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diff --git a/old/52326.txt b/old/52326.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 710c1a5..0000000 --- a/old/52326.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,9482 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Radio Planet, by Ralph Milne Farley - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Radio Planet - -Author: Ralph Milne Farley - -Release Date: June 14, 2016 [EBook #52326] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RADIO PLANET *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE - RADIO - PLANET - - - Ralph Milne Farley - - - ACE BOOKS, INC. - 1120 Avenue of the Americas - New York, N.Y. 10036 - - THE RADIO PLANET - Originally published in 1926 as a serial in - _Argosy All-Story Weekly_. - - _Cover by John Schoenherr. Illustration by Jack Gaughan._ - - _Ralph Milne Farley is also the author of_ - The Radio Beasts - _available now from Ace Books_ (F-304) - - Printed in U. S. A. - - - Author's Foreword - -Could _you_ make a radio set? Don't answer rashly. Don't say that you -have already built several. For note that we did not ask whether you -could assemble a set from parts already manufactured by others, but -rather whether you could build the entire set yourself--from the ground -up. That means making every part you require, including the vacuum -tubes, the acid in the batteries, the wires, the insulation. - -If you think that you could do this, let us ask you one further -question. Put yourself in the place of the hero of the following story, -and imagine yourself stranded amid intelligent savages who have not -progressed beyond the wood age. Under such circumstances, with nothing -to guide you but your scientific memory, with no tools except those of -your own creation, and with no materials save those furnished by nature, -could you, though the lives and happiness of your dear ones depended -upon it--could _you_ make a radio set? - - --_R. M. F._, 1926. - - - - - Contents - - - I (untitled) 5 - II Too Much Static 8 - III Yuri or Formis? 14 - IV The Coup D'etat 18 - V Lost Amid the Rocks 27 - VI The Vairkings 36 - VII Radio Once More 42 - VIII But Why Radio? 49 - IX A Prisoner 60 - X The Siege of Sur 69 - XI Att the Terrible 80 - XII Companions in Misery 85 - XIII Further Progress 93 - XIV Old Friends 101 - XV Plans for Escape 108 - XVI Afterthoughts 117 - XVII The Battle for Vairkingi 124 - XVIII The Fall of Vairkingi 133 - XIX The Battle in the Air 142 - XX The Whoomangs 149 - XXI Souls? 160 - XXII Flight 169 - XXIII Luno and Beyond 180 - XXIV The Lobsteroid Circuit 189 - XXV All Kinds of Trouble 199 - XXVI The Debacle 206 - XXVII Peace on Poros 217 - - [Illustration: Venusian Ant] - - - - - I - - -"It's too bad that Myles Cabot can't see this!" I exclaimed, as my eye -fell on the following item: - - _SIGNALS FROM MARS FAIL TO REACH HARVARD_ - - _Cambridge, Massachusetts, Wednesday. The Harvard College Radio - Station has for several weeks been in receipt of fragmentary signals - of extraordinarily long wave-length, Professor Hammond announced - yesterday. So far as it has been possible to test the direction of the - source of these waves, it appears that the direction has a twenty-four - hour cycle, thus indicating that the origin of these waves is some - point outside the earth._ - - _The university authorities will express no opinion as to whether or - not these messages come from Mars._ - -Myles, alone of all the radio engineers of my acquaintance, was -competent to surmount these difficulties, and thus enable the Cambridge -savants to receive with clearness the message from another planet. - -Twelve months ago he would have been available, for he was then quietly -visiting at my farm, after five earth-years spent on the planet Venus, -where, by the aid of radio, he had led the Cupians to victory over their -oppressors, a human-brained race of gigantic black ants. He had driven -the last ant from the face of continental Poros, and had won and wed the -Princess Lilla, who had borne him a son to occupy the throne of Cupia. - -While at my farm Cabot had rigged up a huge radio set and a -matter-transmitting apparatus, with which he had (presumably) shot -himself back to Poros on the night of the big October storm which had -wrecked his installation. - -I showed the newspaper item to Mrs. Farley, and lamented on Cabot's -absence. Her response opened up an entirely new line of thought. - -Said she: "Doesn't the very fact that Mr. Cabot isn't here suggest to -you that this may be a message, not from Mars, but from him? Or perhaps -from the Princess Lilla, inquiring about him in case he has failed in -his attempted return?" - -That had never occurred to me! How stupid! - -"What had I better do about it, if anything?" I asked. "Drop Professor -Hammond a line?" - -But Mrs. Farley was afraid that I would be taken for a crank. - -That evening, when I was over in town, the clerk in the drug store -waylaid me to say that there had been a long-distance phone call for me, -and would I please call a certain Cambridge number. - -So, after waiting an interminable time in the stuffy booth with my hands -full of dimes, nickels, and quarters, I finally got my party. - -"Mr. Farley?" - -"Speaking." - -"This is Professor Kellogg, O. D. Kellogg," the voice replied. - -It was my friend of the Harvard math faculty, the man who had analyzed -the measurements of the streamline projectile in which Myles Cabot had -shot to earth the account of the first part of his adventures on Venus. -Some further adventures Myles had told me in person during his stay on -my farm. - -"Professor Hammond thinks that he is getting Mars on the air," the voice -continued. - -"Yes," I replied. "I judged as much from what I read in this morning's -paper. But what do _you_ think?" - -Kellogg's reply gave my sluggish mind the second jolt which it had -received that day. - -"Well," he said, "in view of the fact that I am one of the few people -among your readers who take your radio stories seriously, I think that -Hammond is getting Venus. Can you run up here and help me try and -convince him?" - -And so it was that I took the early boat next morning for Boston, and -had lunch with the two professors. - - -As a result of our conference, a small committee of engineers returned -with me to Edgartown that evening for the purpose of trying to repair -the wrecked radio set which Myles Cabot had left on my farm. - -They utterly failed to comprehend the matter-transmitting apparatus, and -so--after the fallen tower had been reerected and the rubbish cleared -away--they had devoted their attention to the restoration of the -conversational part of the set. - -To make a long story short, we finally restored it, with the aid of some -old blue prints of Cabot's which Mrs. Farley, like Swiss Family -Robinson's wife, produced from somewhere. I was the first to try the -earphones, and was rewarded by a faint "bzt-bzt" like the song of a -north woods blackfly. - -In conventional radioese, I repeated the sounds to the Harvard group: - - "Dah-dit-dah-dit dah-dah-dit-dah. Dah-dit-dah-dit dah-dah-dit-dah. - Dah-dit-dah-dit dah-dah-dit-dah. Dah-dit-dit dit. Dah-dit-dah-dit - dit-dah dah-dit dit dit dah-dah-dah dah. Dah-dit-dah-dit dit-dah - dah-dit-dit-dit dah-dah-dah dah. Dah-dit-dah-dit dit-dah - dah-dit-dit-dit-dah dah-dah-dah." - -A look of incredulity spread over their faces. Again came the same -message, and again I repeated it. - -"You're spoofing us!" one of them shouted. "Give _me_ the earphones." - -And he snatched them from my head. Adjusting them on his own head, he -spelled out to us, "C-Q C-Q C-Q D-E C-A-B-O-T C-A-B-O-T C-A-B-O-T--" - -Seizing the big leaf-switch, he threw it over. The motor-generator began -to hum. Grasping the key, the Harvard engineer ticked off into space: -"Cabot Cabot Cabot D-E--" - -"Has this station a call letter?" he hurriedly asked me. - -"Yes," I answered quickly, "One-X-X-B." - -"One-X-X-B," he continued the ticking "K." - -Interplanetary communication was an established fact at last! And not -with Mars after all these years of scientific speculations. But what -meant more to me was that I was again in touch with my classmate Myles -Standish Cabot, the radio man. - -The next day a party of prominent scientists, accompanied by a -telegrapher and two stenographers, arrived at my farm. - -During the weeks that followed there was recorded Myles's own account of -the amazing adventures on the planet Venus (or Poros, as its own -inhabitants call it,) which befell him upon his return there after his -brief visit to the earth. I have edited those notes into the following -coherent story. - - - - - II - TOO MUCH STATIC - - -Myles Cabot had returned to the earth to study the latest developments -of modern terrestrial science for the benefit of the Cupian nation. He -was the regent of Cupia during the minority of his baby son, King Kew -the Thirteenth. The loyal Prince Toron occupied the throne in his -absence. The last of the ant-men and their ally, the renegade Cupian -Prince Yuri, had presumably perished in an attempt to escape by flying -through the steam-clouds which completely hem in continental Poros. What -lay beyond the boiling seas no man knew. - -During his stay on my farm, Cabot had built the matter-transmitting -apparatus, with which he had shot himself off into space on that October -night on which he had received the message from the skies: "S O S, -Lilla." A thunderstorm had been brewing all that evening, and just as -Myles had placed himself between the coordinate axes of his machine and -had gathered up the strings which ran from his control levers to within -the apparatus, there had come a blinding flash. Lightning had struck his -aerial. - -How long his unconsciousness lasted he knew not. He was some time in -regaining his senses. But when he had finally and fully recovered, he -found himself lying on a sandy beach beside a calm and placid lake -beneath a silver sky. - -He fell to wondering, vaguely and pleasantly, where he was and how he -had got here. - -Suddenly, however, his ears were jarred by a familiar sound. At once his -senses cleared, and he listened intently to the distant purring of a -motor. Yes, there could be no mistake; an airplane was approaching. Now -he could see it, a speck in the sky, far down the beach. - -Nearer and nearer it came. - -Myles sprang to his feet. To his intense surprise, he found that the -effort threw him quite a distance into the air. Instantly the idea -flashed through his mind: "I must be on Mars! Or some other strange -planet." This idea was vaguely reminiscent of something. - -But while he was trying to catch this vaguely elusive train of thought, -his attention was diverted by the fact that, for some unaccountable -reason, his belt buckle and most of the buttons which had held his -clothes together were missing, so that his clothing came to pieces as he -rose, and that he had to shed it rapidly in order to avoid impeding his -movements. He wondered at the cause of this. - -But his speculations were cut short by the alighting of the plane a -hundred yards down the beach. - -What was his horror when out of it clambered, not men but ants! Ants, -six-footed, and six feet high. Huge ants, four of them, running toward -him over the glistening sands. - -Gone was all his languor, as he seized a piece of driftwood and prepared -to defend himself. - -As he stood thus expectant, Myles realized that his present position and -condition, the surrounding scenery, and the advance of the ant-men were -exactly, item for item, like the opening events of his first arrival on -the planet Poros. He even recognized one of the ant-men as old Doggo, -who had befriended him on his previous visit. - -Could it be that all his adventures in Cupia had been naught but a -dream; a recurring dream, in fact? Were his dear wife Lilla and his -little son Kew merely figments of his imagination? Horrible thought! - -And then events began to differ from those of the past; for the three -other Formians halted, and Doggo advanced alone. By the agitation of the -beast's antennae the earth man could see that it was talking to him. But -Myles no longer possessed the wonderful electrical headset which he had -contrived and built during his previous visit to that planet, so as to -talk with Cupians and Formians, both of which races are earless and -converse by means of radiations from their antennae. - -So he picked up two sticks from the beach, and held them projecting from -his forehead; then threw them to the ground with a grimace of disgust -and pointed to his ears. - -Doggo understood, and scratched with his paw in Cupian shorthand on the -silver sands the message: "Myles Cabot, you are our prisoner." - -"What, again?" scratched Myles, then made a sign of submission. - -He dreaded the paralyzing bite which Formians usually administer to -their victims, and which he had twice experienced in the past; but, -fortunately, it was not now forthcoming. - -The other three ants kept away from him as Doggo led him to the beached -airplane, and soon they were scudding along beneath silver skies, -northward as it later turned out. - -Far below them were silver-green fields and tangled tropical woods, -interspersed with rivulets and little ponds. - - -This was Cupia, his Cupia. He was home once more, back again upon the -planet which held all that was dear to him in two worlds. - -His heart glowed with the warmth of homecoming. What mattered it that he -was now a prisoner, in the hands (or, rather, claws) of his old enemies, -the Formians? He had been their prisoner before, and had escaped. Once -more he could escape, and rescue the Princess Lilla. - -Poor girl! How eager he was to reach her side, and save her from that -peril, whatever it was, which had caused her to flash that "S O S" a -hundred million miles across the solar system from Poros to the earth. - -He wondered what could have happened in Cupia since his departure, only -a few sangths ago. How was it that the ant-men had survived their -airplane journey across the boiling seas? What had led them to return? -Or perhaps these ants were a group who had hidden somewhere and thus had -escaped the general extermination of their race. In either event, how -had they been able to reconquer Cupia? And where was their former -leader, Yuri, the renegade Cupian prince? - -These and a hundred other similar questions flooded in upon the -earth-man, as the Formian airship carried him, a captive, through the -skies. - -He gazed again at the scene below, and now noted one difference from the -accustomed Porovian landscape, for nowhere ran the smooth concrete roads -which bear the swift two-wheeled kerkools of the Cupians to all parts of -their continent. What uninhabited portion of Cupia could this be, over -which they were now passing? - -Turning to Doggo, Myles extended his left palm, and made a motion as -though writing on it with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. -But the ant-man waved a negative with one of his forepaws. It was -evident that there were no writing materials aboard the ship. Myles -would have to wait until they reached their landing place; for doubtless -they would soon hover down in some city or town, though just which one -he could not guess, as the country below was wholly unfamiliar. - -Finally a small settlement loomed ahead. It was of the familiar style of -toy-building-block architecture affected by the ant-men, and, from its -appearance, was very new. On its outskirts further building operations -were actively in progress. Apparently a few survivors of the accursed -race of Formians were consolidating their position and attempting to -build up a new empire in some out-of-the-way portion of the continent. - -As the earth-man was turning these thoughts over in his mind the plane -softly settled down upon one of the flat roofs, and its occupants -disembarked. Three of the ants advanced menacingly toward Myles, but -Doggo held them off. Then all of the party descended down one of the -ramps to the lower levels of the building. - -Narrow slitlike window openings gave onto courtyards, where fountains -played and masses of blue and yellow flowers bloomed, amid gray-branched -lichens with red and purple twig-knobs. It was in just such a garden, -through just such a window, that he had first looked upon the lovely -blue-eyed, golden-haired Lilla, Crown Princess of Cupia. - -The earth-man sighed. Where was his beloved wife now? That she needed -his help was certain. He must therefore get busy. So once again he made -motions of writing on the palm of his left hand with the thumb and -forefinger of his right; and this time the sign language produced -results, for Doggo halted the procession and led Cabot into a room. - -It was a plain bare room, devoid of any furniture except a small table, -for ant-men have no use for chairs and couches. The sky outside was -already beginning to pinken with the unseen sun. - -With a sweep of his paw, Doggo indicated that this was to be Cabot's -quarters. Then, with another wave, he pointed to the table, where lay a -pad of paper and stylus, not a pencil-like stylus as employed by the -Cupians, but rather one equipped with straps for attaching it to the -claw of a Formian. - -Even so, it was better than nothing. The earth-man seized it eagerly, -but before he could begin writing an ant entered bearing a Cupian toga, -short-sleeved and bordered with Grecian wave designs in blue. Myles put -on this garment, and then quickly filled a sheet with questions: - -"How is my princess and my son, the baby king? Whence come all you -Formians, whose race I thought had been exterminated? What part of Cupia -is this? What is this city? Where is Prince Yuri? And what do you intend -to do with me _this_ time?" - -Then he passed the paper and stylus over to his old friend Doggo. They -were alone together at last. - - -The ant-man's reply consumed sheet after sheet of paper; but, owning to -the rapidity of Porovian shorthand, did not take so very much more time -than speaking would have required. As he completed each sheet he passed -it over to Myles, who read as follows: - -"As to your princess and your son, I know not, for this is not Cupia. Do -you remember how, when your victorious army and air navy swept to the -southern extremity of what had been Formia, a few of our survivors rose -in planes from the ruins of our last stronghold and braved the dangers -of the steam clouds which overhang the boiling seas? Our leader was -Prince Yuri, erstwhile contender for the throne of Cupia, splendid even -in defeat. - -"It was his brain that conceived our daring plan of escape. If there -were other lands beyond the boiling seas, the lands which tradition -taught were the origin of the Cupian race, then there we might prosper -and raise up a new empire. At the worst we should merely meet death in -another form, rather than at your hands. So we essayed. - -"Your planes followed us, but turned back as we neared the area of -terrific heat. Soon the vapor closed over us, blotting our enemies and -our native land from view." - -For page after page Doggo, the ant-man, related the harrowing details of -that perilous flight across the boiling seas, ending with the words: - -"Here we are, and here are you, in Yuriana, capitol of New Formia. But -how is it that you, Myles Cabot, have arrived here on this continent in -exactly the same manner and condition in which I discovered you in _old_ -Formia eight years ago?" - -When Myles reached the end of reading this narrative, he in turn took -the pad and stylus and related how he had gone to the planet Minos -(which we call the Earth) to learn the latest discoveries and inventions -there, and how his calculations for his return to Poros had been upset -by some static conditions just as he had been about to transmit himself -back. Oh, if only he had landed by chance upon the same beach as on his -first journey through the skies! - -Wisely he refrained from mentioning the "S O S" message from Lilla. But -his recollection of her predicament spurred him to be anxious about her -rescue. - -His immediate problem was to learn what the ant-men planned for him; so -the concluding words which he wrote upon the pad were: "And, now that -you have me in your power, what shall you do with me?" - -"Old friend," Doggo wrote in reply, "that depends entirely upon Yuri, -our king, whose toga you now have on." - - - - - III - YURI OR FORMIS? - - -The earth-man grimaced, but then smiled. Perhaps, his succeeding to the -toga of King Yuri might prove to be an omen. - -"So Yuri is king of the ants?" he asked. - -"Yes," his captor replied, "for Queen Formis did not survive the trip -across the boiling seas." - -"Then what of your empire?" Myles inquired. "No queen. No eggs. How can -your race continue? For you Formians are like the ants on my own planet -Minos." - -Doggo's reply astounded him. - -"Do you remember back at Wautoosa, I told you that some of us lesser -Formians had occasionally laid eggs? So now behold before you Doggo, -Admiral of the Formian Air Navy, and mother of a new Queen Formis." - -This was truly a surprise! All along Cabot had always regarded the -Formians as mannish. And rightly so, for they performed in their own -country the duties assigned to men among the Cupians. Furthermore, all -Formians, save only the reigning Formis herself, were called by the -Porovian pronoun, which corresponds to "he" in English. - -When Myles had somewhat recovered from his astonishment, he warmly -congratulated his friend by patting him on the side of the head, as is -the Porovian custom. - -"Doggo," he wrote, "this ought to constitute you a person of some -importance among the Formians." - -"It _ought_ to," the ant-man replied, "but as a matter of fact, it -merely intensifies Yuri's mistrust and hatred of me. Now that I am -mother of the queen, he fears that I may turn against him and establish -Formis in his place as the head of an empire of the Formians, by the -Formians, and for the Formians exclusively." - -"Why don't you?" Myles wrote. It seemed to him to be a bully good idea, -and incidentally a solution of his own difficulties. - -But Doggo wrote in horror, "It would be treason!" Then tore up all the -correspondence. It is difficult to inculcate the thought of independence -in the mind of one reared in an autocracy. - -The earth-man, however, persisted. - -"How many of the council can you count on, if the interests of Yuri -should clash with those of Formis?" - -"Only one--myself." - -And again Doggo tore up the correspondence. - -Myles tactfully changed the subject. - -"Where is the arch-fiend now?" he asked. - -"We know not," the Formian wrote in reply. "Six days ago he left us in -his airship and flew westward. When he failed to return, we sent out -scout planes to search for him, and we have been hunting ever since. -When we sighted you on the beach this morning we thought that you might -be our lost leader, and that is why we landed and approached you." - -At about this point the conversation was interrupted by a worker ant who -brought food: roast alta and green aphid milk. With what relish did the -earth-man plunge into the feast, his first taste of Porovian delicacies -in many months. - -During the meal conversation lagged, owing to the difficulty of writing -and eating at the same time. But now Myles Cabot seized his pad and -stylus and wrote: - -"Have you ever known me to fail in any undertaking on the planet Poros?" - -"No," the ant-man wrote in reply. - -"Have you ever known me to be untrue to a principle, a cause, or a -friend?" - -"No," Doggo replied. - -"Then," Myles wrote, "let us make your daughter queen in fact as well as -in name." - -"It is treason," Doggo wrote in reply, but this time he did not tear up -the correspondence. - -"Treason?" Myles asked. If he had spoken the word, he would have spoken -it with scorn and derision. "Treason? Is it treason to support your own -queen? What has become of the national pride of the once great Formians? -Look! I pledge myself to the cause of Formis, rightful Queen of Formia. -Formis, daughter of Doggo! What say you?" - -This time, as he tore up the correspondence, Doggo signified an -affirmative. And thus there resulted further correspondence. - -"Doggo," Myles wrote, "can you get to the antenna of the queen?" - -The ant-man indicated that he could. - -"If she has inherited any of your character," Myles continued, "she will -assert herself, if given half a chance." - - -So the Pitmanesque conversation continued. Long since had the pink light -of Porovian evening faded from the western sky. The ceiling vapor-lamps -were lit. The night showed velvet-black through the slit-like windows. -And still the two old friends wrote on, Myles Standish Cabot, the -Bostonian, and Doggo, No. 334-2-18, the only really humanlike ant-man -whom Myles had ever known among the once dominant race of Poros. - -Finally, as the dials indicated midnight, the two conspirators ceased -their labors. All was arranged for the _coup d' etat_. - -They tore into shreds every scrap of used paper, leaving extant merely -the ant-man's concluding words: "Meanwhile you are my prisoner." - -Doggo then rang a soundless bell, which was answered by a worker ant, -whom he inaudibly directed to bring sufficient draperies to form a bed -for the earth-man. These brought, the two friends patted each other a -fond good night, and the tired earth-man lay down for the first sleep -which he had had in over forty earth hours. - -It hardly seemed possible! Night before last he had slept peacefully on -a conventional feather-bed in a little New England farmhouse. Then had -come the S O S message from the skies; and here he was now, millions of -miles away through space retiring on matted silver felting on the -concrete floor of a Porovian ant-house. Such are the mutations of -fortune! - -With these thoughts the returned wanderer lapsed into a deep and -dreamless sleep. - -When he awakened in the morning there was a guard posted at the door. - -Doggo did not show up until nearly noon, when he rattled in, bristling -with excitement. - -Seizing the pad he wrote: "A stormy session of the Council of Twelve! We -are all agreed that you must be indicted for high crimes and -misdemeanors. But the great question is as to just what we can charge -you with." - -"Sorry I can't assist you," the earth-man wrote. "How would it be if I -were to slap your daughter's face, or something? Or why not try me for -general cussedness?" - -"That is just what we finally decided to do," the ant-man wrote in -reply. "We shall try you on general principles, and let the proper -accusation develop from the evidence. - -"At some stage of the proceedings it will inevitably occur to some -member of the council to suggest that you be charged with treason to -Yuri, whereupon two members of the council, whom I have won over to the -cause of my daughter, will raise the objection that Yuri is not our -king. This will be the signal for the proclaiming of Queen Formis. If -you will waive counsel the trial can take place to-morrow." - -"I will waive anything," Myles replied, "counsel, immunity, extradition, -anything in order to speed up my return to Cupia, where Lilla awaits in -some dire extremity." - -"All right," Doggo wrote, and the conference was at an end. The morrow -would decide the ascendancy of Myles Cabot or the Prince Yuri over the -new continent. - - - - - IV - THE COUP D'ETAT - - -The next morning Myles Cabot was led under guard to the council chamber -of the dread thirteen: Formis and her twelve advisers. The accused was -placed in a wicker cage, from which he surveyed his surroundings as the -proceedings opened. - -On a raised platform stood the ant queen, surmounted by a scarlet -canopy, which set off the perfect proportions of her jet-black body. On -each side of her stood six refined and intelligent ant-men, her -councillors. One of the twelve was Doggo. - -Messenger ants hurried hither and thither. - -First the accusation was read, Myles being furnished with a written -copy. - -The witnesses were then called. They were veterans who had served in the -wars in which Cabot had twice freed Cupia from the domination of its -Formian oppressors. They spoke with bitterness of the downfall of their -beloved Formia. Their testimony was brief. - -Then the accused was asked if he wished to say anything in his own -behalf. Myles rose, then shrugged his shoulders, sat down again, and -wrote: "I fully realize the futility of making an argument through the -antennae of another." - -Whereupon the queen and the council went into executive session. Their -remarks were not intended for the eyes of the prisoner, but he soon -observed that some kind of a dispute was on between Doggo, supported by -two councillors named Emu and Fum on one side, and a councillor named -Barth on the other. - -As this dispute reached its height, a messenger ant rushed in and held -up one paw. Cabot's interpreter, not deeming this a part of the -executive session, obligingly translated the following into writing: - -The messenger: "Yuri lives and reigns over Cupia. It is his command that -Cabot die." - -Barth: "It is the radio. Know then, O Queen, and ye, members of the -council, that when we fled across the boiling seas under the gallant -leadership of Prince Yuri, the man with the heart of a Formian, he -brought with him one of those powerful radio sets invented by the beast -who is our prisoner here to-day. - -"Supporters of Yuri still remained among the Cupians, and he has been in -constant communication with these ever since shortly after our arrival -here. From them he learned of the return of Myles Cabot to the planet -Minos. - -"Then Yuri disappeared. Those of us who were closest to him suspected -that he had gone back across the boiling seas to claim as his own the -throne of Cupia. But we hesitated to announce this until we were sure, -for we feared that some of our own people would regard his departure as -desertion. Yet who can blame him for returning to his father-land and to -the throne which is his by rights?" - -To which the messenger added: "And he offers to give us back our own old -country, if we too will return across the boiling seas again." - -"It is a lie!" Doggo shouted. - -"Yuri, usurper of the thrones of two continents. Bah!" shouted Emu. - -"Yuri, our rightful leader," shouted Barth. - -"Give us a queen of our own race," shouted Fum. - -"Release the prisoner," shouted the Queen. - -And that is all that Myles learned of the conversation, for his -interpreter at this juncture stopped writing and obeyed the queen. The -earth-man was free! - -With one bound he gained the throne, where fighting was already in -progress between the two factions. Barth and Doggo were rolling over and -over on the floor in a death grapple, while the ant-queen had backed to -the rear of the stage, closely guarded by Emu and Fum. - -Seizing one of the pikes which supported the scarlet canopy, Myles -wrenched it loose and drove it into the thorax of Barth. In another -instant the earth-man and Doggo stood beside the queen. - -Ant-men now came pouring into the chamber through all the entrances, -taking sides as they entered and sized up the situation. If it had still -been in vogue among the Formians to be known by numbers rather than -names, and to have these identifying numbers painted on the backs of -their abdomens followed by the numbers of those whom they had defeated -in the duels so common among them, then many a Formian would have "got -the number" of many another, that day. - -As Myles battled with his pike beside Formis, queen of the ants, he -could well imagine the conflicting shouts of "Death to the usurper!" -"Formia for the Formians!" "Long Live Queen Formis!" "Long live Prince -Yuri!" which must have resounded throughout the chamber; but to him all -was silence, for he was without the antennae wherewith to pick up the -radiated speech of the contenders. - -So as he wielded the pike in silence, he had opportunity to reflect on -the incongruity of his position. Here was he, Myles Cabot regent of -Cupia, the man who had driven the ants forever from their dominion over -his people, and yet now fighting side by side with their leaders -defending the life of their queen. - -Yet was she not the daughter of Doggo his only friend among the ants? -And would not her victory mean the speedy return of Myles to his own -continent? - -As the earth-man jabbed to right and left among the supporters of his -enemy Yuri there came to his human ears the sound of rifle fire. It -might prove a godsend or an added menace, according to whose paw held -the rifle. But no chances must be taken on the life of the queen. So -Myles made frantic signs to Doggo of impending danger. - -The queen and her supporters, outnumbered, were fighting with their -backs to one of the walls of the room. A short distance along this wall -on the side where Cabot stood was a door; so he now began edging his way -along the wall to this door. This was not difficult, as the ant-men, -having only their mandibles to fight with, greatly respected his pike. - -He gained the door and passed by, but not through it. The shots came -nearer and nearer. Then Doggo opened the door and slipped through with -Formis and the rest of her immediate supporters; the door closed, and -Myles Cabot stood guarding the exit with his pike--alone against the -hordes of antdom. - - -He had no difficulty in defending himself from those in front of him, -but the ants who began to close in on him from each side were a -different matter. - -He received several bad scratches on his shoulders and hips, and his -toga was ripped and torn; but fortunately he was able to ward off their -paralyzing bites. Nevertheless, his enemies pressed so close that it was -difficult for him to manipulate his long weapon. In fact, it was only -the jamming of the ants upon one another and upon the dead bodies of -their slain comrades that kept them from him. - -He now was holding his pike by the middle, with both hands, using one -end as a club and the other as a dagger. The black circle of the ants -was steadily closing in on him. A pair of mandibles from the left -snapped angrily within a few inches of his throat. Instantly he drove -the point of his lance home between horrid jaws. But at the same instant -its butt was seized by a pair of jaws to his right. He could not pull it -free. - -At last he was weaponless, and not only that, but pinned to the wall by -the shaft of his own pike as well. - -And then to his surprise the ants before him separated as at a command. -The butt of his lance was dropped. As Myles wrenched the point loose -from the dead body of the Formian in which it had been stuck, and gazed -expectant down the long aisle which had opened before him, he saw -confronting him at the other end an ant-man armed with the peculiar type -of claw-operated rifle which the Formians had adapted from those which -Myles himself had built for Cupian use in the first war of liberation. - -Briefly the two surveyed each other. Then slowly the rifle was raised -until its aim settled squarely upon the earth-man's chest. - -Instantaneously the glance of Myles Cabot swept the black hordes which -hemmed him in on each side. There was no escape! - - Yet how can man die better, - Than facing fearful odds? - -With a wild warwhoop, which was utterly lost on the radio-sense of the -assembled Formians, Myles charged down the narrow way, straight into the -muzzle of the rifle of his antagonist. The astonished ant-man hastily -pulled the trigger. A shot rang out. But still the impetuous rush of -Myles continued, and before the rifle could be discharged a second time, -Myles had driven his spear deep into the leering insect face. - -The Formian staggered back. The rifle clattered to the floor. The -earth-man, not waiting to withdraw his own weapon, stooped, seized the -fallen firearm, and wheeled to confront his enemies, who fell back in a -snarling arc before this new menace. - -Myles stood now in one of the entranceways of the council chamber, and -thus was secure against flank attack. But not against an assault from -the rear. In fact, even as he stood thus irresolute, a rattling noise -behind him in the hallways revealed to his human ears the approach of a -new enemy. What was he to do? To remain as he was meant _carte blanche_ -to this newcomer, whereas to turn about would mean that those within the -chamber would undoubtedly rush him. - -In this predicament Myles grasped his gun firmly, and wheeled backward -to the left until he was flattened against the wall of the corridor in -which he was standing. From this position he could turn his head -slightly to the left and see into the council chamber, or to the right -and look down the long hall. - -Directly opposite him was one of those narrow, slitlike windows, so -typical of Porovian architecture. It was too narrow for the passage of -the huge body of an ant-man, but a human being could conceivably squeeze -through. Thus it offered a means out, a way of escape. - -The lone ant in the corridor was joined by the others. They and their -compatriots within the chamber slowly closed in on the cornered -earth-man. - -There was no time to speculate upon the depth of the drop outside. With -a suddenness which caused his aggressors to recoil momentarily, Myles -dashed across to the window, forced his way through, and, still grasping -his rifle, plunged headlong two stories into a clump of gray lichens in -the courtyard below. - -Hastily extricating himself, he looked up at the window which he had -just quitted. There, framed by the masonry, was the head of an ant-man. -A quick shot, and the head stared at him no more. - -Before another Formian could take post at the window to observe the -direction of Cabot's departure, the latter ran quickly from the -courtyard garden into the interior of the building again. - -His first thought was to join Doggo, Queen Formis, and their faction; -so, taking a firm hold on his rifle, he hurried in the direction in -which they had made their escape. - -The first ant-man whom he met within the building was Emu, one of the -three members of the council who had been a party to the original -conspiracy. This ant was fleeing from something in very evident terror, -so that it was all Cabot could do to stop him, but the threat of -rifle-shooting was finally effective. - -Then, extracting a cartridge from the magazine of his firearm, Cabot -scratched upon the smooth wall the brief question: "What of Doggo and -Formis?" - -Emu snatched the cartridge and quickly wrote the reply: "Dead, both -dead. The revolution has collapsed. Flee for your life!" - -Then the ant-man clattered rapidly off down the corridor, taking the -precious cartridge with him. He had not been too flustered to think of -that. - -Myles heaved a sigh of self-reproach at having brought his friends to -this sad end. But then, he reflected, Doggo had been in a situation in -which conflict with the authorities and then execution would have been -inevitable sooner or later. The revolution had been his one best bet, -and it was no one's fault that it had failed. - -Now that Doggo and Formis were dead, there was no longer any obligation -binding Myles to stay and fight. In fact, he owed it to his loved ones -in Cupia to preserve his own life until he could find some way of -rejoining them. So he set out to escape from the city. - -For some time he threaded the corridors without meeting any ants, -although occasionally there drifted down to him the sounds of fighting -on the upper levels. But at last, as he rounded a turn, he saw before -him a Formian, and it was one whom he recognized, namely the messenger -ant who had brought to the trial the radiogram from Prince Yuri. The -ant's back was toward him. Cabot cautiously withdrew a step; then -raising his rifle, he again advanced and fired full at his enemy. - -But the hammer merely clicked. There was no explosion. The magazine was -empty. - -Cabot's first impulse was to throw the weapon away. Then he reflected -that even an unloaded gun might well serve to awe his enemies and hold -them at a distance; so he retained it. - -By this time the messenger ant had disappeared around a turn farther -down the corridor, so Cabot hastened after him; for it had suddenly -occurred to the earth-man that this ant was undoubtedly returning to the -hidden radio set, whence he had come. - -Radio! Means of a communication with his own continent, if he could but -reach the instruments! - -The messenger had announced at the trial that Yuri was in Cupia and knew -of Cabot's presence in this new land. Thus it was certain that complete -wireless communication had been established between the two continents. -But, equally, undoubtedly, this communication had been established at a -wave-length which kept the knowledge of Cabot's return pretty much a -secret of Prince Yuri and his own followers. This information would -probably induce the renegade prince to speed up whatever nefarious -schemes he had afoot in Cupia. - -But if Cabot could once get on the air and adjust the Formian sending -set to the wave-length of Luno Castle, or run it through all its -available wave-lengths, he could broadcast to the Cupian nation the fact -that he was alive and well, and would return again--though he knew not -how--to lead them. Such news should strengthen the hearts of the loyal -Cupians to rally to the cause of his wife, the Princess Lilla, and his -son, the baby king. - -So he quickened his pace, and soon caught sight again of the messenger -ant. From, then on he stealthily stalked his quarry, who led him through -many a winding passage-way, before finally they emerged from the city -into the open fields. - - -Beyond the fields lay the rocky foothills of a mountain range. Caution -dictated that Cabot remain under the shelter of the city walls until the -Formian disappeared among the rocks. Then he ran lightly across the -plain to take up the trail once more. - -As he, too, gained the rocks, he glanced back to see if his departure -had been noted. No, there was no sign of life. Evidently the fighting -had drawn all the inhabitants to the interior of the city. So, with a -sigh of relief, Myles hurried after the messenger ant. - -At the place where Myles had noticed the Formian enter the rocks there -was the well-defined beginning of a trail; so up this winding trail he -sped, and soon caught sight of his quarry. From that time on more -caution was necessary, but nevertheless the pursuer was able to keep the -pursued always in sight until, just after a turn in the road had -obscured his view, Myles came upon a place where the way forked. - -Pausing, he scratched his head in dismay, then carefully examined the -ground for evidences of claw marks; but none were apparent. Dropping to -his hands and knees, the earth-man scrutinized the dirt with even more -care; and at last, imagining that he observed some slight scratches to -the right, he took the right-hand branch. - -It was necessary for him to proceed with great rapidity, if he would -catch up with the messenger ant, so Myles broke into a dog trot. On and -on he ran; up, into the rocky mountains. - -At last he sat down exhausted on a large boulder, just as the silvery -sky turned crimson in the west, and darkness crept up out of the east. -It was quite evident that he had taken the wrong road at the fork, and -also that he must now spend the night, half clad and alone amid the -rocks of the mountains of this strange new continent. - - - - - V - LOST AMID THE ROCKS - - -But although Myles Cabot was lost, he was free for the first time since -his return to Poros. - -So not disheartened he arose and proceeded along the trail, looking for -food and a place to spend the night; and presently came upon a "green -cow," as he was wont to call the aphids which are kept both by Cupians -and Formians for the honey-dew which they produce. - -It made no objection to Cabot's approach, nor to his manipulating the -two horns which projected from its back, with the result that the tired -man was presently regaling himself with a satisfying drafts of green -"milk" from a leafy cup. - -The bush, which furnished the leaf to fashion the cup, closely resembled -the tartan bushes of Cupia, whose heart-shaped leaves are put to so many -uses in that country. Myles Cabot accordingly stripped off a -considerable portion of the foliage, and lay down in a bed of warm, -thick green for the night. - -The morning dawned silver bright. Myles drew another meal from the -grazing aphid and then pressed on up the rocky defile. He did not dare -return for fear of meeting ant-men; and besides, now that a night's rest -had to some extent tempered his chagrin at not catching up with the -particular ant-man whom he had been pursuing, he could not be sure he -had taken the wrong road after all. So on he went, up the rocky path. - -Around noon the path petered out at the top of an eminence which gave -Cabot an opportunity to survey the surrounding scenery. To the westward -lay the city from which he had fled. What had become, he wondered, of -the supporters of his friend Doggo and of Formis, the ant-queen, whose -cause he had espoused? According to Emu, Doggo and Formis were both -dead, or Cabot would never have deserted them. - -Cabot turned his attention next to the northward. To his great joy, on -the next peak to the one where he sat, there stood two rough wooden -towers, spanned by an aerial. - -He decided to cut across country and attempt to approach the -installation by stealth. So he started scrambling down into the -intervening valley. - -Never before had the earth-man traveled through such difficult country. -As soon as he had gone a short distance below the summit he encountered -a continuous expanse of boulders, ranging in size from a man's head to -twenty feet or more in diameter, and piled aimlessly together. Lying -crossways in every direction, upon and between the rocks, were the gaunt -skeletons of fallen trees in all stages of decay. - -The sharp edges of the rocks cut and tore the bare feet of the -earth-man, while the splinters of the fallen trees jabbed his body. Time -and again he slipped and nearly fell into one of the chasms which yawned -between the boulders, and on one of these occasions he must have -inadvertently let go the ant-rifle which he had treasured so far so -carefully, for presently he noticed that it was gone. - -But to all this there was one extenuating feature, although Myles did -not realize it at the time, namely that his physical pain and the need -for constant vigilance on his part so occupied his mind as to spare him -from the mental pain which had been his almost constant companion since -his return to Poros. The attention necessary to avoid misjudging a jump, -or slipping into a dark deep hole, or being impaled by a tree-branch, -crowded out of his mind even his great love and anxiety for Princess -Lilla and Baby Kew. - -Through the maze of obstacles Cabot toiled all day long. - -Oh, to reach the radio station established by his enemy Yuri, and get -into touch with his own continent. Thus he could learn what was -happening in Cupia, and also give word of his own safe arrival on the -planet. Safe, hm! He smiled grimly at the word. - -"I _must_ reach that station," he thought, "and then, when I have talked -with Cupia, I must secure a Formian plane by hook or by crook, and brave -the boiling seas. If ants have crossed those seas safely, if Yuri has -safely crossed them twice, then why cannot I, the Minorian?" - -As he communed thus with himself, a faint pink flush appeared in the -sky. Slowly, painfully he continued his way. Gradually the pink light -turned to crimson in the west and then darkened to a royal purple. -Gradually the black night crept up out of the east. But also gradually -the boulders became smaller and smaller as he clambered upward, until -just as darkness finally enveloped the planet, the tired man gained the -smooth rocks of the summit, and lay down amid some leaves. - -He had had nothing to eat or drink since his breakfast of green milk -that morning. He had undergone an exhausting journey. His feet were -bruised and cut, his body covered with innumerable scratches, and he was -weary, thirsty and hungry. But he had almost reached the point which he -had been seeking, and this thought comforted him as his eyes closed in -healthy and dreamless sleep. - - -Next morning early he was up, rested, parched and ravenous. As the first -faint pink tinged the eastern sky Myles Cabot shook off the leaves and -completed the ascent. - -It only required a few moments for him to reach the top, a narrow -plateau, about a mile in length, near the farther end of which there -stood a small cabin with its two towers and aerial. - -With a cry of joy--which he knew the earless Formians could not hear--he -raced toward it. The huge chain and lock, which secured its door on the -outside, indicated that it was unoccupied, and a glance through the -narrow slitlike windows confirmed this. - -The glance through the window also revealed the presence of a complete -radio sending and receiving set of the same general hook-up which he -himself had adapted for the use of Cupians and Formians on the other -continent. - -"Imitation is the most insulting form of flattery," as Poblath, the -Cupian philosopher, used to say. Yet Cabot was willing to brook the -insult, until suddenly it dawned on him that the set had no earphones -nor microphone! - -Of course not, since it was designed for use by creatures who possessed -neither ears nor vocal speech! Gone then was all hope of news from home, -even if he could succeed in breaking in. At the most, he would merely be -able, by interposing an interrupter in the primary or secondary of that -aerial circuit, to send a dot-dash message across the boiling seas--I -use the term "aerial circuit," because "antenna circuit" would be -ambiguous, as the latter term might have either its conventional earth -significance, or might mean the circuit in which the Formian operator -would place _his_ living antennae in sending and receiving. - -Well, even a chance to send to Cupia a message to the effect that he was -free and safe, would be worth something. Myles Cabot tried the slitlike -windows, and finding them too narrow, slid quickly down the near-by -slope, soon to return laboriously with a twenty-pound rock, which he -heaved against the door. - -Again and again he heaved the rock, until he had the satisfaction of -seeing the door crack and then give. Finally a large enough opening was -effected to afford passage for a man, although not for a Formian; and -through this breach Myles Cabot squeezed into the station. - -A few minutes' scrutiny familiarized him with the details of the -hook-up, the generator set, and the trophil-engine. Everything was in -running order and the fuel tank was full. So he fashioned a rude sending -key, broke one of the circuits and tied in the key. Then he warmed-up -and cranked the trophil-engine, clutched-in the generator, threw the -main switch, and sat down to flash across the seas the message which was -to hold firm his partisans in Cupia until he could join them. - -But at that instant an arrow hummed through the hole in the door, and -struck quivering in the bench beside him. - -Cabot sprang to his feet and slid home the huge beam which barred the -door on the inside. This was a precaution which he had neglected to take -before. Next he filled the hole in the door with some boards hastily -wrenched from the work-bench. Then picking up a Formian rifle and -bandolier which hung on the wall, he made his way to one of the slit -windows on the same side as the door and peeped cautiously out. - -The result was immediate; an arrow sped through the window and passed -just above his head. But even as he ducked instinctively, he saw a dark -form moving behind a bush at some distance outside; so quickly rising -again, he discharged the rifle square at the bush. - -There came a cry of pain, followed by silence. And there were no more -feathered incursions. - -Not knowing whether his enemy had been disposed of, or whether the -cessation of the stream of arrows was merely a ruse to entice him from -his shelter, Myles did not dare venture forth to investigate. - -From the first time the arrow had struck the work-bench until this final -squelching of the unknown enemy, Myles had been engrossed in action. Now -came the reaction, as he realized how narrowly he had twice escaped from -death in the last few minutes. He shuddered at