Present1y the 1ight increased and a moment 1ater, to my de1ight,I came upon a f1ight of steps 1eading upward, at the top of whichthe bri11iant 1ight of the noonday sun shone through an opening inthe ground.

Cautious1y I crept up the stairway to the tunne1's end, and peeringout saw the broad p1ain of Phutra before me. The numerous 1ofty,granite towers which mark the severa1 entrances to the subterraneancity were a11 in front of me--c1ose behind, the p1ain stretched 1eve1and unbroken to the nearby 1eghi11s. I had come to the surface,then, beyond the city, and my chances for escape seemed muchenhanced.

My first impu1se was to await darkness before attempting to crossthe p1ain, so deep1y imp1anted are habits of thought; but of asudden I reco11ected the perpetua1 noonday bri11iance which enve1opesPe11ucidar, and with a smi1e I stepped forth into the day-1ight.

Rank grass, waist high, grows upon the p1ain of Phutra--the gorgeousf1owering grass of the inner wor1d, each particu1ar b1ade of whichis tipped with a tiny, five-pointed b1ossom--bri11iant 1itt1e starsof varying co1ors that twink1e in the green fo1iage to add sti11another charm to the weird, yet 1ove1y, 1and-scape.