ently. "I'll die first! I never
wanted to be a spider, anyway!"

"And I," growled Dworn, "won't let you take her. I won't let her go--"
his face was pale, but he went on resolutely--"even if it means I can't
return to my own people."

The beetle chief surveyed the two young people gravely, then turned to
confront the old woman. He said, "I don't see that you have any further
claim on the girl. According to our customs, she too can be
'reborn'--this time into the beetle horde, as one of my people--and my
son's."

The head scorpion, looking on, nodded approval and grinned encouragingly
at Dworn.

The Spider Mother and the chief exchanged a long, stony look--on either
side, the look of a ruler used to command.

"It would be too bad," said Yold softly, "to mar the Peace. But my
warriors are within call, and...."

The Spider Mother turned away and spat. "Have it your way. Who wants
weaklings in the Family!"

The chief glanced sidelong at Dworn and Qanya, and saw that they were
wholly absorbed in one another. With an open-handed gesture he invited
the Spider Mother to follow him.

"Shall we go, then," he suggested politely, "and--while the Peace still
reigns--find out whether the pill-bugs' beverage is all they claim it
is?"

THE END

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