was slow work, he was finally rewarded by seeing the inert form of the Pellucidarian lying at the summit of the hill beside him.
He would have been glad to rest now, but his brief experience of Pellucidar warned him that this exposed hilltop was no place to seek sanctuary. He must descend to the bottom, where he could see a few trees and a little stream of water, take Dangar with him, and search for a hiding place. The hillside was very steep, but fortunately it was broken by rudimentary ledges that offered at least a foothold. In any event, there was no other way to descend; and so von Horst lifted Dangar across one of his broad shoulders and started the perilous descent. Slipping and stumbling, he made his slow way down the steep hillside; and constantly he kept his eyes alert for danger. Occasionally he fell, but always managed to catch himself before being precipitated to the bottom.
He was fairly spent when he finally staggered into the shade of a clump of trees growing beside the little stream that he had seen from the summit of the hill. Laying Dangar on the sward, he slaked his thirst with the clear water of the brook. It was the second time that he had drunk since he had left the camp where the great dirigible, O-220, had been moored. How much time had elapsed he could not even guess; days it must have been, perhaps weeks or even months; yet for most of that time the peculiar venom of the Trodon had not only paralyzed him but preserved the moisture in his body, keeping it always fresh and fit for food for the unhatched fledgling by which it was destined to be devoured.
Refreshed and strengthened, he rose and looked about. He must find a place in which to make a more or less permanent camp, for it was quite obvious that he could not continue to carry Dangar in his wanderings. He felt rather helpless, practically alone in this unknown world. In what direction might he go if he were free to go? How could he ever hope to locate the O-220 and his companions in a land where there were no points of compass? when, even if there had been, he had only a vague idea of the direction of his previous wanderings and less of the route along which the Trodon had carried him?
As soon as the effects of the poison should have worn off and Dangar was free from the bonds of paralysis, he would have not only an active friend and companion but one who could guide him to a country where he might be assured of a friendly welcome and an opportunity to make a place for himself in this savage world, where, he was inclined to believe, he must spend the rest of his natural life. It was by far not this consideration alone that prompted him to remain with the Sarian but, rather, sentiments of loyalty and friendship.
A careful inspection of the little grove of trees and the area contiguous to it convinced him that this might be as good a place as any to make a camp. There was fresh water, and he had seen that game was plentiful in the vicinity. Fruits and nuts grew upon several of the trees; and to his question as to their edibility, Dangar assured him that they were safe.
'You are going to stay here?' asked the Sarian.
'Yes, until you recover from the effects of the poison.'
'I may never recover. What then?'
Von Horst shrugged. 'Then I shall be here a long while,' he laughed.
'I could not expect that even of a brother,' objected Dangar. 'You must go in search of your own people.'
'I could not find them. If I could, I would not leave you here alone and helpless.'
'You would not have to leave me helpless.'
'I don't understand you,' said von Horst.
'You would kill me, of course; that would be an act of mercy.'
'Forget it,' snapped von Horst. The very idea revolted him.
'Neither one of us may forget it,' insisted Dangar. 'After a reasonable number of sleeps, if I am not recovered, you must destroy me.' He used the only measure of time that he knew—sleeps. How much time elapsed between sleeps or how long each sleep endured, he had no means of telling.
'That is for the future,' replied von Horst shortly. 'Right now I'm interested only in the matter of making camp. Have you any suggestions?'
'There is greatest safety in caves in cliffsides,' replied Dangar. 'Holes in the ground are often next best; after that, a platform or a shelter built among the branches of a tree.'
'There are no cliffs here,' said von Horst, 'nor do I see any holes in the ground; but there are trees.'
'You'd better start building, then,' advised the Pellucidarian, 'for there are many flesh eaters in Pellucidar; and they are always hungry.'
With suggestions and advice from Dangar, von Horst constructed a platform in one of the larger trees, using reeds that resembled bamboo, which grew in places along the margin of the stream. These he cut with his hunting knife and lashed into place with a long, tough grass that Dangar had seen growing in clumps close to the foot of the hill.
At the latter's suggestion, he added walls and a roof as further protection against the smaller arboreal carnivora, birds of prey, and carnivorous flying reptiles.
He never knew how long it took him to complete the shelter; for the work was absorbing, and time flew rapidly. He ate nuts and fruit at intervals and drank several times, but until the place was almost completed he felt no desire to sleep.
It was with considerable difficulty, and not without danger of falling, that he carried Dangar up the rickety ladder that he had built to gain access to their primitive abode; but at length he had him safely deposited on the floor of the little hut; then he stretched out beside him and was asleep almost instantly.
IV – SKRUF OF BASTI
WHEN von Horst awoke he was ravenously hungry. As he raised himself to an elbow, Dangar looked at him and smiled.
'You have had a long sleep,' he said, 'but you needed it.'
'Was it very long?' asked von Horst.
'I have slept twice while you slept once,' replied Dangar, 'and I am now sleepy again.'
'And I am hungry,' said von Horst, 'ravenously hungry; but I am sick of nuts and fruit. I want meat; I need it.'
'I think you will find plenty of game down stream,' said Dangar. 'I noticed a little valley not far below here while you were carrying me down the hill. There were many animals there.'
Von Horst rose to his feet. 'I'll go and get one.'
'Be careful,' cautioned the Pellucidarian. 'You are a stranger in this world. You do not know all the animals that are dangerous. There are some that look quite harmless but are not. The red deer and the thag will often charge and toss you on their horns or trample your life out, though they eat no meat. Look out for the bucks and the bulls of all species and the shes when they have young. Watch above, always, for birds and reptiles. It is well to walk where there are trees to give you shelter from these and a place into which to climb to escape the others.'
'At least I am safe from one peril,' commented von Horst.
'What is that?' asked Dangar.
'In Pellucidar, I shall never die of ennui.'
'I do not know what you mean. I do not know what ennui is.'
'No Pellucidarian ever could,' laughed von Horst, as he quit the shelter and descended to the ground.
Following Dangar's suggestion, he followed the stream down toward the valley that the Sarian had noticed, being careful to remain as close to trees as possible and keeping always on the alert for the predatory beasts, birds, and reptiles that are always preying upon lesser creatures.
He had not gone far when he came in sight of the upper end of the valley and saw a splendid buck antelope standing alone as though on guard. He offered a splendid shot for a rifle, but the distance was too great to chance a pistol shot; so von Horst crept closer, taking advantage of the cover afforded by clumps of tall grasses, the bamboo-like reeds, and the trees. Cautiously he wormed his way nearer and nearer to his quarry that he might be sure to bring it down with the first shot. He still had a full belt of cartridges, but he knew that when these were gone the supply could never be replenished—every one of them must count.
