ewer and fewer attendants as the hints
they have given you are developed by yourselves. And there is some
hope that one of my friends may show you, in ultra-sonic vibrations, a
weapon against the jungle itself. My own work is finished. But I ask
again for friendship for my planet Earth. I ask that no war be made on
my own people. I ask that what benefits you receive from us be passed
to the other surviving cities on the same terms. And since there can
be no further fighting on this scale, I give back my commission as
Commander of Defense."

There was a little murmur among the men of Yugna, looking on. It rose
to a protesting babble, to a shout of denial. The bearded old Keeper
of Foodstuffs smiled.

"It is proposed that the appointment as Commander of Defense Forces be
permanent," he said mildly.

He produced the queer black box and touched it in a certain fashion.
He passed it to the next man, and the next and next. It went around
the table. It passed a second time, but this time each man merely
looked at the top.

"You command the defense forces of Yugna for always," said the bearded
old man, gently. "Now give orders that your requests become laws."

* * * * *

Tommy stared blankly. He was suddenly aware of Aten in the background,
smiling triumphantly and very happily at him. There was something like
a roar of approval from the men of Yugna, assembled.

"Just what," demanded Tommy, "does this mean?"

"For many years," said a hawk-faced man ungraciously, "we have had no
Commander of Defense. We have had no wars. But we see it is needful.
We have chosen you, with all agreeing. The Commander of Defense"--he
sniffed a little, pugnaciously--"has the authority the ancient kings
once owned."

Tommy leaned back in the curious benchlike chair, his eyes narrow and
thoughtful. This would simplify matters. No danger of trouble to
Earth. A free hand for Denham and Smithers to help these folk, and for
Denham to learn scientific facts--in the sciences they had
developed--which would be of inestimable value to Earth. And it could
be possible to open a peaceful trade with the nations of Earth without
any danger of war. And maybe....

He smiled suddenly. It widened almost into a grin.

"All right. I'll settle down here for a while. But--er--just how does
one set about getting married here?"

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fifth-Dimension Tube, by
William Fitzgerald Jenk