avy planks.

"There!" Javan shouted. "At the door! Didn't I tell--"

With a bound Jotan leaped from his bed and plunged forward, catching
Tharn at the knees. The cave-man braced himself, then bent and grasped
his attacker about the waist.

Jotan was a strong, agile man. As a rough-and-tumble fighter he had few
equals. But when the arms of the intruder encircled his body and tore
away his hold as though he were a child, he knew he stood no chance.

The Sepharian gasped aloud as he felt himself swung aloft. He had a
swift glimpse of the awe-stricken faces of his friends; then his flying
body hurtled across the room to crash against them with sickening force,
sending all three to the floor, half-stunned.

Tharn seized the door-latch once more and surged back with all his
strength. There followed the sound of splintering wood as latch, bolt
and strike were torn away. A second later he had gained the street.

* * * * *

By the time those within were ready to attempt pursuit, the cave-man was
a block away, running with the long easy strides of a trained athlete.

As he ran, Tharn drew his knife for any misguided person who might wish
to bar his path. He was slowly drawing away from his shouting pursuers,
when he caught sight of a second group of warriors not far ahead and
coming at a run toward him.

Turning sharply into a side street, Tharn dashed on for a short
distance, only to pull up short. The roadway ended here, nor were there
streets on either side. Behind him the Sepharians had turned the corner
and were bearing down upon him.

Tharn was no stranger to danger or sudden death. Life in the jungles and
on the vast plains had little else to offer. Fear and panic were not
likely to prolong life; Tharn knew not the meaning of either.

And so it was, that as the angry fighting-men rushed toward him, they
were to find no terror-stricken creature at bay. Indeed, so savage was
the bearing of their quarry that the Sepharians hesitated, then came to
a full stop a few paces away.

They were many, at least a score, but the sight of the Cro-Magnon's
brawny frame and rippling muscles gave a dubious aspect to the whole
affair; nor was the stone knife in one powerful hand a matter to be
lightly dismissed.

It was during this brief armistice that one Lukor, awakened by the
tumult outside his windows opened the door of his home with the
ill-advised intention of making an investigation.

"I