"Well," she said with a sigh, "then I suppose I must remain here and seek a mate whom I shall learn to hate and bring children into the world who will hate us both.
"It is not a pleasant outlook," said Tanar.
"No," she said, and then after a pause, "unless—"
"Unless, what?" asked the Sarian.
"Nothing," said Gura.
For a time they sat in silence, each occupied with his own thoughts, Tanar's being filled to the exclusion of all else by the face and figure of Stellara.
Presently the girl looked up at him. "What are you going to do after you find Jude?" she asked.
"I am going to kill him," replied Tanar.
"And then?" she queried.
"I do not know," said the Sarian. "If I find the one whom I believe to be with Jude we shall try to return to Amiocap."
"Why do you not remain here?" asked Gura. "I wish that you would."
Tanar shuddered. "I would rather die," he said.
"I do not blame you much," said the girl, "but I believe there is a way in which you might be happy even in Hime."
"How?" asked Tanar.
Gura did not answer and he saw tears come to her eyes. Then she arose hurriedly and entered the cave.
Tanar thought that Scurv would never be done with his sleep. He wanted to talk to him and arrange for a guide to the village of Jude , but it was Sloo who first emerged from the cave.
She eyed him sullenly. "You still here?" she demanded.
"I am waiting for Scurv to send a guide to direct me to the village of Jude ," replied the Sarian. "I shall not remain here an instant longer than is necessary."
"That will be too long," growled Sloo, and turning on her heels she reentered the cave.
Presently Balal emerged, rubbing his eyes. "When will Scurv send me on my way?" demanded Tanar.
"I do not know," replied the youth. "He has just awakened. When he comes out you should speak to him about it. He has just sent me to fetch the skin of the codon you killed. He was very angry to think that I left it lying in the forest."
After Balal departed, Tanar sat with his own thoughts for a long while.
Presently Gura came from the cave. She appeared frightened and excited. She came close to Tanar and, kneeling, placed her lips close to his ear. "You must escape at once," she said, in a low whisper. "Scurv is going to kill you. That is why he sent Balal away."
"But why does he want to kill me?" demanded Tanar. "I saved the life of his son and I have only asked that he direct me to the village of Jude ."
"He thinks Sloo is in love with you," explained Gura, "for when he awakened she was not in the cave. She was out here upon the ledge with you."
Tanar laughed. "Sloo made it very plain to me that she did not like me," he said, "and wanted me to be gone."
"I believe you," said Gura, "but Scurv, filled with suspicion and hatred and a guilty conscience, is anxious to believe anything bad that he can of Sloo, and as he does not wish to be convinced that he is wrong it stands to reason that nothing can convince him, so that your only hope is in flight."
"Thank you, Gura," said Tanar. "I shall go at once."
"No, that will not do," said the girl. "Scurv is coming out here immediately. He would miss you, possibly before you could get out of sight, and in a moment he could muster a hundred warriors to pursue you, and furthermore you have no proper weapons with which to start out in search of Jude."
"Perhaps you have a better plan, then," said Tanar.
"I have," said the girl. "Listen! Do you see where the stream enters the jungle," and she pointed across the clearing at the foot of the cliff toward the edge of a dark forest.
"Yes," said Tanar, "I see."
"I shall descend now and hide there in a large tree beside the stream. When Scurv comes out, tell him that you saw a deer there and ask him to loan you weapons, so that you may go and kill it. Meat is always welcome and he will postpone his attack upon you until you have returned with the carcass of your kill, but you will not return. When you enter the forest I shall be there to direct you to the village of Jude ."
"Why are you doing this, Gura?" demanded Tanar.
"Never mind about that," said the girl. "Only do as I say. There is no time to lose as Scurv may come out from the cave at any moment," and without further words she commenced the descent of the cliff face.
Tanar watched her as, with the agility and grace of a chamois, the girl, oftentimes disdaining ladders, leaped lightly from ledge to ledge. Almost before he could realize it she was at the bottom of the cliff and moving swiftly toward the forest beyond, the foliage of which had scarcely closed about her when Scurv emerged from the cave. Directly behind him were Sloo and Dhung, and Tanar saw that each carried a club.
"I am glad you came out now," said Tanar, losing no time, for he sensed that the three were bent upon immediate attack.
"Why?" growled Scurv.
"I just saw a deer at the edge of the forest. If you will let me take weapons, perhaps I can repay your hospitality by bringing you the carcass."
Scurv hesitated, his stupid mind requiring time to readjust itself and change from one line of thought to another, but Sloo was quick to see the advantage of utilizing the unwelcome guest and she willing to delay his murder until he had brought back his kill. "Get weapons," she said to Dhung, "and let the stranger fetch the deer."
Scurv scratched his head, still in a quandary, and before he had made up his mind one way or the other, Dhung reappeared with a lance and a stone knife, which, instead of handing to Tanar, he threw at him, but the Sarian caught the weapons, and, without awaiting further permission, clambered down the ladder to the next ledge and from thence downward to the ground. Several of the villagers, recognizing him as a stranger, sought to interfere with him, but Scurv, standing upon the ledge high above watching his descent, bellowed commands that he be left alone, and presently the Sarian was crossing the open toward the jungle.
Just inside the concealing verdure of the forest he was accosted by Gura, who was perched upon the limb of a tree above him.
"Your warning came just in time, Gura," said the man, "for Scurv and Sloo and Dhung came out almost immediately, armed and ready to kill me."
"I knew that they would," she said, "and I am glad that they will be disappointed, especially Dhung—the little beast! He begged to be allowed to torture you."
"It does not seem possible that he can be your brother," said Tanar.
"He is just like Scurv's mother," said the girl. "I knew her before she was killed. She was a most terrible old woman, and Dhung has inherited all of her venom and none of the kindly blood of the Amiocapians, which flows in the veins of my mother, despite the change that her horrid life has brought over her."
"And now," said Tanar, "point the way to Jude's village and I shall be gone. Never, Gura, can I repay you for your kindness to me—a kindness which I can only explain on the strength of the Amiocapian blood which is in you. I shall never see you again, Gura, but I shall carry the recollection of your image and your kindness always in my heart."
"I am going with you," said Gura.
"You cannot do that," said Tanar.
"How else may I guide you to the village of Jude then?' she demanded.
"You do not have to guide me; only tell me the direction in which it lies and I shall find it," replied Tanar.
"I am going with you," said the girl, determinedly "There is only hate and misery in the cave of my father I would rather be with you."
"But that cannot be, Gura," said Tanar.
"If I went back now to the cave of Scurv he would suspect me of having aided your escape and they would all beat me. Come, we cannot waste time here for if you do not return quickly, Scurv will become suspicious and set out upon your trail." She had dropped to the ground beside him and now she started off into the forest.