looped and angled in Nevian gratification, and, although neither side
could understand the other, both knew that intelligent speech and
hearing were attributes common to the two races. This fact altered
markedly the relations between captors and captives. The Nevians
admitted among themselves that the strange bipeds might be quite
intelligent, after all; and the Terrestrials at once became more
hopeful.

"It isn't so bad, if they can talk," Costigan summed up the situation.
"We might as well take it easy and make the best of it, particularly
since we haven't been able to figure out any possible way of getting
away from them. They can talk and hear, and we can learn their language
in time. Maybe we can make some kind of a deal with them to take us back
to our own system, if we can't make a break."

The Nevians being as eager as the Terrestrials to establish
communication, Nerado kept the newly devised frequency-changer in
constant use. There is no need of describing at length the details of
that interchange of languages. Suffice it to say that starting at the
very bottom they learned as babies learn, but with the great advantage
over babies of possessing fully developed and capable brains. And while
the human beings were learning the tongue of Nevia, several of the
amphibians (and incidentally Clio Marsden) were learning Triplanetarian;
the two officers knowing well that it would be much easier for the
Nevians to learn the logically-built common language of the Three
Planets than to master the senseless intricacies of English.

In a few weeks the two parties were able to understand each other after
a fashion, by using a weird mixture of both languages. As soon as a few
ideas had been exchanged, the Nevian scientists built transformers small
enough to be worn collar-like by the Terrestrials, and the captives were
allowed to roam at will throughout the great vessel; only the
compartment in which was stored the dismembered pirate lifeboats being
sealed to them. Thus it was that they were not left long in doubt, when
another fish-shaped cruiser of the world was revealed upon their lookout
plates in the awful emptiness of interstellar space.

"That is our sister-ship, going to your Solarian system for a cargo of
the iron which is so plentiful there," Nerado explained to his
involuntary guests.

"I hope the gang has got the bugs worked out of our super-ship,"
Costigan muttered savagely to his companions as Nerado turned