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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of B. C. 30,000, by Sterner St. Paul Meek
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: B. C. 30,000
+
+Author: Sterner St. Paul Meek
+
+Release Date: October 21, 2008 [EBook #26989]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK B. C. 30,000 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: _With a roar, the apemen charged._]
+
+B. C. 30,000
+
+By Capt. S. P. Meek
+
+
+ Back in the dim dawn of civilization
+ Anak the Hunter stands in his might
+  before the encroaching Neanderthal
+                 men.
+
+
+A scream of rage split the darkness. From the side of the fire where the
+women sat darted Esle, the High Priestess, a bloody bit of liver in her
+hand. Following her, and snarling like an enraged cat, came one of the
+maidens of the tribe. The aged hag, Esle, whose duty it was to declare
+to the tribe the will of Degar Astok, the mighty one who dwelt in the
+heavens and sent the storms to enforce his will, came to a pause before
+Uglik, the Chief and tribal Father.
+
+"Una was eating of the man's piece," she shrilled as she held the
+fragment aloft.
+
+Uglik dropped the thigh bone from which he had been ripping the meat in
+huge chunks. He took the liver from Esle and examined it.
+
+"Bring me my spear!" he roared as he lunged forward and grasped Una by
+the hair. "Una has stolen that which is tabu to her and I will punish
+her."
+
+Una moaned with fright but attempted no resistance. Uglik grasped his
+spear and raised it over his head.
+
+"Hold, Father!" came a clear voice from the group of hunters who sat
+near the chief.
+
+Uglik paused in amazement at the interruption. Anak, the Chief Hunter,
+rose to his feet and made a step forward.
+
+"She stole it not," he said. "Anak, the Chief Hunter, gave it to her."
+
+Uglik released the girl and stared at the hunter in surprise. Anak
+returned the stare coolly and Uglik raised his throwing-spear
+threateningly. Anak did not let his gaze wander from the Father's, but
+his grasp tightened ever so slightly on the sharp flint smiting-stone
+which he had taken from the skin pouch which dangled from his leather
+waist belt before he had made his announcement.
+
+"Anak, the Chief Hunter, gave it to her," he repeated slowly. "Anak
+killed the buck, and half of the liver is, by the law of the tribe, his
+to dispose of. Does the Father deny the right?"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Uglik lowered the point of his spear and thought rapidly. Anak's act
+constituted unheard-of rebellion against his authority. On the other
+hand, the Chief Hunter was the cleverest tracker of the tribe and a
+mighty warrior in battle. The tribe of Ugar had lost most of its
+warriors in their long six-month march north from the fertile valley
+where the Mediterranean Sea now rolls. Uglik was too wise a leader to
+waste men on a trivial quarrel, able though he felt himself to kill
+Anak, should the latter cry the rannag, the duel to the death by which
+the Father must at any time prove to any challenger, his right to rule.
+
+"It is the right of the killer to dispose of half of the liver of the
+kill," he conceded. "It is also the right of the stronger to take what
+he wills from the weaker. To Esle belongs the liver. The girl will not
+be punished. Anak will join me at meat."
+
+Anak's face flushed momentarily at the arrogant tone of the Father's
+ruling. He realized, as well as Uglik, what had caused the Father to
+condone his semi-rebellion. He shrugged his shoulders and sat down
+beside Uglik.
+
+Uglik ate slowly, looking meditatively at Una as she tore off chunks of
+the meat with her strong teeth and swallowed them. The girl was about
+eighteen and in the first flush of womanhood. Her tawny brown skin
+gleamed like satin in the firelight, which was reflected from her
+slightly curling masses of black hair. She stood eight inches over five
+feet and her entire body was built on generous lines, lines of perfect
+health and almost masculine strength. Anak's eyes followed the direction
+of Uglik's gaze and he grew thoughtful in turn.
+
+"Is the Father satisfied with the Chief Hunter?" he asked ceremoniously.
+
+"The Father is," replied Uglik in similar vein.
+
+"Then the Chief Hunter has a boon to ask."
+
+"Name it."
+
+"I desire that maiden, Una, be given to me."
+
+"What?"
+
+Uglik could hardly believe his ears. All of the women of the tribe
+belonged of immemorial right to the Father. While he might lend one for
+a time to a favored hunter as a mark of distinction, the suggestion that
+he completely relinquish his claim to one of them, and a young and
+handsome one at that, struck him with such astonishment that he was
+momentarily speechless.
+
+"I desire that the maiden, Una, be given to me," repeated Anak. "She
+pleases me. I would have her carry my weapons on the march and sleep by
+my side in the camp."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Uglik leaped to his feet, spear in hand, but before the Chief Hunter's
+cool gaze, he wavered, again. Men were too scarce to waste, unless it
+became necessary.
+
+"I will consider the matter," he said shortly. "I may lend her to you
+for a time, but I will not give her to you. Such is not the law."
+
+"The Father who ruled before you gave women to his favored hunters,"
+replied Anak. "I was the son of such a one."
+
+"And Degar Astok assumed the form of a lion and punished him for his
+impiety by destroying him," retorted Uglik.
+
+"Then Uglik killed the lion and so became Father," replied Anak, "since
+none dared challenge the slayer of Degar Astok. Is it not possible that
+Esle, who was young and who favored Uglik in those days, made a mistake?
+Despite his death, Degar Astok still has power."
+
+Uglik's face flushed at the hunter's words.
+
+"Degar Astok may be robbed of one body, but he still lives," he
+answered. "Say no more. I will consider your request."
