Page:Weird Tales Volume 5 Number 1 (1925-01).djvu/153

152 in the entryway created by the explosion stood a gigantic warrior. It was Vedos. A hideous smile played across his features.

"The white gods are dead!" he laughed. "All but one—and Vedos will kill him. The white gods have helped overthrow the forces of the temple of Teeheemen. Duros has captured the temple and Vedos must flee. He will go to the land of the hereafter, but before he goes he will see that the last of the white gods dies."

Vedos raised his spear and started forward. Benton attempted to raise himself, but failed. Vedos laughed.

"The white god is weak," he taunted.

As the laughter of the Teeheemen chieftain sounded in his ears, Benton saw a familiar figure suddenly rush behind Vedos and spring like a great eat upon his shoulders. It was Gomo. The old warrior had been released by the forces of Duros from the prison and had started in search of his friends. He had learned while in prison that the four had been committed to the smother chamber and had come to the place to learn of their fate.

Vedos was a large man with great natural brute strength. He was many years younger than Gomo. He dropped his spear and grappled with the latter. The two fought, and by degrees Vedos began to gain the ascendancy. Benton's strength rallied as he saw his old friend's danger. Straining every nerve, he rose to his feet and grasped the fallen spear of Vedos. The latter hurled Gomo with a great effort to the floor, but Gomo clung to him with a powerful grip and carried Vedos down on top of him.

Benton launched forward with the spear and caught Vedos back of the ear. The blow was enough to daze the warrior for a moment. Gomo reached into Vedos' belt and drew the chieftain's knife. With a powerful thrust he drove the blade of the weapon into the heart of the Chief of the warriors of the temple.

Gomo raised himself to his feet. Benton pointed to the rear of the smother chamber and explained to Gomo what had been done. He told the latter to get water and bring it to the three.

Gomo rushed into the temple and later returned with several warriors of the Duros forces. They carried the unconscious Otter and Holton with Virginia into one of the smaller chambers of the temple. Benton told them to bring his pack from the arena, and when it had been brought took some of the first aid material that the kit contained. He attempted to pour some of the stimulants from a bottle down the throats of the three.

Otter regained consciousness, and later Holton. Virginia alone remained as if dead. Benton bathed her face with cold water, and after a few minutes he thought that he felt the weakened pulse quicken. A half hour later she moved. her lips, and her eyelids opened.

"It is I, Virginia," he called to her as she stared vaguely at him. A light of recognition flashed into her eyes.

"We are saved," he said. "The bomb worked."

"Saved," she echoed weakly. "The bomb worked."

ENTON and Gomo continued in charge of the chamber for the remainder of the day. The three patients began to gather strength rapidly, as Benton had done. The next morning saw them able to walk about.

"I have a headache worse than when I was a pugilistic apprentice," said Otter.

"Here too," Holton echoed; "though I never tried the game, but I can imagine how it must feel if this is anything like it."