Telis felt Leslie stir, and he struggled to his feet and helped her to the sled. With surprising quickness she adapted herself to the necessities of battle. She took a peculiar looking pistol from her pouch and levelled it at the attackers. A sharp report burst from the weapon in the girl's hand and, on the crest of the dune, a Guski woman shrieked and pitched to the sand. Twelve times this process was repeated, and Telis began to have hopes that the battle would be won before he, himself, collapsed from loss of blood. It was a vain hope. After the twelfth explosion, the weapon fell silent, and the strange performance was over. There was a tense lull during which the Guski butchered their dead, and Gorla tried fruitlessly to start the dead motor of the sled. Then the Guski began to close in, and Gorla and Telis both were forced to leave the sled and advance to meet them. Leslie stayed near the aircraft, digging frantically at the jammed jet. To Telis, his sword seemed suddenly very, very heavy. He touched Gorla on the shoulder. "At least ... we'll die ... friends ... together," he muttered. Gorla's face contorted with grief. "Friends ... always, Telis. I never felt any other way," he said simply. There was no time for more. The Guski were upon them--a savage, shrieking horde of vile-smelling beasts, hungering for the taste of human meat. [Illustration: _Then the cannibal-people were upon them--a savage, shrieking horde._] Time seemed to stand still. Telis thrust and slashed, cut and parried endlessly. Pain was his only reality. Faces appeared before him, and vanished into gouts of red as his blade found marks. Steadily his strength failed and finally he dropped to his knees, still lashing out feebly with his weapon. Suddenly the cacophony of battle was overwhelmed by the jerky, uneven barking of an ailing jet. Leslie had cleared the nozzle! Startled and fearful of the jet flame, the Guski shrank back momentarily. In that moment, Gorla half-dragged, half-carried Telis to the sled. Telis could feel the movement of the sled as it coursed lamely across the sand, trying to gain flying speed. He heard Leslie gasp: "It's no use, Gorla. It can't lift the three of us with the jet half-clogged." Gorla's voice came sharp and clear. "Then I stay. Take him on. That's the important thing. He must be made to see...." Telis realized with agonizing helplessness that since the sled could not lift three persons Gorla was remaining behind. To face the Guski! He tried to cry out his protest, but he was too weak to do more than moan. "Can you find the way?" Gorla asked the girl. "I have maps. There's the transmitter, too. I can come in on D-F fixes. But what about you?" "Never mind me ... remember, the fate of my world goes with you ... and with Telis. Explain that to him ... after he knows...." Telis heard the motor speed up again, and he felt the bumping of the runners on the sand. But he was unconscious before the sled lifted into the air....