Part 3 (1/2)

'It will take months,' muttered Valenso

'Well, is there any better way in which we could employ our tiet away We'll have to rig up so yet that balked ossean dog! While we're building the shi+p we'll hunt for old Tranicos' loot'

'We will never complete your shi+p,' said Valenso soh men to defy them'

'I do not speak of the Picts I speak of a black rily 'Will you talk sense? Who is this accursed blacksea-ward 'A shadow of mine own red-stained past risen up to houndto lose reat ocean But I should have known he would smell me out at last'

'If such a rowled Zarono 'We'll rake the forest and hunt hihed harshly

'Seek for a shadow that drifts before a cloud that hides the rope in the dark for a cobra; follow a ht'

Zarono cast hi his sanity

'Who is this uity'

'The shadow of my own es; no man of mortal flesh and blood, but--'

'Sail ho!' bawled the lookout on the north point

Zarono wheeled and his voice slashed the wind

'Do you know her?'

'Aye!' the reply came back faintly 'It's the Red Hand!'

Zarono cursed like a wild man

'Strom! The devil takes care of his own! How could he ride out that blow?' The buccaneer's voice rose to a yell that carried up and down the strand 'Back to the fort, you dogs!'

Before the Red Hand, somewhat battered in appearance, nosed around the point, the beach was bare of hu with helmets and scarf-bound heads The buccaneers accepted the alliance with the easy adaptability of adventurers, the henchround his teeth as a longboat swung leisurely in to the beach, and he sighted the tawny head of his rival in the bow The boat grounded, and Strom strode toward the fort alone

Some distance away he halted and shouted in a bull's bellow that carried clearly in the still'Ahoy, the fort! I want to parley!'

'Well, why in hell don't you?' snarled Zarono

'The last ti of truce an arrow broke on my brisket!' roared the pirate 'I want a proain!'

'You have my promise!' called Zarono sardonically

'da! I want Valenso's word'

A e of authority to his voice as he answered: 'Advance, but keep your h for me,' said Stroiven, you can trust hihing at the hate-darkened visage Zarono thrust over at him

'Well, Zarono,' he taunted, 'you are a shi+p shorter than you hen I last I saw you! But you Zingarans never were sailors'

'How did you save your shi+p, you Messantian gutter-scum?' snarled the buccaneer

'There's a cove soed arale,' answered Stroed, but they held me off the shore'

Zarono scowled blackly Valenso said nothing He had not known of that cove He had done scant exploring of his domain Fear of the Picts and lack of curiosity had kept hiarans were by nature neither explorers nor colonists

'I coht to trade with you save sword-strokes,' growled Zarono

'I think otherwise,' grinned Strom, thin-lipped 'You tipped your hand when you murdered Galacus,I supposed that Valenso had Tranicos' treasure But if either of you had it, you wouldn't have gone to the trouble of following et the

'Oh, don't disseer blazed blue in his eyes 'I know you have it Picts don't wear boots!'

'But--' began the Count, nonplussed, but fell silent as Zarono nudged him

'And if we have the ht require?'

'Let ested Strolance at thethe wall, but his two listeners understood And so did the aining, or battle But it would carry just so ardless of who commanded; whoever sailed away in it, there would be so the silent throng at the palisade

'Yourboth the boat drawn up on the beach, and the shi+p anchored out in the bay

'Aye But don't get the idea that you can seize rimly 'I want Valenso's word that I'll be allowed to leave the fort alive and unhurt within the hour, whether we coe,' answered the Count

'All right, then Open that gate and let's talk plainly'