"
"They gained their liberty? And how?"
"It is the custom of the Mahars to liberate those who remain alive
within the arena after the beasts depart or are killed. Thus it
has happened that several mighty warriors from far distant lands,
whom we have captured on our slave raids, have battled the brutes
turned in upon them and slain them, thereby winning their freedom.
In the instance which you witnessed the beasts killed each other,
but the result was the same--the man and woman were liberated,
furnished with weapons, and started on their homeward journey.
Upon the left shoulder of each a mark was burned--the mark of the
Mahars--which will forever protect these two from slaving parties."
"There is a slender chance for me then if I be sent to the arena,
and none at all if the learned ones drag me to the pits?"
"You are quite right," he replied; "but do not felicitate yourself
too quickly should you be sent to the arena, for there is scarce
one in a thousand who comes out alive."
To my surprise they returned me to the same building in which
I had been confined with Perry and Ghak before my escape. At the
doorway I was turned over to the guards there.
"He will doubtless be called before the investigators shortly,"
said he who had brought me back, "so have him in readiness."
The guards in whose hands I now found myself, upon hearing that I
had returned of my own volition to Phutra evidently felt that it
would be safe to give me liberty within the building as had been
the custom before I had escaped, and so I was told to return to
whatever duty had been mine formerly.
Pages:
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133