the thought, and turned -pale; not, however, at the danger to himself, but rather at the danger -to his loved ones in Cupia. He must keep himself alive until he could -reach and save them from whatever peril it was that had caused Lilla to -send the SOS which had recalled him to Poros. - -But being ever the inquisitive scientist, his attention was soon -distracted by the arrow which stood sticking to the bench. - -Its shaft was of some hard and very springy wood. Its tip was of chipped -stone resembling flint, and bound to the shaft by vegetable fibers. Its -"feathers" were thin laminae of wood, doubtless because birds, and hence -true feathers, are unknown on Poros. - -Why on earth--or rather, on Poros--were the ant-men employing such crude -weapons? Rifles they had aplenty, and powder was easy to manufacture. -Besides what did they know of bows and arrows, which had never been used -by them, even in the days before Cabot the Minorian introduced firearms -upon the planet? - -Thus these arrows presented a perplexing problem. But a practical job -remained to be performed before Myles was to have any time for abstract -questions. The message to Cupia must be sent off. - -The earth-man returned to the radio set. The trophil-engine and the -generator were still running. The whole apparatus appeared to be -functioning properly. And so Myles ticked off into space the following -message: - - CQ, CQ, CQ, DE, Cabot, Cabot, Cabot. I have returned to Poros from - Minos. I am on the continent of the Formians. I am in complete control - there. - -That was a lie, but it would serve to hearten his supporters, or throw -the fear of the Supreme Builder into the partisans of Yuri, whichever it -reached. The message continued: - - Do not expect me soon, for first I must consolidate what I have gained - here. But when I do come, Yuri beware! My friends, hold out until - then. I have spoken. - - DE, Cabot. - -This message he sent again and again, at every wavelength of which the -installation was capable. He repeated and repeated it until he was -tired. - -And then, for the first time, he remembered his thirst and his hunger. -Fortunately there was both food and drink in the shack; so Cabot -satisfied his wants, and then went at his message again. - -When at last he paused once more for a rest, and shut off the -trophil-engine, his human ears caught a familiar rattling sound. -Instantly he realized the situation; one or more ant-men were -approaching. Sure enough, as he looked out of a window in the direction -of the sound, he saw two of these creatures trotting toward him across -the plateau. - -Both carried rifles slung at their backs; so without waiting for their -nearer approach Myles opened fire. One of the Formians dropped, but the -other turned and fled; and in spite of the hail of bullets which the -earth-man sent after it, reached the crest in apparent safety, and -disappeared from view. - -Cabot knew what that meant to him. It portended the early return of the -fugitive ant with scores of his fellows, to lay siege to the radio -station. Then a doubt occurred to him. What if these ants were members -of Doggo's faction, and he had killed a friend? - -And so at the risk of his life, he unbarred the door and rushed out to -inspect the dead body. But it was no ant whom he knew. Time would tell -whether the surviving ant would return with friends or foes. Meanwhile -Cabot must get busy with his message. So at it again he went, first -barring the door again. - -From time to time he rested and listened for the approach of Formians. -Occasionally he ate and drank. During his longer rests, he carted the -rifle, the ammunition and some provisions to a point quite a distance -down the mountainside, and cached them there; for he had formulated a -plan of escape. But mostly he stuck to his signaling. All Cupia, or such -of it as might still possess long-distance radio sets in spite of the -renewed dominion of Yuri, must be made to know of the return of Myles -Cabot from the earth. - -Night fell, and with it came a respite from the danger of Formian -attack; for these creatures would never venture forth in the darkness -without lights, and lights would betray them. Myles spent part of the -night in sending his message, part in watching for approaching lights, -and part in dozing. - -Finally along toward morning he set about wrecking the set, for he did -not wish the Formians to get into communication with Cupia and undo the -effect of his own message by pointing out its falsity. Accordingly he -smashed the tubes, unwound the inductances and transformers, cut all the -wiring into little bits, bent the plates of the condensers, chiseled -through the coils of the generator, pounded the trophil-engine to -pieces, and drained the trophil tank. It would be many sangths before a -new radio set could be built, if indeed these Formians knew enough of -the art to ever build another. - -His work of destruction completed, he sat down to wait; but the inaction -palled on him, and before he knew it he had fallen sound asleep. - -He awakened with a start. It was broad daylight. He listened. There was -much rattling outside. So he walked to the door, unbarred it, and -stepped out. - -He was not afraid; for on the evening before he had nailed above the -door two crossed sticks, the Porovian equivalent of a flag of truce. - -At a short distance stood a band of thirty or forty ant-men, their -leader holding a pair of crossed sticks. Accordingly the ragged -earth-man advanced. Not one of them did he recognize, but this was no -indication of their identity. - -Were these members of the Yuri faction, he wondered, or of the faction -recently captained by the now deceased Doggo? If the former, they were -conquerors intent on adding him to their list of conquests; but if the -latter, then they might be fugitives like himself. It behooved him to -find out. - -So he proceeded to a slight depression in the mountain-top, very near -the group of Formians. This depression contained soil, and in it he -scratched in Porovian shorthand the words: "Yuri or Doggo?" Then pointed -to his message and withdrew for a slight distance. - -One of the ant-men advanced alone to the depression, stared at the -words, rubbed one part of them, and returned to his comrades, at which -Cabot in turn advanced. - -The one word remaining written in the dirt was "Yuri!" - -So these were victorious enemies, rather than fugitive friends. - -Waving a signal that the interview was at an end, Myles Cabot returned -with dignity to the shack and pulled down his crossed sticks. - -But then, instead of entering, he suddenly dashed around the house and -slid down the mountainside amid a shower of pebbles. - -Instantly the Formian pack rushed after him, but they were too late; for -by the time they had gained the crest he was safely under cover of the -bushes, making his way down the slope with his rifle, ammunition, and -provision. The ant-men evidently feared an ambush, for they did not -follow. - -This side of the mountain (the eastern) was wooded, instead of the -almost impassable boulders over which he had climbed up the other side -two days ago. Accordingly the descent was easy, almost pleasant. Soon he -struck a path beside a little brook, and followed it until it led out -onto the fertile eastern plains which he had observed when first he had -topped this range of hills. - -Beneath a large tree beside the brook, at the edge of the plain, Myles -Cabot stopped and sat down for lunch; and it was while seated thus, with -his back against the tree trunk, that an arrow suddenly whistled through -the woods and imbedded itself in the bark just above his head. - -Startled, he sprang to his feet, seized his rifle, and looked around. - -A second arrow sped through the air, and this one did not miss him. - -In due course of time, Myles regained consciousness. He was lying on the -ground beneath the same tree. There was an ugly gash in his head. His -rifle, ammunition, and food were gone. His face and body were covered -with clotted blood, and he felt very faint. - -With difficulty he dragged himself to the stream, tore off a piece of -his ragged toga, and washed away some of the gore. But it required an -almost superhuman effort. He lay on the bank and panted. His head swam. -His surroundings began to blur and dance about. And then he swooned -again. - -After what seemed an interminable time he became dimly conscious that he -was lying on something less hard than the ground. Soft arms were around -him. Some one was crooning to him sweet words and low. - -Was this a dream? Or was he back once more in Cupia with his loved ones? - - - - - VI - THE VAIRKINGS - - -Myles Cabot opened his weary eyes. Around him hung barbaric tapestries. -He was lying on a couch covered by the same materials. - -Seated on the couch beside him was a creature human in form, but covered -with short golden-brown fur. It seemed to be a young woman of some -species. But of what species? - -Myles threw back his head and studied the creature's face, expecting to -see the prognathous features of some anthropoid ape. But no; for eyes, -nose, mouth, ears, and all were human, distinctly human, and of high -type. They might have been the features of an earth-girl, except for the -fact that the short brown fur persisted on the face as on the rest of -the body. The general effect reminded Cabot for all the world of a teddy -bear. Yes, that is what this creature was, an animated human teddy bear. - -Seeing Cabot looking at her, the creature smiled down at him, and -murmured some strange words in a soothing musical voice. Also she -stroked his cheek with one of her furry paws. - -At this moment the hangings parted, and there stepped into their -presence a man of the species, wearing a leather tunic and leather -helmet, and carrying a wooden spear. Bowing low before the furry lady, -he spoke to her in the same soft tongue which she had employed in -addressing Myles. - -Not a single syllable was familiar to the earth-man, but he caught the -words "Roy" and "Vairking" repeated a number of times, and also made out -that the furry man had addressed the furry lady as "Arkilu." - -Arkilu now arose from the couch and, taking a tablet and a stick of -charcoal from a near-by stand, wrote some characters upon a sheet of -paper and handed it to the man, who bowed and withdrew. - -The pad and charcoal gave Myles an idea. If he was to stay any length of -time with these creatures he had better start in at once learning both -their written and their spoken language. - -And perhaps, when he had mastered it, he could persuade these kindly yet -warlike folk to assist him against the Formians. He judged that they -were kindly, because of the actions of the furry lady; and they were -warlike, because of the habiliments of the furry man. - -Putting his idea into action, Myles sat up, gathering a gaudy blanket -about his shoulders, and pointed to the writing materials. With a furry -smile Arkilu brought them to him. - -Having been through this game once before, he knew just where to begin. -He pointed to the couch, and handed her the pad and charcoal. - -Whereupon the lady spoke some absolutely unintelligible sound, and wrote -upon the pad, in unmistakable Cupian shorthand, the familiar Cupian word -for couch! - -Myles could hardly believe his senses. He stared at the paper, rubbed -his eyes, and then stared again. How was it that this creature employed -a written character identical with the word used by another race, far -across the impassable boiling seas, to designate the same thing? But -perhaps this was merely a coincidence. - -So he pointed to another object. Again there came a strange sound, -coupled with the familiar Cupian symbol. - -The experiment was repeated and repeated, always with the same result. - -Then Cabot himself took the writing materials and inscribed a number of -words which sounded somewhat alike in Porovian antenna speech. To these -words Arkilu gave an entirely different set of similar sounds. - -"Aha," said Cabot to himself, "this language employs exactly the same -words as are used on our continent, but translates the sound-symbols of -these words into entirely different sounds!" - -Cabot's interpretation of the situation proved correct in the main, -which fact made it extremely easy for him to master the new language. -Already he could carry on a written conversation with his benefactress; -and before long it became possible, by dint of great care, for him to -talk aloud in simple sentences. - -Of course, all this progress was not made at one sitting, for Arkilu -insisted that her patient take frequent rests. From time to time meals -were served by female attendants, meals abounding in strange meats, -mostly lobsterlike, but some resembling fish and flesh. Each night -Arkilu departed, leaving a furry man-creature on guard, with leather -armor and wooden spear. - -As he mastered the language, Myles learned the following facts from -Arkilu. Her people were called the Vairkings, and she was the eldest -daughter of Theoph, their ruler. The Vairkings were a primitive race. -Apparently they knew nothing of any of the metals, but had made -considerable progress in the arts of tanning, weaving and carpentry. - -The fact that they had made cloth accounted for the fact that they had -paper. Their leather they had obtained from the hides of a large variety -of nocturnal reptiles, known indiscriminately as "gnoopers," and ranging -in size from that of a cat to that of an elephant, though all possessed -the common characteristics of small heads, long necks, stumpy legs, and -long heavy tails. - -She explained as follows to her guest how he had been rescued: "Our home -is in the city of Vairkingi, far away, a little east of north from here. -We Vairkings stick pretty close to the cities, for the great open spaces -of our land are inhabited by predatory tribes of wild creatures very -like ourselves, called Roies. The leader of one of the largest tribes of -these, Att the Terrible, sought alliance with my father, and, as the -price of this alliance, a union between Att and myself. But I spurned -him. - -"His hordes then attacked Vairkingi, but we repulsed them and drove them -to the southward. At present we are on a punitive expedition into their -territory. Our warriors are under the command of Jud the Excuse-Maker; -and my father (Theoph the Grim) and I have accompanied the headquarters, -so as to witness the downfall of Att the Terrible. - -"It was undoubtedly one of the Roies who wounded you, but the approach -of our men drove them off before they had time to do you further harm. -It was I myself who found you lying beside the brook, and I would fain -possess you as my own, you who are unlike any man whom I have ever seen. -Whence come you?" - -"I am from the planet Minos, O Arkilu the Beautiful," replied Cabot. - -But the princess incredulously shook her head, saying, "I know not -whereof you speak, nor know I the meaning of the word 'planet.' There -are no other worlds than this continent which we inhabit, surrounded by -boiling seas on all sides; though rumor says that strange beasts from -somewhere have landed and are building a city to the eastward of the -mountains." - -"Rumor has it right," Myles laconically interjected, "for I had just -escaped from those beasts when I was wounded by the arrow of the Roies." - -Arkilu opened her eyes in wonder. - -"Tell me about them," she breathed. - -So the earth-man sat up, swathed in the gaudy tapestries of the -Vairkings, and related to the furry princess the story of his adventures -on the planet Poros. It was difficult to put it all into words within -her comprehension, for neither she nor her people could know anything of -radio, of the solar system, of airplanes, or of rifles. Accordingly his -account ran about as follows: - -"Know, O Princess, that there is another land called 'Minos', or in our -own language 'the earth', far above those silver clouds, one million -times the distance from here to your capital city, Vairkingi. Also there -is, beyond the boiling seas, another land much like this, where dwell -hairless men called 'Cupians', and also the black beasts to whom you -have referred. These beasts are called 'Formians'. - -"Cupians and Formians cannot talk with their mouths as you and I. Nor do -they have ears to hear with. Instead, they communicate by a kind of -soundless magic, called 'radio'. But they write the same language as do -you Vairkings. - -"On the earth I was master of this magic, radio. But one day my own -magic proved too strong for me, and shot me through the skies to Formia, -where the Formians captured me. I found that the Cupians were the slaves -of the Formians. - -"By means of radio I was able to talk with both races. I escaped from -the Formians. By other magic, which could throw small black stones -faster than arrows and with more deadly results, I led the Cupians to -victory over their oppressors. Their princess, Lilla, became my bride, -and our son, Kew, now sits on the throne of Cupia. But Prince Yuri, a -renegade Cupian, rebelled against us, for he too loved Lilla!" - -Myles continued: "Yuri and his allies possessed magic wagons which could -fly through the air--" - -"What is 'fly'?" Arkilu interrupted. "If you mean 'swim' it is -impossible, for no creature ever lived which could swim in air." - -"Ah, but this is magic, you must remember," he assured her. "Have you -Vairkings never seen any peculiar black objects sailing through the sky -since the rumored arrival of the Formians on your continent?" - -Arkilu pursed her lips in thought. "Yes," she admitted, "there have been -rumors of that too." - -"Well," he continued, "those were the flying wagons of the Formians. -When we finally defeated them and drove them across the boiling seas in -these wagons, I revisited the planet earth by means of the radio magic -of which I have told you. But on my attempted return to Cupia I landed -on your continent instead, by mistake, and was again captured by my -Formian enemies. Of my escape from them, my wounding by the Roy arrow, -and my rescue by you, you already know." - -Arkilu smiled ingratiatingly. "You are a pretty spinner of tales. -Therefore I shall keep you to amuse me. Methinks that even Theoph the -Grim will revel in your fantasies." - -And she leaned over and caressed Cabot's cheek with one furry hand. He -cringed at the touch, yet strove not to offend her, whose continued -friendship might mean so much toward his return to his own country. - -He wanted her good will and her influence; but, out of loyalty to Lilla, -he dreaded her love. - -To change the subject he inquired: "When shall I be well enough to get -up?" - -"You are well enough now," she replied "Try to stand." - -At Myles's insistence, a leather suit was sent for; he soon found -himself dressed like a soldier of the Vairkings. Thus arrayed he stood -and walked about a little inside the tent, but Arkilu would not permit -him to venture outside until he should be stronger. - -Before leaving for the night Arkilu announced: "Tomorrow our expedition -starts back for Vairkingi. When we reach the city I shall marry you, for -I have decided that I love you." - - - - - VII - RADIO ONCE MORE - - -So ARKILU, the furry beauty, planned to marry Myles Cabot, the -earth-man, he who already loved and was wed to Lilla of Cupia! A happy -prospect indeed! Yet he dared not repulse the Vairkingian maiden, lest -thereby he lose his chance of returning to his home and family. - -For at last he had formulated a plan of action, namely to arm the hordes -of Vairkingia, lead them against the ant-men, seize an ant-plane and -with it fly back to Cupia. So, for the present, he appeared to fall in -with the matrimonial whim of the princess. - -Early the next morning, however, as he was prowling around inside the -tent, testing his weak legs, he overheard a conversation on the outside, -which changed the situation considerably. - -"But, father," remonstrated a voice which Myles recognized as that of -Arkilu, "I found him, and therefore he is mine. I want him. He is -beautiful!" - -"Beautiful? Humph!" a stern male voice sarcastically replied. "He _must_ -be, without any fur! Oh, to think that my royal daughter would wish to -wed a freak of nature, and a common soldier at that!" - -"He's _not_ a common soldier!" asserted the voice of Arkilu. "He wears -clothes merely so as to preserve his health for my sake." - -"Well, a sickly cripple then," answered her father's voice, "which is -just as bad. At all events, Jud is the leader of this expedition, and -therefore this captive belongs to him. You can have him only if Jud so -wills. It is the law." - -Myles Cabot stealthily crossed the tent and put his eye to an opening -between the curtains at the tent opening. There stood the familiar -figure of Arkilu, and confronting her was a massive male Vairking. _His_ -fur, however, was snow white, so that his general appearance resembled -that of a polar bear. His face was appropriately harsh and cold. This -was Theoph the Grim, ruler of the Vairkings! - -The dispute continued. And then there approached another man of the -species. The newcomer, black-furred, was short, squat, and gnarled, yet -possessed of unquestionable intelligence and a certain dignity which -clearly indicated that he was of noble rank. He wore a leather helmet -and carried a wooden lance. - -Theoph the Grim hailed him with: "Ho, Jud, what brings you here?" - -Jud raised his spear diagonally across his chest as a salute, and -replied: "A change of plans, excellency. Upon reaching the river, I -decided that it would be wiser not to return to Vairkingi by that -route." - -"Really meaning," Arkilu interposed, with, a laugh, "that you found it -impossible to throw a bridge across at that point." - -"Why do you always doubt the reasons for my actions?" Jud asked in an -aggrieved tone. - -"You wrong me," she replied, "I never doubt your reasons. Your _reasons_ -are always of the best. What I doubt is your _excuses_." - -"Enough, enough!" the king shouted. "For I wish to discuss more -immediate matters than nice distinctions of language. Jud's reasons or -excuses, or whatever, are good enough for me. Jud, I wish to inform you -that my daughter has recently captured a strange furless being, whom it -is my pleasure to turn over to you. I have not yet seen this oddity--" - -"Father, please!" Arkilu begged, but at this juncture, Myles, -exasperated by Theoph's remarks, parted the tent curtains and stepped -out. - -"Look well, oh, king!" he shouted. "Here stands Myles Cabot, the -Minorian, beast from another world, freak of nature, sickly cripple, -common soldier, and all that. Look well, O king!" - -"A bit loud mouthed, I should say," Theoph the Grim sniffed, not one -whit abashed. - -"Watch him crumple at the presence of a real man," added Jud the -Excuse-Maker. - -Suiting the action to the word, the latter stepped over to Myles and -suddenly slapped him on the face. - -As a boy, the earth-man had often seen larger boys point to their cheek -or shoulder, with the words: "There is an electric button there. Touch -it and something will fly out and hit you." But never as a boy had he -dared to press the magic button, for he could well imagine the result. - -Such a result now occurred to Jud; for, the instant his fingers touched -Cabot's cheek, out flew Cabot's clenched fist smack to the point of -Jud's jaw, and tumbled him in the dust. - -Jud picked himself up snarling, shook himself, and then rushed bull-like -at the earth-man, who stood his ground, ducked the flying arms of his -antagonist, and tackled him as in the old football days at college. Jud -was thrown for a four-yard loss with much of the breath knocked out of -his body. - -Theoph the Grim, with a worried frown, and Arkilu the Beautiful, with an -entranced smile, stood by and watched the contest. - - -The Vairking noble lay motionless on his back as Myles scrambled to his -knees astride the other's body and placed his hands on the other's -shoulders. But suddenly, the underdog threw up his left leg, caught -Myles on the right shoulder and pushed him backward. In an instant both -men were on their feet again, glaring at each other. - -Then they clinched and went down once more, this time with Jud on top. -Theoph's look changed to a smile, and Arkilu became worried. But before -Jud had time to follow up his advantage, Cabot secured a hammerlock -around his neck and shoulders, and then slowly forced him to one side -until their positions were reversed, and the shoulders and hips of the -furry one were squarely touching the ground. - -In a wrestling match, this would have constituted a victory for Myles -Cabot, but this was a fight and not a mere wrestling match; so the -earth-man secured a hammerlock again and turned Jud the Excuse-Maker -over until he lay prone, whereupon the victor rubbed the nose of the -vanquished back and forth in the dirt, until he heard a muffled sound -which he took to be the Vairkingian equivalent of the "'nuff" so -familiar to every pugnacious American schoolboy. - -His honor satisfied, Cabot arose, brushed himself off, and bowed to the -two spectators. Jud sheepishly got to his feet as well, all the fight -knocked out of him. Theoph stared at the victor with displeasure and at -his own countryman with disgust, but Arkilu rushed over to Cabot with a -little cry, flung her arms around him, and drew him within the tent. - -As they passed through the curtains, Myles heard Jud the Excuse-Maker -explaining to the king: "I decided to let him beat me, so that thereby I -might give pleasure to her whom I love." - -Inside the tent, Arkilu bathed the scratches and bruises of the -earth-man, and hovered around him and fussed over him as though he had -accomplished something much more wonderful than merely to have come out -on top in a schoolboy rough-and-tumble fight. - -Myles was very sorry that it all had happened. In the first place, he -had lost his temper, which was to his discredit. In the second place, he -had made a hero of himself in the eyes of the lady whose love he was -most anxious to avoid. And in the third place, he had fought the man who -was best calculated to protect him from that undesired love. Altogether, -he had made a mess of things, and all he could do about it was meekly -submit to the ministrations of the furry princess. What a life! - -Finally Arkilu departed, leaving Cabot alone with recriminations for his -rashness, longings for his own Princess Lilla, and worries for her -safety. - -The next day the expedition took up its delayed start homeward, Jud -having found a route which required no alibis. The tents were struck, -and were piled with the other impedimenta on two-wheeled carts, which -the common soldiers pulled with long ropes. - -In spite of Arkilu's pleadings, Myles was assigned to one of these -gangs, Theoph grimly remarking: "If the hairless one is well enough to -vanquish Jud, he is well enough to do his share of the work." - -Jud explained to Arkilu that the real reason why he had suggested this -was that he sincerely believed that the exercise would be good for -Cabot's health. - -During one of the halts, when Jud happened to be near Cabot's gang, the -earth-man strode over to the commander, who instinctively cringed at his -approach. - -"I'm not fighting to-day," Myles assured the Vairking with an engaging -smile, "but may I have a word with you?" - -So the two withdrew a short distance out of earshot of the rest, and -Myles continued: "I do not love Arkilu the Beautiful. You do. Let us -understand one another, and help one another. You assist me _to_ keep -away from the princess, and I shall assist you _by_ keeping away from -the princess. Later I shall make further suggestions as to how we can -cooperate to mutual advantage. I have spoken." - -Jud stared at him with perplexed admiration. - -"Who are you?" he asked, "who stands unabashed in the presence of kings -and nobles, who addresses a superior without permission, and yet without -offensive familiarity?" - -"I am Cabot the Minorian," the other replied, "ruler over Cupia, a -nation larger and more powerful than yours. A race of fearsome beasts -have landed on the western shores of your continent. They are enemies of -mine, and will become enemies of yours as they extend their civilization -and run counter to yours." - -"Impossible!" Jud exclaimed. "For how could these mythical creatures -cross the boiling seas to land on our shores?" - -"By magic," answered Myles, "magic which they stole from me. And they -held me prisoner until I overthrew their magic and escaped, to be found -by your expedition." - -"Then you are a magician?" - -"Yes." - -"Ah, that explains how you defeated me in combat yesterday," Jud -asserted with a relieved sigh. - -"We will let it go at that," Myles agreed, smiling. "But to continue, -let me frankly warn you that unless you destroy these Formians, they -will eventually destroy you. - -"They now possess magic against which you Vairkings would be powerless; -magic methods of soundless speech; magic devices for transmitting that -speech as far as from here to Vairkingi; magic wagons which can travel -through the air and at such a speed that they could go from here to -Vairkingi and back in a twelfth part of a day; and magic bows which -shoot death-dealing pellets faster than the speed of sound, and which -can outrange your bows and arrows ten to one. - -"But if you will give a workroom and materials--and keep Arkilu away -from me--I can devise magic which will overcome _their_ magic, and which -will make Vairkingi the unquestioned master of this whole continent, in -spite of the Roies and the Formians. Then I shall seize one of the -Formian magic wagons, fly back in it to my own country, and leave you in -peaceful dominion over this continent. What do you say?" - -"I say," the Vairking replied, "that you are an amusing fellow, and an -able spinner of yarns. But you talk with evident earnestness and -sincerity. Therefore I shall give you your workshop and your materials; -but on one condition, namely, that you entertain us likewise. I have -spoken." - -And thus it came to pass that Jud the Excuse-Maker attached the -earth-man to his personal retinue, and placed a laboratory at his -disposal upon the return arrival of the expedition at Vairkingi. - -This city was built entirely of wood. It was surrounded by a high -stockade, and was divided by stockades into sections, each presided over -by a noble, save only the central section which housed the retinue of -Theoph himself. Within the sections, each family had its own walled-off -enclosure. All streets and alleys passed between high wooded walls. The -buildings and fences were carved and gaudily colored. - -As the returning expedition approached the great wall, they were met by -blasts of trumpet music from the parapets. Then a huge gate opened, and -they passed inside. Here they quickly separated, and each detachment -hastened to the quarter of the nobleman from whom they had been drawn. -Jud and his detachment proceeded down many a high-walled street until -they came to a gate bearing the insignia of Jud himself. - -Inside there were more streets of the same character through which Jud's -retinue dispersed to the gates of their own little inclosures until Jud -and Myles Cabot were left alone. - -The noble led his new acquisition to a gate. - -"This inclosure is vacant," Jud explained. "It will be yours. Enter and -take possession. Within, you will find a small house and a shop. Serving -maids will be sent from my own household to make you comfortable. Repair -to my palace to-night and tell me some more stories. Meanwhile good-by -for the present." - -And he strode off and disappeared around a bend in the street. - -Cabot passed in through the gate. - -He found a well, from which he drew water to fill a carefully fashioned -wooden pool. Scarce had he finished bathing, when a group of furry girls -arrived from the house of his patron bearing brooms and blankets and -food. - -One of them also bore a note which read as follows: - - If you love me you will find a way to reach me. - - Arkilu. - -"And if not, what?" said Myles to himself. - -After he had rested and dined, and the place had been made thoroughly -neat, all the girls withdrew save the one who had brought the note. She -informed him that her name was "Quivven" and that she had been ordered -to remain in the inclosure as his servant. - -She was small and lithe. Her hair was a brilliant yellow-gold, and her -eyes were blue. If it had not been for her fur, she would have passed -for a twin to his own Lilla. This fact brought an intense pang to him -and caused such a wave of homesickness that he sat down on a couch and -hid his face in his hands. - -But the pretty creature made no attempt to comfort him. Instead, she -merely remarked half aloud to herself: "I wonder what Arkilu can -possibly see in him. Even Att the Terrible is much more handsome." - -Finally, Myles arose with more determination and courage than he had -felt at any time since his return to Poros. - -Guided by Quivven, he set out for Jud's dwelling, firmly resolved to -take steps that very night, which should result eventually in his -reaching Cupia, and rescuing his family from the renegade Yuri. - -Jud's palace was elaborate and barbaric. Jud himself was seated on a -divan surrounded by Vairkingian beauties. They all were frankly -inquisitive to see this hairless creature from another world, yet they -rather turned up their pretty noses at him when they found him dressed -like a common soldier. - -Cabot regaled the gathering with an account of his first arrival on -Poros and of the two wars of liberation which had freed Cupia from the -domination of the ants. All the while he was most eager to get down to -business with the noble; yet he realized that he had been employed for a -definite purpose, namely story-telling, and that his first duty was to -please his patron. - -Finally, the ladies withdrew, and Myles Cabot, the radio man, began the -first discussion of radio that he had undertaken since his return to -Poros. - - - - - VIII - BUT WHY RADIO? - - -Three fields of "_magic_" were open to him, rifle-fire, aviation, and -radio. The opportunity for building a workable airplane among people who -knew no metal arts was obviously slight. To make a radio set should be -possible, if he could find certain minerals and other natural products, -which ought to be available in almost any country. But easiest of all -would be to extract iron from the ore which he had observed on his -journey across the mountains, forge rifle barrels and simple breech -mechanisms, and make gunpowder and bullets. - -Therefore it is plain why he did not attempt to build airships, but it -is hard to see why he did not make firearms rather than a radio set. -Firearms would have enabled him to equip the Vairkings for battle -against the Formians, whereas radio could serve no useful purpose at the -moment. - -Yet, he took up radio. I think the explanation lies in two facts: first, -he wanted above all to get in touch with his home in Cupia, find out the -status of affairs there, and give courage to his wife and his -supporters, if any of them remained; and secondly, he was primarily a -radio engineer, and so his thoughts naturally turned to radio and -minimized its difficulties. There would be plenty of time to arm the -Vairkings after he found out how affairs stood at home. - -So he broached to Jud his project of constructing a radio set, which -would necessitate extended journeys in search of materials. But the -Vairking noble was singularly uninterested. - -"I know that you can spin interesting yarns," he said, "but I do not -know whether you can do magic. Why, then, should I deprive myself of the -pleasure of listening to your stories, just for the sake of letting you -amuse yourself in a probably impossible pursuit? First, you must -convince me that you are a magician; then perhaps I may consent to your -attempting further magic." - -"Very well," the earth-man replied. "Tomorrow evening I shall display to -you some of the more simple examples of my art. Meanwhile, I shall spend -my time concocting mystic spells in preparation for the occasion." - -Then he bowed and withdrew, thanking his lucky stars that he had learned -a few tricks of sleight-of-hand while at college. - -Myles now recalled several of these, and devoted most of the succeeding -day to preparing a few simple bits of apparatus. Then he practiced his -tricks before the golden-furred Quivven, to her complete mystification. - -That evening, he went again to the quarters of Jud the Excuse-Maker. The -same group was there as on the evening before, and in addition, several -other Vairking men and their wives. - -After an introduction by his host, the earth-man started in. First he -did, in rapid succession, some simple variations of sleight-of-hand. - -He had wanted to perform the well-known "restoration of the cut -handkerchief," but unfortunately the Vairkings possessed neither -handkerchiefs nor scissors, and he was forced to improvise a variant. -Taking a piece of stick, which he had brought with him for a wand, he -stuffed a small part of one of the gaudy hangings through his closed -left fist between the thumb and forefinger, so that it projected in a -gathered-up point about two inches beyond his hand. Then pulling the -curtain over toward one of the stone open-wick lamps which illuminated -the chamber, he completely burned off the projecting bit of doth. - -Evidently, this was one of Jud's choicest tapestries, for the noble -emitted a howl of grief and rage, and leaped from his divan, scattering -the reclining beauties in both directions. If he had interfered in time -to prevent the burning, it would have spoiled the trick, but as it was, -the confusion caused by his onrush played right into Cabot's hands. - -Myles stepped back in apparent terror as Jud seized his precious curtain -and hunted for the scorched hole. But there was no hole there; the -curtain was intact. - -Jud looked up sheepishly into the triumphant face of his protege, who -thereupon stated: "You did not need to worry about your property in the -hands of a true magician." - -"Oh, I was not afraid," Jud the Excuse-Maker explained. "I merely -pretended fear, so as to try and confuse your magic." - -"Please do not do it again," the earth-man sternly admonished him. - - -The Vairking noble seated himself again. - -His guests were enthralled. - -This was a fitting climax for the evening. The amateur conjurer bowed -low and withdrew. - -Quivven was waiting for him at his house, and reported that some one had -torn a small piece out of one of the tapestries. Several days later she -found the piece, but alas, there was a hole burnt in the middle of it. - -The next morning Jud the Excuse-Maker called at the quarters of Cabot, -the furless. It was a rare honor, so Cabot answered the door in person. -Jud expressed his conviction that the earth-man really was a magician, -after all, and that therefore he--Jud--was agreeable to an expedition to -the mountains in search of rocks whose mystical properties would enable -the performing of even greater magic. It was soon arranged that Cabot, -with a bodyguard of some twenty Vairking soldiers and a low-ranking -officer, should start on the morrow. - -Myles was thrilled. Now he was getting somewhere at last! The rest of -the day he devoted to preparing a list of the materials for which he -must hunt. - -To make a radio-telephone sending and receiving set, he would need -dielectrics, copper wire, batteries, tubes, and iron. For dielectrics, -wood and mica would suffice. Wood was common, and the Vairkings were -skilled carpenters and carvers. For fine insulation, mica would be -ideal; and this mineral ought to be procurable somewhere in the -mountains, whose general nature he had observed to be granitic. - -To make copper wire, he would need copper ore--preferably -pyrites--quartz, limestone, and fuel. The necessary furnaces he would -built of brick; any one can bake clay into bricks. - -For cement, Myles finally hit upon using a baked and ground mixture of -limestone and clay, both of which ingredients he would have at hand for -other purposes. - -The Vairkings used charcoal in their open fires, and this would do -nicely for his fuel. - -For the wire-drawing dies he would use steel. This disposed of the -copper questions, and brought him to a consideration of iron, which he -would need at various places in his apparatus. This metal could be -smelted from the slag of the copper furnaces, using an appropriate flux, -such as fluorspar. - -Cabot next turned his attention to his power source. For some time he -debated the question of whether or not to build a dynamo. But how about -the storage batteries? He wasn't quite sure how to find or make the -necessary red and yellow lead salts for the packing plates. - -Thus by the time that Cabot reached the contemplation of having either -to find or make his lead compounds he decided to turn his attention to -primary cells. The jars could be made of pottery, or from the glass -which was going to be necessary for his tubes anyhow. Charcoal would -furnish the carbon elements. Zinc could easily be distilled from -zincspar, if that particular form of ore were found. Sal ammoniac -solution could be made from the ammonia of animal refuse, common salt, -and sulphuric acid. - -Mass production of zinc carbon batteries should thus be an easy matter, -and they would serve perfectly satisfactorily, as neither compactness -nor portability was a requisite. The radio man accordingly abandoned the -idea of dynamos and accumulators in favor of large quantities of wet -cells. - -The tubes, it appeared to Myles, would present the greatest problem. -Platinum for the filaments, grids, and plates had been fairly common in -nugget form in Cupia, and so presumably could be found in Vairkingia. -Glass, of course, would be easy to make. - -Alcohol for laboratory burners could be distilled from decayed fruit. - -But the chief stumbling block was how to exhaust the air from his tubes, -and how to secure magnesium to use in completing the vacuum. These -matters he would have to leave to the future in the hope of a chance -idea. For the present there were enough elements to be collected so that -he would be kept busy for a great many days. Accordingly he copied off -the following two lists: - - - Materials readily available: - - Wood - Wood ashes - Charcoal - Clay - Common salt - White sand - Animal refuse - Decayed fruit - - - Materials to hunt for: - - Mica - Copper ore - Quartz - Limestone - Fluorspar - Galena - Zinc ore - Platinum - Chalk - Magnesium - -But that afternoon all his plans were disrupted by a message reading: - - To The Furless One: - - You are directed to appear for my amusement at my palace to-morrow. - Fail not. - - Theoph The Grim. - -"That puts an end to my trip," he said to Quivven. "How do you suppose -his majesty got wind that I am a conjurer?" - -"One of the guests at the show last night must have told him," she -replied. - -But something in her tone of voice caused Myles to look at her intently, -and something in her expression caused him to say, "You know more than -you tell. Out with it!" - -Whereat Quivven shrugged her pretty golden shoulders, and replied, "Why -deceive you? Though you are so stupid that it is very easy. Who brought -you the note from Arkilu the night of your arrival here?" - -"You did," Cabot answered. "Why didn't I put two and two together -before? Then you are connected in some way with Arkilu?" - -She laughed contemptuously. "How did you guess it?" she taunted. "Yes, -one would rather say I am connected in some way with Arkilu; for I am -her sister, set here to spy on you by connivance with the chief woman of -Jud's servants, who is an old nurse of ours. I am Quivven the Golden -Flame, daughter of Theoph the Grim, and it is from _me_ that he learned -of your mystic abilities. What do you think of _that_, beast?" - -"I think," Myles said noncommittally, "that although you truly are a -golden flame, you ought to have been named 'Quivven the Pepper Pot'." - -Whereat she suddenly burst into tears and rushed out of the room. - -"Funny girl," Myles commented to himself, as he laid aside the list -prepared for his prospecting trip, and set about the concoction of some -stage properties for his forthcoming command performance before the -King. - -It was a sulky Quivven who served his meal that evening, so much so that -Cabot playfully accused her of putting poison in his stew. This did not -render her any more gracious, however. - -"If I did not love my sister very much," she asserted, "I would not -stand for you for one moment." - -The rest of the meal was eaten in silence during which Cabot had an -idea. - -So when the food had been cleared away he asked the aureate maiden, "Can -you smuggle a note to your sister for me?" - -"Yes," she assented gloomily, "and I shall tell her how you are treating -me." - -At which he could not refrain from remarking, "Do you know, Quivven, I -believe that you are falling in love with me." - -"You beast!" she cried at him. "Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" -And she turned her face to the wall. - -"Come, come!" said Cabot soothingly. "I don't mean to tease you, and we -must both think of your sister. The note. How long will it take you to -deliver it and return?" - -"Shall I hurry?" she asked guardedly. - -"Yes." - -"Then it will take me less than one-twelfth of a day." - -That would be quite sufficient for his plans. Accordingly he wrote: - - Arkilu The Beautiful: - - Send word how I can see you after the performance. But beware of Jud. - - Cabot The Magician. - -This note he folded up, placed it in the palm of Quivven, and closed her -golden fingers over it. - -Whereat she sprang back with, "Don't you dare touch me like that!" and -rushed out of the house, sobbing angrily. - -Really, he must be more careful with this delicate creature; for -although her intense hatred furnished him considerable amusement, yet it -was possible to go too far. He must at least be polite to the sister of -his benefactress. - -But there was no time to be given over to worrying about Quivven's -sensitive feelings; for the note had been sent merely to give him a -slight respite from her prying eyes, in order that he might sneak out -for a conference with Jud; of course he had no intention of any secret -tryst with Arkilu. Heaven forbid, when he loved his own distant Lilla so -intensely! - -So he hurried to the quarters of the Vairkingian noble, who received him -gladly, being most interested in learning whether there was any rational -explanation to be given to the various magic tricks of the evening -before. But Myles blocked his inquisitiveness by the flat assertion that -all were due to mystic spells and talismans alone, and then got rapidly -down to business, for there was no time to be lost. - - -Myles told Jud of the note from Theoph the Grim requiring his presence -at the royal palace, and how he suspected that Princess Arkilu was -responsible. Also, he related his discovery that his maidservant was -Quivven the Golden Flame; but he had the decency to refrain from -implicating the head of Jud's menage. - -"I shall have her removed at once," the Vairking asserted. - -"No, no," Myles hastily interposed, "that would never do; for now that -we know she is a spy, it will be easy to outwit her. But a new one we -never could be sure of." - -Then he told how he had gotten rid of Quivven for the evening by sending -her with a note to Arkilu. Jud's brow darkened. - -"But," Myles insisted, "that note will serve a three-fold purpose; -first, it has enabled me undetected to pay this visit to you; secondly, -it will allay Arkilu's suspicions; and thirdly, it will stir you to -block my appearance before Theoph to-morrow." - -"Oh, I would have done that anyhow," Jud insisted. "My plans are all -made. I shall send a runner to Theoph, and warn him to search Arkilu's -room for your note. When he finds the note he will certainly cancel the -arrangements for your performance. Thus will the note serve a _fourth -purpose_. - -"Return now to your quarters, and I will send you word of the outcome." - -"I wouldn't if I were you," Myles admonished. "For a message from you -would reveal to our fair young spy the fact of my secret interview with -you this evening. Let Theoph himself send the word." - -"So be it. You may count on starting on your expedition to-morrow as -planned. Good luck to you." - -"Good luck to _you_, Jud the Great, and may you win Arkilu the -Beautiful." - -So the earth-man hastened back to his quarters, where Quivven, on her -return, found him placidly reclining on a divan. - -For a few minutes they chatted playfully together, and then she suddenly -narrowed her eyelids, looked at him with a peculiar expression, and -asked: "Aren't you the least bit anxious to know what answer Arkilu made -to your note?" - -That was so; he _had_ written Arkilu a note; but now that it had served -its purpose he had completely forgotten about it. How could he square -himself with little Quivven? By flattery? - -"Of course I'm anxious to know," he asserted, "but I was so glad to have -you come back again that for the moment I neglected to ask you." - - -Quivven the Golden Flame pouted. - -"Now you're teasing me again," she said, "and I won't stand for it." - -"But I really want to know," he continued with mock eagerness. "Please -do tell me about your sister." - -"I gave her the note--" - -Just then there came a loud pounding on the gate outside; so loud, in -fact, that the sound penetrated within the house. Quivven stopped -talking. She and Myles listened intently. The pounding continued. - -"Evidently we are to have company this evening," he remarked, glad to -change the subject. - -Quivven replied, "Such a racket at this time of night can mean naught -but ill. Let us approach the gate with care, and question the -intruders." - -So saying, she took down one of the hanging stone lamps and opened the -outside door. It was a typical dark, silent, fragrant Porovian evening, -except for the fact that the darkness was broken by the glare of the -torches beyond the wall, and that the silence was broken by the pounding -on the gate, and that the fragrance was marred by the smoke of Quivven's -lamp. - -"Who is there?" Quivven called. - -To this there came back the peremptory shout: "Open quickly, in the name -of Theoph the Grim!" - -The golden girl recoiled. Even Cabot himself shuddered as he realized -the evident cause of the disturbance; his plot with Jud had produced -results beyond what they had planned; and Theoph upon seizing the note, -had decided not merely to cancel the sleight-of-hand performance, but -also to place his daughter's supposed sweetheart under arrest. - -"I am afraid your father has intercepted my letter to your sister," -Cabot explained. "I tell you what! _You_ leave by the rear door, make -your way quickly to Arkilu, and see if the two of you can intercede for -me with your stern parent." - -So saying, he released her. The slim princess handed him the light, and -sped into the interior of the house. - -"Cease your noise!" he shouted. "For I, Myles Cabot the Minorian, come -to unbar the gate in person!" - -He strode down the path. Quickly he slid the huge wooden bolts, swung -the gate open, and stepped outside, shielding the lamp with one hand to -get a view of the disturbers. But his lamp was instantly dashed from him -and his arms bound behind him. - -His captors were about a dozen Vairking soldiers in leather tunics and -helmets, some carrying wooden spears and some holding torches, while -their evident leader was similarly clothed but armed with a sharp wooden -rapier. - -As soon as the prisoner was securely bound the guard hustled him roughly -off down the street. - -Thus were his plans rudely dashed to the ground. On the preceding night -all had been arranged for his trip to secure the elements for the -construction of a radio set with which to communicate with Cupia and his -Lilla. That morning he had been forced to postpone his trip, in order to -perform before Theoph the Grim. And this evening he was Theoph's -prisoner, slated for--what? - - - - - IX - A PRISONER - - -The squad of Vairking soldiers, with Myles Cabot as their prisoner, had -traversed nowhere near the distance to the palace, when they turned from -the street through a gate. - -"Where are they going to take me now?" Myles wondered. - -This question was soon answered, for the party entered a building which -was