DuChane circled the ledge until he found a place to descend. Making his way down slowly, he strode toward the girl--would have touched her but for a warning gesture from Marlin. He turned abruptly. "We may as well get this settled." His voice was harsh--his eyes had grown hard. "One of us gets her--the other doesn't." "She's mine," Marlin repeated doggedly. "I found her--opened the channel to the tide--brought her to life." "You want her," returned DuChane, "because she's a woman. I want her because--she's the one. I'd come to feel that way about her back in the space ark." Filled with a blind rage, Marlin plunged toward him. DuChane carried a spear, and he raised it in defense, but in the fury of his onslaught Marlin brushed it aside and heard it clatter on the rock. He landed a fist squarely on the other's jaw and followed it with flailing blows on face and body. DuChane made a quick recovery. He lowered his head and bored through the barrage to get a strangle hold on Marlin's neck. Forced to adopt similar tactics, Marlin struggled for his opponent's throat. They fell together, thrashing over the rocky slope. With an unexpected twist, DuChane wrenched free. Attempting to follow him, Marlin slipped on the wet rock and fell with a resounding splash into the pool. By the time he could scramble out, DuChane had recovered his spear and was warily bearing down upon him, the stone point poised for a deadly thrust. Before the sure death presaged by the snarling features, Marlin cautiously retreated. By this time, his mind had regained its alertness. For all his rage, he realized that, unarmed, he was no match for DuChane while the latter possessed the spear. Whirling suddenly, he made a dash for freedom. Before DuChane could hurl his shaft, he had scrambled over the edge of the embankment and was running toward camp. Quickly, Marlin gathered all the spears belonging to their combined store. Thus fortified, he warily circled the higher ground which overlooked the pool. DuChane was squatting before the girl, but his preoccupation was not so intent that he failed to glimpse the movement above. Instantly he was erect, spear in hand. * * * * * Poising his best shaft, Marlin flung it straight toward the other's breast. DuChane leaped aside, and the spear struck a rock behind him a glancing blow. The head shattered, while the shaft rebounded, striking the girl. Sick with dismay, Marlin saw her recoil and then bewilderedly attempt to rise. DuChane caught her in his arms and forced her down on the bed of skins, then turned vindictively toward the man above. Defeated for the moment, Marlin withdrew. He could not risk throwing more spears while DuChane remained near the girl.