ocked anguish. "That was wonderfully brave
of them, but none of the others must ever do things like that! Tell them
not to sacrifice their lives that way! I feel sure from all the reports
it isn't needed. I'll be going back in another few weeks, and the humans
won't have any of those biggest ships ready by then. Those are the only
ones we need to fear--the little ships don't count."

It was too bad Hanlon did not know what else the humans were building,
besides ships, at the shipyards.

Hanlon's campaign to "get in good" with Philander was bearing tasty
fruit, for the two were becoming fast friends. They spent many evenings
over a hotly-contested chess board. It was plain now that the nervous,
worried superintendent felt he could relax in the company of this young,
naive guard, for the latter was so patently no challenge to his
position. Besides, it was also very evident that he liked Hanlon as a
man. Day by day his attitude grew more fatherly.

Hanlon, on his part, came to realize more the true, innate measure of
Philander's inherent worth as a man, a gentleman, and an engineer. He
had a fine mind, was well read, and thought deeply on many subjects
outside his own technical line.

"All he needs are some psychiatric treatments to reduce that awful
inferiority complex of his," Hanlon mused one night as he walked back
slowly to his room. "Then he'll really be the big, fine man he's capable
of being, and will forget all this conspiracy nonsense."

Thus Hanlon felt he was taking no special chance one night when the two
were standing on the little porch of the office, their game ended, and
Hanlon about to leave. He glanced up at the brilliant night sky.

"Sure looks different here than it does back on Terra," he said
conversationally. "Naturally it would, seeing we're so far away from
there. But I never get tired of looking at it, and trying to see if I
can figure out some of the brighter suns." He pointed to one bright star
directly overhead. "That's Sirius, I know. It's always directly above
you."

Philander laughed heartily. "No, Sirius is almost exactly opposite.
Don't forget we're about a hundred light years out from Sol."

Hanlon made himself look crestfallen. "And there I was sure I knew one
of 'em, at least." He yawned pretentiously. "Well, guess I'll hit the
hay. Reckon the stars'll stay put, whether I can pick 'em out or not."

Philander laughed again, and clapped him on the back in comradely
fashion. "I