But what had become of him after, they did not know; not
one of them, until the last prisoner was examined, he whom they
had taken first--the unarmed Kor-ul-lul making his way from the
direction of the Valley of Jad-ben-Otho toward the caves of his
people.
This one, when he discovered the purpose of their questioning,
bartered with them for the lives and liberty of himself and his
fellows. "I can tell you much of this terrible man of whom you ask,
Kor-ul-ja," he said. "I saw him yesterday and I know where he is,
and if you will promise to let me and my fellows return in safety
to the caves of our ancestors I will tell you all, and truthfully,
that which I know."
"You will tell us anyway," replied Om-at, "or we shall kill you."
"You will kill me anyway," retorted the prisoner, "unless you make
me this promise; so if I am to be killed the thing I know shall go
with me."
"He is right, Om-at," said Ta-den, "promise him that they shall
have their liberty."
"Very well," said Om-at. "Speak Kor-ul-lul, and when you have told
me all, you and your fellows may return unharmed to your tribe."
"It was thus," commenced the prisoner. "Three days since I was
hunting with a party of my fellows near the mouth of Kor-ul-lul not
far from where you captured me this morning, when we were surprised
and set upon by a large number of Ho-don who took us prisoners and
carried us to A-lur where a few were chosen to be slaves and the
rest were cast into a chamber beneath the temple where are held for
sacrifice the victims that are offered by the Ho-don to Jad-ben-Otho
upon the sacrificial altars of the temple at A-lur.
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