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we had reached a line of cliffs running east and west in which were numerous
likely cave-lodgings. We were both very tired, and the sight of these caverns,
several of which could be easily barricaded, decided us to halt until the following
morning. It took but a few minutes' exploration to discover one particular cavern
high up the face of the cliff which seemed ideal for our purpose. It opened upon a
narrow ledge where we could build our cook-fire; the opening was so small that
we had to lie flat and wriggle through it to gain ingress, while the interior was
high-ceiled and spacious. I lighted a faggot and looked about; but as far as I
could see, the chamber ran back into the cliff.
Laying aside my rifle, pistol and heavy ammunition-belt, I left Ajor in the cave
while I went down to gather firewood. We already had meat and fruits which we
had gathered just before reaching the cliffs, and my canteen was filled with fresh
water. Therefore, all we required was fuel, and as I always saved Ajor's strength
when I could, I would not permit her to accompany me. The poor girl was very
tired; but she would have gone with me until she dropped, I know, so loyal was
she. She was the best comrade in the world, and sometimes I regretted and
sometimes I was glad that she was not of my own caste, for had she been, I
should unquestionably have fallen in love with her. As it was, we traveled
together like two boys, with huge respect for each other but no softer sentiment.
There was little timber close to the base of the cliffs, and so I was forced to enter
the wood some two hundred yards distant. I realize now how foolhardy was my
act in such a land as Caspak, teeming with danger and with death; but there is a
certain amount of fool in every man; and whatever proportion of it I own must
have been in the ascendant that day, for the truth of the matter is that I went
down into those woods absolutely defenseless; and I paid the price, as people
usually do for their indiscretions. As I searched around in the brush for likely
pieces of firewood, my head bowed and my eyes upon the ground, I suddenly felt
a great weight hurl itself upon me. I struggled to my knees and seized my
assailant, a huge, naked man--naked except for a breechcloth of snakeskin, the
head hanging down to the knees. The fellow was armed with a stone-shod spear,
a stone knife and a hatchet. In his black hair were several gay-colored feathers.
As we struggled to and fro, I was slowly gaining advantage of him, when a score of
his fellows came running up and overpowered me.
They bound my hands behind me with long rawhide thongs and then surveyed
me critically. I found them fine-looking specimens of manhood, for the most part.
There were some among them who bore a resemblance to the Sto-lu and were
hairy; but the majority had massive heads and not unlovely features. There was
little about them to suggest the ape, as in the Sto-lu, Bo-lu and Alus. I expected
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