her. With loud flapping of
the powerful wings the creatures took to the air, circling once before
they topped the trees upon the hill and then taking a course due west
out over the waters of the sea.

Nowhere about them could Bradley see signs of other Wieroos, nor of
those other menaces which he had feared might bring disaster to his
plans for escape--the huge, winged reptilia that are so numerous above
the southern areas of Caspak and which are often seen, though in lesser
numbers, farther north.

Nearer and nearer loomed the mainland--a broad, parklike expanse
stretching inland to the foot of a low plateau spread out before them.
The little dots in the foreground became grazing herds of deer and
antelope and bos; a huge woolly rhinoceros wallowed in a mudhole to the
right, and beyond, a mighty mammoth culled the tender shoots from a
tall tree. The roars and screams and growls of giant carnivora came
faintly to their ears. Ah, this was Caspak. With all of its dangers
and its primal savagery it brought a fullness to the throat of the
Englishman as to one who sees and hears the familiar sights and sounds
of home after a long absence. Then the Wieroos dropped swiftly
downward to the flower-starred turf that grew almost to the water's
edge, the fugitives slipped from their backs, and Bradley told the
red-robed creatures they were free to go.

When he had cut the ropes from their ankles they rose with that uncanny
wailing upon their lips that always brought a shudder to the
Englishman, and upon dismal wings they flapped away toward frightful
Oo-oh.

When the creatures had gone, the girl turned toward Bradley. "Why did
you have them bring us here?" she asked. "Now we are far from my
country. We may never live to reach it, as we are among enemies who,
while not so horrible will kill us just as surely as would the Wieroos
should they capture us, and we have before us many marches through
lands filled with savage beasts."

"There were two reasons," replied Bradley. "You told me that there are
two Wieroo cities at the eastern end of the island. To have passed
near either of them might have been to have brought about our heads
hundreds of the creatures from whom we could not possibly have escaped.
Again, my friends must be near this spot--it cannot be over two marches
to the fort of which I have told you. It is my duty to return to them.
If they still live we shall find a way to return you to your people."

"A