, steel-tipped towers, which were, in
reality, but hollow tubes filled with the Black Fire. Before these
dark-clad figures were busy.

"They seem to believe us already defeated. Let them think so," commented
Dandtan, touching the screen they had erected before the Cavern
entrance.

As he spoke Kepta swaggered through the tall grass to call a greeting:

"Ho, rock dweller, I would speak with you--"

Dandtan edged around the screen, Garin a pace behind.

"I see you, Kepta."

"Good. I trust that your ears will serve you as well as your eyes. These
are my terms: Give Thrala to me to dwell in my chamber and the outlander
to provide sport for my captains. Make no resistance but throw open the
Caverns so that I may take my rightful place in the Hall of Thrones. Do
this and we shall be at peace...."

"And this is our reply:"--Dandtan stood unmovingly before the
screen--"Return to the Caves; break down the bridge between your land
and ours. Let no Black One come hither again, ever...."

Kepta laughed. "So, that be the way of it! Then this shall we do: take
Thrala, to be mine for a space, and then to go to my captains--"

Garin hurled himself forward, felt Kepta's lips mash beneath his fist;
his fingers were closing about the other's throat as Dandtan, who was
trying to pull him away from his prey, shouted a warning: "Watch out!"

A morgel had leaped from the grass, its teeth snapping about Garin's
wrist, forcing him to drop Kepta. Then Dandtan laid it senseless by a
sharp blow with his belt.

On hands and knees Kepta crawled back to his men. The lower part of his
face was a red and dripping smear. He screamed an order with savage
fury.

Dandtan drew the still raging flyer behind the screen. "Be a little
prudent," he panted. "Kepta can be dealt with in other ways than with
bare hands."

The towers were swinging their tips toward the entrance. Dandtan ordered
the screen wedged tightly into place.

Outside, the morgel Dandtan had stunned got groggily to its feet. When
it had limped half the distance back to its master, Kepta gave the order
to fire. The broad beam of black light from the tip of the nearest tower
caught the beast head on. There was a chilling scream of agony, and
where the morgel had stood gray ashes drifted on the wind.

A hideous crackling arose as the black beam struck the screen. Green
grass beneath seared away, leaving only parched earth and naked blue
soil. Those within the Cavern crouched beh