Cugel went forward to the bow, where Shilko was already on duty. Shilko again showed a voluble tendency. Cugel, as before, replied in terse terms, and Shilko at last fell silent. The caravan meanwhile had moved into a region where hills rose to either side, with the road following the course of the valley between.

Shilko looked along the barren hillsides. “I see nothing in these parts to worry us. What of you, Cugel?”

“At the moment, I see nothing.”

Shilko took a last look around the landscape. “Excuse me a moment; I have a message for Porraig.” He departed and soon, from the galley, Cugel heard sounds of conviviality.

Somewhat later, Shilko returned, lurching to the wine he had consumed. He called out in a hearty voice: “Ahoy there, Captain Cugel! How go the hallucinations?”

“I do not understand your allusion,” said Cugel frigidly.

“No matter! Such things can happen to anyone.” Shilko scanned the hillsides. “Have you anything to report?”

“Nothing.”

“Very good! That’s the way to handle this job! A quick look here and a sharp glance there, then down to the galley for a taste of wine.”

Cugel made no comment and Shilko, from boredom, took to cracking his knuckles.

At the noon meal Shilko again consumed more than was perhaps advisable, and during the afternoon became drowsy. “I will just catch forty winks to calm my nerves,” he told Cugel. “Keep a close watch on the lizards and call me if anything more important appears.” He crawled into Cugel’s tent and presently began to snore.

Cugel leaned on the gunwale, formulating schemes to repair his fortunes. None seemed feasible, especially since Doctor Lalanke knew a few spells of elementary magic … Peculiar, those dark shapes along the ridge! What could cause them to jerk and jump in such a fashion? As if tall black shadows were thrusting quickly high to peer down at the caravan, then dodging back down out of sight.

Cugel reached down and pulled at Shilko’s leg. “Rouse yourself!”

Shilko emerged from the tent blinking and scratching his head. “What now? Has Porraig brought my afternoon wine?”

Cugel indicated the ridge. “What do you see?”

Shilko looked with red-rimmed eyes along the sky-line, but the shadows were now crouched behind the hills. He turned a quizzical gaze upon Cugel. “What do you perceive? Goblins disguised as pink rats? Or centipedes dancing the kazatska?”

“Neither,” said Cugel shortly. “I saw what I believe to be a band of wind-stick devils. They are now in hiding on the far side of the hill.”

Shilko peered cautiously at Cugel and moved a step away. “Most interesting! How many did you see?”

“I could make no count, but we had best call out the alarm to Varmous.”

Shilko looked again along the sky-line. “I see nothing. Might your nerves once more be playing you tricks?”

“Absolutely not!”

“Well, please make certain before you call me again.” Shilko dropped to his hands and knees and crawled into the tent. Cugel looked down to Varmous, riding placidly on the lead carriage. He opened his mouth to call down the alarm, then gloomily thought better of it and resumed his vigil.

Minutes passed, and Cugel himself began to doubt the sightings.

The road passed beside a long narrow pond of alkali-green water which nourished several thickets of bristling salt-bush. Cugel leaned forward and focused his gaze upon the bushes, but their spindly stalks provided no cover. What of the lake itself? It seemed too shallow to hide any consequential danger.

Cugel straightened himself with a sense of work well done. He glanced up to the ridge, to discover that the wind-stick devils had reappeared in greater number than before, craning high to peer down at the caravan, then ducking quickly from view.

Cugel pulled at Shilko’s leg. “The wind-stick devils have returned in force!”

Shilko backed from the tent and heaved himself erect. “What is it this time?”

Cugel indicated the ridge. “Look for yourself!”

The wind-stick devils, however, had completed their survey, and Shilko saw nothing. This time he merely shrugged wearily and prepared to resume his rest. Cugel however went to the gunwale and shouted down to Varmous: “Wind-stick devils, by the dozen! They gather on the other side of the ridge!”

Varmous halted his carriage. “Wind-stick devils? Where is Shilko?”

“I am here, naturally, keeping a keen look-out.”

“What of these ‘wind-stick devils’? Have you noticed them?”

“In all candour, and with due respect to Cugel, I must say that I have not seen them.”

Varmous chose his words carefully. “Cugel, I am obliged to you for your alert warning, but this time I think that we will go forward. Shilko, continue the good work!”

The caravan proceeded along the road. Shilko yawned and prepared to resume his rest. “Wait!” cried Cugel in frustration. “Notice that gap in the hills yonder? If the devils choose to follow us, they must jump across the gap, and you will be sure to see them.”

Shilko grudgingly resigned himself to the wait. “These fancies, Cugel, are a most unhealthy sign. Consider to what sorry extremes they may lead! For your own sake you must curb the affliction … Now: there is the gap! We are coming abreast. Look with great attention and tell me when you see devils jumping across.”

The caravan drew abreast of the gap. In a flurry of great smoky shapes, the wind-stick devils leapt over the hill and down upon the caravan.

“Now!” said Cugel.

For a frozen instant Shilko stood with a trembling jaw, then he bawled down to Varmous: “Beware! Wind-stick devils are on the attack!”

Varmous failed to hear properly and looked up toward the boat. He discovered a blur of hurtling dark shapes, but now defense was impossible. The devils tramped back and forth among the wagons while teamsters and passengers fled into the chilly waters of the pond.

The devils wreaked all convenient damage upon the caravan, overturning wagons and carriages, kicking off wheels, scattering stores and baggage. Next, they turned their attention to the Avventura, but Cugel caused the rope to lengthen and the vessel floated high. The devils jumped up and clawed at the hull, but fell short by fifty feet. Giving up the attack, they seized all the farlocks, tucking them one under each arm, then jumped over the hill and were gone.

Cugel lowered the boat, while teamsters and passengers emerged from the pond. Varmous had been trapped under his overturned carriage and all hands were required to extricate him.

With difficulty Varmous raised himself to stand upon his bruised legs. He surveyed the damage and gave a despondent groan. “This is beyond understanding! Why are we so cursed?” He looked around the bedraggled company. “Where are the look-outs? … Cugel? Shilko? Be good enough to stand forward!”

Cugel and Shilko diffidently showed themselves. Shilko licked his lips and spoke earnestly: “I called out the alarm; all can testify to this! Otherwise the disaster might have been far worse!”

“You were dilatory; the devils were already upon us! What is your explanation?”

Shilko looked all around the sky. “It may sound strange but Cugel wanted to wait until the devils jumped across the gap.”

Varmous turned to Cugel. “I am absolutely bewildered! Why would you not warn us of the danger?”

“I did so, if you will recall! When I first saw the devils, I considered calling the alarm, but —”

“This is most confusing,” said Varmous. “You saw the devils previous to the occasion of your warning?”

“Certainly, but —”