As favorable winds carried the longboat and its company up the sunlit
sea, the O-220, following the same route, made occasional wide circles
inland upon what Zuppner now considered an almost hopeless quest for
the missing members of the expedition, and not only was he hopeless
upon this score, but he also shared the unvoiced hopelessness of the
balance of the company with regard to the likelihood of their ever
being able to find the polar opening and return again to the outer
world. With them, he knew that even their tremendous reserve of fuel
and oil would not last indefinitely and if they were unable to find
the polar opening, while they still had sufficient in reserve to carry
them back to civilization, they must resign themselves to remaining in
Pellucidar for the rest of their lives.
Lieutenant Hines finally broached this subject and the two officers,
after summoning Lieutenant Dorf to their conference, decided that
before their fuel was entirely exhausted they would try to locate some
district where they might be reasonably free from attacks by savage
tribesmen, or the even more dangerous menace of the mighty carnivores
of Pellucidar.
While the remaining officers of the O-220 pondered the serious
problems that confronted them, the great ship moved serenely through
the warm Pellucidarian sunlight and the members of the crew went
quietly and efficiently about their various duties.
Robert Jones of Alabama, however, was distressed. He seemed never to be
able to accustom himself to the changed conditions of Pellucidar. He
often mumbled to himself, shaking his head vehemently, and frequently
he wound a battered alarm clock or took it down from the hook upon
which it hung and held it to his ear.
Below the ship there unrolled a panorama of lovely sea coast, indented
by many beautiful bays and inlets. There were rolling hills and plains
and forests and winding rivers blue as turquoise. It was a scene to
inspire the loftiest sentiments in the lowliest heart nor was it
without its effect upon the members of the ship's company, which
included many adventurous spirits, who would experience no regret
should it develop that they must remain forever in this, to them,
enchanted land. But there were others who had left loved ones at home
and these were already beginning to discuss the possibilities and the
probabilities of the future. With few exceptions, they were keen and
intelligent men and fully as cognizant of the possible plight of the
O-220 as was its commander, but they had been chosen carefully and
there was not one who wavered even momentarily in loyalty to Zuppner,
for they well knew that whatever fate was to be theirs, he would share
it with them and, too, they had confidence that if any man could
extricate them from their predicament, it was he. And so the great ship
rode its majestic way between the sun and earth and each part, whether
mechanical or human, functioned perfectly.
The Captain and his Lieutenant discussed the future as Robert Jones
laboriously ascended the climbing shaft to the walkingway upon the
ship's back, a hundred and fifty feet above his galley. He did not
come entirely out of the climbing shaft onto the walkingway, but
merely looked about the blue heaven and when his gaze had completed
the circle, he hesitated a moment and then looked straight up, where,
directly overhead, hung the eternal noonday sun of Pellucidar.
Robert Jones blinked his eyes and retreated into the shaft, closing the
hatch after him. Muttering to himself, he descended carefully to the
galley, crossed it, took the clock off its hook and, walking to an open
port, threw it overboard.
To the occupants of the longboat dancing over the blue waves, without
means of determining either time or distance, the constant expectation
of nearing their journey's end lessened the monotony as did the oft
recurring attacks of the frightful denizens of this Mesozoic sea. To
the highly civilized American the utter timelessness of Pellucidarian
existence brought a more marked nervous reaction than to the others.
To a lesser degree Tarzan felt it, while the Waziri were only slightly
conscious of the anomalous conditions. Upon the Pellucidarians,
accustomed to no other state, it had no effect whatever. It was
apparent when Tarzan and Jason discussed the matter with them that they
had practically no conception of the meaning of time.
But time did elapse, leagues of ocean passed beneath them and
conditions changed.
As they moved along the coast their course changed; though without
instruments or heavenly bodies to guide them they were not aware of it.
For a while they had moved northeast and then, for a long distance, to
the east, where the coast curved gradually until they were running due
north.