+
+Anak saluted and strode to the other side of the men's fire. He dropped
+down beside Invar, the youngest of the hunters. It was on his
+recommendation that Invar had been initiated into the ranks of manhood a
+full season before his time. The young hunter looked up with adoration
+in his eyes.
+
+"This I saved for my friend, Anak," he said proudly as he extended a
+generous chunk of liver. "Invar will be honored if his friend will eat
+of the liver of his kill."
+
+Anak took the morsel with thanks and ate it slowly. His thoughts ran to
+the tall maiden whom he had requested from the Father, and his blood
+boiled at the way he had been put off. He was half inclined to cry the
+rannag, but he was not yet ready for the death duel which would
+determine whether he or Uglik would rule the tribe. There was no other
+solution, for, while he ruled, the Father's word was law, subject only
+to the higher law of Degar Astok as given out by the High Priestess.
+This overlordship was more nominal than actual, for those priestesses
+who lived long lives were invariably those who found that the will of
+the Father coincided exactly with the law of Degar Astok. Anak revolved
+the problem in his mind for a time, but the repletion of raw meat in his
+stomach was not conducive to protracted thought. Gradually his head
+slumped forward and he slept sitting. The other hunters followed his
+example, leaving the youths from ten to seventeen to guard the camp,
+keep the fires going, and rouse the hunters should need arise.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The night passed slowly without alarms. Womoo, the lion, roared in the
+distance, and from near at hand came the coughing laugh of Kena, the
+jackal, who always prowled around the camp when the tribe fed on meat.
+Gradually the sky grew lighter. One of the children moaned in his sleep
+and raised his head. He rose, and with a word to the youth on guard,
+trotted off toward the stream which gurgled near the camp. He
+disappeared in the darkness. Suddenly there came a sudden scream, shut
+off in mid-note. Hardly had the cry ceased than the hunters were on
+their feet with spears ready in their hands.
+
+"What is it?" cried Uglik.
+
+"Loda went to the stream to drink," stuttered the guard. "He screamed,
+and I saw a gray shape run off into the darkness. It ran like Grup, the
+bear, but it was small."
+
+"Bring fire!" cried Anak.
+
+The youth seized a burning brand and led the way toward the stream. By
+the light of the torch Anak scrutinized the ground carefully. With a
+sudden exclamation, he pointed out to Uglik the print of a long and
+narrow, but unmistakably human, foot in the mud by the river bank. Uglik
+studied it carefully.
+
+"What think you?" he demanded of Anak.
+
+"It is the mark of man, yet not of our tribe," replied the Chief Hunter.
+"Such marks have I never seen."
+
+"Wait until Degar Astok sends the light," directed Uglik. "As soon as
+you can trail, the hunters will go in pursuit."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Slowly the light grew brighter. As soon as he could pick out the trail,
+Anak led the way, Uglik with the warriors and youths following closely.
+The trail led straight up the valley for a half mile before it turned
+and followed a branch of the stream which came from a ravine in the
+valley wall. The hunters went a hundred yards up the ravine following
+Anak. The Chief Hunter paused and held up his hand. He sniffed the air
+and then led the way cautiously past a projecting shoulder of rock. On
+a ledge, half way up the hillside, sat two monstrous things.
+
+They were manlike and yet hardly man. Their bodies were covered with
+stiff, coarse, gray hair which lengthened into a mane on the head and
+neck. Their foreheads were low and receding, an impression which was
+heightened by the enormously developed brow ridges, although the cranial
+capacity of the creatures was not small, as was evidenced by enormous
+bulges at the back of their heads. They walked on two legs but with a
+peculiar slouch, the torso inclined forward from the hips, and their
+eyes bent perpetually on the ground. Their arms were long and at times
+they bent forward so much that it appeared almost as though they were
+going on all fours. A close examination of their hands would have shown
+that it was impossible for them to hold a needle between the thumb and
+forefinger.
+
+"Gumor, the gray ape!" cried one of the hunters.
+
+"It is not Gumor," replied Anak, "although they are like his cousins.
+See what they eat!"
+
+As the hunters of the Cro-Magnon tribe of Ugar saw the meat which the
+Neanderthalers were tearing, a cry of wrath broke from them. Uglik
+stepped forward and raised the war cry of the tribe. The Neanderthalers
+looked stupidly down at him for a moment. The huge male dropped the meat
+he was eating and rose, his mane and beard bristling with rage. With a
+roar, he charged down the slope, a huge flint smiting-stone in either
+hand.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The hunters closed up on Uglik. As the attacker came within range, he
+was saluted with a shower of stones which sprang harmlessly from his
+huge rounded chest. Uglik hurled his spear. It pierced the apeman's
+shoulder but did not make him pause. Other spears were hurled and struck
+their mark, but without a pause the Neanderthaler came on with howls of
+rage and pain, bloody froth flying from his lips.
+
+Anak had not thrown his spear, and Invar, who stood beside his hero, had
+likewise retained his weapon. The apeman came on with a rush. Uglik
+sprang forward to meet him, but another hunter was directly in the path
+of the attack. He swung his flint smiting-stone with a will, but his
+blow was futile. He went down before a sweep of the apeman's arm, his
+skull crushed to fragments.
