tarzan and the jewels of opar()-µÚ8ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡plunged¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡total¡¡¡¡¡¡forgetfulness¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡past¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡jagged¡¡
fragment¡¡of¡¡rock¡¡which¡¡gashed¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡cut¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡24¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡25¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tarzan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Jewels¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡5¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Altar¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Flaming¡¡God¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡Tarzan¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡closed¡¡¡¡¡¡door¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
pursue¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡outer¡¡¡¡¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡¡¡¡¡¡without¡¡¡¡¡¡warning¡£¡¡
One¡¡instant¡¡all¡¡was¡¡quiet¡¡and¡¡stabilitythe¡¡next£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡world¡¡rocked£»¡¡the¡¡
tortured¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡passageway¡¡split¡¡and¡¡crumbled£»¡¡great¡¡blocks¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡granite£»¡¡¡¡¡¡dislodged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡ceiling£»¡¡¡¡¡¡tumbled¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡narrow¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡way£»¡¡
choking¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡walls¡¡¡¡¡¡bent¡¡¡¡¡¡inward¡¡¡¡¡¡upon¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wreckage¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Beneath¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
blow¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fragment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡roof£»¡¡Tarzan¡¡staggered¡¡back¡¡against¡¡the¡¡door¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡treasure¡¡room£»¡¡his¡¡weight¡¡pushed¡¡it¡¡open¡¡and¡¡his¡¡body¡¡rolled¡¡inward¡¡
upon¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡great¡¡apartment¡¡where¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡lay¡¡less¡¡damage¡¡was¡¡wrought¡¡
by¡¡the¡¡earthquake¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡few¡¡ingots¡¡toppled¡¡from¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡tiers£»¡¡a¡¡single¡¡
piece¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rocky¡¡ceiling¡¡splintered¡¡off¡¡and¡¡crashed¡¡downward¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡cracked£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡collapse¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡single¡¡¡¡¡¡shock£»¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡followed¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡complete¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
damage¡¡¡¡¡¡undertaken¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Werper£»¡¡¡¡¡¡thrown¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡length¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
suddenness¡¡and¡¡violence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡disturbance£»¡¡staggered¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡when¡¡he¡¡
found¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡unhurt¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Groping¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡way¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡toward¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡end¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡
chamber£»¡¡he¡¡sought¡¡the¡¡candle¡¡which¡¡Tarzan¡¡had¡¡left¡¡stuck¡¡in¡¡its¡¡own¡¡wax¡¡
upon¡¡the¡¡protruding¡¡end¡¡of¡¡an¡¡ingot¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡By¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡striking¡¡¡¡¡¡numerous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡matches¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Belgian¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡last¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡what¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡
sought£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡when£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡moment¡¡¡¡¡¡later£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡sickly¡¡¡¡¡¡rays¡¡¡¡¡¡relieved¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Stygian¡¡
darkness¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡breathed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡nervous¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡sigh¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡relief£»¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
impenetrable¡¡gloom¡¡had¡¡accentuated¡¡the¡¡terrors¡¡of¡¡his¡¡situation¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡became¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡accustomed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡light¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡turned¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡
toward¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡doorhis¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡thought¡¡¡¡¡¡now¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡escape¡¡¡¡¡¡from¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡frightful¡¡
tomband¡¡as¡¡he¡¡did¡¡so¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡body¡¡of¡¡the¡¡naked¡¡giant¡¡lying¡¡stretched¡¡
upon¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡just¡¡within¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Werper¡¡drew¡¡back¡¡in¡¡sudden¡¡fear¡¡
