ng call-lights on
the roof brought in the outer guards. They came running to the
admission portes, which had been repaired after Miko disabled them.

* * * * *

The guards came in. We dimmed our lights further. The treasure sheds
were black against the cliff behind us. No need for guards there--the
bulk of the ore was such that we reasoned the brigands would not
attempt to move it until our buildings were captured. But, if they
should try it, we were prepared to sally out with our hand-weapons and
defend it.

In the dim lights we crouched. A silence was upon us, save for the
clanging in the workshop down the corridor. Most of us wore our Erentz
suits, with helmets ready, though I am sure there was not a man of us
but who prayed he might not have to go out. At many of the
windows--our weakest points to withstand the rays--insulated fabric
shields were hung like curtains.

The brigand ship slowly advanced. It was soon over the opposite rim of
our little crater. Its search-beam swung about the rim and down into
the valley.

My thoughts ran like a turgid stream as I stood tensely watching.

Four hours ago I had sent that flash-signal to Earth. If it were
received, a patrol-ship could come to our rescue and arrive here in
another eight hours--or perhaps even less.

Ah, that "if!" _If_ the signal were received! _If_ the patrol-ship
were immediately available! _If_ it started at once....

Eight hours at the very least. I tried to assure myself that we could
hold out that long....

The brigand ship crossed the opposite crater-rim. It dropped lower. It
seemed poised over the crater-valley, almost at our own level and less
than two miles from us. Its search-beam vanished. For a moment it
hung, a sleek, cylindrical silver shape, gleaming in the Earthlight.

Snap looked at me and murmured, "It's descending."

It slowly settled, cautiously picked its landing-place amid the crags
and pits of the tumbled scarred valley floor. It came to rest, a vague
silver menacing shape lurking in the lower shadows, close at the foot
of the inner opposite crater-wall.

A few moments of tense waiting passed. Soon tiny lights were moving
down there, some out on the rocks near the ship, others up under its
deck-dome.

A stab of searchlight shot across the valley, swung along our ledge
and clung with its glaring ten-foot circle to the front of our main
building. Then a ray flashed.

The assault had begun