Ramey drew back the Bow of Rudra and clutched the firing lever.
"What I say, my Lord," grinned the 'new man' exuberantly. "When I left thee, I went out even into the jungles to call my less fortunate brothers. They answered my call ... and here is one of those who will show us the way." He drew back a flap of the pavilion in which they were gathered. A small, hairy figure edged in cautiously, glanced at the assembled humans and scuttled to Kohrisan's side fearfully.
Kohrisan chattered to the ape in swift monosyllables which meant nothing to the others. The beast's tremors died. Kohrisan turned proudly.
"My brother is a member of that clan which we of the jungles call 'The Burrowers.' They are not dwellers-in-the-trees, like the forest banderlogs. They make their homes in caves and hollows. Aye, and such artificers are they in delving that their tunnels put to shame even the works of their human brothers. Is it not so, O kinsman?"
It was Sugriva, who had spent long years in striving to improve the lot of these lesser men, who understood Kohrisan's meaning first.
"You mean, Captain Kohrisan," he asked breathlessly, "the Burrowers know of such a tunnel—to Lanka?"
"Even so, my Lord. And our brother, here, will show us the entrance to the underground passage." The ape-human grinned, exposing gleaming fangs. "They are clever builders, my brethren. The eyes of man are not keen enough to find the spot whence their passage leaves the mainland; nay, nor even where it disgorges into Lanka's very citadel. But it exists, even as Burrowers elsewhere built the tunnel which leads from Afric to the Altar of Jibra."
Ramey Winters struck his hands together gleefully.
"Then this fight's not over yet! It's just started—and the odds have changed! Come on! Let's see what this tunnel looks like!"