"Where go you, Una?" demanded Invar. "I take this to the Father that he may strengthen himself for the rannag," she said enigmatically. "Should not the best be given to the Father?" Invar's hand tightened on his throwing-spear. "Minded am I to slay you," he said darkly. "And fight to the death with Anak when he awakens? Listen, oh, fool, if the Father eats greatly, he will be slow and Anak may slay him with ease." A light of admiration flashed into Invar's eyes. "It is well thought," he said. * * * * * With a swift glance around, Una took from her girdle a tiny skin packet. She opened it and displayed a brown powder. "This, Esle gave me," she whispered. "She said that Uglik had threatened her death and she wished Anak to kill him. If I give Anak this, Degar Astok would make him strong." "Why did you not do so?" "Because I am a woman, and I know a woman's heart. It would have the opposite effect. I will rub it into the liver I give to Uglik." With the aid of the women, Esle laid out a rough oval on the ground where the two combatants were to meet. Throwing-stones and spears were not allowed in rannag, the two combatants fighting their duel with smiting-stones and flint knives only. At the appointed hour, the two combatants appeared, stripped to their loin-clothes only. The Father was hideous with streaks of paint, red, yellow, white, and black. Anak glistened from his coat of grease, but his skin was bare of ornament. The two combatants took their places, while around the fighting ground gathered the hunters and youths, throwing-spears in hand. Their privilege and duty it was to slay either of the fighters who fled or who was forced out of the ring. Esle intoned a long prayer to Degar Astok. The word for combat was given. The two men approached each other cautiously. The Father confident in his strength, but he felt heavy and lethargic. Anak was clear-eyed and alert, ready to take advantage of any opening offered him. The two men circled, wary as great jungle cats. Anak, suddenly ducked his head and rubbed his eyes. With a roar of triumph, Uglik charged. Outside the ring, there was a commotion. A woman's scream, rent the air. Invar leaped to Una's side, to find her wrestling with Esle. "Kill her, Invar!" shrieked the girl. "She tried to cast a spell on Anak." The young hunter forced open the High Priestess' hand. In it was grasped a bit of shiny quartz with which she had reflected the sun into the hunter's eyes. With upraised hand, he struck her to the ground. "She shall be judged after the rannag," he said. "Take you this spear, Una, and drive it through her if she moves."