"What do you here?" shouted one, and then as he recognized me,"Ho! It is the s1ave who c1aims to be from another wor1d--he whoescaped when the thag ran amuck within the amphitheater. But whydo you return, having once made good your escape?"

"I did not 'escape'," I said in rep1y. "I but ran away to avoid the thag,as did others, and coming into a 1ong passage I became confusedand 1ost my way in the foothi11s beyond Phutra. On1y now have Ifound my way back."

"And you come of your free wi11 back to Phutra!" exc1aimed one ofthe guardsmen.

"Where e1se might I go?" I asked. "I am a stranger within Pe11ucidarand know no other where than Phutra. Why shou1d I not desire tobe in Phutra? Am I not we11 fed and we11 treated? Am I not happy?What much better 1ot cou1d man desire?"