be done until the camp is
settled for the night. Now we shall sleep."

With Tharn wedged into a tree fork in a neighboring tree, Trakor was
left to select his own couch. He made no move toward doing so, however,
but continued to lay along that same branch watching the Ammadians. He
wondered how Tharn was able to go so calmly to sleep when so much that
was new and exciting was taking place. His own weariness was completely
forgotten.

An hour passed. Most of the camp was sleeping now. Four guards were
moving slowly about the circle of fires; these and a group of five or
six warriors talking about the ashes of a cooking fire were the only
exceptions. Dylara was sound asleep, wrapped in a bundle of borrowed
furs and lying well away from the nearest Ammadian.

* * * * *

A plan was taking shape slowly in Trakor's active mind. Why couldn't
_he_ rescue Dylara? This was his big chance to show Tharn how well he
had profited by the cave lord's teachings. How proud his friend would be
when he awakened to find Dylara beside him safe and sound, rescued by
the stealth and daring of his protege!

The longer Trakor thought about it, the better it looked. Impatiently
he glowered at the dawdling warriors about the last fire. Were they to
sit there gossiping throughout the night? At any moment Tharn might
awake and spoil the whole thing!

Good! That last group was breaking up. One of them went over to the side
of the sleeping girl, bent and stared at her, then straightened and
called something to his companions. There was a brief sound of coarse
laughter, the warrior rejoined his fellows and all sought their sleeping
furs.

Another hour inched by. It was an unusually quiet night. Only twice did
Trakor hear the voices of the big cats and each time it was from a
distance. The darkness was absolute except for the dying flames from the
protecting circle of fire below. Heavy clouds, forerunners perhaps of
the storm Tharn had forecast, obscured moon and stars.

Those four guards continued their casual pacing. Trakor, watching
intently, observed something finally that served to crystallize his
plans. At fairly regular intervals those four came together at a point
well away from where Dylara lay. Each time they stood in a group for
several moments while they exchanged pleasantries, breaking the monotony
of standing guard.

With slow caution, lest he arouse Tharn, the young cave man slipped
groundward.