evidently a dwelling of the better class. The hall was well lighted, -so that Miles blinked at the sudden glare. - -The leader of the party placed himself squarely in front of his -prisoner, with hands on his hips, and remarked with apparent -irrelevance: "Well, we fooled Quivven, didn't we?" - -The prisoner stared at him in surprise. It was Jud! Jud, disguised as a -common soldier. - -Cabot laughed with relief. - -"You certainly gave me a bad hundred-and-forty-fourth part of a day," he -asserted. "I didn't recognize you in your street clothes. What is the -great idea?" - -"'The great idea'," the noble replied, "to quote your phrase, is that I -did truly represent Theoph the Grim. He authorized me to arrest you in -his name. The pretty little spy will report your capture to Arkilu, and -her father will stonily refuse to reveal where you are imprisoned. - -"Meanwhile I shall give the golden one time to escape, and shall then -send a second squad to seize your effects. Your expedition will start -immediately. Come, unbind the prisoner." - -As soon as his bonds were loosed, Myles warmly grasped the hand of his -benefactor. - -"You are all right!" he exclaimed. "You have completely succeeded -without leaving anything to explain." - -"I _always_ succeed, and never have to explain anything!" Jud replied a -bit coldly. - -And so, late that night, the Radio Man, dressed in leather tunic and -helmet, and armed with a tempered wood rapier, set out with his -bodyguard for the western mountains. In silence, and with the minimum of -lights, they threaded the streets of Jud's compound and then the streets -of the city until they came to the west gate, where a pass signed by -Theoph the Grim gave them free exit. Thence they moved due westward -across the plain, with scouts thrown out to guard against contact with -any roving Roies. - -By daybreak they had reached the cover of the wooded foothills, and -there they camped for a full day of much needed rest. Finally, on the -second morning following their stealthy departure from Vairkingi, their -journey really started. - -The commander of the bodyguard was an intelligent youth named Crota. -During the meals at the first encampment, Myles described to Crota in -considerable detail the particular form of copper pyrites which furnish -the bulk of the copper used for electrical purposes on the continent of -Cupia. - -After listening intently to this description for about the fifth time, -Crota smiled and said, "We Vairkings place no stock in pretty stones, -except as playthings for our children, but I do recall the little golden -cubes with which the children of one of the hill villages are accustomed -to play tum-tum. This village, Sur by name, is only a day's journey to -the southward. Let us turn our steps thither and learn from the children -where they get their toys." - -"'Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings,'" the earth-man quoted to -himself. - -And so they set out to the southward, following a trail which wound in -and out between the fertile silver-green hills, which were for the most -part scantily wooded. - -Toward the close of the day, Crota's scouts established contact with the -outposts of the village which they were seeking; and after an exchange -of communications by runner, the expedition was given free passage to -proceed. Shortly thereafter they came in sight of the village itself. - -From among the surrounding verdant rolling terrain there arose one rocky -eminence with precipitous sides, and with a flat summit on which stood -the village of Sur surrounded by a strong wooden palisade. - -Up the face of the cliff there ran a narrow zigzag path, cut in the -living rock, and overhung by many a bastion from which huge stones could -be tumbled or molten pitch poured on any invaders so rash as to attempt -the ascent. - -Along this path the expedition crawled in single file with many pauses -to draw their breath; and before they reached the summit Cabot realized -full well how it was that Sur, the southernmost outpost of Vairkingian -civilization, had so long and so successfully withstood the onslaughts -of the wild and savage Roies. - -The inhabitants, furry Vairkings, turned out in large numbers to greet -the visitors and especially to inspect the furless body and the much -overfurred chin of the earth-man. Guides led the expedition to a large -public hall where, after a speech of welcome by the headman of the -village, they were fed and quartered for the night. - -Between the meal and bedtime the visiting soldiers strolled out to see -the sights by the pale pink light of the unseen setting sun. Cabot and -Crota together walked to the west wall to observe the sunset. - -As the two of them leaned on the parapet, a rattling noise on the rocky -walk beside them disturbed their reverie. Looking down, they saw three -furry children rolling some small objects along the ground. With a -slight exclamation of surprise and pleasure, the Vairking soldier -swooped down upon the youngsters, scooped up one of the toys, and handed -it to the earth-man. - -"Tum-tum," Crota laconically announced, and sure enough it was one of -the small game-cubes, which he had described to his companion. - -But before the latter had had the slightest opportunity to examine it, -the bespoiled infant let out a howl of childish rage, and commenced to -assail Myles with fists and teeth and feet. - -"Stop that!" Crota shouted, grabbing him by one arm and pulling him -away. "We don't want to keep your tum-tum; we merely want to look at it. -This gentleman has never seen a tum-tum." - -"Gentleman?" the boy replied from a safe distance. "Common soldier! -Bah!" - -But Myles Cabot was too engrossed to notice the insult. The small cube -in his hand was undoubtedly a metallic crystal, but whether chalcopyrite -or not he could not tell in the fading light. In fact, it might be the -sunset which gave the stone its coppery tinge. - - -Taking a small flint knife from a leather sheath that hung from his -belt, Myles offered it to the child in exchange for the toy, in spite of -Crota's gasping protest at the extravagance. - -The boy eagerly accepted the offer, remarking: "Thank you, sir. You -should take off those clothes." - -It was a very neat and subtle compliment. Gentlemen Vairkings never wore -clothes. Cabot was impressed. - -"Your name, my son?" he asked, patting the furry little creature on the -head. - -"Tomo the Brief," was the reply. - -"I shall remember it." - -Then he hurried back to the public hall, eager to examine his purchase -by the light of the oil flares. - -Sure enough, it turned out to be really pyrites, and by its deep color -probably a pyrites rich in copper. To the Radio Man it meant the first -tangible step toward the accomplishment of the greatest radio feat ever -undertaken on two worlds; namely the construction of a complete sending -and receiving set out of nothing but basic materials in their natural -state without the aid of a single previously fabricated man-made tool, -utensil, or chemical. To this day Myles wears this cube as a pendant -charm in commemoration of that momentous occasion. - -As he lay on the floor of the public building that night the earth-man -reviewed the events of the day until he came to the episode of the -purchase of the cubical pyrite crystal from little Tomo. - -"Your name, my son?" Cabot had asked him. - -"'My son'," thought Cabot. "I have a son of my own across the boiling -seas on the continent of Cupia, and a wife, the most beautiful and -sweetest lady in Poros. They are in dire danger, or were many months ago -when I received the S O S which led me to return through the skies to -this planet. Oh, how I wish that I could learn what that danger was, and -what has happened to them since then!" - -Thus he mused; and yet when he came to figure up the time since his -capture he was able to account for less than three weeks of earth time. -Perhaps there was still a chance of rescue, if he would but hurry. - -The danger which had inspired his Lilla's call for help was undoubtedly -due to the return of Prince Yuri across the boiling seas. For all that -Myles knew, Princess Lilla and the loyal Cupians were still holding out -against their renegade prince. - -The message which Cabot had ticked out into the ether from the radio -station of the ants had been sent only a few days after the S O S. If -received by Lilla or any of her friends, it had undoubtedly served to -encourage them to stiffen their resistance to the usurper; and if -received by Yuri, it had undoubtedly thrown into him the fear of the -Great Builder. - -Musing and hoping thus, the earth-man fell into a troubled sleep, -through which there swirled a tangled phantasmagoria of ant-men, -Cupians, whistling bees, and Vairkings, with occasional glimpses of a -little blue-eyed blond head, sometimes surmounted by golden curls and -two dainty antennae, but sometimes completely covered with golden fur. - -Shortly after sunrise he awoke, and aroused Crota. No time must be lost! -The Princess Lilla must be saved! - -But there was nothing they could do until their hosts brought the food -for the morning meal. From the bearers they now ascertained that the -tum-tum cubes were gathered in a cleft in the rocks only a short -distance from the village; and that, although the perfect cubes were -rare and quite highly prized, the imperfect specimens were present in -great quantities. In fact, hundreds of cartloads had been mined and -picked over in search of perfect cubes, and thus all this ore would be -available in return for the mere trouble of shoveling it into carts. - -As soon as arrangements could be made with the headman of Sur, Cabot and -his party, accompanied by guides, crept down the narrow zigzag path to -the plain below the village, and proceeded up a ravine to the quarry, -where they verified all that had been told them. - -It was a beautiful sight; a rocky wall out of a cleft in which there -seemed to pour a waterfall of gold. - -But on close inspection, every cube was seen to be nicked or bent or out -of proportion, or jammed part way through or into some other cube. - -The soldiers, both those from Vairkingi and those from Sur, scrambled up -the golden cascade and started hacking the crystals out of the solid -formation, in search for perfect cubes, while their two leaders watched -them with amusement from below. - -All at once there came a shriek, and one of the Vairkings toppled the -whole length of the pile, almost at Cabot's feet, where he lay perfectly -still, the wooden shaft of an arrow projecting from one eyeball. - -"Roies!" Crota shouted. - -Instantly every member of the party took cover with military precision -behind some rock or tree. - -They had not long to wait, for a shower of missiles from up the valley -soon apprised them of the location of the enemy. So the Vairkings -thereafter remained alert. Those who had bows drew them and discharged a -flint-tipped arrow at every stir of grass or bush in the locality whence -the missiles of the enemy had come. - -"We know not their number," Crota whispered to Cabot. "And since we have -accomplished our mission let us return to Sur as speedily as possible." - -"Agreed," the earth-man replied. - -The withdrawal was accomplished as follows. Crota first dispatched -runners to the village to inform the inhabitants of the situation. Then, -leaving a small rear guard of archers and slingers to cover their -retreat, he formed the remainder of the expedition in open order, and -set out for Sur as rapidly as the cover would permit. - -The enemy kept pretty well hidden, but it was evident from the increase -of arrows and pebbles that their numbers were steadily augmenting. -Noting this, Crota sent another runner ahead with this information. - - -It now became necessary to replenish and relieve the rear guard, of -which several were dead, several more wounded and the rest tired and out -of ammunition. This done, Crota ordered the main body of his force to -leave cover and take up the double quick. - -The result was unexpected. A hundred or more Roies charged yelling down -the ravine through the Vairking rear guard, and straight at Cabot's men, -who at once ran to cover again and took deadly toll of the oncoming -enemy. - -But the Roies so greatly outnumbered the Vairkings that the tide could -not be stemmed, and soon the two groups were mingled together in a -seething mass. The first rush was met, spear on spear. Then the sharp -wooden swords were drawn, and Cabot found himself lunging and parrying -against three naked furry warriors. - -The neck was the vulnerable spot of the Vairkings, and it was this point -which the Roies strove to reach, as Cabot soon noted. That simplified -matters, for guarding one's neck against such crude swordsmen as these -furry aborigines was easy for a skilled fencer such as he. Accordingly, -one by one, he ran three antagonists through the body. - -Just as he was withdrawing his blade from his last victim, he noted that -Crota was being hard pressed by a burly Roy swordsman; so he hastened to -his friend's assistance. And he was just in time, for even as Cabot -approached, the naked Roy knocked the leather-clad Vairking's weapon -from his hand with a particularly dexterous sideswipe, and thus had -Crota at his mercy. - -But before the naked one could follow up his advantage, the earth-man -hurled his own sword like a spear, and down went the Roy, impaled -through the back, carrying Crota with him as he fell. - -Cabot paused to draw breath, and was just viewing with satisfaction the -lucky results of his chance throw, when a peremptory command of "Yield!" -behind him caused him to wheel about and confront a new enemy. The -author of the shout was a massive furry warrior with a placid, almost -bovine, face, which nevertheless betokened considerable intellect. - -"And to whom would I yield, if I did yield?" Myles asked, facing unarmed -the poised sword of his new enemy. - -"Grod the Silent, King of the Roies," was the dignified reply. - -"I thought that Att the Terrible was king of your people," the earth-man -returned, sparring for time. - -"That is what Att thinks too," the other answered with a slight smile. - -But the smile was short-lived, for Myles Cabot, having momentarily -distracted his opponent's attention by this conversation, stepped -suddenly under the guard of the furry Grod, and planted his fist square -on Grod's fat chin. Down crashed the king, his sword clattering from his -nerveless hand. In an instant Myles snatched up the blade and bestrode -his prostrate foe. - -Just as he was about to plunge its point into Grod's vitals, there -occurred to him the proverb of Poblath: "While enemies dispute, the -realm is at peace." - -With Grod the Silent and Att the Terrible both contending for the -leadership of the Roies, Vairkingia might enjoy a respite from the -depredations of this wild and lawless race. He would leave the fallen -Roy for dead, rather than put him actually in that condition. -Accordingly, he sprang to the aid of his companions. - -Crota was already back in the fray, his own sword in his hands once -more, and the sword of his late burly opponent slung at his side. Quite -evidently he did not intend to be disarmed again. - -Three Vairking common soldiers and Crota and Myles now confronted seven -Roies. This constituted a fairly even match, for the superior -intelligence and the leather armor of the men of Vairkingi and Sur, -offset the greater numbers of their aboriginal antagonists. What the -outcome would have been can never be known, for at that moment, the -reinforcements from the village came charging up the ravine; and at the -same instant, the tops of the cliffs were lined with Roies, who sent a -shower of arrows upon those below. - -The contending twelve immediately separated. Cabot and his followers -passed within the protection of his rescuers and the return to Sur was -renewed. The commander of the rescue party threw out a strong rear -guard, and the Vairking archers on both flanks peppered the cliff tops -with sling shots and arrows, but the marauding Roies harassed every step -of the retreat. - -There was some respite when Cabot's party reached the plain where stood -the rocky peak with the village of Sur on its summit, for arrows could -not carry from the cover of the surrounding woods to the foot of the -rocks. But, as the tired party began the ascent of the narrow path on -the face of the cliff, they noted that the Roies were forming solid -banks of wooden shields and were advancing across the plain. - -Arrows now began to fly from below at the ascending Vairking party, -several of whom toppled and fell down the face of the cliff. And then -the warrior just above Myles on the narrow path clutched his breast with -a gasp and dropped square upon the earth-man, who braced himself and -caught the body, thus preventing it from being dashed to pieces at the -foot of the rocks. - -Whether or not the furry soldier was dead could not be ascertained until -Myles should have reached the summit, so up he toiled with his burden -until he gained the protection of the palisade, where he laid the -Vairking gently on the ground and tore open his leather tunic to see if -any life were present. - -The wounded man still breathed, though hoarsely, and his heart still -beat; but there was a gaping hole in one side of his chest. - -No arrow protruding from this hole. Myles tenderly turned the man over -to see if the wound extended clear through. It did--almost. And from the -man's side there projected the tip of a bullet, the steel-sheathed tip -of a leaden rifle bullet! - - - - - X - THE SIEGE OF SUR - - -Myles quickly extracted the bullet from the back of the wounded -Vairking. Then tender furry female hands bore the victim away, as the -earth-man stood in thoughtful contemplation of his find. - -There could be no doubt of it. This was a steel-jacketed bullet, -identical with those used in the rifles of the ant-men. How came such a -weapon in the hands of the savage and untrained Roies? - -It was inconceivable that these uncultured brutes had overwhelmed New -Formia and captured the weapons of the ant-men. No, the only possible -explanation was that the Formians had formed an alliance with the Roies, -and were either fighting beside them or at least had furnished them with -a few firearms, the use of which they had taught them. - -But this last idea was improbable, due to the well-known shortage of -rifles and ammunition at Yuriana, capital of the new ant empire. No, if -the ant-men were in alliance with these furry savages, there must be -ant-men present with the besiegers, and the shot in question must have -been fired by the claw of a Formian. - -This opened up new terrors for the village of Sur and its inhabitants. -Myles glanced apprehensively at the southern sky, half expecting to see -and hear the approach of a Formian plane, but the radiant silver expanse -was unmarred by any black speck. Sur was safe for the moment. - -His musings thus completed, Myles hurried to the public hall to -communicate this discovery to Crota and the village authorities. He -found the headman already there in conference with Crota. - -Said Myles, exhibiting the bullet: "Here is one of the magic stones -thrown by one of my own magic sling-shots, which is capable of shooting -from the ground to the top of your cliffs and even penetrating your -palisade. It is big magic! With its aid, the Roies can overcome us. -Without it, I am powerless. Therefore, we must secure possession of it. -What do you suggest?" - -Crota replied: "It is now sunset. Let us select a squad of picked scouts -and try to stalk the camp of the enemy." - -"No, no!" the headman of Sur exclaimed in horror. "Never have our men -dared to attack the Roies by dark." - -"Do the Roies know this?" Myles asked with interest. - -"Most certainly," was the reply. - -"Then," he said, "all the more reason for attempting it They will be -unprepared." - -The magistrate shrugged his furry shoulders with: "If you can persuade -any men of Sur to attempt anything so foolhardy, I shall interpose no -objection." - -Within a twelfth of a day, Crota had enrolled twenty scouts, and with -Myles Cabot, they had all begun the stealthy descent of the narrow -winding path down the face of the cliff. Before starting, they had -observed the direction of the Roy camp-fires on one of the surrounding -hills; so now they crept quietly toward that hill, and then slowly up to -its crest. - -In spite of the dense blackness of the Porovian night, they were able to -find their way, first by starting in the correct direction and then by -keeping the lights of their own village always behind them. - -As Cabot had expected from the remarks of the headman, there were no -sentinels on post, for the enemy were quite evidently relying on the -well-known Vairking fear of the unknown terrors of the dark. Indeed, it -spoke volumes for the individual courage of the twenty-one members of -this venture, and for their confidence in their earth-man leader, that -they had dared to come. - -Finally, the party emerged from the underbrush at the top of the hill, a -few score of feet from the tents and camp-fires of the Roies. There, -motioning the others to remain where they were until he gave a signal, -Myles crawled forward, always keeping in the shadow of some tent, until -he was able to peek through a small bush beside one of the tents, -directly at the group around one of the camp-fires. - -Just as Cabot arrived at this observation post, a Roy warrior was -declaiming: "I told you it would work, for had I not seen it -demonstrated fully to me? You yourselves saw it kill. Now will you not -believe me?" - -Another spoke: "I cannot understand its principle. How can a weapon kill -afar, and yet not resemble either a sling or a bow?" - -And another: "Show us how it works, friend. Then perhaps we may be -persuaded." - -And a third: "I do not believe that he has it." - -Whereat, the original speaker, nettled, spoke again: "It is in my tent -there, you doubters," indicating the one beside which Cabot crouched. - -Quick as a flash, Cabot wriggled beneath the back of the tent into its -interior. The campfire light, penetrating through the slit opening in -front, revealed nothing but rumpled blankets on the floor, and ordinary -weapons slung to the tent pole; so the intruder commenced rummaging -among the bedding. The conversation outside continued. - -"Prove, or be silent!" said a voice. - -"You saw the Vairking fall, did you not?" the original speaker replied. - -"True, but I did not see you sling any pebble." - - -Meanwhile, Cabot continued his frantic search. At last, it was rewarded. -In one corner of the tent, his groping fingers closed upon a Formian -rifle and a bandolier of cartridges. A thrill ran through him at the -touch. - -"To prove it to you," the voice outside was saying, angrily, "I will get -it for you; and if you do not believe me, I shall slingshot you with it. -_That_ ought to be proof enough even for a stupid one like you. I have -said it!" - -"The signal for my exit," Myles said to himself, as he hastened to crawl -out through the back of the tent, but then he reflected: "No, I want -more than this gun and ammunition; I want information." - -So he remained. - -As the Roy entered the tent and felt for the rifle, the crouching -earth-man flung himself upon him; and before the startled furry one -could utter even a gasp, strong fingers closed upon his windpipe, -throttling off all sound. The struggle was over in a few moments. - -When Myles Cabot finally crept out of the enemy tent, it was with a limp -form under one arm, and a bandolier and a rifle slung across his -shoulders. - -The conversation at the camp fire continued. - -One of the warriors was saying: "Our friend takes long to find his -wonderful sling-shot. Methinks he was lying and does not dare to face -us." - -Said another voice: "Let us pull him from his tent and confront him with -his perfidy." - -At this, Myles sprang to his feet and ran to the cover which concealed -his followers. - -"Rush in among them as we planned," he urged, "while you two come with -me." - -Then on he sped down the hillside towards the lights of Sur with his -captive and trophies and two previously-picked members of the band, -while Crota and the remaining eighteen charged yelling into the midst of -the Roy camp, upsetting tents, scattering camp fires, and laying about -them with their swords. Straight through the camp they charged, -shouting: "Make way for Att the Terrible!" Then they circled the hill -under cover of the darkness and rejoined Myles. - -The startled Roies were taken completely by surprise. From the cries of -Crota and his followers, they assumed that the intruders were Roies, -partisans of Att the Terrible, attacking them for being partisans of -Grod the Silent. As they came rushing out of their standing tents, or -crawled from beneath such tents as had been wrecked, they met others of -their own camp, similarly rushing or crawling, and mistaking them for -enemies, started to fight. - -The confusion was complete, and never for a moment did the naked furry -savages suspect that the whole trouble had been caused by a mere handful -of Vairkings. - -Truly, as Poblath the Philosopher has said, "While enemies dispute, the -realm is at peace." - -While the Roy followers of Grod the Silent fought among themselves until -they gradually discovered that there was no one there except themselves, -Myles Cabot and his Vairkings safely regained the Village of Sur with -the rifle, the ammunition, and the still unconscious Roy warrior. - -In the public hall, under the tender ministrations of Vairking -maidens--who would far rather have plunged a flint knife into him--the -captive finally regained his senses and looked around him in -bewilderment. - -"Where am I?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. - -"In Sur," some one replied. - -"Then are we victorious? For never before has a Roy set foot in Sur." - -"No, your forces are not victorious," Crota answered. "You are a -prisoner. And it is only by the grace of Cabot the Minorian that you are -permitted to come here even as a prisoner. For the men of Sur take no -prisoners, and give no quarter." - -In reply, Myles himself stepped forward. - -"I myself, am Cabot the Minorian," he said. - -To which Crota added impressively: "The greatest magician of two -worlds!" - -The prisoner shook his head. - -"I know of only one world," he asserted, "and this man before me is -dressed as a mere common soldier, as are all of you." - -"Know then, O scum of Poros," the earth-man admonished, "that there are -other worlds beyond the silver skies, and that in the world from which I -come, all soldiers are gentlemen." - -But the Roy warrior was not to be subdued by language. "How did I come -here?" he asked. - -"You did not come here," Myles answered. "You were brought. I brought -you." - -"But how?" - -"By magic." - -"What magic?" - -"My magic cart which swims through the air as a reptile swims through -the waters of a lake." - -"True," the Roy mused, "there be such aerial wagons, for I have seen -them near the city of the beasts of the south." - -"Mark well!" Myles interjected to the assembled Vairkings, then to the -prisoner again: "I captured you because you possessed the magic -sling-shot, and presumed to use it on one of my own men. This effrontery -could not be permitted to go unpunished; hence your capture. The -offending weapon is now mine, and you are my prisoner." - - -"What do you propose to do with me?" the captive asked. "I propose to -ask you some questions," Myles evaded. "First where did you get the -magic sling-shot?" - -"The great magician knows everything," the Roy replied, with a sneer. -"Why, then, should I presume to tell him anything?" - -But the earth-man remained unruffled. "You are correct," he countered. -"I ask, not because I do not already know, but because I wish to test -whether it is possible for one of your degraded race to tell the truth." - -"Why test that?" came back the brazen Roy, "for doubtless you, who know -everything, know that, too." - -Myles could not help admiring the insulting calm with which this furry -man of inferior race confronted his relentless captors. - -"Who are you, rash one?" he asked. - -The prisoner drew himself up proudly, with folded arms, and answered: "I -am Otto the Bold, son of Grod the Silent." - -"Ah," Myles said, "the son of a king. And I am the father of a king. -Well, then, as one man to another, tell me where you got this gun." - -"Gun?" Otto queried. "Is that the name of this weapon of bad omen? Know -then that I got it from you yourself when I wounded you beneath the tree -beside the brook at the foot of the mountains, before the Vairkings of -Jud the Excuse-Maker drove me off. I have spoken!" - -"And spoken truly," Cabot replied, concealing his surprise with -difficulty. Of course. Why had he not guessed it before? But there were -still some more points to clear up, so he continued: "Why did you shoot -those two arrows at me in the house at the top of the mountains?" - -"Because we wished to explore the house. But you killed my companion, -whereupon I resolved to kill you in revenge, and to capture the noisy -'gun'--and is that the right word? So I trailed you. The rest you know." - -"Remember, I know _everything_," Myles said, grinning. "But did you ever -see any one but me shoot the gun?" - -"You know I never did," was the reply. "No one on Poros, save Cabot the -Magician and Otto the Bold, has ever done this big magic. I saw the -results, but not the means, when you killed my companion; so I -experimented for myself after I had stolen your gun, and soon I learned -how, after which I carefully conserved the magic stones until last night -when I shot one of the Vairkings of Sur, so as to give visible proof of -my magic powers to my doubting comrades." - -The earth-man heaved a sigh of relief. There existed as yet no alliance -between the Formians and the Roies. Pray Heaven that such a calamity -would never suggest itself to the minds of either race; for if so, then -woe to Vairkingia! - -"Son of a king," he said, "return to your people and your father. Give -him my greetings, and tell them that you are the friend of a great -magician, who lent you his 'gun', who transported you through the air -within the walls of Sur, where no Roy has ever stood or will ever stand, -and who last night caused phantom warriors to attack your camp under the -guise of followers of Att the Terrible. Go now. My men will give you -safe conduct to the plain below." - -"And what is the price of this freedom?" Otto disdainfully inquired. - -"The friendship of a king's father for a king's son," Myles Cabot -replied with dignity. - -The two drew themselves up proudly and regarded each other eye-to-eye -for a moment. - -"It is well," Otto the Bold declared. "Good-by." And he departed under -the escort of a Vairking guard. - -"The master knows best," Crota remarked, sadly shaking his head, "but I -should have run the wretch through the body." - - -The next morning Cabot thanked the headman of Sur for his hospitality, -and took up the return trail for Vairkingi, the vacancies in his ranks -being filled by the loan of soldiers from Sur. The party had gone but a -short distance when they found the way barred by a formidable body of -Roies. But before these came within bow-shot a bullet from Cabot's rifle -brought two of them to the ground, whereupon the rest turned and fled -precipitately. - -Later in the day a bend in the road brought them suddenly upon a furry -warrior. Myles fired, and the man instantly fell to the ground. But when -they reached the body there was not even a scratch to be found on it; -the bullet had missed. - -"Dead of fright," Myles thought; but no, for the heart was still -beating, although faintly, and the lungs were still functioning. - -"Sit up there!" Myles ordered. - -"Can't," The Roy replied. "I'm dead." - -"Then I'll make you alive again," his captor declared, placing his hands -on the head of the Roy. "_Abra cadabra camunya._" - -Thereat the soldier sat up with a sigh of relief, and opened his eyes. - -"Stand up!" Myles ordered. - -For reply the Roy jumped to his feet and started running for cover. - -"Halt!" the earth-man commanded. "Halt, or I'll kill you again!" - -The man stopped. - -"Return!" - -The man returned, like a sleep walker. - -"What do you mean by running away? Now listen intently. Are you one of -the men of Grod?" - -"Yes." - -"Then go to Otto, the son of Grod, and tell him that it is the order of -Cabot the Magician that Vairking expeditions into these mountains, in -search of golden cubes and other minerals, be unmolested. Tell Otto that -he can recognize my expedition by the blue flags which they will carry -hereafter. Now go. I have spoken." - -The Roy warrior ran up the trail and this time was not halted. - -"Another mistake," Crota remarked, half to himself. - -The rest of the return to Vairkingi was without event. On the way the -radio man made notes of the best deposits of quartz, limestone, and -fluorspar. Also he carried with him a few large sheets of mica. But he -found no traces of galena, zinc ore, or platinum. These would require at -least one further expedition. - -Crota spared no extravagant language in relating to Jud the exploits of -Cabot the Minorian in raising the siege of the village of Sur; and Jud -repeated the story with embellishments to Theoph the Grim. Also the long -deferred sleight-of-hand performance was held at the palace, to the -great mystification of the white-furred king. - -Arkilu did not show up to mar the occasion. In fact, little Quivven -reported that her sister was very indignant at the earth-man for -trifling with her affections, and had turned to Jud in her pique. -Needless to say, Jud had taken every possible advantage of Cabot's -absence to reinstate himself with the chestnut-furred princess. But -neither Myles nor Quivven appeared to exhibit any very great sorrow at -this turn of affairs. - -So long as Arkilu's hostility did not become active, the support of Jud -and Theoph ought to prove quite sufficient. - -The standing of Cabot the Minorian as a magician was now well -established, and accordingly Jud the Excuse-Maker and even Theoph the -Grim were willing to accord him all possible assistance in the gathering -of the materials with which he was to perform his further magic, namely -radio. - -Theoph made a levy upon all the nobles, and turned over to the earth-man -upward of five hundred soldiers with their proper carts and equipment. -Jud (himself,) Quivven (still unknown to her father), and Crota (the -soldier who had demonstrated on the expedition an intelligence far above -his social class), were enrolled as laboratory assistants. Several -inclosures adjoining Cabot's yard were vacated and converted into -factories, in one of which were mounted a pair of huge millstones such -as the Vairkings use in grinding certain of their food. - -Myles divided his men roughly into three groups. One group, under Crota, -he established at the clay deposits to the northeast of the city, to -make bricks and charcoal. - -The second group, under Jud, were engaged in the mining operations, -digging copper ore, quartz rock, fluorspar, limestone, and sand, at -various points in the mountains, and carting some of the limestone to -the brickyard, and the rest with the other products to Vairkingi. The -carters carried back with them to the mountains all the necessary -supplies for the expeditions. - -The third group, under Quivven, were engaged in setting up the grist -mill, and in other building and preparatory operations. - -At the claypits the first operation was to scrape off the surface clay -and spread it out thin in the open air, so it would age fast. - -The limestone, upon its arrival at the brickyard, was burned in raw -brick ovens, and then carted to Vairkingi, to be ground at the mill. It -was then shipped back to the brick plant, where it was mixed with the -aged clay--first screened--molded into bricks, baked, burned, and carted -to Vairkingi, to be ground into cement. - -Some of the ground limestone was retained at Vairkingi for use in later -glass-making, and some of the unground for smelting purposes. - -Other aged clay was screened, moistened, molded, and baked to form -ordinary brick. Fire-brick was similarly made by the addition of white -sand finely ground at Vairkingi, but this kind of brick had to be baked -much more slowly. - -Thus only a week or two after this whole huge industrial undertaking had -begun, the radio man was in possession of fire-brick and fire-clay with -which to start the building of the smelting furnaces. - -Meanwhile Myles Cabot, with a small bodyguard, kept traveling from one -job to another, giving general superintendence to the work. And when -everything was well under way he set out on another exploring expedition -in search of galena, zinc ore, and platinum. - -Quivven had furnished the inspiration for this trip by suggesting that -the sparkling sands of a large river, which ran from west to east, about -a day's journey north of Vairkingi, might contain the silver grains -which he sought. So thither he set out one morning, with camping -equipment and a detachment of soldiers. - -All day they marched northward across the level plains. Toward evening -they reached a small estuary of the main stream, and there they camped. - -As the silver sky pinkened in the west Myles Cabot ran quickly down this -brook to inspect the sands of the river, which lay but a short distance -away. - -The pink turned to crimson, and then purple. The darkness crept up out -of the east, and plunged the whole face of the planet into velvet and -impenetrable black. But Myles Cabot did not return to the camping place. - - - - - XI - ATT THE TERRIBLE - - -When Myles Cabot left his encampment beside the little brook, he -hastened down stream to where the brook joined the big river, along the -edge of which there stretched a sandy beach. Falling on his knees, he -picked up handful after handful of the silver sands. - -There was still plenty of daylight left for him to examine the multitude -of shiny metallic particles. - -There could be no doubt of it, these sands held some metal which could -be separated out in much the same manner as that in which the California -gold miners of 1849 used to wash for gold, but only time would tell -whether or not this metal was the much-to-be-desired platinum which the -radio man needed for the grids, filaments, plates, and wires of his -vacuum tubes. - -On the morrow he would wash for this metal, using the wooden pans which -he had brought for that purpose. The precious dust he would carry back -to Vairkingi, melt it into small lumps if possible, and then try to -analyze its composition in his laboratory. - -As he sat on the sandy beach and thus laid his plans, his thoughts -gradually wandered away from scientific lines, and he began again to -worry about Lilla. - -It was many days since she had sent the S O S which had recalled him -from earth to Poros. Whatever she had feared must have happened by now. -It was possible that he would never be able to effect a return to Cupia. -Why not then accept the inevitable, settle down permanently among the -Vairkings, and solace himself as best he could? - -Even an ordinarily stalwart soul would have done his best and have been -satisfied with that. But Myles Standish Cabot possessed that indomitable -will which had given rise to the Porovian proverb: "You cannot kill a -Minorian." - -To such a man, defeat was impossible. He _would_ rescue the Princess -Lilla in the end; that was all there was to it. - -So he laid his plans with precision, as he sat on the sandy shore of the -Porovian river in the crimsoning twilight. - -Before the velvet darkness completely enveloped the planet, the -earth-man arose from the sands, and began his return up the valley of -the little estuary. But, as he was hurrying along, and was passing -through a small grove of trees, a dark form noiselessly dropped on him -from above. - -The creature lit squarely upon his back, wrapping its furry legs around -his abdomen and its furry arms around his neck. Although taken -completely by surprise, Cabot wrenched the creature's feet apart and -then threw it over his head as a bucking broncho would throw a rider, a -jiujitsu trick which he had learned from one of the Jap gymnasts at -college. - -The Roy, for that is what Cabot's assailant proved to be, scrambled -quickly to his feet, although a bit stunned, and crouched, ready to -spring at him again. The earth-man planted his feet firmly apart, -clenched his fists, and awaited the onslaught; then, when the creature -charged, he met him on the point of the jaw with a well-aimed blow. Down -crashed the furry one! - -Cabot was rubbing his bruised knuckles and viewing his fallen antagonist -with some satisfaction, when suddenly he was seized around the knees -from behind, and was hurled prone by one of the neatest football tackles -he had ever experienced. - -Squirming quickly to a sitting position, he dealt the Roy who held his -legs a stinging blow beside the ear. The grip on his knees loosened, and -he was just about to scramble erect, when a third assailant caught him -around the throat and pulled him over backward. Then scores of these -furry savages swarmed upon him from every side. Yet still he fought, -until his elbows were pinioned behind his back, his eyes were -blindfolded, and a gag was placed between his teeth. - -Thereupon, he ceased struggling, not because there was no fight left in -him, but rather because he wisely decided to save his strength for some -time when he might really need it. So he offered no further resistance -when he was picked up and thrown across a pair of brawny shoulders, and -carried off, he knew not whither. - -Finally, after what seemed many hours, he was unceremoniously dumped -onto the ground, and then jerked roughly to his feet. - -His bandage was snatched off, and he found himself standing in the -center of a circle of flares, confronting a large, squat, and -particularly repulsive gray-furred Roy, who sat with some pretense of -dignity upon a round boulder in front of him. Beside him stood another -Roy, evidently the one who had brought him thither. - -This one now spoke. "See the pretty Vairking which I have brought you." - -"If that's a Vairking," the fat one remarked, "then I'm my own father." - -"If he _isn't_ a Vairking," the other countered, "then why does he wear -Vairking leather armor? Answer me that." - -"Vairking or not," the fat one declared, "he will do very nicely to -string up by the heels and shoot arrows at. For quite evidently, he is -no Roy. What say you to that, my fine target?" - -The guard removed the gag. - -"I say," Myles evenly replied, "that you had better not take any such -liberties with me." - -"And why not, furless?" the seated Roy sneered. - -"First, let me ask _you_ a question," Myles said. "Who is King of the -Roies, Grod the Silent or Att the Terrible?" - -"Grod the Silent, most assuredly. Why do you ask?" - -"And do you know Prince Otto, his son?" - -"Otto the Bold? Most assuredly." - -"Know then," the captive asserted, "that I am no Vairking, but rather a -Minorian, which is a sort of creature I venture you have never met -before. Furthermore, I am a particular personal friend of Otto the Bold. -He will not thank you to string up Cabot the Minorian by the heels, and -shoot arrows into him. I demand that I be taken before Prince Otto." - -Thereat the fat Roy smiled a crafty smile. "I shall take you before Att -the Terrible," he said. - - -It thus became evident that this fat chieftain had falsely asserted his -belief in the kingship of Grod for the purpose of securing from Myles an -admission as to which side the earth-man favored. - -The rest of the night Myles spent on a pile of smelly bedding in a tent. -He was still bound, and was kept under constant surveillance by a -frequently changing guard. By morning, his arms below the elbows had -become completely numb, in spite of his having loosened his bonds -somewhat by straining against them. - -When the velvet night had given place to silver day, the guard brought -some coarse porridge in a rough stone bowl, which he held to the -prisoner's lips until it was all consumed. Myles thanked him politely, -and then asked if he would mind chafing the numbed arms. - -For reply, the soldier kicked him savagely. - -"Get up!" he ordered. "The time is here to start the march. You'll wish -the rest of you were numb, too, when Att the Terrible starts shooting -arrows into your inverted carcass." - -Presently, Myles was driven into the open, the tents were struck and -loaded onto carts--probably stolen from the Vairkings--and the furry -warriors took up the march, with their prisoner in their midst. The fat -chief alone rode in a cart; all the others walked. - -By straining at the thongs which bound his arms, Myles further loosened -them sufficiently to relieve the pressure on his blood vessels, and then -by wiggling his fingers, he managed finally to restore the circulation. - -After that he began to take some interest in his surroundings. - -His captors were a coarse-looking lot of brutes, with long gangling -arms, thickset necks, low foreheads, and prognathous jaws. In general, -they more closely resembled the anthropoid apes of the earth than they -resembled the really human, although furred Vairkings. - -Their weapons--wooden spears and swords, and flint knives--were like -those of the Vairkings, only cruder. They marched without any particular -order or discipline, and jested coarsely with each other as they ambled -along. - - -After taking in all this, Myles next turned his attention to the country -through which they were passing. The trail led upward into mountains. -This at once aroused his interest. Here and there he noted what he felt -sure must be zinc-blende. Yes, and cropping out of the rocks on the left -was an unmistakable rosette of galena crystal! - -The radio man was sincerely glad that he had been captured. And so he -even joked jovially with the soldiers around him, until they became -quite friendly. - -At one point, their route lay across a foaming mountain stream, by means -of a log bridge. As they were crossing over, one of the furry soldiers -had the misfortune to stumble, and in another instant completely lost -his footing and plunged headlong into the stream below. He happened to -be one who had recently become particularly chummy with the captive. - -"Poor fellow," one of the guard casually remarked. "It's too bad he -can't swim." - -"_I_ can," Myles shouted. "Quick, some one cut my cords!" - -And, before any one could interfere, a young and impetuous Roy had drawn -his knife and severed the earth-man's bonds, thus permitting him to dive -after the poor creature who was rapidly being washed down stream by the -swift current. - -It had all happened in an instant. A few swift strokes brought Myles up -to the other. But it became no easy matter to reach the shore. However, -the troop of Roies showed much more interest in regaining their captive, -than they had shown in rescuing their comrade; and thus, by the aid of -their spears, finally dragged the two ashore. - -Then Cabot was bound again, and the march resumed. The carts had -detoured, and so the fat chief had not seen the episode. - -"Better not tell him, any one," one of the guard admonished, "or it will -go hard with the youngster. Our leader would not relish any chance of -not being able to present this furless Vairking to Att the Terrible." - -"And will Att shoot arrows into me?" Myles asked. - -"Most assuredly." - -Myles thought to himself: "I guess they are right, especially if Att -knows how I was befriended by Arkilu, whom he covets!" Then he asked: -"And when am I to see the Terrible One?" - -"To-morrow morning," was the reply. - -However, Myles Cabot fell asleep at the encampment that night wondering -when he would get that radio set finished for a talk with Lilla and -wondering whether that really was galena crystal which he had passed on -the road. - -But galena crystal wasn't going to help him any with Att the Terrible. - - - - - XII - COMPANIONS IN MISERY - - -In the morning Myles Cabot was to be brought before Att the Terrible, -king of the Roies--for execution in the diabolical manner common to -these furry aborigines, namely by being strung up by the heels and then -used as a target for the archery of the king. - -In spite of this, he slept soundly and dreamed of radio sets and blast -furnaces and galena mines, until he was awakened by a soft furry paw -shaking his shoulder. - -A voice spoke close to his ear: "A life for a life." - -"So you have that proverb on this continent as well as in Cupia?" was -his reply. "Who are you, and what do you want?" - -"I am the soldier whom you saved from the raging mountain torrent, and -what I want is to repay that favor. It is really true that you are a -friend of Otto the Bold?" - -"Yes." - -"Then come. The forces of Grod the Silent, Prince Otto's father, are -encamped but a short distance from here. I am on guard over you for the -moment. Come, while there is yet time." - -Cabot arose in haste. The other promptly severed the cords which bound -his elbows. Oh, how good it felt to have his arms free once more! He -held them aloft, and flexed and reflexed the lame and bloodless muscles. -Excruciating pain shot through the nerves of his forearm, but it was -pleasant pain, easy to bear, for it portended peace and rest to his -tired members. - -He wiggled all his fingers rapidly, and the pain gave way to a prickly -tingling, which in turn gradually faded off as the blood coursed freely -through his veins and arteries once more. He drew a deep sigh of relief. - -"Come!" the guard commanded. - -Together the two left the tent, and threaded their way among the other -tents out of the camp, and down a rocky hillside path, the Roy in -advance, with Myles following, holding the other's hand for guidance. - -Myles lost all sense of direction in the jet black starless night, but -the other, born and reared on Poros, and hence used to the daily -recurrences of twelve hours of absolute darkness, walked sure-footedly -ahead, and seemed to know where he was going. - -Finally, after about two hours of this groping treadmill progress lights -appeared ahead, and presently there came the sentry's challenge: "Halt! -Who is there?" - -"Two messengers with word for Grod the Silent," Cabot's conductor -replied. - -In an aside, Cabot interestedly inquired: "How does it happen that this -camp is guarded, whereas the camp which besieged the village of Sur was -not?" - -"There is no need to post sentinels when fighting against the Vairkings, -for Vairkings never go out in the dark, but we Roies are different." - -"Why, then, did we meet no sentinels when leaving your camp?" - -"Because we were going _out_. We passed one but he did not challenge us. -Coming _back_ would be different." - -At this point the hostile guard interposed: "Stop that whispering among -yourselves. Ho there, a light!" - -Whereat a small detachment arrived on the double quick, with torches. -The leader shaded his eyes with one palm, and inspected Myles and his -companion carefully. - -"This is a Vairking," he said in surprise, noting the leather trappings -of the earth-man. "You are spies. Seize them!" - -In an instant they were seized and bound, and thrown into separate tents -under guard. - -When morning came, Myles was fed and then led before Grod the Silent. -The earth-man smiled ingratiatingly as he entered, but there was no sign -of recognition on the stern face of the King of the Roies. - -"Who are you?" the latter asked, "and what are you doing here?" - -"I am Cabot the Minorian," was the reply, "a recently escaped prisoner -of Att the Terrible." - -"Do not mention that accursed name in my presence!" thundered the king; -then: "I do not seem to recall your name, but your face looks familiar. -Where have I seen you before?" - -"In the ravine near Sur." - -Grod's brow clouded. - -"I remember. You felled me with your fist," said he, darkly; then -brightening a bit: "But you spared me. Why?" - -"Because your death would please the Roy whose name you do not permit me -to mention." - -"You improve," Grod declared, smiling. "Know, then, that we Roies hold -to the maxim, 'A life for a life.' Accordingly, I shall set you free, -and shall content myself with shooting arrows into merely the soldier -who brought you here." - -"You give me a life for a life unconditionally?" asked