Part 6 (2/2)

”He knew that his ht are they to be dreaded--and then only because of the horror of their fored at its e beyond But there res which Thrala continued to insist were har

Then they entered the far corridor into which led the three halls and which ended in the er froainst Garin's thigh In the blackness appeared two yellow disks, sparks of saffron in their depths

Garin thrust the rod into Thrala's hands

”What do you?” she de to clear the way It's too dark to use the rod againstthe words over his shoulder as heeyes

_CHAPTER EIGHT_

_Escape fro his eyes upon those soulless yellow disks, Garin snatched off his hood, wadding it into a ball Then he sprang His fingers slipped on ss ripped his forearm, blunt nails scraped his ribs A foul breath puffed into his face and warm slaver trickled down his neck and chest But his plan succeeded

The cap edged into theBlood dripped froriht fade froe for freedo the rock floor Then Garin felt the heaving body rest li

”Garin!” cried Thrala Her questing hand touched his shoulder and crept to his face ”It is ith you?”

”Yes,” he panted, ”let us go on”

Thrala's fingers had lingered on his ar sounds as it brushed against the wall and floor

”Wait,” she cautioned suddenly ”The el pit”

Dandtan slipped by them ”I will try the door”

In a moment he was back ”It is open,” he whispered

”Kepta believes,” allery Therefore let us go through the pit The h the pit they went A choking stench arose from underfoot and they trod very carefully They cli

”The rod here, Garin,” he called; ”this door is barred”

Garin pressed the weapon into the other's hand and leaned against the rock He was sick and dizzy The long, deep wounds on his ar throb

When they went on he panted with effort They still moved in darkness and his distress passed unnoticed

”This is wrong,” he o too easily--”

And he was answered out of the blackness ”Well noted, outlander But you go free for theis not yet And now, farewell, until we ain in the Hall of Thrones I could find it in e, outlander Perhaps you will come to serve me yet”

Garin turned and threw hiainst rock wall Kepta laughed

”Not with the skill of the bull Tand will you capture me”