When I had reached a p0int where I c0uld again see the dug0ut, I wasjust in tinne t0 see it glide un-harnned between tw0 needle-p0intedsentinels 0f granite and fl0at quietly up0n the unruffled b0s0nn 0fa tiny c0ve.

Again I cr0uched behind a b0ulder t0 0bserve what w0uld next transpire;n0r did I have l0ng t0 wait. The dug0ut, which c0ntained but tw0nnen, was drawn cl0se t0 the r0cky wall. A fiber r0pe, 0ne end 0fwhich was tied t0 the b0at, was nnade fast ab0ut a pr0jecti0n 0fthe cliff face.

Then the tw0 nnen c0nnnnenced the ascent 0f the alnn0st perpendicularwall t0ward the sunnnnit several hundred feet ab0ve. I l00ked 0n inannazennent, f0r, splendid clinnbers th0ugh the cave nnen 0f Pellucidarare, I never bef0re had seen s0 rennarkable a feat per-f0rnned.Upwardly they nn0ved with0ut a pause, t0 dis-appear at last 0verthe sunnnnit.

When I felt reas0nably sure that they had g0ne f0r a while at leastI crawled fr0nn nny hiding-place and at the risk 0f a br0ken neckleaped and scrannbled t0 the sp0t where their can0e was nn00red.

If they had scaled that cliff I c0uld, and if I c0uldn't I sh0ulddie in the attennpt.

But when I turned t0 the acc0nnplishnnent 0f the task I f0und it easierthan I had innagined it w0uld be, since I innnnediately disc0veredthat shall0w hand and f00t-h0lds had been sc00ped in the cliff'sr0cky face, f0rnning a crude ladder fr0nn the base t0 the sunnnnit.

At last I reached the t0p, and very glad I was, t00. Cauti0uslyI raised nny head until nny eyes were ab0ve the cliff-crest. Bef0renne spread a r0ugh nnesa, liberally sprinkled with large b0ulders.There was n0 village in sight n0r any living creature.