was knitting a sweater for her husband, while three of the
strange men watched in amazement. Her knitting needles seemed to hold
them spellbound. The other members of Dick's party were sitting around
trying to decide what to do. But the sound of the dinner gong, made them
forget their worries.

Dick had to go down to the hold and call John, who was still watching
the master machine. If he hadn't been dragged away, he would have spent
the night examining the strange device.

The meal was simple, but they all enjoyed it. It seemed to dispel the
gloom from the party, and they appreciated McCarthy's jokes. There were
fifteen of Morquil's race in the crew, and all but the men at the
controls joined them.

Knives and forks stood at the places set for the passengers, brought
from the supplies on the _Primrose_, but the crew ate with long narrow
spoons. Table silver was evidently unknown to this race of people.

After dinner Morquil called them to the main cabin, and for the first
time told about the destination. All that had kept them from losing hope
long before, was his promise of greater comfort and luxury than they
could hope for in their native land.

"I know that some of you resent the fact that you were unconscious while
put aboard this ship. But I know you would hesitate to come of your own
accord. One woman said that she wouldn't go on an _undersea_ ship, and
she would be more afraid of this.

"You will be amazed to know that we are now leaving the atmosphere of
the earth that you have always known. _Our destination is on a different
planet!_"

CHAPTER IV

_Morquil's Story_

For a long time there was silence, then Mrs. Jones fainted. McCarthy
took it without flinching, and his wife was satisfied if he was. Dick
had suspected something almost as strange, and did not seem surprised.
Dolores looked at him for guidance. He nodded reassuringly. The others
shut their lips tight, feeling that they had been taken prisoner without
hope of escape.

After a pause, Morquil continued. Mrs. Jones had recovered her composure
and was staring at him with undisguised dislike. "I'm sorry it had to
happen this way, but I would not have been able to take sufficient
people if you had known where we were going. Some of you might have
come, but I treated every one alike.

"I also was unconscious from the gas, but the crew revived me. I had to
look after the loading of the supplies, and have the cabins prepared for
you.