, terrible fighters, mighty hunters,
one burning glance from whose eyes carried death and decay unto all who
were foolhardy enough even to attempt to pass those mighty barriers,
built up by a beneficent nature. Only for that nearly impassable wall,
the entire earth would be overrun and dominated by these monsters in
human guise.

Then, after the air-ship was cared for to the best of his ability, and
the night-guard set in place so that an alarm might give warning of any
illegal intrusion, the little party returned to the cavern home of the
exile where, after another refusal on his part, the professor filled and
lighted his beloved pipe.

Almost in spite of himself Featherwit was drawn towards those marvellous
articles depending from the wall, and, as he gazed in silent marvel,
Cooper Edgecombe drew nigh, with still other articles to complete the
collection.

"You may possibly find something of interest in these, too, dear sir,
although I have given them rather rough usage. This formed a rather
comfortable cap, and--"

"A helmet! And sandals! A sash which is--yes! worn about the waist,
mainly to support weapons, and termed a maxtlatl, which--and
all sufficiently well preserved to be readily recognised as
genuine--unless--Surely I am dreaming!"

If not precisely that, the worthy professor assuredly was almost beside
himself while examining these articles of warrior's wear, one by one,
knowing that neither eyes nor memory were at fault, yet still unable to
believe those very senses.

Up to this, Cooper Edgecombe had felt but a passing interest in
the matter, forming as it did but a single incident in a more than
ordinarily eventful life; but now he began to divine at least a portion
of the truth, and his face was lighted up with unusual animation, when
Phaeton Featherwit turned that way, to almost sharply demand:

"Where did you gain possession of these weapons and garments, sir? And
how,--from whom?"

"I took them from an Indian, nearly two years ago. He caught me off my
guard, and, when I saw that I could neither hide nor flee, I fought for
my life," explained the exile; then giving a short, bitter laugh, to
add: "Strange, is it not? Although I had long since grown weary of
existence such as this, I fought for it; I turned wild beast, as it
were! Then, after all was over, I took these things, more because I
feared his comrades might suspect--"

"His comrades?" echoed the professor. "More than the one, then? Y