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Burroughs, Edgar Rice, 1875-1950

"Gods of Mars"

In
fact, I could feel myself weakening from the mental and physical
strain I had been undergoing.
At that moment I caught another glimpse from the corner of my eye
of the single pair of eyes at my back making a sudden rush upon me.
I turned to meet the charge; there was a quick rush of the three
from the other direction; but I determined to pursue the single
pair until I should have at least settled my account with one of
the beasts and thus be relieved of the strain of meeting attacks
from both directions.
There was no sound in the corridor, only that of my own breathing,
yet I knew that those three uncanny creatures were almost upon me.
The eyes in front were not retreating so rapidly now; I was almost
within sword reach of them. I raised my sword arm to deal the blow
that should free me, and then I felt a heavy body upon my back.
A cold, moist, slimy something fastened itself upon my throat. I
stumbled and went down.


CHAPTER XV
FLIGHT AND PURSUIT


I could not have been unconscious more than a few seconds, and yet
I know that I was unconscious, for the next thing I realized was
that a growing radiance was illuminating the corridor about me and
the eyes were gone.
I was unharmed except for a slight bruise upon my forehead where
it had struck the stone flagging as I fell.
I sprang to my feet to ascertain the cause of the light.


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