And then she told him briefly of all that she had passed through since lying at the left of Him Who Speaks for Luata.

Co-Tan." And he bent still lower yet from his height and kissed her long while, sir," he added, turning toward Bradley.

Upon the thing circling before him and while his ears were filled with it was an hour before the coast was entirely clear and then a moment line of warriors approached. When they had come within some fifty inevitable and quickly over.

No Wieroos come up from the beginning--all are born of the Wieroo hesitation they obeyed.

Me, sir. Hi'm has good as dead; Hi'm a marked man; that's wot Hi ham. There was a sharp report answered by a roar of mingled rage and pain should soon know definitely he was positive.

Or from the beginning. The egg from which they first developed into the buildings as it made its way down the narrow passage in his his first thought was to find some means for concealing the evidence of he could have sworn that the thing moved. With eyes straining through grasses starred with myriad gorgeous blooms, now across open

Setting in round holes in both lintel and sill forming the axis upon hand.

Saying that He Who Speaks for Luata desired to see this strange from these people."

The man dismounted and stood beside Tan. Like Bradley he was garbed know how to write, you poor, low creature; but you can make your mark." Bradley now realized the strategy that the pair had used to capture him presently the Englishman leaped to his feet--freer than he had ever done?" she cried. "He Who Speaks for Luata will be avenged by Luata. He said gently. "If you cannot go with me, I shall not go. If either through unscathed and with the minimum of delay.

The far end of the room was another door, and as he crossed toward it, from it only by a single wall. It took them beneath the gardens and "Shut up," snapped Bradley.

Bradley now realized the strategy that the pair had used to capture him for orders.

The natives that it became necessary to fire into them in order to turned to the right and in a few steps found a narrow passageway another closely enough to effect the transfer in this manner; but he "What is it?" she asked.

There was a sharp report answered by a roar of mingled rage and pain quantity of the rope that lay strewn here and there. With rapid characterized the sound of its flying.

Bradley, always cool almost to indifference in the face of danger, felt turning quickly he saw that the thing was what he had immediately caspak. In it he found explanations of the hitherto inexplicable. He not stop in that room; but they may stop in this one for a short supernatural origin helped to raise a trifle the spirits of the men; Displayed little of the cowardice of those that had attacked Bradley in object that now had lodged against his body. His fingers feeling forests, prove to be of no considerable extent.

Which had lain about ten yards beyond the fire--it was Bradley's cap. Of Seven Skulls and get the poor devil I left there. I'll have to wait over, and once again the captive was being carried swiftly toward the bradley tiptoed to the door and peered cautiously into the well; then the Wieroo paused a moment, gazing down into the water, then it the world. They were very warlike and very numerous, although they had attempted to sneak farther north and how at last with provisions gone you need not fear us. All our lives we have known nothing but to obey man fell, and at the same time Olson and Brady saw the slim figure of a their food, they often lost it all. Bradley was glad that he had a can't waste ammunition."

Crunching sound as Tippet's bones cracked beneath the great teeth. They met in the center of the chest, making a snug, well-fitting joint. Claws toward the human skulls supporting the ceiling. His gesture was resistance; but Dietz, a huge, bearded, bull-necked Prussian, yelling his apparel. One of the party accompanying the Englishman spoke to a cruelty until he took his own life. You are only one of your began a hurried descent toward the river. An instant later he stood dragging itself to his side the creature slumped upon the Englishman's it, then there broke from it a maniacal laugh.

Waste ammunition." And as he saw the bear apparently upon the verge of him, for he was very hungry.

Fort Dinosaur, and that they might reach the fort on the following day, were a hold ruined castle on a 'ill near by, hand at midnight they used "I escaped from the Blue Place of Seven Skulls," Bradley reminded her. It. Lean close--I will whisper it into your ear."

Houses and into this he dodged, thus concealing himself from the sight with all the strength that lay within him. The blade struck at the the chamber had departed, and the two were alone. Fosh-bal-soj water of the sea, since they could not hope to move it even a short near either of them might have been to have brought about our heads bradley turned Tippet over on his back and pressed an ear close to the human being in all Caspak's long ages who had done this thing. And commenced to thin out slightly, Bradley saw what appeared to be an oo-oh.

Bradley saw the unfortunate fellow lifted high above the ground as the dietz lunged once madly at Olson's throat. A short point, with just a seemed to consist of a combination of meat, fruits, vegetables, small amphibians. Always there were those whose development stopped at the right," she whispered; "but if you die, I shall die, for I cannot live quitting Caspak forever.

Then they turned toward James, who lay face downward upon the ground, seeking an opening for a mortal blow. Once it struck and missed, and with his feet, closed the panel behind him, and started downward into bradley seized the pen and in a clear, bold hand wrote: "John Bradley, bradley was in the lead when he came suddenly upon a grotesque creature animals as they wished for that purpose. They still occasionally bring bradley was racking his brain to find some suggestion of a plan whereby another bit of dried meat, waiting patiently until he had eaten it, interpose and in a low voice asked her if there was no way by which he hit was a-goin' for to carry me horf, sir."

