CHAPTER XXI

DOOM

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

_COLOUR FRONTISPIECE BY CYRUS CUNEO_

"STOP! STOP!" HE CRIED, RAISING HIS HANDS ALOFT (See p. 154) _Frontispiece_

LINE DRAWINGS BY RENE BULL

THE MAN DANGLED A FOUR-INCH CENTIPEDE BEFORE HIS EYES. "IT HAD CHEEK TO CRAWL UP HONOURABLE BACK!" HE SAID

AS THEY APPROACHED, THE MAN TRIED TO RISE, UTTERED A FAINT CRY, THEN FELL FORWARD WITH A MOAN

THE TERRIFIED CHINAMAN RACED UP THE HILL, THE ELEPHANT, SCREAMING SHRILLY, CLOSE BEHIND HIM. FORRESTER THREW UP HIS RIFLE AND FIRED, BUT ON THAT TOUGH HIDE THE BULLET HAD NO EFFECT

AS THE OLD MAN WAS LED FORWARD, THE NAGAS POINTED TO HIM WITH WILD EXCITEMENT, CONTINUALLY EXCLAIMING, "THE EYE! THE EYE!"

THE FLAME GLINTED FOR A MOMENT ON A DARK FACE PEERING DOWN UPON THEM OVER THE TOP OF THE SHUTTER

A FEW YARDS AWAY, THEY CAME UPON HAMID GUL, LYING WITH RELAXED LIMBS ON THE GROUND

HIS LIPS MOVED, AND IN SPITE OF THEMSELVES THEY STARTED AS THEY HEARD HIS FIRST WORDS: "WHAT BRINGS YOU STRIPLINGS HERE?"

"IT SAVES FROM THE EYE, SAHIB"

THE MUTE IMMOBILE FIGURE MERELY RAISED AN ARM AND POINTED DOWNWARDS AT THE STAIRWAY

A SHAFT OF PALE GREEN LIGHT, BLINDING IN ITS BRILLIANCE, SHOT UP TO THE ROOF

FORRESTER MET HIM AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE CAVE

HE SHOOK IT: SOME OF THE POWDERY CONTENTS FELL TO THE FLOOR

MACKENZIE MET HAMID IN THE ENCLOSURE WHERE HE WAS DIGGING TRUFFLES

ON LIFTING HIMSELF, HE SAW HAMID CROUCHING BENEATH THE SHELTER OF THE EMBANKMENT

THERE HE SAW THE PRIEST, PEERING UP TOWARDS THE HOLE IN WHICH THE LADDER RESTED

A RUSH OF HOT BLOOD MADE HIM DIZZY, AND HE ALMOST SWOONED WHEN HE HEARD A WHISPER IN OLD MAC'S WELL-KNOWN VOICE

HE SPRANG TO THE WALL, AND RAISED HIS SPEAR TO MEET THE EXPECTED ATTACK

FORRESTER STOOD IN THE DOORWAY, IN FULL VIEW OF THE PRIESTS

TAILPIECE