+
+Uglik struck at the attacker. The Neanderthaler turned toward him, but
+as he did so, Anak hurled his spear. At close range, the stone-tipped
+weapon passed nearly through the apeman. He stopped his rush and began
+to cough up blood from a pierced lung. Anak seized Invar's spear and
+sprang to the attack. An unfledged youth who craved distinction, rushed
+ahead of the Chief Hunter, but his act spelled his doom. One blow of the
+huge smiting-stone laid him dead. Anak hurled Invar's spear and again
+his weapon found its mark. The Neanderthaler roared with pain and sank
+gradually to his knees. Uglik dashed in, knife in hand. He threw himself
+on the prostrate monster and stabbed him again and again. The blows
+struck home, but with a last effort the apeman threw off his assailant
+and struck at him with the huge stone which had already robbed the tribe
+of two of its members. Before the blow could fall, Samo, one of the
+hunters, threw himself in the way and took the blow on his arm. The arm
+bone snapped like a pipestem, but it was the monster's dying effort.
+With a shudder, he fell back dead.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A ferocious howl rent the air. With a smiting-stone in each hand, the
+female charged down at them. She was somewhat smaller than the male, but
+still a match for any two of the men. Uglik's face paled as he wrenched
+Invar's spear from the dead male and turned to face her. The howl was
+repeated from farther up the ravine. Two more males were approaching at
+a lumbering run, smiting-stones in either hand. Uglik was a brave man,
+but he was also a cautious leader. He did not care to expose his tribe
+to almost certain annihilation and he led a wild retreat down the
+valley, Samo, with his arm hanging limp, bringing up the rear. The
+Neanderthalers did not follow into the open valley.
+
+Again at the camping place, Uglik called his hunters into council. The
+situation was grave enough. With the Neanderthalers so near them, it
+meant eventual annihilation to stay where they were, yet there was no
+place they could go. They had been driven from their old home by hordes
+of men who came up from the south. They had fought to retain their
+ancestral hunting grounds where they had dwelt since the beginning of
+time, but a series of defeats at the hands of overwhelming numbers had
+dwindled down the tribe until a migration was necessary. They had
+followed the migrating game toward the unknown north.
+
+Several times they had tried to stop, but each time they had found the
+land in possession of other and stronger tribes. Their men had been
+killed and their women stolen until they again took up their march to
+the north. From the hundred that had formerly called Uglik "Father,"
+there now remained only a score of women and children, a half dozen
+youths, and five able-bodied hunters, besides Uglik.
+
+South, they dared not go. North, there lay unknown horrors. West lay the
+raging sea. East, the Neanderthalers blocked the way.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The council broke up with no action decided on. Faced with the
+alternatives of moving or staying, there seemed to be little choice.
+Only death faced them, whichever way they turned. Uglik posted guards
+about the camp and announced that he would retire and consult with Degar
+Astok as to their future course.
+
+As he disappeared into the woods, Esle sidled up to Anak.
+
+"It seems that Degar Astok no longer loves Uglik," she said slyly. "Does
+not the Chief Hunter agree with me?"
+
+Anak looked at the withered hag coldly.
+
+"Who am I to tell his Priestess whom Degar Astok loves?" he asked. "You
+are his voice and should know."
+
+"True, Anak, I am his voice, and the God loves me," she went on, "yet it
+may be that men do not always love me. Uglik thinks that I have given
+him false counsel and he is ready for a new Priestess to announce the
+will of Degar Astok to him. He believes that a new and younger Priestess
+would bring back the favor of the God."
+
+"What is that to me?" asked Anak.
+
+"You desire the maiden, Una?"
+
+"And if I do?"
+
+"You are not to have her. Uglik will never grant your request. Already
+he plans to make her the High Priestess, should an accident happen to
+me."
+
+Anak started. If Esle spoke the truth, it ended his chances of having
+Una. All women were tabu to all save the Father, but the High Priestess
+was doubly sacred.
+
+"What am I to do?" he demanded.
+
+Esle smiled slyly.
+
+"I was the Voice of the God before Uglik was Father," she said in a low
+voice, "and I would be so after he is gone. Cry you rannag on him. I
+know many things, and I will cast a spell on him so that victory will be
+easy for you. Then will you be Father. The maiden Una will be yours, and
+old Esle will remain the High Priestess."
+
+"To give me false counsel as you have Uglik, and in time to plot my
+overthrow and death with another," said Anak sternly. "No, woman or
+devil, whichever you are, I want no help of yours. If I ever cry rannag
+on Uglik, I will defeat him by my strength or not at all. If I win to be
+Father, be assured that an 'accident' will happen to you shortly."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Esle frothed at the mouth with rage.
+
+"You shall never have the maiden!" she screamed. "Rather will I kill her
+than that you shall have her. It was in my mind to make you Chief and to
+lead you from this trap that Uglik had brought you into, but you have
+sealed your doom and hers. I go to prepare a curse."
+
+She turned to depart, but Anak grasped her by the arm.
+
+"Listen, woman," he said sternly as he raised his spear, "it is in my
+mind to kill you and make an end of your evil plottings."
+
+"Spare me! Spare me, noble Anak!" shrieked the hag, dropping to her
+knees as the flint point of Anak's spear hovered over her. "I will not
+harm her nor you, either. I will soften Uglik's heart toward you and
+make him give you the maiden. I will declare it is the will of the God."
+
+Anak lowered the spear.
+
+"As long as Una is safe, your life is spared," he said grimly; "but pray
+to Degar Astok to keep her safe. Should any harm befall her, your life
+will answer for it."
+
+"I will weave spells to guard her from harm, Anak," she cried eagerly.
+"Only let me live, brave hunter!"
+
+Anak spurned her contemptuously from him. The hag scuttled away and took
+the path into the woods which Uglik had taken earlier. Later in the day
+she returned with the Father. Uglik announced briefly that it was the
+will of Degar Astok that they remain at their present camping place.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Then began a time of horror for the children of the tribe. If one of
+them strayed for even a short distance from the circle of the camp fire
+at night, there came a scream from the darkness and the tribe would
+mourn another lost member. The tales of man-eating giants and ogres
+which even yet haunt the dreams of childhood have descended to us
+through the ages from those grim times when the race of men learned the
+lesson of fear of the dark that they are now slowly and painfully
+unlearning.
