The episode proved most fortunate, however, as it gave me an ideawhich added a thousand-fold to the value of my arrows as missilesof offense and defense. As soon as I was able to be about again,I sought out some adult vipers of the species which had stung me,and having killed them, I extracted their virus, smearing it uponthe tips of several arrows. Later I shot a hyaenodon with one ofthese, and though my arrow inflicted but a superficial flesh woundthe beast crumpled in death almost immediately after he was hit.

We now set out once more for the land of the Sarians, and it was withfeelings of sincere regret that we bade good-bye to our prettyGarden of Eden, in the comparative peace and harmony of which wehad lived the happiest moments of our lives. How long we had beenthere I did not know, for as I have told you, time had ceased toexist for me beneath that eternal noonday sun--it may have been anhour, or a fortnight of earthly time; I do not know.

XV