The man was ablaze with exultation and excitement. Nelson looked down at the two bodies. The wolf still lay senseless, and the youth Barin was bleeding from a crease-wound across the temple.
Nick Sloan looked more shaken than Nelson had ever seen him as he stared at the dead beasts that lay there on the moonlit plain.
"Nelson, these brutes are intelligent!" he panted. "Running with men, fighting as allies of men."
"Kuei!" repeated Li Kin, his saffron face pallid in the silver light. "A valley of witches and devils!"
Shan Kar interrupted. "More of the Brotherhood will be here swiftly. We must ride on fast for Anshan or die here on the plain!"
He was, as he spoke, kneeling to lash hide thongs securely about the feet of the stunned wolf.
Tark, the wolf, stirred as Shan Kar finished the task. The green eyes of the great beast flickered open. Then, seeing Shan Kar binding the youth, Barin, the wolfs lips writhed away back from great fangs in a soundless snarl
Shan Kar finished binding the youth, turned and laughed full in the face of the wolf.
"Tark the mighty, trapped like a tame outland dog!" He jeered at the great beast. "Did Kree send you to guard his stripling son? A potent guardian!"
The wolf made no sound, but his green eyes blazed an intelligent hatred of his mocker that made Eric Nelson's skin crawl.