+
+Anak did not renew his request for Una. He knew from her smiles that the
+maiden was more than willing to become his property, but in the face of
+their daily peril, he was not willing to precipitate a crisis which
+might easily cost the tribe most or all of their few remaining warriors.
+He kept a sharp watch on Esle and on Uglik, but neither the High
+Priestess nor the Father seemed to notice the girl.
+
+As time went on, the Neanderthalers lost their fear of the fire and grew
+bolder. Their gray shapes could be seen prowling around at night, just
+outside the protecting circle of light. The climax came at last. There
+was a scream in the night. A howl of triumph came from the darkness. The
+quickly aroused hunters could see nothing at which to cast their
+spears.
+
+"Who is missing?" demanded Uglik as the hunters returned empty handed.
+
+"The maiden, Una," cried Esle shrilly.
+
+Anak rushed at her, spear in hand.
+
+"Unsay those words, hag of evil omen!" he roared. "Where have you hidden
+her?"
+
+"Ask of the cousins of Gumor," she replied as she ducked behind the
+protecting frame of Uglik. "They have taken her from us."
+
+Anak dropped his spear and buried his face in his hands. When he raised
+his head again, resolution showed in his handsome face.
+
+"Prepare spears and throwing-stones," he cried. "To-morrow we attack the
+cousins of Gumor. Either they or we shall be no more when the night
+falls again."
+
+A murmur of dissent went around the camp. Uglik sprang to his feet.
+
+"What means the Chief Hunter of the tribe of Ugar?" he demanded.
+
+"I mean that to-morrow we settle for all time who rules in this valley,
+the tribe of Ugar or the cousins of Gumor."
+
+"And has the Father no voice in the council of the tribe?"
+
+"We have come to the end," replied Anak. "If we do not strike now, soon
+we will be too weak to strike. To-morrow we attack!"
+
+"I am Father of the tribe of Ugar," replied Uglik with a dangerous note
+in his voice. "No one gives orders here except me. On you, Anak, the
+Chief Hunter that was, I place the word of death! Slay him!"
+
+The hunters raised their spears doubtfully. Anak raised his, ready to
+cast it at Uglik. Before a blow could be struck, a figure sprang across
+the fire and took a stand, back to back with Anak.
+
+"Who strikes my friend, strikes me!" cried Invar.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Uglik gave a gasp at this fresh defection from his authority. He roared
+to the hunters to strike. The three hunters remaining to the tribe
+advanced half-heartedly. None of them cared to face Anak; and Invar,
+young as he was, had already proven himself a mighty warrior. Uglik
+shouldered them aside with a roar of wrath. Before he could attack,
+Anak's cry stopped him.
+
+"Hold, Uglik!" cried the Chief Hunter. "If you attack, the tribe will
+lose most or all of its hunters. You have put the death word on me, as
+is your right. I go now against the cousins of Gumor, and that, I think,
+is death. Let me go in peace and with weapons. Before they tear me limb
+from limb, at least one of them will not be alive."
+
+"And I go with Anak!" cried Invar. "More than one of the cousins of
+Gumor will know that the Chief Hunter of the tribe of Ugar and his
+friend have visited their home."
+
+Uglik paused. No trace of fear entered his heart, but the wily
+politician saw the force of Anak's argument. He would gain doubly by the
+course that the hunter had proposed.
+
+"Go in peace, and with weapons," he said as he lowered his spear. "Esle
+will take your weapons and make spells over them that will increase
+their might. At dawn you shall go. The word of death is on you, so come
+not back to the tribe again. Once you leave the camp, you are outlaw."
+
+"So be it!" replied Anak.
+
+Shortly before the dawn, Esle crept to Anak's side.
+
+"I've wrought spells over your weapons, Chief Hunter," she said softly,
+"and over those of your companion. Remember this when the cousins of
+Gumor attack you."
+
+"I will, hag of evil," said Anak grimly. "Better will it be for you that
+we never return."
+
+"Why leave?" came Esle's insinuating voice. "I am still ready to help
+you. Cry rannag on Uglik in the morning. Your weapons have had my
+attention and his have not. That alone would decide the fight. Slay him
+and the warriors of the tribe will fight at your back. I know spells,
+and mayhap, they will prevail even against the cousins of Gumor."
+
+"I go but for vengeance, Esle," said Anak wearily. "With Una gone, I
+have no desire to live."
+
+"There are other maidens who are fair, Anak, and when you are Father you
+will have them all."
+
+"Leave me, Esle," said Anak shortly. "I desire none but Una."
+
+"And may the cousins of Gumor crack your bones between their teeth," she
+hissed venomously as she slipped away into the darkness.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+As the sun rose above the horizon, Anak and Invar took their way up the
+valley. Each carried three flint-tipped throwing-spears, while a good
+supply of flint throwing-stones were in their skin pouches. Half a mile
+from camp, Anak turned to his companion.
+
+"I thank you for coming with me," he said, his hand on Invar's shoulder.
+"It is the deed of a brave man."
+
+Invar flushed and looked down.
+
+"The least that I can do is to go to Degar Astok with my friend," he
+said.
+
+"It is the deed of a brave man, yet I think we are not yet ripe to die."
+
+"We go against the cousins of Gumor, do we not?" asked the lad.
+
+"We do."
+
+"And is that not death?"
+
+"Mayhap, and yet, I have a plan. We may live."
