Gravgak was conversing with Vauna through the partly opened door. "I told you I would come." "You have no right. I told you--" There was strength, not fear, in Vauna's low voice. "Your father means for me to win you, if necessary by force." "You lie. Go or I'll sound the alarm." "You are in love with that stranger." His voice trembled with rage. "See, you don't answer. If you want him to live, get rid of him. Send him back in his silver shell." "You threaten my father's guest?" "The great Tomboldo will not live long. I have heard the savages plan to come in some night soon and murder him." At that instant old Tomboldo's voice sounded from the next room. "Who's there, Vauna?" "Gravgak!" It was Gravgak himself who answered. "I came to protect you, Tomboldo. There's danger--" Tomboldo's voice thundered with anger at this unaccountable intrusion. "What do you mean?" "They mean to kill you, and if they do--" "Who?" "The savages. And if they succeed, I am your successor. Tell your daughter it's so. Tell her that if a knife blade descends from some dark corner--_look out_! Someone behind you!" It was a ruse to cause old Tomboldo to whirl about and turn his back to Gravgak. Tomboldo didn't whirl. But he must have seen what I saw, glittering in the dim light--the knife in Gravgak's hand. It flashed up-- I flung a capsule bomb at the arch. Fire flashed, and the voices were swallowed up in the concussion. 7. The swirl of yellow dust sifted through the cavern passages. Coughing and puffing hard, I fought my way into the heap--in time to catch sight of Gravgak staggering off toward an exit tunnel. The three of us stood together. A strange trio. Two Benzendellas, one Earth man. Bound together in an allegiance that all the space in the universe could never divide. Vauna was weeping softly, holding her arms tight about herself, her hands cupped over the fur wrappings of her elbows. She said she could not understand Gravgak's behavior. Once he had had a chance to become the leader. Was it all because he was insane with jealousy--because she loved me? Her father thought it was more than this. He had evidently read signs of disloyalty in Gravgak, even before my coming. Too many plans had filtered out to the savage enemies. For a long time Gravgak had been impatient for a chance to succeed Tomboldo; my coming had thwarted the original plan--the murderous attack on the sunset meeting. Yes, Gravgak had been twisting the sponge-tree bands into his own schemes even then. The fine boldness showed in Tomboldo's eyes as he talked. People had gathered, and they saw clearly the truth of his charges.