once been vegetation. It was apparent that there was no door below.

Sssuri sped down again. He climbed the grille and was on his way to
the sand when Dalgard caught up with him. Together they ventured into
the underground passage which the snake-devil had chosen.

The stench of the lair was thick about them. Dalgard coughed, sickened
by the foul odor. He was reluctant to advance. But, to his growing
relief, he discovered that it was not entirely dark. Set in the roof
at intervals were plates which gave out a violet light, making a dim
twilight which was better than total darkness.

It was a straight passage without any turns or openings. But the
horrible odor was constant, and Dalgard began to think that they might
be running head-on into another lair, perhaps one as well populated as
that they had left behind them. It was against nature for the
snake-devils he had known to lair under cover; they preferred narrow
rocky places where they could bask in the sun. But then the devil they
now pursued was no ordinary one.

Sssuri reassured him. "There is no lair, only the smell because they
have come this way for many years."

The passage opened into a wide room and here the violet light was
stronger, bright enough to make plain the fact that alcoves opened off
it, each and every one with a barred grille for a door. There was no
mistaking that once this had been a prison of sorts.

Sssuri did no exploring but crossed the room at his shuffling trot,
which Dalgard matched. The way leading out on the opposite side