do," and he
went over in detail the only course of action which his survey had shown
to be possible.

"There, he's left his desk!" Costigan exclaimed after the conversation
had continued for almost an hour. "Now as soon as we find out where he's
going, we'll start something ... he's going to see Clio, the swine! This
changes things, Bradley!" His hard voice was a curse.

"Somewhat!" blazed the captain. "I know how you two have been getting on
all during the cruise. I'm with you, but what can we do?"

"We'll do something," Costigan declared grimly. "If he makes a pass at
her I'll get him if I have to blow this whole sphere out of space, with
us in it!"

"Don't do that, Conway," Clio's low voice, trembling but determined, was
felt by both men. "If there's a chance for you to get away and do
anything about fighting him, don't mind me. Maybe he only wants to talk
about the ransom, anyway."

"He wouldn't talk ransom to _you_--he's going to talk something else
entirely," Costigan gritted, then his voice changed suddenly. "But say,
maybe it's just as well this way. They didn't find our specials when
they searched us, you know, and we're going to do plenty of damage right
soon now. Roger probably isn't a fast worker--more the cat-and-mouse
type, I'd say--and after we get started he'll have something on his mind
besides you. Think you can stall him off and keep him interested for
about fifteen minutes?"

"I'm sure I can--I'll do _anything_ to help us, or you, get away from
this horrible...." Her voice ceased as Roger broke the ether-wall of her
apartment and walked toward the divan, upon which she crouched in
wide-eyed, helpless, trembling terror.

"Get ready, Bradley!" Costigan directed tersely. "He left Clio's
ether-wall off, so that any abnormal signals would be relayed to him
from his desk--he knows that there's no chance of anyone disturbing him
in that room. But I'm holding a beam on that switch, so that the wall is
on, full strength. No matter what we do now, he can't get a warning.
I'll have to hold the beam exactly in place, though, so you'll have to
do the dirty work. Tear out that red wire and kill those two guards. You
know how to kill a robot, don't you?"

"Yes--break his eye-lenses and his ear-drums and he'll stop whatever
he's doing and send out distress calls.... Got 'em both. Now what?"

"Open my door--the shield switch is to the right."

Costigan's door flew open and the Triplanetary captain leaped