*

Correy mooned around the Arpan sub-base like a fractious child. Kincaide
and I endeavored to cheer him up, and Hendricks, the _Ertak's_ young
third officer, tried in vain to induce Correy to take in the sights.

"All I want to know," Correy insisted, "is whether there's any change in
orders. You got the news through to Base, didn't you, sir?"

"Right. All that came back was the usual 'Confirmed.' No comment."
Correy muttered under his breath and wandered off to glare at the
Arpanians who were working on the _Ertak_. Kincaide shrugged and shook
his head.

"He's spoiling for action, sir," he commented. Kincaide was my second
officer; a cool-headed, quick-witted fighting man, and as fine an
officer as ever wore the blue-and-silver uniform of the Service. "I only
hope--message for you, sir." He indicated an Arpanian orderly who had
come up from behind, and was standing at attention.

"You're wanted immediately in the radio room, sir," said the orderly,
saluting.

"Very well," I nodded, returning the salute and glancing at Kincaide.
"Perhaps we will get a change in orders after all."

I hurried after the orderly, following him down the broad corridors of
the administration building to the radio room. The commander of the
Arpan sub-base was waiting there, talking gravely with the operator.

"Bad news, Commander," he said, as I entered the room. "We've just
received a report from the passenger liner _Kabit_, and she's in
desperate straits. At the insistence of the passengers, the ship made
contact with Hydrot and is unable to leave. She has been attacked by
some strange monster, or several of them--the message is badly confused.
I thought perhaps you'd like to report the matter to Base yourself."

"Yes. Thank you, sir. Operator, please raise Base immediately!"

* * * * *

The _Kabit_? That was the big liner we had spoken to the day before
Correy and I had seen the new continent rise above the boundless waters
of Hydrot. I knew the ship; she carried about eighteen hundred
passengers, and a crew of seventy-five men and officers. Beside her, the
_Ertak_ was a pygmy; that the larger ship, so large and powerful, could
be in trouble, seemed impossible. Yet--

"Base, sir," said the operator, holding a radio-menore toward me.

I placed the instrument on my head.

"John Hanson, Commander of the Special Patrol ship _Ertak_ emanating.
Special report for Chief of Command."

"Repor