losed and protected by a shimmering blue dome of
electric force. This emanated from a heavy copper cable that
completely encircled the clearing, and which drew its power from
insulated cables that led into the ship to generators driven by the
few cyclotrons still functioning. This protective electric wall had
been set up at John Dark's orders to keep out the dreaded Vestans.

John Dark raised his voice as he and his men with their prisoners
approached the shimmering wall of the camp.

"Kin Ibo! Drop the wall for us!"

They saw the hard-looking Martian who was Dark's second-in-command
dive into the ship to turn off the power of the electric barrier. It
died, and Dark's party entered the clearing. Then the electric wall
sprang into being again behind them.

Kenniston looked swiftly around. There were a score more of the motley
pirates here in the camp. Also, near the side of the looming black
_Falcon_, were the small, rough log huts that Dark's men had
constructed.

Dark's black eyes were triumphant as he told his Martian lieutenant,
"Kenniston and Holk Or brought back the equipment all right, and also
brought some people who'll bring big ransom. Their wrecked ship is a
few miles south. You go down there with half the men here and help the
others bring up the equipment."

Kin Ibo, looking a little apprehensively out at the jungle, obeyed.
Dark motioned Kenniston and the other captives toward one of the huts
by the big ship.

"That hut will be your quarters until we get the _Falcon_ repaired,"
declared the pirate leader. "Any of you who try to leave it will be
shot at sight. I hope you'll not be foolish enough to attempt escape."

"That's right, folks, you wouldn't have a chance," Holk Or told them
earnestly. "Even if you could get out through the electric wall, the
Vestans would get you. They're thick in the jungle around here."

They silently entered the hut. Its broad open windows admitted enough
of the dazzling moonslight to brighten its interior.

A dark, eager-looking young Earthman sprang up as they entered, and
rushed to pump Kenniston's hand.

"Lance, you got back safely!" he exclaimed. "Thank the Lord--I've been
worrying myself almost crazy about you."

"How about you, Ricky?" Kenniston asked his young brother anxiously.
"You're all right?"

Ricky Kenniston nodded quickly. "Sure, I'm okay. But things haven't
been so good here, Lance. The Vestans have got a half-dozen pirates
who ventured outside