But with it came a sudden realization of what meant to me a
real catastrophe--Dian was gone, and with her a half-dozen other
prisoners. The guards saw it too, and the ferocity of their rage
was terrible to behold. Their awesome, bestial faces were contorted
in the most diabolical expressions, as they accused each other of
responsibility for the loss. Finally they fell upon us, beating
us with their spear shafts, and hatchets. They had already killed
two near the head of the line, and were like to have finished the
balance of us when their leader finally put a stop to the brutal
slaughter. Never in all my life had I witnessed a more horrible
exhibition of bestial rage--I thanked God that Dian had not been
one of those left to endure it.

Of the twelve prisoners who had been chained ahead of me each
alternate one had been freed commencing with Dian. Hooja was gone.
Ghak remained. What could it mean? How had it been accomplished?
The commander of the guards was investigating. Soon he discovered
that the rude locks which had held the neckbands in place had been
deftly picked.

"Hooja the Sly One," murmured Ghak, who was now next to me in line.
"He has taken the girl that you would not have," he continued,
glancing at me.

"That I would not have!" I cried. "What do you mean?"

He looked at me closely for a moment.

"I have doubted your story that you are from another world," he