w sat up. He looked dully at
the dead body of the Neanderthaler. Beside it, Anak lay in a pool of
blood. He staggered to his feet, asking dully:

"Is Anak with Degar Astok?"

"Not yet," replied Una. "Help me to stop the flow of his blood."

"He said there were five of the cousins of Gumor," said the boy as he
looked around apprehensively. "We have slain but four."

Una pointed toward the ravine.

"The other lies there," she said. "This one slew his mate an hour gone.
I think he designed me to take her place."

Fever took Anak, and for three days he hovered between life and death.
Then he slept and woke conscious, although his strength was badly sapped
by the fever. There was no lack of food, for game was plentiful and
Invar had found and mended the throwing-spears which Esle had tampered
with. Slowly Anak recovered his strength. A month after the fight he
stretched his muscles and announced himself as well.

"I return to-day to the tribe of Ugar," he announced.

"Can you return?" asked Invar doubtfully. "Remember the word of death."

"That, let Uglik answer," replied Anak. "In peace or in war, I will
return. Soon the winter will come and here are warm caves and game in
plenty. Here shall the tribe make a home."

"Where you go, there go I," exclaimed Invar.

"And I likewise," said Una.

"Una will stay here until we return," replied Anak in a tone which
brooked no argument.

* * * * *

The girl pouted, but a sharp word from Anak settled the matter.
Throwing-spear and smiting-stone in hand, the two hunters approached the
camping place of Uglik's tribe. They were within a hundred yards before
they were seen. Esle set up a shrill cry.

"Here come those on whom the Father passed the death word. Slay, oh,
hunters!"

Anak raised his hand and made the sign of peace.

"Wait before you attack two such as we," he said. "We are bearers of
good tidings. By our hands, the cousins of Gumor have died. Think you,
do you care to attack two such as we?"

The hunters looked at one another doubtfully.

"He lies!" shrilled Esle.

"We do not lie!" retorted Anak. "Their bones, picked clear by Kena, lie
in their ravine. We come in peace to lead you to their home. There are
warm caves and game in plenty. We will rejoin the tribe if the Father
will remove the death word. Otherwise, attack us if you dare, and the
tribe of Ugar will join the cousins of Gumor."

Uglik's face plainly showed hes