g, the decorations, they could only be
classed as--"

"Egyptian!"

"At least a forerunner of what we consider Egyptian. And this river.
Look out ahead of us. See how it broadens. See the wide level fields
on either side."

"The Nile," Doree whispered.

"Not the Nile, but obviously a sister. The Egyptians who fled this
planet certainly hunted until they found exactly what they
wanted--found it on Terra in a system far from their own."

Mike turned his attention to a conversation that was going on between
Nicko and the black prisoner. The language was a primitive guttural of
some sort but Nicko was obviously using it skilfully. He grinned at
Mike and said, "We were wrong about those people. They are fine
characters. This is M'landa, a leader of the tribe known as the
H'Lorkas--or at least that's as close as I can give it to you in
Terran. He is an extremely fine fellow."

"Is that so?" Mike asked grimly. "Then why did they grab Doree?"

"They meant her no harm. They didn't want her injured."

"I can imagine why. And if they're such fine fellows why did they
attack us?"

The question seemed to embarrass Nicko. "I guess my aim wasn't so bad
after all. They were keeping a sharp eye on us--wishing us no harm
whatever. But when I fired, I killed one so they naturally got sore."

* * * * *

"What does he know about this outfit?"

"Scoundrels. We would have been better off with the H'Lorkas. This is
a patrol ship of the Ptomenites. They are the tyrants of this planet,
their power contested only by the people of Baserite to the north. But
the Baserites always come out on the bloody end of the stick."

"Has he any idea what will happen to us?"

"He expects to be sacrificed to some slob of a god they worship. Then
his body will be preserved and put in a trophy room they call the
Gallery of the Dead."

Mike turned a quick, meaningful look at Doree, but he had no time to
comment because at that moment the door of a small cabin opened and a
girl came forth. The cabin was aft of the ship and the girl came
swiftly forward, pride and arrogance written in every line of her
beautiful body.

But it was not these qualities that caused Mike to gasp and Doree to
blush deeply. It was the regal figure's almost complete nudity. She
wore only the briefest of attire across her breast and hips.

"My dark friend says that's Katal'halee, Princess of the Ptomenites,"
Nicko whispered. "She rides alon