I didn’t dare look at Sheldon. “I say, boys,” he muttered, “what a jolly opinion they have of each other, and what holy liars! Five to one on crafty Potolili, against this fiery young scamp!” We didn’t take his bet, but it went hard to keep from grinning. His language was so droll beside Octrogona’s lofty tirade, whose eyes now snapped as he realized, for some reason, we were laughing at him. Saxe. hastened to express sympathy, and declared we all hoped the Octrogona forces would be victorious. Octrogona saluted deeply, at the same time keeping a suspicious eye on Sheldon, which caused Saunders to irritably remark: That Sheldon was an ass whose noisy braying would eventually get us all into trouble. Potolili’s agility in discovering us evidently greatly exasperated Octrogona. “He will be rewarded with a piece of land we’ve both coveted for over fifty years,” he hissed. “But I’ll wrest it from him! Do you know the moment he sighted you a messenger was sent over the mountains to report to the Centaurians, who will arrive shortly to escort you to their territory. If we were at peace Potolili would have forced you people over the mountains to prevent our meeting, but the journey is dangerous during war time. He suffered heavy losses during his northern trip, my troops slaughtered the Potolilis in every engagement. I had troops stationed in ambush to capture Potolili when he neared the reservation, never believing he would abandon his ‘discovery’ three miles from the boundary line. He is a coward, sneak, and up to his old deviltry! He will not fight openly like a soldier! But it is destiny, the Octrogonas will be victorious. And, gentlemen (he bowed deeply), my abode is at your disposal.” We thanked him, mentioning the car, preferring not to intrude upon him. Impatiently he threw up his hand, commanding silence, then conducted us to an adjoining tent and advised us to “cleanse,” while attendants hauled in several huge jars containing ice water. “I suppose he thinks we bathed every day in an ice lake while fooling around the Pole,” grumbled Sheldon, dousing himself in the chilling water. “He certainly had some good reason for forcing us to clean up in water at freezing point,” Saxe. admitted. “Let’s ask him for it.” “Ask him for what?” sputtered Saunders. “Something to eat,” murmured Saxe. sweetly. And Saunders glared because we all snickered. Octrogona’s quarters consisted of a number of tents pitched closely together in a circle, and when we ventured forth we promptly became entangled in the tent maze, butting into places where we had no business to and startling a number of dusky individuals who rushed upon us chattering wildly, but promptly salaamed as though we were gods. And they were black! Whew! Octrogona suddenly appeared, laughing loudly at our discomfiture. We murmured apologies, which he politely waived aside and escorted us to the front tent.