“You lie,” said Tanar. “I have followed her tracks and yours to the summit of the cliff: Where is she?” He drew his knife. “Tell me, or die.” “I left her at the edge of the cliff while I went to Carn to arrange to have her received in a friendly manner. I did it all for her protection, Tanar. She wanted to go back to Korsar and I was but helping her.” “Again you lie,” said the Sarian; “but lead me to her and we shall hear her version of the story.” The Himean held back until the point of Tanar’s knife pressed against his ribs; then he gave in. “If I lead you to her will you promise not to kill me?” asked Jude. “Will you let me return in peace to my village?” “I shall make no promises until I learn from her own lips how you have treated her,” replied the Sarian. “She has not been harmed,” said Jude. “I swear it.” “Then lead me to her,” insisted Tanar. Sullenly the Himean guided them back along the path toward the cave where he had left Stellara, while at the other edge of the bushes eighteen Korsars, warned by the noise of their approach, halted, listening, and presently melted silently from view in the surrounding shrubbery. They saw Jude and Gura and Tanar emerge from the bushes, but they did not attack them; they waited to see for what purpose they had returned. They saw them disappear over the edge of the cliff at a short distance from the summit of the trail that led down into the valley. And then they emerged from their hiding places and followed cautiously after them. Jude led Tanar and Gura to the cave where Stellara lay and when Tanar saw her, her dear wrists and ankles bound with thongs and her cheeks still wet with tears, he sprang forward and gathered her into his arms. “Stellara!” he cried. “My darling!” But the girl turned her face away from him. “Do not touch me,” she cried. “I hate you.” “Stellara!” he exclaimed in amazement. “What has happened?” But before she could reply they were startled by a hoarse command from behind them, and, turning, found themselves looking into the muzzles of the pistols of eighteen Korsars. “Surrender, Sarian!” cried the leader of the Korsars. Gazing into the muzzles of about thirty-six huge pistols, which equally menaced the lives of Stellara and Gura, Tanar saw no immediate alternative but to surrender. “What do you intend to do with us if we do surrender?” he demanded. “That we shall decide later,” growled the spokesman for the Korsars. “Do you expect ever to return to Korsar?” asked Tanar. “What is that to you, Sarian?” demanded the Korsar. “It has a considerable bearing upon whether or not we surrender,” replied Tanar. “You have tried to kill me before and you have found that I am hard to kill. I know something about your weapons and your powder and I know that even at such close quarters I may be able to kill some of you before you can kill me. But if you answer my question fairly and honestly and if your answer is satisfactory I shall surrender.”