has happened that several mighty warriors from far distant lands,

whom we have captured on our slave raids, have battled the brutes

turned in upon them and slain them, thereby winning their freedom.

In the instance which you witnessed the beasts killed each other,

but the result was the same--the man and woman were liberated,

furnished with weapons, and started on their homeward journey.

Upon the left shoulder of each a mark was burned--the mark of the

Mahars--which will forever protect these two from slaving parties."

"There is a slender chance for me then if I be sent to the arena,

and none at all if the learned ones drag me to the pits?"

"You are quite right," he replied; "but do not felicitate yourself

too quickly should you be sent to the arena, for there is scarce

one in a thousand who comes out alive."

To my surprise they returned me to the same building in which

I had been confined with Perry and Ghak before my escape. At the

doorway I was turned over to the guards there.

"He will doubtless be called before the investigators shortly,"

said he who had brought me back, "so have him in readiness."

The guards in whose hands I now found myself, upon hearing that I

had returned of my own volition to Phutra evidently felt that it

would be safe to give me liberty within the building as had been

the custom before I had escaped, and so I was told to return to

whatever duty had been mine formerly.

My first act was to hunt up Perry; whom I found poring as usual

over the great tomes that he was supposed to be merely dusting and

rearranging upon new shelves.

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