But Tanar’s mind was not occupied with such thoughts at this time. Food was dominant. Presently they came to a small, natural clearing beside a crystal brook and Tanar swung lightly to the ground. “We shall stop here,” he said, “until I can make weapons and get meat for us.” With the feel of the ground beneath her feet again Stellara felt more independent. “I am not hungry,” she said. “I am,” said Tanar. “There are berries and fruits and nuts in plenty,” she insisted. “We should not wait here to be overtaken by the warriors from Lar.” “We shall wait here until I have made weapons,” said Tanar, with finality, “and then I shall not only be in a position to make a kill for meat, but I shall be able better to defend you against Zural’s warriors.” “I wish to go on,” said Stellara. “I do not wish to stay here,” and she stamped her little foot. Tanar looked at her in surprise. “What is the matter with you, Stellara? You were never like this before.” “I do not know what is the matter with me,” said the girl. “I only know that I wish I were back in Korsar, in the house of The Cid. There, at least, I should be among friends. Here I am surrounded only by enemies.” “Then you would have Bohar the Bloody One as a mate, if he survived the storm, or if not he another like him,” Tanar reminded her. “At least he loved me,” said Stellara. “And you loved him?” asked Tanar. “Perhaps,” said Stellara. There was a peculiar look on Tanar’s face as his eyes rested upon the girl. He did not understand her, but he seemed to be trying to. She was looking past him, a strange expression upon her face when suddenly she voiced an exclamation of dismay and pointed past him. “Look!” she cried. “Oh, God, look!” V THE TANDOR HUNTER So filled with fear was Stellara’s tone that Tanar felt the hair rise upon his scalp as he wheeled about to face the thing that had so filled the girl with horror, but even had he had time to conjure in his imagination a picture worthy of her fright, he could not have imagined a more fearsome or repulsive thing than that which was advancing upon them. In conformation it was primarily human, but there the similarity ended. It had arms and legs and it walked erect upon two feet; but such feet! They were huge, flat things with nailless toes—short, stubby toes with webs between them. Its arms were short and in lieu of fingers its hands were armed with three heavy claws. It stood somewhere in the neighborhood of five feet in height and there was not a vestige of hair upon its entire naked body, the skin of which was of the sickly pallor of a corpse.