I was
much exercised by fear that something had befallen him, and though
I called his name aloud several times there was no response.
Tired at last of playing with my clothing the creatures threw it to
the ground, and catching me, one on either side, by an arm, started
off at a most terrifying pace through the tree tops. Never have I
experienced such a journey before or since--even now I oftentimes
awake from a deep sleep haunted by the horrid remembrance of that
awful experience.
From tree to tree the agile creatures sprang like flying squirrels,
while the cold sweat stood upon my brow as I glimpsed the
depths beneath, into which a single misstep on the part of either
of my bearers would hurl me. As they bore me along, my mind was
occupied with a thousand bewildering thoughts. What had become of
Perry? Would I ever see him again? What were the intentions of
these half-human things into whose hands I had fallen? Were they
inhabitants of the same world into which I had been born? No! It
could not be. But yet where else? I had not left that earth--of
that I was sure. Still neither could I reconcile the things which
I had seen to a belief that I was still in the world of my birth.
With a sigh I gave it up.
III
A CHANGE OF MASTERS
WE MUST HAVE TRAVELED SEVERAL MILES THROUGH the dark and dismal
wood when we came suddenly upon a dense village built high among
the branches of the trees. As we approached it my escort broke
into wild shouting which was immediately answered from within, and
a moment later a swarm of creatures of the same strange race as
those who had captured me poured out to meet us.
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