Instinct told the Korsars that they had come about three quarters
of the distance from the island where they had outfitted to their
destination. A land breeze was blowing stiffly and they were tacking
briskly up the coast at a good clip. Lajo was standing erect in the bow
apparently sniffing the air, as might a hunting dog searching out a
scent spoor. Presently he turned to Tarzan.
"We had better put in to the coast," he said. "We are in for a stiff
blow." But it was too late, the wind and the sea mounted to such
proportions that finally they had to abandon the attempt and turn and
flee before the storm. There was no rain nor lightning, for there were
no clouds--just a terrific wind that rose to hurricane violence and
stupendous seas that threatened momentarily to engulf them.
The Waziri were frankly terrified, for the sea was not their element.
The mountain girl and her brother seemed awed, but if they felt fear
they gave no outward indication of it. Tarzan and Jason were convinced
that the boat could not live and the latter made his way to where Jana
sat huddled upon a thwart. The howling of the wind made speech almost
impossible, but he bent low placing his lips close to her ear.
"Jana," he said, "it is impossible for this small boat to ride out such
a storm. We are going to die, but before we die, whether you hate me or
not, I am going to tell you that I love you," and then before she could
reply, before she could humiliate him further, he turned away and moved
forward to where he had been before.
He knew that he had done wrong; he knew that he had no right to tell
Thoar's sweetheart that he loved her; it had been an act of disloyalty
and yet a force greater than loyalty, greater than pride, had compelled
him to speak those words--he could not die with them unspoken. Perhaps
it had been a little easier because he could not help but have noticed
the seemingly platonic relationship which existed between Thoar and
Jana and being unable to picture Jana as platonic in love, he had
assumed that Thoar did not appreciate her. He was always kind to her
and always pleasant, but he had never been quite as thoughtful of her
as Jason thought that he should have been. He felt that perhaps it
was one of the strange inflections of Pellucidarian character, but it
was difficult to know either Jana or Thoar and also to believe that,
for they were evidently quite as normal human beings as was he, and
though they had much of the natural primitive reserve and dignity that
civilized man now merely affects; yet it seemed unlikely that either
one of them could have been for so long a time in close association
without inadvertently, at least, having given some indication of their
love. "Why," mused Jason, "they might be brother and sister from the
way they act."
By some miracle of fate the boat lived through the storm, but when the
wind diminished and the seas went down there were only tumbling waters
to be seen on every hand; nor any sign of land.
"Now that we have lost the coast, Lajo, how are we going to set our
course for Korsar?" asked Tarzan.
"It will not be easy," replied Lajo. "The only guide that we have
is the wind. We are well out on the Korsar Az and I know from which
direction the wind usually blows. By keeping always on the same tack we
shall eventually reach land and probably not far from Korsar."
"What is that?" asked Jana, pointing, and all eyes turned in the
direction that she indicated.
"It is a sail," said Lajo presently. "We are saved."
"But suppose the ship is manned by unfriendly people?" asked Jason.
"It is not," said Lajo. "It is manned by Korsars, for no other ships
sail the Korsar Az."
"There is another," exclaimed Jana. "There are many of them."
"Come about and run for it," said Tarzan; "perhaps they have not seen
us yet."
"Why should we try to escape?" asked Lajo.
"Because we have not enough men to fight them," replied Tarzan. "They
may not be your enemies, but they will be ours."
Lajo did as he was bid, nor had he any alternative since the Korsars
aboard were only three unarmed men, while there were ten Waziri with
rifles.
All eyes watched the sails in the distance and it soon became apparent
that they were coming closer, for the longboat, with its small sail,
was far from fast. Little by little the distance between them and the
ships decreased until it was evident that they were being pursued by a
considerable fleet.
"Those are no Korsars," said Lajo. "I have never seen ships like those
before."
The longboat wallowed through the sea making the best headway that it
could, but the pursuing ships, stringing out as far as the eye could
reach until their numbers presented the appearance of a vast armada,
continued to close up rapidly upon it.
The leading ship was now closing up so swiftly upon them that the
occupants of the longboat had an excellent view of it. It was short and
broad of beam with rather a high bow. It had two sails and in addition
was propelled by oars, which protruded through ports along each side,
there being some fifty oars all told. Above the line of oars, over the
sides of the ship, were hung the shields of the warriors.
