marked the
path of the bullet from its muzzle; and the spear, its point shattered,
was deflected from its path. With a howl of dismay the six Band-lu
rose from their shelter and raced away toward the south.

I turned toward Ajor. She was very white and wide-eyed, for the
clutching fingers of death had all but seized her; but a little smile
came to her lips and an expression of great pride to her eyes. "My
Tom!" she said, and took my hand in hers. That was all--"My Tom!" and
a pressure of the hand. Her Tom! Something stirred within my bosom.
Was it exaltation or was it consternation? Impossible! I turned away
almost brusquely.

"Come!" I said, and strode off toward the Kro-lu prisoner.

The Kro-lu stood watching us with stolid indifference. I presume that
he expected to be killed; but if he did, he showed no outward sign of
fear. His eyes, indicating his greatest interest, were fixed upon my
pistol or the rifle which Ajor still carried. I cut his bonds with my
knife. As I did so, an expression of surprise tinged and animated the
haughty reserve of his countenance. He eyed me quizzically.

"What are you going to do with me?" he asked.

"You are free," I replied. "Go home, if you wish."

"Why don't you kill me?" he inquired. "I am defenseless."

"Why should I kill you? I have risked my life and that of this young
lady to save your life. Why, therefore should I now take it?" Of
course, I didn't say "young lady" as there is no Caspakian equivalent
for that term; but I have to allow myself considerable latitude in the
translation of Caspakian conversations. To speak always of a beautiful
young girl as a "she" may be literal; but it seems far from gallant.

The Kro-lu concentrated his steady, level gaze upon me for at least a
full minute. Then he spoke again.

"Who are you, man of strange skins?" he asked. "Your she is Galu; but
you are neither Galu nor Krolu nor Band-lu, nor any other sort of man
which I have seen before. Tell me from whence comes so mighty a
warrior and so generous a foe."

"It is a long story," I replied, "but suffice it to say that I am not
of Caspak. I am a stranger here, and--let this sink in--I am not a
foe. I have no wish to be an enemy of any man in Caspak, with the
possible exception of the Galu warrior Du-seen."

"Du-seen!" he exclaimed. "You are an enemy of Du-seen? And why?"

"Because he would harm Ajor," I replied. "You know him?"

"He cannot know him," sa