As it came toward me the second time it came with lowered head and outstretched arms. I leaped for it, and locked my right arm about its head from above. The back of its neck was snug against my armpit as I seized my own right wrist with my left hand and locked my hold tighter. Then I swung quickly around, straightening up as I did so and, incidentally, nearly capsizing the boat. The creature lost its footing as I swung it about; its arms flailed wildly, as with a last mighty surge I released my hold and sent it stumbling over the gunwale into the river. Like the others, it floated away. * * * * * A few yards away, the raft was drifting with Nalte wide-eyed and tense with excitement. Seizing an oar I brought the boat alongside and extending a hand assisted Nalte over the side. I noticed that she was trembling. "Were you frightened, Nalte?" I asked. "For you, yes. I didn't think that you had a chance against three of them. Even now I can't believe what I saw. It is incredible that one man could have done what you did." "Luck had a lot to do with it," I replied, "and the fact that I took them by surprise. They weren't expecting anything of the sort." "How strangely things happen," mused Nalte. "A moment ago I was about to drown myself in sheer desperation, and now everything is changed. The danger is over, and instead of an inadequate raft we have a comfortable boat." "Which proves that one should never give up hope." "I shan't again--while you are with me." I had been keeping an eye on the Kormor quay rather expecting to see another boat put out in pursuit of us, but none did. The fishermen and the sentries on the waterfront of the other city had all stopped what they were doing and were watching us. "Shall we row over there and see if they will take us in?" I asked. "I am afraid," replied Nalte. "We have a saying in Andoo that the farther strangers are away the better friends they are." "You think that they would harm us?" I asked. Nalte shrugged. "I do not know, but the chances are that they would kill you and keep me." "Then we won't take the chance, but I would like to remain near here for a while and search for Duare." "You can't land on the left bank until we are out of sight of Kormor," said Nalte, "or they would be after us in no time." "And if we land in sight of this other city these people would take after us, if what you fear be true." "Let's go down stream until we are out of sight of both cities," suggested the girl, "and then wait until night before coming back near Kormor to search, for that is where you will have to search for Duare."