foot of his goal. I raised my rifle to
my shoulder and took careful aim at one of the Band-lu. If I hit him,
I would hit two, for another was directly behind the first.

Ajor touched my arm. "What would you do?" she asked. "They are all
our enemies."

"I am going to save him from the dance of death," I replied, "enemy or
no enemy," and I squeezed the trigger. At the report, the two Band-lu
lunged forward upon their faces. I handed my rifle to Ajor, and
drawing my pistol, stepped out in full view of the startled party. The
Band-lu did not run away as had some of the lower orders of Caspakians
at the sound of the rifle. Instead, the moment they saw me, they let
out a series of demoniac war-cries, and raising their spears above
their heads, charged me.

The Kro-lu stood silent and statuesque, watching the proceedings. He
made no attempt to escape, though his feet were not bound and none of
the warriors remained to guard him. There were ten of the Band-lu
coming for me. I dropped three of them with my pistol as rapidly as a
man might count by three, and then my rifle spoke close to my left
shoulder, and another of them stumbled and rolled over and over upon
the ground. Plucky little Ajor! She had never fired a shot before in
all her life, though I had taught her to sight and aim and how to
squeeze the trigger instead of pulling it. She had practiced these new
accomplishments often, but little had I thought they would make a
marksman of her so quickly.

With six of their fellows put out of the fight so easily, the remaining
six sought cover behind some low bushes and commenced a council of war.
I wished that they would go away, as I had no ammunition to waste, and
I was fearful that should they institute another charge, some of them
would reach us, for they were already quite close. Suddenly one of
them rose and launched his spear. It was the most marvelous exhibition
of speed I have ever witnessed. It seemed to me that he had scarce
gained an upright position when the weapon was half-way upon its
journey, speeding like an arrow toward Ajor. And then it was, with
that little life in danger, that I made the best shot I have ever made
in my life! I took no conscious aim; it was as though my subconscious
mind, impelled by a stronger power even than that of self-preservation,
directed my hand. Ajor was in danger! Simultaneously with the thought
my pistol flew to position, a streak of incandescent powder