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"Conserve fuel. If we get a favorable wind to-morrow we can go up and drift with it." But Tolto, who had been narrowly scanning the terrain, advised continuing a little longer. "I thought I saw a little smoke, a few miles ahead. Seems to be gone now. But we're still drifting slow." Sime searched the indicated spot in the ground glass of the forward magnifying periscope.
He felt sure that it would not be fatal, considering the distance and the physical vigor of the men he meant to hold. He pressed the trigger. "Get down quick!" he snapped. "I'll let up for a second; you grab their neuros." Tuman executed the order with dispatch. Stepping back, he trained the pistols on their late owners, while Sime and Tolto, a little dazed, stumbled to their feet.
Rushing in, he threw his arms around Tolto's great torso. He opened his jaws, and his long yellow fangs bit into the flesh of Tolto's shoulder. Tolto, taken slightly by surprise, met this new menace promptly. Placing his powerful forearm against the battered, hairy face, he attempted to bend the head back.
Kicking viciously at the man who was just then coming at him, Sime tried to bring Tolto's would-be killer down. But Tolto himself attended to him, dashing him to his death with the elbow of his sword arm. That diversion nearly cost Sime his life. Fortunately for him he tripped, and the sword-thrust that was to disembowel him merely gashed his side. Sime was beginning to enjoy the fight.
"Won't be long, Tolto," he said, taking over the controls himself again, "before our tail's going to drop off. Got to make time." It was, in fact, about ten minutes when, without warning, their nose dropped. "Tail's gone!" Sime announced.
Short lengths of chain led to cargo ringbolts in the floor, holding fast Tolto's cuffed ankles. To anyone looking at Tolto, just then, these extreme precautions might have seemed absurd. Prince Joro, however, was a good judge of men.
And in addition to his zeal he carried into the struggle his exceptional ability, a knowledge of government and of people. He had need for all of his rare skill now. It had been an easy matter to carry forcibly the Princess Sira to his palace in Hanlon. Tolto was safely out of the way; Mellie had been dismissed. As for the other palace servants, they had been silenced with bribery or the stiletto.
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