ge of this world!"

"What?" Hobart sounded bewildered.

"Over there"--Lablet made a sweep with his arm which might indicate
any point to the east--"there is a storehouse of the original learning
of their race. It's in the heart of the enemy country. But the enemy
as yet do not know of it. They've made two trips over to bring back
material and their ship can only go once more. They offer us an equal
share if we'll make the next trip in their company and help them clean
out the storage place--"

Hobart's answer was a whistle. There was an avid hunger on Lablet's
lean face. No more potent bribe could have been devised to entice him.
But Raf, remembering the spear-torn body, wondered.

_In the heart of the enemy country_, he repeated to himself.

Lablet added another piece of information. "After all, the enemy they
face is only dangerous because of superior numbers. They are only
animals--"

"Animals don't carry spears!" Raf protested.

"Experimental animals that escaped during a world-wide war generations
ago," reported the other. "It seems that the species have evolved to a
semi-intelligent level. I must see them!"

Hobart was not to be hurried. "We'll think it over," he decided. "This
needs a little time for consideration."

7

MANY EYES, MANY EARS

This was not the first time Dalgard had faced the raging fury of a
snake-devil thirsting for a kill. The slaying he had done in the arena
was an exception to the rule, not the usual hunter's luck. And now
that he saw the creature crouched at the far end of the hall he was
ready. Sssuri, also, followed their familiar pattern, separating from
his companion and slipping along the wall toward the monster, ready to
attract its attention at the proper moment.

Only one doubt remained in Dalgard's mind. This devil had not acted in
the normal brainless fashion of its kin. What if it was able to assess
the very simple maneuvers, which always before had completely baffled
its species, and attacked not the moving merman but the waiting
archer?

It was backed against another door, a closed one, as if it had fled
for refuge to some aid it had expected and did not find. But as Sssuri
moved, its long neck straightened until it was almost at right angles
with its narrow shoulders, and from its snake's jaws proceeded a
horrific hissing which arose to a scream as its leg muscles tensed for
a spring.

At just the right moment Sssuri's arm went back, his spear sang
th