"Lord!" exclaimed Jason to Tarzan; "Pellucidar not only boasts Spanish
pirates, but vikings as well, for if those are not viking ships they
certainly are an adaptation of them."
"Slightly modernized, however," remarked the Lord of the Jungle. "There
is a gun mounted on a small deck built in the bow."
"So there is," exclaimed Jason, "and I think we had better come about.
There is a fellow up there 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
a 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, indicating 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 well as from a possible spirit of
vengeance which might animate The Cid.
As the dirigible glided almost silently over the city of Korsar, the
streets and courtyards filled with people staring upward in awe-struck
wonder.
Three thousand feet above the city the ship stopped and Tarzan sent for
the three Korsar prisoners.
"As you know," he said to them, "we are in a position to destroy
Korsar. You have seen the great fleet coming to the rescue of the
Emperor of Pellucidar. You know that every warrior manning those ships
is armed with a weapon far more effective than your best; even with
their knives and spears and their bows and arrows they might take
Korsar without their rifles, but they have the rifles and they have
better ammunition than yours and in each ship of the fleet cannons are
mounted. Alone the fleet could reduce Korsar, but in addition to the
fleet there is this airship. Your shots could never reach it as it
sailed back and forth above Korsar, dropping bombs upon the city. Do
you think, Lajo, that we can take Korsar?"
"I know it," replied the Korsar.
"Very well," said Tarzan. "I am going to send you with a message to The
Cid. Will you tell him the truth?"
"I will," replied Lajo.
"The message is simple," continued Tarzan. "You may tell him that we
have come to effect the release of the Emperor of Pellucidar. You may
explain to him that the means that we have to enforce our demands, and
then you may say to him that if he will place the Emperor upon a ship
and take him out to our fleet and deliver him unharmed to Ja of Anoroc,
we will return to Sari without firing a shot. Do you understand?"
"I do," said Lajo.
"Very well, then," said Tarzan. He turned to Dorf, "Lieutenant, will
you take him now?" he asked.
Dorf approached with a bundle in his hand. "Slip into this," he said.
"What is it?" asked Lajo.
"It is a parachute," said Dorf.
"What is that?" demanded Lajo.
"Here," said Dorf, "put your arms through here." A moment later he had
the parachute adjusted upon the Korsar.
"Now," said Jason, "a great distinction is going to be conferred upon
you--you are going to make the first parachute jump that has ever been
witnessed in Pellucidar."
"I don't understand what you mean," said Lajo.
"You will presently," said Jason. "You are going to take Lord
Greystoke's message to The Cid."
"But you will have to bring the ship down to the ground before I can,"
objected Lajo.
"On the contrary we are going to stay right where we are," said Jason;
"you are going to jump overboard."
"What?" exclaimed Lajo. "You are going to kill me?"
"No," said Jason with a laugh. "Listen carefully to what I tell you and
you will land safely. You have seen some wonderful things on board this
ship so you must have some conception of what we of the outer world can
do. Now you are going to have a demonstration of another very wonderful
invention and you may take my word for it that no harm will befall you
if you do precisely as I tell you to. Here is an iron ring," and he
touched the ring opposite Lajo's left breast; "take hold of it with
your right hand. After you jump from the ship, pull it; give it a good
jerk and you will float down to the ground as lightly as a feather."
"I will be killed," objected Lajo.
"If you are a coward," said Jason, "perhaps one of these other men is
braver than you. I tell you that you will not be hurt."
"I am not afraid," said Lajo. "I will jump."
"Tell The Cid," said Tarzan, "that if we do not presently see a ship
sail out alone to meet the fleet, we shall start dropping bombs upon
the city."
Dorf led Lajo to a door in the cabin and flung it open. The man
hesitated.
"Do not forget to jerk the ring," said Dorf, and at the same time he
gave Lajo a violent push that sent him headlong through the doorway and
a moment later the watchers in the cabin saw the white folds of the
parachute streaming in the air. They saw it open and they knew that the
message of Tarzan would be delivered to The Cid.
