and killing us all. Let me caution you now; do not let any Mardonalian
touch our hands with a wire, for if you do, your thoughts will be
recorded and the secrets of the Skylark and your many other mysterious
things, such as smoking, matches, and magic feats, will be secrets no
longer."

"Thanks for the information," responded Seaton, "but I want to correct
your title for me. I'm no Karfedix--merely a plain citizen."

"In one way I see that that is true," replied the Kofedix with a puzzled
look. "I cannot understand your government at all--but the inventor of
the Skylark must certainly rank as a Karfedix."

As he spoke, a smile of understanding passed over his face and he
continued:

"I see. Your title is Doctor of Philosophy, which must mean that you are
the Karfedix of Knowledge of the Earth."

"No, no. You're way off. I'm...."

"Certainly Seaton is the Karfedix of Knowledge," broke in DuQuesne. "Let
it go at that, anyway, whatever it means. The thing to do now is to
figure a way out of this."

"You chirped it then, Blackie. Dunark, you know this country better than
we do; what do you suggest?"

"I suggest that you take my party into the Skylark and escape from
Mardonale as soon as possible. I can pilot you to Kondalek, the capital
city of our nation. There, I can assure you, you will be welcomed as you
deserve. My father, the Karfedix, will treat you as a Karfedix should be
treated. As far as I am concerned, nothing I can ever do will lighten
the burden of my indebtedness to you, but I promise you all the copper
you want, and anything else you may desire that is within the power of
man to give you."

* * * * *

Seaton thought deeply a moment, then shook Dunark's hand vigorously.

"That suits me, Kofedix," he said warmly. "I thought from the first that
you were our friend. Shall we make for the Skylark right now, or wait a
while?"

"We had better wait until after the second meal," the prince replied.
"We have no armor, and no way of making any. We would be helpless
against the bullets of any except a group small enough so that you could
kill them all before they could fire. The kam after the second meal is
devoted to strolling about the grounds, so that our visiting the Skylark
would look perfectly natural. As the guard is very lax at that time, it
is the best time for the attempt."

"But how about my killing his company of guards and blowing up one wing
of his palace? W