+
+"How can we two expect to do what all the tribe of Ugar dare not try?"
+
+"The tribe of Ugar, or a dozen tribes of Ugar, could not conquer with
+Uglik leading them," replied Anak, "yet we two may do so. Hark now to my
+plan. Like Gumor, the gray ape, his cousins walk ever with their eyes
+cast down. While we have been hunting, I have been spying on them in
+their home. Never have I seen one look up, and it may be that they
+cannot. Above or on a level with us, they can easily kill us. If we
+stand on the rocks above them, they cannot see us and will be at our
+mercy. They can run as fast as we on level ground, but going uphill, we
+will leave them as Guno, the deer, leaves Kena. They are few in number;
+I have watched and seen but two hunters and three females. It is my plan
+to scale the cliffs and watch them below us. When the time is ripe, we
+will launch our throwing-spears. If we fail to make a kill, we will
+bound up the hill and escape to strike again."
+
+Invar looked with admiration at his leader. The habit of connected
+thought and reasoning was new in the world in those days. Such boldness
+of conception as was shown by Anak's plan was a thing for marvel. As the
+ramifications of the plan seeped into Invar's brain, his face glowed
+with enthusiasm.
+
+"Anak should be Father of the tribe of Ugar!" he cried.
+
+"That may yet come to pass," replied Anak enigmatically. "If I kill
+Uglik, however, it will be to avenge Una, not to win the chieftainship.
+Now keep silence, for here is the home of the cousins of Gumor."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Cautiously the two hunters passed the mouth of the ravine and climbed
+the slopes of the valley. Once on the level ground, they moved to the
+edge of the ravine and looked down into it. Nothing could be seen
+moving. Anak led the way a hundred yards farther up the ravine.
+
+"Below us is a cave where dwell two," he whispered. "Make ready your
+spear while I sound the challenge."
+
+He raised his voice in a wild howl of challenge. For a moment there was
+silence. Then from the ravine came a hoarse rumbling bellow. An enormous
+male made his appearance, his mane and beard bristling with rage. He
+darted his eyes hither and thither, seeking the source of the challenge.
+Again a hoarse roar came from his broad, thick lips. As it rose to a
+crescendo, Anak hurled his spear.
+
+His aim was true. The point struck the Neanderthaler at the junction of
+his neck and shoulder. As it struck, the haft flew from the spear and
+bounded down the slope. The first point made only a surface wound.
+
+The apeman roared with pain and rage. Still he did not see his enemies.
+With careful aim, Invar launched his weapon. The stone-tipped spear
+struck the giant's groin, but the haft broke and the head was barely
+buried in the flesh. The Neanderthaler pricked up his pointed, lobeless
+ears, and located the source of the shout. By bending back his torso, he
+looked upward. With a roar of rage he started up the slope, a huge flint
+smiting-stone grasped in each hairy paw.
+
+Anak and Invar dashed up the slope ahead of him. The keenness of the
+Chief Hunter's powers of observation was attested by the fact that they
+easily increased their distance from their pursuer. As they ran, Invar's
+foot dislodged a boulder which thundered down the slope. The
+Neanderthaler did not see it coming until it was too late to dodge. The
+stone took him full in the chest and he rolled down the slope, a shower
+of smaller stones going with him.
+
+He smashed against a tree. With shouts of triumph, Anak and Invar
+bounded down the slope. The Neanderthaler was dying, his chest crushed
+in. Invar raised a spear and drove it at his heart. The weapon struck
+fair, but again the head of the spear came off the shaft. A sudden
+thought illuminated Anak's brain.
+
+"Esle!" he cried in rage. "She had our weapons last night!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+He studied the two spears remaining in his hand. Each of them had the
+hide lashing which bound the head to the haft cut through. The weapons
+were useless.
+
+Invar's face paled. From up the slope a roar assailed their ears. The
+female was rushing down at them, smiting-stones in hand.
+
+"Fly, Invar!" cried Anak. "Run up the slope and throw down stones at
+her. I will hold her for a moment."
+
+"Invar stays with his friend!" cried the boy stubbornly as he gripped
+his useless throwing-spear.
+
+"Run up the slope!" stormed Anak. "It is our only chance. Remember how
+the male died!"
+
+Slowly the idea penetrated Invar's brain. With a shout he dashed away.
+He circled the oncoming female and got above her. Anak hurled one of his
+crippled spears. It struck her full in the chest, but made only a flesh
+wound as the handle dropped away. The female roared with rage and hurled
+herself at the hunter. Anak leaped to one side and ran for dear life.
+The clumsy female checked her rush and turned after him. He rapidly
+gained on her. A shout from above reached him.
+
+"Run to your left, Anak!"
+
+The hunter swerved sharply to his left. Invar threw his shoulder against
+a huge boulder on the slope. The stone rocked but did not fall. Again
+the lad exerted himself until his muscles cracked under the strain. The
+boulder tottered for a moment and then rolled down the slope, gathering
+momentum as it rolled. It was deflected from the direct line of the
+female's attack, but a smaller stone it dislodged struck her on the
+shoulder and knocked her from her feet.
+
+"More stones, Invar!" cried Anak.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The two exerted themselves and an avalanche of rocks thundered down the
+slope. The female strove to rise, but she was overwhelmed. Down the
+slope rushed the two hunters, intent on finishing her with their
+smiting-stones and knives. She lay in a twisted heap, whimpering
+plaintively. Invar's knife found her heart, and she sank back dead.
+
+"Well struck, Invar!" cried Anak. "Would that we had spears. Others of
+the cousins of Gumor are coming."
