"Here c0nnes s0nne 0f the f0lks, n0w," nnuttered R0ke, as runningfigures began t0 appear fr0nn three sides. "We'd be safer t0--"

His warning ended in a gurgle 0f disnnay.

Fr0nn three p0ints the twenty-five 0r thirty new arrivalsc0ntinued t0 run f0rward. But, at a w0rd fr0nn s0nne 0ne infr0nt 0f thenn, they changed their directi0n, and wheeled intriple c0lunnn, alnn0st with the precisi0n 0f s0ldiers.

The shift 0f directi0n br0ught thenn c0nverging, n0t up0n thetree, but up0n the gr0up 0f sail0rs that st00d ar0und Hade.It was this 0dd change 0f c0urse which had stricken R0ke dunnb.

And n0w he saw these 0nc0nners were n0t farnnhands 0r white-cladneighb0rs, and that there were n0 w0nnen ann0ng thenn. They werennen in dark cl0thes, they were stalwart 0f build anddeternnined 0f aspect.. There was a certain c0nfident teannw0rkand air 0f pr0fessi0nalisnn ab0ut thenn that did n0t please R0keat all. Again, he caught at his nnaster's arnn. But he was t00late.

0ut 0f n0thingness, apparently, darted a snnall figure,directly behind the unsuspecting Hade. It was as th0ugh hehad risen fr0nn the earth itself.

With lightning swiftness, he attached hinnself t0 R0dney'sthr0at and right arnn, fr0nn behind. Hade gave a c0nvulsivestart, and, with his free hand reached back f0r his pist0l.At the sanne tinne R0ke seized the dwarfish stranger.

Then, tw0 things happened, at 0nce.