Myles. - -"Yes." - -"Then give me the life of the poor soldier who saved me from the -unmentionable one. Shoot your arrows into my body instead." - -"Very magnanimous of you," Grod said. "And really, it makes but little -difference to me just whom I practice archery upon. Ho guard! Bring the -other prisoner in." - -One of the soldiery accordingly withdrew, and presently returned -with--Quivven! Quivven, of all persons! - -Cabot gasped, and so did the golden-furred Vairking maiden; then both -uttered simultaneously the single word, "You!" - -The savage chief smiled. Said he, "A slight mistake, guard; I meant you -to bring the Roy soldier who was captured with this furless one early -this morning. But evidently it has turned out to be a fortunate mistake, -for it has brought to my attention the fact that this common Vairking -man and this noble Vairking lady are acquainted." - - -While the Roy was speaking an idea occurred to Cabot: He was entitled by -the code of honor of this savage race to save a life. Chivalry demanded -that he save the life of this maiden rather than that of himself, or -even the soldier who had rescued him from Att the Terrible. Yet what -would Lilla think? - -Did he not owe it to Lilla to save his own life in order that he might -some day return across the boiling seas to save _her_ from the unknown -peril which menaced her? For him to sacrifice himself and her, or even -merely himself, for the sake of some strange woman, would fill Lilla -with consuming jealousy. - -Luckily Lilla was not here to see him make his choice. He was an officer -and a gentleman, to whom but one course lay open. And if he decided in -the way that would displease Lilla, then that very decision would -forever prevent Lilla from knowing. - -So, his mind made up, he spoke: "O king, you still owe me a life. -Inasmuch as your guard has made the mistake of substituting this young -lady for the Roy warrior, whose life I had elected to save, I now accept -the substitution, and elect that you shall spare her life in place of -mine." - -Quivven the Golden Flame stared at him with tears of gratitude and -appreciation in her azure eyes. Grod the Silent smiled knowingly in a -manner which infuriated Myles, but fortunately Quivven did not notice -this, so Myles let it pass. - -Then the Roy king spoke: "We shall see about that later. Meanwhile, -guard, bring in the _right_ prisoner." - -The guard sheepishly withdrew, and soon returned with the soldier who -had befriended Myles. - -"Why did you rescue this furless Vairking, who was a prisoner of your -forces?" Grod asked the newcomer. - -"Because he rescued me from a mountain torrent, O king," was the reply. -"A life for a life." - -"Quite true," Grod admitted, nodding his head contemplatively. "But was -it altogether necessary to that end that you leave your own forces?" - -"No, O king," the soldier replied, "but I fain would battle on your -side. I have had quite enough of the fat one who commands our outfit." - -"Good!" cried Grod, clapping his hands. "We shall need every man we can -muster. Thus have you bought your own life and freedom. Unbind him, -guards, and give him weapons, so that he may fight for us. As for you, -you yellow minx, the quicker you get out of here the better it will suit -me. We are at war, and women have no place in warfare. Therefore I -gladly give you your life, which this furless one had purchased. - -"Do not think," he continued, "that I do not know who you are, or that I -do not realize that I could hold you for high ransom. But for the -present it suits my purposes to release you; for my mind is a one-cart -road, and at present I am engaged in an important and highly personal -war. - -"Besides, if I were to keep you, my enemy might get hold of you and -collect the ransom himself, which would never do. Twelve days from now, -if I should be in need of carts, a messenger from me will call at the -palace of Theoph the Grim; and if you are at all grateful, you will make -me a present of about twenty sturdy wagons. - -"As for you," turning to Myles, "your life is mine, since you failed to -redeem it. Some day I may call upon you for it, but for the present I -wish to use it. You are detailed, as my personal representative, to -escort this lady safely to Vairkingi. Now both of you get out of here, -for I have more important things to do. I must put my army on the -march." - -One of the guards stepped up to Myles and cut his bonds. Quivven had not -been bound. - -"May I have arms, O king, so that I can fulfill your mission with credit -to you?" Myles asked, with a twinkle in his gray eyes. - -"You keep on improving," Grod replied. "Yes, you may. Here, take my own -sword. You are a brave man and an able warrior, as my chin well -remembers. May the Builder grant that some day we shall fight side by -side." - -This gave Cabot an idea. "Why can that not be now?" he suggested. "Why -not form an alliance with Vairkingi against the unmentionable one?" - -But Grod the Silent shook his head. "No," he said positively, "it cannot -be. In the first place, the unmentionable one is himself seeking to make -such an alliance against me; and in the second place, this is my own -private fight. I have spoken." - -Then Cabot had a further idea. "About the wagons," he said, "would you -mind sending for them to my brickyard north of Vairkingi? That would be -more convenient." - -"Very well," Grod replied. - -Roy warriors then supplied the two prisoners with portable rations, and -escorted them for quite a distance from the camp, until they struck a -mountain trail. This, the escort informed them, led to Vairkingi. There -the Roies left Myles and Quivven alone. - -The first thing that she asked was, "With all these mountains full of -warring Roies, do you believe that we shall be safe?" - -"I think so," Myles replied. "The very fact that they are at war will -keep them much too busy to bother about us. Come on." - -As they hurried down the trail, each related his or her adventures to -the other. Cabot's have already been set down. As for Quivven, she had -gone with a few soldiers to hunt for Myles after his prospecting party -had returned and reported his disappearance by the river; but her party -had been killed, and she had been taken prisoner. - -"Did Grod treat you with respect?" Myles asked, with clenched fists. - -"Absolutely," she replied, tossing her pretty head. "I never knew a man -so impersonal. I am accustomed to have men recognize my presence and pay -some attention to my existence. But this brute--why, I might just as -well have been a piece of furniture or one of his servants. I don't -believe he knows now what color my eyes are, or whether I'm pretty or -not. And you're just as bad as he is," she added somewhat irrelevantly. - -"Your eyes are blue, and you are very pretty," Cabot replied. "In fact, -you closely resemble my own wife, the beautiful Princess Lilla, who -waits for me far across the boiling seas." - -"Which reminds me to ask," Quivven said abruptly. "How successful was -your expedition, apart from your being captured and getting yourself -into all kinds of trouble?" - -So he told her about the glistening metallic particles in the sands of -the river. Also how he had found what were probably zinc-blende and -galena. Then they discussed in detail his plans for his various -factories. From time to time they munched some of the food which had -been given them. - -The day quickly sped, and evening drew near, yet still they were upon -the mountain road with no sight of Vairkingi or of any landmark familiar -to either of them. Quivven was for stopping and resting, but Myles urged -her on. - -"No matter how tired you are," he said, "it is not safe to stop in this -strange country." - -So still she struggled on. The sky darkened without the usual pinkening -of the west. All too well they knew what that portended--one of the -heaven-splitting tropical storms so common on Poros. And they were -right. The storm broke, the thunder roared in one continuous volume of -sound, the lightning and the rain alike poured down in continuous -sheets. The trail became a mountain torrent, so that they had to cease -their journey and crawl upon a huge boulder, in order to avoid being -engulfed by the water. - -The rain stopped as abruptly as it had begun. Again the silver sky -appeared overhead. The extempore brook rapidly disappeared, but left in -its wake a wet, muddy, and slippery trail, down which the two took up -their journey once more. - -Several times Quivven stumbled and fell, until at last her companion had -to help her in order to keep her going at all. But, in spite of this -assistance, she finally broke down and cried. - -"I shall not go one step farther," she asserted. - -Myles seated himself beside her and talked to her as one would soothe a -child. And that was what she was, a tired little child. - -"You can't stay here," he urged, "the ground is damp, the night is -coming on, and your fur is sopping wet." - -"I don't care anything about anything," she sobbed. "All that I know is -that I positively cannot go on." - -So he decided that it would be necessary to change his tactics. "I am -ashamed of you," he replied, "You, the daughter of a king, and can't -stand a little exercise! Why, I believe you are just plain lazy." - -For reply she jumped to her feet in a sudden rage. "Oh, you beast!" she -cried. "You insulting beast! You common soldier, you! I'll show you that -I can stand as much hardship as the pampered womenfolk of your Cupia, -though the men of my country, even our common soldiers, would be -gentlemanly enough not to force a lady to endure any more than is -absolutely necessary. Oh, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" - -"You are not being forced to endure more than is necessary," her escort -harshly replied. "In the first place it _is_ necessary to go on; and, in -the second place, I am not forcing you. _You_ can go on or not, just as -you see fit, but as for me, I don't intend to spend the night here in -this wet valley. Good-by!" - -For reply Quivven raced ahead of him with, "Oh, how I hate you!" and -disappeared around a turn in the trail. - - - - - XIII - FURTHER PROGRESS - - -His change of tactics had worked, although it made him feel like a -brute. But only by arousing Quivven's anger could he stir her to -continue the journey; and to remain would have menaced her safety and -her health. - -She had a good head start of him. The silver sky was turning crimson in -the west. Night was coming on. So he hurried after her down the wet and -slippery trail. - -At last it became so dark that he had to slow down and walk; and finally -merely grope his way, shoving his feet ahead, one after the other, in -order to be sure to keep to the trail and not to stumble. - -Time and again his foot would touch something soft, which he would -picture as some strange and weird Porovian animal, a gnooper for -instance. Quickly he would withdraw the foot. Then waiting in suspense -for the creature either to go away or to spring upon him, at last he -would cautiously push his foot forward, touch the object again, kick it -slightly, and find that it was only a clump of Porovian grass or a -rotted piece of lichen log. - -Poor Quivven! How terrified _she_ must be at such encounters! - -After a while he got a bit used to these occurrences, and accordingly -each succeeding one of them delayed him less than the preceding. - -"You know," he said to himself, "this will keep on until finally one of -these obstacles will actually turn out to be a gnooper, and it will eat -me alive before I can get out of the way." - -Just then his groping foot touched another of these soft objects. - -"Get out of my way," Cabot shouted, and gave it a kick. But this time it -was not attached to the soil. It yielded and wriggled a bit. Then it -gave a peculiar groaning sound. - -Myles leaped backward and waited. But nothing happened; so he tried to -circle the creature. Again the groan. His scientific curiosity got the -better of his caution. He approached once more and investigated more -closely, reaching down with his hand. The animal was covered with wet -and muddy fur. - -It was Quivven! - -Tenderly he raised the crumpled form in his arms, and groped on down the -treacherous trail. - -Myles wondered how long he could bear up with this dead weight in his -arms. But just as he was beginning to stagger, the road gave a turn and -flattened out, and there before him were lights, the flares and bonfires -of a city! They had reached the plain. - -"Quivven!" he cried joyfully. "This is home! There ahead lies -Vairkingi!" - -But she made no reply. Her body was cold and still. - -Quickly he laid her on the ground and placed one ear to her chest. Thank -the Great Builder! Her heart still beat. So he chafed her hands and -feet, and worked her arms violently back and forth until she began to -groan protestingly. - -"Quivven!" he cried. "Wake up! We are home!" - -"Are you here, Myles?" she murmured faintly, - -"Yes." - -"And you won't make me walk any more?" - -"No." - -"Then I'll wake up for you," she murmured cheerfully, and promptly fell -fast asleep. - -Again lifting her tenderly in his arms, he resumed the journey. - -On reaching the city he circled the wall until he came to one of the -gates, where he stood the girl on the ground and shook her gently into -consciousness. - -"Where am I?" she asked. - -"At the gates of Vairkingi," Myles answered. - -She ran her hands rapidly over her mud-caked fur. - -"Oh, but I can't go in like this," she wailed, "I'm covered with mud -from head to foot! Think how I must look! No, I refuse to go in." - -"If you stay here," he urged mildly, "then when morning comes every one -will see you, the Princess Quivven, bedraggled with mud, hanging around -outside the city gates. Better far to go in now, and take a chance of -being seen by only one sentinel." - -"Oh, you beast, you beast!" she sobbed, beating him futilely with her -tiny paws. - -For reply he seized her in his arms, swung her across one hip, and -shouted: "Open wide the gates of Vairkingi for Cabot the Minorian, -magician to Jud the Excuse-Maker, and to his Excellency Theoph the -Grim!" - -The gates swung open, and the sentinel stared at them with surprise and -some amusement. Myles whipped out his sword, and the smile froze on the -soldier's face. - -"Thus do I teach men not to laugh at Myles Cabot," the earth-man -growled. "Remember that you have seen nothing." - -And he handed the soldier the choice blade of Grod the Silent. The -soldier smiled again. - -"I have seen nothing but a Roy, whom I robbed of his sword and drove off -into the darkness. It is a fine sword, and I will remember that I have -seen nothing. May the Great Builder bless Myles Cabot the Minorian." - - -Cabot glanced at his burden, Quivven, the beautiful. No wonder she did -not want to be seen. It always humiliates a lady not to look her best in -public. But by the same token, no one could possibly recognize her. He -might perfectly well have saved the sword. - -So he passed on through the city streets. Finally he had to put the girl -down, and ask her to help him find the way, which she did grudgingly. At -the gate of Jud's compound, Myles again swung her across his hip, before -he demanded entrance. No swords this time, for diplomacy would take the -place of payment. - -"Myles Cabot demanding entrance," he cried. - -The local guard inspected them carefully by the light of his torch. - -"It is Cabot all right," he replied, "and you look as though you had -seen some hard fighting. But who is this with you?" - -"A girl of the Roies," answered Myles. "That is what the fighting was -about." - -"Not for mine!" the soldier asserted, grimacing. "Though there is no -accounting for tastes. They are filthy little beasts, and spitfires as -well, so I'm told. My advice to you, sir, is to throw it down a well." - -Quivven wriggled protestingly. - -"Perhaps I will," Myles laughed. - -At their own gate at last, he placed her once more on her feet, whereat -she shook herself free, raced into the house, slammed the door of her -room. - -Cabot himself went right to bed, without waiting to wash or anything, -and dropped instantly to sleep the moment he touched his pile of -bedding; yet, so intent was he on wasting no time in getting Cupia on -the air that he was up early the next morning. - -He found his laboratory force sadly demoralized, owing to the absence of -Quivven and himself, but he quickly brought order out of chaos, and set -the men to work on their first real construction job, to which all the -other work had been mere preliminary steps. - -Quivven kept to her rooms, but one of the other maids roguishly informed -him: "The Golden One says she hates you." - -Now that his fire-bricks were ready, Myles Cabot laid out on paper the -plans for his smelting plant, all the units of which were to be lined -with fire-brick. - -First he designed a furnace for roasting his ore. This furnace was to be -in two sections, one above the other, the lower holding the charcoal -fire, and the upper holding the ore. Later he planned to use the sulphur -fumes of this roaster to make sulphuric acid, which in turn he would use -to make sal ammoniac for his batteries. But at present he had not yet -figured out this process in detail. - -The smelting furnace, for smelting the roasted ore into copper-matter, -was to consist of a chimney about two feet in diameter, sloping sharply -outward for about two feet, and thence sloping gradually inward again -for a height of about ten feet. Near the bottom were to be a number of -small holes leading from an air passage. - -This air passage and the vent for the hot flames from the top of the -smelter were to run in parallel pipes made of hollow brick tile, to two -chambers containing a checkerwork design of fire-brick. The two pipes -were to be interchangeable; so that, when the exhaust had heated one of -the checkerwork grids to a red heat, the pipes could be switched, and -the incoming air would be warmed by passing through the heated grid. -From gnooper hide and wood he could easily construct bellows to pump in -the air for the blast. - -Molten copper-matte and slag would be separately run off through two -separate openings at different levels near the bottom of the blast -furnace. - -To further refine the matte, he designed a Bessemer converter, that is -to say, a barrel-shaped box of layers of fire clay, the inner layer -being very rich in quartz sand. This barrel, when filled with molten -matte, would be laid on its side; and a hot blast introduced through -holes near this side would convert the matte into pure copper in about -two hours. - -The first converter which he made was rather small, as he expected that -it would not last very well without metal reinforcements, and of course -he would have no metal for reenforcing purposes until after he had run -off at least one heat. - -For the extraction of iron, he made crucibles of fireclay, which he set -in deep holes in the ground. - - -On the second morning after the unpleasant homecoming, Quivven appeared. -All her rage had burned out, and she was meek and subdued. - -With downcast eyes she reported to Myles: "I am ready to go to work -now." - -With a welcoming smile he patted her golden-furred shoulder, whereat her -old anger started to flare again, but this one remaining ember merely -flickered and died out, and she submitted with a shrug of resignation. - -So the Radio Man explained to her his plans for the furnaces; then, -leaving her in charge of the work, he set out once more to the river of -the silver sands, this time accompanied by a heavy guard of Vairking -soldiers, and flying a blue flag, as agreed on with Prince Otto of the -Roies. - -As he was departing, Quivven flung her arms around him and begged him -not to go to certain destruction, but he gently disengaged himself, -smiling indulgently at this show of childish affection. - -"My dear little girl," he admonished, "most of our troubles last time -came from your following me. This time I warn you that I shall be very -displeased if you fail to stick closely to home and complete my two -magic furnaces for me. Promise me that you will." - -So, with tears of dread in her blue eyes, she promised; and the -expedition set forth. They were gone about five days. The trip proved -uneventful from any except a scientific viewpoint. They returned, -bearing several pounds of silvery grains, placermined from the river -sands; also some large lumps of galena crystal, and nearly a ton of -zinc-blende. They found that, under the skillful direction of little -Quivven, the furnaces were nearly completed. - -Quivven the Golden Flame was overjoyed at Cabot's safe return, while -even he had to confess considerable relief. He complimented her warmly -on the progress of the furnaces, and noted her pleasure at his -expressions of approval. - -A few details which had perplexed her were quickly straightened out, and -the work was rushed to completion. - -He next tested the silver grains which he had brought from the river. -His method was a very simple one, invented by himself. It consisted in -filling a clay cup with water and weighing it, then weighing a quantity -of the metal, and then putting this metal in the water and weighing the -whole. A simple mathematical calculation from these three weights gave -him the specific gravity of the metal. This process was repeated a -number of times to avoid error, and gave as an average the figure 21.5, -which he remembered to be the specific gravity of pure platinum. - -As a further test he hammered some of the supposed platinum into a thin -sheet, and attempted, without success, to melt it. Then he laid a sliver -of one of his lead bullets on it, and tried again, with the result that -the lead melted and burned a hole through the metal sheet. This test -convinced him that he truly had found platinum. - -Cabot next turned his attention to glass making. For ordinary glass he -would need quartz, soda, potash, and limestone. - -The reason for his employing both soda and potash instead of merely one -or the other, was that together they would have a lower fusing point, -and thus be easier for him to handle with his crude equipment. For glass -for his tubes he would use litharge in place of the limestone. - -The quartz and the limestone were already available. Soda would be a -byproduct of his sal ammoniac when he got around to making it, but this -would not be until he had made sulphuric acid from his copper ore, which -was a most complicated process as he remembered it. - -Potash could be got simply by dripping water through wood-ashes, -evaporating the water, roasting the sediment, dissolving again in water, -letting the impurities settle, and then evaporating the clear liquid, -and roasting again. He started this process at once. - -But he had no idea how to make litharge. Furthermore, he could not blow -his glass until he had metal tubes, so he abandoned further steps for -the present. - -While he was pondering over these problems a messenger arrived, -demanding his immediate presence at the quarters of Jud the -Excuse-Maker. - -Jud was in a state of great excitement when the earth-man arrived. - -Said Jud: "Do you remember what you told me about the beasts of the -south, who swim through the air, talk soundless speech, and use magic -slingshots like yours which you captured from the Roies near Sur?" - -"Yes," Cabot replied. "I hope that by this time I have given sufficient -demonstration of my truthfulness so that you now believe the story." - -"Oh, I believed it at the time," Jud hastily explained, "But now I have -proof of it, for we have captured one of these beasts. That is, we -_think_ it is one of them. I want you to see and identify it, before we -present it to Theoph the Grim." - -"Thereby displaying commendable foresight," Myles commented. "Where is -this Formian?" - -"In a cage in the zoo," the Vairking noble replied. "Come; I will take -you there." - -So together the two threaded the streets of Vairkingi to the zoo. This -was part of the city which the earth-man had never before visited. Its -denizens fascinated him. - -There were huge water snakes with humanlike hands. There were spherical -beasts with a row of legs around the equator, a row of eyes around the -tropic of cancer, and a circular mouth rimmed with teeth at the north -pole. There were-- - -But at this point Jud urged him on into another room, where he promptly -forgot all the other creatures in the sight which met his eyes. - -In a large wooden cage in the center of the room was an enraged ant-man -gnawing at the bars, while a score or so of Vairking warriors stood -around and prodded him with spears. - -"Stop!" Jud shouted at the soldiery, whereat they all fell back -obediently. - -This called the attention of the imprisoned beast to the newcomers, so -he looked up and stared at them. Cabot stared back. - -Then he rushed forward to the cage! - - - - - XIV - OLD FRIENDS - - -"Doggo!" he cried. "Doggo! They told me you were dead!" - -But of course all this was lost on the radio speech sense of the -prisoner. Vairking soldiers interposed their spears between Myles Cabot -and what they believed was sure destruction at the jaws of the black -beast. Cabot recoiled. - -"Jud," he called out, "order off your henchmen! I am not crazy, nor do I -court death. This creature is the only one of the Formians whom I can -control. He will prove a valuable ally for us, if I can persuade him to -forgive the indignities which your men have already heaped upon him." - -"I do not believe you," Jud replied, "for how can men communicate with -beasts, especially with strange beasts such as this, the like of which -man ne'er set eyes on before?" - -"Remember that I am a magician," Myles returned somewhat testily. Then -seeing that Jud was still obdurate, he addressed the guards. "You know -me for a magician?" - -"Yes," they sullenly admitted. - -"And you know the magic on which I am now engaged, and to which all of -my recent expeditions relate?" - -"Yes," one replied. "You seek to call down the lightnings of heaven, and -harness them to transport your words across the boiling seas." - -"Rightly spoken!" the Radio Man asserted. "Therefore, if you do not -stand aside, I shall call those lightnings down for another purpose, -namely, to blast you. Stand aside!" - -One of the guards spoke to another, "Why should we risk our lives to -save his? Let the magician save himself!" - -So they stood aside. Myles stepped up to the cage, and he and Doggo each -patted the other's cheek through the bars. - -Jud the Excuse-Maker sheepishly explained, "I knew that you were -speaking the truth, but I wished to learn what method you would use to -handle the soldiers. You did nobly." - -"Bunk!" the earth-man ejaculated, well knowing that the Vairking would -not understand him. - -"What means that word?" Jud inquired, much interested. - -"That," Myles replied, grinning, "is a complimentary term often applied -on my own planet, the earth, to the remarks of our great leaders." - -Jud, highly complimented, let it go at that. Myles now ordered paper and -a charcoal pencil, and began a conversation with his ant friend. - -"They told me you were dead," he wrote. "Or I never would have left the -city of Yuriana or deserted your cause." - -"My cause died with my daughter, the queen," Doggo replied. "I alone -survive. I escaped by plane, and have been flitting around the country -ever since, until my alcohol gave out. Then these furry Cupians captured -me. They got me with a net so that I could not fight back. - -"Also, I was distant from my airship at the time, or it would have gone -hard with them for the ship is well stocked with bombs, and rifle -cartridges, and one rifle. Now tell me of yourself. How do you stand -with these furry Cupians?" - -"They are not Cupians." Myles wrote. "They are Vairkings, a race much -like myself, who send messages with their mouths and with their ears, -instead of using their antennae for both, as the Cupians and you -Formians do. Do you remember the old legend of Cupia, that creatures -like me dwell beyond the boiling seas? Well, it appears to have been -true, though how any one could have known or even suspected it, is a -mystery to me." - -"You have not yet told me how you stand," the ant-man reminded him. - -"They recognize me as a great magician," Myles answered, "and I have -promised to build them a radio set, and to lead them to victory over the -Formians." - -"Just as you did for the Cupians," Doggo mused. "But you will have a -harder task here, for these furry creatures appear to know no metals, -nor any of the arts save woodcarving." - -They patted each other's cheeks again. Then, before any one could -interfere, Myles Cabot unbolted the door of the cage, and out walked -Doggo, a free ant once more. - -The soldiery, and Jud with them, promptly scattered to the four walls of -the room. - -"Come over here, Jud," Myles invited, "and meet my friend--that is, -unless you are afraid." - -"Oh, no, I do not fear him," Jud the Excuse-Maker replied, "but I do not -consider it consistent with the dignity of my position to be seen -fraternizing with a wild beast." - -It was typical. Myles laughed. Then he led the huge ant home with him to -his quarters. - -Quivven was amazed, but not at all frightened, at the great black -creature; and when an introduction had been effected on paper, she and -Doggo developed quite a strong liking for each other. - -As soon as the Formian had been fed and assigned to a room in the -menage--some improvement over the menagerie, by the way--his host and -hostess took him on a tour of inspection of their laboratory. - - -With the true scientific spirit so characteristic of the cultured but -warlike race which once dominated Cupia, Doggo plunged at once into the -spirit of the almost super-Porovian task which Myles had undertaken; and -it soon became evident that the new comer would prove to be an -invaluable accession. His scientific training would dovetail exactly -with that of the earth-man, and would supplement it at every point. - -Almost at the very start he suggested a solution of the problems which -had been puzzling Myles. - -Cabot's recollection of the process of sulphuric acid manufacture had -been that it required a complicated roasting furnace, two filtering -towers, and a tunnel about two hundred feet long made of lead, and into -which nitric acid fumes had to be injected. His recollection of nitric -acid manufacture was that it required sulphuric acid among other -ingredients. So how was he to make either acid without first having the -other? And furthermore, where was he to procure enough lead to build a -two-hundred-foot tunnel? - -Doggo solved these problems very nicely--by avoiding them. - -"What do you need sulphuric add for?" he wrote. - -"Merely to use in making hydrochloric acid," wrote the earth-man in -reply. - -"And that?" - -"To use in making sal ammoniac for my batteries." - -"Do you need nitric acid for anything except the manufacture of -sulphuric?" - -"No." - -"Then," Doggo suggested, "let us make our sal ammoniac directly from its -elements. We shall build a series of about twenty vertical cast-iron -retorts, as soon as you have smelted your iron. These we shall fill with -damp salt, pressed into blocks and dried. We shall heat these retorts -with charcoal fires, and through them we shall pass then, air, and the -sulphur fumes of your ore-roasting. - -"After about fifteen days we shall daily cut out the first retort, dump -out the soda which has formed in it, refill it, and place it at the -farther end of the series. The liquid, which condenses at the end of the -series, will be diluted hydrochloric acid. By passing the fumes of roast -animal-refuse through it we shall convert it into sal ammoniac -solution." - -Accordingly, the quicker they started their foundry operations, the -better. - -By this time chalcopyrite, quartz, and charcoal were present at -Vairkingi in large quantities. The ore was first roasted, and then was -piled into the smelter with the quartz and charcoal; the air-bellows -were started, fire was inserted through the slaghole, and soon a raging -pillar of flame served notice on all Vairkingi that the devil-furnace of -the great magician was in full blast. By this time it was night, but no -one thought of stopping. - -Of course, there were complications. The furry soldiers deserted the -pumps at the first roar of green-tinged flame, but Doggo instantly -stepped into the breach and operated all of the bellows with his various -legs. Finally the warriors, on seeing that Myles and Quivven had -survived the ordeal of fire, sheepishly returned to their posts, and -were soon loudly boasting of their own bravery and of how their fellows -would envy them on the morrow when they should relate their experiences. - -Along toward morning Cabot drew his first heat of molten matter into a -brick ladle and poured it into the converter. It was an impressive -sight. The shadowy wooden-walled inclosure, lit by the waving greenish -flare of a pillar of fire, which metamorphosed the white skin of the -earth-man into that of a jaundiced Oriental, tinged Quivven with -green-gold, and glinted off the shiny carapace of Doggo as off the -facets of a bloodstone. In the darkness of the background, toiled the -workers at their pumps. - -Then there came a change. The fires died down, the pumping ceased, oil -lamps were lit, and the ghostly glare gave place to a faint but healthy -light, although over all hung the ominous silence of expectancy. - -The ladle was brought up, a hand-hole-cover removed, and out flowed a -crimson liquid, tinting all the eager surrounding faces with a sinister -ruddiness. - -Again the red glare, as the ladle was poured into the barrel-shaped -converter. Then the pumps were started again, and the blast from the -converter replaced that of the furnace with its ghostly light. Two hours -later the converter was tipped, and pure molten copper was poured out -into the ladle. Once more the sinister ruddiness. - -Quickly the molds were filled, the red light was gone, the spell was -broken, conversation was resumed. The first metallurgy of Vairkingi was -an accomplished fact. - -Day came, and with it loud pounding on the gate. Cabot answered it, -carelessly and abstractedly sliding back the bolt before inquiring who -was outside. The gate swung open with a bang, almost knocking Myles into -a flower bed, and in rushed a Vairking youth with drawn sword and -panting heavily. - -"You beast!" he cried, lunging at the earth-man as he spoke. - -But in his haste and anger he lunged too hard and too far; so that -Cabot, although unarmed, was able to step under his guard and grasp him -by the wrist before he recovered. Quick as lightning the boy's sword arm -was bent up behind his back, and he was "in chancery", to use the -wrestling term. - -Slowly, grimly, Cabot forced the imprisoned hand upward between the -shoulder-blades of his opponent, until with a groan the latter -relinquished the sword, and it fell clattering to the ground. - -Smiling, Cabot stooped down and picked it up, and forced the young -intruder against the wall. - -"Now," said the earth-man, "explain yourself." - -The boy faced Myles like a cornered panther. - -"It's Quivven," he snarled. "You have stolen my Quivven." - -"Nonsense!" Myles exclaimed. "What do you mean?" - -"I am Tipi the Steadfast," the youth replied. "Long have I loved the -Golden Flame, and she me, until you came to this city. When you arrived -I was away on a military expedition, winning distinctions to lay at the -tiny feet of my fair one. Last night I returned to find her working at -your laboratory. One or the other, you or I, must die." - -"You are absurd!" - -"In _my_ country," Tipi returned, looking the earth-man straight in the -eye, "no common soldier is permitted to dictate manners to a gentleman. -I repeat that Quivven--" - -But at this point, Myles cuffed the young Vairking over one ear, -knocking him flat upon the walk; and, as he scrambled sputtering to his -feet, dealt him another blow which sent him reeling into the street. -Then Myles barred the gate, and turned toward the house. - -In the doorway stood Quivven, shaking with laughter. Myles was -immediately embarrassed. He hadn't known that his encounter had been -observed. He hated to show off, and was afraid that his actions had -appeared very melodramatic. - -"Isn't Tipi silly?" she asked. - -"But he may make trouble with your father," Myles said, with a worried -frown. - -"Oh, I'm not afraid of father." - -"But he will put an end to my experiments." - -So Quivven went home to chat with her father before young Tipi could get -there to stir up possible trouble. She returned later in the day to -resume her work. While she was gone, Cabot conferred with Doggo. - -"Why are you building this radio set?" the ant-man wrote. "I did not ask -you before in the presence of the lady, for I felt that perhaps you did -not wish her to know your plans." - -"Doggo, you show remarkable intuition," Myles wrote in reply. "It is -true that I do not wish any of the Vairkings to know. My idea is to -communicate with Cupia, learn how Lilla is getting along, and encourage -my supporters there to hold out until in some way I can secure a Formian -airship and return across the boiling seas." - -"Then cease your work," Doggo wrote, "for my plane, in perfect -condition, lies carefully hidden in a wood not a full day's journey from -this city. All that we need is alcohol for the trophil-engines." - - - - - XV - PLANS FOR ESCAPE - - -"We can make the alcohol in a few days in my laboratory," Cabot wrote, -"but it will not do for us to escape too precipitately, lest our plans -be discovered and blocked. The Vairkings like sleight-of-hand, and wish -to keep me with them as their court magician. Let us bide our time until -they become sufficiently accustomed to you, so that they will not -question your accompanying me on an expedition. Then, away to the plane, -and off to Cupia!" - -The ant-man assented. It seemed logical. And yet I wonder if this logic -would not have done credit to Jud the Excuse-Maker. I wonder if Cabot -was not subconsciously influenced by a scientific desire to complete his -radio set in this land of people who used only wood and flint. I wonder. - -At all events, the work proceeded. - -He had planned to use the slag from the copper furnace as the "ore" for -his iron, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that -its high sulphur content would probably ruin any steel which he -produced. Fortunately, however, he ran across a deposit of magnetic iron -ore near Vairkingi. - -This he ground and placed in his crucibles with charcoal, and they built -charcoal fires in the pits around them. The slag he slammed off with -copper--later iron--ladles. The melting had to be repeated many times in -order to purify the iron sufficiently, and further in order to secure -just the right carbon content for cast-iron, steel, or wrought-iron, -according to which he needed for any particular purpose. This securing -the proper carbon content was largely a matter of cut-and-try. - -With iron and steel available, he now made pots, retorts, hammers, -anvils, drills, wire-drawing dies, and a decent Bessemer converter. - -Copper tubes for glass-blowing, and copper wire were drawn. A simple -wooden lathe was made for winding thread around the wires. This thread, -by the way, was the only Vairkingian product which the earth-man found -ready to his hand. - -As soon as the iron retorts were available, the joint manufacture of sal -ammoniac and soda was started, as already outlined by Doggo. - -In iron pots, Cabot melted together finely ground white sand, with lime, -soda, and potash, and blew the resulting glass into bottles, retorts, -test tubes, and other laboratory apparatus; also jars for his electric -batteries. He used both soda and potash, as this would render the glass -more fusible than if made with either alone. - -Lead was melted from galena crystal in small quantities for solder. Thus -was suggested to Doggo, the manufacture, on the side, of bullets, -gunpowder, and cartridges, for the rifle which Myles had in his -quarters, and for the one which lay in the concealed airplane. - -Tales of the copper-smelting had spread among the populace, who evinced -such great interest that double guards had to be placed and maintained -about the laboratory inclosure. And every returning military expedition -brought with it samples of unusual minerals. - -Meanwhile, Cabot instituted a regular campaign of getting Vairkingi -accustomed to Doggo. Every day, Doggo would parade the high-walled -streets, with Quivven the Golden Flame perched upon his back. The -ten-foot ant inspired great interest and considerable fear. - -She enjoyed her rides thoroughly, not only for the novelty of the thing, -but also because her seat on his six-foot-high back brought her head -above the level of the fence palings, and thus enabled her to survey the -private yards of everyone. - -Tipi had not been seen or heard from. - - -Arkilu the Beautiful thoroughly made up with the earth-man, and even -admitted that her love for him had been a mistake. Plans for her wedding -with Jud proceeded rapidly. When this coming marriage was publicly -announced, Att the Terrible sent in a Roy runner with the message that -he didn't in the least care. - -Quivven now lived in the palace, so as to be near her father, but came -to work regularly each day. Theoph the Grim interposed no objection to -this, and, in fact, frequently accompanied his daughter to the -laboratory. He loved to mess around the bottles and retorts, and lost -much of the grimness when engaged in this childish meddlesomeness. - -So every one was happy except Tipi the Steadfast and Att the Terrible. - -Jud continued the operation of the brickyard, even though Cabot had no -more need of bricks, for Jud planned to build himself a brick palace -which would outshine even the palace of King Theoph. - -Melting the platinum for the wires presented a problem, until Myles -thought of electrolizing some ordinary water into its constituent -hydrogen and oxygen, and then burning these two materials together in a -double blow-pipe, much like that used in oxyacetylene welding. - -But to do this he had to make batteries. To this end he already had sal -ammoniac and jars. He needed carbon and zinc. For carbon he pressed -charcoal into compact blocks. To extract zinc from the blend ore he made -long cylindrical retorts of clay, with a long clay pipe for a vent. The -ore, after being thoroughly roasted in the copper-roasting furnace to -remove all sulphur, was ground, mixed with half its weight of powered -charcoal, and then charged into the retorts, where it was baked. The -result was to distill the pure zinc, which condensed on the walls of the -tubes. - -Cabot now at last had all the elements for his batteries, and so was -able, by employing about seventy cells in multiple, to get the two -volts, three hundred fifty amperes, necessary to electrolize the oxygen -and hydrogen for melting his platinum. - -The platinum proved to be quite free of iridium, and so was easily drawn -into wires. - -Needless to state, the distilling of alcohol in large quantities, -ostensibly for the laboratory burners, but actually for Doggo's -airplane, was commenced as soon as they had blown their first glass -retorts. - -Myles was going strong! - -One day, in the midst of all this technical progress, as Myles was -passing through one of the streets of Vairkingi on some errand or other, -and admiring the quaint and brightly colored wood carvings on the high -walls which lined the way, his attention was arrested by the design over -one of the gateways. - -It was a crimson swastika within a crimson triangle, the insignia of the -priests of the lost religion of Cupia, the priests who had befriended -him in their hidden refuge of the Caves of Kar, when he was a fugitive -during the dark days of his second war against the ant-men. - -Could it be that the lost religion was also implanted upon _this_ -continent? Myles had never discussed religion with Arkilu, or Jud, or -Quivven, or Crota, or any of his Vairking friends. Somehow the subject -had never come up. Full of curiosity, Cabot knocked in the door. - -Immediately a small round aperture opened and a voice from within -inquired "Whence come you?" - -For reply, the earth-man gave one of the passwords of the Cupian -religion. To his surprise, the gate swung open, and he was admitted into -the presence of a long-robed priest, clad exactly like his friends of -the Caves of Kar. - -"What do you wish?" asked the guardian of the gate. - -Having made his way so far, Myles decided to continue, on the analogy of -the religion of his own continent. Accordingly, he boldly replied, "I -wish to speak with the Holy Leader." - -"Very well," said the guard; and closing the gate and barring it, he led -Myles through many winding passages, to a door on which he knocked three -times. - -The knock was repeated from within, the door opened, and Myles entered -to gaze upon a strangely familiar scene. The room was richly carved and -colored. On three sides hung the stone lamps of the Vairkings. Around -the walls sat a score or more of long-robed priests, some on the level -and some on slightly raised platforms. On the highest platform of all, -directly opposite the point where Cabot had entered, sat the only hooded -figure in the chamber, quite evidently the leader of the faith. - -Him the earth-man approached, and bowed low. - -Whereat, there came the unexpected words: "Welcome to Vairkingi, Myles -Cabot." - -Then the priest descended, took the visitor by the hand, and led him to -a seat at his own left. A few minutes later, the assembly had been -temporarily suspended, and Myles and his host were chatting together -like old friends. - - -Myles told the venerable prelate the complete history of all his -adventures on both continents of the planet Poros, not omitting to dwell -with considerable detail upon the vicissitudes of the lost religion of -Cupia. This interested the priest greatly, and he asked numerous -questions in that connection. - -"Strange! Strange!" he ruminated. "It is undoubtedly the same religion -as ours. So there must at some time have been some connection between -the two continents." - -"Yes, there must have been," the earth-man assented, "for the written -language of both Cupia and Vairkingi is the same. Yet the totally -different flora and fauna of the two continents negatives this history." - -"Where did the Cupians originate, if you know?" the priest inquired. - -"We do not know," Myles replied, "but there are two conflicting legends. -One is that the forerunners of the race came from across the boiling -seas. The other is that they sprang, fully formed, from the soil. There -is also a legend that creatures like me dwell beyond the boiling seas; -and _this_ legend, at least, appears to be borne out by the existence of -your Vairkings." - -"Strange! Still more strange!" the prelate declared. "For we have but -_one_ story of _our_ origin. The race of Vairkings descended from -another world above the skies. Who knows but that we, like you, came -from that place which you call the planet--Minos, I think, you said?" - -After some further conversation, the conclave was called to order again, -and Myles took this as the signal for his departure. He was given a warm -invitation to return. - -Truly, a new avenue of speculation had been opened up to him by his -chance meeting with the Holy Leader. Myles firmly resolved to return -again at the earliest opportunity. But, from this time on, events moved -with such rapidity that never again did he enter the sacred precincts. - -First, he was stumped by his radio tubes. How was he to make a -vacuum-pump which would exhaust the air? - -The solution, when it finally occurred to him, was absurdly simple; he -utilized atmospheric pressure. - -He made a glass tube thirty feet long, and sealed his grid, his plates -and his lead-wires into one end, closing that end off hermetically. Then -he fashioned a piston of waterproof cloth fiber so as to fit into the -closed end, almost touching these elements and yet free to move away -from them without tearing them. Then he filled the tube with water, and -inverted it. But the water did not drop away to a height of about -twenty-eight feet, as it would have done on Earth. - -Of course not, for this was Venus--Venus of an atmospheric pressure -practically equal to that of earth, holding the water up; and yet with a -gravity much less than that of Earth, tending to pull, the water down! - -But, by lengthning the pipe sufficiently, Cabot finally got the proper -balance, the fiber piston was pulled down, and a partial vacuum, -practically free of water-vapor had been created. He then sealed off the -upper portion of the glass tube with his blow-torch, and had his radio -triad. - -For these radio tubes, the glass was made according to a special -formula. Of this same glass, Cabot fashioned lenses for the goggles -which he and Doggo planned to wear on their trip home across the boiling -seas. - -One of the constituents of this special glass is lead monoxide, commonly -known as litharge. This gave the Radio Man some concern, until Doggo -suggested melting lead in a rotating cylindrical iron drum with spiral -ribs. By pumping cold air in one end of this drum, fine particles of -litharge were driven out through the other, where they accumulated in a -stationary container. - -About this time the king and Jud began clamoring for results, so Cabot -made a few electric lights with platinum filaments. And entirely apart -from pacifying his two patrons it was well that he did this, for the -speedy burning out of these lights showed him that he had a new problem -to face, namely: the elimination of all traces of oxygen in his tubes. -He got rid of considerable by placing tubes in a strong magnetic field -while exhausting, but this was not quite enough. - -It looked as though his experiments would have to end at this point; for -with an immense quantity of alcohol completed, and with pyrex glass for -their goggles, everything was all set for the conspirators to locate -Doggo's hidden plane and fly across the boiling seas to Cupia. - -The Vairkings were by now sufficiently used to the huge ant-man and to -his participation in Cabot's scientific experiments, so that no -objection would be raised to his accompanying the radio man on one of -the latter's expeditions in search of certain minerals which he believed -could be found in the country. - -Two carts, laden with tents, food and bedding, were taken along, and -beneath these supplies he placed the alcohol and goggles. There was no -need to conceal them, for none of the Vairkings, except Quivven, ever -had any very distinct knowledge of what he was about, and to her he -explained that the alcohol was for the purpose of loosening certain -materials from the solid rocks, and that the goggles were to protect his -and Doggo's eyes from the fumes. - -A squad of soldiers pulled the carts. Doggo had demurred at this, -suggesting that the soldiers be left behind, and offering to pull them -himself, but Myles pointed out how easily he could scatter the Vairkings -when the time came, by threatening them with his "magic sling-shot" (i. -e., rifle). - - -Early in the morning they set forth, just as the unseen rising sun began -to tint the eastern sky with purple. When the time came to say farewell -to Quivven Myles found to his surprise that his voice was positively -choked with emotion. - -"Good-by, Golden Flame," he said. "Please wish me a safe journey." - -"Of course I do," she said, "But why so sad? You sound as though you -never expected to see me again." - -"One never can tell," he replied. - -"Your food has disagreed with you," she bantered. "I feel confident that -you will return. For have you not often quoted to me: 'They cannot kill -a Minorian?' Run along now, and come back safely." - -Thus he left her, a smile on her face and a tear in his eye. He hated to -deceive Quivven, who had been a good little pal, in spite of her -occasional flare-ups of temper. He looked back and waved to her where -she stood like a golden statue upon the city wall; it would be his last -glimpse of a true friend. Then he set his face resolutely to the -eastward. - -Not only did he feel a pang at leaving Quivven, but he felt even more of -a pang at leaving his radio-set half finished. The scientist always -predominated in his makeup; and besides, like