Poker, thought Ramey suddenly. The good old Yankee game of bluff. There was a bare possibility-- * * * * * He took a step forward, his head proud, eyes coldly judicial. "We have come, Lord Ravana," he declared boldly, "to reclaim our Bow. Now I offer you a last and fair opportunity. Return it and the goddess Sheilacita, and we will leave without exacting vengeance for your impiety." It was a sandy ... a four-flush sandy with the wrong colored card in the hole ... but it _almost_ worked. The overlord of Lanka stopped smiling; his eyes darted troubledly toward his sister. But the Lady Rakshasi merely laughed, her voice a golden throbbing in the golden room. "If my Lord Ramaíya be indeed a god," she challenged, "let him prove his omnipotence! Let the Bow return itself to his hand of its accord. Nay, brother. Methinks there be little godlike in this paint-smeared, skulking spy, nor even in his cringing goddess love." She almost spat the last words. Hearing the spiteful note in her voice, Ramey realized that hell, indeed, has no fury like a woman scorned. The Lady Rakshasi was exacting her vengeance, now, for the moment of ignominy she had experienced when Ramey had rejected her caresses for the gentler love of Sheila Aiken. But he said nothing. There was nothing to say. Ravana, his confidence restored, leaned forward arrogantly. "And how came these would-be gods hither?" It was Captain Thalakka who answered. Plainly he did not understand a tithe of what was going on. He said, "They approached our ferry-port on the mainland shore, my Lord, and said they were wayfarers from distant Penang, come to seek employment in thy service. The--" He nodded toward Ramey uncertainly--"the white-skinned one saved thy servant's life." "So?" Ravana chuckled. It was not a pleasant sound to hear. "We wonder if he can so easily save his own? Well, Earthman--have you anything to say?" "One thing," said Ramey. "Have a care, Lord Ravana, lest your lust for power destroy you. The Lord Sugriva knows your plans, and he will not stand idly by to watch their accomplishment." "Thinks he not? And how, pray, does he plan to stay them? You forget, Lord Ramaíya, that I have now the Weapon. The Bow of Rudra, which burns and destroys." "You hold its empty shell," stated Ramey assuredly. "The gods alone can waken it to power." "Then," chuckled Ravana, "must I be one of the gods. For already my captains are gathering the ammunition to feed its chamber. Within the space of days, the Bow will carry a full belly. And when that moment comes--then let the Gaanelian weakling, Sugriva, approach Lanka--if he dares!" Ravana nodded to Captain Thalakka. "Very well, Captain. Take these swine away--" * * * * * "A moment!" cried Ramey. "Ravana--the Lady Sheilacita! Where is she?"