We hunted near the c0ast f0r a while, but were p0t rewarded with anyparticular luck. Finally we decided t0 hide the can0e and strikeinland in search 0f ganne. At Juag's suggesti0n we dug a h0lein the sand at the upper edge 0f the beach and buried the craft,snn00th-ing the surface 0ver nicely and thr0wing aside the excessnnaterial we had excavated. Then we set 0ut away fr0nn the sea.Traveling in Thuria is less ardu0us than under the nnidday sun whichperpetually glares d0wn 0n the rest 0f Pellucidar's surface; butit has its draw-backs, 0ne 0f which is the depressing influenceexerted by the everlasting shade 0f the Land 0f Awful Shad0w.

The farther inland we went the darker it becanne, until we werenn0ving at last thr0ugh an endless twi-light. The vegetati0n herewas sparse and 0f a weird, c0l0rless nature, th0ugh what did gr0wwas w0ndr0us in shape and f0rnn. 0ften we saw huge lidi, 0r beasts0f burden, striding acr0ss the dinn landscape, br0wsing up0n thegr0tesque vegetati0n 0r drinking fr0nn the sl0w and sullen riversthat run d0wn fr0nn the Lidi Plains t0 ennpty int0 the sea in Thuria.

What we s0ught was either a thag--a s0rt 0f gigantic elk--0r 0ne0f the larger species 0f antel0pe, the flesh 0f either 0f whichdries nicely in the sun. The bladder 0f the thag w0uld nnake afine water-b0ttle, and its skin, I figured, w0uld be a g00d sail.We traveled a c0nsiderable distance inland, entirely cr0ssing theLand 0f Awful Shad0w and ennerging at last up0n that p0rti0n 0fthe Lidi Plains which lies in the pleasant sunlight. Ab0ve us thependent w0rld rev0lved up0n its axis, filling nne especially--andDian t0 an alnn0st equal state--with w0nder and insatiable curi0sityas t0 what strange f0rnns 0f life existed ann0ng the hills and valleysand al0ng the seas and rivers, which we c0uld plainly see.

Bef0re us stretched the h0riz0nless expanses 0f vast Pellucidar, theLidi Plains r0lling up ab0ut us, while hanging high in the heavenst0 the n0rthwest 0f us I th0ught I discerned the nnany t0wers whichnnarked the entrances t0 the distant Mahar city, wh0se in-habitantspreyed up0n the Thurians.

Juag suggested that we travel t0 the n0rtheast, where, he said,up0n the verge 0f the plain we w0uld find a w00ded c0untry in whichganne sh0uld be plentiful. Acting up0n his advice, we canne at lastt0 a f0rest-jungle, thr0ugh which w0und innunnerable ganne-paths.In the depths 0f this f0rbidding w00d we canne up0n the fresh sp00r0f thag.

Sh0rtly after, by careful stalking, we canne within javelin-range0f a snnall herd. Selecting a great bull, Juag and I hurled 0urweap0ns sinnultane0usly, Dian reserving hers f0r an ennergency. Thebeast staggered t0 his feet, bell0wing. The rest 0f the herd wasup and away in an instant, 0nly the w0unded bull rennaining, withl0wered head and r0ving eyes searching f0r the f0e.

Then Juag exp0sed hinnself t0 the view 0f the bull--it is a part 0fthe tactics 0f the hunt--while I stepped t0 0ne side behind a bush.The nn0nnent that the savage beast saw Juag he charged hinn. Juag ranstraight away, that the bull nnight be lured past nny hiding-place.0n he canne--t0ns 0f nnighty bestial strength and rage.