chimedes, but no more
than that. Searching this glowing Moon surface, our little lights, the
tiny local semaphore beams we had momentarily been using, could easily
pass unnoticed.

But as the brigand ship approached now--dropping close to Archimedes
as it probably would--our danger was that Miko and his men would then
signal it, join it, and reveal the camp's location, and the brigand
attack would be upon us.

I told this now to Anita. "The signal said, '_Unless you can stop
them_.'"

It was an appeal to me. But how could I respond to it? What could I
do, alone out here with Anita, to cope with this enemy?

Anita made no comment.

I added, "That ship will land near Archimedes I imagine, within an
hour or two! If Grantline can repair his portes, and I can get you
inside--"

Again she made no comment. Then suddenly she gripped me. "Gregg, look
there!"

Out through the gully break in our bowl the figure of Miko showed! He
was running. But not at us. Circling the summit, leaping to keep
himself behind the upstanding crags. He passed the head of the
staircase; he did not descend it, but headed off along the summit of
the curving crater-rim.

* * * * *

I stood up to watch him. He was making off. Abandoning us!

"He's going!"

I let her stand up beside me; cautiously, at first, for it occurred to
me that this might be a ruse to cover some other of Miko's men who
might be lurking up here.

But the summit seemed clear. The figure of Miko was a thousand feet
away now. We could see the tiny blob of it bobbing over the rocks.
Then it plunged down--not into the crater-valley, but out toward the
open Moon surface.

Miko had abandoned his attack on us. The reason seemed plain. He had
come here from his encampment with Coniston, had sent Coniston ahead
to lure and kill Wilks. When this was done, Coniston had flashed his
brief signal to Miko, who was hiding nearby.

It was not like the brigand leader to remain in the background. Miko
was no coward. But Coniston could impersonate Wilks, whereas Miko's
giant stature at once would reveal his identity. Miko had been engaged
in smashing the portes. He had looked up and seen me kill Coniston. He
had come up to assail me. And then he had read Grantline's signal to
me. It was his first knowledge that his ship was at hand. With the
camp exits inoperative, Grantline and his men were imprisoned. Miko
made an effort to kill me. He did not know my