it, so the size of the plot that they could prepare was
small.

"But it's a start," Renner said. "That's all we can hope for this first
year. This crop will furnish more material to be chopped back into the
soil. Year by year it will grow until the inhabitants here will have a
new world to live in!"

"What do you expect to get out of it?" Farrow asked bitingly.

Renner's eyes glowed with an inner light.

* * * * *

Renner's beard grew with the passing months until it became a luxuriant
thing. He let his hair go untrimmed too, so that, with his tall, spare
figure, he took on a patriarchal look. And, with the passing months,
there came that time which was to be spring for this planet. The first
green blades of the new planting showed above the ground.

The natives noticed it with awe, and kept a respectful distance.

That evening, when it was time for the natives' feeding, the men
gathered about. Little by little the feeding had become a ritual, and
they would often go out to watch it. It was always the same. Renner
would step forward away from the others a little way, the load of food
in his hands. The natives would come to stand before him in their ragged
line, their leader a trifle to the front. There they would bow, and
begin a chant that had become a part of the ritual with the passing
time.

With the first green planting showing, there was a look of deep
satisfaction in Renner's eyes as he stepped forward this night. His hair
had grown quite long by now, and his white beard blew softly in the
constant wind. There was a simple dignity about him as he stood there,
his head erect, and looked upon the natives as his children.

The natives began their chant. It became louder.

"Tolava--" they said, and bowed.

As usual, Farrow was nettled.

"What does the man want anyway?" he asked out loud. "To be God?"

Renner could not help but hear him. He did not turn his head.

"David!" he said.

"Sir?" David asked, stepping forward.

"You understand their language now, don't you?" Renner asked.

"Yes, sir," David said.

"Then translate!" Renner ordered. "Out loud, please, so that the others
may hear!"

"Tolava--" the natives chanted, bowing.

"Tolava--our father," David said, following the chant. Suddenly he
swallowed, and hesitated for a moment. Then he straightened himself, and
went sturdily on. "Tolava--our father--who art from the heavens--give
us--this day--our bread!"