By reaching my right hand over my left
shoulder, I could seize the spear or arrows; my left hand could find
my bow over my right shoulder, while a veritable contortionist-act
was necessary to place my shield in front of me and upon my left
arm. The shield, long and oval, is utilized more as back-armor than
as a defense against frontal attack, for the close-set armlets of
gold upon the left forearm are principally depended upon to ward
off knife, spear, hatchet, or arrow from in front; but against the
greater carnivora and the attacks of several human antagonists,
the shield is utilized to its best advantage and carried by loops
upon the left arm.
Fully equipped, except for a blanket, I followed Chal-az from his
domicile into the dark and deserted alleys of Kro-lu. Silently
we crept along, Nobs silent at heel, toward the nearest portion of
the palisade. Here Chal-az bade me farewell, telling me that he
hoped to see me soon among the Galus, as he felt that "the call
soon would come" to him. I thanked him for his loyal assistance and
promised that whether I reached the Galu country or not, I should
always stand ready to repay his kindness to me, and that he could
count on me in the revolution against Al-tan.
Chapter 7
To run up the inclined surface of the palisade and drop to the
ground outside was the work of but a moment, or would have been but
for Nobs.
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