Chapter 1 (Fragment)

She landed on her feet without having let go any of her weapons. Grasped firmly in her strong hands, she held a silver pointed spear. Slung over one shoulder was a powerful bow and over the other a pouch filled with arrows and tucked behind the handsome leather belt which seemed as if it had been poured around the slim girlish waist, was a battle-axe and a stiletto with an intricately carved bone handle. Falling unexpectedly into the dim cavern did not frighten her, she lost little of her self-composure, nevertheless, she began at once to look about her for some way out. At first, she could distinguish nothing in the murky blackness but as her eyes accustomed themselves to the dimness, they encountered a sight which would make anyone’s blood freeze, for barely five paces away from her, in a den, lay a huge female bear and her young, glaring menacingly at her unexpected guest. Peace-Renown gasped in dismay. Should she try to fight the fearful beast herself or seek some means of escape and summon help? But it was not easy to find an outlet. All around her protruded the sharp points of twigs, trunks of trees and rocks. Although it might not be entirely impossible after a hard struggle to climb over them, within reach of the savage beast it was a dangerous risk. Peace-Renown definitely decided against launching an attack upon the beast, to defend herself only if it proved to be absolutely necessary and to at once blow upon her horn the call for help.

Before its sound had died away, the she-bear jumped up and, snarling, advanced towards the girl. There was no time for the bow and arrow, the beast was too close. She grasped her spear in both hands and, planting her shoulders squarely against the rock behind her, she held it out in front of her towards the bear. Distracted by the twinkle of the metal the beast paused. The two enemies stood face to face a long moment, neither moving her eyes from the other. Peace-Renown had no intention of starting the attack. The bear sought with her eyes some means of getting at her enemy. Suddenly she picked up a stone in her forepaws and reared upon her hind legs to take aim. At that same instant Peace-Renown with all the strength she possessed cast the spear, striking the beast between its forepaws. With a howl she toppled over on her back, bathed in blood. But it was not a mortal wound and in a moment the beast was up on her feet again. The blood streamed from her, but without heeding the pain, she lunged once more towards Peace-Renown who now fully realized her perilous predicament. The infuriated beast made straight for her; fangs bared in a horrible grin.

There was only one way to escape, by climbing unto the ledge of rock protruding just above her shoulders. With a swift movement, she stood upon the narrow ledge of rock. Her heart slowed its mad beating, now she felt a little safer, for if she was attacked here, she thought it would be easier to ward off the beast from her superior position. Hardly had she time to ascertain what the beast was up to, when she noticed it approaching her from the other end of the ledge of rock, emitting savage rasping snarls from blood-smeared fangs. Cold beads of perspiration stood out upon her forehead. Peace realized that now the fateful moment had arrived when upon that narrow ledge of rock she must fight to the finish the battle for her life and that the victor would be the one who managed to hold his place upon the rock.

The she-bear was almost upon her. Peace-Renown tried to ward her off with the spear, but the bear, grasping it in her teeth, wrenched it from her hand with so much force that Peace-Renown almost lost her balance; then flung the weapon off into a pile of twigs.