s as
keen as my own. Even Virginia Crane, scientist though she was not, was
interested.

We were in no position, however, to sit still and think. The waves
astern and the howling wind were subsiding noticeably, but the
inhabitants of Orcon all about us were still creating a great hubbub.
Our next obvious move, regardless of what they might do, was to get hold
of one of them and make him talk.

* * * * *

After a gesture to Koto and Captain Crane to stay where they were, I ran
to a spot on the deck where I had seen a permanent ladder fixed to the
side of the ship. Three jumps took me down to the beach, and three more
took me into the very midst of the mob.

The confusion brought about by the destruction of the score or so of
Orconites by the flying cable, and by our unexpected salvation, all
worked for me. And another thing worked for me, too.

These people had great intelligence, but they seemed like sheep when it
came to a question of physical, hand to hand encounter. Of rough and
tumble fighting with fists they knew nothing--as indeed not many people
do in this century, even on Earth. The result of it all was that they
shrank back when I charged into them, and not a blow was struck, even
when I caught up the nearest figure in my path, swung it over my
shoulder, and tore back to the ladder. In two shakes I was standing on
the deck again, my prisoner all safe.

"What a creature!" Virginia Crane cried as I presented her and Koto with
my struggling but helpless prize.

That was just what I had thought after my first glimpse of the whole
brood of them. Close inspection showed, as I had supposed, that the
Orconite was a man, and yet not a man. The body, the limbs, the enormous
head, the features of the orange-colored face were human; and the chap
began to spout excited sounds which were certainly the words of
intelligent speech. But also he was winged, and from the orange forehead
waved those curious, frilled feelers!

* * * * *

He was clad in a single loose garment of woven cloth which permitted
free action for both limbs and wings. A small, flat black box with a
mouthpiece into which he could speak, was strapped to his chest in such
a position that it was almost concealed by the folds of his blouse. We
were to find out presently the purpose of this instrument, but I did not
examine it carefully then. As the creature glared ba