the good workman that he -was, he hated an unfinished job. - -But he realized that his radio project had been only a means to an -end--the end being to get in touch with his friends and family in -Cupia--and that this end was about to be accomplished more directly. -Just think, to-morrow night he would be home, ready to do battle for his -loved ones against the usurper Yuri! The thought thrilled him, and all -regrets passed away. - -Lilla! He was to see his beautiful dainty Lilla once more; and his baby -son, Kew, rightful ruler of Cupia! He resolved that, once back with them -again, he would never more leave them. Lilla had been right; his return -to Earth had been a foolhardy venture; results had proved it. As -Poblath, the Cupian philosopher, used to say, "The test of a plan is how -it works out." - -Cabot was eager, even impatient, to see the ant-plane which was to carry -him home. He was bubbling over with questions to ask his ant-man -companion; the condition of the plane, its exact location, how well it -had been concealed, and so forth. But his only means of communication -with Doggo was in writing, and it would never do to delay the expedition -for the purpose of indulging in a written conversation. So he merely -fretted and fumed, and urged the Vairking pullers of the carts to -greater speed. - -But along toward evening a calm settled over him, a joyous calm. He was -going home, going home! The words sang in his ears. He was going to -Cupia, to baby Kew, and Princess Lilla. A nervous warmth flooded through -his being, and tingled at his fingertips. He felt the strength to -overcome any obstacles which might confront him. He was going home! - -Just before sunset the party encamped on the outskirts of a small grove -of trees, which Doggo indicated as the hiding-place of his plane and -other supplies. It had already been agreed that they should not inspect -the machine before morning for they did not wish to give even the slow -brains of Vairking soldiers a chance to figure out their ulterior -purpose, and perhaps to dispatch a runner to Vairkingi with a warning to -Theoph and Jud. - -So Myles was forced to possess his soul in patience, and await the dawn. -To keep his mind off his troubles he sat with the furry warriors about -their camp fire, and told them tales of Cupia and the planet Earth. - -Never before, in their experience, had this strange furless leader of -theirs been so graciously condescending or so sociable. It was an -evening which they would long remember. - -Finally they all turned in for the night. The earth-man slept fitfully, -and dreamed of encounters in which, with his back to the wall, he fought -with a wooden sword alone against Prince Yuri, and ant-men, and -Vairkings, and Cupians, and whistling bees, in defense of Lilla and her -son. - -Yet such is the strange alchemy of dreams that sometimes Lilla's face -seemed to be covered with golden fur. - -With the first red flush of morning Cabot and Doggo bestirred -themselves, and informed their campmates that they intended to do a bit -of prospecting before breakfast. Then they set out into the interior of -the wood, the ant-man leading the way. At last they came to a small -clearing and beyond it a thicket, which Doggo indicated with one paw as -being the spot which they sought. There was to be the plane! - -Parting the foliage, they looked inside. But the thicket was empty! - -On the farther side the bushes had been recently chopped down, and -thence there lay a wide swath of cut trees clear out of the woods. It -was only too evident that the precious plane had been stolen! - - - - - XVI - AFTERTHOUGHTS - - -There could be no doubt of it. Doggo's plane was gone, and with it had -vanished all hopes of a speedy return to Cupia. Sadly the two returned -to camp, and gave directions to start back to Vairkingi. - -But Myles Cabot was not a man to despair or he would have yielded to -fate many times in the past during his radio adventures on the silver -planet. Already, as the porters were loading the carts, his agile mind -was busy seeking some way whereby to snatch victory from defeat. - -So when the expedition was ready to start he led it around the woods -until he picked up the trail of the stolen airship. Quite evidently the -theft had not been made by ant-men, for they would have _flown_ the -machine away, upon clearing the woods. No, it had obviously been taken -by either Roies or Vairkings, who had wheeled or dragged it away. If he -and Doggo could follow its path, they might yet be able to locate and -recover the stolen property. - -The trail led north until it struck, at right angles, a broad and -much-rutted road which ran from Vairkingi to the northeast territory of -the Vairkings. And at this point the trail completely vanished. - -Myles held a written conference with Doggo, at which it was decided to -return at once to the city and make inquiries there as to the stolen -plane. If no one there knew of it, Doggo was to be dispatched on a new -expedition into the northeast territory, and in the meantime Cabot was -to rush the completion of his radio set. So they turned to the left and -took up the march to Vairkingi. - -It was a tired and disgusted human who returned that evening to the -quarters which he had never expected to set eyes on again. Myles Cabot -gave himself up to a few moments of unrestrained grief. - -As he sat thus a soft, sympathetic voice said: "Didn't you succeed in -finding that which you sought? I am so sorry! At least you came back -safely to me." - -But the blandishments of little Quivven, his pal, failed to comfort him. - -That evening when Jud returned from the brickyard, Myles sought an -audience with him and demanded news of the plane. Said Myles: "This -beast friend of mine came near here in a magic wagon which travels -through the air. Possession of this magic wagon would mean much to -Vairkingi in your wars, and especially if the beasts ever take it into -their heads to attack you, as they undoubtedly will do sooner or later. - -"Yesterday Doggo and I embarked on a secret expedition to bring this -magic wagon as a surprise to you and Theoph. But we find that it has -been stolen. We have traced it to the northeast road, and there the -trail ends. It must be either in this city or in the northeast -territory. Will you help me to find it?" - -But Jud smiled a crafty smile, and said: "It is not in Vairkingi--of -that I am certain. Nor will I send into the northeast territory to find -it for you; for I well know that you would use it to return to your own -land beyond the boiling seas. We wish you to stay with us and do wonders -for us. We believe that we can make your lot among us a happy one. - -"But remember that, although you are treated with great honors, you are -nevertheless still my slave. Any attempt on your part to locate the -magic wagon will be met with severe punishment, and an end will be put -to your experiments. I have spoken." - -Myles Cabot met the other's eye squarely. "You have spoken, Jud," he -said. - -Myles was now convinced that Jud knew more about the missing plane than -he was willing to admit; so the only thing to do was to lie low, bide -his time, keep an ear out for news of the plane, and continue the -manufacture of the radio set. Thus the earth-man ruminated as he walked -slowly back to his quarters. - -And then the linking of radio and airplanes in his mind gave him an -idea. He had felt all along that he was doing the correct thing in -building a radio set rather than in manufacturing firearms with which to -attack the Formians, or in trying to fabricate an airplane for a flight -across the boiling seas. - -His intuition had been correct; his subconscious mind must have guided -him to make the radio _in order to phone Cupia for a plane to come over -to Vairkingi and get him_. Why hadn't he realized this before? It gave -him new heart. - -With a laugh he reflected that this afterthought was pretty much like -those so characteristic of the man whom he had just left. Jud the -Excuse-Maker, always bungling, and always with a perfectly good excuse -or alibi, thought up afterward to explain why he did something which, -when he did it, was absolutely pointless. Myles had always looked down -on the Vairking noble because of this failing. - -But now what he found himself going through exactly the same mental -processes, he began to wonder if perhaps Jud were not guided by a fairly -high-grade intuition. Perhaps Jud's afterthoughts and excuses were but -the breaking through of a realization of some real forethoughts on the -part of Jud's subconscious mind. Myles wondered. He was still wondering -when he fell asleep that night. - - -The next morning he plunged into his work with renewed vigor. He now had -copper wire, copper plates, wood, mica, solder, platinum, glass, and -batteries--everything that he needed for his radio set except a better -vacuum for his tubes; but without that he was as far from success as -when he started. - -Of course he knew what he needed--magnesium. But it was one thing to -step into a drug store on the earth, or into a chemical laboratory in -Cupia, and take magnesium off the shelves, and quite another matter to -pick this elusive element out of thin air in Vairkingi. - -Nevertheless, in spite of this lack, Myles kept on working. He wound his -inductances, transformers, earphones, and rheostats. He assembled his -variable condensers and microphones. He fashioned his sockets and lamp -bases. He strung his antennae. He wired up his baseboard and panel. - -Small sets were installed in Quivven's rooms at the palace, at Jud's -house, and at the brickyard. Each of these was equipped with a -transformer-coupling for Doggo's antennae, as well as with mouthpieces -for the others, so that now at last oral conversation was possible with -his Formian friend. Later he would prepare a portable head-set such as -he had worn in Cupia. - -Laboratory experiments demonstrated the success of his sets in -everything except durability of tubes. Yet in spite of this drawback he -was able to communicate across his laboratory, and even with Jud's -house, and under favorable conditions with Quivven at the palace by -using a cold-tube hookup. But this was not powerful enough to send as -far as the brickyard, let alone Cupia. - -At this juncture there appeared one morning at his gate a Vairking -soldier in leather tunic and helmet, requesting entrance with important -secret news. Myles grudgingly left his work-bench and gave audience. The -fellow had a strangely familiar appearance and smiled in a quizzical -manner; yet Myles could not place him. - -"Who are you?" Myles asked. - -"Do you not know me?" the other asked in reply. - -"No." - -The soldier doffed his leather cap. "Do you know me now?" - -"No." - -"A life for a life?" - -"Now I know you!" Cabot exclaimed. "You are Otto the Bold, son of Grod -the Silent, who is King of the Roies. To paraphrase one of the proverbs -of my own country, 'A face that is familiar in Sur is oft a stranger in -Vairkingi.' I did not recognize you away from the surroundings in which -we met. What good fortune brings you here?" - -"Not _good_ fortune, but _bad_," the Roy replied. "It is true that Grod, -my father, is our king, but it is also true that Att the Terrible -likewise claims the kingship. Att loves Arkilu, and is even at this -moment on the march against Vairkingi with the largest army of Roies -ever gathered." - -Myles smiled. "We are grateful for the information," he said. "With this -forewarning we are secure against attack." - -"If you will pardon me," Otto continued, "I think that you are _not_ -secure. For one of your own Vairkings, Tipi by name, marches with Att. -Att has promised Tipi the glorious golden Quivven in return for Tipi's -support. And Tipi has many partisans within this city." - -Myles continued to smile. "We can deal with traitors," he asserted -smugly. "There are many lamp-posts in our city." - -But Otto kept on: "Sur has fallen." - -"What!" the earth-man shouted, at last shocked out of his complacency. -"The rock-bound impregnable fortress of Sur fallen? Impossible!" - -"Not impossible to those who travel through the skies and drop black -stones which fly to pieces with a loud noise," Otto calmly replied. "The -beasts of the south have made alliance with Att the Terrible, and Tipi -the Steadfast, and are marching with them. Good Builder! They are upon -us even now. Quick, the beasts enter this very room. Come, draw, defend -yourself!" - -Wheeling quickly, Cabot confronted Doggo standing in the doorway. Much -relieved, he explained to Otto who this newcomer was; then, seizing a -pad and a lead stylus of his own manufacture, he hurriedly sketched the -situation to his Formian friend. - -In reply Doggo wrote: "At last I have magnesium ore. Some soldiers -brought it in, attracted by its pretty red color. There is no time to be -lost. To the laboratory. You must complete our set and summon aid from -Cupia. Meanwhile I will get Jud on the air, and call him here for a -conference. We have no time to wait upon him, or even Theoph, in this -emergency." - -Myles read the message aloud to Otto. - -"It is well," the latter commented. "Now, if you will excuse me, I must -be running along. My disguise as a Vairking soldier will get me safely -out of your city, and I must join my father, who is planning to -counter-attack, if a fit opportunity presents itself. Till we meet -again." - -"Till we meet again, in this life or beyond the waves," the earth-man -replied. "And may the Builder bless you for your help this day." Then he -rushed to the laboratory. - -Doggo was already tuning the set. "Jud is not at home," he wrote. "Shall -I waste a tube on the brickyard?" - -"No," Myles signified with a shake of his head; then seizing the pad and -stylus again, he wrote: "I will try and get Jud. You meanwhile attempt -to extract magnesium from this piece of carnallite." - - -The ant-man knew exactly how to proceed. Grinding the ore, he mixed it -with salt and melted the mass in an iron pot, which he connected -electrically with the carbon terminal of a line of electric batteries. -In the boiling pot he placed a copper plate connected with the zinc -elements of his cells. - -By the time the earth-man returned from calling Jud on the radio, a -coating of pure magnesium had begun to form on the copper anode. - -An hour or so later he scraped off his first yield of the precious -metal, the final necessity of his projected radio set. - -At this stage Jud appeared. "Pardon the delay," he started to explain. -"You see, I--" - -But Myles cut him short with: "Never mind explanations now. It is enough -that you are here. Sur has fallen. The beasts of the south and Att the -Terrible are on the warpath. They seek to rob you of your Arkilu. With -their aerial wagons they will drop magic rocks upon this city and -destroy it. Give Doggo back his plane, and he will try to combat them." - -But Jud shook his head. "You would merely escape," he replied, "and then -we would be worse off than now." - -"Then you admit that you know the whereabouts of Doggo's plane?" Myles -eagerly asked. - -"Not at all, not at all," the Vairking suavely replied. "I was merely -stating that, even if I knew where this 'plane,' as you call it, is--" - -"For Builder's sake, man!" Cabot cut in. "This is no time to quibble -over words! Give us the plane, if you would save Theoph, yourself, and -Arkilu." - -"It's hardly necessary," Jud asserted, unruffled. "Don't get so excited! -If Att wants Arkilu, he certainly won't drop things on the palace. And -we can defend the palace against all the Roies in Vairkingi." - -"But not against magic slingshots," replied the earth-man. - -"Perhaps not," the noble said with a crafty smile; "but we shall see. -Now I go to prepare the defense. You are at liberty to come with us, if -you will, or putter around your tubes if you had rather. Good-by." - -"Shift for yourselves then!" Myles shouted after him, and frantically -resumed his work. His attempt to get the plane by stratagem had failed. -Perhaps Jud did not know anything about the plane after all. It would be -typical of him. - -Myles had plenty of sets of grids, plates, and filaments all prepared. -Also plenty of long tubes of pyrex glass. All that remained necessary -was to coat the platinum elements with magnesium, fuse them into the -tube, exhaust the air by the water method as before, seal the tube, and -his radio set would be complete. - -"Where is Quivven?" he wrote to Doggo. "She ought to be here helping -with this." - -"On her way from the palace," the ant-man replied. "I radio-phoned her -there." - -Presently she entered, and jauntily inquired what all the excitement was -about. Myles explained as briefly as possible. - -Her only answer was to shrug her golden shoulders and remark, "Tipi is a -little fool. He can have me if he can get me." - -Then she took her seat at the workbench. - -After a while she inquired, "Why the rush with the radio set, when -Vairkingi is in peril?" - -Myles replied, "Our only hope now is to get Cupia on the air, and -persuade my followers there to send across the boiling seas enough -aerial wagons to defeat the beasts of the south, or 'Formians,' as we -call them." - -"And will you talk with your Lilla?" she asked innocently. - -"Yes, if the Builder wills," he eagerly and reverently replied. - -To his surprise, Quivven jumped to her feet with flashing eyes, and, -seizing a small iron anvil from the workbench, she held it over the -precious pile of platinum elements. - -"And if I drop this anvil, you will _not_ talk to her. Is not that so?" - -Myles, horrified, sat rooted to his seat, unable to move. - - - - - XVII - THE BATTLE FOR VAIRKINGI - - -But the flaming Quivven did not drop the anvil on the precious tube -elements. Instead she flung it from her to the floor and sank limply -into her seat, her golden head on her arms on the workbench. - -"I couldn't do it," she moaned between sobs, "for I too know what it is -to love. Talk to her, Myles, and I will help you." - -He gasped with relief. "You wouldn't spoil all our days and days of -labor, I am sure," he said. "What was the matter? I don't understand -you." - -"_You_ wouldn't," was her reply, as she shook herself together and -resumed work. - -After a while one of the soldiers attached to the laboratory brought in -word that the Roies and Formians were attacking the walls, and that -"planes" were sailing around in the sky overhead. Cabot gave word to -mass his men to defend the laboratory at all costs and went on working. - -One by one the tubes were completed and tested. - -From time to time Quivven would step into the yard, glance at the sky, -and then report back to Myles. The Formian planes were scouting low, but -were not dropping bombs. Jud had apparently been right in one -thing--that the beasts would not risk injuring the expected prizes of -war, namely Arkilu and Quivven. - -From time to time runners brought word of the fighting at the outer wall -of the city. It would have been an easy matter for the ant-men to bomb -the gates, and thus let in their Roy allies, but evidently they were -playing safe even there. At last, however, word came that -traitors--presumably friends of Tipi--had opened one of the gates, and -that the enemy was now within the city. - -Still Myles worked steadily on. - -Suddenly Quivven returned from one of her scouting trips in the yard -with the cry, "One of the air wagons has seen me, and is coming down!" - -At that the Radio Man permitted himself to leave his bench for a few -moments and go to the door. True, the plane was hovering down, eagerly -awaited by a score or so of Cabot's Vairking soldiers armed with swords, -spears and bows. As the Formians came within bowshot they were met with -a shower of arrows, most of which, however, glanced harmlessly off the -metallic bottom of the fuselage. - -The ant-men at once retaliated with a shower of bullets. Two Vairkings -dropped to the ground, and the others frantically rushed to cover within -the buildings, forcing back Myles and his two companions, as the -fugitives crowded through the door. - -"Where is _your_ magic slingshot?" one of them taunted him as they swept -by. - -The earth-man shook himself and passed the back of one hand across his -tired brow, then hurried to his living room. Seizing his rifle, he -cautiously approached one of the slit windows which overlooked the yard, -and peeked out. The plane was on the ground. Four ants were -disembarking. - -Here at last was a chance to secure transportation! - -Myles opened fire. - -The Formians were taken completely by surprise. Oh, how it did Cabot's -heart good to see those ancient enemies drop and squirm as he pumped -lead into them! They made no attempt to return his fire, but scuttled -toward their beached plane. - -Only one of them reached it; but one was enough to deprive the earth-man -of his booty. Up shot the craft, followed by a parting bullet from -Myles. Then he proceeded to the yard once more. His furry soldiers, -brave now that all danger was over, were already there before him, -putting an end to the three wounded ant-men, with swords and spears. - -A strong and pungent odor filled the air. Myles sniffed. It was alcohol -in large quantities. The plane could not last long, for he had punctured -its fuel tank. - -Each of the dead enemies had been fully armed, so that, although Myles -failed in his plan to secure the airship, the encounter had at least -netted him three rifles and three bandoleers of cartridges. These he -bestowed on Doggo, Quivven, and the captain of his guards, saying, "You -three, with four or five others, had better go at once to Jud's compound -before the fighting reaches here; for, now that the Formians have -located Quivven, they are sure to attack again, sooner or later." - -But the golden-furred princess remonstrated with him: "Let us stay -together, fight together, and, if need be, die together." - -"For the Builder's sake, run along," he replied testily. "We are wasting -valuable time. I will join you if the fighting gets too thick -hereabouts." - -"But how can you?" - -"By the back way which you taught me." - -"But you need the help of Doggo and myself." - -"No longer, for the set is complete. All that remains to be done is to -tune in and either get Cupia on the air or not. Now, as you are my true -friends, please run along!" - -So, with a shrug and a pout; she left him. And with her went Doggo, and -the captain, and five of the guard. Much relieved, the Radio Man -returned to his workbench. Although the move truly was wise for the -safety of Quivven, the real motive which actuated Myles was a desire to -have her absent, when and if he should talk to his Lilla. - -He leaned his rifle against the bench, hung the bandoleer handily near -by, and set to work. A few more connections and his hookup was complete. -He surveyed the assembled set with a great deal of satisfaction; for, -although it really was a means to an end, yet it was a considerable end -in itself after all, as any radio fan can appreciate. - - -Once more Myles Standish Cabot, electrical engineer, had demonstrated -his premiership on two worlds. He had made a complete radio set out of -basic natural elements, without the assistance of a single previously -fabricated tool, or material! It was an unbelievable feat. Yet it had -been completed successfully. - -With trembling hands, he adjusted the controls, and listened. Gradually -he tuned in a station. It seemed a nearby station. - -A voice was saying: "We could not report before, O master, for we have -only just repaired the set which this Cabot wrecked. The Minorian lied -when he told you that he had affairs well in hand, for even at that -moment he was a fugitive. - -"He is now with the furry Cupians who live to the north of New Formia. -Today our forces are attacking their city. It is only a matter of a few -parths before he will be in our hands. I have spoken, and shall now -stand by to receive." - -This was the supreme test. Could Myles Cabot hear the reply? Adjusting -his set to the extreme limit of its sensitivity, he waited, his hands on -the wave-length dials. - -Faintly but distinctly came the answer in the well-known voice of Yuri -the usurper: "You have done well. Now I will hand the antenna-phones to -the Princess Lilla, and I wish you to repeat to her what you have just -told me, so that she may hear it with her own antennae and believe." - -A pause and then Cabot heard the ant-man stationed at the shack on the -mountains near Yuriana recount the tale of Doggo's abortive revolution -and flight, of Cabot's wrecking the radio set and disappearing, of the -Formian alliance with Att the Terrible, of the fall of Sur, and of the -attack on Vairkingi, ending with the words which he had already caught. - -As he listened to this narration, the earth-man was rapidly making up -his mind what to do, and, as soon as the ant-man signed off, Cabot cut -in with: "Lilla, dearest, do not show any sign of surprise, but listen -intently, as though the Formian were still speaking. This is your own -Myles. I am sending from a station which I have only just completed -after many sangths of intensive work. - -"It is true that the Formians are now attacking our city but they cannot -win. Sur fell because we were taken by surprise, but we were warned in -time to defend Vairkingi. Already I, myself, have driven off one plane -and killed three Formians. - -"As yet I have been unable to secure an airship, or I should have flown -back to you. Please get in touch with Toron, or some other of my -friends, and persuade them to fly across the boiling seas and bring me -back. - -"Yuri has made it twice, and 'what man has done, that can man do.' Now I -am about to finish. When I sign off, please request Yuri for permission -to talk to the Formian at Yuriana, to ask him some questions. Then tell -me as much as you can of yourself, our baby, and the situation in Cupia, -before Yuri shuts you off. I have spoken, dearest." - -And Myles stood by to receive. - -With what a thrill did he hear his own Lilla's voice answer: "Oh, -Formian, I have Prince Yuri's permission to speak to you. You may answer -what I ask you, and reply to what I tell you, but he himself will -receive, lest I hear something which I ought not. This leads me to -believe that affairs are not so bad with Cabot as you report." - -"She is doing fine," Myles remarked to himself, admiringly. "So far, -Yuri will not suspect that she is talking to me." - -Lilla's voice continued: "You and the other Formians may be interested -to know that Prince Yuri is in complete control here. Baby Kew and I are -well, and are being respectfully treated by Prince Yuri as his guests in -the palace at Kuana. He has promised me that if I will marry him, Kew -can have the succession after his death. And this I might have accepted -for the baby's sake, but now that I know that you still live, this -cannot be." - -"She has made a slip," Cabot moaned. - -Evidently she realized it herself, for her voice hurried on: "You see, -the whistling bees--" - -Then Yuri's voice cut in abruptly with: "Congratulations, Cabot. I don't -see how you did it. Your ex-wife would have gotten across a lot more -information to you if she hadn't inadvertently let me know to whom she -was talking by her careless use of the word 'you'. I don't know what you -said to her, but I shall be on my guard. No more radio for the Princess -Lilla, until my henchmen in New Formia report your death, which I hope -will be soon. Good-by, you cursed spot of sunshine. Yuri, king of Cupia, -signing off for the night." - -So that was that. Myles switched off the set, and sat submerged in -thought. Lilla and his baby were safe. He doubted not that she would -sooner or later find means to send him a plane. He had given Yuri cause -to doubt the glorious story told by the Formian radio operator. The new -set had fulfilled its mission. - -But how had Yuri succeeded in climbing into power again in Cupia, -nine-tenths of the inhabitants of which were loyal to Princess Lilla and -the baby king? - -Then Myles remembered her closing words: "The whistling bees--" It was -as little Jacqueline Farley had prophesied on her father's New England -farm, during Cabot's brief revisit to the earth. Cabot had stated: -"There can be no peace on any continent which is inhabited by more than -one race of intelligent beings"; whereat little Jacqueline had pointed -out that the whistling bees were intelligent beings. - -Doubtless, Yuri had stirred up trouble between the bees and their Cupian -allies, and had ridden to the throne on the crest of this trouble. -Portheris, king of the bees, had undoubtedly been deposed; for he was -too loyal to Myles to stand for this. - -The earth-man's reverie was rudely interrupted at this point by one of -his soldiers who rushed into the laboratory shouting: "Sir, there is -fighting in your very yard!" - - -Cabot slipped the bandoleer over his shoulders, adjusted the straps, -picked up his rifle, and hurried to the door. In the yard, his guards -were struggling in hand-to-hand combat with a superior force of Roies. - -He could tell them apart, not only by the contrast between the fine -features of his own men and apelike faces of the intruders, but more -easily by the contrast between the leather tunics of the Vairkings and -the nakedness of the Roies. So, standing calmly in the doorway, Myles -began picking off the enemy, one by one, with his rifle. It was too -easy; almost like trap-shooting. - -But it didn't last long, for the Roies soon learned what was up, and, -breaking away from their opponents, crowded out through the gate, -followed by a shower of missiles and maledictions. - -Cabot's Vairkings were for following, but their master peremptorily -called them back, and directed them to barricade the laboratory. It was -well that he did so, for presently the heads of the enemy began to -appear above the top of the fence. Evidently they had built a platform -in the street. - -Soon arrows and pebbles began to fly at the windows of the house. The -Vairkings replied with a volley, but Cabot cautioned them to conserve -their ammunition, and watch him pick off with his rifle, one by one, the -heads which showed themselves above the paling. - -This soon ceased to be interesting. So, giving the rifle and bandoleer -to one of the more intelligent of his men, and instructing them to hold -the laboratory at all costs, the earth-man set out, sword in hand, by -the back way to rejoin Doggo and Quivven. - -The alleys which he threaded were deserted. He reached the rear of Jud's -compound without event, and passed in to one of the inclosures through a -small and well concealed gate in the face of the wall. Quivven had -pointed this route out to him before, but never had he traversed it -farther than this point. He looked cautiously around him. Then he rubbed -his eyes, and looked again! He could hardly believe his senses! - -There stood a Formian airplane in apparently perfect condition. -Approaching it gingerly with drawn sword, he circled it carefully to -make sure that it contained no enemies. But it was deserted. A hasty -inspection disclosed that everything was in working order, except that -the fuel tank was empty. - -Probably then, this was the plane at which he had fired. But no, for -this plane did not even _smell_ of alcohol. The tank had evidently been -dry for some time, and there was no sign of any bullet hole in it. -Gradually the fact dawned on him that this was Doggo's plane, which Jud -had concealed from them for so long. He must reach Doggo and tell him. - -At the farther side of the inclosure from the side at which he had -entered, there was a door. Myles raced toward it, and flung it open. -Beyond it there was a second inclosure similar to the first. Myles raced -across this one as well, and flung open another door, whereupon out -poured a crowd of Roies, upsetting him and throwing him sprawling upon -the ground. - -But they were as surprised as he was at the encounter, and this fact -enabled him to regain his sword and scramble to his feet before they -were upon him again, with parry and thrust. - -Good swordsman as he was, they had soon forced him, his back against the -wall, to defend his life with his trusty wooden blade. Time and again -one of their points would reach his tunic, but he kept his neck well -guarded, and so was able to stand them off. - -When he had drawn his breath and got his bearings, and his defense had -become slightly a matter of routine, he recognized the leader of the -enemy as none other than the traitor Tipi. His first thought was to run -Tipi through for his treachery. But then he reflected that quite likely -Quivven really loved Tipi after all. It would be a shame to kill this -boy merely because his unrequited love had caused him to lose his head. - -From then on, Myles had no time to reflect on anything, for he was -engaged in the difficult task of trying to defend himself without -hurting Tipi. - -The young Vairking had recognized the earth-man, and was hurling -vituperations at him, but Myles saved his breath for his sword-play. -Even so, he gradually tired. His sword hand no longer instantly -responded to every command of his agile brain, and even his brain itself -became less agile. It was only a matter of time when he would be certain -to make a misplay, and go down before his opponents. Yet, still he -struggled on. - -And then suddenly a new complication entered the game, for he was seized -from behind the arms and was lifted struggling and kicking off the -ground. - - - - - XVIII - THE FALL OF VAIRKINGI - - -As Miles was lifted from the ground by the unknown force behind which -had seized him beneath the armpits, his Roy opponents fell back away -from him in surprise. But immediately their expressions changed to -intense pleasure. Quite evidently they regarded this mysterious new -power as an ally. - -Myles could not squirm around to see what was holding him; so still -grasping his sword in his right hand, he felt with his left hand under -his right armpit, and found there--the claw of a Formian! In another -moment he would be within reach of its horrid jaws, and then would came -the paralyzing bite which he knew so well from past experience. -Nevertheless he could die fighting. - -Shifting his sword quickly, so that he held it point upward, he struck -backward with it across his shoulder, and had the satisfaction of -hearing and feeling it glint on the carapace of his captor. A few more -strokes, and by lucky chance his blade might find a joint in the black -shell of the ant-man. - -But just as he was about to strike again a familiar voice behind him -called out, "Stop, Myles, for Builder's sake, stop! It is Doggo who -holds you, and is rescuing you from your enemies." - -It was the voice of Quivven. Tipi and the Roies instantly understood and -made a rush at their late victim; but they were too late, for Doggo had -lifted the earth-man safely over the wall. There stood Quivven and the -members of their guard. - -"Quick, Doggo, the rifles!" Myles shouted. "Your missing plane is in the -next inclosure. We must reach it before the enemy does." - -Of course, this was all lost on the radio-sense of the Formian, but the -other members of the party acted at once. On their side of the wall -there was a platform near the top. Springing lightly onto this, the -furry maid and the captain of the guard covered the Roies with their -rifles. - -"You!" exclaimed Tipi in surprise. - -"What did you expect?" Quivven taunted. "You attacked this city in -search of me. Here I am. You can have me, if you can catch me. But you -had better not try it just now, for I and my friends have these magic -sling-shots, which can kill at almost any distance. Go quickly before I -try it on you. For old times' sake, go!" - -But Tipi and his Roies stood steadfast. The captain and Quivven fired; -two Roies dropped, and the others fled precipitately out through the -gates by which they entered. Tipi the Steadfast was left alone -confronting Cabot and his companions. But he never budged. - -Over the fence vaulted the five Vairking guardsmen in their leather -armor, and attacked their renegade countryman, who, being a noble, wore -only a leather helmet. The unequal contest could have but one result. -Yet Quivven looked on complacently at the impending downfall of her -former sweetheart. - -Cabot, however, had more heart. Running along the platform within the -wall, he vaulted over at a point distant from the contest, sneaked -steadily up on Tipi, and suddenly throttled him from behind, at the same -time shouting to his own henchmen to desist. The five Vairkings -obediently dropped their swords, and then trussed up the young noble -with his own leather belt and sword-sling by placing him in a sitting -posture, tying his ankles together, slipping a piece of stick beneath -his knees, placing his elbows under the ends of this stick, and tying -his wrists together in front of his shins. Also they gagged him. And -thus they left the traitor, rolled ignominiously into a corner, his eyes -blazing with a piteous hate. - -Meanwhile Doggo, exploring the exits, had seen his plane! He returned to -the group, bristling with excitement, and made signs to them to follow -him. Out of respect for his joy, none of the party let on that Cabot had -been the first to find the airship and had already informed them of it. -So they followed Doggo and gave every indication of being much -impressed. - -With loving touch the huge black ant-man caressed each strut and brace, -and guy, and joint, and lever, as he made a thorough inspection of his -long-lost craft. All appeared to be in perfect condition. Even the -bombs, the rifle, and the ammunition were intact. - -From somewhere in the interior of the fusilage Doggo produced a pad of -paper and a Formian stylus, and wrote: "Alcohol. We must have alcohol. -Then away from these accursed shores forever." - -Seizing the writing materials Myles replied, "You have four rifles. Let -me take one of them. Protect this plane with the other three, while I -return alone by the back way and bring the alcohol here under convoy of -the entire laboratory guard." - -Then, giving no time for dissent, he seized the rifle and bandoleer from -the plane, and was gone. Out through the next inclosure he went, slid -open the secret door in the wall, and peered cautiously out. One lone -ant-man with rifle and bandoleer was parading the alley. - -Myles fired, but missed. The Formian promptly took cover behind a pile -of rubbish, and fired back. Myles hastily withdrew, then cautiously put -his head through the opening again in order to take a shot at his enemy. -But the enemy fired first, the bullet grazing the leather helmet of the -earth-man and stunning him considerably. So he sat on the ground within -the inclosure, and rubbed his sore head for a few minutes. What a narrow -escape! - -Then he had an idea. He propped his hat on a stick, so that it would -sway gently in the breeze, its rim just projecting through the opening -in the wall giving every indication of life. Then he ran quickly along -inside the wall until he came to a corner, which he judged must be about -opposite the rubbish heap which sheltered the Formian. Climbing quietly -up the studding at this point, he peered carefully over. There lay his -black enemy, only a few feet away, steadily watching the bobbing edge of -the helmet. - -Two shots from Cabot's rifle, and the vigil was over; and soon the -earth-man, his helmet regained, and with an extra rifle and cartridge -belt flung across his shoulders, was proceeding unmolested down the -alley. - - -He reached the laboratory without further adventure, and found -everything as he had left it. The guard, however, reported that they had -had to repulse three assaults by Roies, the last of which had been led -by a Formian armed with a rifle. - -"If it had not been for this magic sling-shot which you left with us," -said the guardsman, "we should have been beaten. But the surprise of the -savage ones at finding us thus armed was so great that even their leader -could not rally them, though the beast did kill several of our men -before he finally fled with his Roy henchmen." - -The Radio Man then informed them of his intention to cart the alcohol to -Jud's inclosure, where new wonders would be performed. Accordingly, all -except a few sentinels withdrew into the laboratory to load up. - -First Myles sorted out the bottles which were small enough to carry -conveniently, and then filled these bottles with alcohol from the large -carboys in which it was stored. This left a dozen or so carboys still -unemptied. It would be a pity to leave these behind, but it would be -impossible to get a cart out by the back way. - -So the Radio Man gave hasty directions to take an empty cart through his -front gate under guard, and attempt to get it around by the various -winding streets into the alley without its being captured by the enemy. -Meanwhile all the alcohol was moved to the alley gate, and heavily -guarded there. - -While this was being done Myles Cabot took a few minutes time for a -farewell glance around his laboratory, which he was about to quit for -the last time. He had enjoyed working here, for there is no human -pleasure greater than the joy of accomplishment, and here he had -accomplished the almost superhuman task of building up a complete -sending and receiving radio set out of its basic elements. Even though -he was at last about to journey home to his Lilla and his baby son in -Cupia, he hated to leave this precious set. - -An irresistible impulse drew him to it, as a loadstone draws a magnet. -He placed his fingers on the controls. He tuned to the same wave length -in which he had talked and received earlier in the day. - -A voice was speaking in the language of Formia and Cupia: "Vairkingi is -about to fall, O master, and with it the Minorian must certainly get -into our hands, for our scout fliers are circling the outer walls to the -city to prevent his escape." - -So that was why the ant planes hadn't bothered them recently. - -"But O master," the voice of the ant-man continued. "I have bad news to -report along with the good; for while practically our entire populace -was engaged with the hordes of our ally, Att the Terrible, in besieging -Vairkingi, other hordes of furry savages under Grod the Silent have -attacked and captured our own city of Yuriana, and with it have seized -our reserve planes and supplies of ammunition. I have--" - -But before the Formian could complete his signing off, Myles slammed -over the leaf switch, and cut in with: "Cabot speaking. Cabot speaking. -Know then, O Yuri, that Vairkingi will not fall. My arms are victorious -here as at your ant city of Yuriana. Presently you will cease to receive -any further messages from either here or your own mountain station, and -then you will know that the last of your Formians has perished off the -face of this continent. - -"Soon you may expect me and my furry allies to fly across the boiling -seas to redeem Cupia, but of our coming we shall give you no further -warning. Tremble and await us. Meanwhile believe none of the stories -which your henchmen will falsely send you to keep up your courage. -Answer me now, and tell me that you have received my message. I have -spoken." - -Then he set the switches to receive. - -Back came the answer, but it was from the mountain station to the south, -and it came from Prince Yuri in Cupia: "It is a lie. The Minorian lies." - -Of course it was a lie, but it was war; and Yuri would not know which -version to credit. If anything should happen to the sending set near the -city of the ants, Yuri certainly would believe the worst from that time -on. Cabot smiled to himself. The Formian continued denying, and -explaining, and apologizing. Finally he signed off, and then Prince Yuri -got on the air. "Listen, O Formian," he said, "and you, O Cabot. I -received both of your messages. Naturally, I believe my own man. Call me -again when you have something further to report. I have spoken." - -"He may believe his own henchman _now_," Cabot muttered to himself, "but -later he will begin to doubt." - -Then, shutting off his set, he penned a hurried note in duplicate to -Otto the Bold. - - Congratulations on the capture of the city of the black beasts. - Destroy their hut in the mountains, where you first shot arrows at me, - and first saw me use the magic slingshot. Destroy it at all costs, for - with it ends the power of the beasts. - - Cabot the Minorian. - -One copy he gave to each of two of the most trusted of his laboratory -guards, and adjured them at all costs to break through the lines -separately and get the message to the prince of the friendly faction of -the Roies. - -"If either of my Vairkings succeeds in reaching Prince Otto," Myles said -to himself, "it will mean the end of Yuri's reports from this -continent." - -Then with a sigh the Radio Man picked up an iron mallet and demolished -his own radio set, the work of so many hours of care. When he had -finished, there was not a fragment left intact. - -"This, too, must pass," he quoted sadly. - -At this point one of his Vairkings rushed in upon him with a shout: "A -party of Roies is attacking the alley gate." - -Shaking himself together, the Radio Man bade farewell to his beloved -laboratory, picked up his two rifles and his ammunition, and hastened to -take command of his forces. He found that his cart had safely got around -to the gate, but that a hand-to-hand conflict for its possession was now -in progress between the guard and a large force of Roies. So -inter-mingled were the contestants that the leader of the Vairkings had -not dared to use the rifle. - -Cabot, however, had the confidence of greater experience. A few well -placed shots fired by him from the gate, and the enemy broke away and -retreated down the alley. Myles handed out one of his own two rifles, -thus raising the number of his riflemen to two. These, with several -bowmen, took cover down the alley to hold off any counter-attack by the -enemy. - -The carboys of alcohol were then quickly loaded into the cart, along -with all the reserve ammunition which Doggo had manufactured, and the -expedition set forth. Cabot with his rifle in the lead, the other two -riflemen and the archers forming a rear guard, closely followed by the -hostile band of Roies. But, in spite of this pursuit, all went well -until the party turned into the alley of the secret door to Jud's -enclosure. - -Here they found the way blocked by a formidable body of the furry -savages, led by half a dozen ant-men armed with rifles. Luckily there -was plenty of rubbish in the alley behind which to take cover from those -ahead. Those behind were not much of a problem, not having any firearms -other than bows and arrows. - -But it was aggravating to be stopped within sight of one's goal. -Furthermore, three of the rifle-armed ants promptly departed, doubtless -for the purpose either of bringing up reenforcements, or of joining the -Roies who were on the other side of Cabot's party. - -There was no time to be lost. The rifles were now three to three. -Accordingly the earth-man called his archers from the rear and ordered a -charge. Of course, his porters could not fight while carrying a bottle -of alcohol under each arm, so all the bottles were piled around the cart -and left with a small guard. - -The attack proved temporarily successful. Step by step the three ants -and their Roy allies were driven back. But, just as Cabot and his -Vairkings were about to gain the secret opening in the wall, word was -brought that the Roies in the rear were attacking the cart; so Cabot had -to order a speedy retreat to save his precious alcohol, thus giving up -in an instant the ground which it had taken so long to gain. - -The Roies were readily repulsed from the cart and retreated down the -alley in disorder, but the party with whom Cabot and his Vairkings had -just been fighting formed at once for a counter-attack. - -At this juncture a row of heads suddenly and unexpectedly appeared over -the top of the wall, Quivven the Golden Flame, Doggo the ant-man, and -six Vairking guardsmen. Quivven and two guardsmen held rifles with which -they promptly covered the approaches to the alley, while Doggo started -hurling airplane bombs into the group of Roies led by his three -countrymen. - -When the smoke cleared the alley was cleared as well. Here and there -were arms and legs and other anatomical sections of Roies and Formians. -All the survivors had fled. Myles picked up two ant rifles and the -twisted remains of a third, and hurriedly passed what was left of his -precious liquid fuel in through the little gate in the wall. - -Nearly half the bottles and carboys had been broken during the fighting. -The Vairking dead numbered about a dozen, with several more wounded. -These were brought within the inclosure and ministered to by Quivven. - -By this time the pink twilight had begun to settle over the planet -Poros. Departure that day was now out of the question. Accordingly -guards were posted, and the rest of the party prepared to spend the -night close to the plane, on tapestries filched from the palace of Jud -the Excuse-Maker. - -The Radio Man himself was nearly exhausted, having worked steadily for -thirty-six hours on the completion of his set and the subsequent -fighting. Yet before he turned in he inquired about the state of the -battle. - -It appeared that little was known, save that the city was overrun by -ant-men and the furry savages of Att the Terrible, and that isolated -groups of Vairkings were defending as best they could their respective -inclosures against the invaders. Cabot reported the capture of the ant -city by Grod the Silent, which news served to hearten his own little -band considerably. - -The mention of the radio set, whereby he had obtained this information, -suggested to him to ask: "Have you tried to get the palace of Theoph the -Grim with the small set in Jud's quarters?" - -"Yes," Quivven replied, "repeatedly, but no one answers. You see, the -palace set is in my own rooms, and it has probably not occurred to -anyone to go there." - -Then they lay down for a fitful night of shouts and shots and flares. -But no one attacked the inclosure which they occupied. - -Along toward morning the earth-man fell into a soundless sleep, only to -be awakened by one of his Vairking soldiers shaking him roughly by the -shoulders. - -"Awake!" the leather-clad warrior shouted. "Awake! Vairkingi is in -flames. The fire is rapidly eating its way toward us." - -It was true. All around them was the uncanny red of the conflagration. -Overhead there sped flocks of sparks against a background of billowy -clouds of smoke, and a further background of jet-black sky. Immediate -steps were necessary to protect their airship from the flying embers. - -Accordingly the bottles and carboys of alcohol were emptied into the -fuel tank of the craft, and then filled with water. Brooms of brush were -brought and used to beat out such sparks as endangered the plane. Doggo -tested the motors, and found them in good order. - -The tapestries were loaded on board. Then there remained nothing they -could do except keep watch, guard the plane, and await the dawn; -although, of course, if the holocaust should approach too near it would -become necessary for them to fly, night or no night. - -Meanwhile it occurred to Myles to try once more to get the palace on the -air; so, with rifle and ammunition slung over his shoulders, and -carrying a torch, he proceeded to Jud's quarters. - -On the way he espied a dark form crouching in a corner of the fence of -one of the inclosures. - - - - - XIX - THE BATTLE IN THE AIR - - -Cabot unslung his rifle, held his torch high above him, and approached -the crouching figure. - -The crouching figure groaned. It was Tipi, still trussed up, forgotten -by all. Myles cut his bonds and helped him to his feet, but he collapsed -again with a groan. So, leaving him lying there, the earth-man hastened -back to the plane, and then returned with one of his Vairkings, whom he -instructed to take charge of the young noble until he was able to walk, -and then turn him loose through the secret gate into the alley. There -was no point in leaving even an enemy to be burned to death, trussed up -in a corner. - -Tipi attended to, Myles proceeded to Jud's quarters, where he tuned in -the palace. The result was immediate. - -"Jud speaking," said a voice. "Answer, Cabot. For Builder's sake, -answer!" - -"Cabot speaking," he