could not escape, and his infuriated fellows
would rush us, firing through the oval, sweeping the room, killing us
both. But Jetta now was in no danger. Her father was outside, and
these bandits were her father's friends. I would have to yield.

I called, louder, "Why don't you come in?"

Could I hold them off? Frighten them off, for a time, and make enough
noise so that perhaps someone passing in the nearby street would give
the alarm and bring help?

There was a sudden silence in the patio. The bandits had so far made
as little commotion as possible. Presently I could hear their low
voices.

* * * * *

I heard an oath. De Boer's head and shoulders appeared in the window
oval! His levelled projector came through. Perhaps he would not have
fired, but I did not dare take the chance. I was crouching almost
under the muzzle, so I straightened, gripped it, and flung it up. I
then slashed at his face with my knife, but he gripped my wrist with
powerful fingers. My knife fell as he twisted my wrist. His projector
had not fired. It was jammed between us. One of his huge arms reached
in and encircled me.

"Damn you!"

He muttered it, but I shouted, "Fool! De Boer, the bandit!"

I was aware of a commotion out in the garden.

"... Bring all Nareda on our ears? De Boer, shut him up!"

I was gripping the projector, struggling to keep its muzzle pointed
upwards. With a heave of his giant arms De Boer lifted me and jerked
me bodily through the window. I fell on my feet, still fighting. But
other hands seized me. It was no use. I yielded suddenly. I panted:

"Enough!"

They held me. One of them growled. "Another shout and we will leave
you here dead. Commander, _look_!"

My shirt was torn open. The electrode band about my chest was exposed!
De Boer towered head and shoulders over me. I gazed up, passive in the
grip of two or three of his men, and saw his face. His heavy jaw
dropped as he gazed at my little diaphragms, the electrode.

He knew now for the first time that this was no private citizen he had
assaulted. This official apparatus meant that I was a Government
agent.

* * * * *

There was an instant of shocked silence. An expression grim and
furious crossed the giant bandit's face.

"So this is it? Hans, careful--hold him!"

Jetta was still in her room, silent now. I heard Spawn's voice, close
at hand in the patio.

"De Boer! Careful!" It wa