Finally I darted behind my adversary and, catching him by the shoulders, tripped him and laid him on his back on the ground A great roar of laughter went up from the onlookers. The man was on his feet again in an instant, breathing heavily, for indeed he had nearly winded himself by his exertions. I ran over to Mercer. "Go on," I said; "show them what you can do." The commotion of this contest had drawn many other spectators about us now, but they kept a space clear, pushing back hurriedly before our sudden rushes. At my words Mercer darted forward eagerly. His first move was to leap some twenty feet across the open space. This smaller opponent seemed to give the Mercutian new courage. He shouted exultantly and dashed at Mercer, who stood quietly waiting for him at the edge of the crowd. Mercer's ideas evidently were different from mine, for as his adversary came within reach he stepped nimbly aside and hit him a vicious blow in the face. The man toppled over backward and lay still. I ran over to where Mercer was bending over his fallen foe. As I came up he straightened and grinned at me. "Oh, shucks," he said disgustedly. "You can't fight up here--it's too easy." CHAPTER XV. THE MOUNTAIN CONCLAVE. "It is reasonable," Miela said thoughtfully. "And that our women will help as you say--of that I am sure." We were gathered in the living room after the evening meal, and I had given them my ideas of how we should start meeting the situation that confronted us. We had had no more trouble that day. After the encounter in the king's garden Mercer and I had followed the two girls swiftly home. We were not molested in the streets, although the people crowded about us wherever we went. "Why did none of Baar's friends come to his rescue up there in the garden?" I asked Miela. "Surely there must have been many of them about." "They were afraid, perhaps," she answered. "And they knew the people were against them. There might have been serious trouble; for that is not their way--to fight in the open." Her face became very grave. "We must be very careful, my husband, that they, or Tao's men do not come here to harm you while you sleep." "Why do you suppose they ever happened to bring me here in the first place?" Mercer wanted to know. "That's what I can't figure out." "They knew not that Alan was here," said Miela. "I think they wanted to show you to our people as their captive--one of the earth-men." Mercer chuckled. "They didn't know what a good runner I was, or they'd never have taken a chance like that." I told Miela then my plan for enlisting the sympathy of the women of the Light Country and for securing the active coöperation of the girls in ridding us of the disturbing presence of these Tao emissaries. We planned that whatever we did should be in secret, so far as possible. Mercer and I talked together, while Miela consulted with Lua at length.