"Thanks ... Friend," he mumbled. "You tried---- Oooh!" He closed his eyes and stiffened, his legs stretching out and his back arching. The men who walked ahead had been attracted by the commotion. They came back and one jerked off his pack and bent over the man in the path. He looked over at the dead animal, then glanced up at Don. "How many times was he bitten?" "I doubt if he got more than one," Don told him. The other nodded and looked searchingly at the victim. Then, he reached into his clothing and removed a small packet. He opened it and pulled the protective cover off a syrette. "There's a small chance, then," he remarked. He poked the needle of the syrette into the sufferer's forearm and squeezed the tube. The stricken man moved convulsively and opened one eye. His companion nodded. "You might make it, Delm," he said cautiously. "Only one bite, and we got to you soon." He nodded. "If you can hang on for just five minutes, you'll walk the trail again." He looked up at Don. "That was quick action," he said. "You may have saved our clan brother." He looked down at the torn place on the man's leg. "A couple of more bites, and he'd surely be dead by now." He got to his feet. "Whom do we have to thank?" Don looked down at the path in apparent discomfort. "I am Kalo," he said, "of the mountains." The other's eyes clouded. "Oh," he said tonelessly. He looked down at his companion, then back at the dead animal. "Well," he said slowly, "we are grateful, Clanless One. Go your way in peace. We will take care of our brother." Don started to turn away. "I hope he----" The other nodded curtly. "The gersal's poison is strong," he said. "But soon we shall see. May your way be safe." He turned back to his patient. Don turned away and went around the curve in the path. Well, maybe the Korental had been right, he thought. So long as they kept from bothering others, the clanless ones weren't molested. And they certainly didn't form any associations that might be embarrassing later on. He glanced back. "Hope that guy lives through it," he told himself, "but I'm glad I don't have to put up with a three-day celebration. Haven't got the time." In the distance, he could see the walls and towers of Riandar. The walk was nearly over now. He stepped his pace up a little, then slowed down again. There was no sense in coming through the gate all hot and sweaty, he reminded himself. It would be way out of character. * * * * * It was funny, Don thought, that he hadn't remembered this store when the Korental had described its location. Probably it was the use of the word "shop." This was a large department store. He'd done some shopping here at one time or another, himself. He started to go by the front, then a display in one of the windows attracted his attention. He paused.