ch--a figure of a man whom Tharn recognized instantly as one of those
who had accompanied Jotan on his search for Dylara a few days before.

As the arm holding the spear tensed to send it plunging into the unseen
prisoner, the newcomer leaped cat-like upon the would-be assassin. There
was a startled cry that echoed along the subterranean hall and the two
men became a squirming knot of arms and legs.

And then abruptly the threshing figures were still as the second man
pressed the blade of a flint knife against the other's thinly clad back.

"Not a move," growled Tamar, "or you are a dead man!"

* * * * *

Now a lovely dark-haired girl came into view, her face revealed by the
flickering light of the still burning torch lying on the corridor's
flooring. As she bent to pick up the bit of blazing wood Tharn
recognized her as Urim's daughter, whose life he had saved on a long
gone day.

"What were you up to there?" growled Tamar. "Who are you and what----"

"_Tamar!_"

The cry came from behind the barred door from which the young nobleman
had just drawn the cringing Sitab. There, framed in the barred opening,
was Jotan!

Alurna, a faint cry of happiness on her lips, rushed to the door and
removed the heavy bar. Jotan bounded into the narrow hallway, gave
Sephar's princess a thankful pat on the back, then turned to Tamar.

"What's going on here? Who is this guard? How did you find me?"

"First," Tamar said, "I'm going to find out why this son of Gubo was
about to send a spear into you!"

At Jotan's blank expression, Tamar explained what had been about to
happen when he and Alurna arrived. Whereupon Jotan took the trembling
Sitab by the front of his tunic and shook him until most of his breath
was gone.

"Who sent you?" Jotan snarled. "Speak before I strangle you with my bare
hands!"

"I dare not tell you! He would kill me!" Sitab cried through chattering
teeth.

Again Jotan shook him. "But I will cut you into tiny pieces if you do
not tell. First I will cut your toes and fingers from your rotten body,
then I will dig out your eyes and chop off your----"

Sitab had fainted.

Three ringing slaps brought the man back to consciousness. In a voice
made shrill with terror he gave the name of the man who had sent him.

Tamar and Jotan stared at each other in utter amazement as the name of
Vokal fell from those craven lips. Angrily Jotan hurled the shrinking
figure from him, Sitab