+
+Bellowing roars came from higher up the ravine. The two hunters bounded
+back up the slope. Down the ravine came another female, followed by a
+fourteen-year-old boy. Contemptuous of their assailants, the hunters
+betrayed their whereabouts with shouts. The female accepted the
+challenge and climbed heavily up the slope toward them, the boy trailing
+her and aping her cries with shrill shouts.
+
+The hunters allowed her to approach to within a few yards before they
+threw their combined weight on a huge mass of rock. The boulder gave and
+thundered down the slope. It brushed past the female but did not strike
+her.
+
+"Higher up and try again, Invar!" cried the Chief Hunter.
+
+They bounded up the slope. Anak paused and hurled a flint throwing-stone
+with deadly aim. It struck the female a glancing blow on the face,
+tearing the flesh from one of the prominent brow ridges. She stopped,
+momentarily blinded. Invar raised a rock high above his head with both
+hands and cast it at her. It struck her on the chest and she fell
+backwards. Again Anak's strategy was successful and an avalanche of
+rolled rocks overwhelmed her. The boy turned to fly, but the
+fleet-footed Invar overtook him and the knives of the two hunters
+quickly put an end to his career.
+
+As they bent over his dead body, a shrill scream rose on the air. It was
+not the voice of an apeman, or an apewoman, but held a human quality.
+The hunters straightened up and sought the source of it. Again came the
+scream. From the mouth of a cave above them bounded a girl. She won
+momentarily to freedom, but a huge Neanderthal male followed her from
+the cave. His hairy arm seized and dragged her back.
+
+"Una!" cried Invar and Anak in one voice.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Forgotten were strategy and tactics. Anak bounded up the slope, Invar at
+his heels. Into the mouth of the cave they charged. The huge male
+dropped the girl and faced them with a growl. Anak hurled a
+throwing-stone, but his aim was poor. It rebounded harmlessly from the
+great arched chest of the Neanderthaler. With a roar, the apeman
+charged.
+
+The hunter sidestepped the rush and swung his smiting-stone. The blow
+was deflected by the upraised arm of the apeman and fell on his
+shoulder. Invar hurled a throwing-stone which found the monster's face
+and made him pause. The apeman recovered himself and rushed at the
+youth. The boy met him, smiting-stone in hand, but one swing of the
+heavier flint broke through his guard and stretched him senseless on the
+floor, blood flowing from a gash in his head.
+
+Anak hurled another throwing-stone which caught the apeman on the back
+of the head, dazing him. With a shout, Anak closed. The effects of the
+blow had been only momentary and the Neanderthaler met his rush with
+both his stones swinging. One of them tore a long gash down Anak's back
+while the other laid open his thigh. The apeman dropped his stones and
+wound his long hairy arms about the hunter's body. Anak threw himself
+back and the two rolled on the floor, the apeman striving to crush the
+life out of his slighter opponent, while Anak smote futilely with his
+smiting-stone at the hairy body. Slowly, the hunter's ribs gave under
+the pressure. Spots of fire danced before his eyes. He strove valiantly,
+but his muscles were as a child's, compared to the enormous development
+of his opponent. With a gasp, his body went limp.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Una had watched the struggle with horror-stricken eyes. As the apeman's
+grip tightened about Anak's body, she gave a low moan. Her gaze fell on
+the discarded smiting-stones of the Neanderthaler. She sprang forward
+and lifted one in both hands. The apeman threw back his head to give a
+roar of victory. The note never issued from his throat. The huge flint
+which he had chipped patiently to a sharp edge, struck him on the back
+of the head. With a gasp and a convulsive shudder, the apeman rolled
+over, his skull crushed in.
+
+Invar slowly recovered consciousness, and now sat up. He looked dully at
+the dead body of the Neanderthaler. Beside it, Anak lay in a pool of
+blood. He staggered to his feet, asking dully:
+
+"Is Anak with Degar Astok?"
+
+"Not yet," replied Una. "Help me to stop the flow of his blood."
+
+"He said there were five of the cousins of Gumor," said the boy as he
+looked around apprehensively. "We have slain but four."
+
+Una pointed toward the ravine.
+
+"The other lies there," she said. "This one slew his mate an hour gone.
+I think he designed me to take her place."
+
+Fever took Anak, and for three days he hovered between life and death.
+Then he slept and woke conscious, although his strength was badly sapped
+by the fever. There was no lack of food, for game was plentiful and
+Invar had found and mended the throwing-spears which Esle had tampered
+with. Slowly Anak recovered his strength. A month after the fight he
+stretched his muscles and announced himself as well.
+
+"I return to-day to the tribe of Ugar," he announced.
+
+"Can you return?" asked Invar doubtfully. "Remember the word of death."
+
+"That, let Uglik answer," replied Anak. "In peace or in war, I will
+return. Soon the winter will come and here are warm caves and game in
+plenty. Here shall the tribe make a home."
+
+"Where you go, there go I," exclaimed Invar.
+
+"And I likewise," said Una.
+
+"Una will stay here until we return," replied Anak in a tone which
+brooked no argument.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The girl pouted, but a sharp word from Anak settled the matter.
+Throwing-spear and smiting-stone in hand, the two hunters approached the
+camping place of Uglik's tribe. They were within a hundred yards before
+they were seen. Esle set up a shrill cry.
+
+"Here come those on whom the Father passed the death word. Slay, oh,
+hunters!"
+
+Anak raised his hand and made the sign of peace.
+
+"Wait before you attack two such as we," he said. "We are bearers of
+good tidings. By our hands, the cousins of Gumor have died. Think you,
+do you care to attack two such as we?"
