h?"

* * * * *

I remained silent.

"Why?" she demanded.

I said carefully, "This treasure--you are many who will divide it. You
have all these men on the _Planetara_. And in Ferrok-Shahn, others, no
doubt."

I paused. Would she tell me? Could I make her talk of that other brigand
ship which Miko had said was waiting on Mars? I wondered if he had been
able to signal it. The distance from here to Mars was great; yet upon
other voyages Snap's signals had gotten through. My heart sank at the
thought. Our situation here was desperate enough. The passengers soon
would be cast upon the asteroid: there would be left only Snap, Anita
and myself. We might recapture the ship, but I doubted it now. My
thoughts were turning to our arrival upon the Moon. We three might,
perhaps, be able to thwart the attack upon Grantline, hold the brigands
off until help from the Earth might come.

But with another brigand ship, fully manned and armed, coming from Mars,
the condition would be immeasurably worse. Grantline had some twenty
men, and his camp, I knew, would be reasonably fortified. I knew, too,
that Johnny Grantline would fight to his last man.

Moa was saying, "I would like to tell you our plans, Gregg."

Her gaze was on my face. Keen eyes, but they were luminous now--an
emotion in them sweeping her. But outwardly she was calm, stern-lipped.

"Well, why don't you tell me?" I said. "If I am to help you...."

"Gregg, I want you with us. Don't you understand? We are not many. My
brother and I are guiding this affair. With your help, I would feel
differently."

"The ship at Ferrok-Shahn--"

* * * * *

My fears were realized. She said, "I think our signals reached it. Dean
tried, and Coniston was checking him."

"You think the ship is coming?"

"Yes."

"Where will it join us?"

"At the Moon. We will be there in thirty hours. Your figures gave that,
did they not, Gregg?"

"Yes. And the other ship--how fast is it?"

"Quite fast. In eight days--or nine, perhaps--it will reach the Moon."

She seemed willing enough to talk. There was indeed, no particular
reason for reticence; I could not, she naturally felt, turn the
knowledge to account.

"Manned--" I prompted.

"About forty men."

"And armed? Long range projectors?"

"You ask very avid questions, Gregg!"

"Why should I not? Don't you suppose I'm interested?" I touched her.
"Moa, did it ever occur