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surrounded by the soldiers of the princess."
     
     

CHAPTER VI
     
     
        THE INSTANT Grandon learned they were being attacked by Reabonians, he was on his feet directing the fighting. First at one point, then another, he momentarily filled a gap where a man had been cut down. The little circle of Traveks was narrowing swiftly. They fought bravely, but the odds were in favor of the Reabonians.
        The battle cry of the attackers was "For Vernia, for Vernia!"
        "For Grandon of Terra!" answered the Traveks, defiantly.
        Suddenly a cry came from one of the leaders of the. Reabonians.
        "Truce!"
        Instantly the fighting ceased. Grandon's men lowered their weapons as the soldiers of Vernia withdrew a little way.
        "Where is your captain?" shouted the Reabonian commander.
        "Here," replied Grandon.
        "I offer you the alternative of surrender or complete annihilation, Grandon of Terra," said the officer. "Two-thirds of your command lie bleeding on the ground. You can save the others from a like fate by laying down your arms."
        "What say you, men?" asked Grandon, looking around.
        "We are Fighting Traveks!"
        A surge of pride swept over him. If there were only some way—he racked his brain for a feasible plan. Like a flash there came to his mind a vision of old football days. He lowered his voice and issued a few swift orders. The men formed a circle once more, and Grandon shouted defiance to the Reabonian commander.
        The fighting had all taken place by the flickering light of the campfires. Each Travek, as he took up his position, pushed a quantity of loose moss before him with his feet. The soldiers of the princess were closing in on them when Grandon issued a sharp command. Simultaneously every fire was smothered under a heap of moss.
        Another command, and the men had formed a flying wedge with Grandon at the apex. Straight through the circle of attackers they smashed in compact formation, cutting right and left. As they ran through the forest lanes they could hear the Reabonians fighting each other in the darkness.
        When they had attained some little distance from the scene of battle the smoldering fire flared up once more, and they heard a shout of bated rage go up from the Torrogina's men.
        Grandon had lain down to sleep with a command of sixty-five men. They numbered now but nineteen, and the lieutenant was missing. Grandon turned to the man nearest him. "Are there other bands of Fighting Traveks near by?"
        "A number of them rove these woods, but as none tarry long in one place we might hope to find them only by accident. Bordeen, the great commander of all the bands, is encamped with three hundred men in a valley only twelve miles from here.
        "Can you find the place to-night?"
        "Unless we run into Reabonians."
        "Then lead the way, and let us be off at once." They were halted by a sentry at some distance from the camp; at a sign from the guide, they were allowed to proceed without interruption.
        The camp consisted of a half dozen circular huts similar to the one Grandon's men had constructed, surrounding a much larger hut which he took to be the headquarters of the commander. The guide led him straight to this structure and, before he realized it, he found himself in the presence of Bordeen.
        There was no light within the inclosure except the flickering rays cast by the campfires surrounding the camp, and Grandon could only imperfectly discern the features of Bordeen and those who stood about him.
        The guide saluted with drawn scarbo held pointing at an angle of forty-five degrees, and the Earthman did likewise.
        "Mightiest of commanders," the Travek said, "if it is your pleasure, our new captain, Grandon of Terra, will make his report."
        "A new captain!" exclaimed Bordeen. "This is indeed strange. Thelpo was a mighty fighter. Report, Grandon