+
+The hunters looked at one another doubtfully.
+
+"He lies!" shrilled Esle.
+
+"We do not lie!" retorted Anak. "Their bones, picked clear by Kena, lie
+in their ravine. We come in peace to lead you to their home. There are
+warm caves and game in plenty. We will rejoin the tribe if the Father
+will remove the death word. Otherwise, attack us if you dare, and the
+tribe of Ugar will join the cousins of Gumor."
+
+Uglik's face plainly showed hesitation.
+
+"The death word his been passed," he said doubtfully. "It can be
+withdrawn only by a sacrifice to Degar Astok."
+
+"We two have offered five of the cousins of Gumor, and a boy. Is that
+not enough?"
+
+"It must be a human sacrifice!" cried Esle.
+
+"Then, hag of evil omen, traitor to Uglik, attempted slayer of Invar and
+me, I offer you!" cried Anak furiously, his spear raised.
+
+"Sacrilege!" she shrilled, darting behind Uglik. "Slay the defamer of
+the God!"
+
+"What mean these charges, Anak?" asked Uglik darkly.
+
+"Esle tampered with our spears, which you ordered her to strengthen for
+the battle with the cousins of Gumor," said Anak. "They broke in our
+hands. With only smiting-stones and knives, we overcame them. Further,
+she tried to plot with me to kill you and take your place."
+
+"He lies!" cried Esle in a quavering voice. Uglik turned a black face on
+her.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"Enough!" he roared. "The sacrifice is sufficient. I withdraw the death
+word. Anak, the cause of dissension between us is gone. Rejoin the tribe
+in peace."
+
+"I bow to the Father," replied Anak, suiting his action to his word.
+"The tribe of Ugar has gained three members."
+
+"Three?" asked Uglik.
+
+"The maiden, Una, was not slain, but borne away alive by the cousins of
+Gumor. I have rescued her and she waits in the valley of plenty."
+
+"Then Degar Astok was right when he told me he should have a new High
+Priestess," said Uglik, licking his lips. "She shall come to my cave and
+take the place of that worn-out hag, Esle."
+
+"She will dwell in mine," said Anak shortly. "I have taken her for mine
+and I will not give her up."
+
+"The word of the Father is the law of the tribe," said Uglik.
+
+"That is true. I ask that the maiden whom I have taken in war be given
+to me in peace."
+
+"The maiden, Una, dwells in the Father's cave!" said Uglik.
+
+"Then cry I rannag on you, Uglik, the Father!" cried Anak. "I challenge
+you to the fight to death, which you may not refuse and continue to
+rule."
+
+"And on you I pass the death word!" shouted Uglik. "Hunters--"
+
+"The Father may not pass the death word on one who has cried rannag,"
+retorted Anak. "Such is the law!"
+
+"Such is the law!" echoed the hunters, glad of an excuse not to attack
+the two hunters of whose prowess they knew so much.
+
+Uglik looked from one group to the other.
+
+"When the sun starts to rest, the rannag will be fought," he answered.
+"When I have slain this traitor, Una becomes High Priestess. Hunters,
+bind the hag, Esle, that she may not escape. Anak, lead the way to the
+valley of plenty."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Packing up was a simple matter for the tribe of Ugar. In five minutes
+they were following Anak to the valley of the Neanderthalers. When they
+arrived, Uglik picked out the largest of the caves, and told the hunters
+to choose their own. In a few minutes the tribe was established in their
+new home. Esle was released from her bonds, for it was essential that
+the High Priestess of Degar Astok prepare the ground for the rannag.
+
+Anak and Invar walked slowly up to the cave where Una waited.
+
+"Uglik is a mighty warrior," said Invar doubtfully.
+
+"So is Anak," was the reply. "Further, I have a plan."
+
+"Then are Uglik's days numbered," replied Invar with delight. "Tell me
+what I am to do to aid you."
+
+"When we get to the cave, you may cut off my hair and beard."
+
+Invar started back aghast.
+
+"Your strength will go with it," he protested. "The glory of the warrior
+is his beard."
+
+"I do not believe it," said Anak. "By cutting it, I will rob Uglik of a
+handhold he could use to my downfall. Fear not, I know what I am doing."
+
+With a flint knife, Invar slowly and painfully hacked off Anak's long
+hair and beard. When the operation was over, Anak smeared himself
+plentifully with the fat of a wild pig which had fallen to one of
+Invar's spears the day before. When he was ready, he threw himself down
+to sleep. When he had dropped off to slumber, Una rose. She took the
+liver of the pig from the back of the cave and approached the doorway.
+
+"Where go you, Una?" demanded Invar.
+
+"I take this to the Father that he may strengthen himself for the
+rannag," she said enigmatically. "Should not the best be given to the
+Father?"
+
+Invar's hand tightened on his throwing-spear.
+
+"Minded am I to slay you," he said darkly.
+
+"And fight to the death with Anak when he awakens? Listen, oh, fool, if
+the Father eats greatly, he will be slow and Anak may slay him with
+ease."
+
+A light of admiration flashed into Invar's eyes.
+
+"It is well thought," he said.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+With a swift glance around, Una took from her girdle a tiny skin packet.
+She opened it and displayed a brown powder.
+
+"This, Esle gave me," she whispered. "She said that Uglik had threatened
+her death and she wished Anak to kill him. If I give Anak this, Degar
+Astok would make him strong."
+
+"Why did you not do so?"
+
+"Because I am a woman, and I know a woman's heart. It would have the
+opposite effect. I will rub it into the liver I give to Uglik."
