"Fly, Invar!" cried Anak. "Run up the slope and throw down stones at her. I will hold her for a moment."
"Invar stays with his friend!" cried the boy stubbornly as he gripped his useless throwing-spear.
"Run up the slope!" stormed Anak. "It is our only chance. Remember how the male died!"
Slowly the idea penetrated Invar's brain. With a shout he dashed away. He circled the oncoming female and got above her. Anak hurled one of his crippled spears. It struck her full in the chest, but made only a flesh wound as the handle dropped away. The female roared with rage and hurled herself at the hunter. Anak leaped to one side and ran for dear life. The clumsy female checked her rush and turned after him. He rapidly gained on her. A shout from above reached him.
"Run to your left, Anak!"
The hunter swerved sharply to his left. Invar threw his shoulder against a huge boulder on the slope. The stone rocked but did not fall. Again the lad exerted himself until his muscles cracked under the strain. The boulder tottered for a moment and then rolled down the slope, gathering momentum as it rolled. It was deflected from the direct line of the female's attack, but a smaller stone it dislodged struck her on the shoulder and knocked her from her feet.
"More stones, Invar!" cried Anak.
The two exerted themselves and an avalanche of rocks thundered down the slope. The female strove to rise, but she was overwhelmed. Down the slope rushed the two hunters, intent on finishing her with their smiting-stones and knives. She lay in a twisted heap, whimpering plaintively. Invar's knife found her heart, and she sank back dead.
"Well struck, Invar!" cried Anak. "Would that we had spears. Others of the cousins of Gumor are coming."