ger and the ax. The other scowled.

"Not good...."

Ross laughed, a little hysterically. "Not good you," he agreed,
"good--me!"

To his surprise the tribesman's stiff face relaxed, and the fellow gave
a bark of laughter. He sat up, rubbing at his throat, a big grin pulling
at the corners of his mouth.

"You--hunter?" The man pointed northeast to the woodlands fringing the
mountains.

Ross shook his head. "Trader, me."

"Trader," the other repeated. Then he tapped one of the wide metal cuffs
at his wrist. "Trade--this?"

"That. More things."

"Where?"

Ross pointed downstream. "By bitter water--trade there."

The man appeared puzzled. "Why you here?"

"Ride river water, like you ride," he said, pointing to the horse. "Ride
on trees--many trees tied together. Trees break apart--I come here."

The conception of a raft voyage apparently got across, for the tribesman
was nodding. Getting to his feet, he walked across to take up the nose
rope of the waiting horse. "You come camp--Foscar. Foscar chief. He like
you show trick how you take Tulka, make him sleep--hold his ax, knife."

Ross hesitated. This Tulka seemed friendly now, but would that
friendliness last? He shook his head. "I go to bitter water. My chief
there."

Tulka was scowling again. "You speak crooked words--your chief there!"
He pointed eastward with a dramatic stretch of the arm. "Your chief
speak Foscar. Say he give much these--" he touched his copper
cuffs--"good knives, axes--get you back."

Ross stared at him without understanding. Ashe? Ashe in this Foscar's
camp offering a reward for him? But how could that be?

"How you know my chief?"

Tulka laughed, this time derisively. "You wear shining skin--your chief
wear shiny skin. He say find other shiny skin--give many good things to
man who bring you back."

Shiny skin! The suit from the alien ship! Was it the ship people? Ross
remembered the light on him as he climbed out of the Red village. He
must have been sighted by one of the spacemen. But why were they
searching for him, alerting the natives in an effort to scoop him up?
What made Ross Murdock so important that they must have him? He only
knew that he was not going to be taken if he could help it, that he had
no desire to meet this "chief" who had offered treasure for his capture.

"You will come!" Tulka went into action, his mount flashing forward
almost in a running leap at Ross, who stumbled back when horse and rider
loomed