to you, if once you and Miko trusted me--which
you don't--I might show more interest in joining you?"

The look on her face emboldened me. "Did you ever think of that, Moa?
And some arrangement for my share of this treasure? I am not like
Johnson, to be hired for a hundred pounds of gold-leaf."

"Gregg, I will see that you get your share. Riches, for you--and me."

"I was thinking, Moa, when we land at the Moon to-morrow--where is our
equipment?"

The Moon, with its lack of atmosphere, needed special equipment. I had
never heard Carter mention what apparatus the _Planetara_ was carrying.

* * * * *

Moa laughed. "We have located air-suits and helmets--a variety of
suitable apparatus, Gregg. But we were not foolish enough to leave
Great-New York on this voyage without our own arrangements. My brother,
and Coniston and Prince--all of us shipped crates of freight consigned
to Ferrok-Shahn--and Rankin had special baggage marked 'theatrical
apparatus.'"

I understood it now. These brigands had boarded the _Planetara_ with
their own Moon equipment, disguised as freight and personal baggage.
Shipped in bond, to be inspected by the tax officials of Mars.

"It is on board now. We will open it when we leave the asteroid, Gregg.
We are well equipped."

She bent toward me. And suddenly her long lean fingers were gripping my
shoulders.

"Gregg, look at me!"

I gazed into her eyes. There was passion there; and her voice was
suddenly intense.

"Gregg, I told you once a Martian girl goes after what she wants. It is
you I want--"

Not for me to play like a cad upon a woman's emotions! "Moa, you flatter
me."

"I love you." She held me off, gazing at me. "Gregg--"

I must have smiled. And abruptly she released me.

"So you think it amusing?"

"No. But on Earth--"

"We are not on the Earth. Nor am I of the Earth!" She was gauging me
keenly. No note of pleading was in her voice; a stern authority; and the
passion was swinging to anger.

"I am like my brother: I do not understand you, Gregg Haljan. Perhaps
you think you are clever? It seems stupidity, the fatuousness of man!"

"Perhaps," I said.

* * * * *

There was a moment of silence. "Gregg, I said I loved you. Have you no
answer?"

"No." In truth, I did not know what sort of answer it would be best to
make. Whatever she must have read in my eyes, it stirred her to fury.
Her fingers with the st