over to him. "We tender New England pioneers learned a few things about self protection."

"What happened?"

Abby shuddered. "It wasn't pleasant, having that beast paw me, but my apparent willingness threw him off guard. About the time he started ripping my clothing off, I used the little dagger we picked up in Renaissance Italy." Suddenly a sob broke through her artificial gaiety and she was in Nat's arms, her control completely gone. Her body racked with sobs, tears streaming down her face.

"They're getting closer each time, Abby," Nat said reflectively. "Next time they probably will get us."

"But we're still together," Abby said fiercely. "And, if we're careful, they may never find us again."

Years passed. Nat and Abby's youthful happiness flowered into the contentment of those who have lived their allotted years in wisdom. Nat had retired many years before, and he and Abby were content with simple pleasures.

Evenings they sat together on the porch of their Florida cottage, enjoying the ocean breeze and each other's presence.

It was on such an evening that their world came to an end.

While they sat as usual, reminiscing, Nat wondered aloud if Anton Bor still lived. He scarcely had uttered the question before the grass on the lawn seemed to shimmer slightly, and a time machine materialized before their startled eyes. Its door burst open and three men sprang out with weapons ready.

After them came the halting, decrepit figure of an ancient Anton Bor, a paralysis gun wavering unsteadily in his shriveled hands.

The shock was so great that Nat and Abby sat completely unmoving and the full power of Bor's weapon caught them where they sat.

Nat and Abby stood before the Judgement Tribunal in the 25th century. Mere punishment had long since passed out of existence. A law breaker had his case reviewed by a board of psychiatrists, lawyers, sociologists, even historians. A person's past was laid bare, in an effort to find out why aberrant action had been taken.

The board recommended remedial action that varied greatly from case to case.

"We find you guilty," the spokesman finally stated, "of Time Meddling, an offence that can have the 

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