Finally one of them noticed their prospective victim and called to the others. They pricked up their antennae, and gazed in Myles’ direction. Then all four started a stealthy catlike crawl toward him.
Where was his own trained woofus?
[XVIII]
SANGRE Y ARENAS
Thus collapsed Cabot’s plan. Thus went for naught his many nights of instruction!
He had counted on his trained woofus, the largest of the five, to hold off the other four, and perhaps cause a diversion during which he could reach the side of his princess. Had some one guessed his plans, and kept the woofus from him?
The four purple beasts, which had been admitted to the arena for the purpose of making an end of the earthman, now slowly and stealthily approached their victim, who watched them with fascinated eyes, in more or less of a daze.
“O Minorian, beast from another world,” Yuri shouted in glee from the stand, “give antennae unto me! What think you now? Can you alone vanquish these four?”
The meaning of his emphasis was most evident, and showed that the king knew that Cabot had counted on the assistance of his trained woofus.