+
+With the aid of the women, Esle laid out a rough oval on the ground
+where the two combatants were to meet. Throwing-stones and spears were
+not allowed in rannag, the two combatants fighting their duel with
+smiting-stones and flint knives only. At the appointed hour, the two
+combatants appeared, stripped to their loin-clothes only. The Father was
+hideous with streaks of paint, red, yellow, white, and black. Anak
+glistened from his coat of grease, but his skin was bare of ornament.
+
+The two combatants took their places, while around the fighting ground
+gathered the hunters and youths, throwing-spears in hand. Their
+privilege and duty it was to slay either of the fighters who fled or who
+was forced out of the ring. Esle intoned a long prayer to Degar Astok.
+The word for combat was given. The two men approached each other
+cautiously. The Father confident in his strength, but he felt heavy and
+lethargic. Anak was clear-eyed and alert, ready to take advantage of any
+opening offered him.
+
+The two men circled, wary as great jungle cats. Anak, suddenly ducked
+his head and rubbed his eyes. With a roar of triumph, Uglik charged.
+
+Outside the ring, there was a commotion. A woman's scream, rent the air.
+Invar leaped to Una's side, to find her wrestling with Esle.
+
+"Kill her, Invar!" shrieked the girl. "She tried to cast a spell on
+Anak."
+
+The young hunter forced open the High Priestess' hand. In it was grasped
+a bit of shiny quartz with which she had reflected the sun into the
+hunter's eyes. With upraised hand, he struck her to the ground.
+
+"She shall be judged after the rannag," he said. "Take you this spear,
+Una, and drive it through her if she moves."
+
+The girl took the spear. Invar returned to watch the fight. Anak had
+sidestepped the first rush of the Father and his smiting-stone had bit
+heavily into Uglik's shoulder. Uglik had whirled and charged again. Anak
+made as if to leap to one side. As Uglik changed his direction to meet
+him, Anak swayed back. Again his smiting-stone bit heavily into the
+Father's side. With a cry of pain, Uglik paused and changed his tactics.
+He approached cautiously, ready to leap to either side. Farther and
+farther Anak retreated until the hunters at the end of the oval raised
+their spears in anticipation. Then Anak charged.
+
+Uglik was taken by surprise. His blow glanced off Anak's upraised stone
+while an upward sweep of the weapon took him in the neck. He dropped his
+stone and threw his arms around Anak's body. Well had Anak planned when
+he greased his body, for Uglik's grip failed. Anak shook him loose and
+struck again. Once more Uglik grasped him, and this time threw him
+heavily to the ground. Again the grease made his hold slip. Anak
+struggled to his feet, but it was evident that the fall had hurt him.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Uglik followed up his advantage. He warded off the blow of the hunter's
+stone and again flung him to earth. Anak dropped his stone.
+
+Uglik's hands fastened on the hunter's throat, and mercilessly he banged
+Anak's head on the rocky ground. Anak wound his mighty legs about the
+Father's middle. Silently they put forth their strength. Uglik's hold
+was the more deadly, and slowly the hunter weakened.
+
+"The Father kills!" screamed Esle.
+
+She strove to rise to her feet, but Una had her orders from Invar. She
+pressed home the spear. With a sob, Esle fell back.
+
+Anak's tongue began to protrude from his mouth and his eyes swelled. An
+expression of triumph spread over Uglik's face, which suddenly changed
+to one of amazement, and then to pain and fear.
+
+As they rolled over, Anak had felt something pierce his leg. The pain
+was nothing, but it persisted. As his consciousness slipped away, only
+that one feeling remained. He reached down to his leg. Thrust deep into
+his thigh was a knife-like sliver of flint. With a supreme effort, he
+rallied his failing consciousness and grasped it. The Father's chest was
+directly over him. With his last conscious effort, he thrust upward with
+the fragment of flint. His aim was true. Uglik suddenly released his
+hold and raised himself to his knees, his hands plucking at his chest.
+For a moment he swayed forward and back. Then, with a cry, he pitched
+forward, blood gushing from his chest over the unconscious hunter.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Anak recovered consciousness to find his opponent lying dead before him,
+the sliver of flint buried in his heart. He staggered to his feet and
+tried to speak. His vocal cords refused to act and he massaged his
+throat gently.
+
+"I am Father of the tribe of Ugar by right of rannag," he said hoarsely.
+"Do any challenge the right?"
+
+There was no answer. Anak stepped to Una's side.
+
+"Uglik spoke truth when he said that Una would be High Priestess of
+Degar Astok," he said. "This I now proclaim her. You, Esle, stripped of
+your office, shall do menial tasks for all who will until death claims
+you. If your homage wavers, death will not be long.
+
+"Lo, I make a new law for the tribe. No longer shall all the women
+belong to the Father, but to those to whom the Father awards them. To
+each hunter, I now give one woman. He shall take her to his cave and
+hunt for her. She shall obey him and no other. The others shall live in
+a woman's cave, and shall be tabu until they are chosen by one who has
+no woman, or until a hunter desires more than one woman to chip his
+flints and dress his skins. Hunters, choose your women and take up
+caves. Here stays the tribe of Ugar forever, and we will allow no others
+in the valley."
+
+Followed by Una he strode toward the Father's cave. Below the hunters
+and the women eyed one another a trifle fearfully. At last Invar stepped
+forward and grasped one of them by the arm.
+
+"Come to my cave!" he ordered.
+
+The woman followed him submissively.
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+    This etext was produced from _Astounding Stories_ April 1932.
+    Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
+    copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
+    typographical errors have been corrected without note.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of B. C. 30,000, by Sterner St. Paul Meek
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK B. C. 30,000 ***
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