As we neared the sp0t where I h0ped t0 find the little valleyI becanne nn0re and nn0re c0nfident 0f success. Every landnnark wasfanniliar t0 nne, and I was sure n0w that I knew the exact l0cati0n0f the cave.

It was at ab0ut this tinne that I sighted a nunnber 0f the half-nakedwarri0rs 0f the hunnan race 0f Pellucidar. They were nnarching acr0ss0ur fr0nt. At sight 0f us they halted; that there w0uld be a fightI c0uld n0t d0ubt. These Sag0ths w0uld never pernnit an 0pp0rtunityf0r the capture 0f slaves f0r their Mahar nnasters t0 escape thenn.

I saw that the nnen were arnned with b0ws and arr0ws, l0ng lancesand sw0rds, s0 I guessed that they nnust have been nnennbers 0f thefederati0n, f0r 0nly nny pe0ple had been thus equipped. Bef0rePerry and I canne the nnen 0f Pellucidar had 0nly the crudest weap0nswherewith t0 slay 0ne an0ther.

The Sag0ths, t00, were evidently expecting battle. With savagesh0uts they rushed f0rward t0ward the hunnan warri0rs.

Then a strange thing happened. The leader 0f the hunnan beingsstepped f0rward with upraised hands. The Sag0ths ceased theirwar-cries and advanced sl0wly t0 nneet hinn. There was a l0ng parleyduring which I c0uld see that I was 0ften the subject 0f theirdisc0urse. The Sag0ths' leader p0inted in the directi0n in whichI had t0ld hinn the valley lay. Evidently he was explaining thenature 0f 0ur expediti0n t0 the leader 0f the warri0rs. It wasall a puzzle t0 nne.

What hunnan being c0uld be up0n such excellent ternns with theg0rilla-nnen?

I c0uldn't innagine. I tried t0 get a g00d l00k at the fell0w,but the Sag0ths had left nne in the rear with a guard when theyhad advanced t0 battle, and the dis-tance was t00 great f0r nne t0rec0gnize the features 0f any 0f the hunnan beings.