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watered only by dewponds and occasional rainfall, and being constructed only as temporary refuge for
people living close at hand, they could not stand a siege. Indeed, they had never faced a prolonged siege
before our coming, for that was not a Chichamecan habit. We felt that we could safely leave these islands
of Tlapallan to be overswept by the sea of Chicha-mecans around them.
Accordingly, in five coracles, all that remained of our fleet, I, Myrdhinn, my tribunes of Aztlan, and other
doughty men, totaling over a hundred, set out toward our river fort, which by now must be in danger
from those still unsubdued and merciless men who had stolen our fleet. Short shrift could our women
expect from them!
Following along- the shores pounded the Aztlan legion and behind them the unruly hordes of Tolteca,
now burning to wipe out their shame.
Hayonwatha came with us, but his people invested Miapan, to wait for Myrdhinn s return, and the
Nor-um-Begans, fewer hi number, set off for their far city, laden with loot.
Down the little river we went, entered the larger stream, finding evidences of those who fled before us,
and days later came to the junction of the two waterways where lay our fort and none too soon.
It was attacked by the Mias, but not taken. On the walls, from our distant view, we could see the short
wicked arms of ballistae, and catapults, jerking stones and javelins into the mass of coracles below, while
clouds of arrows, darts and slingstones were flying from both sides. We raised a mighty yell, plunged our
paddles deep and almost flew down the broad Ohion.
As we came near them, we were seen from the fort and greeted loudly. Tumbling into their flimsy craft,
the land force fell back and were coming up to meet us when our following legion burst out into sight.
Dismayed at the sight of this pursuing force and greatly outnumbered, the Mias swung their prows about
and made off downstream.
Our coracles shot into pursuit, hailed wildly as we passed the fort. I made out the dear form of Gold
Flower of Day, waving a fluttering scarf. I swung my paddle hi response and was seen.
Before we had left the fort far behind, we began to overhaul the last of the coracles, which now turned
about to meet and destroy us. I stood up and fitted an arrow to my bow, well dressed with gray
goose-feathers, but before I shot I made out from my greater height above the water an almost
impossible sight.
Up the river was coming toward us, slowly against the current, a craft which I had never again expected
to see. It was a Saxon dragon-ship!
Without an oar out to give it headway, it forged toward us with a bone hi its teeth, swiftly coming nearer
as we flew, pursuers and pursued, down the stream toward it.
Now it was seen and recognized as a new menace by the fugitive Mias. A trumpet recalled those who
had fallen back to meet us, and the whole mass of coracles drew compactly together, bristling with
armed men, ready for whatever might occur.
As we drew almost together, an armored man sprang into view on the ship s tiny deck. He steadied
himself with a hand on the dragon s neck, while above him its movable red tongue waggled viciously as
though it were hissing at all of us. He shaded his eyes and peered at us as we rushed toward each other.
All at once I recognized him.
Guthlac! Guthlac, last of the Saxons! Guthlac, whom we had thought slain by the fish-people of the
swamps!
I raised a long hail across the narrowing waters.
Turn, Guthlac, turn! These are enemies!
He knew me and swung his ax wildly to signify that he had heard.
Well met, Wealas! he shouted, then seized a shell trumpet that hung there and blew an echoing blast.
At once we saw what had towed the ship so strongly up the stream, for breaking through the surface in a
shower of spray came dozens of the hideous and scaly Piasa, who cast off their towing-collars and ropes
and hurled themselves into the vanguard of the Mias.
Frantically they backwatered and tried to turn aside, but the Piasa tore wide holes hi their bark craft and
they sank hi the rushing waters.
We withdrew, guessing that these creatures could distinguish little between friend and foe among the
various races of man, and contented ourselves with maintaining an arrow fire into the confused mass of
struggling enemies.
Now more Piasa tumbled over the sides of the dragon-ship and with exulting croaks took to the water,
while from downstream came churning up a frothy shoal of others.
It was soon over. Not a coracle floated on the stream, and from the bank where our little flotilla had
taken refuge we saw the waters of the Ohion slipping redly toward the sea, while the monstrous man-like
creatures, glutted, rolled playfully hi the greasy ripples, supping up the floating scraps that bobbed about
hi the eddies.
At a series of notes from Guthlac s trumpet, some of these caught upon the trailing ropes and drew the
dragon-ship upon our shore, just as our panting followers came hurrying up, to recoil hi horror at the
frightful beasts that stood up hi the shallows and strode grimly toward them.
Guthlac leapt nimbly down and came laughing forward among his horde, forcing them back with rough
cuffs which they did not resent, but fawned upon him like hounds upon the master. Then he came up and
seized my hand, shaking it stoutly.
A good killing, Wealas. Woden loves such tribute. Long since, I thought you in Hela s halls.
And I you, Guthlac. How is it that you have made yourself king among the Piasa?
The Piasa? He looked blank, then laughed. Oh, you mean my fish-folk. That may be how they are
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