d
Mr. Hendricks of another. You, Mr. Kincaide, I shall ask to remain in
charge of the ship."

"Very well, sir," nodded Kincaide, swallowing his disappointment. I
should have liked to have Kincaide with me, for he was level-headed and
cool in an emergency--but it was because of these very things that I
wanted him in charge of the _Ertak_.

"We're close enough now, sir, to select a landing place," put in Correy.
"There's a likely spot, a safe distance away and apparently level,
almost on the shore. Shall I set her down there?"

"Use your own judgment, Mr. Correy. You may order the landing force to
arm and report at the exit port. As soon as you have made contact, you
and Mr. Hendricks will report to me there.

"Mr. Kincaide, you will remain on duty here. I am leaving the conduct of
the ship entirely to your judgment, asking you to remember only that the
rescue of the _Kabit_ and her nearly two thousand souls is the object of
this expedition, and the safety of our own personnel cannot be given
primary consideration."

"I understand, sir," nodded Kincaide gravely. He held out his hand in
that familiar gesture of Earth, which may mean so much more than men
ever dare put into words, and we shook hands silently.

There were to be three landing parties of five men and one officer
each--eighteen men against a creature that held a mighty passenger liner
in its coils!

"I wish, sir, that I were going in your place," said Kincaide softly.

"I know that. But--waiting here will be the hardest job of all. I'm
leaving that for you." I turned and hurried out of the room, to make my
entries in the log--perhaps my last entries--and secure my equipment.

* * * * *

There are times, in setting down these old tales of the Special Patrol
Service as it was before they tacked a "Retired" after my name and
title, that I wish I had been a bit more studious during my youth. I
find myself in need of words, and possessed only of memories.

I wish I could think of words that would describe the sight that
confronted us when we emerged from the _Ertak_ and set foot upon the
soil of that newly-born continent of Hydrot, but I find I cannot. I have
tried many times, and I find my descriptions fall far short of the
picture I still carry in my mind.

The ground was a vast littered floor of wilted marine growths, some
already rotting away, while others, more hardy, or with roots reaching
into as yet undried ooze,