ones. Not one but
_three_ were slain, and it was made certain the word reached Kurho.

But now Otah knew. He knew and was helpless. A frightful thing had been
launched and there could be no turning; nothing now but the constant
fear, the trap without end, the perilous thing above all their heads ...
and the waiting.

Kurho also waited. True, one thing remained to temper the distrust:
sporadic communication had been established, a thing new and yet heavy
with pretense, which again like a serpent at its tail spelled mutual
distrust. But it was there, begrudging, and all the smaller tribes knew
of it too--those scattered ones who were little more than clans. All the
peoples of the valley watched and waited, aware of this thing between
the two great tribes of Kurho and Otah.

"It is better that we should talk, even endlessly, than to use such
weapons tribe against tribe!" Such was Otah's word to those who
grumbled and those who feared, and there was much to indicate that such
was Kurho's feeling too.

Indeed it appeared to be so! For the first time, Kurho relaxed his
borders at Far End. Occasionally the Otah tribesmen were permitted to
enter, welcomed without suspicion--a thing unprecedented! Similarly,
select members from the Kurho tribe were accepted beyond the river; they
displayed certain prowesses new to the Otah tribe, for in many ways
these were a strange and fantastic people.

It seemed to be a beginning. Word went out in secret and still other
word returned, in which Mai-ak played a great part. And so, after scores
of days it was done: there would be a time of understanding; Kurho,
himself, would cross the river to go in person among Otah's people! When
this was done, Otah would also cross the river to observe the things at
Far End!

But now growlings arose which even Otah could not contain. Kurho should
not be welcomed! Kurho must not be trusted! Was not this the man who
already had suppressed the minor tribes? Had he not flaunted his aim of
one day taking the whole valley?

Nevertheless, Kurho came. He came in all his boast and arrogance. The
time was not festive--he was made to feel that--but what Kurho felt he
did not show. Extravagant point was made that he should see all that he
wished! Across all the great series of ledges he was taken, both high
and low and length and breadth, to observe the abundance and well-being
and extent of the Otah tribe. Through all the near valley he was shown,
even to th