the
now familiar pattern of sound formed by buzzing insects, chattering
monkeys and raucous-voiced birds. Except for the clouds of insects that
had a way of working down inside a tunic this was not so bad. It was
when night came and the challenging cries of Sadu and Tarlok and Jalok
made hideous the darkness beyond the camp's circle of fires, that Otar
knew the depths of fear. Then was when heavy paws padded against the
earth nearby and yellow eyes gleamed out of the night.

"Here comes one of the scouts!" said the man next to Otar, pointing.
"Look how excited he is!"

A stocky built man in a once white tunic was running swiftly along the
path toward the column's head, waving his arms. Instantly Ekbar lifted
his spear in a horizontal position and the column ground to a halt.

Otar could see the two of them, Ekbar and the scout, carrying on a
heated discussion, but he was too far back to make out the words. While
they talked, the remaining three scouts arrived and joined in the
conversation.

It lasted for several minutes; then Ekbar, tall and square-shouldered,
gave the signal to resume the march. Several of the troops groaned
openly; but the groans changed to elated murmurs of satisfaction almost
immediately when the winding trail debouched into a small circular
clearing divided by a small jungle stream.

The order was given to make camp and prepare food. Those whose nightly
duty it was to gather branches for a fiery circle to keep the cats at
bay were called back when they started into the jungle--a matter that
caused considerable discussion among the others.

* * * * *

They were not long left in doubt. Ekbar gathered the warriors in a tight
circle and, standing in its center, gave them their first explanation
since leaving Ammad.

"An enemy force lies encamped an hour's march ahead of us," he said in
his high-pitched, almost querulous voice. "For that reason we must forgo
our nightly fires lest the glow be seen and the enemy warned. Instead,
once you have eaten, you are to spend the night in the trees. A few of
us will go on ahead under cover of darkness and learn the number of
enemies we must face. Early on the morrow we attack!"

His chill eyes went around the circle, then he lifted one arm and began
to point out individuals, calling their names and ordering each to step
forward.

Otar, anger stiffening his jaw, was among the first to be summoned. When
the new group reac