on noticed."

"_I_ noticed."

"Don't quibble."

"I don't intend to. Some of these children have very sharp eyes. You'd
be surprised at what they see."

Manto said tolerantly, "You're getting jittery, Palit. We've been away
from home too long."

"I am not jittery in the least. But I believe in taking due care."

"What could possibly happen to us? If we were to announce to the
children and the teacher, and to every one in this zoo, for that matter,
exactly who and what we were, they wouldn't believe us. And even if they
did, they wouldn't be able to act rapidly enough to harm us."

"You never can tell about such things. Wise--people--simply don't take
unnecessary chances."

"I'll grant that you're my superior in such wisdom."

"You needn't be sarcastic, Manto, I _know_ I'm superior. _I_ realize
what a godsend this planet is--you don't. It has the right gravity, a
suitable atmosphere, the proper chemical composition--everything."

"Including a population that will be helpless before us."

"And you would take chances of losing all this."

"Don't be silly, Palit. What chances am I taking?"

"The chance of being discovered. Here we stumble on this place quite by
accident. No one at home knows about it, no one so much as suspects that
it exists. We must get back and report--and you do all sorts of silly
things which may reveal what we are, and lead these people to suspect
their danger."

* * * * *

This time, Manto's giggle was no longer mere camouflage, but expressed
to a certain degree how he felt. "They cannot possibly suspect. We have
been all over the world, we have taken many forms and adapted ourselves
to many customs, and no one has suspected. And even if danger really
threatened, it would be easy to escape. I could take the form of the
school teacher herself, of a policeman, of any one in authority.
However, at present there is not the slightest shadow of danger. So,
Palit, you had better stop being fearful."

Palit said firmly, "Be careful, and I won't be fearful. That's all there
is to it."

"I'll be careful. After all, I shouldn't want us to lose these children.
They're so exactly the kind we need. Look how inquiring they are, how
unafraid, how quick to adapt to any circumstances--"

Miss Burton's voice said, "Good gracious, children, what language _are_
you using? Greek?"

They had been speaking too loud, they had been overheard. Palit and
Manto s