re their identity was known. As soon as the dimensional-control was
switched off there were cries of alarm, and a few hasty arrows glanced
harmlessly off the Earthmen's armor. Then Closana shouted reassuringly
and they were recognized.

A little later Gerry and a few of his officers stood with Rupin-Sang on
one of the balconies of the Great Tower. The aged king of Savissa wore
full armor though in the shadows of his gilded helmet his face looked
old and gray and tired. Beside them, a squad of the Golden Amazons
worked a long-range ray-tube that was firing at the rear areas of the
Reptilian position. The muscles of the feminine warriors rippled beneath
their tawny skins as they swung the heavy controls of the big
ray-machine.

"They came against one of our barrier forts from the rear, in great
numbers," Rupin-Sang said wearily. "I cannot imagine how they had
managed to get so many men in behind our lines...."

"Probably brought them under water in that submarine they used when they
took me captive," Gerry said. "Brought them through in relays. I should
have sent you warning to block the river channel against that craft, but
I never thought Lansa would strike so quickly."

"At least we had enough warning to prepare for the defense of the city
after they broke through the frontier," Rupin-Sang said. "We called in
all the surrounding troops. We sent the very young and the very old, the
ill and the crippled back to comparative safety in the hills by way of
secret trails through the swamps. If the walls will stand against the
new rays the Scaly Ones are using, we should be able to hold out for a
long time."

"The armor of my men is proof against either rays or explosive bullets,"
Gerry told him, "and our ray-guns are superior to those that Lansa has
been able to make. We'll use my men as shock troops to beat back any
particularly pressing attack. Between us, we can hang on until Lansa
gets tired of the siege."

"I hope you're right," Rupin-Sang said gloomily, "but I recall the old
prophecy. It is in my mind that the end of the Golden City of Larr is at
hand, and that the sands of my nation run very low. However--we will
fight to the end."

"No bunch of half-lizards led by a white renegade is going to lick me!"
Gerry rasped.

* * * * *

A week later Gerry Norton was less confident. Haggard and unshaven, he
stalked into an inner room and tossed his helmet clattering on the
table. His a