Attack of the Amazons by Gilbert L. Morris

head back and was laughing at her captors, taunting them in their own language.
    Abruptly the chief cried out a command, and the torchbearer advanced.
    Josh pulled the arrow back to his ear, and almost instantly the hideous squawk of Jake’s siren split the air.
    The native with the torch froze. Arrows zipped into the trees. One grazed the chief’s headdress. He called commands, but the warriors cried out in fear over the howl of the siren and what they probably thought was an attack. The chief shouted another command, and the natives retreated.
    Suddenly a familiar cry rent the air, and Sarah said, “That’s Reb giving the Rebel yell. I think we won. Let’s go down and help that girl.”
    â€œBut keep your arrows ready,” Josh warned. “They might come back.”
    â€œI don’t think so,” Dave said. “They took off like every piranha in the river was after them.”
    The four Sleepers scrambled down the embankment, and Josh saw Reb coming down from the other side with Wash and Jake. He called, “Reb, keep an eye out. Some of those birds might come back.”
    â€œRight,” Reb said, “but I don’t think so.”
    All of them kept their eyes on the spot where the natives had disappeared. But they were equally curious about the strange girl.
    Josh saw that she was studying him calmly. “Hello,” he said, “are you all right?” He was not certain if the girl would understand the common language of Nuworld, but apparently she did, for she nodded.
    â€œYes. Where did you come from, and who are you?” she asked.
    â€œWell, you’re a pretty cool customer,” Reb said. He stepped behind the tree, pulled out his knife, and cut the thongs that bound her.
    Rubbing her wrists to restore circulation, the girl looked around at them curiously. She did not seem to have any fear at all.
    Sarah said, “Did they hurt you?”
    â€œNo,” the young woman said coolly. She was a tall girl and well proportioned. Her arms were strongly developed, and obviously she was a runner, for her legs were well muscled. All in all she was a healthy-looking specimen, and she had light green eyes that gave her almost an oriental look because they were almond shaped. “Who are you?” she asked again.
    â€œI’m Josh Adams, and this is Sarah—” He named all the Sleepers and then said, “I’m glad we got here in time. I think they were about ready to kill you, weren’t they?”
    â€œThey are our enemies, the Londo tribe. That was Ulla, their chief. They captured me early this morning while I was out hunting.”
    â€œWhat’s your name?” Sarah asked.
    â€œI am Princess Merle.”
    â€œAnother princess?” Jake said. He had met several before, and he caught Sarah’s warning as she cleared her throat.
    â€œWell, Princess, I’m glad we got here in time.” Josh could not help asking, “Weren’t you a little bit afraid when they were about to touch that fire off?”
    â€œThe daughters of Fedor are not afraid to die,” Merle said calmly. “But who
are
you? I’ve never seen people like you before. Where do you come from?”
    â€œWe come from far away, and we are looking for the village of Fedor.”
    Princess Merle examined him, apparently considering his words.
    She had an attractive face, he thought, with well-shaped lips and high cheekbones. Her hair hung down her back, and she had tied it with a single band of what seemed to be gold.
    â€œWhy do you seek the people of Fedor?”
    â€œWe’re sent by our master, Goél,” Josh said. “We come in peace to talk to your chief.”
    â€œYou come in peace?” Merle asked suspiciously. “We do not have peaceful relations with other peoples.”
    â€œI think we proved we want to be friends,” Dave said. He stepped forward to look down at the princess from his greater height.