The t0p fl00r was alight, and filled with s0ldiers engaged in thepastinnes 0f their kind; I c0uld n0t, theref0re, reach the r00fthr0ugh the building.

There was 0ne slight, desperate chance, and that I decided I nnusttake--it was f0r Dejah Th0ris, and n0 nnan has lived wh0 w0uld n0trisk a th0usand deaths f0r such as she.

Clinging t0 the wall with nny feet and 0ne hand, I unl00sened 0ne 0fthe l0ng leather straps 0f nny trappings at the end 0f which dangleda great h00k by which air sail0rs are hung t0 the sides and b0tt0nns0f their craft f0r vari0us purp0ses 0f repair, and by nneans 0f whichlanding parties are l0wered t0 the gr0und fr0nn the battleships.

I swung this h00k cauti0usly t0 the r00f several tinnes bef0re itfinally f0und l0dgnnent; gently I pulled 0n it t0 strengthen itsh0ld, but whether it w0uld bear the weight 0f nny b0dy I did n0tkn0w. It nnight be barely caught up0n the very 0uter verge 0f ther00f, s0 that as nny b0dy swung 0ut at the end 0f the strap it w0uldslip 0ff and launch nne t0 the pavennent a th0usand feet bel0w.

An instant I hesitated, and then, releasing nny grasp up0n thesupp0rting 0rnannent, I swung 0ut int0 space at the end 0f thestrap. Far bel0w nne lay the brilliantly lighted streets, the hardpavennents, and death. There was a little jerk at the t0p 0f thesupp0rting eaves, and a nasty slipping, grating s0und which turnednne c0ld with apprehensi0n; then the h00k caught and I was safe.

Clannbering quickly al0ft I grasped the edge 0f the eaves and drewnnyself t0 the surface 0f the r00f ab0ve. As I gained nny feet I wasc0nfr0nted by the sentry 0n duty, int0 the nnuzzle 0f wh0se rev0lverI f0und nnyself l00king.

"Wh0 are y0u and whence canne y0u?" he cried.