He looked around.' Solitary or not, there are probably a number on this isle.'

After dragging the two carcasses into the river, they proceeded cautiously.Smhee looked mostly ahead; Masha, behind. Both looked to both sides of them.They came to the base of the ridges of rock. Smhee said, 'The animal pens arenorth. That's where I heard them as I went by in the boat. I think we shouldstay away from them. If they scent us and start an uproar, we'll have the Raggahout and on our asses very quickly.' Smhee stopped suddenly, and said, 'Hold it!'Masha looked around quickly. What had he seen or heard? The fat man got down onhis knees and pushed against the earth just in front of him.

He rose and said, 'There's a pit under that firm-looking earth. I felt it giveway as I put my foot on it. That's why it pays not to walk swiftly here.'

They circled it, Smhee testing each step before taking another. Masha thoughtthat if they had to go this slowly, they would take all night before they got tothe ridge. But then he led her to a rocky place, and she breathed easier.However, he said, 'They . could carve a pit in the stone and put a pivoting lidover it.'

She said, 'Why are we going this way? You said the entrances are on the northend.'

'I said that I only observed people entering on the north end. But I alsoobserved something very interesting near here. I want to check it out. It may benothing for us, but again...'

Still moving slowly but faster than on the earth, they came to a little pool. Itwas about ten feet in diameter, a dark sheet of water on which bubbles appearedand popped. Smhee crouched down and stared at its sinister-looking surface.

She started to whisper a question, but he said, 'Shh!'

Presently, something scuttled with a clatter across the solid rock from theshore. She jumped but uttered no exclamation. The thing looked like a spider in