time they saw that their course, instead of being directly toward that
rapidly-brightening star, was bearing upon a barely visible star a
little to one side of it. Pointing their most powerful telescope toward
that point of light, Crane made out a planet, half of its disk shining
brightly. The girls hastened to peer through the telescope, and they
grew excited as they made out the familiar outlines of the continents
and oceans upon the lighted portion of the disk.

It was not long until these outlines were plainly visible to the unaided
vision. The Earth appeared as a great, softly shining, greenish
half-moon, with parts of its surface obscured by fleecy wisps of cloud,
and with its two gleaming ice-caps making of its poles two brilliant
areas of white. The returning wanderers stared at their own world with
their hearts in their throats as Crane, who was at the board, increased
the retarding force sufficiently to assure himself that they would not
be traveling too fast to land upon the Earth.

After Dorothy and Margaret had gone to prepare a meal, DuQuesne turned
to Seaton.

"Have you gentlemen decided what you intend to do with me?"

"No. We haven't discussed it yet. I can't make up my own mind what I
want to do to you, except that I sure would like to get you inside a
square ring with four-ounce gloves on. You have been of too much real
assistance on this trip for us to see you hanged, as you deserve. On the
other hand, you are altogether too much of a thorough-going scoundrel
for us to let you go free. You see the fix we are in. What would you
suggest?"

"Nothing," replied DuQuesne calmly. "As I am in no danger whatever of
hanging, nothing you can say on that score affects me in the least. As
for freeing me, you may do as you please--it makes no difference to me,
one way or the other, as no jail can hold me for a day. I can say,
however, that while I have made a fortune on this trip, so that I do not
have to associate further with Steel unless it is to my interest to do
so, I may nevertheless find it desirable at some future time to
establish a monopoly of X. That would, of course, necessitate the death
of yourself and Crane. In that event, or in case any other difference
should arise between us, this whole affair will be as though it had
never existed. It will have no weight either way, whether or not you try
to hang me."

"Go as far as you like," Seaton answered cheerfully. "If we're not a
match for you and