built in the bow.'
'So there is,' exclaimed Jason, 'and I think we had better come about. There is a fellow up their turning it on us now,'
Presently another man appeared upon the elevated bow deck of the enemy. 'Heave to,' he cried, 'or I'll blow you out of the water.'
'Who are you?' demanded Jason.
'I am Ja of Anoroc,' replied the man, 'and this is the fleet of David I, Emperor of Pellucidar.'
'Come about,' said Tarzan to Lajo.
'Someone in this boat must have been born on Sunday,' exclaimed Jason. 'I never knew there was so much good luck in the world.'
'Who are you?' demanded Ja as the longboat came slowly about.
'We are friends,' replied Tarzan.
'The Emperor of Pellucidar can have no friends upon the Korsar Az,' replied Ja.
'If Abner Perry is with you, we can prove that you are wrong,' replied Jason.
'Abner Perry is not with us,' said Ja; 'but what do you know of him?'
By this time the two boats were alongside and the bronzed Mezop warriors of Ja's crew were gazing down curiously upon the occupants of the boat.
'This is Jason Gridley,' said Tarzan to Ja, indicating the American. 'Perhaps you have heard Abner Perry speak of him. He organized an expedition in the outer world to come here to rescue David Innes from the dungeons of the Korsars.'
The three Korsars of the longboat made Ja suspicious, but when a full explanation had been made and especially when he had examined the rifles of the Waziri, he became convinced of the truth of their statements and welcomed them warmly aboard his ship, about which were now gathered a considerable number of the armada. When word was passed among them that two of the strangers were friends from the outer world who had come to assist in the rescue of David Innes, a number of the captains of other ships came aboard Ja's flagship to greet Tarzan and Jason. Among these captains were Dacor the Strong One, brother of Dian the Beautiful, Empress of Pellucidar; Kolk, son of Goork, who is chief of the Thurians; and Tanar, son of Ghak, the Hairy One, King of Sari.
From these Tarzan and Jason learned that this fleet was on its way to effect the rescue of David. It had been building for a great while, so long that they had forgotten how many times they had eaten and slept since the first keel was laid, and then they had had to find a way into the Korsar Az from the Lural Az, where the ships were built upon the island of Anoroc .
'Far down the Sojar Az beyond the Land of Awful Shadow we found a passage that led to the Korsar Az. The Thurians had heard of it and while the fleet was building they sent warriors out to see if it was true and they found the passage and soon we shall be before the city of Korsar .'
'How did you expect to rescue David with only a dozen men?' asked Tanar.
'We are not all here,' said Tarzan. 'We became separated from our companions and have been unable to find them. However, there were not very many men in our expedition. We depended upon other means than manpower to effect the rescue of your Emperor.'
At this moment a great cry arose from one of the ships. The excitement rose and spread. The warriors were all looking into the air and pointing. Already some of them were elevating the muzzles of their cannons and all were preparing their rifles, and as Tarzan and Jason looked up they saw the O-220 far above them.
The dirigible had evidently discovered the fleet and was descending toward it in a wide spiral.
'Now I know someone was born on Sunday,' said Jason. 'That is our ship. Those are our friends,' he added, turning to Ja.
All that transpired on board the flagship passed quickly from ship to ship until every member of the armada knew that the great thing hovering above them was no gigantic flying reptile, but a ship of the air in which were friends of Abner Perry and their beloved Emperor, David I.
Slowly the great ship settled toward the surface of the sea and as it did so Jason Gridley borrowed a spear from one of the warriors and tied Lajo's head handkerchief to its tip. With this improvised flag he signalled, 'O-220 ahoy! This is the war fleet of David I, Emperor of Pellucidar, commanded by Ja of Anoroc; Lord Greystoke, ten Waziri and Jason Gridley aboard.'
A moment later a gun boomed from the rear turret of the O-220, marking the beginning of the first international salute of twenty-one guns that had ever reverberated beneath the eternal sun of Pellucidar, and when the significance of it was explained to Ja he returned the salute with the bow gun of his flagship.
The dirigible dropped lower until it was within speaking distance of the flagship.
'Are you all well aboard?' asked Tarzan.
'Yes,' came back the reassuring reply in Zuppner's booming tone.
'Is Von Horst with you?' asked Jason.
'No,' replied Zuppner.
'Then he alone is missing,' said Jason sadly.
'Can you drop a sling and take us aboard?' asked Tarzan.
Zuppner maneuvered the dirigible to within fifty feet of the deck of Ja's flagship, a sling was lowered and one after another the members of the party were taken on board the O-220, the Waziri first and then Jana and Thoar, followed by Jason and Tarzan, the three Korsars being left prisoners with Ja with the understanding that they were to be treated humanely.
Before Tarzan left the deck of the flagship he told Ja that if he would proceed toward Korsar, the dirigible would keep in touch with him and in the meantime they would be perfecting plans for the rescue of David Innes.
As Thoar and Jana were hoisted aboard the O-220, they were filled with boundless amazement. To them such a creation as the giant dirigible was inconceivable. As Jana expressed it afterward: 'I knew that I was dreaming, but yet at the same time I knew that I could not dream about such a thing as this because no such thing existed.'
Jason introduced Jana and Thoar to Zuppner and Hines, but Lieutenant Dorf did not come to the cabin until after Tarzan had boarded the ship, and it was the latter who introduced them to Dorf.
He presented Lieutenant Dorf to Jana and then, indicated Thoar, 'This is Thoar, the brother of The Red Flower of Zoram.'
As those words broke upon the ears of Jason Gridley he reacted almost as to the shock of a physical blow. He was glad that no one chanced to be looking at him at the time and instantly he regained his composure, but it left him with a distinct feeling of injury. They had all known it and none of them had told him. He was almost angry at them until it occurred to him that they had all probably assumed that he had known it too, and yet try as he would he could not quite forgive Jana. But, really, what difference did it make, for, whether sister or mate of Thoar or another, he knew that The Red Flower of Zoram was not for him. She had made that definitely clear in her attitude toward him, which had convinced him even more definitely than had her bitter words.
The reunited officers of the expedition had much to discuss and many reminiscences to narrate as the O-220 followed above the slowly moving fleet. It was a happy reunion, clouded only by the absence of Von Horst.
As the dirigible moved slowly above the waters of the Korsar Az, Zuppner dropped occasionally to within speaking distance of Ja of Anoroc, and when the distant coast of Korsar was sighted a sling was lowered and Ja was taken aboard the O-220, where plans for the rescue of David were discussed, and when they were perfected Ja was returned to his ship, and Lajo and the two other Korsars were taken aboard the dirigible.
The three prisoners were filled with awe and consternation as Jason and Tarzan personally conducted them throughout the giant craft. They were shown the armament, which was carefully explained to them, special stress being laid upon the destructive power of the bombs which the O-220 carried.
'One of these,' said Jason to Lajo, 'would blow The Cid's palace a thousand feet into the air and, as you see. we have many of them. We could destroy all of Korsar and all the Korsar ships.'
While Ja's fleet was still a considerable distance off the coast, the O-220 raced ahead at full speed toward Korsar, for the plan which they had evolved was such that, if successful, David's release would be effected without the shedding of blood—a plan which was especially desirable since if it was necessary to attack Korsar either from the sea or the air, the Emperor's life would be placed in jeopardy from the bombs and cannons of his friends, as