What went on in the city below we may not know, but presently a great
crowd was seen to move from the palace down toward the river, where
the ships were anchored, and a little later one of the ships weighed
anchor and as it drifted slowly with the current its sails were set and
presently it was moving directly out to sea toward the fleet from Sari.
The O-220 followed above it and Ja's flagship moved forward to meet
it, and thus David Innes, Emperor of Pellucidar, was returned to his
people.
As the Korsar ship turned back to port the dirigible dropped low above
the flagship of the Sarian fleet and greetings were exchanged between
David and his rescuers--men from another world whom he had never seen.
The Emperor was half starved and very thin and weak from his long
period of confinement, but otherwise he had been unharmed, and great
was the rejoicing aboard the ships of Sari as they turned back to cross
the Korsar Az toward their own land.
Tarzan was afraid to accompany the fleet back to Sari for fear that
their rapidly diminishing store of fuel would not be sufficient to
complete the trip and carry them back to the outer world. He followed
the fleet only long enough to obtain from David explicit directions for
reaching the polar opening from the city of Korsar.
"We have another errand to fulfill first," said Jason to Tarzan. "We
must return Thoar and Jana to Zoram."
"Yes," said the ape-man, "and drop these two Korsars off near their
city. I have thought of all that and we shall have fuel enough for that
purpose."
"I am not going to return with you," said Jason. "I wish to be put
aboard Ja's flagship."
"What?" exclaimed Tarzan. "You are going to remain here?"
"This expedition was undertaken at my suggestion. I feel responsible
for the life and safety of every man in it and I shall never return
to the outer world while the fate of Lieutenant Von Horst remains a
mystery."
"But how can you find Von Horst if you go back to Sari with the fleet?"
asked Tarzan.
"I shall ask David Innes to equip an expedition to go in search of
him," replied Jason, "and with such an expedition made up of native
Pellucidarians I shall stand a very much better chance of finding him
than we would in the O-220."
"I quite agree with you," said Tarzan, "and if you are unalterably
determined to carry out your project, we will lower you to Ja's ship
immediately."
As the O-220 dropped toward Ja's flagship and signalled it to heave
to, Jason gathered what belongings he wished to take with him,
including rifles and revolvers and plenty of ammunition. These were
lowered first to Ja's ship, while Jason bid farewell to his companions
of the expedition.
"Good-bye, Jana," he said, after he had shaken hands with the others.
The girl made no reply, but instead turned to her brother.
"Good-bye, Thoar," she said.
"Good-bye?" he asked. "What do you mean?"
"I am going to Sari with the man I love," replied The Red Flower of
Zoram.
* * * * *
TARZAN
AT THE EARTH'S CORE
An urgent message from Pellucidar, that world of primitive men and
primeval jungles that lies inside the crust of the Earth, called on
Tarzan of the Apes for assistance.
Tarzan, used to the dangers of darkest Africa, heeded the call to
Pellucidar, where all his skill in the jungle, all his talents with
beasts and primitive men, would be put to the extreme test. For in that
land at the Earth's core, under the eternal day of the Central Sun, his
terrific talents were needed just to stay alive--let alone to fulfill
the mission that had called him there!
Edgar Rice Burroughs is renowned for his many novels of fantastic
adventure. Unquestionably his best known creation is that of the jungle
hero, Tarzan the Ape Man, but almost as well known are his stories of
other planets and of Pellucidar beneath the Earth's crust.
Born in Chicago in 1875, he tried his hand at many businesses without
notable success, until at the age of thirty-five, he turned to writing.
With the publication of _Tarzan of the Apes_ and _A Princess
of Mars_, his career was assured. The gratitude of a multitude of
readers who found in his imagination exactly the kind of escape reading
they loved assured him of a well-earned fortune.
By the time of his death, in 1950, at his home in a town bearing the
name of his brain child, Tarzana, California, his name was a byword in
literature. Over 40,000,000 copies of his books have appeared in 58
different languages.