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shrubs and ferns growing on the smallest ledges and from the narrow fissures. Here and there small pines and cedars seemed to grow from the rock itself. They might scramble up and hide, Tam thought. It might be possible. Arrows continued to search for them in the dark, and occasionally one would float past Tam. He hoped the others hadn't been hurt. An edge of rock came to Tarn's hand, and he stared up. A fang of stone leaned out slightly from the cliff—perhaps seven feet high—and a tree seemed to grow out from behind it. They could go up there, perhaps higher.” Fynnol," he whispered, trying to pitch his voice over the river but not loud enough for others to hear.” Come back. We have to go up here." Perhaps Baore could go on fighting the river, but Fynnol could not last much longer, Tam was sure, and he would not be far behind.
    He felt Baore bump into him in the darkness, and heard Fynnol suck in a mouthful of water.
    "We'll go up and hide beneath this tree. Give me a leg up." Tam dragged himself up, his wet boots slipping on the stone. The branch of cedar touched his head gently, as though alerting him to its presence in the dark, and he took hold of this offered hand and pulled himself up. He scrambled over the top of this rock and down into a fissure behind, pulling Fynnol after him, and then the two of them took Baore's hands. The big Valeman tumbled in on top of them.
    They hunched down, shivering from the river, trying to make no sound. It was too dark to see the others' faces, but Tam could hear their quick breathing, sense them fighting panic. He strained to hear the sounds of their hunters in the dark. There was the occasional shout in the night, but these grew less frequent with time and Tam felt the edge of his fear blunt a little. They made themselves as comfortable as they could in their lair and waited.
    Tam watched the last stars gutter in the gray, and then the familiar world emerged. Tam was sure they could not be seen where they hid, for the branches of the tree concealed them from anyone on the cliff or the bridge, and they were above any man who would venture into the river. But what to do, that was the question. They could hardly stay here forever.” I say we keep still and watch until noon," Fynnol said.' we see nothing, we go straight back to the Vale.""I'm with you, Cousin," Baore said softly.” We need to warn the others that there are such men about.""Such men?" Tam asked.” But who were they, and why did they murder Alaan?" No one had an answer.
    Tam could not believe that the man who had shared their fire only the night before was dead, perhaps lured to that 'If
    death by a desire for companionship—for it had certainly been their fire that had drawn the men in the darkness.” Alaan said he knew old Gallon. Perhaps we can find out something from him, or at least find some way to send a message to Alaan's kin." Tam crawled up to the edge of the rock and looked out through the branches of the tree.” What do you see?" Fynnol asked, ever impatient.” No men. No—" Tam stopped, sure that he was not looking at the right place on the bank, but after a moment he was forced to admit the truth.” There is no luck for us! The boat is gone!" Fynnol and Baore scrambled up beside him. Tam heard Fynnol groan, but Baore said nothing. He and Tam sank back down behind the rock. Still none of them spoke. The loss of the boat and their long held dream to journey down the river was overshadowed by their relief at being alive. Fynnol kept watch, and Tam and Baore sat quietly with their thoughts.” I'll feel the fool cowering here if these bandits are gone," Fynnol whispered down to them.” Hey up! What's that I hear?" The three fell silent, trying to separate the voice of the river from some faint sound....” Is it a flute?" Baore asked.” Singing. I'm sure I heard singing," Tam said. A moment later one of the great horses of the Fael appeared, twenty-two hands tall, and behind it one of the