PELLUCIDAR

Contents

PROLOGUE

Several years had elapsed since I had found the opportunity to do any big-gamehunting; for at last I had my plans almost perfected for a return to my oldstamping-grounds in northern Africa, where in other days I had had excellentsport in pursuit of the king of beasts.

The date of my departure had been set; I was to leave in two weeks. Noschoolboy counting the lagging hours that must pass before the beginning of“long vacation” released him to the delirious joys of the summer camp couldhave been filled with greater impatience or keener anticipation.

And then came a letter that started me for Africa twelve days ahead of myschedule.

Often am I in receipt of letters from strangers who have found something in astory of mine to commend or to condemn. My interest in this department of mycorrespondence is ever fresh. I opened this particular letter with all the zestof pleasurable anticipation with which I had opened so many others. Thepost-mark (Algiers) had aroused my interest and curiosity, especially at thistime, since it was Algiers that was presently to witness the termination of mycoming sea voyage in search of sport and adventure.

Before the reading of that letter was completed lions and lion-hunting had fledmy thoughts, and I was in a state of excitement bordering upon frenzy.

It—well, read it yourself, and see if you, too, do not find food for franticconjecture, for tantalizing doubts, and for a great hope.

Here it is:

DEAR SIR: I think that I have run across one of the most remarkablecoincidences in modern literature. But let me start at the beginning:

I am, by profession, a wanderer upon the face of the earth. I have no trade—norany other occupation.

My father bequeathed me a competency; some remoter ancestors lust to roam. Ihave combined the two and invested them carefully and without extravaganc

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