he lounge
archway. Upon my grid the image of the lounge interior presently
focused. The passengers in the lounge were huddled in a group.
Disheveled, frightened, with Moa standing watching them. Stewards were
serving them with a meal.

Upon a bench, bodies were lying. Some were dead. I saw Rance Rankin.
Others were evidently only injured. Dr. Frank was moving among them,
attending them. Venza was there, unharmed. And I saw the gamblers,
Shac and Dud, sitting white-faced, whispering together. And Glutz's
little beribboned, becurled figure on a stool.

George Prince was there, standing against the wall, shrouded in his
mourning cloak, watching the scene with alert, roving eyes. And by the
opposite doorway, the huge towering figure of Miko stood on guard. But
Snap was missing.

A brief glimpse. Miko saw my Benson light. I could have equipped a
heat ray and fired along the curved Benson light into that lounge. But
Miko gave me no time.

He slid the lounge door closed, and Moa leaped to close the one on my
side. My grid showed only the blank deck and door.

Another interval. I had made plans. Futile plans! I could get into the
turret perhaps, and kill Hahn. I had the invisible cloak which Johnson
was wearing. I took it from his body. Its mechanism could be repaired.
Why, with it I could creep about the ship, kill these brigands one by
one, perhaps. George Prince would be with me. The brigands who had
been posing as the stewards and crew members were unable to navigate;
they would obey my orders. There were only Miko, Coniston and Hahn to
kill.

From my window I could gaze up to the radio room. And now, abruptly, I
heard Snap's voice: "No! I tell you--no!"

And Miko, "Very well, then. We'll try this."

So Snap was captured but not killed. Relief swept me. He was in the
radio room and Miko was with him. But my relief was short-lived. After
a brief interval, there came a moan from Snap. It floated down the
silence overhead and made me shudder.

My Benson beam shot into the radio room. It showed me Snap lying there
on the floor. He was bound with wire. His torso had been stripped. His
livid face was ghastly plain in my light.

Miko was bending over him. Miko with a heat cylinder no longer than a
finger. Its needle beam played upon Snap's naked chest. I could see
the gruesome little trail of smoke rising; and as Snap twisted and
jerked, there on his flesh was the red and blistered trail of the
violet ray.

"Now wi