to explore the strange world, which we had
been studying with the instruments of our ancestors. We had determined
your exact mechanical development, and knew that you were capable of
furnishing the engineers which meant life or death to our race.

"It is twenty years since I was left on the small island, and the ship
returned to Jupiter. At that time we decided the date for this trip, to
bring me back. In the meantime I traveled half way around the world in a
small metal boat, before being picked up by a tramp steamer, as I dared
not land near any civilized country. After I reached a settlement I had
to learn your customs and language, and many other things about a
completely alien people.

"I was furnished with an ample supply of gold, as we knew it was the
metal that you valued highest. This purchased many things that would
otherwise have been impossible to obtain, and also brought me a great
deal of trouble. I was robbed of most of the wealth before I had been in
civilization a year. The fact that a great deal was left on the small
island is all that made my venture possible.

* * * * *

"I spent three years in an institution before they decided that I was a
normal human being, and could take care of myself. I dared not tell them
that I came from a different planet, or I would have failed in every
way. I learned many things about the people of your world, but mainly
that gold could buy almost anything.

"I lived for several years, by working at anything that I could obtain,
trying to find someone who would finance an expedition to the island. No
one would believe me when I said that I knew of a great fortune in gold.
I finally found a man who _did_ believe me, and he received one half of
the gold as reward. It was not until then that I could begin the work
that I started out to do, and nearly ten years had passed.

"I planned for several years before I dared try to obtain the people I
needed. I studied everything I could about your engineering, and found
that it was not of the same type as our own. For this reason I did not
want a graduate engineer, as he would have to learn everything all over
again in my cities.

"When I advertised for men, and told you of the wonderful mechanical
development, it was the truth. I did mislead you to a small extent, in
obtaining your promise to come with me, but the existence of my race
depended on your work. My people will give you anything you