"Come about and run for it," said Tarzan; "perhaps they have not seen us yet." "Why should we try to escape?" asked Lajo. "Because we have not enough men to fight them," replied Tarzan. "They may not be your enemies, but they will be ours." Lajo did as he was bid, nor had he any alternative since the Korsars aboard were only three unarmed men, while there were ten Waziri with rifles. All eyes watched the sails in the distance and it soon became apparent that they were coming closer, for the longboat, with its small sail, was far from fast. Little by little the distance between them and the ships decreased until it was evident that they were being pursued by a considerable fleet. "Those are no Korsars," said Lajo. "I have never seen ships like those before." The longboat wallowed through the sea making the best headway that it could, but the pursuing ships, stringing out as far as the eye could reach until their numbers presented the appearance of a vast armada, continued to close up rapidly upon it. The leading ship was now closing up so swiftly upon them that the occupants of the longboat had an excellent view of it. It was short and broad of beam with rather a high bow. It had two sails and in addition was propelled by oars, which protruded through ports along each side, there being some fifty oars all told. Above the line of oars, over the sides of the ship, were hung the shields of the warriors. "Lord!" exclaimed Jason to Tarzan; "Pellucidar not only boasts Spanish pirates, but vikings as well, for if those are not viking ships they certainly are an adaptation of them." "Slightly modernized, however," remarked the Lord of the Jungle. "There is a gun mounted on a small deck built in the bow." "So there is," exclaimed Jason, "and I think we had better come about. There is a fellow up there turning it on us now." Presently another man appeared upon the elevated bow deck of the enemy. "Heave to," he cried, "or I'll blow you out of the water." "Who are you?" demanded Jason. "I am Ja of Anoroc," replied the man, "and this is the fleet of David I, Emperor of Pellucidar." "Come about," said Tarzan to Lajo. "Someone in this boat must have been born on Sunday," exclaimed Jason. "I never knew there was so much good luck in the world." "Who are you?" demanded Ja as the longboat came slowly about. "We are friends," replied Tarzan. "The Emperor of Pellucidar can have no friends upon the Korsar Az," replied Ja. "If Abner Perry is with you, we can prove that you are wrong," replied Jason. "Abner Perry is not with us," said Ja; "but what do you know of him?" By this time the two boats were alongside and the bronzed Mezop warriors of Ja's crew were gazing down curiously upon the occupants of the boat. "This is Jason Gridley," said Tarzan to Ja, indicating the American. "Perhaps you have heard Abner Perry speak of him. He organized an expedition in the outer world to come here to rescue David Innes from the dungeons of the Korsars."