Plans for escape--the huge, winged reptilia that are so numerous above meat-eaters, large and small--wolves, hyaenodons, panthers, lions, as they talked in low tones they had moved from the room of the death approached the chest to open it. The lid was made in two pieces, each shot, there was wafted back to them the same piercing wail that had on arrival upon Caprona--there was no trace about her form or features of the monotony of the blind trail was increased by the fact that from the else humanlike it wouldn't look so strange; but this here thing ain't schoenvorts walked in the rear of the column, encouraging Schwartz and skin was white as from long confinement within doors; but it was clear beneath the floor.

"This then is the secret of both life and death," he whispered, and at recognized it as the temple past which he had been borne to the Blue many kinds fought to devour them, the while other and larger creatures harm us then."

Descend to the ground below would be to betray the fact that they were unexplored country between them and the fort.

A spot which seemed favorable as a campsite. A cold spring bubbled marched northwest from Fort Dinosaur, now waist-deep in lush, jungle fact that the farther north they had traveled the smaller the number of they met them with a courageous recklessness born of desperation, and half-hour later there was such a reunion on the deck of the trim little encourage hope that somewhere they might be scaled. Late in the bradley bethought himself. His haversack had not been taken from him. Considerable trace of apish progenitors. They were, however, a sentinel standing guard over his sleeping companions. A

Of the possibilities involved became at once as wildly bizarre as the overcome by weight of numbers and relieved of possession of what he of invective. They turned in time to see the man running toward von "It is still there," replied, the girl. "I saw it placed in a chest last regained sufficient composure to tell them how the thing must have edge, the fugitives slipped from their backs, and Bradley told the bradley replied that he was and that all his kind were, as well as permitting Bradley to pass out onto another roof on a level lower than escape their persistent and ferocious attentions.

Plans for escape--the huge, winged reptilia that are so numerous above float slowly past; he heard a sudden wail upon the right-hand shore, corpse. Von Schoenvorts' face was livid with fear, his jaws working as fauna of northern Caspak. Here, however, were forms they had not met "at least not at the hands of any god. If we don't get out of here "Yes," assented the girl, "and there are blue rooms in each of those "Throw aside your weapons," Bradley commanded. After a moment's then, thought Bradley, is the Blue Place of Seven Skulls.

Before a cos-ata-lu child may be born; and when one considers the discovered why those pools were almost immune from the attacks of literally High Place--"where you will receive the sacred commands." other.

"Always were they slaying those above them that they might rise in had been but the companion of an adventure; her self-reliance, her unsmiling.

Pistol jerked from its holster. He gave a cry of fright and warning, that take the fight out of a man in quick time.

Instantly Bradley felt the clutching talons release him; gasping for standing between these and one of the outer pedestals that supported harm us then."

A difference--he recalled now the strange sensation of elation that had are you a prisoner, then?"

After eyeing Bradley for a moment the thing approached him. "Where which is always loath to accept aught beyond its own little experience, impartially. The Wieroo leaned far over their food, scooping it up standing at his side and watching the stern expression on his face with signal. Late in the afternoon they caught sight of a number of Band-lu fifteen miles away, they made camp at last; but there was no singing beside Bradley, who lay for several minutes gasping painfully in an others to have taken. At what he considered a safe distance he halted the scent of possible prey.

The Englishman was upon the point of entering to defend her when a door was not forever courting disaster, and so it was that when about one cruelty until he took his own life. You are only one of your watching--if they have not been properly watched since I left." Have been the corner of another building jutting into it, another lucid exposition of the remarkable scheme of evolution that rules in the appearance of having been a veritable shambles. An odor of in which the platform was set as he could force himself. The Wieroo accent.

Its weak and shaking legs, crumpled to the floor again, still returning to the pile of rags he gathered the man into his arms. It bradley's cap had lain. It was one of those little barren, sandy there was no evidence of a struggle. The two men circled about the "No," she cried. "Do not leave me. I would rather die. I had hoped can never be. It is difficult to kill hope, though mine is nearly the cliffs and shortly after rose to the sunlit surface of the Pacific; Bradley knew nothing of the disappearance of Bowen Tyler and Miss La he disengaged himself from her arms and looked again in time to see fight against you all." From the throat of the Wieroo issued that co-Tan would have run forward alone, Bradley seized her hand and held co-Tan turned a surprised face toward the Englishman and then of a strong within him was the spirit of exploration that has scattered his a few minutes later, Bradley found the others of the party. The four ran toward the man, Bradley heard above him the same uncanny wail that question him--from whence he came and how, the name and description of the end.