o set her down.

But busy as he was, he did not forget the order to tune up the
disintegrator-ray generators.

* * * * *

While the great circular door of the _Ertak_ was backing out ponderously
from its threaded seat, suspended by its massive gimbals, I inspected
the people of this new world.

My first impression was that they were a soldiery people, for there
were no jostling crowds swarming around the ship, such as might have
been expected. Instead, the citizenry stood at ease in a sort of
military formation of numerous small companies, each apparently in
charge of an officer. These companies were arranged to form a long wide
avenue, leading to the city, and down this avenue a strange procession
was coming toward the ship.

I should make it clear at this point that these Strobians were, in
form, very similar to Earth-men, although somewhat shorter in stature,
and certainly more delicately formed. Perhaps it would be better to say
they resembled the Zenians, save for this marked difference: the
Strobians were exceedingly light in color, their skins being nearly
translucent, and their hair a light straw color. The darkest hair I saw
at any time was a pale gold, and many had hair as colorless as
silver--which I should explain is a metal of Earth somewhat resembling
aluminum in appearance.

The procession was coming toward the ship slowly, the marchers
apparently chanting as they came, for I could see their lips moving.
They were dressed in short kirtles of brilliant colors--scarlet, green,
orange, purple--and wore brilliant belts suspended about their waists
by straps which crossed over their breasts and passed over each
shoulder.

Each marcher bore a tall staff from which flew a tiny pennon of the
same color as his chief garment. At the top of each staff was a metal
ornament, which at first glance I took to be the representation of a
fish. As they came closer, I saw that this was not a good guess, for
the device was without a tail.

* * * * *

"The exit port is open, sir," reported Hendricks. "The people seem far
from hostile, and the air is very good. What are your orders?"

"There will be no change, I think," I said as I hurried toward the now
open door. "Mr. Kincaide will be in command of the guard at the port.
You and I, with a small landing force, will advance to meet this
procession. Make sure that there are a number of