d was ready to die in the defence of the idol
of his heart.

"Have courage," he said; "all is not yet lost."

The ledge on which they stood was so narrow that there was no room for
two to walk beside each other. Lifting the gentle form in one arm, he
swung her over the abyss at his feet and placed her on the ledge in
front of him.

The danger was at the rear, and that was the place for him.

"Now advance," he added; "we may find a better spot than this for
defence."

He feared that his pursuers might divide, and some of them start around
the other way, so as to come upon him from the opposite side. If that
were done, he would be caught between two fires; and, since one of the
party possessed a gun, the advantage would be preponderatingly against
him.

There was subject, too, for perplexing thought in the situation. He
had no wish to shoot King Haffgo, and would not do it if any possible
way of avoiding it should present itself. He determined that he should
be spared until the last one, when he could probably be handled,
without resorting to the last extremity.

Then, too, he felt no doubt about the presence of the giant Ziffak. He
was the friend of himself and Ariel, though for politic reasons he had
assumed the guise of an enemy. His situation was a most delicate one,
and, even in his bewilderment and anxiety, Ashman could not help
wondering how he would conduct himself in the crisis at hand.

Inasmuch as the American was resolved to avoid injuring the dusky
Hercules, it will be observed that there were two of the company of
pursuers whom he was much more anxious to spare than he was to inflict
harm upon the rest.

He was hopeful for a moment that he and his companion had not been
detected, but a resounding shout echoed through the cavern of
diamonds--a shout of such amazing power that he knew it had come from
the throat of Ziffak himself, who, as if to make sure his meaning was
not misunderstood, brandished his mighty javelin over his prodigious
head and shoulders, as he almost pushed his leader from the path in
front of him.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

AT BAY.

Ariel flitted so rapidly along the ledge that her lover felt obliged to
ask her to desist, as he found it difficult to keep pace with her.

The narrow path ascended more rapidly than before, and he saw they were
steadily climbing toward the top of the roof. The shelly support to
their feet, too, became less substantial, crumbling and givin