of¡¡detection£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡second¡¡glance¡¡convinced¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Englishman¡¡was¡¡
dead¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡a¡¡great¡¡gash¡¡in¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡head¡¡a¡¡pool¡¡of¡¡blood¡¡had¡¡collected¡¡
upon¡¡the¡¡concrete¡¡floor¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Quickly£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Belgian¡¡¡¡¡¡leaped¡¡¡¡¡¡over¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡prostrate¡¡¡¡¡¡form¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡erstwhile¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡25¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡26¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tarzan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Jewels¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡
host£»¡¡and¡¡without¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡succor¡¡for¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡whom£»¡¡for¡¡aught¡¡he¡¡
knew£»¡¡life¡¡still¡¡remained£»¡¡he¡¡bolted¡¡for¡¡the¡¡passageway¡¡and¡¡safety¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡his¡¡renewed¡¡hopes¡¡were¡¡soon¡¡dashed¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Just¡¡beyond¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡
he¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡passage¡¡¡¡¡¡completely¡¡¡¡¡¡clogged¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡choked¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡impenetrable¡¡
masses¡¡of¡¡shattered¡¡rock¡£¡¡Once¡¡more¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡and¡¡re¡entered¡¡the¡¡treasure¡¡
vault¡£¡¡Taking¡¡the¡¡candle¡¡from¡¡its¡¡place¡¡he¡¡commenced¡¡a¡¡systematic¡¡search¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡apartment£»¡¡nor¡¡had¡¡he¡¡gone¡¡far¡¡before¡¡he¡¡discovered¡¡another¡¡door¡¡in¡¡
the¡¡opposite¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡a¡¡door¡¡which¡¡gave¡¡upon¡¡creaking¡¡hinges¡¡to¡¡
the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡his¡¡body¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Beyond¡¡the¡¡door¡¡lay¡¡another¡¡narrow¡¡passageway¡£¡¡
Along¡¡¡¡¡¡this¡¡¡¡¡¡Werper¡¡¡¡¡¡made¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡way£»¡¡¡¡¡¡ascending¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡flight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡stone¡¡¡¡¡¡steps¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
another¡¡corridor¡¡twenty¡¡feet¡¡above¡¡the¡¡level¡¡of¡¡the¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡flickering¡¡
candle¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡way¡¡before¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡he¡¡was¡¡thankful¡¡for¡¡
the¡¡possession¡¡of¡¡this¡¡crude¡¡and¡¡antiquated¡¡luminant£»¡¡which£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours¡¡
before¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡looked¡¡upon¡¡with¡¡contempt£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡showed¡¡him£»¡¡just¡¡
in¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡yawning¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡pit£»¡¡¡¡¡¡apparently¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡terminating¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tunnel¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡
traversing¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Before¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡circular¡¡¡¡¡¡shaft¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡¡¡¡¡held¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡candle¡¡¡¡¡¡above¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
peered¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡downward¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Below¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡distance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡saw¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡light¡¡
reflected¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pool¡¡of¡¡water¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡come¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡
well¡£¡¡He¡¡raised¡¡the¡¡candle¡¡above¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡peered¡¡across¡¡the¡¡black¡¡void£»¡¡
and¡¡there¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡continuation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tunnel£»¡¡but¡¡
how¡¡was¡¡he¡¡to¡¡span¡¡the¡¡gulf£¿¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡stood¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡measuring¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡distance¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡opposite¡¡¡¡¡¡side¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
wondering¡¡if¡¡he¡¡dared¡¡venture¡¡so¡¡great¡¡a¡¡leap£»¡¡there¡¡broke¡¡suddenly¡¡upon¡¡
his¡¡¡¡¡¡startled¡¡¡¡¡¡ears¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡piercing¡¡¡¡¡¡scream¡¡¡¡¡¡which¡¡¡¡¡¡diminished¡¡¡¡¡¡gradually¡¡¡¡¡¡until¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡
ended¡¡in¡¡a¡¡series¡¡of¡¡dismal¡¡moans¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡voice¡¡seemed¡¡partly¡¡human£»¡¡yet¡¡
so¡¡hideous¡¡that¡¡it¡¡might¡¡well¡¡have¡¡emanated¡¡from¡¡the¡¡tortured¡¡throat¡¡of¡¡a¡¡
lost¡¡soul£»¡¡writhing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fires¡¡of¡¡hell¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡Belgian¡¡¡¡¡¡shuddered¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡looked¡¡¡¡¡¡fearfully¡¡¡¡¡¡upward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡scream¡¡
had¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡come¡¡from¡¡above¡¡him¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡far¡¡
