e table a copy of the Heliogram News which tells of his
departure from New York less than twelve hours ago in a specially
chartered liner with his staff and friends for New Chicago, on Ganymede.
It also tells of his approaching marriage to Princess Irkeen, daughter
of King Donossus, a political marriage that will assure Teutoberg's
position with the natives."

"Poor girl," muttered Winford under his breath, searching among the
loose papers on the chart table for the copy of the news which was
received every twelve hours by automatic helioprinter from New York
millions of miles away. He read the article about Teutoberg through and
laid aside the paper. Turning to the charts he jotted down a few hasty
calculations, and stepped to the controls where he set a new course for
the "iron mike" of the space freighter to follow.

"Captain Robers, I have changed my mind about having you go out into
space from the air-lock," he announced, turning again to the anxious
officer. "We will hold you prisoner with your men and later on will set
you down on one of Jupiter's smaller satellites--Callisto, if possible,
since the living conditions there are quite satisfactory. Word will be
sent to Mars of where you can be found. All of your crew, excepting
those who wish to sign on with me, will be freed with you. I and my six
companions are hardly enough to operate such a craft as this.
Incidentally, we are appropriating the _Golden Fleece_ and its cargo. If
the Interstellar people object, they may present the bill to Silas
Teutoberg, and he can deduct it from the income my property yields him."

Captain Robers glanced up curiously at the harsh bitterness that crept
into Winford's voice. Then his glance shifted to Jarl, and he was amazed
to see the malevolent expression that appeared on the Martian's face as
he listened to Winford's words. The moment passed, and Jarl silently
escorted the officers below to be locked up with the rest of his crew.

* * * * *

Three weeks later, Earth time, the _Golden Fleece_ slipped into the
atmosphere of Callisto, the fourth satellite of mighty Jupiter, which
swung in its orbit a million and a quarter miles from the great planet.
Far off to the west, separated by two million miles of empty space,
floated Ganymede, the third satellite, on which the people of the United
States were now gaining a foothold with their newly planted colonies.

The big freighter, under the enginee