All were dressed for the ceremonial leave-taking,
the three Americans wearing their spotless white, the Kondalians wearing
their most resplendent trappings.

"This formal stuff sure does pull my cork!" exclaimed Seaton to Dunark.
"I want to get this straight. The arrangement was that we were to be
here at this time, all dressed up, and wait for the ladies, who are
coming under the escort of your people?"

"Yes. Our family is to escort the ladies from the palace here. As they
leave the elevator the surrounding war-vessels will salute, and after a
brief ceremony you two will escort your wives into the Skylark, Doctor
DuQuesne standing a little apart and following you in. The war-vessels
will escort you as high as they can go, and the Kondal will accompany
you as far as our most distant sun before turning back."

For a few moments Seaton nervously paced a short beat in front of the
door of the space-car.

"I'm getting more fussed every second," he said abruptly, taking out his
wireless instrument. "I'm going to see if they aren't about ready."

"What seems to be the trouble, Dick? Have you another hunch, or are you
just rattled?" asked Crane.

"Rattled, I guess, but I sure do want to get going," he replied, as he
worked the lever rapidly.

"Dottie," he sent out, and, the call being answered, "How long will you
be? We're all ready and waiting, chewing our finger-nails with
impatience."

"We'll soon be ready. The Karfedix is coming for us now."

Scarcely had the tiny sounder become silent when the air was shaken by
an urgently-vibrated message, and every wireless sounder gave warning.

CHAPTER XVIII

The Invasion

The pulsating air and the chattering sounders were giving the same dire
warning, the alarm extraordinary of invasion, of imminent and
catastrophic danger from the air.

"Don't try to reach the palace. Everyone on the ground will have time
enough to hide in the deep, arenak-protected pits beneath the buildings,
and you would be killed by the invaders long before you could reach the
palace. If we can repel the enemy and keep them from landing, the women
will be perfectly safe, even though the whole city is destroyed. If they
effect a landing we are lost."

"They'll not land, then," Seaton answered grimly, as he sprang into the
Skylark and took his place at the board. As Crane took out his wireless,
Seaton cautioned him.

"Send in English, and tell the girls not to answer, as these devils c