What sort of hideous mating had occurred, he wondered, to produce this mongrel creature with the brain of a human and the body of a beast? Mike held forth his hand. "You were a vicious little devil," he said. "I'll wear that scar forever." Nicko sighed gustily. "If you beat me unmercifully each fine morning for the rest of my miserable life, the punishment would be light for such a heinous deed." Mike laughed and started to get to his feet. Halfway up, he paused, crouching there. Then his voice thundered. "Grab an oar! Pull for shore! Pull for God's sake!" In an instant both of them were tearing the water in an effort to reach the nearest bank. As they worked, the current upon which they moved swept forward at an ever-increasing speed and the roar about them was like the crashing of skyscrapers under bombardment. They came ashore a scant six feet above certain death. Fortunately the raft was light and they were able to gain a foothold and lift it from the snarling waters. Then, gasping for breath, they moved a few feet down-stream and stood looking at the frothing cataract that dropped the great river a sheer two-hundred feet to boulders below. "I ought to be whipped for not attending to business," Mike said bitterly. Doree was clinging to his arm looking down at the awe-inspiring sight. "You saved us, darling. Why should you criticize yourself?" "It was too close--far too close." Nicko said, "It seems to me the important thing now is where we go from here." "We carry the raft down those rocks and beyond the rough water." "But why all that effort? Couldn't we be as happy up here as down there?" "All rivers lead to civilization," Mike said. "Or at least, they lead to the places civilization naturally springs up." "A logical observation." "Also, I've got a hunch about this river. I may be wrong but I think it might take us right where we want to go. I'll bet there are interesting things ahead." * * * * * Mike turned and directed his words to Doree. "That papyrus your father translated said the forefathers of the Egyptians sought a planet similar to their own. Perhaps the similarity had to be more than general. Such a thing is indicated by their traveling around for several lifetimes. Anyhow, except for the tropical climate, this river bears a great resemblance to one of the tributaries that feeds the Nile back on Terra." "You're quite right," Doree marveled. "And this could well be Victoria Falls. I wonder if another Egypt doesn't lie below." There was awe in Doree's voice. "Before Egypt--" "What did you say?" "An Egypt--a great civilization that flourished on this planet before Egypt--before the Terran Egypt was even dreamed of." Mike smiled fleetingly. "That's what you and your father have believed, isn't it? So why be surprised?" "It's just that--well, being so close to it--realizing it might _really_ exist--"