extended a little below their belted waists.
Each bore embroidered on his chest the planetary insignia of Ku Sui in
yellow, and each was armed with two ray-guns.

"I must ask forgiveness, my friend, for these retainers who accompany
me," the Eurasian began suavely. "Please don't let them disturb you,
however; they are more robots than men, obeying only my words. A little
adjustment of the brain, you understand. I have brought them only for
your protection; for you would find it would result most unpleasantly to
make a break for freedom."

"Of course, _you're_ not the one who wants protection!" sneered Friday,
with devastating sarcasm. "Or else you'd 'a' brought a whole army!"

But the negro paled a little when the Oriental's green tiger eyes caught
him full. It was with a physical shock--such was the power of the
man--that he received the soft-spoken reply:

"Yours is a most subtle and entertaining wit, black one; I am overcome
with the honor and pleasure of having you for my guest. But perhaps--may
I suggest?--that you save your humor for a more suitable occasion. I
would like to make the last few hours of your visit as pleasant as
possible."

* * * * *

He turned to Hawk Carse. "I have thought that an inspection of this, my
home in space, would intrigue you more than anything else my poor
hospitality affords. May I do you the honor, my friend?"

"You are too good to me," the Hawk replied frostily. "I will duplicate
your kindness some day."

The Eurasian bowed. "After you," he said, and waited until Friday and
the Hawk passed first through the door. Close after them came the three
automatons of yellow men.

The passageway was square, plain and bare, and spaced at intervals by
other closed doors. "Storerooms in this wing," the Eurasian explained as
they progressed. He stopped in front of one of the doors and pressed a
button beside it. It slid noiselessly open, revealing, not another room,
but a short metal spider ladder. Up this they climbed, one of the guards
going first in the half darkness; then a trap-door above opened to douse
them with warm ruddy light. They stepped out.

And the scene that met them took them completely off guard. Friday
gasped, and Carse so far lost his habitual poise as to stare in wonder.

Soil! And a great glassy dome!

* * * * *

Not a space-ship, this realm of Ku Sui. Soil--soil with a whole
se