garding them with mild amazement on his good-natured, rather
stupid face. He was the least aggressive of the three, usually content
to follow the lead of the others.

"All right," Jotan said. "I'm listening."

"I suppose the whole thing doesn't really amount to much." Tamar forced
a laugh. "But I think it was wrong for you to carry on the way you did
over that cave-girl today. Only the God knows what the nobles of Sephar,
and Urim and his daughter, thought of your remarks. Why, anyone would
have thought you had fallen in love with the girl!"

Jotan smiled--a slow, easy smile. "I have!" he said.

Tamar stiffened as though he had been struck. His face darkened. "No!
Jotan, do you know what you're saying? A naked wild creature in an
animal skin! You talk like a fool!

"Javan!" He whirled on the silent one. "Javan, are you going to sit
there and let this happen? Help me reason with this madman."

Javan sat with mouth agape. "But I--why--what--"

Jotan leaned back and sighed. "Listen, Tamar," he said placatingly. "We
have been friends too long to quarrel over my taste in choosing a mate.
Tomorrow I shall ask Urim for the girl."

"Your _mate_? I might have known it." In his agitation Tamar began to
pace the floor. "We should have stayed in Ammad. I have a good mind to
go to Urim and plead with him not to give her to you."

"You shall do nothing of the kind, Tamar," Jotan said quietly. He was no
longer smiling. "I will not permit you to interfere in this. This girl
is to be my mate. You, as my friend, will help me."

Tamar snorted. "When our friends see her, see her as the mate of noble
Jotan, you will wish that I _had_ interfered. A dirty half-wild savage!
You will be laughed at, my friend, and the ridicule will soon end your
infatuation."

Jotan looked at him with level eyes. "You've said enough, Tamar.
Understand this: Tomorrow I shall ask Urim for the cave girl. Now I am
going to sleep."

Tamar shrugged and silently turned away. Amidst a deep silence the three
men spread their sleeping-furs, extinguished the candles and turned in.

* * * * *

As Tharn neared Sephar's outer wall, Uda, the moon, pushed her shining
edge above the trees, causing the Cro-Magnon to increase his pace lest
he be seen by some observer from within the city.

He reached the dense shadows of the wall directly in front of one mighty
gateway, its barrier of heavy planks seemingly as solid as the stone
wal