The Chieftan

had remained in the ensign’s pistol.

Again Otto held the pistol to the head of Hendrix.

“Shall I pull the trigger?” he asked.

“No,” said Hendrix.

Otto handed the pistol to the fellow who had held it before.

“Take this message to your lord, Ortog, prince of the Drisriaks, who calls himself king of the Ortungs,” said Otto. “Tell him that there is no more tribute from the Wolfungs, but if he wishes to have a reconciliation, he may send us gifts, gold, weapons, and women. We shall then consider such a reconciliation.”

“Reconciliation?” said Hendrix. “The Alemanni and the Vandals have been hereditary enemies for ten thousand years!” It may be recalled that the Drisriaks were one of the tribes of the Alemanni, of which, traditionally, there were eleven, that number not including, of course, the Ortungen. The Wolfungs were one of the five tribes normally taken to constitute the Vandal nation. The largest and fiercest tribe of the Vandals was, or was once, the Otungs, but this tribe, in wars with the empire, had been muchly decimated, and its remnants had been scattered here and there throughout the empire, sometimes as little more than castaways, sometimes as federates.

“As you wish,” said Otto.

Hendrix and Gundlicht rose to their feet.

“Before you go,” said Otto. “Leave your weapons.” He indicated one of the Wolfungs, a man standing to one side.

Hendrix and Gundlicht glanced about themselves, and then, angrily, handed their belts, with the

holstered pistols, to the indicated Wolfung.

“One more thing,” called Otto, addressing the departing pair, when they neared the portal.

They turned, in fury, to regard him.

“Ortog, your chieftain, who calls himself king of the Ortungs, is put under challenge by Otto, chieftain of the Wolfungs.”

“You are mad,” said Hendrix.

“We can destroy your forests, your world,” said Gundlicht.

“He is put under challenge to personal combat,” said Otto.

“That is absurd,” said Hendrix.

“Chieftain to chieftain, as in days of old, not forgotten,” said Otto.

“Such things have not been done for a thousand years,” said Gundlicht.

“The challenge is issued,” said Otto.

“Chieftains do not so risk themselves,” said Hendrix.

“He may, of course, choose a champion,” said Otto.

“The idea is preposterous,” scoffed Hendrix.

“Are not the Wolfungs an acknowledged tribe of the Vandals,” asked Otto, “one whose legitimacy is unquestioned?”

“Ah,” said Hendrix, softly.

“Who are the Ortungs?” asked Otto. “Do they exist?”

“In such a way, before all the Alemanni, and in the eyes of all the barbarian tribes, one might perhaps establish the legitimacy of the secession,” said Gundlicht.

“Certainly,” said Otto. “If the Wolfungs, of the Vandals, recognize the Ortungs as a legitimate tribe of the Alemanni, who could, with any plausibility, decline to do so?”

“You tempt us,” said Hendrix.

“Convey the challenge,” said Otto.

“No,” said Hendrix.

“In honor, how can you refuse to convey the challenge?” asked Otto.

“In honor, we cannot convey it,” said Hendrix, rather regretfully.

“How is that?” inquired Otto, chieftain of the Wolfungs.

“No provocation could be adequate to justify accepting such a challenge,” said Hendrix.

“Axel,” said Otto.

Axel then brought forth a bundle.

Otto took it from him, and opened it. He carefully took, in one hand, the jewelry, the necklaces and bracelets which were within it, and held them up, dangling, to view. He then, retaining the jewelry in one hand, took the garments in two hands, the one holding the jewelry, the other free, and shook them out, displaying them.

“You recognize these?” he asked.

“That is the jewelry, those are the robes, of the princess, Gerune!” exclaimed Hendrix.

“I put them upon a slave, on the Alaria, that slave!” said Otto, indicating Janina, who shrank back, beside the trench in the hut floor, not at all pleased with the turn events were taking.

“You dared to put such garments upon a slave!” cried Hendrix, in fury.

“Is it true, mere slave?” asked Otto of Janina.

“Yes, Master!” she cried, in misery.

“On a branded slut?” asked Hendrix.

“Yes!” said Otto. “And the princess Gerune herself I marched before me, naked and gagged, and bound, on a rope, through corridor after corridor of the Alaria, exhibiting her, as one might a slave, before hundreds of the warriors of Ortog!”

“No!” cried Hendrix.

“Surely,” said Otto, “you have heard secret whisperings of these things in your halls, in your drinking places, in your hangars, on your ships. Surely they are whispered even by your ship slaves.”

Hendrix and Gundlicht exchanged glances.

“Take these things to Ortog,” said Otto, bundling them. “Let them serve as witness to the truth of what I say. Too, tell him that his sister looks better without them, as I have seen her several times,

kneeling at my feet.”

“Dog!” cried Hendrix.

Otto cast the bundle of jewelry and clothing, wadded, and soiled, into the arms of Hendrix.

“Convey the challenge!” said Otto.

“It will be conveyed!” cried Hendrix.

“And convey as well my greetings to the princess Gerune,” said Otto. “And tell her that I did not think her body would be entirely displeasing as that of a slave, and that I may one day have her as such at my feet.”

“Dog! Dog!” wept Gundlicht.

He took a step forward, but Wolfungs interposed themselves.

“Come, Gundlicht,” said Hendrix. “Insults such as these are best answered in the ancient way, with steel.”

They then turned on their heels, and left.

“Have you not forgotten your tribute?” called a man after them, from outside.

“It is done,” said Astubux.

“Are you a dog?” smiled Axel.

“Once,” said Otto, “but I am now Otto, chieftain of the Wolfungs.”

“They can destroy the world,” said Astubux.

“That would not avenge the insult,” said Otto.

“No,” said Axel. “That would be insufficient to avenge the insult.”

CHAPTER 22

“The forests are quite beautiful,” said Julian.

He, the chieftain, Astubux and Axel, and four slaves, who had been brought to carry food and drink, had climbed to the top of the high, wide rock whence, several days ago, the chieftain, then a mere fighter, a gladiator,