"Yes, Malth Jed," he agreed. "It seemed to me that the council feared Nitka's wrath even though he was a prisoner. For that reason I advised Dandu Mot to double the guard." "There was light from the fires last night," argued Malth Jed. "Why wait for daylight to slice their necks?" "I do not believe all Porn's followers are prisoners," Hardan said grimly. "They may hope to free Nitka Porn and recapture the wagon train. Any delay would help that plot." "Fools," grunted Malth Jed shortly. "The red-bearded one would turn on them even as he turned on the Consars." By this time the other two sarifs had joined them on the rim of the bluff above the river. The wagons blazed up brightly, their sun-dried wood and cloth burning fiercely. With the morning sun only a smoking huddle of ashes and twisted metal would remain. Hardan reined away from the bluff. They made too perfect targets against the illumination of the fire. But suddenly he arrested the little party's advance with a hiss of warning. * * * * * From the pale darkness before them the sound of distant shouts and shrieks came to them. The caravan was being attacked--or the outlaw sarifs had been freed! "Spread out," Hardan commanded tensely, "as we reach the wagons. That way we will present a poorer target." He dug his heels into the maar's sleek sides and they galloped forward along the rutted broad track of the wagon train. The fighting had ended by the time they traversed the half mile gap that lay between them. The wagons were halted in a jumbled confused S-shaped tangle in the growing dawn. Only a sullen silence greeted them, but they saw dark movement against the slant-roofed bulk of the wagons. "Hold!" warned Hardan. "Let me ride forward. It may be a trap." And then, from a clump of wagons further along the snaking train, a maar and rider pounded out into the grasslands and headed in their direction. A man shouted something, and a confused chorus of yells answered him. After the lone rider a dozen other mounted men raced. "It's a woman!" Malth Jed grunted, his bow ready in his thick fingers. "The white-robed novice of Zo Aldan Ra." "Then they've overcome Dandu Mot and freed the red-bearded one," Hardan muttered, readying his own weapons. The girl rode swiftly closer. The four riders went to meet her, their swords loosened in their sheaths and their spears in their hands. Only Malth Jed relied on his heavy hunting bow as a weapon; the others preferred throwing spears and swords. "Hardan!" shrieked Ylda, "behind you!" The frontiersman twisted in his saddle, a throwing spear grazed his vurth-padded shoulder, and he found himself facing the hate-twisted features of the two sarifs who had accompanied him. The strength of Nitka Porn in the wagon train must have been considerable, he thought ruefully, as he crossed swords with the lanky sarif on his left.