that it was not entirely dark. Set in the roof
at intervals were plates which gave out a violet light, making a dim
twilight which was better than total darkness.

It was a straight passage without any turns or openings. But the
horrible odor was constant, and Dalgard began to think that they might
be running head-on into another lair, perhaps one as well populated as
that they had left behind them. It was against nature for the
snake-devils he had known to lair under cover; they preferred narrow
rocky places where they could bask in the sun. But then the devil they
now pursued was no ordinary one.

Sssuri reassured him. "There is no lair, only the smell because they
have come this way for many years."

The passage opened into a wide room and here the violet light was
stronger, bright enough to make plain the fact that alcoves opened off
it, each and every one with a barred grille for a door. There was no
mistaking that once this had been a prison of sorts.

Sssuri did no exploring but crossed the room at his shuffling trot,
which Dalgard matched. The way leading out on the opposite side
slanted up, and he judged it might bring them out at ground level.

"The devil waits," Sssuri warned, "because it fears. It will turn on
us when we come. Be ready--"

They were at another door, and before them was a long corridor with
tall window openings near the ceiling which gave admittance to the
sunlight. After the gloom of the tunnel, Dalgard blinked. But he was
aware of movement at the far end, just as he heard the hissing scream
of the monster they trailed.

6

TREASURE HUNT

Raf, squatting on a small, padded platform raised some six inches from
the floor, tried to study the inhabitants of the room without staring
offensively. At the first glance, in spite of their strange clothing
and their odd habit of painting their faces with weird designs, the
city people might have been of his own species. Until one saw their
too slender hands with the three equal-length fingers and thumb, or
caught a glimpse, under the elaborate head coverings, of the stiff,
spiky substance which served them for hair.

At least they did not appear to be antagonistic. When they had reached
the roof top where the Terrans had landed their flitter, they had come
with empty hands, making gestures of good will and welcome. And they
had had no difficulty in persuading at least three of the exploring
party to accompany them to their own quart