of Ugar and his
friend have visited their home."

Uglik paused. No trace of fear entered his heart, but the wily
politician saw the force of Anak's argument. He would gain doubly by the
course that the hunter had proposed.

"Go in peace, and with weapons," he said as he lowered his spear. "Esle
will take your weapons and make spells over them that will increase
their might. At dawn you shall go. The word of death is on you, so come
not back to the tribe again. Once you leave the camp, you are outlaw."

"So be it!" replied Anak.

Shortly before the dawn, Esle crept to Anak's side.

"I've wrought spells over your weapons, Chief Hunter," she said softly,
"and over those of your companion. Remember this when the cousins of
Gumor attack you."

"I will, hag of evil," said Anak grimly. "Better will it be for you that
we never return."

"Why leave?" came Esle's insinuating voice. "I am still ready to help
you. Cry rannag on Uglik in the morning. Your weapons have had my
attention and his have not. That alone would decide the fight. Slay him
and the warriors of the tribe will fight at your back. I know spells,
and mayhap, they will prevail even against the cousins of Gumor."

"I go but for vengeance, Esle," said Anak wearily. "With Una gone, I
have no desire to live."

"There are other maidens who are fair, Anak, and when you are Father you
will have them all."

"Leave me, Esle," said Anak shortly. "I desire none but Una."

"And may the cousins of Gumor crack your bones between their teeth," she
hissed venomously as she slipped away into the darkness.

* * * * *

As the sun rose above the horizon, Anak and Invar took their way up the
valley. Each carried three flint-tipped throwing-spears, while a good
supply of flint throwing-stones were in their skin pouches. Half a mile
from camp, Anak turned to his companion.

"I thank you for coming with me," he said, his hand on Invar's shoulder.
"It is the deed of a brave man."

Invar flushed and looked down.

"The least that I can do is to go to Degar Astok with my friend," he
said.

"It is the deed of a brave man, yet I think we are not yet ripe to die."

"We go against the cousins of Gumor, do we not?" asked the lad.

"We do."

"And is that not death?"

"Mayhap, and yet, I have a plan. We may live."

"How can we two expect to do what all the tribe of Ugar dare not try?"

"The tribe of Ugar, or a dozen tribes of Ugar, could no