to
Crane. "This rocket will tie them up in a knot. Step back, everybody."

He bowed deeply to Nalboon, pulling a lighted match for his ear as he
did so, and lighted the fuse. There was a roar, a shower of sparks, a
blaze of colored fire as the great rocket flew upward; but to Seaton's
surprise, Nalboon took it quite as a matter of course, saluting as an
acknowledgment of the courtesy.

Seaton motioned to his party to approach, and turned to Crane.

"Better not, Dick. Let him think that you are the king of everything in
sight."

"Not on your life. If he is one king, we are two," and he introduced
Crane, with great ceremony, to the Domak as the "Boss of the Skylark,"
at which the salute by his people was repeated.

Nalboon then shouted an order and a company of soldiers led by an
officer came toward them, surrounding a small group of people,
apparently prisoners. These captives, seven men and seven women, were
much lighter in color than the rest of the gathering, having skins of a
ghastly, pale shade, practically the same color as the whites of their
eyes. In other bodily aspects they were the same as their captors in
appearance, save that they were entirely naked except for the jeweled
metal collars worn by all and a massive metal belt worn by one man. They
walked with a proud and lofty carriage, scorn for their captors in every
step.

Nalboon barked an order to the prisoners. They stared in defiance,
motionless, until the man wearing the belt who had studied Seaton
closely, spoke a few words in a low tone, when they all prostrated
themselves. Nalboon then waved his hand, giving the whole group to
Seaton as slaves. Seaton, with no sign of his surprise, thanked the
giver and motioned his slaves to rise. They obeyed and placed themselves
behind the party--two men and two women behind Seaton and the same
number behind Crane; one man and one woman behind each of the others.

Seaton then tried to make Nalboon understand that they wanted copper,
pointing to his anklet, the only copper in sight. The chief instantly
removed the trinket and handed it to Seaton; who, knowing by the gasp of
surprise of the guard that it was some powerful symbol, returned it with
profuse apologies. After trying in vain to make the other understand
what he wanted, he led him into the Skylark and showed him the remnant
of the power-bar. He showed him its original size and indicated the
desired number by counting to sixteen upon his fingers. N