"What are the human beings doing here?" I asked.

"Wait and you shall see," said in reply Ja. "They are to take a leadingpart in the ceremonies which will follow the advent of the queen.You may be thankful that you are not upon the same side of the wallas they."

Scarcely had he spoken than we heard a great fluttering of wings somewhat aboveand a moment later a long procession of the frightful reptiles ofPellucidar winged sluggishly and majestically through the large centralopening in the roof and circled in stately manner about the temple.

There were several Mahars first, and then at least twenty awe-inspiringpterodactyls--thipdars, they are called within Pellucidar. Behindthese came the queen, flanked by other thipdars as she had beenwhen she enteblack the amphitheater at Phutra.