*

At last the mounds of viands had disappeared; the cups, drained and
refilled many times during the course of the feast, were replenished
again, and the Sepharians settled back to talk.

"Scarcely five marches from here, we were beset by a great band of
cave-dwellers." Javan was speaking. "We beat them back easily enough;
our bows and arrows evidently were unknown to them and sent scores to
their deaths.

"But I tell you it was exciting for a time! They were huge brutes and
unbelievably strong. Their spears--crude, barbaric things--were thrown
with such force that twice I saw them go entirely through two of our
men.

"But, as I say, we repulsed them, losing only four of our party, while
over forty of the cave people died. We were not able to take prisoners;
they fought too stubbornly to be subdued alive."

Alurna leaned forward eagerly.

"We have many slaves who once were such as you have described," she
broke in. "But they do not take kindly to slavery. They often are morose
and hate us, and need beatings to be kept in place. Yet their men are
strong and fearless--and usually quite handsome."

From his place at the table, Jotan watched the face of the princess as
she spoke. She seemed vivid and forceful--much more so that any other
woman he had ever met; and her beauty of face and figure was
breath-taking. He resolved to become better acquainted with her.

The manner in which Tamar straightened at her last words, showed they
had stung him--just why, was not altogether clear to Alurna.

"They are only brutes--animals!" he said heatedly. "They know nothing of
such splendor--" he waved an arm to include the room's rich furnishings
"--no tables or chairs, no soft covers on their cave floors. There are
no walls to protect them from raids by their enemies; no ability in
warfare beyond blind courage. They are half-naked savages--nothing
more!"

A sudden commotion at the doorway caused the conversation to end here. A
short, alert man with a hawk-like face and a distinct military bearing,
strode into the room and bowed before Urim.

"Well, Vulcar," greeted the king, without rising, "what are you doing
here?"

"I come," replied the warrior, "to report the capture of a young
cave-woman. A hunting party slew her mate and captured her a few marches
from Sephar."

"Bring her in to us," Urim commanded. "I should like our visitors to see
for themselves what cave people are like."

Vulcar bowed again, then returned