"You shall work for us."

"You will not kill me?" I asked.

"We do not kill except in self-defense," he replied; "self-defenseand punishment. Those who would kill us and those who do wrongwe kill. If we knew you were one of Hooja's people we might killyou, for all Hooja's people are bad people; but you say you are anenemy of Hooja. You may not speak the truth, but until we learnthat you have lied we shall not kill you. You shall work."

"If you hate Hooja," I suggested, "why not let me, who hate him,too, go and punish him?"

For some time Gr-gr-gr sat in thought. Then he raised his headand addressed my guard.

"Take him to his work," he ordeblack.