Jarl Gare trod water, waiting. The Jovian's hurtling figure was a dark blotch against the fog. Jarl swallowed a deep breath of air before the splash of water from the Jovian's body struck him. * * * * * The two of them floated quietly, letting the river water grow sluggish again. The splashing of the beasts grew nearer. Jarl Gare heard the big Jovian breathing hoarsely. He said reassuringly, "They are harmless, Waltk. I've told you so a dozen times." "I have never seen one of them," Waltk said hoarsely. "I fear nothing I have seen. You have only told me of them." Only a few feet away, one of the river beasts suddenly lunged out of the water. Waltk squealed as the huge body loomed in the air over them, then landed between them, sending spray cascading over them. Waltk struck out at the beast and then began to chuckle. Jarl Gare heard the chuckle through the echoes of the splash. The beast was gone. "Look," said Waltk, holding up one hand. It held a blob of dripping flesh. "It is weak. I have seen it and I am unafraid." For answer, Jarl Gare who had just donned the infra-red glasses, tapped Waltk on the shoulder and plunged under the water. He had sighted the ray of an infra-red light on the river. Jarl Gare swam under water, moving with the current. He felt the movement of the water behind him and knew Waltk was following. He angled for the far bank. On arrival he slid his head and eyes out carefully. The infra-red light was far up the river, following the jumping river beasts. Without ripple or sound, Waltk broke the surface of the river. Their two naked bodies glistening with the water, Jarl Gare and Waltk stepped out of the river and slid into the luxurious growth of the jungle. One step in the climb to freedom and wealth had been accomplished! Jarl Gare chuckled, patting the mighty arms of his companion. "Can you lead us in a straight line through the jungle if I give you a pointer?" Jarl Gare asked. He knew the answer--but he liked to preen his ego on the knowledge that his brain had evolved the plan. Waltk grunted. "Look back at the Hole," Jarl Gare said. The Jovian turned, his eyes intent. "I see it," he said. "The high radio tower?" The Jovian, grunted. "The guard's barracks?" Again the Jovian grunted. "Draw an imaginary line from the tower through the center of the barracks. Our path will extend along that line." "Come," said Waltk. He led Jarl Gare back up the river, watching the tower. He halted finally, facing across the river, and then made an abrupt about-face. He closed his eyes and stood tense, unmoving as minutes dripped past. "I have it," he said. _Brains_, chuckled Jarl Gare to himself. _Use every weapon, every tool. But it was easy. Waltk was of a race which had developed for self-preservation the sense of taking a straight line between two points. In their vast world where landmarks were absent, it was a necessity._