t go back. Is it our fault that Merglyt-Ruuu
happened to meet with a fatal accident?_

_We-ell ... but will the commandant see it that way?_

_On the other hand, if we don't go back, wouldn't it be a good idea to
attach ourselves to an expedition that, no matter how alien, is better
equipped for survival than we? And carrying out our original purpose
seemed the best way of getting to meet these strangers informally, as it
were._

_They are unquestionably intelligent life-forms then?_

_After a fashion._ Jrann-Pttt yawned and rose. _But why are we sitting
here? Let's start back to our camp. We will be able to converse more
comfortably._

They made their way through the jungle--now walking, now wading where
the mud became water. Small creatures with hardly any thoughts scurried
before them as they went.

_The commandant may have already made contact with their rulers_,
Dfar-Lll suggested, springing forward to illuminate the way. _In that
case, we couldn't hope to remain undiscovered for long._

_Oh, these creatures are not Venusians. There's no intelligent life
here. They hail from the third planet of this system and, according to
their thoughts, this is the only vessel that was capable of traversing
interplanetary space. So we needn't worry about extradition treaties or
any other official annoyances._

_If they're friendly, why didn't you spend the night in their ship? It
certainly looks more comfortable than our collapsible moslak--which, by
the way, collapsed while you were gone. I hope we'll be able to put it
up again ourselves. I must say this for the lieutenant--he was good at
that sort of thing._

Jrann-Pttt made a gesture of distaste. _He was unfortunately good at
other things, too. But let's not discuss him. I'm not staying with the
strangers because I want to pick up one or two little things--mostly
some of our food to serve them. I used up all the supplies in my pack
and I want them to think we're living off the land. They believe me to
be a primitive and it's best that they should until I decide just how
I'm going to make most efficient use of them. Besides, I didn't want to
leave you alone._

The younger saurian sniffed skeptically.

* * * * *

"Honestly, Pitt," Mrs. Bernardi said, keeping to leeward of the
tablecloth the lizard-man was efficiently shaking out of the airlock,
"I've never had a--an employee as competent as you." But the word she
had in mind, of co