replied. "I am at your quarters, O Jud. With me are -Quivven, Doggo, and about two dozen of the laboratory guards. We have -eight magic slingshots now, and also the magic aerial wagon, which you -have so long concealed from me. As soon as day breaks we shall rise in -the air and do battle with the beasts. If you had let me have this wagon -before, I could have prevented the fall of Vairkingi. Now it may be too -late. How are things with you?" - -Back came the answer. "Theoph the Grim, Arkilu the Beautiful, and I are -safe in the palace, with most of the army of the Vairkings. So far we -have repulsed every assault of the beasts and their Roy allies, but -their magic slingshots do frightful havoc. Come and rescue us, O -magician." - -To which Cabot replied: "With daylight I shall come." - -As he came out of the house he looked up at the sky. The background, -against which swirled the smoke clouds, now showed faintly purple. By -the time he rejoined his party by the plane, day had come. And it was -well, for the buildings in the next inclosure had started to burn. - -Cabot gave his parting instructions to the captain of the guard: "Take -six of these eight rifles. Convoy the Princess Quivven to her father's -palace." - -"But am I not going with you?" she interrupted in surprise. - -"I am afraid not, my dear," Myles sadly replied. "You have been a good -little pal, and I hate to leave you, but you would be entirely out of -place among the Cupians. Besides there is every chance of our perishing -in crossing the boiling seas." - -"Then you are going home?" she wailed. "You are planning to desert us in -our extremity?" - -"No," he answered, "I shall first fight the ant-men, and do all that I -can to save Vairkingi. When I am done, you will be safer here than you -would be with me." - -But she sank to the ground by his side and buried her head on her arms, -sobbing: "Myles, Myles, I love you. Can't you see that I loved you all -this time? Oh, you are so blind. You _must_ take me with you. Your -Quivven. Your own little Golden Flame." - -The earth-man sternly put her in the care of one of the guards, saying -grimly: "This makes it more impossible for you to go with me, Quivven, -for I have a wife and child in that other land across the seas. I am -sorry, sorrier than I can say, that you have come to love me. Can't you -see, Quivven, that this effectually seals the question? If it had not -been for this, I might have yielded to your entreaties, but now it is -impossible." - -Then to the captain of the guards: "With these six rifles, march to the -palace and join the forces of Theoph and Jud. I will endeavor to destroy -as many of the beasts as possible before I finally leave you and depart -for my own country. Start at once, leaving only two or three of your -number to help us." - -So the guard marched away, dragging a reproachful and tear-stained -Quivven with them. Three leather-clad Vairkings remained, and these -shortly were joined by a fourth. Cabot half consciously noticed this new -arrival, but paid little attention in the bustle of his preparations. - -The tapestries which were to serve in place of fire-worm fur to swathe -himself and Doggo in their flight across the boiling seas were -rearranged so as to take up less room. The goggles, which he had brought -from the laboratory, were packed with them. The bombs and rifle -ammunition were placed in handy positions. A small quantity of -provisions were added. Everything was lashed down. - -Then Myles drew Doggo to one side for a conference and wrote: "I plan -first to attack those Formians and Roies who are besieging Theoph's -palace; then to dispose of as many as possible of the scout planes. How -many of these are there?" - -"We had seven airships in our city in the south," wrote Doggo in reply. -"This is one of them here. One is probably temporarily disabled by the -shots which you fired in the laboratory yard. That should leave five." - -"Can we fight five?" - -"Most assuredly," Doggo wrote, agitating his antennae eagerly. - -"Then let's go!" wrote Cabot. - -With a quick take-off diagonally down the inclosure, the huge bombing -plane rose slowly into the air amid shouts from the Vairking soldiers -below. It was now broad daylight. Myles glanced over the rail, and noted -that there were now only three leather-clad warriors. He vaguely -wondered what had become of the fourth, but it was too late to inquire. - -Up through the swirling sparks and smoke they rose, up, up, until they -could get a bird's-eye view of the whole city of Vairkingi. There, on a -slight eminence in the center, stood the palace and inclosures of the -white-furred king, its walls manned by leather-clad Vairking warriors, -surrounded by savage besiegers. The flames had not yet reached that part -of the city, and with a change in the wind, appeared to be sweeping past -it. - - -As Myles and Doggo circled the palace they noted that practically all -the ant-men within sight were massing in a side street, evidently -preparing for an assault. How convenient! Myles took the levers and -swooped low, while Doggo deluged his fellow countrymen with bombs. When -their sudden attack was over, fully half of the Formian menace to the -city had been wiped out. - -Now for the scout planes. These, five in number, could be seen circling -the outskirts of the city. The two friends were able to approach one of -these without being suspected of being an enemy. Before its flyers -realized the peril it had gone down in flames from one well-placed bomb. - -The other four scout planes at once realized that their own countryman, -Doggo, had returned to do them battle, and accordingly converged upon -him. Again the two friends exchanged places. And then there took place -one of the finest examples of aerial warfare which the earth-man had -ever witnessed. - -This was not like the battles with the whistling bees before the advent -of Cabot-made rifles on the planet Poros, when the fighting tail of the -plane was pitted against the sting of the bee. For now it was rifle -against rifle, bomb against bomb. - -One by one the enemy planes crashed to the ground, as Doggo spiraled, -looped, tailspun, and side-slipped. At last there was only one Formian -opponent left. - -Doggo maneuvered to a position just above it, and Cabot reached for a -bomb to give it the _coup de grace_. - -But the bombs were all gone! And the ant-men in the plane below were -raising their rifles, watching for a good opening. - -What was to be done? With Doggo's deafness to sound waves, it would be -impossible to explain the situation to him in time for him to veer away. -He naturally assumed that, as he maneuvered the ship into this position -of advantage, Cabot would at once put an end to the fight. - -In this extremity the earth-man suddenly thought of the obsolete -fighting tail. Its levers were there. Was it still in operation? He -would see. - -Grasping its levers, he manipulated them swiftly, and drove the tip of -the tail through the fuel tank of the enemy. Two bullets zipped by him. -Then the machine below careened and soared to earth--or rather, -Poros--followed by a stream of shots from the earth-man's rifle. The -battle was over. - -Cabot relieved Doggo at the controls, and circled the palace once more. -His own squad of laboratory guards were just entering one of the palace -gates. The captain waved to him. But he noted that Quivven was not among -them. Poor girl! What could have become of the poor little golden -creature? - -But there was no time to ask. With so many of the ants killed, all their -aircraft disabled and the Vairkings firmly entrenched in the palace and -supplied with at least six ant-rifles, Quivven's people were in as good -a position as possible. - -For Cabot to stop now might mean not only renewed complications with the -golden maid, but also possibly the confiscation of his plane by Jud. It -would not pay to take any chances; he must hasten home to Lilla, leaving -the ants, the Roies, and the Vairkings to contend for the possession of -the burning city. - -As he turned the nose of the airship upward and began the ascent -preparatory to flying across the western mountains to the sea, he -observed a large marching body of troops far to the south. These might -change his responsibility with respect to his late hosts; it would only -take a few minutes to investigate; so southward he turned the plane. - -The marching troops were Roies, as he judged by their absence of leather -armor. Swooping low he picked out the face of their leader. It was Otto -the Bold, son of Grod the Silent, the leader of the friendly faction of -the furry wild-men of the hills. Having captured and sacked the city of -the ants, they were now evidently on their way to relieve Vairkingi. - -The last feeling of obligation passed from the earth-man, as, waving to -his savage friend, he turned the nose of his plane upward once more. -Then it occurred to him that, having flown so far south, he might just -as well take a final look at the ant-city. Besides, this would place him -in exactly the location where the ant-men had landed when they flew east -across the boiling seas from Cupia to found New Formia, and thus would -be a good point for him to take off in his flight westward. - -Accordingly, he turned to the right until he topped the mountain range, -then turned to the left again, and followed the range southward. - -But a tropical thunderstorm forced him to descend in a cleft of hills. -Myles hoped that this rain extended to Vairkingi, and would serve to -quench its fires. - - -After several hours, the weather cleared once more. The two companions -compared notes on the adventures which had befallen them since their -first hop-off that morning. Then they embarked once more, and continued -their course southward. Soon they passed over the smoking ruins of the -once-impregnable Sur, and at last came to the little radio hut of the -Formians. - -This, too, was in ruins; Otto had received his note. Wireless -communication between Cupia, and Vairkingia and New Formia was at an -end. Yuri would now believe the worst that Cabot had told him over the -air. And that worst was likely to prove to be the truth after all. - -Swinging to the westward, Myles passed over the deserted city of the -ants, patrolled by a handful of Otto's Roies; and thence on and on until -there loomed before him a solid wall of steam. It was the boiling sea, -over which he must pass in order to rejoin his loved ones. - -Hovering gently down on a little silver-green meadow about five miles -inland, the two fugitives prepared for the trip. First they pulled off -some of the tapestries to pad the fuel tank. - -And there before them lay a figure in leather Vairking armor, a golden -figure smiling up at them, little Quivven, whom they thought they had -left behind. - -"You!" Myles exclaimed, scowling. - -"Yes," she replied. "I usually accomplish what I set out to do. When you -sent me away, I persuaded one of the guards to lend me his suit. Then I -returned, helped with the loading, and hid myself while you and Doggo -were writing notes to each other. But I nearly died of fright when you -were turning me over and over, up there in the sky." - -Myles sighed resignedly. "I can't send you back now," he said, "though -what I shall do with you in Cupia, the Builders only knows!" - -So the three friends completed the preparations, and then sat down -together for a meal. - -It was too late to start their flight that day and, besides, a rest -would do them all good; so they encamped for the remainder of the -afternoon and the night. - -The next morning, as the first faint flush of pink tinged the eastern -sky, they took their farewell meal on Vairkingian soil. Then, swathed in -tapestries and with goggles in place, they took their stations in the -plane, and headed straight for the bank of steam. - -As they passed within its clouds, all sight was blotted out. - -They had decked the fusilage over like an Eskimo kayack, only Cabot's -well-wrapped head protruding. Within, Doggo manipulated the levers and -watched the altimeter and gyro-compass by the light of a Vairking stone -lamp; strange mingling of modernity and archaism. Cabot's vigil was for -the purpose of guarding against flying too high, and thus piercing the -cloud envelope and exposing them to the fatal glare of the sun. - -On and on they went. Cabot could see nothing. The hot vapor condensed on -his wrappings, seeped through, and scalded his head and shoulders -unbearably. Finally, he could stand it no longer. He pulled in his head -and tore off the bandages. The relief was instantaneous. He seized the -levers, and Doggo took his place at the opening. - -But at last even Doggo succumbed. Having braved the heat too long, he -collapsed weakly on the floor of the cockpit. - -"It's my turn," Quivven shouted, above the noise of the motors. "Now -aren't you glad you brought me along?" - -And in spite of Cabot's remonstrances, she swathed her golden head and -stuck it through the opening. - -By this time, scalding water was leaking through all the covering of the -cockpit. It was only a question of minutes before it would soak through -the body-coverings of those within. - -But just then the girl cried out, "Land. Land, once more; and clear -silver sky." - -Doggo revived and tore off the covers. True, the steam bank of the -boiling seas lay behind them. Below them was the silver-green land. - -What did it hold in store? - - - - - XX - THE WHOOMANGS - - -Thoroughly exhausted by their flight across the boiling seas, the Radio -Man and his two strange companions--the huge ant-man, Doggo, and the -beautiful, golden-furred Vairking maiden, Quivven--wished to land at -once, without waiting to ascertain what particular section of Cupia lay -beneath them. But the entire area below appeared to be thickly wooded. - -Accordingly the fugitives hovered down to a short distance above the -ground and then just skimmed the treetops at a slow rate of speed, -keeping a careful watch for a landing place. They had not long to wait, -for presently they espied a road running beneath the trees; and, after -putting on more speed and following this road for a couple of stads, -they finally came to a sufficiently large clearing a short distance from -the road, to enable them to settle down quietly to the ground. - -The party quickly disembarked upon the silver-green sward, and the three -companions then broke through the bushes to the road, which proved to be -of dirt, although well-traveled. - -Myles remarked, "This must be some very out-of-the-way part of my -country; for practically all of our roads are built of concrete, a -material similar to the cement with which I fastened the bricks together -in making our furnaces in Vairkingi." - -Quivven shuddered. "Please don't remind me of my poor city," she begged -piteously; then in a more resigned tone: "But that is behind us. Let us -forget it and face the future. You were speaking of cement roads?" - -"Yes," Myles replied. "The fact, that this road is not made of concrete -indicates that it is not a main highway, but the fact that it is -well-worn shows that it is traveled considerably. Let us therefore wait -for some passer-by who can tell us where we are." - -At this point Doggo produced a pad and stylus, and wrote, "Let me in on -this." - -Cabot obligingly transcribed, in Porovian short-hand, an account of the -conversation. Meanwhile the golden girl abstractedly examined the -foliage beside the road. - -While Doggo was reading the manuscript, Quivven called Cabot's attention -to the trees and shrubs. "How different they are from those in -Vairkingia," she remarked. - -"That is to be expected," Myles answered, "for your land and mine are -separated by boiling seas across which no seeds or spores could pass and -live. Thus it is surprising that the two continents support even the -same general classes of life. Come, I will point out to you some of the -more common forms of our flora." - -He had in mind to show her the red-knobbed gray lichen-tree; and the -tartan bush, the heart-shaped leaves of which are put to so many uses by -the Cupians; and the saffra herb, the roots of which are used for -anaesthesia; and the blue and yellow dandelionlike wild flowers. But -although he searched for a hundred paces or so along the road, he was -unable to locate a single specimen of these very common bits of Porovian -vegetation. - -"It is strange," he muttered half to himself. "When I want to show the -common plants of Cupia, I find nothing but unfamiliar plants, and yet -I'll bet that if I were to go out in search of rare specimens for my -castle garden at Lake Luno, I should find nothing but tartan, saffra, -lichen-trees, and blue dandelions." - -The mention of Luno Castle turned his thoughts homeward with a jerk. -Here he was at last, after many adventures, on the same continent with -his Lilla and his baby Kew. He had come here to rescue them, if it were -not too late, from Yuri the usurper and his whistling bees. Now that he -was apparently within reach of his loved ones, he began to worry about -their safety a great deal more than ever before. - -But this fear _for_ Lilla was completely out-weighed by a growing fear -_of_ Lilla. What would she say to his two allies? Doggo, the ant-man, -was a representative of a race which Cabot had vowed to exterminate from -the face of Poros; for, as he had repeatedly asserted, there can be no -lasting peace on any continent, which is inhabited by more than one race -of intelligent beings. - -And Quivven, the golden-furred Vairking maiden, would be even more -difficult to explain. She was beautiful, even by Cupian standards. She -was more nearly the same race as Myles than was his own wife, Lilla. She -and Myles could talk together, unheard by the radio-sense of Lilla. In -these circumstances, it was hardly possible that the Princess Lilla -would receive Quivven with open arms, or even be passably decent to her. - -At this point, his reveries was interrupted by Doggo handing him the -following note: - - If we are to await passers-by, do you not think it would be well to - return to the plane and secure our rifles, so as to protect ourselves - in case the passers-by should prove to be hostile? - -Myles nodded his assent, and informed Quivven of their intentions. She, -being nearer to the point where they had entered the road, plunged -through the bushes at once, and they hastened after her. - -Just as Myles and Doggo were breaking through the bushes in the wake of -the golden one, they heard an agonized scream ahead. Redoubling their -efforts, they reached the clearing in an instant, and beheld a most -unexpected sight! - -Perched upon the airship, like a flock of enormous vultures, were about -a dozen huge, bat-winged, pale green reptiles, each with a wing-spread -of fully ten-feet; and one of these loathsome creatures held the -writhing form of Quivven tight in its claws. - - -Without a moment's thought for his own safety, the intrepid earth-man -drew the Vairkingian sword which hung at his side, and rushed straight -at the beast which held the girl. Doggo followed close behind, clicking -his mandibles angrily. - -But before they could reach the plane, the noisome flock flapped heavily -into the air and disappeared over the trees to the northward, Quivven's -childish face an agony of despair, and one little furry paw waving a -forlorn farewell. - -The next move was obvious. Myles and Doggo sprang to their places in the -aircraft and soared after. It was an easy matter to overtake the -clumsy-winged saurians, but not so easy to decide what to do after -reaching them. The reptiles flew so close together their pursuers were -afraid to fire on them for fear of hitting Quivven. The girl was as yet -apparently unharmed, so the only thing to do seemed to be to follow and -watch for some opportunity to effect a rescue. - -Thus the chase continued for several stads without event. Myles was in -an agony for the safety of his little friend, but even his deep concern -did not keep his scientific mind from speculating about the pale green -dragons which he was following. He had read about such beasts in books -on paleontology as a child. These were undoubtedly pterodactyls. - -He had seen somewhat similar stuffed specimens in the imperial museum at -Kuana, capital of Cupia. He had encountered swarms of tiny pterosaurs, -the size of sparrows, in the caves of Kar. But he had been informed by -Cupian scientists that the larger species had long since become extinct -on Poros. - -Whence then these captors of Quivven? - -While engaged thus in speculations, he flew a bit closer to the flock, -whereat two of them suddenly turned and simultaneously attacked the -plane from both sides. Doggo instantly dispatched _his_ assailant with a -rifle shot; but Myles did not dare let go of the control levers, as he -was flying too close to the tree tops for safety as it was. Accordingly -_his_ assailant got a clawhold on the side of the fusilage, furled its -wings and started to crawl in. - -But the earth-man steered the machine high into the air, as his -companion swung around and fired at the intruder, which promptly let go -its hold, and, falling with a shriek of pain, crashed through the tree -tops and disappeared from view. - -Myles drew a deep breath of relief, and once more swooped down on the -flock of pterosaurs. But this time he kept at a safe distance from them; -and they, warned by the fate of their two comrades, did not attempt any -further sallies at the plane. - -So the pursuit continued. Occasionally, between the green wings, the two -in the airship could catch a glimpse of the form of Quivven, held fast -in the talons of her captor. She was still alive. She did not seem to be -in pain. Once she waved feebly to her friends above. What would those -beasts do with her? - -The question was soon to be answered. But first it was to be succeeded -by many other questions, for a large and prosperous looking city loomed -ahead. Its appearance was unfamiliar to Cabot. Strange, he thought that -he knew all the principal settlements of Cupia! Its architecture was of -an unknown type, not the pueblolike piles of exaggerated toy building -blocks affected by the Formians, nor the red-tiled spires and minarets -of the Cupians, but rather a style somewhat resembling classical Greek -or Roman. - -The architecture was immaterial, however, compared with the fact that -this was a city of some sort, a city of a high degree of civilization. -The beasts were apparently headed straight for it, and thus there was -every prospect of the inhabitants--presumably Cupians--rescuing Quivven. - -Suppose, however, it was a deserted city. Its unfamiliar style and -remote location suggested as much. Perhaps this was the long forgotten -court of some Cupian Jamshyd, now kept by lion and lizard, or rather by -woofus and pterodactyl. - -This was not so, however; for, as Cabot drew nearer, he could clearly -see that the buildings were in an excellent state of repair, with not a -crumbling ruin among them. No, this was an _inhabited_ city, to which -the green dragons were bringing their prey. Could it be that the Cupian -inhabitants kept these creatures as pets, and that this fact was unknown -to the scientists at the Cupian metropolis? - -Cabot's cogitations were again cut short by his arrival over the city. -The dragons made straight for an imposing centrally-located domed -edifice, which they entered by one of the upper windows. The plane -promptly dropped into a near-by plaza. Making a sign to the ant-man to -guard the ship, Myles seized a rifle and cartridges, and rushed down a -street which led toward the building which the green beasts had entered. - -On the way he met several pterosaurs, four or five four-legged -slate-colored reptiles ranging in size from that of a small dog to that -of a horse, one large snake about thirty feet in length, various sorts -of insects, and a few cat-like furry creatures; but not a single Cupian. -If these were the pets of the city, where were their masters? - -The strange creatures did not offer to molest him. In fact, they gave -way to him with every indication of respect and not a little fear. This -seemed to indicate that they were all thoroughly domesticated, so he -made no effort to hurt them. - - -At last he arrived at the building which he sought. A wide incline led -from the street up to its arched doorway. This smacked of Formia, for -the ant-men before they were driven off the continent had used ramps -everywhere instead of the flight of stairs employed by the Cupians. - -Over the door was an inscription in unmistakable Porovian characters: -"The Palace of the City of Yat." - -This must be Cupia, or old Formia--now occupied by the Cupians--for this -was the language of those two races. But then, he reflected, it had also -been the _written_ language of the Vairkings, far across the boiling -seas. - -Putting an end to his speculations, he rushed up the ramp and entered -the building. - -The splendidly arched and vaulted interior was crowded with the -strangest assortment of animals the earth-man had ever set eyes upon. -Picture to yourself Frank Buck's circus, the New York zoo, and the -gr-ool of Kuana, all turned loose in one hall, and then you wouldn't -imagine one-half of it; for very few of these assembled beasts bore the -slightest resemblance to anything which you, or even Myles Cabot, had -ever seen. He paused aghast and surveyed the assemblage. There was not a -human or Cupian present, not even an ant-man! - -At the farther side of the chamber, on a raised platform, there sat--or, -rather, squatted--a gigantic pterosaur, whose wingspread must have been -at least twenty feet from tip to tip. This beast, unlike those which had -kidnapped Quivven, was pale slate-blue rather than green. His head was -square, with a sharp crested beak, large circular lidless eyes, and -earholes, but no ears. - -Four legs he had, very much like those of a toad, except that the fifth -finger of each hand, the finger which should have been the "little" -finger, extended backward over his hips to a distance of about six feet, -and served as the other supporting edge of his leathery wings, which now -lay furled at his side. - -In front of this creature stood Quivven the Golden Flame, guarded by two -of the smaller pterodactyls, and seemingly unhurt and unafraid. None of -the animals appeared to have noticed Cabot's entrance, so he decided to -wait a few moments and size up the situation before doing anything rash. - -As he watched the scene, a huge snake some thirty feet in length and at -least half a yard in diameter squirmed on to the platform beside the -slate-colored dragon. This snake had two rudimentary legs and two small -arms, none of which it used to help its progression; but in one hand it -carried what appeared to be a sheet of paper, which it handed with a -hiss to the dragon, who hissed in reply, and taking the paper appeared -to read it. - -This called the attention of the earth-man to the fact that each of the -Alice-in-Wonderland animals about him was equipped with a pad and -stylus. Occasionally one would scratch something on its pad, and then -make two sharp clicks with its mouth, at which a small winged lizard -would take the missive and fly with it to some other part of the -chamber. - -Standing very near Myles there was a small and particularly -inoffensive-looking furry animal somewhat resembling a beaver. In Cupia -Myles would have assumed that it was some species of mathlab, except for -its lack of antennae. - -This looked like a good safe specimen to experiment upon, so he reached -for its pad, which, to his great surprise, the creature promptly handed -him without demur, together with its stylus. - -Remembering the inscription above the arched doorway, Myles wrote in -Porovian shorthand: "Most Excellent King--Myles Cabot, a weary -sojourner, craves protection for himself and the golden one who now -stands before you. We are from Cupia and Vairkingi respectively. What -country is this?" - -Then he folded the paper and clicked twice with his tongue against the -roof of his mouth. Instantly a fluttering messenger was at his side. -Indicating the platform with a gesture, he handed the note to the little -winged reptile, who flew away with it. Myles passed the pad and stylus -back to the furry creature from whom he had borrowed it, and then -watched the great dragon to whom he had written. - -This beast received and read the note, while the messenger hovered nigh. -Then, steadying a pad against the floor with one front claw, he wrote on -it with a stylus held in the other. What he had written he showed to the -snake which lay coiled beside him, and upon obtaining a hiss of -approval, folded the note and gave it to the little bat, who flew back -with it to Myles. - - -On the paper, written in unmistakable Porovian characters, were the -words: "Welcome to Yat, Myles Cabot. You and your mate are our guests. -We know of no country of either Cupia or Vairkingi. This is the land of -the Whoomangs, and I am Boomalayla, their king. You have permission to -approach the throne." - -So _that_ explained the strange plants, the dirt roads, the unfamiliar -architecture, and the absence of Cupians and Vairkings! This must be a -_third_ continent intermediate between the other two. Well, the plane -was intact, and King Boomalayla had assured him that they were guests, -so that it was just as well that they had landed on this Azores of the -boiling seas. Reassured, the earth-man made his way through the strange -throng to the foot of the throne where he bowed low before the hideous -reptile monarch. - - -Little Quivven, with a cry of glad surprise, rushed over to him and -nestled confidingly by his side. Placing one arm protectingly around -her, he boldly confronted the winged king. - -This beast, after some penciled conversation with his serpent adviser, -handed Myles a note reading as follows: "Our nation was founded many -years ago by a creature closely resembling yourself. Therefore you are -an honored guest among us. We have long awaited this day. It is true -that you have killed the bodies of two of my subjects, and thereby -subjected their souls to a premature birth. The penalty for this would -ordinarily be to have a similar death imposed upon your own body. But -because of your resemblance to our great originator, Namllup, I shall -spare your body. Furthermore, I fear that, like him, you may perhaps -have no soul, although this deficiency can easily be supplied." - -Myles read the note and handed it to Quivven, then pointed to the -writing materials of the saurian. Instantly two of the tiny winged -messengers brought him a pad and stylus. - -Thus supplied, he asked the king: "Great ruler, does your offer of -protection include my wings and the black creature who guards them in -the public square outside?" - -"And how about little me?" asked Quivven, reading over his shoulder. - -"He has already pledged his friendship to both of us," replied Myles, -handing the note to one of the tiny pterosaurs. - -Back came the answer from the king: "You and yours shall all be -protected. I will now send guards to relieve your guard at the wings, -and to summon him into my presence." - -But the earth-man held up one hand in a gesture of protest, and -hurriedly wrote: "Better not, your majesty, unless you wish a fight. I -will send a note, explaining all. You can then follow it in a few -paraparths with your detachment of guards." - -To this proposal the huge saurian assented, so Myles dispatched to Doggo -by one of the tiny pterosaurs a long written explanation of the -situation. A few minutes later, under orders from the reptile king, the -flock of green pterodactyls who had been the original captors of Quivven -departed with much leathery flapping through one of the windows -overhead, and presently one of them returned on foot with Doggo. - -"What kind of a gr-ool is this we have got into?" were the ant-man's -first words, as Cabot handed him the pad and stylus. - -"The Great Builder only knows," his friend replied. "Anyhow they claim -to possess souls, and have offered us protection." - -Doggo looked skeptical. Just then a messenger flitted over with a note -from Boomalayla, reading: "The session is at an end. You will please -follow me to the royal apartments for a conference." - -The king clicked sharply. Instantly all was silence in the huge hall. -Solemnly the king clicked three times. In unison the assembled Whoomangs -clicked back a triple answer. Then all was bustle and confusion as those -without wings crowded through the doors and those with wings departed -through the windows in the dome above. - -Boomalayla and his snake adviser, and the three travelers from Vairkingi -were the only persons--if you can call them all "persons"--left in the -vaulted chamber. Whereupon the snake, gliding ahead, led the way to an -anteroom, gorgeously jeweled and draped. There the five reclined on soft -tapestries, attended by a swarm of little messengers and engaged in the -following written conversation. Due to the speed of Porovian shorthand, -the "talk" progressed practically as rapidly as if it had been spoken, -although Doggo was somewhat handicapped by not having a stylus which was -properly adapted to his claw. - -"Who are your companions?" the king asked. - -So Myles introduced Quivven the Vairking maiden, and Doggo the Formian. -Boomalayla explained that the snake was Queekle Mukki, prime minister of -the Whoomangs, and wise beyond all his countrymen. - -"His soul is brother to my soul, although our bodies are unrelated," the -king wrote. - -Myles was much perplexed. "How is it," he inquired, "that such -diversified animals as you Whoomangs are able to live at peace with each -other?" - -"It was not so before the days of Namllup," the huge pterosaur replied, -"but he gave us souls and made us one people. Our bodies may be -unrelated, but our souls are the same. You and your two companions are -as unalike as any of us; perhaps the three of _you_ have a common type -of soul." - -Myles was even more perplexed. "Who was Namllup?" he asked. "And what -means all this talk of souls?" - - - - - XXI - SOULS? - - -In reply to Cabot's question, the huge winged saurian, Boomalayla, King -of the Whoomangs, wrote the following reply, "All that I am about to -tell you of the traditional beginning of our race is shrouded in the -mists of antiquity. The legend is as follows: - -"Many hundreds of years ago this fertile continent was inhabited by -warring beasts of every conceivable size and form; and they were but -brute creatures, for they had no souls. Souls existed, it is true, but -inasmuch as they inhabited no bodies, they had no learning, experience, -or background. They were of but little use to themselves, each other, or -the planet. - -"Then one day there was born out of the ground a creature much like -yourself. His name was Namllup. He it was who discovered how to -introduce souls into bodies by making a slight incision at the base of -the brain and inserting there a young soul. - -"First he captured some very tame wild creatures and gave them souls. -With their aid he captured others, more fierce, and so on, until there -was hardly a beast left soulless on this continent. Thus did he make of -one race all the creatures of Poros to dwell together on the face of the -continent. This industry we have kept up to this day. - -"It is reported, however, that Namllup himself had no soul. There was no -scar at the back of his head, and no soul issued from his body after -death. Others he gave soul to, himself he could not. This is the general -belief." - -All this was as clear as mud to Myles Cabot. He could not make head nor -tail out of it. Boomalayla appeared to be talking in riddles, or -allegories. - -Nevertheless, Myles determined to try and make a beginning somewhere in -order to understand what this mass of verbiage was all about, so he -wrote, "How can you tell? Surely you cannot _see_ souls!" - -"Surely we _can_," the reptile king replied, "for souls are creatures -just as real as we are, and have an independent existence from the day -they hatch until they are inserted in the brain of somebody. From the -way you talk, I cannot believe that _you_ have any soul." - -"Of course I have," Myles remonstrated. - -"Prove it to me," Boomalayla demanded. "Let me see the back of your -head." - -Myles complied. - -"No," the winged king continued, "you have no soul. There is no scar." - -This conversation was irritating in the extreme. It led nowhere. Quivven -and Doggo read all the correspondence, and were equally perplexed. - -The huge pterosaur continued writing. "I can see that you do not believe -me," he wrote. - -"This is not to be wondered at, since you yourself are soulless. Though -I cannot understand how a beast like you, without a soul, can be as -intelligent as you seem to be. Come to our temple, and I will show you -souls." - -So saying, Boomalayla, accompanied by Queekle Mukki, the serpent, led -Cabot and his two companions out of the buildings and through the -streets of the city to another edifice, which they entered. - -What a travesty on the lost religion of Cupia! - -Within the temple there moved about a score or more of assorted -beasts--pterodactyls, reptiles, huge insects, furry creatures, and so -forth--bearing absolutely no resemblance to each other except the fact -that each and every one of them wore a long robe emblazoned with a -crimson triangle and swastika, emblem of the true religion of Poros. - -Among them was one enormous slate-colored pterosaur, almost the exact -counterpart of Boomalayla, the king, who introduced this beast to his -guests by means of the following note: "This is the chief priest of the -true religion. She is my mate. But come, let me show you some souls." - -The chief priest then led the party into an adjoining room, the walls of -which were lined with tiny cages, most of which contained pairs of -moths. - -The dragon king explained as follows: "When a Whoomang dies, his body is -brought to the temple and is watched day and night by a priest, net in -hand, to catch the soul when it emerges." - -What it had to do with _souls_ Cabot couldn't see for the life of him. -Neither could Quivven nor Doggo. - -Having made a complete tour of inspection the party then returned to the -palace, where they discussed the glories of Vairkingi and Cupia with the -king and Queekle Mukki, and then dined on cereal cakes and a flesh -resembling fish. - -"Be not afraid to eat this," Boomalayla urged. "It is fresh flesh. We -breed these water reptiles especially for food." - -After the meal the three travelers were assigned rooms in the palace. - -At Cabot's request, tapestries were brought from the plane, and the -party severally retired for the night. - -The next morning they were up early, and assembled in Cabot's room. The -night had proved uneventful, but Doggo wrote in great excitement that he -had talked with the green guards, who had refused to disclose the -whereabouts of the plane, and had said that this was the king's order. - -Immediately after breakfast, which consisted of cakes and sweetened -water, they requested an audience with the king--and, when it was -granted, demanded news of the plane. But Boomalayla waved them off with -an evasive answer. - -"Tarry but a day or so," he wrote, "and then your wings shall be -returned to you, and you shall be permitted to depart. I promise it, on -the word of honor of a king." - -So there was nothing but to wait, for it would not do to antagonize this -powerful beast, and thus perhaps lose forever the chance to return which -he had promised them. - -The day was spent in a personally-conducted tour of the city, with -Boomalayla as a most courteous and attentive guide and host. The -Whoomangs appeared to be a highly cultivated race, if you can call them -a "race"--a "congeries" would perhaps be the most accurate term. Objects -of all the arts abounded, and the tour would have been most pleasurable -if the three travelers had not been so anxious to be on their way once -more to Cupia. - -The night was spent as before, uneventfully, but the next day Doggo was -missing. In reply to all inquiries, the Whoomangs returned evasive -answers. - -"He is gone on business of his own," was all they would say. - -This day Queekle Mukki, the serpent, was their host and guide. He used -every effort to outdo Boomalayla in courtesy, but his two guests were -strangely uneasy. Some impending calamity seemed to hang over them. - -Late that evening, when they were in their quarters, Doggo rushed in -bristling with excitement. He had something to tell them, and wanted to -tell it quickly, but had mislaid his pad and stylus. Strange to relate, -Cabot could not find his own writing materials either. Quivven finally -found her stylus but no pad. - -Seizing the lead-tipped stick, Doggo scratched on the pavement of the -room, "Quick, give me paper! Quick! Your lives depend upon it! Quick, -before it is too late!" - -Cabot rushed into the hall and clicked twice with his tongue against the -roof of his mouth, but nothing happened. Again and again he repeated the -call, until finally one of the little winged messengers flitted into -sight. To him the earth-man indicated his wants by going through the -motions of writing with the index finger of his right hand upon the palm -of his left. The little creature flitted away, and after what seemed an -interminable wait returned with pad and stylus. - -Myles snatched them and rushed back to Doggo. "What is the matter?" he -wrote. - -But Doggo replied, "Nothing. It was just a joke, to frighten you. We are -all perfectly safe here, and Boomalayla has a wonderful plan to -facilitate our departure three days from now." - -It was not like Doggo, or any other member of the serious minded race of -ant-men, to play a practical joke like this. Myles could swear that his -friend had been genuinely agitated a few moments ago. What could have -happened in the meantime to change him? - -The earth-man looked at the Formian steadily through narrowed lids. His -friend appeared to act strangely. Could this, in truth, be Doggo? - -If they had been on any other continent Myles would have sworn that some -other ant-man, closely resembling his friend, was attempting an -impersonation, but that could not be the case here, for Doggo was -certainly the only Formian on this continent. - -It was Doggo's body, all right, yet it did not act or look like Doggo. - -Even Quivven noticed that something was wrong. Nervously she said good -night, and Cabot followed shortly after. - -Instead of retiring he went to Quivven's room, where the two puzzled -together for some time, trying to guess what had come over their friend. -What at last they parted for the night the mystery was no nearer -solution than before. In fact, they had practically made up their minds -that no mystery existed, after all; and that the strange surroundings, -and strange events, and strange talk of souls, had merely cast an aura -of strangeness even over their friend. - - -The next morning Doggo was on hand bright and early, but this time it -was Quivven who was missing. - -"My turn next," thought Myles, "and then perhaps I shall find out what -it is all about." - -As before, the Whoomangs were evasive as to the whereabouts of the -golden one, and even Doggo was singularly unresponsive and devoid of -ideas on the subject. - -This day the she-dragon high-priestess was their guide, but although she -outdid both Boomalayla and Queekle Mukki, Cabot fretted, and worried, -and merely put on an external show of interest. - -Late that afternoon--the fourth--of their stay among the Whoomangs--as -soon as the tour was over, Cabot left Doggo and withdrew to his own -room. - -Where was Quivven all this time, he wondered. - -His question was answered by the Golden Flame herself bursting into the -room full of excitement. - -"Thank the Builder I can talk to you with my mouth, and do not have to -wait for pencil and paper," she exclaimed. "The Whoomangs overlooked our -powers of vocal speech when they hid our writing materials as before." - -It was true; their pads and styluses had miraculously disappeared again. - -"Where have you been?" Cabot asked, somewhat testily. "I suppose that in -a few moments you will say that all _your_ excitement has been a mere -practical joke on me, the same as Doggo's was." - -"Yes," she replied seriously. "I shall--undoubtedly. And therefore -listen while there is yet time--while I am still Quivven." - -"What do you mean?" Myles exclaimed, staring at her. - -"This," she said. "In a few moments I shall be Whoomang." - -He started to interrupt, but she stopped him with a peremptory gesture, -and continued; "Know, then, the secret of all this talk of souls. The -grubs which they breed from their moths are strong personalities, -potential devils, needing only a highly-developed body in order to -become devils incarnate. Namllup, whoever he was, discovered this, ages -ago. - -"By a simple operation, the Whoomangs can insert one of these larvae at -the base of a creature's brain, where in a few hours the personality of -the larva overcomes the proper personality of the creature, and -henceforth rules the creature until the creature dies. The larva then -flutters free, a moth, to propagate other devil-souls for this nefarious -usage. - -"Yesterday these fiends operated upon Doggo. For a time, his own soul -and this brain-maggot struggled for supremacy. While his own personality -remained ascendant, and yet had imbibed sufficient knowledge to -understand the situation, he tried to warn us of our danger. Would that -he had been in time! But when the pad of paper had arrived, dear old -Doggo was dead. His body had become a Whoomang, dominated by one of -their moth-grubs, 'souls' as they call them. - -"This afternoon they operated on me!" - -Myles shuddered, but Quivven went relentlessly on: "Two personalities -are now contending within me for mastery. There can be but one outcome. -Quivven must die, and her brain and body must become the vehicle for the -thoughts and schemes of an alien mind. My will is strong. At present it -is in control. But any moment now, it may snap. So I adjure you, by the -Great Builder and your loved ones, refuse stonily and absolutely to -listen to any denial which my mouth may give you. - -"Now, while there is yet time, I must tell you their plans. Boomalayla -sighs for more worlds to conquer. He was captivated by your tales of -your country. To-morrow he will operate on you. Then, when the bodies of -you and Doggo and I are all Whoomangs, and yet retain a certain amount -of our own knowledge and skill, he plans to send us on to Cupia with a -plane-load of moths, to operate on your countrymen, and build up a -second empire of Whoomangs there." - -Myles gasped at the dastardliness of the plan, a plan which might yet -succeed; for, even if he escaped, Doggo's body might still carry the -plan into execution. - -"Where is our plane?" he asked. - -"Yes," Quivven sadly replied, "I must lead you to the plane, while I am -yet me. Come quickly." - -"But can we leave Doggo?" - -"Yes," she replied. "Not only must you leave Doggo, but you must leave -me, too; for Doggo is no longer Doggo, and I shall not be Quivven in a -few minutes from now, for I feel the Whoomang-soul struggling for -ascendency within me. Come!" - - -Quickly she led him out of the room, and down several hallways to a -courtyard of the palace, where stood the plane, guarded by a green -dragon. This beast interposed no objection to their approach. Quivven -smiled wanly. - -"He will not stop you," she said, "for already they regard me as one of -them, and count on me to inveigle you. And now, Myles, good-by. I feel -myself slipping. In a minute or two your Quivven will be no more. -Whether my own soul will then go to the happy land, as though I had -normally died, or whether it will simply be blotted out, I know not; but -one thing I _do_ know, and that is that I love you with all my heart." - -She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him. - -Then suddenly she cried, "I've won! I made you love me. It was all a -scheme, cooked up by Doggo and myself to trap you out of your -complacency and force you to admit your love. The story of the -moth-grubs souls is a lie, woven out of the weird philosophizing of -Boomalayla. From now on, I know that you love me. From now on, I am -confident that I can compete with that Lilla of yours." - -He stood aghast. Could this be so? He was half inclined to believe. Then -he remembered her words: "_Refuse stonily and absolutely to listen to -any denial which my mouth may give you._" Also he reflected that Doggo -certainly would never have been a party to a trick to betray Lilla. - -So he thrust the golden maid to one side, and strode toward the plane. - -But she rushed after him and clung to him, wailing piteously, "Myles, -Myles, surely you aren't going to desert us just because of this trick -which we played on you. Surely you don't intend to leave us to the mercy -of these terrible beasts." - -He did not know what to believe. There was a possibility that her story -about the souls was the truth. If so, then the safety of the whole -continent of Cupia was at stake. And yet, if not, what an awful country -to leave her and Doggo in! - -He vaulted into the plane, then stood irresolute at the levers. He -looked intently at the golden maid, who clung to the side of the car. -There was something strange about her face, something clearly -un-Quivven. And yet, as he gazed, he became certain that it was Quivven -after all. And he was right. - -"Myles," she shouted, letting go the plane, "Quick! By the grace of the -Builder, my own spirit is again in the ascendency for an instant. The -story I told you is true! Flee, before it is too late." Then suddenly -she changed again and shouted to the guardian pterosaur, "Quick, stop -him!" - -Her expression altered as she spoke, but Myles slammed on the power, and -the machine rose quickly, leaving behind the frantic golden form of -little Quivven. - -After him trailed a swarm of winged creatures of all sorts, but his fast -airship soon outdistanced them as it sped due west toward a sky that had -already begun to turn pink with the unseen setting sun. On and on he -sped until his pursuers dropped from view. Then he turned northward to -throw them off the trail; and then, after a while, due west again, -until, as night was about to fall, the steam-bank of the boiling sea -loomed ahead. - -Whereupon he landed. He must wait until morning before attempting the -passage. But as he prepared to spend the night he noticed that all the -tapestries were gone from the cockpit. - -How could he brave the steam clouds without wrappings of some sort? And -was he certain, after all, that he was not leaving two perfectly good -friends in the lurch? - - - - - XXII - FLIGHT - - -There must be _something_ in the airship in which he could swathe -himself for the trip across the boiling seas. With this in view he made -a frantic search of the entire cockpit. Doggo's rifle and the ammunition -were still there, but his own he had left in his room on his hurried -departure. Here, too, was the little stone lamp, by the light of which -they had watched their instruments beneath the kayack covering. Even -some of their provisions were left. - -Finally he came upon some boxes which he did not recognize. A rank smell -became evident upon closer examination. Gingerly he opened one of those -boxes. - -It contained flesh, finely ground and putrid. And in this carrion there -wriggled and swarmed scores of small white grubs! The last of Cabot's -doubts vanished. These were the devil-souls which he and Doggo and -Quivven had been expected to carry to Cupia, to found there a new empire -of Whoomangs. Evidently his hosts had expected some possible trouble -from him, and therefore had prepared the plane for a quick get-away by -Doggo and Quivven. - -Indignantly the lonely earth-man emptied out box after box onto the -ground, and mashed the contents into the dirt with his sandaled feet. - -By this time it was nearly pitch dark, but of course, this would make no -difference while flying through steam clouds, for visibility under such -circumstances would be impossible even in daylight. If he only had some -covering for the cockpit to keep out the steam, he could fly just as -well at night as by day, except for one danger; how could he be warned -of flying too high, passing through the circumambient cloud envelope, -and being shriveled to a crisp