Kohrisan chattered to the ape in swift monosyllables which meant nothing to the others. The beast's tremors died. Kohrisan turned proudly. "My brother is a member of that clan which we of the jungles call 'The Burrowers.' They are not dwellers-in-the-trees, like the forest banderlogs. They make their homes in caves and hollows. Aye, and such artificers are they in delving that their tunnels put to shame even the works of their human brothers. Is it not so, O kinsman?" It was Sugriva, who had spent long years in striving to improve the lot of these lesser men, who understood Kohrisan's meaning first. "You mean, Captain Kohrisan," he asked breathlessly, "the Burrowers know of such a tunnel--to Lanka?" "Even so, my Lord. And our brother, here, will show us the entrance to the underground passage." The ape-human grinned, exposing gleaming fangs. "They are clever builders, my brethren. The eyes of man are not keen enough to find the spot whence their passage leaves the mainland; nay, nor even where it disgorges into Lanka's very citadel. But it exists, even as Burrowers elsewhere built the tunnel which leads from Afric to the Altar of Jibra." Ramey Winters struck his hands together gleefully. "Then this fight's not over yet! It's just started--and the odds have changed! Come on! Let's see what this tunnel looks like!" * * * * * Thus it was, that hours later, as the jet curtain of jungle night trembled insecurely at its horizon, threatening to rise at any moment in the pearly flame of tropical dawn, Ramey stood for the _second_ time at the mouth of the cavernous tunnel whose other maw disgorged into the very heart of Ravana's island stronghold. This time he was not accompanied by a mere handful of his friends, and by a single chattering Burrower whose explanations had to be translated by Captain Kohrisan. Behind him were arraigned six full divisions of the ape-warrior's troops. Hairy archers, bows gripped and ready for split-second use, quivers abristle with shafts of feathered death ... ape-lancers, stalwartly clenching razor-edged spears ... ape-swordsmen, fully aware of what this battle meant to them and their kind. A great future, new manhood if it succeeded; a return to jungle savagery for all their kind if it failed. Heading these was their commander, Kohrisan. Only human companion of Ramey on this expedition was Lake O'Brien, who insisted on becoming a member of the party. "I'm going with, Winters," he declared flatly. "So take it or leave it!" Ramey said worriedly, "But it--it's dangerous. We may run plunk into a detachment of Ravana's soldiers, and be wiped out before we even effect an entrance--"