us Earthmen
below, forgotten everything but escape from the down-rushing
thunderbolt.

Hilary, staring upward, could visualize the fliers working desperately
at their controls. The clustered ships vibrated like a school of
frightened fish poised for instant flight. Then they were in motion;
scattering, wabbling in the terror of their retreat.

The _Vagabond_ hurtled down among them like a hawk among pigeons. Its
surface glowed with the speed of its flight. To Hilary's fascinated
gaze it seemed as if there would be a terrific smash. But the
_Vagabond_ came to a screaming, braking halt directly in the center of
the milling, scattering Mercutians.

Almost simultaneously the air resounded with staccato bursts.
_Ratatat-tat-a-tat._

"Good little Wat," Grim danced insanely. "He's cutting loose the
submachine gun."

Hilary woke from his amazement with a start.

"Shoot, and shoot to kill," he shouted above the turmoil. "Don't let a
single one get away."

* * * * *

Automatics spat their leaden hail, dynol pellets flamed redly, and
over all resounded the rapid drum fire of the machine gun, pouring
steel-jacketed death into the confused ranks of the Mercutians.

The monster invaders had lost their heads. Even then, they could have
destroyed the Earthmen with their deadly spreading rays. But the
strange apparition from above had demoralized them. No one thought of
fighting: flight, safety, were the only thoughts in their minds.

Flier after flier went tailspinning to horrible death while his
comrades fled in all directions.

It was soon over. The greater number of the Mercutians were twisted
smoldering wrecks. The few who escaped were rapidly diminishing dots
in the cold starlight.

Its work finished, the rescuing space flier settled softly to the
ground, in the midst of the embattled cheering Earthmen, temporarily
gone insane.

The air-lock port yawned, and a slim figure darted out, straight into
Hilary's outstretched arms.

"Joan!"

* * * * *

Behind her danced a small red-haired individual, his homely features
grinning with delight. Under his arm swung heavily a submachine gun.
He disappeared almost immediately into the vast bearlike grip of his
gigantic friend. His shrill voice went on unceasingly, but strangely
muffled, as Grim hugged him. Finally he extricated himself, ruffled,
breathless, but still talking.

"What did I tell you, you big