and an instant later as I rushed in I found myself facing two of

the Mahars. The one who had been there when we entered had been

occupied with a number of metal vessels, into which had been put

powders and liquids as I judged from the array of flasks standing

about upon the bench where it had been working. In an instant I

realized what I had stumbled upon. It was the very room for the

finding of which Perry had given me minute directions. It was the

buried chamber in which was hidden the Great Secret of the race

of Mahars. And on the bench beside the flasks lay the skin-bound

book which held the only copy of the thing I was to have sought,

after dispatching the three Mahars in their sleep.

There was no exit from the room other than the doorway in which

I now stood facing the two frightful reptiles. Cornered, I knew

that they would fight like demons, and they were well equipped to

fight if fight they must. Together they launched themselves upon

me, and though I ran one of them through the heart on the instant,

the other fastened its gleaming fangs about my sword arm above the

elbow, and then with her sharp talons commenced to rake me about

the body, evidently intent upon disemboweling me. I saw that it

was useless to hope that I might release my arm from that powerful,

viselike grip which seemed to be severing my arm from my body.

The pain I suffered was intense, but it only served to spur me to

greater efforts to overcome my antagonist.

Back and forth across the floor we struggled--the Mahar dealing me

terrific, cutting blows with her fore feet, while I attempted to

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