And men of Yarnith, labouring in the fields, found the Famine as he
nibbled at the corn and chased the cattle, and hastily they drew water
from deep wells and cast it over the Famine's dry grey fur and drove
him back to the mountains. But the next day when his fur was dry again
the Famine returned and nibbled more of the corn and chased the cattle
further, and again men drove him back. But again the Famine returned,
and there came a time when there was no more water in the wells to
frighten the Famine with, and he nibbled the corn till all of it was
gone and the cattle that he chased grew very lean. And the Famine drew
nearer, even to the houses of men and trampled on their gardens at
night and ever came creeping nearer to their doors. At last the cattle
were able to run no more, and one by one the Famine took them by their
throats and dragged them down, and at night he scratched in the ground,
killing even the roots of things, and came and peered in at the
doorways and started back and peered in at the door again a little
further, but yet was not bold enough to enter altogether, for fear that
men should have water to throw over his dry grey fur.

Then did the men of Yarnith pray to Yarni Zai as he sat far off beyond
the valley, praying to him night and day to call his Famine back, but
the Famine sat and purred and slew all the cattle and dared at last to
take men for his food.

And the histories tell how he slew children first and afterwards grew
bolder and tore down women, till at last he even sprang at the throats
of men as they laboured in the fields.

Then said the men of Yarnith:

"There must go one to take our prayers to the feet of Yarni Zai; for