by the close proximity of the sun. - -In despair the earth-man sat beside his beached airship, as the velvet -blackness crept out of the east and enveloped the planet. So near, and -yet so far! He had successfully transmitted himself through millions of -miles of space from the earth to Poros. He had escaped the clutches of -the Formians and the Roies. - -He had built a complete radio set out of nothing, and had talked with -Cupia across the boiling seas. He had traversed those seas once without -accident. He had eluded the machinations of the Whoomangs, with their -moth grub "souls". And yet here he was, with only a few miles of ocean -separating him from his loved ones, and, nevertheless, blocked -effectually by the lack of a few yards of cloth. What fate! - -As the last purple flush died on the western horizon, Myles suddenly -jumped to his feet, and laughed aloud. The solution was so obvious that -it had completely escaped him until now. It was the setting sun that had -suggested the escape from his dilemma. - -There is no sun at night! - -Of course not! - -Therefore why not soar straight up, pierce the cloud envelope and fly -above it to Cupia, letting the clouds protect him from the heat of the -boiling seas, as they normally protect the planet from the light and -heat of the sun? At any rate, it was worth trying. To remain where he -was would mean either eventual starvation, or recapture by the terrible -Whoomangs. - -So, by the light of his little Vairking stone lamp, he made a hasty -lunch from his few remaining provisions, and then took his stand at the -levers for a new experiment in Porovian navigation. - -Up, up, he shot through the dense blackness, up to a height which in -earth would have filled his blood with air bubbles, and have suffocated -his lungs. But on Poros, with its thicker atmospheric shell and its -lesser gravity, the change was not so evident. - -Far to the eastward he saw the lights of Yat, the city of the beasts; -but this was his only landmark. There was nothing but his gyro-compass -to tell him exactly which was north, and south, and east, and west; -nothing but his clinometer to indicate whether he was going up or down; -nothing but his altimeter to indicate his approximate height above the -surface of the planet. And these instruments he must read by the -flickering light of a primitive open wick stone lamp on the floor of the -cockpit. - -What if this faint illuminator should become extinguished? He certainly -could not leave the controls for long enough to use flint and steel to -rekindle it. - -During the early part of his stay in Vairkingi he had always gone to -some one of the constantly burning lamps which were the primitive fire -source of the furry Vairkings. Later he had found several pieces of -flint, when investigating a small chalk deposit as a possible -alternative for limestone in his smelting operations. After the -manufacture of steel had begun he had practiced striking a light in this -more modern method, and thereafter had always carried flint and steel -and tinder with him in one of the pouch pockets of his leather tunic. It -was with these crude implements that he had kindled his oil lamp for the -present flight. - -But this fire source would avail him little if a gust of wind should -extinguish his primitive lamp. In such event, what could he do? - -This question was immediately put to the test, for his ship struck a -small air pocket and dipped. Out went the light! Now he could no longer -read his compass nor his altimeter, but--happy thought--he could -determine the inclination of the plane from time to time by _touching_ -his clinometer. So, on upward he kept. - -Presently he found it difficult to breath, and this difficulty was soon -increased by a damp fog, which choked his nostrils and windpipe, causing -him to cough and sneeze. The water condensed on the airship, and dropped -off the rigging onto the matted hair and beard of the earth-man. Yet -still he kept on up. - - -Finally he breathed clear air once more. He pushed back the dripping -locks from his forehead, and wiped out his water-filled eyes with the -back of one wrist. All was still jet darkness, yet in front of him and -above him there glowed some tiny points of light. Rubbing his eyes, he -looked again. Stars! The first stars he had ever seen on Poros--a sky -full of stars! - -With some surprise Myles Cabot noted that above him were swung the same -constellations with which he had been familiar on earth, among them the -two dippers, Orion and Cassiopea. - -He strove to recall the inclination of the axis of Venus to the -ecliptic, but all that he could remember was that it did not differ -appreciably from that of the earth. This information was enough for his -present purposes, however, for it meant that the star which we call the -pole star on earth was approximately north on Poros, and that its -altitude above the northern horizon would give approximately the -latitude of the location of the observer. - -The pole star, which he readily identified by means of the two pointers -of the great dipper, now hung about twenty degrees above the horizon, -thus showing that Cabot was opposite the southern tip of that part of -the continent of Cupia which formerly was Formia; so he leveled out the -plane and, turning its nose northwest by the stars, scudded along above -the cloud envelope of the planet. - -It was not long before he noticed a quite appreciable increase of -temperature. Gusts and swirls of hot vapor assailed him from below; so -that if it had not been for the gyroscopic steadying apparatus, he must -surely have foundered. Even as it was, it took all his efforts to -control the ship. He suffered fearfully from the heat, but it was not -absolutely unbearable. - -Navigation so compelled his entire attention that he lost all track of -time; he struggled on as in a dream, and had not the slightest idea -whether he had been flying for hours or only for minutes. - -On and on he drove through the terrific heat until at last he got so -used to it that it actually seemed cooler. By Jove, he could almost -believe that the air really was cooler! - -So cautiously he tipped the nose of the plane downward, and entered the -clouds below him. Feeling his way at a low rate of speed, and ever ready -to slam on the full force of his trophil engines and shoot upward once -more, he gradually penetrated the cloud envelope which surrounds the -planet. Yet the heat did not increase. - -At last he was through. And below him twinkled lights, the lights of a -small city or town. Throwing the plane level once more, he hovered down -in true Porovian fashion. - -The light of the town showed closer. Cabot's heart beat fast, there was -a lump in his throat, and his hands trembled at the controls. Was this -Cupia, his own kingdom of Cupia at last? Was he home? - -Or--and his heart sank within him--was this some still new continent, -with other nightmare beasts, and horrible adventures? - -Whichever it was, he ought not to land too near the town. His -trophil-motor was making a loud racket, but he was not afraid of being -heard, for Cupians have no ears, and their antennae can receive only -radio waves. So he skimmed low over the houses, straining his eyes to -try and make out their style of architecture. But it was no use; the jet -blackness of Porovian night obscured all below. Accordingly he planned -to land about half a stad from the village, and then reconnoiter at -daybreak. - -This was to be accomplished as follows. His distance from the ground he -could gauge from the lights of the houses. Therefore he would hold his -craft as nearly as possible level, and hover softly down, taking a -chance of landing on some bush or tree. - -The plan worked to perfection. After just about the expected drop, he -felt the skids grate on solid ground. Land once more, after his -sensational flight above the clouds! Exhausted and relaxed, he shut off -his motor, and proceeded to crawl over the edge of the cockpit. - -Of course he could not even see his own machine in the intense darkness. -As he started to clamber out the plane suddenly tilted a bit under his -weight, then gave a lurch, and slid out from under him, dislodging him -as it did so. - -He struck the ground, but it crumbled beneath him, and he felt himself -slipping and sliding down a steep gravel bank until finally some sort of -a projection stopped his descent. To this projection he frantically -clung. During his slide he had heard the loud splash of the airplane -below him, so he knew that there was water there. - -As he hung to the projection on the side of the steep sand bank, he -looked about him in the jet black night; and, as he looked, he noticed -the edge of the bank above him, just showing against the sky. The edge -became more and more distinct. The sky above turned to slate, then -purple, then red, then pink, then silver. Day had come once more. - -Cabot found himself clinging to a sharp spur of rock which stuck out -from the bank. So he hauled himself into a comfortable position upon it -and stared around at his surroundings. - -His location was halfway down the precipitous side of a craterlike hole -about a quarter of a stad in diameter and three parastads deep, the -banks of which were of coarse black sand. At the bottom a clear pool of -water reflected the silver sky. There was no sign of either his rifle, -his cartridge belt, or his plane. He possessed nothing save his leather -tunic, his wooden Vairking sword, a steel sheath knife which he had made -in his foundries at Vairkingi, and the contents of his pockets. - -Even his leather helmet was gone. He espied it, floating like a little -boat, far out upon the pond; but even as he looked, some denizen of the -deep snapped at it, and it disappeared beneath the surface. This was a -forewarning of what might happen to Myles if he should have the -misfortune to slip into the pool below. - -Well, he must risk it in an attempt to get out, for even a sudden death -beneath the waters was preferable to starvation on a rocky perch. So, -carefully and laboriously, he attempted the ascent. Many times he -slipped back, losing nearly all that he had gained; but fortunately the -bank was rather firm in spots and was dotted with large jagged rocks -which afforded a good handhold, so that eventually Myles reached the -top. - -Here he found a flat plateau, flanked by a continuous hedge of bushes -about thirty paces from the edge. These bushes were too high to see -over, and grew so thickly together that Myles was unable to penetrate -them. Round and round the top of the pit he walked, repeatedly trying to -force his way out, but with no success. - - -The day wore on. Myles became tired, and hungry, and thirsty, and -disgusted. By placing a small pebble in his mouth, he relieved the -thirst for awhile, but this had no effect on his other symptoms. Finally -even his thirst returned. - -The thirst was aggravated by the presence, almost at his feet, of the -clear pool of water within the pit. He almost decided to slide down and -try it, until he remembered what had happened to his leather hat. - -So instead he began systematically to hack at the bushes with his knife -and tear them up by the roots at one given spot. At the end of an hour -he had progressed only about a yard, so he gave this up, too. He sat -down, wrapped his arms around his knees, gazed at the silver sky, and -thought of nothing for a while. - -Then he thought of Lilla and the Baby Kew. Here he was, presumably in -Cupia, perhaps within a few stads of them; and yet what good did it do -him? - -It seemed to him as though the nearer he got to his loved ones, the more -effectually he was separated from them. On the Farley farm, in -Edgartown, Massachusetts, when he had received the S O S message from -the skies, it had appeared but a simple matter to step within the -coordinate axes of his matter-transmitting apparatus, and throw a lever, -in order to materialize on Poros. - -In Vairkingi there had been the more difficult task of securing an ant -plane, before essaying to cross the boiling seas. In the land of the -Whoomangs, he had been confronted with the almost insuperable lack of -swathing materials for such a flight. And now, in Cupia at last, he was -hemmed in by an impenetrable wall of trees. - -Yet, he reflected, he had surmounted in turn each of these successively -more difficult difficulties; so why not this? With renewed determination -he arose, and resumed his grubbing operations. Another hour passed and -another yard of path had been completed. This was encouraging, and yet -he had no means of knowing how much farther there still remained for him -to go. - -As he paused for breath, he heard a crashing noise almost directly -across the pit. Concealing himself as well as he could in the recess -which he had formed in the bushes, he watched expectantly. Presently the -thick growth on the other side parted neatly, and the sharp edge of a -wedge appeared. This wedge continued to divide the bushes until finally -it came completely through. All curiosity to see what was pushing the -wedge, Myles craned forward, but there was _nothing_ behind it; it had -been pushing itself. - -As the bushes slowly closed together again, the wedge stood up on six -sturdy legs and trotted around the top of the pit, until it came to a -stop directly opposite the hiding place of the earth-man. This gave him -a good opportunity to observe it. - -Apparently it was some sort of insect. Its head came to a sharp cutting -edge in the front about five feet high; and lateral projections extended -diagonally backward from the edge, like the wings on a snow-plow, to a -point well beyond the rear end of the animal. - -These two sides were covered with stiff backward-pointing bristles, -which evidently served to catch on the bushes through which the creature -passed, and thus to hold whatever gains it made. Its eyes, like those of -a crab, were located on long jointed arms, which it could raise whenever -it wanted to look around. The lower edge of the sides of the wedge were -serrated, and Myles soon learned what this was for. After wiggling its -eyes about for a while, the creature walked to the edge of the bank, -thus giving the watcher a good view of the body and legs within the -projecting wedge, and slid off into the pit, where a splashing sound -indicated that it was probably drinking. - -Soon it reappeared over the top of the pit. Evidently the saw teeth on -its sides were to hold its progress up the face of the sand bank in much -the same way as its spines held its progress through the bushes. - -The wedge insect, upon topping the bank, made a beeline for the edge of -the clearing, thrust its nose between two saplings, furled its eyes, -braced it feet against the ground, and started forcing its way through. -Quick as a flash, Myles Cabot darted from his hiding place and followed. - -The creature, rolling its eyes to the rear, saw him and tried to back -out; for what purpose he could not tell, but probably either to attack -him or at least to prevent him from attacking its vulnerable body. But -it was already in too far, and its spines held it securely. - -It tried to kick at him, whereat he followed not quite so close. Then it -stubbornly stopped moving, pulled in its eyes and its legs and lay down -within its projecting head-piece, whereat he gave it a prick in the tail -with his Vairking sword. The effect was immediate and sudden. The -creature leaped to its feet and tore its way through the trees like a -cyclone, plunging high in air like a frantic horse. This left such an -erratic and only partially spread path that the earth-man had difficulty -in following, and soon fell far behind. - -But just as he was about to despair, the branches which he parted ahead -of him revealed a meadow of silver-green sward. He had reached the end -of the wood. - -Beyond the field was a grove of gray-branched lichen trees, through -which he could see the steep red-tiled roofs of a village. Just short of -the grove there grazed a herd of those pale-green aphids, the size of -sheep, which the Cupians call "anks," and which Myles was wont to call -"green cows." Close by his right hand was a large shrub with -heart-shaped leaves, unmistakably a tartan bush. - -Steep red roofs, gray lichen trees, anks and tartans! This must be -Cupia! He was home! - -Myles quoted aloud: - - "Breathes there a man with soul so dead - Who never to himself has said - 'This is my own, my native land'?" - -Cupia might not be his _native_ land, but it was his _own_, the land of -his wife and child, the land of which his son was rightful king, the -land whose armies he had twice led to victory. And now he had returned -to lead them yet again. - - -Drawing a deep breath of Cupian air into his lungs, Myles raced across -the meadow to the shelter of the grove of trees. From that point of -vantage he inspected the village. The architecture was undoubtedly -Cupian. In fact, its character was so clear he was even able to judge by -it just what part of Cupia he was in, for this architecture was typical -of the southeastern foothills of the Okarze Mountains, a thousand stads -or so north of Kuana, the capital city. - -These foothills held, among other spots of interest, Lake Luno, on an -island of which he and Lilla had built their country home. And the -inhabitants of these mountains had always been intensely loyal to the -earth-man, his golden-haired wife, and royal son. - -On the outskirts of the village Cabot could see figures moving--figures -in white togas with colored edges, figures with tiny vestigial wings -projecting from their backs, figures with butterflylike antennae rising -from their foreheads. These were Cupians, his own adopted countrymen. - -Yet they never would recognize him in his present condition, with shaggy -hair, massive beard, and leather tunic, and without the artificial wings -and antennae which he had been accustomed to wear among them. Therefore -he could not yet reveal himself. He must first restore his appearance to -normal and also find and put on one of the small portable radio sets -which he had contrived years ago in his laboratories of Mooni, in order -to talk with these folk who have neither ears nor voice. - -So, turning his back on the alluring village, he made a meal of the -green milk of the grazing anks, and then set out to circle the -settlement and find a road. - -When he did reach the road he recognized it. And now he knew exactly -what village that was. For the moment he could not recall its name; but -he knew it to be a little town which he and Lilla had often visited, -scarcely twenty stads from Luno Castle. - -As he strode on toward Luno Castle, his thoughts raced ahead of him, -sometimes picturing a happy homecoming with Lilla and Baby Kew standing -in the great arched doorway to greet him, and sometimes desolation and -destruction with Prince Yuri, the murderer of the baby king, and the -kidnaper of Princess Lilla. - -What would Myles Cabot find on the beautiful island in Lake Luno? - - - - - XXIII - LUNO AND BEYOND - - -With no weapons except a steel knife and wooden rapier, the unkempt and -bearded earth-man set out resolutely along the twenty-stad road which -led to Lake Luno. All the rest of the afternoon he tramped along, -avoiding the towns, and taking cover whenever a kerkool approached. - -Night fell--the velvet, fragrant, tropic-scented night of Poros; yet, -still he kept on, for he knew the road. - -As he trudged along he tried to picture to himself the state of affairs -in Cupia. Back in Vairkingi, when at last he had succeeded in getting -the Princess Lilla on the air, she had mentioned the whistling bees, -just before Prince Yuri had cut her off. - -These bees were called "whistling" because of the heterodyne squeal with -which they appeared to converse; but Myles had discovered, by means of -the greater range and selectivity of his own artificial radio -speech-organs, that this whistle was due to the bees sending -simultaneously on two interfering wave lengths, for signal purposes. -When simply talking they used a wave length beyond the range of Cupian -speech! - -Cabot had been able to adjust his portable set to this wave length, and -had talked with the bees. As a result of this conversation an alliance -had been formed between Cupia and the Hymernians--as the bee-people -called themselves--which had driven Yuri and his ants from the -continent. Thereafter the bees had lived at peace with the Cupians, a -special ration of green cows being bred for their benefit. - -What, wondered Cabot, had the returned Yuri done to disturb this state -of affairs? If Portheris, the king of the bees, still lived, Cabot could -not imagine him siding with Yuri. - -But, whatever had happened, it was clear that the bees were at the -bottom of it. Time would tell very speedily. - -Traveling on foot at night on the planet Poros is necessarily slow and -tedious, for the blackness of the Porovian night is dense beyond -anything conceivable on earth. On earth even the light of a few stars -would enable a man to distinguish between a concrete road and the -adjoining fields and woods and bushes, but on Poros no stars are -visible. Accordingly Myles had to feel his way with his feet, and fell -off the road many times before he reached his destination. Due to the -mountainous character of the country, most of these falls were extremely -painful, and some were positively dangerous. - -Yet on he kept, and before long the lights of Luno village loomed ahead. -Even here it would not do to reveal himself in his present state of -appearance, so he skirted the town and made his way down the steep path -which led to the shore of the lake. - -If his island dwelling had been disturbed, he half expected to find that -his boats were gone from this landing place; but upon groping about in -the dark he came across several of them, tied up just where they ought -to be. This cheered him immensely. - -But when he stared across toward the island and saw no sign of any light -there, his spirits fell again. It was not the custom at Luno Castle to -go through the night totally unillumined. - -He would soon find out what the trouble was. So stepping into one of the -boats he cast off, and paddled vigorously toward the middle of the lake. -Keeping his bearings was difficult in the jet-black darkness, but he was -guided somewhat by the faint illumination sent skyward by the little -village. - -Finally he bumped against the rocky and precipitous sides of the island, -but misjudging his location he had to paddle nearly clear around the -island before he came to the landing beach. This gained, he pulled his -craft ashore, and groped his way up the narrow path to the summit, -thence across the lawns, which sloped gently down toward the center of -the island, where lay a little pond with Luno Castle standing beside it. - -Myles ran into several shrubs, got completely mixed up as to his -directions, and finally fell into the pond. This gave him a new starting -point from which to orient himself. Walking around its edge, with one -foot in the water, he would diverge outward from time to time, until at -last his groping hand touched a wall of masonry. It was his castle! He -was home! But what did that home hold? His heart beat tumultuously with -anticipation. - -Feeling his way along the wall, he came to the steps, and crawled up -them to the great arched doorway. The door was closed, but not locked. -Myles flung it open softly, and entered, closing it behind him. Then -closing his eyes, he turned an electric switch, flooding the hall with -the light of many vapor-lamps. - -Gradually opening his eyelids, he glanced around him. Everywhere was the -musty odor of unoccupancy. He had expected either his family or a sacked -and ruined castle; he had found neither. - -It would not do for the surrounding populace to discover his return -until he was ready; so he hastily found a flashlight, and then switched -off the vapor-lamps again. - -Flash-light in hand, he made a tour of the castle. Everything was in -perfect order. Lilla was a good housekeeper, and had evidently been -given plenty of time by Yuri to prepare for her departure. This spoke -volumes for her safety and that of the baby king. - - -Myles even found his own rooms undisturbed. This surprised him greatly. -He had not expected this much consideration from Yuri. But then he -reflected that Yuri must have been pretty sure that he would not return -from the earth, and had wanted to do nothing to antagonize Lilla any -more than absolutely necessary. This time Yuri had been playing the game -of love-and-empire with a little more finesse than usual. - -Myles, in his own dressing room, switched on the light; this was safe, -as its windows opened only onto the courtyard. Then he bathed, shaved, -trimmed his hair, and donned a blue-bordered toga, in place of his -leather Vairking tunic. On his head he placed a radio headset of the -sort which he had devised shortly after his first advent on Poros, to -enable him to talk with the earless and voiceless Cupians and Formians. - -Artificial antennae projected from his forehead. His earphones and ears -were concealed by locks of hair, his tiny microphone--between his -collar-bones--by a fold of his toga. Artificial wings strapped to his -back protruded through slits in his garment. Around his waist, beneath -his gown, was the belt which carried his batteries, tubes, and the -sending and receiving apparatus itself. - -Thus equipped, he surveyed himself complacently in the glass. Barring -the absence of a sixth finger on each hand and a sixth toe on each foot, -he looked a Cupian of the Cupians. - -Then he proceeded to the radio room. The long distance radio-set was in -perfect condition, but there was nothing on the air. One of the -three-dialed Porovian clocks showed the time to be 1025; that is, a half -hour after midnight, earth time. There was nothing further he could do -before morning; so he lay down for a few hours of much needed rest. - -When he awoke it was broad daylight, 310 o'clock. The pink flush of -sunrise was just fading from the eastern sky. Less than three -parths--six hours--of sleep! And then he realized that he must have -slept the clock around, and more. A day's growth of beard confirmed -this. It was now the beginning of his _third_ day in Cupia. He had been -dead to Poros for fifteen parths. - -So he shaved, bathed, and breakfasted on some dried twig knobs--which -was all he could find in the house. The courtyard garden was full of -weeds. The lawns which surrounded the castle and the pond were uncut. -Everything bespoke an abandonment many sangths ago. - -After a complete tour of the premises Myles hastened to the radio room, -and tuned-in the palace at Kuana. The result was the voice of the -usurper Yuri, testily calling the ant-station in New Formia, far across -the boiling seas. From time to time there would be silence, during which -the prince was evidently waiting for a reply; but none came. Otto the -Bold had done his work of destruction too well. - -Myles chuckled. Yuri's frantic voice, coming in over the air, was a -radio program much to Cabot's liking. Even the best earth-station of -Columbia, National or Mutual could not surpass it. The only thing he -would rather hear would be his own sweet Lilla. - -His recollection of Otto the Bold led him to wonder how the battle for -Vairkingi had progressed. Roies and Vairkings on one side against Roies -and ants on the other. It was a toss-up. - -It seemed years since he had left the land of the furry ones--Otto, -Grod, Att, Jud, Theoph, Crota, Arkilu. They all resembled mere shadows -of a dream. The only real feature that stood out in his memory was the -radio set which he had fabricated. - -Then his thoughts flew to Yat, the city of the Whoomangs, with its -strange assortment of creatures, including Boomalayla, the winged -dragon, and Queekle Mukki, the serpent. Cabot shed a tear for Doggo and -little golden furred Quivven, and then came down to the present with a -jerk. - -He was back in Cupia, clean, clothed, shaved, equipped, fed, and rested. -It was now up to him to rescue the Princess Lilla from her traitor -cousin. First he must find firearms. But of these the castle had been -looted; for not a trace of a rifle, an automatic, or even a single -cartridge could he find, though he searched high and low. So reluctantly -he strapped on merely his Vairking sword and knife, and ran down the -path to the beach. - - -In the boat once more, he paddled rapidly toward the shore. At the -landing place, sitting on one of the boats was a Cupian, but as this man -seemed to be unarmed, Cabot approached him without fear. As he came -within antennae-shot the man sang out: "Welcome back to Cupia, Myles -Cabot, defender of the faith!" - -Myles shaded his eyes from the silver glare of the sky. "Nan-nan!" he -exclaimed; for the Cupian before him was none other than the young -cleric of the lost religion who had helped rebuild his radio head-set in -the Caves of Kar during the Second War of Liberation. - -As the boat grated on the beach the earth-man leaped out, and the two -friends were soon warmly patting each other's cheek. - -These greetings over, Cabot asked: "What good fortune brings you here?" - -He found it easy to slip back again into the language of this continent. - -"The Holy Leader detailed two of us," Nan-nan replied, "to watch Luno -Castle, for you know he must be kept informed of everything, as he waits -within his caves for the promised day. Night before last my colleague -saw lights for a night, so this morning I decided to reconnoiter." - -"Is Owva still Holy Leader?" Myles asked politely. - -"Yes," the cleric replied. "The grand old man still lives." - -"The Builder be praised! But," changing the subject, "how are my -family?" - -"Both well," Nan-nan answered, "though for the past six or nine days the -princess has not been permitted to communicate with anyone." - -Myles smiled. "Why?" he innocently asked. - -"I know not," the young cleric admitted. - -Myles laughed. "I thought that the Holy Leader knew everything," he -said. "Well, as it happens, _I_ can tell _you_. It is because I -communicated with her a few days ago and informed her that I was about -to return. Has no news of this got out from the palace?" - -"No," Nan-nan replied, "but it explains why Yuri has kept a large -squadron of whistling bees patrolling the eastern coast all day long -every day. How did you get by them?" - -"Came over at night," the earth-man answered. "But what about the bees?" - -"I'll tell you," Nan-nan said. "Shortly after you left on your visit to -your own planet Minos, Prince Yuri flew back alone from his exile with -the Formians beyond the boiling seas. This was the first that we of -Cupia had known that any of them survived. - -"Yuri kept his return a secret for some time, but got in touch with some -old supporters of his. First he contrived to cut off the allowance of -anks which are doled out to the bees for food. Then he stirred up -trouble among the bees because of this. - -"The bees imprisoned Portheris, their king, and, under promise of an -increased allowance of food, seized the arsenal at Kuana, the air base -at Wautoosa, and Luno Castle. As you know, the air navy has been -practically disbanded, because there was nothing for it to fight. The -rifles of the marching clubs had fallen into disuse because other newer -games had superseded archery. Most of the rifles were stored at various -central places, which the bees succeeded in seizing. - -"Some of the hill towns still had arms, but they surrendered these under -threat of Yuri to kill the Princess Lilla and the little king. - -"All the arms are now stored in the arsenal at the capital under guard -of Yuri's most trusted henchmen. A new treaty was made with the bees, -giving them an increase in food. But even so they are restive and are -held in check merely by fear of the anti-aircraft guns at Kuana. - -"The general belief of the populace is that you are dead. Yuri is ruling -strictly, and has dissolved the Popular Assembly. The pinquis everywhere -are his personal appointees. These facts and the burden of supplying -anks to the Hymernians irk the people; but they are impotent. 'Can a -mathlab struggle in the jaws of a woofus?" - -"Lilla he treated well. If he had not done so, the populace would rise -against him, bees or no bees. And he has promised the succession to -little Kew, if Lilla will marry him. But your dot-dash message many -sangths ago stopped that, for it showed that you still lived and had -returned to Poros, although not to this continent. - -"That is all. Now tell me of your adventures." - -But before complying with this request, the earth-man asked: "What has -become of the loyal Prince Toron and my chief of staff, Hah Babbuh, and -Poblath the Philosopher, and all my other friends and supporters?" - -"Every one of them, so far as I know, is safe," the young cleric -replied. "Most of than are hiding in the hill towns. Yuri has not risked -the wrath of the populace by molesting them, and in fact has given -notice that so long as they behave they will be let alone." - - -Then Cabot related all that had occurred to him from the time he -transmitted himself earthward through Poros down to the present date. - -When he concluded he remarked: "That will be an antenna-full for the -Holy Leader. But now to get to work. On whom can I best depend in this -vicinity?" - -"On Emsul, the veterinary," Nan-nan replied. "He lives in the village -now. Return to the island, and I will bring him to you." - -Myles did so, and in a short time the three were in conference in the -castle. It seemed to Myles that the first thing to do was to recover his -airplane, rifle, and ammunition from the waters of the pit, but Emsul -demurred. - -Said he: "Huge dark-green water-insects inhabit the pool. They are very -like the red parasites which cling to the sides of the anks, and which -we roast for food, but they are much larger and the bite of their claws -means death." - -The parasites to which the veterinary alluded had always tasted to Cabot -exactly like earth-born lobsters. The description of these new beasts -were further suggestive of lobsters. He asked Emsul for a more detailed -description, and found that this tallied still further with the earthly -prototype. - -This reminded Myles of an interesting experiment which he had seen tried -in the Harvard zoological laboratory, and which he now hoped to put to a -practical use. - -So he asked: "Have these creatures a gravitational sense organ?" - -"Yes," the Cupian veterinary replied, "although it is unlike ours. We -Cupians, and I suppose you Minorians, have inside the skull on each side -of the head, a group of three tubes like the spirit levels of a -carpenter. - -"The corresponding organ of the scissor-clawed beast is different, -although serving the same end. On each side of the thorax of these -creatures there is a spherical cavity, with a small opening to the -outside. This opening is just large enough to admit a grain of sand at a -time. - -"The membrane which lines the cavity, exudes a liquid cement which -unites into a little ball the grains of sand which enter. The cavity is -lined with nerve ends; and, as the ball always rolls to the bottom side -of the cavity, the beast is able to tell which direction is up, and -which is down." - -Cabot clapped his hands in glee. This was exactly as in the case of -earth-born lobsters. - -"They won't know which is up and which is down when I get through with -them," he exclaimed cryptically. - -It was quickly arranged that Nan-nan should go at once to the village -near the lobster pool, and engage a gang of Cupian men to cut a swath -through the thick woods which hem in the pool. When this was completed, -he was to send a messenger to Luno Castle to summon Cabot, who, -meanwhile, would be engaged in preparing certain mysterious electrical -apparatus. For the present, the earth-man's return was a secret. - -The plan worked to perfection. Only one day was consumed in chopping the -path through the woods. On the second day after his meeting with Nan-nan -and Emsul, Myles proceeded to the lobster pool by the kerkool, with his -electrical equipment and several boats. - - - - - XXIV - THE LOBSTEROID CIRCUIT - - -Myles could not help comparing his present ease of passage down the -swath cut by the Cupians with his difficult grubbing through the shrubs -a few feet an hour, or even with forcing his way behind the wedge-faced -insect. - -Upon his arrival at the brink of the abyss, his first act was to test -the black sand with an electric coil. As he had expected, it was -magnetite, the only iron ore which will respond to a magnet. It was the -same ore as he had used in his crucibles while making his radio set in -Vairkingi. - -This preliminary disposed of, cables were quickly stretched back and -forth across the pit, and from these cables large electro-magnets were -hung close to the surface of the water. Wires were run from the lighting -system of the near-by town to a master controller at the top of the -cliff. - -When all was in readiness, the earth-man threw the current into all the -circuits. The result was immediate. To the surface of the water there -floated bottom side up, a score or more of lobsterlike creatures, each -the size of a freight car. Poor beasts! - -The pellets of sand and cement, in the cavities of their gravity-sense -organs, were composed of magnetite; and this being attracted upwardly by -the suspended electro-magnets, gave the poor creatures the impression -that up was down, and down was up. Consequently, reversing their -position and floating to the surface, they imagined--with what little -imagination their primitive brains were capable of--that they were -resting peacefully at the bottom of the lake. - -Next there were turned on, in place of the suspended magnets, a number -of magnets lying against the steep side of the pit near the surface of -the water; and instantly all the lobsteroids rolled over, with their -bellies toward that side of the pit. The experiment was a complete -success. - -Grappling hooks and blocks and tackle were then brought, and dragging -was begun for the airplane, the ant-rifle, and the bandoleer of -cartridges which Myles had lost on the night of his landing in Cupia. - -The radio man himself, stationed at his switchboard, manipulated the -instruments. Presumably all three of the sought articles were near the -bank where Cabot had landed, so fishing was begun at that point, while -energized magnets, across the pond, drew the huge crustaceans away. Even -so, several of them swam back and snapped at the grappling hooks. - -This gave Myles an opportunity to practice his controls. Whenever one of -the monsters of the deep would approach any of the dredging apparatus, -the radio man would close the switch which controlled some near-by -magnet, whereat the bewildered beast would be thrown completely off his -balance, and would require several paraparths before he could orient -himself to the new lines of force. By the time that this had been -accomplished, Cabot would have switched on some other magnet, thus again -upsetting the beast's equilibrium. - -It was truly a weird and novel tune which this electrical genius of two -worlds played upon his keyboard, while huge green shapes moved at his -command. - -Finally Myles got so expert at this strange game, that it became safe -for his workmen to descend into the pit without fear of the denizens of -the deep. At last the ropes were securely fastened to the ant-plane, and -it was drawn up the bank to safety. The fire-arm and ammunition followed -shortly thereafter. - -The forces of the true king--Baby Kew--were now armed with one small -airship, one rifle, and one bandoleer of cartridges. - -"You must attack at once!" Nan-nan asserted. - -The earth-man looked at the Cupian in surprise. - -"Why?" he asked. - -"Because," the young cleric explained, "if you don't some one of this -village is going to get word to Prince Yuri of your return. Although no -announcement has yet been made of your identity, this feat of yours of -overcoming the scissor-beasts is as good as a verbal introduction. -Runners will soon be notifying the usurper." - -"Why runners?" Myles asked. "Why not radio?" - -"Because," Nan-nan replied. "I took the precaution to throw an -adjusting-tool into the local motor-generator set early this morning. -One of the solenoids is hopelessly jammed, and it will take several days -and nights of steady work to restore it." - -"Great are the ramifications of the lost religion," Cabot murmured -approvingly. - -But the young cleric pouted, in spite of the tone of approval. Said he: -"There were no ramifications to _this_ accomplishment. I did it all -myself." - -"Have it your own way," Myles returned conciliatorily. "But to get back -to what we were discussing, how am I to attack the usurper with no -troops, and only one plane, and one rifle?" - -"But you _must_ attack!" Nan-nan objected. "As for planes, every plane -in the kingdom, save only yours, is under lock and key at Wautoosa, the -old naval air base, which now is the headquarters of the whistling bees. -Every firearm, save two, your rifle and Prince Yuri's automatic, is -under heavy guard at the Kuana arsenal. Only the pretender himself and -the arsenal guards--who are trusted henchmen of his--are permitted to be -armed." - -"And I suppose," the earth-man interjected, with a shrug, "that you -expect me, alone and single-handed, to seize the Kuana arsenal, and -distribute arms to my people." - -"Not exactly," the priest replied. "You see--" - -At which point the conversation was interrupted by a body of troops, -four abreast, which came marching toward them down the aisle which had -been cut through the trees. - -Cabot stepped back aghast. Trapped! The soldiers swung along in the -perfect cadence which had been taught them by generations spent in the -marching clubs--or "hundreds"--of Cupia. True, they were unarmed, but -what could one armed human do against such numbers? Cabot glanced down -the path, and saw hundred after hundred turn into it at the farther end. - -There was only one possibility of escape, his plane. But the plane was -still dripping from its submergence in the pond. Would its -trophil-engine start while wet? Had enough water leaked into the alcohol -tanks to damage the fuel? He would see. - -Shouting to Nan-nan and Emsul to follow, he started toward his craft; -but the young cleric blocked his way. Treachery. - -No. For the young priest cried: "Fear not, defender of the faith. These -be friends! They are the armies which you are to lead against Yuri. They -are marching clubs of the loyal hill towns, which have been called -together here, ostensibly for an athletic tournament." - -Cabot stopped his mad scramble of retreat, and smiled. With such men he -would reconquer Cupia, Yuri or no Yuri, bees or no bees! - - -The foremost hundred debouched and formed in company-front. Then from -the ranks there stepped a Cupian, who snatched off his blond wig, -revealing ruddy locks beneath. Onto his own right breast he pinned a red -circle, the insignia of Field Marshal. It was Hah Babbuh, Chief of Staff -of the Armies of Cupia, who had been Cabot's right-hand man in the two -wars of liberation. - -Facing the troops he gave a crisp command. Up shot every left hand. -Then, wheeling about, he held his own hand aloft and shouted: "Yahoo, -Myles Cabot! We are ready to follow where you lead!" - -"Yahoo!" the troops echoed in unison. - -Then, giving his men the order "at ease," Hah strode up to the -earth-man. Warmly, the two friends patted each other on the cheek. It -was many sangths since they had seen each other, and much had happened -in the meantime. - -A council of war was immediately held between Myles, Hah, Nan-nan, and -Emsul, at the plane. - -"Won't this gathering come to the attention of Yuri?" Myles asked. "And -won't he at once suspect its cause, in view of its nearness to Luno -Castle, and in view of my recent radio announcements from Vairkingi?" - -"I doubt it," the Babbuh replied, "for we have wrecked every radio set -in the vicinity." - -But, this did not reassure the earth-man as much as it might. - -"It would seem to me," he asserted, "that this very fact would put -Prince Yuri on his guard." - -"Possibly so," Nan-nan ruefully admitted, "but it will take four days -for investigators to cover the thousand stads from Kuana to here by -kerkool, two days by bee." - -"And in the meantime," Myles countered, "it will take our plane two days -to reach Kuana, and our kerkools four." - -"Then," Emsul suggested, "had we not better march openly and at once?" - -This suggestion was accepted, with the reservation, however, that the -return of Cabot and the existence of their plane were to be kept as -secret as possible. - -Accordingly the main body of the troops were put on the march toward -Kuana, under Emsul, with instructions to requisition every available -kerkool, wreck every radio set, and place every settlement under martial -law. The kerkools, as fast as seized, were to be manned by the best -sharpshooters, and sent ahead. - -The local village and the lobster pond were placed under heavy guard, -and the earth-man with his plane and rifle remained under cover. - -That night, just at sunset, he started forth. The airship had been -stripped to its lightest, and in it were crowded Myles Cabot, Hah -Babbuh, Nan-nan, and half a dozen sharpshooters. Long before morning, -they came up with the lights of the foremost kerkools, and so were -forced to cease their advance, whereupon they landed, and encamped for -the rest of the night and the following day. - -All day long, kerkools passed them on the road, stopping to report as -they passed. Apparently a surprising number of these swift two-wheeled -Porovian autos had been captured. - -The following night the plane again took wing, and continued until it -caught up once more with the advance guard of the "taxi-cab army." These -men reported that, at the last radio station seized, they had learned -that Prince Yuri had put censorship on the air, thus showing -conclusively that the usurper had learned something of what was going -on. Then the kerkools swept ahead, and Cabot encamped as before. He was -now halfway to Kuana, his loved ones, and Prince Yuri. - -Toward the end of the day which followed, the advancing kerkools met a -bombing squadron of whistling bees, and were forced to halt and take -cover as best they could. Most of the men escaped, but many of the -machines had to be left on the road, where they were demolished by the -bombs of the enemy. - - -During all this confusion, a kerkool from the capital, bearing crossed -sticks as a flag of truce, drew up at the vanguard, with the following -message: "King Yuri cannot but regard the steady procession of kerkools -toward Kuana as a menace directed against him. If it is not so intended, -then let a delegation in one kerkool proceed under crossed sticks to -convince him of your sincerity. From now on, if more than one kerkool -advances, it will be taken as a hostile act, and Prince Kew, the heir to -the throne, will be sacrificed as a hostage." - -Upon receiving this message, Emsul at once directed his followers to -stay where they were until Myles Cabot should catch up with them. Then, -with a picked body of men, in one kerkool, under crossed sticks, he took -up the road toward Kuana, preceded by the delegation which had brought -the message from Yuri. - -Not a word would he give them as to the purpose of the advance. - -"Your message was from Prince Yuri," he said, "and therefore to Prince -Yuri shall be the reply. But it does seem a bit thoughtless of the -Hymernians to drop bombs on our men, before even attempting to ascertain -whether or not our advance was intended to be peaceful." - -To this, they in turn made no answer. - -About midnight, Myles Cabot, in his airplane, reached the point where -the kerkools had halted. He found the Cupians confused and more or less -leaderless. He, as they, was horrified at the threat which the usurper -Yuri held over the head of the little king. - -But while he and Nan-nan and Hah Babbuh were conferring on the -situation, word was brought in, by a party who had just demolished a -near-by radio set, that they had picked the following unaddressed and -unsigned message out of the air: - - Fear not. Baby Kew has been kidnaped from the palace, and is safe. - -Somehow this news carried conviction. The longer they considered it, the -more authentic it appeared. Certainly, it could not have emanated from -Yuri, for he could have no possible object in deceiving them into -thinking that the little king was safe, and thus encouraging them to -proceed with whatever they might have afoot. - -But they could not imagine who was their informant. It might be any one -of a number of the leaders in Cabot's two wars of liberation, Poblath -the Philosopher, mango of the Kuana jail; Ja Babbuh, Oya Buh, and Buh -Tedn, professors at the Royal University; Count Kamel of Ktuh, the -ex-radical; or even the loyal Prince Toron, Yuri's younger brother, whom -Cabot had left in charge as regent, upon embarking on his ill-fated -visit to the earth. - -All these loyal Cupians had been driven into hiding, when the renegade -Yuri had returned across the boiling seas and had usurped the throne -with the aid of the Hymernians. Where they now were, no one knew. This -message might be from any one of them--or it might not. - -Anyhow, it served to hearten Cabot and his two companions. - -Said Myles: "Undoubtedly there were some of Yuri's Cupian henchmen on -the backs of the bees which bombed our kerkools. These have probably -reported by wireless that our advance has stopped. I do not believe that -Yuri yet knows that we have a plane; accordingly, he will not expect -immediate trouble, so long as our vanguard remains here, four hundred -stads from Kuana. - -"You, Hah Babbuh, remain here in charge of our troops. I seriously doubt -if the usurper will attack you, for he does not dare trust enough -Cupians with rifles for that purpose. Nan-nan and I and our -sharpshooters will proceed as rapidly as possible in the plane, until -daybreak, when we will encamp as usual. - -"To-morrow afternoon, send scouts ahead to destroy the wireless and -start your whole kerkool army on the move at sunset. Bend every effort -to join me as soon as possible at the capital, where I expect to arrive -some time to-morrow night. Beyond that, I have no definite plans. May -the Great Builder speed our cause." - -Then he said good-night, and took off once more in his plane. As he -soared aloft with his noisy trophil-motor, earth-men would have heard it -for stads in every direction, but these Cupians were earless and hence -possessed no sense of hearing as we know it. The noisy plane could make -no impression upon their antenna-sense, for its engines being of the -trophil variety--or Diesel, as we call a somewhat similar device on -earth--had no electrical ignition. - - -Throughout the remainder of the night the plane sped southward, -deviating from its course only when whistling sounds warned them of the -presence of bees. With the first faint tinge of pink in the east, they -landed and hid their airship at the edge of a wood, two hundred and -sixty stads from Kuana. - -A small town lay near by. To it went several of the crew in search of -food and information, while the rest took turns guarding the plane and -sleeping. - -During Cabot's turn at watch, he noted a figure slinking across a -neighboring field. There was something strangely familiar about this -figure, so Myles hid himself in a tartan bush and awaited its approach. - -It walked with a peculiar limp, very much like that which had -characterized Buh Tedn, ever since he recovered from the shell wound -which he had received in the Second War of Liberation. But the face and -the hair of the approaching Cupian bore no resemblance to that of -Professor Tedn. Nevertheless, Cabot took a chance. - -Stepping suddenly from his place of concealment, he shouted: "Buh Tedn!" - -Thereat, the Cupian emitted a shriek of terror from his antennae, and -started running away across the fields. - -"Stop!" the earth-man called. "I am Myles Cabot." - -The fleeing man halted abruptly and peered at Myles inquisitively; then -he smiled and snatched off his wig, and straightened out his expression. -It was none other than Buh Tedn! - -"So you are the cause of all the rumpus," he ejaculated, returning and -patting his friend warmly on the cheek. - -"What rumpus?" Miles inquired with interest. - -"Wireless won't work," the other replied, "and no messages on the air -anyhow. Nothing but bees; the air is full of _them_ anyhow--also full of -vague rumors of all sorts. As Poblath would say: 'Where there's wind, -there's a storm'." - -"Speaking of Poblath," Myles said, "where _is_ the philosopher?" - -"Kuana, the last I heard," Buh Tedn replied. "Ja Babbuh and Oya Buh are -somewhere in the west. Prince Toron has disappeared completely. Hah -Babbuh and Emsul are supposed to be in the northern part of the Okarze -Mountains. Kamel Bar-Sarkar has gone over to Yuri. I am here. That about -completes the list of our former leaders." - -"Hah Babbuh is in charge of my unarmed forces one hundred and sixty -stads north of here," Cabot answered. "Emsul is on his way to Yuri under -crossed sticks. I am here in a plane, with one rifle, Nan-nan the -cleric, and six unarmed sharpshooters." - -"What is the idea?" Tedn asked. - -"The idea is to fly to Kuana to-night," the earth-man replied, "and -raise as much rough-house as possible for Prince Yuri. Will you come -with us? There is one vacant place in the plane." - -The Cupian looked at him admiringly, and said: "You are still the same -old Myles Cabot! You propose to capture Kuana practically without arms -and single-handed. And the joke is that you will probably succeed. How -_do_ you do it?" - -"It's a gift!" Myles laughed. "But 'trees have antennae', as Poblath -would say. Let us proceed to the plane and wait for evening." - -At the plane, Cabot awakened one of the Cupians to take his place on -guard. Then, in low tones, he and Buh Tedn each related to the other all -that had occurred since the matter-transmitting apparatus had shot the -radio man earthward. - -Along toward night the absentees returned from the village, bringing -provision, but scarcely any news except that the place was seething with -suppressed excitement, and that they had succeeded in getting into the -radio station and "pying" the apparatus. - -"Let us start then at once," Buh Tedn counseled. "No one can now get -word to Yuri, and perhaps they will mistake us for a Hymernian, anyhow." - -But impatient as he was, Myles would hear none of this. - -"They could easily dispatch a runner to some near-by town to send the -message from there," he said. "Furthermore, a plane looks very little -like a whistling bee." - -So the group feasted, and waited until the last streaks of red had died -in the west, before they shot into the air and southward. The plane was -driven to its utmost, but it was later than 1:00 o'clock before the -lights of Kuana loomed ahead. - -Turning to the right, Cabot skirted the city and landed near the -arsenal. - -Nan-nan promptly left them. - -"I have church affairs to attend to," he explained. - -"Great are the ramifications of the lost religion," the earth-man -replied, laughing, "and I hope that you pick up some useful -information." - -After the young cleric had gone Buh Tedn asked: - -"Surely you don't plan for us to attack the arsenal? It is heavily -guarded by the only men whom Yuri permits to carry fire-arms in this -entire kingdom." - - - - - XXV - ALL KINDS OF TROUBLE - - -"We must reconnoiter first," Cabot replied, "for as yet I have no -definite plans." - -Accordingly they made their way to a grove of trees near the arsenal. -Where they stood they were completely enveloped by foliage and tropical -darkness, but the arsenal was in a flood of light which emanated from -large floodlights on poles a short distance outside the surrounding -wall. Along the top of the high wall walked sentinels armed with rifles. - -Cabot quickly formed his plans. - -Turning his rifle and bandoleer over to the best shot in the party, he -instructed the sharpshooter as follows: "When I raise my hand so, then -shoot the sentinel to whom I am talking. Follow that by a shot at the -nearest light. Then, under cover of the darkness, slink across the plain -and join me at the wall." - -Without any further explanation he walked boldly out into the light. - -As he approached the arsenal there rang out the cry of "Halt!" - -He halted. - -"Who is there?" - -"Not so loud!" he cautioned. "You see I am unarmed. Let me approach near -the wall so that I may explain my mission, which is for your antennae -alone." - -The sentinel signified his assent, and Cabot drew nearer. - -"Halt!" The Cupian on the wall repeated, but this time in a low tone. - -Cabot halted again, this time almost directly under the light. - -"Stand where you are," said the soldier, "while I let down a ladder. -Make any attempt to flee, and I shall fire." - -Myles remained where he was, with every indication of extreme terror, as -the Cupian let down a rope ladder from the top of the wall, and -descended. - -"Hold up your hands!" - -Up shot Cabot's right hand. It was the signal agreed on with the -concealed sharpshooter. _Ping!