few yards distant. Standing between these and one of the outer
pedestals that supported one of the numerous skulls Bradley made
one end of a piece of rope fast about the pedestal and dropped
the other end to the ground outside the city. Then they waited.

It was an hour before the coast was entirely clear and then a
moment came when no Wieroo was in sight. "Now!" whispered
Bradley; and the girl grasped the rope and slid over the edge of
the roof into the darkness below. A moment later Bradley felt
two quick pulls upon the rope and immediately followed to the
girl's side.

Across a narrow clearing they made their way and into a wood beyond.
All night they walked, following the river upward toward its source,
and at dawn they took shelter in a thicket beside the stream. At no
time did they hear the cry of a carnivore, and though many startled
animals fled as they approached, they were not once menaced by a
wild beast. When Bradley expressed surprise at the absence of the
fiercest beasts that are so numerous upon the mainland of Caprona,
the girl explained the reason that is contained in one of their
ancient legends.

"When the Wieroos first developed wings upon which they could
fly, they found this island devoid of any life other than a
few reptiles that live either upon land or in the water and
these only close to the coast. Requiring meat for food the
Wieroos carried to the island such animals as they wished for
that purpose. They still occasionally bring them, and this
with the natural increase keeps them provided with flesh."