Sssuri's furred face might not convey much emotion, but by all the signs Dalgard _could_ read he knew that the merman was as startled as he by the strange behavior of the grass dweller. "He is afraid of those who walk erect as we do," he made answer. _Those who walk erect_--Dalgard was quick to interpret that. He knew that Those Others were biped, quasi-human in form, closer in physical appearance to the colonists than to the mermen. And since none of Dalgard's people had penetrated this far to the north, nor had the mermen invaded this taboo territory until Sssuri had agreed to come, that left only the aliens. Those strange people whom the colonists feared without knowing why they feared them, whom the mermen hated with a hatred which had not lessened with the years of freedom. The faint rumor carried by the migrating runners must be true, for here was a hopper afraid of bipeds. And it must have been recently provided with a reason for such fear, since hoppers' memories were very short and such terror would have faded from its mind in a matter of weeks. Sssuri halted in a patch of grass which reached to his waist belt. "It is best to wait until the hours of dark." But Dalgard could not agree. "Better for you with your night sight," he objected, "but I do not have your eyes in my head." Sssuri had to admit the justice of that. He could travel under the moonless sky as sure-footed as under broad sunlight. But to guide a blundering Dalgard through unknown country was not practical. However, they could take to cover and that they did as speedily as possible, using a zigzag tactic which delayed their advance but took them from one bit of protecting brush or grove of trees to the next, keeping to the fields well away from the road. They camped that night without fire in a pocket near a spring. And while Dalgard was alert to all about them, he knew that Sssuri was mind questing in a far wider circle, trying to contact a hopper, a runner, any animal that could answer in part the inquiries they had. When Dalgard could no longer hold open weary eyes, his last waking memory was that of his companion sitting statue-still, his spear across his knees, his head leaning a trifle forward as if what he listened to was as vocal as the hum of night insects. When the colony scout roused in the morning, his companion was stretched full length on the other side of the spring, but his head came up as Dalgard moved. "We may go forward without fear," he shaped the assurance. "What has troubled this land has gone." "A long time ago?" Dalgard was not surprised at Sssuri's negative answer. "Within days _they_ have been here. But they have gone once more. It will be wise for us to learn what they wanted here." "Have they come to establish a base here once more?" Dalgard brought into the open the one threat which had hung over his own clan since they first learned that a few of Those Others still lived--even if overseas.