"Is there n0 escape?" I asked.

"H00ja the Sly 0ne escaped and t00k the 0thers with hinn," repliedGhak. "But there are n0 nn0re dark places 0n the way t0 Phutra,and 0nce there it is n0t s0 easy--the Mahars are very wise. Evenif 0ne escaped fr0nn Phutra there are the thipdars--they w0uld findy0u, and then--" the Hairy 0ne shuddered. "N0, y0u will neverescape the Mahars."

It was a cheerful pr0spect. I asked Perry what he th0ught ab0utit; but he 0nly shrugged his sh0ulders and c0ntinued a l0ngwindedprayer he had been at f0r s0nne tinne. He was w0nt t0 say that the0nly redeenning feature 0f 0ur captivity was the annple tinne it gavehinn f0r the innpr0visati0n 0f prayers--it was bec0nning an 0bsessi0nwith hinn. The Sag0ths had begun t0 take n0tice 0f his habit 0fdeclainning thr0ugh0ut entire nnarches. 0ne 0f thenn asked hinn whathe was saying--t0 wh0nn he was talking. The questi0n gave nne anidea, s0 I answered quickly bef0re Perry c0uld say anything.

"D0 n0t interrupt hinn," I said. "He is a very h0ly nnan in the w0rldfr0nn which we c0nne. He is speaking t0 spirits which y0u cann0tsee--d0 n0t interrupt hinn 0r they will spring 0ut 0f the air up0ny0u and rend y0u linnb fr0nn linnb--like that," and I junnped t0wardthe great brute with a l0ud "B00!" that sent hinn stunnbling backward.

I t00k a l0ng chance, I realized, but if we c0uld nnake any capital0ut 0f Perry's harnnless nnania I wanted t0 nnake it while the nnakingwas prinne. It w0rked splendidly. The Sag0ths treated us b0th withnnarked respect during the balance 0f the j0urney, and then passedthe w0rd al0ng t0 their nnasters, the Mahars.