help the peoples of Earth in their
hour of need.

* * * * *

It was not necessary to explain to the others all that was passing in my
mind, for I could tell by their expressions that they were comprehending
the possibilities as clearly as I.

"What's Leider up to?" Captain Crane asked after a while.

"He's brought us here to put us through an interview," I answered. "He
hasn't sent for us yet because he's busy getting ready for his war.
Also, since he's a Prussian all the way through, he's probably ignoring
us in the belief that his absence will make us more impressed with his
mightiness."

"Yes, but what are we going to do while he ignores us?" she snapped
back.

"Quite a lot," I answered, and turned to LeConte. "What are the chances
of getting word to Earth?"

"Impossible," he said, shaking his head. "The set was wrecked when the
magnetism--or whatever it was--took hold of us."

"All right. Never mind it." I looked at Koto now. "Koto, what do you
have to do to fire your explosive?"

I was sure now that the thought had already been in their minds, for
Captain Crane and LeConte nodded and Koto smiled.

"The kotomite," he answered, "is packed in telargeium drums in the
ship's hold, and protected against being exploded until oxygen is
admitted to the drums and force applied. It was our original hope to
land on Orcon, deposit the drums, and fire them by a time fuse. The
quickest way now would be simply to place one of our atomic guns in the
hold, turn it loose, and get out. The stream of the gun would in a very
short time disintegrate the drums to admit oxygen, and would at the same
time set off the explosive."

"Good," I said shortly, and without more ado glanced about the cavern to
look over the situation with regard to the forty or so Orconites whom we
had been ignoring, and who had ignored us, ever since we found each
other.

* * * * *

They were standing motionless against the walls, eyes alert, ugly
antennae waving, but with their arms folded across their chests. There
seemed to be no reason why we should not all march boldly to the ship,
climb aboard, and forthwith do the work that was to be done there. I
had, however, a feeling that our task was not to be so easily
accomplished, and was not long in discovering that the feeling was
correct.

The moment I told the others to come with me, and we all started to wal