“Ye mean,” corrected the philosophical one—­“ye mean, the beasts which men say they have seen.  Tell me; hast ever seen such thyself?  Many times hast thou been near the edge, I know.”

The girl shook her head.  “Nay; not I. Yet these beasts must be, Rolla; else why should all men tell of them?”

“I note,” remarked Rolla thoughtfully, “that each man tells of seeing a different sort of beast.  Perchance they were all but lies.”

However, it was Cunora’s fear of capture, rather than her faith in Rolla’s reasoning, which drove the girl to the north.  For to the north they traveled, a matter of some two weeks; and not once did they dare relax their vigilance.  Wherever they went, there was vegetation of some sort, and wherever there was vegetation bees were likely to be found.  By the time the two weeks were over, the women were in a state of near-hysteria, from the nervous strain of it all.  Moreover, both suffered keenly for want of cereals, to which they were accustomed; they were heartily tired of such fruits and nuts as they were able to pick up without exposing themselves.

One morning before daybreak they came to the upper end of a long, narrow valley—­one which paralleled their own, by the way—­and as they emerged from the plain into the foot-hills it was clear that they had reached a new type of country.  There was comparatively little brush; and with every step the rockiness increased.  By dawn they were on the edge of a plateau; back of them stretched the inhabited country; ahead, a haze-covered expanse.  Nothing but rocks was about them.

“Ye are sure that we had best keep on?” asked Cunora uneasily.

Rolla nodded, slowly but positively.  “It is best.  Back of us lies certain capture.  Ahead—­we know not what; but at least there is a chance!”

Nevertheless, both hesitated before starting over the plateau.  Each gazed back longingly over the home of their kind; and for a moment Rolla’s resolution plainly faltered.  She hesitated; Cunora made a move as though to return.  And at that instant their problem was decided for them.

A large drone passed within six feet of them.  Both heard the buzz, and whirled about to see the bee darting frantically out of reach.  At a safe distance it paused, as though to make sure of its find, then disappeared down the valley.  They had been located!

“We have no choice now!” cried Rolla, speaking above a whisper for the first time in weeks.  “On, as fast as ye can, Cunora!”

The two sped over the rocks, making pretty good time considering the loads they carried.  Each had a good-sized goatskin full of various dried fruits and nuts, also a gourd not so full.  In fact, it had been some while since they had had fresh water.  Cunora was further weighed down by some six pounds of dried rabbit meat; the animals had been caught in snares.  Both, however, discarded their palm leaves; they would be of no further use now.