easant land of Giri. I was born in this hidden place, as was my father
before me and his father before him. We live here in the water-locked
Halls of Luralla, and harass the tyrants in what ways we can, and try to
keep alive the traditions and glory of the old days when the Dragon
Kings ruled in this city and the Scaly Ones were still lurking in their
Vaaka marshes to the westward."

"Does Lansa know of this place?"

"He knows that the Dragon's Teeth exist, as all rulers of the Scaly Ones
have known it, but the location of our hiding place has never been
betrayed."

"Then," roared Angus, pounding his big fist on the table till the dishes
rattled, "why don't you revolt? I'll go with you myself to strike a blow
against those reptile skinned devils up above!"

"Count me in, too!" Gerry said quietly.

Angus' voice had boomed out through the big hall. It was answered by a
lilting shout as men sprang to their feet. Hundreds of sword blades
flashed clear of their scabbards. Only Sarnak himself remained seated,
slowly shaking his head. There was a twisted smile on his broad and
heavily lined face. His eyes held bitterness.

"It would only be pointless suicide, _hiziren_!" he said grimly. "We
number only about a thousand all together, we hunted men of the Dragon's
Teeth, against the countless thousands of Lansa's scaly hordes. It would
be different if our countrymen up above could be inspired to a mass
uprising, but the time is not yet. Too long have they lived under the
rule of the tyrants. They are cowed. They have lost their spirit, and
some of the younger ones have even become fawning satellites of the
conquerors! If there comes a day when the forces of the Scaly Ones are
engaged in some major war along the frontier, as in this suggested
assault upon the barrier forts of Savissa that Lansa is said to be
planning, then we may be able to do something. For the present we must
continue to lie hidden and bide our time."

Gerry Norton was uncertain about his own course. Now that the _Viking_
and her crew had been lost, with all hope of a return to Earth cut off,
he felt hopelessly adrift. Sarnak urged his visitors to stay in Luralla.
The place was a remarkable engineering feat, completely under water and
with its air constantly re-conditioned and preserved, but Gerry felt
restless and cramped there. Though the outlaws carried on a constant
guerilla warfare with the Scaly Ones, it was all on a small scale. Gerry
felt that h