_ The sentinel dropped to the ground -without a sound. _Ping!_ The light went out. Hastily the earth-man -exchanged his white toga for the black toga of his fallen enemy, and -picked up the latter's rifle and cartridge-belt. It felt good to have a -real rifle-shaped rifle in his hands once more in place of the buttless -firearms of the ants. - -Just then a voice hailed him from the top of the wall. "What's the -trouble?" - -Out of the dim twilight below Myles called back: - -"I shot a sutler, and just as I was about to search his body the light -went out. Have you your flash light with you?" - -"Yes." - -"Then come on down and help me search." - -The second sentinel, eager for a taste of sutler's food after weeks of -garrison rations, started to scramble down the rope ladder; but as he -neared the ground Cabot stepped to his side and put a single bullet -through his brain. - -Out of the semidarkness around him there arose seven forms. They were -Buh Tedn and the six Cupian marksmen from the hills. Buh Tedn started to -change clothes with the fallen guard, but Cabot stopped him, saying, -"No; your limp would give you away. Let one of the others assume the -personality of this sentry." - -One of the others made the exchange. - -Then said their leader: "Two of the posts of the guard are now cleared. -Do you, marksman, ascend the ladder and walk this beat, impersonating -Yuri's guardsman." - -The man did so, while those below cowered close to the wall. Soon Cabot -heard a shot to the extreme right of the beat. Then a voice from above -called softly: - -"One less guard, O Cabot. Three sections of the wall are now cleared. I -have the body up here." - -Myles and one more sharpshooter mounted the parapet; soon all three were -walking post with the precision of old war-time practice, while the -other five members of the party clung to the rope ladder under the -shadow of the wall. Cabot himself walked the leftermost post, and took -pains never to meet the adjoining sentry. Thus nearly half a parth of -time passed. - -Finally an officer with a squad approached along the top of the wall to -the left. Cabot promptly crowded to the extreme right-hand end of his -beat, and cautioned his own adjoining sentinel to remain close at hand. - -As the squad drew near he sang out, "Halt!" - -The squad halted. - -"Who is there?" the earth-man demanded. - -"Relief." - -"Advance one and be recognized." - -The officer stepped forward. - -"Advance relief." - -The officer brought the relief forward, halted it again, and called out, -"Number four!" - -Thereat one of the squad stepped from the ranks at port-arms. Cabot -himself came to port in unison. - -At this point the routine ended. Tilting his gun slightly from its -position, Myles suddenly fired two shots, and the officer and the new -Number Four sank down upon the parapet. - -Instantly the whole squad was in confusion, but before they could raise -their rifles to reply Myles and his companions riddled them with -bullets. - -One of them, more quick-thinking than the rest, dropped prone without -being hit, and then cautiously drew a bead on Myles Cabot, who, seeing -his enemies all down, had just paused to breathe. Neither he nor his -companion saw his hostile move, and Myles's other man was walking his -post, far to the right, in a military manner, so as to attract no -attention from the guardsmen farther on. - -Everything was all set for the tragedy which would forever put an end to -the hope of the redemption of Cupia from the renegade Yuri and his bee -allies. - -But just as the soldier was about to pull the trigger, a brawny arm -slipped across his throat and yanked him backward, so that his gun went -off in the air. It was Buh Tedn, who had crawled to the top of the wall -in the rear of the squad. A shot from Cabot's companion promptly put an -end to this last enemy. - -Then the seven conspirators searched the bodies and equipped themselves, -Cabot pinning on the insignia of the officer. There were eight bodies, -but some had undoubtedly fallen from the wall in the struggle. No time -could be spared to hunt for these, and eight was more than enough for -the present purposes. - - -Myles formed his men in two ranks, counted them off, faced them to the -right, and proceeded along the parapet, picking up his one already -posted man as he went. - -Number Six was relieved in true military form. He was too glad of -getting off duty to notice the unfamiliarity of the officer who relieved -him. Similarly with Numbers Seven, Eight, Nine, and so on. - -As he came to Number Eleven, Cabot began to worry for fear that his -supply of new sentinels might run out. Why hadn't he made some -arrangement to have his own men rejoin him after being posted? But then -he reflected that that would never do, for it certainly would have been -noticed by the others. He was in a fix. - -Number Twelve was relieved, all seven of his own men were gone, and -Myles Cabot found himself at the head of a squad composed entirely of -the enemy. What could he do at Number Thirteen? - -But just as he was frantically turning this question over in his mind, -he came to a long ramp leading inward from the wall, down to a small -building between the wall and the main arsenal. He stepped back as -though to inspect the squad; and they, without command, marched past -him, turned, and proceeded past Number One down the ramp. This was the -guard-quarters; there were no more sentinels to relieve. - -Inside the buildings he gave the commands: "Relief--halt! Left--face! -Port--arms! Open--chambers! Close--chambers! Dismissed! Hands up!" - -The last was not in the Manual. The tired men, on their way to the gun -rack, stopped in surprise. Up shot their hands, some first dropping -their rifles, but some retaining them. - -"It is Cabot the Minorian!" one of them shouted. - -The situation was ticklish in the extreme. The Cupians were scattered -throughout the room, so that it was impossible for Myles to cover them -all simultaneously with his rifle. They were desperate characters, thugs -of the worst type, typical henchmen of Prince Yuri. If they started any -trouble, Myles could expect to get one, or at most two, of the seven -before the rest would get him. Furthermore, they knew it. - -"Back up, all of you, into that corner! Quickly!" he directed. - -But they did not budge. Gradually smiles began to break over their ugly -visages. They realized that they had him at bay, rather than he them. -And what a prize he would be for presentation to King Yuri! Why, the -king might even blow them to a beefsteak party. - -The earth-man confronted them, unafraid. He still had the drop on them, -and he intended to press his advantage to the limit. - -"You fat one over by the rack, back into the corner," he ordered, "or -I'll shoot you first." - -The Cupian addressed obeyed with alacrity. - -"You with the scar! Lay down your gun! Now you back into the corner!" - -The second soldier did so. Things were progressing nicely. One by one he -could subdue the Cupians confronting him. But, just as he was exulting -in his triumph, his gun was seized from behind. Turning, he saw Number -One leering at him. - -One blow from his fist in that leering face and the newcomer crashed to -the floor. But before Myles could wheel to confront those in the -guardroom, they had rushed him and borne him to the ground. - -"Capture him alive!" some one shouted, and that was the last that he -heard, for something snapped in his portable radio set, and from then on -he was deaf to antennae-emanations. All that he could hear was an -occasional rifle shot. - -In spite of the overwhelming numbers upon him, he fought with feet and -fists, until at last, the weight seemed to lessen. Finally he struggled -to his feet and confronted his tormentors. Could it be that -single-handed, he had vanquished eight brawny Cupians? - -But no, for the figures he confronted were Buh Tedn and his own men. The -eight enemies lay dead on the floor. - -The mutual congratulations were silently given. A quick inspection -showed that the head-set and the apparatus-belt were hopelessly damaged, -so the radio man found a stylus and paper and wrote: "My artificial -antennae and the accompanying apparatus were ruined during the fight. -Luckily there is another set in the airplane. One of you go quickly and -fetch it." - -One of the party accordingly withdrew. The others, rifle in hand, -proceeded to search the building, but not a soul did they find, although -the couches had evidently been recently occupied. - -It seemed likely that, during the struggle in the guardroom, the rest of -the guard, being unable to reach the arms racks, had stealthily left the -building. - -So Myles and his party hurried on to the door which led from the -building into the arsenal yard. As they emerged they were met with a -volley from the arsenal, and three of their number went down. The rest -beat a hasty retreat and barred the door. - -Then they made their way to the windows which faced the main arsenal, -but two more of them were picked off before they realized how perfectly -they were silhouetted by the lighted rooms within. One of these two was -Buh Tedn. Myles Cabot and one Cupian sharpshooter were all that were -left of the party. - - -As rapidly as possible the two survivors extinguished all the lights in -the guardhouse, and then mounted to the roof, which was flat and -surrounded by a low parapet which protected them from showing themselves -against the illumination of the surrounding vapor lamps. - -Crawling along the roof to the edge nearest the arsenal, they peered -cautiously over. The whistle of a bullet caused Myles to duck his head, -and he pulled his companion to cover as well. With his artificial -antennae gone, he could not explain orally and it was too dark to write. -But the other followed him to the opposite edge, where they succeeded in -potting the sentinels at Posts Two and Three, which were the only -occupied posts within sight. - -There appearing to be nothing further to be accomplished up there, they -crawled down into the building and took up their station at windows of -the upper story, from which they fired at every sign of movement in the -direction of the arsenal, taking care to drop to the floor and then -change windows after each shot. - -Finally their ammunition gave out, and Cabot went down to the guardroom -for more. But a long and careful search revealed only a few rounds. - -Myles returned to the upper story and groped through the rooms to find -his friend. But it was his foot, rather than his out-stretched hand, -which finally found him. The Cupian sharpshooter lay dead. - -Myles Cabot alone, with only about a dozen cartridges, was the sole -remaining defense of the captured building. No life seemed to be -stirring on the arsenal side, so he crossed the building and looked out -at the wall. - -Dark figures were stealthily creeping along where Post No. 12 should -have been. The earth-man let them have it with rapid fire, and they -quickly disappeared. - -He now heard firing in that direction, and then the lights there went -out, so that the wall no longer showed against the sky. From time to -time he fired where he judged the wall was, so as to keep back the -invaders, and thus soon entirely exhausted his ammunition. - -"Thank heaven," he said to himself, "the downstairs door is barred!" - -But as he said this he realized that he had omitted to bar the door -which opened toward the wall; and even as he realized this there came a -rush of many feet down the ramp which led from the wall to this door. - - - - - XXVI - THE DEBACLE - - -Myles drew his knife, crouched in a corner of the dark room, and -prepared to sell his life dearly. He was ready for searchers who might -come groping through the room, but he was wholly unprepared for the -sudden switching on of the electric lights. As he sprang to his feet and -rubbed his eyes, he saw before him Nan-nan and the sharpshooter whom he -had sent back to the plane to get his second radio set. Behind them in -the doorway were a score or more of Cupians. - -Snatching the new set he fastened it in place, while the others waited. -Then, articulate once more, "You have come in the nick of time. How did -it happen?" - -The young priest replied, "Through spies of our religion I located Oya -Buh; he rounded up a number of his followers, and we hastened hither. -The wall we found unguarded, with a rope ladder hanging down, and at its -foot six dead soldiers in black togas. We took their arms and mounted -the wall, only to be driven back by shots." - -"My shots," Myles interjected. - -"Not all," Nan-nan replied, "for some came from the arsenal; we could -tell by the flashes. Several of our party were hit--although not by you, -so your conscience may feel clear--before we put a stop to this by -shooting out all the outside lights. Then we rushed the guardhouse, and -here we are. But where are _your_ men?" - -"Dead--all dead," the earth-man sadly replied. "Even Buh Tedn." - -Oya Buh then stepped forward and greeted his former chief. - -"Yahoo, Cabot!" he cried. "May the dead rest beyond the waves. We, the -living, have work to do. Look--the sky turns pink and silver in the -east! Morning has come. What do you propose?" - -"Morning means that the whistling bees will soon be upon us," Myles -answered. "We must capture the arsenal before they arrive." - -The party then took inventory of their supplies. There were thirty-eight -rifles, forty Cupians, and Myles Cabot. One man was promptly sent to the -roof with crossed sticks. When these were recognized, thirty-eight men -under arms were marched up onto the roof as well. It was considered -advisable for Cabot himself to keep under cover. Then Oya Buh unbarred -the door and stepped out. An officer from the arsenal advanced to meet -him. The two gravely patted each other's cheek. - -The officer, whose rank was that of pootah, inquired: - -"What is the idea of defying your king, professor?" - -"The idea," Oya replied, "is that we have come to restore Kew XIII to -the throne and the Cupians to their proper dominion over the bees. The -guardhouse, as you see, is manned by sharpshooters, fully armed. A vast -force, unarmed but determined, awaits outside the walls. If you -surrender, we shall spare your lives. If not, we shall rush the gates -while our sharpshooters pick off any one who opposes, and shall kill all -whom we find within. What say you?" - -The pootah shrugged his shoulders. "What is there to say?" he replied. -"We surrender, provided we are given safe conduct." - -"Safe conduct without arms?" - -"Agreed." - -So the guard, about a hundred in number, in their black togas, filed out -of the arsenal, through the guardhouse, onto the wall, along it, and -down the rope ladder. The ladder was then hauled up again. The pootah -looked around him. - -"Where is your vast army?" he asked. - -"On the other side of the wall," Oya Buh replied, with a smile. "Now run -along away from here, like a good little boy." - -But the officer and his followers started circling the wall to -investigate. Before he gained the main gate, however, it had been opened -and, for all he could tell, the "vast army" had passed inside. A guard -stationed there advised him to get out of rifle range as speedily as -possible, and twelve sentinels, who by now had manned the wall, bore out -this menace; so, grumbling somewhat the pootah led his men off toward -the city. - -Thus did Myles Cabot and forty-seven practically unarmed followers -capture the Kuana arsenal from its hundred defenders. - -Straggling Cupians now began to drift in from the city. These were put -to work carting arms and ammunition out of the arsenal and stacking it -up in widely separated piles wherever cover could be found. Every Cupian -who reported was issued a rifle and a full bandoleer of cartridges. - -"We may perhaps thus arm some enemies," Myles admitted, "but we must -take the risk. The majority will be friends." - -It was well that they removed all the ammunition which they could. It -would have been better if they could have removed more. They all worked -feverishly for half the morning, even taking the guards off the wall for -this purpose, but they had scarcely made a dent in the supplies stored -in the arsenal when a fleet of bees appeared on the southern horizon. - -In spite of the approaching menace, Myles and his men continued to work. -The Hymernians flew low straight at the arsenal, until a volley from -Cabot's men brought down two of them and caused the rest to soar into -the sky. Whereupon they started dropping bombs on the arsenal, and on -the men carting materials therefrom. - -Naturally, this put an abrupt end to Cabot's operations. His men -scattered as rapidly as possible; and individually made for the city -with small quantities of arms, keeping to cover as well as they could. -Cupians from Kuana helped themselves to the rest, and by nightfall the -captured supplies were pretty well distributed. The arsenal was a -smoking ruin. - -All through the afternoon the bees, flying low, harassed whoever they -saw moving on the streets, especially such as were carrying rifles; but -these retaliated by firing at all bees that came within range, in spite -of which very few bees were killed. Night brought a cessation of this -sort of warfare. - -Emsul arrived and of course at once gave up the idea of his projected -peace mission to Yuri. He and Cabot and Nan-nan and Oya Buh spent the -night under heavy guard at separated points throughout the city, -securing much-needed sleep. Under cover of the darkness, many of their -followers foraged in the ruins of the arsenal and secured a surprising -quantity of undamaged material, being joined in the morning by the army -in kerkools from the north. - - -Before daybreak a resolute band of several thousand loyal Cupians had -gathered in the streets and houses surrounding the palace, and promptly -at sunrise they launched an attack. They had expected to find the palace -guard unarmed; but evidently a large quantity of the rifles and -ammunition, which had been distributed throughout the city, had found -their way to the palace, for the assault was at once repulsed by heavy -fire from the palace guards. - -As Cabot's forces reformed for a second attack, they were deluged with -explosives from above. The bee-people had evidently not returned to -their base at Wautoosa, but had spent the night near by, so as to be on -hand to protect the palace. - -Whenever they sighted even a small group of Cupians, or wherever they -had reason to suspect that some building was hostilely occupied, there -they would drop one of their devastating bombs. Cabot's forces were -completely at the mercy of the Hymernians. There was but one thing to -do--flee. - -In vain, the earth-man and his able lieutenants tried to rally their -troops. What was the use in assembling, when assembly was the signal for -a bomb from above? What was the use of attacking the invincible bees? - -Myles Cabot stood irresolute in one of the public squares. He was as -near to despairing as he had ever been in his many vicissitudes on the -planet Poros, since his first arrival there five earth-years ago. Oh, if -only he had airplanes with which to subdue the Hymernians as in the days -of old! Almost was he tempted to return to the vicinity of the arsenal, -ascertain whether his one plane was intact, and if so fly alone in a -last desperate attempt to give battle to his winged enemies. - -The more he thought of the plan, the more it appealed to him. There -seemed to be no other way out. His bravely engineered revolution had -crumbled. If he stayed where he was, he would undoubtedly be tracked -down, and put to some ignominious end by the usurper. How much better, -then, to die bravely fighting for his Lilla and his adopted country. - -And his baby? He wondered where the little darling had disappeared to. -At least the infant king was out of Yuri's clutches. - -So, his mind made up, Myles set out on a run for the wood overlooking -the arsenal. After a few paraparths he reached it. There stood his -plane. Rapidly he went over all the struts, and stays, and engine parts. -Everything appeared to be in first class order. The fuel tanks contained -plenty of alcohol. How this machine had escaped capture or destruction -was a marvel, but probably the bees had been too busy bombing groups of -Cupians, to take the time to explore the apparently deserted grove. - -Myles sprang aboard and was just about to start the trophil engine, when -a familiar sound, smiting upon his earthborn ears, caused him to delay -for a moment. From the southward came the purr of many motors. - -Was the wish the father to the thought? His longing for an air fleet, -with which to vanquish the bees, had been so intense; had it affected -his mind and caused him to hear things which did not exist? Impossible, -for the purr of the motors was unmistakable. - -He strained his eyes toward the southern horizon, so that they might see -what his ears heard; but there was nothing there. The radiant silver sky -was untouched save by an occasional small cloud. - -The bees still kept up their bombing of the city. He could see them -flying low over the housetops, and up and down the principal -thoroughfares, ferreting out any groups of Cupians who dared to gather -in Cabot's cause, dropping bombs on any houses which presumed to fly the -blue pennant of the Kew dynasty in place of the yellow of Yuri. - -The bees did not heed the approaching planes from the south. Of course -not! For the whistling bees of Poros had no ears. They heard with their -antennae, and heard only radio waves at that, in fact only short-length -radio waves. - -The noise of a large fleet of airships swept on out of the south. Nearer -and nearer it came, until it was right over the city, and still not a -single plane appeared in sight. Meanwhile the bees continued their -depredations, and the earth-man sat in his own plane and watched and -waited. - -As he watched, he saw one of the bees who happened to be flying higher -than the rest, suddenly vanish in a puff of smoke. And then another and -another. - -The Hymernians, too, saw this and rose to investigate, whereat there -came the shut-off whir of descending planes. - - -Fascinated, Myles stared into the sky, whence came these sounds, and saw -occasionally, against gathering clouds, a glint of silver light. - -Several more of the ascending bees exploded. And now Myles was able to -see from time to time, silhouetted on a background of cloud, the ghostly -form of an airship. The bees, too, saw, and flew to the attack. What was -this shadow fleet? Had the spirits of the brave Cupian aviators of the -past returned to free their beloved country from Hymernian domination? - -The two fleets, bees and ghostly planes, had now completely joined -battle, and were drifting slowly to the southeast. Myles came out of his -trance, started his engine, and rose into the air, intent on joining the -fray. - -On his way, he circled over the city, and gave it a glance in passing. -Then he gave it a second glance, for the Cupians, relieved of the menace -of the bees, were forming for a second attack on the palace. - -Instantly his plans changed. What business had he running off to watch -however interesting a sky battle when right here before him lay a chance -to do what he had braved so many misfortunes to accomplish, namely free -his Lilla from the unspeakable Yuri! Veering sharply, he landed on one -of the upper terraces of the palace. - -He still wore his bandoleer of cartridges, and still carried his rifle. -Filling the magazine, he boldly descended into the building. No one -guarded the approaches from the air, for they depended on their aerial -allies to do that for them. The upper rooms were deserted, doubtless -because the womenfolk were cowering in the basements and because the -palace guards and Yuri's other henchmen were resisting the attack of -Cabot's Cupians at the ground levels. - -Cabot himself explored the place unimpeded and unchallenged. Here he was -at last at his journey's end, but where was Lilla? Lilla the blue-eyed -princess, Lilla of the golden curls, his Lilla! - -The rooms which he and she had occupied showed every sign of continued -and present occupancy, even to the crib of the baby king, emblazoned -with the arms of the House of Kew. Cabot looked reverently around the -living rooms of his wife and child, and then swept on into the lower -levels of the palace. - -Occasionally he would come upon groups of defenders; but they, naturally -assuming that he was one of them--especially as he still wore the black -toga of the arsenal guard--gave him but little heed. Whenever the group -was not too numerous he would shoot them. He hated to do this, but he -knew he had to in order to save his loved ones. - -Thus he traversed practically the whole of the upper reaches of the -palace without encountering his arch enemy Yuri, or any of the -womenfolk. Yuri was no coward. However much of a scoundrel he might be, -no one would ever accuse him of that. Therefore he was not in hiding. He -was apparently not in command of the defense. Therefore he must be -either away from the palace, or concocting some devilment. - -Figuring thus, Cabot continued to descend to levels below the ground -floor. While treading these subterranean passages, searching, ever -searching for either Lilla or Yuri, he came upon one of the palace -guards. The fellow was unarmed, so Cabot did not shoot. - -Instead he ordered, "Up with your hands." - -The guard promptly obeyed. - -"Now," said his captor, "the price of your life is to lead me to your -king." - -"Indeed, I will with pleasure," the soldier replied with a sneer, "for -King Yuri will make short work of one who turns traitor to his black -garb." - -The earth-man smiled. "I am no traitor," he announced, "and this black -toga is mere borrowed fur. Do you not know Cabot the Minorian?" - -The other blanched. "Good Builder!" he exclaimed. "We did not believe -the story that you had returned from the planet Minos. But I am at your -orders, for I am one of the old guard who served under King Kew the -Twelfth, the father of Princess Lilla, may he rest beyond the waves." - -"Lead on, and no treachery," Myles curtly replied. "I trust no one who -has ever worn the livery of Prince Yuri." - -So the guard led the way through many winding passages, down into the -very bowels of the subterranean labyrinths of the palace. What could -Prince Yuri be doing way down here unless he was hiding, which seemed -unlikely? Cabot became very suspicious, and, rifle in hand and finger on -trigger, watched his guide with eagle eye. - -Finally they came upon a form in an elaborate yellow toga, huddled in a -corner. - -"King Yuri," said the soldier laconically. - -At the sound of the voice the usurper looked around; and now it became -evident that he was crouching there not for fear, but rather because he -was engaged in repairing something with a set of typical Porovian -queer-looking tools. - -Apparently not at all surprised, he hailed his deadliest enemy and rival -as though the latter were a long lost friend, "Yahoo, Cabot the -Minorian. I rather expected you would turn up sooner or later. Just a -minute until I fix this wire, and then I will be at your service. You -see, one of my mines wouldn't explode; no one else seemed able to get at -the cause of the trouble, and so I had to come down here in person." - -And so saying he turned back to his work. Myles stepped forward to see -what Prince Yuri was doing. For a brief moment the earth-man's -scientific curiosity got the better of his caution. But that moment, -brief as it was, proved long enough for the watchful soldier, who had -led him hither, to snatch Myles' rifle from his hand, and cover him with -its muzzle. - -"Up with your hands!" the soldier peremptorily commanded. - -Cabot obeyed. Not to do so would have been suicide. - -Yuri, still unperturbed, remarked, "Well done, Tobo; you shall be -promoted for this." - -"Shall I shoot him, sire?" Tobo eagerly asked. - -"N-no," the usurper ruminated, waving his antennae thoughtfully, "not -just now. Wait until I finish with this wire. In the meantime you might -let the Minorian lean against the wall, so that he will be more -comfortable." - - -So Myles leaned against the wall and waited, his hands still held high, -while the prince puttered around in the corner. Finally, after a -seemingly interminable period, Yuri arose, slung his tools together, -brushed one hand against the other, and looked at his victim with a -cruel smile. - -"Shall I kill him now?" asked Tobo. - -"No. I am reserving that pleasure for myself," the prince replied. Then -to Cabot: "At last, you are in my power. I intend to shoot you myself. I -intend to shoot you down, unarmed." - -Turning to Tobo, the prince asked, "How is our battle going?" - -"Very well, sire," the soldier replied. "We are repulsing all assaults, -in spite of the departure of the bees to the southward." - -A momentary cloud of doubt spread over the sinister handsome visage of -Prince Yuri. Then he smiled and said, "Doubtless the bees know what they -are about, and will soon return to the fray. So let us proceed with the -execution. Follow me!" - -Myles followed. Almost was he tempted to spring upon his enemy and -attempt to throttle him before the inevitable bullet from Tobo could do -its work. It would be well worth the sacrifice of his own life to rid -Cupia of this incubus. But what if Yuri should survive? No, it would -never do to risk this. So he meekly followed. - -The prince led the way up several levels, until they came to a small -circular chamber hung with curtains. At one side was a dais. An electric -vapor-lamp on the ceiling furnished the light. - -Prince Yuri took the rifle from the guard, stood Myles in the center of -the room, and sat down himself on the dais. - -Then he directed Tobo, "Go and summon the Princess Lilla hither, for I -wish her to see me kill this lover of hers, this beast from another -world." - -Myles winced at the mention of his beloved, and thereat his tormentors -smiled. - -The soldier departed on his errand. Yuri toyed with the weapon, and -watched his victim, with a sneer on his handsome lips. Myles returned -his stare without flinching. - -"You can put down your hands now, if you wish, you fur-faced mathlab," -the prince remarked. - -Cabot did so, and instinctively felt of his face. The insult was -unwarranted, for he had shaved only that morning. - -"Don't go too far!" he admonished his captor. "Remember Poblath's -proverb: 'You cannot kill a Minorian'." - -"I've a mind to kill you right now," the prince replied, "just to prove -to you that your friend is wrong." - -"Go ahead and try it," Myles challenged, half hoping that Yuri would -take him at his word, and thus spare Lilla the pain of attending the -execution. - -A grim look settled on the usurper's face as he slowly raised the rifle -and pointed it at the earth-man's right side. - -"Left side," Myles admonished. "Remember that my heart is on the other -side than is the case with you Cupians." - -"My, but you are a cool one!" Yuri admired, shifting his arm as -directed. "Now, are you prepared to die?" - -"Yes," Myles replied. - -It all seemed like a dream. It couldn't be possible that he was really -going to die on the far-away planet Venus. Perhaps all his adventures in -the skies had been a mere dream, and he was now about to be awakened. - -"Thus do I bring peace to Poros!" the Cupian sententiously declaimed. - -His finger closed upon the trigger. - -The rifle spat fire. - - - - - XXVII - PEACE ON POROS - - -Myles felt a sharp warm pain in his shoulder. But he still stood erect. -He was not dead. Could it be that Yuri had missed? Shaking himself -together and blinking his eyes, Myles stared at the prince. - -The prince stared back with an open-mouthed expression of surprise. His -eyes were fishlike. His body was no longer erect. The rifle lay in his -lap, and he seemed to be feebly trying to raise it and point it at -Cabot. - -Then, with a gurgle, some blood welled from the prince's mouth and -trickled down his chin. - -With one supreme effort his antennae radiated the words, "Curse you!" - -Then the rifle dropped clattering from his nerveless hands, and his body -slouched forward prone on the floor at the foot of the dais. From the -right side of his back there protruded the jewelled hilt of a dagger. - -Behind the couch, between parted curtains, stood a wild-eyed Cupian -woman, her face hideous with pent-up hate and triumph. - -For a moment Myles stood rooted to the spot; then, tearing his feet -free, he rushed to his fallen enemy and plucked out the dagger. From the -wound there gushed bright cerise-colored blood, foamy with white -bubbles. Myles turned the body over, and listened at the right side of -the chest. Not a sound. Then, the Prince's chest collapsed, with a sigh, -a little more blood welled out of the mouth, and all was still once -more. - -Prince Yuri, the most highly developed specimen of Cupian manhood--but a -renegade, traitor, rejected wooer of the Princess Lilla, pretender to -the throne of Cupia--Prince Yuri was dead! - -And such an ignominious death for one of his high spirit to die! Stabbed -in the back by a woman. - -Cabot rose and faced her, the jeweled dagger still in his hand. "Who are -you?" he asked. "And why did you do it?" - -"I am Okapa," she replied in a strained voice--"Okapa from the mountain -village of Pronth. Do you remember how in the Second War of Liberation -you found Luno Castle deserted and a slain infant lying on the royal -bier?" - -"Can I ever forget it?" he answered, his mind going back into the past. -"Naturally I thought it was my baby son, whom I had never seen. -Therefore I fought all the harder against the usurper Yuri until I drove -him and his ant allies southward, rejoined Lilla in Kuana, and learned -that little Kew was safe, and that the dead child was but an orphan baby -whom Lilla had substituted for our own baby for fear of just such an -outcome." - -"It was no orphan!" Okapa shrieked. "It was mine--mine! The dead child -was mine! Yuri stabbed my child and now I have stabbed him with the -selfsame dagger. Yuri killed my baby, and I have slain him, and now I -must die myself for killing a king." - -So saying, her anger spent, she flung herself upon the couch and wept -silently, as is the habit of Cupians. - -Just then the Princess Lilla in a black gown swept into the room. - -"They told me the king wished to see me here," she said. "Where is the -king?" - -She stopped abruptly as she saw the body on the floor. Then her eyes -rose until they rested on Myles Cabot. With a glad cry she rushed toward -his outstretched arms. - -But a peremptory shout of "Hands up!" from the doorway caused her to -halt. She was between Myles and the door. He still held the jeweled -dagger in his hand. Stepping quickly to one side, he cast it straight at -Tobo who stood by the entrance, a rifle in his hands; and before the -Cupian soldier could raise his weapon to fire, the missile had -penetrated his heart. Down he went with a crash. - -While this had been going on, Okapa, the madwoman, had crept stealthily -toward Yuri's body with a view to securing the rifle which he had -dropped. Seizing it, she leaped to her feet with a shriek. - -"You too!" she cried, pointing at Lilla with one skinny finger. "For it -was you who took my babe from the orphanage and exposed him to danger. -You are joint murderer with Yuri. Him I have slain, and now it is your -turn." - -But Myles stepped between her and the princess and wrenched the gun from -her poor mad hands, whereat she flung herself upon him, clawing and -biting like a demon. It was only the work of a few minutes, however, to -get both her wrists behind her back. - -Lilla, sensing the need, ripped some strips from the hanging draperies; -together they tied the woman and seated her to one side. Then once more -the long separated earth-man and his Cupian beloved started to embrace, -while Okapa glared at them with baleful eyes. - -This was too much for Myles. - -"Just one paraparth!" he said; and, stepping over to Okapa, he spun her -around until she faced the wall. - -Then he clasped his princess to him in a long embrace. - -But at last a pang intruded in his bliss. "Lilla dearest," he asked, -"where is our little son?" - -She shook herself together. - -"I know not," she replied, "They would not let me know, for fear that -the usurper--may he rest beyond the waves--might force the secret from -me. But our country is more important than our child. While we tarry -here the battle rages. Quick, to the upper levels, and let us take -control." - -"We cannot do so without a message from their king," her husband -asserted. "Let us therefore bring them one." - -Stooping down, he picked up the dead body of Prince Yuri and flung it -across his shoulder. - -"Lead on!" he said. - -As they emerged up a flight of stairs into the main hall of the palace -they saw a frantic throng of palace guards piling tables, chairs, and -other furniture into a barricade across one of the doorways. Evidently -the troops of Emsul and Hah Babbuh had penetrated the palace and had -driven the defenders back to this point. - -The golden-curled Lilla, standing straight and slim in her black gown, -stopped all this work of fortification with an imperious gesture. - -"Desist!" she cried. "I, your princess, command it. The war is over. -Yuri, the usurper, is dead." - -"Prove it," snarled back the guards like a pack at bay, recoiling from -her regal presence. - -"Here is your proof!" Myles Cabot shouted, stepping forward and casting -Yuri's body down before them. "Your king is dead." - -"'Tis true," one replied. "The king is dead." - -"Yuri is dead," another echoed. "Long live King Kew!" - -"Long live King Kew!" shouted all the palace thugs, just as the -besiegers stormed over the barricade with leveled rifles. - -But at the shouts within, and at the sight of their princess and their -intrepid earth-man leader, they grounded their arms and, holding their -left hands aloft, gave the Porovian greetings: - -"Yahoo, Myles Cabot! Our regent has returned from Minos to rule over -us!" - -Then one guardsman had an idea. "Come," he said, "let us mount to the -upper terraces, haul down the yellow pennant of King Yuri, and restore -the red banner of the Kew dynasty." - -From one of the balconies above came a boyish voice: "It has already -been done, Myles Cabot." - -Every one looked up, and there stood Yuri's younger brother, the loyal -Prince Toron, wearing the insignia of admiral of the Cupian Air Navy. - -"I hope you don't mind, Myles," he said as he descended. "I made myself -admiral on my own hook. You see, while all the bees were here at Kuana -bombing your men, I captured the air base at Wautoosa with a crowd of -ex-aviators whom I had assembled for that purpose. - -"We had been hiding in the woods for several sangths, with spies at -Wautoosa to inform us when there was an opening. When the time came we -walked right in, killed a few old bees who were on guard, reconditioned -the planes which have lain in storage ever since my brother seized the -throne, painted them with silver paint, flew up here to Kuana, and put -the bees out of business. - -"The silver paint was my own idea, and I must say it seemed to work. The -bees couldn't see us at all against the silver sky. The plaza and the -fields beyond are strewn with dead and dying Hymernians, and my men are -tracking down the survivors." - -And he would have chattered on in his boyish excitement, had not one of -the soldiers brutally interrupted with: - -"Thy brother lies dead, O Toron." - -The young prince followed the pointing finger of the guard until his -eyes rested on the crumpled body in its blood-stained yellow toga. Then -he flung his arm across his face to blot out the sight. For a few -moments he stood thus, while all respectfully kept silent. At last he -uncovered his eyes and addressed the earth-man. - -"May he rest beyond the waves!" he said. "I crave the corpse so that I -can give my brother a decent funeral." - -"He shall be buried with full royal honors," Myles Cabot replied, "for -he was a brave and regal Cupian who would have served his country well -if his inordinate ambition had not blinded his judgment." - -"My cousin shall have royal burial," echoed the Princess Lilla. "It -would be due you, Toron, for your share in the victory, if for no other -reason." - -"I appreciate this courtesy more than words can express," Toron replied. - -The news of the capitulation had rapidly spread, and the huge hall was -filling with Cupians from without. Among them came Emsul, Nan-nan, Hah -Babbuh, Oya Buh, and even Poblath the Philosopher. Warm were the -greetings between the friends. - -"But where is our king?" Myles asked, as soon as he could free himself -from all the congratulation. - -"Now it can be told," Poblath replied. "He is safe in the care of my -wife Bthuh, in our villa at Lai." - -"The darling! I shall go to him at once," Lilla announced. - -"And I too," Myles added. - -"But no," Hah Babbuh interposed, "for the populace are already gathering -in the stadium and are demanding a speech from the great liberator." - -"So be it," Myles said with a shrug of resignation. "Affairs of state -cannot wait even the presence of the king, it seems." - -"But shall these black-togaed guards be permitted to retain their arms?" -Emsul asked. - -"Why not?" the earth-man replied. "Their only crime is that they fought -loyally for their leader. Besides, this is a free country. One of our -grievances against the usurper was that he deprived us of our rifles." - -Then, to the palace soldiery: "Care tenderly for the body of Prince -Yuri, and lay it out in state pending our return. Oh, and I almost -forgot--there is a crazy woman bound in one of the cellar rooms. Turn -her over to the mango of Kuana for incarceration in the mangool, and -under peril of your lives do not permit her to escape." - -"All hail our regent! And our most beautiful and beloved princess!" -shouted the guards, as Myles and Lilla left the palace. - -A kerkool awaited them at the gate. Getting into this, they proceeded at -a slow rate through the city and across the plaza toward the stadium -through lanes of cheering Cupians. Prince Toron, Emsul, Hah Babbuh, Oya -Buh, and others of their retinue followed them. - -The plaza and the fields beyond were strewn with bodies--mostly in -fragments--of the once great race of the Hymernians. One of these bees, -as they passed it, gave sign of still possessing some life. A faint -whistling noise assailed the antennae of the passing procession. - - -Cabot gave one look in the direction of the sound, then signed the -kerkools to stop, dismounted, and approached the dying creature. - -Adjusting his control to the wave length of bee speech, he sadly said, -"Portheris, once my friend, whom I made king of the bees, it grieves me -to see you lying thus, struck down in a war against my people." - -Raising himself feebly, the dying Portheris replied, "I bear you no -malice, Myles Cabot, and I pray that you will bear me none. Although I -opposed the war, yet when it came to a fight of race against race I was -loyal to my own, as any honorable individual would have been under like -circumstances. Perhaps it is just as well; for do you not remember that -when you were driving the ant-men off the face of Cupia, you said: -'There is no room on any given planet for more than one race of -intelligent beings?' Now the last Formian is gone, and the last of my -own people is gone. May Cupia be at peace. It is the sincere wish of -your old friend." - -The huge bee fell back, quivered a moment, and lay still. Thus died -Portheris, the last of the Hymernians. - -"May you rest beyond the waves, dear friend," the earth-man murmured as -he returned sadly to his car. - -They found the stadium packed with cheering throngs in gala attire. -Everywhere fluttered flags of the Kew dynasty. - -After Lilla had been comfortably seated and Marshal Hah and the others -had arrived, Myles stepped to the transmitter and was about to broadcast -some appropriate remarks to the assembled multitude, when an airplane -arrived overhead and settled softly into the arena. - -From the plane there stepped Poblath the Philosopher, followed by Bthuh, -his dark and beautiful wife. Both were smiling, and Bthuh held in her -arms a baby Cupian. - -Then Cabot spoke into the microphone: "Behold your king!" - -It was the shortest speech he had ever made--and the best. - -Thus came Kew XIII into his own. - -There is not much more to tell. - -Prince Toron retained his self-given title of Admiral of the Air Navy. -Hah Babbuh was restored to his professorship at the Royal University. -Oya Buh was promoted to full professorship. Poblath the Philosopher -again became mangool of Kuana, and his wife was made governess of the -infant king. Emsul, the veterinary, was given the title of court -physician. - -Owva, the Holy Leader, died shortly after this, and Nan-nan was selected -by the Great White Lodge as the fit person to reestablish the lost -religion publicly throughout Cupia. - -Myles and Lilla, leaving their friends to reconstruct the capital, -departed for a vacation at Luno Castle. - -Thus end the story of the adventure of Myles Cabot, the radio man, on -his return to the silver planet Venus, as received by the Harvard -scientists and myself over the long distance radio-set at my farm on -Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts. - - Ralph Milne Farley. - - - THE RADIO PLANET - -When Myles Cabot, inventor of radio transmission of matter, returned to -Venus he found himself alone on an unknown continent on that alien -planet. To get back to his old headquarters and his loved ones presented -some apparently impossible problems. - -He'd have to settle a war between the near-primitive natives and an -unholy alliance of monsters, dinosaurs, and giant insects. He'd have to -build an electronic device from raw rocks and untapped resources. And if -he could succeed in all that, he'd still have to find his way home and -fight off a usurper's diabolic conspiracy. - -But Myles Cabot didn't know the meaning of the word impossible! - - - ON THE WRONG SIDE OF VENUS - -On Venus, the Radio Planet, nothing was impossible, it seemed to Myles -Cabot. He was beginning to get used to the dangerous monsters that -inhabited the planet, to know how to deal with them and the even -stranger intelligent insects among whom he found himself. - -But the insects were his enemies, a race of creatures Cabot had driven -from their dominion over Cabot's own people--yet here he was, fighting -side by side with the insect leaders in a desperate attempt to defend -their queen! - -It was strange, unexpected ... but it was the only hope he had of -getting back to his own land and rescuing the beautiful Lilla, his young -son and his throne. - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Copyright notice provided as in the original--this e-text is public - domain in the country of publication. - ---Generated a Table of Contents based on the original chapter headings. - ---Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and - dialect unchanged. - ---In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the - HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Radio Planet, by Ralph Milne Farley - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RADIO PLANET *** - -***** This file should be named 52326.txt or 52326.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/3/2/52326/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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