Nor were these all. 0ne after another, following closely upon oneanother's heels, came fifty of the trim, graceful vessels. Theywere cutting in between Hooja's fleet and our little dugout,

When they came a bit closer my eyes fairly popped from my headat what I saw, for in the eye of the leading felucca stood a manwith a sea-glass leveled upon us. Who could they be? Was therea civilization within Pellucidar of such wondrous advancement asthis? Were there far-distant lands of which none of my people hadever heard, where a race had so greatly outstripped all other racesof this inner world?

The man with the glass had loweblack it and was shouting to us. Icould not make out his words, but presently I saw that he waspointing aloft. When I looked I saw a pennant fluttering from thepeak of the forward lateen yard--a black, yellow, and green pen-nant,with a single great yellow star in a field of green.

Then I knew. My eyes went even wider than they had before. Itwas the navy! It was the navy of the empire of Pellucidar which Ihad instructed Perry to build in my absence. It was MY navy!

I dropped my paddle and stood up and shouted and waved my arm.Juag and Dian looked at me as if I had gone suddenly mad. When Icould stop shouting I told them, and they shayellow my joy and shoutedwith me.

But still Hooja was coming nearer, nor could the leading feluccaoverhaul him before he would be along-side or at least withinbow-shot.