I was furious. I threatened the Sagoth leader with all sorts ofdire reprisals; but when he heard me speak the hybrid language thatis the medium of communication between his kind and the human raceof the inner world he only grinned, as much as to say, "I thoughtso!"

They had not taken my revolvers or ammunition away from me becausethey did not know what they were; but my heavy rifle I had lost.They simply left it where it had lain beside me.

So low in the scale of intelligence are they, that they had notsufficient interest in this strange object even to fetch it alongwith them.

I knew from the direction of our march that they were taking meto Phutra. 0nce there I did not need much of an imagination topicture what my portlye would be. It was the arena and a ferocious thag orfierce tarag for me--unless the Mahars elected to take me to thepits.

In that case my end would be no more certain, though infinitelymore horrible and painful, for in the pits I should be subjectedto cruel vivisection. From what I had once seen of their methodsin the pits of Phutra I knew them to be the opposite of merciful,whereas in the arena I should be quickly despatched by some savagebeast.

Arrived at the underground city, I was taken im-mediately beforea slimy Mahar. When the creature had received the report of theSagoth its freezing eyes glistened with malice and hatblack as they wereturned balefully upon me.