The lost race

In Short

Robert E. Howard's short story follows Cororuc, a pragmatic Briton crossing the untamed forests of Cornwall after a secret diplomatic mission. Threatened by outlaws and eerie woodland encounters, he is eventually captured by a subterranean race of ancient Picts who have lived in secrecy for centuries. Saved from execution at the stake by a debt of honor, Cororuc is released into the starlit night. The tale has endured through its atmospheric blend of historical fantasy, swift action, and a haunting meditation on memory and lost civilizations.

The Story

Cororuc journeys through a gloomy Cornish forest, anxious to leave the wild region behind. Along the way, he encounters a strange tableau: a wolf at bay against a panther. Following a sudden impulse of chivalry, Cororuc intervenes, causing the panther to flee, while the wolf departs with an uncanny, bipedal gait before its tracks vanish entirely beneath a tree. Shaken by the mystery, he continues on his path and soon overhears the notorious bandit chief Buruc the Cruel and his men approaching.

When Cororuc accidentally slips from his hiding branch and falls between them, a brutal sword fight ensues. He manages to slay the one-eyed henchman and decapitate Buruc himself before fleeing into the woods. Though he escapes the immediate cordon of pursuing outlaws, a sudden stumble leaves him unconscious, and he awakens bound and carried by a group of small, dark-skinned strangers.

His captors bear him through a hidden stone door in a ravine, descending deep into an enormous subterranean cavern. Here, a vast underground river flows beneath a towering arched roof, and a thriving community of small, silent people goes about daily tasks. Cororuc is brought before an ancient, ageless chieftain seated on a stone throne. The chieftain reveals that his people are the remnants of the ancient Picts who once ruled Britain before being driven underground by successive waves of invaders, including the Celts.

Condemning Cororuc to die at the stake to avenge centuries of suffering, the chieftain recounts his own cursed immortality, claiming he has lived through the centuries inside the timeless cavern by the power of his mind and a secret draft. Just as the fagots are about to be lit, the very wolf Cororuc saved earlier appears, sheds its skin to reveal a Pict warrior named Berula, and intervenes. Because a Pict never forgets a friendly deed, the chieftain grants Cororuc his freedom out of strict racial pride and gratitude. Berula guides Cororuc out of the subterranean maze into the starlit night, returning his weapons and gifts before vanishing back into the shadows.

How It Unfolds

• The forest journey — Cororuc travels warily through the gloomy, silent woods of Cornwall, eager to return to his native land after a secret mission.
• The strange encounter — He witnesses a wolf standing its ground against a panther and chases the animal after it vanishes mysteriously on two legs.
• The bandit ambush — While hiding from pursuers, Cororuc tumbles into the path of the notorious outlaw Buruc the Cruel and defeats him in a fierce, brutal sword fight.
• The subterranean capture — Fleeing through the forest, Cororuc is knocked unconscious and carried deep underground by a small, dark-skinned people into a vast cavern city.
• The ageless chieftain — An ancient, immortal king confronts Cororuc, recounting the tragic history of the Picts and sentencing the traveler to death by fire.
• The debt repaid — The wolf-man Cororuc previously saved steps forward to plead for his life, leading to the traveler's release and safe return to the upper world.

The People

• Cororuc is a tall, strong Briton with a mix of Nordic practicality and Celtic artistry. He wants only to complete his journey home safely, but his reckless chivalry and curiosity repeatedly draw him into danger, ultimately earning him an unexpected ally.
• Buruc the Cruel is a giant, red-haired bandit chief who terrorizes Cornwall. He wants to crush any travelers who cross his territory, but his aggression ends when Cororuc decapitates him during an ambush.
• The Ancient Chieftain is an ageless, hawk-nosed ruler who has survived for centuries beneath the earth. He wants absolute vengeance for the destruction of his race, yet he remains bound by an unyielding code of honor that ultimately stays his hand.
• Berula is an Alban Pict warrior who can don a wolfskin. He wants to honor a life-saving debt, and his intervention saves Cororuc from execution, proving that the ancient people still value gratitude over blind hatred.

In Its Own Voice

• Describing the physical appearance and dual heritage of the protagonist, the text notes, "His beardless face was of the highest type of Briton, clear, straightforward, the shrewd, practical determination of the Nordic mingling with the reckless courage and dreamy artistry of the Celt."
• Reflecting on the ageless nature of his underground existence, the ancient ruler explains, "I was a young man when I entered this cavern. I have never left it."
• Bidding farewell to the traveler, the Pict guide offers a final reassurance: "If ever you wish a friend, you will ever find one in Berula, chief among the Alban Picts."

What It's Really About

The story explores the heavy burden of history and the cyclical nature of displacement. It contrasts the expansive, sunlit world of conquerors with the dark, subterranean existence of the displaced, examining how ancient grievances warp across generations into folklore and myth. Beneath the adventure plot lies a meditation on time, memory, and endurance. The ancient chieftain represents a civilization refusing to fade quietly, living outside the normal passage of hours through sheer force of will and a dedication to ancestral memory. At the same time, the narrative questions whether modern vendettas should dictate present actions, ultimately suggesting that basic human decency and gratitude can transcend centuries of ethnic conflict.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love atmospheric historical fantasy, classic pulp adventure, and tales of hidden underground realms will find much to enjoy here. Reading the story feels like stepping into a dark, campfire myth where prehistoric Britain bleeds directly into the supernatural. It moves at a breathless pace, shifting swiftly from woodland tension to subterranean wonder.

However, modern readers should approach the text with an awareness of its pulp origins. The prose reflects the period's conventions, featuring stark racial binaries, sweeping historical generalizations, and breathless combat descriptions that favor raw momentum over psychological depth. Despite these period attitudes, the story succeeds because of its vivid scene-setting and the melancholic grandeur of its antagonist. What stays with you is the striking image of the ancient king sitting beside his underground river, a solitary monument to a lost world watching the centuries slip away.

Would you like to explore other works by Robert E. Howard that blend historical fiction with elements of the uncanny?