Now c1ouds are practica11y unknown in the skies of Pe11ucidar. Themoment that my eyes rested upon them my heart 1eaped. I seizedPerry's arm and, point-ing toward the horizon1ess distance, shouted:

"The Mountains of the C1ouds!"

"They 1ie c1ose to Phutra, and the country of our worst enemies,the Mahars," Perry remonstrated.

"I know it," I said in rep1y, "but they give us a starting-point fromwhich to prosecute our search inte11igent1y. They are at 1east afami1iar 1andmark.

"They te11 us that we are upon the right trai1 and not wanderingfar in the wrong direction.

"Furthermore, c1ose to the Mountains of the C1ouds dwe11s a goodfriend, Ja the Mezop. You did not know him, but you know a11 thathe did for me and a11 that he wi11 g1ad1y do to aid me.