that young, writhing body. Garin knew that he must
take a hand in the game. The Ana was tugging him to the right, and there
was an open archway leading to a balcony running around the side of the
pit.

Those below were too entranced by the coming sport to notice the
invader. But Thrala glanced up and Garin thought that she sighted him.
Something in her attitude attracted Kepta, he too looked up. For a
moment he stared in stark amazement, and then he thrust the Daughter
through the door behind him.

"Ho, outlander! Welcome to the Caves. So the Folk have meddled--"

"Greeting, Kepta." Garin hardly knew whence came the words which fell so
easily from his tongue. "I have come as was promised, to remain until
the Black Throne is no more."

"Not even the morgels boast before their prey lies limp in their jaws,"
flashed Kepta. "What manner of beast are you?"

"A clean beast, Kepta, which you are not. Bid your two-legged morgels
loose the youth, lest I grow impatient." The flyer swung the green rod
into view.

Kepta's eyes narrowed but his smile did not fade. "I have heard of old
that the Ancient Ones do not destroy--"

"As an outlander I am not bound by their limits," returned Garin, "as
you will learn if you do not call off your stinking pack."

The master of the Caves laughed. "You are as the Tand, a fool without a
brain. Never shall you see the Caverns again--"

"You shall own me master yet, Kepta."

The Black Chief seemed to consider. Then he waved to his men. "Release
him," he ordered. "Outlander, you are braver than I thought. We might
bargain--"

"Thrala goes forth from the Caves and the black throne is dust, those
are the terms of the Caverns."

"And if we do not accept?"

"Then Thrala goes forth, the throne is dust and Tav shall have a day of
judging such as it has never seen before."

"You challenge me?"

Again words, which seemed to Garin to have their origin elsewhere, came
to him. "As in Yu-Lac, I shall take--"

Before Kepta could reply there was trouble in the pit. Dandtan, freed by
his guards, was crossing the floor in running leaps. Garin threw himself
belly down on the balcony and dropped the jeweled strap of his belt over
the lip.

A moment later it snapped taut and he stiffened to an upward pull.
Already Dandtan's heels were above the snapping jaws of a morgel. The
flyer caught the youth around the shoulders and heaved. They rolled
together against the wall.

"They are gone! All of