the surroundings, acceded gratefully. He mopped the dust from his
long face and watched the cart being turned around.

The procession moved off in the direction of the village, the advance
guard stepping out especially smartly, and Mayne began to get his
conference arranged.

He learned that the evicted crew of the _Gemsbok_ had been living in the
hut nearby. Before it stood a long table with benches, all evidently
knocked together from recently felled timber. Melin was given credit for
this by Voorhis, since before the arrival of the insurance adjuster and
his crew, no power tools had been available to the men from the
_Gemsbok_.

Mayne took a place at the end of the table. Some of the _Gemsbok's_ crew
came out of the hut to watch. Most of the Kappan warriors attending the
chief took up stations between the table and the ship, in a manner
suggesting long habit. Mayne guessed that attempts had been made to
re-enter the ship.

He put Haruhiku at his right hand to translate should it be necessary.
Melin and Voorhis sat at his left, their backs to the hut. To the other
side of the table, Eemakh brought two Kappans who were explained to
Mayne as being the tribal high priest, Igrillik, and Kaynox, who
represented a sort of district overlord.

"I meant to land up by _their_ city," Voorhis put in, "but we hit some
bad winds up in the stratosphere. We got knocked around a bit in the
storm, and set down where we could."

"Well, tell me about the details," said Mayne. "I want to get this
straight from the start, if I can. By the way, Lieutenant Haruhiku,
explain to the chief that a special envoy is on the way, that we want
his friendship, and that he will be dealt with fairly."

He waited out the exchange of choppy speech between the pilot and
Eemakh.

"He says he is sure he will be fairly dealt with," reported Haruhiku.

"I wonder what he meant by that," murmured Mayne. "If we make a deal
here, and thereby with his overlord, will that cover enough territory to
be official?"

"As much as you can get together anywhere on this world, sir."

Mayne nodded, then turned to Captain Voorhis.

"Now about this so-called crash?" he prompted.

"Well, there was this storm, like I said. Trouble was we didn't expect
to hit it and ... well ... somebody took it in his head to blow some of
the fuel tanks for a crash landing. That's why I'm not claimin' anythin'
on the fuel," he finished, turning to Melin.

"We are perfectly willi