spear, and sword. The hard wood of the bow was extremely tough

and this, with the strength and elasticity of my new string, gave

me unwonted confidence in my weapon.

Never had I greater need of steady nerves than then--never were my

nerves and muscles under better control. I sighted as carefully

and deliberately as though at a straw target. The Sagoth had never

before seen a bow and arrow, but of a sudden it must have swept over

his dull intellect that the thing I held toward him was some sort

of engine of destruction, for he too came to a halt, simultaneously

swinging his hatchet for a throw. It is one of the many methods in

which they employ this weapon, and the accuracy of aim which they

achieve, even under the most unfavorable circumstances, is little

short of miraculous.

My shaft was drawn back its full length--my eye had centered

its sharp point upon the left breast of my adversary; and then

he launched his hatchet and I released my arrow. At the instant

that our missiles flew I leaped to one side, but the Sagoth sprang

forward to follow up his attack with a spear thrust. I felt the

swish of the hatchet at it grazed my head, and at the same instant

my shaft pierced the Sagoth's savage heart, and with a single groan

he lunged almost at my feet--stone dead. Close behind him were two

more--fifty yards perhaps--but the distance gave me time to snatch

up the dead guardsman's shield, for the close call his hatchet had

just given me had borne in upon me the urgent need I had for one.

Those which I had purloined at Phutra we had not been able to bring

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