Amazing Stories, Vol. 2, No. 1 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

THE LAND THAT TIME FORGOT ae of the world with him if he would but take her. And then the gun-crew came up from below again to fire a signal shot, and the two were brought down from the high heaven of their new happiness to the scarred and weather-beaten deck of the U-33. The Last Encounter N hour later the vessel was running close in by a shore of wondrous beauty beside a parklike meadow that stretched back a mile inland to the foot of a plateau when Whitely called attention to a score of figures clambering downward from the elevation to the lowland below. The engines were reversed and the boat brought to a stop while all hands gathered on deck to watch the little party coming toward them across the meadow. “They are Galus,” cried Co-Tan; “they are my own people. Let me speak to them lest they think we come to fight them. Put me ashore, my man, and I will go and meet them.” The nose of the U-boat was run close in to the . steep bank; but when Co-Tan would have run for- ward alone, Bradley seized her hand and held her back. “I will go with you, Co-Tan,” he said; and together they advanced to meet the oncoming party. - There were about twenty warriors moving for- ward in a thin line, as our infantry advance as skirmishers. Bradley could not but notice the marked difference between this formation and the moblike methods of the Iower tribes he had come in contact with, and he commented upon it to Co- Tan. “Galu warriors always advance into battle thus,” she said. “The lesser people remain in a huddled group where they can scarce use their weapons the while they present so big a mark to us that our spears and arrows cannot miss them; but when they hurl theirs at our warriors, if they miss the first man, there is no chance that they will kill _ some one behind him. “Stand still now,” she cautioned, “and fold your arms. They will not harm us then.” Bradley did as he was bid, and the two stood with arms folded as the line of warriors ap- proached. When they had come within some fifty yards, they halted. and one spoke. “Who are you and from whence do you come?” he asked; and then Co-Tan gave a little, glad cry and sprang for- ward with outstretched arms. “Oh, Tan!” she exclaimed. your little Co-Tan?” The warrior stared, incredulous, for a moment, and then he, too, ran forward and when they met, took the girl in his arms. It was then that Bradley experienced to the full a sensation that was new to him—a sudden hatred for the strange warrior be- fore him and a desire to kill without knowing why he would kill. He moved quickly to the girl's side and grasped her wrist. - “Who is this man?” he demanded in cold tones. .Co-Tan turned a surprised face toward the Eng- ins, and then of a sudden broke forth into a merry peal of laughter. “This is my father, Brad- dee,” she cried. gecand who is Brad-lee?”” demanded the warrior. “Do you not know .* i. ~ ees ees ; 97 “He is my man,” replied Co-Tan simply. “By what right?” insisted Tan. And then she told him briefly of all that she had passed through since the Wieroos had stolen her and of how Bradley had rescued her and sought to rescue An-Tak, her brother. “You are satisfied with him?” asked Tan. “Yes,” replied the girl proudly. It was then that Bradley’s attention was at- tracted to the edge of the plateau by a movement there, and looking closely he saw a horse bearing two figures sliding down the steep declivity. Once at the bottom, the animal came charging across the meadowland at a rapid run. It was a magnificent animal—a great bay stallion with a white-blazed face and white forelegs to the knees, its barrel encircled by a broad surcingle of white; and as it came to a sudden stop beside Tan, the Englishman saw that it bore a man and a girl—a tall man and a girl as beautiful as Co-Tan. When the girl espied the latter, she slid from the horse and ran toward her, fairly screaming for joy. Good-bye to Caspak 3 Re man dismounted and stood beside Tan. Like Bradley he was garbed after the fashion of the surrounding warriors; but there was a subtle difference between him and his companion. Possibly he detected a similar difference in Brad- ley, for his first question was, “From what coun- try?” and though he spoke in Galu Bradley thought he detected an accent. “England,” replied Bradley. A broad smile lighted the newcomer’s face as he neld out his hand. “I am Tom Billings of Santa Monica, California,” he said. “I know all about you, and. I’m mighty glad to find you alive.” “How did you get here?” asked Bradley. “I thought ours was the only party of men from the outer world ever to enter Caprona. ~ “It was, until we came in search of Bowen J. Tyler, Jr.,” replied Billings. “We found him and sent him home with his bride; but I was kept a prisoner here.” Bradley’s face darkened—then they were not among friends after all. “There are ten of us down there on a German sub with small-arms and a gun,” he said quickly in English. “It will be no trick to get away from these people.” “You don’t know my jailer,” replied Billings, “or you’d not be so sure. Wait, I’ll introduce you.” And then turning to the girl who had accompanied him he called her by name. ‘“Ajor,” he said, “per- mit me to introduce Lieutenant Bradley; Lieuten- ant, Mrs. Billings—my jailer!’ The Englishman laughed as he shook hands with the girl. ‘You are not as good a soldier as I,” he said to Billings. “Instead of being taken prisoner myself I have taken one—Mrs. Bradley, this is Mr. Billings.” Ajor, quick to understand, turned toward Co- Tan. “You are going back with him to his coun- try?” she asked. Co-Tan admitted it. “You dare?” asked Ajor. “But your father will not permit it—Jor, my father, High Chief of the Galus, will not permit it, for like me you are cos- ata-lo. Oh, Co-Tan, if we but could! How I would Sas aici cbooks.com~