captured me this morning. That one who escaped
will bring the rest back with him."

"Then I guess we'll need help!" Gerry said grimly.

* * * * *

There was a two-way, short-wave radio set built into his helmet. He
reached up to adjust the switch, then flashed the alarm signal. A few
seconds later he heard the answering voice of Portok the Martian, who
was in command of the nearest of the _Viking's_ exploring parties.

"Jumping ray-blasts, Chief, we were wondering what had happened to you!"

"Guide on my transmitter and get here as soon as you can!" Gerry
snapped. "Hurry!"

A few minutes later they saw a glint of armor through the trees, and
then the half dozen members of the exploring party emerged into the
clearing. Their eyes were wide with surprise as they saw Closana
standing beside Gerry.

"Who's your yellow-haired friend, Chief?" Portok asked with a broad
grin. He had spoken in Martian, the two tongues being practically
interchangeable with the men of the Interplanetary Fleet. Closana's eyes
flashed fire.

"Speak of me with more respect, little Red-face!" she snapped. Portok's
jaw sagged open, but before he could say anything further the underbrush
on the far side of the clearing suddenly vomited a yelling horde of the
Scaly Ones.

They came in close-packed masses, yelping shrilly. Their scaly skins and
the blades of their swords gleamed in the subdued yellow light.
Evidently bent on capture of the small group of strangers, they were not
using their gas-guns.

"Keep together! Fall back toward the ship!" Gerry roared, drawing the
sword he had captured earlier in the day.

There was a sharp crackle of ray-blasts as the Earth-men fell back
before the charging horde of the Scaly Ones. The short hand-tubes were
soon exhausted, but the heavy ray-guns carried by two of the men fired
steadily. Murky light continually played about their stubby muzzles.
Dozens of the Scaly Ones dropped, twitching, in the tall grass before
the deadly blast of the rays, but the shouting hordes came on unchecked.
And then a bugle sounded somewhere off on the flank!

"Now, you scaly devils!" Closana screamed, facing about and waving the
sword high above her head, "The frontier guards have arrived!"

Long lines of warriors charged out through the bushes to take the
reptile men on the flank. The front line of skirmishers carried heavy
bows and had quivers of arrows slung on their backs, the ranks be