ore only a
breechcloth and the little pillbox hat in which he kept his matches and
tobacco. His face was wrinkled and gnomelike.

"Lead on," Rick said.

Dog Meat went to the edge of the terrace and slipped over. He climbed
down with incredible swiftness. Then Chahda followed. Rick made sure his
carbine was slung tightly across his back, then followed. His feet
groped for toe holds in the rough stone wall of the terrace and found
them without too much difficulty, but his descent was slower than Dog
Meat or Chahda's. He was painfully conscious that he was an excellent
target. Below, chanting voices joined the rhythmic clanging. The sound
of their descent would not be heard.

Rick reached the bottom of the terrace and found Chahda and Dog Meat
waiting. There were two more terraces to descend before the village
level was reached. In a moment Scotty joined them. Dog Meat led the way
once more. The party made its way down the face of the terrace and
emerged on a level only thirty feet above the village floor.

Rick was astonished that the villagers had not seen them. He felt very
much exposed to view, even though he realized that the shadows were deep
and that the villagers were not watching the terraces.

Dog Meat led the way to the extreme end of the next terrace, choosing a
place where the huts would be between the climbers and the fire. Then he
vanished over the edge of the terrace and Chahda followed. Rick picked
his way carefully. There were gaps between the stones, but sometimes he
had to feel with his feet until he found an opening big enough to
accommodate the toe of his shoe. Dog Meat and Chahda had the advantage,
because bare feet could find holds much more swiftly.

He reached ground level behind a straw hut. Dog Meat and Chahda were
waiting. Chahda had unslung his rifle, and Dog Meat was holding a
razor-edged bolo. Then Scotty was down, too, and they made a close file
behind Dog Meat as he showed them the way to the hut where Tony was
being held.

The music and voices were loud, now, and the fire made yellow patterns
where they crossed open spaces. Then Dog Meat came to a halt behind a
straw hut and gestured that this was the one.

Chahda took the bolo from him and made a slit in the straw of the hut.
Then he peered through the opening he had made. Rick and Scotty pushed
close and took turns looking.

Tony was tied to a post in the center of the hut. The hut door opened
onto the village common, and the