made for Thag's
dwelling-place. All things are Thag's. Oh, beware! Beware!"

This much he pieced together out of their diffuse whisperings, catching
up the fragments of words he knew and fitting them into the pattern.

"What--what is the danger?" he managed to ask.

"Thag--hungers. Thag must be fed. It is we who--feed--him, but there are
times when he desires other food than us. It is then he sends his
priestess forth to lure--food--in. Oh, beware of Thag!"

"You mean then, that she--the priestess--brought me in for--food?"

A chorus of grave, murmuring affirmatives.

"Then why did she leave me?"

"There is no escape from Thag. Thag is the center of creation. All
things are Thag's. When he calls, you must answer. When he hungers, he
will have you. Beware of Thag!"

Smith considered that for a moment in silence. In the main he felt
confident that he had understood their warning correctly, and he had
little reason to doubt that they knew whereof they spoke. Thag might not
be the center of the universe, but if they said he could call a victim
from anywhere in the land, Smith was not disposed to doubt it. The
priestess' willingness to let him leave her unhindered, yes, even her
scornful laughter as he looked back, told the same story. Whatever Thag
might be, his power in this land could not be doubted. He made up his
mind suddenly what he must do, and turned to the breathlessly waiting
little folk.

"Which way--lies Thag?" he asked.

A score of dark, thin arms pointed. Smith turned his head speculatively
toward the spot they indicated. In this changeless twilight all sense of
direction had long since left him, but he marked the line as well as he
could by the formation of the trees, then turned to the little people
with a ceremonious farewell rising to his lips.

"My thanks for----" he began, to be interrupted by a chorus of
whispering cries of protest. They seemed to sense his intention, and
their pleadings were frantic. A panic anxiety for him glowed upon every
little terrified face turned up to his, and their eyes were wide with
protest and terror. Helplessly he looked down.

"I--I must go," he tried stumblingly to say. "My only chance is to take
Thag unawares, before he sends for me."

He could not know if they understood. Their chattering went on
undiminished, and they even went so far as to lay tiny hands on him, as
if they would prevent him by force from seeking out the terror of their
lives.

"No,