appening?" gasped the girl.

"There's no telling," whispered Aaron. "It must be someone or
something of importance. Note the expressions of awe and reverence on
the faces of the apemen. My God, Nanette, look!"

Out of the depths of the jungle emerged seven white beings--human or
animal it was impossible to tell. They were huge creatures with the
bodies of men. Erect of carriage, almost human in looks, they
contrasted strangely with the red apes and the black gorillas. Six of
them appeared to act as bodyguard for the seventh.

As they reached the space in front of the two earth people, the
bodyguard stepped aside. The seventh white one came to a dead stop.
Long and intently he stared at the man and girl crouched against the
wall. And the scrutiny seemed to please him, for he smiled.

Carruthers eyed the figure uneasily. He saw what seemed to be a man
dressed in a long, fibrous garment. With white hair and beard, it was
a strange figure indeed for an apeman. He saw also that the eyes were
well spaced, a mark of intelligence. The forehead was high and broad.
And as Carruthers mentally studied the creature, strange and bizarre
thoughts crossed his mind.

* * * * *

The mouth of the white apeman twitched as if he were going to speak.
The heavy lips parted. A single word came to Carruthers' ear--"Man?"

Carruthers nodded. "We are from the earth."

The lips of the apeman moved painfully as if speech came with the
utmost of difficulty. "The prophecy of the Great One has been
fulfilled even as it has been written."

The red apes and black gorillas allowed their eyes to wander from
their white leader to the two earth people. And their faces reflected
the supernatural awe with which they regarded the earth people.

"It's uncanny that an animal can speak our language," breathed
Nanette.

As if he hadn't heard her, Carruthers spoke again. "We are from the
earth," he repeated. "We have been on your world many hours, and we
are both hungry and thirsty."

"Words come hard," came from the lips of the white bearded one. "I
have not used them for years."

"And who are you?" asked Carruthers.

The white bearded one paused as if to recall some distant echo from
the past. "I am the last of the tribe of Esau. But come! This is no
place for speech. Long have I and my followers waited for this hour."

* * * * *

Without another word he swung around. The six guards