mentarily to freedom, but a huge Neanderthal male followed her from
the cave. His hairy arm seized and dragged her back.

"Una!" cried Invar and Anak in one voice.

* * * * *

Forgotten were strategy and tactics. Anak bounded up the slope, Invar at
his heels. Into the mouth of the cave they charged. The huge male
dropped the girl and faced them with a growl. Anak hurled a
throwing-stone, but his aim was poor. It rebounded harmlessly from the
great arched chest of the Neanderthaler. With a roar, the apeman
charged.

The hunter sidestepped the rush and swung his smiting-stone. The blow
was deflected by the upraised arm of the apeman and fell on his
shoulder. Invar hurled a throwing-stone which found the monster's face
and made him pause. The apeman recovered himself and rushed at the
youth. The boy met him, smiting-stone in hand, but one swing of the
heavier flint broke through his guard and stretched him senseless on the
floor, blood flowing from a gash in his head.

Anak hurled another throwing-stone which caught the apeman on the back
of the head, dazing him. With a shout, Anak closed. The effects of the
blow had been only momentary and the Neanderthaler met his rush with
both his stones swinging. One of them tore a long gash down Anak's back
while the other laid open his thigh. The apeman dropped his stones and
wound his long hairy arms about the hunter's body. Anak threw himself
back and the two rolled on the floor, the apeman striving to crush the
life out of his slighter opponent, while Anak smote futilely with his
smiting-stone at the hairy body. Slowly, the hunter's ribs gave under
the pressure. Spots of fire danced before his eyes. He strove valiantly,
but his muscles were as a child's, compared to the enormous development
of his opponent. With a gasp, his body went limp.

* * * * *

Una had watched the struggle with horror-stricken eyes. As the apeman's
grip tightened about Anak's body, she gave a low moan. Her gaze fell on
the discarded smiting-stones of the Neanderthaler. She sprang forward
and lifted one in both hands. The apeman threw back his head to give a
roar of victory. The note never issued from his throat. The huge flint
which he had chipped patiently to a sharp edge, struck him on the back
of the head. With a gasp and a convulsive shudder, the apeman rolled
over, his skull crushed in.

Invar slowly recovered consciousness, and no