United States or Belize ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For an instant the younger one stood horror-stricken, then snatching from the floor the patriarch's staff a heavy stick with an iron end he jumped forward, and, quicker than words can tell it, dealt a frightful blow upon the head of Ja-khaz which sent him headlong to the ground with a broken skull. All this had happened in a moment, and wild confusion followed.
And then as if to himself, "And this is July fourth." But he drank, as did we all, for our thirst was great and the odor of the golden liquid was most alluring. It tasted hotter than the fires of Jelbuz. It was also of great potency and gave a fine exhilaration to the senses. We became happier at once. And here it was that Ja-khaz did a fatal thing.
He brought his flying staff like a thunderbolt from Heaven upon the Persian skulls, yet always edging toward the door to prevent his enemies surrounding him. Four of our number, in as many minutes, joined Ja-khaz upon the floor. Kuzundam, Ad-el-pate, Fattan-laiz-eh, and Ha-tak, a sailor, lay stretched upon the pavement, all dead or grievously wounded.
This were well had he gone no further, but he next put his arm about her waist with intent to kiss her. Much terrified, she tried to free herself. But Ja-khaz, holding her fair chin with his other hand, had brought his lips almost to hers when the old man raised his heavy staff and brought it down upon our comrade's head with cruel swiftness.
As for illuminating the harbor, Bhoz-ja-khaz says Nofuhl is mistaken; there are no vestiges of anything that could give a light no vessel for oil or traces of fire. Nofuhl says Ja-khaz is an idiot; that he shall go himself. 13th May A startling discovery this morning.
Ja-khaz, with wanton cruelty, brought his steel upon the ancient head, and stretched him upon the floor.
The animal, a pretty thing, much like a kitten, was hovering near when Ja-khaz, with rare courage and agility, threw himself upon it. And then what happened none of us can state with precision. We know we held our noses and fled. And Ja-khaz! No words can fit him. He carries with him an odor to devastate a province. We had to leave him ashore and send him fresh raiment.
I wavered and at last consented, foolishly I believe, for the crew are loud for Persia. And this town is inland on a river. He says it was their finest city, the seat of Government, the capital of the country. Grip-til-lah swears he can find it if the map is truthful. Ja-khaz still eats by himself. This afternoon we reclined upon the deck, the Zlotuhb drifting gently in a southerly direction.
I tell Nofuhl his fine theory concerning the extinction of the Yahnkis is a good tale for those who have never been here. No man without a leather skin could survive a second night. 18th May Poor Ja-khaz is worse than sick. He had an encounter last night with a strange animal, and his defeat was ignoble.
Rapidly approaching them and shutting tight his bony hand, he shot it from him with startling velocity, so directing that it came in contact with the face of Ja-khaz who, to our amazement, sat roughly upon the marble pavement, the blood streaming from his nostrils. He was a pitiful sight. Unaccustomed to such warfare we were seriously alarmed, and thought him killed perhaps.
Word Of The Day