The leader motioned to the squad, whereupon the prisoners were pushed toward the ladder. The boarding was accomplished swiftly. The prisoners were herded forward and onto a gold-inlaid bench just above the prow. The ladder was lifted and the craft moved straight upward like an elevator. After ascending three or four hundred yards, it leveled off and swept gently forward, down-river. None of those aboard laid hands upon the prisoners. Nicko was still the center of attention and also of the conversation passed among the soldiers. They were handsome specimens, erect and beautifully built, clad in identical uniforms the cost of which would have been staggering on Terra or anywhere else in the System. "This ship," Mike said. "Is there anything familiar about it?" He had spoken to Doree and the latter looked at him questioningly and then glanced about the ship. "I've certainly never seen anything like it before." "Of course not, but the styling, the decorations, they could only be classed as--" "Egyptian!" "At least a forerunner of what we consider Egyptian. And this river. Look out ahead of us. See how it broadens. See the wide level fields on either side." "The Nile," Doree whispered. "Not the Nile, but obviously a sister. The Egyptians who fled this planet certainly hunted until they found exactly what they wanted--found it on Terra in a system far from their own." Mike turned his attention to a conversation that was going on between Nicko and the black prisoner. The language was a primitive guttural of some sort but Nicko was obviously using it skilfully. He grinned at Mike and said, "We were wrong about those people. They are fine characters. This is M'landa, a leader of the tribe known as the H'Lorkas--or at least that's as close as I can give it to you in Terran. He is an extremely fine fellow." "Is that so?" Mike asked grimly. "Then why did they grab Doree?" "They meant her no harm. They didn't want her injured." "I can imagine why. And if they're such fine fellows why did they attack us?" The question seemed to embarrass Nicko. "I guess my aim wasn't so bad after all. They were keeping a sharp eye on us--wishing us no harm whatever. But when I fired, I killed one so they naturally got sore." * * * * * "What does he know about this outfit?" "Scoundrels. We would have been better off with the H'Lorkas. This is a patrol ship of the Ptomenites. They are the tyrants of this planet, their power contested only by the people of Baserite to the north. But the Baserites always come out on the bloody end of the stick." "Has he any idea what will happen to us?" "He expects to be sacrificed to some slob of a god they worship. Then his body will be preserved and put in a trophy room they call the Gallery of the Dead."