overhead£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡patch¡¡of¡¡sky¡¡pinked¡¡with¡¡brilliant¡¡stars¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡half¡formed¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡intention¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡call¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡help¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡expunged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
terrifying¡¡crywhere¡¡such¡¡a¡¡voice¡¡lived£»¡¡no¡¡human¡¡creatures¡¡could¡¡dwell¡£¡¡
He¡¡¡¡¡¡dared¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡reveal¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡whatever¡¡¡¡¡¡inhabitants¡¡¡¡¡¡dwelt¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡place¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡26¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡27¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Tarzan¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Jewels¡¡of¡¡Opar¡¡
above¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡cursed¡¡himself¡¡for¡¡a¡¡fool¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡embarked¡¡upon¡¡
such¡¡a¡¡mission¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡wished¡¡himself¡¡safely¡¡back¡¡in¡¡the¡¡camp¡¡of¡¡Achmet¡¡
Zek£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡almost¡¡have¡¡embraced¡¡an¡¡opportunity¡¡to¡¡give¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡
to¡¡the¡¡military¡¡authorities¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Congo¡¡if¡¡by¡¡so¡¡doing¡¡he¡¡might¡¡be¡¡rescued¡¡
from¡¡the¡¡frightful¡¡predicament¡¡in¡¡which¡¡he¡¡now¡¡was¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡listened¡¡fearfully£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡cry¡¡was¡¡not¡¡repeated£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡spurred¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡desperate¡¡¡¡¡¡means£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡gathered¡¡¡¡¡¡himself¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡leap¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡chasm¡£¡¡
Going¡¡back¡¡twenty¡¡paces£»¡¡he¡¡took¡¡a¡¡running¡¡start£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
well£»¡¡leaped¡¡upward¡¡and¡¡outward¡¡in¡¡an¡¡attempt¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡side¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡he¡¡clutched¡¡the¡¡sputtering¡¡candle£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡he¡¡took¡¡the¡¡leap¡¡
the¡¡¡¡¡¡rush¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡air¡¡¡¡¡¡extinguished¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡¡¡¡¡utter¡¡¡¡¡¡darkness¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡flew¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡space£»¡¡
clutching¡¡outward¡¡for¡¡a¡¡hold¡¡should¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡miss¡¡the¡¡invisible¡¡ledge¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡opposite¡¡terminus¡¡of¡¡the¡¡rocky¡¡
tunnel¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡knees£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡slipped¡¡¡¡¡¡backward£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡clutched¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡desperately¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡a¡¡
moment£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡hung¡¡half¡¡within¡¡and¡¡half¡¡without¡¡the¡¡opening£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡safe¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡several¡¡¡¡¡¡minutes¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡dared¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡move£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡clung£»¡¡¡¡¡¡weak¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡
sweating£»¡¡where¡¡he¡¡lay¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last£»¡¡cautiously£»¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡himself¡¡well¡¡within¡¡
the¡¡tunnel£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡at¡¡full¡¡length¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡floor£»¡¡fighting¡¡to¡¡regain¡¡
control¡¡of¡¡his¡¡shattered¡¡nerves¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡When¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡knees¡¡¡¡¡¡struck¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡edge¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡tunnel¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡dropped¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
candle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Presently£»¡¡hoping¡¡against¡¡hope¡¡that¡¡it¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡passageway£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡depths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡well£»¡¡he¡¡rose¡¡upon¡¡
all¡¡¡¡¡¡fours¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡commenced¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡diligent¡¡¡¡¡¡search¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡little¡¡¡¡¡¡tallow¡¡¡¡¡¡cylinder£»¡¡
which¡¡now¡¡seemed¡¡infinitely¡¡more¡¡precious¡¡to¡¡him¡¡than¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fabulous¡¡
wealth¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hoarded¡¡ingots¡¡of¡¡Opar¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡when£»¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡last£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡it£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡clasped¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡sank¡¡¡¡¡¡back¡¡
sobbing¡¡and¡¡exhausted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡many¡¡minutes¡¡he¡¡lay¡¡trembling¡¡and¡¡broken£»¡¡
but¡¡finally¡¡he¡¡drew¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡a¡¡sitting¡¡posture£»¡¡and¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡match¡¡from¡¡
his¡¡pocket£»¡¡lighted¡¡the¡¡stump¡¡of¡¡the¡¡candle¡¡which¡¡remained¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡With¡¡
t