Immediately four warriors set out in pursuit. McEwen hastened after Ermi, to see what would become of him. Discreetly hidden himself, he could do this with considerable equanimity. As he approached, he saw Ermi moving backward and forward, endeavoring to close the entrance to a cave in which he had now taken refuge. Apparently that warrior had become aware that no time was to be lost, since he also could see the pursuing Sanguineæ. With a swiftness born of daring and a keen realization of danger, he arranged a large boulder at the very edge of the portal as a key, and then others in such position that when the first should topple in the others would follow. Then he crawled deftly inside the portal, and pulling the keystone, toppled the whole mass in after him. This was hardly done when the Sanguineæ were upon him. They were four cruel, murderous fighters, deeply scarred. One, called by the others Og, had a black’s head at his thigh. One of his temples bore a scar, and the tip of his left antenna was broken. He was a keen old warrior, however, and scented the prey at once. “Hi, you!” he shouted to the others. “Here’s the place.” Just then another drew near to the portal which Ermi had barricaded. He looked at it closely, walked about several times, sounded with his antennæ and then listened. There was no answer. “Hist!” he exclaimed to the others. Now they came up. They also looked, but so well had Ermi done his work that they were puzzled. “I’m not sure,” said Og, “it looks to me more like an abandoned cave than an entrance.” “Tear it open, anyway,” advocated Ponan, the second of the quartette, speaking for the first time. “There may be no other exit.” “Aha!” cried Og, “Good! We will see anyhow.” “Come on!” yelled Maru, a third, seizing the largest boulder, “Mandibles to!” “Out with him!” cried Om, jumping eagerly to work. “We will have him out in a jiffy!” It was not an easy task, as the boulders were heavy and deep, but they tore them out. Later they dragged forth Ermi, who, finding himself captured, seized the head of Maru with his mandibles. Og, on the other hand, seized one of Ermi’s legs in his powerful jaws. The others also had taken hold. The antennæ of all were thrown back, and the entire mass went pushing and shoving, turning and tumbling in a whirl.