Page:The Cave Girl - Edgar Rice Burroughs.pdf/63

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DEATH′S DOORWAY
49

cliffs, which trailed off in either direction as far as the eye could reach.

“There live my people,” said the girl, pointing toward the distant barrier.

Waldo groaned inwardly.

“Let us rest here,” he said, “until tomorrow, that we may come to your home rested and refreshed.”

“Oh, no,” cried the girl; “we can reach the caves before dark. I can scarcely wait until I shall have seen how you shall slay Flatfoot, and maybe Korth also. Though I think that after one of them has felt your might the others will be glad to take you into the tribe at the price of your friendship.”

“Is there not some way,” ventured the distracted Waldo, “that I may come into your village without fighting? I should dislike to kill one of your friends,” said Waldo solemnly.

The girl laughed.

“Neither Flatfoot nor Korth are friends of mine,” she replied; “I hate them both. They are terrible men. It would be better for all the tribe were they killed. They are so strong and cruel that we all hate them, since they use their strength to abuse those who are weaker.

“They make us all work very hard for them. They take other men’s mates, and if the other men object they kill them. There is scarcely a moon