purpose, he decided to set up headquarters on an island just
offshore in the Great Bay. It was a protected position, easily defended
from assault, and the natives, he knew from his previous visit, were
friendly.

They even helped him to get his men and equipment and the carriers
across on huge rafts.

From that point, he began collecting the information he needed to invade
the central domains of the Greatest Noble himself. It seemed an ideal
spot--not only protection-wise, but because this was the spot he had
originally picked for the landing of the ship. The vessel, which had
returned to the base for reinforcements and extra supplies, would be
aiming for the Great Bay area when she came back. And there was little
likelihood that atmospheric disturbances would throw her off course
again; Captain Bartholomew was too good a man to be fooled twice.

But landing on that island was the first--and only--mistake the
commander made during the campaign. The rumors of internal bickerings
among the Great Nobles of the barbarian empire were not the only rumors
he heard. News of more local treachery came to his ears through the
agency of natives, now loyal to the commander, who had been
indoctrinated into the philosophy of the Assembly.

A group of native chieftains had decided that the invading Earthmen were
too dangerous to be allowed to remain on their island, in spite of the
fact that the invaders had done them no harm. There were, after all,
whisperings from the north, whence the invaders had come, that the
armored beings with the terrible weapons had used their power more than
once during their march to the south. The chieftains were determined to
rid their island of the potential menace.

As soon as the matter was brought to the commander's attention, he
acted. He sent out a patrol to the place where the ringleaders were
meeting, arrested them, and sentenced them to death. He didn't realize
what effect that action would have on the rest of the islanders.

He almost found out too late.

XI

"There must be three thousand of them out there," said Lieutenant
commander Hernan tightly, "and every one of them's crazy."

"Rot!" The commander spat on the ground and then sighted again along the
barrel of his weapon. "I'm the one who's crazy. I'm a lousy politician;
that's my trouble."

The lieutenant commander shrugged lightly. "Anyone can make a mistake.
Just chalk it up to experience."

"I will, when we get out