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Rh thunder, but Kopal-Kundala made no reply.

The Kapálik seized Nobokumar's hand and began to drag him along. At the murderer's touch Nobokumar's blood coursed through his veins with a hundred-fold more violence. His lost courage returned, and he said—"Release my hand."

The Kapálik made no reply. Again Nobokumar asked, "Where are you taking me to?"

The Kapálik said, "To the place of sacrifice." "Why?" said Nobokumar. "To slay you," replied the Kapálik.

Nobokumar pulled away his hand with all the strength he could muster, and such was the force he used, that any ordinary person would have been felled to the earth, much less could have held him. But the Kapálik did not even move a muscle. Nobokumar's wrist remained in his grasp, and he felt as if his bones were broken. Nobokumar followed the Kapálik like one on the point of death.